cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Female gestation and lactation as zeitgebers for circannual rhythmicity in the hibernating ground squirrel, Citellus lateralis

Abstract 1. 1. Free-running circannual rhythms in females of the hibernator, Citellus lateralis , have been studied in relation to breeding. 2. 2. It has been demonstrated that, in comparison to controls, females which go through gestation and lactation in the spring, and are subsequently kept in constant environmental conditions, hibernate with a more accurate phase relationship to the presumptive seasons. 3. 3. Breeding as a zeitgeber for the circannual rhythm is discussed, and the mechanisms involved in spring arousal are speculated upon.
Some unanswered problems with probability analysis: possible impact on exercise thallium test use.

Abstract Probability analysis has been advanced as a means of selecting patient-test combinations that most efficiently lead to a diagnosis in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). 1 Results of exercise cardiovascular nuclear medicine tests have yielded the greatest shifts in disease likelihood among patients with intermediate pretest likelihoods for disease. Furthermore, the differences in posttest probability produced by nuclear and electrocardiographic exercise tests are greatest among patients with intermediate pretest likelihoods for disease. However, when we examined the actual use of exercise thallium scintigraphy, most patients referred by both house staff and attending physicians had either very high or low pretest likelihoods for disease. 2 One explanation for these ordering practices is a lack of familiarity with probability analysis. 3 Alternatively, the clinical efficacy of a test may not be valued in proportion to its ability to alter disease likelihood. For example, exercise thallium scintigraphy has been advocated as a valuable means of excluding significant coronary disease, particularly when the pretest likelihood for coronary disease is relatively low. 4 In this study we asked house staff to calculate the predictive value of an exercise thallium test result. We then examined the relation between likelihood estimates and stated preferences for testing in an attempt to discover motivations for test ordering in actual practice.
Better practices in parent engagement: lessons from the USA and England

This paper undertakes an international comparison of parent engagement in the USA and England. Research from both countries is reviewed to establish the extent to which parent engagement is achieving the benefit of an improved fit between need and services and what, if any, differences exist between the experiences of parents in the USA and England. Despite some unique differences, research from both countries identifies similar experiences among parents. Those studies indicate that parent engagement is not yet contributing to the provision of services that are more timely, appropriate, or adequate in meeting parent need. The barriers to achieving a better fit between needs and services are explored and system-wide issues that limit the effectiveness of engagement with parents are discussed. The paper presents the Munro Review of Child Protection in England as a catalyst for change in improving the child welfare system's approach to parent engagement and establishing a better fit between needs and service...
Planar Motion Synthesis Using an Approximate Bi-Invariant Metric

In this paper we present a technique for using a bi-invariant metric in the image space of spherical displacements for designing planar mechanisms for n (> 5) position rigid body guidance. The goal is to perform the dimensional synthesis of the mechanism such that the distance between the position and orientation of the guided body to each of the n goal positions is minimized. Rather than measure these distances in the plane, we introduce an approximating sphere and identify rotations which are equivalent to the planar displacements to a specified tolerance. We then measure distances between the rigid body and the goal positions using a bi-invariant metric on the image space of spherical displacements. The optimal linkage is obtained by minimizing this distance for each of the n goal positions.
Peer Learning Using Smart Devices: A Report on Work-in-Progress

Our approach is to capitalize on the research findings on linkages between higher-order thinking and peer learning to create and evaluate a learning environment, entitled Teaching to Learn (TeatoL). TeatoL blends mobile smart devices and traditional approaches to enhance critical thinking and competencies essential for students to solve open-ended problems. The main objective is to understand, develop, implement and evaluate a peer-learning environment utilizing mobile technologies and devices. The focus is on peer learning mode, where students are instructors to share their experience and then learn from fellow student instructors.In this paper, we present our vision of this learning medium along with the foundation we have built it upon. Within TeatoL students are introduced to a “flatter” instructional environment; all participants have dual roles as students and instructors who are embedded in a collaborative environment where all learn collectively from each other’s experiences, even the instructor. We also discuss hypothesized benefits and our on-going work on initial implementation and its assessment. We close the paper with observations from our initial implementations across three data collection sites.© 2013 ASME
Synthesis of the naphthoquinone core of divergolides (C–D) and model studies for elaboration of the ansabridge

Herein, we describe a facile synthesis of the naphthoquinone fragment of the aromatic core of the novel ansamycins such as hygrocins A–B and the divergolides C–D, starting from the inexpensive 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid. We demonstrate the utility of naphthalenic synthon for further elaboration of the ansabridge via C5–C6 bond formation by employing a commercially available sterically demanding organomagnesium reagent as a model ansa chain. Facile conversion of the resulting alcohol to the naphthoquinone fragment of the targets in one pot has also been realized. These model studies set the stage for the completion of total synthesis of the biologically important novel ansamycins.
COLLISIONAL TRANSFER OF ELECTRONIC STATE COHERENCE

