cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Locating jamming attackers in malicious wireless sensor networks

Recent years have witnessed a rapid growth of wireless sensor network applications in civil and military environments. Radio interference tends to be a serious threat in such applications. Jamming attacks are a direct consequence of radio interference that an adversary may intentionally launch. While it is necessary to defend against jamming attacks in order for sensor communication channels to be available and reliable, it is also difficult. In this paper, we develop a systematic approach to tackling jamming attacks. We propose robust fault-tolerant algorithms for the location discovery of jamming attackers that permit us to remove jamming attackers from wireless sensor networks. Then, we investigate the proposed approach through theoretical analysis and experiments. Our analytical and numerical results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Career paths and career success in the early career stages of male and female MBAs.

Abstract This study tests hypotheses about the relations between gender, career paths, and career success in a sample of MBAs. Findings indicate that women in managerial careers did not differ from men on total promotions and career satisfaction but did experience lower salary increases, fewer management promotions, and lower hierarchical levels compared to men of similar education, age, experience, performance, and career paths. In addition, starting salaries, starting job levels, job mobility, line experience, and company seniority were found to affect one or more of the career success measures. The findings have implications for the locus of bias in gender-based differences in career experience.
Primate origins: evolutionary change in digital ray patterning and segmentation.

This study presents evidence that the first primates share with extant lemurs, tarsiers, and anthropoids hand proportions unlike those of their close relatives, the tree shrews (Scandentia), colugos (Dermoptera), and plesiadapiforms. Specifically, early primates as well as modern strepsirhines and haplorhines have relatively short metacarpals and long proximal phalanges giving them a grasping, prehensile hand. Limb development was studied in the primate Microcebus murinus and a comparative sample of rodents, artiodactyls, and marsupials to investigate the role of embryonic patterning in the morphogenesis and evolution of primate hand proportions. Comparative analysis shows that the derived finger proportions of primates are generated during the early phases of digital ray patterning and segmentation, when the interzone cells marking the presumptive metacarpo- and interphalangeal joints first appear. Interspecific variation in relative digit and metapodial proportions therefore has high developmental penetrance; that is, adult differences are observed at early ontogenetic stages. The paleontological, comparative, and developmental data are therefore consistent with the hypothesis that the early Cenozoic origin of primates involved an evolutionary change in digital ray pattern formation ultimately yielding a grasping, prehensile hand.
Transarterial and Transvenous Approach for Transcatheter Closure of a Large Coronary Artery Fistula with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug

Interventional occlusion of coronary artery fistulas has become a well-accepted alternative to surgical therapy. However, occlusion of high-flow lesions in children, necessitating implantation of large occluding devices, may be limited by the requirement of large delivery catheters. This report describes the interventional occlusion of a large coronary artery fistula in an 8-year-old girl. Complete occlusion was achieved by subsequent transvenous and transarterial implantation of two Amplatzer vascular plugs (AVP). The AVP is an interesting alternative for interventional occlusion of large coronary artery fistulas in children that can be deployed safely by rather small guiding catheters.
The effect of training in miscue analysis on teacher's perceptions of oral reading behaviors

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess whether training in miscue analysis would influence teachers’ attitudes toward oral reading miscues. The investigator hypothesized that teachers would be more aware of students’ strengths after having been trained in miscue analysis. Graduate students enrolled in a diagnostic and remedial reading course were given a pretest during the first class session. The pretest consisted of listening to a taped sample of oral reading and then writing a description of the student's reading ability. Approximately six weeks later, after having extensively worked through a commercial program on miscue analysis, the same taped sample was used as a posttest. The teachers’ written comments were classified as (1) descriptive comments; (2) negative inferences (those which alluded to the reader's weaknesses); and (3) positive inferences (those which alluded to the reader's strengths). Statistical analysis revealed that significantly more positive inferences were made after misc...
Chemotherapy and antibiotics in the treatment of meningitis.

I N the history of medical therapeutics there have been few more dramatic events than the influence of chemotherapy and antibiotics on purulent meningitis. A decade ago cerebrospinal fever, in spite of specific serum therapy, was still a grave disease with a high case-fatality rate. Meningitis due to H. influenzae was almost invariably lethal, and recovery from pneumococcal or streptococcal meningitis unknown. Now, as a result of new agents in treatment, cerebrospinal fever is a brief disease, usually without sequellae, and carrying an almost negligibily small casefatality rate; moreover, recovery from the other varieties of purulent meningitis can occur in the majority of cases. These results, of course, have been achieved by sulfonamides, penicillin and streptomycin, but they cannot be approximated without a considerable knowledge of the diseases in question, together with technical skill in management. It is the purpose of this review to discuss the technics of these new treatments.
Quality of life in schizophrenia: contributions of anxiety and depression

