cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General Characteristics of Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an important cause of the development of anterior and also posterior ischemic optic neuropathy, usually with devastating visual loss. It is an ophthalmic emergency. However, loss of vision in GCA is preventable with early diagnosis and immediate, intensive corticosteroid therapy (see Chap. 13). Therefore, a brief discussion of GCA is essential in any account of ischemic optic neuropathies.
'Statutory Nondelegation': Another Misguided Idea in Administrative Procedure Reform

Statutory nondelegation is an administrative procedure reform mechanism that constrains agency authority to promulgate regulations, with the intention of enhancing the legislative accountability of agency rulemaking. For example, the Bumpers Amendment to the federal APA, proposed more than two decades ago, would have relied on courts to aggressively review the statutory authority for agency regulatory action. This article uses a 1996 Florida administrative procedure reform that revives the failed Bumpers Amendment to discuss some of the problems with statutory nondelegation as an administrative procedure reform. It argues that statutory nondelegation makes agency rulemaking less--not more--accountable. In addition, it discusses how Florida's statutory nondelegation reform has led to many radical administrative procedure reforms during the 1999 legislative session. The article uses Florida's misguided reforms, largely the product of a state law reform process dominated by special interest politics, to suggest a more tempered approach to administrative procedure reform for Pennsylvania and other states.
Online Positive Affect Journaling in the Improvement of Mental Distress and Well-Being in General Medical Patients With Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Positive affect journaling (PAJ), an emotion-focused self-regulation intervention, has been associated with positive outcomes among medical populations. It may be adapted for Web-based dissemination to address a need for scalable, evidence-based psychosocial interventions among distressed patients with medical conditions. Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of a 12-week Web-based PAJ intervention on psychological distress and quality of life in general medical patients. Methods: A total of 70 adults with various medical conditions and elevated anxiety symptoms were recruited from local clinics and randomly assigned to a Web-based PAJ intervention (n=35) or usual care (n=35). The intervention group completed 15-min Web-based PAJ sessions on 3 days each week for 12 weeks. At baseline and the end of months 1 through 3, surveys of psychological, interpersonal, and physical well-being were completed. Results: Patients evidenced moderate sustained adherence to Web-based intervention. PAJ was associated with decreased mental distress and increased well-being relative to baseline. PAJ was also associated with less depressive symptoms and anxiety after 1 month and greater resilience after the first and second month, relative to usual care. Conclusions: Web-based PAJ may serve as an effective intervention for mitigating mental distress, increasing well-being, and enhancing physical functioning among medical populations. PAJ may be integrated into routine medical care to improve quality of life. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01873599; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01873599 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73ZGFzD2Z)
Electrodermal Activity in Ambulatory Settings: A Narrative Review of Literature

Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a portable, non-invasive and wearable sensor that measures skin electrical properties to track correlates of autonomic nervous system activity. Although EDA utilization is sparse compared to some other biomedical signals in ambulatory settings, it can be a potentially helpful adjunct tool in neuroergonomics studies and mobile brain and body research. This paper summarizes EDA physiological principles and methodology including data acquisition, signal processing, and data analysis approaches. In addition, use of EDA in diverse neuroergonomic application areas, such as in psychiatry, neurology, operator and consumer assessment, virtual reality and gaming have been outlined.
Evacuation Departure Timing during Hurricane Matthew

AbstractThis study investigates evacuation behaviors associated with Hurricane Matthew in October of 2016. It assesses factors influencing evacuation decisions and evacuation departure times for Fl...
Gout: origin, treatment, and prevention

Gout, one of the most prevalent forms of inflammatory arthritis, is characterized by severe joint pain that often interferes with or prevents daily activities. Much has been done to elucidate the causes, treatment, and prevention of gout. We know that gout typically forms due to the buildup of monosodium urate crystals in the joints due to high levels of serum uric acid. Effective treatments, in the form of urate lowering drugs, have been well established. Research has demonstrated that diets low in purine nucleotides can help prevent gout attacks. New treatment and prevention strategies are currently being developed that could change the way we look at gout in the near future. The purpose of this review is to summarize our current knowledge of this disease and highlight some recent advances in the field.
Experimental Demonstration of PAM-4 Transmission through Microring Silicon Photonic Clos Switch Fabric

We present the first experimental demonstration of a 25 Gbps optical PAM4 signal transmission through a microring-based Clos topology under realistic operating conditions. We observe a 1.1-dBm power penalty at the bit error rate of 1.03 × 10−7.
Combining multiple contrasts for improving machine learning-based classification of cervical cancers with a low-cost point-of-care Pocket colposcope

We apply feature-extraction and machine learning methods to multiple sources of contrast (acetic acid, Lugol’s iodine and green light) from the white Pocket Colposcope, a low-cost point of care colposcope for cervical cancer screening. We combine features from the sources of contrast and analyze diagnostic improvements with addition of each contrast. We find that overall AUC increases with additional contrast agents compared to using only one source.
Bridging the Gap Between Electromagnetic Theory and Application [Book/Software Reviews]

