cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life on the Margins: Sectarians in Britain and America. A Review Article

A propos de deux ouvrages : Richard T. VANN et David EVERSLEY, «Friends in Life and Death : the British and Irish Quakers in the Demographic Transition» (New York : Cambridge Studies in Population, Economy and Society in Past Time, 1992) et Carla Gardina PESTANA, «Quakers and Baptists in Colonial Massachussetts» (New York : Cambridge University Press, 1991). Le premier ouvrage etudie l'histoire de la population d'un groupe en marge (les Quakers anglais et irlandais) afin de tester certaines hypotheses sur la nature de la societe britannique pendant la revolution industrielle. Le second examine l'evolution interne de deux societes dissidentes dans le Massachussetts colonial en vue de mieux comprendre la nature-meme du sectarisme
Gender-related differences in susceptibility to acetaminophen-induced protein arylation and nephrotoxicity in the CD-1 mouse

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent which, in high doses, causes liver and kidney necrosis in man and animals. Damage in both target organs is greatly dependent upon biotransformation. However, in the CD1 mouse only males exhibit cytochrome P450-dependent nephrotoxicity and selective protein covalent binding. The lack of renal toxicity in female mice may reflect the androgen dependence of renal CYP2E1. To study this, female mice were pretreated with testosterone propionate and then challenged 6 days later with APAP. Groups of control males and females were similarly challenged with APAP for comparison. All groups exhibited hepatotoxicity after APAP with similar glutathione (GSH) depletion, covalent binding, centrilobular necrosis, and elevation of plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase activity. By contrast, APAP-induced nephrotoxicity occurred only in males and in the females pretreated with testosterone. No nephrotoxicity was evident in APAP-challenged control females. The selective pattern of hepatic and renal protein arylation previously reported for male mice was similarly observed in testosterone-pretreated female mice. Western blot analysis of microsomes showed that testosterone increased renal CYP2E1 levels without altering hepatic CYP2E1. Testosterone pretreatment, in vivo, also resulted in increased activation of APAP in vitro in kidney microsomes with no effect on the in vitro activation of APAP in liver microsomes. These data suggest that APAP-mediated GSH depletion, covalent binding, and toxicity in the kidneys of testosterone-pretreated females results from increased APAP activation by the testosterone-induced renal CYP2E1. This further suggests that renal, rather than hepatic, biotransformation of APAP to a toxic electrophile is central to APAP-induced nephrotoxicity in the mouse.
Promiscuity and diversity in 3-ketosteroid reductases

Many steroid hormones contain a Δ4-3-ketosteroid functionality that undergoes sequential reduction by 5α- or 5β- steroid reductases to produce 5α- or 5β-dihydrosteroids; and a subsequent 3-keto-reduction to produce a series of isomeric tetrahydrosteroids. Apart from steroid 5α-reductase all the remaining enzymes involved in the two step reduction process in humans belong to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily. The enzymes involved in 3-ketosteroid reduction are AKR1C1–AKR1C4. These enzymes are promiscuous and also catalyze 20-keto- and 17-keto-steroid reduction. Interest in these reactions exist since they regulate steroid hormone metabolism in the liver, and in steroid target tissues, they may regulate steroid hormone receptor occupancy. In addition many of the dihydrosteroids are not biologically inert. The same enzymes are also involved in the metabolism of synthetic steroids e.g., hormone replacement therapeutics, contraceptive agents and inhaled glucocorticoids, and may regulate drug efficacy at their cognate receptors. This article reviews these reactions and the structural basis for substrate diversity in AKR1C1–AKR1C4, ketosteroid reductases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Steroid/Sterol signaling’.
The occurrence, distribution, and remediation of transient pollution events in agricultural and silvicultural environments

Transient pollution events occur in runoff from both agricultural and silvicultural environments. In agricultural runoff, transient pollution events may be associated with sediment, nutrients, and pesticides. Depending upon hydrological conditions, these events may be responsible for most of the yearly yield of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides, and may have a profound effect on the ecological health of streams and reservoirs, limiting seasonal primary productivity, changing the balance of functional groups, and altering reproductive cycles. Transient pollution events are most noticeable in surface runoff, but are also observable in shallow ground water. Such occurrences in both runoff and shallow ground water may be associated with natural seasonal events including the fall leaching of crop residues, or with cultural activities including the application of fertilizers and pesticides. In either case, rainfall distribution and intensity become important factors in the magnitude of the transient pollution event. Best management practices (BMPs) must be designed to remediate transient pollution in agricultural storm events. Not only must total storm agrichemical loading to aquatic ecosystems be reduced, but also the transient agrichemical concentration peaks occurring within the storm hydrograph.
Computer Generated Displays

