cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
United States v. Portrait of Wally

In United States v. Portrait of Wally, federal authorities seized a Schiele painting in New York and brought a forfeiture proceeding on behalf of the heirs of Jewish art dealer Lea Bondi, who claimed that the Nazis had stolen the work from her in Vienna in 1939. The resulting 12-year litigation raised an intricate series of legal and factual questions concerning ownership of the painting, which are examined in this chapter.
Bauxite-modified oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion: A possible solution to the heat of combustion compensation

Abstract CuO was induced into red mud oxygen carrier materials to balance the temperature difference between the fuel and air reactors in chemical looping combustion. Considering the lower melting point of CuO, surface sintering and agglomeration might be inevitable, and only a low loading was applied in this work. The addition of CuO did not lower the overall redox activity, as demonstrated by both thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a bench-scale fluidized bed reactor. Instead, the oxygen transfer capacity was improved. A variety of characterization techniques were used to compare the crystal structure, surface morphology and physical properties before and after long-term reactions. The present results provide a potential strategy for the design and development of oxygen carriers with high stability and reactivity that maintain a lower required circulation rate.
Good Daphnia parents do not control the offspring microbiome.

In Focus: Mushegian, A. A., Walser, J. -C., Sullam, K. E., & Ebert, D. (2018). The microbiota of diapause: How host-microbe associations are formed after dormancy in an aquatic crustacean. Journal of Animal Ecology, 87, 400-413. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12709. All animals are colonized by micro-organisms, most of which are benign or beneficial. Where do these micro-organisms come from? Theory predicts that micro-organisms which are transmitted vertically from parent to offspring are especially likely to be beneficial to the host, while horizontally acquired micro-organisms are opportunistic and more variable in their impact on host performance. In this issue, Mushegian et al. () investigate the source of bacteria that are required for the growth and development of Daphnia water fleas to reproductive adults. They find that, although vertically transmitted bacteria can occur in the capsule enclosing the Daphnia eggs, the micro-organisms that promote Daphnia performance are associated with the external surface of the capsule and are of likely environmental origin. This mode of transmission may be adaptive for Daphnia because, linked to the longevity and capacity for long-distance dispersal of these eggs, the environmental circumstances encountered by parent and offspring may be different; with the implication, the parental micro-organisms may not be optimal for the offspring. This study demonstrates that, although some animals require symbioses with specific coevolved, vertically transmitted microbial symbionts, other animals have evolved dependence on taxonomically variable micro-organisms of environmental origin.
Chapter 20 – Rhynchocephalians (Sphenodontids)

Rhynchocephalians, the sister taxon to squamates, are represented today by only two species in a single genus, Sphenodon, the tuataras. Although tuataras are lizard-like in appearance, they have a gastralia and many other skeletal features that squamates lack. The premaxillary teeth have been replaced by chisel-shaped extensions of the premaxillary bones that have given rise to the tuatara’s other vernacular name, half-beaks. They are restricted to about 30 islands in New Zealand. The taxonomic account provides information on species content, distribution, characteristics, and biology of tuataras.
A review on snake robot testbeds in granular and restricted maneuverability spaces

Abstract This article reviews the state of the art in evaluating snake robots for small spaces such as a collapsed building where the snake is either locomoting in restricted maneuverability spaces, such as narrow pipes or tunnels, or pushing through granular regions, such as dirt and rubble. It makes recommendations on designing a testbed that can enable a comprehensive evaluation of a snake robot’s overall capability and an objective comparison of different snakes. A survey of 31 papers reveals that 20 testbeds were used to test snake robots in restricted maneuverability environments. All of those were built specifically to test a particular snake robot rather than for comparison with other snake robots, but each offers insights into designing comprehensive, comparative testbeds. The article analyzed these 20 testbeds in terms of how well they addressed the previously established disaster robotics metrics of scale (a dimensionless number) and four traversability elements, i.e. verticality, tortuosity, accessibility elements, and surface properties. This review suggests that two kinds of general testbeds are in need for the snake robot community: (1) a testbed with high physical fidelity for measuring suitability for a target application, and (2) a testbed which provides a dimensionless comparison of different snake robots. The review is expected to benefit the community in several ways. It can help form a consensus on a suite of metrics and test methods to incorporate into a testbed for evaluating and comparing different types of snake robots and capturing the performance of snake robots in more realistic work envelopes. The metrics and test methods can also pro-actively inform snake robot design as they offer more formally quantified work envelopes, thus accelerating technology transfer. The use of scale and traversability is expected to be applicable to robots in general.
Utilization of Simulation Techniques to Enhance Quality Improvement Processes in the Emergency Department.

