cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refocusing the Fund: A Review of James M. Boughton's Silent Revolution: The International Monetary Fund, 1979–1989

This book is the fourth installment in the officially sponsored history of the International Monetary Fund. It begins where the previous installment ended, shortly after the entry into force of the Second Amendment to the Articles of Agreement of the Fund. It ends with the adoption of the Brady plan, which aimed to resolve the debt crisis that dominated the work of the Fund for most of the 1980s, but before the collapse of the Soviet Union, which made new and different demands on the human and financial resources of the institution. Although this is an officially sponsored history, it is not a mere chronicle. In fact, it is not even organized chronologically. In the first part, James Boughton describes the Fund’s efforts to influence the policies of the major industrial countries. In the second part, he examines the Fund’s involvement in the debt crisis and thus focuses on its relations with the middle-income developing countries of Latin America. In the third part, Boughton discusses the Fund’s attempts to foster growth-promoting reforms in low-income developing countries and provide those countries with concessional financing. In the last part, he discusses the evolution of the Fund as a financial institution, the changing role and attributes of the SDR, the start of the move toward universal membership, the Fund’s relations with other institutions, and changes in its organization and governance. Previous volumes in this series were written when the Fund was obsessively protective of its confidential relationship with its members. The authors of those volumes, however, were given unrestricted access to the Fund’s archives and could therefore provide outsiders with a window on the Fund’s decision-making processes.
Low Inflation: The Surprise of the 1990s

For most of the 1990s, forecasters have been predicting an upturn in inflation. Yet, over that same period, the United States has experienced stable or declining inflation. Why have forecasts been at odds with reality? And why does it matter? In this article, Dean Croushore considers some answers to these questions and explains why inflation is the economic surprise of the decade.
The Effects of Cost Structures and Organizational Characteristics on Nonprofit's Tax-Motivated Expense Reallocations

Nonprofit organizations are taxed on the portion of their income that is unrelated to their primary exempt mission. Prior research suggests that nonprofits reallocate expenses from their tax-exempt to their taxable activities in order to reduce their tax liabilities. This paper examines two issues related to these reallocations. First, what are the effects of cost structures and accounting allocation bases on nonprofits' ability to reallocate expenses? Second, can the tax reporting behavior models developed for fully taxable private firms predict nonprofit behavior? Results find that cost accounting methodologies play a particularly important role in determining the amount of income taxes nonprofits pay. Results also suggest that tax behavior models derived for the for-profit setting are partial predictors of nonprofit tax reporting behavior.
Progress on New Hepatitis C Virus Targets: NS2 and NS5A

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health problem, affecting about 170 million people worldwide. Chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The replication machine of HCV is a multi-subunit membrane associated complex, consisting of nonstructural proteins (NS2-5B), which replicate the viral RNA genome. The structures of NS5A and NS2 were recently determined. NS5A is an essential replicase component that also modulates numerous cellular processes ranging from innate immunity to cell growth and survival. The structure reveals a novel protein fold, a new zinc coordination motif, a disulfide bond and a dimer interface. Analysis of molecular surfaces suggests the location of the membrane interaction surface of NS5A, as well as hypothetical protein and RNA binding sites. NS2 is one of two virally encoded proteases that are required for processing the viral polyprotein into the mature nonstructural proteins. NS2 is a dimeric cysteine protease with two composite active sites. For each active site, the catalytic histidine and glutamate residues are contributed by one monomer and the nucleophilic cysteine by the other. The C-terminal residues remain coordinated in the two active sites, predicting an inactive post-cleavage form. The structure also reveals possible sites of membrane interaction, a rare cis-proline residue, and highly conserved dimer contacts. The novel features of both structures have changed the current view of HCV polyprotein replication and present new opportunities for antiviral drug design.
Hooking Workers and Hooking Votes: 'Enganche', the Extension of the Suffrage, and the Institutional Origins of Labor Market Dualism in Latin America

Labor market dualism – the segmentation of workers between formal, legally protected employment and informal, unprotected status – has long drawn attention from scholars and policy makers in Latin America. This article argues that lasting patterns of economic and political segmentation of workers arose earlier in the region’s history than has previously been understood, well before the classic “incorporation” period. Late nineteenth century practices for the recruitment and retention of workers shaped Latin America’s first sets of labor laws, most notably those governing union-organization and individual-level worker job stability. Subsequently, these first laws served as important templates for subsequent development, constraining and conditioning the labor codes adopted under mass-based politics. Using historical data drawn from Chile, Peru, and Argentina; the article shows how differing recruitment practices, and variation in the extension of effective suffrage rights and electoral participation; shaped early legal labor market segmentation and inequality in Latin America.
Five models of clinical judgment: An empirical comparison between linear and nonlinear representations of the human inference process

