cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Republicans: From Lincoln to Bush

The Republican party has always been fascinating to those who subscribe to its beliefs, as well as to those who take an alternative stand on the issues. In "The Republicans: From Lincoln to Bush", Robert Allen Rutland has brought a clear and concise understanding to this political party to the general reader. The book provides an overview of the Republican party, from its beginnings in the 1850s through the 1994 congressional elections, which saw the Democratic domination of the House and Senate come to an abrupt end. Rutland begins by explaining how the "obnoxious" Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 overturned the Missouri Compromise, inflamed the North, and caused the collapse of the Whig and American parties. The result was the birth of the Republican party, whose purpose was to oppose the Democrats and stop the spread of slavery. Abraham Lincoln was elected the first Republican president in 1860. This text suggests that a major shift in voting strength took place twice during the 20th century, first in the New Deal years, and again after 1968 when the GOP made an appeal to southern voters and finally took control of the area that had previously been dominated by the Democrats. With the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan as the 40th president of the United States, the Republicans gained support from many first-time voters, middle-class whites, and labour unions - groups not previously expected to vote Republican. In the companion volume, "The Democrats: From Jefferson to Clinton", Rutland provides an honest and straightforward assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Democratic presidents. Here he presents an even-handed look at the good and not-so-good Republicans. By using stories and anecdotes from various administrations to enliven this narrative of political history, Rutland gives Republicans and Democrats alike a deeper appreciation for the two-party system.
Ketamine induces hyperactivity in rats and hypersensitivity to nicotine in rat striatal slices.

Abstract The symptoms of schizophrenia can be modeled in rats through blockade of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which induces changes in central dopamine circuits. These circuits also contain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are activated by nicotine. A role for nicotine in the etiology of schizophrenia is supported by clinical observations of high tobacco use rates in individuals experiencing the psychopathology. The present study investigated the effect of the ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine on the function of striatal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to understand better the potential role of these receptors in schizophrenia. Ketamine (0.1–300 µM) was ineffective to evoke [ 3 H] overflow from rat striatal slices preloaded with [ 3 H]dopamine. Application of psychotomimetic ketamine concentrations (1–10 µM) to striatal slices augmented nicotine-evoked [ 3 H] overflow. Finally, rats received ketamine (30–50 mg/kg) injections for 30 days, to model the development of the disorder, and hyperactivity was observed, although repeated ketamine treatment did not significantly alter nicotine-evoked [ 3 H]dopamine overflow. These data indicate that the function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate dopamine release are altered by ketamine, and support a role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in schizophrenia pathology.
Microtubules in Xenopus oocytes are oriented with their minus-ends towards the cortex.

Despite lacking centrosomes, stage VI Xenopus oocytes contain extensive networks of cytoplasmic microtubules (MTs). To gain additional insight into the factors regulating MT organization during oogenesis, we have used electron microscopy and "hook decoration" to examine the distribution and orientation of MTs in Xenopus oocytes. A limited survey of two "undecorated" stage VI oocytes revealed 218 MTs in images covering approximately 2,500 microm(2), and indicated that the MT number density of the animal cytoplasm was greater than that of the vegetal cytoplasm. Examination of five "decorated" stage VI oocytes (three animal and five vegetal hemispheres) revealed 653 MTs. Of these, 76% could be scored as having exclusively counterclockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW) hooks. In the animal hemispheres, 93% of the scored MTs exhibited CCW hooks when viewed from the direction of the cortex, indicating that most MTs were oriented with their minus-ends out. MT orientation appeared relatively uniform throughout the animal cytoplasm: more than 90% of the scored MTs in the cortical (90%), subcortical (96%), or perinuclear (98%) cytoplasm were oriented with their minus-ends out. In the vegetal hemispheres, approximately 80% of the scored MTs exhibited CCW hooks, and thus were oriented with their minus-ends out; 96% of the scored MTs in stage III oocytes were oriented minus-end out. These observations support a model in which the cortex plays a significant role in MT nucleation and organization in Xenopus oocytes, and have significant implications for the MT-dependent transport and localization of cytoplasmic organelles and RNAs during oogenesis.
The effect of the culture vessel and insemination method on the in vitro fertilization and development of human oocytes.

