cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consensual Insemination: An Analysis of Social Deviance within Gender, Family, or the Home (Etudes 6)

This paper will address some questions, which will be answered by the conclusion that American law lacks some protection for female sexual agency. The following questions will be asked and answered: What is the purpose of semen and how does the purpose of semen relate to sexual assault and unprotected sex? If any unwanted sex act is a sexual assault, then when will American society acknowledge that unwanted insemination is a separate crime? Does the law sufficiently distinguish between a woman’s right to have sex, a woman’s right to have unprotected sex, and a woman’s right to consent or withhold consent from being inseminated? How does a global cross-section of data that correlates intimate partner violence, condom use, and sexual agency relate to patriarchal attitudes, and further explain why U.S. law must punish nonconsensual insemination? How can we learn which laws protect women from recent events involving Julian Assange and the country of Sweden?
THREAT-DRIVEN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF SECURE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

To deal with software security issues in the early stages of system development, this paper presents a threatdriven approach to the architectural design and analysis of secure information systems. In this approach, we model security threats to systems with misuse cases and mitigation requirements with mitigation use cases at the requirements analysis phase. Then we drive system architecture design (including the identification of architectural components and their connections) by use cases, misuse cases, and mitigation use cases. According to the misuse case-based threat model, we analyze whether or not a candidate architecture is resistant to the identified security threats and what constraints must be imposed on the choices of system implementation. This provides a smooth transition from requirements specification to high-level design and greatly improves the traceability of security concerns in high assurance information systems. We demonstrate our approach through a case study on a security-intensive payroll information system.
Compact multimode interference couplers in silicon-on-insulator technology

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology has emerged as the platform for future electronic integrated circuits.
Computer-assisted teaching of nutritional anemias and diabetes to first-year medical students

Background Seven computer-based Nutrition in Medicine interactive modules for teaching nutrition are available for instruction in medical schools. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the instructional efficacy of the Nutritional Anemias and the Diabetes and Weight Management: Aberrations in Glucose Metabolism modules when used by first-year medical students. Design The modules were introduced at Meharry Medical College to enhance its nutrition course for first-year medical students. Eighty medical students used the Anemias and Diabetes modules as an obligatory component of the course. Students were divided into 20 study groups of 4 and were required to answer multiple-choice questions to test their nutrition knowledge before and after use of the module. Results On average, students spent 1.89 +/- 0.99 h studying each module, and most students (70%) reported viewing modules in more than one session. The percentage of correct responses to 12 knowledge questions from each module increased from 25% before use of the module to 74% immediately after its use and remained high (59%) 8 mo later. The pattern of knowledge retention, however, had some unpredictability. On the midterm examination, 72% of the students correctly answered questions related to nutritional anemias and nutrition aspects of diabetes. This was a 15% increase in knowledge of these 2 areas when compared with results obtained from first-year medical students 1 y earlier who had not used the modules. Conclusions The modules tested are effective tools for teaching nutritional and health issues of anemias and diabetes to first-year medical students.
Effect of acute exercise on citrate synthase activity in untrained and trained human skeletal muscle

Maximal citrate synthase activity (CS) is routinely used as a marker of aerobic capacity and mitochondrial density in skeletal muscle. However, reported CS has been notoriously variable, even with ...
Response of serum cytokines in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The clinical observation that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive operation has not been demonstrated on a biochemical basis. Interleukin-6, a known endogenous pyrogen and hepatocyte-stimulating protein, correlates with the significance of surgical trauma. Utilizing the IL-6 immunoassay, we studied this biochemical parameter of trauma to compare its response in laparoscopic vs open cholecystectomy. Sixteen patients who underwent only laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed peak IL-6 concentrations of 51 pg/ml (22–86) vs a peak IL-6 concentration of 124 pg/ml (56–225) for open cholecystectomy. Six additional patients who underwent an ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed a dramatic rise in peak IL-6 concentration to 315 pg/ml (15–634). These results biochemically confirm the true minimal invasiveness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The findings in the ERCP-followed-by-laparoscopic-cholecystectomy group support the theory that two invasive procedures in close proximity may prime the cytokine system in its response to surgical trauma.
Mathematical modelling of syneresis of cheese curd

A mathematical model for syneresis of cheese curd in one dimension is presented based on the theory of mechanics of porous media. The simple mathematics leave room for surprising physical considerations and several interesting observations are made. Model parameters are estimated and validated using one-dimensional experiments. The agreement between experiment and simulation is reasonable given the speculative nature of the constitutive equations. The model also reproduces the qualitative aspects as observed by MRI experiments.
Claims reserving and generalised additive models

