cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Re-Centering the Narrative: British Colonial Memory and the San Pedro Maya

In a series of eighteenth-century treaties, Spain granted British companies a concession to cut logwood and mahogany along a portion of the western shore of the Bay of Honduras, in what is today Belize. The terms of these treaties, negotiated in far-away European capitals, set the stage for tensions between British woodcutters and long-term Maya residents living in the Yalbac Hills region adjacent to the concessions. Bilateral treaties signed in Europe did not reflect local geopolitical realities and the socio-political landscape in the southeastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula. In practice, the western boundary of the British logging concessions was not a frontier with colonial New Spain or, subsequently, Guatemala, but with independent Maya groups that were effectively politically autonomous. In this paper we argue that various configurations of Maya polities in this region, from the late eighteenth through the late nineteenth centuries, consistently understood Black Creek and the New River lagoons to be their border with the British loggers and settlers operating to the east and, later, the colony of British Honduras. This framing leads us to a nuanced and de-colonized interpretation of the past of the Caste War era Maya village of San Pedro Siris in the Yalbac Hills. Maya strategies of occupation, strategic abandonment, and reoccupation are documented in archives, ethnography, and archaeology, and inform our archaeological and historical interpretation of the San Pedro Maya.
Citizen Engagement with the Changing City

The book, Citizen Engagement with the Changing City, captures the essence of connecting policy to community building as engaging with residents and building for residents. Brail seeks to highlight the necessity of citizen engagement in the policy and planning process, if cities are to be transformed into livable communities for all populations, including those populations typically marginalized by traditional top-down processes. Positive strategies for citizen engagement provide insight and inspiration for policy makers and practitioners working in today’s changing cities.
Gatekeeping in the Field: Strategies and Practices

Though counseling graduate programs often rely heavily on field site supervisors for help remediating interns with professional competence problems, there is little published research on the remedi...
Politics of the Pantry: Housewives, Food, and Consumer Protest in Twentieth-Century America

In Politics of the Pantry: Housewives, Food, and Consumer Protests in Twentieth-Century America, Emily E. LB. Twarog documents grassroots protests against the high costs of groceries during a perio...
Achieving beyond-100-GHz large-signal modulation bandwidth in hybrid silicon photonics Mach Zehnder modulators using thin film lithium niobate

Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulators (EOM) based on thin-film lithium niobate bonded to a silicon photonic waveguide circuit have been shown to achieve very high modulation bandwidths. Open eye-diagram measurements made in the time domain of beyond-small-signal modulation are used to support the modulation-sideband measurements in showing that such EOM’s can support high-frequency modulations well beyond 100 GHz.
Visualizing the analysis: Using infographics to strengthen critical thinking skills

Courses: Science communication courses across course levels.Objective: This activity aims to introduce students to critical thinking concepts and strategies that have applicability and transferabil...
Identification of Novel QTL Conferring Sheath Blight Resistance in Two Weedy Rice Mapping Populations.

Rice sheath blight (ShB) disease, caused by the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani, causes significant yield losses globally. US weedy rice populations, which are de-domesticated forms of indica and aus cultivated rice, appear to be more resistant to ShB than local japonica cultivated rice. We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with ShB resistance using two F8 recombinant inbred line populations generated from crosses of an indica crop variety, Dee-Geo-Woo-Gen (DGWG), with individuals representing the two major US weed biotypes, straw hull (SH) and black hull awned (BHA). We identified nine ShB resistance QTL across both mapping populations. Five were attributable to alleles that affect plant height (PH) and heading date (HD), two growth traits that are known to be highly correlated with ShB resistance. By utilizing an approach that treated growth traits as covariates in the mapping model, we were able to infer that the remaining four QTL are involved in ShB resistance. Two of these, qShB1–2 and qShB4, are different from previously identified ShB QTL and represent new candidates for further study. Our findings suggest that ShB resistance can be improved through favorable plant growth traits and the combined effects of small to moderate-effect resistance QTL. Additionally, we show that including PH and HD as covariates in QTL mapping models is a powerful way to identify new ShB resistance QTL.
The Institution Responsible for Redistricting or Reallocating Seats in the National Legislature

Historically, if a country periodically redrew electoral districts or reallocated seats in the national legislature among fixed districts or multi-member districts, it was the national legislative body that usually exercised that authority indirectly through a legislative committee, with the final authority resting in the national legislature itself. Some nations continue to use this structure.
Implementing an opioid reduction protocol in renal transplant recipients.

