cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grassroots Mobilization in the Digital Age Interest Group Response to Supreme Court Nominees

This study examines how ten interest groups used electronic mail to mobilize their supporters in response to the Supreme Court nominations of John G. Roberts, Jr., Harriet Miers, and Samuel A. Alito, Jr. The effects of group characteristics and goals, the dynamics of the confirmation process, and prior behavior are evaluated. Logit results reveal that group traits and preferences influence the likelihood of requests for action and donations. Funding requests were also conditioned by the stage of the process. The findings show that interest groups use Supreme Court turnover as an opportunity for political advocacy and organizational maintenance.
Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrenic ionic liquid monomers and carbon dioxide absorption of the polymerized ionic liquids

Polymeric forms of ionic liquids have many potential applications because of their high thermal stability and ionic nature. Two ionic liquid monomers, 1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-3-butyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (VBIT) and 1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-3- butyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (VBIH), were synthesized through the quaternization of N-butylimidazole with 4-vinylbenzylchloride and a subsequent anion- exchange reaction with sodium tetrafluoroborate or potassium hexafluorophosphate. Copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization was used to polymerize VBIT and VBIH. The effects of various initiator/catalyst systems, monomer concentrations, solvent polarities, and reaction temperatures on the polymerization were examined. The polymerization was well controlled and exhibited living characteristics when CuBr/1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine or CuBr/2,2′-bipyridine was used as the catalyst and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate was used as the initiator. Characterizations by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction showed that the resulting VBIT polymer, poly[1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-3-butyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate] (PVBIT), was amorphous and had excellent thermal stability, with a glass-transition temperature of 84 °C. The polymerized ionic liquids could absorb CO2 as ionic liquids: PVBIT absorbed 0.30% (w/w) CO2 at room temperature and 0.78 atm. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1432–1443, 2005
Positive Masculinity Among Latino Men and the Direct and Indirect Effects on Well‐Being

Counselors are learning ways to promote well-being among Latinas/os. This study tested the hypothesis that caballerismo, a prosocial form of masculinity, would predict subjective well-being among a sample of predominantly Mexican/Mexican American men. The moderating role of religious involvement was also tested and hypothesized as having a bolstering effect. Results supported the main hypotheses. Implications are discussed as they concern counseling, training, and future research. Los consejeros estan aprendiendo formas de promover el bienestar entre la comunidad latina. Este estudio examino la hipotesis de que el caballerismo, una forma de masculinidad de orientacion social, podria predecir el bienestar subjetivo en una muestra de hombres predominantemente mexicanos o mexico-americanos. Tambien se examino el efecto moderador de la participacion religiosa y se formulo la hipotesis de que tendria un efecto de impulso. Los resultados apoyaron las hipotesis principales. Se discuten implicaciones en cuanto a la consejeria, capacitacion e investigaciones futuras.
Radiometric Calibration of Reflective Bands of Landsat 4 Thematic Mapper using Pseudo-Invariant Site Technique

Historically, for purposes of calibration, the Landsat 4 Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor has relied upon prelaunch calibration data, internal calibration data and very limited post-launch data. Landsat 4 additionally has used Landsat 5 TM cross-calibration data. The availability of one more independent source, commonly called pseudo-invariant sites, can be used to improve the calibration of the sensor. Pseudo-invariant sites are mainly well characterized desert sites exhibiting the properties of high reflectance, high spatial and spectral uniformity, temporal stability and are nearly Lambertian to decrease BRDF and shadow effects. The successful update of the calibration of the Landsat 5 TM sensor using the pseudo-invariant site approach suggested using this approach to calibrate the Landsat 4 TM sensor. The pseudo-invariant sites selected to characterize the Landsat 4 TM sensor are Middle East sites at Path 166, Row 39 and Path 166, Row 40. Previously, calibration attempts have been primarily based only on the internal calibrator (IC) and prelaunch data. The Landsat 5 internal calibrator was found to be unreliable approximately three years after launch. The Landsat 4 IC data also become questionable especially knowing that the internal calibrators for both the instruments were essentially identical. Thus, it is necessary to characterize the system with another independent and reliable source-in this case pseudo-invariant sites. Unfortunately, due to the unavailability of an adequate number of scenes at the site used for Landsat 5, the Middle East site of Path 166, Row 39 and Path 166, Row 40 were selected. A large drawback of these sites is that they are the locations of the First Gulf War in 1991. This negates the assumption that the surface and atmosphere did not change during the study period. To account for the change, radiometric correction was done using the known Landsat 5 gain signature. A correction factor, which is the ratio of the averages of Landsat 5 pre-gulf war and post-gulf war data sets (at-sensor radiance), was used to scale the post-gulf war gain of Landsat 4. Both the IC data and pseudo-invariant site data suggested quadratic models for bands 1-4 and linear models for bands 5 and 7. The proposed models provide consistent calibration knowledge of Landsat 4 TM sensor with differences less than 6% in band 1, nearly 2% in bands 2, 3 and 4 and within 4% in bands 5 and 7, respectively.
Basic and clinical anatomy of the spine, spinal cord, and ANS

by Gregory D. Cramer, D.C., Ph.D. and Susan A. Darby, Ph.D., 441 pages, St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1995. $96.95. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Die Mineralparagenesen von Blyberg, Mittelschweden