Our laboratory has corroborated previously published work demonstrating that tissue culture tubes and microdrops perform equally well for in vitro fertilization and culture of human oocytes and embryos.
Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II): case report of three affected siblings

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) is an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme activity. Affected males experience progressive disease including airway obstruction, skeletal deformities, cardiomyopathy and, in most cases, neurological decline. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with idursulfase (a recombinant form of human iduronate-2-sulfatase) has shown encouraging results in modifying the non-CNS manifestations. Best results are observed with earlier initiation of ERT. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may modify CNS and non-CNS manifestations.Wepresent a family of three affected brothers. The oldest brother was diagnosed at age six years and received ERT for four years. He is now 13. The middle brother was diagnosed at age two and a half years and has continued to receive ERT since then. He is now 11 and has milder non-CNS involvement compared to his older brother. His cognitive function is significantly impaired. The youngest brother was diagnosed prenatally, received ERT starting at four months of age, and underwent a mismatched unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant at tenmonths of age. He is now two and a half years old. The progression of his disease has been slowed compared to his brothers’, and he is showing gains in developmental milestones. The three brothers have received different treatments at different ages, and show varying rates of disease progression. Their treatment and clinical histories will be summarized.
The IBM 1975 optical page reader: part II: video thresholding system

An adaptive video thresholding system is used in the Page Reader to minimize recognition failures due to contrast and line width variation. The main threshold operator is a linear function of the average contrast over a specified area. Adjustments to the threshold level are made by circuits that compute the average line widthin a character, and by circuits that filter out spatial noise in the vicinity of the character. The different types of print quality distortions predominant in typewriter printing and business machine printing are handled by switching between different sets of threshold operators.
Enhancing the FDTD with asymptotic methods to solve large problems

In this paper, we describe a new approach to dealing with electrically large problems in the context of the FDTD method. The method we propose utilizes the underlying concepts of the asymptotic method to identify the physical optics and diffraction "type" contributions in the time signature at an observation point, which may be located either on or close to the object. The time domain response is derived by using FDTD, with either a Gaussian, or a modified Gaussian pulse excitation. We show that using these sources, it is relatively straightforward to identify and isolate various contributions from the edges, as well as the creeping and traveling wave currents by using the arrival times as the gauges for the distances from the sources of these contributions, not unlike the way it is done when one uses a TDR.
Ribonucleic acid of barley yellow dwarf virus

Abstract Virions of the isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus transmitted by Macrosiphum avenae (MAV) and by Rhopalosiphum padi (RPV) contain a single component of single-stranded RNA of molecular weight 2.0 × 106, estimated by sedimentation and gel electrophoretic mobility of formalinized RNA. The untreated ribonucleic acid of the RPV isolate appears to have a slightly more compact configuration than that of the MAV isolate, as shown by a slightly faster sedimentation coefficient (33.8 S vs 32.6 S) and a slightly faster migration rate in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Virions of the MAV isolate had a 280 260 absorbance ratio of 0.52 and a 230 260 ratio of 0.82, whereas corresponding figures for RPV virions were 0.54 and 0.91. Both virions apparently have a high content of RNA.
Fluoropolymer Resists: Progress and Properties

Various new fluoropolymers have been prepared for use in 157 nm lithography in the last few years. While several different backbone structures are available, what is common to all these 157 nm polymers is the exclusive use of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFA) as an acid group. The major effort has been placed on reduction of the absorption at 157 nm. In addition, we focused our attention on the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity balance and understanding of the interaction of the HFA moiety with other functional groups and the dissolution behavior of the HFA polymers. Initially, we developed four platforms; a) all-acrylic, b) all-norbornene, 3) aliphatic, and 4) aromatic systems. The all-acrylic system based on 2-trifluoromethylacrylic monomers was meant to be for tool-testing and the all-norbornene system based on norbornene with pendant HFA (NBHFA) has been primarily engineered for 193 nm application (COBRA 5000). Since the aromatic system (PF2-ESCAP) based on a copolymer of t-butyl 2-trifluoeomethylacrylate (TBTFMA) with styrene bearing HFA (STHFA) has a rather high absorption of 3.2/μm, our major development effort has been directed to the aliphatic system based on a copolymer of TBTFMA and NBHFA or vinyl ether. New copolymers have been prepared by radical copolymerization of TBTFMA with vinyl ethers bearing HFA, resulting in lower absorption and lower/controllable glass transition temperatures. In addition to the new copolymers with polar vinyl ethers, the dissolution behavior and hydrogen bonding interaction of HFA polymers are described.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Screw Impingement and Concomitant Hip Pathology

Impingement caused by screws used for stabilization of slipped capital femoral epiphysis can be treated arthroscopically. Although troublesome screws have traditionally been removed by open techniques, arthroscopic removal can successfully be achieved. In addition to affording the patient the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, surgeons also have the ability to arthroscopically address any concomitant hip pathology responsible for pain, including femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears.
A lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism mediates FMRFamide activation of a potassium current in an identified neuron of Helisoma

The neuropeptide FMRFamide causes a presynaptic inhibition of neurotransmitter release from neuron B5 of Helisoma. In this study we demonstrate that one of FMRFamide's actions is to activate an outwardly rectifying potassium current. Arachidonic acid also activates an outward current in B5. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor, 4-bromophenacylbromide (BPB), and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism, but not indomethacin, block FMRFamide's activation of the potassium current. Taken together these data demonstrate that one of FMRFamide's presynaptic actions is to activate a potassium current through a lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism.
The path to Google: selling ice to eskimos

