cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Computer Networks to Enhance Foreign Language/Culture Education

ABSTRACT The call for more authentic communication in the language classroom has led to a variety of educational innovations such as content-based and learner-centered instructional approaches. Although these approaches developed concurrently with the application of computer technology to language teaching, the computer has not traditionally been heavily used in either content-based or learner-centered language courses. This article reports on a content-based, learner-entered Italian language and culture class (Italian 403–1) which used Usenet (NEWS) and electronic mail (E-Mail) to connect students with native speakers interested in communicating about contemporary cultural issues. Section One briefly outlines the history of the use of computer networks in language education. Section Two describes the design, implementation, and outcomes of Italian 403–1 and discusses the potential importance of NEWS for language teachers. Finally, Section Three addresses the benefits and challenges associated with the use of computer networks in the language classroom.
An investigation of the short-range order structures of several amorphous lanthanide hydrous oxides

Abstract Amorphous dysprosium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium hydrous oxides were synthesized in order to study bulk short-range orders (SROs) associated with each. Synthetic procedures and peripheral investigations including X-ray powder diffraction, TGA, DSC, IR, and SEM are discussed. Corrected scattering profiles, interference functions, S i ( S ), reduced distribution functions, rG(r) , and radial distribution functions, RDF, are presented for each studied compound. The lanthanide (Ln) systems are ninecoordinated (CN = 9) except for lutetium (CN = 6.4). Calculated LnO, OO, and LnLn distances and OLnO angles for amorphous Dy, Tm, Yb, and Lu hydrous oxides are tabularized. Previously studied amorphous lanthanides (Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, and Er) are included. A regressional analysis of the lanthanides (Eu, …, Lu) as related to experimentally determined LnO bond lengths is presented. The RDF of amorphous lutetium hydrous oxide is compared to calculated quasi-crystalline models so as to discuss structure modeling.
Nonlinear behavior in magnetic transients

Abstract We examine the motion of a spin subject to a static external field, dynamic demagnetizing fields, and a relatively weak oscillatory driving field. More specifically, we study the initial transient behavior just after all these fields are turned on and present analytic calculations based on an approximation scheme for the motion of the spin. We find that two modes – a mode at the driving frequency and a mode at the natural resonant frequency – play an important role in the initial transient. Because of the nonlinear nature of the spin equations of motion, one also finds, only in the initial transient, modes with doubled frequencies of the initial two modes and modes involving the sum and difference frequencies of the initial two modes. We also examine large amplitude transients in specific cases through numerical calculations.
Isocon Scan–A Low-Noise, Wide-Dynamic-Range Camera Tube Scanning Technique

In Isocon scan of an image-orthicon type camera tube, the video signal is derived from those electrons in the scanning beam which are scattered at the storage target. Using suitable electron optics, these scattered electrons may be collected and amplified in the electron multiplier along with only a small fraction of unmodulated return beam electrons. In contrast, the output signal obtained with orthicon scan contains a large unmodulated current. Isocon scan introduces much less noise than orthicon scan and extends the useful range to lower illumination levels. The dynamic range of light levels in a single scene that may be handled by an Image Isocon may be an order of magnitude greater than with conventional image orthicons. A dual-mode camera tube capable of operation either with orthicon scan or with Isocon scan is described. A signal-to-noise analysis is presented for both types of scan. The results of the measured performance compare favorably with that predicted by the analysis.
A rapid method for detecting the predominant Ashkenazi Jewish mutation in the Bloom's syndrome gene.

Bloom's syndrome (BS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease characterized by sun sensitivity, short stature, and predisposition to cancer. Although rare in the general population, BS is more common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population (German, 1993). The isolation of the gene for BS, known as BLM, has permitted the identification of mutations within the gene and the discovery that most BS individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish origin carry the identical 6-bp deletion/7-bp insertion at position 2,281 of BLM (blmAsh). We have developed a rapid method for detecting blmAsh based on restriction enzyme digestion of a PCR product containing the mutation. blmAsh creates a restriction site within the amplified fragment allowing distinction of normal and mutant DNAs. This method has been designed for use with genomic DNA or cDNA. Hum Mutat 11:175–178, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cytogenetic studies of stimulated lymphocytes in hairy cell leukemia

Abstract Using a sister chromatid differentiation (SCD) technique, cell cycle analysis in lymphocytes from two patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) revealed it to be similar to cell cycle progression of normal lymphocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide W from Escherichia coli 0.55:B5 (LPS). It appears that LPS can readily stimulate the leukemic cells of HCL into mitosis. In the two cases of B cell HCL studied, one (case 1) was revealed to have an abnormal clone with a missing chromosome #22 that was related to the production of λ-chains.
Cold dense photoionized universes