This book is a comprehensive guide that covers antenna fundamentals, basic antenna designs, simulation, and measurement for practical implementation strategies. It emphasizes practicality and also helps antenna designers, circuit designers, and design managers bridge the gap between electromagnetic theory and its application in the design of practical antennas in actual products. The book is organized into nine chapters that include some of the following topics: fundamental concepts; specification and performance, basic and advanced antenna elements, electromagnetic simulation, measurements, and implementation strategies. This book is written for practical antenna designers and includes all of the necessary information to jump in and start designing antennas. It bridges the gap between theory and practice and has just enough equations to make the theory clear but not so many as to be confusing. For the wireless products antenna designer, this is the book you must have in your office as your first reference.
Deficiency in pigment epithelium-derived factor accelerates pulmonary growth and development in a compensatory lung growth model

Children with hypoplastic lung disease associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continue to suffer significant morbidity and mortality secondary to progressive pulmonary disease. Recently published work from our lab demonstrated the potential of Roxadustat (FG-4592), a prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, as a treatment for CDH-associated pulmonary hypoplasia. Treatment with Roxadustat led to significantly accelerated compensatory lung growth (CLG) through downregulation of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an anti-angiogenic factor, rather than upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). PEDF and its role in pulmonary development is a largely unexplored field. In this study, we sought to further evaluate the role of PEDF in accelerating CLG. PEDF-deficient mice demonstrated significantly increased lung volume, total lung capacity, and alveolarization compared to wild type controls following left pneumonectomy without increased VEGF expression. Furthermore, Roxadustat administration in PEDF-deficient mice did not further accelerate CLG. Human microvascular endothelial lung cells (HMVEC-L) and human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEC) similarly demonstrated decreased PEDF expression with Roxadustat administration. Additionally, downregulation of PEDF in Roxadustat-treated HMVEC-L and HPAEC, a previously unreported finding, speaks to the potential translatability of Roxadustat from small animal studies. Taken together, these findings further suggest that PEDF downregulation is the primary mechanism by which Roxadustat accelerates CLG. More importantly, these data highlight the critical role PEDF may have in pulmonary growth and development, a previously unexplored field.
Back to the Source: Moving Upstream in the Curricular Rivers of Coloniality

This article shares choices made as part of an introductory decoloniality curriculum in a non-clinical community psychology M.A./PhD program where the authors are faculty members. We focus on the b...
Circadian clocks, feeding time, and metabolic homeostasis.

Metabolic processes exhibit diurnal variation from cyanobacteria to humans. The circadian clock is thought to have evolved as a time keeping system for the cell to optimize the timing of metabolic events according to physiological needs and environmental conditions. Circadian rhythms temporally separate incompatible cellular processes and optimize cellular and organismal fitness. A modern 24 hour lifestyle can run at odds with the circadian rhythm dictated by our molecular clocks and create desynchrony between internal and external timing. It has been suggested that this desynchrony compromises metabolic homeostasis and may promote the development of obesity (Morris et al., 2012). Here we review the evidence supporting the association between circadian misalignment and metabolic homeostasis and discuss the role of feeding time.
Wideband reflectivity of a separating target

Many radar applications involve scenarios in which the target to be interrogated by radar is located in the close proximity of other objects affecting the signature of the target of interest through multiple scattering and shadowing. Examples include cruise missiles flying close to terrain or man-made structures and aircraft immediately after weapons release. Another example is the proximity of objects in a missile complex immediately following a separation (deployment) event. This paper reports an attempt to assess the ramifications of multiple-target interactions via a rigorous surface integral equation formulation. The analysis is limited to axisymmetric targets. Results of this analysis provide insight into the nature and extent of multiple scattering and shadowing on the signature of a separating missile and may lead to improvements in dynamic radar cross section modeling of such targets.
Chapter 37D Optical atomic emission and absorption methods

Publisher Summary Two general groups of atomic spectroscopic analytical techniques are described in the chapter. The chapter describes the techniques that utilize atomic spectra within or near the optical range of wavelengths. The arc and spark spectra of many of the rare earth elements are very complex; possessing thousands of lines of rather uniform intensity and lacking the characteristically intense lines found in the emission spectra of other elements. The chapter explains the determination of rare earth impurities in a rare earth. Atomic emission techniques pose a problem that is common to all spectrographic methods for analysis of nonmetallic samples. This problem is concerned with finding excitation conditions, which produce spectra of sufficient precision to allow determinations to be made with adequate accuracy, especially for major constituent determinations. A widely used technique for the excitation of nonmetallic samples involves vaporization of the powdered oxide in a high current d.c. arc discharge.
A local inverse for nonlinear mappings

A mapping φ:R n →R m , n≤m, with Jacobian of full column-rank, has a local inverse that is analogous to the Moore–Penrose inverse of linear mappings.
Identification and gene mapping of a 14,700-molecular-weight protein encoded by region E3 of group C adenoviruses.