Abstract Within the mapped area different types of leptites, carbonate rocks, skarn, micaschists, magmatic rocks, iron ores, and sulphide ore are found. The magnetite iron ores are undoubtedly sedimentary in origin. Iron ores, as well as the surrounding rocks show sulphide mineralization, mainly consisting of pyrrhotite, galena and pyrite. The primary hydrothermal sulphide association was followed by a pneumatolytic-hydrothermal mineralization (scheelite, molybdenite, pyrrhotite, and chal-copyrite). The primary sulphides possibly represent mobilised and re-deposited sedimentary ores. As they are found today, however, the ores are clearly epigenetic and almost without exception show the effects of metamorphism. Innerhalb des Kartenbereiches treten u. a. verschiedene Leptittypen, Karbonatstein, Skarn, Glimmerschiefer, Eruptivgesteine, Eisenerze und Sulfiderze auf. Die magnetitischen Eisenerze stellen ohne Zweifel sedimentare Bildungen dar. Eisenerz, wie auch das silikatische Nebengestein und Karbonatstein w...
Histologic changes in liver tissue from patients with chronic hepatitis B and minimal increases in levels of alanine aminotransferase: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background & Aims The level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a marker of hepatitis B severity and response to treatment. However, measurements of ALT level may be of limited use during the immune clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and can be affected by age, weight, and concomitant liver disease. We performed a literature review to determine the proportion of CHB patients with ALT levels of 1- to 2-fold the upper limit of normal who also had significant underlying liver fibrosis (stage ≥2). Methods We performed a Medline search of original articles published before June 2012, and their references; we also searched abstracts from the 2010 and 2011 annual meetings of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the 2011 and 2012 Digestive Disease Weeks. Studies were included that had 20 or more consecutive treatment-naive CHB patients with 6 months or more of follow-up evaluation, histologic data, and levels of ALT 1- to 2-fold the upper limit of normal. Study heterogeneity was assessed by a Forest plot and Q and I 2 analyses. Sensitivity was measured using 1-study removed analysis. Results Our analysis included 8 articles and 1 abstract, comprising 683 patients. Based on random-effects modeling, 48% of patients had stage 2 or higher fibrosis (95% confidence interval, 36%–61%). In a sensitivity analysis, exclusion of the study that caused the greatest deflection of the pooled estimate produced a revised estimate of 43%. A subgroup of hepatitis B e antigen–positive and hepatitis B e antigen–negative patients (n = 168 and 170, respectively) showed similar rates of fibrosis (41% vs 47%; P = nonsignificant). Conclusions Despite heterogeneity in the literature, a substantial proportion of patients with slight increases in ALT level have significant fibrosis. Given the possibility of advanced liver disease, the threshold for antiviral treatment must be individualized. Further studies are needed to investigate patients with modest increases in ALT level.
Factions and Enclaves: Small Towns and Socially Unsustainable Tourism Development:

Pressured by the decline of extractive industries and agriculture, many small towns are trying to acquire a share of the tourism industry. While some communities decide to develop tourism from within their towns, often rural places turn to large-scale privately owned tourism enterprises to act as engines of economic development. While many studies have examined how tourism can have negative social impacts in rural communities, few studies detail how rural communities’ attitudes toward tourism can suffer when locals feel alienated from planning/development decisions. In this study, the authors examined data from participant observation and semistructured interviews in Williams, Arizona, to determine whether changes in community attitudes toward tourism followed patterns suggested by the established theoretical models of social carrying capacity and community adaptation to a social disruption. We found that Williams is a case where the fast pace of tourism development causes community attitudes toward touri...
Technology Acceptance Model 3 and a Research Agenda on Interventions

Prior research has provided valuable insights into how and why employees make a decision about the adoption and use of information technologies (ITs) in the workplace. From an organizational point of view, however, the more important issue is how managers make informed decisions about interventions that can lead to greater acceptance and effective utilization of IT. There is limited research in the IT implementation literature that deals with the role of interventions to aid such managerial decision making. Particularly, there is a need to understand how various interventions can influence the known determinants of IT adoption and use. To address this gap in the literature, we draw from the vast body of research on the technology acceptance model (TAM), particularly the work on the determinants of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and: (i) develop a comprehensive nomological network (integrated model) of the determinants of individual level (IT) adoption and use; (ii) empirically test the proposed integrated model; and (iii) present a research agenda focused on potential pre- and postimplementation interventions that can enhance employees' adoption and use of IT. Our findings and research agenda have important implications for managerial decision making on IT implementation in organizations.
Kernels, Degrees of Freedom, and Power Properties of Quadratic Distance Goodness-of-Fit Tests