Introduction Quality improvement projects can help improve clinical practice in an emergency department (ED). However, it is difficult to measure outcomes in rare clinical conditions. We used a simulation program to evaluate a new protocol and workflow in the emergency blood transfusion process as well as provide additional trauma training. To determine if implementing a trauma simulation would help improve the self-reported understanding of the emergency blood transfusion process by both the ED and laboratory staff. Methods Emergency medicine residents and nursing staff participated in a high-fidelity trauma simulation. ED nursing and hospital laboratory staff used the simulation to test a new process for notification and transport of blood within the hospital. All of the participants were provided a four-item Likert scale questionnaire immediately after the training to evaluate their understanding of the ED blood process. Results There was a significant improvement in overall scores based on paired t-tests in the full group (pre 15.0 versus post 17.6, p = 0.0005) and ED group (pre 14.7 versus post 17.8, p = 0.0007) but not in the lab group (pre 15.8 versus post 17.2, p = 0.296). Conclusion Simulation appears to be helpful to evaluate and implement a new ED protocol or workflow.
MicroRNA-302b mitigates renal fibrosis via inhibiting TGF-β/Smad pathway activation

Renal fibrosis is one of the most significant pathological changes after ureteral obstruction. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays essential roles in kidney fibrosis regulation. The aims of the present study were to investigate effects of microRNA-302b (miR-302b) on renal fibrosis, and interaction between miR-302b and TGF-β signaling pathway in murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. Microarray dataset GSE42716 was downloaded by retrieving Gene Expression Omnibus database. In accordance with bioinformatics analysis results, miR-302b was significantly down-regulated in UUO mouse kidney tissue and TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells. Masson's trichrome staining showed that miR-302b mimics decreased renal fibrosis induced by UUO. The increased mRNA expression of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and decreased expression of E-cadherin were reversed by miR-302b mimics. In addition, miR-302b up-regulation also inhibited TGF-β1-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HK-2 cells by restoring E-cadherin expression and decreasing α-SMA expression. miR-302b mimics suppressed both luciferase activity and protein expression of TGF-βR2. However, miR-302b inhibitor increased TGF-βR2 luciferase activity and protein expression. Meanwhile, miR-302b mimics inhibited TGF-βR2 mRNA expression and decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, over-expression of TGF-βR2 restored the miR-302b-induced decrease of collagen I and α-SMA expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that miR-302b attenuated renal fibrosis by targeting TGF-βR2 to suppress TGF-β/Smad signaling activation. Our findings showed that elevating renal miR-302b levels may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing renal fibrosis.
Reducing Stress in College Students through Meditation

The focus of the study was to test college student’s levels of stress and determine if meditation can reduce the amount of stress they experience. We created a pretest for participants to rank their stress levels and then had them meditate for a month and take a post-test ranking their stress levels after completing meditation. Many college students handle stress in an unhealthy way such as drinking, drugs, creating a poor sleep schedule, or not managing their stress at all. Specifically, we found that students who meditate potentially heighten their focus in class, improve their physical & mental health, provide better sleep, decrease addiction and substance abuse, and increase confidence and academic success.
Tejiendo redes de activismo transnacional: el balance entre estrategias internacionales y locales en la construcción de capacidades para la acción no violenta en América Latina (Weaving Transnational Activist Networks: Balancing International and Bottom-up Capacity-building Strategies for Nonviolent Action in Latin America)