Increased use of computer output for decision-making has led to the need for effective computer-generated displays of symbols and lines in various formats. Two key functions involved in display generation are digital-to-image conversion, and image storage for projection. Symbol generation can be performed by use of logical and electron beam devices to create dot patterns, intensity modulated scans, mixtures of waveforms or shaped electron beams. Lines are generated as dots, line segments, or vectors. Large, bright displays are obtained by optically projecting images using CRT, photographic, electrostatic, oil film, or thermoplastic techniques. Many new developments show promise for application in computer-generated displays.
The influence of elevation, shrub species, and biological soil crust on fertile islands in the Mojave Desert, USA

We quantified soil nutrients and biological crust cover (bryophytes and lichens) under the canopies of three species of Mojave Desert shrubs and in interspaces between shrubs at three elevations to determine the effects of shrub species, soil crust, and elevation on islands of soil fertility. Means of pH, organic matter, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrogen mineralization, and gravimetric soil moisture are significantly greater in soils under Ambrosia dumosa (Gray) Payne, Larrea tridentata Cov., and Coleogyne ramosissima Torr. than soils from adjacent interspace microhabitats. Although soil moisture and soil organic matter increase by a factor of 1.5 from the low elevation to the high elevation site, the ratio of shrub to interspace concentrations, or the difference in mean soil variables between shrubs and interspaces, is effectively constant and independent of elevation. Total bryophyte and lichen cover is relatively low (24.5%), however, there are 11 species of bryophytes and two species of lichens distributed across three elevations with the highest species richness and cover at the low-elevation site. Bryophyte and lichen cover is correlated with silt but is not related, consistently, to soil nutrients. Overall, the balance of processes controlling spatial aggregation of soil nutrients under shrubs is remarkably insensitive to potential differences in organic inputs among elevations, shrub species, and soil crust surfaces.
Determination of Single-Cell Oxygen Consumption with Impedance Feedback for Control of Sample--Probe Separation

The ability to measure chemical gradients surrounding single cells provides novel insights into several areas of cell dynamicsparticularly metabolism. Detection of metabolic oxygen consumption can be achieved from a single mammalian cell using a modulated amperometric sensor in a self-referencing mode. To date, however, apart from visual cues, we do not have a reliable and cell-compatible method for determining and stabilizing the position of such probes. In this paper, we report on having successfully measured the increase in the uncompensated resistance of an electrochemical cell upon approach to single, living, biological cells, while simultaneously measuring the metabolic oxygen consumption. This was accomplished by applying an ac and a dc excitation signal to the electrode. The applied ac waveform was a 100-kHz sine wave with an amplitude of 10 mV rms, while the dc voltage applied was −600 mV. The two signals were shown not to interfere with one another. Furthermore, it is shown that the sample−probe...
Hypertext paths and the World-Wide Web: experiences with Walden's Paths

Walden’s Paths applies the concept of hypertextual paths to the World-Wide Web. Walden’s Paths is being developed for use in the K–12 school environment. The heterogeneity of the Web coupled with the desirability of supporting the teacher-student relationship make this an interesting and challenging project. We describe the Walden’s Paths implementation, discuss the elements that affected its design and architecture, and report on our experiences with the system in use.
Imaging neutron beams with scintillating fiber faceplates

Abstract An imaging system for neutron beams based on scintillating fiber faceplates is described. The scintillating fibers are made from lithium silicate glass doped with Ce 3+ using isotopically enriched 6 Li. Several faceplates ranging in thickness from 1.3 to 3.2 mm have been tested using a position-sensitive photomultiplier or a Charge Injection Device camera as the photodetector. Advantages of scintillating fiber faceplates include high neutron capture efficiency, good position resolution, and the possibility of low-cost, large-area detectors.
Ancient Maya Wetland Agriculture: Excavations on Albion Island, Northern Belize

Ancient Maya Wetland Agriculture: Excavations on Albion Island, Northern Belize. Mary Deland Pohl (editor). Westview Special Studies in Archaeological Research. Boulder: Westview Press, 1990. 300 pp. $62.50 (paper). ISBN 0–8133–7202-X.
Integrated LiDAR and IKONOS multispectral imagery for mapping mangrove distribution and physical properties

The distribution of mangroves and other tropical and subtropical vegetation in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is largely dependent on subtle variations in elevation, with mangroves occupying the lowest elevations. Combining a digital terrain model (DTM) derived from last-return light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data with IKONOS multispectral imagery in a maximum likelihood supervised classification resulted in a 7.1% increase in overall classification accuracy among seven classes (red mangrove, black mangrove, tropical hardwood hammock, coastal rock barren vegetation, mudflat, sand/rock and asphalt) compared with using the multispectral imagery alone, and the classification accuracy was improved for all four spectrally similar vegetation classes. A digital canopy model (DCM) was created by subtracting the digital terrain model from a digital surface model derived from LiDAR first returns. The DCM-recorded heights well correlated with mangrove canopy heights measured in the field but were systematicall...
Relationship aggression and substance use among women court-referred to domestic violence intervention programs

