cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning, sequencing and proposed structure for a prostaglandin F2α receptor regulatory protein

Abstract The cDNA has been cloned for a protein which copurifies with and colocalizes with [ 3 H]PGF 2α binding activity, yet differs from the previously cloned prostaglandin F 2α receptor. Polyclonal antibody, produced against one of two protein bands present in a highly purified preparation of [ 3 H]PGF 2α binding activity isolated from pregnant bovine corpus luteum, was used to screen a rat ovary cDNA expression library. A single strongly positive clone was identified containing a 4 kilobase (kb) insert. Northern analysis using this cDNA as a probe revealed the expression of a 6 kb mRNA with a tissue distribution similar to that seen by immunohistochemical analysis with the polyclonal antibody. Tissues possessing the largest quantity of the protein's mRNA are reproductive tissues, lung, and heart. Directed cDNA synthesis was required to clone the 5′ end of the cDNA. Verification that the correct cDNA was cloned is provided by alignment of the predicted protein's mature amino terminal amino acid sequence with sequence observed by protein sequencing. Translation of the predicted 879 amino acid open reading frame (ORF) suggests a protein structure exhibiting six glycosylated immunoglobulin type loops, one of which may either be membrane associated or may be the site of association with another protein, a transmembrane region, and a short, highly charged, carboxy terminal cytoplasmic tail. Based upon searches of the NIH and EMBL protein databanks, this is a unique protein. The FPRP mRNA is notable for a highly structured G,C rich 5′ end and over 3 kb of 3′ untranslated region (UTR) that includes 7 ATTTA ‘destabilization sequences’ and an ‘inflammatory mediator’-like sequence. These characteristic sequences in the 3′ UTR suggest that the mRNA is tightly regulated and may code for a protein that is functionally related to an inflammatory mediator. Functional studies in the accompanying report suggest a negative regulatory function for this protein. We suggest the name prostaglandin F 2α receptor regulatory protein (FPRP).
Quantitation of plasma total 15-series F2-isoprostanes by sequential solid phase and liquid–liquid extraction

Abstract F 2 -isoprostanes are stereo- and regioisomers of prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) and are used as biomarkers for lipid peroxidation. We modified our liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) procedure for F 2 -isoprostane analysis (Anal. Biochem. 350 (2006) 41–51) to use a combination of solid phase extraction (SPE) and LLE to produce a cleaner extract that can be easily concentrated. In addition, shortening the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation increased peak heights in HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analysis. Both changes increased the overall sensitivity of the assay. MS/MS analysis served to confirm the identity of specific peaks that may be better biomarkers than the commonly measured 8-iso-PGF 2α .
Formal development of hybrid user-computer interfaces with advanced forms of user assistance

Abstract This article presents a software engineering approach to developing a hybrid interface consisting of both command language and direct manipulation. This approach supports development of reusable and maintainable interface software. In addition, it includes provisions for satisfying human factors. These provisions include multiple interface styles that are functionally equivalent, training wheels for error containment, and multithread dialogs for user advisories. Details of the interface architecture are presented along with a prototype of an operating system.
Characterization of leukotriene C4 binding sites in the brain of the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.

In this study, specific binding sites for [3H]-LTC4 on membrane preparations from American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) brain were characterized. Binding assays were done in the presence of serine (5mM) borate (10 mM) for 30 min at 23°C. Under these conditions, no metabolism of LTC4 to LTD4 occurred. Specific binding of [3H]-LTC4 reached steady state within 10 min, remained constant for 60 min, and was reversible with the addition of 1,000-fold excess unlabelled LTC4. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated a single class of binding sites with an estimated Kd of 89.83 nM and Bmax of 43.79 pmol/mg protein. Competition binding studies demonstrated that LTD4 and LTE4 were ineffective in displacing [3H]-LTC4 from its binding site. The Ki for LTC4 was 51 nM. S-decylglutathione, glutathione and hematin had Ki values of 44, 312,602, and 25,576 nM, respectively. The mammalian cysteinyl leukotriene antagonist L-660,711 inhibited specific binding of [3H]-LTC4, with a Ki of 87,149 nM. Guanosine-5′-0-3-thiotriphosphate (GTPγS) did not affect specific binding of [3H]-LTC4 indicating that, like mammalian LTC4 receptors, a Gi protein is not involved in the transduction mechanism. The LTC4 binding site in bullfrog brain demonstrates both similarities and differences from its mammalian counterpart. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Critical Surface Tensions of Pharmaceutical Solids

