cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-J-41: Computational and Experimental Analysis of Cancer Cell Mechanics in 3D: Intracellular Viscoelasticity and Internal Stresses

Purpose: We develop an integrated multiscale experimental and computational system to bridge the mechanics and kinetics of motors in crosslinked actin-networks at the molecular scale with cell-scaled tensional dynamics in 3D. We investigate the intracellular viscoelastic properties of invasive breast cancer cells in a 3D-matrix with a tunable microfluidic device that enables the generation of flow and gradients as well as co-culture conditions. Methods: For computational analyses, we use a custom Brownian dynamics model of F-actin networks with dynamic crosslinking proteins and active myosin motors to simulate internal stress generation and motor-induced cytoskeletal remodeling. For experimentation, we develop a system that integrates a highly customizable microfluidic device for 3D cell culture with intracellular particle-tracking microrheology to study intracellular viscoelasticity of cells in 3D. Results: Our results demonstrate that a balance between crosslinker density, actin polymerization and nucleation dynamics, and motor kinetics and density control intracellular morphology and tension. Experimentally, we show that intracellular viscoelasticity appears to be anisotropic and heterogeneous, and we compare the shear moduli of cells in 2D and 3D. Additionally, we show that altered polymerization dynamics lead to altered cytoskeletal morphologies that appear more aggregated, consistent with our simulations that show motorinduced cytoskeletal remodeling when actin assembly and disassembly rates are not sufficiently high. Conclusion: A multiscale approach that bridges molecular-scaled dynamics with single and multicellular networks in 3D physiological environments can be an enabling method for understanding the physical and mechanical phenomena that govern cell force generation, migration, and cancer invasion and dissemination. By understanding how molecular mechanical mechanisms translate into metastatic behavior of cells, we can then begin to identify in a rigorous manner new therapeutics that target the functional and physical properties of cancer cells. Specifically, our approach allows for the fundamental elements that give rise to intracellular structure and tension to be investigated.
Dog and Cat Exposures to Hazardous Substances Reported to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: 2009–2012

Pet dogs and cats in the USA are commonly exposed to potentially hazardous substances found in domestic environments. Requests for assistance and advice received by the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory regarding exposures in dogs and cats to substances perceived by their caretakers to be potentially harmful included 1,616 phone calls, over a 3-year period covering 2009–2012. Enquiries occurred more often during summer. Dogs were involved in 84.7 % of calls and cats in 15.3 %. Oral exposures were reported in 95.5 % of calls, dermal exposures in 3.7 % of calls, inhalation exposures in 0.6 % of calls, and parenteral exposures in 0.2 % of calls. Therapeutic drugs were the most frequently reported substances, accounting for 35.4 % of calls, followed by household chemicals (15.5 %); foods (14.8 %); pesticides (13.9 %); plants (12 %), industrial chemicals and fertilizers (3.6 %); cosmetics and personal care products (2.8 %); and animal, insect, and microorganism toxins (2.1 %). Although requests for information or assistance are not a measure of poisoning incidence, it can provide insight regarding relative exposure rates, help to identify changing exposure trends and emerging exposures, and reflect the public concern regarding actual or apparent harmful exposures in pets.
Expectancy and conditioning in placebo analgesia

T he role of cognition in conditioning has been one of the central disputes in the history of experimental psychology. Strict behaviorists view conditioning as a mechanistic process in which consciousness is irrelevant [4,12,18]. In contrast, cognitive theorists argue that conditioning effects are mediated by expectancy [13]. Although mechanistic theories held sway during most of the twentieth century, the tide seems to have shifted, and cognitive interpretations of classical and operant conditioning now predominate [10,11]. In their Focus article, Price and Fields propose that classical conditioning affects placebo analgesia in two ways. First, there is "a classical conditioning effectthar occurs without the subject's conscious awareness of the conditioned stimuli-unconditioned stimuli (CS-US) association," and second, classical conditioning may alter expectancies, as proposed by Reiss [9] for conditioned anxiety and Kirsch [5-7] for conditioned placebo effects. The first of these views is consistent with stimulus-substitution models of classical conditioning, which have formed the basis of most conditioning accounts of placebo effects [19], but are widely regarded as outmoded [10]. In this Commentary, I argue that the data support the mediational but not the mechanistic interpretation of conditioning effects. Elsewhere, I have summarized much of the data supporting a mediational interpretation of conditioned placebo effects [6,7]. As Price and Fields note, many of these data are derived from placebo effects on responses other than pain. It is possible that the mechanisms of placebo analgesia differ from those of placebo-
Atypical Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever With Polyarticular Arthritis