Abstract Early region E3 of adenovirus type 5 should encode at least nine proteins as judged by the DNA sequence and the spliced structures of the known mRNAs. Only two E3 proteins have been proved to exist, a glycoprotein (gp19K) and an 11,600-molecular-weight protein (11.6K protein). Here we describe an abundant 14.7K protein coded by a gene in the extreme 3' portion of E3. To identify this 14.7K protein, we constructed a bacterial vector which synthesized a TrpE-14.7K fusion protein, then we prepared antiserum against the fusion protein. This antiserum immunoprecipitated the 14.7K protein from cells infected with adenovirus types 5 and 2, as well as with a variety of E3 deletion mutants. Synthesis of the 14.7K protein correlated precisely with the presence or absence of the 14.7K gene and with the synthesis of the mRNA (mRNA h) which encodes the 14.7K protein. The 14.7K protein appeared as a triplet on immunoprecipitation gels and Western blots (immunoblots).
Nonlinear liquid motion in a longitudinally excited container with elastic bottom.

This paper is concerned with theoretical investigation of liquid motion in a circular cylindrical container subjected to longitudinal excitation of sinusoidal form. The basic equations are derived for an incompressible and nonviscous liquid. The motion of the liquid is considered to be irrotational. The container bottom is treated as a thin elastic plate, while the dynamic and kinematic conditions of the liquid free surface are represented by nonlinear equations. Depending on the excitation parameters, the free surface will exhibit a plane surface or oscillate with a finite amplitude. The finite amplitude can be a one-half subharmonic, harmonic, or superharmonic of the excitation frequency. Both one-half subharmonic and harmonic responses have been treated in more detail. It was found that the influence of the elastic bottom upon the response of the liquid is more significant as the tank diameter increases. Furthermore, as the bottom thickness decreases, the elastic effect is more obvious. The liquid height is also a factor affecting the liquid response. As the liquid height decreases, the influence of the elastic bottom upon the liquid response plays an important role. A comparison of the responses of the liquid in a container with an elastic bottom to that of a container with a rigid bottom has been made. The free surface elevations due to the liquid motions are obtained also.
Ring closure reactions involving 1-hydrazinophthalazine. Reactions with 1,2,4-tricarbonyl and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

Annelation reactions of six-membered rings to 1-hydrazinophthalazine, 1, were investigated. With aroyl-(acyl)pyruvates, 2, the desired system was obtained. It was found that the course of the reaction depends on the reaction condition as well as the substituted pyruvates. Thus, 3-(2-oxo-2-substituted ethyl)-4H-as-triazino-[3,4-a]phthalazin-4-one, 4, was the product when 1 reacted with 2 in alcoholic medium. The side chain tauto-merism of 4 was studied by using ir, 1H-nmr, and ms spectral methods. When 1 hydrochloride instead of 1 was reacted with 2, 3-ethoxycarbonyl-s-triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine, 6, was the major product. The reaction of 1 with benzoylacetone in ethanol afforded the hydrazalone, 9. By ir, 1H-nmr, and 13C-nmr methods it was shown that in solution it is inolved in an enhydrazine-hydrazone as well as a ring-chain tautomerism. Compound 9 upon the action of PPA underwent dehydrative cyclization to 3-methyl-s-triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine, 10, and 3-methyl-5-phenyl-1-(l-phthalazinyl)pyrazole, 7. The reaction of 1 with ethyl phenylpropiolate in ethanol was reported by others to give 1-(1-phthalazinyl)-3-phenyl-5-pyrazolone, 8. Upon reinvestigation of this reaction it is shown that the product actually is ethyl β-(1-phthalazinylhydrazono)benzenepropanoate, 11. Attempts to synthesize 8 were unsuccessful by this method. In the reaction of 1 with ethyl benzoylacetate the expected hydralazone 11 was easily formed which upon reaction with PPA yielded the desired species 8.
The Effects of Acid Treatment on the Electrochemical Properties of 0.5 Li2MnO3 ∙ 0.5 LiNi0.44Co0.25Mn0.31O2 Electrodes in Lithium Cells

