cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Luso-France: Cultural Productions by and about the Portuguese and Luso-Descendants in France

Abstract. This introduction to the Special Issue provides a synthetic overview of scholarly and mainstream discussions about the Portuguese presence in France, while addressing how the different articles collectively and individually expand our understandings of the Portuguese in France as themselves highly reflexive producers of culture. We review common images of the Portuguese presence in France, including how Luso-French participants and cultural producers have responded to and contested such images. In particular, we discuss the following: 1. the relative (in)visibility of Portuguese migrants and their descendants from public life in both Portugal and France, as compared to other migrant and postmigrant groups; 2. how Luso-French cultural producers navigate their families’ transnational lives and intergenerational relations as material for cultural production; 3. the politics surrounding the (il)legitimacy and differential circulation of various forms of Portuguese and Luso-French cultural products. We hope that the issue’s focus on Luso-French cultural productions will allow fresh perspectives, and invite new questions to be asked about the legacies and future directions of Luso-France.
Laboratory tests in older adults: Indications, interpretation, issues

Multiple and repetitive laboratory testing plays a major role in healthcare today. Testing has several values, including screening for disease, evaluating the stage of disease, and determining management strategies and their efficacy. Test results may be negative or positive, but can also be false positive and false negative, adding to difficulties in interpretation. The asymptomatic patient with abnormal test results is an enigma. Age by itself is not associated with much alteration in results. Marked variations in test results usually indicate the presence of underlying disease. Testing prior to a surgical procedure must be tailored to history, physical examination, and to the procedure itself. Results may be influenced by several factors, including gender, race, and the use of medications.
On the Problem of Crack Tip in Nonlocal Elasticity

In this article we present a brief account of our recent work2 on the problem of stress distribution in a plate with crack under uniform tensile load at infinity perpendicular to the direction of crack. A fracture criterion is also given.
Ojalá nunca amaneciera: guapos y homosexuales en el Medellín de Aire de tango

Aire de tango (1973) de Manuel Mejia Vallejo presenta al barrio Guayaquil como microcosmos y reflejo de las transgresiones traidas por los procesos de modernizacion en Medellin durante la primera mitad del siglo XX. Sin embargo, el ambiente desintegrado que aparece en la novela es el trasfondo de otra fragmentacion, la del personaje principal, Jairo. Junto con la crisis cultural que se despliega en el espacio de este barrio, aparece tambien una crisis en que la sexualidad de Jairo queda sometida a esta misma fragmentacion, en la que no solo se revela la hombria como algo elusivo e inalcanzable, sino tambien el deseo homosexual
Electrical properties of calcareous sediments

The electrical resistivity or its reciprocal, conductivity, of calcareous sediments ranging from lithified coral to oozes was measured in the laboratory. Similar electrical properties of the interstitial water of these sediments were also measured. Formation factor (the ratio of electrical resistivity of the sediment to the electrical resistivity of the interstitial water) was then compared with the specific porosity of each calcareous sediment. The formation factor-porosity relationship was determined for the calcareous sands and oozes. Formation factors ranged from 1.46 to 6.10 while porosities ranged from 28 to 87 percent. The results showed that the void ratios correlated well with the electrical conductivities of these sediments. Electrical resistivity and conductivity measurements have recently been used as an indirect and in situ technique for predicting index and engineering properties of sediments. The data presented in this paper should be useful in predicting the ranges of electrical resistivity and conductivity values associated with calcareous sediments.
Retrogression and Reaging Applied to Warm Forming of High-Strength Aluminum Alloy AA7075-T6 Sheet

This study introduces retrogression forming, a new warm-forming methodology for high-strength aluminum alloys such as AA7075-T6. Retrogression forming combines a retrogression heat treatment with simultaneous warm forming at approximately 200 °C to improve upon the room-temperature ductility of AA7075-T6, approximately 10 pct in tension, and can then use the automotive paint-bake cycle to restore nearly peak-aged strength. Experimental data indicate that retrogression forming at 200 °C provides a tensile ductility of 20 pct, approximately double that of room temperature, and that subsequent reaging by a simulated paint bake restores hardness to within 10 pct of the original peak-aged (T6) hardness. To explore the retrogression-forming concept, the retrogression behaviors of two AA7075-T6 sheet materials from different suppliers are characterized between 200 °C and 350 °C. The times and temperatures of retrogression treatments suitable for simultaneous warm forming are determined, and tensile ductilities under these conditions are measured. Tensile ductilities during high-temperature deformation (up to 520 °C) are measured and compared to those possible under retrogression-forming conditions. Plastic flow at temperatures of 460 °C to 520 °C is governed by dislocation-climb-controlled creep, a mechanism different from the behaviors observed under retrogression-forming conditions.
Future Tasks: Threats and Missions for SOF

