cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions between the fractal geometry of landscapes and allometric herbivory

Abstract The scale at which herbivorous mammals forage is determined in part by home range area, population density, metabolic rate, movement speed, transport costs, and ingestion rate. These ecological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics that vary with body mass constitute the notion of allometric herbivory. In fractal landscapes, forage density varies with the scale at which animals perceive the resource. Interactions between scale-dependent resource density and allometric herbivory were investigated by using remotely sensed imagery to simulate fragmented distributions of forage biomass in an 810-ha landscape, and then simulating allometric herbivory for 2–6-kg animals. Between years, changes in landscape geometry altered foraging success. Within years, resource depletion resulted in increased aggregation among foragers followed by sudden increases in mobility and dispersion. Portions of the forage remained after the foragers shifted from the aggregation phase to one of mass dispersal. Spatial patterns of resources may regulate resource uptake and depletion rates within the landscape, with potential implications for demographics, intra-specific competition, and community assembly.
Mechanisms underlying chemoreceptor inhibition induced by atrial natriuretic peptide in rabbit carotid body.

1. Previous studies in our laboratory revealed the presence of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in preneural chemosensory type I cells of the cat carotid body, and demonstrated that submicromolar concentrations of the peptide inhibited carotid sinus nerve (CSN) activity evoked by hypoxia. In the present study, we have evaluated the role of the cyclic nucleotide second messenger, cyclic GMP (cGMP), and the involvement of type I cells in rabbit chemosensory inhibition. 2. Submicromolar concentrations of the potent ANP analogue, APIII, greatly elevated both the content and release of cGMP from the carotid body. Denervation experiments confirmed earlier immunocytochemical studies which suggested that APIII-induced cGMP production occurs almost exclusively in type I cells; these experiments also indicate that both the sympathetic and sensory innervation to the carotid body exert a trophic influence on the metabolism of this second messenger. 3. Submicromolar concentrations of APIII inhibited the CSN activity evoked by hypoxia (79.8 +/- 3.2% (mean +/- S.E.M.) inhibition with 100 nM APIII) and nicotine (74.5 +/- 3.6% inhibition with 100 nM APIII), but did not affect basal CSN activity established in 100% O2-equilibrated superfusion solutions. 4. The biologically inactive analogue of ANP, C-ANP, failed to produce CSN inhibition; however, the inhibitory effects of APIII were mimicked by cell-permeant analogues of cGMP (dibutyryl-cGMP and 8-bromo-cGMP, 2 mM), which likewise did not alter basal CSN activity. Because we found that unmodified cGMP was an ineffective inhibitor of CSN activity, our data suggest that APIII inhibition is mediated intracellularly by cGMP produced within the type I cells. 5. APIII does not inhibit the CSN activity produced by 20 mM K+ (in zero Ca2+ media), which very probably results from direct depolarization of the sensory nerve terminals. 6. Catecholamine release from the carotid body evoked by hypoxia is likewise not altered by APIII (100 nM). 7. The data are consistent with the notion that APIII and analogues of cGMP alter the release of excitatory and/or inhibitory transmitters from chemosensory type I cells in the carotid body.
The cell biology of aging

Cultured normal human and animal cells are predestined to undergo irreversible functional decrements that mimick age changes in the whole organism. When normal human embryonic fibroblasts are cultured in vitro , 50 ± 10 population doublings occur. This maximum potential is diminished in cells derived from older donors and appears to be inversely proportional to their age. The 50 population doubling limit can account for all cells produced during a lifetime. The limitation on doubling potential of cultured normal cells is also expressed in vivo when serial transplants are made. There may be a direct correlation between the mean maximum life spans of several species and the population doubling potential of their cultured cells. A plethora of functional decrements occur in cultured normal cells as they approach their maximum division capability. Many of these decrements are similar to those occurring in intact animals as they age. We have concluded that these functional decrements expressed in vitro , rather than cessation of cell division, are the essential contributors to age changes in intact animals. Thus, the study of events leading to functional losses in cultured normal cells may provide useful insights into the biology of aging.
TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINATION OF HEAVY ELEMENT IMPURITIES IN TARGETS.