In this article, we study the power properties of quadratic-distance-based goodness-of-fit tests. First, we introduce the concept of a root kernel and discuss the considerations that enter the selection of this kernel. We derive an easy to use normal approximation to the power of quadratic distance goodness-of-fit tests and base the construction of a noncentrality index, an analogue of the traditional noncentrality parameter, on it. This leads to a method akin to the Neyman-Pearson lemma for constructing optimal kernels for specific alternatives. We then introduce a midpower analysis as a device for choosing optimal degrees of freedom for a family of alternatives of interest. Finally, we introduce a new diffusion kernel, called the Pearson-normal kernel, and study the extent to which the normal approximation to the power of tests based on this kernel is valid. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Reversible canal wall down mastoidectomy for acquired cholesteatomas: preliminary results.

Objectives The educational objectives were to discuss a new technique to manage acquired cholesteatomas and to compare this with standard approaches used for cholesteatoma removal. The study objective was to determine the feasibility of using a new approach, the reversible canal wall down approach, in conjunction with bone cement to remove acquired cholesteatomas and, potentially, preserve the ossicular chain. Study Design Retrospective review of five patients who underwent resection of their acquired cholesteatomas using a technique that maximizes exposure, yet preserves the posterior canal wall and, potentially, the ossicular chain. Methods In the setting of a tertiary otological referral center, five consecutive patients with acquired cholesteatomas underwent reversible canal wall down surgery. Four patients were male (ages, 41, 53, 26, and 10 y), and one patient was a woman [age, 51 y]). A reversible canal wall down mastoidectomy approach was used in the patients. Main outcome measures were intraoperative findings with respect to cholesteatoma removal and postoperative clinical examination, including postoperative audiograms. Results Five patients had dry ears postoperatively. One patient initially had granulation tissue forming on the posterior ear canal. This eventually resolved. The patients who had a postoperative audiogram after cholesteatoma resection with ossicular chain preservation noted an improvement or stabilization in their hearing. Conclusions Using the reversible canal wall down approach in conjunction with bone cement, one is able to obtain excellent exposure of the cholesteatoma and, potentially, preserve the ossicular chain. This approach may be particularly useful in revision cholesteatoma surgery or in cases of acquired cholesteatoma in which the surgeon may be able to preserve the ossicular chain.
TWOACK: preventing selfishness in mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) operate on the basic underlying assumption that all participating nodes fully collaborate in self-organizing functions. However, performing network functions consumes energy and other resources. Therefore, some network nodes may decide against cooperating with others. Providing these selfish nodes, also termed misbehaving nodes, with an incentive to cooperate has been an active research area recently. In this paper, we propose two network-layer acknowledgment-based schemes, termed the TWOACK and the S-TWOACK schemes, which can be simply added-on to any source routing protocol. The TWOACK scheme detects such misbehaving nodes, and then seeks to alleviate the problem by notifying the routing protocol to avoid them in future routes. Details of the two schemes and our evaluation results based on simulations are presented in this paper. We have found that, in a network where up to 40% of the nodes may be misbehaving, the TWOACK scheme results in 20% improvement in packet delivery ratio, with a reasonable additional routing overhead.
The Role of the Practitioner in the Care of Children with Acute Leukemia

The prognosis for a child with acute leukemia has improved dramatically over the past two decades. There are many factors that account for the improved survival rate including: better supportive care, especially for infectious and hematologic complications; sophisticated diagnostic techniques; and more effective multimodality treatment. The purpose of this article is to provide a guide for handling some of the more common questions and problems that may arise in the course of managing the care of a child with leukemia in practice. The classification of leukemia, previously based simply on the morphology of the bone marrow elements, is now determined by a complex array of morphologic, cytochemical, and immunologic characteristics. The determination of cell surface and cytoplasmic markers by immunologic assays now permits the subclassification of acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common form of childhood leukemia, into T, B, null, and pre-B subtypes (Table 1). The T and B cell subtypes are associated with a poorer prognosis than the null and pre-B cell subtypes and treatment is tailored accordingly. Antileukemic therapy also has undergone change and refinement. The 1950s and 1960s brought many new cytotoxic drugs, first used singly and then in combinations. The end of this era was marked by the discovery of the value of prophylactic CNS treatment, using cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate, in greatly reducing the incidence of meningeal leukemia.
STUDIES OF THE INFECTIOUS UNIT OF MYXOMA

The virus of infectious myxoma of rabbits behaves on inoculation into the skin as if infection were initiated by a single viral particle.
Soft digital signal processing