Forecasting is an inexact art at best. This article outlines a framework for forecasting SOF futures based on one originally used in the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review to map capabilities against ...
(Mis)quoting King: commemorative stewardship and ethos in the controversy over the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Prior to the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2011, controversy swirled about a paraphrased quotation etched on the side of King’s likeness. The p...
1T-TaS2 - A strongly correlated material with a large photo-refractive effect at room temperature

We demonstrate a large photo-refractive effect in 1T-TaS2 in the visible at low intensity white light excitation. By using this optical tunability, we demonstrate tunable meta-gratings for nanophotonics applications.
Wideband Near-Zone Radiative Signal Collector System for Detection of Electromagnetic Emission From Distributed Sources

This work reports on a wideband near-zone radiative signal collector system operating from 1 to 50 GHz for capturing electromagnetic emission from a community of bacteria in a petri dish or any other distributed sources confined in a small focusing area. The system includes a dual-polarized signal collector, broadband Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and a precision spectrum analyzer. The signal collector is composed of a quad-ridged horn-type structure of dimensions λ L × λ L × 1.6 λ L (where λ L is the wavelength at the lowest frequency) having two orthogonal probes. The provision of a dielectric cone along the horn central axis allows for collimating the waves in the focusing area over the entire bandwidth. The signal collector acts as a field concentrator to provide a uniform field distribution across the focusing area (source location) over the entire band. The structure is EM-shielded to exclude outside radiation. The collector is also designed to be resonance-free for uniform collection of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Chapter 3 – Control Regime

This chapter presents the concept of control regime and the need to identify the regime controlling a model before using that model to scale a prototype. We generally represent the individual steps of a process with an overall rate constant. The overall heat transfer coefficient is such a constant, as is the overall reaction rate constant. Inverting an overall rate constant shows it to be a composite resistance. In other words, we can represent each step of a process as a resistance and sum those resistances to obtain an overall resistance. Anyone of those individual resistances can dominate the other resistances. Because several dimensionless parameters contain overall rate constants, we must determine which step of a process they represent. Otherwise, the scaled prototype may not operate similarly to its model.
Mediastinal histoplasmosis with cardiac involvement in a cat.

Abstract Histoplasmosis is the second most common fungal infection reported among domestic felines in the United States. Dissemination of the organism after inoculation is common and affected organ systems include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, reticuloendothelial organs, skeletal system, integument, and ocular system. However, histoplasmosis presenting as a discrete granulomatous mass identified on echocardiogram has never been reported in the veterinary literature. Here, we describe the first case of feline histoplasmosis presenting as a granuloma with cardiac involvement. The patient, a 6-year-old male neutered domestic longhair feline, was referred for tachypnea and dyspnea. A mass in the cranial mediastinum abutting the heart was diagnosed via two-dimensional echocardiography. Cytology of fine needle aspirates from the mass revealed round yeast structures consistent with Histoplasma spp. The patient was treated with oral fluconazole therapy, and subsequent rechecks have shown marked improvement in clinical parameters, lesion size, and antigen concentrations.
Improving the accuracy of unbound fraction measurement of drug-protein binding by preconditioning the RED membrane inserts.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the rapid equilibrium dialysis (RED) device in protein binding assays in diluted protein matrices and to improve the accuracy of the unbound fractio...
Assessing the Efficacy of Rational Budgeting Approaches: Financial Recovery Planning and Municipal Budgetary Solvency

This study assesses the effects of financial recovery planning on the budgetary solvency of US cities. Budgetary solvency is the ability of governments to meet their service responsibilities and other financial obligations in a fiscal year. Financial recovery planning, which is based on rational decision-making theory, is designed to help cities recover from fiscal stress by facilitating diagnosis of fiscal problems, and the implementation of short- and long-term fiscal recovery strategies. Using data from a national survey of cities and multi-year audited financial reports, the results of the regression analyses show that planning is associated with stronger budgetary solvency, but its effectiveness varies across cities. Specifically, planning helps majority of fiscally struggling cities, but not those facing extreme fiscal decline.
Priorities of Treatment and Rationale in Adult Brachial Plexus Injuries

In most adult brachial plexus injuries, a high-energy mechanism results in extensive longitudinal axonotmetic damage, frequently with multiple nerve root avulsions. Resources for restoring function are limited by the resulting absence of most or all proximal plexal nerves. When extradural injury permits nerve grafting, limited autogenous sources of nerve graft often prove insufficient. Delay in surgical management, slow rates of nerve regeneration, and long distances required for axon growth to reach a target muscle often prevent a successful outcome. These factors require prioritization of desired functions to make best use of limited available resources. Best options for restoring elbow, shoulder, and grasp function are discussed based upon pattern of injury, with an analysis of published results to aid the reader in evaluation and treatment of these complex and challenging injuries.
Perov's contraction principle and dynamic programming with stochastic discounting