Higher education conferences over the past few years have been full of presentations, papers and panels on the processes involved in migrating a campus and its people to Google Apps for Education. While it is useful to hear about marketing tchotchkes, data validation, and the pros and cons of web clients, what seems to get ignored is the process that led to the decision to move to Google Apps in the first place. At North Carolina State University, where students were already using Google Apps, the decision to move employees involved almost as much time, effort and heartache as the technical migration. As the users saw it, they had a working system, even if that system only worked because of huge expenditures of time and money both on the backend server maintenance and the client need to implement terribly complex workarounds for simple functionality. The end result: a 94-page white paper and the realization that it's hard to sell ice to Eskimos , even if you show them that their ice has already melted. This paper and presentation will discuss the information gathering and needs assessment done by NC State prior to the decision to move employees to Google Apps, and the successes and difficulties involved.
Regulation of Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid Calcium by Brain Barrier Membranes Following Vitamin D-Related Chronic Hypo- and Hypercalcemia in Rats

: Male Fischer-344 rats, 21 days old, were fed diets containing 0 (LOD), 2,200 (CONT), or 440,000 (HID) international units of vitamin D3 per kilogram for 12 weeks. [Ca] was measured in plasma, CSF, brain, and choroid plexus. In addition, 45Ca and 36C1 transfer coefficients (KCa and KC1) for uptake from blood into CSF and brain were determined. Although plasma ionized [Ca]s in LOD and HID rats were 50% and 136%, respectively, of values in CONT animals, CSF and brain [Ca]s ranged from only 85% to 110% of respective CONT values. Choroid plexus [Ca] was increased by 37% after HID diet, but was decreased only 10% after LOD. ATCa values at CSF, parietal cortex, and pons-medulla were negatively correlated with plasma ionized [Ca], whereas KC1 values at CSF and brain were not different between the diet groups. The findings demonstrate that central nervous system [Ca] is maintained during chronic hypo- or hypercalcemia by saturable transport of Ca at brain barrier membranes. This transport does not seem to involve modulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Mutational analysis of immunoglobulin E-binding epitopes of β-casein and β-lactoglobulin showed a heterogeneous pattern of critical amino acids between individual patients and pooled sera

Summary Background For immunotherapeutic approaches, ‘critical’ amino acids (AAs) within allergenic epitopes are replaced with alternate AAs to eliminate IgE antibody binding. Objective To determine the critical AAs for IgE binding in β-casein and β-lactoglobulin (BLG). Methods Peptides of 10–14 AAs in length were synthesized on a derivatized cellulose membrane with single AA substitutions (alanine or glycine) at each position. Membranes were incubated with a pool of sera from 15 cow's milk-allergic patients and individual sera from six of the 15 patients. In cases where no decrease in binding occurred with a single AA substitution, peptides with two AA substitutions were generated and labelled. Results Using pooled patient sera, single AA substitutions led to complete elimination of binding to six of 11 peptides for β-casein and to all six peptides for BLG. Substituting two AAs led to an elimination of binding to four of the remaining five β-casein epitopes. However, in three of the 11 modified β-casein peptides and five of the six BLG peptides, no decrease in IgE binding occurred in at least one individual patient. For these patients, critical AAs other than those defined by the patient serum pool were identified, indicating a heterogeneous pattern of IgE recognition. Conclusion These results indicate that AAs critical for IgE binding are more heterogeneous than initially defined by pooled milk-allergic patient sera. For future immunotherapeutic interventions with mutated peptides, critical AAs should also be identified with individual patient sera to account for heterogeneity of IgE binding between patients.
In situ localization of enzymes and mucin in normal rat colon embedded in plastic.

Several enzymes were investigated histochemically in the colons of normal male F344 rats in order to understand the function of different types of cells in this tissue. Serial methacrylate-embedded sections (2–4 µm) allowed the precise localizations of several enzymes including acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase,N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (hexosaminidase), α-naphthyl butyrate esterase and 5′-nucleotidase. Sites reactive with periodic acid-Schiff were also localized. Gradients of enzyme activity were observed between caecum and rectum and/or from the luminal surfaces to the bases of the crypts for hexosaminidase, esterase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. To our knowledge this is the first histochemical demonstration of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in normal rat colonic epithelial cells. The utilization of the methacrylate-embedding technique has revealed previously undescribed gradients of enzyme activity and has allowed the localization of enzyme activities not previously reported in normal rat colonic mucosa.
Ligation of DNA Triangles Containing Double Crossover Molecules