Abstract Two nonlinear models, which were proposed by Einhorn as approximations of the Conjunctive and Disjunctive strategies, were compared with the Linear, Logarithmic, and Exponential models as potential representations of the judgments made by 29 clinical psychologists, each of whom attempted to differentiate neurotic from psychotic patients on the basis of their MMPI profiles. For this task, the Linear model provided a better representation of the judgments made by all clinicians than did either of Einhorn's models, and only the Logarithmic provided the Linear model with any real competition. Moreover, serious problems endemic to all of the nonlinear models call into question their utility as potential judgmental representations.
Faunal exploitation by Early Holocene hunter/gatherers on the Great Plains of North America: Evidence from the Clary Ranch sites

Abstract Analysis of the faunal remains recovered from two penecontemporaneous Early Holocene archeological sites on the Clary Ranch in western Nebraska offers a series of functional insights on the organizational structure of Late Paleo-Indian subsistence behavior on the central Great Plains of North America. At each location, radiocarbon assays on charcoal and bone indicate occupation between 9100 and 9000 BP. The deposits appear to represent functionally divergent, although complementary, dimensions of a single, spatially differentiated settlement and subsistence system situated along a intermittent tributary of the North Platte River. The Clary Ranch site provides a view from the perspective of a late summer–early fall secondary processing area for bison carcasses derived from a nearby mass kill. The intensive character of carcass exploitation here, involving defleshing and marrow extraction, suggests that the bulk of the yield was destined for storage in anticipation of impending winter food shortages. The primary component at the partially excavated, stratified O.V. Clary site is a residential camp, with evidence for occupation during the mid-summer, mid-winter, and late winter/early spring. On-site activities there are organized around an intact hearth area, to which the carcass parts from at least six bison were transported for processing and subsequent consumption. Non-bison remains recovered from the hearth area include coyote, box turtle, raven, great horned owl, and several small, indeterminate passerines
Photoelectric emission from the valence band of some alkali halides

Abstract Photoelectric emission from the valence band, previously measured for CsI, has been investigated in the other alkali iodides and several other halides. As in CsI, the yields rise rapidly from the threshold to values of order 0.1 electron/incident photon. For the iodides, concurrent measurements of reflectivity and optical absorption agree with Martienssen's recent results and show detail consistent with interband transitions. Approximate values for the energy difference between the bottom of the conduction band and the vacuum level are deduced.
Treatment of urinary tract infection with gentamicin once or three times daily

Aim To examine the safety and efficacy of once-daily (OD) gentamicin treatment compared with conventional 8-hourly dosing (TDS) for urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of children 1 mo to 13 y of age with presumed UTI. Children were randomly assigned to OD gentamicin 5 mg kg(-1) d(-1) or TDS gentamicin 6 mg kg(-1) d(-1) divided 8 hourly. Microbiological efficacy, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity and renal scarring were assessed at the end of treatment. Results 210 patients with presumed UTI were recruited, of whom 172 were analysable (OD 84, TDS 88). The median age was 7 mo, 50% were male and 74% (n = 127) of patients had pyelonephritis. The majority of infections were due to Escherichia coli (n = 153, 89%), of which 9 (5.2%) were bacteraemic. Comparing the two groups, there was no significant difference in age, gender, duration of fever before admission, pyuria, nitrite positivity or initial total white blood cell count. All patients had negative urine cultures after 2-3 d of treatment, demonstrating 100% microbiological efficacy. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, duration of gentamicin treatment or time to fever defervescence. Conclusion OD gentamicin is as efficacious as TDS gentamicin in the treatment of UTI in children, with no difference in ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
The effects of acute 17β-estradiol treatment on gene expression in the young female mouse hippocampus

Previous studies have demonstrated that treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) improves both spatial and nonspatial memory in young female mice. Still unclear, however, are the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of E(2) on memory. We have previously demonstrated that a single post-training intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0.2 mg/kg E(2) can enhance hippocampal-dependent spatial and object memory consolidation (e.g., Gresack & Frick, 2006b). Therefore, in the present study, we performed a microarray analysis on the dorsal hippocampi of 4-month-old female mice injected i.p. with vehicle or 0.2 mg/kg E(2). Genes were considered differentially expressed following E(2) treatment if they showed a greater than 2-fold change in RNA expression levels compared to controls. Overall, out of a total of approximately 25,000 genes represented on the array, 204 genes showed altered mRNA expression levels upon E(2) treatment, with 111 up-regulated and 93 down-regulated. Of these, 17 of the up-regulated and 6 of the down-regulated genes are known to be involved in learning and memory. mRNA expression changes in 5 of the genes were confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR analysis, and protein changes in these same genes were confirmed by Western blot analysis: Hsp70, a heat shock protein known to be estrogen responsive; Igfbp2, an IGF-I binding protein; Actn4, an actin binding protein involved in protein trafficking; Tubb2a, the major component of microtubules; and Snap25, a synaptosome-specific protein required for neurotransmitter release. The types of genes altered indicate that E(2) may induce changes in the structural mechanics of cells within the dorsal hippocampus that could be conducive to promoting memory consolidation.
A case of oral tuberculosis associated with cheesy conglomerate tuberculosis of the prostate terminating in miliary dissemination.

