cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Truth theories, translation manuals, and theories of meaning

Versions of the Davidsonian program in semantics aim to use a Tarskian truth theory to accomplish the tasks of a theory of meaning. In ‘‘Truth and Meaning,’’ Davidson identified two related aims for the theory of meaning: (i) to give the meanings of expressions of the language, and (ii) to explain the semantic competence of speakers of the language, by stating information knowledge of which would be sufficient to understand the language. From the start, the attempt to use a truth theory to accomplish these tasks faced a number of fundamental objections. In the last thirty years, though, a number of variants of Davidson’s original framework have been proposed to avoid these objections. The question I wish to raise in this paper is: do any of the proposed modifications of Davidson’s original theory validate the idea that, as Davidson put it, we find in Tarskian truth theories ‘‘the sophisticated and powerful foundation of a competent theory of meaning? (Davidson (1967)).’’ I will argue that they do not. To show this, it will be useful to begin with a discussion of two traditional problems for the Davidsonian program, and the solu
Design and Analysis of Linear Switched Reluctance Motor for High Precision Position Control

The paper presents the design and analysis of a longitudinal flux linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) for high precision position control applications. The inductance and force profiles of the LSRM are investigated using an analytical magnetic circuit analysis method and finite element method (FEM). Using FEM, the design of a LSRM is optimized for a semiconductor equipment application with high precision position control. Results from both simulation and experimental testing are also presented.
Alpine landscape evolution dominated by cirque retreat

Despite the abundance in alpine terrain of glacially dissected landscapes, the magnitude and geometry of glacial erosion can rarely be defined. In the eastern Kyrgyz Range of central Asia, a widespread unconformity exhumed as a geomorphic surface provides a regional datum with which to calibrate erosion. As tectonically driven surface uplift has progressively pushed this surface into the zone of ice accumulation, glacial erosion has overprinted the landscape. With as little as 500 m of incision into rocks underlying the unconformity, distinctive glacial valleys display their deepest incision adjacent to cirque headwalls. The expansion of north-facing glacial cirques at the expense of south-facing valleys has driven the drainage divide southward at rates of as much as two to three times the rate of valley incision. Glacial erosion rules based on ice flux incompletely explain this dominance of cirque retreat over valley incision. Local processes that either directly sap cirque headwalls or inhibit erosion down-glacier appear to control, at least initially, alpine landscape evolution.
Mandibular enlargement: an unusual complication of a cervical cystic hygroma

A 13-year-old boy with a large cervical cystic hygroma, which extended into the floor of mouth, was referred for treatment of painful teeth and tongue. Clinically there was a large submandibular swelling, enlargement of the mandible and a Class III malocclusion. Intra-orally the tongue was enlarged and vesiculated. Gross caries was present in both mandibular permanent first molar teeth. Treatment comprised oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice, chlorohexidene mouth rinse, and removal of the carious teeth. At a later data, removal of the lesion and correction of the mandibular enlargement will be undertaken.
1367 THYROID HORMONES AND THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS

We found that the incidence of PDA in 283 preterm infants was increased in those with serum T4 6 ug/dl (< 1000 g:63 vs 33%; 1000-1250 g:27 vs 0%; 1251-1500 g:13 vs 5%, p < 0.02). To examine the role of thyroid hormones on the ductus arteriosus we used preterm lamb fetuses (118d, term is 147d) and infused them with T3 or saline for 4d (plasma T3 = 303 ± 215 ng/dl, ± SD vs. 18 ± 9 ng/dl; plasma T3 in 1-7 d full term newborn lambs = 400-600 ng/dl). Following the infusion, we studied the ductus arteriosus from 13 fetuses prenatally and 14 fetuses postnatally (following C-section and ventilation for 4.5 h). The ductus was studied in vitro. There were no differences between prenatal ductuses from T3 infused and control fetuses in their contractile response to O2 and indomethacin or relaxation with PGE2. Ductuses studied postnatally from T3 infused premature lambs had a significantly decreased ability to contract and relax versus control lambs. Postnatal ductuses from T3 infused premature lambs behaved like ductuses from postnatal full term lambs, i.e., there was a decreased ability to relax or contract in vitro. The persistence of ductus responsiveness in postnatal premature lambs (with low T3) may account for the increased incidence of PDA in preterm human infants who have low neonatal T3 and T4 concentrations.
Contributions of Insulin-Resistance and Insulin-Secretory Defects to the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Controlled clinical trials have shown that optimal glycemic control can prevent the microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus; considerable epidemiological data suggest that this may also be true for macrovascular complications. However, this is frequently not achieved. Consequently, research efforts have been undertaken to better understand the pathophysiology of this disorder. It is now well recognized that 2 factors are involved: impaired β-cell function and insulin resistance. Prospective studies of high-risk populations have shown insulin-resistance and/ or insulin-secretory defects before the onset of impaired glucose tolerance. Thus, there has been a long-standing debate whether an alteration in insulin sensitivity or in insulin secretion is the primary genetic factor. Most of the available evidence favors the view that type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder in which the major genetic factor is impaired β-cell function and insulin resistance is the major acquired factor. Superimposition of insulin resistance on a β cell that cannot appropriately compensate leads to deterioration in glucose tolerance. Therefore, clinicians managing type 2 diabetes must reduce insulin resistance and augment and/or replace β-cell function.
A tuning parameter free test for properties of space–time covariance functions

