cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secrecy, Ambiguity, and the Everyday in Kabre Culture

Secrecy, the intentional concealing of information, is very much a part of everyday life and discourse among the Kabre of northern Togo (West Africa). This article proposes an interpretation of Kabre everyday secrecy that relies on indigenous understandings and attempts to move beyond the functionalist assumptions of many previous analyses of secrecy in Africa. It also raises more general questions about theories of culture that ignore the everyday and that fail to come to terms with the negotiated meanings and the indirect types of communication that constitute everyday social relations.
Recent developments in the theory of pattern formation

Abstract The solvability mechanism for pattern selection in two-dimensional dendritic solidification and in the closely analogous Saffman-Taylor problem is described briefly. There remain several potentially very important unanswered questions.
Aspects of adrenal function in neonatally estrogenized male mice.

Neonatal injection (day 5) of male CF1 mice with 50 μg of estradiol undecylate resulted in decreased body and testes weight and adrenal hypertrophy when these animals were examined at 95 days of age. The adrenal hypertrophy was associated with an increase in adrenal total cholesterol and plasma corticosterone after maximal ACTH stimulation. Orchiectomy of estradiol-injected or oil-injected control males did not significantly modify their response to ACTH stimulation. It is concluded that neonatal estrogenization of male mice causes, in addition to previously reported defects in subsequent reproductive function, long-lasting changes in adrenal function.
Reconstruction plates for stabilization of mid-shaft clavicle fractures: differences between nonlocked and locked plates in two different positions.

Reconstruction plates permit contouring to the irregular anatomic shape of the clavicle. This study evaluated the biomechanical stability of locking and nonlocking clavicle reconstruction plates for treating midshaft, transverse fractures, comparing anterior-inferior to superior plate position. Twenty-four synthetic clavicles with mid-shaft fractures were repaired with either a locking or nonlocking clavicle reconstruction plate in either the anterior-inferior or superior plate position (n = 6/group). Repaired constructs were tested in axial compression, axial torsion, and cantilever bending failure. In compression, anterior-inferior plates were significantly stiffer than superior plates and locked plates stiffer than nonlocked. In torsion, anterior-inferior plates were stiffer, with a significant interaction term that favored anterior-inferior locked and superior nonlocked plates. In cantilever bending, superior plates had a significantly higher bending failure load and stiffness. Anterior-inferior plates failed at a significantly lower load (∼40 N or ∼4 kg), which could potentially occur in the postoperative period.
Laser resonator design with dual phase conjugation mirrors

A new design of the laser resonator using dual phase conjugation mirrors is discussed. It is shown that using the modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, phase conjugation criteria at the both mirrors with finite apertures can be met for the given shape of desired mode. The flexibility of the design method allows the method can be applied to any other resonator design using either transmissive or reflective element(s) inside the cavity to satisfy the given amplitude/phase requirement of desired mode at any location. Unlike previous studies on the phase conjugation resonators, the new dual phase conjugation resonator is shown to provide extremely low loss for the desired mode while providing higher discrimination against the higher order modes. This approach to designing a resonator has been applied to the design of a large Fresnel number cavity for a ideal diode pumped laser with the objective achieving a large filling factor with a single mode and a design example will be presented.
576 PLASMA SUBSTRATE PROFILE OP VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS DURING DIFFERENT NUTRIENT REGIMENS

Plasma substrate response and lipid tolerance were examined in VLBW infants during parenteral alimentation (PA) with or without intralipid (IL) infusions. 21 infants, age 2-12 days (d) received PA only; 30 infants, age 9-92 d received PA c IL and 25 infants, age 8-111 d received formula or breast milk (F/B). Plasma concentrations of glucose (G) triglyceride (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), and FFA composition were determined at weekly intervals during PA infusion; within or>4 hrs of cessation of IL; or immediately before next oral feed. Calorie intake ranged from 60-120 Kcal/Kg.d. PA alone resulted in significantly lower TG, FFA, & essential fatty acids C18:2 & C18:3. 10/21 infants had no detectable C18:2 & C18:3, youngest being age 4 d. TG and FFA were higher in IL infusion group, and assimilation of both TG & FFA were rapid with significant drop occurring 4 hrs post IL infusion. Concl. (1)Provision of essential FA may be necessary within one week for VLBW infants receiving PA alone. (2) Assimilation of IL is enhanced by concurrent PA infusion. This enhancement may be the result of endogenous insulin response to glucose-amino acid infusions.
Is it ethical to study what ought not to happen

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, only an estimated 2% of all AIDS patients have access to treatment. As AIDS treatment access is scaled-up in the coming years, difficult rationing decisions will have to be made concerning who will come to gain access to this scarce medical resource. This article focuses on the position, expressed by representatives of Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), that the practice of AIDS treatment access rationing is fundamentally unethical because it conflicts with the ideal of universal treatment access and the human right to health. The conclusion is that MSF's position lacks coherence, has negative practical implications, and is unfair to governments struggling to increase patient's access to AIDS treatment in unfavorable circumstances.
Optimization of piperazinebenzylamines with a N-(1-methoxy-2-propyl) side chain as potent and selective antagonists of the human melanocortin-4 receptor.