An antiparallel DNA double crossover molecule has been incorporated into one edge of a DNA triangle. The goal in this work is to combine a rigid geometrical motif, the triangle, with a rigid DNA motif, the double crossover, incorporating the properties of branched DNA. The triangle has been designed to contain 3 turns of DNA in each edge. The double crossover molecule produces an extra domain along its edge. The extra domain can be restricted by Bbs I to produce two complementary sticky ends separated by 4.5 turns of DNA. Ligation-closure experiments performed on the restricted triangle yield very long reporter strands and no indications of cyclization, suggesting that the double crossover molecule retains its stiffness when incorporated in the triangle. These experiments are evaluated through the use of denaturing gel electrophoresis. The ligation products have been visualized by atomic force microscopy, under nondenaturing conditions. Clear zigzag species can be identified as triangles ligated in one di...
Effects of whisker trimming on GABAA receptor binding in the barrel cortex of developing and adult rats

Both sensory deprivation and blockade of γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptors result in signs of cortical disinhibition. To investigate whether down-regulation of GABAA receptors could underlie effects of sensory deprivation, [3H]muscimol binding was assessed in rat whisker barrels after chronic whisker trimming. Vibrissae in row C or rows A,B,D, and E were trimmed during certain developmental periods. When whiskers were trimmed for the first 6 postnatal weeks, [3H]muscimol binding was 8.3% lower in deprived barrel rows than in adjacent nondeprived rows (P < 0.001). The effect may be somewhat selective for GABAA receptors because there was no evident change in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors as indicated by [3H]MK-801 binding. Ten weeks after whiskers were allowed to regrow, the decrease in [3H]muscimol binding was partly reversed (P < 0.002), leaving a 3.3% decrease (P < 0.001). These declines in GABAA receptors could contribute to persisting electrophysiological signs of reduced inhibition in similarly deprived barrel neurons (Simons and Land [1987] Nature 326:694–697). A 6-week deprivation beginning in adulthood resulted in a 7.7% decrease (P < 0.001), indicating that the effect is not restricted to an early critical period. In rats trimmed for the first 10 postnatal days, [3H]muscimol binding declined 2.3% (P < 0.05), which is a small change compared with the magnitude of the developmental peak; thus, normal whisker input apparently is not required for the developmental increase in GABAA receptors. The present study suggests that sensory input can regulate cortical GABAA receptors in adulthood and during ontogeny. Down-regulation of cortical GABAA receptors may be a compensatory mechanism that serves to disinhibit the reduced sensory input. J. Comp. Neurol. 395:209–216, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cephalosporins Can Be Given to Penicillin-allergic Patients Who Do Not Exhibit an Anaphylactic Response

Abstract Study Objectives: To assess the risk of intraoperative allergic reactions to cephalosporins in patients who claim to be allergic to penicillin. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: University-affiliated hospital. Measurements: 2,933 intraoperative anesthesia records of all adult orthopedic patients treated at our institution during a 14-month period (7/96–8/97) were reviewed for antibiotic use and allergic reactions. Main Results: Most of the 2,933 orthopedic patients, including 413 patients who were allergic to penicillin, received a cephalosporin (usually cefazolin) during their procedure. Only one of the penicillin-allergic patients may have had an allergic reaction to the cephalosporin, because diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone were given at the beginning of the case. However, no mention was made on the chart about itching or a rash or hives. One of the non-penicillin-allergic patients did develop a rash while the cephalosporin was infusing, requiring discontinuation of the antibiotic. Conclusions: Given the low incidence of allergic reactions, it appears to be safe to administer cephalosporins to patients who claim to be allergic to penicillin. However, no conclusion can be made concerning patients who report severe or anaphylactic reactions to penicillin, because these patients probably were excluded from the study.
Closed-Form Solution for Constant-Orientation Workspace and Workspace-Based Design of Radially Symmetric Hexapod Robots

The workspace of hexapod robots is a key performance parameter which has attracted the attention of numerous researchers during the past decades. The selection of the hexapod parameters for a desired workspace generally employs the use of numerical methods. This paper presents a general methodology for solving the closed-form constant orientation workspace of radially symmetric hexapod robots. The closed-form solution facilitates hexapod robot design and minimizes numerical efforts with on-line determination of stability and workspace utilization. The methodology can be used for robots with nonsymmetric and nonidentical kinematic chains. In this paper, the methodology is used to derive the closed-form equations of the boundary of the constant-orientation workspace of axially symmetric hexapod robots. Several applications are provided to demonstrate the capability of the presented closed-form solution in design and optimization. An approach for workspace-based design optimization is presented using the provided analytical solution by applying an iterative optimization algorithm to the find optimized structural parameters and an optimized workspace.
Stress, the brain, and the gastric mucosa

Exposure of rats to 2 hours of cold water restraint is associated with both macroscopic and microscopic gastric mucosal injury. Administration of neurotensin into the lateral ventricle or into the nucleus accumbens, one of the mesolimbic dopamine system nuclei, is associated with protection when given before exposure to cold water restraint. Under conditions of cold water restraint, pretreatment with central neurotensin is associated with maintenance of gastric mucosal blood flow and an increase in endogenous gastric mucosal PGE2 activity. In addition, pretreatment with 6-hydroxy dopamine into the mesolimbic nuclei, which depletes them of endogenous dopamine, prior to exposure to cold water restraint, ameliorates the protective effect of central neurotensin. Centrally administered neurotensin inhibits basal, pentagastrin-, carbachol-, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced but not histamine-induced gastric acid secretion. This antisecretory effect is ameliorated by parenteral pretreatment with haloperidol and domperidone. Taken together, these observations support the hypothesis that centrally administered neurotensin, particularly into the nuclei of the mesolimbic dopamine system, confers protection against gastric mucosal injury produced by 2 hours of cold water restraint. This affect may be due, in part, to inhibition of acid secretion and maintenance of mucosal blood flow mediated by an increase in gastric mucosal PGE2 activity.
Mainstream Euroskepticism: Trend or Oxymoron?

