cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conservation of forest biodiversity and ecosystem properties in a pastoral landscape of the Ecuadorian Andes

High Andean cloud forests are home to a diversity of unique wildlife and are important provid- ers of ecosystem services to people in the Andean regions. The extent of these cloud forests has been widely reduced through conversion to pasture for livestock, which threatens the forests' ability to support biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. This paper explores whether impacts on woody plant biodiversity and four ecosystem properties (woody plant species richness, juvenile timber tree abundance, soil organic matter content and soil moisture) from converting forest to pasture can be mitigated if some woody forest vegetation is maintained within pastures. Woody vegetation in pastures was found to conserve those woody plant species that are more tolerant to exposure and grazing, but conservation of the high montane cloud forest community required areas of forest from which livestock were restricted. The sampled sites clustered according to woody plant species cover; these clusters represented a gradient from pasture with patches of shrubs to mature forest. Clusters differed in both woody plant species richness and number of juvenile timber trees whereas soil organic matter and soil moisture were observed to be similar among all clusters. This suggests that the different habitats may have some equivalent ecosystem properties. We conclude that the presence of woody vegetation in pastures may reduce some of the impacts of converting forest to pasture, but should not be considered a substitute for protecting large areas of forest, which are essential for maintaining woody plant species diversity in high Andean cloud forest.
Adeno-associated virus DNA structure. Restriction endonuclease maps and arrangement of terminal sequences.

Abstract Linear duplex molecules of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2)-DNA were cleaved with the restriction endonucleases R.HhaI, R.HaeIII, R.HpaII, and R.AluI. The resulting specific fragments were analyzed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide-gel slabs and their physical order on the AAV genome map was determined. This work provides a map of approximately 75 additional cleavage sites on AAV-DNA. The inverted terminal repetitious sequence was estimated to be 80 to 120 nucleotides long. The results obtained, considered together with previous data, are inconsistent with the model of two permutations of AAV-DNA strands having different startpoints. Rather, it appears that the “permutation” in AAV-DNA results from an unusual secondary structure located within the inverted repetition, between 20 and 100 nucleotides from the terminus.
Evaluating practical measurements of fire-induced vent flows with stereoscopic PIV

Abstract Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) was applied to a fire-induced doorway flow to provide the velocity field for computations of the mass flow rate of air into an enclosure. For a flow of uniform temperature and concentration, the technique met all of the requirements to provide the best estimate of the mass flow rate. Simultaneous measurements of vertical distributions of velocity and temperature were also conducted with conventional vent flow techniques, bi-directional probes and thermocouples. Correction factors for mass flow rate computations using the conventional techniques were determined based on comparisons to the SPIV results. An average correction factor of unity was determined for the bi-directional probe technique thus further confirming the utilization of velocity distributions acquired using the technique in mass flow rate computations. An average correction factor of 0.69 was determined for mass flow rates computed from vertical temperature distributions inside and outside the enclosure. This agrees with average correction factors determined in previous studies. The results from the present study suggest that the conventional techniques, which are practical and affordable for routine fire testing, may be applied with greater confidence for fires up to 500 kW.
A rapid, safe, and low-cost technique for the induction of mild therapeutic hypothermia in post-cardiac arrest patients.

Abstract Aim of study The benefits of inducing mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) in cardiac arrest patients are well established. Timing and speed of induction have been related to improved outcomes in several animal trials and one human study. We report the results of an easily implemented, rapid, safe, and low-cost protocol for the induction of MTH. Methods All in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients admitted to an intensive care unit meeting inclusion criteria were cooled using a combination modality of rapid, cold saline infusion (CSI), evaporative surface cooling, and ice water gastric lavage. Cooling tasks were performed with a primary emphasis on speed. The main endpoints were the time intervals between return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), initiation of hypothermia (IH), and achievement of target temperature (TT). Results 65 patients underwent MTH during a 3-year period. All patients reached target temperature. Median ROSC–TT was 134 min. Median ROSC–IH was 68 min. Median IH–TT was 60 min. IH–TT cooling rate was 2.6 °C/h. Complications were similar to that of other large trials. 31% of this mixed population of IHCA and OHCA patients recovered to a Pittsburgh cerebral performance score (CPC) of 1 or 2. Conclusion A protocol using a combination of core and surface cooling modalities was rapid, safe, and low cost in achieving MTH. The cooling rate of 2.6 °C/h was superior to most published protocols. This method uses readily available equipment and reduces the need for costly commercial devices.
A simple model for clock-actuated legged locomotion

The spring-loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) model describes well the steady-state center-of-mass motions of a diverse range of walking and running animals and robots. Here we ask whether the SLIP model can also explain the dynamic stability of these gaits, and we find that it cannot do so in many physically-relevant parameter ranges. We develop an actuated, lossy, clock-torqued SLIP, or CT-SLIP, with more realistic hip-motor torque inputs, that can capture the robust stability properties observed in most animals and some legged robots. Variations of CT-SLIP at a similar level of detail and complexity may also be appropriate for capturing the whole-system center-of-mass dynamics of locomotion of legged animals and robots varying widely in size and morphology. This paper contributes to a broader program to develop mathematical models, at varied levels of detail, that capture the dynamics of integrated organismal systems exhibiting integrated whole-body motion.
Constrained spline regression in the presence of AR(p) errors