This investigation employs a computer code, initially constructed for modeling the evolution of a hot dense intergalactic medium (IGM), to study some properties of a cold dense IGM photoionized by QSOs. Within the observational constraints set by flux measurements in the far-ultraviolet, night sky brightness, and hard X-ray region, and the optical depth limits on various QSO spectra, it determines some allowable scenarios for a range of QSO spectral indices (alpha) and cutoff energies. With H(0) = 50 km/s-Mpc, closure density of an IGM (composed of H and He in their cosmic ratio) is possible only if alpha is greater than or equal to 0.1, a circumstance not likely to prevail; the most probable value, alpha = -0.7, implies an upper limit density about 0.35 of closure, which is somewhat larger than previous estimates. These estimates are substantially independent of whether or not QSOs produce the observed diffuse extragalactic X-ray background; such QSO spectral details are critical, however, in determining the ionization of heavy elements that are expected to contaminate a pure primeval plasma.
Interplasmid transposition demonstrates piggyBac mobility in vertebrate species

The piggyBac transposon is an extremely versatile helper-dependent vector for gene transfer and germ line transformation in a wide range of invertebrate species. Analyses of genome sequencing databases have identified piggyBac homologues among several sequenced animal genomes, including the human genome. In this report we demonstrate that this insect transposon is capable of transposition in primate cells and embryos of the zebrafish, Danio rerio. piggyBac mobility was demonstrated using an interplasmid transposition assay that has consistently predicted the germ line transformation capabilities of this mobile element in several other species. Both transfected COS-7 primate cells and injected zebrafish embryos supported the helper-dependent movement of tagged piggyBac element between plasmids in the characteristic cut-and-paste, TTAA target-site specific manner. These results validate piggyBac as a valuable tool for genetic analysis of vertebrates.
Apolitical courts? Rape sentencing in Montana

This analysis examines dockets of the state courts of Montana for the years 1987-1989 in rape cases to determine whether sentencing decisions are significantly related to three political variables: the percentage of women in county executive office as a measure of a relevant judicial constituency, the extent to which the county in which a court is located is Democratic, and whether the judge who enters a decision was appointed or elected. The analysis suggests that two legally relevant facts--the crime rate and multiple charges against a defendant--are significantly related to outcome. Political factors do not appear to influence state court sentencing decisions in rape cases since: (1) sentencing decisions in rape cases are not 'major', publicized issues; (2) the selection of state court judges (appointed and elected) is nonpartisan; and (3) interest groups were not involved in rape sentencing cases. Language: en
Toward an accurate determination of 195Pt chemical shifts by density functional computations: the importance of unspecific solvent effects and the dependence of Pt magnetic shielding constants on structural parameters.

Density functional theory using the zero-order regular approximate two-component relativistic Hamiltonian has been applied to calculate the 195Pt chemical shifts for the complexes [PtCl6]2-, [PtCl4]2-, and [Pt2(NH3)2Cl2((CH3)3CCONH)2(CH2COCH3)]Cl. It is demonstrated that, in contrast to recent findings by other authors, platinum chemical shift calculations require not only a basis set beyond polarized triple-ζ quality for the metal atom but also, in principle, the consideration of explicit solvent molecules in addition to a continuum model for the first two complexes. We find that the inclusion of direct solvent−solute interactions at the quantum mechanical level is important for obtaining reasonable results despite that fact that these solvent effects are rather nonspecific. The importance of solvent effects has also implications on how experimental data should be interpreted. Further, in contrast to several previous studies of heavy-metal NMR parameters, functionals beyond the local density approximatio...
Lung transplantation for congenital pulmonary vein stenosis

Background. Congenital pulmonary vein stenosis is a uniformly fatal disease when left untreated. Transcatheter techniques (for example, balloon dilation and stent placement) have proved to be only temporizing measures, and previous surgical attempts at treatment of this entity have provided little improvement and few survivors. Methods. Over the last 4 years, 6 patients with congenital pulmonary vein stenosis have been treated at our institution, 3 of whom underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Results. The 3 patients who underwent bilateral lung transplantation are alive and well 6 to 24 months after transplantation. The other 3 died of complications of the disease before donor lungs became available. Conclusions. Making the diagnosis of congenital pulmonary vein stenosis requires a high index of suspicion, and referral for lung transplantation should be made as soon as the diagnosis is reached. Lung transplantation has resulted in good-quality short to medium-term survival for 3 patients with this otherwise untreatable disease.
Efficacy of Tat-Conjugated Ritonavir-Loaded Nanoparticles in Reducing HIV-1 Replication in Monocyte-Derived Macrophages and Cytocompatibility with Macrophages and Human Neurons