Abstract Background Six percent of opioid-naive patients develop opioid dependence post-operatively. We implemented a protocol in our renal transplant recipients that eliminated opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and included a multi-modal non-opioid regimen. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of PCA elimination on opioid requirements at discharge in renal transplant recipients. Methods We reviewed adult renal transplant recipients for the three months prior to, and following, the protocol’s implementation. Patients with an intra-abdominal transplant, pancreas-renal transplant, or chronic pain were excluded. The number of opioid pills prescribed on the day prior to discharge were categorized as A) 0, B) 1–3, and C) ≥ 4. Discharge opioid prescriptions were then evaluated based on a recent recommendation that group A receive 0 pills, group B 15 pills, and group C 30 pills, to satisfy the outpatient pain needs of 85% of patients. Pre- and post-intervention metrics were compared using independent t-tests and Chi squared tests. Results 150 recipients were included (79 pre-intervention, 71 post; 51% male). PCA use decreased significantly (81% vs. 4.2%, p Conclusions A multidisciplinary approach to developing an opioid-reducing protocol significantly decreased the use of PCAs and increased the use of non-opioid adjunct medications in renal transplant recipients. Patients continued to be prescribed excess opioids at discharge compared to inpatient opioid use the day prior to discharge. Ongoing communication with all providers caring for renal transplant recipients and protocolization of the different stages of a patient’s post-operative hospitalization are crucial.
The management of diabetes in everyday life study: Design and methods for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of text messaging versus health coaching.

Abstract Background African American patients with uncontrolled diabetes living in medically underserved areas need effective clinic-based interventions to improve self-care behaviors. Text messaging (TM) and health coaching (HC) are among the most promising low-cost population-based approaches, but little is known about their comparative effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Objective Use a pragmatic randomized controlled trial design to determine the comparative effectiveness of TM and HC with enhanced usual care (EC) in African American adults with uncontrolled diabetes and multiple chronic health conditions. Methods/design The Management of Diabetes in Everyday Life (MODEL) study is randomizing 646 patients (n = 581with anticipated 90% retention) to 3 intervention arms: TM, HC, and EC. Participants are African American adults living in medically underserved areas of the Mid-South, age ≥ 18, with uncontrolled diabetes (A1c ≥ 8), one or more additional chronic conditions, and who have a phone with texting and voicemail capability. Primary outcome measures: the general diet, exercise, and medication adherence subscales of the revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire assessed at one year. Secondary outcomes: diabetes-specific quality of life, primary care engagement, and average blood sugar (A1c). The study will also assess heterogeneity of treatment effects by six key baseline participant characteristics. Conclusions We describe the design and methods of the MODEL study along with design revisions required during implementation in a pragmatic setting. This trial, upon its conclusion, will allow us to compare the effectiveness of two promising low-cost primary care-based strategies for supporting self-care behaviors among African Americans individuals with uncontrolled diabetes. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT02957513
Living on another planet

Raised by Wolves is an original and visually stunning new science-fiction series, produced by Ridley Scott. Set on a recently discovered exoplanet, it has echoes of Prometheus, Alien and Dune, says Emily Wilson
First Account of Phylogeographic Variation, Larval Characters, and Laboratory Rearing of the Endangered Cobblestone Tiger Beetle Cicindelidia marginipennis, Dejean, 1831 with Observations of Their Natural History.

The cobblestone tiger beetle, Cicindelidia marginipennis (Dejean, 1831) is a North American species specializing in riparian habitats from New Brunswick, Canada, to Alabama in the United States. In the United States, this species is state-listed as threatened or endangered range-wide and periodically receives consideration for federal listing, mostly due to habitat decline. Despite its conservation status, intraspecific genetic diversity for this species has not been explored and little is known about its natural history. To support further inquiry into the biology of C. marginipennis, this study provides the first look at range-wide genetic diversity using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), describes all three larval instars, and describes natural history characteristics from captive rearing and field observation. Based on mtDNA analyses, our results suggest that geographically based population structure may exist throughout the range, with individuals from Alabama possessing haplotypes not found elsewhere in our sampling. Further genetic analyses, particularly multi-locus analyses, are needed to determine whether the Alabama population represents a separate cryptic species. Our morphological analysis and descriptions of larval instars reveal a combination of characteristics that can be used to differentiate C. marginipennis from closely related and co-occurring species. Based on our field observations, we find that the larval “throw pile” of soil excavated from burrows is a key search image for locating larvae, and we provide descriptions and detailed photographs to aid surveys. Lastly, we find that this species can be successfully reared in captivity and provide guidelines to aid future recovery efforts.
To Drink from the Source: Tobie Nathan’s A Land like You and Jewish-Egyptian Identity

A Land Like You, Tobie Nathan’s scrupulously researched yet wildly imaginative historical novel of early twentieth-century Cairo offers an extended exploration of what it means to be both Jewish an...
Integrating College Student Veterans on Campus through Peer Mentorship Programs