Although there is extensive theoretical and empirical evidence linking men's alcohol abuse and marital violence, no previous studies have assessed the substance use characteristics of women arrested for domestic violence. We recruited 35 women who were arrested for domestic violence and court-referred to batterer intervention programs. We administered multiple measures of substance use and abuse and assessed the women's marital aggression, marital satisfaction, depressive symptomatology, use of general violence, and their relationship partners' substance use. We also divided the sample into groups of hazardous drinkers (HD) and nonhazardous drinkers (NHD). Across the entire sample, almost half of the women were classified as HD. Over one-quarter of the women reported symptoms consistent with an alcohol abuse or dependence diagnosis, and approximately one-quarter of the sample reported symptoms consistent with a drug-related diagnosis. Over one-half of the total sample reported that their relationship partners were HD. Relative to the NHD group, the HD group scored higher on measures of drug problems, relationship aggression, general violence, and marital dissatisfaction. The results of the study suggest that substance use and abuse should routinely be assessed as part of batterer interventions and that batterer programs would be improved by offering adjunct or integrated alcohol treatment.
Art and robotics: sixty years of situated machines

This paper pursues the intertwined tracks of robotics and art since the mid 20th century, taking a loose chronological approach that considers both the devices themselves and their discursive contexts. Relevant research has occurred in a variety of cultural locations, often outside of or prior to formalized robotics contexts. Research was even conducted under the aegis of art or cultural practices where robotics has been pursued for other than instrumental purposes. In hindsight, some of that work seems remarkably prescient of contemporary trends. The context of cultural robotics is a highly charged interdisciplinary test environment in which the theory and pragmatics of technical research confronts the phenomenological realities of physical and social being in the world, and the performative and processual practices of the arts. In this context, issues of embodiment, material instantiation, structural coupling, and machine sensing have provoked the reconsideration of notions of (machine) intelligence and cognitivist paradigms. The paradoxical condition of robotics vis-a-vis artificial intelligence is reflected upon. This paper discusses the possibility of a new embodied ontology of robotics that draws upon both cybernetics and post-cognitive approaches.
Insulin signalling underlies both plasticity and divergence of a reproductive trait in Drosophila

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a single genotype to yield distinct phenotypes in different environments. The molecular mechanisms linking phenotypic plasticity to the evolution of heritable diversification, however, are largely unknown. Here, we show that insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling (IIS) underlies both phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary diversification of ovariole number, a quantitative reproductive trait, in Drosophila. IIS activity levels and sensitivity have diverged between species, leading to both species-specific ovariole number and species-specific nutritional plasticity in ovariole number. Plastic range of ovariole number correlates with ecological niche, suggesting that the degree of nutritional plasticity may be an adaptive trait. This demonstrates that a plastic response conserved across animals can underlie the evolution of morphological diversity, underscoring the potential pervasiveness of plasticity as an evolutionary mechanism.
Double‐wire angioplasty of the right coronary artery bifurcational stenosis

Two cases of distal right coronary artery (RCA) bifurcational stenoses involving ostia of the posterolateral (PLA) and the posterior descending (PDA) branches in patients who underwent successful coronary angioplasty using a double-wire technique are reported. A single guiding catheter and sequential balloon inflations were utilized in one, and two guiding catheters and simultaneous balloon inflations in the other. The indications, techniques, and outcomes are described.
Gene expression profiling in the mammary gland of rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Identification of molecular markers of early-stage breast cancer development is important for the diagnosis and prevention of the disease. In the present study, we used microarray analysis to examine the differential expression of genes in the rat mammary gland soon after treatment with a known chemical carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), and prior to tumor development. Six weeks after DMBA, differential expression of multiple genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and microtubule dynamics were observed. Gene expression changes were further validated by a combination of techniques, including real-time PCR, RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. An inhibition of differentiation in this early stage was suggested by the lower expression of β-casein and transferrin and higher expression of hsp27 in glands from DMBA-treated rats. Possible cell cycle deregulation was indicated by an increased expression of cyclin D1 and hsp86, a heat shock protein associated with cyclin D1. Prior to tumor development, DMBA increased cellular proliferation as detected by Ki-67 and stathmin immunostaining in histologically normal mammary gland. Genes regulating microtubule function, including stathmin, Ran, α-tubulin and hsp27, were all overexpressed in the mammary gland of DMBA-treated rats, raising the possibility that disruption of microtubule dynamics and abnormal mitosis may be critical events preceding breast cancer development. Several of the altered proteins, including hsp27, hsp86 and stathmin, may ultimately serve as markers of early breast cancer development. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Phenylalanine metabolism: the production of phenylacetaldehyde by a Proteus species.