Abstract This paper shows how non-parametric smoothing can be applied in the context of claims reserving. The paper concentrates on the chain-ladder technique, within the framework of the chain-ladder linear model, but the methods can easily be applied to other models. It is shown that non-parametric smoothing can provide more stable reserve estimates, and is an alternative to other methods suggested for this purpose such as the Kalman filter. The methods are implemented in the statistical package S-PLUS.
Public and Consumer Policies for Higher Welfare Food Products: Challenges and Opportunities

Farm animal welfare in livestock production is a topical and important issue attracting growing interest of policy makers, consumers, stakeholders in the supply chain and others. While there is much public interest in the issue this is not reflected in the supply and market shares of animal food products that are produced under welfare standards that exceed legislative requirements. Given the obstacles to devising stricter legislative standards, higher welfare animal food products are mostly made available through market-based approaches. This paper discusses different challenges and opportunities for a range of public and consumer policies and makes recommendations on how these might be strengthened. The paper does not report primary empirical findings but assembles available knowledge on citizen and consumer attitudes and perceptions towards animal welfare from various research disciplines. We argue that in order for public and consumer policies to be (more) efficient and effective, it is important to develop a segmented and targeted strategy. This paper will thus elaborate on what information could and should be provided to whom. This implies the need for a good understanding of how people conceptualize farm animal welfare. Further, information provisioning should address the needs and expectations of those specific consumer segments most likely to be motivated to purchase higher welfare products. Based on the assembled information, opportunities and challenges for information provisioning and communication to the public and consumers are identified. The merits and limitations of different forms of information provisioning and animal welfare labelling are discussed and recommendations are set forth for future research.
Effects of ghost shrimp on zinc and cadmium in sediments from Tampa Bay, FL

Abstract This study investigated the effects that ghost shrimp have on the distribution of metals in sediment. We measured levels of HNO 3 -extractable zinc and cadmium in surface sediment, in ghost shrimp burrow walls and in sediment ejected by the ghost shrimp from their burrows, at five sandy intertidal sites in Tampa Bay. Ghost shrimp densities and their rate of sediment ejection were also quantified, as were sediment organic content and silt + clay content. Densities of ghost shrimp ( Sergio trilobata and Lepidophthalmus louisianensis ) averaged 33/m 2 at our sites, and they ejected sediment at an average rate of 28 g/burrow/day. Levels of both Zn and Cd were significantly higher in burrow walls than in surface sediments. Sediment ejected by the shrimp from their burrows had elevated levels of Zn (relative to surface sediments) at one of the sites. Sediment organic content and silt + clay content were higher in burrow-wall sediments than in ejected sediment, which in turn tended to have values above those of surface sediments. Differences in levels of HNO 3 -extractable Zn and Cd among sediment types may be a consequence of these sediments differing in other physiochemical characteristics, though the differences in metal levels remained statistically significant for some sites after correcting for differences in organic content and silt + clay content. We conclude that the presence of ghost shrimp burrows contributes to spatial heterogeneity of sedimentary metal levels, while the ghost shrimp bioturbation results in a significant flux of metals to the sediment surface and is expected to decrease heterogeneity of metal levels in sedimentary depth profiles.
DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes.

The recently approved drugs 5-azacitidine (5AC) and 5-aza-2′-deoxyazacytidine (DAC) are in wide clinical use for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) of all types and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). These agents were developed based upon an understanding of the importance of epigenetic changes in malignancy, and they have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials, which demonstrate response rates between 20% and 40% in patients for whom no previous standard of care was available. As understanding of the epigenetic changes characteristic of the malignant phenotype improves, we are able to target other regulators of chromatin conformation that contribute to aberrant gene transcription and dysregulated cell growth. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors belong to one class of therapeutics developed using this paradigm. Although responses using HDAC inhibitors alone in MDS have been modest, robust preclinical data drive clinical trials in which they are utilized in combination with DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors. Combination therapy offers the possibility of hematologic improvement and remission to myelodysplastic patients with previously untreatable disease.
LANDBIRD USE OF RIPARIAN AND UPLAND FOREST STOPOVER HABITATS IN AN URBAN LANDSCAPE

Abstract Stopover habitat relationships of landbirds are not well known and this constitutes a shortcoming in conservation plans for migratory birds. We compared migrant use of mature upland and riparian forests during spring in an urbanizing landscape within central Ohio. We surveyed stopover migrants along 250-m transects, and quantified both local- and landscape-level habitat characteristics (percent urban and forest land). During spring stopover, migrant abundance was 86% and 118% higher in upland forests for Nearctic-Neotropical transient (long-distance migrants) and temperate transients (short-distance migrants), respectively. Of 27 transient species, 22 species differed in their use of riparian and upland forests, and 20 of those were most abundant in upland forest (e.g., Blue-headed Vireo [Vireo solitarius], Least Flycatcher [Empidonax minimus], Swainson's Thrush [Catharus ustulatus], Nashville Warbler [Vermivora ruficapilla], Magnolia Warbler [Dendroica magnolia], Bay-breasted Warbler [D. castane...
Studies of the function and structure of in vitro propagated human granulocytes.