In 2020, approximately 2 million veterans attended colleges and universities in the U.S. College student veterans face unique challenges integrating into campus environments and completing their degrees. Research has shown that these students take longer to complete their degrees and have difficulty integrating into campus environments and connecting to traditional students, who are often in different developmental stages and life circumstances. Colleges and universities across the United States vary widely in terms of resources for student veterans, with just over half offering programs for veterans. Schools that have peer mentorship programs to enhance integration and persist in education have been shown to be successful. In order to grow the existence of peer mentorship programs, colleges and universities should consider replicating existing models that have proven successful. Campus stakeholders from students to administration are critical to the implementation of college student veteran peer mentorship programs. Social Work is uniquely positioned to play a key role for these programs. Social Workers can offer advocacy, clinical work, education, and scholarship to aid in the implementation of peer mentorship programs and integration of college student veterans on campus.
Beyond the Law: The Bush Administration's Unlawful Responses in the "War" on Terror

1. Executive plans and authorizations to violate international law concerning treatment and interrogation of detainees 2. Additional revelations concerning treatment, secret detentions, and secret renditions 3. War and enemy status 4. Judicial power to determine the status and rights of persons detained without trial 5. Executive claims to unchecked power 6. Antiterrorism military commissions.
Intracellular mechanisms mediating reversal of beta-adrenergic stimulation in intact beating hearts

The changes in 32P labeling of phosphoproteins were studied in Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts during reversal of the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol. Exposure of the hearts to isoproterenol was associated with significant increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels and in the phosphate incorporation into phospholamban in sarcoplasmic reticulum, the 15-kDa protein in the sarcolemma, and troponin I in the myofibrils. Phospholamban was phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues, both of which are sites for cAMP-dependent and Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, respectively. Termination of isoproterenol infusion was associated with reversal of the mechanical effects of isoproterenol stimulation and reversal of the increases in tissue cAMP levels. However, the decreases in cAMP levels correlated only with dephosphorylation of phosphoserine in phospholamban. Dephosphorylation of phosphothreonine in phospholamban, the 15-kDa sarcolemmal protein, and troponin I occurred at a slower rate. These findings suggest that cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban (phosphoserine) may play a prominent role during beta-adrenergic stimulation of intact hearts.
Six practical views of central bank transparency

In the span of fifteen years, central bank transparency has gone from being highly controversial to an accepted broad goal to which all central banks pay at least lip service. Yet, like many other broad concepts in economic policy, what central bank transparency actually means remains rather open to debate. Recent monetary theory has been unsuccessful in providing clarity because it emphasizes the issue of discerning a central bank's "type." In practice, central bank transparency has implications for a number of day-to-day issues. These include the persistence of inflation, the response of financial markets to central bank announcements, and the treatment of intermediate monetary targets - that is, central bank transparency influences the short-run dynamics of private-sector expectations. The evidence, in fact, is that the effect of greater transparency on these dynamics is beneficial. There is, however, a disturbing apparent disjunction between central bank transparency and accountability in reality. Recent developments in Japan and, to a lesser degree, in the United States and the eurozone have amply demonstrated that central bank independence can expand in harmful ways even as transparency increases and inflation targeting is adopted. It is time to discard two misleading claims: first, that increased transparency inhibits central bank independence; and second, that transparency provides sufficient accountability for central banks in democratic societies. Instead, we should remove the goal independence of all central banks that retain it, including the Bank of Japan, the Federal Reserve, and the European Central Bank.
Testing the Ohlson Model: v or not v, that is the Question

This paper tests the sharply differing predictions that emerge in Ohlson?s (1995) model from two assumptions about other information v that is reflected in a firm?s equity market value but not in its current financial statements. We find that neither assumption cleanly fits the data. If v is assumed to be zero, the regression multiple relating dividends to equity market value is reliably positive when it is predicted to be negative. Alternatively, if v impacts future abnormal earnings via Ohlson?s modified AR(1) information dynamic, then the signs on the multiples on current period net income and net capital stock outflows are positive and negative, respectively, when they should be the opposite. Our explanation for these anomalies is that dividends play a profitability-signaling role that is ruled out by Ohlson?s model. Consistent with this, we find that the multiple relating dividends to equity market value is more positive for loss firms, and that Ohlson?s information dynamics are violated in that larger dividends are associated with larger future abnormal earnings, especially for loss firms. Surprisingly, holding constant this profitability-signaling role of dividends, equity market values appear reasonably consistent with v being zero. This implies that the role of information outside key aggregate accounting numbers in current financial statements in setting prices may be more limited than previously thought. Equivalently, current accounting rules may capture the economic information reflected in stock prices in a more timely manner than is typically thought.
A study to detect a material deposition status in fused deposition modeling technology