Abstract A case is reported in which tuberculosis of the prostate was associated with a tuberculous lesion in the oral cavity and finally became the focus of an acute generalized miliary tuberculosis.
Molecular structure and vinyl chloride insertion of a cationic zirconium(IV) acyl carbonyl complex

The reaction of vinyl chloride (VC) with the cationic Zr acyl complex [Cp2Zr{C(O)Me}(CO)][MeB(C6F5)3] (1a/b, O-inside and O-outside isomers) yields an unusual dinuclear dicationic μ-acyl μ-keto-alkoxide complex, [Cp2Zr{μ-C(O)Me}{μ-OCMe(CHCH2)C(O)Me}ZrCp2][MeB(C6F5)3]2 (3), which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. This reaction proceeds by 1,2 insertion into the Zr−acyl bond of Cp2Zr{C(O)Me}+ to yield Cp2Zr{CH2CHClC(O)Me}+, which undergoes β-Cl elimination to form methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and Cp2ZrCl+ (8). The MVK is trapped by Cp2Zr{C(O)Me}+ to form [Cp2Zr{η2-C(O)Me}(MVK)][MeB(C6F5)3] (9), which rearranges to [Cp2Zr{κ2-OC(Me)(CHCH2)C(O)Me}][MeB(C6F5)3] (10). Intermediate 10 is trapped by Cp2Zr{C(O)Me}+ to form 3. 3 is also formed by the reaction of 1a/b with 0.5 equiv of MVK. 1,2 VC insertion of Cp2Zr{C(O)Me}+ is favored over 2,1 insertion by steric factors. The molecular structure of 1a was determined by X-ray crystallography.
Advantages of mRNA display selections over other selection techniques for investigation of protein–protein interactions

mRNA display is a genotype-phenotype conjugation method that allows for amplification-based, iterative rounds of in vitro selection to be applied to peptides and proteins. mRNA display can be used to display both long natural protein and short synthetic peptide libraries with unusually high diversities for the investigation of protein-protein interactions. Here, we summarize the advantages of mRNA display by comparing it with other widely used peptide or protein-selection techniques, and discuss various applications of this technique in studying protein-protein interactions.
On Validation of Extended State Observer Through Analysis and Experimentation

This paper is concerned with the question of, for a physical plant to be controlled, whether or not its internal dynamics and external disturbances can be realistically estimated in real time from its input–output data. A positive answer would have significant implications on control system design, because it means that an accurate model of the plant is perhaps no longer required. Based on the extended state observer, it is shown that, for an nth order plant, the answer to the above question is indeed yes. In particular, it is shown that the estimation error converges to the origin asymptotically when the model of the plant is given. In face of large dynamic uncertainties, the estimation error is shown to be bounded. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the error upper bound monotonously decreases with the bandwidth. Note that this is not another parameter estimation algorithm in the framework of adaptive control. It applies to a large class of nonlinear, time-varying processes with unknown dynamics. The solution is deceivingly simple and easy to implement. The results of analysis are further verified through simulation and hardware tests.
An Improved Method for Calculating the Quasi-Static EMP

A new time-independent numerical method is used to determine the late-time electromagnetic pulse (EMP) resulting from a surface nuclear burst. Completely arbitrary source terms are employed and the non-linear dependence of the air chemistry and air conductivity parameters on the electric field strength is incorporated into the solutions. Comparisons are made with previous analytic expressions. In addition, a parametric study is presented.
Race-ethnic differences in marital quality and divorce

Abstract Blacks report lower marital quality and face a higher risk of marital dissolution than Whites, but little is known about how Hispanics compare to these two groups. We examine five dimensions of marital quality as well as marital dissolution for Blacks, Whites, and Mexican Americans using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 6231). Mexican Americans and Whites have similar levels of marital quality, whereas Blacks report poorer marital quality than these two groups. Blacks face higher odds of marital disruption than either Mexican Americans or Whites, but this is because of Blacks’ lower marital quality. Consistent with the paradox of Mexican American nuptiality, we conclude that aspects of Mexican American culture may play a role in preserving marital quality and stability for this group despite their precarious economic situation.
The Ross Procedure: Shorter Hospital Stay, Decreased Morbidity, and Cost Effective