ABSTRACT: In our study, hematopoietic progenitor cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood were grown in an in vitro liquid culture system using the recombinant colony stimulating factors IL-3 plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulatory factor (GM-CSF) or IL-3 plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The morphology and function of the cells produced were then studied, and it was demonstrated that continuous exposure to IL-3 plus GM-CSF produced predominantly eosinophilic granulocytes, whereas IL-3 plus G-CSF produced neutrophilic granulocytes. Cells from IL-3/GM-CSF cultures showed progressively increasing oxygen metabolism and locomotive capabilities over time, which became equivalent to peripheral blood neutrophils at wk 4 and 3, respectively. Phagocytic activity of these cells was poor. IL-3/G-CSF cultures produced cells with progressive increases in oxygen metabolism, locomotion, and phagocytosis. These functions never became equivalent to those of peripheral blood neutrophils. Flow cytometric analysis of IL-3/G grown cells showed that they expressed CD11b on their surfaces and that surface expression increased 2-fold after secondary granule secretagogue exposure. Ultrastructurally, the eosinophilic granulocyte nature of the IL-3/GM grown cells was confirmed by immunogold-lectin staining and IL-3/G grown cells were shown to contain antigenic myeloperoxidase. The data demonstrate that human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells can be used to propagate granulocytes in vitro, that the types of granulocytes produced in this culture system depend on the growth factors used, that the cells produced in vitro develop several of the functional characteristics of peripheral blood granulocytes, and that ultrastructural details of developing human granulocytes can be carefully examined in this model system.
The breakdown of microscopic reversibility in a chiral ensemble in a time varying enantiomorphous influence: A computer simulation.

Abstract A computer simulation is used to investigate whether breakdown at microscopic reversibility occurs in an ensemble of (S)-CHBrClF molecules subjected to a time varying enantiomorphous external influence. Time correlation functions of the chiral ensemble in the field applied steady state are shown to obey the principle of stationarity to within 0.1%. Assuming that there is a link between stationarity and microscopic reversibility, it appears on this evidence that the latter is too small to appear above the noise of the simulation, even in a very strong enantiomorphic field.
Tarski, Quine, and “Disquotation” Schema (T)*

Analyse comparative des differentes interpretations semantiques, deflationnistes et disquotationnalistes du scheme de l'equivalence concernant le role logico-syntaxique du predicat de verite chez Tarski et Quine. Distinguant les moments rhetoriques, dialectiques et assertoriques, l'A. montre que la these deflationniste de la verite manque la strategie de Tarski au niveau pretheorique de la correspondance.
Multitouch Gesture-Based Authentication

This paper investigates multitouch gestures for user authentication on touch sensitive devices. A canonical set of 22 multitouch gestures was defined using characteristics of hand and finger movement. Then, a multitouch gesture matching algorithm robust to orientation and translation was developed. Two different studies were performed to evaluate the concept. First, a single session experiment was performed in order to explore feasibility of multitouch gestures for user authentication. Testing on the canonical set showed that the system could achieve good performance in terms of distinguishing between gestures performed by different users. In addition, the tests demonstrated a desirable alignment of usability and security as gestures that were more secure from a biometric point of view were rated as more desirable in terms of ease, pleasure, and excitement. Second, a study involving a three-session experiment was performed. Results indicate that biometric information gleaned from a short user-device interaction remains consistent across gaps of several days, though there is noticeable degradation of performance when the authentication is performed over multiple sessions. In addition, the study showed that user-defined gestures yield the highest recognition rate among all other gestures, whereas the use of multiple gestures in a sequence aids in boosting verification accuracy. In terms of memorability, the study showed that it is feasible for a user to recall user-defined gestural passwords and it is observed that the recall rate increases over time. It is also noticed that performing a user-defined gesture over a customized background image does result in higher verification performance. In terms of usability, the study shows that users did not have difficulty in performing multitouch gestures as they all rated each gesture as easy to perform.
Frequency and Magnitude of Cosmic-Ray Bursts as a Function of Elevation

