cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STATIUS' SILVAE AND THE POETICS OF EMPIRE

Statius' Silvae, written late in the reign of Domitian (AD 81–96), are a new kind of poetry that confronts the challenge of imperial majesty or private wealth by new poetic strategies and forms. As poems of praise, they delight in poetic excess whether they honour the emperor or the poet's friends. Yet extravagant speech is also capacious speech. It functions as a strategy for conveying the wealth and grandeur of villas, statues and precious works of art as well as the complex emotions aroused by the material and political culture of empire. The Silvae are the product of a divided, self-fashioning voice. Statius was born in Naples of non-aristocratic parents. His position as outsider to the culture he celebrates gives him a unique perspective on it. The Silvae are poems of anxiety as well as praise, expressive of the tensions within the later period of Domitian's reign.
Hot-switched lifetime and damage characteristics of MEMS switch contacts

Using a custom built contact testing system, direct current micro contact damage under hot-switching conditions was explored in ruthenium-on-ruthenium contacts operated at a contact force of approximately 400 µN. For the first time, contact damage on making and breaking contact under bias (leading and trailing edge hot switching) is compared. Trailing-edge hot switching leads to significantly higher adhesion (1.5–4 times higher) than leading-edge hot switching. The high-voltage tests (3.5 V) lead to polarity-dependent material transfer, with material moving in the direction of the electric field. The amount of material transfer does not depend strongly on the current limit from 0.78 to 380 mA. The low voltage (0.71 V) tests result in much less damage, and the material transfer does not have a clear directionality. However, the amount of damage does increase significantly as the current limit is increased from 16 to 78 mA. Also observed for the first time is a new type of high-current, short duration current spike associated with hot switching events at voltages above 1.5 V. The fact that these spikes occur at the higher voltage but not at the lower voltage suggests (but does not prove) that they are associated with the polarity dependent material transfer.
Secreted phosphoprotein-24 kDa (Spp24) attenuates BMP-2-stimulated Smad 1/5 phosphorylation and alkaline phosphatase induction and was purified in a protective complex with alpha2 -Macroglobulins From Serum.

Secreted phosphoprotein-24 kDa (Spp24) binds cytokines of the bone morphogenetic protein/transforming growth factor-β (BMP/TGFβ) superfamily and is one of the most abundant serum phosphoproteins synthesized by the liver. Little is known about how Spp24 binding affects BMP signal transduction and osteoblastic differentiation or how this labile protein is transported from the liver to remote tissues, such as bone. When Spp24 was administered to W-20-17 mesenchymal stem cells with rhBMP-2, short-term Smad1/5 phosphorylation was inhibited, intermediate-term alkaline phosphatase (ALP) induction was blunted, and long-term mineralization was unaffected. This supports the hypothesis that Spp24 proteolysis restricts the duration of its regulatory effects, but offers no insight into how Spp24 is transported intact from the liver to bone. When Spp24 was immunopurified from serum and subjected to native PAGE and Western blotting, a high molecular weight band of >500 kDa was found. Under reducing SDS-PAGE, a 24 kDa band corresponding to monomeric Spp24 was liberated, suggesting that Spp24 is bound to a complex linked by disulfide bonds. However, such a complex cannot be disrupted by 60 mM EDTA under non-reducing condition or in purification buffers containing 600 mM NaCl and 0.1% Tween-20 at pH 2.7-8.5. LC-MS/MS analysis of affinity-purified, non-reducing SDS-PAGE separated, and trypsin digested bands showed that the Spp24 was present in a complex with three α(2) -macroglobulins (α(2) -macroglobulin [α(2) M], pregnancy zone protein [PZP] and complement C3 [C3]), as well as ceruloplasmin and the protease inhibitor anti-thrombin III (Serpin C1), which may protect Spp24 from proteolysis.
Technology and the boundaries of the hospital: three emerging technologies.

U.S. hospitals have proved remarkably adept at altering their service offerings to incorporate new technologies. New technologies threatened to undercut hospitals’ central role in health care delivery in the 1980s. An array of new technologies promise yet again to alter the boundaries of hospitals’ franchise. These technologies will not only continue the shift away from acute, inpatient care that we have seen for the past thirty years but will also challenge hospitals to collaborate more effectively with physicians and technology developers. How hospitals and policymakers respond to these emerging technologies will help determine whether hospitals remain at the center of the U.S. health system.
Race, socioeconomic status, and return migration to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on the 29th of August 2005 and displaced virtually the entire population of the city. Soon after, observers predicted the city would become whiter and wealthier as a result of selective return migration, although challenges related to sampling and data collection in a post-disaster environment have hampered evaluation of these hypotheses. In this article, we investigate return to the city by displaced residents over a period of approximately 14 months following the storm, describing overall return rates and examining differences in return rates by race and socioeconomic status. We use unique data from a representative sample of pre-Katrina New Orleans residents collected in the Displaced New Orleans Residents Pilot Survey. We find that black residents returned to the city at a much slower pace than white residents even after controlling for socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics. However, the racial disparity disappears after controlling for housing damage. We conclude that blacks tended to live in areas that experienced greater flooding and hence suffered more severe housing damage which, in turn, led to their delayed return to the city. The full-scale survey of displaced residents being fielded in 2009–2010 will show whether the repopulation of the city was selective over a longer period.
A Test of Wagner’s Heuristics for the Spare Parts Inventory Control Problem