The role of collision-induced transfer of electronic state coherence on the spectral response of an atomic vapor is investigated. It is shown that such collisional effects can lead to the appearance of narrow resonances in the nonlinear spectroscopy of three-level systems. Collisional transfer between different multipoles of electronic state coherence is shown to lead to a breakdown of several percent in Becquerel's relation between the Faraday rotation and dispersion of a vapor. All calculations are carried out in the impact limit of pressure broadening theory. Particular emphasis is given to the order in which the various averages over the velocity distributions of both the active atoms and perturbers must be performed. In particular, for the effects described herein, the various collisional transfer rates vanish when averaged over the active atom velocity distribution. It is essential, therefore, to obtain the final line-shape formulas, including velocity-dependent collisional transfer rates, before carrying out the average over the active atom velocity distribution. The experimental observation of these spectral features would provide direct evidence for the existence of these collisional transfer processes.
Ethylene resistance of Regal Pelargonium is complemented but not replaced by 1-MCP

Abstract Ethylene-induced petal abscission is a significant problem in Regal Pelargonium (Pelargonium × domesticum L.H. Bailey) during commercial shipping and handling. We previously demonstrated that the Penn State genotypes ‘Elegance Silver’, and its two progeny, 00-43-1 and 00-43-2, have greater floret longevity and exhibit less sensitivity to ethylene than a range of commercial genotypes. These experiments were conducted to compare the postproduction quality of Penn State genotypes with commercial cultivars following pretreatment with the ethylene action inhibitor, 1-methycyclopropene (1-MCP). Pretreatment with 1-MCP protected florets from petal abscission in response to ethylene treatment (4 h, 0.3 μL L−1) and during simulated transport (3 days, 5 °C and 95% RH, 0.067 ± 0.004 μL L−1 ethylene) in all cultivars, but its effectiveness varied with genotype. In all genotypes, ethylene-induced petal abscission increased with floret age. Consequently, 1-MCP had a significant inhibitory effect on petal abscission of older florets, less effect on freshly opened florets, and no effect on the florets that opened after simulated transport. Whole plant longevity in a simulated consumer environment was significantly higher for Penn State genotypes, which retained and maintained twice as many flowers as commercial genotypes. 1-MCP treatment had no effect on plant performance after simulated transport in any of the cultivars. These results indicate that 1-MCP pretreatment prevents petal abscission of florets during shipping but that only reduced ethylene sensitivity achieved through breeding improves quality during the entire postproduction period.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Part 2: Specific Disorders

1. Paul A. Levy, MD* 1. *Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY The following article is included online only as a second part of the article “Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Part 1.” There is no one prototypical disorder of amino acid metabolism; each disorder has its own unique collection of symptoms. Four well-described amino acid disorders have been chosen as examples of this group. Phenylketonuria, a disorder of phenylalanine metabolism, leads to intellectual disability if untreated. Maple syrup urine disease involves an enzyme common to the degradation of the branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine). Although there are five subtypes of maple syrup urine disease, the classic form has a neonatal onset and generally progresses from poor feeding to coma and death if not treated. Tyrosinemia also has multiple subtypes. Hepatorenal tyrosinemia (type I) may present with liver failure (elevated transaminase concentrations, hyperbilirubinemia, coagulopathy, ascites, and gastrointestinal bleeding) as well as kidney involvement (tubular dysfunction) and peripheral nerve involvement (painful crises, weakness or paralysis). Type II tyrosinemia is an oculocutaneous form of the disease that has corneal lesions and skin findings. Homocystinuria, most commonly caused by cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency, presents with ocular (ectopia lentis), skeletal (marfanoid features such as dolichostenomelia and arachnodactyly), vascular (thromboembolic), and central nervous system (intellectual disability, stroke, and seizures) abnormalities. When an amino acid disorder is suspected, measurement of plasma amino acids generally is sufficient to make the diagnosis. Assessment of urine amino acids can be helpful for homocystinuria and some abnormalities of amino acid transport (cystinuria, dicarboxylic amino aciduria) that affect the kidneys and for detecting generalized amino aciduria found with some kidney disease and mitochondrial disorders. The degradation of amino acids results in their deamination, generating ammonia as the waste nitrogen. The urea cycle removes the excess ammonia by generating urea, which is eliminated in the urine. Six disorders of the urea cycle are known. …
Teacher educators' reflections on moments in a secondary teacher education course: thinking forward by challenging our teaching practices