Abstract Piperazinebenzylamines bearing a small N -(1-methoxy-2-propyl) side chain were found to be potent and selective antagonists of the human melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptor. Compound 7b , having K i values of 6.9 and 2800 nM at the human MC4 and MC3 receptors, respectively, has moderate oral bioavailability in mice, which is improved relative to the arylethyl analogues.
LOW FIELD ANOMALY IN THE SPECIFIC HEAT OF S-WAVE SUPERCONDUCTORS DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE VORTEX CORES

The magnetic field dependence of the electronic specific heat C(H) in the s -wave superconductor NbSe{sub 2} shows curvature at low fields, resembling the near {radical}(H) term in C(H) which has been reported in high-T{sub c} superconductors and attributed to a d{sub x{sup 2}{minus}y{sup 2}} -wave pairing state. In NbSe{sub 2} we find that the low field behavior in C(H) is described quantitatively by the expansion of vortex cores and the field dependence of the magnetic induction B above H{sub c1} . The associated change in the density of quasiparticle states localized in the vortex cores provides a simple explanation for the {open_quotes}low field anomaly{close_quotes} in C(H) observed in s -wave superconductors. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Regional localization of the human genes for S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (cen→q131) and adenosine deaminase (q131→qter) on chromosome 20

The gene loci for S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) and adenosine deaminase (ADA), two enzymes with related metabolic functions, have both been assigned to human chromosome 20. We have used rodent-human somatic hybrids containing translocations involving human chromosome 20 to more precisely determine the relative locations of the AHCY and ADA loci. Our results assign the AHCY locus to the long arm of chromosome 20, in the region cen→q131, and ADA to the region q131→qter.
The effect of mergers on firms’ costs: evidence from the HMO industry

Abstract We examine the effect of mergers on firms’ costs, using a national data set that contains information on both pre- and post-merger costs for firms in the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) industry. By utilizing data on all HMOs that operated in the United States from 1985 to 1997, we observe enough mergers to obtain estimates of both short-run and relatively permanent merger effects. On average, we do not find evidence that mergers allowed HMOs to realize greater economies of scale or that mergers improved efficiency by shifting the cost function. On the other hand, mergers between HMOs that produce Medicare and other products are likely to create dis-economies of scope that increase costs.
Value and limitations of transesophageal echocardiography in determination of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction

AbstractSeveral formulas exist for estimating left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction using conventional two-dimensional echocardiography from transthoracic views. Transesophageal imaging pr...
Challenging the contours: critical cartography, local knowledge, and the public

As with many environmental issues, conflicts over airport noise are often grounded in the different experiences and knowledges of those who measure it and those who suffer its effects. The ways that airport neighbors challenge noise maps reflect the critical cartography literature, which does not take the truth of maps for granted but instead considers the political and other subjectivities behind their construction. At the same time, work in science and technology studies shows that conflicts between local residents and state officials and/or scientists are in part based on their different types of knowledge about a place, with state-centered scientific knowledge generally considered to override local knowledges. This paper brings together these two literatures in an analysis of conflicts over airport noise at Minneapolis–St Paul International Airport to show how members of the public construct their own critical cartographies.
Copolymerization of β‐butyrolactone and β‐benzyl malolactone with aluminoxane catalysts

Poly (β-hydroxylbutyrate-co-benzyl β-malolactonate), (P-HB-co-BML) copolymers, were prepared by the ring-opening copolymerizations of β-butyrolactone (BL) and benzyl β-malolactone (BML) with several alkyl aluminoxane catalysts, including ethylaluminoxane (EAO), methylaluminoxane (MAO), and isobutylaluminoxane (IBAO). The copolymers had very broad molecular weight distributions with weight average molecular weights, Mw, greater than 200,000. The products were fractionated by solubility into acetone-soluble and insoluble copolymers. The former were random, atactic copolymers while the latter were stereoblock copolymers. Random, atactic copolyesters of these two monomers were also obtained with the diethylzinc-water, ZnEt2-H2O (0.6:1), and the (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphinato)aluminium chloride, TPPAlCl, catalysts. The copolymerization reactions with the latter two catalysts gave much higher yields (up to 98%) and better control of both the copolymer compositions and the molecular weight distributions, but these copolymers had Mw values of only 20,000 or less. The copolymer tacticities and comonomer sequences were determined by 13C NMR spectroscopy.
Accessing relevant information during problem solving: Time constraints on search in the problem space

