cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cysteinyl leukotrienes acting via granule membrane-expressed receptors elicit secretion from within cell-free human eosinophil granules

Background Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are recognized to act via receptors (cysLTRs) expressed on cell surface plasma membranes. Agents that block cysLT 1 receptor (cysLT 1 R) are therapeutics for allergic disorders. Eosinophils contain multiple preformed proteins stored within their intracellular granules. Cell-free eosinophil granules are present extracellularly as intact membrane-bound organelles in sites associated with eosinophil infiltration, including asthma, rhinitis, and urticaria, but have unknown functional capabilities. Objective We evaluated the expression of cysLTRs on eosinophil granule membranes and their functional roles in eliciting protein secretion from within eosinophil granules. Methods We studied secretory responses of human eosinophil granules isolated by subcellular fractionation. Granules were stimulated with cysLTs, and eosinophil cationic protein and cytokines were measured in the supernatants. Receptor expression on granule membranes and eosinophils was evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results We report that receptors for cysLTs, cysLT 1 R, cysLT 2 receptor, and the purinergic P2Y12 receptor, are expressed on eosinophil granule membranes. Leukotriene (LT) C 4 and extracellularly generated LTD 4 and LTE 4 stimulated isolated eosinophil granules to secrete eosinophil cationic protein. MRS 2395, a P2Y12 receptor antagonist, inhibited cysLT-induced eosinophil cationic protein release. Montelukast, likely not solely as an inhibitor of cysLT 1 R, inhibited eosinophil cationic protein release elicited by LTC 4 and LTD 4 as well as by LTE 4 . Conclusion These studies identify previously unrecognized sites of localization, the membranes of intracellular eosinophil granule organelles, and function for cysLT-responsive receptors that mediate cysteinyl leukotriene-stimulated secretion from within eosinophil granules, including those present extracellularly.
The Dangerous Life: Natural Justice and the Rightful Subversion of the State

Is there a basis in natural justice for sometimes disobeying the edicts of the state. Antigone provides an occasion for considering this question. Ancient skeptics maintained that there is no such thing as natural justice, because laws and morals vary across cultures. Or, if there is natural justice, it is nothing other than the claim that the strong should rule the weak. Or even if there is a natural justice that is more than the rule that the strong should rule the weak, that this justice never motivates anyone to act, because individuals are motivated only by justice. The strongest objection to natural justice comes from Creon: allowing individuals to follow the claims of natural justice subverts the state's authority. Ancient defenders of natural justice replied to each of these objections. While laws and moral vary, there is also great consensus in moral convictions across cultures, and that consensus requires some explanation. Furthermore, strength fails to confer an obligation to obey so that natural justice cannot teach merely that the strong should rule the weak. Moreover, individuals are clearly motivated by more than just pleasure. Given human behavior, the only reason anyone would assume individuals are only motivated by pleasure is because one assumes this to be the case a priori rather than as a result of an evaluation of the evidence. Yet ancient defenders of natural justice never replied that the doctrine of natural justice was anything less than subversive. This is for good reason, for it is more dangerous to allow the state to have an unfettered claim upon our obedience than to allow individuals to challenge the authority of the state based on the dictates of conscience.
Utilizing an open-microcavity optoacoustic sensor for spectroscopic determination of methemoglobin concentration

We present a simple, non-destructive photoacoustic spectroscopy method utilizing a unique open-microcavity optoacoustic sensor to measure the concentration ratio of Methemoglobin (MetHb) in an optically scattering medium. Elevated levels of MetHb, present for example in the blood disorder Methemeglobinemia, cannot be detected by conventional pulse oximetry, and may result in inaccurate arterial oxygen saturation measurements. Samples with different ratios of Oxygenated Hemoglobin (HbO 2 ), Deoxygenated Hemoglobin (HHb), and MetHb were obtained and mixed with nanoscale latex beads to present an optical scattering effect. Polymer encapsulated hemoglobin (PEH) samples were also studied. A sample chamber containing 20 μL of each sample was positioned directly underneath our patented optoacoustic sensor. Unlike a piezoelectric transducer, our optoacoustic sensor allows an excitation laser beam from an OPO laser to pass through and be absorbed by the sample to produce a photoacoustic signal. The cavity layer of the optoacoustic sensor is exposed directly to the resulting ultrasound signal, which causes an intensity modulation of a HeNe laser that is used to monitor the resonance condition of the sensor. A probe laser beam is total internally reflected off of the sensor and detected with a fiber-coupled APD detector. Three wavelengths are chosen for our excitation laser based on the absorption peaks and isobestic points of HHb, HbO 2 , and MetHb. Using established values of the molar extinction coefficients of HbO 2 , HHb, and MetHb a set of three simultaneous equations can be solved to accurately determine the concentration ratio of MetHb.
Hyperphagia and obesity following ventromedial hypothalamic lesions in rats with subdiaphragmatic vagotomy.