Spanish abstract: America Latina ha sido por decadas un escenario primordial para la creacion de innovadoras estrategias de la no violencia con el fin de confrontar la opresion, corrupcion, violaciones a los derechos humanos y el autoritarismo. Una de las explicaciones fundamentales del exito de ciertos movimientos en terminos de alcance y efectividad en el logro de sus objetivos es la habilidad de quienes los lideran de unificar a la poblacion, planear acciones estrategicas y mantener la disciplina de la no violencia. La preparacion y el entrenamiento para mejorar tales habilidades implican recursos, redes transnacionales e informacion suministrada por actores externos, asi como el conocimiento del contexto, la legitimidad local y las redes locales institucionales. Este ensayo propone un modelo de apoyo internacional de entrenamiento y educacion en accion no violenta que evita caer en la trampa de imponer el modelo liberal de la construccion de paz y que desafia jerarquias colonizadoras que podrian poner en peligro la legitimidad de los movimientos y exponer a los activistas a mayor escrutinio y represion. Con el fin de ilustrar como este modelo puede operar en la practica, este ensayo examina el caso del Programa Regional para el Estudio y Practica de la Accion Estrategica No violenta en las Americas. English abstract: Latin America has been a laboratory for innovative strategic nonviolent action to confront oppression, corruption, human rights violations, and authoritarianism. One of the most salient explanations for why some movements achieve greater scale and effectiveness in meeting their objectives is the skills of movement organizers in unifying the population, planning strategic moves, and maintaining nonviolent discipline. The training and education to improve these skills often requires resources, transnational networks, and information sharing from external actors to complement the contextual knowledge, local legitimacy, and embedded institutional networks of local insiders. This essay proposes a model for international support of nonviolent action training and education that avoids the pitfalls of imposed liberal peacebuilding and colonizing hierarchies that could undermine movement legitimacy and expose activists to greater scrutiny and repression. In order to illustrate how the model works in practice, the essay examines the case of the Regional Institute for the Study and Practice of Strategic Nonviolent Action in the Americas.
Unraveling the complex genetics of neural tube defects: From biological models to human genomics and back.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a classic example of preventable birth defects for which there is a proven-effective intervention, folic acid (FA); however, further methods of prevention remain unrealized. In the decades following implementation of FA nutritional fortification programs throughout at least 87 nations, it has become apparent that not all NTDs can be prevented by FA. In the United States, FA fortification only reduced NTD rates by 28-35% (Williams et al., 2015). As such, it is imperative that further work is performed to understand the risk factors associated with NTDs and their underlying mechanisms so that alternative prevention strategies can be developed. However, this is complicated by the sheer number of genes associated with neural tube development, the heterogeneity of observable phenotypes in human cases, the rareness of the disease, and the myriad of environmental factors associated with NTD risk. Given the complex genetic architecture underlying NTD pathology and the way in which that architecture interacts dynamically with environmental factors, further prevention initiatives will undoubtedly require precision medicine strategies that utilize the power of human genomics and modern tools for assessing genetic risk factors. Herein, we review recent advances in genomic strategies for discovering genetic variants associated with these defects, and new ways in which biological models, such as mice and cell culture-derived organoids, are leveraged to assess mechanistic functionality, the way these variants interact with other genetic or environmental factors, and their ultimate contribution to human NTD risk.
Identification of Original Document by Using Textual Similarities

When there are two documents that share similar content, either accidentally or intentionally, the knowledge about which one of the two is the original source of the content is unknown in most cases. This knowledge can be crucial in order to charge or acquit someone of plagiarism, to establish the provenance of a document or in the case of sensitive information, to make sure that you can rely on the source of the information. Our system identifies the original document by using the idea that the pieces of text written by the same author have higher resemblance to each other than to those written by different authors. Given two pairs of documents with shared content, our system compares the shared part with the remaining text in both of the documents by treating them as bag of words. For cases when there is no reference text by one of the authors to compare against, our system makes predictions based on similarity of the shared content to just one of the documents.
Effect of prostaglandins on 3H-thymidine uptake into human epidermal cells in vitro.

Abstract Prostaglandins A 2 , B 1 , E 1 , E 2 , F 1α and F 2α were added to cultures of human epidermal cells (keratinocytes) for 24 hours at 37°C, and the effects on 3 H-thymidine uptake into DNA was measured. At 70 μg/ml all prostaglandins tested except PGF 2α inhibited the uptake of 3 H-thymidine greater than 50%. However, at 35 μg/ml, PGA 2 and PGB 1 were the only two prostaglandins to show significant inhibition, 96% and 51% respectively. At 17.5 μg/ml only PGA 2 caused substantial inhibition, 68%. In order to determine if the PGA 2 action was mediated by membrane receptors propranolol, phentolamine, metiamide and prostynoic acid were added in conjunction with PGA 2 . None of the above receptor antagonists were able to reduce the PGA 2 -induced inhibition of 3 H-thymidine uptake. These results indicate that the pre-incubation of human keratinocytes with prostaglandins for 24 hours results in a decrease of 3 H-thymidine incorporation in DNA. The precise mechanism of action is unknown at this time.
Alfalfa Variety Testing

New varieties of alfalfa are released by commercial breeding companies each year. The Iowa State University forage breeding program, in conjunction with the Iowa Crop Improvement Association, tests commercially available varieties at five locations in Iowa, including at the McNay Research Farm. Funding to conduct these tests is provided by entrants who pay a fee to have their varieties included. Our tests provide an unbiased comparison among cultivars deemed to be adapted to particular regions of the state by the companies.
Stochastic Optimal Control of a Machining Process

A control theoretic approach to a problem in manufacturing is considred. The problem is the control of a machining process, specifically a simple drilling operation, with respect to economic criteria. Feed speed selection and tool replacement policies are to be determined. A stochastic model for tool wear, called a diffusion-threshold model, is utilized. This tool wear model allows the machining economics problem to be formulated as a stochastic optimal control problem incorporating feedback of too wear measurements. A one step cost funtional is considered, and the optimal policy is described. An example problem based on actual tool data is presented.
Isolation and Properties of Bacillus subtilis Strains Lysogenized by a Clear Plaque Mutant of Bacteriophage φ105