An experiment examines the effect of time constraints on the ability of subjects to utilize relevant information during problem solving. Previous studies found that potentially relevant information was not effectively utilized unless subjects were explicitly informed of the information’s relevance to the problem. The present study demonstrates that subjects who are not informed of the relation between relevant information and the problem are still able to access the information if allowed adequate time. These findings are interpreted within a model of problem solving that postulates search in a problem space as fundamental to the problem solving process.
The impact of radiation hardened by design (RHBD) techniques on the performance of readout integrated circuits in radiation environments

The tolerance of a hybrid array (HA) to total ionizing dose (TID) radiation continues to be a major performance consideration for space based imaging systems. In an effort to improve TID performance, HA manufacturers have begun to utilize circuit design techniques to enhance the TID tolerance of readout integrated circuits (ROICs). This paper will report on the radiometric and TID radiation characterizations of a HA that utilizes radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) techniques. This paper will not describe the design techniques used. Instead, characterization data are presented that demonstrate a HA TID tolerance of over 25 units of total ionizing dose (UTID). This result is compared with the performance of devices with ROICs processed at commercial foundries that do not make use of RHBD techniques. The HA described in this paper represents a state-of-the-art device; the ROIC was designed to be low noise, high gain, and radiation tolerant. While design techniques were utilized to enhance its TID hardness, no special fabrication processes were used.
Short latency compound action potentials from mammalian gravity receptor organs.

Gravity receptor function was characterized in four mammalian species using far-field vestibular evoked potentials (VsEPs). VsEPs are compound action potentials of the vestibular nerve and central relays that are elicited by linear acceleration ramps applied to the cranium. Rats, mice, guinea pigs, and gerbils were studied. In all species, response onset occurred within 1.5 ms of the stimulus onset. Responses persisted during intense (116 dBSPL) wide-band (50 to 50 inverted question mark omitted inverted question mark000 Hz) forward masking, whereas auditory responses to intense clicks (112 dBpeSPL) were eliminated under the same conditions. VsEPs remained after cochlear extirpation but were eliminated following bilateral labyrinthectomy. Responses included a series of positive and negative peaks that occurred within 8 ms of stimulus onset (range of means at +6 dBre: 1.0 g/ms: P1=908 to 1062 micros, N1=1342 to 1475 micros, P2=1632 to 1952 micros, N2=2038 to 2387 micros). Mean response amplitudes at +6 dBre: 1.0 g/ms ranged from 0.14 to 0.99 microV. VsEP input/output functions revealed latency slopes that varied across peaks and species ranging from -19 to -51 micros/dB. Amplitude-intensity slopes also varied ranging from 0.04 to 0.08 microV/dB for rats and mice. Latency values were comparable to those of birds although amplitudes were substantially smaller in mammals. VsEP threshold values were considerably higher in mammals compared to birds and ranged from -8.1 to -10.5 dBre 1.0 g/ms across species. These results support the hypothesis that mammalian gravity receptors are less sensitive to dynamic stimuli than are those of birds.
Local strategy learning in networked multi-agent team formation

Networked multi-agent systems are comprised of many autonomous yet interdependent agents situated in a virtual social network. Two examples of such systems are supply chain networks and sensor networks. A common challenge in many networked multi-agent systems is decentralized team formation among the spatially and logically extended agents. Even in cooperative multi-agent systems, efficient team formation is made difficult by the limited local information available to the individual agents. We present a model of distributed multi-agent team formation in networked multi-agent systems, describe a policy learning framework for joining teams based on local information, and give empirical results on improving team formation performance. In particular, we show that local policy learning from limited information leads to a significant increase in organizational team formation performance compared to a random policy.
Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict: The Role of International Nongovernmental Organizations*

The article identifies five principal reasons for international nongovernmental organizations to use humanitarian law in seeking to protect human rights during periods of armed conflict and also notes three difficulties in using humanitarian law. International nongovernmental organizations, aside from the International Committee of the Red Cross, possess an important role in assessing whether govern ments and armed opposition groups are respecting their human rights and humanitarian law obligations Americas Watch, Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists, and other organ izations have for some time been using humanitarian law and human rights law in armed conflict situations. They need to become more consistent and careful in using humanitarian law; they can also learn from the experience of the Red Cross in how to be more effective in safeguarding human rights during periods of armed conflict.
Systemic venous blood return via the portal vein.