Abstract Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy chronically reduced body weight to 85–90% of sham vagotomy weight levels in female rats maintained on a standard pellet diet (observed for 114 days). Ventromedial hypothalamic lesions 70 days after vagotomy resulted in marked hyperphagia and obesity, although the increases were not as great as those following lesions in nonvagotomized animals. When the order of surgery was reversed, vagotomy reduced the body weight of obese VMH-lesioned rats to vagotomized control levels, with no evidence of recovery after 90 days. These results suggest that while enhanced vagal activity and/or vagally mediated hyperinsulinemia contribute to VMH lesion-induced overeating and weight gains, they are not necessary for the manifestation of either the hyperphagia or obesity. The importance of adaptation to the effects of vagal transections for the appearance of hypothalamic hyperphagia and obesity is discussed.
Teachers’ unions and excellence in education: An analysis of the decline in SAT scores

Controversy surrounds the recent finding that college entrance exams are lower today than they were twenty years ago, but little empirical evidence has been offered in the debate. This paper uses cross-sectional regression analysis to examine the decline in SAT scores between 1972 and 1983. Three explanations are tested: the changing social environment, the financial resources devoted to education, and the emergence of militant teacher unions. The results show teacher unionism to be the most significant factor in the decline in scores.
On the ellipticity of isolated anticyclonic eddies

A simplified two-layer model is considered in order to describe the behavior of anticyclonic lens-like eddies embedded in a horizontally sheared flow. Attention is focused on light eddies (such as warm-core gulf stream rings) embedded in an infinitely deep fluid whose speed varies linearly in the horizontal direction. Non-linear solutions are constructed analytically using a power series expansion. It is found that a lens-like eddy embedded in a horizontally sheared flow, on an f plane, migrates at the average speed of the mean flow. As a result of the shear, the ring's shape is an ellipsoid whose orientation depends on the environmental flow. When the environmental shear is cyclonic, the ellipse is oriented perpendicular to the mean flow, and when the environmental shear is anticyclonic, the ellipse orientation is parallel to the mean flow. Although the ring migrates at a speed which differs from the speed of most of the surrounding fluid, the elliptical shape is fixed so that the whole eddy does not rotate due to the shear. A possible application of this theory to the warm-core rings found north of the gulf stream is discussed. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1985.tb00271.x
Racial-Ethnic Differences in Social Anxiety among College Students:

The present study investigated racial-ethnic differences in social anxiety among college students in two-year colleges. The sample consisted of 189 Asian American, African American, White American, and Hispanic American students from two colleges in the Southeast. Participants completed a questionnaire measure of social anxiety. The results indicated that social anxiety was lower for White American and higher for Hispanic American and Asian American students. It was reasoned that racial-ethnic differences in social anxiety might be culturally related and precipitated by varied concerns for racial-ethnic minority groups. These different concerns and implications for counseling students of color were discussed.
Navier-Stokes Computations of the NREL Airfoil Using a κ — ω Turbulent Model at High Angles of Attack

This paper presents a two-dimensional numerical simulation of the turbulent flow fields for the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) S809 airfoil. The flow is modeled as steady, viscous, turbulent, and incompressible. The pseudo-compressible formulation is used for the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations so that a time marching scheme developed for the compressible flow can be applied directly. The turbulent flow is simulated using Wilcox`s modified {kappa}-{omega} model to account for the low Reynolds number effects near a solid wall and the model`s sensitivity to the freestream conditions. The governing equations are solved by an implicit approximate-factorization scheme. To correctly model the convection terms in the mean-flow and turbulence model equations, the symmetric TVD (Total Variational Diminishing) scheme is incorporated. The methodology developed is then applied to analyze the NREL S809 airfoil at various angles of attack ({alpha}) from 1 to 45 degrees. The accuracy of the numerical results is compared with the available Delft wind tunnel test data. For comparison, two Eppler code results at low angles of attack are also included. Depending on the value of {alpha}, preliminary results show excellent to fairly good agreement with the experimental data. Directions for future work are also discussed.
Speed trends in male distance running.

The major cycling “Grand Tours” have shown an attenuation of performance over the last decade. This has been interpreted as circumstantial evidence that newer anti-doping strategies have reduced the use of performance-enhancing drugs. To examine this idea under more controlled conditions, speed trends for world class 5000 m, 10000 m, and marathon performances by men from 1980 to 2013 were analyzed. We obtained comprehensive records from the International Association of Athletics Federations, Association of Road Racing Statisticians, and the Track and Field All-time Performances database webpages. The top 40 performances for each event and year were selected for regression analysis. For the three distances, we noted cumulative performance improvements in the 1990s thru the mid-2000s. After the peak speed years of the mid 2000 s, there has been limited improvement in the 5000 m and 10,000 m and world records set during that time remain in place today, marking the longest period of time between new records since the early 1940s. By contrast marathon speed continues to increase and the world record has been lowered four times since 2007, including in 2013. While the speed trends for 5000 m and 10000 m track results parallel those seen in elite cycling, the marathon trends do not. We discuss a number of explanations other than improved anti-doping strategies that might account for these divergent findings.
Do Physicians' Beliefs About Genetic Engineering Influence Their Likelihood of Prescribing a Biopharmaceutical? An Empirical Investigation