Abstract A method is presented which allows the identification in deposition targets of contaminants for which Z⩾20.
Distribution of 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and Δ5-3-oxosteroid isomerase in homogenate fractions of human term placenta

Summary The activities of the 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-β-hydroxysteroid: NAD(P) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.51) and the Δ5-3-oxosteroid isomerases (3-oxosteroid Δ4-Δ5-isomerases EC 5.3.3.1), in the soluble, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of human term placenta were determined. Both enzymic activities were found in all subcellular fractions. The greatest activities were in the particulate fractions. The optimum pH for the 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was in the vicinity of pH 10–10.5. The results of this study suggest that the 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the isomerase might be separate enzymes and that there might be distinct isomerases for different substrates in the particulate fractions.
Particulate and dissolved organic nitrogen in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific

Abstract A wet persulfate oxidation was used to measure particulate and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) along four transects in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) collected on glass fiber filters ranged from 0.4 to 1.6 μM in the upper 40 m and accounted for about 10% of total organic nitrogen (TON). PON collected on 0.2 μm membrane filters was 60% higher than PON collected on glass fiber filters. Most of the organic nitrogen was present as DON. DON was lowest at the equator and increased to maximum values in the upper 40 m within 2–5° north and south of the equator. The spatial distribution of TON suggests that it is biologically produced. Meridional export of TON away from the equator could account for 37–75% of nitrate assimilation. The production of DON in the upwelling system of the equatorial Pacific appears to be a major part of the nitrogen cycle.
Prevention of recurrent pulmonary edema in patients with bilateral renovascular disease through renal artery stent placement.

Pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure (both referred to here as PE) have been reported to be complications of bilateral renal artery stenosis or unilateral stenosis in a solitary functioning kidney (both referred to as BRAS). The goals of this study were to determine whether a history of PE was more common in patients with BRAS than in those with unilateral stenosis and a normal contralateral kidney (URAS), and whether recurrent PE could be prevented by renal artery stent placement. We evaluated 90 consecutive patients with renovascular disease who were treated with percutaneous renal artery stent placement. History and clinical follow-up were obtained through chart review and phone contact with referring physicians. Mean follow-up was 18.4 months after stent placement. Twenty-three of 56 (41%) subjects with BRAS had a history of PE before revascularization, compared with four of 34 (12%) subjects with URAS (P = .05). Twenty-five of the 27 patients with history of PE had adequate clinical follow-up. Seventeen of the 22 (77%) subjects with BRAS and history of PE had no further PE after stent placement in one or both renal arteries. The five BRAS subjects with recurrent PE after stent placement had evidence of stent thrombosis or restenosis. In contrast, only one of three (33%) URAS subjects with a history of PE remained free of PE after stent placement. We conclude that PE is a common complication of BRAS, but not of URAS. In patients with BRAS, recurrent PE can be prevented by successful stent placement in one or both renal arteries.
Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate inhibits interleukin-6 signaling through impaired STAT3 activation and association with transcriptional coactivators in hepatocytes

Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the expression of acute phase plasma proteins and hepatic insulin resistance through activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Although previous studies have demonstrated that pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) exerts protection against inflammatory responses, its role in the regulation of IL-6 receptor signaling remains unclear. Here we show that treatment of cultured HepG2 hepatoma cells with PDTC inhibits IL-6-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation of STAT3 in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. No inhibition of JAK-1 activity was observed. To provide insight into PDTC signaling, we constructed a conditionally active STAT3 by fusing it with the ligand binding domain of the estrogen receptor (STAT3-ER). In the presence of 4-hydroxytamoxifen STAT3-ER was translocated in the nucleus of HepG2 cells in a phosphorylation-independent manner, and treatment with PDTC mitigated the response. Although STAT3 coprecipitated with heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in control cells, coprecipitation of the two proteins was greatly reduced after PDTC treatment or after exposure to geldanamycin, an Hsp90 inhibitor. As a result there was a decrease in IL-6-induced association of STAT3 with the transcriptional coactivators FOXO1a and C/EBPbeta together with significant reduction in the expression of SOCS-3 protein and that of two major acute phase plasma proteins. Importantly, treatment of HepG2 cells and a primary culture of rat hepatocytes with PDTC restored insulin responsiveness that was abrogated by IL-6. These studies are consistent with the ability of PDTC to down-regulate IL-6-induced STAT3 activation by altering the stability of STAT3-Hsp90 complex.
The Relationship of Worrying, Coping, and Symptoms Among College Men and Women

College students maintained a daily log of their worrying for 7 consecutive days, with three different subgroups starting on different days of the week. Patterns of the type and amount of worrying did not vary systematically over successive days. Multiple regression analyses showed a direct relationship between worrying level and amount of psychological symptoms, as measured by both the diary method and a single item self-rating. Avoidance coping was related to higher levels of physical and psychological symptoms, whereas problem solving was associated with fewer psychological symptoms for females. Men and women, for the most part, had similar relationships among the variables.
Nanoscale ripples in self-assembled lipid tubules.