Extracting the trend from the pattern of observations is always difficult, especially when the trend is obscured by correlated errors. Often, prior knowledge of the trend does not include a parametric family, and instead the valid assumptions are vague, such as ‘smooth’ or ‘monotone increasing’. Incorrectly specifying the trend as some simple parametric form can lead to overestimation of the correlation. The proposed method uses spline regression with shape constraints, such as monotonicity or convexity, for estimation and inference in the presence of stationary AR(p) errors. Standard criteria for selection of penalty parameter, such as Akaike information criterion (AIC), cross-validation and generalised cross-validation, have been shown to behave badly when the errors are correlated and in the absence of shape constraints. In this article, correlation structure and penalty parameter are selected simultaneously using a correlation-adjusted AIC. The asymptotic properties of unpenalised spline regression in...
Phenotype of the zebrafish masterblind (mbl) mutant is dependent on genetic background.

The zebrafish masterblind (mbl) mutant is characterized by the lack of olfactory placodes and optic vesicles, reduced telencephalon, an expanded epiphysis (Heisenberg et al. [1996] Development 123:191-203), and enlarged jaw. To understand the cellular events giving rise to the olfactory placode defect of this mutant, we examined the expression pattern of the distal-less-3 (dlx3) gene in mbl. In the mutant, dlx3, which is normally expressed in the developing nose and ear, showed reduced expression in the olfactory placode field, but normal expression in the developing ear. To determine whether the loss of dlx3 expression was due to cell loss, we assayed cell death by using TUNEL labeling. Although cell death in the mutant was not concentrated in the region of dlx3 expression, there was increased cell death in the forebrain, epiphysis, and jaw region, as compared with that in wild-type controls. This cell death phenotype was cyclical in nature, showing an increase and decrease in cell death on a roughly 24-hr cycle. Further analysis showed that this cyclical phenotype was specific to the genetic background. The severity of the mbl phenotype, including cell death, expanded epiphysis, and enlarged jaw, decreased when the mutation was moved from the original "TL" background to the "AB" background. Thus, the severity of developmental defects in the mbl mutant is strongly dependent on genetic background. We examined the contribution of cell death to the morphologic defects of mbl by blocking cell death by using zVADfmk, a known caspase inhibitor. We found that this treatment partially rescued the expanded jaw defect and that this rescue was dependent on the genetic background. Therefore, the mbl mutant phenotypes result, in part, from genetic background effects that alter the pattern of programmed cell death early in development.
Mean-field theory of the Potts spin-glass with finite connectivity

Abstract The Potts spin-glass on the Bethe lattice and on random lattices with finite connectivity is investigated using the effective local field method. Solutions for the local field distributions near T c and at T = 0 are obtained. The results are also applicable to graph optimization problems.
Activation of methylenetriphenylphosphorane by reaction with t-butyl- or sec-butyllithium

Abstract Experimental details are provided to support a previous report that α-methylenetriphenylphosphorane ( 1 ) may be activated for reaction with unreactive substrates such as epoxides and hindered ketones by α-metallation to 2 .
The Preparation and Characterization of Hydrotalcite Thin Films

Owing to the recent focus on reducing CO2 emissions, the preparation and characterization of CO2-selective inorganic membranes and thin films has received considerable attention. Hydrotalcites (HT) are, potentially, good materials for preparing CO2-selective inorganic membranes and films due to their high CO2 adsorption capacity at elevated temperatures and their good thermal stability. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to prepare CO2-selective HT films and to understand their transport characteristics. A vacuum-suction method was used for the synthesis of the HT films, and their properties were characterized using both single and mixed-gas permeation tests, as well as by nitrogen adsorption and by SEM and XRD. The HT films are microporous, as indicated by both the adsorption data, as well as by the fact that the ideal selectivities of pairs of inert gases (e.g., He, N2, and Ar) through the membrane are higher than the Knudsen values. However, the as-prepared materials contain a substantial fracti...
The effects of cisplatin and methotrexate on the expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat.