In this paper the authors explore two pedagogical moments that occurred within a diversity‐focused secondary teacher education course, giving specific attention to Genevieve's and Debra's reflections as course instructors. We explore the ways in which instructors find themselves challenged, engaged and provoked to rethink taken for granted ideas and beliefs about their pedagogies as teacher educators. We conclude the paper by ‘thinking forward’: challenging teacher educators to be responsible and to be vulnerable with respect to their own teaching stances and to take the time to critically examine their own lived experiences in order to connect with their students' emergent understandings.
Design of a dual chamber heat conduction calorimeter for ultrasonic beam measurement

This thesis describes a device that is capable of measuring ultrasonic output power quickly and accurately. The device is a dual chamber heat conductioncalorimeter (HCC) designed, built, and tested for the purpose of measuring ultrasonic output power of clinical diagnostic ultrasound devices. The HCC is composed of two identical water filled aluminum wells housed in two separated compartments of an insulated box. The two compartments form the measuring and reference chambers of the calorimeter. The wells are sealed with plastic membranes that constitute the entrance window for the ultrasound. The bottom of each well is stuffed with a 4 cm layer of 0.5 cm thick rubber pads. These pads serve as a sonic-to-heat energy converter. In both chambers, a small resistive heater is embedded between the first and the second layer of rubber pads for calibration purposes. Heat is measured with a series of Seebeck effect thermoelectric devices (thermopiles) sandwiched between the well and the heat sink surrounding the wells. The performance and sensitivity of the HCC was measured, initially with the embedded resistive heaters, then with an experimental transducer, and lastly with transducers from clinical ultrasound scanners. The minimum detectability and the measurement uncertainty of the HCC was determined to be 1.2 mW and 6.6%, respectively.
Hydrodynamic object recognition using pressure sensing

Hydrodynamic sensing is instrumental to fish and some amphibians. It also represents, for underwater vehicles, an alternative way of sensing the fluid environment when visual and acoustic sensing are limited. To assess the effectiveness of hydrodynamic sensing and gain insight into its capabilities and limitations, we investigated the forward and inverse problem of detection and identification, using the hydrodynamic pressure in the neighbourhood, of a stationary obstacle described using a general shape representation. Based on conformal mapping and a general normalization procedure, our obstacle representation accounts for all specific features of progressive perceptual hydrodynamic imaging reported experimentally. Size, location and shape are encoded separately. The shape representation rests upon an asymptotic series which embodies the progressive character of hydrodynamic imaging through pressure sensing. A dynamic filtering method is used to invert noisy nonlinear pressure signals for the shape parameters. The results highlight the dependence of the sensitivity of hydrodynamic sensing not only on the relative distance to the disturbance but also its bearing.
Environmentally Related Disorders of the Cardiovascular System

The patient's level of activity is typically the only work-related concern considered in clinical medicine. This article discusses why it is important for clinicians to expand their concern to include the possibility of exposure to various gases, metals, and chemicals when evaluating a patient with cardiovascular disease. Both at the time of diagnosis and when deciding whether a patient can return to work, the workplace exposures need to be reviewed for their potential to exacerbate or cause cardiac symptoms or even death. An appropriate exposure history with confirmatory laboratory tests will allow the clinician to diagnose and manage environmentally related cardiovascular disease.
The Wild Mammals of Wisconsin

C. A. Long 2008. The Wild Mammals of Wisconsin. Pensoft Series Faunistica 68, Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria, 544 pp. + 27 colored illustrations. ISBN 978-954-642-303-0, price (hardbound) EURO 78; ISBN 978-954-642-313-9, price (paper) EURO 45. The state of Wisconsin is fortunate to have a number of state parks, national protected areas, private and public lands set aside for wildlife management, and regenerating forests—at least 194 scientific areas have been preserved by the state. Wisconsin is in an interesting transition region between northern boreal forests heavily dominated by pine and now birch, mixed hardwood forests, and prairie. The mammal fauna is a complex overlap representing each biotic region, and a wealth of new information and detailed summary of previous research on the state's mammals is now available in Charles Long's long-awaited The Wild Mammals of Wisconsin. Long is a classically trained mammalogist and The Wild Mammals of Wisconsin is a classic “mammals of …”–type volume. The state's rich mammal fauna is documented by Long with 69 full accounts of native species and briefer accounts of 7 hypothetical or invading species. Long's extensive studies of the state's small mammal fauna, especially the shrews and rodents, are incorporated into quite thorough species accounts. Accounts include descriptions, geographic range, habitat, foods, reproduction, home range, movements, den and nest sites, geographic variation, predators, parasites, evaluations of subspecific variation, and more. Discussions include geographic variation in the region, with discussions on the appropriate subspecies names. Long provides keys to the orders, families, genera, and species. Appendices on longevity of common species, preparation of mammal study skins, photographs of skulls, and conversion of English to metric measurements will make this work appealing to educators working with younger students. There is an inclusive glossary of mammalogical terms. An index to scientific and vernacular names is provided that is complete and quite useful. Distribution maps for North America and Wisconsin are included for each species. Abbreviated accounts are provided for the species that are extirpated from the state, referring the reader back to Hartley …
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Following a Peripheral Bypass