Abstract Background Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an acute, serious tick borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsi . Frequently, RMSF is manifested by headache, a typical rash and fever but atypical disease is common, making diagnosis difficult. Inflammatory arthritis as a manifestation is rare. The purpose of this study is to describe a patient with serologically proven RMSF who presented in an atypical manner with inflammatory arthritis of the small joints of the hands and to review the previously reported patients with rickettsial infection and inflammatory arthritis. Methods An 18-year-old woman presented with a rash that began on the distal extremities and spread centrally, along with hand pain and swelling. She had tenderness and swelling of the metacarpophlangeal joints on examination in addition to an erythematosus macular rash and occasional fever. Results Acute and convalescent serology demonstrated R rickettsi infection. She was successfully treated with doxycycline. Conclusions: Inflammatory arthritis is a rare manifestation of RMSF or other rickettsial infection with 8 previously reported patients, only 1 of whom had RMSF. Physician must have a high index of suspicion for RMSF because of atypical presentations.
Relationships between data from Rock-Eval pyrolysis and proximate, ultimate, petrographic, and physical analyses of 142 diverse U.S. coal samples

Basic research on coal and oil shale led to automated pyrolysis analysis of petroleum source rocks; most widely used is the Rock-Eval equipment. In order to interpret Rock-Eval analyses in relation to traditional coal data, we analyzed 142 commercial coals with diverse rank, age, maceral and sulfur contents, for most regions of the United States. We compared the Rock-Eval data with traditional industrial coal data, including volatile matter, calorific value, hydrogen and oxygen content, free swelling index, and vitrinite reflectance. We found: (1) there is a close relationship between Tmax and vitrinite reflectance in the ranges 420–590°C Tmax and 0.4–3%Romax of most coals. (2) A close relationship between Tmax and volatile matter (%VM) extends through the entire sample range, including low-rank samples with 35–70% VM, a range where %VM is not considered to be a useful rank parameter. (3) TOC of medium- and high-rank coals is seriously under-measured by Rock-Eval; TOC of low-rank coals (less than 0.8%Romax) is close to “dry basis” carbon from ultimate analysis. (4) The direct relationships between oxygen index (OI) and %O and between hydrogen index (HI) and %H are clear, though only broadly defined. However, there is virtually no band of concentrated data points on the HI versus OI pseudo-Van Krevelen diagram comparable to the “development line” on the H/C versus O/C diagram. (5) There are systematic relationships between Rock-Eval and industrial coal parameters such as calorific value and FSI, but much standardization would be needed before Rock-Eval could find a place in the coal industry. Tests with blends of coal and quartz sand and with various loads of coal alone showed that the amount of organic matter in the Rock-Eval load greatly influences results. Total load in the crucible, if largely inert, plays a small role, however. Increasing absolute or relative coal content causes under-evaluation of Rock-Eval TOC and over-rating of hydrogen. Blends of several coals yielded hydrogen and oxygen indexes related proportionally to the properties of the individual coals, but Tmax is not raised by addition of high-rank coal until over 40% is added.
Progress In Solving The Sex Hormone Paradox In Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating and progressive disease with marked morbidity and mortality. Even though being female represents one of the most powerful risk factors for PAH...
Technical Aspects of Carotid Endarterectomy with Hemashield Patch Graft

In this review I describe my method of carotid endarterectomy with synthetic patch angioplasty. The use of Hemashield patch angioplasty is relatively new in my practice, and since I have adopted it I feel it has reduced or eliminated early restenosis and acute postoperative occlusion. The technique is simple and straightforward, and does not require any special preparation of the patch material. The patch is stronger and safer than saphenous vein. The other steps of the endarterectomy are unchanged, and the same suture can be used for patch placement. I also describe here a new commercial shunt which I have developed and which I feel is an improvement over the shunts I previously used. I place an indwelling shunt selectively, if electroencephalography criteria indicate that a shunt is needed. In my series this occurs in 15% of cases, increasing to 25% in patients with contralateral carotid artery occlusion. The overall stroke rate in my carotid artery series is 1.8% at present.
The effects of Doppler shift on gravity wave spectra observed by MST radar

Abstract The effects of Doppler shifts on gravity wave spectra observed by MST radar are investigated in this paper. General expressions for radar observed spectra are derived. Numerical examples show that the Doppler shifts due to the background wind tend to redistribute the power in the frequency spectrum. The results are applied to interpret some observational data.
Narrative Practice and Conflict Dissolution in Couples Therapy

This paper presents an approach to conflict dissolution through the story development of the lives of the partners. This activity includes the interruption of efforts to resolve difficulties through recourse to culturally venerated communicational processes; the erosion of exclusivity in couple relationships; and the adoption of other relational forms in ways that contributes to diversity of response in couple relationships. A case example with transcript excerpts illustrates this process.
Mammalian niche conservation through deep time.