Abstract Previous work by many groups has documented the induction of HIV-LTR (human immunodeficiency virus-long terminal repeat) following exposure of cells or whole animals to ultraviolet (UV) light and other DNA damaging agents. In these experiments we set out to determine whether exposure to the cancer chemotherapeutic agents methotrexate and cisplatin had any effect on the expression of the HIV-LTR. Using HeLa cells stably transfected with a construct in which HIV-LTR drives the expression of the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), we demonstrated induction of HIV-LTR 24–48 h following exposure to 50 μM cisplatin. When UV exposure (10 Jm−2) was coupled with cisplatin (50 μM) treatment (which also causes DNA damage), HIV-LTR induction was additive relative to either treatment alone. Methotrexate, which depletes the medium of tetrahydrofolate and does not induce DNA damage, induced HIV-LTR at later (6–7 days) time points than cisplatin or UV treatments. When methotrexate (128 μM) and UV (10 Jm−2) treatments were combined, the agents were synergistic with regard to HIV induction. For both drugs, though, induction was not due to generalized transcriptional activation since both cisplatin and methotrexate induced a repression of total transcription as measured in nuclear run-on assays.
Beryllium in the water column of the central North Pacific

The existence of the cosmogenic radioisotope of beryllium, 10Be(t1/2 = 1.5 Myr), was first confirmed1,2 almost 25 yr ago. Subsequently, Merrill et al.3 worked out the sedimentary geochemistry of the stable isotope of the element, 9Be. The geochronological potential of 10 Be could not be exploited, however, because of its extremely low abundance (global average production rate 1.08 atoms cm−2 min−1)4 and the difficulties associated with the analysis of the stable species 9Be, particularly in natural waters. This situation is changing dramatically with the application of accelerator techniques to the detection of the radioisotope5. It thus becomes important to obtain a detailed understanding of the geochemistry of 9Be since the potential use of the stable isotope for normalization purposes would significantly enhance the usefulness of the radioactive species in dating studies. We report here the first detailed profile for 9Be in the oceanic water column.
Association between burn characteristics and pain severity.

Abstract Introduction Traditionally, full thickness burns have been thought to be painless due to destruction of underlying nerves. We explored the association between patient and burn characteristics and pain severity in burn patients and determined whether full thickness burns were less likely to be painful than more superficial burns. Methods We performed a structured review of medical records of patients presenting to a burn center between 2010 and 2013. Data abstracted included baseline patient and burn characteristics. The primary end point was pain severity on patient arrival to the emergency department using a verbal numeric score of 0 to 10. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the association between patient and burn characteristics and pain severity. Results There were 507 patients. Mean (SD) age was 29.9 (23.6); 38% were ages younger than 18, and 68% were males. The median (interquartile ranges) pain score was 5 (2-8). Of all patients, 7% had isolated full thickness burns. Median (interquartile ranges) pain scores in isolated full thickness burns were slightly lower than in more superficial burns: 4 (1-8) vs 6 (2-8), respectively, P = .09. Twenty-five percent of patients with isolated full thickness burns had pain scores of 0 compared with 18% of all others ( P = .28). There was no correlation between total body surface area and pain severity, however, pain scores increased with the number of burns ( P = .007). Conclusions Pain severity is slightly less with full thickness burns; however, most patients have pain. The presence of pain should not be used to exclude full thickness burns.
Teaching psychodynamic psychotherapy in the 21st century.

Special challenges face the 21st century teacher of psychodynamic psycho- therapy. Time for careful psychodynamic reflection, of necessity, competes for space with the c urrent e xplosion of psychiatric k nowledge in psychopharmacology, genetics, health care policy and multiple other agendas. Thus educators must be clear about the goals of psychodynamic psychotherapy, engage students in the special interviewing techniques to elicit sensitive informa- tion and appreciate the special needs of today's physicians launching into this field. Educational objectives must be clear, the goals of psychoanalysis and psychoana- lytic psychotherapy well articulated and the means to gather information en- hanced. With the expansion of neuroscience into the mysteries of implicit and explicit memory this is also an area where the 21st century educator must develop integrative expertise. There are tools available to expand ones proficiency in each of these areas. INTRODUCTION: TODAY'S CHALLENGES FOR THE PSYCHOANALYTIC EDUCATOR In years past, before the many advances in psychopharmacology, treatment modalities were limited to electroniconvulsive therapy, in- sulin shock therapy, wet packs, and talk. The organized body of psy- chological knowledge that conceptualized that "talk" was informed and driven by psychoanalytic theory. Freud and other giants in psy- choanalytic history helped psychiatrists to understand the impact of the unconscious and the healing power of working through intrapsychic conflict. Freida Fromm-Reichman's Principles of Intensive Psychotherapy (1960), a recognized basic primer on psychoanalytic technique, was read and reread by psychiatric residents struggling to understand and heal their patients. The novel I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (Greenberg, 1964), written by one of her patients, demon- strates how "Dr. Fried" used her appreciation of conscious and uncon- scious fears as expressed in the language of the metaphor to sooth the angst of schizophrenic patients.
Isolation and Preliminary Characterization of Hydroxamic Acids Formed by Nitrogen-Fixing Azotobacter chroococcum B-8.

