cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cocaine induces paradigm-specific changes to the transcriptome within the ventral tegmental area

During the initial stages of drug use, cocaine-induced neuroadaptations within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are critical for drug-associated cue learning and drug reinforcement processes. These neuroadaptations occur, in part, from alterations to the transcriptome. Although cocaine-induced transcriptional mechanisms within the VTA have been examined, various regimens and paradigms have been employed to examine candidate target genes. In order to identify key genes and biological processes regulating cocaine-induced processes, we employed genome-wide RNA-sequencing to analyze transcriptional profiles within the VTA from male mice that underwent one of four commonly used paradigms: acute home cage injections of cocaine, chronic home cage injections of cocaine, cocaine-conditioning, or intravenous-self administration of cocaine. We found that cocaine alters distinct sets of VTA genes within each exposure paradigm. Using behavioral measures from cocaine self-administering mice, we also found several genes whose expression patterns corelate with cocaine intake. In addition to overall gene expression levels, we identified several predicted upstream regulators of cocaine-induced transcription shared across all paradigms. Although distinct gene sets were altered across cocaine exposure paradigms, we found, from Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis, that biological processes important for energy regulation and synaptic plasticity were affected across all cocaine paradigms. Coexpression analysis also identified gene networks that are altered by cocaine. These data indicate that cocaine alters networks enriched with glial cell markers of the VTA that are involved in gene regulation and synaptic processes. Our analyses demonstrate that transcriptional changes within the VTA depend on the route, dose and context of cocaine exposure, and highlight several biological processes affected by cocaine. Overall, these findings provide a unique resource of gene expression data for future studies examining novel cocaine gene targets that regulate drug-associated behaviors.
Higher Education in Iran

The contemporary history of higher education in Iran represents a unique case of rapid expansion, democratization, social and political contribution, quest for academic freedom, and a counterexample to the stereotypic confrontation of religion with education of women and scientific development. This entry discusses the history of higher education in Iran and its enrollment patterns and governance structure. It then looks at academic research and student activism in Iran.
In vitro effects of emicizumab on activated clotting time in blood samples from cardiac surgical patients.

BACKGROUND Heparin management in hemophilia A (HA) patients with a factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor can be challenging due to severe activated clotting time (ACT) prolongations. It is important to better understand the impact of emicizumab, a FVIII mimetic on ACT, and tissue factor (TF)-based coagulation assays. METHODS Whole blood from 18 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were mixed in vitro with pooled normal plasma, FVIII-deficient or FVIII-inhibitor plasma to affect functional FVIII levels. ACTs and heparin concentration by protamine titration were measured in whole blood mixture with/without emicizumab (50-100 μg/ml). Thrombin generation and plasmin generation were measured in the patient's plasma mixed with normal plasma or FVIII-inhibitor plasma to assess the impact of emicizumab under low TF activation. RESULTS FVIII inhibitors prolonged ACTs by 2.2-fold compared to those in normal plasma mixture at baseline. During CPB, ACTs in normal plasma mixture, and FVIII-deficient mixture were in 400s, but ACTs reached 900s in FVIII-inhibitor mixture. Emicizumab shortened ACTs by up to 100s in normal plasma mixture, and FVIII-deficient mixtures. ACTs remained over 600s in FVIII-inhibitor mixture, despite adding emicizumab at 100 μg/ml. Heparin concentration measured by TF-based protamine titration was unaffected. Emicizumab enhanced thrombin peak in the presence of FVIII inhibitors, whereas plasmin generation was mainly affected by thrombin generation, and systemic use of ɛ-aminocaproic acid. CONCLUSIONS FVIII inhibitors extensively prolong ACTs in heparinized whole blood, and clinical levels of emicizumab partially reverse ACT values. Protamine titration should be considered for optimal heparin monitoring in emicizumab-treated patients with FVIII inhibitors.
Probability and conditionals: belief revision and rational decision

List of contributors Introduction 1. Some questions about Adams' conditionals Patrick Suppes 2. Adams conditionals Brian Skyrms 3. Letter to Brian Skyrms Robert Stalnaker 4. Conditionals as random variables Robert Stalnaker and Richard Jeffrey 5. From Adams' conditionals to default expressions, causal conditionals, and counterfactuals Judea Pearl 6. The hypothesis of the conditional construal of conditional probability Alan Hajek and Ned Hall 7. Triviality on the cheap? Alan Hajek 8. Back in the CCCP Ned Hall 9. The Howson-Urbach proofs of Bayesian principles Charles S. Chihara 10. Learning the impossible Vann McGee 11. A brief survey of Adams' contributions to philosophy Patrick Suppes Publications of Ernest W. Adams.
Zinc Requirement of the Baby Pig When Fed Wet-Autoclaved Spray-Dried Egg Albumen as the Protein Source