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 targets mononuclear phagocytes (MP), which disseminate infection to organs such as brain, spleen and lymph. Thus MP, which include microglia, tissue macrophages and infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), are important target of anti-HIV-1 drug therapy. Most of the currently used antiretroviral drugs are effective in reducing viral loadin the periphery but cannot effectively eradicate infection from tissue reservoirs such as brain MP. HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system can lead to a wide variety of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders. In this study, we demonstrate that ritonavir-loaded nanoparticles (RNPs) are effective in inhibiting HIV-1 infection of MDM. Reduced infection is observed in multiple read-out systems including reduction of cytopathic effects, HIV-1 p24 protein secretion and production of progeny virions. Furthermore, the RNPs retained antiretroviral efficacy after being removed from MDM cultures. As HIV-1-infected cells in the brain are likely to survive for a long period of time, both acute and chronic infection paradigms were evaluated. Tat-peptide-conjugated RNPs (Tat-RNP) were effective in both short-term and long-term HIV-1-infected MDM. Importantly, we confirm that delivery of RNPs, both with and without Tat-peptide conjugation, is toxic neither to MDM nor to neural cells, which may be bystander targets of the nanoformulations. In conclusion, Tat-NPs could be a safe and effective way of delivering anti-HIV-1 drugs for controlling viral replication occurring within brain MP.
Splitting the Difference: Gender and Myth in Ancient Greece and India

Hindu and Greek mythologies teem with stories of women and men who are doubled, who double themselves, who are seduced by gods doubling as mortals and whose bodies are split or divided. This text recounts and compares a vast range of these tales from ancient Greece and India, with occasional recourse to more recent "double features" from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" to "Face/Off." Wendy Doniger argues that myth responds to the complexities of the human condition by multiplying or splitting its characters into unequal parts, and these sloughed and cloven selves animate mythology's prodigious plots of sexuality and mortality. Doniger's comparisons show that ultimately differences in gender are more significant than differences in culture; Greek and Indian stories of doubled women resemble each other more than they do tales of doubled men in the same culture. In casting Hindu and Greek mythologies as shadows of each other, Doniger shows that culture is sometimes but the shadow of gender.
Did Neanderthals and other early humans sing? Seeking the biological roots of music in the territorial advertisements of primates, lions, hyenas, and wolves

Group defence of territories is found in many gregarious mammalian carnivores, including lions, canids, and hyenas. In these taxa, group members often mark territory boundaries and direct aggressive behaviour towards alien conspecifics found within the territory (Boydston et al., 2001). Middle Pleistocene hominids such as Neanderthals occupied an ecological niche similar to such large carnivores (Stiner, 2002), and so could be expected to share with them a suite of behavioural traits. Complex, coordinated vocalizations that function, at least in part, to advertise the group defence of a territory is one behavioural trait exhibited by several social carnivores, as well as many other gregarious animals, including primates. Hagen and Bryant (2003) proposed that the evolution of human music and dance was rooted in such coordinated auditory and visual territorial advertisements, an hypothesis we develop and expand upon here. Human proto-music, in essence, might have been functionally analogous to the howling o...
Flow stress anomalies in γ/γ′ two-phase Co–Al–W-base alloys

The high-temperature strength of new cobalt-base alloys reinforced with a high volume fraction of a Co3(Al, W) ternary L12 intermetallic compound has been examined. The flow stress exhibits a strong, positive dependence on temperature above 873 K and the strength of a Co–Al–W–Ta quaternary alloy is comparable to that of nickel-base superalloys at 1173 K. The flow anomaly is attributed to the activation of multiple slip modes within the precipitates. Above the peak flow temperature, 〈1 1 2〉 dislocation shearing of precipitates is the dominant deformation mode.
Computing electrical potential in unbounded two‐dimensional regions

Finite difference and finite element methods have serious limitations when applied to unbounded regions. This paper describes a hybrid method which uses a conformal transformation to map the original boundaries, including those at infinity, to a bounded region and only then applies a numerical method based on finite differences or finite elements when no direct solution is obvious. Testing this approach by means of examples for which exact solutions are obtainable, the hybrid method is applied to determine the electrical potential at specific points in the field of a capacitor with long plates that in their cross‐sectional view are parallel to each other, and in the field of a microstrip line at some distance from it. In both the cases, the results are in agreement with analytically derived results. The method is simple, readily applied by undergraduate students, yet accurate and thus of use in professional engineering work as well.
High-energy gluon bremsstrahlung in a finite medium: Harmonic oscillator versus single-scattering approximation

A particle produced in a hard collision can lose energy through bremsstrahlung. It has long been of interest to calculate the effect on bremsstrahlung if the particle is produced inside a finite-size QCD medium such as a quark-gluon plasma. For the case of very high-energy particles traveling through the background of a weakly coupled quark-gluon plasma, it is known how to reduce this problem to an equivalent problem in nonrelativistic two-dimensional quantum mechanics. Analytic solutions, however, have always resorted to further approximations. One is a harmonic oscillator approximation to the corresponding quantum mechanics problem, which is appropriate for sufficiently thick media. Another is to formally treat the particle as having only a single significant scattering from the plasma (known as the $N=1$ term of the opacity expansion), which is appropriate for sufficiently thin media. In a broad range of intermediate cases, these two very different approximations give surprisingly similar but slightly differing results if one works to leading logarithmic order in the particle energy, and there has been confusion about the range of validity of each approximation. In this paper, I sort out in detail the parametric range of validity of these two approximations at leading logarithmic order. For simplicity, I study the problem for small ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{s}}$ and large logarithms but ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathrm{s}}\mathrm{log}﻿\ensuremath{\ll}1$.
Clinical phenomenology of child and adolescent dissociative disorders