In this paper, we propose a framework for low-energy digital signal processing (DSP), where the supply voltage is scaled beyond the critical voltage imposed by the requirement to match the critical path delay to the throughput. This deliberate introduction of input-dependent errors leads to degradation in the algorithmic performance, which is compensated for via algorithmic noise-tolerance (ANT) schemes. The resulting setup that comprises of the DSP architecture operating at subcritical voltage and the error control scheme is referred to as soft DSP. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is enhanced when arithmetic units with a higher "delay imbalance" are employed. A prediction-based error-control scheme is proposed to enhance the performance of the filtering algorithm in the presence of errors due to soft computations. For a frequency selective filter, it is shown that the proposed scheme provides 60-81% reduction in energy dissipation for filter bandwidths up to 0.5 /spl pi/ (where 2 /spl pi/ corresponds to the sampling frequency f/sub s/) over that achieved via conventional architecture and voltage scaling, with a maximum of 0.5-dB degradation in the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR/sub o/). It is also shown that the proposed algorithmic noise-tolerance schemes can also be used to improve the performance of DSP algorithms in presence of bit-error rates of up to 10/sup -3/ due to deep submicron (DSM) noise.
Endothelial dysfunction: clinical strategies for treating oxidant stress.

Abstract Background A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that oxidants play a critical role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction. Pathologic processes fundamental to development and progression of endothelial dysfunction such as the oxidation of LDL, the loss of bioavailable nitric oxide, and the vascular inflammatory response are all modulated by oxidant stress. Therapeutic strategies to reverse endothelial dysfunction have begun to focus on agents with the ability to ameliorate oxidant stress. Methods Preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the actions of antioxidants as well as traditional cardiovascular therapies in ameliorating oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction were reviewed through the use of a MEDLINE search of English language articles published between the years of 1992 and 2002. Results Antioxidants appear to be an attractive candidate therapy, yet despite compelling preclinical evidence supporting their benefits, efforts to validate the use of vitamins C and E in a clinical setting have been conflicting. In contrast, conventional cardiovascular therapies such as ACE inhibitors, statins, insulin-sensitizing agents, and estrogens have been shown to alleviate endothelial dysfunction, often independent of their effects on systemic disease processes. Conclusions These agents restore endothelial function through their salutary effects on pathologic vascular oxidative processes.
Endothelin levels in human amniotic fluid at mid-trimester and at term before and during spontaneous labor.

Endothelin (ET)-1 is synthesized in human amnion and immunoreactive (ir) ET is present in amniotic fluid in concentrations 10- to 100-times those found in plasma. ET-1 is a potent uterotonin; therefore, the possibility must be considered that ET-1, derived from amnion/amniotic fluid, serves to promote the uterine contractions of human labor. In term pregnancies, after labor begins, the amniotic fluid normally becomes divided into the upper and forebag compartments as the fetal presenting part is engaged in the maternal pelvis. The forebag tissues are exposed in the vagina because of cervical dilatation. Vaginal fluid contains microorganisms, bacterial toxins, and cytokines, e.g., interleukin-1 beta, that oblige an inflammatory reaction. Increased ET-1 formation in these tissues of the forebag would be indicative that the greater rate of ET-1 formation and entry into amniotic fluid was an aftereffect of labor, not a cause of parturition. The levels of irET in amniotic fluid during the midtrimester of human pregnancy, 93.3 +/- 7.4 pmol/L (mean +/- SEM, n = 38), were significantly greater than those in amniotic fluid at term before the onset of labor, 39.8 +/- 4.1 (n = 33, p < 0.01). The levels of irET in the upper compartment during labor, 45.5 +/- 3.5 pmol/L (n = 40), were not significantly different from those in amniotic fluid before labor, but were significantly less (p < 0.01) than those in amniotic fluid of the forebag, 82.1 +/- 5.2 pmol/L (n = 125). These findings are suggestive that increases in the concentration of ET in amniotic fluid at parturition are confined to the forebag and are the result of ET formation after labor begins. Inflammation of the tissues lining the forebag compartment of the amniotic fluid is a normal consequence of labor. Therefore, the entry of inflammatory response mediators, some of which are uterotonins, viz., ET and prostaglandins, into forebag amniotic fluid is an aftereffect of labor and not indicative of a role for these agents (in amniotic fluid) in the initiation of parturition. In a subset of the amniotic fluids from normal pregnancies at term, prostaglandin (PG) levels also were determined. There was a highly significant correlation between the levels of irET and PGE2 in the forebag compartment (p < 0.0001); there was no correlation between irET and PGE2 levels in the upper compartment or in amniotic fluid collected at term prior to labor onset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Maturational dynamics of hippocampal place cells in immature rats