Abstract The free-living diazotroph Azotobacter chroococcum B-8 responded to iron-limited growth conditions by forming hydroxamic acids and an 85,000-dalton outer membrane protein. The Fe(III)-binding hydroxamate compounds stimulated the growth of Arthrobacter flavescens JG-9 and gave a positive Csaky reaction for bound hydroxylamines. The hydroxamates were isolated from liquid cultures by benzyl alcohol extraction and purified by size exclusion chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Four high-performance liquid chromatography fractions, designated A, B, C, and D, had the characteristic hydroxamate absorption maximum at 420 to 423 nm, which did not shift over a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0. Cyclic voltammograms of the iron-hydroxamate complexes exhibited reduction potentials of −0.426 to −0.442 V for fractions A, B, and D and of −0.56 V for fraction C versus the normal hydrogen electrode at pH 8.0. Based on mass spectra, nominal molecular weights of 800 and 844 were assigned to ferrated compounds A and B, respectively. Reductive hydrolysis of compounds A and B in 57% hydriodic acid yielded ornithine as detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All of these physiological and chemical data strongly support the hypothesis that the high-affinity iron-binding compounds isolated from A. chroococcum B-8 are hydroxamic acids and probably function as siderophores for this diazotroph.
A learning theorem for networks at detailed stochastic equilibrium

This article analyzes learning in continuous stochastic neural networks defined by stochastic differential equations (SDE). In particular, it studies gradient descent learning rules to train the equilibrium solutions of these networks. A theorem is given that specifies sufficient conditions for the gradient descent learning rules to be local covariance statistics between two random variables: (1) an evaluator that is the same for all the network parameters and (2) a system variable that is independent of the learning objective. While this article focuses on continuous stochastic neural networks, the theorem applies to any other system with Boltzmann-like equilibrium distributions. The generality of the theorem suggests that instead of suppressing noise present in physical devices, a natural alternative is to use it to simplify the credit assignment problem. In deterministic networks, credit assignment requires an evaluation signal that is different for each node in the network. Surprisingly, when noise is not suppressed, all that is needed is an evaluator that is the same for the entire network and a local Hebbian signal. This modularization of signals greatly simplifies hardware and software implementations. The article shows how the theorem applies to four different learning objectives that span supervised, reinforcement, and unsupervised problems: (1) regression, (2) density estimation, (3) risk minimization, and (4) information maximization. Simulations, implementation issues, and implications for computational neuroscience are discussed.
Against Anthropocentrism: A Jobian Appeal to Science on Theology's Behalf

: The author asks how science can affect the work of the theologian and uses the experience of Job in the “wild” as pointing toward a new seeing. From science's study of temporality the theologian may learn (1) that humans belong with the (other) creatures, against anthropocentrism, (2) that the traditional distinction between creation and preservation inadequately recognizes God's continuing creative work, and (3) that Christian soteriology needs to address the “groaning” (Romans 8) of the whole creation. While science may help the theologian see thus newly, theology needs to retain its own integrity, as represented by the distinction between creation and fall.
Robust engineering design with genetic algorithms

This paper introduces a new robust optimization technique which performs tolerance and parameter design using a genetic algorithm. It is demonstrated how tolerances for control parameters can be specified while reducing the product's sensitivity to noise factors. As generations of solutions undergo standard genetic operations, new designs evolve, which exhibit several important characteristics. First, all control parameters in an evolved design are within a set of allowed tolerances; second, the resulting product response meets the target performance; and finally, the product response variance is minimal.
The effect of a cheater on the performance of a random-access protocol

We consider a synchronous broadcast communication channel. This channel is used by a large population of users abiding to a random-access protocol of the Capetanakis-Tsybakov-Mikhailov type, and at the same time by a cheater, with distinguished characteristics and behavior. We assume that the cheater ignores the protocol used by the other users and model his transmission attempts as a Bernoulli process. We then obtain throughput and mean delay results for both the original protocol-abiding population and the cheater. The results show that the cheater's delay is considerably lower than that of the protocol abiding population. However, there is no abrupt failure of the protocol. The stability region of the original protocol is diminished, but the decrease is almost linear with the transmission rate of the cheater. Notice that this model and analysis can serve in studying and suggesting non-obvious solutions to random-access environments with heavy users (e.g., gateways), station malfunctions, and deliberate user behavior. The obtained difference in performance can also be exploited in order to provide various degrees of priority to specific users.
Hawaiian hotspots: enhanced megafaunal abundance and diversity in submarine canyons on the oceanic islands of Hawaii