Climate change alters species distributions, causing plants and animals to move north or to higher elevations with current warming. Bioclimatic models predict species distributions based on extant realized niches and assume niche conservation. Here, we evaluate if proxies for niches (i.e., range areas) are conserved at the family level through deep time, from the Eocene to the Pleistocene. We analyze the occurrence of all mammalian families in the continental USA, calculating range area, percent range area occupied, range area rank, and range polygon centroids during each epoch. Percent range area occupied significantly increases from the Oligocene to the Miocene and again from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene; however, mammalian families maintain statistical concordance between rank orders across time. Families with greater taxonomic diversity occupy a greater percent of available range area during each epoch and net changes in taxonomic diversity are significantly positively related to changes in percent range area occupied from the Eocene to the Pleistocene. Furthermore, gains and losses in generic and species diversity are remarkably consistent with ∼2.3 species gained per generic increase. Centroids demonstrate southeastern shifts from the Eocene through the Pleistocene that may correspond to major environmental events and/or climate changes during the Cenozoic. These results demonstrate range conservation at the family level and support the idea that niche conservation at higher taxonomic levels operates over deep time and may be controlled by life history traits. Furthermore, families containing megafauna and/or terminal Pleistocene extinction victims do not incur significantly greater declines in range area rank than families containing only smaller taxa and/or only survivors, from the Pliocene to Pleistocene. Collectively, these data evince the resilience of families to climate and/or environmental change in deep time, the absence of terminal Pleistocene “extinction prone” families, and provide valuable insights to understanding mammalian responses to current climate change.
Kiwifruit protease extract injection reduces toughness of pork loin muscle induced by freeze–thaw abuse ☆

Abstract Kiwifruit juice injection was used to tenderize freeze–thaw abused porcine meat, and the enzyme activity in relation to meat tenderness was determined. Whole pork loins ( Longissimus lumborum ) were subjected to 5 freeze–thaw cycles (–29 °C ↔ 4 °C). Non-frozen control and freeze–thaw treated loins were either non-injected or injected with 10% water or diluted kiwifruit juice (meat weight basis). After 48 h of incubation, samples were analyzed for pH, proteolysis, cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Shear force of meat increased 2-fold ( P P P
A MIMO topology with series outputs: An interface between diversified energy sources and diode-clamped multilevel inverter

A new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) dc-dc converter topology is presented. The proposed topology can interface between diversified energy sources and diode-clamped multilevel inverter. Regulating series output voltages for the dc-link of the diode-clamped multilevel inverter, diversifying energy sources, improving availability of the energy source, employing a single inductor, and cost effectiveness are the advantages of the proposed MIMO converter. The steady state operation of the converter is characterized and verified by numerical switch-level simulation.
LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENT OF A PINNIPED NEONATE

) in the Gulf of California (GoC) are thought to include dis-tinct populations based on limited dispersal and resulting genetic population struc-ture (Schramm-Urrutia 2002). Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA collected frompups located on seven GoC rookeries suggest three distinct populations occur withinthe GoC (Schramm-Urrutia 2002). Although marked 1-yr-old juveniles have beenidentified on islands far from their natal site (
Influence of DNA end structure on the mechanism of initiation of DNA unwinding by the Escherichia coli RecBCD and RecBC helicases.

Abstract Escherichia coli RecBCD is a bipolar DNA helicase possessing two motor subunits (RecB, a 3′-to-5′ translocase, and RecD, a 5′-to-3′ translocase) that is involved in the major pathway of recombinational repair. Previous studies indicated that the minimal kinetic mechanism needed to describe the ATP-dependent unwinding of blunt-ended DNA by RecBCD in vitro is a sequential n -step mechanism with two to three additional kinetic steps prior to initiating DNA unwinding. Since RecBCD can “melt out” ∼ 6 bp upon binding to the end of a blunt-ended DNA duplex in a Mg 2+ -dependent but ATP-independent reaction, we investigated the effects of noncomplementary single-stranded (ss) DNA tails [3′-(dT) 6 and 5′-(dT) 6 or 5′-(dT) 10 ] on the mechanism of RecBCD and RecBC unwinding of duplex DNA using rapid kinetic methods. As with blunt-ended DNA, RecBCD unwinding of DNA possessing 3′-(dT) 6 and 5′-(dT) 6 noncomplementary ssDNA tails is well described by a sequential n -step mechanism with the same unwinding rate ( mk U = 774 ± 16 bp s − 1 ) and kinetic step size ( m = 3.3 ± 1.3 bp), yet two to three additional kinetic steps are still required prior to initiation of DNA unwinding ( k C = 45 ± 2 s − 1 ). However, when the noncomplementary 5′ ssDNA tail is extended to 10 nt [5′-(dT) 10 and 3′-(dT) 6 ], the DNA end structure for which RecBCD displays optimal binding affinity, the additional kinetic steps are no longer needed, although a slightly slower unwinding rate ( mk U = 538 ± 24 bp s − 1 ) is observed with a similar kinetic step size ( m = 3.9 ± 0.5 bp). The RecBC DNA helicase (without the RecD subunit) does not initiate unwinding efficiently from a blunt DNA end. However, RecBC does initiate well from a DNA end possessing noncomplementary twin 5′-(dT) 6 and 3′-(dT) 6 tails, and unwinding can be described by a simple uniform n -step sequential scheme, without the need for the additional k C initiation steps, with a similar kinetic step size ( m = 4.4 ± 1.7 bp) and unwinding rate ( mk obs = 396 ± 15 bp s − 1 ). These results suggest that the additional kinetic steps with rate constant k C required for RecBCD to initiate unwinding of blunt-ended and twin (dT) 6 -tailed DNA reflect processes needed to engage the RecD motor with the 5′ ssDNA.
Surge instability on a cavitating propeller