Advancing contact angles measured on compacts of several drugs by the sessile drop method and also by penetration through a column of drug granules were used to find the critical surface tension of the drugs. After liquid was delivered at a very slow rate, the contact angle of sessile drops decreased with time, but use of a consistent method of timing always led to the same value for critical surface tension. Results from penetration studies and work on compacts were in agreement, provided that the surfaces of the compacts were smooth and highly reflective. Critical surface tension of the six drugs, three analgesics and three sulfonamides, ranged from 31 to 33 dynes/cm. The critical surface tension of mixtures of phenacetin and microcrystalline cellulose was not a linear function of the relative surface fractions of the two materials. If the surface contained 25% or more of phenacetin, the critical surface tension barely differed from that of pure phenacetin.
Photocycle of halorhodopsin from Halobacterium salinarium

The light-driven chloride pump, halorhodopsin, is a mixture containing all-trans and 13-cis retinal chromophores under both light and dark-adapted conditions and can exist in chloride-free and chloride-binding forms. To describe the photochemical cycle of the all-trans, chloride-binding state that is associated with the transport, and thereby initiate study of the chloride translocation mechanism, one must first dissect the contributions of these species to the measured spectral changes. We resolved the multiple photochemical reactions by determining flash-induced difference spectra and photocycle kinetics in halorhodopsin-containing membranes prepared from Halobacterium salinarium, with light- and dark-adapted samples at various chloride concentrations. The high expression of cloned halorhodopsin made it possible to do these measurements with unfractionated cell envelope membranes in which the chromophore is photostable not only in the presence of NaCl but also in the Na2SO4 solution used for reference. Careful examination of the flash-induced changes at selected wavelengths allowed separating the spectral changes into components and assigning them to the individual photocycles. According to the results, a substantial revision of the photocycle model for H. salinarium halorhodopsin, and its dependence on chloride, is required. The cycle of the all-trans chloride-binding form is described by the scheme, HR-hv-->K L1 L2 N-->HR, where HR, K, L, and N designate halorhodopsin and its photointermediates. Unlike the earlier models, this is very similar to the photoreaction of bacteriorhodopsin when deprotonation of the Schiff base is prevented (e.g., at low pH or in the D85N mutant). Also unlike in the earlier models, no step in this photocycle was noticeably affected when the chloride concentration was varied between 20 mM and 2 M in an attempt to identify a chloride-binding reaction.
Predictors of functional outcome vary by the hemisphere of involvement in major ischemic stroke treated with intra-arterial therapy: a retrospective cohort study

Conflicting data exists regarding the effect of hemispheric lateralization on acute ischemic stroke outcome. Some of this variability may be related to heterogeneous study populations, particularly with respect to the level of arterial occlusion. Furthermore, little is known about the relationship between stroke lateralization and predictors of outcome. The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact of stroke lateralization on both functional outcome and its predictors in a well-defined population of anterior circulation proximal artery occlusions treated with IAT. Thirty-five consecutive left- and 35 consecutive right-sided stroke patients with intracranial ICA and/or MCA occlusions who underwent IAT were retrospectively analyzed. Ischemic change on pre-treatment imaging was quantified. Reperfusion success was graded using the Mori scale. Good outcome at three months was defined as an mRS ≤ 2. Left- and right-sided strokes were compared for outcome and its predictors. Of 70 patients with median NIHSS score of 18 (IQR, 14-21), 19 (27.1%) had a good outcome. There were 21 terminal ICA and 49 MCA occlusions. There was no difference in the rate of good outcomes between left- (n = 9) and right-sided (n = 10) strokes (p = 0.99). There were no significant differences in occlusion level, age, ischemic change on initial imaging and degree of reperfusion between left- and right-sided strokes. Left-sided strokes had higher baseline NIHSS scores (p = 0.02) and lower admission SBP (p = 0.009). Independent predictors of outcome for left-sided strokes were NIHSS (p = 0.0002) and reperfusion (p = 0.006), and for right-sided strokes were age (p = 0.002) and reperfusion (p = 0.003). In univariate analysis, pre-treatment ischemic change on NCCT was associated with outcome only for left-sided strokes (p = 0.05). In anterior circulation proximal artery occlusions treated with IAT, hemispheric lateralization influences the clinical and imaging predictors of outcome. Most notably, NIHSS predicts outcome only for the left-sided strokes in this population. This finding has important implications for outcome prediction in the acute setting and indicates a need for stroke severity scales more sensitive to right hemispheric deficits.
Compact Ka-Band One-Port Vector Reflectometer Using a Wideband Electronically Controlled Phase Shifter

In this paper, the design and implementation of a compact one-port Ka-band (26.5-40 GHz) vector reflectometer or network analyzer (VNA), operating in full Ka-band frequency range, are presented. The design follows that of a recently developed VNA but with the goal of producing a wideband version. The most critical component of this design is a wideband electronically controlled phase shifter, designed using nonuniformly spaced p-i-n diode-loaded slots incorporated in the broad wall of a rectangular waveguide. Nonuniform placement of the slots is shown to significantly reduce unwanted resonances within the operating bandwidth. Also, the new design provides the possibility of using a more accurate three-port S -parameter characterization instead of the previously used two-port approach. The design foundation and measurement results are presented.
“Where can we put our homes?” Gypsies and Travelers in the English Green Belt