Over the years, Wagnerâ€™s (1975) heuristic rules appealed to the practitioners because they had simple data requirements, were easy to understand and hence easy to apply. In his algorithmic solution, Wagner assumes that the exact distribution of demand (during lead time) is known. If such a distribution is not available, he recommends using the normal distribution. The authorâ€™s purpose is to compare the cost of the solutions provided by Wagnerâ€™s (1975) heuristics to optimal (Archibald & Silver, 1978) and determine their quality. Their second goal is to perform sensitivity analysis on the results with respect to demandâ€™s skewness, the ratio of ordering cost to carrying cost. The authorâ€™s third goal is to use as much actual data as they possibly can.
Hybrid control of flexible multi-body systems

Abstract In constrained systems of rigid and flexible bodies, the gross rigid body motion and elastic deformation cannot be controlled independently because of the coupling between these two motions. A hybrid control method for suppressing the vibration of a geometrically nonlinear flexible multi-body system is proposed in this paper. This method utilizes both the passive and active control concepts. In the passive control strategy, flexible components in the system are manufactured from fiber-reinforced composite laminates which have high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. On the other hand, the active control scheme used in this paper utilizes measurable velocity and acceleration signals to produce the command signals required to activate the actuator forces. A small number of sensors and controllers with constant gain factors are used in order to obtain a low-cost and simple control system. The generalized active control forces associated with the system generalized coordinates are developed using the virtual work and are written in terms of the coupled set of reference and elastic coordinates. The system differential equations of motion are developed using Lagrange's equation and the Jacobian matrix of the nonlinear algebraic constraint equations describing mechanical joints in the system is used to identify a set of independent generalized coordinates. The associated independent differential equations are identified and are written in the state space formulation. The characteristics of the proposed hybrid control are evaluated through computer simulations of a seven-body flexible vehicle. The performance characteristics of the hybrid control are also compared to the performance characteristics of the passive and active controls.
Aortic Arch Advancement for Aortic Coarctation and Hypoplastic Aortic Arch in Neonates and Infants

Background The optimal treatment for infants with aortic coarctation and hypoplastic aortic arch is controversial. The goal of this study was to report the short-term and mid-term outcomes of aortic arch advancement (AAA) in infants with hypoplastic aortic arch. Methods All infants who underwent AAA at our institution from 1995 to 2012 were included. AAA consisted of coarctectomy and end-to-side anastomosis of the descending aorta to the distal ascending aorta/proximal arch through a median sternotomy. The cohort was divided into four groups: (1) isolated AAA (n = 29, 11%), (2) AAA with closure of ventricular septal defect (n = 56, 20%), (3) AAA with other biventricular repairs (n = 115, 42%), and (4) AAA as part of single-ventricle palliation (n = 75, 27%). Results The cohort included 275 patients: 125 (45%) were female, and the median age was 14 days (interquartile range, 7–34 days). Genetic abnormalities were present in 48 patients (17%). Neurologic adverse events occurred in 3 patients (1%), all in group 4. Left bronchial compression was seen in 2 patients (0.7%); only one required intervention. Vocal cord dysfunction was noted in 36 of 95 patients (38%) on routine laryngoscopy. Only 1 patient had clinical residual dysfunction at the last follow-up visit. Perioperative mortality was 3% (n = 8). At a median follow-up time of 6 years, 8 patients (3%) had reinterventions at a median time of 5 months (3–17 months) after repair. Conclusions AAA is a safe, effective, and durable operation with low rates of adverse events and mid-term reintervention. The advantages include native tissue-to-tissue reconstruction and preserved potential for growth. As such, it is the ideal technique for the management of hypoplastic aortic arch in neonates and infants.
Where does racial discrimination occur? An experimental analysis across neighborhood and housing unit characteristics

Abstract This paper examines racial discrimination across several neighborhood and housing unit characteristics including racial composition, rent, and distance from the urban core. We find that African Americans face higher rates of discrimination than whites in a wide range of racially mixed neighborhoods, in higher rent areas, closer to central cities, and in low vacancy areas. These results are robust to various parameterizations of the local smoothing empirical specification and within a multivariate nonlinear parametric estimation technique. The location of discrimination supports the current/future customer prejudice and perceived preference hypotheses as a cause of discrimination in housing markets but not the landlord taste-based hypothesis.
Testing the Validity of the Halverson Developmental Sequences for Skipping