Background Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI), formerly referred to as necrotizing fasciitis, is a rare but serious postoperative complication. NSTI following arterial bypass is seen only once in the literature (for a coronary artery bypass) and is not mentioned following peripheral bypass. Although surgical site infections have been studied extensively, there are limited published data on postoperative NSTI and no data for NSTI following peripheral arterial bypass. Case Presentation Here we present the first, to our knowledge, reported instance of an NSTI following a lower extremity peripheral bypass. Despite the continued function of the bypass, the patient became rapidly systemically ill with a focus at the surgical site. Because of prompt surgical debridement, the patient survived this severe infection, though did require an above the knee amputation to control the rapid spread of the disease. The patient, a native of American Samoa, was infected with organisms infrequently associated with NSTI, Morganella morganii and Aeromonas hydrophila. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of this rare postoperative complication, along with a brief review of the microbiology of the disease. Conclusions NSTI is a rare but lethal postoperative complication. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an NSTI following an arterial peripheral bypass. This patient survived because of prompt and aggressive intervention.
Dana Meadows: asking hard questions, speaking simple truths

This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the System Dynamics Society, Atlanta, Georgia; 25 July 2001, in a special session in memory of Dana Meadows. In this talk, Dennis Meadows reviews Dana's career, the fundamental contributions she made to the field of system dynamics, and the continuing relevance of her work to the issues facing us today. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The resistance curve for subcritical cracks near the threshold

Thermodynamic analysis of brittle fracture specimens near the threshold developed by Rice (Thermodynamics of quasi-static growth of Griffith cracks, J Mech Phys Solid 26:61–78, 1978) is extended to specimens undergoing microstructural changes. The proposed extension gives rise to a generalization of the threshold concept that mirrors the way the resistance curve generalizes the fracture toughness. In the absence of experimental data, the resistance curve near the threshold is constructed using a basic lattice model.
Signal transduction mediated by the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway from cytokine receptors to transcription factors: potential targeting for therapeutic intervention

The Ras/Raf/Mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade couples signals from cell surface receptors to transcription factors, which regulate gene expression. Depending upon the stimulus and cell type, this pathway can transmit signals, which result in the prevention or induction of apoptosis or cell cycle progression. Thus, it is an appropriate pathway to target for therapeutic intervention. This pathway becomes more complex daily, as there are multiple members of the kinase and transcription factor families, which can be activated or inactivated by protein phosphorylation. The diversity of signals transduced by this pathway is increased, as different family members heterodimerize to transmit different signals. Furthermore, additional signal transduction pathways interact with the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway to regulate positively or negatively its activity, or to alter the phosphorylation status of downstream targets. Abnormal activation of this pathway occurs in leukemia because of mutations at Ras as well as genes in other pathways (eg PI3K, PTEN, Akt), which serve to regulate its activity. Dysregulation of this pathway can result in autocrine transformation of hematopoietic cells since cytokine genes such as interleukin-3 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor contain the transacting binding sites for the transcription factors regulated by this pathway. Inhibitors of Ras, Raf, MEK and some downstream targets have been developed and many are currently in clinical trials. This review will summarize our current understanding of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signal transduction pathway and the downstream transcription factors. The prospects of targeting this pathway for therapeutic intervention in leukemia and other cancers will be evaluated.
Prediction of Tank Gunnery Simulator Performance Using the Apts Battery

This research investigates the efficacy of the Automated Performance Test System (APTS), a battery of tests measuring basic psychomotor, cognitive, and spatial abilities, to predict complex psychomotor performance on two part-task tank gunnery simulators, TOPGUN and the Videodisk Gunnery Simulator (VIGS). It was hypothesized from past research that the Manikin, Simultaneous Pattern Comparison, and Four-Choice Reaction Time subtests of the APTS would be predictive of TOPGUN and VIGS performances. Additional research goals were to examine the stabilities and reliabilities of APTS, TOPGUN, and VIGS. Forty male undergraduate students were tested on the APTS; afterward, they completed either TOPGUN (N = 20) or VIGS (N = 20) training. Results obtained indicated that Code Substitution, Manikin, and Pattern Comparison were predictive of tank gunnery simulator performance at the p =.01 level. It is concluded that 1) these results need to be replicated, due to the complexity of the analyses conducted, 2) the APTS w...
Segregated regions in continuous laminar stirred tank reactors