For the past few centuries, anti-nomadic legislation has attempted to settle nomads who traveled throughout England and elsewhere in Europe, as their mobilities challenged the sedentarist goals of modern nation states. As recently as 1994, the nomadic way of life was effectively criminalized in England and Wales, revealing the unbalanced power relations between Gypsies and Travelers and the state. This article will examine and highlight the agency and spatialities of resistance of nomadic Gypsy and Traveler groups in England who are struggling for the recognition of their right to legally inhabit caravan sites in areas such as Green Belt land. The selection of places in the Green Belt for their homes offers another contested landscape that runs counter to the typical understanding of Gypsies and Travelers residing in marginalized places due to discrimination or wanting to remain unnoticed. By drawing from Gypsies and Travelers' own narratives, this article documents how they navigate through policies desi...
Platelet Loss during Experimental Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Its Prevention with Prostacyclin

Abstract Prostacyclin (PGI 2 ), a newly discovered short-acting prostaglandin that inhibits platelet aggregation, was evaluated as an agent for prevention of cardiopulmonary bypass–induced thrombocytopenia. Ten adult, splenectomized greyhounds were divided into three treatment groups prior to beginning 120 minutes of partial cardiopulmonary bypass. Group 1 animals received 300 units of heparin per kilogram of body weight, Group 2 animals received 300 units of heparin per kilogram plus PGI 2 , 1.5 μg per minute, and Group 3 animals received 300 units of heparin per kilogram plus PGI 2 3.0 μg per minute. Bypass and PGI 2 infusion were started simultaneously. Mean platelet counts of each group at 5 minutes were approximately 40% of prebypass levels. Additional platelet loss was seen in Groups 1 and 2 at 30, 60, and 120 minutes. However in Group 3, platelet counts at 30 and 60 minutes were essentially unchanged from prebypass levels. At 30, 60, and 120 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass, the differences between Groups 1 and 3, and 2 and 3 are highly significant ( p We conclude that PGI 2 is an effective agent for preserving platelet levels during experimental cardiopulmonary bypass. Furthermore, it is possible that platelet loss during cardiopulmonary bypass may be caused, in part, by an imbalance between PGI 2 and thromboxane A 2 , which results in excessive platelet adhesion and aggregation.
Two kinds of training information for evaluation function learning

This paper identifies two fundamentally different kinds of training information for learning search control in terms of an evaluation function. Each kind of training information suggests its own set of methods for learning an evaluation function. The paper shows that one can integrate the methods and learn simultaneously from both kinds of information.
Patterns of relatedness in maltreated and nonmaltreated children: Connections among multiple representational models

This study examined children's reports of relatedness to multiple relationship figures in a population of low SES maltreated (N = 115) and nonmaltreated (N = 100) children, ranging in age from 7 to 13 years old. Relatedness scales were administered to children as part of individual interviews given in the context of a summer day camp. Consistent with prior normative research, it was found that the two dimensions of relatedness–emotional quality and psychological proximity-seeking–are negatively correlated with each other. Moreover, patterns of relatedness, based on the configuration of children's scores on both dimensions, reflect group differences, with maltreated children more likely to have confused patterns of relatedness and nonmaltreated children more likely to have optimal patterns. Connections were examined among children's self-reported feelings of relatedness for different relationship figures. Substantial concordance was found among the children's reports of relatedness with their mothers, their teachers, and their best friends. Evidence is presented to support the claim that children form both global and specific models of relationships. The findings are discussed in terms of attachment and self-system theory.
Growth of Ectopic Dendrites on Cortical Pyramidal Neurons in Neuronal Storage Diseases Correlates with Abnormal Accumulation of GM2 Ganglioside

: Ganglioside analysis and quantitative Golgi studies of the cerebral cortex of cats with ganglioside and nonganglioside lysosomal storage diseases reveal a correlation between the amount of accumulated GM2 ganglioside and the extent of ectopic dendrite growth on cortical pyramidal neurons. This correlation was not observed with any of the other gangliosides assayed for, including GM1 ganglioside. These results suggest a specific role for GM2 ganglioside in the initiation of ectopic neurites on pyramidal cells in vivo and are consistent with the developing hypothesis that different gangliosides have specific roles in different cell types dependent upon the receptor or other effector molecules with which they may interact.
A survey of computer graphics image encoding and storage formats

This paper is a survey of several storage formats used for computer generated or sampled images, both for purposes of archival storage and transmission (transfer from one location or platform to another). Various methodologies for the compression of such images are presented and discussed, Image storage standards and some of the more common commercial image storage techniques are presented in terms of the underlying compression algorithms they are based upon and the general internal data structures and formats.
Translocation of four organochlorine compounds by red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle l.) seedlings

