cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Note on the Use of Survey Research Firms to Enable Empirical Data Collection

This forward thinking article examines the risks and rewards of using survey research firms to enable empirical data collection, and issues a cautionary note about its application. An exposition and discussion of this form of data collection in supply chain management is relevant today, due to the “survey-fatigue” among the population of business professionals from whom we seek a response. While this approach has some history in other disciplines, it is still relatively new among supply chain management researchers. To help supply chain management scholars assess the appropriateness of this type of data collection method, this forward thinking article provides invaluable guidance as derived from the authors' recent experiences with the approach. As such, we share our observations and lessons learned. The conclusion is that the use of survey research firms for empirical data collection can be a viable, alternative approach to self-administered surveys. However, care should be taken in its application.
The Opportunistic President: How US Presidents Determine Their Legislative Programs

The president is the most influential policy actor in US politics, and his legislative program greatly influences Congress's agenda. Yet little research has focused on what factors affect the president's choices when constructing his agenda. We develop a theory that determines when a president will include an issue in his program. We hypothesize that presidents structure their agendas around the congressional calendar for consideration of expiring laws and salient issues. Using data over 28 years and across 12 policy areas, we find presidents build their programs around these policymaking opportunities. We assert that presidential agendas are less driven by individual priorities than previous accounts have concluded.
Lexical Insertion, Inflection, and Derivation: Creative Processes in Word Production

This study examines the distinction between creative and noncreative behavior as applied to the production of words and sentences. Under one hypothesis words such as “governor” and “government” are stored as independent units and produced by rote, but under another these nouns are not produced as fully integrated units but are generated by rules for combining stems (“govern”) and affixes (“-ment” and “-or”). Analyses of German and English speech errors supported the generation-by-rule thesis and indicated that word stems, prefixes, and suffixes must be separately stored in the internal lexicon and marked as to syntactic function in combining with other word components. The data also suggested a three-stage model of lexical processes in the production of speech: a lexical insertion stage whereby abstract lexical formatives are called on or introduced into sentences by means of abstract syntactic and semantic features; a rule application stage whereby feature agreement rules are applied to the formative and then inflectional, derivational, and phonological rules are applied to derive the phonetic string; finally a serial output stage whereby the phonetic string is translated into serially ordered motor commands.
Stimulation of thyroidal phospholipid turnover by osmotic shock.

Abstract In studying the control of thyroidal phosphatide metabolism it was found that osmotic shock could stimulate the 32P incorporation into lipids of surviving thyroid slices. The nature of this effect and its relation to thyrotropin stimulation of phosphatide turnover was examined by first incubating calf thyroid slices in hypotonic or isotonic medium for 15 min and then transferring the slices to isotonic medium containing 32PO4. After 1 hour the specific activities of the lipid-32P and of the ATP-γ-32P were measured. Hypotonic preliminary incubation increases the specific activity of the ATP-γ-32P, presumably by increasing the entry of 32PO4 into the cell. However, when the specific activities of the phosphatides are corrected for these changes in their precursor, an additional stimulatory effect on lipid-32P can be demonstrated. Examination of individual phosphatides shows that the most prominent effect is an increase in the specific activities of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. The specific activity of phosphoinositide is decreased. This pattern of response to osmotic shock is different from the pattern of thyrotropin stimulation in which phosphoinositide specific activity is primarily increased. Furthermore, osmotic shock inhibits the response to thyrotropin. The effect of osmotic shock bears some similarity to the effects of sphingomyelinase on thyroid slices and may represent a membrane repair reaction.
CATCHING THE MIND’S EYE: THE EFFECT OF INTERNAL DISTRACTION ON VISUAL ATTENTION