Self-assembled cylindrical tubules of 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC) have been studied by atomic force microscopy in both the height and amplitude modes. Nanoscale ripple structures in the cylindrical lipid tubules are clearly resolved in amplitude mode images. The periodicity of the ripples is found to be 200 ± 30 nm for tubules with diameters in the range from 200 to 650 nm. The angle of the ripples with respect to the equator of the tubules shows a bimodal distribution with centers at ∼28° and ∼5°.
Identification of Secondary Phases Formed During Unsaturated Reaction of UO2 with EJ-13 Water

A set of experiments, wherein UO{sub 2} has been contacted by dripping water, has been conducted over a period of 182.5 weeks. The experiments are being conducted to develop procedures to study spent fuel reaction under unsaturated conditions that are expected to exist over the lifetime of the proposed Yucca Mountain repository site. One half of the experiments have been terminated, while one half are ongoing. Analyses of solutions that have dripped from the reacted UO{sub 2} have been performed for all experiments, while the reacted UO{sub 2} surfaces have been examined for the terminated experiments. A pulse of uranium release from the UO{sub 2} solid, combined with the formation of schoepite on the surface of the UO{sub 2}, was observed between 39 and 96 weeks of reaction. Thereafter, the uranium release decreased and a second set of secondary phases was observed. The latter phases incorporated cations from the EJ-13 water and included boltwoodite, uranophane, sklodowskite, compreignacite, and schoepite. The experiments are continuing to monitor whether additional changes in solution chemistry or secondary phase formation occurs. 6 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
Serum factors in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection to aids

We studied the prevalence of four serum factors in individuals at different stages of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. Soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were elevated in all antibody-positive groups compared with high-risk, antibody-negative controls. Paraproteins, usually of the IgG-kappa isotype, were found in the sera of a significant number of HIV-1-infected individuals as were antibodies to lymphocytes (ALAs). Serum factors that inhibit proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors appear late in the course of infection and were associated with increasing clinical severity. Measurement of these factors may prove to be useful in defining the stages of infection and in predicting the appearance or exacerbation of symptoms. They may also play a role in the development of the HIV-1-induced immune defects that lead to the expression of clinical acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Physiologic studies following surgical correction of atrial septal defect and similar lesions.

Physiologic observations were made on eight patients following repair of atrial septal defect or total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. A pattern of changes in cardiac output and atrial pressures during the first 3 postoperative days was noted. Cardiac output was abnormally low in some patients with obstructive pulmonary vascular disease or low atrial pressures. Transfusion of whole blood was effective in elevating cardiac output in the operating room and after operation. Left atrial pressure was higher than right atrial pressure in the operating room. Postoperatively left and right atrial pressures tended to become equal in some patients, and the levels were slightly elevated. Heart rate did not seem to be directly related to cardiac output. Ventilation was adequate with regard to elimination of carbon dioxide. Arterial oxygen saturation was maintained at 93 per cent or more by the use of oxygen-enriched mixtures. The difference in arteriovenous oxygen content was inversely related to cardiac outpu...
Comparison of Nasal Acceleration and Nasalance across Vowels.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of normalized nasal acceleration (NNA) relative to nasalance as estimates of nasalized versus nonnasalized vowel and sentence prod...
Raman investigation of ring configurations in vitreous silica

Random network models of glass structures1 provide satisfactory qualitative descriptions of many properties of glasses (see reviews in refs 2–4). However, to obtain good quantitative agreement between theoretical analyses and experimental observations5–11 it is often necessary to assume that specific ring structures in the random networks have special importance. In the case of vitreous silica (v-SiO2), distributions of loops of SiO4 tetrahedra in the random network have been invoked5–9 to match calculated and experimental X-ray radial distribution functions (RDF). High resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra12 of v-SiO2 and quartz also provide evidence for the occurrence of four-, six- and higher-membered rings of SiO4 tetrahedra in v-SiO2. Raman spectra are also sensitive to local microstructures in vitreous solids. We have therefore examined the question of rings in the structure of v-SiO2 by comparing its Raman spectrum with spectra of crystalline silica polymorphs whose shortest loops contain four (coesite) and six (for example, α-quartz) tetrahedra. This comparison indicates that the sharp shoulder at 490 cm−1 in the spectrum of v-SiO2, previously attributed to a defect structure3 or a longitudinal optic mode14, can be assigned to four-membered ring structure. We discuss here possible basis for the stability of four-membered rings of SiO4 tetrahedra in v-SiO2 at ambient pressure. Possible reasons for the absence of the 490 cm−1 band in the vibrational density-of-states derived for a random network model by Bell and co-workers12,15 are discussed.
Degradation of Crystalline Ergocalciferol [Vitamin D2, (3β, 5Z, 22E)- 9,10-Secoergosta-5,7,10(19),22-tetraen-3-ol]