The electrochemical properties of 0.5 Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5 LiNi 0.4 Co 0.25 Mn 0.31 O 2 electrodes, when preconditioned and activated with acid for 2-24 h, have been studied in lithium cells. Powder X-ray diffraction data and electrochemical measurements provide supporting evidence for an intergrown, composite electrode structure from which Li 2 O can be leached from the Li 2 MnO 3 (Li 2 O MnO 2 ) component with acid, thereby mimicking the electrochemical charge process at high potentials (>4.5 V). The MnO 2 -rich domains generated by acid treatment are reduced during electrochemical discharge at a lower potential than electrochemically generated MnO 2 -rich domains. With prolonged cycling between 4.6 and 2.0 V, dQ/dV plots of untreated and acid-treated electrodes develop similar, but not identical, character, suggesting a coalescence and redox interaction of the manganese ions in MnO 2 -rich and Ni 0.44 Co 0.25 Mn 0.31 O 2 regions of the structure. Acid treatment eliminates the first-cycle capacity loss of the electrodes, consistent with earlier reports for related systems, but it damages their cycling stability and rate capability.
Pressure-dependence of the yellow nitrogen afterglow intensity

Abstract Change in the kinetic pressure-dependence of the intensity of the visible nitrogen afterglow, from zero order at high pressure to first order at low pressure, is demonstrated directly by pressure-jump experiments in a static system.
Use of data abstraction in process specification

Processes in computer systems are often intimately involved with various data abstractions that occur in the systems. The specification of such processes should state the nature of this involvement. This note focuses on a special kind of process, called a realization process, and its specification because it appears to capture the interplay between concurrency and abstraction in a natural way. A realization process has two important properties: it is transparent to the abstract space and it is serializable with processes at the abstract level. Transparency and serializability are the main specifications of realization processes. These concepts are illustrated by an example of the kind of realization processes found in actual computer systems which serves to motivate the discussion.
Educating for international social work: Human rights leadership:

As social work increasingly develops an international perspective, there is a need for educational approaches that more fully integrate this content into the curriculum. This article presents an instructional framework focused on developing global leadership using the theme of universal human rights. It encourages students to analyze oppressive practices of power and to pursue equality for all people through acquiring human rights literacy (knowledge), empathy (values), responsibility (action), and transforming this into global leadership (change). It provides examples of teaching strategies that assist students in developing an international perspective to guide social work practice in the global 21st century.
On mother and other tongues: sociolinguistics, schools, and language ideology in northern India

Abstract This is an expanded version of a paper given at a conference held in Cape Town, South Africa from December 11–13, 2008 entitled “The Native Speaker and the Mother Tongue.” In keeping with the conference’s themes of exploring and interrogating the notions of “mother tongue” and “native speaker,” I consider constructions of languages emergent from the school system in Banaras, a city of approximately 2,000,000 in northern India. I do so, in part, because they offer the opportunity to critique sociolinguistic work on northern India for the different ways scholars have used the notion of “mother tongue” to ignore the institutional milieu – schooling – through which they emerge in everyday life. It is true that “mother tongue” is an incredibly salient notion in northern India, and that what language variety can be said to constitute the “mother tongue” exhibits great variety in a single locale. But the rich body of scholarly research on language difference in India has largely ignored ethnographic approaches such as the one I offer wherein schools emerge as a key site for people to imagine the significance of language in social life. In order to indicate what an ethnographic approach to the intersection of language difference and school difference might illuminate, I reflect on audio-taped conversations in Banaras, Uttar Pradesh between people from various class and school backgrounds and myself to show that one language variety, Hindi, emerges as the only “mother tongue” authorized for school use. More importantly, I show that such ideological work underpins a specific kind of narrative about what it means to be able to succeed in school but remain faithful to one’s “mother tongue.” In doing so, I hope to contribute to one of the conference’s goals: demonstrating the sociopolitical underpinnings of the notion of “mother tongue.”
The development of motilin-like immunoreactivity in the rat cerebellum and pituitary as determined by radioimmunoassay.

Abstract Motilin-like immunoreactivity (MLI) was determined in cerebelli and pituitaries of the rat from 4 days before birth to about 6 months after. Cholecystokinin (CCK)-like immunoreactivity was measured in the same pituitary samples for comparison. MLI concentration was highest 4 days prenatally in both tissues, while total tissue MLI content was higher after birth. Cerebellar MLI content was maximal from day 14 to 40, while pituitary MLI content increased gradually with age, roughly paralleling the increase in tissue protein. Pituitary CCK was detectable only postnatally; its concentration was maximal between days 19 and 29, and decreased substantially in older animals. The presence of detectable MLI in pituitary before birth is consistent with the observation that MLI can be visualized by immunocytochemistry in anterior pituitary somatotrophic cells, which are known to be active producers of growth hormone before and after birth. The presence of MLI before birth in cerebellum is consistent with the localization of MLI in Purkinje neurons, known to be formed before birth. The presence of MLI in the cerebellum before birth and its marked increase in content during the period of synaptogenesis are suggestive of a possible role of motilin in development.
Functional analysis of self-injury maintained by automatic reinforcement: exposing masked social functions