The present study details results from experiments investigating a surge instability on a cavitating propeller. Initially, the stable behavior of the propeller is explored, and the nature and extent of the cavitation is documented at various experimental conditions, including propeller yaw. The cavitation surge instability is first explored through visual observation of the cavitation on the propeller blades and in the tip vortices. Particular note is made of similarities between the behavior of the re-entrant jets and that noted by other investigators. It is also observed that the nature of the instability is closely related to the partial cavity instability observed on single, two-dimensional hydrofoils. The flow conditions that lead to instability are determined and it is shown that onset corresponds to a specific configuration of attached cavity lengths on an individual propeller blade. Pressure measurements are obtained from transducers within the experimental facility, and the acoustic signature of the instability is identified. The magnitude of the fluctuating pressures is very large, presumably capable of producing severe hull vibration. A simple model is developed based on cavity volume estimates obtained from high speed video footage, and the predictions of the model are compared with the experimentally obtained pressures. To assess the significance of the surrounding facility in initiating and sustaining the instability, a model is developed for the experimental facility dynamics. The predictions of this model are then compared with an experimentally determined facility response to a volumetric excitation imposed by an oscillating piston. To quantify the response of the cavitation to fluctuations in test section conditions, quasistatic estimates are obtained for the cavitation compliance and mass flow gain factor of the propeller. These parameters have previously been employed in developing system transfer functions for cavitating pumps. Finally, a model is developed for the complete system, incorporating both the cavitation and facility dynamics. The model predicts active system dynamics and therefore potentially unstable behavior for two distinct frequency ranges, and one such range is hypothesized to correspond to the observed instability. The ability of the model to predict the observed characteristics of the instability is then evaluated.
Effects of Angiotensin Infusion on Catecholamine Uptake and Reactivity in Blood Vessels

The interrelations between angiotensin and catecholamine uptake have been studied in rats. Angiotensin was infused for either 5, 30, or 120 minutes at three dose levels: 1, 12, and 45 ng/kg/min. With short exposures to angiotensin, effects were seen in kidney, uterus, and adrenal gland. These organs had been previously shown to bind the greatest amount of tritiated peptide administered intravenously. In the 5- and 30-minute experiments angiotensin inhibited uptake of either metaraminol or norepinephrine in most tissues, especially at the higher dose levels, with the exception of the adrenal gland where uptake was increased. After the two-hour infusion inhibition of uptake was seen in most organs. When high titer angiotensin II antibodies were administered intravenously, responses to iv angiotensin were abolished. At this stage the uptake of tritiated norepinephrine was increased in kidney, heart, spleen, and vas deferens, while it was decreased in the adrenal gland. To see whether these biochemical findings are related to a physiological role, contractile responses of isolated perfused arteries of rabbits were studied. Angiotensin potentiated the increase in perfusion pressure after the infusion of norepinephrine, while angiotensin II antibodies decreased this response. Thus, it is concluded that angiotensin can modify the uptake and, hence, the inactivation of the sympathetic neurotransmitter and possibly by this mechanism alter the physiological response to norepinephrine and sympathetic stimulation.
Vocal violence in actors: An investigation into its acoustic consequences and the effects of hygienic laryngeal release training

Acoustic analysis techniques were used to investigate the short-term consequences of vocally violent behavior, and to compare voice production before and after training in hygienic laryngeal release (HLR) techniques. Twenty-seven actors ranging in age from 17 to 48 years were audiorecorded before and after multiple productions of 4 vocally violent behaviors: grunting, groaning, sobbing, and shouting. After training in HLR techniques, the experimental protocol was repeated. Audiorecordings of vowels (produced at 3 pitch levels: modal F0, minimum F0, maximum F0) before and after vocal violence, and before and after HLR training, were analyzed using the Multidimensional Voice Program (4305, Kay Elemetrics Corp, Lincoln Park, NJ). After vocal violence, no consistent acoustic changes were detected for voice generated at modal and minimum F0; however, significant increases in both fundamental frequency range and maximum F0 were observed. After training in HLR techniques, acoustic measures sensitive to pitch and amplitude perturbation, and non-harmonic noise, improved across pitch levels. The results also indicated that vocal training does defend the laryngeal system from undesirable changes related to vocally violent maneuvers that might surface at the extremes of an actor's pitch range. Because the HLR technique used in this investigation was multimodal, interesting questions are raised regarding which aspect of training is primarily responsible for the observed effects. Further study is required to identify such factors.
Role of Visual Integration in Gaze Perception and Emotional Intelligence in Schizophrenia