Submarine canyons are important sources of habitat heterogeneity on the slopes of continents and islands, but the study of canyon ecology has been largely restricted to continental margins. Here we use visual and video surveys from 36 submersible dives to evaluate the role of canyons as abundance and diversity hotspots for megafauna in the Hawaiian Archipelago, an island chain embedded in an oligotrophic ocean. We surveyed megafauna in canyon and slope settings at depths of 350–1500 m along the margins of four islands: the low ‘islands’ of Nihoa and Maro Reef, and the high islands of Oahu and Moloka’i. Megafaunal communities in canyons differed significantly from those in nearby slope habitats at all depths. Highly mobile fishes and invertebrates were consistently more abundant in canyons than on nearby slopes at the same depth off all islands, suggesting that canyons may be important sources of larvae for surrounding habitats. In the few cases where megafaunal abundances were similar or higher on the slope, the differences were typically driven by higher slope abundance of sessile suspension feeders or animals with limited mobility, i.e. by organisms which are likely to have difficulty with high currents and sediment transport in canyons. Megafaunal species richness and diversity generally trended higher within canyons, especially for the highly mobile taxa. Canyons contained 41 megafaunal species never observed on the slope, and increased estimated regional species richness by 25–30 species, indicating that canyons enhanced beta and gamma (regional) biodiversity. An expected trend of greater enhancement of diversity and abundance in canyons on the margins of high versus low oceanic islands was not observed, although megafauna were generally more abundant in both canyon and slope habitats on the high islands (Oahu and Moloka’i). We conclude that submarine canyons on both low and high islands in the Hawaiian Archipelago may provide keystone structures, enhancing megafaunal abundance, providing source populations for the open slope, and enhancing local and regional species diversity.
Open Geospace General Circulation Model simulation of a substorm: Axial tail instability and ballooning mode preceding substorm onset

[1] Recent global simulations of substorms show that before the onset of near-Earth reconnection the pressure equilibrium in the tail breaks down. This instability has no cross-tail variation and is thus not a ballooning mode, and it is also distinct from the tearing mode. Here, we analyze an Open Geospace General Circulation Model simulation run of the 23 March 2007 substorm and find the same instability. Because this mode has no significant cross-tail variation associated with it we call it the KY0 mode. Besides the KY0 mode we also find the classical ballooning mode in the simulation. It has a wavelength of ∼0.5 RE and is marginally, but sufficiently, resolved as shown by a higher-resolution control run. These results suggest a new scenario for the substorm expansion phase onset. During the growth phase magnetic flux is added to the lobes and the plasma sheet thins but remains in equilibrium. When force balance is no longer possible the KY0 instability grows and accelerates plasma tailward. The divergence of the resulting tailward flow reduces the normal magnetic field and thereby makes the current sheet tearing unstable. The tearing mode grows right out of the KY0 mode. The classical ballooning mode grows at the same time and is superimposed on the KY0 mode, but its role in initiating reconnection is still unclear. The growth time of the KY0 mode, ∼2 min, is both consistent with the notion of an explosive growth phase and with recent ground-based observation of the initial growth of auroral arcs before auroral breakup.
Mapping EOS data on Web

The Earth Observing System (EOS) program provides large quantity of spatial and temporal data for global environmental change study. But EOS data cannot be directly visualized and analyzed in map format on web by users. The Open GIS Consortium (OGC) Web Mapping Testbed project develops an interface standard Web Mapping Specification. The specification makes diverse data and computer system on web can interoperate each other. With Web Mapping Specification, Internet and geoprocessing technology, any data can be visualized and analyzed in map format on web. Based on the specification, NASA decided to develop Web GIS Server (WGISS). With WGISS, EOS data can be directly visualized and analyzed on web by Geographic Information System (GIS) community or any EOS data users. The EOS data can interoperate with any other data on web through web mapping interface. The WGISS will promotes EOS data utilization and enhance EOS program. WGISS will timely provide EOS data to EOS data users and GIS community. Global environmental change studies will benefit from WGISS.
Molecular interactions of agonist and inverse agonist ligands at serotonin 5-HT2C G protein-coupled receptors: computational ligand docking and molecular dynamics studies validated by experimental mutagenesis results

To understand molecular determinants for ligand activation of the serotonin 5-HT2C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), a drug target for obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders, a 5-HT2C homology model was built according to an adrenergic β2 GPCR (β2AR) structure and validated using a 5-HT2B GPCR crystal structure. The models were equilibrated in a simulated phosphatidyl choline membrane for ligand docking and molecular dynamics studies. Ligands included (2S, 4R)-(–)-trans-4-(3’-bromo- and trifluoro-phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-amine (3’-Br-PAT and 3’-CF3-PAT), a 5-HT2C agonist and inverse agonist, respectively. Distinct interactions of 3’-Br-PAT and 3’-CF3-PAT at the wild-type (WT) 5-HT2C receptor model were observed and experimental 5-HT2C receptor mutagenesis studies were undertaken to validate the modelling results. For example, the inverse agonist 3’-CF3-PAT docked deeper in the WT 5-HT2C binding pocket and altered the orientation of transmembrane helices (TM) 6 in comparison to...
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in symptomatic vertebrobasilar atherosclerosis and dissection