Abstract Background . The Ross procedure has become an accepted and sometimes preferred alternative to mechanical aortic valve replacement. One criticism of the Ross procedure is that it may have a higher operative mortality, morbidity, and cost. Several groups have shown that this operation can be performed safely with less than 3% mortality. The issue of higher cost has not been resolved. In this retrospective study we compared a consecutive group of patients undergoing the Ross procedure with an age- and disease-matched group of patients who underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement. Methods . From 1993 to 1996, 22 consecutive adult patients (age range, 20 to 57 years; mean, 38 ± 14 years) underwent the Ross procedure. Twenty-seven patients (age range, 17 to 57 years; mean, 41 ± 10 years) underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement between 1991 and 1996. The hospital cost (in 1996 dollars) and postoperative length of stay were calculated for each patient using Transition I, a hospital-wide cost accounting system. Results . There was no hospital mortality in either group. The incidence of significant valve-related complication was 5% (1/22 patients) in the Ross procedure group and 22% (6/27 patients) in the mechanical valve group. There were two late deaths in the group with mechanical aortic valve replacement. The length of stay for the Ross procedure group was 5.9 ± 2.1 days, versus 8 ± 1.85 days for the mechanical valve group ( p Conclusions . The data from this review demonstrate that the Ross procedure can be done safely, with short hospital stays, decreased morbidity, and costs comparable with those of standard mechanical aortic valve replacement in patients with isolated aortic valve disease.
Teaching professional ethics using student‐produced video scenarios

Presents a method for teaching ethics developed for the Operational Auditing course at Old Dominion University. Outlines the principles on which the course is based. Describes the distinctive method used, which requires students to form groups and prepare videos of ethical scenarios. Concludes with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the course.
Clearer Cues, More Consistent Voters: A Benefit of Elite Polarization

Scholars typically argue that elite polarization has only negative consequences for American politics. I challenge this view by demonstrating that elite polarization, by clarifying where the parties stand on the issues of the day, causes ordinary voters to adopt more consistent attitudes. Scholars have made such claims in the past, but because only observational data has been available, demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship has proven to be difficult. I use original experiments to verify that there is a small but significant causal link between elite polarization and voter consistency. These findings have important normative implications for our understanding of the consequences of elite polarization, the role of political parties in a modern democracy, and the standards scholars use to assess citizen competence and participation.
Aggregation of mitochondria, mitochondrial fragments, and microsomes by cytochrome c.

Abstract Cytochrome c at a concentration of 5·10 −6 M in solutions of low ionic strength at pH 6.5 will complex with mitochondria, mitochondrial fragments, and microsomes, causing these particulate structures to aggregate. This effect can be reversed by the addition of neutral salts to the medium, although the reversal is not strictly a function of ionic strength alone. ATP and ADP are particularly effective in physiological concentrations. This cytochrome c -induced aggregation reaction has been found to have no significant effect on the enzymic activities of these particles.
Time-resolved speckle effects on the estimation of laser-pulse arrival times

A maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator of the pulse arrival in laser ranging and altimetry is derived for the case of a pulse distorted by shot noise and time-resolved speckle. The performance of the estimator is evaluated for pulse reflections from flat diffuse targets and compared with the performance of a suboptimal centroid estimator and a suboptimal Bar-David ML estimator derived under the assumption of no speckle. In the large-signal limit the accuracy of the estimator was found to improve as the width of the receiver observational interval increases. The timing performance of the estimator is expected to be highly sensitive to background noise when the received pulse energy is high and the receiver observational interval is large. Finally, in the speckle-limited regime the ML estimator performs considerably better than the suboptimal estimators.
Patterns and Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Committed by Returning Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Data from a recent mixed-methods study conducted among Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) raise important questions regarding the occurrence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in this population. Three case studies illustrate two main findings. First, Veterans and family members participating in the study described three patterns of partner violence—violence committed in anger; dissociative violence; and parasomniac/hypnopompic violence—suggesting that distinct patterns of IPV may emerge in relation to PTSD symptoms. Second, participants’ descriptions suggest that common ideas about PTSD and war-related suffering can play an important role in influencing how Veterans and their partners respond to episodes of partner violence. It is important for those providing care to PTSD-diagnosed Veterans and their partners to understand when and how partner violence may occur, and how both parties may perceive and respond to it, in order to aid in developing appropriate plans for coping and safety-seeking.
Field dependence–independence as visuospatial and executive functioning in working memory: implications for instructional systems design and research

Field dependence–independence (FDI) has long been conceptualized and discussed as a cognitive style relevant to numerous educational approaches and outcomes. However, the FDI construct is most often measured as a cognitive ability, as opposed to a style, using instruments such as the Group-Embedded Figures test (GEFT) or the Hidden Figures Test (HFT). Specifically, FDI is typically measured as visuospatial ability and executive functioning in working memory. While measurement and use of FDI within psychological and educational research has often resulted in misleading or inconsistent discussion about cognitive styles, this review examines how the long history of FDI research continues to be relevant to contemporary instructional contexts. A broader recognition of FDI as ability is suggested in order to (a) better distinguish ability measurements from those of styles, (b) encourage a reinterpretation and awareness of theoretical connections among past studies that use instruments such as GEFT or HFT, and (c) highlight suggestions for future research and application, particularly with contemporary interactive multimedia learning tools.
The water-oxidation complex in photosynthesis