A number of studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between quality of life in schizophrenia and general psychopathology measures, and moreover, that the positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms are less related to quality of life. The current investigation examined the relationship between quality of life and symptomatology in 63 stabilized outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Consistent with other findings, more severe depression, as rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was associated with lower general life satisfaction and lower satisfaction with daily living, finances, health, and social life. In addition, higher anxiety ratings on the BPRS were associated with less satisfaction with global quality of life, daily activities, family, health and social relationship, even when controlling for positive symptoms, negative symptoms, or depression. No other symptoms of schizophrenia were as strongly associated with subjective quality of life. Anxiety was also significantly correlated with a number of positive and negative symptoms while depression was substantially less related. These findings, suggest that more precise analyses of general psychopathology, and anxiety in particular, may be necessary to further clarify the factors involved in quality of life in schizophrenia. In addition, these findings suggest future directions for theories of affect and treatment in schizophrenia.
Velocity measurement in microchannels with a laser confocal microscope and particle linear image velocimetry

Particle linear image velocimetry (PLIV), a novel velocity measurement method for microfluidic characterization, is reported. The method records a series of one-dimensional images that represent the trace of particles in the flow across a one-dimensional imager. Linear imaging results in a faster frame rate than planar imaging, allowing observations at larger magnifications, or the measurement of faster flow in real-time than comparable techniques. In contrast to particle image velocimetry (PIV), PLIV captures fast flow dynamics and does not require high-speed cameras or shutters. Furthermore, PLIV is adaptable to multiple linear imager formats and, as one example, can use laser scanning confocal microscopes (LSCMs) that acquire images slowly, but with high optical sectioning resolutions. A higher spatial resolution can be obtained for flows where the in-plane velocity gradient in the direction of the optical path (z direction) is important. The PLIV algorithm is fully described and its utility is demonstrated by the measurement of: a steady Poiseuille flow with 1-μm spatial resolution in a microfluidic environment; dynamic measurement of transient flows with 250-ms temporal resolution; and the simultaneous calculation of particle dimension statistics.
Recognition of Depression in Geriatric ED Patients by Emergency Physicians

Abstract Study objective: To prospectively evaluate identification of geriatric depression by emergency physicians and to assess the utility of a self-rated depression scale to improve case-finding in geriatric patients presenting to the ED. Methods: We conducted an observational survey of geriatric ED patients who presented to an urban, university-affiliated public hospital. A brief self-rated depression scale was administered to 101 patients aged 65 years or older. Emergency physicians, blinded to depression scale scores, prospectively rated the likelihood of depression in these patients. Our main outcome measures were prevalence of depression (in accordance with a predetermined cutoff score for detecting depression) and the emergency physicians' clinical recognition of depression. Results: Thirty patients (30%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21% to 39%) met the predetermined criteria for depression. Age, sex, race, and education were not significantly different between depressed and nondepressed patients. Patients who categorized their health as good were less likely to be depressed than those who considered their health poor or fair (18% versus 37%; 95% CI for difference of 19%, 10% to 35%). Recognition of depression by emergency physicians was poor, with a sensitivity of 27% (95% CI; 12% to 46%), specificity of 75% (95% CI, 63% to 84%), and positive predictive value of 32% (95% CI, 27% to 41%). Only 13% (95% CI, 4% to 31%) of depressed patients were referred for further mental health evaluation. Conclusion: Depression is common in older ED patients but often goes unrecognized by emergency physicians. Use of a brief depression scale can improve case-finding in this age group, leading to appropriate referral for further management. [Meldon SW, Emerman CL, Schubert DSP: Recognition of depression in geriatric ED patients by emergency physicians. Ann Emerg Med October 1997; 30:442-447.]
Use of enzymes in the processing of protein products from rice bran and rice flour

Large quantities of rice bran and broken rice are generated as co-products during the milling of rice. Rice bran and, to a lesser extent, broken rice are under-utilized. The protein they contain is particularly nutritious and hypoallergenic for use in foods. However, to enhance the use of rice proteins, it is desirable to develop effective methods to separate or concentrate the protein component from these rice co-products. In this investigation, rice bran and rice flour from broken rice were treated with starch and carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes including α-amylase, hemicellulase, and cellulase. The enzymatic processing of rice bran resulted in soluble and insoluble rice products, with protein content ranging from 10% to 27%. In the case of rice flour, the starch component was effectively solubilized, and the insoluble fraction was found to contain up to 79% protein. Processing conditions were discussed, and the protein-enriched products were analysed for chemical, physical, and functional properties.
Untrained young men have dysfunctional HDL compared with strength-trained men irrespective of body weight status.