Two functional analyses for self-injurious behavior (SIB) exhibited by a child diagnosed with mental retardation and autism were conducted. Responding was high and undifferentiated in the first functional analysis, indicating that SIB was maintained by automatic reinforcement. During the second functional analysis, the client wore a padded helmet and all SIB was blocked. SIB decreased in all conditions except attention, suggesting that SIB was multiply controlled (social positive and automatic reinforcement). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of photochemical filtration membranes in organic solvents by using sub-10nm fluorescent Cd-based QDs

Semiconductor nanocrystals, also called quantum dots (QDs), have been proven as powerful fluorescent probes. This paper presents a new method to evaluate the retention efficiency of nanofiltration membranes using sub-10 nm fluorescent QDs in organic solvents. Two different Cd-based QDs with uniformed sizes (nominal 8 nm and 4 nm) were used as challenge particles in this study. Fluorescence spectrophotometer was used as a detector to measure the QDs concentration before and after filtration. High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were employed for measuring particle size and size distribution, which revealed the QDs used in this study were with a narrow size distribution. Three different types of Entegris UPE membranes were tested by using this method. The filters were rated at 3 nm, 5 nm and 10 nm using bubble-point extrapolative methods were further confirmed by the QDs retention tests in solvents.
Neighborhood Disorder and Juvenile Drug Arrests: A Preliminary Investigation Using the NIfETy Instrument

Background: Disordered neighborhood environments are associated with crime, drug use, and poor health outcomes. However, research utilizing objective instruments to characterize the neighborhood environment is lacking. Objectives: This investigation examines the relationship between objective measures of neighborhood disorder and juvenile drug arrests (JDAs) in an urban locale. Methods: The neighborhood disorder scale was developed using indicators from the Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology (NIfETy) instrument; a valid and reliable tool that assesses physical and social disorder. Data on 3146 JDAs from 2006 were obtained from the police department. Results: Negative binomial regression models revealed a significant association between neighborhood disorder and the count of JDAs in the neighborhood (β == .34, p < .001). The relationship between neighborhood disorder and JDAs remained significant after adjusting for percent African-Americans in the neighborhood (β == .24, p < .001). Conclusi...
The relationship between isothermal and non-isothermal kinetics for thermoset characterization

Abstract General relationships are developed for obtaining non-isothermal (dynamic) rate equation from a knowledge of the isothermal kinetics of the system. Applications to several important specific forms of the isothermal rate expressions are given.
Eye contact, pupil dilation, and personal preference

Subjects were asked to choose partners for experiments. The available partners differed in eye-contact or in pupil dilation. Subjects of both sexes were more likely to choose partners with eye-contact during an introduction. Males were more likely to choose female available partners with dilated pupils. Similarly females chose male partners with dilated pupils.
Mechanical Strength Characterization of Sintered Silicon Nitride Containing Oxide Additives

The flexural strength of a commercially available sintered silicon nitride (NGK-SN73) material containing various oxide additives (ceria, magnesia, zirconia and SrO) was determined in 4-point bending as a function of temperature (20 to 1200 C) in an air environment. Significantly, high strength (790 MPa) is maintained from room temperature to 800 C. At 900 C. and above, flexural strength decreased sharply. The sudden decrease in strength at temperatures of 900 and 1000 C is believed due to softening of the residual glass phase present in the material, and led to the presence of sub-critical crack growth. The extent of sub-critical crack growth and large viscous flow increased with increasing temperature (1100–1200 C) and led to degradation of material’s strength. In addition, the material was susceptible to oxidation at these temperatures as displayed by discoloration (dark gray to white) of the specimens.Extensive flexural stress rupture testing was carried out in the temperature range 800 to 1000 C in order to determine (i) the material’s susceptibility for low temperature oxidation instability, (ii) the presence of sub-critical crack growth at low temperatures (700 to 800 C) and high temperatures (900 to 1000 C) and (iii) to identify allowable stress levels for limited time (≤ 100 h) without showing degradation of materials strength (failure, creep or oxidation).Detailed fractographic evidence is presented to illustrate the type of strength controlling flaws present in the material at 20 C and above, and to reveal the presence of sub-critical crack growth displayed by the material in the temperature range 800 to 1000 C under stres-rupture mode.Copyright © 1987 by ASME
Microbiota of the upper and lower genital tract

Our understanding of the bacterial species inhabiting the female genital tract has been limited primarily by our ability to detect them. Early investigations using microscopy and culture-based techniques identified lactobacilli as the predominant members of the vaginal microbiota and suggested that these organisms might serve a protective function at the mucosal surface. Improvements in cultivation techniques and the development of molecular-based detection strategies validated these early findings and enabled us to recognize that the microbiota of the female genital tract is much more complex than previously suspected. Disruption of the vaginal microbial community due to invasion of exogenous organisms or by overgrowth of one or more endogenous species has important health implications for both the mother and newborn.
Morphology and Properties of Vanadium Oxide Xerogels and Aerogels.