Abstract A comparison of two separately diagnosed samples of children and adolescents with dissociative disorders demonstrates good construct validity for these diagnoses in childhood. Descriptive analyses of the total sample reveal a clinical profile characterized by a plethora of affective, anxiety, conduct, posttraumatic, and dissociative symptoms. Children with multiple personality disorder (MPD) differ from those with dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) in having more amnesias, identity disturbances, and hallucinations. Adolescents were more symptomatic than children age 11 or younger and more likely to receive a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder.
Characterization of Tool Wear Measurement with Relation to the Surface Roughness in Turning

In turning, an accurate gauging of tool wear condition is an essential part of process control due to adverse effects on dimensional tolerance and surface finish quality. When the surface roughness is the primary concern, the conventional measure of tool wear is found to be imprecise because it provides very little information on the wear patterns in tool nose and flank. A tool wear model, developed in this study, represents the wear condition more comprehensively and accurately with relation to the surface roughness. Experimental results validate the model, showing 92% accuracy between the predicted surface roughness and the actual measurements.
Dialects in southern Rocky Mountain pikas, Ochotona princeps (Lagomorpha)

Abstract This work quantifies the geographic variation (dialects) in the vocalizations of southern Rocky Mountain pikas and presents data on the vocal responses of pikas to playback of recorded vocalizations of two dialects. Pika vocalizations were tape-recorded in twenty-six locations in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. Two dialects (based on duration of note and frequency of fundamental) were found in short calls. One dialect was north of the Colorado River (dialect A), and the other was south of the Colorado River (dialect B). There was seasonal variation in the incidence of vocalizations with a peak of songs in late spring and a peak of short calls in late summer. Results of this study indicate that acoustic characteristics of vocalizations could be a useful taxonomic tool in the genus Ochotona .
Integrin-linked kinase mediates CTGF-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in alveolar type II epithelial cells

Integrin-linked kinase mediates CTGF-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in alveolar type II epithelial cells
Disability Rhetoric, Jay Timothy Dolmage

Jay Dolmage in Disability Rhetoric relentlessly asserts disability as a powerful and dynamic rhetorical force. As I read, I found that message sinking its way into my body as I moved through Dolmag...
Three-coordinate copper(II)-phenolate complexes

The reactions of LCuCl (L = 2,4-bis((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imido)pentane (LiPr), 2,4-bis((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imido)-3-chloropentane (LCliPr)) with the phenolates TlOAr (Ar = C6H3Me2, C6H4OMe, C6H4tBu) and NaOC6H3(tBu)2 were explored. Novel three-coordinate Cu(II)−phenolates, LCuOAr, were isolated from the reactions with the thallium phenolates and were characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy (UV−vis, EPR). The complexes feature short Cu−O(phenolate) distances (average Cu−O = 1.81 A) and, with one exception, irregular N−Cu−O(phenolate) angles that differ within each compound (15° < Δ < 28°, where Δ = ∠N1−Cu−O − ∠N2−Cu−O). The exception is LiPrCu(OC6H4tBu), for which X-ray structures at −100 and 25 °C differed due to an unusual reversible phase change with nonmerohedral twinning (2:1 ratio) in the low-temperature form. The high-temperature form has local C2v symmetry (Δ = 0°), and upon cooling below the phase transition temperature (−8 ± 5 °C) lateral movement of the phenolate ligand (Δ =...
Genetics of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Purpose of Review Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a late onset and complex disorder that is strongly associated with the development of glaucoma. The purpose of this review is to discuss the inheritance patterns and recent genetic advances in the study of this disorder.
Effect of process parameters on bond formation during ultrasonic consolidation of aluminum alloy 3003

Abstract Ultrasonic consolidation (UC) is a novel additive manufacturing process wherein three-dimensional metallic objects are fabricated layer by layer in an automated fashion from thin metal foils. The process has immense potential for fabrication of injection molding tooling with conformai cooling channels, fiber-reinforced composites, multi-material structures, smart structures, and others. The proportion of bonded area in relation to the total interface length, termed linear weld density (LWD), is perhaps the most important quality attribute of UC parts. A high level of LWD is desirable in parts intended for load-bearing structural applications. It is therefore necessary to understand what factors influence LWD and devise methods to enhance bond formation during ultrasonic consolidation. The current work elucidates the effects of process parameters on LWD in AI alloy 3003 UC parts. A set of optimum parameters for AI 3003 part fabrication using UC has been obtained, which may vary, however, for different foil materials and sonotrode/foil fric-tional conditions. The beneficial effects of using elevated substrate temperatures and its implications on overall manufacturing flexibility and the trade-offs between part quality and build time are discussed. The mechanism of ultrasonic welding is discussed based on oxide layer removal and plastic deformation at the weld interface. A preliminary understanding of defect formation during UC is presented, based on which a method (involving surface machining) for obtaining near-100% LWD is demonstrated. The findings of the current work encourage wider utilization of the UC process and could stimulate further research in the areas of UC process development and modeling.
Hemolytic assay for venom phospholipase A2