The ontogeny of neural substrates underlying episodic memory is not well described. Place cells are a surrogate for episodic memory and are important for spatial navigation in rodents. Although place cells are well described in mature brains, the nature of the maturation processes remains uncertain. We now report on the ontogeny of the place cell system in rats between P22 and P43, a time during which there is rapid improvement in spatial behavior. We found that place cells with adult like firing fields were observed at the earliest ages. However, at this age, adult like place cells were few in number and their place fields were not stable across multiple exposures to the same environment. Independently of confounding factors such as the number of exposures to the environment, the proportion of adult-like place cells, their firing rate, and their stability increased with age and the average spatial signal of all pyramidal cells improved. These findings could account for the poor spatial behavior observed at young ages (P20-P30) and suggests that a small number of adult-like place cells are insufficient to support navigation. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interaction effects between the 5‐hydroxy tryptamine transporter‐linked polymorphic region (5‐HTTLPR) genotype and family conflict on adolescent alcohol use and misuse

Aims To investigate whether the effects of family conflict on adolescent drinking differed as a function of 5-hydroxy tryptamine transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotype cross-sectionally and prospectively in two independent samples of adolescents. Design Path analysis and multi-group analysis of two prospective datasets were conducted. Settings United States and United Kingdom. Participants Sample 1 was 175 adolescents in the United States (mean age = 15 at times 1 and 2 with a 6-month interval); Sample 2 was 4916 adolescents in the United Kingdon (mean age = 12 at time 1 and 15 at time 2). Measurements In both samples, demographics, tri-allelic 5-HTTLPR genotype and perceived family conflict were assessed at time 1. Alcohol use (frequency of drinking) and alcohol misuse (frequency of intoxication, frequency of drinking three or more drinks, maximum number of drinks) were assessed at times 1 and 2. Findings A significant gene–environment interaction on alcohol misuse at time 1 was found in both sample 1 (β = 0.57, P = 0.001) and sample 2 (β = 0.19, P = 0.01), indicating that the 5-HTTLPR low-activity allele carriers exposed to higher levels of family conflict were more likely to engage in alcohol misuse than non-carriers. A significant gene–environment interaction effect on change in alcohol misuse over time was found only in sample 1 (β = 0.48, P = 0.04) but not in sample 2. Conclusions Compared with non-carriers, adolescents carrying the 5-HTTLPR low-activity allele are more susceptible to the effects of family conflict on alcohol misuse.
The entrepreneur's business model: toward a unified perspective

Highly emphasized in entrepreneurial practice, business models have received limited attention from researchers. No consensus exists regarding the definition, nature, structure, and evolution of business models. Still, the business model holds promise as a unifying unit of analysis that can facilitate theory development in entrepreneurship. This article synthesizes the literature and draws conclusions regarding a number of these core issues. Theoretical underpinnings of a firm’s business model are explored. A six-component framework is proposed for characterizing a business model, regardless of venture type. These components are applied at three different levels. The framework is illustrated using a successful mainstream company. Suggestions are made regarding the manner in which business models might be expected to emerge and evolve over time.
Investing in Capabilities: The Dynamics of Resource Allocation

In this research, we examine the dynamic capability of resource allocation to invest in operational capabilities. Using a computer simulation, we model a process of firms competing in factor markets for opportunities to invest in existing capabilities and acquire new ones. Based on the simulation results, we derive a set of propositions about the conditions under which there are and are not performance benefits from possessing a superior ability to search for new capabilities. Because the definition of what constitutes a new capability is based on a firm's preexisting capabilities, we also incorporate differences in initial endowments into the analysis. We find that endowment and search ability both matter, and that in many circumstances, the effects of possessing a superior endowment dominate the effects of superior search ability.
Coastal Sedimentation Processes Modeling

If one observes closely and carefully, one finds that even topography of beach and seabed in the coastal environment are highly dynamic one. Beach erosion and migration are occuring constantly, no matter haw they are caused, either storm surges or just the ordinary tides and currents. Similarly, the scouring and deposition of materials on the bed under coastal waters are also happening continuously, especially around dredged channels and near man-made structures. All of these phenomena are associated with sediment movement in the coastal zone. The sedimentation processes in the coastal zone have profound effects on marine environmental quality as well as survivability, on the cost of coastal engineering projects such as the design and maintenance of dredged shipping channels, construction of harbor and beach protection structures, among many others. Therefore, the enhancement of basic understanding of sedimentation processes in coastal region is of great importance.
Multiple displacement amplification prior to single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping in epidemiologic studies.