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the validity of developmental sequences hypothesized by Halverson (Roberton & Halverson, 1984) for the arm and leg action in skipping. Method: Children's skipping movements were categorized into the Halverson sequences using (a) cross-sectional video data collected on one hundred and fifty 5- to 12-year-olds, and (b) longitudinal film data collected on 7 children followed from age 3 through high school. Both data sets were graphed separately across age to see if the sequence levels rose and fell in accordance with developmental theory. Results: The longitudinal data indicated tentative validity of the sequences although study of younger children will be needed to validate the earliest levels of arm and leg action. In contrast to the children in the longitudinal study, relatively few children in the cross-sectional study had reached the most advanced levels of the skip by 12 years of age. Supporting the findings of Loovis and Butterfield (2000), the cross-sect...
Greater ethanol inhibition of presynaptic dopamine release in C57BL/6J than DBA/2J mice: Role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Abstract The mesolimbic dopamine system, originating in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), has been heavily implicated in the reinforcing effects of ethanol. Recent slice voltammetry studies have shown that ethanol inhibits dopamine release selectively during high-frequency activity that elicits phasic dopamine release shown to be important for learning and reinforcement. Presently, we examined ethanol inhibition of electrically evoked NAc dopamine in two mouse strains with divergent dopamine responses to ethanol, C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) mice. Previous electrophysiology and microdialysis studies have demonstrated greater ethanol-induced VTA dopaminergic firing and NAc dopamine elevations in DBA compared to C57 mice. Additionally, DBA mice have greater ethanol responses in dopamine-related behaviors, including hyperlocomotion and conditioned place preference. Currently, we demonstrate greater sensitivity of ethanol inhibition of NAc dopamine signaling in C57 compared to DBA mice. The reduced sensitivity to ethanol inhibition in DBA mice may contribute to the overall greater ethanol-induced dopamine signaling and related behaviors observed in this strain. NAc cholinergic activity is known to potently modulate terminal dopamine release. Additionally, ethanol is known to interact with multiple aspects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activity. Therefore, we examined ethanol-mediated inhibition of dopamine release at two ethanol concentrations (80 and 160 mM) during bath application of the non-selective nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine, as well as compounds selective for the β2-(dihydro-β-erythroidine hydrobromide; DhβE) and α6-(α-conotoxin MII [H9A; L15A]) subunit-containing receptors. Mecamylamine and DhβE decreased dopamine release and reduced ethanol’s inhibitory effects on dopamine in both DBA and C57 mice. Further, α-conotoxin also reduced the dopamine release and the dopamine-inhibiting effects of ethanol at the 80 mM, but not 160 mM, concentration. These data suggest that ethanol is acting in part through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or downstream effectors, to reduce dopamine release during high-frequency activity.
Arteriovenous Malformation in the Retina of a Monkey

A vascular abnormality of the retina of a rhesus monkey was studied with fluorescein angiography, microvascular examination after silicone rubber injection, and histological examination. Fluorescein angiography revealed that this abnormality was an arteriovenous shunt. Microvascular examination showed a vascular abnormality on the sclera and an end-to-end communication of the arteriovenous malformation that was a continuation of abnormally large central retinal vessels observed just before their insertion into the optic nerve in the orbit. Histologic examination proved that the arteriovenous shunt originated from the central retinal vessels in the orbit; that degeneration of the retina and the choroid was extensive near the abnormal vessels; that the abnormal vessels had normal endothelium and adventitia but remarkably widened media; and that the cavernous hamangioma-like structure in the optic disk was clearly distinguishable from a cavernous hamangioma.
Is “rejected” feedback really rejected?: Effects of informativeness on reactions to positive and negative personality feedback

Forty-eight undergraduate males completed a psychological test and were told one of two things regarding their test-taking behavior. In one condition, people were led to believe that they had been revealing in their responses (the informative condition); in the other condition, people were given no information about how revealing they had been (the noinformative condition). They were then given a positive or negative personality interpretation concerning assertiveness. The impact of this feedback was measured by feedback recipients’ (a) accuracy and acceptance ratings; (b) recall; and (c) self-descriptive statements in a purportedly independent setting. Positive feedback was rated as more accurate and accepted more than was negative feedback. For subjects who were told that they had been informative, negative feedback tended to be recalled more than was positive feedback. In a purportedly independent experiment, subjects completed questionnaires containing items about their assertiveness. Under the informative condition only, subjects who had received negative feedback rated themselves less favorably than did subjects who had received positive feedback. A possible theoretical reason for the informativeness results is discussed, and implications are drawn for the clinical setting.
Time and Location Power Based Malicious Code Detection Techniques for Smartphones

There is a growing number of viruses, malware, and other threats designed to gain access to system resources and information stored on smartphones. This paper examines the effectiveness of three techniques for detecting malicious code based on individual power consumption profiles with a focus on time and location. This project used Google's Android platform for testing and data collection. The paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of each of these techniques.
Biomechanics of chelipeds in some decapod crustaceans

The major chelipeds of five species of decapod crustaceans were studied with reference to lever system mechanical advantage, pattern of occlusive geometry, and force/pressure developed during cheliped closure by intact animals. Every cheliped type was found to possess a linear array of two to four distinctive regions of occlusion. The factors responsible for the differences in occlusive design are discussed. It is suggested that crustacean major chelipeds must be regarded as regionally-specialized, multifunctional appendages.
A case of superior vena caval thrombosis associated with periarteritis nodosa.