Abstract This paper shows the usefulness of Perov's contraction principle, which generalizes Banach's contraction principle to a vector-valued metric, for studying dynamic programming problems in which the discount factor can be stochastic. The discounting condition β 1 is replaced by ρ ( B ) 1 , where B is an appropriate nonnegative matrix and ρ denotes the spectral radius. Blackwell's sufficient condition is also generalized in this setting. Applications to asset pricing and optimal savings are discussed.
Unified Convergence Analysis of Two-Step Iterative Methods for Solving Equations

In this paper we consider unified convergence analysis of two-step iterative methods for solving equations in the Banach space setting. The convergence order four was shown using Taylor expansions requiring the existence of the fifth derivative not on this method. But these hypotheses limit the utilization of it to functions which are at least five times differentiable although the method may converge. As far as we know no semi-local convergence has been given in this setting. Our goal is to extend the applicability of this method in both the local and semi-local convergence case and in the more general setting of Banach space valued operators. Moreover, we use our idea of recurrent functions and conditions only on the first derivative and divided differences which appear on the method. This idea can be used to extend other high convergence multipoint and multistep methods. Numerical experiments testing the convergence criteria complement this study.
Redesigning EU fiscal rules: From rules to standards

The European Union’s fiscal rules have been suspended until at least the end of 2021. When they are reinstated, they will need to be modified, if only because of the high levels of debt. Proposals have been made—and more are to come—suggesting various changes and simplifications. In this paper, we take a step back and discuss how one should think about debt sustainability in the current and likely future EU economic environment. We argue that, given the complexity of the answer, it is an illusion to think that EU fiscal rules can be simple. But it is also an illusion to think that they can ever be complex enough to accommodate most relevant contingencies. This leads us to propose the abandonment of fiscal rules in favor of fiscal standards, i.e., qualitative prescriptions that leave room for judgment together with a process to decide whether the standards are met. Central to this process would be country-specific assessments using stochastic debt sustainability analysis, led by national independent fiscal councils and/or the European Commission. Disputes between member states and the European Commission on application of the standards should preferably be adjudicated by an independent institution, such as the European Court of Justice (or a specialized chamber), rather than by the Council of the EU.
Mississippian Influences On the Eastern Plains Border: An Evaluation

Mississippian or Mis sissippian inspired elements have long been identi fied in sites along the Plains-Prairie border. Coupled with available Carbon 14 dates, the distribution of traits often regarded as Mississippian is suggestive of a system of interrelationships which may be important to further understand ing of late Plains-Prairie prehistory. Perhaps the strongest evidence of Mississippian intrusions onto the Plains can be seen along the eastern margins of the Central Plains as defined by Wedel (1961:22-24) Specifically, my attention has been drawn to the strip of territory east of and paralleling the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, from the present Kan sas City area into southwestern Minne sota. Along this strip are found a num ber of groups which have been regarded as directly derived from or strongly in fluenced by Mississippian centers: the Kansas City Mississippian manifestation, Mill Creek and, in some ways, Nebraska Culture. To properly understand the nature of Mississippian influences upon these groups, it will eventually be neces sary to go to much greater depth than the following paper allows. The ensuing re marks are derived from recent research in the area and amount to a tentative evaluation of the traits regarded as Mis sissippian, their probable sources, and the system of interrelationships pos sibly responsible for their appearance.
3 Adult Age Differences in Memory for Pictures and Images

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the adult age differences in memory for pictures and images. To fully understand age-related differences in memory, one must be aware of the complex interactions among (1) individual-difference variables such as age, (2) the nature of the to be remembered material, and (3) the nature of the retrieval test. Both individual difference variables such as age and the type of material to be remembered can determine the nature of the memory representation the subject encodes at the time of presentation. This suggests that an appropriate research strategy to understand the relationship between age and memory is to examine the interactions among age, presentation format of stimulus information at encoding, and its test format at retrieval. There is evidence to suggest that memory representations can be lexical or they can be visuospatial, or they can be both. In general, more elaborate representations, rich in both lexical and visuospatial properties, would provide the best chance for successful retrieval at the time of test.
Ligand binding and activation of the secretin receptor, a prototypic family B G protein-coupled receptor.