Abstract We propose a new nonparametric test to test for symmetry and separability of space–time covariance functions. Unlike the existing nonparametric tests, our test has the attractive convenience of being free of choosing any user-chosen number or smoothing parameter. The asymptotic null distributions of the test statistics are free of nuisance parameters and the critical values have been tabulated in the literature. From a practical point of view, our test is easy to implement and can be readily used by the practitioner. A Monte-Carlo experiment and real data analysis illustrate the finite sample performance of the new test.
Canonical numbering systems for finite‐element codes

Canonical numbering systems are used to relate finite-element vertices and elements to edges and faces in those elements. A numbering system is proposed that treats all the major topological element types used in practice. Also described is a set of functions that provide common evaluations of the canonical numbering data. Examples from various parts of the finite-element analysis process are used to show the usefulness of these functions. The differences between various numbering systems used in commercial and research codes and our numbering system are described. The implementation of these functions is available as open-source software and can be called directly from the C, C++, and Fortran languages.
Coherence time and statistical properties of the GPS signal scattered off the ocean surface and their impact on the accuracy of remote sensing of sea surface topography and winds

A GPS transmitter-receiver pair forms a bistatic radar for ocean remote sensing when the receiving platform carries a down-looking antenna capable of collecting the GPS signal scattered off the ocean surface. The average received power versus time is derived as a function of viewing geometry, system parameters and ocean state. This waveform is crucial for the derivation of the sea surface topography (from its leading edge) or wind speed and direction (from its trailing edge). In predicting the accuracy of either measurement it is important to understand how accurately the average power can be determined in practical situations. This starts with the determination of the coherence time of the scattering, over which the received signal can be integrated for optimal signal to noise ratio. Additionally, the real signal is affected by self-noise which introduces variability from one sample to another. This work examines the coherence properties of the modeled received power as a function of sea state and scattering geometry. In particular the coherence time variability between leading and trailing edges is addressed, and its impact on the accuracy of either sea surface topography or wind speed and direction measurements is addressed. In particular, having determined the integration time necessary to produce independent samples, the incoherent summation time required for a given measurement accuracy is derived. Furthermore, the lag-to-lag correlation is addressed, leading to a covariance analysis formulation for the formal error in height retrieval.
Predisposing variables in PTSD patients

The conceptualization of predisposition to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) is summarized by three models: (1) predisposition due to preexisting psychopathology, (2) predisposition due to preexisting traits or characteristics considered normal, and (3) predisposition due to preexisting experience of specified stressors in family of origin. The investigation reported can be subsumed under the third model. The study involved the exploration of major stressors found in families of origin of 40 veterans, 20 who later developed PTSD and 20 who did not develop PTSD, with key demographic and military service variables balanced across groups. Additionally, the study focused on childhood perceptions of major stressors in family of origin. Findings suggest PTSD veterans had greater childhood stress related to parental alcoholism and unemployment than did non-PTSD counterparts. Further, the data suggest two major sets of childhood perceptions separate the two groups of veterans: (1) parental alcoholism/unemployment in the perception of PTSD participants, and (2) parental strictness/delegation of responsibility in the perception of non-PTSD participants. Methodological refinements are discussed that are needed to better hone in on the connection between family system stressors during primary socialization, subsequent phenomenology, and risk for PTSD.
THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS DOSES OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE ON THE FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE OF THE THYROID OF THE RAT

THE purpose of this investigation was to study simultaneously the anatomical and the functional changes in the thyroid gland of growing rats following the administration of graded doses of radioactive iodine. The various aspects of the study embrace the following: 1. The initial uptake of a variety of doses of radioactive iodine by the thyroid, the rate of loss of the labeled activity from the thyroid, and the determination of the amount of radiation delivered to the thyroid. 2. The subsequent functional capacity of the irradiated thyroid gland as measured by its response to: a) A low iodine diet, b) Thiouracil, and c) Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) administration. 3. Growth of the animals as judged by the gain in weight and length of the body. 4. Histological changes associated with the above observations: damage, recovery, regeneration and possible tumor formation during prolonged periods of observation.
Large B-Cell Lymphoma of Thyroid Two Cases With a Marginal Zone Distribution of the Neoplastic Cells