Mangrove seedlings from the field were found to contain DDD, dieldrin, and PCBs. In the laboratory, mangrove seedlings translocated dieldrin, methoxychlor, mirex, and Aroclor 1242 (a PCB) from soil to various plant parts. Dieldrin was detected in hypocotyls and leaves of seedlings exposed to application rates of 0.06 kg/ha and above; methoxychlor in hypocotyls at rates of 0.28 kg/ha and above; Aroclor 1242 in hypocotyls and leaves at rates of 0.56 kg/ha and above; and mirex in roots, hypocotyls, stems, and leaves only at the highest treatment rate of 11.20 kg/ha. The data show that these persistent organochlorine compounds can be translocated to seedlings. If the compounds are present in the natural mangrove environment, it is possible that they could enter seedlings and pass to higher trophic levels when seedlings are eaten by estuarine organisms.
Evaluation of a New Coded Electromyogram Transmitter for Studying Swimming Behavior and Energetics in Fish

Abstract A new coded electromyogram (CEMG) transmitter was recently introduced to the market to allow broader application and greater flexibility of configurations than the conventional noncoded version. CEMG transmitters were implanted into 20 steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss and calibrated to swimming speed in a respirometer to determine the relationship between swimming speed and the output of the transmitters and also to determine how the output of a single transmitter varied when implanted in multiple fish. Linear regression models showed a strong positive relationship between the output from CEMG transmitters and swimming speed. However, grouping signals from multiple transmitters produced a less accurate relationship between CEMG output and swimming speed than using signals from individual transmitters. The results, therefore, do not suggest that the CEMG transmitters acted similarly in all fish. Calibration data from one transmitter were not readily transferable among multiple fish implanted with the...
Supporting Academic Improvement among Eighth Graders at Risk for Retention: An Action Research Intervention.

Recent changes in the field of school counseling have called for professional school counselors to provide evidence of the effect their work has on the academic success of their students. This article presents the findings of a multi faceted action research intervention designed to help students at risk for retention. Findings indicate that students participating in the intervention did improve their grades. Implications for school counselors wanting to lead such programs are discussed.
Stability of leading-edge vortex pair on a slender delta wing

A stability analysis is presented for a vortex pair over a highly swept flat-plate delta wing, by use of a formulation based on the slender-body theory for an inviscid incompressible flow. The vortex pair is found to be truly stable to all disturbances of small amplitude. The stabilizing mechanism has been identified to be the freestream velocity component that tends to pull the vortex pair toward the midplane of the delta wing. Such a mechanism is three dimensional in nature and cannot be provided by a two-dimensional stabilizing device. This result, together with a deduction that the strength of the vortex pair that can be trapped above a delta wing decreases with increasing sweepback angle, generally agrees with laboratory observations.
A comparative genome analysis identifies distinct sorting pathways in gram-positive bacteria.

Surface proteins in gram-positive bacteria are frequently required for virulence, and many are attached to the cell wall by sortase enzymes. Bacteria frequently encode more than one sortase enzyme and an even larger number of potential sortase substrates that possess an LPXTG-type cell wall sorting signal. In order to elucidate the sorting pathways present in gram-positive bacteria, we performed a comparative analysis of 72 sequenced microbial genomes. We show that sortase enzymes can be partitioned into five distinct subfamilies based upon their primary sequences and that most of their substrates can be predicted by making a few conservative assumptions. Most bacteria encode sortases from two or more subfamilies, which are predicted to function nonredundantly in sorting proteins to the cell surface. Only ∼20% of sortase-related proteins are most closely related to the well-characterized Staphylococcus aureus SrtA protein, but nonetheless, these proteins are responsible for anchoring the majority of surface proteins in gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, most sortase-like proteins are predicted to play a more specialized role, with each anchoring far fewer proteins that contain unusual sequence motifs. The functional sortase-substrate linkage predictions are available online (http://www.doe-mbi.ucla.edu/Services/Sortase/) in a searchable database.
A STATISTICAL PROCEDURE TO EVALUATE CLEAN-UP STANDARDS

The object of this paper is to develop a suitable statistical procedure to evaluate clean-up standards at hazardous waste sites. Under the assumptions that contaminant masses at a site follow a gamma distribution and that the data from the pre-remediation baseline sample as well as from the interim or final sample taken after a certain period of operation are both distributed as gamma with the same shape parameter but different scale parameters, we derive a uniformly most powerful unbiased test of the hypothesis that a specified percentage of contaminant mass has been reduced. A large-sample approximation of the exact test procedure and a comparison with the likelihood ratio test are provided.
A murine model for the study of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections during pregnancy.