Biopharmaceuticals present one of the fastest growing segments of the pharmaceutical industry. Biopharmaceuticals are produced through genetic engineering, a technology that some believe is unethical and can have unforeseen consequences to individual health and the environment (Bredhal, 1999; Gaskell et al., 1999; Hallman et al., 2002). In this study, we investigate whether physicians' beliefs about genetic engineering have any influence on their likelihood of prescribing a biopharmaceutical. A sample of 175 physicians practicing in one state in the mid-south region of the U.S. was selected and their beliefs, importance of genetic modification as a drug attribute and the likelihood of prescribing a biopharmaceutical, were measured. Results showed that the physicians' beliefs about genetic engineering related to their likelihood of prescribing this class of drugs. In addition, the study also found that the importance of genetic modification as a drug attribute moderated the relationship between beliefs and...
Spatial resolution key to properly forecasting arid‐region drought

In the dry regions of the world, like the Sahel, a semi-arid region that borders the southern Sahara, the rate and distribution of precipitation are controlled, in part, by the wetness of the soil. The wetness of the terrain affects how much energy it absorbs from the Sun, which in turn affects atmospheric convection, cloud formation, and precipitation. This relationship sets up a feedback loop, where rainfall affects the chances of additional precipitation in the days that follow. The sign of this feedback loop, whether positive or negative, matters greatly: A positive feedback would promote floods and drought; a negative feedback would drive variable rainfall.
Spermatogenesis in Bclw-Deficient Mice

Bclw is a death-protecting member of the Bcl2 family of apoptosis-regulating proteins. Mice that are mutant for Bclw display progressive and nearly complete testicular degeneration. We performed a morphometric evaluation of testicular histopathology in Bclw-deficient male mice between 9 days postnatal (p9) through 1 yr of age. Germ cell loss began by p22, with only few germ cells remaining beyond 7 mo of age. A complete block to elongated spermatid development at step 13 occurred during the first wave of spermatogenesis, whereas other types of germ cells were lost sporadically. Depletion of Sertoli cells commenced between p20 and p23 and continued until 1 yr of age, when few, if any, Sertoli cells remained. Mitochondria appeared to be swollen and the cytoplasm dense by electron microscopy, but degenerating Bclw-deficient Sertoli cells failed to display classical features of apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. Macrophages entered seminiferous tubules and formed foreign-body giant cells that engulfed and phagocytosed the degenerated Sertoli cells. Leydig cell hyperplasia was evident between 3 and 5 mo of age. However, beginning at 7 mo of age, Leydig cells underwent apoptosis, with dead cells being phagocytosed by macrophages. The aforementioned cell losses culminated in a testis-containing vasculature, intertubular phagocytic cells, and peritubular cell "ghosts." An RNA in situ hybridization study indicates that Bclw is expressed in Sertoli cells in the adult mouse testis. Consequently, the diploid germ cell death may be an indirect effect of defective Sertoli cell function. Western analysis was used to confirm that Bclw is not expressed in spermatids; thus, loss of this cell type most likely results from defective Sertoli cell function. Because Bclw does not appear to be expressed in Leydig cells, loss of Leydig cells in Bclw-deficient mice may result from depletion of Sertoli cells. Bclw-deficient mice serve as a unique model to study homeostasis of cell populations in the testis.
Nonlinear guided waves in solids under constrained thermal expansion

Propagation of nonlinear guided waves is a field that has received an ever increasing interest in the last few decades. They are excellent candidates for nondestructively interrogating long waveguide like structures since they conveniently combine high sensitivity to structural conditions (typical of nonlinear parameters), with large inspection ranges (characteristic of wave propagation in bounded media). Nonlinear wave propagation in solids has been classically studied using finite strains theory. According to this framework a system of nonlinear PDEs is required to mathematically describe nonlinear phenomena such as acoustoelasticity (wave speed dependency on state of stress), wave interaction, wave distortion, higher harmonics generation, and so on. This work introduces a novel physical model aimed at predicting nonlinearity in constrained waveguides characterized by infinitesimal (ideally zero) strains subjected to thermal variations. Interatomic potentials are employed to explain the origin of nonlinear effects under constrained temperature changes. These potentials highlight at least a cubic dependence on strain of the residual strain energy that is stored in the material due to the prevented thermal expansion. The cubic relationship between strain energy and strain produces second-harmonic generation of propagating elastic waves. This principle is validated experimentally for longitudinal bulk waves propagating in a steel block under constrained thermal excursions.
Assessment of reaction center special-pair chlorophyll models