The products of the degradation of crystalline ergocalciferol were investigated. These studies showed that numerous acidic and neutral oxidation products were formed resulting in the complete destruction of the triene functionality. Separation of the neutral products by preparative TLC led to material identified as the Windaus ketone Ila, 2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7aβ-octahydro-7aα-methyl-1R-(1α, 1 R, 4R,5-trimethyl-2E-hexenyl)-4H-inden-4-one.
Update on the American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care

The diagnosis and management of diabetes in primary care has increased immensely over the past several years. The focus of this article is on the latest substantive revisions in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diabetes, which was presented in the January 2014 issue of the ADA's journal Diabetes Care.
Differentiating ischemic stroke subtypes: Risk factors and secondary prevention

Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all strokes in the US. Patients who suffer an initial ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack are at risk for recurrent strokes, as well as ischemic events in the coronary and peripheral vasculatures. Lifestyle modifications and pharmacological and surgical interventions are effective in reducing the risk of recurrent events in all stroke patients, and evidence-based guidelines for secondary stroke prevention are available. However, increasing evidence indicates that risk factors may be differentially associated with specific ischemic stroke subtypes. In the future, exploiting these differential associations may facilitate secondary stroke prevention and, therefore, improve patient outcomes.
Optical fiber sensors for spacecraft applications

Optical fiber sensors offer a number of advantages for spacecraft applications. A principal application is strain sensing for structural health monitoring, shape determination, and spacecraft qualification testing. This paper will review the results of recent work at the Naval Research Laboratory where optical fiber strain sensors have been used on spacecraft structures and ground test hardware. The sensors have been both surface mounted to the structure and embedded in fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The issue of potential strength reduction of high-performance composites due to embedded optical fiber sensors and leads has been studied, low-cost fabrication of tubular struts with embedded sensors has been demonstrated, and a novel technique for fiber ingress-egress from composite parts has been developed. Applications of fiber sensors discussed in this paper include distributed dynamic strain monitoring of a honeycomb composite plate and a lightweight reflector during acoustic qualification tests, ultrahigh-sensitivity static strain and temperature measurements for precision structures, and on-line system identification of a lightweight laboratory truss.
Evaluation of atrioventricular septal defect by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Electrocardiographically gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was successfully performed in 9 patients with atrioventricular (AV) septal defect: 6 had complete AV canal and 3 had partial AV canal. The defect was readily visualized in all patients on transverse scans taken at the level of the AV valve. The size and extent of the defect could be easily determined. All patients demonstrated a similar underlying morphologic pattern on MRI scans, consisting of deficiency of the primum atrial septum and inlet ventricular septum and a “common” AV valve ring with absence of the cardiac crux. The 3 patients with isolated atrial septal defect could be distinguished from the 6 with complete AV canal by the dense, fibromuscular bridging tissue, which coursed from the AV valve to the crest of the ventricular septum, obliterating the interventricular communication. Four patients had angiographically proved ventricular hypoplasia, which was also detected by MRI. AV valves and their patterns of chordal attachment were accurately imaged in 7 patients on systolic sections; accessory chordae were identified in 6 patients. MRI is a useful noninvasive imaging modality that can depict the underlying morphologic abnormalities in AV septal defect as well as important anatomic variations.
Graphic displays of data structures on the IBM PC

Immediately or soon after an introductory course in programming, traditional computer science education usually includes a course on data structures. Such courses, however, have suffered from a lack of non-textual materials for classroom and non-classroom use. Consequently, it is difficult for students to comprehend the abstractions involved in implementing and applying fundamental data structures without laboriously employing printed materials.The work discussed herein addresses the problem by developing software for the IBM PC that will allow data structure users to view graphically the effects of primitive operations and application programs on basic data structures. Several such structures and applications are examined and plans for a program interface are discussed.
Three-dimensional in vivo imaging of the mouse intraocular vasculature during development and disease.