Abstract A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric assay for venom phospholipase A2 based on the hemolysis of guinea pig erythrocytes in the presence of decomplemented serum and cardiotoxin (direct lytic factor) is described. This assay is particularly useful for rapid multisample analyses, such as those used in monitoring chromatography fractions, and is specific for phospholipase A2 in she presence of other potentially hemolytic venom components. The hemolytic mechanism is shown to be a combination of the action of lysophospholipids liberated from lipoproteins in the serum and the synergistic action of phospholipase A2 and cardiotoxin on the erythrocyte membrane.
Global Well-Posedness of the Cubic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation on Closed Manifolds

We consider the defocusing cubic non-linear Schrodinger equation on general closed (compact without boundary) Riemannian surfaces. The problem was shown to be locally well-posed in H s (M) for in [8]. Global well-posedness for s ≥ 1 follows easily from conservation of energy and standard arguments. In this work, we extend the range of global well-posedness to . This generalizes, without any loss in regularity, the results in [6, 18], where the same result is proved for the torus &#x1d54b;2. The proof relies on the I-method of Colliander et al. [17] a semi-classical bilinear Strichartz estimate proved by the author in [22], and spectral localization estimates for products of eigenfunctions, which is essential to develop multilinear spectral analysis on general compact manifolds.
Developing Transferable Skills: Some Examples from Geomorphology Teaching.

Abstract Definitions of transferable skills are presented. It is shown how their development in undergraduate programmes can be promoted as a matter of institutional policy and cascade down to individual classes. Two exemplars of transferable skill development in geomorphology classes are presented. Recommendations are made for colleagues who may wish to adapt their own teaching in this direction.
Flame retardant polymeric materials achieved by incorporation of styrene monomers containing both nitrogen and phosphorus

Abstract Organophosphorus compounds have a long history as effective flame retardants for polymeric materials. There is increasing interest in developing new phosphorus flame retardants as a consequence of the increasing worldwide regulatory pressure on the use of organohalogen flame retardants which are persistant in the environment, tend to bioaccumulate, and pose potential health risks for the human population. It has been widely suggested that the flame retardant activity of phosphorus compounds may be enhanced by the presence of nitrogen, sulfur, silicon and a few other elements. This has been tested by examining the flamability behavior of copolymers derived from styrene monomers containing phosphorus moieties in comparison to those containing similar monomers in which both phosphorus and nitrogen are present.
On the Effect of Precipitation and Runoff on Coastal Circulation in the Gulf of Alaska

Abstract Surface waters in the Gulf of Alaska undergo a net dilution throughout most of the. year since the regional precipitation exceeds evaporation. Recent hydrographic data give evidence that seasonal dynamic height fluctuations in the upper layers ( 130 cm year−1), runoff, longshore accumulation of fresh water around the gyre, and the low water temperatures. The coastal sea level is in phase and has nearly the same amplitude as the local dynamic height, though not in phase wit...
Colony age-dependent pathway in caste development of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki

The caste developmental pathway for the production of soldiers and nymphs in termite colonies is variable among species and limited numbers of studies have properly categorized such pathways. In this study, the developmental pathway for the production of soldiers and nymphs in Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki has been re-analyzed using the data from previous studies in light of new observations. Five distinct colony life stages were determined based on the caste developmental pathway used by the colony at each stage, which we here redefined as: incipient colony, immature colony, juvenile colony, mature colony, and senescent colony. We determined that in incipient colonies, the first soldier (nanitic) emerges from a second instar larva. We suggest that the production of a nanitic soldier is cost-effective as it allows the colony to focus on the production of workers from the first cohort of individuals. However, in an immature colony, the origin for the production of soldiers shifts to first and second instar workers. In juvenile colonies, soldiers are essentially produced from second instar workers. In mature colonies (>5 years), soldiers are mostly produced from second instar workers, occasionally from third instar workers, and we suggest that nymphs are primarily produced from second instar larvae. Finally, in senescent colonies, the absence of brood leads to the accumulation of old individuals. We concluded that descriptions from previous studies may have overlooked the group dynamics within a colony and that the caste developmental pathway in C. formosanus is dependent on the age of the colony.
NEUROENDOCRINE REGULATION OF SKIN DENDRITIC CELLS