A clear plaque mutant of the temperate Bacillus phage phi105 lysogenized a small fraction of infected cells forming an integrated prophage at or near the normal phi105 insertion site. These lysogens exhibited a spontaneous induction rate approximately 1,000-fold lower than wild type and were noninducible (ind(-)) by mitomycin C. Prophage was induced, however, when competent cultures were incubated with transforming DNA. The ind(-) phenotype could not be attributed solely to the clear plaque mutation and appears to involve a cell-specific factor. Lysogenization by the clear plaque mutant, in contrast to wild-type phage, did not cause a marked reduction in transformation efficiency.
Mapping the literature of public health and community nursing.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the journals most cited in public health and community nursing and to determine which databases provide the most thorough indexing access to these journals. This study is part of the Medical Library Association Nursing and Allied Health Resource Section's project to map the nursing literature. Methods: Two source journals of public health nursing, Public Health Nursing and Journal of Community Health Nursing, were subjected to citation analysis based on Bradford's Law of Scattering. Results: A group of 18 titles comprised 34% (1,387) of the 4,100 citations, another third were dispersed among 104 journal titles, with the remaining third scattered across 703 journal titles. The core 18 journals included both of the source journals, 3 major public health journals, and several general medical and nursing journals. Conclusions: PubMed provided the best overall indexing coverage for the journals, followed by Social Science Citation Index and CINAHL. In terms of source journal coverage, several databases provided complete coverage for the journal Public Health Nursing, while only EMBASE provided complete coverage for the Journal of Community Health Nursing.
The insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II)/mannose 6-phosphate receptor mediates IGF-II-induced motility in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is an autocrine growth and motility factor for human rhabdomyosarcoma. It interacts with three different receptors: the IGF-I, the IGF-II, and the insulin receptor. A specific function of the IGF-II receptor in mediating IGF-II responses has not been defined. In this report we investigate the mechanism of IGF-II-mediated motility in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. We demonstrate that IGF-II and [Leu27]IGF-II, an analog selective for the IGF-II receptor, stimulate motility at concentrations in which they interact only with their own receptor. An antibody that blocks the IGF-I receptor does not inhibit either peptide activity, while an antibody specific for the IGF-II receptor suppresses the IGF-II-induced motility. This antibody does not interfere with rhabdomyosarcoma cell proliferation. We conclude that in rhabdomyosarcoma cells IGF-II stimulates two different responses mediated by distinct receptors: 1) a mitogenic response through the type I receptor and 2) a motility response through the type II receptor.
The business of science and the science of business in the quest for an AIDS vaccine.

Abstract This paper simplifies and encapsulates the past, present and future for developing vaccines, especially against AIDS. Needed technical information and how it can best be obtained are delineated. The views are my own and may not be shared by others. The science enterprise, including that for vaccines, is enmeshed in the major evolution and restructuring of many of the world's institutions. Changes brought by the knowledge revolution impinge on scientific information, technology, public policy, societal demands, private and public funding, academic and industrial organization and economic opportunity. Public-supported research is not an entitlement. It is in the scientific establishment's best interest to organize for greatest efficiency and effectiveness to bring paybacks commensurate with public investment.
Second-Look Laparotomy, the Open Abdomen, and Temporary Abdominal Closure in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

Repeat or “second-look” laparotomy is an important principle in the management of acute mesenteric ischemia. Planned re-exploration of the abdomen following the initial operation for this condition allows confirmation of bowel perfusion and viability. In some scenarios, multiple, repeat laparotomies may be performed to assure that bowel perfusion is adequate and that nonviable segments have been removed. Despite the importance of second-look procedures as part of the management of this clinical scenario, challenges and considerations must be understood to optimize its efficacy and reduce complications. This chapter reviews the reasoning and indications of second-look operations in the setting of mesenteric ischemia and describes techniques for the procedure. The effect of second-look operations on maintaining abdominal domain is reviewed, and a summary of techniques for temporary and definitive closure is provided.
Minimizing drop cost for SONET/WDM networks with ⅛ wavelength requirements

SONET/WDM networks using wavelength add-drop multiplexing can be constructed using certain graph decompositions used to form a grooming, consisting of unions of certain primitive rings. The existence of such decompositions when every pair of sites employs no more than 1/8 of the wavelength capacity is determined, with few possible exceptions, when the ring size is a multiple of four. The techniques developed rely heavily on tools from combinatorial design theory.
Dynamical effects in the field-cooled magnetization of a cobalt aluminosilicate spin-glass

Abstract High sensitivity SQUID magnetometer measurements of the field-cooled magnetization (FCM) on a 14.3 at% Co aluminosilicate glass show a strong cooling rate dependence and a thermal hysteresis effect upon warming.
The mutagenic activity of the S-nitrosoglutathione/glutathione system in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535.