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, one of the most commonly used by 3D printers, builds parts layer-by-layer by heating and extruding thermoplastic filament. However, building failures such as nozzle clogging, substrate deformation, etc. often occur when using FDM systems. All of these failures are unpredictable and undetectable, resulting in lost time and money. The present research studies a methodology to detect the material deposition status to solve this crux of FDM 3D printing by sensing the inner pressure change of the liquefied material. The paper hypothesized that the change in deposition status of the FDM system affects the current supplied to the feeding motor in the extrusion head due to a chain reaction. This was corroborated by experiments which investigated how supplied current reacts when an unexpected substance invades the deposition area during a build.
Electron Polarimetry: Status and Prospects

Polarized electron beams are used widely for DIS, parity violation, and other experiments. I discuss the methods and instrumentation used to measure the electron beam polarization, as well as the prospects for the future facilities. A number of recent achievements and projects are discussed. More details on the subject can be found in a 1998’s review.
Gain saturation measurements of ytterbium-doped Sr 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F

We report on the experimental measurement of the saturated gain of Yb3+:Sr5(PO4)3F at the 1047-nm laser line as a function of pump fluence and probe energy. The emission line was accurately modeled as a single homogeneous extraction, yielding values of 6.2 × 10–20 cm2 for the emission cross section and 3.3 J/cm2 for the saturation fluence.
Cell Wall Turnover at the Hemispherical Caps of Bacillus subtilis

Cell walls made by Bacillus subtilis bacteria grown in D(2)O medium have buoyant densities in CsCl which are different from walls made by cells grown in H(2)O medium. Cell wall turnover was studied by measuring the change in wall buoyant density after a B. subtilis culture was shifted from growth in D(2)O medium to aeration in H(2)O medium. Walls from the hemispherical caps were isolated after preferential digestion of wall from the cylindrical regions using the B. subtilis autolytic amidase. The walls from the polar regions were found to turn over extensively.
An unusual case of an infected preauricular pit in a child

Abstract Preauricular pits/sinuses (PPS) are common congenital anomalies found in infants and children. Acutely infected PPS may present with cellulitis, furunculosis, or abscess formation. We present a case of a child, with a suspected infected PPS and localized furunculosis whose infection was recalcitrant to standard antibiotics and no recent travel history. On exam, a preauricular (PA) circular puncta with localized cellulitis, pruritus, and tenderness was found. During operative exploration, the PA infection was found to represent cutaneous furuncular myiasis (FM) from a botfly larva. This case highlights the need to consider FM in children, who present with atypical head and neck infections recalcitrant to standard therapy.
Submillimeter Cosmology with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF

The Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS) will provide background-limited sensitivity from 3μm to 700μm. The submillimeter channels will reach NEP≤5×10-17 W/√Hz using bolometers cooled to 100mK by an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator. These bands will have an angular resolution of ~2’ and will achieve a sensitivity of 4–9mJy. These limits are 5 × better than for existing telescopes observing point sources and ~100 × better for observing diffuse sources.
A Little Hot Dark Matter Matters

Astronomers believe that a large part of the mass in the universe is "dark." But what is the nature of this unseen mass? In his research commentary, Primack discusses results reported in the same issue by Gawiser and Silk in which several models of dark matter were examined. The one that best agrees with the data is a model in which the universe is made of 70% cold dark matter, 20% hot dark matter, and 10% ordinary matter. Primack discusses in particular the nature of the hot dark matter, which may consist of neutrinos with mass.
Emerging investigators series: the source and fate of pandemic viruses in the urban water cycle

Several recent high profile outbreaks such as SARS, MERS, Ebola and avian influenzas draw attention to the continued risk of a deadly viral pandemic. In general, these enveloped viruses are not considered a major threat for the wastewater and water industries due to their assumed low concentrations in municipal wastewater and high susceptibilities to degradation in aqueous environments. A number of clinical reports, however, suggest that certain enveloped viruses are excreted in human feces during infection. Furthermore, survivability studies show that many enveloped viruses are capable of retaining infectivity for days to months in aqueous environments. Here, we examine the potential presence and fate of enveloped viruses in the urban water cycle, with emphasis on coronaviruses (e.g., SARS and MERS) and avian influenza viruses. We identify a number of pressing research questions that must be answered before the water and wastewater industries can confidently assure the public, through the dissemination of evidence-based guidance, that irrigation waters, recreation waters, and drinking water sources are safe during a viral outbreak or pandemic event.
Validity of Office Discipline Referral Measures as Indices of School-Wide Behavioral Status and Effects of School-Wide Behavioral Interventions