Using visualization techniques, including acid/base reactions and UV fluorescence, we provide experimental evidence of segregated regions (islands) during mixing of viscous Newtonian fluids under laminar flow conditions in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). The effect of inlet/outlet stream position and Reynolds number on the dynamics of the mixing processes is examined. Numerical experiments in 3-D map were able to capture the main features of the CSTR flow by perturbing a Batch system using an imposed axial flow. Asymmetric flow patterns produced by off-center positioning of inlet and outlet pipes cause a reduction in size of the segregated region, enlarging the chaotic region and leading to more efficient mixing. Under dynamic inlet flow conditions, the laminar steady flow is perturbed, giving rise to an asymmetric flow pattern that is able to destroy toroidal segregated regions. Counter-intuitively, higher agitation speed (higher Re) did not enhance overall mixing efficiency. Faster agitation stabilized the toroidal regions, making it harder to destroy them. In addition, dynamic mixing protocols are investigated to enhance mixing performance. We demonstrate that time-dependent pumping and stirring protocols are able to efficiently destroy long-lasting toroidal regions.
Credit for comments, comments for credit

A survey in 2 undergraduate psychology classes (N = 93) found ambivalent attitudes toward credit for classroom participation. Although students viewed credit as a way to increase interaction and improve attendance, they also believed it could stimulate irrelevant comments and penalize shy students. The following year, in a class of 49 students, halfway through the course, the instructor offered a small amount of credit for office visits and for participation, but only on alternate days. The implementation significantly increased the amount of class discussion, with students reporting an increase in discussion quality. The policy also increased office visits, but did not significantly improve class attendance
Operation of a monolithic planar schottky receiver using a THz quantum cascade laser

This paper presents heterodyne mixer measurements at 2.9 THz using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) as sources. The linewidth of the laser was explored by biasing it to run in dual mode operation and observing the linewidth of the beat note. In addition the frequency of the QCL is determined by beating it against a deuterated methanol line from a molecular gas laser.
Understanding New Cooperative Models: An Ownership–Control Rights Typology

This article examines new agricultural cooperative organizational models from an ownership rights perspective. The article adopts a definition of ownership rights comprising both residual claim and control rights. We argue that new cooperative organizational models differ in how ownership rights are assigned to the economic agents (members, patrons, and investors) tied contractually to the firm. The article proposes a typology of discrete organizational models, in which the traditional cooperative structure and the investor-oriented firm are characterized as polar forms. The typology also includes five nontraditional models that cooperatives may adopt to ameliorate perceived financial constraints. Agricultural cooperatives have played an important economic role in market
The Effect of PPI Use on Human Gut Microbiota and Weight Loss in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) achieves sustainable weight loss possibly by altering the gut microbiota. The effect of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) on weight loss and the gut microbiota has not been explored. PPI use and the gut microbiota were assessed before and 6 months after LRYGB in eight patients. Bacterial profiles were generated by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Prior to LRYGB, PPI users had a higher percent relative abundance (PRA) of Firmicutes compared to nonusers. PPI users at 6 months post-LRYGB had a higher PRA of Firmicutes [48.6 versus 35.6 %, p = nonsignificant (NS)] and a trend toward significantly lower percent excess weight loss (49.3 versus 61.4 %, p = 0.067) compared to nonusers. PPI use post-LRYGB may impair weight loss by modifying gut microbiota.
On “bent” functions

Abstract Let P ( x ) be a function from GF (2 n ) to GF (2). P ( x ) is called “bent” if all Fourier coefficients of (−1) P(x) are ±1. The polynomial degree of a bent function P ( x ) is studied, as are the properties of the Fourier transform of (−1) P(x) , and a connection with Hadamard matrices.
Area selective gold MOCVD for VLSI electronics

Summary form only given. Area-selective metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of gold thin films has been achieved on tungsten patterned on VLSI-type silicon wafers. Scanning Auger spectroscopy of the wafer deposition areas displays virtual exclusion of gold deposits on silicious regions with 4000-AA-thick gold films of high feature resolution covering the tungsten patterns. The films were deposited by exposing the heated wafer (T >
Using Linguistic Models in Medical Decision Making

Medical records contain a wide variety of data types, including a sizable percentage in linguistic format including physician’s notes, interpretations of medical images, impressions of pathological findings, and summaries of electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram recordings. Because of the complex nature of the medical record, development of practical computer-assisted medical decision making aids has met with numerous difficulties. In this article, a number of approaches for dealing with linguistic variables are presented and illustrated in a system for decision making in cardiology.
Software metrics for object-oriented systems