Studies of the photosynthetic water-oxidation complex of photosystem II (PS II) using spectroscopic techniques have characterized not only important structural features, but also changes that occur in oxidation state of the Mn4 cluster and in its internal organization during the accumulation of oxidizing equivalents leading to O2 formation. Combining this spectroscopic information with that from the recently published relatively low-resolution X-ray diffraction studies, we have succeeded in limiting the range of likely cluster arrangements. This evidence strongly supports several options proposed earlier by DeRose et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116 (1994) 5239] and these can be further narrowed using compatibility with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data.
Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome in highrisk infants in Australia

An understanding of the neurodevelopmental outcome of long-term survivors of neonatal intensive care is essential for the informed management of preterm or high risk infants. This annotation looks at the current status of neonatal follow-up services in Australasia and highlights problems in the collection and interpretation of data. It suggests that we should work towards achieving a consensus on standard definitions and test regimes and on national data collection.
A novel live recombinant mycobacterial vaccine against bovine tuberculosis more potent than BCG

Mycobacterium bovis infection of cattle and other domesticated animals exacts a significant economic toll in both economically developing and industrialized countries. Vaccination of herds and/or wild animals that share their grazing land and serve as reservoirs of infection has been proposed as a strategy to combat bovine tuberculosis. However, the only currently available vaccine, M. bovis Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), is not highly efficacious. Here we show that a live recombinant vaccine, rBCG30, which expresses large amounts of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 30 kDa major secretory protein, is more efficacious against bovine tuberculosis than BCG in the highly demanding guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis. Compared with the parental wild-type BCG strain, rBCG30 administered intradermally induced significantly greater cell-mediated and humoral immune responses against the 30 kDa protein, as determined by measuring cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity and antibody titers. As for potency, in three independent experiments, rBCG30 induced greater protective immunity than BCG against aerosol challenge with a highly virulent strain of M. bovis, reducing the burden of M. bovis by 0.4 +/- 0.2 log colony-forming units (CFU) in the lung (P < 0.05) and by 1.1 +/- 0.4 log CFU in the spleen (P = 0.0005) below the level in BCG-immunized animals. A recombinant BCG vaccine overexpressing the identical M. bovis 30 kDa protein, rBCG30Mb, also induced greater cell-mediated and humoral immunity against the 30 kDa protein than BCG and greater protective immunity against M. bovis challenge; however, its potency was not significantly different from rBCG30. As rBCG30 is significantly more potent than BCG against M. bovis challenge, it has potential as a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in domesticated animals and in wild animal reservoirs.
A roadmap for TRIPS: copyright and film in Colonial and Independent India

Copyright law shapes the film industry in many countries. As one of the largest producers of popular movies, India provides a case study for exploring the relationship between copyright law and the film industry. This article fills a gap in the intellectual property scholarship literature by analysing the developments of copyright law in Colonial and post-Independence India, and tracing the development of the law to the development of the industry. This historical background serves as a foundation for analysing contemporary debates in Indian copyright law, especially as applied to the film industry. The primary findings are on the recurrrent theme of trade and copyright law, the extraterritorial application of copyright law outside India’s borders, and the changing interpretation of the copyright law to reflect changes in the film industry and technology.
Institution Affects Association between CMV Seronegative Graft and Leukemic Relapse after Pediatric HCT

We read with interest the letter from Travi and colleagues [1] reporting results from their own institution that differed from those we recently published in the Journal [2]. The letter inquired whether differing distributions of demographics or conditioning regimens might explain why the similar, contemporary samples yielded contrasting findings on whether donor/recipient CMV serostatus affects the incidence of leukemic relapse after pediatric HCT. Here we reply to the question and offer a potential explanation of our own.
Trans-cranial electrical stimulation attenuates the severity of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in rats

The expression of morphine withdrawal in rats has been demonstrated as dependent upon the integrity of specific brain regions. Focal intracranial electrical stimulation of some of these sites results in the attenuation of withdrawal severity. The present study demonstrates that electrical auricular stimulation, in a paradigm known to attenuate nociceptive responses of several brain nuclei, attenuates the severity of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in rats. This simple non-invasive treatment, based on long-standing principles of electroacupuncture, may provide a useful adjunct for therapy of the narcotic withdrawal syndrome.
Varenicline blocks nicotine intake in rats with extended access to nicotine self-administration