A discussion of the experimental evidence for the existence of special-pair chlorophyll in the reaction centers of plants and photosynthetic bacteria is presented, and an assessment of the adequacy of various in vitro chemical model systems designed to mimic the properties of these reaction centers is given. For plant systems it appears that the in vitro models successfully mimic almost all measured in vivo properties, whereas in bacterial systems a similar situation does not obtain. Possible structural models of special-pair chlorophyll derived primarily from in vitro model studies are described. Their suitability as models of the photooxidizable pigment in plant and bacterial reaction centers is analyzed, and alternative structures for the bacterial case, which is the least well characterized structurally, are considered.
Engineering insulation from retroactivity of the frequency response of covalent modification cycles

A bottom-up approach to designing biomolecular circuits in living cells is based on composing simple working modules to create larger circuits with more complicated functions. For this approach to work, the behavior of the modules should be, to some extent, isolated from that of the surrounding modules. Unfortunately, impedance effects in biomolecular systems, called retroactivity, alter the behavior of a module upon interconnection with other systems. In this paper, we perform a mathematical analysis of a Goldbeter-Koshland covalent modification cycle, a recurrent circuit structure in natural signal transduction networks, and demonstrate that it can be tuned to function as an insulating amplifier, hence buffering systems from retroactivity.
River of hope: forging identity and nation in the Rio Grande borderlands

Boundaries define geographic, political, cultural and social spaces. By dividing up such spaces they differentiate between insiders and outsiders and structure interactions among individuals, commu...
The influence of the herbicide trifluralin on flagellar regeneration in Chlamydomonas

Abstract The mode of action of trifluralin is known to include disruption of cell division in root meristems by causing an absence of spindle microtubules. It has also been shown that trifluralin binds to tubulin isolated and purified from Chlamydomonas flagella. In this paper the kinetics of in vivo flagellar regeneration was used as a model to determine the influence of trifluralin on tubulin assembly. Chlamydomonas cells were grown in synchronous culture using a 12 h light-dark cycle. At 3 h into the light cycle the cells were subjected to shear force to induce flagellar abortion. Flagellar regeneration, in the presence of varying concentrations of trifluralin, was observed by Nomarski interference microscopy. After 1.5 h, trifluralin concentrations below 0.1 μM had not affected the regeneration rate, while concentrations above 5 μM prevented the onset of regeneration. As the concentration between 0.1 and 5 μM was increased, the final length of all flagella decreased. Using combinations of cycloheximide and trifluralin it was determined that trifluralin did not influence tubulin synthesis, and removing trifluralin only restored 50% of the regeneration capacity present at the beginning of treatment. By comparing groups of cells where the tubulin pool was depleted or present, it was found that trifluralin prevented assembly rather than causing a breakdown of previously assembled flagella. The research reported here supports the theory that the mechanism of action of trifluralin is an interaction of trifluralin and tubulin in a way that prevents tubulin assembly into spindle microtubules.
Transient Radiation Upset Simulations of CMOS Memory Circuits

A computer simulation technique has identified and modeled a dominant mechanism for transient ionizing radiation induced logic upset in certain CMOS integrated circuits. This mechanism, termed 'rail span collapse' here, has accounted for the discrepancy between simulated upsets of these circuits using only local radiation induced photocurrents and the experimentally observed upset dose-rate levels.
Surface modifications of Li-ion battery electrodes with various ultrathin amphoteric oxide coatings for enhanced cycleability

Ultrathin ZnO, ZrO2, and Al2O3 surface coatings are deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD) with high conformality and atomic scale thickness control to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 for applications in lithium ion batteries. Two types of ALD-modified LiMn2O4 electrodes are fabricated: one is ALD-coated LiMn2O4 composite electrode and the other is electrode composed of ALD-coated LiMn2O4 particles and uncoated carbon/polyvinylidenefluoride network. Cycling performance and cyclic voltammetric patterns reveal that ZnO ALD coating is the most effective protective film for improving the electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 at either 25 or 55 °C, followed by ZrO2 and Al2O3. After 100 electrochemical cycles in 1 C at 55 °C, the electrode consisting of LiMn2O4 particles coated with six ZnO ALD layers (as thin as ~1 nm) delivers the highest final capacity, more than twice that of the bare electrode. It is also found that amphoteric oxide coating on LiMn2O4 particles can enhance the cycleability of LiMn2O4 more effectively than coating on the composite electrode. Furthermore, for ALD coating either on the composite electrode or on LiMn2O4 particles, the effect of oxide ALD modification for improving capacity retention and increasing specific capacity of LiMn2O4 is more phenomenal at elevated temperature than at room temperature.
Epitaxial growth mechanisms and structure of CaF2/Si(111).