Measurements of the magnitude and frequency of cosmic-ray bursts have been made at elevations of 185, 1620, 3240 and 4300 meters above sea level for periods of time ranging from 189 to 336 hours, using one of the new cosmic-ray intensity meters of the Carnegie Institution. Only bursts releasing more than ${10}^{7}$ ion pairs are considered. The rather meager data which could be collected in these short times of observation indicate that: (1) Burst-frequency decreases with burst magnitude in a way which can be represented by a series of exponentials. (2) These large bursts contribute only a small fraction of the total ionization. (3) The magnitude of the largest burst observed increases rapidly with altitude, one observed at 4300 meters elevation exceeding ${10}^{9}$ ion pairs or 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{10}$ electron volts of energy released in the chamber.
The impact of organ structure on radiation response

Abstract The response of organs to XRT is complex. Damage to one or several components of an organ may result in a variety of clinical symptoms that may have different physiological bases. Conventional DVHNTCP models are frequently inadequate because they ignore functional and structural heterogeneities. By better understanding these heterogeneities we may be able to exploit them to design improved radiation fields that limit dose to the more functionally important regions of organs. This approach is currently being taken in our clinic in patients with lung cancer where we have introduced the use of functional DVHs that consider functional heterogeneities within the lungs. Extreme care must be taken when evaluating organ dysfunction, because there are many end points that can be used to define organ function.
The Virginia Slims identity crisis: an inside look at tobacco industry marketing to women

Objectives: Because no prior studies have comprehensively analysed previously secret tobacco industry documents describing marketing female brands, the Virginia Slims brand was studied to explore how Philip Morris and competitors develop and adapt promotional campaigns targeting women. Methods: Analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents. The majority of the documents used were from Philip Morris. Results: The key to Virginia Slims advertising was creating an aspirational image which women associated with the brand. Virginia Slims co-opted women’s liberation slogans to build a modern female image from 1968 through to the 1980s, and its market share grew from 0.24% to 3.16% during that time period. Ironically, the feminist image that worked very well for the brand was also the reason for its subsequent problems. Philip Morris experienced unprecedented losses in market share in the early 1990s, with a decline in market share for four consecutive years from 3.16% to 2.26%; they attributed this decline to both the fact that the brand’s feminist image no longer appealed to young women aged 18–24 years, and increased competition from more contemporary and lower priced competitors. Throughout the 1990s, attempts to reacquire young women while retaining Virginia Slims loyal (now older) smokers were made using a “King Size” line extension, new slogans, and loyalty building promotions. Conclusions: Tobacco advertisers initially created distinct female brands with aspirational images; continued appeal to young women was critical for long term growth. The need for established brands to evolve to maintain relevance to young women creates an opportunity for tobacco counter-marketing, which should undermine tobacco brand imagery and promote aspirational smoke-free lifestyle images. Young women age 18–24 are extremely valuable to the tobacco industry and should be a focus for tobacco control programmes.
Theory and methodology in cognitive neuropsychology: A response to our critics

Abstract In this article we respond to the commentaries on the lead article in this series. We first attempt to state explicitly the assumptions underlying our conclusions about methodology in cognitive neuropsychology, and then address the specific arguments offered in the Commentaries. We argue that although the commentaries make a variety of important pints, these in no way lead to a modification of the conclusions we have reached.
Toxicity of Cr(III) to Shewanella sp. strain MR-4 during Cr(VI) reduction

Bioremediation of chromium through the reduction of hexavalent chromium (as the chromate ion, CrO42-) is based on the notion that the product, trivalent chromium (Cr(III)), is less toxic than chromate. In this study, we show that soluble Cr(III), present at pH 6−8 as the Cr3+ ion and/or hydroxyl complexes (henceforth referred to as uncomplexed Cr(III)), can be found transiently in significant concentrations and has a deleterious effect on Shewanella sp. MR-4. However, Cr(III) complexed to an organic ligand or precipitated as Cr(OH)3(s) has little or no effect on cells. Similarly, during the reduction of Cr(VI) by strain MR-4, complexation of the product, Cr(III), results in increased cell survival and extended Cr(VI) reduction activity. These results and gene expression data obtained by qRT−PCR (quantitative reverse transcription−PCR) suggest that the observed toxic effect of Cr(III) formed during Cr(VI) reduction or added as an uncomplexed species is due to the interference with basic cell activities suc...
Characterization of Solution Properties of Four Iron Sources in Model Systems by Solubility Studies and IR/VIS Reflectance Spectrophotometry