Abstract S -nitrosoglutathine (GSNO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were tested for mutagenicity against strain Salmonella typhimurium TA1535 in the Ames Standard plate incorporation assay. Neither GSNO not GSH were mutagenic when tested alone. In combination, the GSNO/GSH system induced a positive mutagenic response that ranged from 3 to 20× over background at concentrations of 10 to 50 μmol (micromol)per plate, respectively. This mutagenic response can be attributable to the generation nitric oxide, among the many other reactive products generated by the reaction of GSNO with GSH.
Identification of a biochemical marker for the secretory pathway in Tetrahymena thermophila

Tetrahymena thermophila is a ciliated protozoan studied by investigators from a wide range of disciplines as a model system for a variety of specialized eukaryoticcell functions. The proteinaceous secretory products of T thermophila have been isolated and characterized [1] and in this study we identify the major secretory product, a 34,000 Mr polypeptide, and use an antiserum prepared against this secretory protein to (1) demonstrate that this 34,000 Mr polypeptide is truly a secreted protein in Tetrahymena and (2) monitor the synthesis and transport of this protein by indirect immunofluorescence and light microscopy during mucocyst biogenesis.
A real-time structural parameter modification, approach for random vibration reduction: Part II. Experimental verification

Abstract Earthquake induced structural vibrations are stochastic in nature. In this paper, we present a novel structural control methodology for earthquake vibration reductions in two parts. Part I summarizes the efforts of the authors toward the development of real-time structural parameter modification (RSPM) control between 1993 and 1996. The operating control principle is minimization of conservative energy. The control hierarchy is realized by low-power-consuming devices (functional switches) with multiple ranked loops. The control method is to optimally adjust the physical parameters (mass, damping and stiffness) of the structure in real time. This method is therefore described as RSPM. It may be called variable passive control or parametric control. In Part I of this paper, the basic thesis of RSPM is presented, together with a discussion of the minimal principle of conservative energy of a vibrating system and the RSPM control hierarchy which contains four ranked loops. Variable passive control is capable of handling the stochastic nature of earthquake ground motion and it does not have certain major drawbacks of conventional active control methods. Part II of this paper describes experimental verifications of RSPM. It will be shown that RSPM can dissipate considerably more energy than existing passive energy dissipation devices. In addition, RSPM can reduce vibrations resulting from multidirectional excitations.
Elastic and inelastic scattering of 24 MeV nucleons from oxygen isotopes

Abstract Measurements of elastic and inelastic differential cross sections were obtained for 24 MeV neutrons incident on 16, 18O by standard time-of-flight techniques. The samples consisted of water, natural and enriched to 95% in 18O respectively, and were contained in thin aluminum cans. These cross sections and existing proton data at the same energy were analyzed in terms of a macroscopic, Lane-consistent optical potential. The low-lying collective states are described in terms of DWBA calculations; coupled-channel calculations are also presented. This provides the basis for discussion of deformation and isospin effects in 18O.
Resonant collisions of Na Rydberg atoms in electric and magnetic fields

We have observed 10-MHz-wide energy-transfer resonances between colliding Na Rydberg atoms. The narrow linewidth allows us to apply a modest 5--40-G static magnetic field in addition to a static tuning electric field and resolve new resonances arising from magnetic-field-induced splitting of the Stark energy levels. When [ital B] is parallel to [ital E], the nine resolved resonances observed with only an [ital E] field are further split into 144 possible resonances. However, only the 21 resonances corresponding to collisions in which the spins are unchanged are observable. When [ital B] is perpendicular to [ital E], the spectrum of collisional resonances is similar to that of the vertical field case, except that the final spin states cannot be determined. With both parallel and perpendicular fields present, linear and quadratic terms of the [ital B] field interaction create more complicated spectra than with either case alone. The experimental spectra agree quantitatively with the spectra calculated using a simple Zeeman model of the energy levels.
The role of location probability in the programming of saccades: implications for "center-of-gravity" tendencies.

Abstract Short-latency saccades to targets among nontarget backgrounds are often directed to the center of the entire (target + nontarget) stimulus configuration. This “averaging” or “center-of-gravity” tendency has been attributed to an automatic, reflexive saccadic response to a poorly-resolved visual signal. We investigated the role of high-level processes by varying the probability of the target appearing in one of two locations. Subjects were asked to make a saccade to a target “ + ” located above-right or above-left of a central fixation point. A nontarget (“ × ”) was in the other location (directional separation = 30 deg). The mean latencies were short (180–230 msec) in accordance with instructions. Mean saccadic direction was shifted to the right by 24–52% of the directional separation of the stimulus pair as the probability of the target appearing on the right increased from 0.2 to 0.8. The difference in saccadic directions as a function of the actual target location was small and independent of probability, showing that probability introduced a bias without affecting the discriminability of the target from the nontarget. The effect of probability was reduced when the discrimination of the target from the nontarget was easier (square vs triangle), and abolished (saccadic accuracy near perfect with the same average latencies) when the target was presented alone. The results show that the direction of short-latency saccades, initiated before the target has been distinguished from a nearby nontarget, is based on the prior history of target locations and expectations about the future location of the target. High-level plans can account for effects of nontargets on saccades. To infer that a reflexive sensorimotor averaging mechanism exists solely on the basis of observed saccadic “centering” tendencies is unwarranted
Atmospheric trace gas measurements at Palmer Station, Antarctica: 1982-83