Pigs 16 d of age were allotted to eight dietary levels of total zinc (6-36 ppm in 5 ppm increments and 116 ppm) in a 28-d experiment designed to reevaluate the zinc requirement of the neonatal pig. The basal 21.0% crude protein diet contained wet-autoclaved spray-dried egg albumen (WAEA) as the protein source. Dietary zinc level did not affect (P greater than 0.05) pig growth for the first 14 d of the experiment. Pig growth was adequate from d 14 to 28 of the experiment with 11 ppm or more of zinc. The milligrams of zinc retained per day per pig increased (P less than 0.05) with increasing dietary zinc up to 26 ppm, plateaued from 26 to 36 ppm and declined (P less than 0.05) at 116 ppm. Plasma zinc levels were higher (P less than 0.05) for pigs fed 31 ppm or more of zinc compared with 16 ppm or less of zinc on d 21 and 28. Tibia and femur concentrations of zinc also increased with increasing dietary zinc up to 26 ppm. Esophageal tissue was normal in the majority of pigs fed 31 ppm or more of zinc. Retention of 65Zn further suggested that diets containing 26 ppm or less zinc were deficient in this element. Thus, zinc balance, concentrations of zinc in plasma and bone, esophageal histology and retention of 65Zn indicate that the minimum zinc requirement of the neonatal pig is between 26 and 31 ppm when fed a purified diet devoid of phytate.
Realism and Reason: ‘Two dogmas’ revisited

I believe that the time has come to take another look at Quine's (1951) celebrated article ‘Two dogmas of empiricism’. The analysis of this article that is usually offered in philosophy seminars is very simple: Quine was attacking the analytic–synthetic distinction. His argument was simply that all attempts to define the distinction are circular . I think that this is much too simple a view of what was going on. (The continuing recognition of the great importance of ‘Two dogmas’ shows that at some level many readers must be aware that something deep and momentous for philosophy was going on.) I shall argue that what was importantly going on in Quine's paper was also more subtle and more complicated than Quine and his defenders (and not just the critics) perceived. Some of Quine's arguments were directed against one notion of analyticity, some against another. Moreover, Quine's arguments were of unequal merit. One of the several notions of analyticity that Quine attacked in ‘Two dogmas of empiricism’ was close to one of Kant's accounts of analyticity (namely, that an analytic judgment is one whose negation reduces to a contradiction), or, rather, to a ‘linguistic’ version of Kant's account: a sentence is analytic if it can be obtained from a truth of logic by putting synonyms for synonyms. Let us call this the linguistic notion of analyticity. Against this notion, Quine's argument is little more than that Quine cannot think how to define ‘synonymy’.
Random phase modulation techniques for optical pattern recognition

Mathematical analysis and computer simulations are presented to investigate random phase modulation techniques in the Fourier domain for optical pattern recognition. >
Enforce existing animal feeding operations regulations to reduce pollutants

Animal feeding operations are being targeted as sources of point and nonpoint pollutants. In response to the need to improve water quality, governments and agencies are enacting new regulations proscribing activities to reduce pollutants entering waters. Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the United States federal government regulates concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) as point sources of pollution. In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advanced more stringent regulations for CAFOs despite the fact that approximately80% of the CAFOs have not secured permits as required by federal law. An analysis of enforcement mechanisms and opportunities for greater enforcement suggests that reductions in pollution could come from more effective enforcement. Rather than adopting more regulations for animal feeding operations, governments might direct their resources towards detecting and enforcing existing provisions.
The metabolism of nicotinic acid. I. Purification and properties of 2,5-dihydroxypyridine oxygenase from Pseudomonas putida N-9.

Purification and crystallization of an enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of 2,5-dihydroxypyridine, an intermediate in nicotinic acid catabolism, are described. The labile enzyme is stabilized by dithiothreitol. Activity lost by dialysis or purification procedures is restored by incubation with dithiothreitol and ferrous sulfate. The enzyme is inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents and iron-chelating agents. The crystalline enzyme, on polyacrylamide electrophoresis with dithiothreitol, yields a single major band and a region of minor diffuse bands. In the absence of dithiothreitol the intensity of the minor bands is increased. On acrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, a single band with mobility corresponding to a molecular weight of 39,500 is obtained. A single region of enzyme activity corresponding to a molecular weight of 242,000 is obtained on sucrose gradients containing dithiothreitol. A portion of this activity is shifted to a region corresponding to lower molecular weight when dithiothreitol is omitted.
CLUSFAVOR 5.0: hierarchical cluster and principal-component analysis of microarray-based transcriptional profiles.