Summary 1. A case of superior vena oaval thrombosis is described in a child of nine years. 2. The clinical progress suggested the possibility of a necrotizing angiitis and autopsy examination disclosed a periarteritis nodosa. 3. The relationship of periarteritis nodosa and superior vena caval thrombosis due to “non-specific mediastinitis” is discussed. We are most grateful to Professor A. C. P. Campbell, Professor of Pathology, University of Manchester, for his criticism and advice. Un cas de thrombose dans la veine cave superieure, associee avec une periarterite noueuse. Un cas de thrombose de la veine cave superieure chez un enfant de 9 ans, est decrit. La progression clinique a suggere la possibilite d'une angiite necrotique et l'autopsie a revele une periarterite noueuse. Le rapport existant entre la periarterite noueuse et la thrombose de la veine cave superieure due a une « mediastinite non specifique », est developpe. Ein Fall von Thrombose der oberen Hohlvene in Zusammenhang mit Periarteriitis nodosa. Thrombose der Vena cava superior bei einem 9jahrigen Kind ist beschrieben. Der klinische Verlauf wies auf die Moglichkeit einer nekrotisierenden Angioitis hin, und die Autopsie enthullte die Anwesenheit einer Periarteriitis nodosa. Die Beziehung von Periarteriitis nodosa zur Thrombose der oberen Hohlvene infolge einer “unspezifischen Mediastinitis” wird einer Brorterung unterzogen. Un caso de trombosis en la vena cava superior, asociada con periarteritis nodular. Describese un caso de trombosis en la vena cava superior de un nino de 9 anos de edad. La progresion clinica sugirio la posibilidad de angiitis necrotica, y la autopsia revelo periarteritis nodular. Discutese la relacion existente entre la periarteritis nodular y la trombosis en la vena cava superior debida a “mediastinitis no especifica”.
Spring, a novel RING finger protein that regulates synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

The synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) interacts with syntaxin 1 and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) to form a ternary solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex that is essential for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We report a novel RING finger protein, Spring, that specifically interacts with SNAP-25. Spring is exclusively expressed in brain and is concentrated at synapses. The association of Spring with SNAP-25 abolishes the ability of SNAP-25 to interact with syntaxin 1 and VAMP2 and prevents the assembly of the SNARE complex. Overexpression of Spring or its SNAP-25-interacting domain reduces Ca2+-dependent exocytosis from PC12 cells. These results indicate that Spring may act as a regulator of synaptic vesicle exocytosis by controlling the availability of SNAP-25 for the SNARE complex formation.
Identical progression of juvenile hereditary nephronophthisis in monozygotic twins

A pair of monozygotic twins with juvenile hereditary nephronophthisis was studiedfor nearly ten years. Astonishing similarity was observed in the clinical course, progression, and histopathology of the disease. In a review of the natural history of various diseases in identical twins it was noted that diseases of infectious or immunologic pathogenesis usually do not follow identical courses. Diseases due to inborn errors of metabolism are more likely to do so. It is suggested that juvenile hereditary nephronophthisis might be due to an inborn error of metabolism.
A low-voltage low-power injection-locked oscillator for wearable health monitoring systems

This paper reports a low-voltage low-power injection-locked oscillator suitable for short range wireless transmitter applications in a wireless body area network (WBAN). Low-power transmitter with high efficiency is a major design challenge for short range wireless communication. Unlike conventional transmitters used for cellular communication, injection-locked transmitter shows reduced power consumption and high transmitter efficiency. The core block of an injection-locked transmitter is an injection-locked oscillator. In this work a low-voltage low-power injection-locked LC oscillator has been designed and fabricated employing self-cascode structure and body-terminal coupling. The proposed oscillator has been realized using 0.18-μm RF CMOS process. Experimental results indicate that the prototype oscillator can operate with a supply voltage as low as 0.9 V and consumes only 1.4 mW of power. The relatively low-voltage and low-power operation of the design makes it highly suitable for low-power transmitter applications.
Blurring the Boundaries between City and Countryside in Photography