We report 2 cases of B-cell lymphoma of the thyroid in which although a marginal zone distribution of the neoplastic cells was present, the cytologic features of the cells indicated large cell lymphoma. One of the cases showed an accumulation of crystalline inclusions within the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Many of these inclusion-bearing cells showed plasmacytoid features. By immunohistochemical studies performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, both of the cases showed a B-cell phenotype as indicated by CD20 expression, and 1 showed kappa light chain restriction. In both cases, Ki-67 staining corroborated the impression of an aggressive neoplasm with staining of 50% and 90% of the tumor cells. Both patients received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone with radiation therapy, and both are without evidence of disease after 17 and 18 months of follow-up. It is important to recognize this pattern of large B-cell lymphoma of the thyroid gland. While the indolent course typical of most low-grade extranodal marginal zone lymphomas is not likely in these cases, the outcome may be favorable if patients are treated aggressively with therapy for large cell lymphoma.
The elastic constants of the intermetallic compound Ag2Al from 77° TO 700°K

Abstract The five independent elastic constants of the hexagonal intermetallic compound Ag 2 Al were determined by means of the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique over the temperature interval 77° to 700°K. The values obtained at 298°K are: c 11 = 1·415 , c 33 = 1·685 , c 44 = 0·341 c 66 = 0·284 , and c 13 = 0.747 , all expressed in units of 10 12 dyn/cm 2 . The linear compressibility parallel to the c -axis, calculated from these elastic constants is smaller than the compressibility perpendicular to the c -axis, in agreement with the less-than-ideal c a ratio. Extrapolating the elastic constants to 0°K, the Debye temperature was calculated to be 276°K.
Founding the Future: Path Dependence in the Evolution of Top Management Teams from Founding to IPO

We contrast life-cycle and path-dependent views of entrepreneurial firms by examining the evolution of top management teams. We show how initial conditions constrain subsequent outcomes by demonstrating that the founding team's prior functional experiences and initial organizational functional structures predict subsequent top manager backgrounds and later functional structures. We find that narrowly experienced teams have trouble adding functional expertise not already embodied in the team. We also find that firms beginning with a limited range of functional positions are less likely to develop complete functional structures. Importantly, we do not find functional structure and functional experience to be interchangeable. We find that firms beginning with more complete functional structures are likely to go public faster, and firms beginning with broadly experienced team members obtain venture capital more quickly regardless of the experience and structural composition of the top management team in place at the time of these outcomes. Further, broadly experienced founding teams that build an early team with a full complement of functional positions achieve important milestones faster than firms that start with neither experience nor structure. This suggests that creating positions as “placeholders” in new ventures, where positions are created and filled with the intent of bringing individuals with more relevant experience onboard later, is not obviously a path by which to succeed. By examining the origins of top management team experience and functional structures, we illustrate the lasting imprint of founders on top management team composition and firm outcomes.
Thyroid hormone, oestrogen, and glucocorticoid effects on two different pituitary glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit pools.

SUMMARY Seven hypothyroid women (six postmenopausal and one premenopausal) were treated with 200 or 300 μg of levo-T4 daily in order to suppress the secretion of TSH and its alpha and beta subunits. After such therapy, serum TSH and beta subunit of TSH (TSH-β) levels were usually not detectable. Serum alpha decreased from a mean value of 4.5 ± 0.8 ng/ml to 2.8 ± 0.4 ng/ml (P > 0.01). Serum LH and FSH levels were unchanged. Oestrogen administration (20 mg diethylstilboestrol daily for 3 or 5 days) to these patients further decreased mean serum alpha to 1.9 ± 0.2 ng/ml (P > 0.005). In addition serum LH, FSH, and the beta subunits of LH and FSH decreased with oestrogen treatment. In separate experiments glucocorticoids (dexamethasone 4 mg every 6 hours for 10 doses) were administered to eight normal individuals, four women with decreased thyroid reserve, and one hyper-thyroid woman. Not only did basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion decrease, but secretion of alpha and TSH-β also decreased after dexamethasone administration, with the largest fall in the patients with decreased thyroid reserve. The change in these thirteen patients’ alpha subunit increment after TRH administration was from a mean of 1.6 to 1.0 ng/ml with glucocorticoids; the change in TSH-β was from a mean of 1.1 to 0.7 ng/ml. Serum LH and FSH concentrations were not altered by glucocorticoid administration. These studies have demonstrated two different pools of alpha subunits in the pituitary gland. Thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids decreased secretion of alpha subunits arising from the thyrotroph; oestrogen decreased secretion of alpha subunits arising from the gonadotroph.
Startup Firm Acquisitions as a Human Resource Strategy for Innovation: The Acqhire Phenomenon