Abstract In the Proteus suspension under study it was shown that phenylalanine, 2 phenyl pyruvate, phenyl acetate, mandelic acid, and phenyl lactate at a 12 μmoles/ml, level were noninhibitory to glucose oxidation if glucose was added at zero time. Benzoic acid and benzaldehyde at a level of 15 μmoles/ml, were somewhat inhibitory. Metabolism of phenylalanine and phenyl pyruvate by the Proteus suspension produced a volatile, sweet-smelling aromatic substance, the production of which was coincident with complete inhibition of glucose oxidation. This substance has been identified as phenylacetaldehyde. Added phenylacetaldehyde, 0.3 μmole/ml., completely prevented glucose oxidation. This compound completely prevented Proteus growth at a 4 μ-moles/ml. level. Although human metabolism and Proteus metabolism of phenylalanine are not necessarily alike, it is tempting to speculate that one of the toxic products of the Proteus suspension and of phenylketonurics is phenylacetaldehyde.
Tuberous sclerosis complex: a brave new world?

Purpose of reviewTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multiorgan genetic disease caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. TSC has been recognized for many years as an important cause of severe neurological disease with patients suffering from epilepsy, developmental delay, autism, and psychia
Maximizing the Utilization of the Male Breeder: A Review

Abstract INTRODUCTION Reproductive inefficiency is the most costly and limiting constraint to efficient production by food animals. Even though the reproductive capacity of poultry exceeds that of other farm animals, problems in reproduction still cause economic losses to the poultry breeding industries (Opel, 1979). For example, the average percent hatch of all turkey eggs set is approximately 74%. Also, the percent hatchability of broiler breeder eggs has declined 3% within the last 5 years (Smith, 1981). Reasons for the decline in reproductive performance generally have been attributed to genetic selection for growth, since reproductive traits and growth traits are genetically antagonistic entities (Tierce, 1980). Despite these failings, poultry production is expected to continue to increase because of worldwide consumer demand for an inexpensive source of protein. The per capita consumption for chicken and turkey is expected to increase 70% by the year 2,000 (Cunha, 1980). Thus, the challenge facing the poultry …
Behavior of Rats in a Maze in Relation to Analgesic Effect of Cobra Venom and Morphine

SummaryA comparative study of behavior of rats in the maze and the analgesia produced in them by morphine reveals that the two effects run parallel, i. e., the greater the general depression, the greater the analgesia. In case of cobra venom, however, analgesia or heightening of the pain threshold is produced without any marked effect on general behavior of the animals.
Deformation of a thin-walled cylindrical tube submerged in a liquid

Abstract A long, thin, horizontal elastic cylindrical tube either fully or partially submerged in a liquid is considered. The tube supports a centered line load along its bottom and the load-carrying capacity of the tube is analysed. A nonlinear boundary value problem that takes into account the variable hydrostatic pressure is formulated. Perturbation solutions are obtained for the cases of small pressure gradients, especially in the neighborhood of the critical buckling pressure. Numerical solutions based on Newton's iteration and shooting methods are also obtained for general pressure gradients and for both the fully and partially submerged cases. The results show that, given a pressure gradient, there is an upper limit for the maximum load of the partially submerged tube. This maximum load decreases with depth when the shell is fully submerged and thus the corresponding equilibrium solution is unstable.
Distribution, abundance, and spawning season and grounds of the kiyi, Leucichthys kiyi Koelz, in Lake Michigan

Abstract From May to November, inclusive, the kiyis of southern Lake Michigan (north to and including localities off Kewaunee, Wisconsin, and Frankfort, Michigan) characteristically inhabit depths of more than 50 fathoms, although small numbers commonly are taken in shallower water (as shallow as 20 29 fathoms). There is evidence that the occasional penetration of relatively large numbers of kiyis into depths of less than 50 fathoms in this area is the result of exceptional hydrographic conditions involving the disturbance of considerable masses of water. In northern Lake Michigan the scattered lifts made in the region south of Manistique, Michigan, from June to September indicated kiyis to be abundant at depths from 40 to 69 fathoms (no lifts from shallower or deeper water). In northeastern Lake Michigan (Manitou, Fox, and Beaver Islands and the region between these islands and the east shore) kiyis were lacking in all lifts from 20–39 fathoms and were scarce at greater depths (three to four times as abu...
Direct Antenna Modulation (DAM) for Enhanced Capacity Performance of Near-Field Communication (NFC) Link

Shannon's theorem suggests that the capacity of a wireless link is determined by both the power received and the bandwidth of the system. However, in a conventional setup of an inductively coupled near-field communication (NFC) link, there is a trade-off between the power coupled through and the bandwidth. Direct antenna modulation (DAM) is a feasible scheme to mitigate this dilemma. With DAM utilized in a NFC link, the power and bandwidth product limit in a high Q system can be circumvented because the non-linear/time-varying nature of the operation allows high speed modulations decoupled from the charging and discharging process of the high-Q resonator. In this paper, the theory of NFC link with DAM on the transmitter is presented and validated with an experimental setup. Improvement in reception of the high-speed modulation information is observed in the experiment, implying that a superior capacity performance of a NFC link is achieved through DAM versus the traditional scheme.
Product Identification and Distribution from Hydrothermal Conversion of Walnut Shells