Office discipline referrals (ODRs) are widely used by school personnel to evaluate student behavior and the behavioral climate of schools. In this article, the authors report the results of a review of the relevant literature to evaluate the validity of ODR data as indices of school-wide behavioral climate, the effects of school-wide behavioral interventions, and differ- ing behavior support needs across schools. They used Messick's unified approach to validity by focusing on examples of evidence for empirical and ethical foundations of interpretations, uses, and social consequences of ODR measures at the school-wide level. The authors also discuss ongoing issues, study limitations, and related recommendations for interpretations and uses of ODR measures as school-wide indices, based on the existing literature.
Photon propagation correction in 3D photoacoustic image reconstruction using Monte Carlo simulation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a new 3-D iterative Monte Carlo algorithm to recover the heterogeneous distribution of molecular absorbers with a solid tumor. Introduction: Spectroscopic imaging (PCT-S) has the potential to identify a molecular species and quantify its concentration with high spatial fidelity. To accomplish this task, tissue attenuation losses during photon propagation in heterogeneous 3D objects is necessary. An iterative recovery algorithm has been developed to extract 3D heterogeneous parametric maps of absorption coefficients implementing a MC algorithm based on a single source photoacoustic scanner and to determine the influence of the reduced scattering coefficient on the uncertainty of recovered absorption coefficient. Material and Methods: This algorithm is tested for spheres and ellipsoids embedded in simulated mouse torso with optical absorption values ranging from 0.01-0.5/cm, for the same objects where the optical scattering is unknown (μs'=7-13/cm), and for a heterogeneous distribution of absorbers. Results: Systemic and statistical errors in ma with a priori knowledge of μs' and g are <2% (sphere) and <4% (ellipsoid) for all ma and without a priori knowledge of ms' is <3% and <6%. For heterogenenous distributions of ma, errors are <4% and <5.5% for each object with a prior knowledge of ms' and g, and to 7 and 14% when μs' varied from 7-13/cm. Conclusions: A Monte Carlo code has been successfully developed and used to correct for photon propagation effects in simulated objects consistent with tumors.
Starting out. The first six months posthospital for spinal cord-injured veterans.

Thirty-one former patients were contacted 6 mo after their completion of a spinal cord injury rehabilitation program: 14, paraplegics; 8, complete quadriplegics; 9, incomplete quadriplegics. Mean age was 38.5 yr. Most respondents were living in a family setting. Income ranged from substantial to barely adequate. Half of the respondents needed no assistance with activities of daily living; for the others, family members were the primary helpers. Almost all described their social contacts as sufficient for their needs. Half had not needed to use community resources for the disabled; the others had used a range of resources. Two respondents were employed, four were in school, six others had plans for eventual employment. Neither extent of disability nor income seemed related to likelihood of entering the workforce. Most respondents reported frequent local travel; some had traveled extensively. The large majority engaged in one or more hobbies and/or physical activities. Just over half of the respondents had had no sexual activity after discharge. Of the sexually active, half had found the experience frustrating. Except for the 30- to 39-yr-old respondents, the majority expressed satisfaction with most aspects of their lives. Language: en
Applicability of Amartya Sen’s human development perspectives to the fields of reproductive health and social work

There is a significant lack of development studies on reproductive health, especially in developing countries. The field of social work has especially marginalized the study of reproductive health. Adding to this deficiency is the lack of meaningful theoretical frameworks guiding the reproductive field, especially in developing countries. This paper explores Amartya Sen’s theoretical perspectives as a possible theoretical framework that both guides the reproductive field and helps social work put reproductive health at the forefront of its agenda.
Fabrication of epitaxial zirconia and ceria thin films with arbitrary dopant and host atom composition

Abstract Epitaxial zirconia and ceria thin films have been of interest recently as components of solid oxide fuel cells and other devices as well as means to study interfacial and strain effects on ion motion. These films are typically fabricated by one of a variety of physical vapor deposition methods. One difficulty in these studies is that the film composition is fixed by the composition of a ceramic or metal alloy target. Here, we demonstrate a means to produce epitaxial films with arbitrary dopant composition and Zr–Ce ratio. Reactive co-sputtering was performed using pure elemental targets of Zr, Ce, Y, and Gd onto (100) MgO substrates. The use of metal targets allowed for high purity and, by varying the relative sputtering powers and deposition time, the composition and thickness of single or multi-layer thin films was controlled. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) films deposited on (100) MgO substrates at a substrate temperature of 400 °C were epitaxially grown along the (100) direction, while gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) films had no epitaxial relationship. Still, it was found that a YSZ film could be used as a buffer layer on the MgO substrates to enable epitaxial growth of the GDC film in the (100) orientation.
Low levels of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein a1 in association with anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. To determine if there is an association between low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1), total cholesterol, and anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are not taking corticosteroids. Methods. We studied 75 outpatients with documented SLE who were attending our hospital clinics: 57 were aCL positive and 18 were aCL negative. Both IgG and IgM aCL levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lipid fractions (total cholesterol, HDL, low-density lipoprotein, very–low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides) were determined by standard enzymatic techniques. Apo A1 and Apo B levels were determined by nephelometry. Results. Patients with SLE who were IgG aCL + had low levels of serum cholesterol (mean ± SD 173.6 ± 34.6 mg/dl) and HDL (43.9 ± 16.3 mg/dl) compared with aCL– SLE patients, normal donors, and patients with other diseases. Apo A1 levels were also low in the aCL + group (95.5 ± 50.9 mg/dl) compared with the aCL– group (152.7 ± 32.6 mg/dl). There was no association of total cholesterol level or aCL titer with clinical activity. Conclusion. These data indicate that in SLE patients, there is an association between antibody against the phospholipid cardiolipin and low levels of cholesterol, HDL, and Apo A1.
On the use of prior information by maximum likelihood reconstructions in emission tomography