We examined the impact of strength fitness and body weight on the redox properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and associations with indices of vascular and metabolic health. Ninety young men...
Theory of the anisotropic ferrite wake-field accelerator. II. Higher-order modes

The theory of the anisotropic ferrite wake-field accelerator is solved for the case of any general angular mode {ital m}. The ferrite is driven into saturation by a static magnetic field, resulting in the permeability tensor having off-diagonal elements. Expressions for the radial and angular transverse forces are obtained. Finally, we give numerical examples showing that the transverse forces in the anisotropic ferrite wake-field accelerator are reduced as the static saturated magnetization is increased.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obstetrics and Obstetric Anesthesia in the United States

Disparities are prevalent within healthcare. Racial and ethnic disparities have been described in the use of neuraxial labor analgesia, in the prevalence of some obstetric conditions, and in obstetric outcomes. The origins of these disparities are likely to be multi-factorial, with patient, provider, and systems-level contributors. One of the objectives of Healthy People 2020 is to achieve health equity, thus eliminating racial and/or ethnic disparities in care. In this review, we give an overview of disparities in obstetric anesthetic and obstetric care.
The effect of vasopressin on memory in the healthy elderly

Abstract The effect that vasopressin has upon memory in young and old males was tested in a double-blind crossover study. There were two 1-week medication periods; during one, subjects received 60 μg of vasopressin daily; during the other, placebo. Reaction time tasks were used to measure their speed of retrieval from: short-term memory (STM), long-term memory (LTM), and semantic memory (SM). While vasopressin did not affect SM retrieval time or simple vocal reaction time, it did reduce memory comparison time and perceptual-motor time in STM and retrieval time in LTM. The degree of facilitation was similar in young and old.
Finite‐difference modelling of S‐wave splitting in anisotropic media

We have implemented a 3D finite-difference scheme to simulate wave propagation in arbitrary anisotropic media. The anisotropic media up to orthorhombic symmetry were modelled using a standard staggered grid scheme and beyond (monoclinic and triclinic) using a rotated staggered grid scheme. The rationale of not using rotated staggered grid for all types of anisotropic media is that the rotated staggered grid schemes are more expensive than standard staggered grid schemes. For a 1D azimuthally anistropic medium, we show a comparison between the seismic data generated by our finite-difference code and by the reflectivity algorithm; they are in excellent agreement. We conducted a study on zero-offset shear-wave splitting using the finite-difference modelling algorithm using the rotated staggered grid scheme. Our S-wave splitting study is mainly focused on fractured media. On the scale of seismic wavelenghts, small aligned fractures behave as an equivalent anisotropic medium. We computed the equivalent elastic properties of the fractures and the background in which the fractures were embedded, using low-frequency equivalent media theories. Wave propagation was simulated for both rotationally invariant and corrugated fractures embedded in an isotropic background for one, or more than one, set of fluid-filled and dry fractures. S-wave splitting was studied for dipping fractures, two vertical non-orthogonal fractures and corrugated fractures. Our modelling results confirm that S-wave splitting can reveal the fracture infill in the case of dipping fractures. S-wave splitting has the potential to reveal the angle between the two vertical fractures. We also notice that in the case of vertical corrugated fractures, S-wave splitting is sensitive to the fracture infill.
Non-monotonic probability theory and photon polarization

A non-monotonic theory of probability is put forward and shown to have applicability in the quantum domain. It is obtained simply by replacing Kolmogorov’s positivity axiom, which places the lower bound for probabilities at zero, with an axiom that reduces that lower bound to minus one. Kolmogorov’s theory of probability is monotonic, meaning that the probability of A is less then or equal to that of B whenever A entails B. The new theory violates monotonicity, as its name suggests; yet, many standard theorems are also theorems of the new theory since Kolmogorov’s other axioms are retained. What is of particular interest is that the new theory can accommodate quantum phenomena (photon polarization experiments) while preserving Boolean operations, unlike Kolmogorov’s theory. Although non-standard notions of probability have been discussed extensively in the physics literature, they have received very little attention in the philosophical literature. One likely explanation for that difference is that their applicability is typically demonstrated in esoteric settings that involve technical complications. That barrier is effectively removed for non-monotonic probability theory by providing it with a homely setting in the quantum domain. Although the initial steps taken in this paper are quite substantial, there is much else to be done, such as demonstrating the applicability of non-monotonic probability theory to other quantum systems and elaborating the interpretive framework that is provisionally put forward here. Such matters will be developed in other works.
Acyl fluorides as reactive mimics of aldehyde pheromones: hyperactivation and aphrodisiac in Heliothis virescens

Substitution of fluorine for the aldehydic hydrogen provides behaviorally active, chemically reactive pheromone mimics. In male moths of the tobacco budwormHeliothis virescens, Z9–14:Acf and Z11–16:Acf cause hyperactivity and irreversible extension of the genitalia in over 80% of treated moths. In addition, a combination of the two components leads to 10–50% of the pairs involving one treated partner becoming locked in copula.
Recovering marbled murrelets via corvid management: A population viability analysis approach