The hydrolysis of iron and the effect of aging on the resolubilization of iron hydroxides under simulated gastric pH conditions were measured and spectroscopy was evaluated as a predictor of these changes. Model systems of ferrous sulfate (FeZSO4), ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3), ferric chloride (FeCl3) and hydrogen-reduced elemental iron (HRFe), with and without ascorbic acid, were analyzed at intervals over 10 wk storage for both soluble iron and iron resolubilized from insoluble iron hydroxide polymers. Irreversible hydrolysis, resulting in polymers with ordered structures, occurred in the FeSO4 and HRFe systems. Spectra of air-dried precipitates correlated with solution behavior of iron providing a possible predictive technique. Added ascorbic acid increased the levels of soluble iron in all systems.
Picosecond Photofragmentation Experiments With A Repetitively Pulsed Mode-Locked Nd: Phosphate Glass Laser System

We describe direct observations on a picosecond time scale of NO2 fragment formation from 264 nm photolysis of low-pressure nitromethane. Using laser induced fluorescence probing, we find that the population of ground-state NO2 products rises and saturates within <5 ps, with a measured yield of near unity. The experiments were conducted with a newly developed mode-locked Nd:phosphate glass oscillator/amplifier system which can generate energetic short pulses of high beam quality at repetition rates of 1/5 Hz.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Genetic Expression Profile During Acute Cellular Rejection in Clinical Intestinal Transplantation

Small bowel transplantation is a successful treatment for irreversible intestinal failure. Acute cellular rejection (ACR) represents the major cause of graft loss. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms of ACR and no data exist on the genetic response occurring during ACR. We report a genetic expression profile determined using oligo-microarrays of the intestinal graft during an ACR episode. Mucosal biopsies were obtained from the graft at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 52 posttransplant. We observed a statistically significant increase in transcript levels from 51 genes between biopsy samples from before ACR compared with during ACR. Functional analysis of these genes revealed an interferon (IFN)-alpha signature associated with a type I IFN immune response from dendritic cells or association with cellular proliferation and division. These genetic data support that dendritic cell activation was ongoing during ACR and suggest that IFNalpha production as a potential immunosuppressive target for transplantation.
Modeling the hydrogeochemistry of aquitards using minimally disturbed samples in radial diffusion cells

Abstract The radial diffusion method is a new technique that, among other applications, allows laboratory study of the chemistry of groundwater in intact aquitard materials. The computer model PHREEQC was used to simulate the changes in hydrochemistry observed in radial diffusion cells. A relatively small number of assumptions were required. In addition to using the mass measurements and the initial concentrations of aqueous species in the cells (after first addition of solution), equilibration of the aqueous solutions with the mineral calcite, and with a pool of exchangeable cations, was assumed for each step. For the majority of dilution steps, one or more of the following redox reactions were employed: oxidation of pyrite, oxidation of organic C, reduction of SO 4 . The simulated trends in dissolved concentrations were close to the observed data. However, the simulated levels of exchangeable cations based on tests with radial diffusion cells were generally lower than those determined by a conventional method, especially in the case of a Cretaceous “shale” core .
Integrating Advertising and News about the Brand in the Online Environment: Are All Products the Same?

This research compares the effects of paid advertising (banner ad plus banner ad) and publicity (news article plus banner ad) on attitude toward the brand in the context of different product categorization approaches. The authors utilize both the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and the economics of information theory to test the mechanism through which different electronic communication modes impact consumers' attitude toward the brand for various product categories. Findings indicate that the product categorization based on the level of involvement (ELM) to be superior to the one distinguishing search from experience goods (economics of information). Including news about the brand in the online brand communication mix generates higher brand attitudes for low- and moderate-involvement products while for high-involvement products, brand attitudes become more favorable with increasing credibility of the added news message.
Healthy economics or cautionary tales? The narrative microeconomics of four Matthean healing stories

This article explores the four Matthean stories wherein an individual supplicant requests a healing on behalf of someone else: the centurion for his paralyzed servant, the ruler for his dead daughter, the Canaanite woman for her demon-possessed daughter, and the man for his epileptic son. The paper proposes a methodology of narrative microeconomic analysis. By applying the method to the stories, a pattern of three primary exchanges is observed: the locational, healing and conflict exchanges. By examining how the stories conform to and deviate from this pattern, a complex picture of the textual microeconomies emerges, one that contradicts the unitary macro-narrative of healing. The microeconomic analysis reveals Jesus to be a complex, ambivalent figure: He creates conflicts that hinder the healing process and invariably excludes someone or some group before completing any healing. The pedagogical, formational and theological implications of these omplexities are briefly considered in local and global contexts.
The regulatory tax and house price appreciation in Florida