The application of software complexity metrics within the object-oriented paradigm is examined. Several factors affecting the complexity of an object are identified and discussed. Halstead's Software Science metrics and McCabe's Cyclomatic Complexity metric are extended to an object. A limit for the cyclomatic complexity of an object is suggested.
Hunter-Gatherer Economic Complexity and Population Pressure : A Cross-Cultural Analysis

Abstract This paper examines the relaionship between “population pressure” and socioeconomic complexity among hunter-gatherers. Population pressure is defined as the ratio between population density and the density of available resources. Socioeconomic complexity is measured by means of several correlated variables: storage-dependence, sedentism, social inequality, and use of a medium of exchange. Correlations between these variables are calculated from an ethnographic sample of 94 hunter-gatherer groups. The correlations between population pressure and socioeconomic complexity are found to be extremely high. Two major types of hunter-gatherers exist which are distinguished by a number of variables and may be termed “simple” and “complex.” Transitional groups between these two types are quite rare. It is also noted that population pressure does not arise in continental climates where famine mortality is common because of high-amplitude changes in productivity from year to year. It is argued that population pressure is a necessary and sufficient condition for and the efficient cause of socioeconomic complexity. The widespread disavowal by archaeologists of population pressure as a possible explanation for the prehistoric development of complex hunter-gatherers has no basis in ethnographic fact.
The MARVEL Domain Protein Nce102 Regulates Actin Organization and Invasive Growth of Candida albicans

Invasive growth of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans into tissues promotes disseminated infections in humans. The plasma membrane is essential for pathogenesis because this important barrier mediates morphogenesis and invasive growth, as well as secretion of virulence factors, cell wall synthesis, nutrient import, and other processes. Previous studies showed that the Sur7 tetraspan protein that localizes to MCC (membrane compartment occupied by Can1)/eisosome sub- domains of the plasma membrane regulates a broad range of key functions, including cell wall synthesis, morphogenesis, and resistance to copper. Therefore, a distinct tetraspan protein found in MCC/eisosomes, Nce102, was investigated. Nce102 belongs to the MARVEL domain protein family, which is implicated in regulating membrane structure and function. Deletion of NCE102 did not cause the broad defects seen in sur7cells. Instead, thence102mutant displayed a unique phenotype in that it was de- fective in forming hyphae and invading low concentrations of agar but could invade well in higher agar concentrations. This phenotype was likely due to a defect in actin organization that was observed by phalloidin staining. In support of this, the inva- sive growth defect of abni1mutant that mislocalizes actin due to lack of the Bni1 formin was also reversed at high agar concen- trations. This suggests that a denser matrix provides a signal that compensates for the actin defects. The nce102mutant dis- played decreased virulence and formed abnormal hyphae in mice. These studies identify novel ways that Nce102 and the physical environment surrounding C. albicans regulate morphogenesis and pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE The plasma membrane promotes virulence of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans by acting as a protec- tive barrier around the cell and mediating dynamic activities, such as morphogenesis, cell wall synthesis, secretion of virulence factors, and nutrient uptake. To better understand how the plasma membrane contributes to virulence, we analyzed a set of eight genes encoding MARVEL family proteins that are predicted to function in membrane organization. Interestingly, deletion of one gene, NCE102, caused a strong defect in formation of invasive hyphal growth in vitro and decreased virulence in mice. The nce102mutant cells showed defects in actin organization that underlie the morphogenesis defect, since mutation of a known regulator of actin organization caused a similar defect. These studies identify a novel way in which the plasma membrane regu- lates the actin cytoskeleton and contributes to pathogenesis.
Join patterns for visual basic

We describe an extension of Visual Basic 9.0 with asynchronous concurrency constructs - join patterns - based on the join calculus. Our design of Concurrent Basic (CB) builds on earlier work on Polyphonic C# and Comega. Since that work, the need for language-integrated concurrency has only grown, both due to the arrival of commodity, multi-core hardware, and the trend for Rich Internet Applications that rely on asynchronous client-server communication to hide latency. Unlike its predecessors, CB adopts an event-like syntax that should be familiar to existing VB programmers. Coupled with Generics, CB allows one to declare re-useable concurrency abstractions that were clumsy to express previously. CB removes its ancestors' inconvenient inheritance restriction, while providing new extensibility points useful in practical applications that must co-exist with or want to exploit alternative threading models available on the platform. CB is implemented as an extension of the production VB 9.0 compiler.
Infra-red Absorption; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Electron Spin Resonance; Mössbauer Resonance