This paper asks where Euroskepticism can be found in the party systems of the European Union. The literature suggests that anti-European parties are generally parties of the opposition, on the ideological fringes, or relatively small. A cross-national analysis of party positions confirms that Euroskepticism is primarily a fringe phenomenon, concentrated on the ideological extremes and among opposition parties. The results suggest that the post-Maastricht decline in public support for the EU has not led to a general adoption of Euroskeptic positions by the major governing parties of Europe. Important exceptions to this generalization do, however, exist. Euroskepticism is unusually strong among the center-right parties in the UK, France, and Poland. Given that decisions in the EU are often made by procedures that permit single states, or fairly small coalitions, to block action, any introduction of Euroskepticism into the mainstream of any party system can have serious consequences for the entire union.
Barrier Metal Ions Drift into Porous Low k Dielectrics under Bias-Temperature stress

Ta family has been used as barrier to prevent Cu diffusion into interlayer dielectric in IC applications. Recent experiments demonstrated a more severe flatband voltage shift (∆VFB) occurred for Ta/porous low k dielectrics/Si capacitors compared to that of Cu/porous low k dielectrics/Si capacitors after a moderate bias temperature stress (BTS). The flatband voltage shift under BTS was interpreted as the penetration of Ta ions into porous low k dielectrics. However, this interpretation has been under debate. In this paper, by using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) backside sputter depth profile technique, we report a direct evidence of Ta ions inside porous methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ) in a Ta/MSQ/Si structure after BTS.
Electropolymerization of a Bifunctional Ionic Liquid Monomer Yields an Electroactive Liquid-Crystalline Polymer

The preparation and polymerization of a bifunctional imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) monomer that incorporates both a vinyl group and a thiophene moiety is reported. Potentiodynamic electropolymerization of the monomer produces an optically birefringent polymer film that strongly adheres to the electrode surface. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy shows that polymerization occurs through both the vinyl and thienyl groups. Cylic voltammetry (CV) is used to determine the polymer oxidation potential (1.66 V) and electrochemical bandgap, Eg, of 2.45 eV. The polymer exhibits electrochromism, converting from yellow in the neutral form ({lambda}{sub max} = 380 nm) to blue in the polaronic state at 0.6 V ({lambda}{sub max} = 672 nm) and to blue-grey in the bipolaronic state at 1.2 V ({lambda}{sub max} > 800 nm). Topographic atomic force microscopy (AFM) images reveal isolated (separated) fibrils. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) studies indicate a lamellar structure with a lattice spacing of 3.2 nm. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) studies further suggest that the polymerized thiophene sheets are oriented perpendicular to the polymerized vinylimidazolium. The electrical conductivity, as determined by four-probe dc conductivity measurements was found to be 0.53 S cm{sup -1} in the neutral form and 2.36 S cm{sup -1} in the iodine-doped state, valuesmore » higher than typically observed for polyalkylthiophenes. The structural ordering is believed to contribute to the observed enhancement of the electrical conductivity.« less
Increased somatic complaints and health-care utilization in children: effects of parent IBS status and parent response to gastrointestinal symptoms.

Increased Somatic Complaints and Health-Care Utilization in Children: Effects of Parent IBS Status and Parent Response to Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Abortion and legal policy

This paper reviews four legal policies in abortion from a critical theory of law perspective. Since the Comstock era, abortion policy has undergone radical shifts from criminalization in the last quarter of the nineteenth century to decriminalization in the late 1960s, followed by legalization and medical control over the last decade. Yet, until recently, little scholarly attention has been given to the social and political implications of these various policy shifts (almost all studies focus on the current legal phase only) often in isolation from other social and political realities. In this paper we draw on historical, demographic, participant-observation, interview, and documentary and legal materials to analyze the transformations of legal control structures in abortion. This shows both the creation of abortion law, which is imbedded in structures of sexual domination, and the contradictions in abortion law, which express antagonisms in civil society as well as promote alliances within ruling groups. The abortion case further clarifies the failure of legality to transcend existing gender inequalities, thereby contributing to further erosion of welfare rights for poor women and their children.
Mapping of the KHSRP gene to a region of conserved synteny on human chromosome 19p13.3 and mouse chromosome 17.