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate a wide range of social cognitive deficits that significantly compromise functioning. Early visual processing is frequently disrupted in schizophrenia, and growing evidence suggests a role of perceptual dysfunctions in socioemotional functioning in the disorder. This study examined visual integration (the ability to effectively integrate individual, local visual features into a holistic representation), a target construct of basic perception identified by the Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia initiative, and its relationship with eyecontact perception and emotional intelligence in schizophrenia. Methods: Twenty-nine participants with schizophrenia (SCZ) and 23 healthy controls (HC) completed tasks measuring visual integration (Coherent Motion Task, Contour Integration Task), an eye-contact perception task, and a measure of emotional intelligence. Results: SCZ participants showed compromised visual integration as suggested by poorer performance on the Contour Integration Task relative to HC. Visual integration was a significant predictor of eye-contact perception and emotional intelligence among SCZ. The amounts of variances in these 2 social cognitive areas accounted for by visual integration were comparable to and overlapped with those accounted for by the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Conclusions: Individuals with schizophrenia showed compromised visual integration, and this may play a significant role in the observed deficits in higher level processing of social information in the disorder.
A numerical study of storm surge and inundation in the Croatan–Albemarle–Pamlico Estuary System

An integrated storm surge and inundation modeling system is used to simulate the storm surge and inundation in the CroataneAlbemarleePamlico Estuary System in eastern North Carolina under the influence of 10 hypothetical Category 2 and 3 hurricanes representing typical historical hurricane scenarios in the study region. The integrated storm surge and inundation modeling system is numerically stable in the complex and shallow CAPES environment under hurricane forcing conditions. For an assumed northward or northeastward moving Category 3 hurricane with a translation speed of 25 km/h, the peak storm surge occurs along the western Pamlico Sound and western Albemarle Sound. The most severe flooding as measured by inundation area is in the Pamlico River mouth region where the flooding area reached 500 km 2 . In general, a more intense or larger hurricane (lower minimum central pressure, MCP or larger radius of maximum wind, RMW) produces higher storm surge and a larger inundation area in the entire region. For the cases considered in this study, the storm surge height and inundation area are more sensitive to MCP than to RMW. Slower translation speed produces higher storm surge, and thus larger inundation area, but the sensitivity of storm surge to storm translation speed can be vastly different for different storms. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authoritarian Attitude Changes and Group Homogeneity

(1963). Authoritarian Attitude Changes and Group Homogeneity. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 129-135.
Encyclopedia of software components

Intelligent browsing through a collection of reusable software components is facilitated with a computer having a video monitor and a user input interface such as a keyboard or a mouse for transmitting user selections, by presenting a picture of encyclopedia volumes with respective visible labels referring to types of software, in accordance with a metaphor in which each volume includes a page having a list of general topics under the software type of the volume and pages having lists of software components for each one of the generic topics, altering the picture to open one of the volumes in response to an initial user selection specifying the one volume to display on the monitor a picture of the page thereof having the list of general topics and altering the picture to display the page thereof having a list of software components under one of the general topics in response to a next user selection specifying the one general topic, and then presenting a picture of a set of different informative plates depicting different types of information about one of the software components in response to a further user selection specifying the one component.
Reduction of motion artifacts in cine MRI using variable-density spiral trajectories

Dynamic cardiac imaging in MRI is a very challenging task. To obtain high spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), single-shot imaging is not sufficient. Use of multishot techniques resolves this problem but can cause motion artifacts because of data inconsistencies between views. Motion artifacts can be reduced by signal averaging at some cost in increased scan time. However, for the same increase in scan time, other techniques can be more effective than simple averaging in reducing the artifacts. If most of the energy of the inconsistencies is limited to a certain region of kappa-space, increased sampling density (oversampling) in this region can be especially effective in reducing motion artifacts. In this work, several variable-density spiral trajectories are designed and tested. Their efficiencies for artifact reduction are evaluated in computer simulations and in scans of normal volunteers. The SNR compromise of these trajectories is also investigated. The authors conclude that variable-density spiral trajectories can effectively reduce motion artifacts with a small loss in SNR as compared with a uniform density counterpart.
The Political Economy of State-Society Relations in Hungary and Poland: Conclusion: Despotism, Discovery, and Surprise