The patterns of collateral circulation which develop following obstruction of the inferior vena cava have been classically divided into three groups depending upon the level of obstruction, i.e., infrarenal, middle caval, and upper caval. The portal vein can play an active role at all three levels. Multiple potential routes to the portal vein are described and 6 cases are presented.
Radar Absorption Effect in Hypersonic Ballistic Ranges

USAL and Blore1 have recently proposed an explanation for the anomalously large decrease in radar cross section that occurs when -g-in. diam spheres are observed by 4- or 8-mm wavelength radars at velocities near 13,000 fps and pressures of 10 mm Hg. This decrease is anomalous in that the plasma sheath around the sphere is far too thin to cause enough real power absorption in the lossy plasma layer. The new explanation hinges on the diffractive effect of sharp angular gradients in the plasma sheath surrounding the sphere. Some comparisons between this new theory and experiment are presented here for two different bodies and range conditions using General Motors Defense Research Laboratories (GM DRL) data.2 It can be shown, 1 using the techniques of physical optics, that the radar cross section of a metal sphere covered by a thin plasma layer is (7
Platelet Function Assessment in a Microfabricated Device

Although platelets are small and simple in shape, they are complicated in their physiologhy. Their alpha granules and dense bodies secrete a large number of agents that are involved in haemostasis, and the glycoproteins on their surfaces form the linkages with proteins like fibrinogen, fibronectin, collagen and von Willebrand factor that are necessary for adhesion and aggregation (Frojmovic, 1998). Diseases such as heart attack (Meade, 1992), stroke (Harker, 1998) and eclampsia (Schindler et al., 1990), can be the result of pathologies in platelets. Although devices have been recently developed to diagnose platelet function (Nicholson et al., 1998), there is still a need for devices that can examine the multiple factors of platelet physiology that affect thrombus formation. Because fluid shear is a key factor in platelet adhesion and aggregation (Colantuoni et al., 1977), it is necessary to test platelet function under conditions of flow. Also, because of the large number of adhesion receptors and secreted agents that make up a platelet’s physiology, a complete diagnosis of platelet function should be performed on a variety of substrates.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The impact of acquisition angular range on the z-resolution of radiographic tomosynthesis

Abstract The z-resolution is an important image quality metric for a tomosynthesis system. The relationship between the acquisition angular range and z-resolution has yet been carefully investigated, mainly due to the lacking of a tomosynthesis system capable of fully automated acquisitions in a variety of angular ranges. We utilized a newly developed flat-panel based tomosynthesis prototype system to investigate this relationship through a phantom study at an angular range from 20° (+/−10°), 40° (+/−20°), and 60° (+/−30°). In addition to the phantom study, a simulation study was also performed to investigate the relationship in a wider angular range (from 2.5° to 60°). The phantom study results are highly correlated with the simulation results (correlation coefficient=0.998, p-value=0.022). These studies have revealed overall nonlinear relationships between the angular range and the z-resolution. However, within a certain angular range (i.e., 20° to 60°), their relationship can be considered as linear. Results have shown that increasing the angular range from 20° to 40° reduced the z spread (i.e., increases z-resolution) by 49.1%; further increasing the angular range to 60° reduced the z spread by another 21.1%.
Photocatalyzed oxidation in zeolite cages

Abstract A new concept of room temperature selective oxidation of olefins, alkyl substituted benzenes and alkanes by electron transfer from the hydrocarbon to the oxygen molecule induced by irradiation with visible light is shown. The hydrocarbon radical cation–O2 charge-transfer pair is generated inside the cavities of alkali or alkaline-earth ion-exchanged zeolites, in which the large electrostatic field stabilizes the highly polar charge-transfer states of hydrocarbon–O2 collisional pair and allows to control the pathways of further transformation. High selectivities to useful products are obtained using this approach.
Choline acetyltransferase activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius: Regulation by the afferent vagus nerve

The influence of nodose ganglionectomy or transection of the peripheral branches of the afferent vagus nerve on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) was studied. ChAT activity was reduced in the microdissected caudal and intermediate portions of the NTS in vagotomized as well as ganglionectomized rats. However, only the ganglionectomy resulted in the degeneration of medullary nerve fibers. These results suggest that the changes in ChAT activity in the NTS are independent of neuronal degeneration and may be due to transynaptic modulation of ChAT activity by afferent vagal impulses. The presence of ChAT in the sensory nodose projection to the NTS, however, cannot be ruled out.
Class Level as a Possible Mediator of the Relationship between Grades and Student Ratings of Teaching

Abstract Although the research literature investigating the relationship between grade awarded to students and students’ evaluations of teaching performance is voluminous, very few studies have examined the grade‐rating relationship according to level of student. The present study examined correlations between mean instructor rating and mean class grade for all course evaluations (N = 625 classes) at Utah State University during an academic quarter. In lower‐division (courses 100–299) and upper‐division (courses 300–599) undergraduate classes, correlations between grades and ratings of faculty were of an expected direction and magnitude (0.29 and 0.28, respectively); however, the grade‐rating correlation for graduate classes (courses 600 +) was — 0.20. It is speculated that graduate students are both better students and more critical evaluators of instruction, but replication and extension with different samples are needed before this tentative explanation can be accepted with confidence.
Rotational thrombectomy in acute canine coronary thrombosis