We assessed the whole genome amplification strategy, known as multiple displacement amplification (MDA), for use with the TaqMan genotyping platform for DNA samples derived from two case-control studies nested in the Nurses' Health Study and the Physicians' Health Study. Our objectives were to (1) quantify DNA yield from samples of varying starting concentrations and (2) assess whether MDA products give an accurate representation of the original genomic sequence. Multiple displacement amplification yielded a mean 23 000-fold increase in DNA quantity and genotyping results demonstrate 99.95% accuracy across six SNPs from four genes for 352 samples included in this study. These results suggest that MDA will provide a sufficiently robust amplification of limiting samples of genomic DNA that can be used for SNP genotyping in large case-control studies of complex diseases.
Ion-Mobility Mass Spectrometry Assay for Incorporation of Phytanic Acid into Muscle Phospholipids

Human dysferlinopathies (Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2b, Myoshi Myopathy) are muscle-wasting syndromes caused by mutations in the dysferlin protein. Dysferlin loss impairs sarcolemmal repair that may contribute to disease progression. One therapeutic approach is to treat subjects with compounds that fortify the natural membrane tendency to reseal after damage, and minimize the inflammation that impedes regeneration and amplifies tissue destruction. Phytanic acid is a saturated branched chain fatty acid comprised of a 16 carbon aliphatic chain with 4 methyl groups (4ME 16:0); it is incorporated into phospholipids and triglycerides. Model phospholipid bilayers containing phytanic acid exhibit greater electrical stability than bilayers composed of straight-chain phospholipids. Phytanic acid-containing phospholipids may improve the resistance of the muscle fiber sarcolemma to stretch-induced damage. To measure phytanic acid incorporation into muscle phospholipids, dysferlin-deficient A/J mice were maintained on a defined diet supplemented with 2% phytol for three weeks; control animals received the defined diet without phytol. Muscle tissue lipids were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The muscle phosphatidylcholine species profiles were similar between phytol and control diet, except that some additional species were detected in the phytol diet muscle. The two most abundant novel species (m/z 790.7 and 862.7) are tentatively identified as PC 20:0-16:0 and PC 20:0-22:6. To confirm the presence of phytanic acid, the ion mobility of these species was compared with diphytanoyl PC standard and endogenous straight chain PC phospholipids. The ion mobility is intermediate between PC species containing either zero or two phytanic acid chains, consistent with having one phytanic acid chain. We estimate that these species represent 5% of PC. Using this methodology, we will identify phytanic acid containing species in the other classes, in order to determine the total amount of phytanic acid-containing phospholipid incorporated in the muscle.
Direct Measurement of the Membrane Dipole Field in Bicelles Using Vibrational Stark Effect Spectroscopy

Electrostatic fields in lipid bilayer membranes influence the structure and function of membrane-associated proteins. We present here the first direct measurement of the membrane dipole electrostatic field in lipid bicelles using vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy, in which a nitrile oscillator’s vibrational frequency changes in response to its local electrostatic environment. We synthesized α-helical peptides containing the unnatural amino acid p-cyanophenylalanine (CN-Phe) at four locations along the helix. This peptide was intercalated into bicelles 5 and 15 nm in radius composed of mixtures of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC). Changes in the vibrational absorption energy of the nitrile probe at each position along the helical axis were used to determine changes in the local electrostatic field of the probe. We measured the magnitude of the membrane dipole electrostatic field to be −6 MV/cm, changing rapidly near the membrane su...
Fred C. Cuny Memorial Continuing Education series: principles of disaster management. Lesson 6: Personnel and personnel management.

Relief operations require capable resposible staff. This lesson discusses the types of staff and workers required. It stress the importance of employing locals an refugees infilling many of these positions and examines the role of volunteers, paid personnel, and expatriates and the issues involved.
Fun Is More Fun When Others Are Involved

Fun activities are commonly sought and highly desired yet their affective side has received little scrutiny. The present research investigated two features of fun in two daily diary studies and one laboratory experiment. First, we examined the affective state associated with fun experiences. Second, we investigated the social context of fun, considering whether shared fun is more enjoyable than solitary fun. Findings from these studies indicated that fun is associated with both high-activation and low-activation positive affects, and that it is enhanced when experienced with others (especially friends). However, social fun was associated with increases in high-activation but not low-activation positive affect, suggesting that social interaction emphasizes energizing affective experiences. We also found that loneliness moderated the latter effects, such that lonely individuals received a weaker boost from shared compared to solitary fun. These results add to what is known about the impact of social contexts on affective experience.
A Closed-loop Artificial Pancreas based on MPC: human-friendly identification and automatic meal disturbance rejection

Abstract Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin production from the pancreas, causing high blood glucose concentrations and requiring external insulin infusion to regulate blood glucose. A novel procedure of “human-friendly” identification testing using multisine inputs is developed to estimate suitable models for use in an artificial pancreas. A human-friendly multisine input signal offers improved identifiability on the dynamics of insulin to glucose, not causing serious deviations from the normal glucose concentration and satisfying insulin delivery pump specifications within acceptable time periods. An integrated formulation of constrained MPC is considered in order to reduce risks of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Furthermore, a set of meal detection and meal size estimation algorithms are developed to improve meal glucose disturbance rejection when incoming meals are unknown. Closed-loop performance is evaluated by simulation studies of a type 1 diabetic individual, illustrating the ability of the MPC-based artificial pancreas strategy to handle measured and unmeasured meals.
Gabapentin-Induced Choreoathetosis