No puzzle draws greater attention from social scientists than radical change in entrenched political and economic systems. The fascination is understandable. Issues of power, justice, and the conception of progress itself are implicated in large-scale, complex shifts such as the industrialization of agrarian societies and the development of capitalism. This is also the case with one of the great surprises of our time – the systemic transformation of state-socialist planned economies. In the early 1980s, few foresaw that by decade's end the very ideology and institutions of state socialism would be exposed as brittle shells. Fewer still foresaw that a mere twenty years later, most of the nations of eastern Europe – trapped since the end of World War II within a bloc meant to isolate them from the West – would be entering a union of thoroughly western Europeans. This book has addressed the surprise itself, but has concentrated on the long transformation that preceded the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and the legacies that to this day shape the new capitalist democracies of two very different transformational leaders: Poland and Hungary. In so doing, the book sheds light on the political economy of state socialism and post-socialism and on existing theories of marketization and democratization. The book is also relevant to our current understanding of vast structural change and, more particularly, to long-standing debates on the relationship between agency and structure – a relationship best analyzed by focusing on what I have called points of permeable contact between state and society.
Development and Validation of Scales to Measure Environmental Responsibility, Character Development, and Attitudes toward School.

This investigation examines the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures to develop and validate scales to measure environmental responsibility, character development and leadership, and attitudes toward school for environmental education programs servicing middle school children. The scales represent outcomes commonly of interest to environmental education programs and also to after‐school and positive youth development activities. First, we developed the scales using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and then we used multi‐group longitudinal CFA to cross‐validate the model with data collected before participation in the environmental education program, immediately after the program, and three months later. The results support a three‐factor model, producing three scales that appear to be valid and reliable.
Development toward high-speed integrated circuits and SQUID qubits with Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb Josephson junctions

Our Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb planarized process has been upgraded by adding extra dielectric and Nb wiring layers and the installation of an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) etcher. Much higher quartz etch rates as well as reduced residue are achieved with ICP etch. Etch uniformities of both Nb and quartz are also improved significantly. Damage to Nb during the fabrication process has been investigated. We have found that dry etching in SF/sub 6/ plasma has a significant effect on the quality of Nb films under certain conditions with damage coinciding with the presence of in situ deposited Al.
Electrospun Solid Dispersions of Maraviroc for Rapid Intravaginal Preexposure Prophylaxis of HIV

The development of topical anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) microbicides may provide women with strategies to protect themselves against sexual HIV transmission. Pericoital drug delivery systems intended for use immediately before sex, such as microbicide gels, must deliver high drug doses for maximal effectiveness. The goal of achieving a high antiretroviral dose is complicated by the need to simultaneously retain the dose and quickly release drug compounds into the tissue. For drugs with limited solubility in vaginal gels, increasing the gel volume to increase the dose can result in leakage. While solid dosage forms like films and tablets increase retention, they often require more than 15 min to fully dissolve, potentially increasing the risk of inducing epithelial abrasions during sex. Here, we demonstrate that water-soluble electrospun fibers, with their high surface area-to-volume ratio and ability to disperse antiretrovirals, can serve as an alternative solid dosage form for microbicides requiring both high drug loading and rapid hydration. We formulated maraviroc at up to 28 wt% into electrospun solid dispersions made from either polyvinylpyrrolidone or poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers or microfibers and investigated the role of drug loading, distribution, and crystallinity in determining drug release rates into aqueous media. We show here that water-soluble electrospun materials can rapidly release maraviroc upon contact with moisture and that drug delivery is faster (less than 6 min under sink conditions) when maraviroc is electrospun in polyvinylpyrrolidone fibers containing an excipient wetting agent. These materials offer an alternative dosage form to current pericoital microbicides.
The growth of giant pumpkins: How extreme weight influences shape

Abstract Great morphological differences exist among fruits and vegetables. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we predict pumpkin shape evolution and maximum size based on their material properties. Using time-lapse photography and measurements collected by volunteer farmers, we show that as pumpkins grow, they morph from spherical to pancake shapes, flattening up to 50% in height-to-width aspect ratio. By compressing whole pumpkins in material-testing machines, we find that the elastic response of the pumpkin is insufficient to account for the large deformations characteristic of large pumpkins. We hypothesize that pumpkin flattening is caused by the weight of the pumpkin retarding its normal growth processes. We test this hypothesis using a mathematical model that assumes plant growth is stimulated in response to a tensile yield stress. We are able to predict pumpkin shapes consistent with those observed. The observed growth plasticity allows the fruit to redistribute internal stresses, thereby growing to extreme sizes without breaking.
A research environment for incremental data flow analysis

This articles describes an environment intended for the study of incremental data flow analysis and the discovery of the types of programs for which this technique is effective. High-level data flow analysis using attribute grammars allows calculation of both data flow information and measurement information as computations on attribute sets. Our results show that in the worst case our method of incremental data flow analysis uses a large amount of CPU time (and memory), but for programs with the same structure as a “typical program”, performance is quite good.
Contention-free communication scheduling on 2D meshes