Rationale Much evidence indicates that individuals use tobacco primarily to experience the psychopharmacological properties of nicotine. Varenicline, a partial α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, is effective in reducing nicotine craving and relapse in smokers, suggesting that α4β2 nAChRs may play a key role in nicotine dependence. In rats, the effect of varenicline on nicotine intake has only been studied with limited access to the drug, a model of the positive reinforcing effect of nicotine. Varenicline has not been tested on the increase in motivation to take nicotine in nicotine-dependent rats.
Hemodynamic Transesophageal Echocardiography After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Objective The authors hypothesized that the clinical profile of patients undergoing hTEE after continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implant would be in patients with greater acuity, more blood product utilization, and longer length of ICU stay, and that hTEE would change clinical management. Design Retrospective review. Setting University hospital. Participants One hundred consecutive patients receiving a CF-LVAD. Interventions Retrospective review using a standardized electronic form of a miniaturized disposable transesophageal echocardiography probe that documented not only physical findings but also changes in hemodynamic management (hTEE) in CF-LVAD patients. Measurements and Main Results Of the 100 patients, 41 received an hTEE probe. The INTERMACS score, Leitz-Miller Score, and Kormos score indicated the hTEE group had a statistically significant greater risk of morbidity and mortality. Interoperatively, the hTEE group received more blood products and was more likely to have an open chest. Postoperatively, the hTEE group received more blood products, had a longer total length of stay, and had increased mortality. ICU length of stay, days on inotropes and days on mechanical ventilation were not statistically significant between the 2 groups. Information obtained from hTEE changed ICU management in 72% of studies. Conclusion Retrospective review of CF-LVAD patients revealed that postoperative hTEE is used in sicker CF-LVAD patients and frequently leads to changes in ICU clinical management.
Public health: The malaria wars

Robert Seder applauds the chronicle of a secret US wartime project to vanquish the disease.
Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer in a Turbine Blade at Design and Off-Design Angles of Incidence

A novel numerical method was developed to deal with the studies of the aerodynamic and heat transfer of flow passing through blade cascades at both design and off-design conditions. The Navier-Stokes equations are discretized and integrated in a coupled manner in this study. The time-marching was achieved by using time integration approach in the present method. The flux terms are discretized based on a cell finite volume formulation as well as a flux-difference splitting. The flux-difference splitting can ensure the scheme with rapid convergence and the finite volume technique can ensure the equation for the conservation of mass, momentum and energy. A hybrid difference scheme for quasi-three-dimensional procedure based on the discretized and integrated Navier-Stokes equations as developed to study flow and heat transfer in turbine blade passages. The numerical method possesses the positive features of the explicit and implicit algorithms, providing a relatively rapid convergence process and having a less restricted stability constraint. The computed results were compared with other numerical study results and experiments and showed fairly good agreement.Copyright © 2000 by ASME
Distribution of frustrated plaquettes in the random bond square lattice

Computer simulation is used to examine the spatial distribution of frustrated plaquettes in a square lattice of random +1 and -1 bonds. While the bonds are uncorrelated, the frustrated plaquettes are not. The average separation of a frustrated plaquette from its nearest frustrated neighbour shows a feature consistent with Schuster's pair dissociation transition at c=0.707, where c is the concentration of positive bonds. It also possesses a narrow peak at c approximately=0.9, which may be related to a phase boundary in the Ising spin system on this lattice.
Effects of oscillations and energy-driven fluctuations on the dynamics of enzyme catalysis and free-energy transduction.

It has been shown that many enzymes should be capable of utilizing free energy supplied by external time-dependent perturbations to drive the chemical or transport reactions they catalyze away from equilibrium. This property is analyzed in terms of thermodynamic and kinetic theory. An explicit demonstration using irreversible thermodynamics, through second order, is given for the case of a simple model enzyme in the presence of a periodic external perturbation. Three reasons for an enzyme to drive a reaction in a nonstationary environment may be identified: the average values of the forces, the root mean square of the external time-dependent perturbation, and the frequency-dependent correlation between the applied perturbation and the enzyme response. The extent to which the output reaction responds to any of these is governed by the kinetic constants of the enzyme. Even if the catalyzed reaction (e.g., the transport of an uncharged substance across a membrane) is in and of itself thermodynamically independent of the periodic perturbation (e.g., an ac electric field), the enzyme is competent to mediate free-energy exchange between the two. This originates from the fact that at high frequencies, the enzyme response lags behind the applied perturbation. It is sufficient that the enzyme interact with the applied field, and that the catalytic rate constants display the kinetic asymmetry typical of many, and particularly transport, enzymes. These results highlight the role of enzymes as free-energy converters in addition to that of biological catalysts.
AI-16HIF-1a INHIBITION BY RNA INTERFERENCE DELIVERED VIA A NOVEL MULTIFUNCTIONAL SURFACTANT ATTENUATES GLIOMA GROWTH IN AN INTRACRANIAL MOUSE MODEL