These four techniques provide information on the local environment of specific types of atoms. All four depend on the phenomenon of resonance in which electromagnetic radiation of the appropriate frequency is absorbed by some process associated with a specific energy change. Infra-red absorption bands result from vibration or rotation of adjacent atoms. Nuclear magnetic and electric quadrupole resonance (often denoted nmr) results from transitions between quantized energy levels arising from interactions of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole of an atomic nucleus with the electrostatic field of the crystal. Electron paramagnetic resonance (epr) arises from interaction of an uncoupled electron spin with the electrostatic field of the crystal. Mossbauer resonance results from absorption of incoming gamma rays whose effective energy is varied by a Doppler displacement of the sample: the absorption spectrum maps out the energy levels which depend on the crystal-chemical environment of the atomic nuclei.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Florida's unenviable position with respect to sea level rise

This paper introduces and summarizes a series of articles on the potential impacts of sea level rise on Florida’s natural and human communities and what might be done to reduce the severity of those impacts. Most of the papers in this special issue of Climatic Change were developed from presentations at a symposium held at Archbold Biological Station in January 2010, sponsored by the Florida Institute for Conservation Science. Symposium participants agreed that adaptation to sea level rise for the benefit of human communities should be planned in concert with adaptation to reduce vulnerability and impacts to natural communities and native species. The papers in this special issue discuss both of these categories of impacts and adaptation options. In this introductory paper, I place the subject in context by noting that that the literature in conservation biology related to climate change has been concerned largely about increasing temperatures and reduced moisture availability, rather than about sea level rise. The latter, however, is the most immediate and among the most severe impacts of global warming in low-lying regions such as Florida. I then review the content of this special issue by summarizing and interpreting the following 10 papers. I conclude with a review of the recommendations for research and policy that were developed from group discussions at the Archbold symposium. The main lesson that emerges from this volume is that sea level rise, combined with human population growth, urban development in coastal areas, and landscape fragmentation, poses an enormous threat to human and natural well-being in Florida. How Floridians respond to sea level rise will offer lessons, for better or worse, for other low-lying regions worldwide.
Epilepsy in Rural Kentucky: Prevalence in a Population of School Age Children

SUMMARY Seizure prevalence among school age children residing in a rural western Kentucky area (Hardin County) was determined utilizing a method designed to minimize false positives and to allow estimation of false negatives. The observed prevalence of epilepsy is 5.7/1,000 and of febrile seizures 17/1,000. Because of the high rate of false negative responses detected by random sample interview, the true rate of febrile seizures is believed to be closer to a projected rate of 31/1,000. RESUME La prevalence ete L'epilepsie parmi les enfants d'âge scolaire residant dans une region rurale du Kentucky (Comte ete Hardin) a ete determinee.en utilisant une methode qui minimise les “faux positifs” et qui permet une estimation des “faux negatifs.” La prevalence observee pour L'epilepsie est ete 5.7/1,000 tandis que la prevalence des convulsions febriles atteint 17/1,000. Du fait ete la proportion elevee des reponses “faux negatifs” detectes, il semble que la prevalence reelle des convulsions febriles doit se situer aux environs ete 31/1,000. RESUMEN Mediante la utilizacion ete un metodo disenado para minimizar los resultados falsos positivos y que permita una estimacion ete los falsos negatives, se ha deter-minado la prevalencia ete convulsiones entre los ninos ete edad escolar residentes en una zona rural del oeste ete Kentucky (Hardin County). La prevalencia ete epilepsia observada es ete 5.7 por 1,000 y la ete convulsiones febriles es ete 17 por 1,000. Debido al alto indice ete respuestas falsas negativas registradas en las mue-stras randomizadas ete las entrevistas, el nivel real ete convulsiones febriles se considero que alcanzaba el nivel proyectado ete 31 por 1,000. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Haufigkeit von Anfallen im Schulalter bei Kindern in einer landlichen Gegend von West Kentucky (Hardin County) wurde untersucht. Zur Anwendung kam eine Methode die geeignet ist, falsch positive Antworten zu minimalisieren und es eriaubt, falsch negative Antworten zu schatzen. Die beobachtete Haufigkeit von epilepsie ist 5.7 auf 1,000 Kinder, die von Fieberkrampfen 17 auf 1,000. Wegen der hohen Rate falsch negativer Antworten die bei einem Stich-probeninterview gefunden wurden wird angenommen, das die wirkliche Haufigkeit febriler Anfalle eher auf 31 auf 1,000 zu beziffern ist.
Cannabinoid receptor stimulation is anti-inflammatory and improves memory in old rats

The number of activated microglia increase during normal aging. Stimulation of endocannabinoid receptors can reduce the number of activated microglia, particularly in the hippocampus, of young rats infused chronically with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the current study we demonstrate that endocannabinoid receptor stimulation by administration of WIN-55212-2 (2mg/kg day) can reduce the number of activated microglia in hippocampus of aged rats and attenuate the spatial memory impairment in the water pool task. Our results suggest that the action of WIN-55212-2 does not depend upon a direct effect upon microglia or astrocytes but is dependent upon stimulation of neuronal cannabinoid receptors. Aging significantly reduced cannabinoid type 1 receptor binding but had no effect on cannabinoid receptor protein levels. Stimulation of cannabinoid receptors may provide clinical benefits in age-related diseases that are associated with brain inflammation, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Creation and initial evaluation of a Stool Form Scale for children.