CLUSFAVOR (CLUSter and Factor Analysis with Varimax Orthogonal Rotation) 5.0 is a Windows-based computer program for hierarchical cluster and principal-component analysis of microarray-based transcriptional profiles. CLUSFAVOR 5.0 standardizes input data; sorts data according to gene-specific coefficient of variation, standard deviation, average and total expression, and Shannon entropy; performs hierarchical cluster analysis using nearest-neighbor, unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), or furthest-neighbor joining methods, and Euclidean, correlation, or jack-knife distances; and performs principal-component analysis.
Measurement of pentose phosphate-pathway activity in a single incubation with [1,6-13C2,6,6-2H2]glucose

The isotopically substituted molecule D-[1,6-13C2,6,6-2H2]glucose is introduced for measuring the relative activities of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glycolysis in a single incubation. PPP activity in cultured cells was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of lactate produced by cells incubated with [1,6-13C2,6,6-2H2]glucose. Two other isotopes, [1,5,6-13C3]glucose and [6-13C,1,6,6-2H3]glucose, were not satisfactory for measurements of this activity. This method has four advantages over the traditional one in which 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glucose and [6-14C]glucose is compared: (1) repeated measurements can be made on a single set of cells, (2) only a single incubation is required, (3) extensive CO2 production by Krebs-cycle activity does not interfere with the measurements and (4) it is not necessary to measure the amount of glucose consumed in order to calculate relative activities of the PPP and glycolysis. Preliminary observation indicates that rat brain PPP activity may be measured in vivo with [1,6-13C2,6,6-2H2]glucose when combined with microdialysis techniques.
Small airway function and peripheral airway disease in healthy subjects and smokers

Functional changes pertinent to the peripheral airways of smokers can be detected even when these smokers present with “normal” spirometry (GOLD 2013), indicating that early structural changes in the small airways develop before the diagnosis of overt COPD is established. The slope of phase III, FEF25-75% (Chest 1984; 86: 100-5), and effective time (Thorax 1980; 35: 375-378) and its variations are advocated for early detection of small airways disease. These tests discriminate between never smokers and smokers with “normal” spirometry. However, it is not clear which of these aforementioned tests is the “most” appropriate to detect early small airways disease. We studied 64 (36 men) Caucasian subjects (24 never smokers, 27 smokers with "normal" spirometry, and 13 COPDers of GOLD I). All subjects were free from any co-morbidities and had (mean±SD): age=45±14 y, FVC, %pred=110±12, FEV1, %pred=100±14, FEV1/FVC, %=76±9, TLC, %pred=103±11, FRC, %pred=97±18, and DLCO, %pred=88±15. Simple spirometry, the slope of phase III (ΔN2/L), and the effective time at the 60-70% part of the forced vital capacity of the lung (TEFFp7) were measured. In the group of subjects with “normal” spirometry: The FEF25-75%, %pred (83±23) was abnormal in 15/51 subjects. The ΔN2/L, %pred (117±63) was abnormal in 14/51 subjects. TEFFp7, %pred (116±43) was abnormal in 20/51. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TEFFp7, %pred is the “most appropriate”, amongst the tests performed, to discriminate smokers with “normal” spirometry from never smokers (p=0.036). In conclusion, TEFFp7 appears to be a sensitive test for the early detection of small airway disease.
Abstract 1001: Reductive tricarboxylic acid metabolism of glutamine mediates lipogenesis under hypoxia

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) is the central biosynthetic precursor for fatty acid synthesis and protein acetylation. In the conventional view of mammalian cell metabolism, AcCoA is primarily generated from glucose-derived pyruvate through the citrate shuttle and adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase (ACL) in the cytosol. However, proliferating cells that exhibit aerobic glycolysis and those exposed to hypoxia convert glucose to lactate at near stoichiometric levels, directing glucose carbon away from the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and fatty acid synthesis. Although glutamine is consumed at levels exceeding that required for nitrogen biosynthesis, the regulation and utilization of glutamine metabolism in hypoxic cells is not well understood. Here we show that human cells employ reductive metabolism of alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG) to synthesize AcCoA for lipid synthesis. This isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) dependent pathway is active in most cell lines under normal culture conditions, but cells grown under hypoxia rely almost exclusively on the reductive carboxylation of glutamine-derived aKG for de novo lipogenesis. Furthermore, renal cell lines deficient in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein preferentially utilize reductive glutamine metabolism for lipid biosynthesis even at normal oxygen levels. These results identify a critical role for oxygen in regulating carbon utilization in order to produce AcCoA and support lipid synthesis in mammalian cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1001. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1001
Pharmacokinetics and ovarian-stimulatory effects of equine and human chorionic gonadotropins administered singly and in combination in the domestic cat.