Purpose Aberrant growth of blood vessels in the eye is a major cause of vision loss, occurring as a complication of diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vascular occlusions, among others. Whereas in humans, in vivo angiography is routinely used to image such diseases, many animal models of ocular vascular disease and development rely on dissected tissues that may not accurately represent in vivo conditions and require enucleation of the eye, the death of the animal, or both. Methods A method of three-dimensional imaging of blood vessels was used in the living mouse eye that involved scanning laser confocal microscopy and computer-aided image reconstruction. Results This minimally invasive technique was used to collect three-dimensional images of intraocular vessels in vivo during development. The retinal and choroidal vasculature was studied during development and disease, in models of retinal degeneration, central retinal vein occlusion, and oxygen-induced retinopathy. To aid in investigations into cell-based therapies for retinal disease, two-color imaging was used to localize transplanted cells in relation to the vasculature. This technique was used to perform serial imaging of the ocular vasculature over time, when developmental regression of vessels was observed. Conclusions This in vivo vascular imaging approach is valuable in monitoring normal development, disease progression, and efficacy of experimental treatments in mouse models of ocular vascular disease and may have broader applications to the field of angiogenesis by using the readily visualized ocular vascular bed as a surrogate to test pro- and antiangiogenic compounds.
Interdisciplinary Training in Mathematical Biology through Team-based Undergraduate Research and Courses

Inspired by BIO2010 and leveraging institutional and external funding, Truman State University built an undergraduate program in mathematical biology with high-quality, faculty-mentored interdisciplinary research experiences at its core. These experiences taught faculty and students to bridge the epistemological gap between the mathematical and life sciences. Together they created the infrastructure that currently supports several interdisciplinary courses, an innovative minor degree, and long-term interdepartmental research collaborations. This article describes how the program was built with support from the National Science Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biology and Mathematics program, and it shares lessons learned that will help other undergraduate institutions build their own program.
Ten Years of Enhancer Detection: Lessons from the Fly

Traditional genetic screens typically have focused on genes that affect specific phenotypes. These screens, therefore, often have failed to identify genes whose functions overlap or are limited to specific phases of development, or that are expressed in a limited number of tissues. In addition,
Prognostic significance of FLT3 internal tandem duplication and tyrosine kinase domain mutations in acute promyelocytic leukemia: A systematic review

The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene aberrations, internal tandem duplication (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations, are frequent in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To evaluate their prognostic significance, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eleven studies covering a total of 1063 subjects were included in this review. Incidence of ITD and TKD mutations was 12–38% and 2–20%, respectively. In 9 of 11 studies, ITD was associated with high WBC count at the time of diagnosis, which is a known prognostic indicator in APL. Patients with ITD had inferior 3-year overall survival compared to patients without ITD (risk ratio 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.95). Similarly, ITD was also associated with adverse 3-year disease-free survival (risk ratio 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02–2.15). There were only two studies that evaluated the association of TKD mutation in APL; both showed a trend towards worse survival in patients with mutated TKD. In conclusion, FLT3 ITD is associated with high WBC at diagnosis in patients with APL. Although the available literature is limited to observational studies, our systematic review suggests that FLT3 mutations, especially ITD, can adversely affect overall survival and disease-free survival in APL.
Organization@21 The journal of disconcerting organization theory and action

Organization after 20 will not be for all academics concerned with organizations; only for those who are both interested in doing critical organizational work and who believe in the emancipatory potential of that work for themselves and for others. Academics who not only talk about defying 'playing the game' but who do so in text and action; at a minimum actions to refuse 'playing the game' and, concurrently writing/calling 'the game' by its proper name: concerted actions that squash critique. Organization@21's key role, thus, would be calling others to actions against 'the game', conceiving interventions and facilitating them.
Disability Parameters, Chronic Strain, and Adaptation of Physically Handicapped Children and Their Mothers.

Investigated the contribution of disability parameters and chronic disability-related strain to the adaptation of 50 congenitally physically handicapped 6- to 11-year-old children and their mothers. Multiple dimensions of adaptation, disability status, and chronic disability-related strain were assessed with a variety of procedures. The mothers reported their children and themselves to display significantly worse adaptation than expected for a general sample. The adaptation of these children and their mothers, however, was not significantly related to the children's disability status nor the chronic strain thereto related. An exception was that the children's social functioning could be significantly explained by both of these factors. The inability to explain most dimensions of adaptation in the children and their mothers as it relates to the conceptual model guiding this research is discussed.
Entrepreneurial Governance in a Rural Family Practice Residency Program

This study seeks to determine the adequacy of a prominent Information Technology (IT) governance framework in the adoption of IT in health settings. Given the relatively slow adoption rates within the healthcare industry in general, and among rural health providers more specifically, we present local knowledge [7]. In doing so, we provide an additional perspective for those seeking to construct theoretical bases for the formulation of health policy intended to promote the adoption of IT as a means of improving healthcare in the rural United States.
3D geometry compression recent advances and challenges