Objective To develop a pediatric stool form rating scale and determine its interrater reliability, intrarater reliability, and agreement among pediatric gastroenterologists. Study design An ordinal stool scale with 5 categorical stool form types was created on the basis of the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and 32 color 2-dimensional stool photographs were shown to 14 pediatric gastroenterologists. Each gastroenterologist rated the stool form depicted in each photograph with the modified stool scale. Ten gastroenterologists agreed to rerate the stool form depicted in each photograph a minimum of 6 months after the first rating. Results A total of 448 ratings were completed; 430 (94%) of all ratings were within at least 1 category type of the most common (modal) rating for each photograph. Eight (25%) stool photographs had complete agreement among all raters. Interrater and intrarater reliability was high with a single measure intraclass correlation of 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.91; P P Conclusion A modified pediatric Bristol Stool Form Scale provided a high degree of interrater reliability, intrarater reliability, and agreement among pediatric gastroenterologists.
A partitioned implementation of the Xpress Transfer Protocol. I

This paper focuses on the practical aspects of implementing the Xpress Transfer Protocol (XTP). A strategy is proposed for partitioning XTP across host and off-board processors in a distributed system in which an existing XTP implementation is changed in a step-wise fashion to meet the system requirements. The architecture is described, and the XTP development strategy is presented. Finally, XTP performance and integration issues are discussed. >
Polyimide structure-property relationships. II - Polymers from isomeric diamines

An extensive study of the effects of stereoisomeric variations in aromatic polyimide structures on polyimide properties was conducted. The structural variations were incorporated into the polyimides through the use of two complete series of isomeric aromatic diamine monomers, the diaminodiphenylmethanes and the diaminobenzophenones, as well as several pairs of diamine isomers. The ability of the diamines to polymerize was related to the basicities, and thus reactivities, of the amino groups. Diamines with an amino group located ortho to the group connecting the two aromatic rings were successfully polymerized with dianhydrides for the first time to high molecular weight poly(amic acids). The stereoisomeric polyimides were characterized by determining the glass transition temperatures Tg, mechanical properties, and thermooxidative stabilities of thin films of the polymers. The polymers prepared from p-diamines were shown to have the highest softening points and thus, the most rigid molecular structures. Those synthesized from m-diamines had the lowest Tg values, inferring the most flexible molecular backbone. With limited exceptions, the use of diamines with ortho-oriented amine groups failed to improve the flexibility of the polyimides since their Tg values were usually as high as those of polymers made from p-diamines. Only slight differences in mechanical properties of the isomeric polyimide films were attributable to the variations in isomeric structure, except for those properties dependent upon Tg changes, such as elevated temperature mechanical properties. A study of the thermooxidative stability of the polyimides showed little difference between the polymers prepared from the diaminobenzophenones, but marked differences were observed between the individual members of the diaminodiphenylmethane-derived polyimides.
War in the Nursery, 1798: The Persecuting Breast and the Melancholy Babe in Maria Edgeworth's Ennui

I know that, as proof of the inferiority of the [female] sex, Rousseau has exultingly exclaimed, "How can they leave the nursery for the camp!" -Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman INTRODUCTION: CONTAGIOUS READING AND CRITICAL ENNUI
Mini-haptics to improve capsular fixation of plate-haptic silicone intraocular lenses.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a new mini-haptic design on the strength and stability of capsular bag fixation of plate-haptic silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) and determine whether this design encourages the growth of regenerating lens material or fibrous tissue around the haptic biomaterial and thus improves lens fixation in the capsular bag. Setting: Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Methods: Six rabbits had bilateral continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, and plate-haptic silicone IOL implantation. Each rabbit had a small-hole plate IOL (Chiron C10UB) implanted in the right eye and a mini-haptic plate IOL (Chiron C40UB) in the left eye. All rabbits were killed at 2 months. The force required to extract one haptic from the capsular bag was measured with a digital force gauge. Histopathologic analysis was performed on all specimens. Results: The mini-haptic style IOLs required significantly more extraction force than the small-hole design ( P = .011). Histopathologically, proliferating lens epithelial cells were observed growing circumferentially around the mini-haptics, causing a 360 degree synechia formation. This formation did not occur with the conventional small-hole plate IOLs used as the control. Conclusions: Lens epithelial cell proliferation around the mini-haptics significantly improved capsular bag fixation of the plate-haptic silicone IOL. This should decrease the incidence of clinical decentration and dislocation.