Pregnancy success and embryo survival are low with the use of assisted reproduction in felids treated with exogenous gonadotropins. In this study, the pharmacokinetics and ovarian-stimulatory effects of eCG and hCG were evaluated in the domestic cat. Catheterized anestrual queens (n = 4 per treatment [ITrt] group) were given 100 IU eCG i.v. (Trt 1), 100 IU eCG i.m. (Trt 2), 75 IU hCG i.v. (Trt 3), 75 IU hCG i.m. (Trt 4), or 100 IU eCG i.m. followed 80 h later by 75 IU hCG i.m. (Trt 5). Blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 30, and 60 min and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h postinjection, and serum samples were analyzed for estradiol-1703, progesterone, eCG, and hCG. Pharmacokinetic traits (volume of distribution, Vd; elimination half-life, t,,2,; clearance rate, Clr) were calculated for eCG and hCG. When i.v. and i.m. administration were compared, no differences (p > 0.05) were observed in follicle or corpus luteum (CL) number or hormone concentrations for queens receiving eCG or hCG alone. Number of mature ovarian follicles ( 2 mm diameter) observed at 168 h postinjection did not differ (p > 0.05) for eCG (mean SEM, 10.5 2.0) vs. hCG (11.1 3.0), indicating that these were equally effective in inducing follicular growth. In most queens (> 90%) given single gonadotropins (i.m. or i.v.), eCG and hCG persisted in circulation for at least 120 h and 96 h after injection, respectively, reflecting similar (p > 0.05) pharmacokinetic (i.v.) values for Vd (eCG, 91.4 ± 24.8 ml/kg; hCG, 59.1 + 7.9 ml/kg), t,,,, (eCG, 23.0 ± 2.4 h; hCG, 22.9 ± 4.1 h), and Cir (eCG, 2.7 + 0.5 ml/h per kg; hCG, 1.8 ± 0.1 ml/h per kg). Sequential treatment with eCG+hCG did not affect (p > 0.05) the t,,,, of individual gonadotropins. In summary, eCG and hCG have comparable pharmacokinetics and ovarian-stimulatory activity when administered alone to the domestic cat. These findings suggest that hCG promotes the ancillary follicle formation that is frequently observed after ovulation in cats treated with eCG+hCG regimens, possibly disrupting the maternal environment and decreasing fecundity following assisted reproductive procedures.
Demystifying Congenital Malformations for Imaging Specialists

Pediatric neuroimaging is generally challenging for radiologists. Like in other areas of pediatric imaging, understanding congenital malformations of the brain, spine, and neck requires detailed knowledge of the basic embryology, something which many of us dread and have long forgotten from our medical school days. When Suresh approached us to do guest edit an issue of Neuroimaging Clinics of North America on “congenital malformations of head, neck and spine,” we were humbled and equally honored for the opportunity. We realized it was going to be quite a challenging proposition, but the idea of this project was to demystify the embryologic aspect andmake the learning of congenital malformations easy and interesting. In this publication, we deal with most of the congenital malformations that one can expect to see in pediatric neuroimaging. Each article emphasizes the role of basic embryology in the understanding of imaging manifestation of various malformations. Images are used liberally throughout to help elucidate and graphically exemplify the concepts. We begin with the intracranial congenital malformations and then move to the orbits, temporal bone, neck, and finally, the spinal malformations. We have an article on fetal neuroimaging,
Plasmodium fragile: Inhibition of cultures by serum from Rhesus monkeys immunized with homologous parasites

Abstract Rhesus monkeys, Macaco mulatto , that had previously been immunized with the Nilgiri strain of Plasmodium fragile grown in culture, together with control monkeys with and without inoculation of Freund's adjuvant, were challenged with cultured parasites. After treatment with chloroquine, the monkeys were rechallenged. Serum specimens from three immunized monkeys caused a specific, dose-dependent inhibition of parasite growth in culture. Fifty percent inhibition of in vitro growth was obtained using 5% immune serum combined with 10% normal rhesus serum. The specific inhibitory component of immune serum was shown to be IgG antibody. Results of the study demonstrated that there is good correlation between the inhibitory activity of immune serum, parasite growth in vitro , the in vivo response to challenge, and the indirect fluorescent antibody titer.
Anxioselective anxiolytics: on a quest for the Holy Grail

The discovery of benzodiazepine receptors provided the impetus to discover and develop anxioselective anxiolytics ('Valium without the side effects'). The market potential for an anxioselective based on the γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA(A)) receptor resulted in clinical trials of multiple compounds. In contrast to the anxioselective profile displayed in preclinical models, compounds such as bretazenil, TPA023, and MRK 409 produced benzodiazepine-like side effects (sedation, dizziness) in Phase I studies, whereas alpidem and ocinaplon exhibited many of the characteristics of an anxioselective in the clinic. Alpidem was briefly marketed for the treatment of anxiety, but was withdrawn because of liver toxicity. Reversible elevations in liver enzymes halted development of ocinaplon in Phase III. The clinical profiles of these two molecules demonstrate that it is possible to develop GABA(A) receptor-based anxioselectives. However, despite the formidable molecular toolbox at our disposal, we are no better informed about the GABA(A) receptors responsible for an anxioselective profile in the clinic. Here, I discuss the evolution of a quest, spanning four decades, for molecules that retain the rapid and robust anti-anxiety actions of benzodiazepines without the side effects that limit their usefulness.
The basicity of biotin

Abstract Transannular interaction between the sulfur atom and the ureido carbonyl group has been suggested as a possible function for the sulfur atom in biotin. The results obtained from PK determinations in both anhydrous formic acid and chloroform solutions, in addition to infrared and proton magnetic resonance spectra, indicate that there is no sulfur-carbonyl transannular interaction in biotin. In support of this conclusion, overlap integrals using Slater orbitals are shown to be quite low at the equilibrium sulfur-carbonyl distance. Therefore, the hypothesis that the sulfur atom may participate in biotin's mechanism of action by aiding in the abstraction of a proton from the substrate is not in agreement with the results found in this investigation.
The historicality of cognition: Implications for science education research