Polyhedral models, which are used in most graphics applications, require considerable amounts of storage, even when they only approximate precise shapes with limited accuracy. To support internet access to 30 models of complex virtual environments or assemblies for electronic shopping, collaborative CAD, multi-player video games, scientific visualization, representations of 30 shapes must be compressed by several orders of magnitude. In this talk I will describe the state of the art in schemes for lossy and loss-less compression of triangle and polygonal meshes, including progressive approaches. In additions to single-resolution compression schemes for triangle and polygonal meshes, which result in compressed formats of less than a byte per triangle, multiresolution progressive rejinement approaches have advanced to the point of challenging the best single resolution schemes in compression eficiency. Along with surface simplijication or decimation methods, these approaches, which change the surj5ace topology while approximating the geometry, can be regarded as lossy compression schemes. Finaly, I will describe the status of standardization efforts and open problems.
Precise Measurements of the Masses of Cs, Rb and Na – A New Route to the Fine Structure Constant

We report new values for the atomic masses of the alkali 133Cs, 87Rb, 85Rb, and 23Na with uncertainties ≤ 0.2 ppb. These results, obtained using Penning trap single ion mass spectrometry, are typically two orders of magnitude more accurate than previously measured values. Combined with values of h/m atom from atom interferometry measurements and accurate wavelength measurements for different atoms, these values will lead to new ppb-level determinations of the molar Planck constant N A h and the fine structure constant α. This route to α is based on simple physics. It can potentially achieve the several ppb level of accuracy needed to test the QED determination of α extracted from measurements of the electron g factor. We also demonstrate an electronic cooling technique that cools our detector and ion below the 4 K ambient temperature. This technique improves by about a factor of three our ability to measure the ion’s axial motion.
Time-domain measurements with the Hewlett-Packard network analyzer HP 8510 using the matrix pencil method

The generalized pencil of function (GPOF) method, also known as the matrix pencil method, is used to improve the resolution of HP 8510B network analyzer data in the time domain. This method provides for much higher resolution than the Fourier techniques. A comparison of the two methods is given for the example of the Beatty standard. The examples show that a parametric technique such as the GPOF can provide accurate and reliable results with a high degree of resolution even when the fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based technique fails. >
Afro-Antillean Cuisine and Global Tourism

Around the world, foods are both eaten and avoided in the name of racial or ethnic identity. Food is also intimately linked to political and economic power. In the case of Caribbean Panama, an Afro-Antillean cuisine has been highly praised by Afro-Antilleans as a marker of a unique identity in a country that emphasizes its Spanish origin in response to United States “protectorate” claims. With the onset of tourism as a fundamental component of the Panamanian economy and identity of the country, cuisines that have not been considered part of the “typical” Panamanian cuisine tradition, are beginning to be recognized. This paper concentrates on the development of Afro-Antillean cuisine in the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro. I argue that Afro-Antillean cuisine is a highly gendered and racialized experience that exemplifies how the globalizing phenomenon of tourism interacts with and encourages a local experience. I also discuss how a localized tradition becomes internationalized with tourism. Finally, I discus...
Knowledge & attitudes towards felon-voting rights: an examination of the untapped perspectives of HBCU college students

Past punishment-related attitudinal research has focused on criminal sanctions and certain collateral consequences of conviction; however, few studies have examined attitudes towards felon disenfranchisement. Fewer studies have used a sample consisting of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students to examine attitudes towards consequences of conviction. This research examines views toward felon-voting prohibitions in a state that has one of the most restrictive laws in this area. It utilizes a modified version of a previously used national survey instrument, which measured attitudes toward felon enfranchisement based on variations of the correctional status of a convicted offender. The implications of the findings are contextualized by examining the role of public views on policy in a democracy; the significance of examining the attitudes of a sampling of students at an HBCU, and the need for more comprehensive research in this area.
A Changed and Changing World

(1956). A Changed and Changing World. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 12, No. 8, pp. 303-307.
Simulation of effect of breakers short circuit test on system voltage

The effectsof thecircuit breaker's shortcircuittests performedatEPRI High-power laboratory on system voltagesare analyzed.Thecurrentoftheshort circuit is 50 kA.With MATLAB/Simulink software,thebus voltage variation states in interrupting tests are simulated.The simulation results indicate that in the maximum operating mode,the impact on the system is small,while in the minimum operating mode,the three phase short circuit tests of circuit breakers manifest an obvious impact on the bus voltages.
Blood supply of the human tibia.