The K homology-type splicing regulatory protein, KSRP, activates splicing through intronic splicing enhancer sequences. It is highly expressed in neural cells and is required for the neural-specific splicing of the c-src N1 exon. In this study, we mapped the gene (gene symbols KHSRP and Khsrp) to human chromosome 19 by using radiation hybrid panels and to mouse chromosome 17 by studying an interspecific backcross panel. Human KHSRP is a positional candidate gene for familial febrile convulsion and Cayman type cerebellar ataxia. Comparative analysis of the human and mouse genomes indicates that the KHSRP gene is located in regions of conserved synteny between the two species.
Simulation of a high-average power free-electron laser oscillator

In this paper, we compare the 10 kW-Upgrade experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, VA, with numerical simulations using the MEDUSA code. MEDUSA is a three-dimensional FEL simulation code that is capable of treating both amplifiers and oscillators in both the steady-state and time-dependent regimes. MEDUSA employs a Gaussian modal expansion, and treats oscillators by decomposing the modal representation at the exit of the wiggler into the vacuum Gaussian modes of the resonator and then analytically determining the propagation of these vacuum resonator modes through the resonator back to the entrance of the wiggler in synchronism with the next electron bunch. The bunch length in the experiment is of the order of 380--420 fsec FWHM. The experiment operates at a wavelength of about 1.6 microns and the wiggler is 30 periods in length; hence, the slippage time is about 160 fsec. Because of this, slippage is important, and must be included in the simulation. The observed single pass gain is 65%--75% and, given the experimental uncertainties, this is in good agreement with the simulation. Multipass simulations including the cavity detuning yield an output power of 12.4 kW, which is also in good agreement with the experiment.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic hemodialysis patients: prevalence and race.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of renal failure. The exact prevalence in chronic hemodialysis patients in not known. We evaluated 122 patients who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis for at least 12 months in 2 dialysis centers in mid Michigan. Seventy-eight percent of the patients had iPTH above 200 pg/mL (mean 481 pg/mL), 19% had iPTH within the accepted normal range (mean 155 pg/mL), while 3% had level below 100 (mean 53 pg/mL). Phosphate, calcium, calcium phosphate product, age and time on dialysis are the important factors correlating with elevated iPTH. There was no significant difference in iPTH between diabetic and nondiabetic patients with mean iPTH of 403 pg/mL and 407 pg/mL respectively. Black patients had a statistically significant elevated iPTH compared with white patients with a mean iPTH of 438 pg/mL and 283 pg/mL respectively (p ≤ 0.004). Factors that predict the response to vitamin D therapy need to be evaluated to help reduce the high prevalence of secondary ...
TOTAL AND PARTIAL OSSICULAR REPLACEMENT PROSTHESES IN CHILDREN

Although ossicular reconstruction in children may carry a risk of failure because of recurrent middle ear disease, the procedure offers the potential for restoring binaural hearing during the school years when it is so critical. Of a series of 45 reconstructions with total and partial ossicular replacement prostheses, 6 were extruded for a surgical success rate of 87%. Of the successful cases, 74% had air-bone gaps of 30 dB or better, and 74% had speech reception thresholds of 30 dB or better on initial postoperative audiogram. Outcomes for these children were comparable with those reported for adults, supporting the value of early reconstruction.
Surface and intramural reentrant patterns during atrial fibrillation in the sheep.

Introduction: This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on “Biosignal Interpretation: Advanced Methods for Studying Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems”. Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in humans and is predicted to dramatically increase its prevalence in the future. High-resolution mapping data and Fourier power spectral analysis with its dominant frequency support the hypothesis that AF in the structurally normal sheep heart and in some patients often presents organized drivers in the form of periodic surface re-entries or breakthroughs. Nevertheless, the dynamics of those surface patterns of activity, as well as their intramural components are still poorly understood. Objective: To present data on AF waves from the surface of isolated sheep hearts and discuss the interpretation of their intramural patterns. Methods: We used a combination of endocardial-epicardial optical mapping with phase and spectral analysis as well as computer simulation of the re-entrant activity in the myocardial wall. Results: Analysis of the surfaces’ optical mapping data in the phase domain reveals that activation of the posterior left atrium (PLA) consisted of alternating patterns of breakthroughs and reentries. The patterns on the endocardial and epicardial PLA surface at any given moment of time of the AF could be either identical or not identical, and the activity in the thickness of the PLA wall is hypothesized to conform to either ectopic discharge or reentrant scroll waves, but a definite evidence for the presence of such mechanisms is currently lacking. A universal minimal-principle theory is shown in a computer model to result in a tendency of the axis of the scroll waves to align with the myocardial fibers inside the wall. Conclusion: The tendency of filaments of scroll waves to align with myocardial fibers may contribute to the variety and intermittency of surface rotors seen in AF.
An experimental equation of state for potassium metal