Abstract We have developed a mechanical thrombolytic catheter which defibrinates a fresh intra-arterial thrombus by wrapping fibrin about its rotating shaft. Defibrination results in liquification of the thrombus and reperfusion of the thrombotically occluded vessel. In this study, we employed this catheter-based approach in dogs with coronary thrombosis to simulate possible clinical use in acute myocardial infarction. Total coronary thrombosis was generated in 11 dogs. Spontaneous reperfusion did not occur over a 30-minute control period. All vessels studied were initially totally thrombosed. After mechanical thrombolysis, there was a significant improvement in percent diameter stenosis from 100% to 28 ± 26% ( P We conclude that mechanical thrombolysis, with a rotating catheter, results in prompt reperfusion of the infarct vessel and significant improvement in distal blood flow. This approach, unlike angioplasty, removes the thrombus and might serve as an alternative to or supplemental form of mechanical thrombolysis.
Global Regulators Orchestrate Group II Intron Retromobility

Group II introns are hypothesized to share common ancestry with both nuclear spliceosomal introns and retrotransposons, which collectively occupy the majority of genome space in higher eukaryotes. These phylogenetically diverse introns are mobile retroelements that move through an RNA intermediate. Disruption of Escherichia coli genes encoding enzymes that catalyze synthesis of global regulators cAMP and ppGpp inhibits group II intron retromobility. These small molecules program genetic transitions between nutrient excess and starvation. Accordingly, we demonstrated that glucose depletion of wild-type cells and cAMP supplementation of mutants stimulated retromobility. Likewise, amino acid starvation, which induces the alarmone ppGpp, activated retromobility. In both cases, retrotransposition to ectopic sites was favored over retrohoming. Interestingly, these stimulatory effects are mediated at the level of the DNA target, rather than of expression of the retroelement. Thereby, during metabolic stress, cAMP and ppGpp control group II intron movement in concert with the cell's global genetic circuitry, stimulating genetic diversity.
Stratigraphic control of hot fluids on anthracitization, Lackawanna synclinorium, Pennsylvania

Abstract The Lackawanna synclinorium of Pennsylvania contains abundant coal that was altered to anthracite rank during the Late Paleozoic Alleghanian orogeny. Why did the coal in the synclinorium undergo anthracitization? Two alternatives have been suggested. (1) The region was buried deeply during and/or after the Alleghanian orogeny and thus became hot in response to Earth's geothermal gradient; and (2) hot fluids migrating from the orogen toward the foreland carried heat into the coal and caused anthracitization. If the second hypothesis is correct, the region should contain evidence that hot fluids passed through the coal. Field observations, illite-crystallinity studies and fluid-inclusion analyses indicate that the coal-bearing Pottsville and Llewellyn Formations, and an underlying detachment fault, called the Pottchunk fault (at or slightly below the base of the Pottsville Formation), acted as a regional aquifer for the migration of hot fluids during the Alleghanian orogeny. The presence of quartz veins and the hydrothermal minerals tosudite and pyrophyllite in strata above the Pottchunk fault, and the apparent absence of an illite-crystallinity burial gradient in the underlying strata, suggest that fluids migrated through large pores in coarse-grained sandstones, through abundant fractures that developed in response to Alleghanian deformation, and along the Pottchunk fault. The quartz veins, tosudite and pyrophyllite mineralization do not occur below the Pottchunk fault (except at one locality), suggesting that fluid flow was greater above the fault, perhaps because fracturing accompanying deformation increased permeability of the fault's hanging wall. Fluid inclusions in the Pottsville and Llewellyn Formations indicate fluids achieved a minimum temperature of 270 °C at a depth of ∼3.1–8.5 km. Heat-flow calculations constrained by fluid-inclusion data show the heat carried by the migrating fluids through the coal-bearing strata was sufficient to elevate the rock temperature to anthracite-grade conditions (∼250 °C), assuming that the fluid event lasted about 1 year. Thus, deep burial (6–9 km) of the coal-bearing strata in the Lackawanna synclinorium was not required for anthracitization. Anthracitization was likely the result of stratigraphically controlled hot fluid migration through the coal-bearing strata at shallow depths (≤5 km).
The effects of chlorine pretreatment on the reactivity of graphite in air

Abstract Pretreatment of graphite with gaseous chlorine at elevated temperatures has been found to result in increased resistance to oxidation in air in the temperature range 600–900°C. The inhibiting effect was most pronounced following chlorination at 800–900°C. Organo-halogen compounds which thermally decompose to give adsorbed halogen on the graphite surface also acted as oxidation inhibitors, when impregnated into graphite or when introduced as vapor into the air stream. Chlorine pretreatment at 800°C resulted in the formation of circular pits on the graphite basal plane surface during subsequent oxidation at 900°C, in contrast to the hexagonal etch pits formed on pure untreated graphite crystals.
A multi-interval Chebyshev collocation method for efficient high-accuracy RF circuit simulation