The study of fourteen limbs of adult human beings by various techniques yielded the following description of the tibial blood supply. The epiphyseal-metaphyseal regions are generously supplied by vessels entering from the periphery. These vessels anastomose with vessels from the diaphyseal area. The nutrient artery is the main source of blood to the diaphyses. It gives off ascending branches immediately after it enters the medullary cavity, and these branches disperse widely. The descending branch, on the other hand, remains as a single major vessel for some distance before finally dividing. The ascending and descending branches of the nutrient artery give off radial twigs that enter the cortex. These small arteries supply the vessels of the Haversian systems. The periosteum has a copious vascular bed that contributes only infrequent capillaries to the vascular system of the cortex. Some of these capillaries traverse the cortex from periosteum to endosteum and probably represent anastomotic links with the branches of the nutrient artery. An additional anastomosis consists of the vessels in the secondary Haversian canals, as described by Ham. The venous drainage of the diaphysis is largely toward the endosteal surface through veins that accompany the arteries. At irregular intervals, however, venous channels also drain to the periosteal surface. The venous drainage of the epiphyseal region is by way of vessels adjoining the radially arranged arteries.
Reading the Self, Reading the Bible (or is it a Novel?): The Differing Typological Hermeneutics of Augustine's Confessions and Defoe's Robinson Crusoe:

Robinson Crusoe's conversion plot in Daniel Defoe's 1719 Robinson Crusoe bears striking similarity to Augustine's conversion plot in Confessions, especially in the ways Bible-reading is narrated as transforming the ontological nature of each “character's” self. This essay argues that while both Crusoe and Augustine employ typological hermeneutics while reading the Bible, their hermeneutics are informed by vastly different ontological, epistemological, and ethical assumptions and emphases. Dissecting and outlining Crusoe's “modern novelistic” typology and comparing it to Augustine's “premodern” typology reveals some theological limitations of modern reading practices that have long influenced how readers approach both novels and the Bible.
Operational Warfare at Sea: Theory and Practice

This new volume provides a comprehensive analysis of both the theory and practice of operational warfare at sea. The book is unique in using diverse sources and examples to present a comprehensive topical description and analysis of the key components of operational warfare at sea today. It opens with a survey of the emergence of operational warfare at sea since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, going on describe and analyze the objectives of naval warfare at the operational level and methods of employment of naval forces for accomplishing these objectives. The book explains the specifics of operational functions in a maritime theatre, discusses the personality traits and professional education required for successful naval operational commanders, and explores naval operational command and control in both peacetime and war, closing with predictions for the future of operational warfare at sea. This book serves as a primer of how to plan, prepare and execute major naval operations and campaigns for naval commanders and their staffs, but will also be of interest to advanced students of naval history, strategic studies and military history in general.
DIY Detroit: making do in a city without services

What would Jane Addams and John Dewey make of contemporary Detroit? Addams and Dewey inhabited turn-of-the-century Chicago, an unwieldy city that in the space of a few decades had risen from the as...
Production of 1,3‐Butadiene from Erythritol

A methodology for the production of 1,3-butadiene 1, the key monomer for synthetic rubber is reported here from erythritol 2. Erythritol is obtained from the fermentation of xylose by osmotolerant yeasts like Yarrowia lipolytica. Xylose was found to be a superior source of carbon yielding up to five fold higher titer values of erythritol as compared to that of glucose. Erythritol, the key intermediate, was then converted to 1,3-butadiene through tetramesyl erythritol derivative 5 in significant yields.
What Is Behind the Growth in Trademark Filings? An Analysis of United States Data

Demand for registered U.S. trademarks has grown substantially over the past 25 years in absolute terms and relative to overall economic growth. Trademark filings grew at an average annual rate of 6.5 percent between 1985 and 2011, outpacing real GDP growth and implying intensified use of trademarks in the U.S. economy. Prepared as background for the WIPO 2013 World Intellectual Property Report: Branding in the Knowledge Economy, this paper presents descriptive analysis of U.S trademark data and discusses potential drivers of escalating demand. Trends suggest that introduction of intent‐to‐use applications spurred filings but had less impact on registration growth. No other distinct driver of trademark demand emerges, though descriptive analysis shows service classes accounting for an increasing proportion of new filings and relative declining demand from high‐income countries being offset by growing demand from middle‐income countries.
Parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism improves sleep quality: A prospective study.