Spontaneous, unorchestrated communications on message-passing multicomputers can cause collision, buffer overflow, and even deadlock, resulting in high communication overhead and reduced overall performance. We present scheduling algorithms for frequently-used communication patterns, such as shifting, transposition, and rotation, on mesh networks. The schedules generated by the algorithms are contention-free and are optimal with respect to the number of message-passing steps. The scheduling algorithms incur little runtime overhead, since they do not require global information exchange. Simulation results confirm that the scheduling algorithms are effective in reducing communication cost.
ON THE ORIGIN OF LAMINE CAMELIDAE INCLUDING A NEW GENUS FROM THE LATE MIOCENE OF THE HIGH PLAINS

Abstract The fourth radiation of Camelidae in North America produced both living tribes of Camelidae: the Camelini of the Old World and the Lamini of South America. This paper focuses on the origin of Lamini. It places on record a new genus and species, Pleiolama mckennai, from the middle Miocene of Nebraska and Texas, and assigns to that genus the species P. vera (Matthew, 1909) from the late Miocene of the High Plains. Pleiolama is distinguished from four other extinct genera of Lamini recognized in North America. The nominal genus and species, Pliauchenia humphresiana Cope(1875), traditionally thought to be an early representative of Lamini, is shown to be a nomen vanum.
Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitudes with the use of model atmospheres

West, John B. Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitudes with the use of model atmospheres. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1850–1854, 1996.—It would be valuable to have model atmospheres that a...
Serologic relationships of the B632 and ECHO-28 rhinovirus strains.

SummaryThe antigenic relationships of the ECHO-28 strains and B632 were studied in guinea pigs. The cross reaction demonstrated between B632 and JH was reciprocal, while the one between B632 and 2060 was not. Inoculation of guinea pigs with both B632 and 2060 virus in different order brought out the antigenic relationship of these types. In human sera, the age-specific prevalence of ECHO-28 and B632 antibody was compared. A titer rise to one or both types was found in 41 of 355 paired sera. This increase in antibody occurred in some cases in spite of homologous prior antibody. In most cases, the rises in antibody level occurred against only one virus, but there was a strong suggestion that with prior antibody, an increase in antibody to both viruses was more likely.
Effect of weight-reducing diet on the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

AbstractSpontaneously hypertensive rats were placed on weight-reducing diets either by limiting regular feedings to twice weekly or by providing half the normal ration daily. Significant reductions in body weight and blood pressure were observed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after beginning the diet. Blood pressure fell despite maintenance of a normal or elevated sodium intake indicating that the reduction was not secondary to decreased sodium intake. Reinstitution of a normal food intake resulted in a return of body weight and blood pressure within 3 weeks.
Substances Inhibitory to Insect Feeding with Insecticidal Properties from Fungi

Two compounds, designated respectively 379-X and 370-Y, which first markedly inhibited the feeding activity of adults and larvae of the Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna varivestis Mulsant), and subsequently caused their death, were isolated from culture filtrates of a soil fungus identified as Myrothecium roridum Tode. The compounds were active when applied to bean leaves on which the beetles fed and when applied topically to the insects. A tentative molecular formula for compound 379-X was determined as C29H49O9. Other characteristics were: M. W. (Rast) 492; n.v. absorption maximum, 261 mu; m.p. 190 C; [α]D25 = +78° (4.8% in dioxane). It was soluble in most organic solvents and to the extent of 10-5M. in water. Compound 379-Y was tentatively assigned the molecular formula C49H64O16. Other characteristics: M.W. (Rast) 903; u.v. max., 259 mu; decomposed at 295° C.; [α]D25 = +200.5° (6.3% in dioxane), +226.5° (0.4% in benzene); soluble in most organic solvents, and to the extent of 10-6M. in water.
Fat Tails, Skewed Losses, and Potential Risk Mitigation: Evidence from the Residential Mortgage Market

Executive Summary Evidence from the recent financial crisis brings into question the stability of risk management correlation assumptions and the effect this has on possible extreme outcomes. In this paper, we present evidence of unstable correlations between mortgage asset returns in recent years inhibiting any practical mean variance approach to portfolio diversification and risk management. Our findings suggest that returns on residential mortgage investments exhibit unusual levels of skewness and asymmetric dependence (higher correlations in downside markets). Incorporating higher-order return distribution moments in portfolio selection and diversification decisions is important to all investors concerned with fat tail risks. Optimizing portfolios from the standpoint of loss mitigation seems easy to achieve with careful geographic diversification, but deep recession loss correlations defy the longer term trends. For this reason, higher capital reserves or new hedging instruments are required to truly ...
DETERMINISTIC CONTROL OF UNCERTAIN SYSTEMS

Abstract We consider the problem of designing a feedback control that guarantees the desired performance of a dynamical system containing uncertain elements. The desired performance is usually uniform ultimate boundedness within a neighborhood of an equilibrium. The treatment is deterministic in that one requires certain performance in the presence of uncertain information. The essential information about an uncertain element is only its possible size.
Sensitivity to Landscape Features: A Spatial Analysis of Field Geoscientists on the Move.