This article discusses the growing consensus across diverse educational research domains that the historical aspects of cognition are important for understanding not only how individuals but also disciplines know what they know. After proposing and defining the new superordinate concept of historicality, fundamental interrelationships between time, events, memory, meaning, personal knowledge, public knowledge, and the histories of the sciences are explored. Relevant research findings that demonstrate the confluence of scholarly thought concerning historicality across five educationally important domains are presented for the reader's consideration. Using the historicality concept, it is suggested that the histories of the sciences be considered as “the collective mind of scientists” and viewed as vital to developing students' knowledge about science by building upon the critical distinctions drawn by Duschl (1990). The author's science teaching technique, based upon construction of historical vignettes, is introduced here because of the relationship between history and story and the documented educational effectiveness of the story format. Finally, the author adds several cautionary notes about the validity of explanations based upon historicality and anticipates future advances in our understanding of the historicality of cognition.
Semantic SenseLab: Implementing the vision of the Semantic Web in neuroscience

Objective: Integrative neuroscience research needs a scalable informatics framework that enables semantic integration of diverse types of neuroscience data. This paper describes the use of the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and other Semantic Web technologies for the representation and integration of molecular-level data provided by several of SenseLab suite of neuroscience databases. Methods: Based on the original database structure, we semi-automatically translated the databases into OWL ontologies with manual addition of semantic enrichment. The SenseLab ontologies are extensively linked to other biomedical Semantic Web resources, including the Subcellular Anatomy Ontology, Brain Architecture Management System, the Gene Ontology, BIRNLex and UniProt. The SenseLab ontologies have also been mapped to the Basic Formal Ontology and Relation Ontology, which helps ease interoperability with many other existing and future biomedical ontologies for the Semantic Web. In addition, approaches to representing contradictory research statements are described. The SenseLab ontologies are designed for use on the Semantic Web that enables their integration into a growing collection of biomedical information resources. Conclusion: We demonstrate that our approach can yield significant potential benefits and that the Semantic Web is rapidly becoming mature enough to realize its anticipated promises. The ontologies are available online at http://neuroweb.med.yale.edu/senselab/.
Federal Reserve Flow-of-Funds Accounts

ditions and government expenditure by anticyclical policies, the increase in deposits may reflect an improvement in the liquidity position of the private sector matched by a deterioration in that of the Government, in which case the increase in deposits will be balanced by larger bank lending to the Government. It may also happen that increased deposits are the outcome of a disturbance in the normal distribution of liquidity inside the private sector, as between households, traders, and manufacturers. The disturbance may arise from reduced sales, a lower profitability of industry, and an involuntary accumulation of stocks in certain sections of the productive and distributive system. In this case the larger deposits will be met by larger advances. I hope that some of you may find the validity of these remarks worth testing on the data of other countries.
Factors influencing the effective use of computers

The second keynote address for the Western Computer Conference was given by Dr. R. D. Huntoon, Director of the Corona, California, Laboratories of the National Bureau of Standards (a center of activity for work in guided missiles).
Two-dimensionalism and the epistemology of recognition

There is reason to expect a reasonable account of a priori knowledge to be linked with an account of the nature of conceptual thought. Recent “two-dimensionalist” accounts of conceptual thought propose an extremely direct connection between the two: on such views, being in a position to know a priori a large number of non-trivial propositions is a necessary condition of concept-possession. In this paper I criticize this view, by arguing that it requires an implausibly internalist and intellectualist conception of capacities we bring to bear in applying concepts in experience. Empirical concept-application depends on the exercise of a variety of capacities, many of which can be grouped together under the general label “recognitional”. As I argue, two-dimensionalism cannot accommodate a plausible account of such capacities. This suggests that the link between a priori knowledge and the nature of conceptual thought is not as direct as twodimensionalists take it to be. I close by briefly sketching a different way to think of that link.
Gram-positive infections: pharmacy issues and strategy for quinupristin/dalfopristin.

Abstract The development of the first streptogramin antibiotic, quinupristin/dalfopristin represents an attempt to bring new antimicrobial strategies on line to combat the menacing problem of Gram-positive–resistant bacteria. With introduction to the medical center formulary, the pharmacy will need to be aware of several practical issues surrounding the use of quinupristin/dalfopristin. Cost and unit size will be important issues. Initially, this drug will only be available in 500-mg vials which may not always accommodate the suggested dose of 7.5 mg/kg of actual body weight. In addition, the drug can only be reconstituted with D5W or sterile water, and it can not be mixed with normal saline, heparin, or other drugs. Institutions adding this drug to their formularies must address the expected logistical concerns with their medical, nursing, and pharmacy staffs prior to patient usage.
Race and exits from white collar jobs: Differences in downward mobility processes among African American, Latino, and White males