Abstract The piston-displacement technique has been used to obtain an experimental pressure-volume-temperature relationship for potassium metal for pressures up to 20 kbars at temperatures between 20 and 320°K. The isothermal bulk modulus was found to be temperature-independent at constant volume to within a few per cent, and was linear in the pressure with a slope ( ∂B T ∂P ) T = 3.85 (±0.2) . Hence, the experimental data can be represented by an absolute zero isotherm and a volume-independent thermal pressure. The high pressure data were extrapolated to zero pressure to obtain the temperature dependence of the molar volume, thermal expansion coefficient, isothermal bulk modulus and various Grueneisen constants. The bulk modulus data for room temperature (both at zero pressure and as a function of pressure) agree well with recent ultrasonic data. Earlier sodium data have been reanalyzed, and a discrepancy which existed with ultrasonic data has been removed.
The fine structure of the small blood vessels of normal human dermis and subcutis.

Abstract Observations have been made on the small blood vessels of the dermis and subcutis of the human finger tip and abdomen. Two types of vessels have been described—vessels which closely resemble those of most other organs, and a second type of vessel never before reported. Vessels of the second type are found predominantly in the vicinity of sweat glands, and are lined by endothelial cells with the following characteristics: (1) small, dense, rod-shaped granules in the cytoplasm; (2) large bundles of very fine filaments in the cytoplasm; (3) groups of small vesicles in the cytoplasm, each group enclosed by a membrane; (4) thicker than typical endothelium, the cells in contracted vessels being pyramidal or columnar in shape. A possible functional signficance of this specialized endothelium has been suggested.
Mother-Child Play: Sequential Interactions and the Relation between Maternal Beliefs and Behaviors.

This investigation of mother and toddler play had 2 goals. The primary goal was to examine the types of play mothers introduce in direct response to their toddlers' play. A secondary and exploratory goal was to examine the relation between maternal knowledge about child play and actual maternal play behaviors. 50 mothers and their 21-month-old toddlers were observed at home during free play. Mother and child exploratory, nonsymbolic, and symbolic play were coded. Sequential analyses revealed that mothers adjusted their play to their children's play level by responding to their children with play that was either at the same level or at a higher level than their children's play. Furthermore, mothers who were more knowledgeable about early play development more often responded to their children's play by introducing higher level play. These findings suggest that mothers tend to play with their toddlers in ways that might promote their child's development, and that mothers with more knowledge about play development provide their children with appropriately challenging play interactions.
Secondary alcohol dehydrogenase.

Abstract Secondary alcohol dehydrogenase, purified from a species of Pseudomonas , is specific for the DPN-linked oxidation of secondary alcohols and the DPNH-linked reduction of ketones; substrates include isopropanol, cyclohexanol and acetone.
Investigations of Black Bronchoalveolar Human Lavage Fluid

The removal by bronchoalveolar lavage (two occasions) of 10 11 black macrophages containing crystals of aluminum silicate, large amounts of amorphous carbon, and oxidized lipids was followed by considerable improvement in gas exchange in a patient. Sixty-eight percent of these pulmonary macrophages were viable and normal, as judged by chemotactic and phagocytic activity. Except for cigarettes, no source for the previously mentioned ingested foreign substances was found. These observations suggest that removal by lavage of nonviable macrophages laden with foreign bodies from distal portions of the lungs of pulmonary patients may be therapeutically useful.
In vivo hybridisation of human tumour and normal hamster cells

IT is exceedingly rare for neoplasms to be invasive and metastatic when grafted in xenogeneic hosts1. During the past 7 yr, we have on numerous occasions observed the production of invasive and metastatic tumours in hamsters soon after injecting human cancer cells of diverse histopathology into their cheek pouches2–7. We have interpreted this biological phenomenon as due to the in vivo fusion of the human tumour with normal hamster host cells2–8, although the involvement of oncogenic viruses was not excluded. Recently, other evidence supporting the hybridisation of tumour with normal cells in vivo has appeared9. The significance of such events in the neoplastic process, however, has yet to be appreciated.
Modified quasilinearization algorithm for optimal control problems with bounded state

This paper considers the numerical solution of optimal control problems involving a functionalI subject to differential constraints, a state inequality constraint, and terminal constraints. The problem is to find the statex(t), the controlu(t), and the parameter π so that the functional is minimized, while the constraints are satisfied to a predetermined accuracy.
Thyroid function and reproductive success in rodents exposed to perchlorate via food and water.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if exposure to perchlorate via food items would have effects on mammals similar to those caused by exposure through drinking water at approximately equivalent doses. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were used to assess the potential toxicity of perchlorate-contaminated food items. Voles and mice were divided randomly into three treatment groups—perchlorate-contaminated food (PCF), perchlorate-contaminated water (PCW), and control groups—such that each treatment group contained equal numbers of males and females. Rodents in PCF treatment groups were fed chow formulated with soybean plant matter that had been grown with perchlorate-contaminated irrigation water. Individuals in the control and PCF groups were provided distilled/deionized drinking water, whereas the PCW group received drinking water containing sodium perchlorate. Only slight differences among treatment groups were observed in a variety of endpoints, including reproductive success, tissue perchlorate concentrations, thyroid hormone concentrations, and thyroid histology. However, trends observed in the present study suggest that perchlorate exposure via water may result in slightly greater effects than exposure to perchlorate via food. These data and recent reports of perchlorate in a wide variety of food items indicate that exposure via food intake is an important consideration when examining cumulative risk among humans, livestock, and wildlife.
NEUROBEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT OF HIGH-RISK NEONATES