ABSTRACT Intelligent behavior in everyday contexts may depend on both ability and an individual's disposition toward using that ability. Research into patterns of thinking has identified three logically distinct components necessary for dispositional behavior: ability, inclination, and sensitivity. Surprisingly, sensitivity appears to be the most common bottleneck to achieving quality outcomes. Using global positioning system data taken when field geologists (n = 66) performed a bedrock mapping task, we assess sensitivity to landscape and its relationship to expertise, content knowledge in the discipline, thoroughness of route, and quality of outcome. A discipline-specific concept inventory served as a proxy measure for participant knowledge and ability. Thoroughness in the field served as an indicator of a participant's inclination to employ abilities critical to the success of the task. To assess sensitivity to opportunities in the landscape, we identified relatively small areas frequently visited by ex...
Design of a security smart meter software testing cloud service system

According to such problems as the potential software failure existing in the field operation process of the smart meters and the software testing efficiency of smart meters being relatively low, this paper has designed a security smart meter software testing cloud service system, and researched the security implementation mechanism about the smart meter software testing cloud service system from trusted access control, data encryption transmission and storage, optimized scheduling of system resources, etc. The testing system has virtualized such infrastructures as instruments, software testing system, servers, network, etc. It provided a shared, available, safe, efficient software testing environment of smart meters for electric meter production enterprises and power companies combing with the data encryption technology, which has high practical value.
Role of interleukin-1 system in alcohol drinking and preference

B and gene expression studies indicate that the IL-1 system is associated with alcohol drinking behavior. The GABAergic transmission in central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is one of the crucial mediators of alcohol addiction. Thus, wehypothesize that the IL-1 system plays an important role in alcohol effects via modulation of CeAGABAergic synapses. It was examined interactions between IL-1 system and ethanol on GABAergic transmission in brain slices containing CeA using intracellular and whole-cell recordings. Superfusion of IL-1β decreased GABAergic transmission, whereas ethanol enhanced it in B6129SF2/J mice. To elucidate a role of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in ethanol effects at the CeAGABAergic synapses, we used IL-1ra knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice. Differences in baseline phasic and tonic GABA transmission between KO and WT mice were found. The pretreatment of CeA slices with exogenous IL-1ra (Kineret) reversed changes in the baseline phasic GABA transmission in KO mice. Superfusion of ethanol significantly enhanced GABA in majority of WT mice, whereas in KO only 50% of neurons showed an increase. The pretreatment with Kineret also restored ethanol-induced potentiation of the GABA in KO, while it had no effects in WT mice. Our results suggest that the IL-1 system is involved in a regulation of the CeAGABAergic transmission and may modulate ethanol effects at these synapses. Furthermore, IL-1 system may represent a potential therapeutic target for alcoholism.
Supervised classification using polarimetric SAR decomposition parameters to detect anomalies on earthen levees

Earthen levees protect large areas of populated and cultivated land from flooding. The potential loss of life and property associated with the catastrophic failure of levees can be great. One type of problem that occurs along these levees which can lead to complete failure during a high water event is slough slides [1]. Using Entropy (H), Anisotropy (A), and alpha (α) parameters, we implemented Wishart supervised classification method for the identification of anomalies on the levee. The effectiveness of the algorithms is demonstrated using quad-polarimetric L-band polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (polSAR) imagery from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL's) Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). The study area is a section of the lower Mississippi River valley in the southern USA.
Antigen‐Specific CD4+ T Cells that Survive after the Induction of Peripheral Tolerance Possess an Intrinsic Lymphokine Production Defect

Injection of soluble foreign antigen without an adjuvant induces a state of antigen-specific immunological unresponsiveness. We investigated the cellular mechanisms that underlie this form of peripheral tolerance by physically tracking a small population of ovalbumin (OVA) peptide/I-Ad-specific, CD4+ T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic T cells following adoptive transfer into normal recipients. Injection of OVA peptide in the absence of adjuvant caused the antigen-specific T cells to proliferate for a brief period after which most of the T cells disappeared. The remaining OVA-specific T cells had converted to a memory phenotype but were poorly responsive in vivo as evidenced by a failure to accumulate in the draining lymph nodes following immunization with OVA peptide in adjuvant. These surviving T cells possessed a long-lasting, but reversible, defect in Il-2 and TNF-alpha production and in vivo proliferation, but did not gain capacity to produce Th2-type cytokines or suppress the clonal expansion of T cells specific for another antigen. Therefore, some antigen-specific T cells survive this peripheral tolerance protocol but are functionally unresponsive due to an intrinsic activation defect.