To what extent is visual detection performance disrupted by auditory attention capture? More specifically, does visual detection performance suffer when an auditory stimulus induces people to direct attention inward to the meaning of that stimulus rather than outward toward the visual display? Studies of visual attention often focus on how individuals are able to allocate their attention to various perceptual sources in the environment. Yet, the internal processing of information, such as manipulating information in working memory or speech comprehension, is also attentionally demanding. If attention is conceptualized as a general pool of resources that gives processing priority to some sources over others, then internal information processing and visual attention must both draw from this pool. The ability for speech to impact visual attention, specifically the processing of incongruous or highly meaningful speech, was investigated in a series of experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 looked at how hearing a semantically inconsistent word in a stream of non-sentential, category-consistent words could affect visual detection performance. Experiments 3 and 4 assessed the impact of hearing taboo words on visual detection performance. Experiments 1 and 2 revealed no disruption to visual attention as a result of hearing semantically incongruent information, and actually trended toward showing a slight performance boost in the visual task when hearing category-inconsistent words. Auditory presentation of taboo words in Experiments 3 and 4 was consistently able to disrupt visual detection performance, delaying responses to visual targets presented immediately following taboo words. As a whole, the current data suggest that when attention is split between the processing of auditory information and a visual task, surprising or meaningful auditory information can impact visual attention and that the effects vary as a function of the nature of this information. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015. Language: en
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) developed during the 1960s as a direct offshoot of classic column liquid chromatography through improvements in the technology of columns and instrumental components (pumps, injection valves, and detectors). Originally, HPLC was the acronym for high-pressure liquid chromatography, reflecting the high operating pressures generated by early columns. By the late 1970s, however, high-performance liquid chromatography had become the preferred term, emphasizing the effective separations achieved. In fact, newer columns and packing materials offer high performance at moderate pressure (although still high pressure relative to gravity-flow liquid chromatography). HPLC can be applied to the analysis of any compound with solubility in a liquid that can be used as the mobile phase. Although most frequently employed as an analytical technique, HPLC also may be used in the preparative mode.
Adventures with Synchrotron Radiation at Harvard

In the late 1950s, a 6 GeV electron synchrotron (the CEA) was being built at Harvard/MIT. Ed Purcell, who generally trafficked in volts (or maybe kilovolts), but never gigavolts, was thinking about what one could do with all that synchrotron radiation that otherwise would uselessly warm up the walls of the beamline (I remember well his student Roger Tsien's nice drawing of radiation from kinks in the outgoing E-field lines of an electron in relativistic circular motion; see Figure 1).
Assessment of Antiepileptic Pharmacotherapy for Seizure Control in Geriatric Patients: New Onset vs. Longstanding Epilepsy (P1.251)

OBJECTIVE:Assess antiepileptic pharmacotherapy for seizure control in geriatric patients. BACKGROUND:Although pharmacotherapy in seizure management of geriatric patients is associated with good results, differing responses to antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) is not well defined between new-onset and longstanding epilepsy. We aimed to evaluate the difference in number of AEDs required for seizure control between geriatric onset epilepsy(GOE; onset 60 years or older) versus non-GOE (age of onset less than 60 years) in geriatric population. DESIGN/METHODS:Upon institutional IRB approval, we retrospectively obtained the list of all patients age 65years or older at our Institution between January 2013-July 2014 with a diagnosis of seizure and epilepsy utilizing ICD-codes 345/780. Among the identified patients, 100 patients were randomly selected and collection of clinicopharmacologic and demographic data was performed. Patients with unconfirmed diagnosis of epilepsy or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures were excluded. Age of onset of seizures was identified, and patients were stratified into GOE and non-GOE groups. Regarding seizure frequency, patients were divided into a group of 1 seizure per year or less and a group of higher frequency. RESULTS:In total 89 patients were identified for analysis. Fourty-nine patients(55[percnt]) were identified to have GOE. The two groups did not differ significantly regarding age and sex. Seizure frequency of 1 per year or less was achieved in 68[percnt] and 66[percnt] of GOE and non-GOE patients respectively(p=1.0) with significantly less number of AEDs in GOE group in comparison to non-GOE group(p< 0.0001), of these, 77[percnt] controlled with monotherapy in GOE group versus 38[percnt] in non-GOE group(p=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: In general, good seizure control is obtained in patients over 65 years of age. However, in geriatric patients with new onset epilepsy, fewer AEDs are required relative to those with established epilepsy for the same level of seizure control which may allow for minimization of polypharmacy in this vulnerable population. Disclosure: Dr. Fahimi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Izadyar has nothing to disclose. Dr. O9Dwyer has nothing to disclose.
Reducing dynamic energy of set-associative L1 instruction cache by early tag lookup