In early 1982 a station capable of sampling atmospheric trace gas constituents on a continuous basis was established at Palmer Station, Anvers Island, adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula (64° 46′S 64° 04′W). Sampling operations began about 1 February 1982. This is an initial report on this station, its location, equipment and general research objectives along with some initial sampling results. The constituents being measured and recorded were: ozone, methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, CCl3F (fluorocarbon-11), CCl2F2 (fluorocarbon-12), carbontetrachloride, methylchloroform, nitrous oxide, and Aitken nuclei (CN). Data storage, data processing, and sampling system control is handled by a Hewlett-Packard 85 system. Preliminary analyses of about the first 20–22 months of data are presented and show not only the expected long-term trends but also shorter period concentration cycles that seem to be related to synoptic meteorology.
Typology and the Literary Christ-Figure: A Critique

T HE aim of this article is to examine the term "Christ-figure," which has assumed so important and yet somehow so questionable a role in contemporary literary criticism. To understand the meaning of this term I think that we must turn, as too few literary critics have, to the Christ-figure of the Gospels. For clearly "Christ-figure" is intended to suggest a certain correspondence between the characters in some contemporary fiction and the character of the New Testament Christ. I wish to elucidate the kind of correspondence that would be appropriate from the theological point of view and then indicate why this conception of correspondence is also the one that allows for genuine artistic creation. In the Bible itself we may find a fruitful clue for literary criticism. I refer to the way in which one biblical figure person or pattern of events may typify another. To follow this clue may, indeed, clarify what I sense to be a present confusion in critical methodology. We must begin by paying attention to the suggestion implicit in the very term, Christ-figure. As I hope to show, there is an appropriateness to this phrase that the seemingly similar one, Christ-myth, lacks. For the word "figure" suggests that the pattern associated with Christ and in some way echoed in contemporary literary works is not a timeless, archetypal one but belongs to a particular historical life, the historicity of which is not to be ignored but is essential to the intended correspondence. My contention is that literary critics may have something to learn from those biblical scholars who have returned to typological criticism as a way of discerning and interpreting the relatedness of different parts of the Old Testament and also the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament. I want to outline how these biblical
Microtubule-associated protein 4 antibody: a new marker for astroglia and oligodendroglia.

Abstract An antibody to a 240,000 dalton microtubule-associated protein, microtubule-associated protein 4, was used to illustrate the distribution of this protein in semi-thin sections of the central nervous system. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that microtubule-associated protein 4 was restricted to non-neuronal elements of the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and “specialized” glia, including tanycytes, Bergmann glia and Muller cells, contained microtubule-associated protein 4. This distribution of microtubule-associated protein 4 in neural tissue is distinct from that described for the other major brain microtubule-associated proteins, microtubule-associated protein 1 and microtubule-associated protein 2. The reactivity of MAP 4 antibody with these glia demonstrates the antigenic relatedness of these cells and further distinguishes glia from other elements of the nervous system.
Foraging and reproductive behavior of Arizona gray squirrels (Sciurus arizonensis): impacts of climatic variation

Optimal timing of reproduction is critical to ensure adequate conditions for raising young. However, factors influencing timing of reproduction may differ between sexes. Harsh seasonal environments offer unique opportunities to link timing with resource availability and strategies of the sexes. The Arizona gray squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) inhabits arid forests in which precipitation is highly seasonal and exceptionally variable; however, no data are available on diet or reproduction. We investigated annual variation in foraging and reproductive habits of Arizona gray squirrels to assess responses to extreme seasonality. We found that Arizona gray squirrels have a diverse diet, with consumption of major food items shifting between years. Reproduction also varies between years. Reproductive output was greater in 2008, with more females successfully reproducing and males remaining in reproductive condition for extended periods. Males shifted timing of reproductive behaviors in response to female receptivity, which tracked food availability. This shift likely reflects variation in food production due to precipitation, because rainfall varied greatly, with most years prior to and during our study recording below-average rainfall. With drought conditions and extreme rainfall events predicted to increase with climate change, understanding the relationship between climatic events, phenology of food production, and impacts on reproduction is critical when attempting to manage and conserve species.
Thermogravimetric Analysis of Five Salts of Praseodymium, Neodymium, and Samarium