The secretin receptor is a prototypic member of family B G protein-coupled receptors that binds and responds to a linear 27-residue peptide natural ligand. The carboxyl-terminal region of this peptide assumes a helical conformation that occupies the peptide-binding cleft within the structurally complex disulphide-bonded amino-terminal domain of this receptor. The amino terminus of secretin is directed toward the core helical bundle domain of this receptor that seems to be structurally distinct from the analogous region of family A G protein-coupled receptors. This amino-terminal region of secretin is critical for its biological activity, to stimulate Gs coupling and the agonist-induced cAMP response. While the natural peptide ligand is known to span the two key receptor domains, with multiple residue-residue approximation constraints well established, the orientation of the receptor amino terminus relative to the receptor core helical bundle domain is still unclear. Fluorescence studies have established that the mid-region and carboxyl-terminal end of secretin are protected by the receptor peptide-binding cleft and the amino terminus of secretin is most exposed to the aqueous milieu as it is directed toward the receptor core, with the mid-region of the peptide becoming more exposed upon receptor activation. Like other family B peptide hormone receptors, the secretin receptor is constitutively present in a structurally specific homo-dimeric complex built around the lipid-exposed face of transmembrane segment four. This complex is important for facilitating G protein association and achieving the high affinity state of this receptor. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Secretin Family (Class B) G Protein-Coupled Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.166.issue-1
Tim-3 enhances CD8 T cell responses to acute listeria monocytogenes infection (IRC9P.711)

Tim-3 is a cell surface molecule expressed on multiple immune cell populations that can mediate both stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Tim-3 has been previously shown to enforce CD8 T cell exhaustion, a dysfunctional state associated with chronic stimulation. In contrast, the role of Tim-3 in the regulation of CD8 T cell responses to acute infection remains undefined. To address this knowledge gap, we examined how Tim-3 affects CD8 T cell responses to acute Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection. Analysis of wild-type (WT) mice infected with LM showed that Tim-3 was transiently expressed by activated CD8 T cells and was associated with acquisition of an effector CD8 T cell phenotype. Comparison of responses to LM by WT and Tim-3 KO mice showed that the absence of Tim-3 significantly reduced the magnitudes of both primary and secondary CD8 T cell responses, which correlated with decreased IFN-γ production and degranulation by Tim-3 KO cells. To address the T cell-intrinsic role of Tim-3, we analyzed responses to LM infection by WT and Tim-3 KO TCR-transgenic CD8 T cells following adoptive transfer into a shared WT host. In this setting, the generation of cytokine-producing cells and proliferation by Tim-3 KO cells were significantly reduced, demonstrating that Tim-3 has a direct effect on CD8 T cell function. Our results suggest that Tim-3 can mediate a stimulatory effect on CD8 T cell responses during an acute infection.
Chemical Analysis of Honey Wines

SummaryEleven commercial honey wines and meads were analysed, with the following results: alcohol 12·2–20·8% vol/vol; pH 2·90–3·75 (very tart to mild acidity); total titratable acids (as tartaric) 0·220–0·708 g/100 ml; volatile acid (as acetic) 0·014–0·0779 g/100 ml, acetaldehyde 18·2–125·5 mg/litre, reducing sugars (as dextrose) 2·5–27·8%; most of the commercial meads were quite sweet.Ash content and percentage of certain cations in the ash were also determined; these results indicated the nature of the fermentation and the type of salts added during the process. Mead made by the Cornell University rapid-fermentation process was less sweet than most commercial wines, and free from any off-flavour.
Host-inhibitory functions encoded by promiscuous plasmids. Transient arrest of Escherichia coli segregants that fail to inherit plasmid RK2.

Abstract An effective strategy for a plasmid to be maintained in a growing population of bacteria is to prevent the proliferation of newly formed daughter cells that lack of plasmid. In this study, we determined that the promiscuous, incompatibility group P plasmid RK2 encodes such a system. To induce large numbers of RK2-free segregants of an RK2-containing host, we designed a genetic system that made RK2 replication temperature-sensitive. A double amber mutant of the trfA replication initiator gene was constructed to complement a trfA deletion mutant of an otherwise wild-type RK2 in an Escherichia coli supD(Ts) strain. At the permissive temperature (30°C), RK2 was maintained stably in the strain. Shifting the cells to the non-permissive temperature (42°C) resulted in the nearly synchronous appearance of cells lacking RK2. We found that the number of viable cells rose only slowly over a period of six hours, during which time the cells formed long filaments reaching 20 to 40 times the length of a normal E. coli cell. After six hours, the arrested cells regained the ability to divide and multiply exponentially, and the filaments were eventually reduced to normal-sized cells. Neither arrest nor filamentation required the host recA function. Inhibiting the replication of an RK2 mutant deleted for the par stability locus also induced the arrest of segregants lacking the plasmid, but the arrested cells were not filamented. Our results demonstrate that RK2 encodes at least two functions that are activated in a plasmidless segregant: (1) a filamentation-inducing function specified by the par stability locus, and (2) a post-segregational arrest function (psa) that inhibits the proliferation of plasmidless segregants independent of par. We discuss the possible roles of these functions in the stable maintenance of RK2.
Rigid Cantor sets in R^3 with simply connected complement

We prove that there exist uncountably many inequivalent rigid wild Cantor sets in R 3 with simply connected complement. Previous constructions of wild Cantor sets in R 3 with simply connected complement, in particular the Bing-Whitehead Cantor sets, had strong homogeneity properties. This suggested it might not be possible to construct such sets that were rigid. The examples in this paper are constructed using a generalization of a construction of Skora together with a careful analysis of the local genus of points in the Cantor sets.
D1 dopamine receptor stimulation increases GluR1 surface expression in nucleus accumbens neurons.