The expansion of human activities into rural areas and natural landscapes has resulted in widespread increases in the abundance of synanthropic species that threaten rarer native species. Quantitative assessments of how much impacts need to be reduced to reach acceptable levels of risk to the affected species are rarely conducted prior to the implementation of control measures, and it is perhaps not surprising that many efforts have not yielded the desired outcome. Here, we used matrix-based population viability analysis models to show that reducing predation by rapidly growing corvid populations on marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) nests likely constitutes an effective means for recovering a declining murrelet population in central California. For example, a modest 40% reduction in predation reduced extinction risk dramatically from 95.8% to 4.6% over 100 years and a 60% reduction resulted in a stable population (k = 1) when the proportion of breeders, renesting rates, and corvid predation rates were assumed to be 0.77, 0.13, and 0.69, respectively. However, nest predation would only need to be reduced by 40% to produce a stable population if corvid management was coupled with a modest increase in after-hatch-year survival from 0.896 to 0.910. Corvid control resulted in greater gains in murrelet population size when the maximum number of breeders was allowed to increase over the projection period, as might be expected if the amount of old-growth nesting habitat increased over time, but extinction risk was insensitive to the presence of a carrying capacity. Approximately half of known murrelet nests in central California are within 1 km of heavily used campgrounds in a single state park, indicating that significant gains in viability could be achieved by targeting efforts in small areas providing corvid food subsidies. Risk assessments such as ours can provide quantitative prioritization rationale for efforts intended to mitigate the impacts of synanthropic species on threatened species.
Something Less than a Driver: Toward an Understanding of Gendered Bodies in Motorsport

This essay argues that the gendered body is not accounted for in the physical conditions of motorsport but instead through the discourse of the sport. Specifically, women’s bodies signify as different in three main ways: beyond vehicles (navigating the space filled with other bodies and their respective vehicles), with vehicles (coordinating with the technology of the vehicle), and inside vehicles (operating in the space of and interacting with the technology) but situated by their gender’s discursively constructed characteristics. For women drivers in motorsport, these locations of identity formation offer embodied experiences mediated through discursive constructions. This article examines these articulations of the female body in motorsport, focusing on the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Donna Haraway, and Iris Marion Young.
Optics and Photonics for Homeland Security

This PDF file contains the editorial “Optics and Photonics for Homeland Security” for OE Vol. 43 Issue 10
Adaptive walks on the fitness landscape of music

The evolution of musical abilities in man was an area of intense interest for Charles Darwin: in his book The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1) he discussed the emergence of voice and musical powers in terms of sexual selection and made the case that “the vocal organs were primarily used and perfected in relation to the propagation of the species” (p. 315). Although music has been performed by people at least as far back as the Paleolithic (2), musical styles have changed dramatically throughout the ages and differ significantly across geographic regions. We could therefore ask whether musical preferences change according to laws that are similar to those of biological evolution, namely via inheritance, selection, and variations of tunes that are induced by chance. In PNAS, MacCallum et al. (3) present an experimental approach to study how music evolves, by encoding sounds into programs that can evolve via random mutation and recombination. Using computer programs to study evolution is of course not new (4), but in this case selection was at the hands of people, who listened to the musical phenotype of these programs over the Internet and scored them according to their personal preference. Within a population of “looping polyphonic sound sequences”—or “loops,” for short—those sequences that generated higher ratings by users were given more offspring, and their genetic materials recombined. In this manner, the prevailing music in the population changed over many generations. However, did the music get any better? To assess this, the authors sample loops from the entire evolutionary trajectory and ask a different set of consumers (not those who selected the loops in the original experiment) to rate the quality of the music. This average rating—the musical appeal M—increased significantly over the first 600 generations, but then seemed to flatten out. Over the remaining 2,100 generations of the experiment, the appeal of the loops remained essentially flat. What happened?
Child nutrition policies and recommendations

• Summary: Child malnutrition often invokes images of children with thin extremities and pot bellies. Rarely, do we relate malnutrition to obesity; however, in the United States, poor children are especially vulnerable to obesity related malnutrition. Policies that increase the cost of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables make it more difficult for poor families to purchase nutritious foods, thereby, increasing their risk of malnutrition. At the same time, cheaper foods tend to be more calorie-dense and to provide fewer nutrients.• Findings: This article discusses current policies that contribute to malnutrition and obesity in children from poor families and examines current changes within the political system regarding this topic.• Applications: Recommendations are provided for social workers whose clientele include children and families in poverty.
Long-term Outcome of Cruroplasty Reinforcement with Human Acellular Dermal Matrix in Large Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia

Laparoscopic repair of a large hiatal hernia using simple sutures only for the cruroplasty is associated with a high recurrence rate. The solution was to place synthetic mesh over the cruroplasty thereby decreasing recurrence rates in exchange for complications, such as gastric and esophageal erosions. Our initial report investigated the use of human acellular dermal matrix (AlloDerm) as a more suitable alternative. This study highlights our long-term results > 1 year of cruroplasty reinforcement with AlloDerm in the repair of large hiatal hernias. This is a retrospective study performed at our university. Between 2005 and 2006, 52 consecutive patients with large hiatal hernias had the cruroplasty site reinforced with AlloDerm. The variables analyzed were age, sex, weight, height, hiatal hernia size, operative time, length of hospital stay, follow-up, and postoperative complications. The mean for age was 56.7 years, for weight was 87.9 kg, for height 117 cm, for hernia size was 5.75 cm, operative time was 121 min, and for hospital stay was 1.36 days. Complication included pneumothorax, 3 (5.5%); atelectasis, 1 (1.9%); urinary retention, 1 (1.9%); and recurrence, 2 (3.8%). Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with reinforcement using human acellular dermal matrix can be performed safely with a short hospital stay and low rate of complications, especially a low rate of recurrence.
Out of Plato's Cave: The Role of Mathematics in the Christian Liberal Arts Curriculum

This article presents a historical defense of liberal arts education—a philosophy that is commonly claimed among Christian colleges and universities—in order to provide an understanding of liberal education to skeptics and subscribers alike. A subsequent discussion of the role of mathematics in the liberal arts tradition contends that mathematics should play a foundational role in the liberal arts curriculum. The discussion then leads to the question driving this article: What is the current role of mathematics in the Christian liberal arts curriculum? To investigate that question, I examined required course credits in mathematics in 176 institutions professing a Christian liberal arts curriculum. Two prominent organizations serving Christian postsecondary interests supplied the member institutions—the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the National Network for Church-Related Colleges and Universities (National Network). This article presents the data collected, summarizes the result...
AFFIRM and RACE trials: implications for the management of atrial fibrillation.

The Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) and Rate Control versus Electrical Cardioversion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study (RACE) Trials evaluated strategies of rate control or rhythm control in atrial fibrillation. AFFIRM enrolled patients with recent onset AF, and at entry over half of all patients were in sinus rhythm. At any point in the trial, the achieved difference in cardiac rhythm was likely only about 30%. In RACE all patients were entered in AF, and at the end of the study, sinus rhythm was present in 10% vs 39%. The strategy of rate control was non-inferior to the rhythm control strategy in both trials, and permits consideration of rate control as primary therapy. However, the actual differences in rhythm were relatively small, and do not allow the conclusion that maintenance of sinus rhythm is inferior to non-maintenance.
ANGLO-AMERICAN MOTHERS AND THE PREVENTION OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The purpose of this study was to assess for postpartum depression prevention activities of a group of 20 Anglo-American mothers who had given birth within the last year and who denied having postpartum depression. Results of open-ended interviewing and qualitative analysis indicated that in addition to the women being able to articulate a prescribed postpartum period, they also were the beneficiaries of protective measures and rituals, some degree of social seclusion, rest, assistance with tasks, and social recognition of their new social status as a mother. These results underscore the importance of social support for the prevention of postpartum depression and the need to educate mothers, families, and health care workers on their use and value.
Antioxidant-independent ascorbate enhancement of catecholamine-induced contractions of vascular smooth muscle

Ascorbate reduces the oxidation rate of catecholamines and, by an independent mechanism, enhances rabbit aortic ring contractions initiated by catecholamines. The largest significantly different fr...
Tensile Properties and Structure of Several Superalloys after Long- Term Exposure to LiF and Vacuum at 1173 K

The use of the solid- to- liquid phase transformation of LiF to store thermal energy is under consideration for a space- based solar dynamic system. Although advantageous in terms of its energy density, the melting point of this salt (1121K) is beyond the commonly accepted upper- use temperature of 1100 K for chromium- bearing superalloys in vacuum. However, one commercially available nickel- base superalloy (Hastelloy B- 2) is chromium free; unfortunately, because of its high molybdenum content, this alloy can form phases that cause high- temperature embrittlement. To test the suitability of Hastelloy B- 2, it has been exposed to molten LiF, its vapor and vacuum at 1173 K for 2500, 5000, and 10 h. For control, the chromium- containing cobalt- base Haynes alloy 188 and nickel- base Haynes alloy 230 were also exposed to LiF and vacuum at 1173 K for 5000 h. Neither LiF nor vacuum exposures had any significant effect on Hastelloy B- 2 in terms of microstructural surface damage or weight change. Measurement of the post exposure tensile properties of Hastelloy B- 2, nevertheless, revealed low tensile ductility at 1050 K. Such embrittlement and low strength at elevated temperatures appear to preclude the use of Hastelloy B- 2 as a containment material for LiF. Little evidence of significant attack by LiF was seen in either of the chromium- containing superalloys; however, considerable weight loss and near- surface microstructural damage occurred in both alloys exposed to vacuum. Although measurement of the post exposure room-temperature tensile properties of Haynes alloys 188 and 230 revealed no significant loss of strength or ductility, the severe degree of microstructural damage found in unshielded alloys exposed to vacuum indicates that chromium-bearing superalloys might also be unsuitable for prolonged containment of LiF in space above 1100 K. Keywords
Discordant Population Genetic Structuring of Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu Lacepéde, in Lake Erie Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences and Nuclear DNA Microsatellites