We examine the usefulness of prior Information in emission tomography. Maximum likelihood reconstruction algorithms are used in the study. We attempt to answer the question whether prior information on the contents of some areas of an image improves the efficacy of the reconstruction in other areas of the image. We use mathematical phantoms based on the human of brain. Our results show that the prior information that there is no activity outside the brain does not improve the efficacy of reconstructions, but having prior information about the whole brain except one neuroanatomical structure (the region of interest, ROI for short) significantly improves the capability of estimating the activity in the ROI.
Characterization of spinal amino acid release and touch-evoked allodynia produced by spinal glycine or GABAA receptor antagonist

Intrathecal strychnine (glycine antagonist) or bicuculline (GABA(A) antagonist) yields a touch-evoked agitation that is blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism. We examined the effects of intrathecal strychnine and bicuculline on touch-evoked agitation and the spinal release of amino acids. Fifty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared under halothane anesthesia with a lumbar intrathecal catheter and a loop dialysis catheter. Four days after implantation, rats were randomized to receive an intrathecal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (3 microg), strychnine (3 microg) or bicuculline (10 microg), or a combination of N-methyl-D-aspartate with bicuculline or strychnine. The agitation produced by brief light tactile stroking of the flank (tactile allodynia), and the spontaneous spinal release of glutamate, taurine and serine was measured. Intrathecal N-methyl-D-aspartate, strychnine and bicuculline produced similar touch-evoked allodynia. Intrathecal bicuculline and N-methyl-D-aspartate alone evoked a transient spinal release of glutamate and taurine, but not serine, in the 0- 10 min sample, while strychnine did not affect spinal transmitter release at any time. As GABA(A) but not glycine receptor inhibition at equi-allodynic doses increases glutamate release, while the allodynia of both is blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism, we hypothesize that GABA(A) sites regulate presynaptic glutamate release, while glycine regulates the excitability of neurons postsynaptic to glutamatergic terminals.
Growth and nutrient digestion by dairy heifers fed semipurified diets.

Holstein heifers, which weighed an average of 154 kg, were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments in a split plot in time design. Differences in diets were fiber source: solka floc, corn cobs, and corn silage. The major source of added protein was corn gluten meal. Total collection metabolism periods were the final 7 d of each of two 30-d periods. Several heifers had simple digestive disturbances, which appeared to be related to low ruminal pH, while consuming the solka floc diet. Average daily gains were .78, .83, and 1.02 kg/d for treatments solka floc, corn cobs, and corn silage, respectively. Gains were within the range of acceptable growth standards and were higher than reports in the literature for semipurified and purified diets. Protein in corn gluten meal appeared to be utilized efficiently by the heifers for growth. The solka floc and corn cob diets are acceptable for growing dairy heifers where a low mineral content is desired but normal growth rates need to be maintained. The solka floc diet might be improved by including a buffer to help stabilize rumen pH.
RUPTURE OF A PAPILLARY MUSCLE OF THE TRICUSPID VALVE FOLLOWING ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: REPORT OF A CASE.

A case of rupture of a tricuspid papillary muscle due to myocardial infarction, apparently the first to be reported in the English literature, is presented. Anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic reasons for the rarity of such a rupture are advanced.
Managing aging in young adulthood: The “aging” table dancer

Abstract Using the case of the “table-dancer,” a kind of strip-tease dancer, the process of aging is examined as “managed utility.” Challenging typical aging theories that assume old age is a status conferred on individuals at the end of a life course, table-dancers grow old as a managed contingency of self and setting. The aging dancer may leave the occupation, often to return to it later, or carves out a niche for herself in the business, virtually eclipsing retirement. Each solution requires the table-dancer to manage her worklife through the choice of setting and particular roles played in it.
Are validity coefficients understated due to correctable defects in the GPA