Two institutionalized, severely retarded adults, aged 42 and 41, with intractable epilepsy, developed choreoathetosis within 14 days when gabapentin in dosages of 1200 to 1800 mg/d were added as adjunctive therapy to valproic acid or phenytoin, in a report from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, and Denton State School, Texas Mental Health and MR System.
DOE SunShot System Integration Program. Accomplishments and Impacts

During FY15, Sandia National Laboratories executed research and development (R&D) work on a portfolio of 16 SunShot Program Systems Integration (SI) agreements, with a total FY15 budget of $13.2 million. This document summarizes the impact of the Sandia contributions based on Sandia’s direct contributions by DOE.
Economic history: The roots of growth

Brad DeLong examines a study that places the origins of the Industrial Revolution in fifteenth-century Europe.
Rat liver chromatin: Fractionation into eu- and heterochromatin with localization of ribosomal genes

Abstract Purified, normal rat liver chromatin was sheared under controlled conditions in a Virtis “60” homogenizer and then separated into template-active (euchromatin) and template-inactive (heterochromatin) fractions by glycerol gradient centrifugation. The euchromatin portions of the glycerol gradients possessed greater than 90% of the in vitro template activity when estimated with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and contained more than 90% of the nascent RNA formed in vivo . Inhibitor studies performed in vivo indicated that the leading edge of the heterochromatin portion of the glycerol gradients contains the genes coding for ribosomal RNA. Recentrifugation of putative eu- and heterochromatin fractions demonstrated that the isolation procedure produces fractions which are distinct and are characterized by little or no cross contamination. The data suggest that controlled shearing in conjunction with gradient centrifugation provides a means of fractionating with great fidelity the transcribable portions of the rat liver genome.
Effectiveness of Multisystemic Therapy for gang-involved youth offenders: One year follow-up analysis of recidivism outcomes

Abstract The objective of this investigation was to examine the longer-term (12 months post-discharge) outcomes of gang involved and uninvolved youth who were referred for Multisystemic Therapy by their local justice authorities. This is the first systematic investigation of longer-term outcomes for gang-involved youth in treatment. From an initial sample of 421 youth, we applied an intent-to-treat analysis to 409 youth with available recidivism data (97% retention). We analyzed data on re-arrests using nonparametric and event history analytic methods. Overall, we observed a re-arrest rate of 30%. This rate did not differ significantly as the function of gang involvement (gang re-arrest: 35%; nongang re-arrest: 29%). We also observed no significant differences between gang and nongang youth in the numbers of re-arrests, nor in the time to arrest. Although gang youth had higher rates of violent arrests (18%) than did nongang youth (13% overall), this difference also was not statistically significant. This first study examining longer-term impacts of treatment for gang-involved youth suggests that evidence-based intervention can be effective in this population. Future research is needed to examine whether there are particular components of or different approaches to intervention necessary to support positive change among gang-involved youth.
Stability of infants' preference for prosocial others: Implications for research based on single-choice paradigms

Some research suggests infants display a tendency to judge others' prosocial behavior, and in particular, that infants show a strong preference for prosocial others. For example, data from one frequently cited and well-publicized study showed that, after watching a puppet show with three puppets, 74% of infants chose the puppet that "helped" rather than the puppet that "hindered" a third puppet from attaining its goal. The purpose of the current investigation was to replicate these methods and extend them by including a within-subject measure of infant puppet choice across repeated trials to assess the stability of infants' choice. In the current study, 20 infants viewed a puppet show and chose between two puppets (i.e., helper or hinderer) immediately following the puppet show. Although results were similar to previously published work on the first-choice trial (65% of infants chose the helper puppet on the first trial), infants did not consistently choose the helper across trials; several infants demonstrated a side preference, with 9 infants almost exclusively choosing puppets presented on the right or left side. The current investigation addressed limitations of previous research by including a between-subjects (replication) as well as a within-subjects (extension) repeated measure of choice that allowed for the examination of the stability of the choice measure. Our results, particularly in light of other failed replications, raise questions regarding the robustness of infants' preference for prosocial others and the reliability and validity of the single-choice paradigm.
To the (Minimal Winning) Victors Go the (Equally Divided) Spoils: A New Power Index for Simple n-Person Games

Our intent in this module is to motivate the development of a new index of power in n-person simple games that models the collective decision-making process of players whose explicit behavioral objective is to effect change. Our concern is with games that closely correspond to the character of interpersonal interaction found in organizations, committees, and legislatures; situations in which power and authority, rather than monetary forms of payoff, are the motivating force (i.e., the interaction may be characterized as being “political” in nature).
Practical and Advanced Calculations in Transfusion Medicine, Apheresis, and Hemostasis

Abstract Transfusion medicine specialists have to perform multiple calculations daily to ensure safe and effective treatments for their patients. Examples of these calculations include plasma volume estimation, coagulation factor dosages, and adjustment of anticoagulant in blood collection bags for smaller donors. This chapter will provide a review of practical calculations and their underlying principles. Most of these calculations may be used on a daily basis on a busy transfusion medicine service. However, some of the calculations will focus on more advanced concepts that, while not used on a daily basis, may help to integrate the knowledge across the fields and thus, enhance the skills.
Qualifications of a pediatric dentist.