The population genetic structure of smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, in Lake Erie was investigated using two mitochondrial DNA sequences (control region and cytochrome b) and eight nuclear DNA microsatellite loci. The objective was to evaluate relative resolution of fine-scale versus broad-scale spawning population genetic structure across Lake Erie. Results showed that only cytochrome b sequences supported the divergence of populations grouped by basins, suggesting little correspondence to bathymetric features of Lake Erie. The majority of sampling sites were characterized by large within site variances, particularly with the microsatellite data, reducing the efficiency to delimit populations with the given sample sizes. Although conclusions from mtDNA and microsatellites were not corroborative, all data sets revealed some divergent sites across and within basins. The apparently weak genetic structuring of populations does not reflect the strong behavioral patterns of male nest-site fidelity and adult migration. Finer-scale structure among geographically proximate sites was detected primarily with microsatellite data. Several locations were consistently identified as most genetically divergent suggesting that they may serve as long-term attractor areas for spawning populations. Mitochondrial DNA data indicated a broader-scale pattern reflecting either colonization from at least two glacial refugia or different dispersal routes from a common refugium with subsequent genetic divergence through drift. Genetic variation of smallmouth bass in Lake Erie is likely a product of glacial history with behavioral and stochastic factors interacting at different spatial and temporal scales. A precautionary management approach would weigh both genetic and behavioral patterns and develop appropriate conservation strategies for a non-panmictic smallmouth bass population in Lake Erie.
A Helping Hand For The Invisible Hand

One of Alain Enthoven’s many contributions to our understanding of health care economics is the insight that a perfectly “free” market in health care will not produce desirable results. As developed by Enthoven and others, the theory of managed competition posits that an “unmanaged” market for health plans, in which individual consumers make choices among health plans without having the benefit of a sponsor, will not reward physicians, hospitals, and health plans for high-quality, economical care. In an unmanaged market health plans can prosper more easily through risk selection, market segmentation, and the provision of biased information than they can by doing the hard work of organizing the delivery system for quality and economy. The invisible hand proving inadequate, the theory of managed competition posits that a third party is required to manage competition among plans. The third party can overcome the tendencies toward market failure by following a variety of strategies, such as assuring that each health plan (1) charges community-rated premiums and accepts all applicants, without waiting periods or preexisting condition exclusions; (2) offers the same package of benefits (to prevent risk selection and market segmentation and to increase price-sensitivity by removing fears about hidden “air pockets”); and (3) provides comparative information on satisfaction and quality.
Proteolytic Degradation of Nitric Oxide Synthase: Effect of Inhibitors and Role of hsp90-Based Chaperones

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a highly regulated enzyme that produces nitric oxide, a critical messenger in many physiological processes. In this perspective, we explore the role of proteolytic degradation of NOS, in particular the inducible and neuronal isoforms of NOS, as a mechanism of regulation of the enzyme. The ubiquitin-proteasome and calpain pathways are the major proteolytic systems identified to date that are responsible for this regulated degradation. The degradation of NOS is affected by diverse agents, including glucocorticoids, caveolin, neurotoxic compounds, and certain NOS inhibitors. Some irreversible inactivators of NOS enhance the proteolytic degradation of the enzyme, and this property may be of great importance in understanding the biological effects of these inhibitors, some of which are being developed for clinical use. Analogies with the regulated degradation of liver microsomal cytochromes P450, which are related to NOS, provide a framework for understanding these processes. Finally, a new perspective on the regulation of NOS by hsp90-based chaperones is presented that involves facilitated heme insertion into the enzyme.
Current Management of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for 5%-10% of all thyroid cancers. The majority of medullary thyroid cancers are sporadic, but 20% of cases are a result of a germline mutation in the ret proto-oncogene. Hereditary medullary thyroid cancer can be seen as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2A or 2B or as part of familial medullary thyroid cancer. This article discusses the current methods available for the diagnosis and evaluation of a patient with suspected medullary thyroid cancer. The management of medullary thyroid cancer is predominantly surgical excision, consisting of a total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection. The extent and timing of surgical excision are discussed. Systemic therapeutic options are limited for medullary thyroid cancer, but several therapeutic targets show promise for the development of new therapies in the future.
In Vivo Functional Proteomics: Mammalian Genome Annotation Using CD-Tagging