As acquiring and retaining talented human resources becomes increasingly challenging in the search for competitive advantage in many dynamic markets, firms are increasingly engaging in acquisitions...
Erectile Dysfunction and Mortality in a National Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Introduction Emerging work has shown erectile dysfunction (ED) to be an important indicator of cardiovascular risk via its shared pathophysiology. Yet limited research has examined if a direct relationship between ED and mortality risk exists. Aim The purpose of this brief report was to better define the relationship between ED and mortality risk. Methods Prevalent ED was assessed with the question: “How would you describe your ability to get and keep an erection adequate for satisfactory intercourse?” Participant data from the population‐based 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was linked to death certificates from the National Death Index for mortality assessment. Main Outcome Measures Increased risk of premature all‐cause mortality among those with ED (vs. those without). Results Of 1,790 adult men providing complete data (age range: 20–85 years; mean = 45.4 year), with 557 having ED, over a 93‐month follow‐up, 244 deceased over this time. After adjustments, those with ED (vs. those without) had a 70% increased risk of premature all‐cause mortality (hazards ratio = 1.70; 95% confidence interval; 1.01–2.85; P = 0.04). Conclusions ED is associated with increased premature mortality risk. The present findings have major public health and clinical implications in that ED is a strong indicator of premature mortality. Therefore, patients with ED should be screened and possibly treated for complications that may increase the risk of premature death. Loprinzi PD and Nooe A. Erectile dysfunction and mortality in a national prospective cohort study. J Sex Med 2015;12:2130–2133.
On shelter efficiency of shelterbelts in oblique wind

Abstract The changes of shelter effects in oblique flows are studied by numerical simulations. The simulated results show that horizontal profiles of wind speed and the location of the minimum wind speed (i.e., maximum wind reduction) move toward the shelterbelt when approach flows depart from the normal, and wind speed may exceed the undisturbed wind speed in the middle lee because of the channeling effect of shelterbelts. With increasing wind incidence angle (IA), the minimum wind speed may decrease or increase, and the rate of decrease in the shelter distance may be faster or slower than cos(IA), both depending on the height of observation and the density and width of shelterbelts. The mean wind speed reduction over 30H (H is shelterbelt height) leeward shows similar characteristics to the shelter distance. The change of shelter effects in oblique flows may result from (i) change of effective shelterbelt density, (ii) different efficiencies in reducing wind speed in directions perpendicular and parallel to the belt, and (iii) change of horizontal wind direction as the flow recovers to the undisturbed direction. The relative importance of each factor, which depends on the height of observation and the density and width of shelterbelts, determines the variation of shelter effects. The simulations produced all the observed qualitative characteristics of shelter effects and for those previous reports giving measured values, the model produced results that are in good agreement.
Castor: Secure Code Updates Using Symmetric Cryptosystems

We present Castor, a secure code-update protocol for sensor networks that exploits symmetric cryptoystems. Through a synergistic combination of a one-way hash-chain, two one-way key-chains with the delayed disclosure of symmetric keys, and multiple message authentication codes (MACs), Castor enables untrusted sensor nodes to verify an update's authenticity and guarantees that no correct node will ever install or forward a compromised part of a code-update image. We describe an implementation of Castor that hardens the TinyOS-based update protocol, Deluge, against node compromise. We experimentally compare Castor's computational and communication costs with those of Deluge and with those of a contemporary secure update protocol, Sluice, that uses asymmetric cryptosystems (digital signatures) instead. Our results demonstrate that Castor incurs reasonable overheads as compared to Deluge, and lower resource usage as well as lower end-to-end update latency as compared to Sluice.
Educational Participation and Dietary Changes of EFNEP Homemakers in Louisiana1

Are dietary levels of homemakers participating in a nutrition educational program influenced by length of participation? By the kind of learning experience they are involved in? By the intensity of the learning exposure? These questions were examined in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Louisiana to see how diets changed over a 12-month period. Homemakers were instructed through personal visits and meetings. Consumption of the basic four food groups was found to increase in the first 2 to 4 months, then reach a plateau. Other studies in Louisiana indicated a drop, either to former or slightly higher than former levels, when the educational effort was discontinued. Visits and meetings had about the same effect on diet changes, but more people were reached through meetings. Intake of two food groups correlated positively with frequency of visits or meetings. The findings suggested the need for a continuing education program using a variety of teaching procedures, combined with better tools for evaluating effectiveness of the educational effort.
Miscibility compositional window in terpolymers with common monomers using @RAND in spreadsheet