The goal of this study was to understand how dopamine receptors, which are activated during psychostimulant administration, might influence glutamate-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity that are increasingly recognized as important to drug addiction. Regulation of the surface expression of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor subunit GluR1 plays a critical role in long-term potentiation, a well-characterized form of synaptic plasticity. Primary cultures of rat nucleus accumbens neurons were used to examine whether dopamine receptor stimulation influences cell surface expression of GluR1, detected using antibody to the extracellular portion of GluR1 and fluorescence microscopy. Surface GluR1 labeling on processes of medium spiny neurons and interneurons was increased by brief (5–15 min) incubation with a D1 agonist (1 µm SKF 81297). This effect was attenuated by the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (10 µm) and reproduced by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin (10 µm). Labeling was decreased by glutamate (10–50 µm, 15 min). These results are the first to demonstrate modulation of AMPA receptor surface expression by a non-glutamatergic G protein-coupled receptor. Normally, this may enable ongoing regulation of AMPA receptor transmission in response to changes in the activity of dopamine projections to the nucleus accumbens. When dopamine receptors are over-stimulated during chronic drug administration, this regulation may be disrupted, leading to inappropriate plasticity in neuronal circuits governing motivation and reward.
A forgotten epidemic that changed medicine: measles in the US Army, 1917–18

Summary A US army-wide measles outbreak in 1917–18 resulted in more than 95 000 cases and more than 3000 deaths. An outbreak investigation implicated measles and streptococcal co-infections in most deaths, and also characterised a parallel epidemic of primary streptococcal pneumonia in soldiers without measles. For the first time, the natural history and pathogenesis of these diseases was able to be well characterised by a broad-interdisciplinary research effort with hundreds of military and civilian physicians and scientists representing disciplines such as internal medicine, pathology, microbiology, radiology, surgery, preventive medicine, and rehabilitation medicine. A clear conceptualisation of bronchopneumonia resulting from viral–bacterial interactions between pathogens was developed, and prevention and treatment approaches were developed and optimised in real time. These approaches were used in the 1918 influenza pandemic, which began as the measles epidemic waned. The outbreak findings remain relevant to the understanding and medical management of severe pneumonia.
Renal tract abnormalities detected in Australian preschool children.

Objective To quantify the incidence of abnormalities in urinalysis and blood pressure from preschool children and their predictive value in detecting renal disease within an Australian community. Methodology Urine samples, blood pressure and height measurements and parental reports of significant medical problems were collected from a total of 9355 South Australian preschool children. Seven hundred and forty-three children with abnormal results were investigated in a nephrology outpatient clinic. A control group of 357 children with no detectable abnormality were also recalled, examined and, where appropriate, investigated. Results Nine thousand, three hundred and fifty-five children were tested. Of these, 0.81% were shown to have a clinically significant renal tract abnormality. The findings included children with urinary tract infections, vesico-ureteric reflux, glomerular disease, renal calculi, essential hypertension and a renal neoplasm. While dipstick-based methods were the most specific indicators of renal tract abnormalities, measurement of blood pressure and urinary beta2-microglobulin were also important in detecting abnormalities. Screening for glycosuria did not result in the detection of significant undiagnosed abnormalities. In the control group with no abnormality detected at testing, there was one case each of aortic coarctation, polycystic kidney disease and vesico-ureteric reflux diagnosed. Conclusion Undiagnosed renal tract abnormalities are present in many Australian preschool children. Most are detectable by a thorough history, examination and urinalysis.
The effect of pulse repetition rate on the delay sensitivity of neurons in the auditory cortex of the FM bat, Myotis lucifugus