Results: Eleven patients with vertebral dissection and 39 patients with atherothrombosis were identified. An AMBI pattern was present in 8 (72%) of 11 patients with arterial dissections and 25 (64%) of 39 patients with atherosclerotic disease (P=.48). Distal embolism to the terminal branches of the basilar artery occurred with equal frequencyinbothgroupsandwasfoundinhalfofallcases. Isolated thalamic infarction did not occur. Pontine infarction was noted in 2 (18%) of 11 patients with dissections and 18 (46%) of 39 patients with atherosclerosis (P=.09). Cerebellar border zone involvement was foundin14(36%)of39patientswithatherosclerosisand 4 (37%) of 11 patients with dissections (P=.6). Conclusions: Large arterial disease is frequently associated with AMBI in the posterior circulation. The incidence of AMBI was comparable to that reported in the anterior circulation. This DWI study supports the importance of embolism as the main mechanism of infarctioninpatientswithvertebrobasilarocclusivedisease.On the basis of our experience, large-vessel vertebrobasilar disease rarely causes isolated small-vessel thalamic infarction.
Paulo Freire's Last Laugh: Rethinking critical pedagogy's funny bone through Jacques Rancière

In several enigmatic passages, Paulo Freire describes the pedagogy of the oppressed as a ‘pedagogy of laughter’. The inclusion of laughter alongside problem‐posing dialogue might strike some as ambiguous, considering that the global exploitation of the poor is no laughing matter. And yet, laughter seems to be an important aspect of the pedagogy of the oppressed. In this paper, I examine the role of laughter in Freire's critical pedagogy through a series of questions: Are all forms of laughter equally emancipatory? Certainly a revolutionary pedagogue can laugh, but should he or she, and what are the political (if not revolutionary) implications of this laughter? In order to shed new light on Freire's fleeting yet provocative comments, I turn to Jacques Ranciere for his emphasis on the aesthetics of politics, and Paulo Virno who connects joke telling with critical theory. Overall, I argue that we need to take Freire's gesture toward a pedagogy of laughter seriously in order to understand the aesthetics of c...
Self-Specific CD8+ T Cells Maintain a Semi-Naive State Following Lymphopenia-Induced Proliferation

Upon transfer into T cell-deficient hosts, naive CD8(+) T cells typically undergo lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP, also called homeostatic proliferation) and develop the phenotypic and functional characteristics of memory CD8(+) T cells. However, the capacity of T cells with self-peptide/MHC specificity to respond in this way has not been intensively studied. We examined pmel-1 TCR transgenic CD8(+) T cells that are specific for an epitope from gp100, a protein expressed by melanoma cells and normal melanocytes. Despite their self-specificity, naive pmel-1 cells were inefficient at LIP in typical lymphopenic hosts. In CD132 (common gamma-chain)-deficient hosts, pmel-1 CD8(+) T cells underwent extensive proliferation, but, surprisingly, the majority of these cells retained certain naive phenotypic traits (CD44(low), CD122(low)) rather than acquiring the expected central-memory phenotype. Following LIP, pmel-1 T cells acquired the capacity to control B16F10 tumor growth, but only in common gamma-chain-deficient host mice. Together, these data suggest that LIP does not always favor expansion of self-specific CD8 T cells and that sustained extensive lymphopenia is required for such cells to exhibit tumor control.
Diiodo(methyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(III)

[47829-28-7] C37H33I2P2Rh (MW 896.35) InChI = 1S/2C18H15P.CH3.2HI.Rh/c2*1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;;;;/h2*1-15H;1H3;2*1H;/q;;;;;+2/p-2 InChIKey = WJSLRCCBFZOLNW-UHFFFAOYSA-L (used in cross-coupling of organomercurials with alkyl halides2) Physical Data: mp 170 °C (dec); 1H NMR (CD2Cl2) δ 2.8 (dt, J = 2.9, 5.3 Hz, CH3), 7.39 (m, Hm,p of Ph), 7.63 (m, Ho of Ph); λmax (log e in CH2Cl2) 250 (sh), 340 (3.71), 500 (sh), 610 (2.31); d 1.67 g mL−1. Solubility: sparingly sol benzene and chloroform; sol CH2Cl2 and nitromethane; insol acetone or petroleum. Form Supplied in: dark green crystalline solid. Preparative Method: Chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I) (1.0 g, 1.08 mmol) is allowed to stir in Iodomethane (20 mL) for 1 h; excess solvent is removed in vacuo and the resulting mass extracted with acetone; recrystallization from benzene affords green crystals of MeRhI2(PPh3)2·C6H6;1 an alternate method of preparing uncomplexed MeRhI2(PPh3)2 involves addition of iodomethane in dichloromethane to (Ph3P)3Rh+HC(SO2CF3)2−.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the dry solid is moderately air-stable but rapidly air-oxidizes in solution.
EFFECTS OF SYNTHETIC HUMAN PANCREATIC (TUMOR) GH RELEASING FACTOR AND SOMATOSTATIN, TRIIODOTHYRONINE AND DEXAMETHASONE ON GH SECRETION IN VITRO

The effects of synthetic human pancreatic (tumor) GH Releasing Factor, hpGRF, and a partially purified rat hypothalamic GRF, rhGRF, on secretion of GH by primary cultures of rat pituitary cells are reported to be inhibited noncompetitively by somatostatin. Dexamethasone and triiodothyronine pretreatment enhance the response to hpGRF.
The design and implementation of a time-varying observer and an EMA controller for linear systems