Agricultural byproducts are a major source of biomass for biofuel/bioenergy conversion. The southeastern U.S. produces a great amount of nutshells from pecan, walnut, and peanut processing. In this study, walnut shells were selected as a representative agricultural byproduct, and a hydrothermal process catalyzed by both bases and acid was applied to convert the walnut shells into liquefied organic compounds. Conversion rate, major organic products, and their distribution were measured under different concentration of bases (0−1.0 M) and reaction temperature (200−300 °C, corresponding to a pressure range of 1.5−8.6 MPa). An increase in base concentration (KOH and Na2CO3 ) or reaction temperature generally resulted in higher conversation rates and was more favorable to the generation of organic compounds of lower molecular weights. HCl as a catalyst promoted the generation of levulinic acid, but the conversion rates were very low. Major compounds from hydrothermal process catalyzed by bases were phenol deri...
Homogeneous enzyme immunoassay for lipoic acid based on the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex: a model for an assay using a conjugate with one ligand per subunit.

Abstract A homogeneous enzyme immunoassay for lipoic acid was developed by using an enzyme-ligand conjugate containing only one ligand per enzyme subunit. Theoretical studies have shown that the traditional use of multisubstituted enzyme-ligand conjugates has limited the detection limits and sensitivity obtainable with these assays. The use of conjugates with a smaller number of ligands should allow for improved assays. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was chosen for this study because each polypeptide chain of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase contains one lipoic acid as a covalently attached prosthetic group. Thus, the naturally occurring enzyme can be considered as an enzyme-lipoic acid conjugate. Anti-lipoic acid antibodies were developed in New Zealand White rabbits to be used as the analyte-specific binders. Association and binder dilution curves were prepared in order to optimize the reagent concentrations and the analytical conditions. Unexpected inhibition by free lipoic acid resulted in a biphasic dose-response curve with a detection limit of 5 × 10−6 m lipoic acid. This technique has several advantages over previous electrochemical and chromatographic techniques for lipoic acid determination.
Effects of hexafluoroacetone on testicular morphology and lipid metabolism in the rat

Abstract Rats dosed dermally with 39 or 130 mg/kg/day hexafluoroacetone sesquihydrate (HFA) for 14 days developed moderate or severe testicular atrophy, respectively; rats dosed with 13 mg/kg/day HFA for 14 days did not. Histologic evaluation of the testes revealed that spermatids, followed by spermatocytes, were the germ cells most affected by HFA; spermatogonia and Sertoli cells appeared to be less vulnerable. Lipogenesis from [3H]acetate and [14C]glucose was investigated in vitro in testes from HFA-treated and pair-fed control rats. Triacylglycerol and phospholipid synthesis was increased whereas sterol synthesis was decreased in testes from HFA-treated rats. Vitamin A and zinc were measured in the testes of control and HFA-treated rats; no differences in the levels of these nutrients were observed between the two groups. The data support the hypothesis that altered lipid metabolism, in particular sterol metabolism, is associated with the development of HFA-induced testicular atrophy.
The inorganic phase of bone: a re-appraisal.

The inorganic phase of bone is usually described as an extracellular arrangement of small crystals oriented, or partly oriented, in relation to a fibrous organic matrix of collagen. The preponderance of opinion favours a needle-like shape for the crystals, but with some evidence for plate-like forms. A diameter for the needles, or a width for the plates, has been reported as 50 A, or thereabouts, irrespective of the source of the bone, and this constant figure has led to a number of chemical theories to account for the constraints on size and shape.
The impact of greenhouse gases on past changes in tropospheric ozone

[1] The impact of changes in the abundance of greenhouse gases (GHGs) on the evolution of tropospheric ozone (O3) between 1960 and 2005 is examined using a version of the Goddard Earth Observing System chemistry-climate model (GEOS CCM) with a combined troposphere-stratosphere chemical mechanism. Simulations are performed to isolate the relative role of increases in methane (CH4) and stratospheric ozone depleting substances (ODSs) on tropospheric O3. The 1960 to 2005 increases in GHGs (CO2, N2O, CH4, and ODSs) cause increases of around 1–8% in zonal-mean tropospheric O3 in the tropics and northern extratropics, but decreases of 2–4% in most of the southern extratropics. These O3 changes are due primarily to increases in CH4 and ODSs, which cause changes of comparable magnitude but opposite sign. The CH4-related increases in O3are similar in each hemisphere (∼6%), but the ODS-related decreases in the southern extratropics are much larger than in northern extratropics (10% compared to 2%). This results in an interhemispheric difference in the sign of past O3 change. Increases in the other GHGs (CO2 and N2O) and SSTs have only a small impact on the total burden over this period, but do cause zonal variations in the sign of changes in tropical O3 that are coupled to changes in vertical velocities and water vapor.
Mode coupling in on‐fiber devices