A self-inactivating CD-tagging retroviral vector was used to introduce epitope and GFP tags into genes and proteins in NIH 3T3 cells. Several hundred cell clones, each expressing GFP fluorescence in a distinctive pattern, were isolated. Molecular analysis showed that a wide variety of genes and proteins, some known and some newly discovered, had been tagged. The analysis also revealed that, in the great majority of instances, the abundance and cellular location of the tagged protein mirrored that of its untagged counterpart. This approach provides a systematic means for the functional annotation of mammalian genomes and proteomes in living cells.
Predicting branch to bole volume scaling relationships from varying centroids of tree bole volume

A novel “varying-centroid” method is presented for predicting whole-tree, aboveground stem volume (i.e., bole plus branch volume) to bole volume ratios from changes in the centroid of tree bole vol...
Regression of Dietary Copper Restriction-Induced Cardiomyopathy by Copper Repletion in Mice

Dietary copper deficiency (CuD)(3) leads to cardiac hypertrophy in various animal models. We showed recently that heart failure develops after hypertrophy in FVB mice fed a CuD diet. The present study was undertaken to determine whether CuD-induced cardiac failure is reversible upon copper repletion (CuR). Dams of FVB mice were fed a CuD diet (0.3 mg/kg) starting from d 3 postdelivery; the weanling pups were fed the same diet until CuR with 6.0 mg/kg Cu in the diet at 4 or 5 wk of age. CuR at 4 wk of age prevented the body weight loss; at 5 wk of age, it resulted in the regaining of the lost weight caused by CuD. A significant regression of CuD-induced cardiac hypertrophy was observed in the CuR mice. Histopathological examination revealed that CuR eliminated CuD-caused lipid deposition in the myocardium, and electron microscopy demonstrated that CuD-induced ultrastructural changes such as mitochondrial swelling and organelle structural disarray were all reversed in the CuR mice. Hemodynamic analysis showed that the CuD-depressed systolic and diastolic parameters such as the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dP/dt) and decline (-dP/dt), and the contraction and relaxation times were completely recovered in the CuR mice. Furthermore, the CuD-blunted myocardial responses to the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, were also restored in the CuR mice. This study thus demonstrates for the first time that CuR results in the regression of heart failure induced by CuD as demonstrated by the reversal of depressed cardiac hemodynamic and contractile function and the restored responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation.
Fast diffusion of very long chain saturated fatty acids across a bilayer membrane and their rapid extraction by cyclodextrins: implications for adrenoleukodystrophy.

Abnormalities in the transport of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA; >C18:0) contribute to their toxic levels in peroxisomal disorders of fatty acid metabolism, such as adrenoleukodystrophy and adrenomyeloneuropathy. We previously showed that VLCFA desorb much slower than normal dietary fatty acids from both albumin and protein-free lipid bilayers. The important step of transbilayer movement (flip-flop) was not measured directly as a consequence of this very slow desorption from donors, and the extremely low aqueous solubility of VLCFA precludes addition of unbound VLCFA to lipid membranes. We have overcome these limitations using methyl-β-cyclodextrin to solubilize VLCFA for rapid delivery to "acceptor" phosphatidylcholine vesicles (small and large unilamellar) and to cells. VLCFA binding was monitored in real time with the fluorescent probe fluorescein-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine in the outer membrane leaflet, and entrapped pyranine was used to detect flip-flop across the membrane. The upper limit of the rate of flip-flop across the membrane was independent of temperature and media viscosity and was similar for model raft and non-raft membranes as well as living cells. We further showed that cyclodextrins can extract VLCFA rapidly (within seconds) from vesicles and cells, which have implications for the mechanism and potential alternative approaches to treat adrenoleukodystrophy. Because VLCFA diffuse through the lipid bilayer, proteins may not be required for their transport across the peroxisomal membrane.
Scaffolding peer-questioning strategies to facilitate metacognition during online small group discussion