Abstract Does race affect the route to downward mobility from white collar occupations? Data from Panel Study of Income Dynamics are used to assess the minority vulnerability thesis, which maintains there are race-specific processes of down ward occupational mobility among males from white collar occupations. Findings indicate that, consistent with theory, a racialized continuum exists across six years of the work-career. For Whites, the path to downward mobility is relatively narrow and structured by traditional stratification-based causal factors, namely, human capital, back ground socioeconomic status, and job/labor market characteristics. For African Americans, the route to downward mobility is broad-based and not captured by traditional stratification factors and Latinos occupy an intermediate ground between Whites and African Americans. Further, as predicted by theory, the racial gap in mobility processes between Whites and racial minorities is pronounced at the lower-tier of white collar employment. Finally, implications of the findings for understanding labor market inequalities on the basis of race are discussed.
Backward Channels in Multiterminal Source Coding

We consider the multiterminal source coding problem with general discrete memoryless sources. In previous work, we developed new inner and outer bounds to its rate region, and gave an expression for the gap between them, which explicitly depends on the code maps. In this work, we first construct a class of codes for our problem, based on the method of backward channels used by Csiszar and Korner in their proof of the two-terminal rate/distortion theorem. Next, we show that for each one of the codes in this class, the gap between the inner and the outer bounds above does vanish. Finally, we present a summary of results obtained to date with this purely combinatorial approach, as well as a statement of what it would take to completely solve the problem following this line of attack.
Experience Preferred Insights From Our Newest Public Health Professionals on How Internships/Practicums Promote Career Development

Universities offering undergraduate degrees in health promotion or health education and/or graduate degrees in public health typically require an internship, practicum, or fieldwork experience. Thi...
Contextual influences on the interaction between conflicting memories in the rat

Contextual events redundant to the learning, in sequence, of passive and active avoidance were of one type for the former task and of another for the latter. During later testing, these contextual events were found to determine which of these acquired, conflicting dispositions would be manifested in behavior. Mutual interference in retention otherwise seen under similar circumstances seemed subordinate to the influence of the three types of contextual stimuli tested—drug (pentobarbital), compound (the experimental room in which conditioning took place), and a relatively unitary stimulus (a constantly sounding buzzer). The discussion considered the defining characteristics of a “contextual stimulus” and the mechanisms through which contextual events control the manifestation of learned behaviors and alleviation of interference in retention.
Complex formation between lysozyme and cartilage proteoglycans.

Abstract Density-gradient centrifugation of dissociative extracts of cartilage yields a proteoglycan which forms an ionic complex with lysozyme, a natural component of cartilage whose function in that tissue is unknown. The progress of the reaction is monitored by assay of the supernatant hexuronate content after addition of the precipitant. The lysozyme-proteoglycan complex is solubilized by addition of salts or by alkalinization, but the salt concentration required is greater than that needed to disperse a complex of lysozyme and chondroitin sulfate. Since it appears that the chondroitin sulfate portion of the proteoglycan molecule participates in complex formation with lysozyme, the charge distribution in the proteoglycan probably differs from that in the linear glycosaminoglycan. Cartilage lysozyme could exist in vivo as part of an ionic complex involving proteoglycans, but on a stoichiometric basis, it is unlikely that lysozyme plays a major role in maintenance of the structural integrity of the tissue.
Facilitating performance with cued wording : An examination of reasoning in the tax context

Researchers have consistently found increased accuracy for reasoning tasks that involve permission and obligation situations; however, little is known about the task characteristics that aid the reasoning processes in these situations. This study investigates the ability of cued wording (i.e., 'is permitted' or 'is required') to increase the accuracy of subjects' reasoning. Specifically, two experiments were conducted using versions of the Wason selection task to present tax rules involving permission and obligation situations. Results of both experiments generally support the use of cued wording to increase reasoning accuracy, especially for those subjects with no experience with the rule. These results have implications for rule-driven fields like taxation, where taxpayers must comply with numerous provisions containing permission and obligation situations.
Developmental immunotoxicology: focus on health risks.

Developmental immunotoxicity (DIT) has gained attention with the recognition that many chronic diseases of increasing incidence feature immune dysfunction as a component of the disease. The maturing immune system represents a vulnerable target for toxicants as it progresses through a series of novel prenatal and perinatal events that are critical for later-life host defense against a wide array of diseases. These critical maturational windows display a particular sensitivity to chemical disruption with the outcome usually taking the form of persistent immune dysfunction and/or misregulation. For this reason, health risks are significantly increased following early life vs adult immunotoxic exposure. Additionally, DIT-associated health risks are not readily predicted when based on adult-exposure safety data or via the evaluation of an unchallenged immune system in developmental toxicity testing. The same toxicant [e.g., heavy metals, 2,3,7,8-tetraclorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)] may disrupt different immune m...
Women and Authority in Business/Technical Communication Scholarship: An Analysis of Writing Features, Methods, and Strategies.