On-fiber devices are fabricated by removing the cladding over a short length of the multimode fiber and replacing it with an active medium like electrooptic or magnetooptic material. When a field is applied, the index of this modified cladding goes up, leading to a redistribution of modal amplitudes, which may or may not be accompanied by optical power loss due to radiation modes. Significant optical power loss occurs when the induced index change is large while modal redistribution of amplitudes takes place with negligible power loss when the index change is very small. This modal redistribution has been investigated and expressions for the amplitude coupling coefficient related the modal amplitudes before and after the application of the field are derived. These coupling coefficients have been evaluated as a function of the induced index change in the cladding. The results indicate that this modal redistribution may be used as a sensing mechanism.
Continuous analysis of dye-loaded, single cells on a microfluidic chip

Continuous analysis of two dyes loaded into single mammalian cells using laser-based lysis combined with electrophoretic separation was developed and characterized on microfluidic chips. The devices employed hydrodynamic flow to transport cells to a junction where they were mechanically lysed by a laser-generated cavitation bubble. An electric field then attracted the analyte into a separation channel while the membranous remnants passed through the intersection towards a waste reservoir. Phosphatidylcholine (PC)-supported bilayer membrane coatings (SBMs) provided a weakly negatively charged surface and prevented cell fouling from interfering with device performance. Cell lysis using a picosecond-pulsed laser on-chip did not interfere with concurrent electrophoretic separations. The effect of device parameters on performance was evaluated. A ratio of 2 : 1 was found to be optimal for the focusing-channel : flow-channel width and 3 : 1 for the flow-channel : separation-channel width. Migration times decreased with increased electric field strengths up to 333 V cm(-1), at which point the field strength was sufficient to move unlysed cells and cellular debris into the electrophoretic channel. The migration time and full width half-maximum (FWHM) of the peaks were independent of cell velocity for velocities between 0.03 and 0.3 mm s(-1). Separation performance was independent of the exact lysis location when lysis was performed near the outlet of the focusing channel. The migration time for cell-derived fluorescein and fluorescein carboxylate was reproducible with <10% RSD. Automated cell detection and lysis were required to reduce peak FWHM variability to 30% RSD. A maximum throughput of 30 cells min(-1) was achieved. Device stability was demonstrated by analyzing 600 single cells over a 2 h time span.
Serum secretory IgA levels in patients with neoplastic disease

Abstract A double antibody inhibition type radioimmunoassay has been used to quantitate the amount of secretory IgA in the serum of patients with a variety of diseases. Secretory IgA (S-IgA) was found in almost all serum specimens tested. The S-IgA levels were elevated in some patients with neoplastic disease. The assay, however, does not appear to be of value for cancer detection. High levels of S-IgA were also found in patients with regional enteritis and ulcerative colitis.
Quantitative simulation of the superconducting proximity effect

A numerical method is developed to calculate the transition temperature of double or multilayers consisting of films of superconductors and normal conductors. The approach is based on a dynamic interpretation of Gorkov's linear gap equation and is very flexible. The mean free path $l$ of the different metals, transmission through the interface, ratio of specular reflection to diffusive scattering at the surfaces, and fraction of diffusive scattering at the interface can be included. Furthermore, it is possible to vary the mean free path and the BCS interaction $NV$ in the vicinity of the interface. The numerical results show that the normalized initial slope of a superconductor\char21{}normal metal (SN) double layer is independent of almost all film parameters except the ratio of the density of states, $({d}_{s}∕{T}_{s})\ensuremath{\mid}d{T}_{c}∕d{d}_{n}\ensuremath{\mid}={\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{sn}({N}_{n}∕{N}_{s})$. There are only very few experimental investigations of this initial slope and they consist of $\mathrm{Pb}∕\mathrm{Nn}$ double layers (Nn stands for a normal metal). Surprisingly the coefficient ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{sn}$ in these experiments is of the order or less than 2 while the (weak coupling) theory predicts a value of about 4.5. This discrepancy has not been recognized in the past. The origin of this discrepancy is not understood.
Update in Endocrinology: Evidence Published in 2012

This Update summarizes studies published in 2012 that the authors consider highly relevant to the practice of endocrinology. Topics include diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, and osteoporosis.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act event in the bank commercial loan market

Outlines the provisions of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (1991) (FDICIA) and presents a study of its effects on banks and their customers. Develops a mathematical model to identify the factors contributing to the price of loans and applies it to 1977‐98 data from large and small banks. Shows that charges are affected by loan size, bank size and FIDICIA cost effects; with especially high margins in the middle market. Rejects the idea that higher interest rates are linked to increased loan defaults.
Which features of Parkinson's disease predict earlier exit from the workforce?