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest form of adult brain cancer with a dismal prognosis despite aggressive therapeutic measures. Intratumoral hypoxia is thought to be a main contributor to tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of these tumors. Since Hif-1α the major mediator of hypoxia-regulated cellular control, inhibition of this transcription factor could reduce glioblastoma growth. Delivery of siRNA to the brain can be problematic and novel delivery systems are key to the successful use of this type of therapeutic measure. METHODS: Using an orthotopic mouse model with U87-LucNeo cells, we utilized RNA interference to knock down HIF-1α in vivo. The siRNA was packaged using a novel multifunctional surfactant, EHCO, a nucleic acid carrier that facilitates cellular uptake and intracellular release of siRNA. Stereotactic injection was used to deliver siRNA locally through a guide set screw system and delivery/uptake was verified by imaging of fluorescently labeled siRNA. Osmotic pumps were used for extended siRNA delivery to model the commonly used human intracranial drug delivery technique convection-enhanced delivery (CED). RESULTS: Mice receiving daily siRNA injections targeting HIF-1α had a 79% lower tumor volume after 50 days of treatment when compared with controls. The HIF-1 transcriptional targets VEGF, GLUT-1, c-MET, and CA-IX were correspondingly inhibited after HIF-1 siRNA inhibition. Markers for cell growth (MIB-1) and vascularity (MVD) were also significantly lowered after this treatment. Altering the carrier EHCO by adding polyethylene glycol significantly increased the efficacy of drug delivery and subsequent survival of the treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: Treating glioblastoma with siRNA targeting HIF-1α in vivo can significantly reduce tumor growth and increase survival in an intracranial mouse model. Our novel siRNA carrier improves delivery of this treatment molecule. With further study this might be extended for use in human patients with malignant gliomas.
Early solar system processes recorded in the matrices of two highly pristine CR3 carbonaceous chondrites, MET 00426 and QUE 99177

The mineralogy and bulk compositions of the matrices of the CR chondrites MET 00426 and QUE 99177 have been studied using a combination of SEM, EPMA, and TEM techniques. The matrices of these two chondrites are texturally, chemically, and mineralogically similar and are characterized by significant FeO-enrichments with respect to other CR chondrite matrices, nearly flat refractory lithophile patterns, variable volatile element patterns, and a simple mineral assemblage dominated by amorphous silicate material and Fe,Ni sulfides. Fine-grained, crystalline silicate phases such as olivine and pyroxene appear to be extremely rare in the matrices of both meteorites. Instead, the mineralogy of matrices and fine-grained rims of both meteorites consists of abundant amorphous FeO-rich silicate material, containing nanoparticles of Fe,Ni sulfides (troilite, pyrrhotite, and pentlandite). Secondary alteration minerals that are characteristic of other CR chondrites (e.g., Renazzo and Al Rais), such as phyllosilicates, magnetite, and calcite are also rare. The texture and mineralogy of the matrices of MET 00426 and QUE 99177 share many features with matrices in the primitive carbonaceous chondrites ALH A77307 (CO3.0) and Acfer 094 (unique). These observations show that MET 00426 and QUE 99177 are very low petrologic type 3 chondrites that have escaped the effects of aqueous alteration, unlike other CR chondrites, which are typically classified as petrologic type 2. We suggest that these meteorites represent additional samples of highly primitive, but extremely rare carbonaceous chondrites of petrologic type 3.00, according to the classification scheme of Grossman and Brearley (2005). The highly pristine nature of MET 00426 and QUE 99177 provides important additional insights into the origins of fine-grained materials in carbonaceous chondrites. Based on our new observations, we infer that the amorphous silicate material and nanosulfide particles that dominate the matrices of these meteorites formed in the solar nebula by rapid condensation of material following high-temperature events, such as those that formed chondrules.
Stereotypical Gender-Based Emotions Are Not Detectable in Dream Reports

This study reports on the number of feelings evoked in men and women by their dream characters as well as on the relative frequency of different kinds of feelings. Thirty-five subjects recorded 320 dreams over a two-week period, submitted dream reports and a dream log of all characters that appeared in their dreams as well as any feelings involving the characters. We found that feelings were pervasive in dreams and that they were evoked by over 80% of a subject's dream characters. Further, negative and positive emotions were balanced for both men and women. We found no significant differences in the number or in the profile of feelings in men and women's dreams. The reasons for this are discussed in terms of a continuity hypothesis across dream and wake states or, on the contrary, that feelings expressed in dreams may be independent of learned gender differences.
Hydrologic responses of compacted forest soils