The predictive validity of preadmissions measures such as standardized test scores and high school grades may be understated because of correctable defects in both the freshman year and cumulative grade point average (GPA). Measurement error in the criterion artificially depresses the size of observed validity coefficients. A study was conducted using item response theory (IRT) to develop a more reliable measure of performance, called an IRT-based GPA, and tested in a predictive validity study using data from Stanford University. Results indicate increased predictability when the IRT-based GPA is compared with the usual GPA.
Receiver Domains Control the Active-State Stoichiometry of Aquifex aeolicus σ54 Activator NtrC4, as Revealed by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A common challenge with studies of proteins in vitro is determining which constructs and conditions are most physiologically relevant. sigma(54) activators are proteins that undergo regulated assembly to form an active ATPase ring that enables transcription by sigma(54)-polymerase. Previous studies of AAA(+) ATPase domains from sigma(54) activators have shown that some are heptamers, while others are hexamers. Because active oligomers assemble from off-state dimers, it was thought that even-numbered oligomers should dominate, and that heptamer formation would occur when individual domains of the activators, rather than the intact proteins, were studied. Here we present results from electrospray ionization mass spectrometry experiments characterizing the assembly states of intact NtrC4 (a sigma(54) activator from Aquifex aeolicus, an extreme thermophile), as well as its ATPase domain alone, and regulatory-ATPase and ATPase-DNA binding domain combinations. We show that the full-length and activated regulatory-ATPase proteins form hexamers, whereas the isolated ATPase domain, unactivated regulatory-ATPase, and ATPase-DNA binding domain form heptamers. Activation of the N-terminal regulatory domain is the key factor stabilizing the hexamer form of the ATPase, relative to the heptamer.
Characterization of Base Periodicities in Protein-Coding Genes

A Fourier Transform of Equal Symbols (FTES) was applied as a spectral density analysis method to identify DNA bases that repeat at any frequency in selected protein-coding genes. The analysis especially focused on identification of bases responsible for the dominant signal at frequency f=1/3 found in all protein-coding genes. The study included homologous sequences from two gene families and multiple unrelated sequences from single organisms. No signal pattern or spectrum specifically characterized either gene family. However, the patterns of bases comprising the signal at f=1/3 suggested the presence of a genome-specific label for protein-coding genes from the same genome. Data suggest that three factors form the informational basis for the signal structure at f=1/3: (1) codon base positional bias; (2) codon preference; and (3) codon arrangement. Quantitative measure of the contribution of each base to the period-3 signal suggests a basis to distinguish protein-coding genes from different organisms. Application of the FTES analysis characterized genes from Escherichia coli as different from the genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Preliminary analyses of genes from these and three other bacteria by artificial neural nets, using FTES parameters, support our suggestion that the period-3 informational structure contains labels for the genomic origins of protein-coding genes. FTES analysis alone or in combination with other informational measures may reveal pathways and processes of gene flow into and through natural systems of microbial cell populations.
Deriving inherent optical properties from water color: a multiband quasi-analytical algorithm for optically deep waters

For open ocean and coastal waters, a multiband quasi-analytical algorithm is developed to retrieve absorption and backscattering coefficients, as well as absorption coefficients of phytoplankton pigments and gelbstoff. This algorithm is based on remote-sensing reflectance models derived from the radiative transfer equation, and values of total absorption and backscattering coefficients are analytically calculated from values of remote-sensing reflectance. In the calculation of total absorption coefficient, no spectral models for pigment and gelbstoff absorption coefficients are used. Actually those absorption coefficients are spectrally decomposed from the derived total absorption coefficient in a separate calculation. The algorithm is easy to understand and simple to implement. It can be applied to data from past and current satellite sensors, as well as to data from hyperspectral sensors. There are only limited empirical relationships involved in the algorithm, and they are for less important properties, which implies that the concept and details of the algorithm could be applied to many data for oceanic observations. The algorithm is applied to simulated data and field data, both non-case1, to test its performance, and the results are quite promising. More independent tests with field-measured data are desired to validate and improve this algorithm.
One mind or two? How psychiatrists and psychologists reconcile faith and science.

Utilizing qualitative interviews, this study showed how, to what extent, and why psychiatrists and psychologists of Judeo-Christian religious orientations or nonaffiliated believers in Michigan were willing or reluctant to integrate religious paradigms in their mental health practices. Most of the study participants were found to believe that medical-scientific and religious paradigms are equally important and may coexist or even be integrated in psychotherapeutic practice. However, actual attempts to integrate them usually reflected the practitioners’ personal religious backgrounds and initiatives and/or were client driven. Yet these integration initiatives were found to face powerful institutional impediments such as politico-cultural norms of separation of religion from secular institutions and professional norms.
Temporal video analysis