Much attention was given to the soaring price of housing that took place in different parts of the country in the 1990s and the first half of the current decade. Traditional explanations for the increase include rising land values and costs of construction, but a strand of literature, popularized by Glaeser et al. [Glaeser, Edward L., Gyourko, Joseph, Saks, Raven, 2005a. Why have housing prices gone up? National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper #11129; Glaeser, Edward L., Gyourko, Joseph, Saks, Raven, 2005b. Why is manhattan so expensive? Regulation and the rise in housing prices. The Journal of Law and Economics 48(2)], has looked at the role of land use regulations and posits that complying with them imposes a regulatory tax on housing consumers. In this paper, we apply and extend Glaeser and Gyourko’s methodology in order to estimate the regulatory tax on an individual house level in a set of Florida metropolitan areas. Our novel data address some of the quality measurement concerns raised about the Glaeser and Gyourko methodology and allow us to look at the evolution of the regulatory tax over a 10-year period. We find that the tax is an important component of sales price and that as a percentage of sales price has increased in a majority of Florida’s MSAs. In addition, we decompose the overall house price increase into land, materials and regulatory components and find that increasing stringency in the regulatory environment within Florida represents a substantial portion of the run-up in house prices in most metropolitan areas.
Optimisation of filter bandwidths for alternate modulation formats in 40 Gbit/s ASE-limited systems

The impact of varying optical and electrical filter bandwidths in 40 Gbit/s ASE-limited systems has been studied for various alternate modulation formats and spectral efficiencies. The optimum bandwidths are determined and the resulting Q values compared.
The chicken chemotactic and angiogenic factor (9E3 gene product): its angiogenic properties reside in the C-terminus of the molecule.

Chicken chemotactic and angiogenic factor (cCAF) is a 9 kDa protein that belongs to the C-X-C family of chemokines and shows high homology to IL-8 and MGSA/groalpha. It is produced abundantly shortly after wounding and in the granulation tissues of wounds, especially in areas of neovascularization, suggesting that it is important in angiogenesis. In the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in vivo assay system, cCAF is chemotactic for monocyte/macrophages and lymphocytes, is angiogenic, and can by itself trigger the formation of granulation-like tissue. We have further investigated the angiogenic properties of this protein to determine what part of the molecule is responsible for this function. Through pellet-release studies in the CAM we show that low doses of the C-terminal 28-aa peptide stimulate oriented blood vessel growth in the CAM without attracting leukocytes. At higher doses the peptide stimulated extensive tortuosity and sprouting of the tertiary blood vessels. Deposition of the peptide under the skin of the wings of newly-hatched chicks resulted in an increase of the number of microvessels in the tissue in the area of application without the presence of leukocytes. Therefore, the C-terminal peptide recapitulates all of the angiogenic properties of the full cCAF molecule, but does not have the chemotactic properties for leukocytes, and it does not cause development of granulation-like tissue. These results coupled with our earlier work in wounded chicks suggest that cCAF directly participates in angiogenesis and that the C-terminal portion of the molecule can perform this function.
Retrieval of atmospheric NO2, O3, aerosol optical depth, effective radius and variance information from SAGE II multi-spectral extinction measurements

The direct-beam spectral extinction of solar radiation contains information on atmospheric composition in a form that is essentially free from the data analysis complexities that often arise from multiple scattering. Ground based Multi-Filter Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) measurements provide such information for the vertical atmospheric column path, while solar occultation measurements from a satellite platform provide horizontal slices through the atmosphere. We describe application of a Multi-Spectral Atmospheric Column Extinction (MACE) analysis technique that we developed to analyze MFRSR data to occultation measurements made by Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II). For analysis, we select the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption period to retrieve atmospheric profiles of ozone and NO"2, and changes in the stratospheric aerosol size and optical depth. The time evolution of volcanic aerosol serves as a passive tracer to study stratospheric dynamics, and changes in particle size put constraints on the sulfur chemistry modeling of volcanic aerosols.
N-myc oncogene amplification in paediatric tumours.

DNA, extracted from tumours arising in 29 paediatric patients [14 neuroblastoma, 9 Wilms tumour (nephroblastoma), 6 miscellaneous] was investigated for evidence of N-myc amplification, using pNb-l,a recombinant plasmid containing a 1.0 Kb fragment homologous to the 5′ end of the human N-myc gene. Within the neuroblastoma group, 4 patients had 15 or more copies of N-myc which correlated with advanced disease stage, and 3 other patients showed low grade amplification (2–5 copies). Low grade amplification was also observed in one patient with stage III unfavourable histology Wilms tumour, resistant to treatment. N-myc was present at single copy level in all other tumours studied. It is concluded that N-myc activation by amplification confers aggressive properties on a variety of embryonal tumours, rather than being restricted to initiation of neoplasia in tumours of neuroectodermal origin. A greater understanding of the complex interaction of a number of oncogenes involved in neuroblastoma may enable more effective therapeutic strategies to be devised.
Benzene and ethanol additive inhibition of rabbit reticulocyte heme and protein synthesis

Abstract Benzene and ethanol are two well-known hematopoietic toxins. Both of these agents inhibit reticulocyte heme synthesis, and as a result inhibit protein synthesis. When these two compounds are present in the same incubation, their effects are additive. These in vitro results suggest further evaluation of the combined toxicity of these two chemically unrelated agents is indicated. It is also suggested that it might be prudent for workers exposed to benzene to limit their ingestion of alcohol.
Pharmaco-genetically guided treatment of recurrent rage outbursts in an adult male with 15q13.3 deletion syndrome.