Abstract Soil cores were constructed in the laboratory under different antecedent moisture content, φ, and degrees of compaction. Sorptivity, S0, effective hydraulic conductivity, Ke, and the Boltzmann constant, γ, were measured using the unsaturated sorptivity device. Subsequently, the bulk density, BD, and degree of saturation, S, were also determined. S0 and Ke were found to be log-linearly and inversely related to BD at same level of φ.γ was also inversely proportional to BD but in a linear fashion. The study found unexpectedly low values of Se, Ke, and γ at low φ. Cores with low φ and BD also had relatively low S indicating a large degree of water unfillable porosity. This unfillable porosity was mostly attributable to entrapped air which caused the unexpected results. The results show that soil hydrologic properties such as S0 are sensitive to currently unpredictable factors such as entrapped air. An example application where measured soil hydrologic properties are used to estimate the variation in runoff potential for different portions of a logging skid trail is included.
Position of the American Dietetic Association: Dietetics Professionals can Implement Practices to Conserve Natural Resources and Protect the Environment

Abstract It is the position of the American Dietetic Association to encourage environmentally responsible practices that conserve natural resources, minimize the quantity of waste that is generated, and have the least adverse affect on the health of all living organisms and the environment. All components of the food system, from farmer to consumer, are affected by the availability and cost of energy and the availability and quality of water. Outdoor and indoor air quality significantly impacts the health of all living organisms. Decisions that dietetics professionals make as practitioners and consumers can affect the quantity and type of solid waste generated. The demand for natural resources should be evaluated when selecting the most cost-effective, environmentally sensitive approach to the management of solid waste. Special precautions are needed when using and disposing of hazardous and medical waste to protect the safety of our clients and employees. This position paper provides information and resources for dietetics professionals for addressing the complexity of the environmental issue presented. Conservation strategies are identified that dietetics professionals can use in their worksites and at home. These conservation practices may reduce cost and decrease the environmental impact we have on our communities and the world.
The Effect of Multivalent Ions on the Flotation of Coal

Abstract Flotation of coal generally exhibits a maximum around neutral pH. This maximum, despite the marked mineralogical heterogeneity, has been attributed to the isoelectric point of the coal in this pH region. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the important role of multivalent ions in determining the pH dependence of flotation. Ca, Fe, and Al electrolytes are found to depress coal in the pH region of metal hydroxide precipitation. Adsorption tests as a function of pH show coal to adsorb the multivalent ions in a manner similar to oxides. The data obtained here are examined in terms of possible surface and bulk precipitation of metal hydroxide species on coal surfaces.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): Access Planning And Strategies

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has proven to be a viable tool for the high-surgical-risk population with severe aortic valve stenosis. Vascular access complications are not uncommon with TAVR and may increase early and late mortality. Avoiding these serious complications is the goal. With experience and careful screening, we are now able to risk-stratify patients who may be at increased risk of vascular complications. While the traditional iliofemoral access site remains the most common for TAVR, alternate access sites that have proven to be viable and safe alternatives include the transapical, directaortic, and subclavian techniques. TAVR teams should be familiar and comfortable with these approaches as each of them has its own advantages and weaknesses. The best option is usually one in which the procedure is tailored to the patient. The present review examines our current access planning and strategies for TAVR.
Anatomic variations between Japanese and Caucasian populations in the healthy young adult knee joint.

Our objective was to characterize variations in mechanical knee alignment, tibial torsion, tibial width, and ACL laxity measurements between Japanese and Caucasian populations in the healthy, young adult knee joint. Seventy young adult subjects participated in this study, including 23 Japanese and 47 Caucasian subjects. Coronal magnetic resonance images of the hip, knee, and ankle were acquired for analysis. Japanese subjects had a significantly higher (p = 0.04) varus alignment (1.64 ± 0.43° standard error) than Caucasians (0.55 ± 0.33°), while women exhibited a more valgus alignment (0.16 ± 0.52°) than men (0.94 ± 0.42°, p = 0.04). Significant differences were found in tibial torsion and ACL laxity (p < 0.01) between ethnicities, with Japanese exhibiting lower tibial torsion (33.4 ± 10.0°) and higher ACL laxity (7.5 ± 0.4 mm) measurements compared to Caucasians (38.9 ± 9.5° and 5.7 ± 0.3 mm, respectively). Significant differences between genders were found in hip-knee-ankle alignment (p = 0.04), tibial width (p < 0.0001), and ACL laxity (p < 0.01) measurements. Measurements were reliable between observers and for repeated positioning. Our study provides new insight into anatomical and geometric differences in the knee joint between Japanese and Caucasians, as well as between females and males. Further consideration of these results may improve development of implants to accommodate for these differences, and understanding of characteristics leading to increased prevalence of knee OA in certain populations. The use of magnetic resonance imaging to obtain these measurements also allows soft tissue structure characterization without exposure to ionizing radiation. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res