The early stages of interface formation between ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$ and Si(111) have been studied, in situ, by a combination of reflection high-energy electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction, and core-level photoemission. The results are combined with ex situ transmission-electron-microscopy measurements to show that the initial growth mode changes from Volmer-Weber to Stranski-Krastanow, depending on the substrate temperature. The crossover is correlated with a submonolayer transition from the Si(111)-(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7) to a (3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) reconstruction. This is accompanied by fluorine dissociation at the interface. Both initial growth modes can lead to a uniform ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$ epilayer and subsequent growth on this surface is layer by layer. Using x-ray crystal truncation-rod analysis, we have examined the ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$/Si(111) surface and interface structure. For films grown at temperatures above the (7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) transition, the Ca atom in the CaF layer at the interface is located in a single ${\mathit{T}}_{4}$ bonding site. Finally, we have observed a structural transition at the interface from the as-grown structure to a (\ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}3 )R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} reconstruction, which appears to be incommensurate. The dynamics of this transition and the possible mechanisms will be discussed.
Virus specificity and isotype expression of intraparenchymal antibody-secreting cells during Sindbis virus encephalitis in mice

Abstract To study the generation of specific antibody responses within the central nervous system (CNS), we have utilized a murine model of acute viral encephalitis. When Sindbis virus (SV) is injected intracerebrally into weanling mice it causes an acute non-fatal encephalitis and recovery is primarily dependent on the development of antiviral antibody. We used a modified enzyme-linked immunoassay to determine the number of antibody-secreting cells (ASC) specific for SV and their Ig isotype in brain, spleen and cervical lymph nodes over the course of the acute encephalitis. The numbers of SV-specific ASC peak early in spleen and lymph nodes and then begin to increase in brain, suggesting that initial stimulation of B cells occurs primarily in peripheral lymphoid tissue followed by B cell entry into the circulation and appearance in the brain. The pattern for each individual isotype was similar with peak numbers of SV-specific cells present in the spleen 5–7 days after infection, while numbers in the brain continue to rise through day 20 when most ASC were secreting IgG2a or IgA SV-specific antibody. The data suggest therefore that most isotype switching from IgM to IgG and IgA occurs in peripheral lymphoid tissue. An exception to this pattern is IgG1, where numbers of ASC producing IgG1 do not show a peak in spleen and continue to rise in brain through the course of acute encephalitis. The data also indicate that early in infection a large proportion of ASC in the brain are not specific for SV and demonstrate that recruitment of ASC into the CNS is non-specific. However, the percentage of ASC that are specific for SV structural proteins rises steadi throughout the course of encephalitis suggesting that retention of ASC in the CNS is specific or that some portion of the SV-specific antibody response is generated within the CNS.
Evidence for phosphorylation of serine 753 in CFTR using a novel metal‐ion affinity resin and matrix‐assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encodes an apical membrane Cl- channel regulated by protein phosphorylation. To identify cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-phosphorylated residues in full-length CFTR, immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to selectively purify phosphopeptides. The greater specificity of iron-loaded (Fe3+) nitrilotriacetic (NTA). Sepharose compared to iminodiacetic acid (IDA) metal-chelating matrices was demonstrated using a PKA-phosphorylated recombinant NBD1-R protein from CFTR. Fe(3+)-loaded NTA Sepharose preferentially bound phosphopeptides, whereas acidic and poly-His-containing peptides were co-purified using the conventional IDA matrices. IMAC using NTA Sepharose enabled the selective recovery of phosphopeptides and identification of phosphorylated residues from a complex proteolytic digest. Phosphopeptides from PKA-phosphorylated full-length CFTR, generated in Hi5 insect cells using a baculovirus expression system, were purified using NTA Sepharose. Phosphopeptides were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI/MS) with post-source decay (PSD) analysis and collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. Phosphorylated peptides were identified by mass and by the metastable loss of HPO3 and H3PO4 from the parent ions. Peptide sequence and phosphorylation at CFTR residues 660Ser, 737Ser, and 795Ser were confirmed using MALDI/PSD analysis. Peptide sequences and phosphorylation at CFTR residues 700Ser, 712Ser, 768Ser, and 813Ser were deduced from peptide mass, metastable fragment ion formation, and PKA consensus sequences. Peptide sequence and phosphorylation at residue 753Ser was confirmed using MALDI/CID analysis. This is the first report of phosphorylation of 753Ser in full-length CFTR.
Entangled communities: interethnic relationships among urban salesclerks and domestic workers in Egypt, 1927–61