1. Echo delay is the primary cue used by echolocating bats to determine target range. During target-directed flight, the repetition rate of pulse emission increases systematically as range decreases. Thus, we examined the delay tuning of 120 neurons in the auditory cortex of the bat, Myotis lucifugus, as repetition rate was varied. 2. Delay sensitivity was exhibited in 77% of the neurons over different ranges of pulse repetition rates (PRRs). Delay tuning typically narrowed and eventually disappeared at higher PRRs. 3. Two major types of delay-sensitive neurons were found: i) delay-tuned neurons (59%) had a single fixed best delay, while ii) tracking neurons (22%) changed their best delay with PRR. 4. PRRs from 1–100/s were represented by the population of delay-sensitive neurons, with the majority of neurons delay-sensitive at PRRs of at least 10–20/s. Thus, delay-dependent neurons in Myotis are most active during the search phase of echolocation. 5. Delay-sensitive neurons that also responded to single sounds were common. At PRRs where delay sensitivity was found, the responses to single sounds were reduced and the responses to pulse-echo pairs at particular delays were greater than the single-sound responses. In facilitated neurons (53%), the maximal delay-dependent response was always larger than the best single-sound responses, whereas in enhanced neurons (47%), these responses were comparable. The presence of neurons that respond maximally to single sounds at one PRR and to pulse-echo pairs with particular echo delays at other PRRs suggests that these neurons perform echoranging in conjunction with other biosonar functions during target pursuit.
Distributed Integration of Knowledge-Based Process Planning With CAM Software

Seamless integration of manufacturing planning activities, though being imperative for application of advanced technologies, is still not completely developed. Integration between design and manufacturing systems is usually done within tightly implemented suite of CAD/CAM applications. However, there is a need to integrate these applications into a wider framework in which manufacturing knowledge is incorporated into planning tasks, and tasks may be executed in distributed environment. This paper proposes such a framework. The methodology is based on integration of CAM software with rule-based process planning on several levels. The basis for this approach is existence of feature based CAD model that is usually designed in CAD package. The process-planning task can be performed in two modes: traditional mode and distributed mode. In traditional mode, tightly integrated CAM package is used to create necessary tool paths and detailed specification for particular geometry from the design. They are exported into a CAPP package for cost optimization and sequencing for the final NC program. Distributed mode allows utilization of rule base for creation of manufacturing operations. Results are imported into CAM package for tool path generation and NC code post processing. CAD/CAM package exports its feature into rule-based process planning system. For each feature, rules are fired in order to select the most appropriate machining operation, tool, and cutting parameters. Process sequencing can also be performed. In both modes, integration may be carried out between different computers using TCP/IP protocol to enable distributed processing of different tasks. The current results in implementing the prototype, which supports proposed methodology and few test cases of both operating modes, are also described.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
MT and topic-based techniques to enhance speech recognition systems for professional translators

Our principle objective was to reduce the error rate of speech recognition systems used by professional translators. Our work concentrated on Spanish-to-English translation. In a baseline study we estimated the error rate of an off-the-shelf recognizer to be 9.98%. In this paper we describe two independent methods of improving speech recognizers: a machine translation (MT) method and a topic-based one. An evaluation of the MT method suggests that the vocabulary used for recognition cannot be completely restricted to the set of translations produced by the MT system and a more sophisticated constraint system must be used. An evaluation of the topic-based method showed significant error rate reduction, to 5.07%.
Identification of calmodulin-binding peptide consensus sequences from a phage-displayed random peptide library.

Abstract The calcium-binding protein, calmodulin (CaM), was used to screen a phage library displaying random peptides 26 amino acids (aa) in length. Twenty CaM-binding peptides were identified, 17 of which contained one of three consensus sequence motifs: + W-OλR, WRAAV or WRXXAAAL, where +, -, O,λ and X are positively charged, negatively charged, hydrophobic, leucine or valine, and any residue, respectively. The Trp residue in these motifs is located within 14 aa of the N-terminus of the displayed peptide. Previous studies [Dedman et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268 (1993) 23025–23030] using a library displaying random peptides 15 aa in length identified CaM-binding peptides which contained a Trp-Pro dipeptide motif. These results suggest that the type of CaM-binding motif identified can vary between different types of combinatorial peptides
Stimulation by calcium of the entry of thymic lymphocytes into the deoxyribonucleic acid-synthetic (S) phase of the cell cycle☆

Abstract Calcium increases mitotic activity in rat thymocyte populations by stimulating the entry of cells into the deoxyribonucleic acid-synthetic (S) phase of their growth-division cycle. The ion does not affect the passage of cells through the premitotic G2 phase of the growth-division cycle.
Integrated IPMC/PVDF sensory actuator and its validation in feedback control

Position and/or force feedback is critical in ensuring precise and safe operation of ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) actuators in bio/micromanipulation. In this paper the design of an integrated sensory actuator is presented, where polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films are used to provide simultaneous feedback of bending and force outputs of the IPMC actuator. The design adopts differential configurations for sensing, which eliminates corruption of sensing signals by feedthrough of actuation signal or by thermal drift. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate closed-loop control of IPMC bending output based upon the integrated PVDF sensor, together with simultaneous tip force measurement with N resolution. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Caged Neurotransmitters: Shedding light on neural circuits

The ability to locally activate neurons in living brain slices by using light to release 'caged' neurotransmitter allows the organization and development of neural circuits to be studied at a hitherto impossible level of detail.
Isolation and characterization of refuse methanogens