Abstract It has long been postulated that stress can affect certain skin conditions, and there is increasing experimental evidence that the neuroendocrine system can directly participate in cutaneous inflammation. Neurohormones, such as glucocorticoids and catecholamines, can reach the skin through the bloodstream after activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, respectively. Multiple neuropeptides, among them calcitonin gene-related peptide, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and norepinephrine, may be released by cutaneous nerves or resident and infiltrating cells within the skin. Systemic neuromediators and cutaneous nerves can influence a number of target cells within the skin, among them Langerhans cells. Most of the experimental evidence to date indicates a suppressive effect of the neurohormones and neuropeptides on Langerhans cell function and cutaneous inflammation, but it has become evident lately that the timing of exposure to a stimulus is critical to the outcome of the immune response. Thus, administration of a stress hormone or exposure to a stressor before the dendritic cell (DC) encounters an antigen (Ag) may diminish the immune response toward that Ag, while a stressor may enhance immune function when acting on a maturing DC or before reexposure to the Ag. The neuroendocrine regulation of skin DCs is a complex system allowing for a quick adaptation to various stressors. Such a system, originally evolved to defend the organism against invading pathogens and maintain homeostasis, may under certain conditions become unbalanced and ultimately exacerbate cutaneous inflammation.
A Centrosomal Cdc20-APC Pathway Controls Dendrite Morphogenesis in Postmitotic Neurons

Summary The ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex (APC) recruits the coactivator Cdc20 to drive mitosis in cycling cells. However, the nonmitotic functions of Cdc20-APC have remained unexplored. We report that Cdc20-APC plays an essential role in dendrite morphogenesis in postmitotic neurons. Knockdown of Cdc20 in cerebellar slices and in postnatal rats in vivo profoundly impairs the formation of granule neuron dendrite arbors in the cerebellar cortex. Remarkably, Cdc20 is enriched at the centrosome in neurons, and the centrosomal localization is critical for Cdc20-dependent dendrite development. We also find that the centrosome-associated protein histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) promotes the polyubiquitination of Cdc20, stimulates the activity of centrosomal Cdc20-APC, and drives the differentiation of dendrites. These findings define a postmitotic function for Cdc20-APC in the morphogenesis of dendrites in the mammalian brain. The identification of a centrosomal Cdc20-APC ubiquitin signaling pathway holds important implications for diverse biological processes, including neuronal connectivity and plasticity.
THE PROTECTIVE ACTION OF TYPE I ANTIPNEUMOCOCCUS SERUM IN MICE : III. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN HOST FACTORS

The power of specific antipneumococcus serum to protect mice against infection with Type I Pneumococcus has been studied with reference to the capacity of the animal to utilize the specific antibodies. With a single strain of mice it was found that smaller animals and those with large numbers of white cells in the peritoneal cavity are much better able to utilize the passively conferred immune principles. These two intrinsic factors were resolved into a single element; namely, the number of monocytes in the peritoneal cavity at the time of injection of culture and serum. The interrelation of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors participating in the process of protection have been discussed.
Gender Gaps in Educational Attainment in Less Developed Countries

Conventional wisdom holds that gender gaps in schooling favoring males in developing countries generally are large, though probably declining. In this article we re-examine recent gender gaps in schooling in the developing world and come to a more nuanced characterization of their nature, which suggests that the developing countries are becoming more like the developed countries, with gender gaps that increasingly favor, rather than discriminate against, females. Using data from 38 countries with multiple Demographic and Health Surveys, we examine how the gender gaps in current school enrollment and grade completion emerge across the educational life course from age 6 to 18. We also examine how these age-specific measures have changed over time, comparing the periods 1990–99 and 2000–06. Our analyses indicate that among children who have ever attended school, girls younger than 16 years of age have equal or greater schooling progress than boys of the same age in all regions of the developing world.
Comparison of algorithms for the simulation of action potentials with stochastic sodium channels.

This paper presents a comparison of computational algorithms to simulate action potentials using stochastic sodium channels. Four algorithms are compared in single-node models: Strassberg and DeFelice ~1993 !~ SD!, Rubinstein ~1995 !~ R!, Chow and White ~1996 !~ CW!, and Fox ~1997 !~ F!. Neural responses are simulated to a simple and a preconditioned monophasic current pulse. Three exact algorithms implement- ing Markov jumping processes ~SD, R, CW! resulted in similar responses, while the approximation algorithm using Langevin's equation ~F! showed quite different responses from those in the exact algorithms. The computational time was measured as well: 1~F! ,7 ~CW! ,3 2~SD! ,3 9~R! relative to that of the F algorithm. Furthermore, it is shown that as the sampling step for integration of the transmembrane potential increases, neural responses in all algorithms tended to be different from those in dense sampling steps, however, the CW algorithm was robust even at a sparse sampling step. It is concluded that the most computationally efficient algorithm having appropriate proper- ties of neural excitability is the CW algorithm. © 2002 Bio- medical Engineering Society. @DOI: 10.1114/1.1475343#
Spontaneous facial expression in unscripted social interactions can be measured automatically