The high redox potential and ion insertion properties of vanadium pentoxide have made this material a viable cathode for secondary lithium batteries. The use of sol-gel methods to synthesize vanadium pentoxide and other transition metal oxides has been well studied as the technique represents a relatively simple approach for preparing thin films and powders. Although it is well known that sol-gel processing may be used to prepare high surface area aerogels, the research on transition metal oxides has been largely limited to xerogels. The present paper compares the properties, structures and morphologies of vanadate xerogels and aerogels.
Urinary biomarkers of oxidative status.

Oxidative damage produced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the etiology and pathology of many health conditions, including a large number of chronic diseases. Urinary biomarkers of oxidative status present a great opportunity to study redox balance in human populations. With urinary biomarkers, specimen collection is non-invasive and the organic/metal content is low, which minimizes the artifactual formation of oxidative damage to molecules in specimens. Also, urinary levels of the biomarkers present intergraded indices of redox balance over a longer period of time compared to blood levels. This review summarizes the criteria for evaluation of biomarkers applicable to epidemiological studies and evaluation of several classes of biomarkers that are formed non-enzymatically: oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, DNA, and allantoin, an oxidative product of uric acid. The review considers formation, metabolism, and exertion of each biomarker, available data on validation in animal and clinical models of oxidative stress, analytical approaches, and their intra- and inter-individual variation. The recommended biomarkers for monitoring oxidative status over time are F2-isoprostanes and 8-oxodG. For inter-individual comparisons, F2-isoprostanes are recommended, whereas urinary 8-oxodG levels may be confounded by differences in the DNA repair capacity. Promising urinary biomarkers include allantoin, acrolein-lysine, and dityrosine.
Steroid action at the plasma membrane: progesterone stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C following release of the prophase block in amphibian oocytes.

Progesterone, acting at the amphibian oocyte plasma membrane, triggers the progression of the prophase oocyte nucleus through the first meiotic metaphase. We previously reported a transient increase in 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DG) within the first 1–2 min after exposure of Rana pipiens oocytes to progesterone. We have now investigated the source of the 1,2-DG, using this highly synchronous oocyte population. Phospholipid pools of intact prophasearrested oocytes were labeled with [3H]glycerol, [methyl-3H]choline chloride or l-O-[3H]octadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (lyso platelet activating factor, lysoPAF). [3H]LysoPAF is selectively taken up into the plasma membrane of the intact oocyte and esterified to form the [3H]alkyl-analogue of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Intact oocytes and/or isolated plasma membranes were then stimulated with progesterone and the changes in [3H]DG, [methyl-3H]phosphocholine and [3H]phospholipids were monitored as a function of time. Progesterone induced a transient increase in [3H]glycerol-derived DG, [methyl-3H]phosphocholine and [3H]alkyl-2-acylglycerol from [3H]alkyl-PC within the first 2 min, indicating activation of a PC-specific phospholipase C. Different pulse-labeling conditions indicate a biphasic rise in [3H]DG from [3H]glycerol-labeled oocytes; the first rise (1–2 min) when phospholipid labeling in the plasma membrane is enriched followed by an approximately 3-fold larger rise at 5–15 min when phospholipids of intracellular membranes are preferentially labeled. An early transient increase in [3H]DG or [3H]alkyl-2-acylglycerol was also seen when progesterone and/or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-γ-S) were added to isolated plasma-vitelline membranes prepared from oocytes prelabeled with either [3H]glycerol or [3H]lysoPAF. Progesterone thus appears to activate a G-protein-linked PC-specific phospholipase C in the oocyte plasma membrane which is followed by much larger DG release from intracellular membranes. The transient character of the hydrolysis suggests that this may represent a mechanism for transducing a membrane event into a meiotic signal.
Gender, race, religion, faith? Rethinking intersectionality in German feminisms:

Despite the recent wave of scholarship on intersectionality, as well as a surge in feminist scholarship on Islam in German feminist studies, feminist research has yet to adequately engage with the role of religion in intersectionality. In this article the author draws on the work of the Aktionsbundnis muslimischer Frauen in Germany to explore the possibility for incorporating religion and faith into intersectional frameworks, which requires attention to women of color theorizing in German feminisms, recognition of ways in which religions and forms of secularism have been racialized, and recognition of affective attachment to faith.
Adaptive-delay combined feedforward/feedback control for raster tracking with applications to AFMs

In previous work, we evaluated the performance of two control architectures applied to atomic force microscopes (AFM) [1]. Experimental results in [1] indicated that the closed-loop-injection (FFCLI) architecture outperformed the plant-injection (FFPI) architecture when using a specific model-inversion feedforward technique for the tracking of a raster pattern. Empirical work suggested that a nontraditional variation upon the experimentally inferior FFPI architecture may allow it to track a raster pattern at a performance level in the neighborhood of the FFCLI architecture. This variation is manifested as additional delay inserted in the feedforward control system. An online adaptive technique is used to determine the required amount of additional delay. Experimental results show that the performance level of the FFCLI architecture and the adaptive-delay FFPI architecture are comparable.
Operationalizing the effect of the group on the individual: A self-attention perspective