The compositional window for which two terpolymers with common monomers are miscible can be calculated using a spreadsheet such as Quatrapro V6.0 for Windows. The results are presented as a function of compositional mismatch. The van Laar mixing rule or binary interaction model is used to obtain the compositional window of miscibility. The @RAND key was used to demark the miscible regions from the immiscible ones in the entire compostional range (n/spl times/m/spl times/k/spl times/1 or n/sup 4/) of the terpolymer. The compositional mismatch was defined as the variable. In this approach the compositional window for miscibility can be computed quicker (cN or n).
Sequence-Based Prediction of Protein Folding Rates Using Contacts, Secondary Structures and Support Vector Machines

Predicting protein folding rate is useful for understanding protein folding process and guiding protein design. Most previous methods of predicting folding rate require the tertiary structure of a protein as an input. And most methods do not distinguish the different kinetic natures (two-state folding and multi-state folding) of the proteins. Here we developed a method, SeqRate, to predict both protein folding kinetic type (two-state versus multi-state) and real-value folding rate using features extracted from only protein sequence with support vector machines. On a standard benchmark dataset, the accuracy of folding kinetic type classification is 80%. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the mean absolute difference between predicted and experimental folding rates (sec-1) in the base-10 logarithmic scale are 0.81 and 0.79 for two-state protein folders, and 0.80 and 0.68 for three-state protein folders. SeqRate is the first sequence-based method for protein folding type classification and its accuracy of fold rate prediction is improved over previous sequence-based methods. Both the web server and software of predicting folding rate are publicly available at http://casp.rnet.missouri.edu/fold_rate/index.html.
Human Locomotor Adaptive Learning Is Proportional to Depression of Cerebellar Excitability

Human locomotor adaptive learning is thought to involve the cerebellum, but the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this process are not known. While animal research has pointed to depressive modulation of cerebellar outputs, a direct correlation between adaptive learning and cerebellar depression has never been demonstrated. Here, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess excitability changes occurring in the cerebellum and primary motor cortex (M1) after individuals learned a new locomotor pattern on a split-belt treadmill. To control for potential changes associated to task performance complexity, the same group of subjects was also assessed after performing 2 other locomotor tasks that did not elicit learning. We found that only adaptive learning resulted in reduction of cerebellar inhibition. This effect was strongly correlated with the magnitude of learning (r = 0.78). In contrast, M1 excitability changes were not specific to learning but rather occurred in association with task complexity performance. Our results demonstrate that locomotor adaptive learning in humans is proportional to cerebellar excitability depression. This finding supports the theory that adaptive learning is mediated, at least in part, by long-term depression in Purkinje cells. This knowledge opens the opportunity to target cerebellar processes with noninvasive brain stimulation to enhance motor learning.
Layered lattice gas model for the metal-electrolyte interface

Abstract Several models of the diffuse double layer in liquid electrolytes are discussed. These models all involve partitioning the space charge region into a number of planar layers parallel to the metal electrode, with ionic liquid lattice gas, as opposed to idea gas, response in each layer. Each layer may contain both ions and solvent molecules. Several difficulties implicit in the earlier work of Liu on such a model are pointed out. These problems seem to have caused the appearance of an initial charge-free region in Liu's results. A layer model involving Liu's original assumptions of point ionic charges and point dipoles is discussed in detail and is shown to be electrostatically inconsistent. It is replaced by a layer model in which ionic charge resides on each basic layer, with each such layer surrounded symmetrically by charge layers representing the effect of finite-extent permanent dipoles. This model leads, as it should, to Gouy-Chapman behavior in the continuum limit. Finally, a method of including ion hydration effects explicitly in such a model is proposed.
Nanowire-based sublithographic programmable logic arrays