Four mesophilic, irregular, rod-shaped methanogenic bacteria were isolated from decomposing refuse recovered from laboratory-scale reactors and a municipal solid waste landfill. H2/CO2 was the only substrate on which the isolates could grow in a complex medium. Isolates grew between either 25° or 30° and 45°C and between pH 6 and 8. One isolate exhibited growth at pH 5. Growth of each isolate was enhanced by yeast extract and inhibited by anaerobic sewage sludge supernatant fluid. No isolate showed greater than 25% lysis on exposure to 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) for 24 h, as is typical of methanogens with a proteinaceous cell wall. The physiological traits of the methanogens isolated here are similar to many previously characterized isolates.
Discussion of Racial Difference in Counseling: A Counselor's Perspective

Fifty-three counselors at a university counseling center and a university practicum clinic were surveyed using the Working Alliance Inventory–Short Form to examine the effect of acknowledging and discussing racial differences between counselor and client on the working alliance formed during the counseling sessions. Based on the counselor's perspective, a significant relationship between counselor-client discussion of racial difference and the working alliance was found.
Laser Guidance and Trapping of Mesoscale Particles in Hollow-Core Optical Fibers

Mesoscale particles are guided and trapped in micron-sized hollow optical fibers using a $\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{W}$ near-infrared diode laser. The optical scattering force calculated using geometrical ray optics is $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}\mathrm{N}$ for a $7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ polystyrene sphere, and agrees well with velocity measurements of optically guided spheres in water. We have levitated a variety of particles using laser-fiber guidance, and have mixed micron-sized glycerin droplets in two-beam laser-fiber traps.
Obtaining the metric of our Universe.

We formulate a method for solving the gravitational field equations for perturbations to a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric, which does not depend on any kind of averaging procedure or make any a priori assumptions about the magnitude of fluctuations in the matter variables. We present a Green function for obtaining the effective potential which characterizes the metric perturbations directly from the (possibly large) density fluctuations, and describe the application to astrophysical observations, for example, the angular-diameter distance-versus-redshift relation
Simultaneous quantification of free and glucuronidated cannabinoids in human urine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Background Cannabis is the most commonly abused drug of abuse and is commonly quantified during urine drug testing. We are conducting a controlled drug administration study investigating efficacy of urinary cannabinoid glucuronide metabolites for documenting recency of cannabis intake and for determining stability of urinary cannabinoids. Methods A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated quantifying Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), cannabidiol, cannabinol, THC-glucuronide and THCCOOH-glucuronide in 0.5 ml human urine via supported-liquid extraction. Chromatography was performed on an Ultra Biphenyl column with a gradient of 10 mmol/l ammonium acetate, pH 6.15 and 15% methanol in acetonitrile at 0.4 ml/min. Analytes were monitored by positive and negative mode electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. Results Linear ranges were 0.5–50 ng/ml for THC-glucuronide, 1–100 ng/ml for THCCOOH, 11-OH-THC and cannabidiol, 2–100 ng/ml for THC and cannabinol, and 5–500 ng/ml for THCCOOH-glucuronide (R 2 > 0.99). Mean extraction efficiencies were 34–73% with analytical recovery (bias) 80.5–118.0% and total imprecision 3.0–10.2% coefficient of variation. Conclusion This method simultaneously quantifies urinary cannabinoids and phase II glucuronide metabolites, and enables evaluation of urinary cannabinoid glucuronides for documenting recency of cannabis intake and cannabinoid stability. The assay is applicable for routine urine cannabinoid testing.
Electrophoresis in an ultracentrifugal field

Abstract 1. 1. An air-driven electrophoretic ultracentrifuge designed for the investigation of the electrophoresis of colloidal systems in an ultracentrifugal field has been described. 2. 2. A graphical method for simultaneously determining the mobilities and sedimentation constants of colloidal particles from electrophoretic ultracentrifugal data has been developed. 3. 3. The electrophoretic mobilities of hydrous ferric oxide sols have been determined by the use of the electrophoretic ultracentrifuge. 4. 4. The particle size or sedimentation constant of hydrous ferric oxide sols increases with continuous exposure to the combined effect of an electrical and ultracentrifugal field. 5. 5. Low concentrations of potassium citrate lower the mobility of hydrous ferric oxide sols and increase their particle size and sedimentation constant.
Cartilage-forming tumors.