Abstract Introduction Few objective data exist regarding predictors of leaving the workforce (LWF) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods Employed PD patients were followed prospectively. Baseline demographics, disease duration, and measures of disease severity, cognition, disability, and mental health were compared between patients working at last follow-up versus those who left the workforce using student's t-tests and multivariate analyses controlling for age, gender, and PD duration. Results Of 419 employed patients, 224 had left the workforce by last follow-up. Patients who left the workforce were more likely to be older, female, have lower-income, and have longer PD duration. LWF patients had greater baseline depression, anxiety, and overall psychiatric distress. PD severity did not differ between groups. Conclusion Demographics, disease duration, and mental health contribute to LWF, but not motor severity. Age, gender and income contributions are difficult to modify but important to recognize. Worse baseline mental health is associated with LWF, suggesting a potential target for intervention.
Optical Modeling of Reflectivity Loss Caused by Dust Deposition on CSP Mirrors and Restoration of Energy Yield by Electrodynamic Dust Removal

For large scale CSP power plants, vast areas of land are needed in deserts and semi-arid climates where uninterrupted solar irradiance is most abundant. These power facilities use large arrays of mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto collectors, however, dust deposition on the optical surfaces causes obscuration of sunlight, resulting in large energy-yield losses in solar plants. This problem is compounded by the lack of natural clean water resources for conventional cleaning of solar mirrors, often with reflective surface areas of large installations exceeding a million square meters. To investigate the application of transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) for efficient and cost effective dust removal from solar mirrors, both optical modeling and experimental verifications were performed. Prototype EDS-integrated mirrors were constructed by depositing a set of parallel transparent electrodes into the sun-facing surface of solar mirrors and coating electrodes with thin transparent dielectric film. Activation of the electrodes with a three-phase voltage creates an electrodynamic field that charges and repels dust electrostatically by Coulomb force and sweeps away particles by a traveling electrodynamic wave. We report here brief discussions on (1) rate of deposition and the properties of dust with respect to their size distribution and chemical composition in semi-arid areas of the southwest US and Mojave Desert and their adhesion to solar mirrors, (2) optical models of: (a) specular reflection losses caused by scattering and absorption by dust particles deposited on the surface based on Mie scattering theory, and (b) reflection loss by the integration of EDS on the mirror surface, computed by FRED ray-tracing model. The objective is to maintain specular reflectivity of 90% or higher by frequent removal of dust by EDS. Our studies show that the incorporation of transparent EDS would cause an initial loss of 3% but would be able to maintain specular reflectivity more than 90% to meet the industrial requirement for CSP plants. Specular reflection measurements taken inside a climate controlled environmental chamber show that EDS integration can restore specular reflectivity and would be able to prevent major degradation of the optical surface caused by the deposition of dust.© 2014 ASME
Entrapment and lysis of the cyanobacterium Phormidium luridum by aqueous colonies of Myxococcus xanthus PCO2

A Myxococcus xanthus isolate from a farm drainage ditch, designated strain PCO2, is capable of rapidly inducing lysis of both agar and liquid-grown cultures of the cyanobacterium, Phormidium luridum, var. olivacea. Microscopic studies of the predator-prey interaction demonstrate that lysis of the cyanobacterium occurs within clumps and spherules formed by the cells of M. xanthus PCO2. In the earliest stage, one sees the formation of irregular microclumps of bacteria and cyanobacterial filaments. As these clumps mature, colonies 1 to 6 mm in diameter develops. The center of these densely green colonies contains cyanohacteria in various stages of degradation, while the periphery is almost exclusively a tightly woven mass of myxobacterial cells. Electron microscopy shows that long extrusions from the outer membrane of the M. xanthus PCO2 cells are involved in the formation both of initial clumps and of mature colonial spherules. These extrusions appear to efficiently entangle the cyanobacterial filaments in the culture environment. Predator-to-prey ratios of 1/10, 1/100 and 1/1,000 have resulted in cyanobacterial lysis. Because the entrapment and lysis of P. luridum filaments by M. xanthus PCO2 appears to be independent of any other heterotrophic nutritional requirement, as well as of environmental agitation, this system has potential as a biological control technique for undesirable aquatic cyanobacteria.
Worlds apart? An Andalusi in Fāṭimid Egypt

This article explores a sixth/twelfth century memoir of an Andalusi polymath who travelled from the small Ṭā’ifa kingdom of Denia in the Iberian Peninsula, to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt, in search of patronage at the court of the Fāṭimid vizier al-Afḍal b. Badr al-Jamālī (d. 515/1121). The memoir, called al-Risāla al-Miṣriyya, is authored by Umayya b. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Abū al-Ṣalt al-Dānī al-Ishbīlī (460–528/1068–1134). The memoir concerns Abū al-Ṣalt's stay in Egypt and consists of a description of the place, and those scholars that he encountered in his fields of interest: primarily medicine, astronomy, and poetry. Written after his departure from Egypt, and dedicated to his subsequent Zīrid patrons in Ifrīqiya (present-day Tunisia), the Risāla most directly provides information on the intellectual and cultural world of late Fāṭimid Egypt. In so doing it also provided an example of scholarly travel across the Mediterranean, one that indicated the rarely discussed transmission of knowledge from the wester...
Pair approximations of takeover dynamics in regular population structures