This paper examines the relationships among salesclerks and other lower-level commercial and domestic employees in inter-war and post-Second World War urban Egypt, especially Cairo. It argues that the Italians, Greeks, local Jews, Armenians, Syrian Christians, Maltese, Coptic Christians and Muslims who often worked side by side on the floors of department stores and private homes participated in multiethnic occupational subgroups, formal unions and leisure cultures that created a series of networks linking lower-middle-class people in workplaces, public and neighbourhood space as well as commerce. These networks spanned ethnic, religious and linguistic boundaries, and they reveal a complex shared Mediterranean culture, underpinned by a juridical system shaped by European colonialism. Although historians have documented the vertical relations within ethnic groups and the horizontal relationships among the business elite of different communities, horizontal relationships among the lower and lower-middle cla...
In the Shadow of the Object: Sexual Memory in the AIDS Epidemic

Much of the work of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender past has involved finding or creating spaces in which to know ourselves and become known to others. Given the role such spaces play i...
Doping-dependent charge injection and band alignment in organic field-effect transistors

We have studied metal/organic semiconductor charge injection in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) field-effect transistors with Pt and Au electrodes as a function of annealing in a vacuum. At low impurity dopant densities, Au/P3HT contact resistances increase and become nonohmic. In contrast, Pt/P3HT contacts remain ohmic even at far lower doping. Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) reveals that metal/P3HT band alignment shifts dramatically as samples are dedoped, leading to an increased injection barrier for holes, with a greater shift for Au/P3HT. These results demonstrate that doping can drastically alter band alignment and the charge injection process at metal/organic interfaces.
Criticality in simple models of evolution

We consider two, apparently similar, models of biological evolution that have been claimed to exhibit self-organized critical behavior. A careful reanalysis of these models, including several analytic results for one of them, suggests that they are qualitatively different. We demonstrate the limitations of the mean field description of these systems. We argue that a more precise definition of self-organized criticality is desirable and establish several criteria in this connection.
Flow of viscoelastic fluids between rotating disks

Few boundary-value problems in fluid mechanics can match the attention that has been accorded to the flow of fluids, Newtonian and non-Newtonian, between parallel rotating disks rotating about a common axis or about distinct axes. An interesting feature which has been recently observed is the existence of solutions that are not axially symmetric even in the case of flow due to the rotation of disks about a common axis. In this article we review the recent efforts that have been expended in the study of both symmetric and asymmetric solutions in the case of both the classical linearly viscous fluid and viscoelastic fluids.
Determination of Ion Frequencies in a Quadrupole Ion Trap By Using a Fast Direct Current Pulse as Pump and a Laser Probe

A new technique has been developed which allows the direct measurement of frequencies of ions trapped in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. This pump/probe method employs a fast direct current (DC) pulse (pump) to displace a kinetically cooled ion population from the center of the trap, and a laser (probe) which recognizes when ions reappear at the center of the trap by the formation of photodissociation fragments. The translationally excited ions undergo periodic motion within the confines of the ion trap, and this periodic motion can be followed by recording the intensity of the photodissociation fragment as a function of the delay time between the DC pump and the laser probe. The DC pulse has a rise time of 15 ns; data are taken 1 ms after its application to allow stable ion motion to be sampled. Sampling of the ion cloud is done at 50 ns intervals, and fast Fourier transformation of the time-based data yields the ion frequencies and their relative magnitudes. Data are reported for ions derived from acetophenone (m/z 105) and 1,4-cyclohexadiene (m/z 80) under various trapping conditions corresponding to different Mathieu qz values. The measured fundamental secular frequencies, fz and fr, are found to agree well with those predicted. The presence of higher order multipole contributions to the trapping field is evident from such ion frequencies as the drive frequency, fRF,. The ability to measure ion frequencies under operating conditions provides a new tool for comparing simulated and experimental data. Simulation data from the program ITSIM, modified to account for the effects of collisions, are shown to predict the major frequency components observed in the experimental data.
Dose corrections for field obliquity for 45-MV x-ray therapy

The degree of dose perturbation produced by a 25.7‐cm‐diam circular water phantom was determined for a 45‐MV x‐ray beam by direct measurement. Data obtained in a circular and a cubical water phantom was utilized to test three accepted techniques (isodose shift, TAR method, and effective SSD method) for the correction of isodose levels to account for patient curvature. In general, the effective SSD method yielded the most accurate results for all depth including the buildup region. An isodose shift factor of 0.8 was found for the 45‐MV x‐ray beam.
Balanced-budget rules: Chaos and deterministic sunspots

Abstract Schmitt-Grohe and Uribe [11] illustrate that a balanced-budget rule can lead to aggregate instability. In particular, under such a rule it is possible for a steady state to be locally indeterminate, and therefore sunspot equilibria are possible. In this paper, I extend their analysis to investigate the possibility of chaotic equilibria under a balanced-budget rule. A global analysis reveals Euler equation branching which means that the dynamics going forward are generated by a differential inclusion of the form x ˙ ∈ { f ( x ) , g ( x ) } . Each branch alone will not imply interesting dynamics. However, by switching between the branches, I show that the existence of Euler equation branching in an arbitrarily small neighborhood of a steady state implies topological chaos in the sense of Devaney on a compact invariant set with non-empty interior (the chaos is “thick”). Moreover, the chaos is robust to small C 1 perturbations. This branching under a balanced-budget rule occurs independently of the local uniqueness of the equilibrium around the steady state(s).
Linker influence on the stereochemical outcome of glycosylations utilizing solid support-bound glycosyl phosphates.