How can Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs) be built without relying on lithography to pattern their smallest features? In this paper, we detail designs which exploit emerging, bottom-up material synthesis techniques to build PLAs using molecular-scale nanowires. Our new designs accommodate technologies where the only post-fabrication programmable element is a non-restoring diode. We introduce stochastic techniques which allow us to restore the diode logic at the nanoscale so that it can be cascaded and interconnected for general logic evaluation. Under conservative assumptions using 10nm nanowires and 90nm lithographic support, we project yielded logic density around 500,000nm2/or term for a 60 or-term array; a complete 60-term, two-level PLA is roughly the same size as a single 4-LUT logic block in 22nm lithography. Each or term is comparable in area to a 4-transistor hardwired gate at 22nm. Mapping sample datapaths and conventional programmable logic benchmarks, we estimate that each 60-or-term PLA plane will provide equivalent logic to 5--10 4-input LUTs.
Heat Stress Inhibits the Completion of Pupal Diapause in Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, pupae that are exposed to high temperature toward the end of diapause will not develop beyond a specific heat-sensitive stage. The temporal relationship between heat sensitivity and diapause was studied by exposing cohorts of pupae at different stages of diapause to 25:35°C (photoperiod of 12:12 [L:D] h) for 20 d and comparing the length of time to emergence. Results showed that the longest delay in emergence was induced in pupae that were exposed to high temperature <10 d before the completion of diapause. Also, pupae at the heat-sensitive stage exposed to high temperature did not show the increase in respiration rate characteristic of the completion of diapause. The duration of the heat-sensitive stage was studied by keeping pupae at 20°C for different periods of time between two 10-d exposures to 25:35°C. Results showed that a small proportion of the pupae kept at 20°C for 5 d, and all pupae kept at 20°C for 15 d, developed beyond the sensitive stage, indicating that the heat-sensitive stage lasted ≈10 d in individual pupae. The effect of frequency of exposure to high temperature during the sensitive stage was also studied. Data showed that the delay was similar or greater than the total duration of the exposure to high temperature. Exposure to high temperature caused ≈15% of the pupae used in these experiments to remain in a long-term quiescence, with a respiration rate similar to that of pupae in diapause. Potential endocrine causes for this quiescence were investigated by topically applying exogenous 20-hydroxyecdysone on these pupae. Application of the hormone caused 41% of the individuals to develop to the adult stage, suggesting that heat-induced damage to the endocrine system caused the failure to develop. Overall, this study indicates that in the blueberry maggot, during a ≈10-d sensitive stage immediately before the completion of diapause, heat-induced stress on the endocrine system can prolong diapause and delay adult emergence for a period of time similar to the duration of the exposure.
Effects of diabetes on isometric tension as a function of [Ca2+] and pH in rat skinned cardiac myocytes

In diabetes a primary myocardial defect occurs that is characterized by decreases in systolic pressure and cardiac output. The present study investigates whether diabetes causes a decreased maximum tension-generating ability, decreased Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilaments, or no change in cardiac myofilament contractile properties at pH 7.0 and 6.6. Hearts from Wistar rats were excised and mechanically disrupted 6-10 wk after injection of streptozotocin. The resulting myocyte-size preparations of skinned myocardium were used to determine the steady-state tension-negative, log molar Ca2+ concentration (pCa) relation. Maximum tension was unchanged, and the pCa of half-maximum tension generation was 0.14 pCa units lower than control for skinned myocytes from diabetic rats at pH 7.0. A significantly lower than normal maximum tension was observed at pH 6.6 for cardiac myocytes from diabetic rats. Increased expression of beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC) occurred in hearts from diabetic rats. Two troponin T (TnT) isoforms in myocardium of adult rats were identified by Western blots. The ratio of the two TnT isoforms were altered in diabetes. Changes in cardiac MHC and TnT expression may contribute to the observed decrease in Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilaments at pH 7.0 and decreased maximum tension-generating ability at pH 6.6 in diabetes.
Transactional sex and sexual harassment between professors and students at an urban university in Benin

This paper adds to discussion of transactional sex relationships in Africa by examining the distinction between transactional sex and sexual harassment in the context of professor-student relationships and their inherent power dynamics. By exploring the ways in which female university students in urban Benin toe the line between empowered agent and victim, I show how the power differential between professor and student obstructs the professor's ability to objectively determine consent, and examine why, in spite of this differential, male professors are frequently perceived as the victims of these relationships. Ethnographic data were gathered through participant observation on a public university campus in Benin and in-depth interviews and focus groups with 34 students and 5 professors from that university. Findings suggest that the problem of sexual harassment on campus will be difficult to address so long as transactional sex relationships between professors and students are permitted to continue.
A Note on Systems Theory and the Idea of Interface

The article presents a letter to the editor by Daniel A. Wren in response to comments made by Leroy H. Mantell on Wren's March 1967 article regarding interfacing in organization theory.
Differential effects of reinforced and non-reinforced stimuli upon electrocortical recruiting responses

Cats trained in a classical differential conditioning situation exhibited the same pattern of EEG desynchronization during both the reinforced (CS) and non-reinforced (DS) stimuli, although they responded only to the former. In contrast, thalamically induced electrocortical recruiting responses, evoked prior to stimulus onset, were differentially affected; recruiting was attenuated by the CS but not by the DS. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of recruiting responses in the absence of gross EEG changes, and suggest that reticulothalamic interactions may comprise part of the neural substrate of attention.
Impact of fetal death reporting requirements on early neonatal and fetal mortality rates and racial disparities.