Most RF circuit analysis tools use either shooting-Newton or harmonic balance methods. Neither can efficiently achieve high accuracy on strongly nonlinear circuits possessing waveforms with rapid transitions. We present a multi-interval-Chebyshev (MIC) method that discretizes the circuit equations by dividing the simulation domain into a set of intervals whose size is adaptively chosen and using Chebyshev polynomials to represent the solution in each interval. The MIC method has excellent stability properties, is as effective at solving nonlinear problems as shooting techniques, can achieve high resolution on a wide variety of circuits, and in conjunction with an appropriate preconditioner can be combined with matrix-implicit Krylov-subspace solvers to analyze large circuits with moderate computational cost.
Winter Diets of Coyotes in Relation to Prey Abundance in Southern Texas

Diets of coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and abundance of mammalian prey were estimated during 8 winters (1979–1986) in southern Texas. Lagomorphs ( Sylvilagus audubonii and Lepus californicus ) composed the greatest percentages of coyote diets (40–54%) in 6 of 8 winters; woodrats ( Neotoma micropus ) were staple prey; proportions of cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) in diets varied markedly in association with population irruptions; and small rodents and white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) were minor dietary components. The proportion of other minor prey items in coyote diets varied inversely with abundance of the five principal prey types. Although coyotes exhibited a general functional response to changes in abundance of prey types in the diverse prey community, evidence for selective feeding on cotton rats was revealed by regression analyses.
A single nucleotide polymorphism in the human PIGK gene associates with low PIGK expression in colorectal cancer patients

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the highest incidences of cancers worldwide. Phosphatidylinositol glycan, class K (PIGK), is a crucial member of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol transamidase (GPIT) protein complex that attaches a diverse group of macromolecules to the plasma membrane of eukaryotes. However, the precise role of PIGK in tumorigenesis remains largely unknown. Recently, we reported low expression of PIGK protein in primary tumors compared to paired normal tissues of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. To understand the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we performed sequencing of all 10 exons of the PIGK gene in 45 CRC patients. Corresponding PIGK protein expression was also evaluated in these patients by immunohistochemistry. No mutation was detected in the coding regions, however, we found a single nucleotide polymorphism (C/C→C/G or G/G; rs1048575) in the 3'UTR of the PIGK gene in 67% (30/45) of the patients. Most of the patients (22/26, 85%) with the altered alleles were of Jewish origin. In comparison, 47% (8/17) of the Arabian patients exhibited the altered C/G alleles. We observed a significantly low (p<0.002) expression of PIGK protein in the patients with the altered alleles (C/G or G/G) compared to the ancestral alleles (C/C). Similarly to the CRC patients, we also examined 5 HCC patients and two HCC cell lines (Hep3B and HepG2) for PIGK genotype (SNP-1048575) and corresponding protein expression. We observed altered alleles (C/G or G/G) and corresponding low PIGK protein expression in 4 out of 5 (80%) primary HCC tumors. Among the HCC cell lines, HepG2 line exhibited ancestral C/C alleles, whereas Hep3B showed altered C/G alleles. Similar to the HCC patients, Hep3B line with the altered alleles (C/G) exhibited significantly low (Student's t-test, p<0.002) PIGK protein expression compared to the Hep3B line carrying the ancestral (C/C) alleles. To examine the exogenous PIGK protein expression status, we transiently transfected both HepG2 (C/C alleles) and Hep3B (C/G alleles) cell lines with wt-PIGK constructs. We detected exogenously expressed PIGK protein in HepG2 (C/C) cells, but no PIGK expression was detectable in Hep3B (C/G) cells at either mRNA or protein level. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, a link between the SNP 1048575 and low PIGK expression in CRC/HCC patients and also suggest a possible association between altered PIGK expression and disease susceptibility.
Jonathan Edwards and determinism

This paper argues a new interpretation of Jonathan Edwards's psychological account of human action. In Freedom of the Will (1754), Edwards adapted a sophisticated version of Newtonian determinism to the understanding of human thinking and action. Rejecting a mechanistic determinism, in which antecedent faculties “cause” actions, Edwards instead advocated a systemic view. Thus, rather than the “greatest apparent good” causing the “will,” which in turn caused an action, Edwards claimed that “The will is as the greatest apparent good,” thus grounding a systemic and dynamic account. Misunderstanding of his view has led to much confusion and a failure to properly locate Edwards within the history of American thought. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Kinetics of complementary RNA-RNA interaction involved in plasmid ColE1 copy number control

Abstract Binding of a small antisense RNA (RNA I) to the primer transcript (RNA II) of plasmid ColE1 inhibits formation of primer for DNA polymerase I-mediated plasmid replication. It is thought that RNA I and RNA II transiently interact via their single-stranded loop regions to form an unstable complex that subsequently converts into a more stable complex by hybridization. Rom (or Rop) protein enhances the inhibitory effect of RNA I on replication by enhancing the binding of the two RNAs. In this paper, we develop a model for the kinetics of the RNA I-RNA II binding reaction, estimate the rate constants, and provide a quantitative description of the effects of Rom protein. We show that the reaction kinetics are consistent with a stepwise binding model in which Rom protein binds to RNA I and RNA II, while the RNAs are held together in a transient complex. Mutations that replace C · G pairs by T · A pairs in the RNA loop regions and thus display weaker hydrogen bonding between the loop regions should be associated with an increased rate of dissociation for the unstable complex. Our model predicts that such destabilization of the loop interactions leads to a greater enhancement in the binding rate by Rom protein. The available data support this prediction.
Aptamer-guided gene targeting in yeast and human cells