15q13.3 deletion syndrome (15q13.3DS) is a common recurrent genomic disorder associated with epilepsy, intellectual impairment, aggressive behavior, schizophrenia, and autism. A 39-year-old male presented with 15q13.3DS, epilepsy, intellectual impairment, psychosis, and recurrent episodes of aggressive rage. We hypothesized that the patient's aggressive behavior reflected deficits in α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (NChR)-mediated neurotransmission, arising from haploinsufficiency of the structural gene CHRNA7 due to the deletion. Treatment with the NChR allosteric modulator and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, galantamine, led to a dramatic decline in the frequency and intensity of rage outbursts, suggesting that enhancement of α7 NChR function can ameliorate 15q13.3DS-associated rage outbursts. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Towards the Understanding of Hip Torque and Leg Damping Effects on Model Stability

A new class of actuated Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) models with hip actuation and leg damping has been developed, and is found to be more stable than the canonical version. However, it is not known how the addition of hip torque and leg damping change locomotion stability. In this paper, we study the effects of leg damping and hip torque on locomotion stability of actuated-SLIP models. All other modeling assumptions of SLIP are conserved. And hip torque is turned off during the flight phase. We show that for a given set of nondimensional SLIP parameters the hip torque and leg damping required for a periodic solution are not independent. Further, we show that adding hip torque and damping changes the dynamics of actuated-SLIP solutions in a non-intuitive way. When a very small amount of torque and damping are added the affect is initially to destabilize SLIP solutions. As torque and damping are added further, it eventually improves the stability properties of solutions.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Thermal Balance of HID Electrodes

A model for the average tip temperatures during the cathode and anode half cycles of a HID mercury lamp is discussed. The input parameters are the current, the thermionic work function and the thermal resistance of the electrode from the tip to the wall. The model is compared to electrical and thermal measurements on a 50 Watt mercury lamp.
Dark Continent, Dark Stage: Body Performance in Colonial Theatre and Cinema

This article examines inscriptions of the Black body in French colonial performances. It shows how stage representations of the Negro in exhibitions, theatre, and cinema have consistently portrayed Africans predominantly in bodily terms and thus invented an archetype of the colonial subject akin to an animal. In addition, the article points that although the imperial system purposely characterized the Other as merely physical—in opposition to the European defined as cognitive and intellectual—a number of African intellectuals and artists have involuntarily continued to promote the same stereotypes and archetypes in discourses portraying African identities in mostly corporeal terms.
Software for advanced ANOVA courses: A survey

In response to a survey of faculty regarding their commercial software preferences for advanced analysis of variance courses, it was found that the most frequently used packages were SAS, SPSSx, and BMDP, all originally mainframe packages. The fourth choice, SYSTAT, was written for microcomputers but is currently also available for other host computers. Difficulty for students was the most frequently cited reason fornot using one of these four packages. The most important criteria for choosing software packages were variety of designs, accuracy, and ease of use. Cost was a factor only for microcomputer licenses. Packages using the general linear model approach were paramount to some, while others would not consider such packages. Instructors decried the lack of the “ideal program,” but the diversity of their desires makes it clear that no program could be ideal for all of them. Many faculty seemed unaware of newer software packages or of the extent to which older packages (particularly Minitab) have been modified; some had their choices constrained by departmental limitations. Better dissemination of information about statistical software is needed, whether it be from software publishers or through the professional literature.
The Amplitude of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence in the Inner Solar Wind

Recent radio wave interplanetary scintillation observations have improved our knowledge of the level of turbulent fluctuations of plasma density in the inner solar wind at heliocentric distances of 16-26 R☉ and less accurately outside this range. This information relates to fluctuations in the inertial subrange of the turbulence. Of particular concern in this paper is the heliocentric distance dependence of the power-law normalization parameter C. This measurement of C, when combined with independent measurements of the mean plasma density in the inner solar wind, indicates that the dimensionless amplitude of the turbulence ≡ σn/ is low, of the order of 6%-15%, where σn is the standard deviation of the density fluctuations and is the mean value. The deduced value for depends on an assumed value for the outer scale of the turbulence, lo. I adopt a fiducial value of lo = 1 R☉. A comparison is made with independent estimates of , from both radio remote sensing in the same part of space and in situ measurements at greater distances. Satisfactory agreement occurs. I discuss the possibility that this dimensionless density amplitude might be a proxy for the corresponding amplitude of the magnetic field fluctuations. This is a controversial assertion. However, if it is the case, the measurements suggest that the turbulence in the inner solar wind is weak, in the sense of being dynamically and thermodynamically important.
The Enigmatic Messages of Sexuality Education: Julie Gustafson’s Desire