Infant mortality rates in the United States continue to be higher than those of most industrialized countries and have recently increased (9, 13, 18). These high infant mortality rates are mainly due to high rates of premature birth and associated low birth weight. The magnitude of this problem is such that recently, Hillier et al. (13) concluded that preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality are the most important problems in obstetrics. Determinants that affect low birth weight include genetic, social, environmental, and behavioral factors. Among these, infections of the genital tract are considered to account for up to 40% of preterm births and thus are probably the most significant contributors to high infant mortality rates (20). Organisms that have been associated with this problem include, among others, Chlamydia trachomatis, Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and other pathogens involved in bacterial vaginosis (9, 13). C. trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens in the Western world (4, 10, 24). Several studies over the last two decades have attempted to determine the impact that a C. trachomatis genital infection has on pregnancy outcome. Some of these studies found maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality associated with both acute and past chlamydial infections, while others did not confirm these data (2, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 19). These contradictory results are not surprising considering the problems encountered in conducting these types of studies in humans, where assessment of a chlamydial infection is very difficult. Thus, only in an animal model can we start to characterize the role that a C. trachomatis infection may play in the outcome of pregnancy and on the mechanisms that may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we describe a new murine model in which we determined the effect that an acute chlamydial genital infection during gestation has on pregnancy outcome.
Sorption of Fe(II) and As(III) on goethite in single- and dual-sorbate systems

Experiments were conducted to quantify Fe(II) sorption onto goethite in the absence and presence of As(III). The experimental data obtained in single-sorbate experiments were modeled using a diffuse double layer surface complexation model and used to predict and compare sorption in dual-sorbate systems. The sorption process was shown to be reversible by the complete recovery of sorbed Fe(II) upon extraction with 0.5 N HCl. Sorption of Fe(II) increases with increasing pH, as observed previously for various iron oxides. Sorption isotherms obtained between pH 6.0 and 7.5 showed continuous increase in sorption density with increase in dissolved Fe(II) concentration; under these conditions, surface saturation was approached but not reached. Experiments conducted in the absence and presence of 500 and 1000 μM total As(III) did not show any significant difference in the Fe(II) sorption density. As(III) sorption density did not change with increasing sorbed Fe(II) concentration when the total arsenic concentration was 500 μM. However, when the total As(III) concentration was 1000 μM, As(III) sorption densities increased almost linearly with increasing sorbed Fe(II) concentrations. The model provided a good-to-adequate description of Fe(II) and As(III) sorption in single-sorbate systems over a range of experimental conditions but failed to predict the experimental observations in dual-sorbate systems. The predicted sorption densities for both As(III) and Fe(II) were lower than those observed. These discrepancies illustrate problems that may arise when model parameters obtained in single-sorbate systems are used to predict sorption in multi-sorbate systems where all sorbates are presumed to compete for the same sites. The lack of competition observed between As(III) and Fe (II) for sorption sites indicate that the concurrent release of Fe(II) and As(III) during reductive dissolution of iron oxides, inferred as the mechanism of arsenic mobilization in many reducing ground waters, may have relatively minor effects on the subsequent resorption of As(III) to residual iron oxides remaining in the sediment.
Action of 5‐hydroxytryptamine in facilitating N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate depolarization of cortical neurones mimicked by calcimycin, cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin

1. The ability of calcimycin, cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin to facilitate the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated depolarization of cortical projection neurones was investigated by use of grease-gap recording and the results compared with the facilitation that results from activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptors. 2. Calcimycin (0.25 to 3 microM), cyclopiazonic acid (5 to 30 microM), and thapsigargin (10 to 300 nM) reversibly facilitated the NMDA (50 microM)-induced depolarization in the presence of tetrodotoxin. The concentration-response relationships were bell-shaped with a mean enhancement of 550% for calcimycin (1 microM) and approximately 400% for cyclopiazonic acid (20 microM) and thapsigargin (100 nM). At the highest concentration of each agent tested, no facilitation was observed. 3. Chlorpromazine (1 microM) partially restored a facilitation at 3 microM calcimycin and 300 nM thapsigargin. Myo-inositol (10 mM) and 100 nM staurosporine were both ineffective in this regard. 4. The depolarization elicited by 10 microM quisqualate or 5 microM kainate was not facilitated by 10 microM cyclopiazonic acid. 5. Calcimycin (0.5 microM), cyclopiazonic acid (20 microM), and thapsigargin (100 nM) elicited a significant facilitation in the presence of an antagonist cocktail consisting of D,L-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid, prazosin, ritanserin, and scopolamine, although the magnitude of the facilitation was reduced. 6. Facilitation of the NMDA depolarization elicited by both 30 microM 5-hydroxytryptamine and 10 microM phenylephrine was eliminated in nominally Mg(2+)-free medium. In contrast, the facilitation induced by 0.5 microM calcimycin remained intact. 7. Bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N,N, tetraacetic acid aminoethoxy (50 microM) or perfusion with nominally Ca(2+)-free medium eliminated facilitation of the NMDA depolarization induced by 30 microM 5-hydroxytryptamine and 100 nM thapsigargin. 8. The facilitation induced by both 30 microM 5-hydroxytryptamine and 1 microM calcimycin was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner by nifedipine (1 to 10 microM). 9. Calcimycin, cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin facilitate the NMDA depolarization in a manner which closely mimics the facilitation induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine. It is concluded that enhancement of the NMDA depolarization at cortical projection neurones results from an elevation of Ca2+ in the cytosol and that several sources of Ca2+ contribute to the facilitation.
A critical examination of the basis of macroscopic quantum transport approaches