Cartilage-forming tumors as a group are the most common primary bone tumors; this is largely due to the common occurrence of asymptomatic benign lesions such as osteochondroma and enchondroma. The common feature of these tumors is the presence of chondrocytic cells and the formation of cartilaginous tumor matrix. Some of these tumors are true neoplasms while others are hamartomas or developmental abnormalities. The morphologic heterogeneity of these tumors may be explained by a common multipotent mesenchymal cell differentiating along the lines of fetal-adult cartilage maturation. Recently mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 have been detected in a variety of benign and malignant cartilaginous tumors.(1-4.)
Skin blood flow changes during routine nursery procedures

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to establish that changes in skin blood flow could serve as an index of pain and discomfort in newborn infants. Methods: Skin blood flow changes during intensive care procedures and during morphine administration were measured in a group of newborn infants using a laser Doppler technique. Heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were also measured. Changes in skin blood flow and physiologic variables that occurred during procedures were analyzed and compared among procedures. Results: Measurements were made during 145 procedures in 15 infants 2–32 days old with birth weights of 500–2900 g and gestational ages of 23–37 weeks. Ten of the infants were receiving mechanical ventilation. Skin blood flow increased 27–134% during lancet puncture of the heel, physical handling, standard suctioning and chest physiotherapy, and there were no changes during closed system suctioning. Skin blood flow decreased 35% by 20 min after intravenous morphine. Changes seen in heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were generally minimal. Conclusions: We conclude that laser Doppler skin biood flow changes could be an index of neonatal pain and discomfort; even noninvasive handling procedures are associated with increases in skin blood flow; and changes in skin blood flow may be more useful than conventional physiologic variables in assessing the response to intensive care nursery procedures.
On one-dimensional acceleration waves in composite materials modeled as interpenetrating solid continua

A one-dimensional version of a theory of composite materials modeled as interpenetrating solid continua is applied in the analysis of acceleration waves in composites containing two identifiable constituents. As expected, two distinct acceleration waves always propagate except when one of the constituents consists of a chopped fiber. The influence of viscous type damping is included in only the volumetric interaction between the constituents in portions of the treatment. Equations are derived both for the propagation velocities and the varying amplitudes of the disturbance as a function of the state of the material immediately ahead of the wavefront. These rather general results are specialized to the case of a homogeneous steady-state ahead of the fast wave. The various types of behavior possible and the order of the discontinuities occurring across the wavefront are discussed in detail for a number of special cases.
Mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk: interactions of percent density, absolute dense and non-dense areas with breast cancer risk factors

We investigated if associations of breast density and breast cancer differ according to the level of other known breast cancer risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), age at menarche, parity, age at first child’s birth, age at menopause, alcohol consumption, a family history of breast cancer, a history of benign breast disease, and physical activity. This study included 1,044 postmenopausal incident breast cancer cases diagnosed within the Nurses’ Health Study cohort and 1,794 matched controls. Percent breast density, absolute dense, and non-dense areas were measured from digitized film images with computerized techniques. Information on breast cancer risk factors was obtained prospectively from biennial questionnaires. Percent breast density was more strongly associated with breast cancer risk in current postmenopausal hormone users (≥50 vs. 10 %: OR 5.34, 95 % CI 3.36–8.49) as compared to women with past (OR 2.69, 95 % CI 1.32–5.49) or no hormone history (OR 2.57, 95 % CI 1.18–5.60, p-interaction = 0.03). Non-dense area was inversely associated with breast cancer risk in parous women, but not in women without children (p-interaction = 0.03). Associations of density with breast cancer risk did not differ by the levels of BMI, age at menarche, parity, age at first child’s birth, age at menopause, alcohol consumption, a family history of breast cancer, a history of benign breast disease, and physical activity. Women with dense breasts, who currently use menopausal hormone therapy are at a particularly high risk of breast cancer. Most breast cancer risk factors do not modify the association between mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk.
Cross infection studies with Heliothis zea using nuclear-polyhedrosis viruses from Trichoplusia ni

Abstract Histopathological studies of the larvae of Trichoplusia ni and Heliothis zea infected with two morphologically distinct nuclear-polyhedrosis viruses from T. ni were conducted. Large polyhedra containing bundles or packets of rods embedded within the polyhedron (multiple embedded virus = MEV) were found in nuclei of cells of the fat body, hypodermis, tracheal matrix, connective tissue, and midgut epithelium and in some of the hemocytes of T. ni. Smaller polyhedra containing single rods embedded within the polyhedron (single embedded virus = SEV) were found in the same tissues but not in the midgut epithelium. Trichoplusia ni MEV was transmitted to Heliothis zea. Large polyhedra were formed in the nuclei of Heliothis cells of the hypodermis and tracheal matrix, frequently of the midgut epithelium, and rarely those of the fat body. The latter observation is a significant digression from the massive involvement of the fat body in H. zea infected with its specific nuclear-polyhedrosis virus (a SEV type). No cross transmission was obtained to H. zea when treated with the T. ni SEV type. Similarly, no cross transmission was obtained in T. ni when treated with H. zea-specific nuclear-polyhedrosis virus.