Abstract The effect of the group on the individual is considered from the perspective of self-attention theory. It is proposed that group members will become more self-attentive, and thus become more concerned with matching to standards of appropriate behavior, as the relative size of their subgroup decreases. A simple algorithm, termed the Other-Total Ratio, is presented which numerically describes this effect of the group on the individual. An analysis of group effects on individuals' self-attention supports this perspective, as do analyses of the results of 42 previous studies in four other areas (conformity, prosocial behavior, social loafing, and antisocial behavior). This orientation to the effect of the group on the individual is linked to recent developments in self-attention theory and compared to Latane's social impact theory.
Do courtship flashes of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) serve as aposematic signals to insectivorous bats?

Adult males of some species of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are chemically defended and produce bioluminescent courtship signals while flying in search of females. These signals may have positive or negative consequences unrelated to mating. Eavesdropping Photuris fireflies use bioluminescence to locate and prey on smaller Photinus. We examined whether flash signals of Photinus act as aposematic signals against insectivorous bats. We used field observations of four species of North American bats, diet and controlled behavioural experiments to assess taste aversion and responses to simulated fireflies. Fireflies were absent from the bats' diet even though these species co-occurred at our field sites and bats consumed other coleopterans and firefly-sized prey. Caged bats rejected mealworms coated with homogenized fireflies, and flying bats responded differentially to moving lures based on a combination of flash cues and lure size. Flash signals of fireflies probably operate as aposematic warnings to the common bat, Eptesicus fuscus, supporting the idea that bioluminescent courtship in fireflies operates under competing selective pressures.
Weak convergence of probability measures relative to incompatible topology and σ-field with applications to renewal theory

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given in order that a sequence of probability measures, weakly convergent relative to a given topology τ 0 and associated σ-field σ(τ 0), are weakly convergent (and satisfy a continuity theorem) relative to the σ(τ 0)-measurable functions which are continuous in some finer topology τ 1, even if μ does not extend to σ(τ 0). These conditions are shown to be applicable to a sequence of translated renewal measures. Alternate conditions (tightness, uniformity of weak convergence) are investigated and shown to be inappropriate.
A worst balance analysis of flexible rotating shafts

Abstract A worst balance analysis is formulated for a rotating shaft. The analysis provides the maximum deflection of the shaft resulting from the worst combination of errors in placing balance weights along the axis of the rotor. The analysis is formulated in general as a non-linear programming problem and in particular cases as a linear programming problem. Both formulations require computational implementation for multi-mass rotors. Curves illustrating the trade-off between the error in balance weight placement and the corresponding worst disturbance are presented.
Decentralized Multirobot Control in Partially Known Environments with Dynamic Task Reassignment

Abstract This paper provides a decentralized solution to multirobot coordination in partially-known environments where the problems of task assignment, trajectory planning and safe control are concurrently solved in the presence of communication constraints. We assume that the robots are homogeneous (any robot is capable of completing any assigned task), can localize themselves and have access to a known map of the environment, except for obstacles and hazards that cannot be circumvented and must be detected through local sensing. Second, we assume that only robots that are within a specified, known communication range can communicate. A group of communicating robots is able to reassign tasks within the group to refine and improve the resulting solution in terms of total time or energy required for traversal. The key contribution of this paper is an approach that concurrently solves the three typically separated problems of task assignment, path planning, and control under constraints with proofs of completeness and convergence. We illustrate the application of these ideas through simulations and experiments with applications to surveillance of multiple destinations.
Perceptual equivalence of two acoustic cues for stop-consonant manner.

The first experiment examined the effects of orthogonal variation in two acoustic cues that are both produced by the articulation of a stop consonant. One component of the articulation produces a temporal cue, the other a spectral cue. In a phonetic identification task, these quite different cues were found to engage in a trading relation: One cue could, within limits, substitute for the other. In a second experiment, the perceptual equivalence implied by that trading relation was put to a stricter test. If the cues are truly equivalent in perception, then they should have their effects on the same perceptual dimension. That being so, it should be possible to combine them in such a way that, working at cross purposes in the perceptual domain, they effectively cancel each other. Pairs of patterns so produced should, then, be harder to discriminate than pairs produced by either cue alone, and still harder than those produced when the (same) two cues are combined in the opposite way and so cooperate. That expectation was confirmed. We suggest that the equivalence thus demonstrated comes about because the two cues are processed by a system specialized to take account of their common origin in speech production. So interpreted, the equivalence may be viewed as an instance of distinctively phonetic perception.
Temperature-gradient lpe growth of Pbl-x Snx Te