The density gradient, effective potential and smooth quantum hydrodynamic approaches have been proposed in recent years as promising candidates for the efficient simulation of quantum effects in semiconductor devices. The microscopic justifications for these three approaches are based on, in that order, very specific approximations to the equilibrium Wigner function, the average carrier energy and the equilibrium density matrix. The validity of these approximations is however very questionable in realistic devices containing material heterojunctions. For example, the density gradient method is derived from the equilibrium Wigner function for a slowly varying device potential, but it is often applied to model MOS inversion layer transport near an abrupt barrier where the approximation is invalid. Furthermore, attempts to extend it to the treatment of tunneling phenomena have been made for which it is expected to have even lesser applicability. In this work, we directly examine the microscopic basis for the density gradient and the smooth quantum hydrodynamic approaches in one dimension using the Green's function formalism. These approaches are both predicated upon particular equilibrium relationships between the stress tensor and the local carrier gas density to close the hydrodynamic hierarchy at the current transport equation. We therefore derive the equilibrium density matrix for different barrier potentials, and then explicitly construct the stress tensor to compare it with the forms postulated in the two approaches. We show, that as expected the two forms are inaccurate near the barrier for realistic abrupt barrier heights and are thus of questionable validity as such for transport simulations in the barrier direction.
Representation of letters when mislocation errors occur.

Abstract Errors in reporting a cued target letter appearing among a string of letters more often reflect the mislocation of a letter appearing elsewhere in the string than the intrusion of one not in the string. The current experiment was conducted to determine the representation of letters at the stage at which errors occur. Four letters (from a set of 12 chosen to contain counterpart pairs that were similar physically, phonemically, or both physically and phonemically) appeared in each exposure, with the target letter indicated by a cue in the postexposure mask. Letter strings presented to one group of subjects were flanked on either side by a pound sign (#) to assess the effect of lateral masking on the terminal letter in the string. Physical similarity dictated the pattern of mislocations between counterparts, suggesting a physical rather than phonemic or abstract representation. Lateral masking played no significant role in the difference between intrusions and mislocations.
Quantum Monte Carlo simulation of the Davydov model.

Through an application of the quantum Monte Carlo technique, we investigate the thermal equilibrium properties of the one-dimensional model proposed by Davydov for the description of energy transport processes in the α-helix. The calculations in this paper are free from uncontrollable approximations. The deformation of the lattice about a single (mobile) excitation is computed at a number of temperatures for a variety of coupling strengths. Broad and smooth coherent localized quasi-particle units are observed at low temperatures for some parameters of the system. For the “standard” α-helix data, the quasi-particle is embedded in strong fluctuations and is very localized. At temperatures greater than a few Kelvins, the quasi-particle attains its most localized form. We also considered scenarios in which several excitations are present in the system simultaneously; some preliminary results for the density-density correlation are calculated. The structure of polaron clusters is found, and their implication for biological systems is discussed.
Personality and impression management: Mapping the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire onto 12 self-presentation tactics

Abstract This study examined the relations between Tellegen’s three-factor personality model, using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), and 12 self-presentation tactics operationalized in the self-presentation tactics scale (SPT). Differential correlations of the MPQ higher-order domains and primary scales were predicted based on a review of the literature pertaining to each self-presentation tactic and the dimensional classifications of tactics. Joint exploratory factor analysis was used to determine structural relationship among the higher-order MPQ traits and SPT indicators. Results suggest an important role for basic emotional and interpersonal personality traits in the frequency and nature of impression management behaviors, overwhelmingly in the domain of Negative Emotionality. Evidence of construct validity for the SPT and further evidence of the discriminant validity of the MPQ higher-order dimensions and primary scales is also presented.
Lycopene inhibits IGF-I signal transduction and growth in normal prostate epithelial cells by decreasing DHT-modulated IGF-I production in co-cultured reactive stromal cells