A new examination has been developed which provides a reliable evaluation of neonatal neurological and behavioral organization, and is sensitive to individual differences in neurobehavioral status at conceptional ages from 30 to 42 weeks. Items evaluate maturational level, sensorimotor status and functions thought to involve cortical processing (i.e., visual tracking and auditory orienting). Fifty normal full-term infants (NFT) were compared to 120 low-birth-weight (LBW) infants (< 37 weeks gestational age, and/or weight < 10 percentile for age) tested at 40 weeks conceptional age. Interscorer reliability was .97 and test-retest reliability .91. 78% of LBW infants fell outside the range of NFT infants on visual tracking and auditory orienting items. Head position preference thought to be an early expression of hemispheric dominance was overwhelmingly right-sided (90%) in the NFT group and substantially less so (49%) in LBW infants. The LBW infants as a group manifested significant deficits on active motillty, and in complex reflexes (rooting and Moro), as well as a somewhat higher incidence of hypotonia and hypertonia. Items considered sensitive to deficient cortical functioning showed a strikingly greater disparity between LBW and NFT than did the standard neurological tests of motor and reflexive performance.
Histone-modifying enzymes, histone modifications and histone chaperones in nucleosome assembly: Lessons learned from Rtt109 histone acetyltransferases

During DNA replication, nucleosomes ahead of replication forks are disassembled to accommodate replication machinery. Following DNA replication, nucleosomes are then reassembled onto replicated DNA using both parental and newly synthesized histones. This process, termed DNA replication-coupled nucleosome assembly (RCNA), is critical for maintaining genome integrity and for the propagation of epigenetic information, dysfunctions of which have been implicated in cancers and aging. In recent years, it has been shown that RCNA is carefully orchestrated by a series of histone modifications, histone chaperones and histone-modifying enzymes. Interestingly, many features of RCNA are also found in processes involving DNA replication-independent nucleosome assembly like histone exchange and gene transcription. In yeast, histone H3 lysine K56 acetylation (H3K56ac) is found in newly synthesized histone H3 and is critical for proper nucleosome assembly and for maintaining genomic stability. The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) regulator of Ty1 transposition 109 (Rtt109) is the sole enzyme responsible for H3K56ac in yeast. Much research has centered on this particular histone modification and histone-modifying enzyme. This Critical Review summarizes much of our current understanding of nucleosome assembly and highlights many important insights learned from studying Rtt109 HATs in fungi. We highlight some seminal features in nucleosome assembly conserved in mammalian systems and describe some of the lingering questions in the field. Further studying fungal and mammalian chromatin assembly may have important public health implications, including deeper understandings of human cancers and aging as well as the pursuit of novel anti-fungal therapies.
Parallel, Non-Contact Trapping and Translation of Yersenia Pestis Bacteria with Optoelectronic Tweezers

Studies of host-pathogen (HP) interactions at the single cell level are critical for understanding the often elaborate, dynamical processes involved in pathogen invasion of hosts and disease initiation and progression. In order to monitor the pathogen invasion process, most often one mixes a solution containing pathogens into a culture of host cells, and then hopes the host cell being monitored is invaded by a pathogen. These chance encounters have been monitored using fluorescence microscopy, allowing for example fluorescent effector proteins to be monitored as they are injected into a host cell (Enninga, Mounier et al. 2005; Schlumberger, Muller et al. 2005). Such “mix and hope” strategies are simple, direct, and necessary for initial studies. However, they do not provide a path to obtain large sample sizes, control of timing of pathogen invasion, or a way to determine how many bacteria are required to defeat host defenses. We present recent results from using optoelectronic tweezers (OET) (Chiou, et al. 2005) as a tool for manipulating single pathogenic bacteria, opening a promising route for controlled initiation of HP interactions. Optoelectronic trapping uses laser-excited carriers inside a thin film of amorphous or crystalline Si to create a non-uniform electric field. These carriers, coupled with an electric field modulated in the MHz range produces strong field gradients. The object being trapped is polarized by the electric field, and gradients in the electric field create a potential well which traps the object. This trapping is obtained at extremely low optical intensities (<1W/cm∧2) and does not require functionalization of the pathogen in order to facilitate delivery to the host, opening up novel possibilities for massively parallel studies of HP interactions.