Gene targeting is a genetic technique to modify an endogenous DNA sequence in its genomic location via homologous recombination (HR) and is useful both for functional analysis and gene therapy applications. HR is inefficient in most organisms and cell types, including mammalian cells, often limiting the effectiveness of gene targeting. Therefore, increasing HR efficiency remains a major challenge to DNA editing. Here, we present a new concept for gene correction based on the development of DNA aptamers capable of binding to a site-specific DNA binding protein to facilitate the exchange of homologous genetic information between a donor molecule and the desired target locus (aptamer-guided gene targeting). We selected DNA aptamers to the I-SceI endonuclease. Bifunctional oligonucleotides containing an I-SceI aptamer sequence were designed as part of a longer single-stranded DNA molecule that contained a region with homology to repair an I-SceI generated double-strand break and correct a disrupted gene. The I-SceI aptamer-containing oligonucleotides stimulated gene targeting up to 32-fold in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and up to 16-fold in human cells. This work provides a novel concept and research direction to increase gene targeting efficiency and lays the groundwork for future studies using aptamers for gene targeting.
Garlic compounds induced calpain and intrinsic caspase cascade for apoptosis in human malignant neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Malignant (N-type) neuroblastoma continues to defy current chemotherapeutic regimens. We tested the garlic compounds diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS) for induction of apoptosis in human malignant neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Viability of human primary neurons was unaffected after 24 h treatment with 50 and 100 μM DAS and 50 μM DADS but slightly affected with 100 μM DADS. Treatment with 50 and 100 μM DAS or DADS significantly decreased viability in SH-SY5Y cells. Wright staining showed morphological features of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells treated with 50 and 100 μM DAS or DADS for 24 h. ApopTag assay demonstrated DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells. Apoptosis was associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i, increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, increase in cytosolic Smac/Diablo, and down regulation of inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 indicated involvement of intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Calpain and caspase-3 activities produced 145 kD spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kD SBDP, respectively. Also, caspase-3 activity cleaved inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD). Results strongly suggested that the garlic compounds DAS and DADS suppressed anti-apoptotic factors and activated calpain and intrinsic caspase cascade for apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.
Multisensor, multisite tracking filter

A fusion filter has been designed for the tracking of airborne targets over a spherical Earth which can accommodate different sensor types at different geographical sites. It is assumed that sensor contacts are exchanged between sites in a timely fashion and all sensor contacts from the same object update the track filter. Registration and correlation mechanisms are assumed to be in place so that only sensor contacts derived from target A update the master track associated with target A. The filter is updated by one scalar measurement quantity at a time: either slant range, bearing angle, elevation angle or Doppler (i.e. range rate) from a local or remote sensor. This feature considerably simplifies the filter equations and allows the easy mixture of different sensor types. Performance of this filter is demonstrated with 2D, 3D and 4D sensors at either one or two sites and manoeuvring or nonmanoeuvring target trajectories. The filter is general enough to allow the localisation of a target in three dimensions with only contacts from a single unstabilised 2D sensor on a rolling and pitching marine platform.
BIOSTABILITY IN AMMONIUM-LIMITED CULTURES OF Escherichia coli B/r

The possibility of multiple steady-states and their prediction in chemical reactors was established by the pioneering work of Amundson and colleagues. This paper reports on a heretofore unknown type of multiple steady-state in a chemostat (CFSTR) with a pure culture of E. coli B/r growing under ammonium limitation. Two steady-states at dilution rate (0.91 hr−1) near the maximum growth rate (0.94 hr−1) result in residual concentrations of ammonium ion of ca. 40 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L. Dilution rate is the reciprocal of holding time. Models of single cells of E. coli can be used to predict the existence of such multiple steady-states. Ammonium uptake and assimilation both can occur via parallel pathways. The presence of the parallel pathways admits the possibility of this type of multiplicity. The parameters of the ammonium transport mechanism are crucial in allowing multiple steady-states. The model predicts specific growth rates higher than observed in batch culture for the chemostat low residual ammonium stea...
An Ontology-Based Architecture for Service Discovery and Advice System