This study focuses on the means by which women convey authority in their scholarly publications. After analyzing a selected sample of women's scholarship in technical communication journal articles, the study explores whether traditional authoritative writing features conflict with traits more frequently characterized in feminist research as “women's ways of making meaning.”; Findings point to a need for more research into how scholarly writers develop a voice of authority; such research may challenge how we define and teach scholarly writing in technical communication.
Physiological and Subjective Reactions to Being Touched

The physiological and subjective effects of being touched on the wrist by another person were investigated in 20 normal adults at rest and during immersion of the hand in ice water. Touching reliably reduced heart rate compared to an immediately preceding baseline and compared to an alpha biofeedback condition. Heart rate during painful ice water stimulation was also lower when the subject was touched as compared to when he/she practiced alpha biofeedback, but this effect was not mediated by a reduction in the perceived painfulness of the ice water. Instead, touching and pain had independent, additive effects on heart rate. Touching did not produce generalized reductions in respiratory rate, SRR frequency, or frontalis EMG activity, although subjects did rate being touched as more pleasant and more relaxing than practicing alpha.
Categories as Rhetorical Barriers and the Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina

ABSTRACTI explore the role of categories as rhetorical barriers in organizations responding to crisis (Veil, 2011). I analyze some problematic categories of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the categories’ impact on the organizations’ response to Hurricane Katrina. My analysis shows that unintended and perverse consequences (Giddens, 1984, 1987) reversed the power of a key legitimated category (Orlikowski, 1995; Giddens, 1984) and exposed a set of reified categories (Giddens, 1984).
Ultrahigh-pressure reversed-phase liquid chromatography in packed capillary columns.

The use of extremely high pressures in liquid chromatography can improve the efficiency and reduce analysis time for columns packed with small particles. In this work, fused-silica capillaries with inner diameters of 30 μm are slurry packed with 1.5 μm nonporous octadecylsilane-modified silica particles. These columns are prepared in lengths up to 66 cm with packing pressures as high as 4100 bar (60 000 psi). Near the optimum flow rate, columns generate as many as 300 000 theoretical plates for lightly retained compounds (k‘ < 0.5) and over 200 000 plates for more retained compounds (k‘ ≈ 2). These translate to plate heights (Hmin) as low as 2.1 μm. The pressures required to run at optimum flow rates are on the order of 1400 bar (20 000 psi). Analysis times at these pressures are on the order of 30 min (k‘ ≈ 2) and can be reduced to less than 10 min at higher than optimum flow rates. Capacity factors are observed to increase linearly with applied pressure.
Extent of intracellular pH changes during H(+) extrusion by maize root-tip cells.

31P-Nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectra of maize (Zea mays L.) root tips, that had been induced to extrude large amounts of H+ in response to fusicoccin (FC) in the presence of potassium salts, indicate that the cytoplasmic pH does not become higher than that of controls. In fact, the cytoplasmic pH may become slightly (approx. 0.1 pH unit) lower in cells extruding H+. Estimations of the buffer capacity of the cells show that without active intracellular pH regulation, H+ extrusion caused by FC would cause the intracellular pH to rise by at least 0.6 pH unit h-1. Our results indicate that intracellular pH is tightly regulated even during extreme rates of acid extrusion, and that a rise in cytoplasmic pH is not the signal linking H+ extrusion with enhanced organic-acid synthesis or other intracellular responses to H+ pumping.
Nonlinear Optical Median Filtering By Time-Sequential Threshold Decomposition

Median filtering of binary imagery can be performed by optically convolving the input image with a disk or other binary spread function and thresholding the output. This technique can be applied to median filtering of gray-scale images if the input is decomposed into a sequence of binary "slices" by a variable thresholding operation (threshold decomposition). The binary slices are median-filtered and are then added to produce the output gray-scale image. Median filtering to remove "salt-and-pepper" noise from a gray-scale image is demonstrated. The use of gray-scale (as opposed to binary) convolution kernels allows extension of the method to a more general class of nonlinear filtering operations. Comparisons with recently proposed spatial multiplexing (as opposed to time-sequential) methods are made.
Prosthodontic management of abnormal tooth development secondary to chemoradiotherapy: A clinical report

Late effects of chemoradiotherapy for childhood cancer treatment include developmental disturbances of the maxillofacial and dentoalveolar structures. Prosthodontic rehabilitation of these patients presents a significant challenge in restoring function, esthetics, and comfort. This clinical report describes the prosthodontic management of a young patient who received chemoradiotherapy for neuroblastoma and subsequently developed tooth abnormalities. Osseointegrated implants and an implant-connecting bar along with an attachment system were used to provide retention, support, and stability of a removable mandibular overdenture opposing a conventional maxillary complete denture.
The influence of potassium on the removal of 137Cs by live Chlorella from low level radioactive wastes

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of stable potassium that must be present in a radioactive waste solution to maximize the uptake of radiocesium by algae without a substantial reduction in algal growth. Laboratory cultures of Chlorella pyrenoidosa were grown under continuous culture conditions, and the accumulation of 137 Cs by the algae was measured. Potassium ion concentrations below 15 mg/l reduced the growth of C. pyrenoidosa but increased the accumulation multiples for 137 Cs. The removal efficiencies, which represent the combined effects of algal growth and accumulation multiples, obtained for 137 Cs ranged between 88 and 83 per cent for potassium concentrations between 2 and 15 mg/l but were reduced to less than 20 per cent when the potassium ion concentration was greater than 15 mg/l or less than 2 mg/l.
The destruction of indoleacetic acid. III. Relationships between peroxidase action and indoleacetic acid oxidation.