Objective. Racial disparities in infant and neonatal mortality vary substantially across the U.S. with some states experiencing wider disparities than others. Many factors are thought to contribute to these disparities, but state differences in fetal death reporting have received little attention. We examined whether such reporting requirements may explain national variation in neonatal and fetal mortality rates and racial disparities. Methods. We used data on non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black infants from the U.S. 2000–2002 linked birth/infant death and fetal death records to determine the degree to which state fetal death reporting requirements explain national variation in neonatal and fetal mortality rates and racial disparities. States were grouped depending upon whether they based the lower limit for fetal death reporting on birthweight alone, gestational age alone, both birthweight and gestational age, or required reporting of all fetal deaths. Traditional methods and the fetuses-at-risk approach were used to calculate mortality rates, 95% confidence intervals, and relative and absolute racial disparity measures in these four groups. Results. States with birthweight-alone fetal death thresholds substantially underreported fetal deaths at lower gestations and slightly overreported neonatal deaths at older gestations. This finding was reflected by these states having the highest neonatal mortality rates and disparities, but the lowest fetal mortality rates and disparities.
Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori infects about 50 % of the world’s population, causing at a minimum chronic gastritis. A subset of infected patients will ultimately develop gastric or duodenal ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, or MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. Eradication of H. pylori requires complex regimens that include acid suppression and multiple antibiotics. The efficacy of treatment using what were once considered standard regimens have declined in recent years, mainly due to widespread development of antibiotic resistance. Addition of bismuth to standard triple therapy regimens, use of alternate antibiotics, or development of alternative regimens using known therapies in novel combinations have improved treatment efficacy in specific populations, but overall success of eradication remains less than ideal. Novel regimens under investigation either in vivo or in vitro, involving increased acid suppression ideally with fewer antibiotics or development of non-antibiotic treatment targets, show promise for future therapy.
Production of estradiol by each ovary during the estrous cycle of cows

The objective of our experiment was to examine changes in serum concentrations of estradiol in each utero-ovarian vein before, during and after gonadotropin surges. Four cows were given prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) during diestrus and three cows were allowed to cycle spontaneously. All cows had a cannula in each utero-ovarian vein and in one jugular vein. Most cows had two transient rises in estradiol, primarily coming from a single ovary, preceding and after luteinizing hormone (LH) surges. The first rise in estradiol began after luteal regression and was sustained from 48 h before a pre-ovulatory LH surge to the end of the LH surge. The second rise in estradiol was sustained from 72 to 168 h after the end of an LH surge. To determine how rapidly asymmetrical production of estradiol began during luteolysis, several cows were injected with PGF2 alpha during the luteal phase. Blood samples were taken from a jugular and both utero-ovarian veins at hourly intervals before and after PGF2 alpha. Asymmetrical production of estradiol began within 3 h after an injection of PGF2 alpha. We concluded: (1) that a single ovary was responsible for the sustained increases in concentration of estradiol that occur during proestrus to estrus and early diestrus in cows and (2) that cows may have at least one follicle capable of producing estradiol during most days of an estrous cycle, thus little delay in selection of which follicle eventually ovulates occurs after luteal regression.
Single-Molecule Conformational Dynamics of E. coli DNA Polymerase I

The extraordinary accuracy of DNA replication is due in part to the coordinated action of various enzymatic activities exhibited by many DNA polymerases. Structural studies have revealed that many of these functions are localized in spatially separated protein domains, but what is not known is how these domains are coordinated with respect to each other and the DNA substrate in order to ensure efficient and accurate DNA synthesis. One such polymerase is DNA polymerase I (Pol I) from E. coli, which is composed of the Klenow fragment (KF), containing the 5’-3’ polymerase and 3’-5’ exonuclease activities, and a separate 5’ nuclease domain attached via a flexible linker. Here we have used single-molecule FRET (smFRET) microscopy to determine the position of the 5’ nuclease domain of Pol I relative to the downstream strand of various immobilized model DNA substrates. A high-FRET state was observed for a substrate containing a downstream flap - the natural substrate for the 5’ nuclease activity - suggesting that the 5’ nuclease domain is docked with the downstream strand of the duplex, as expected. Interestingly, a similar high-FRET state was also observed for a gapped substrate, suggesting that the 5’ nuclease is also near the downstream strand during polymerase activity. Together, these observations may explain the increased processivity of Pol I versus KF during DNA synthesis and suggest that the 5’ nuclease domain may also serve to mediate the switch between strand-displacement synthesis and RNA primer removal during Okazaki fragment processing. Conversely, no FRET was observed for a substrate containing a double mismatch at the 3’ end of the primer, indicating that the 5’ nuclease domain is remote from the downstream strand of the substrate during proofreading activity.
Permanent-magnet trap for cold atoms