In this paper we present a novel, ontology-based approach to service discovery, which exploits domain knowledge and semantic service descriptions to guide the service discovery process and provide advice on service selection and instantiation in interoperable adaptive information systems. The proposed system architecture for service discovery and advice has the advantage of providing specific advice at multiple levels of granularity during the service composition process. At the highest level, the system can help to determine what kind of abstract service is required against a contextual functional request. Once all the services that can fulfil the required function are discovered, the advice system can recommend an appropriate concrete service, taking into account both problem characteristics and quality considerations. More specialized, in-depth advice can also be given, for example, on how to initialize and configure the parameters of a service. The approach and prototype have been proposed to demonstrate practical benefits in the framework of the MAIS (multi-channel adaptive information systems) project
The flow at a rear stagnation point is eventually determined by exponentially small values of the velocity

It is suggested that current conceptions about unsteady rear-stagnation-point flow do not fully describe the physics, since they show discrepancies from recent numerical results. The previously neglected exponentially small rotational perturbation velocity above the boundary-layer proves to have a dominating influence on the final boundary-layer development. An asymptotic analysis reveals possible difficulties for common computational schemes for viscous flows. Failure of the usual asymptotic matching rule in the analysis is in accordance with Fraenkel's warning on logarithmic expansions.
Contextual Variations in Young Women's Gender Identity Negotiations:

This article explores young women's strategies for seeking personal power and resisting gender-based stereotypes in a wealthy, suburban, White community and a working-class, urban, community of color. Semi-structured interviews with 27 young women were used to examine contextual variations in these gender identity negotiation processes. Both groups of young women were acutely aware of women's subordinate social and cultural position and this awareness contributed to some negative feelings about being female. However, their strategies for locating strength in their identities varied by social contexts. Moreover, the two groups of young women encountered distinct sets of stereotypes in their respective communities. Forms of resistance to these stereotypes led to significantly different behavior patterns. These comparisons build a richer theoretical understanding of the contextual dimensions of young women's gender identity negotiations.
Comparative Classifier Aggregation

Comparative neural networks are a new kind of neural networks that can be used to compare two or more items given a set of context features. They compare two items at a time indicating the one that matches the context features better. Consequently, any sorting algorithm, coupled with such a neural comparator, can sort any set of items. Although applications include ink segmentation (for handwriting recognition purposes) and web page ranking, our emphasis on this paper is on classifier aggregation and, in particular, the integration of our standard handwriting recognizers with a user personalization database that consists of user samples.
Business environment and entrepreneurial activity in Nigeria: implications for industrial development

Commonsense suggests, and academic studies agree, that an ameliorative business environment enables entrepreneurial activity and boosts enterprise performance. This paper examines the business environment in southeast Nigeria, using two separate but complementary studies. Defined in terms of infrastructure, access to credit, bureaucratic practices and regulatory policy, the business environment in southeast Nigeria is stressful, and so has the capacity to limit entrepreneurial activity. This stressful business environment, which is a nationwide phenomenon, poses obstacles to Nigeria's industrial development.
HapMap and mapping genes for cardiovascular disease.

A key goal of biomedical science is to understand why individuals differ in their susceptibility to disease. Family history is among the established risk factors for most forms of cardiovascular disease, in part because inherited DNA sequence variants play a causal role in disease susceptibility. Consequently, the search for these variants has intensified over the past decade.1–3 One class of DNA sequence variants takes the form of single nucleotide changes (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs), usually with two variants or alleles for each SNP.4 SNPs are scattered throughout the 23 pairs of chromosomes of the human genome, and roughly 11 million common polymorphisms (ie, those >1% frequency) are estimated to exist.5 A combination of SNP alleles along a chromosome is termed a haplotype. The International Haplotype Map Project was designed to create a public genome-wide database of common SNPs and, consequently, enable systematic studies of most common SNPs for their potential role in human disease.6–8 We review the following: (1) the concept of linkage disequilibrium or allelic association, (2) the HapMap project, and (3) several examples of the utility of HapMap data in genetic mapping for cardiovascular disease phenotypes. Groups of SNPs across the genome are correlated with each other, a phenomenon known as linkage disequilibrium (LD) or allelic association. To understand how LD arises, one needs to recall that during meiosis, recombination occurs at multiple sites between each pair of chromosomes, thus providing for an extra source of genetic variability to pass on to offspring. This is not a random process that occurs with equal probability at every place along a chromosome; rather, there are large stretches of DNA along which there is a very low probability of recombination, punctuated by recombination “hotspots,” where it occurs relatively more often. The consequence is that the stretches …
The Cello Music Cataloger as Program Builder

Established in 2006, the position of Cello Music Cataloger at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro blurs the traditional lines of demarcation between library technical services and public services. On the one hand, it is a position that demands the extensive knowledge and application of traditional cataloging practices; on the other, it facilitates innovative, collaborative approaches to challenges and opportunities arising in the unpredictable, rapidly changing twenty-first century. Examining first the evolution of the position, this paper offers a detailed description of the Cello Music Cataloger's flexible combination of technical and public service duties, followed by a summary of colleague response to this relatively new and unusual position.