Background This prospective survey study assessed changes in sleep quality in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy. Methods Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (n = 110) or thyroidectomy for benign euthyroid disease (control group; n = 45) were recruited between June 2013 and June 2015 and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index preoperatively and at 1- and 6 months postoperatively. “Poor” sleep quality was defined as a score >5; a clinically important and relevant improvement was a ≥3-point decrease. Results Preoperatively, parathyroid patients had worse sleep quality than thyroid patients (mean 8.1 vs 5.3; P Conclusion More than two-thirds of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism report poor sleep quality. After parathyroidectomy, over one-third experienced improvement, typically within the first month postoperatively.
Assessment of Fe(III) and Eu(III) complexation by silicate in aqueous solutions

Abstract Prior investigations of Eu3+ complexation by silicate have led to predictions that rare earth silicate complexes ( REESiO ( OH ) 3 2 + ) are the dominant species of REEs in deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The proposed importance of REE–silicate complexes has been used as a foundation to explain oceanic REE profiles. In the present work, we examine the significance of rare earth element complexation by silicate ions. As one fundamental means of assessing prior depictions of REE–silicate formation constant behavior, our work examines the comparative stability constant behavior of Eu(III) and Fe(III). Plots of Eu(III) complexation constants against Fe(III) formation constants, in conjunction with experimental determinations of FeSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constants, indicate that previously published EuSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constants are substantially overestimated. Assessment of prior EuSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constant determinations reveals that results obtained in the presence and absence of silicic acid polymerization are inconsistent. Much larger EuSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constants are obtained in the presence of polymeric silica. Reanalysis of complexation results obtained under conditions of minimal silicate polymerization leads to a EuSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constant that is smaller than previously published estimates by as much as a factor of ∼25. The dramatically reduced magnitude of Siβ1(Eu) relative to previously published results indicates that the role of silicate complexation in oceanic REE cycling is much less significant than previously proposed. The spectrophotometric investigations of FeSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation in the present study yield the first characterization of FeSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + formation constant behavior as a function of ionic strength: log si * β 1 ( Fe ) = ( - 0.121 ± 0.043 ) - 2.036 * I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 1.5 * I 1 / 2 ) + ( 0.568 ± 0.098 ) I where Si ∗ β 1 ( Fe ) = [ FeSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + ] [H+]/[Fe3+] [ Si ( OH ) 4 0 ] . This result can be used to show that ferric silicate complexes in seawater are present at much lower concentrations than ferric hydroxide complexes. The Siβ1(Eu) formation constant obtained in our reanalysis of prior work is given as Siβ1(Eu) = [ EuSiO ( OH ) 3 2 + ] / ( [ Eu 3 + ] [ SiO ( OH ) 3 - ) ] = 106.03 ± 0.16 (25 °C and ∼0.7 molal ionic strength). This result indicates that europium silicate complexes in seawater are present at concentrations much lower than europium carbonate complexes.
Objects in the center: How the infant's body constrains infant scenes

During early visual development, the infant's body and actions both create and constrain the experiences on which the visual system grows. Evidence on early motor development suggests a bias for acting on objects with the eyes, head, trunk, hands, and object aligned at midline. Because these sensory-motor bodies structure visual input, they may also play a role in the development of visual attention: attended objects are at the center of a head- and body-centered scene. In this study, we designed a table-top object exploration task, in which infants and parents were presented with novel objects for joint play and examination. Using a head-mounted eye-tracking system, we measured each infant's point of gaze relative to the head when attending objects. With an additional overhead camera, we recorded the position of each object relative to the infant's body. We show that even during free toy play, infants tend to bring attended objects towards their body's midline and attend objects with head and eyes aligned, systematically creating images with the attended object at center.
Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of stroke and results when there is a disruption of the homeostatic balance between cellular oxidants and antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), although critical for normal physiologic processes, are detrimental if produced in excess. Free radicals include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) such as nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. These molecules react with molecular targets including proteins, lipids, and/or nucleic acids contributing to mitochondrial injury, cellular dysfunction, or death. ROS/RNS play a role in altered vascular reactivity and breakdown of the blood–brain barrier and promote cellular injury during various phases of ischemia. Studies have also revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death signaling pathways are sexually dimorphic, with relative female resilience in oxidative injury. This chapter will focus on the role of oxidative stress in ischemia reperfusion injury.
Endosomal PTH Receptor Signaling Through cAMP and Its Consequence for Human Medicine

The parathyroid hormone (PTH) type 1 receptor (PTHR) is a medically important G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that triggers the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in kidney and bone cells to regulate calcium ion homeostasis and bone turnover. It has been generally assumed that the production of cAMP mediated by GPCR and its termination take place exclusively at the plasma membrane. Recent studies reveal that the PTHR does not always follow this conventional paradigm. In the new model, PTH induces a prolonged cAMP response that is derived from the internalized ligand–PTHR complex located within endosomes. This model has been recognized as a new paradigm of GPCR signaling for peptide hormones, and the PTHR is a prototypical example. In this chapter we discuss molecular, structural, and cellular mechanisms responsible for this unexpected signaling process and its biological consequences.