A method is developed for the design of a class of observers which will handle time-varying linear systems. The time-varying linear system is stabilized by steering the extended-mean values of all closed-loop ED-eigenvalues into the left-half plane, so that bounded-input bounded-output stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed. This principle is analogous to the eigenvalue (pole) placement assignment idea used for time-invariant linear systems. The eigenvalues of the coefficient matrix of the observer can be placed arbitrarily. This method leans to a system of time-varying differential equations for the determination of the elements of the T matrix using the transformation z=Tx. The results presented are to be used as an alternative to frozen-time analysis of missile systems. However, the observer used in conjunction with the EMA controller provides a design which could be used to control any system governed by time-varying linear equations.
To cooperate or not to cooperate: detection strategies in sensor networks

This paper is an initial investigation into the following question: can cooperation among sensors in a sensor network improve detection performance in a simple hypothesis test? We analyze a simple cooperative system using the Kullback-Leibler (KL) discrimination distance and a quantity known as the information transfer ratio which is a ratio of KL distances. We discover that, asymptotically, gain over a non-cooperative system depends on the conditional KL distance. We conclude with an illustrative example which demonstrates that cooperation not only significantly improves performance but can also degrade it.
Design and Characterization of Thin-Film System for Microsensors Embedding in Ti6Al4V Alloys

Reliable structures and systems are critical for numerous engineering applications. These systems are generally operated in harsh environments. Effective monitoring and diagnosis of these structures are of critical importance. To achieve this goal, thin-film micro/nano sensors can be embedded in metal structures to protect them from external harsh environments while providing measurements with desired special and temporal resolutions and accuracy, which cannot be achieved with traditional sensors. Targeting on new sensor applications in harsh environments, this paper presents experimental results on the design and characterization of a thin-film system, including diffusion barrier and insulation layers, for a successful sensor embedding in Ti6Al4V alloy through diffusion bonding. Based on the developed material system, an effective fabrication process of the Ti6Al4V-embedded thin-film PdCr strain gages was developed. The embedded sensors were validated by a functionality test and material characterization.
Meep: A flexible free-software package for electromagnetic simulations by the FDTD method

This paper describes Meep, a popular free implementation of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for simulating electromagnetism. In particular, we focus on aspects of implementing a full-featured FDTD package that go beyond standard textbook descriptions of the algorithm, or ways in which Meep differs from typical FDTD implementations. These include pervasive interpolation and accurate modeling of subpixel features, advanced signal processing, support for nonlinear materials via Pade approximants, and flexible scripting capabilities.
Operator factorization of scalar wave equation in frequency-domain

A method for deriving the partial differential operator factorizations of the scalar wave equation in the time-domain were derived by Engquist and Majda (1977). An alternative way to derive these equations in the frequency-domain is presented. It is shown that the limitation and accuracy of the resulting one-way wave equations may be easier to observe from this derivation. The possibility of the similar finite-difference method based on the one-way wave equations derived by the operator factorization is also discussed. >
On the Type Locality and Type Specimen of Testudo geographica LeSueur 1817

Abstract Charles Alexandre LeSueur discovered the common map turtle Graptemys geographica in 1816. He named the species Testudo geographica in 1817 and described it with a drawing of a specimen he collected from a Lake Erie marsh, but further details on the collecting locality were not given. I designate the drawn specimen as the lectotype of the species and review historical documents and specimen records that allow restriction of the type locality to the peninsula of Presque Isle and adjacent Presque Isle Bay in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition increases lipopolysaccharide-induced atherosclerosis in mice.

Aims The risk of adverse cardiovascular events in humans is increased with chronic use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. However, the role of COX-2 in animal models of cardiovascular disease has been controversial. In humans and animal models, cardiovascular disease is increased by bacterial infection of the supporting tissue of the teeth, a condition known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease may result in chronic exposure to pro-inflammatory mediators, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thereby producing a systemic inflammatory response. The current study examined the role of COX-2 in atherosclerosis induced by LPS derived from the periodontal disease pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P . gingivalis ). Methods and results Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS was administered by chronic infusion for 28 days and atherosclerosis development was examined in the aortic root of ApoE (apolipoprotein E)-deficient mice. The extent of atherosclerosis was compared between mice receiving control diet or diet containing the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. The role of COX-2 in P . gingivalis LPS-induced inflammatory cell activation was examined in peritoneal macrophages. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS infusion significantly increased atherosclerosis development. In mice infused with P . gingivalis LPS, administration of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib further increased the extent of atherosclerotic lesion area. In peritoneal macrophages, P . gingivalis LPS increased the expression of COX-2 mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) and the production of prostaglandin (PG) E2 (PGE2), the latter of which was inhibited by celecoxib. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) was enhanced by inactivation of COX-2 and was attenuated by treatment with PGE2. Conclusion The inhibition of COX-2-derived PGE2 may enhance P . gingivalis LPS-induced atherosclerosis by increasing macrophage production of TNFα.
JUMPING BRISTLETAILS – A GLIMPSE INTO THE ANCIENT INSECT NOSE