Methods to assess individual facial actions have potential to shed light on important behavioral phenomena ranging from emotion and social interaction to psychological disorders and health. However, manual coding of such actions is labor intensive and requires extensive training. To date, establishing reliable automated coding of unscripted facial actions has been a daunting challenge impeding development of psychological theories and applications requiring facial expression assessment. It is therefore essential that automated coding systems be developed with enough precision and robustness to ease the burden of manual coding in challenging data involving variation in participant gender, ethnicity, head pose, speech, and occlusion. We report a major advance in automated coding of spontaneous facial actions during an unscripted social interaction involving three strangers. For each participant (n = 80, 47 % women, 15 % Nonwhite), 25 facial action units (AUs) were manually coded from video using the Facial Action Coding System. Twelve AUs occurred more than 3 % of the time and were processed using automated FACS coding. Automated coding showed very strong reliability for the proportion of time that each AU occurred (mean intraclass correlation = 0.89), and the more stringent criterion of frame-by-frame reliability was moderate to strong (mean Matthew’s correlation = 0.61). With few exceptions, differences in AU detection related to gender, ethnicity, pose, and average pixel intensity were small. Fewer than 6 % of frames could be coded manually but not automatically. These findings suggest automated FACS coding has progressed sufficiently to be applied to observational research in emotion and related areas of study.
Applying stochastic modeling to bus arbitration for systems-on-chip

In this article we implement a stochastic modeling technique for simulating the communication between processors and arbitration among buses for an embedded SoC. The stochastic models implemented with queues have been used to estimate, through simulation of different arbitration policies, the power consumption and delays, as well as estimate average or worst case scenarios that could occur with different architectures and arbitration policies . This idea could then be extended to writing probabilistic test benches to analyze the performance of different architectures as well as device and test arbitration policies which would attempt to optimize the power consumption and buffer lengths with constraints on the average delay.
Heel-toe running: A new look at the influence of foot strike pattern on impact force.

Abstract Background/Objective It is important to understand the factors that influence the impact force observed during running, since the impact force is likely to be related to overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact force during running when participants were instructed to use different foot strike patterns: obvious heel strike (Obvious-HS), subtle heel strike (Subtle-HS), midfoot strike (Mid-FS), and fore foot strike (Fore-FS) patterns. Methods Participants (n = 10, 25 ± 5.7 years, 70.2 ± 12.1 kg, 174.6 ± 7.2 cm) completed four foot strike patterns while running over ground: Obvious-HS, Subtle-HS, Mid-FS, and Fore-FS. Speed was controlled between conditions (random order). Vertical ground reaction forces were recorded (1000 Hz) along with the impact force, peak force, and stance time for analysis. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare each variable across foot strike instructions, with post hoc comparisons contrasting Obvious-HS to each of the other conditions. Results Impact force was influenced by foot strike instructions, with Obvious-HS being greater than Subtle-HS and Fore-FS (p 0.05). The peak force was not influenced by foot strike instructions (p > 0.05); stance time was longer during Obvious-HS than during Mid-FS or Fore-FS (p 0.05). Conclusion The unique observation of this study was that impact force was different when participants were instructed to run with either an Obvious-HS or a Subtle-HS at contact. Both these foot strike patterns would have been considered rear foot strike patterns, suggesting that something other than which specific part of the foot strikes the ground initially influenced impact force.
On the flexural rigidity and effective viscosity of the lithosphere in the Hawaiian area

Abstract The depth below sea level of the Moho increases from about 15 km under Hawaii to about 20 km beneath Oahu. Computer simulation of the elastic flexure of the lithosphere due to the load of the Hawaiian archipelago reveals that the maximum downward displacement of the Moho should occur beneath Hawaii, not Oahu. It is concluded that the lithosphere in the Hawaiian area has a Maxwellian rheology, that the subsidence of the youngest island (Hawaii) may be largely due to elastic flexure, but that the additional 5 km subsidence of the 2.5 m.y. older Oahu represents viscous deformation of the lithosphere. The flexural rigidity of the lithosphere required to produce the subsidence of Hawaii by elastic flexure alone is 5 × 10 30 dyne cm. The 5 km viscous settling of Oahu during 2.5 m.y. was then simulated utilizing an axisymmetric viscous finite-element computer program. The results indicate an effective lithospheric viscosity of approximately 3 × 10 23 poise. This value is lower than most other estimates and may reflect the anomalous thermal regime in the Hawaiian region.
Validation study of skull three-dimensional computerized tomography measurements.