In his article "Blurring the Boundaries between City and Countryside in Photography," Steven Jacobs discusses how, in recent decades, a new landscape has emerged in which the differences between city and countryside have been blurred. As a result, the urbanized environment is increasingly viewed and interpreted as a landscape. It is because of the hybridity of this contemporary cityscape that urban planners such as Mirko Zardini have argued for a revaluation of the notion of the picturesque linked with a sensitivity to irregularity and a mixture of the cultural and the natural. Since the late 1960s, the post-urban landscape has become an important motif in art photography as well. Jacobs demonstrates how artists and photographers such as Robert Smithson, Joel Sternfeld, John Pfahl, Jeff Wall, and Andreas Gursky pay attention to the whimsical environment in which natural and artificial elements merge.
A Two-Stage Procedure for Selecting the Best of k Exponential Distributions

The problem of selecting the best of k exponential distributions with different guarantee times and the same unknown variance is considered. A two-stage procedure, similar to the one considered by Bechhofer, Dunnett and Sobel (1954), is given. Some specific guidelines for selecting the first-stage sample size are also given.
Celebrating history and innovation: the Louisiana Purchase Digital Library project at Louisiana State University

For over a decade, the Louisiana State University Libraries have been engaged in providing digital access to their many varied special collections. The most recent of these projects is a collaboration between the LSU Libraries, the New Orleans Public Library, and the LSU Digital Library, focused on the upcoming bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase on 30 April 2003. “Louisiana Purchase bicentennial: a heritage explored” will be a collection of more than 25,000 images of primary source material from the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s held by the LSU libraries and the New Orleans Public Library. The collection is scheduled to be completed and online in March of 2003, and will be available for use by educators, school children, and independent researchers. This article details the process of digitizing such a varied collection, and the lessons learned from it.
Different adaptations of the same peptide motif for tRNA functional contacts by closely homologous tRNA synthetases.

The N73 nucleotide at the end of the tRNA acceptor stem is commonly used by tRNA synthetases for discrimination. Because only a few synthetase−tRNA cocrystal structures have been determined, understanding of the molecular basis for N73 discrimination is limited. Here we investigated the possibility that, for at least some synthetases, the capacity to recognize different N73 nucleotides resides in the variable sequence of the loop of motif 2, a motif found in all class II enzymes. In the cocrystal of the class II yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, atomic groups of the G73 discriminator of tRNAAsp interact with three side chains of the enzyme. We examined lysyl-tRNA synthetase, a close structural homologue of the aspartyl enzyme. Different substitutions were introduced into the Escherichia coli enzyme (A73 discriminator) to make its loop more like that of the human enzyme (G73 discriminator). Our data show that the loop of motif 2 of the lysine enzyme makes tRNA functional contacts, as predicted from the struc...
Evaluating photodimerization of 6-methylcoumarin mediated by cucurbit[8]uril through mechanical grinding – Supramolecular effects of additives

Abstract 6-Methylcoumarin (1) upon mechanical grinding with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) or other additives (e.g. thiourea) showed enhanced photodimerization efficiency with exclusive formation of head-to-head photodimer. Mechanical grinding of 1 with CB[8] resulted in host–guest interaction with red-shift fluorescence in the solid-state. This red shift in fluorescence emission is similar to the red-shifted emission observed for CB[8]–1 host–guest complex in solution at 298 K. Phosphorescence emission profile in the solid state at 77 K for mechanically ground 1 with CB[8] was similar to the phosphorescence profile observed for CB[8]–1 host–guest complex at 77 K. Single crystal X-ray determination of 1 from water reveals that the coumarins are oriented in a head-to-head fashion with the distance between the double bonds being 4.695 A, a distance that is greater than the required Schmidt distance of 4.2 A for efficient photodimerization in the crystalline state. Enhancement of photoreactivity of 1 upon mechanical grinding with additives appears to be the result of a combination of factors, viz.: (a) crystalline imperfection/defects that are likely formed during mechanical grinding and/or; (b) formation of a new phase due to mechanical grinding (we were not able to observe any noticeable change in crystallinity, while the formation of an amorphous phase could not be ruled out completely).
An examination of naturalistic windshield wiper usage

In the course of a field operational test, 96 participants drove instrumented vehicles from which driving data was recorded. Windshield wiper activity was examined in order to provide data regarding the naturalistic use of wiper systems. The results have implications for the design and durability of windshield wipers, wiper motors, windshields, and glazing treatments. Overall, wipers were used 8.6% of the time. When ambient lighting diminished, a shift towards higher wiper speeds was observed. Average headway time and range increased, and speed decreased, when wipers were engaged. Finally, middle-aged drivers used wipers more often than their younger and older counterparts.
A Case Report of a Patient with Raynaud’s Phenomenon Undergoing Multiple Endodontic Procedures

Abstract The pulp represents a terminal circulation. This fact, in addition to other anatomical limitations such as a large volume of pulp: blood supply ratio and the inability of pulp tissue to swell because of its dentinal confines, all may contribute to the susceptibility of the pulp to infection and necrosis. Raynaud’s disease primarily affects the terminal vasculature of the fingers, toes or nose. Is there a relationship between patients with Raynaud’s disease and the status of the terminal vasculature of their dental pulps? The presented case opens up the question and possibly makes a correlation between peripheral vascular disease and pulpal disease.
Relation of flat subduction to magmatism and deformation in the western United States