Meaningful discussion that facilitates reflective thinking can be initiated when learners raise thoughtful questions or provide critical feedback; however, generating effective questions requires a certain level of domain knowledge and metacognitive skills of the question-askers. We propose a peer-questioning scaffolding framework intended to facilitate metacognition and learning through scaffolding effective peer-questioning in online discussion. This framework assumes that novice students who lack domain and metacognitive knowledge can be scaffolded to generate meaningful interactions at an early stage of learning and the resulting peer-generated adaptive questions can facilitate learners’ metacognition. Thus, this study investigated the effects of providing online scaffolding for generating adaptive questions to peers during online small group discussion. A field experimental time-series control-group design was employed as a mixed model for the research design. Thirty-nine college students from an online introductory class on turfgrass management participated in the study. The findings revealed that the scaffolds were useful to increase the frequency of student questioning behavior during online discussion. For some students, the online guidance reportedly served as “a starting point” to generate questions when they had difficulty asking questions. However, the guidance did not improve the quality of questions and thus learning outcomes. The interview data indicated that peer-generated adaptive questions served a critical role in facilitating learner’s reflection and knowledge reconstruction. Further study should focus on the quality improvement of peer-generated questions while considering adaptive and dynamic forms of scaffolding and intermediate factors such as prior knowledge, metacognition, task complexity, and scaffolding type.
A molecular mechanism for energy coupling in a membrane transport protein, the lactose permease of Escherichia coli

A mechanism for the coupled translocation of substrate and H+ by the lactose permease of Escherichia coli is proposed, based on a variety of experimental observations. The permease is composed of 12 α-helical rods that traverse the membrane with the N and C termini on the cytoplasmic face. Four residues are irreplaceable with respect to coupling, and the residues are paired—Arg-302 (helix IX) with Glu-325 (helix X) and His-322 (helix X) with Glu-269 (helix VIII). In an adjacent region of the molecule at the interface between helices VIII and V is the substrate translocation pathway. Because of this arrangement, interfacial changes between helices VIII and V are transmitted to the interface between helices IX and X and vice versa. Upon ligand binding, a structural change at the interface between helices V and VIII disrupts the interaction between Glu-269 and His-322, Glu-269 displaces Glu-325 from Arg-302, and Glu-325 is protonated. Simultaneously, protonated Glu-325 becomes inaccessible to water, which drastically increases its pKa. In this configuration, the permease undergoes a freely reversible conformational change that corresponds to translocation of the ternary complex. To return to ground state after release of substrate, the Arg-302–Glu-325 interaction must be reestablished, which necessitates loss of H+ from Glu-325. The H+ is released into a water-filled crevice between helices IX and X which becomes transiently accessible to both sides of the membrane due to a change in helix tilt, where it is acted upon equally by either the membrane potential or the pH gradient across the membrane.
Revascularization Leads to Greater Reduction in Ischemia Than Medical Therapy in Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Stable Coronary Artery Disease

high-dose furosemide (HDF, IV furosemide 20 mg/h for 8 hours) or low-dose furosemide combined with low-dose dopamine (LDFD, IV furosemide 5 mg/h plus IV dopamine 5mg/ kg/min) and were categorized according to pretreatment with a BB to form 4 study groups: HDFBB(+), HDFBB( ), LDFDBB(+), and LDFDBB( ) (n5 8, 9, 16, 8, respectively) in order to compare the effects of each therapy on diuresis, perceived dyspnea, renal function, and 60-day post-discharge outcomes. Results: Urine volume/hour for the first 8 hours was similar in the 4 groups (HDFBB(+): 3186 81ml, HDFBB( ): 2276 96ml, LDFDBB(+): 403 6 440ml, LDFDBB( ): 274 6 165ml; p 5 0.51) as were the changes in perceived dyspnea assessed by the Borg index score (HDFBB(+): -4.1 6 2.9, HDFBB( ): -4.3 6 0.9, LDFDBB(+): -4.9 6 2.2, LDFDBB( ): -4.5 6 1.7; p 5 0.77). Worsening of renal function by various definitions was less commonly seen in the LDFD groups regardless beta-blocker pretreatment (Table). Length of stay and 60-day outcomes (all-cause, cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular, and due to worsening HF) were similar in the 4 groups. Conclusion: Pretreatment with a BB does not affect the diuretic and renoprotective effects of low-dose dopamine in patients hospitalized for ADHF.
High‐resolution studies of the HF ionospheric modification interaction region

The use of the pulse edge analysis technique to explain ionospheric modifications caused by high-power HF radio waves is discussed. The technique, implemented at the Arecibo Observatory, uses long radar pulses and very rapid data sampling. A comparison of the pulse leading and trailing edge characteristics is obtained and the comparison is used to estimate the relative changes in the interaction region height and layer width; an example utilizing this technique is provided. Main plasma line overshoot and miniovershoot were studied from the pulse edge observations; the observations at various HF pulsings and radar resolutions are graphically presented. From the pulse edge data the development and the occurrence of main plasma line overshoot and miniovershoot are explained. The theories of soliton formation and collapse, wave ducting, profile modification, and parametric instabilities are examined as a means of explaining main plasma line overshoots and miniovershoots.