Recent advances in imaging have led to high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) scanning with exquisitely detailed slice images of the skull and three-dimensional (3-D) surface reconstructions using computer software. It is possible to use CT scans to acquire morphologic information about the skull in a convenient digital form and to derive 3-D measurements from surface reconstruction images. Unfortunately, no effort has been made to date to test the validity of these measurements on laboratory specimens, and no compelling evidence is available from phantom studies to indicate the nature and magnitude of the errors inherent in the measurement technique. We have performed a pilot study to quantify the morphology of the skull based on surface features that can be found in CT scans and 3-D reconstructions. Comparative measurements were obtained from five skulls (two normal and three with dysmorphology) with calipers and a 3-D electromagnetic digitizer. These measurements were statistically compared with those based on original CT scan slices and reformatted 3-D images. It is concluded that 3D-CT measurements techniques are superior to those in which measurements are obtained directly from the original CT slices; 3-D CT methods, however, must be significantly improved before measurements based on these techniques can be used in studies that require a high degree of precision. The results are used to indicate the most fruitful areas of future study.
Oral contraceptive use, reproductive history, and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in women with and without endometriosis

Abstract Objective Women with endometriosis may be at an increased risk of ovarian cancer. It is not known whether reproductive factors that reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in general also reduce risk in women with endometriosis. We investigated whether the odds ratios for ovarian cancer that were associated with oral contraceptive use, childbearing, hysterectomy, and tubal ligation differ among women with and without endometriosis. Study design We pooled information on the self-reported history of endometriosis from 4 population-based case-controlled studies of incident epithelial ovarian cancer, comprising 2098 cases and 2953 control subjects. We obtained data on oral contraceptive use, childbearing, breastfeeding, gynecologic surgical procedures, and other reproductive factors on each woman. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% CI for ovarian cancer among women with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis. Similar methods were used to assess the frequencies of risk factors among women with and without endometriosis. Adjustments were made for age, parity, oral contraceptive use, tubal ligation, family history of ovarian cancer, and study site. Results Women with endometriosis were at an increased risk of ovarian cancer (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.06-1.65). Using oral contraceptives, bearing children, and having a tubal ligation or hysterectomy were associated with a similar reduction in the odds ratios for ovarian cancer among women with and without endometriosis. In particular, the use of oral contraceptives for>10 years was associated with a substantial reduction in risk among women with endometriosis (odds ratio, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.58). Conclusion Women with endometriosis are at an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Long-term oral contraceptive use may provide substantial protection against the disease in this high-risk population.
A theory of natural selection incorporating interaction among individuate. X. Use of groups consisting of a mating pair together with haploid and diploid caste members

Abstract This paper and the previous member of the series, deal with genetical mechanisms responsible for the evolution of eusociality (a level of social organization that includes differentiated sterile castes) among the “social” insects. Eusociality has evolved in a number of different species. Two different types of genetic systems are represented among these species: diplodiploidy (both sexes diploid) and haplodiploidy (haploid males and diploid females). The previous paper examined the evolution of a sterile caste system in the context of diplodiploidy, and the present paper considers the evolution of eusociality in the context of haplodiploidy. The present study demonstrates that selection operating with regard to random groups within the haplodiploid inheritance system cannot result in the evolution of a sterile caste system. Thus haplodiploidy, in itself, is not sufficient for the evolution of eusociality. However, if the sterile caste members are related to the reproductive members of the group, the appropriate caste associate gene effects are included in the function determining gene frequency change (i.e. Δp i ), and therefore, eusociality can evolve. This is true for both haploid and diploid castes. In comparing the two modes of inheritance, it is demonstrated that haplodiploidy provides up to 37·5% increased selection efficiency relative to diplodiploidy in evolving a social caste system in the absence of inbreeding.
Preparation and biodistribution of a 125I-labeled β-adrenoceptor antagonist bearing a cardioselectivity-enhancing N-substituent

The radiolabeled β -adrenoceptor antagonist 125 I-3-(2-iodophenoxy)-1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenylethyl)-amino]propan-2-ol (IDP) was synthesized and its biodistribution was determined in normal rats at 15, 60 and 120 min. The tissues with the highest radiopharmaceutical concentration were the lungs, adrenals, kidneys and liver. Uptake in the lungs was approximately 10 times greater than that in the target organ, the heart, which indicates that pharmacologic cardioselectivity for this class of β -anlagonists does not necessarily produce selective uptake in the myocardium.
Is there a formula for an effective CMV vaccine

I have been given the task of looking into a crystal ball to see if there is a formula for a CMV vaccine. Although I dare say that many will disagree with what I have to say, it may be useful to attempt an assessment of where we are in 2001. Six questions will be discussed: does natural immunity protect, is the induction of antibodies important, is the induction of T helper cell responses important, is the induction of CTL responses important, how should a CMV vaccine be constructed, and finally, is vaccine development worthwhile? I will discuss this mainly in the context of congenital infection, which is the number one public health problem, only touching on other types of infection.