Flat subduction of the Farallon plate beneath the western United States during the Laramide orogeny was caused by the combined effects of oceanic plateau subduction and unusually great suction in the mantle wedge, the latter of which was caused by the shallowing slab approaching the North American craton root. Once in contact with basal North America, the slab cooled and hydrated the lithosphere. Upon removal, asthenospheric contact with lithosphere resulted in magma production that was especially intense where the basal lithosphere was fertile (in what now is the Basin and Range Province), and this heating weakened the lithosphere and made it convectively unstable. Small-scale convection has since affected many areas. With slab sinking and unloading, the western United States elevated into a broad plateau, and the weak portion gravitationally collapsed. With development of a transform plate boundary, the western part of the weak zone became entrained with the Pacifi c plate, and deformation there is dominated by shear. 2 Humphreys mwr204-04 1st pages E. Surface heat flow P-wave velocity D. Seismic velocity at 100 km Background: S-wave velocity/2 100-175 km C. S-wave velocity
Quantitative Determination of Sugars in Various Food Products

Glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose were determined in 128 processed food products by high pressure liquid chromatography. Sugars in the foods were separated on a μ-Bondapticarbohydrate column with acetonitrile-water (82 + 18) as mobile phase. Eighty-two baby food products, six types of crackers, four diet or breakfast bars, eleven condiments, twelve cookies and candies, and thirteen miscellaneous food products were analyzed and the sugar contents tabulated.
Quality and Yield of Modern and Old-Type Chickens

Abstract THE present study was supplementary to a cooperative investigation of three research groups within the U.S. Department of Agriculture 1 to compare the flavor of modern chickens with that of those representative of the 1930's. Results on flavor from all laboratories have been reported by Hanson et al. (1959) together with details on the breeds and the rations under study and the procedures employed. This report presents data on some quality aspects other than flavor and on yield of meat from roasted three- and five-pound (live-weight) male and female chickens from four different breed-ration groups as follows: Fast-growing, modern breed—1956 ration Fast-growing, modern breed—1930 ration Slow-growing, old-type breed—1956 ration Slow-growing, old-type breed—1930 ration The four groups of chickens were compared within each weight-sex category for tenderness evaluated by palatability panel and Kramer Shear Press, for color by Gardner Color Difference Meter, and for yield. For some groups …
Individuation in Quantum Mechanics and Space-Time

Two physical approaches—as distinct, under the classification of Mittelstaedt, from formal approaches—to the problem of individuation of quantum objects are considered, one formulated in spatiotemporal terms and one in quantum mechanical terms. The spatiotemporal approach itself has two forms: one attributed to Einstein and based on the ontology of space-time points, and the other proposed by Howard and based on intersections of world lines. The quantum mechanical approach is also provided here in two forms, one based on interference and another based on a new Quantum Principle of Individuation (QPI). It is argued that the space-time approach to individuation fails and that the quantum approach offers several advantages over it, including consistency with Leibniz’s Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Lines in the Behavioral Health Client: A Perspective

Abstract Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are used in many dijjerent patient populations. The indications for use vary and include infusions of hyperalimentation, chemotherapeutic agents, hyperosmolar solutions, antibiotics, or long-term rehydration. However, on occasion, there are clients who do not fit the typical criteria for PICC insertion. This includes, but is not limited to, those individuals who are receiving frequent intravenous (IV) “sticks” or even short-term infusions of irritating drugs. The behavioral health client is one who may not be the typical PICC or IV patient but who may benefit from the placement of a PICC for certain treatment modalities.
Compression of intrapulmonary bronchi by abnormally branching pulmonary arteries associated with absent pulmonary valves

In 3 patients with absent pulmonary valve syndrome and absent ductus arteriosus, the lungs were injected and analyzed postmortem using morphometric techniques. Two patients had tetralogy of Fallot and 1 had D-transposition of the great arteries, the latter being the first autopsy-proved case of absent pulmonary valve with transposition. In addition to the expected dilatation of the central pulmonary arteries and compression of the mainstem bronchi, postmortem pulmonary arteriography revealed a bizarre pattern of hilar branching. Instead of single segmental arteries, tufts of arteries arose which entwined and compressed the intrapulmonary bronchi. In all 3 patients the histologic structure of the pulmonary arteries was abnormal. The elastic lamina of the media of the right and left pulmonary arteries were increased in number outside the lung, but were decreased within the lung. At both sites, the elastic laminae were thickened and fragmented. In the 2 ventilator-dependent patients, there was slight medial hypertrophy and extension of muscle into normally nonmuscular arteries. In 1 of the 2 cases in which the number of bronchial generations was counted, they were decreased, and in the 1 case in which bronchial count was unknown, alveolar multiplication was severely impaired. Therefore, our data may explain why, in some patients with absent pulmonary valve syndrome, relief of compression of the mainstem bronchi alone does not appreciably alleviate or reverse severe respiratory disease.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Microstructure and Molecular Mobilities in Swollen Nafion Membranes