An apparatus has been constructed for liquid-phase epitaxy that permits the application of a strong temperature gradient normal to the substrate-solution interface with minimal, unwanted gradients in other directions. A morphology problem with growth of Pbl-xSnxTe alloys on PbTe substrates slightly misorientated from the (100) plane has been used to test the induced temperature gradient growth. No improvement is found over growth with a conventional LPE slider, and very large gradients cause a deterioration in morphology and growth stability. A small systematic variation of the Sn/Pb ratio in the grown layers with rate of cooling is found, but no variation with temperature gradient can be detected. Thus, contrary to our conjecture made before this study, the presence or absence of an induced temperature gradient cannot be used to explain the systematic differences between the data of different workers for the liquid-solid tie-line behavior of the Pb-Sn-Te system.
CSF α2-macroglobulin and C-reactive protein as aids to rapid diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis

alpha 2-Macroglobulin (AMG) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with bacterial and aseptic meningitis have been analyzed by a rate nephelometric method to determine if these acute phase proteins can aid in differentiation of bacterial from aseptic meningitis. The mean CSF concentrations of AMG and CRP were 15 and 3.5 times greater, respectively, in the bacterial compared to the aseptic meningitis group. Also, the range of AMG levels showed minimal overlap between the two groups. The elevated levels of the proteins persisted after CSF cultures became negative. Quantitation of specific acute phase proteins in CSF may assist the differentiation of bacterial from aseptic meningitis.
Physiological properties of neurons in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus of the cat.

Abstract The properties of primary afferent trigeminal fibers and neurons in the principal trigeminal nucleus were examined in decrebrate cats with the aim of identifying specific receptor categories represented among lemniscal neurons and possible transformations in second-order neurons. The main classes of sensitive mechanoreceptors innervating skin, hair, teeth and cornea were all found to be represented by modality-specific neurons except for some slowly-adapting mechanoreceptor neurons displaying thermal (cold) sensitivity. Neurons excited by joint receptors, nociceptors and thermoreceptors appear to be lacking. Multiply innervated specialized hairs (mystacial vibrissae and labial sinus sinus hairs) were represented by rapidly-adapting neurons with a range of velocity sensitivity and two classes of slowly-adapting mechanoreceptors homologous with types I and II; each neuron is excited by distinctive stimulus and response properties with little evidence of receptor interaction using natural stimuli. The properties of the “lemniscal” mechanoreceptive neurons of the principal V nucleus are compared with those of the pars caudalis of the spinal V nucleus; no obvious differences were evident in receptive field size, sensitivity or information transmission. These findings fail to provide support for the suggested distinction between “discriminative” and “crude” touch attributed to different sectors of the sensory V nuclear complex.
Calculation of 1/N c corrections to the SU(3)-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasino model

There is a very large body of literature in which the Nambu\char21{}Jona-Lasino (NJL) model has been applied in the study of mesons, baryons, and hadronic matter. One area of interest has been the calculation of corrections of order ${1/N}_{c}$ to various quantities calculated in the leading (Hartree) approximation. Of particular interest is the work of Dmitra\ifmmode \check{s}\else \v{s}\fi{}inovi\ifmmode \acute{c}\else \'{c}\fi{}, Schulze, Tegen, and Lemmer [Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 238, 332 (1995)]. These authors have considered the SU(2)-flavor NJL model and identified a set of diagrams, whose calculation yields ${1/N}_{c}$ corrections, while at the same time maintaining the relations, such as the Goldberger-Treiman relation, that follow from the chiral symmetry of the theory. In the present work we extend the work of Dmitra\ifmmode \check{s}\else \v{s}\fi{}inovi\ifmmode \acute{c}\else \'{c}\fi{} et al. to the case of SU(3)-flavor symmetry. In particular, we consider ${1/N}_{c}$ corrections to the quark vacuum condensates and to the ``gap equation.'' While ${1/N}_{c}$ corrections to the pion decay constant are significant, the corrections to the condensates are found to be quite small, as was the case in the SU(2)-flavor analysis. The Pauli-Villars regularization procedure is thought to be particularly useful for such calculations, since that procedure is known to maintain the symmetries of the theory. As part of our analysis we extend the Pauli-Villars regularization procedure to the case in which a particular diagram contains quarks of different constituent mass. Such diagrams appear when we generalize the SU(2)-flavor analysis to SU(3). We also show that, if we use the ``textbook'' definition of the Pauli-Villars method, in which fictitious particles of large mass are added to the theory, the resulting formalism may not be used in the case of the NJL model. What is done in practice is that particular divergent (and nondivergent) integrals are regulated in a fashion that yields results that are quite similar to the results of the covariant regularization procedure that is used by many authors. For constituent quark mass values of the magnitude usually used in the case of the SU(3)-flavor NJL model, we find that the ${1/N}_{c}$ corrections in the calculation of the pion decay constant play a role in obtaining satisfactory values for the quark vacuum condensates and the strength of the 't Hooft interaction.