Abstract The indoleacetic acid (IAA)-oxidizing enzyme preparation from Omphalia flavida exhibits peroxidase activity on pyrogallol with an optimum at pH 3.5–3.7, like that for the IAA-oxidizing activity. It shows no polyphenolase activity. Peroxidase and IAA-oxidizing activities run parallel both during thermal inactivation and in course of purification of the enzyme, and are therefore considered to be due to one enzyme. IAA inhibits peroxidation of pyrogallol by the enzyme, 50% inhibition being obtained at about 7 × 10−6M. The inhibition appears to be specific to substrates of the oxygen-consuming activity of the enzyme. IAA destruction is inhibited at the same time, even though an excess of H2O2 is present. IAA is not destroyed at an appreciable rate in the absence of O2, even if substrate amounts of H2O2 are present, whereas pyrogallol peroxidation is not influenced by the absence of O2. IAA oxidation is light-reversibly inhibited by CO; the inhibition is affected by O2 concentration. A possible interpretation of the results is that the reaction depends upon a free-radical mechanism involving the formation of ferrous peroxidase.
Consensus and disagreement between online peer and expert recommendations

This study examines how consumers integrate expert and peer recommendations into their attitudes toward the recommended product and how recommendation consensus or disagreement affects their behavioural intents. The results suggest that positive peer and expert recommendations enhance consumers' attitudes, whereas recommendation consensus plays a crucial role in determining behavioural intent. Managing recommendation consensus or disagreement for internet advertising is important because it determines whether a recommended product or subject is perceived as meeting or falling short of evaluation. To the extent that consumers are not familiar with a recommended product that has hedonic characteristics, they are likely to respond favourably to recommendation consensus rather than recommendation disagreement.
Molecular neurobiology for practicing psychiatrists, Part 1: overview of gene activation by neurotransmitters.

Issue: Molecular biology is increasingly relevant to practicing psychiatrists because it helps to explain the biological basis of mental disorders and especially the molecular and pharmacologic mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs. The ultimate action of neurotransmitters and drugs that act at receptors is to alter the activity of neuronal genes.
Constituency size and stability of two-party systems:

This paper investigates how constituency size affects spatial competition in a two-party system with a new entrant. When the electorate is small, two-party systems are stable only if the following conditions hold: the candidates are neither too certain nor too uncertain about voters’ preferences; competition is sufficiently costly; and the candidates have binding policy commitments. Moreover, whenever equilibrium exists in small constituencies, the two parties are considerably polarized. In contrast, when the electorate is large, two-party equilibrium obtains under a much wider set of conditions and exhibits low polarization. The Downsian prediction of two-party convergence and the Duvergerian prediction of plurality rule leading to a two-party system are more robust in larger electorates.
Imaging findings in Takayasu's arteritis

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of cross-sectional imaging for establishing the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis (TA), an inflammatory vascular disorder that produces arterial stenoses and aneurysms primarily involving the thoracoabdominal aorta and its branches and the pulmonary arteries.CONCLUSION. CT and MRI findings of TA include vascular wall thickening and enhancement early in the disease, and arterial stenoses, occlusions, and aneurysms later in the disease. Cross-sectional imaging is useful for establishing the diagnosis of TA and for showing response to nonsurgical therapy or for planning a surgical intervention.
The effect of row spacing and seeding rate on biomass production and plant stand characteristics of non-irrigated photoperiod-sensitive sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Abstract To evaluate row spacing and seeding rate effects on yield and plant stand characteristics of high-biomass sorghum, a photoperiod-sensitive cultivar was sown at three different row spacings (76, 38, and 19 cm) and seeding rates (218,000, 306,000, and 393,000 seeds ha −1 for one site-year and 116,000, 204,000, and 291,000 seeds ha −1 for three site-years) from 2009 to 2010 in Alabama and Arkansas, USA. Measurements included above-ground dry matter production, plant height, stem density, and stem diameter. Narrower row spacing (i.e. 19 cm) produced the highest biomass for all site-years. Increasing seeding rate did not affect yield for three of the site-years, and decreased yield for one. The 19 cm row spacing produced the highest stem densities. Plant height increased with increasing seeding rates at one site and decreased with higher seeding rates at another site. At one location, stem diameter declined as seeding rates and stem density increased. It was concluded that narrower row spacing (19 cm) provides the maximum yield benefit by significantly increasing stem density, and low seeding rates (116,000 seeds ha −1 ) are preferable because higher seeding rates do not positively affect yield and may cause morphological changes (i.e. taller plants with thinner stems) conducive to lodging.