The microphase segregation in the Nafion (DuPont trademark) perfluorinated membrane at different water contents was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. As the degree of solvation increased, we observed the formation of water clusters containing up to ca. 100 water molecules. In contrast to the conventional network models, the water clusters do not form a continuous hydrophilic subphase. The cluster size distribution is rather wide and evolves in time due to formation and break-up of temporary bridges between the clusters. This dynamic behavior of the cluster system allows for the macroscopic transfer of water and counterion. The calculated diffusion coefficients of water were found to be on the same order as the experimental ones.
A floating spherical Gaussian orbital model of molecular structure. ESCA chemical shifts for inner shell electrons for small hydrocarbons

Abstract The FSGO model is used to predict the ESCA chemical shifts for a series of small hydrocarbons. The model does surprisingly well, in view of its simplicity. Some insight is obtained into the make-up of basis sets necessary for making accurate predictions, e.g., the importance of including polarization.
VLSI Architecture for Layered Decoding of QC-LDPC Codes With High Circulant Weight

In this brief, we propose a high-throughput layered decoder architecture to support a broader family of quasicyclic low-density parity-check (QC-LDPC) codes, whose parity-check matrices are constructed from arrays of circulant submatrices. Each nonzero circulant submatrix is a superposition of K cyclic-shifted identity matrices, where the circulant weight K ≥ 1. We propose a novel layered decoder architecture to support QC-LDPC codes with any circulant weight. We present a block-serial decoding architecture which processes a layer of a parity check matrix block by block, where each block is a Z×Z circulant matrix with a circulant weight of K. In the case study, we demonstrate an LDPC decoder design for the China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting (CMMB) standard, which was synthesized for a TSMC 65-nm CMOS technology. With a core area of 3.9 mm2, the CMMB LDPC decoder achieves a maximum throughput of 1.1 Gb/s with 15 iterations.
Engaging Community College Students in Biophysics Research

It is commonly agreed that the future competitiveness of the US economy will depend on its ability to attract talent and foster innovation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. At the same time it is also becoming clear that this need can only be met by attracting, educating, and retaining a larger and more diverse cohort of STEM students. In this regard, Community Colleges (CC), serving a disproportionate number of underrepresented minority, female and nontraditional students, represent a pool of potential talent that, due to a misguided perception of its students as being less capable, often remains untapped. Here, we discuss our strategies to attract and support the academic advancement of CC students in the STEM fields through our NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates program entitled Internships in Nanosystems Science Engineering and Technology (INSET). Since its inception in 2002, INSET has raised the profile of CC student researchers at our institution, the University of California Santa Barbara, and has offered a number of biophysics research projects each year. We argue that key components of INSET success are: 1) the involvement of CC faculty with a strong interest in promoting student success in all aspects of program planning and execution; 2) the design of activities that provide the level of support that students might need because of lack of confidence and/or unfamiliarity with a university environment, while setting clear goals and high performance expectations.The INSET program has been a successful template for the creation of other CC-university partnerships at our campus, which encourage and support the advancement of CC students as they transfer on to 4-year institutions in STEM fields. We conclude by offering this successful model for university/community college partnerships, which can be implemented at other institutions.
A new strategy of using O18-labeled iodoacetic acid for mass spectrometry-based protein quantitation.

A new O18 labeling protocol is designed to assist quantitation of cysteine-containing proteins using LC/MS. Unlike other O18 labeling strategies, the labeling is carried out at the intact protein level (prior to its digestion) during reduction/alkylation of cysteine side chains using O18-labeled iodoacetic acid (IAA). The latter can be easily prepared by exchanging carboxylic oxygen atoms of commercially available IAA in O18-enriched water at low pH. Since incorporation of the O18 label in the protein occurs at the whole protein, rather than peptide level, the quantitation results are not peptide-dependent. The excellent stability of the label in mild pH conditions provides flexibility and robustness needed of sample processing steps following the labeling. In contrast to generally costly isotope labeling reagents, this approach uses only two relatively inexpensive commercially available reagents (IAA and H2O18). The feasibility of the new method is demonstrated using an 80 kDa human serum transferrin (hTf) as a model, where linear quantitation is achieved across a dynamic range spanning three orders of magnitude. The new approach can be used in quantitative proteomics applications and is particularly suitable for a variety of tasks in the biopharmaceutical sector, ranging from pharmacokinetic studies to quality control of protein therapeutics.
Racial Differences in Exposure and Reactivity to Daily Family Stressors

Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE), this study examined racial differences in exposure and reactivity to daily stressors involving family members. Respondents included African American and European American adults aged 34 to 84 (N = 1,931) who participated in 8 days of daily interviews where they reported on daily stressors, affect, and physical health symptoms. Results revealed racial similarities in family stressor exposure. Both races were also emotionally reactive to family arguments and family network events (i.e., events that happen to a family member), whereas African Americans were more physically reactive to family arguments. For African Americans, reactivity to family arguments endured; the increased negative affect and physical symptoms associated with family arguments lasted into the next day. Findings provide evidence for racial similarities and differences, suggesting that family relationships are universally stressful, whereas the negative effects of family stressors are more enduring among African Americans.
A Simple Mathematical Theory of Finite Distortional Latent Hardening in Single Crystals

A simple (one-parameter) hardening law is proposed which accounts for the perpetuation of finite single slip, beyond the symmetry line, in the tensile test of f.c.c. crystals and reduces to Taylor's rule at infinitesimal strain. This new law emerges as the simplest case of a general mathematical theory of finite deformation of elastic-plastic crystals. The fully anisotropic finite-distortional hardening of latent slip systems predicted by the simple theory is in qualitative agreement with experiment.
Sexual knowledge and behaviour in South African students: a case for prevention with focus on behaviour.

A study by James et al. revealed discrepancies between students’ knowledge of sexuality and their behaviour. Preventive programmes should be intensive comprehensive and preferably school based involving parents and local communities. To make themselves trustworthy it may be worthwhile for programmes to acknowledge adolescents’ life situation as it is. (authors)
Adding amino acids to the genetic repertoire

Considerable progress has been made in expanding the number and nature of genetically encoded amino acids in Escherichia coli, yeast and mammalian cells in the past four years. To date, over 30 unnatural amino acids have been cotranslationally incorporated into proteins with high fidelity and efficiency by means of a unique codon and corresponding orthogonal tRNA–aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair. The incorporated amino acids contain spectroscopic probes, post-translational modifications, metal chelators, photoaffinity labels and unique functional groups. The ability to genetically encode additional amino acids, beyond the common 20, provides a powerful approach for probing protein structure and function both in vitro and in vivo, as well as generating proteins with new or enhanced properties.
An improved 191Os/191mIr generator using a hybrid anion exchanger

Iridium-191m is an attractive radionuclide for first-pass radionuclide angiography, but development of an 191Os/191mIr generator with high 191mIr yield has proven difficult. The use of trans-dioxobisoxalatoosmate(VI) as a parent species results in a higher initial yield (20 to 25%/mL), but the yield decreases over time. Using an anion-exchange column of tridodecylmethylammonium chloride-treated silica gel and AG MP-1 resin, we have developed an improved 191Os/191mIr generator with higher initial yield (25 to 30%/mL) and a slower rate of decrease than the previous design.
Managing Permit Markets to Stabilize Prices

The political economy of environmental policy favors the use of quantity-based instruments over price-based instruments (e.g., tradable permits over green taxes), at least in the United States. With cost uncertainty, however, there are clear efficiency advantages to prices in cases where the marginal damages of emissions are relatively flat, such as with greenhouse gases. The question arises, therefore, of whether one can design flexible quantity policies that mimic the behavior of price policies, namely stable permit prices and abatement costs. We explore a number of “quantity-plus” policies that replicate the behavior of a price policy through rules that adjust the effective permit cap for unexpectedly low or high costs. They do so without necessitating any monetary exchanges between the government and the regulated firms, which can be a significant political barrier to the use of price instruments.
Measuring efficiency of semiconductor manufacturing operations using data envelopment analysis (DEA)

All manufacturing requires metrics of inputs and outputs of a process. Many companies use reports of metrics to quantify and score particular areas of the manufacturing process. The goal of such activity is to define who is efficient, find out why and then apply this across the organization. Organizing the obtained data is always a complicated task A method of metric analysis is needed that deals with multiple inputs and multiple outputs. The only method available to deal with multiple inputs and outputs is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The paper explains how DEA can be used in a semiconductor manufacturing environment to identify areas of best practice within a fabricator.
Forging New Global Alliances: Emerging Markets and Advanced Economies

Forging new global alliances or new legal and institutional frameworks through international cooperation could help solve the 2007–2009 financial crisis by addressing the most vulnerable aspects of the current financial system and infrastructure. These aspects are liquidity, which is at the heart of the stability of the financial system; trust and transparency, with better disclosure of banks’ institutional arrangements for risk management, risk models, and techniques; and consolidation of the infrastructure of financial markets. At the same time, international cooperation, although difficult to achieve, could reduce the volatility of emerging markets and their overdependence on foreign currency loans that lead to increased defaulting. In this controversial search for solutions, it is important not to slip into another extreme—de-globalization—or to erect a new “Berlin Wall” of protectionism that would separate the advanced economies from their emerging counterparts. Group 20 leaders meeting in Washington...