Glycosyl phosphates can be readily accessed on a solid support via a three-step procedure from support-bound glycals. These resin-bound glycosyl phosphates were successfully used as glycosylating agents for coupling with a series of nucleophiles. The stereochemical outcome of disaccharide formation was dependent on the nature of the linker connecting the saccharide to the polymer. Interestingly, other glycosyl donors such as thioglycosides and trichloroacetimidates did not exhibit such a dependence, indicating a different reaction mechanism for glycosylation.
Differentiated teratoma of testis metastasizing as differentiated teratoma in adult

An unusual case of adult teratoma of testis metastasizing in benign form in a thirty-one-year-old man is reported and the literature reviewed.
Solar energy recorder

A serious obstacle to the large-scale terrestrial application of solar energy lies in the scarcity of reliable data on the amount of solar energy at candidate converter sites. This paper describes a system designed to monitor and record, automatically, the values of the direct and total (sun and sky) solar radiation which would be seen by either tracking or fixed-type solar converters. A further pressing need addressed by the system is the means for efficiency testing and evaluation of solar cells, solar collectors and solar concentrator systems, under outdoor exposure to natural sunlight and weather conditions for extended periods. The design was accomplished in support of the Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, where design concepts and materials for large-scale terrestrial solar energy converters are currently being evaluated.
Interface Phonon Modes in Strained Semiconductor Superlattices

Phonon modes in strained ZnTe/CdSe superlattices are studied. The macroscopic interface modes and two different types of microscopic interface modes are identified. Interface phonon modes in (ZnTe)8(CdSe)8 superlattice with interchange of atomic layers across interfaces are calculated and compared with the results of superlattice with ideal interfaces.
The impact of academic inflation on the labour market: if everyone has a PhD, who will be the custodian?

Depending on the structure of the nation's industry, we need different skilled people working in different sectors of industry. In general, as industry advances, more college level jobs are required. However, an over-emphasis in college education creates a surplus of college graduates, and the overqualified surplus start taking high school jobs. Meanwhile, more college graduates are considering upper-level degrees in order to secure their 'college-level' jobs. If this situation permeates, then what would be the financial benefit for the college graduates in high school jobs? This study shows that, however, college graduates tend to have better pay with better job security by taking jobs away from high school graduates. Society will have less efficiency since many will spend extra years in college even though they will not work in occupations that require these degrees Hecker, 1992. Simply put, the industry structure in the USA is not ready for that many college graduates.
Sublimation and reformation of icy grains in the primitive solar nebula

The quantity of water ice that sublimates during the free fall of grains into the solar nebula from a surrounding interstellar cloud varies from over 90 percent of the grain mass as 30 AU from the nebular center to less than 10 percent at more than 100 AU. Virtually all the water that is sublimated ultimately recondenses, since the cold nebular gas lying beyond 10 AU is unable to hold more than a small portion as vapor. The return of most of the gas to solid phase near the nebular ambient temperature, of about 50 K, may result in at least two grain populations consisting, in one case, of unaltered interstellar grains which did not undergo sublimation, and in the other of water ice which cocondensed with more volatile gases at nebular ambient temperatures to yield volatile-rich amorphous phases.
Intrathoracic manifestations of cervical anastomotic leaks after transthoracic esophagectomy for carcinoma.

Background A purported advantage of the cervical esophagogastrostomy is that drainage is easily accomplished should anastomotic dehiscence occur after esophagectomy. However, support for this statement stems mainly from studies of transhiatal esophagectomy, with little data published when a transthoracic resection is performed. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and clinical significance of intrathoracic manifestations of cervical anastomotic leaks after transthoracic esophagectomy. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected esophageal carcinoma database (1988 to 2004) was performed at a single institution. Operative and pathologic data were collected, as well as details concerning the incidence, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of anastomotic leaks. Patients with leaks were further analyzed on the basis of whether or not intrathoracic manifestations of anastomotic leakage were present. Results Two hundred, forty-two patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with a cervical anastomosis during the study period. There were 27 (11.1%) anastomotic leaks. Of these, 14 patients (52%) had intrathoracic manifestations of their cervical leaks, with empyema being the most common. Patients with intrathoracic spread of sepsis had significantly longer in-hospital ( p p p Conclusions Intrathoracic manifestations of cervical anastomotic leaks are more common after transthoracic esophagectomy than what has historically been reported for transhiatal esophagectomy. This discrepancy may be due to anatomical or technical differences, or both, between the two procedures. Early diagnosis and aggressive drainage are necessary for achieving a favorable outcome.
Endothelium-derived relaxing factor release associated with increased endothelial cell inositol trisphosphate and intracellular calcium