The thermal decomposition of the ammonium sul-fate, carbonate, nitrate, oxalate, and sulfate salts of praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium was investigated thermogravimetrically in the temperature range 25° to 1400° C. Each salt was decomposed at a heating rate of 2.5° C per minute. The pyrolytic sequences have been identified, and the temperatures of formation of intermediates and of the sesquioxides have been determined. The sesquioxide formation temperatures increased in the order samarium, neodymium, and praseodymium irrespective of the anion. The nonstoichiometric ranges between Pr6O11 and Pr2O3 and the extent of these ranges have been determined for oxides derived from the carbonate, nitrate, and oxalate salts of praseodymium. The nonstoichiometric oxides of praseodymium were not observed in the decomposition of the alum and sulfate salts.
Astrocytic ceruloplasmin expression, which is induced by IL-1β and by traumatic brain injury, increases in the absence of the IL-1 type 1 receptor

IL-1alpha and IL-1beta are induced immediately after insults to the brain, and signaling through the type 1 IL-1 receptor is essential for a normal microglial and astroglial response to injury. To better understand which genes are induced in astrocytes by IL-1beta, we used the unbiased technique of differential display to analyze mouse astroglial gene expression after IL-1beta treatment. Two novel genes were induced, as well as the gene for ceruloplasmin, a ferroxidase with antioxidant properties. Ceruloplasmin was analyzed further by Northern and Western blot. RNA and protein levels of ceruloplasmin were increased when astrocytes were treated with IL-1beta. To determine whether the IL-1 type 1 receptor (IL-1R1) is essential for the injury-induced expression of ceruloplasmin, a Western blot analysis was performed after a traumatic brain injury on mice that were IL-1R1-deficient. Ceruloplasmin increased significantly above controls after injury; however, injury-induced levels of ceruloplasmin were lower in IL-1R1-deficient (2.7-fold increase) than in the wild-type animals (3.5-fold increase). These data indicate that while IL-1R1 deletion has a slight effect on ceruloplasmin expression, it is not essential for either the basal or the induced expression of ceruloplasmin in vivo. Since ceruloplasmin buffers free copper, oxidizes ferrous iron, and catalyzes the dismutation of free radicals, increased levels of ceruloplasmin likely protect neurons and glia from sustaining damage after injury. Furthermore, as the IL-1R1 has been proposed to be a target for achieving neuroprotection after injury, these data suggest that the protection afforded by ceruloplasmin will be retained even when the IL-1R1 is antagonized.
Comb-Push Ultrasound Shear Elastography of thyroid: Preliminary in vivo human study

Shear wave elastography (SWE) techniques have been introduced and have shown promising potency in providing diagnostic information about thyroid nodules. Comb-push Ultrasound Shear Elastography (CUSE) has been recently introduced as a technique that is capable of measuring mechanical properties of soft tissues with a novel acoustic radiation force excitation fashion, leading to notable advantages of fast acquisition of shear wave speed data within a large field of view. In this study, we demonstrated the preliminary utility of CUSE in imaging thyroid tissue and thyroid nodules in a group of 5 healthy volunteers and 10 patients. The shear wave speed values were converted into Young's modulus (E) and suggested a clear difference between benign (91.2±34.8 kPa) and malignant (173.0±17.1 kPa) thyroid nodules, thus indicating the potential of using CUSE in differentiating between benign and malignant nodules in thyroid.
A detailed analysis of the complete hydrogen and carbon scrambling and fragmantation reactions of boron-containing cationic species in the mass spectrometer

A detailed analysis of the mass spectral behavior of trialkylboranes and deuterium and 13C labeled tri-n-butylborane, and comparison with the ion cyclotron resonance behavior, have revealed several unique features and herefore unrecognized rearrangement and fragmantation reactions:(1)the occurrence of intial fragmentation of the parent ion with apparently nearly exclusive loss of one complete alkyl radical; (2) the extensive formation of boron-containing spiecies (>% of the total ion current)in the mass spectrometer relative to the virtual absence (<5%) of such spieces in the ion cyclotron resonance spectrum; (3) the dominant formation of boron-containing species of the composition [CnH2n+2B]+ with [C2H6B]+ generally being the base peak; (4) the formation of appreciable quantities of alkane molecular ions (5 to 10% of the total ion current) up to [R2]+. (from R3B); (5) the characterization of a fragmentation reaction involving the loss of CH2; (6) the observation that very extensive hydrogen and carbon scrmbling occurs in the ions formed after the initial fragmentation of the parent ion. A mechanism which satisfactorily accounts for the fragmentation and rearrangement reactions is proposed which involves the reversible formation and rearrangement of protonated boracyclopropanes and cyclopropanes formed by cationic insertions in s-CH bonds.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo shape sampling using level sets

In this paper, we show how the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm can be used to sample shapes from a distribution defined over the space of signed distance functions. We extend the basic random walk Metropolis-Hastings method to high-dimensional curves using a proposal distribution that can simultaneously maintain the signed distance function property and the ergodic requirement. We show that detailed balance is approximately satisfied and that the Markov chain will asymptotically converge. A key advantage of our approach is that the shape representation is implicit throughout the process, as compared to existing work where explicit curve parameterization is required. Furthermore, our framework can be carried over to 3D situations easily. We show several applications of the framework to shape sampling from multimodal distributions and medical image segmentation.
ROV observations of benthic fishes in the Northwind and Canada Basins, Arctic Ocean