Prostate stromal and epithelial cell communication is important in prostate functioning and cancer development. Primary human stromal cells from normal prostate stromal cells (PRSC) maintain a smooth muscle phenotype, whereas those from prostate cancer (6S) display reactive and fibroblastic characteristics. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulates insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production by 6S but not PSRC cells. Effects of reactive versus normal stroma on normal human prostate epithelial (NPE or PREC) cells are poorly understood. We co-cultured NPE plus 6S or PRSC cells to compare influences of different stromal cells on normal epithelium. Because NPE and PREC cells lose androgen receptor (AR) expression in culture, DHT effects must be modulated by associated stromal cells. When treated with camptothecin (CM), NPE cells, alone and in stromal co-cultures, displayed a dose-dependent increase in DNA fragmentation. NPE/6S co-cultures exhibited reduced CM-induced cell death with exposure to DHT, whereas NPE/PRSC co-cultures exhibited CM-induced cell death regardless of DHT treatment. DHT blocked CM-induced, IGF-I-mediated, NPE death in co-cultured NPE/6S cells without, but not with, added anti-IGF-I and anti-IGF-R antibodies. Lycopene consumption is inversely related to human prostate cancer risk and inhibits IGF-I and androgen signaling in rat prostate cancer. In this study, lycopene, in dietary concentrations, reversed DHT effects of 6S cells on NPE cell death, decreased 6S cell IGF-I production by reducing AR and beta-catenin nuclear localization and inhibited IGF-I-stimulated NPE and PREC growth, perhaps by attenuating IGF-I's effects on serine phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3beta and tyrosine phosphorylation of GSK3. This study expands the understanding of the preventive mechanisms of lycopene in prostate cancer.
English idiom and Republican China: repatriated subject in Wong–Quincey’s Chinese Hunter

Since Fanon’s critique of the national bourgeoisie in The Wretched of the Earth, the subjectivity of repatriated natives under colonial circumstances tends to be associated with the ‘nationalist pitfall’. Conditioned by the cultural or material capital of the west, these members of the native middle class are said to be committed to a vision of nationalism fundamentally limited by their class interest. In this essay, I present a reading of Chinese Hunter, a set of notes about big game hunting in northern China written by John Wong–Quincey, a Chinese academic who taught Shakespeare and western drama at Beijing’s Tsinghua College for many years. My approach to reinstate the relevancy of colonial repatriation as an issue of postcolonial world history is centered on the processes of subject formation within the Althusserian context of interpellation. Following Judith Butler’s recent allegorical interpretation of Althusser, I relate Wong–Quincey’s physical and linguistic emulation of the English hunter to the trope of bien parler which for Althusser serves as the ultimate model of ideological compliance in the reproduction of social reality and relations.
The impact of security practices on regulatory compliance and security performance

This study examines how a healthcare organization’s security practices (including IT controls, policies, education, and hiring practices) influence their perceived regulatory compliance and security performance. We utilized qualitative and quantitative survey data provided by senior IT managers from 250 healthcare organizations. The data provides a snapshot of patient information security in the surveyed organizations. Healthcare organizations must focus on preventing breaches (which results in brand damage and direct remediation costs) as well as complying with government regulation (to avoid indirect costs, including fines and penalties). Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), we examine how specific security practices improve regulatory compliance, protect patient information, and minimize the impact of a breach incident. The results show that audit polices are positively associated with perceived regulatory compliance and security policies are associated with security performance. We also find that the interaction of both audit and security policies has a more significant effect than either type alone. Surprisingly, an organization’s level of compliance is not significantly associated with actual security performance. This study contributes to demonstrating which security practices can help the organizations comply with the regulations and the effects of security practices and regulatory compliance on information security performance. This can provide healthcare organizations with strategic guidelines to improve their regulatory compliance and security performance.
Injury of the Median and Ulnar Nerves

In considering the results of suture of the median and ulnar nerves, we have excluded cases in which nerve regeneration might be hindered by excessive scar, by tension at the line of suture, by long delay at carrying out operation, or by multiple operative procedures. We have attempted to correlate
Seeing the Past as a Guidepost to Our Future

The author reflects on the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Society of American Archivists by looking at its evolution, noting things which have changed for the better within SAA, and some things which have not. Forging a national identity and membership was not a steady, nor always consensual, process, but as an organization, the SAA reached a degree of maturity in the 1970s, only to be challenged by new developments in the 1980s and 1990s such as electronic records, certification and graduate education guidelines, and growing membership diversity which lead to the development of new sections and roundtables to serve new and varied interests. Challenges continue to lie ahead for the Society. However, if its fundamental components are sound, SAA should have the flexibility and determination to meet these challenges.
Blended instructional practice: A review of the empirical literature on instructors' adoption and use of online tools in face-to-face teaching