The release of eicosanoids and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from endothelial cells is thought to involve a calcium-dependent step. Using cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells as a model system, we have examined the relation between agonist-induced changes in inositol polyphosphates and calcium levels within the endothelial cells and extracellular calcium on EDRF release. In a superfusion-cascade system, EDRF was detected by the relaxation of a rabbit aortic ring without endothelium suspended beneath a column of cultured endothelial cells. Endothelial cell stimulation by bradykinin or melittin induced dose-dependent relaxation of the bioassay ring. In addition, bradykinin and melittin stimulated an increase in intracellular calcium concentration in fura-2 loaded endothelial cells and an increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3) in cells prelabeled with 3H-myoinositol. Bradykinin stimulation produced transient increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3, fura-2 fluorescence and transient EDRF release. Melittin stimulation induced more prolonged release of EDRF from the endothelial cell column, which was correlated with sustained increases in the fura-2 signal and the level of Ins(1,4,5)P3. Omission of calcium from the cell superfusate attenuated, but did not eliminate, bradykinin-induced EDRF release and the calcium transient, whereas the melittin-induced responses were only slightly attenuated. Endothelial cells clearly demonstrate receptor-activation of phospholipase C and release of sequestered calcium from subcellular sites in response to Ins(1,4,5)P3. These results imply that EDRF release is correlated with increased intracellular calcium levels seen in the absence of extracellular calcium. However, sustained release of EDRF does require influx of extracellular calcium via an undefined mechanism.
Military reserves and social welfare

Abstract We consider the contribution of reserves to the efficient mobilization of military manpower. Our analysis suggests that offering recruits an option to serve as reservists enhances social welfare if there is a sufficiently strong relationship between recruit performance in the military and their expected civilian income.
In vitro analysis of 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) acetic acid (DDA) handling by rat kidney and liver

Abstract On exposure of renal cortical slices or liver slices to [ 14 C]DDA (2,2-bis[ p -chlorophenyl] acetic acid), both tissues accumulate DDA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At 10 μ m DDA maximum tissue to medium ratios were approximately 20 in both tissues. Incubation under N 2 or addition of metabolic inhibitors reduced uptake by 50%. Other organic acids depressed energy-dependent DDA uptake, but did not influence uptake in the presence of metabolic inhibitors. Neither the parent pesticide, DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis[ p -chlorophenyl]ethane), nor organic bases significantly inhibited DDA accumulation. Accumulation of a second organic acid, p -aminohippurate (PAH), was depressed by DDA but not by DDT. Thus, DDA is apparently accumulated by an energy-dependent carrier-mediated process in both liver and kidney. The specificity of this process indicates that it is the organic acid transport system.
LDPC-Based Iterative Joint Source-Channel Decoding for JPEG2000

A framework is proposed for iterative joint source-channel decoding of JPEG2000 codestreams. At the encoder, JPEG2000 is used to perform source coding with certain error-resilience (ER) modes, and LDPC codes are used to perform channel coding. During decoding, the source decoder uses the ER modes to identify corrupt sections of the codestream and provides this information to the channel decoder. Decoding is carried out jointly in an iterative fashion. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method requires fewer iterations and improves overall system performance
Codispersion coefficients for spatial and temporal series

The paper gives explicit formulas for the first moments of a sample codispersion coefficient defined as a suitably normalized sum of products of increments for time or space sequences. Derived formulas allow for the optimal choice of the lag in several spatial and temporal models and lead to tests of independence and confidence intervals for correlation.
NGF rescues DRG neurons in vitro from oxidative damage produced by hemodialyzers.

Abstract Using dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRG), in vitro, we studied the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on a toxin extracted from ethylene oxide (EO) sterilized hemodialyzers. Tissue culture medium passed through dialyzers produced beading of DRG axons that was inhibited by increasing the concentration of NGF from 3.5 to 10 ng/ml. The antioxidant enzymes, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), prevented neurite beading while superoxide dismutase (SOD) alone did not. 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (Az), an inhibitor of catalase blocked the protective effects of catalase and NGF. 1,3 bis[Chloromethyl]-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) inhibits glutathione reductase, and reduces intracellular glutathione levels; it blocked the protective effects of NGF. Dialyzer treated medium was found to have increased peroxide content. In parallel experiments, NGF protected DRG neurons from hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) toxicity that was inhibited by Az and BCNU. NGF was also shown to upregulate glutathione in DRG neurons. We propose that EO gas used in the sterilization of hemodialyzers is responsible for the neurotoxicity and is most likely due to oxidative damage in DRG neurons. NGF protects DRG from this toxin by upregulating antioxidants such as catalase, GPx and GSH.