Abyssal and midslope Arctic benthic fishes were sampled nonquantitatively by still photography and videography from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) between 13 August and 7 September 2002. Species diversity was low: only six putative species were seen, including Lycodes frigidus Collett 1879, Lycodes sp., Rhodichthys regina Collett 1879, Paraliparis bathybius (Collett 1879), Raja (Amblyraja) hyperborea Collett 1879, and Cottunculus species diversity varied among stations sampled. An analysis of 1-min segments of videotape from one long ROV dive suggested that habitat selection by demersal nekton in these environments may be associated with the presence, absence, or density of other benthic animals.
High-bandwidth power-scalable 10-bit pipelined ADC using bandwidth-reconfigurable operational amplifier

A high-bandwidth power-scalable 10-bit pipelined ADC utilizing a newly-proposed bandwidth-reconfigurable operational amplifier is presented and verified. The ADC accomplishes power-scalable functionality by altering the bias currents of the opamps in proportion to the ADC's sampling frequency without pushing the MOS transistors into a weak inversion regime. Post-layout simulation in a 1.2-V 65-nm CMOS process shows that power consumption is scaled from 21.4 mW (100 MS/s) to 9.8 mW (25 MS/s) while maintaining an SNDR higher than 58 dB over the entire sampling frequency range. The ADC achieves an FOM of 0.29 pJ/conversion-step for a sampling rate of 100 MS/s with an input signal frequency of 20.7 MHz.
Two classifications of simple Mackey functors with applications to group cohomology and the decomposition of classifying spaces

Abstract We describe a method of computing the group cohomology (with trivial coefficients) of finite groups, and also give a new proof of a theorem of Benson-Feshbach and Martino-Priddy on the stable splitting of BG . In both cases the approach uses structural properties of Mackey functors in a crucial way: we consider the simple functors, composition series of Mackey functors, and projective covers of the simple Mackey functors. A feature of the method for computing group cohomology is that one obtains simultaneously the p -part of the cohomology of all finite groups with a given Sylow p -subgroup.
Localized corrosion of a candidate container material for high-level nuclear waste disposal

Abstract Localized corrosion is one of the important considerations in the design of metallic containers used for the geologic disposal of high-level nuclear waste. This paper addresses the effect ...
The symbolic interaction metaphor and leisure: critical challenges

In 1983, Leisure Identities and Interactions was published in an attempt to provide an alternative to structure-functional sociological premises, theory, and research methods. This symbolic-interaction project focused on situated meanings of behavior, proposed identity as a link between the personal and the social, defined leisure as a constructed process, and gave attention to actual social contexts including role sets and face-to-face interaction. In the decade since, at least three major developments in the study of leisure have challenged the LII project: attention to gender issues, British cultural studies, and social construction approaches. Implications of these challenges are examined and revisions of the project suggested.
Echocardiographic Doppler velocity contour computation from acoustic signal

Doppler velocity contour analysis has been hampered by uncertainty in determination of the contour. Current methods of contour determination are subjective and prone to observer dependent variations since they require manual tracing of the perceived contour. A computer-based method of Doppler velocity contour computation from the echocardiographic acoustic signal has been developed and is applied to the human transmitrai diastolic Doppler velocity profile.
Decidual spiral artery remodelling begins before cellular interaction with cytotrophoblasts

Endometrial arteries undergo structural alterations during pregnancy to increase blood flow to the intervillous space. It is hypothesized that physiologic change in decidual arteries is similar to vascular remodelling seen in other organs. Histologic features of spiral arteries in secretory endometrial biopsies were compared blindly to decidual arteries from elective abortions. Similar sections were stained for trophoblastic and vascular antigens. Spiral arteries in endometrium from ectopic (tubal) and intrauterine pregnancies were compared also. Evidence of decidual endothelial activation was sought using antibodies to vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1). As expected, decidual arteries were significantly different than arteries in secretory endometrium: there was more endothelial basophilia, vacuolation, and arterial dilation in early pregnancy. Some vessels had disorganized or hypertrophied smooth muscle layers. Similar structural alterations were seen in endometrium of ectopic pregnancies, and in the decidua parietalis of intrauterine pregnancies. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed that these alterations occurred in the absence of cellular interaction with extravillous cytotrophoblasts. Independently of trophoblasts, decidual endothelial cells expressed VCAM-1. It is concluded that the initial stages of physiologic change are characterized by vascular remodelling, which occur in the absence of trophoblast invasion of the spiral arteries. Arterial modifications in decidua begin as a maternal response to pregnancy.