We have constructed a permanent-magnet trap that provides a tightly confining potential useful for producing dense ultracold atomic vapors.1 This trap will be used to investigate quantum-statistical effects of 6Li and 7Li. Permanent magnets can produce field strengths and gradients comparable to those of superconducting-magnet traps but with reduced complexity and greater optical access. Our trap uses an arrangement of magnets in an Ioffe configuration,2 which features a nonzero magnetic-field minimum. Atoms are trapped about this minimum through the interaction of their total magnetic moment with the trap's magnetic field. The nonzero minimum prevents trap- loss-producing spin-flip (Majorana) transitions.
Folklore as a source for creating exile identity among Latvian Displaced Persons in post-World War II Germany

ABSTRACTThis article draws on archival and print materials produced by Latvian Displaced Persons during the years they lived in UNRRA refugee camps after World War II. Its focus is on the ‘how’ of their cultural production and identity formation in camps that were established to expedite repatriation but became instead contexts in which Latvians as social actors opposed the goals of authoritative others to endow experience with their own textual meanings. This essay demonstrates how they recontextualized a variety of folklore genres as flexible and powerful resources for addressing their existential crisis and for solidifying exile as the basis for living purposefully off the territory of ‘home.’
Self-Reported Hearing in the Last 2 Years of Life in Older Adults

Objectives To assess the prevalence and correlates of self-reported hearing loss during the last 2 years of life. Design Observational cohort study. Setting The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal nationally representative cohort of adults aged 50 and older (2000–13). Participants Older adults (N = 5,895, mean age at death 78, 53% female, 20% nonwhite). Measurements The HRS interview closest to death was used (mean 12.2 months before death). Participants rated their hearing (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor) and indicated whether they used hearing aids. The prevalence and correlates of fair and poor ratings are described, adjusted for age and sex. Results Thirty-two percent (95% confidence interval (CI) = 31–34%) of all participants and 60% (95% CI = 57–64%) of the 7% of participants who used hearing aids rated their hearing as fair or poor. The prevalence of fair or poor hearing was highest in participants interviewed closest to death (29% 19–24 months before death, 36% 1–6 months before death, P for trend = .01). Correlates of fair or poor hearing during the last 2 years of life included age at death (50–59, 22%; 60–69, 21%; 70–79, 26%; 80–89, 38%; ≥90, 50%), sex (men 35%, women 30%), race and ethnicity (Hispanic 42%, white 33%), wealth (lowest quartile 38%, highest quartile 27%), history of heart disease (yes 38%, no 27%), activity of daily living dependence (yes 42%, no 26%), difficulty taking medications (yes 46%, no 29%), and probable dementia (yes 44%, no 24%). Conclusion Self-reported hearing loss increases during the last 2 years of life and is associated with physical and social vulnerability.
A decarboxylative approach for regioselective hydroarylation of alkynes

Regioselective activation of aromatic C-H bonds is a long-standing challenge for arene functionalization reactions such as the hydroarylation of alkynes. One possible solution is to employ a removable directing group that activates one of several aromatic C-H bonds. Here we report a new catalytic method for regioselective alkyne hydroarylation with benzoic acid derivatives during which the carboxylate functionality directs the alkyne to the ortho-C-H bond with elimination in situ to form a vinylarene product. The decarboxylation stage of this tandem sequence is envisioned to proceed with the assistance of an ortho-alkenyl moiety, which is formed by the initial alkyne coupling. This ruthenium-catalysed decarboxylative alkyne hydroarylation eliminates the common need for pre-existing ortho-substitution on benzoic acids for substrate activation, proceeds under redox-neutral and relatively mild conditions, and tolerates a broad range of synthetically useful aromatic functionality. Thus, it significantly increases the synthetic utility of benzoic acids as easily accessible aromatic building blocks.
Tetanus in New Zealand children: Intensive care management of a vaccine preventable disease

Aim To review management of children admitted with tetanus to Starship Children's Hospital from 2000 to 2013. Methods Retrospective chart review of children aged 0–15 years admitted to Starship Children's Hospital with tetanus from 2000 to 2013. Follow-up of immunisation status was via the National Immunisation Register and/or phone contact with patient's primary health care provider. Results Four cases of tetanus occurred, all in unimmunised children. All four required paediatric intensive care unit admission (length of stay (LOS) 2.5–7 weeks) for ventilatory support; three required tracheostomy. Specific tetanus treatment included metronidazole, tetanus immunoglobulin and antispasmodic medications such as magnesium sulphate and benzodiazepines. Three remain partially or unimmunised following discharge. Conclusion Tetanus in children is a rare but preventable life-threatening disease, requiring costly intensive care management. Immunisation is cheap and effective in preventing tetanus and should be offered to all children, including tetanus cases for their future protection.