Detection of events and actions in video entails substantial processing of very large, even open-ended, video streams. The video information retrieval community has substantially focused on a single frame approach for retrieval and classification tasks. While this approach is sufficiently powerful for certain types of semantic concepts, there are more complicated categories such as events or motion that require more than that provided by a single frame. We present a simple and effective way of extracting time variant information in video data using three perspective views into a video stack.
A study of the interaction between a wake vortex and an encountering airplane

An analytical study of the mutual interaction between a wake vortex and an encountering airplane has been conducted. The interaction was calculated on the basis of conservation of angular momentum of the wake vortex and the encountering airplane in the roll axis. For the nominal conditions assumed in the study, the interaction reduced the roll response in the lust second by 20 percent compared to the classical method of calculating the response. However, depending on the conditions assumed, the reduction varied from 0 to 30 percent which could be highly significant in determining separation standards for airplanes. Controlled experiments are needed to determine the exact amount of interaction.
VARIATION IN HOMOEOTYPIC DIVISION IN RANUNCULUS ACRIS

The writer has been engaged for several years in cytological studies of various Ranunculaceae and has reported work on Ranunculus acris (Sorokin, 1924, I927a, 1927b). In the second paper the early stages of heterotypic division were discussed. The present paper gives the results of the study of homoeotypic division. Two entirely different types of this division and one intermediate type were found in the plants investigated. The first type was identical with the heterohomoeotypic scheme, the second type deviated considerably from the generally accepted sequence.
Ultrastructural differentiation of the epithelium and mucous glands of the esophagus in the chick embryo

Esophagi of White Leghron chick embryos, six days to hatching, were fixed in 5% glutaraldehyde in a cacodylate-sucrose buffer, postfixed in 1% OsO4, dehydrated and embedded in Araldite. Tissues were sectioned with glass knives and viewed with a Philips EM 100C. The epithelium in early stages of development is characterized by small intercellular spaces, few cell processes and few desmosomes. In contrast the differentiated epithelium contains numerous cell processes, large intercellular spaces and numerous desmosomes. Mucin appeared in the mucous glands at 17 days.
Λ-Minimax Estimation of a Multivariate Location Parameter

Abstract The search for a linear Λ-minimax estimate (see, e.g., [19]) of a multivariate location parameter (with quadratic loss) is reduced to a problem of maximizing a continuous function on a compact, convex set—a problem which can be solved numerically with little difficulty. This reduction is accomplished by showing that a minimax theorem applies, thus changing a difficult minimax calculation to a simpler maximin problem. The technique is observed to be applicable to other, related problems. Also considered is the choice of experiment under the assumption that the decision maker can, at some cost, improve the specification of his prior distribution.
An analysis of paternal age and 47,+21 in 35,000 new prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis data from the New York State Chromosome Registry: no significant effect.

In 35,680 fetuses of women who had prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis done upon amniotic fluid specimens obtained during 2nd trimester amniocentesis and in whom there was no increased cytogenetic risk except for age, there was no statistically significant evidence for an increase of 47,+21 at any paternal age after adjustment for maternal age. The ratio of observed-to-expected numbers in fathers less than 30 years old was 1.0 and in fathers 40 years or older was 0.9 when compared with numbers derived from maternal-age-specific rates in men 30–39 years old. The ratio was 1.1 for those younger than 34 years when compared with rates in fathers aged 34–39 years old. Only for men 55 years or older was there any, even suggestive, increase. The ratio was roughly 1.5 (9 observed to about 6 expected). This was not statistically significant, and moreover, the increase such as it was, was in men married to women 37–42 years old. Regression analyses using several additive parental age models introducing a parabolic function for paternal age, failed to reveal any paternal age contribution.
An analysis of the linear pulsed oscillator

This oscillator, similar in design to the type used with high-frequency circuits whenever a stable train of pulsed oscillations is required, was constructed especially for analyzing the effect of feedback on the oscillator's transient response. The relation of zeros and poles of a network may be observed experimentally.
Role of cyclic nucleotides in the regulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake and efflux kinetics.

The effects of cyclic AMP and/or cyclic GMP upon various mitochondrial parameters were investigated. It was found that these nucleotides were unable to promote either inhibition of Ca2+ uptake and/or efflux or phosphorylation of ADP. These results are in contrast with those of other investigators, and suggest that cyclic nucleotides do not chemically mediate mitochondrial activity.
The effects of IMF programs in the Third World: Debate and evidence from Latin America

Abstract This article reviews the debate about the effects of IMF-sponsored stabilization programs in the Third World. After examining recent studies by Fund economists, results of a new study on a Latin American country set are presented. In this research, IMF programs are associated with insignificant changes in the current account, significant improvements in the overall balance of payments, increases in inflation, mixed effects on growth, and a strong and consistent pattern of reduction in labor share of income. The latter result is incorporated into a distribution-oriented critique of Fund policy.