This paper draws upon the psychoanalytic concepts of enigma and aesthetic conflict to frame an inquiry into the emotional situation of sex education conversations between adults and youth. What would it mean to see the developmental conflicts of sexuality and desire as opening the possibility of sex education? How does the uncertainty of adult knowledge become a resource to the adolescent? Through a close reading of a documentary film about adolescent female sexuality and desire, the paper considers the ambiguous ways in which knowledge of sexuality is conveyed by adults and received by youth. It argues that attention to the aesthetic structures of film can make room for understanding how youth engage an education in sexuality and return this education to the adults in their world.
Approach to the Patient with Incidental Papillary Microcarcinoma

Analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database reveals that since 1995 a 2.4-fold increase in thyroid cancer has occurred. A concomitant rise in cases of thyroid microcarcinoma has also been noted, with the frequency rising by approximately 50% as well. Increased detection of thyroid nodules, many of them below 1 cm in size, is at least partly responsible for this trend. The wide use of sensitive imaging modalities for various indications leads to the incidental discovery of thyroid nodules, some of which contain thyroid cancer, including cases of microcarcinoma. Although the vast majority of patients with thyroid cancer foci smaller than 1 cm will do exceedingly well long term, exceptions do occur, with some patients experiencing recurrence either locally or less frequently with distant metastasis. There has been some debate on the optimal management for these patients to include: extent of surgery required, the usefulness of ablation with radioactive iodine, as well as the optimal level for TSH suppression. In this article, we will review the available data and recommendations surrounding the management of patients with incidental thyroid microcarcinoma.
Nonlocal energy deposition in high-intensity laser-plasma interactions.

Electrons heated by the absorption of laser energy on planar targets generate megagauss magnetic field which, together with the coproduced electric fields, transport the electrons away from the laser spot. We present a computational model showing that these superthermal electrons deposit their energy into plasma thermal energy in an expanding annular region in the target plane centered at the spot. The model provides a quantitative explanation for some complex and heretofore poorly understood lateral transport phenomenology.
Combined Research - Curriculum Development in Smart Structures

The field of smart structures is one of several areas of engineering where knowledge, which has been heretofore compartmentalized in several different engineering disciplines, must be integrated into a functional unit because the application crosses disciplinary boundaries. A successful understanding of the concept of a smart structure depends on an in-depth appreciation of how the fields of mechanics of materials, mechanical vibrations, structural analysis, and system modeling and control interact when applied to the analysis and design of a structural system that will contain built-in sensors, control and diagnostic components. At the University of Missouri-Rolla, an interdisciplinary curriculum is being developed under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation.The primary objective of the present effort is to integrate research results with curriculum development in the cross-disciplinary area of smart structures for the benefit of students in Electrical, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, ...
Composite End Members in Facies Mapping

ABSTRACT Most facies maps are designed to show the approach of the stratigraphic section toward one or another of the end members used in the map design. In certain applications of facies maps it is observed that some optimum combination of end members is associated with particular environmental, tectonic, or other conditions, some of which may have practical significance in oil occurrence. A "distance function" based on transformation of trilinear to Cartesian coordinates permits selection of any point within a facies triangle as a center of optimum combination of end members, with contour lines indicating the "facies distance" of any other section from the selected point. The distance function provides a single system of contours which serve as an evaluation map for more detailed studies of lithologic variations. The relation of the distance function to other contouring systems in facies map design is developed by several illustrations.
Croatia, Euroskepticism, and the Identity Politics of EU Enlargement

Croatia's candidacy for membership in the European Union has aroused controversy on all sides, making it an interesting case study of the many strains of Euroskepticism.
The diffusion of carbon in austenite

Abstract A calculation of the variation with concentration of the diffusivity of carbon in austenite is given. Absolute rate theory is used to calculate the intrinsic jumping frequency of C-atoms located in differing atomic configurations in the austenite lattice. The relative concentrations of configurational groups, from which elementary diffusion jumps occur, is calculated by cumulant-moment expansions which utilize the C-C-nearest-neighbor interaction derived from the thermodynamic behavior of the system.