In 1947, Pediatric Dentistry was formally recognized as a specialty in dentistry. There are currently over 7000 members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Despite this large number, many people are unaware of the role they serve as health care providers [1]. The purpose of this article is to give a clearer understanding of the educational process of becoming a Pediatric Dentist, the scope of services that they are capable of providing and their role as primary care providers [2]. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines Pediatric Dentistry as “an age-defined specialty that provides primary and comprehensive preventative and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs” [3]. There are currently sixty-five postgraduate pediatric dental residency programs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico [4]. These residency programs may be hospital based where the majority of the clinical training is within a hospital setting or University or “School” based and as the name implies, the clinical training resides in the dental school setting. All residency training programs are a minimum of 24 months in duration and are held accountable to educational standards through the American Dental Associations Council on Dental Accreditation. In order to qualify to receive advanced specialty training education in pediatric dentistry, the student must have graduated from a dental school in the US or Canada that has been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. A graduate from a
Selectivity Challenges in Docking Screens for GPCR Targets and Antitargets

To investigate large library docking’s ability to find molecules with joint activity against on-targets and selectivity versus antitargets, the dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors were targeted, seeking selectivity against the histamine H1 receptor. In a second campaign, κ-opioid receptor ligands were sought with selectivity versus the μ-opioid receptor. While hit rates ranged from 40% to 63% against the on-targets, they were just as good against the antitargets, even though the molecules were selected for their putative lack of binding to the off-targets. Affinities, too, were often as good or better for the off-targets. Even though it was occasionally possible to find selective molecules, such as a mid-nanomolar D2/5-HT2A ligand with 21-fold selectivity versus the H1 receptor, this was the exception. Whereas false-negatives are tolerable in docking screens against on-targets, they are intolerable against antitargets; addressing this problem may demand new strategies in the field.
Translational Regulation by Vaccinia Virus

Poxviruses are DNA-containing viruses that infect both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Smallpox, caused by an orthopoxvirus, was a major scourge to humanity for centuries. Vaccination against smallpox was introduced by Jenner in 1798 and by means of this method it was eventually possible to eradicate this disease over a decade ago.1 Vaccinia viruses (VV) are the most frequently studied members of the orthopoxvirus group. Recently, the entire genome of the Copenhagen strain of VV was sequenced because it is recognized that these viruses have the potential of being used as live recombinant expression vectors for molecular studies as well as for developing new vaccines.2 Studies with VV have resulted in several novel findings which not only have contributed to the field of virology, but have also enriched our understanding of important eukaryotic processes. The RNA polymerase,3,4 the poly(A) polymerase,5,6 and the 5′ cap of messenger RNAs (mRNAs)7 were all reported in studies with VV about the same time or before they were recognized in eukaryotic cells.
Immunotoxin therapy of malignant melanoma

Current standard therapies for metastatic malignant melanoma are poor, and surgical excision of disease remains the cornerstone of melanoma management. Unmodified monoclonal antibodies have been used therapeutically in this, and other, malignancies, but results have been disappointing. This has led to attempts to improve the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies by using them to target therapeutic modalities to tumors. These therapeutic modalities include chemotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic and cytotoxic agents. An example of the latter is ricin A-chain, which is so potent that it has been reported that one molecule of it entering the cytosol is sufficient to cause cell death. Preclinical studies support the potential of immunotoxins as effective therapy for malignancy. A phase I-II trial of immunotoxin therapy of malignant melanoma has been completed and a trial to determine clinical efficacy has been implemented.
Wetland Mitigation Banking:Banking on Entrepreneurs

Sir Edward Coke, a seventeenth-century English jurist, suggested that the value of real property is intrinsically tied to the ability to exploit its resources: to farm the land, to harvest its trees, to mine its ore. Almost four centuries later, this view continues to hold sway. Indeed, property (wetlands or otherwise) left in its natural state is often considered to be economically idle. Is it possible, however, for undeveloped land to yield a profit? May an owner benefit economically by deciding not to develop land or by actively restoring it to its natural condition? Until recently, the answer was almost always “no.” But the rapidly growing business of wetland mitigation banking has changed the calculus. If properly implemented, mitigation banking can offer economic benefits to private landowners and ecological benefits to the public.