In complex adaptive systems, the topological properties of the interaction network are strong governing influences on the rate of flow of information throughout the system. For example, in epidemiological models, the structure of the underlying contact network has a pronounced impact on the rate of spread of infectious disease throughout a population. Similarly, in evolutionary systems, the topology of potential mating interactions (i.e., population structure) affects the rate of flow of genetic information and therefore affects selective pressure. One commonly employed method for quantifying selective pressure in evolutionary algorithms is through the analysis of the dynamics with which a single favorable mutation spreads throughout the population (a.k.a. takeover time analysis). While models of takeover dynamics have been previously derived for several specific regular population structures, these models lack generality. In contrast, so-called pair approximations have been touted as a general technique for rapidly approximating the flow of information in spatially structured populations with a constant (or nearly constant) degree of nodal connectivities, such as in epidemiological and ecological studies. In this work, we reformulate takeover time analysis in terms of the well-known Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible model of disease spread and adapt the pair approximation for takeover dynamics. Our results show that the pair approximation, as originally formulated, is insufficient for approximating pre-equibilibrium dynamics, since it does not properly account for the interaction between the size and shape of the local neighborhood and the population size. After parameterizing the pair approximation to account for these influences, we demonstrate that the resulting pair approximation can serve as a general and rapid approximator for takeover dynamics on a variety of spatially-explicit regular interaction topologies with varying population sizes and varying uptake and reversion probabilities. Strengths, limitations, and potential applications of the pair approximation to evolutionary computation are discussed.
Psychological Aspects of Dental Anxiety in Adults

Dentists frequently treat adults who experience mild to extreme anxiety about dental procedures. New information about the causes and treatment of such anxiety has emerged.
Real-Time Image Processing for Locating Veins in Mouse Tails

This paper develops an efficient vision-based real-time vein detection algorithm for preclinical vascular insertions. Mouse tail vein injections perform a routine but critical step in most preclinical applications. Compensating for poor manual injection stability and high skill requirements, Vascular Access System (VAS) has been developed so a trained technician can manually command the system to perform needle insertions and monitor the operation through a near-infrared camera. However, VAS’ vein detection algorithm requires much computation and is, therefore, difficult to reflect the real-time tail movement during an insertion. Furthermore, the detection performance is often disturbed by tail hair and skin pigmentation. In this work, an effective noise filtering algorithm is proposed based on convex optimization. Effectively eliminating false-positive detections and preserving cross-sectional continuity, this algorithm provides vein detection results approximately every 200 ms at the presence of tail hair and skin pigmentation. This developed real-time tail vein detection method is able to capture the tail movement during insertion, therefore allow for the development of an automated Vascular Access System (A-VAS) for preclinical injections.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The Langner items and acquiescence

Considering that the preponderance of data in the health field emanates from surveys, it is surprising that problems of response bias have not received more systematic scrutiny. In this paper, data collected in personal interviews with 652 urban blacks are used to examine acquiescence in relation to the 22-item Langner index. Acquiescence is estimated using the “distance-correlation” procedure and the 5-item Srole anomie index. The results indicate that response bias in the form of acquiescence does influence patterns of response to the 22 Langner items. Analysis of the influence of sex status and educational level reveals these factors interact with acquiescence, demonstrating that scores on the Langner index are at least partially a function of all three factors—sex, education and acquiescence. These findings, in conjunction with several previous studies, raise serious questions regarding the adequacy of the 22-item index in substantive investigations which focus on psychological impairment in community populations.
Simulation-based optimization of Markov decision processes: An empirical process theory approach

We generalize and build on the PAC Learning framework for Markov Decision Processes developed in Jain and Varaiya (2006). We consider the reward function to depend on both the state and the action. Both the state and action spaces can potentially be countably infinite. We obtain an estimate for the value function of a Markov decision process, which assigns to each policy its expected discounted reward. This expected reward can be estimated as the empirical average of the reward over many independent simulation runs. We derive bounds on the number of runs needed for the convergence of the empirical average to the expected reward uniformly for a class of policies, in terms of the V-C or pseudo dimension of the policy class. We then propose a framework to obtain an @e-optimal policy from simulation. We provide sample complexity of such an approach.
Wireless access and electrical markets: Becoming similar?

The Wi-Fi market has achieved a certain level of reliability and still has a ways to go. Vendors and sellers should not buy into seductive and wishful thinking. Instead recognize reliability when it arrives and be thankful for a blissful, albeit brief, respite from another inevitable period of experimentation.