![Figure][1] In order for aquatic organisms to have made the transition from living in water to surviving on land, mutations in several physiological processes needed to occur. For one sensory system, that of smell, olfactory brain structures that detect odors based on sensing air-borne,
The Sense of Place behind Segregating Practices: An Ethnographic Approach to the Symbolic Partitioning of Metro Manila

The literature on cities in the developing world equates segregation with the proliferation of enclaves and slums and tends to overlook how the people associated with those places are further segregated in public spaces and enclaves. To account for the symbolic partitioning of Metro Manila, I document the segregating practices of the residents of enclaves (villagers) and slums (squatters). These practices reveal a well-developed sense of place on both sides, a commitment to the relative status positioning of the two groups as expressed through their separation in space. A sense of place explains why squatters and villagers engage in segregating practices. It also enables us to identify other spatial practices that conform to or challenge its logic. Integrating practices are largely consistent with a sense of place, while desegregating practices challenge it and may set up or advance contentious situations. By using this approach we are better able to understand how class patterns of residential segregation are extended to encompass virtually all urban spaces where class interaction occurs.
Cholecystojejunostomy varices demonstrated by enteroclysis

Varices in unusual sites constitute a minor but significant cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver disease. We report a case of varices across the anastomotic line between the jejunum and gallbladder after cholecystojejunostomy. Although such varices have been demonstrated by angiography, to our knowledge they have never been demonstrated by small bowel enema (enteroclysis). We report a case and describe the findings on enteroclysis.
Optical Switching of Coherent VO2 Precipitates Embedded in Sapphire

In this work, we report the formation of a new type of active or “smart” surface that is produced by ion implantation and thermal processing. By co-implanting vanadium and oxygen into a single-crystal sapphire substrate and annealing the system under appropriate conditions, it was possible to form buried precipitates of vanadium dioxide that were crystallographically oriented with respect to the host AI2O3 lattice. The implanted VO2 precipitate system undergoes a structural phase transition that is accompanied by large variations in the optical transmission which are comparable to those observed for thin films of VO2 deposited on sapphire. Co-implantation with oxygen was found to be necessary to ensure good optical switching behavior.
Venous clot lysis and stenting

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) continues to represent a major source or mortality and morbidity. Although anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy, adjunctive catheter-based interventions have shown substantial potential to improve clinically meaningful patient outcomes in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) has been shown in a randomized trial to reduce the risk of PTS in patients with acute proximal DVT; data from a larger NIH trial is expected shortly. The use of CDT is being increasingly used for patients with submassive or massive pulmonary embolism. Preliminary studies suggest that endovascular stent placement and ablative therapies can improve quality-of-life in carefully selected patients with established PTS. In this article, we summarize the current status of thrombus removal and stent placement procedures for VTE and PTS, with the main purpose being to guide clinicians in individualizing treatment decisions for their challenging patients.
Random Mutagenesis by Error-Prone PCR

In vitro selection coupled with directed evolution represents a powerful method for generating nucleic acids and proteins with desired functional properties. Creating high-quality libraries of random sequences is an important step in this process as it allows variants of individual molecules to be generated from a single-parent sequence. These libraries are then screened for individual molecules with interesting, and sometimes very rare, phenotypes. Here, we describe a general method to introduce random nucleotide mutations into a parent sequence that takes advantage of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This protocol reduces mutational bias often associated with error-prone PCR methods and allows the experimenter to control the degree of mutagenesis by controlling the number of gene-doubling events that occur in the PCR reaction. The error-prone PCR method described here was used to optimize a de novo evolved protein for improved folding stability, solubility, and ligand-binding affinity.
Quality Characteristics of Soft Kernel Durum; A New Cereal Crop

Production of crops is in part limited by consumer demand and utilization. In this regard, world production of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) is limited by its culinary uses. The leading constraint is its very hard kernels. Puroindolines, which act to soften the endosperm, are completely lacking in durum. Currently, durum grain is milled on highly specialized mills which produce as their primary objective coarse semolina. Morris and co-workers (2011) described the development of soft kernel durum wheat. The soft kernel trait (Hardness locus) was introgressed into Langdon via Ph1b, and crossed to the Italian durum cv. Svevo (producing ‘Soft Svevo’). Soft Svevo behaves much like a soft hexaploid wheat with somewhat lower break flour yield, higher water absorption, and smaller cookie diameter. Pilot scale spaghetti manufacture indicated that hydration levels could be reduced to 26–27 % for soft durum, as opposed to about 32 % for commercial semolina. Cooking trials indicated equal-or-better texture, cooking loss and tolerance. Soft Svevo flour performed well in a range of baked goods. These studies demonstrate the stable transfer of the Puroindoline genes from T. aestivum to T. turgidum subsp. durum. As such, the processing and utilization of durum was dramatically altered. The creation of soft durum therefore increases the potential for wheat production under marginal cropping conditions, while establishing a new wheat class with expanded and novel uses.