Abstract College and university instructors are increasingly incorporating online tools into face-to-face teaching approaches, such that blended instruction is forecasted to become “the new traditional model” ( Ross & Gage, 2006 , p. 168; Norberg, Dziuban, & Moskal, 2011; Watson, 2008 ). Yet, less than 5% of the scholarship on blending in higher education explores academic practice (e.g. teaching, curriculum design, professional development and training for instruction; Torrisi-Steele & Drew, 2013 ). This discussion reports the results of a systematic review of the literature on faculty member's adoption and use of online tools for face-to-face instruction. Six influences that cut across the literature are identified: faculty member's interactions with technology, academic workload, institutional environment, interactions with students, the instructor's attitudes and beliefs about teaching, and opportunities for professional development. Strengths and limitations of the literature and future directions for research on socio-technical systems of instruction are identified.
Cutting Off Our Nose to Spite Our Face: The Real Consequences of I-9 Audits Considered through a Case Study of Brewster, Washington

The phrase “cutting off one’s nose to spite the face” has many meanings, most of them violent and, historically, sometimes literal. In our times, its meaning is colloquial and suggests a needless, disproportionate, and self-destructive response to a perceived threat. This strangely violent phrase aptly describes what is happening in small agricultural communities across the country. One such community is Brewster, Washington, where Immi- gration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out I-9 audit of Gebbers Farms, Brewster’s major employer, in December of 2009. After presenting the Gebbers Farms case, I discuss what this example from one small town in North Central Washington reveals about the workings of immigration law and law enforcement in, and upon, small agricultural communities today.
Design of Net-learning Systems Based on Experiential Learning

The theory of experiential learning is briefly reviewed and a model of the learning process is presented. The paper then discusses and characterizes a virtual learning environment and its relationship to experiential learning and learning styles. An approach for designing virtual learning environments is presented taking into account the technology for learning. A prototype for a virtual learning environment designed and built by the author and known as LeProf is then discussed along with its application in the design of an educational site for learning electrical circuits.
[Survey of distribution of Enterobius vermicularis infection of children in Huadu District, Guangzhou City].

OBJECTIVE To understand the status of Enterobius vermicularis infection of children in Huadu District, Guangzhou City so as to provide the evidence for improving the control work. METHODS In 2012, 24 kindergartens and 24 primary schools were selected as survey sites by the stratified random sampling method and 200 or more children aged below 10 years per site were investigated for the Enterobius vermicularis infection by the cellophane tape method. The relevant influencing factors (environment conditions, sanitary facilities and management system, and health habits of families and individuals) were surveyed with questionnaire, and all the data were analyzed statistically with the Excel software. RESULTS From September to December, 2012, totally 9 777 children were investigated and 760 ones were detected with Enterobius vermicularis infection (7.77%). With a school as the unit, the highest infection rate reached to 33.82% (69/204). The infection rate in urban areas was 4.63% (195/ 4 213), and the rate in villages was 10.15% (760/5 546) ( chi2 =102.126, P 0.05). The survey of relevant influencing factors showed that the conditions of the kindergartens were better than those in the primary schools, and the conditions in the urban areas were better than those in the villages. CONCLUSIONS The Enterobius vermicularis infection of children in Huadu District is high. The control key points should be put on the schools with poor sanitary facilities and environment conditions in villages and urban areas.
Management Information Systems and Student Affairs

AbstractManagement Information Systems (MIS), although not clearly understood and defined in the student affairs discipline, is employed in student affairs offices throughout all colleges and universities. The benefits of using MIS to handle such tasks in student affairs as degree checking, classroom scheduling, transcript processing, and financial aid processing is now realized and appreciated by college or university administrators. This paper will briefly define MIS, and the impact of MIS on student affairs will be discussed. This paper also reviews past and present MIS applications, and suggests some possible future trends in the area of student affairs. Additionally, this paper examines the benefits and drawbacks of MIS applications in the student affairs area and outlines the techniques that can be employed to design and implement MIS in the student affairs environment.
Tendency for Repetitive Vagal Activity to Synchronize Cardiac Pacemaker Cells

There are thousands of cells in the sinoatrial (S-A) node of the mammalian heart that possess the property of automaticity; i.e., each is able to generate impulses independently. The cell-to-cell communication among these automatic cells is notoriously poor. Very little information is available about the natural mechanisms that serve to coordinate the activities of the cells in the S-A node. Recent evidence (4, 7, 8, 18, 19) indicates that the “phase-dependency” of the cardiac response to vagal stimulation is one mechanism that provides some coordination of automatic cell firing; “phase-dependency” refers to the tendency for the cardiac response to a vagal action potential to depend on the timing of that action potential within the cardiac cycle.
The Party System and the Race Problem

The problem of racial inequality in America, and the way the parties have responded to that problem and dealt with it, has for long posed an important test for our party system. In this chapter we describe and analyze how well the parties have done. We could have focused on other minorities (Native Americans, Hispanics, and so on). Or we could have addressed any number of policy areas in the same way: health care, the environment, education, taxation, welfare, or foreign affairs. We chose the race question because of its historical significance and contemporary salience. It is a critical issue dividing us, representing a major ideological cleavage in our politics. Our objective is to discuss the state of racial inequality, how well the parties have faced the issue, and the possible strategies that might be utilized to achieve greater progress.