To minimize the access latency of set-associative caches, the data in all ways are read out in parallel with the tag lookup. However, this is energy inefficient, as only the data from the matching way is used and the others are discarded. This paper proposes an early tag lookup (ETL) technique for L1 instruction caches that determines the matching way one cycle earlier than the cache access, so that only the matching data way need be accessed. ETL incurs no performance penalty and insignificant hardware overhead. Evaluation on a 4-way set-associative L1 instruction cache in 45nm technology shows that ETL reduces the read energy by 68% on average.
Identification and analysis of transcriptional regulatory signals for the kil and kor loci of Streptomyces plasmid pIJ101.

Four regulated promoters that direct the transcription of genes (i.e., korA, tra, kilB, and korB) involved in the transfer of the Streptomyces plasmid pIJ101 were isolated following the in vitro fusion of plasmid DNA fragments to a promoterless gene encoding the S. lividans extracellular enzyme beta-galactosidase. Introduction of pIJ101 into cells carrying each of these promoter-lac fusions resulted in decreased lac expression. The sites of initiation of transcription by the promoter sequences were identified by primer extension experiments, and the DNA sequences specifically required for promoter activity and regulation by pIJ101-encoded functions were determined by deletion analysis. The data obtained indicate that the korB locus encodes a repressor that regulates its own transcription, as well as transcription of the kilB promoter; korA and tra are transcribed from overlapping divergent promoters that are coregulated by the korA gene product. Common DNA sequence domains within coregulated promoters allowed the identification of putative binding sites for each of the kor gene products.
The Homosexual Witch-Hunt: Using Fear to Shift Focus in a Time of Crisis

In times of crisis, be them economic or otherwise, the powers that be inevitably look to a scapegoat. They need to be able to shift the focus from their own mistakes to the actions of others so as to take the spotlight off the current crisis and their own shortcomings. It may be no coincidence that during the latest economic crisis, the rhetoric against homosexuals and same-sex marriage has been ratcheted up. While the expected politicians and religious leaders continue the fight against same-sex marriage rights, the more surprising trend has been the success of ballot initiatives against same-sex marriage. With the recent repeal by ballot votes in California and Maine, we have seen the populace shoot down state approved same-sex marriage. Interestingly, public backlash against same-sex marriage comes at a time where support for same-sex marriage rights continues to rise across the country. However, even in the face of polling data which suggests public support, we still see politicians such as those in New York City vote against same-sex marriage rights under the guise of “the will of the public.” Where the denial of equal rights comes from may vary from state to state, but whether coming from the legislature or the protesters on Main Street, you are likely to hear the same rationale: Same-sex marriage will ruin the institution of marriage, it will ruin families, it will ruin society, the next step is marrying animals, the list goes on and on. The question becomes: is there a scientific, logical, or legal basis for these arguments? Perhaps more so than with any other social issue, the politics of fear and blame are utilized, often successfully. It is an issue where we see a break from attacks based on science and statistics, with a shift to using hypothetical situations as ammunition. Is there any actual threat to the institution of marriage from the recognition of same-sex marriage, and are these arguments sufficient to justify the denial of equal rights?I argue that the arguments against same-sex marriage rights are fear tactics used against a growing minority to distract the populace. I argue that: (1) data indicates either a strengthening of, or non impact on, familial institutions in nations that granted same-sex marriage or union rights; and (2) the purported state interests in denying same-sex marriage rights do not pass Constitutional muster under any standard of review. I further argue that the recent backlash against homosexuals arises from the politics of fear being implemented by Conservative politicians, leaders, and community members to create a new political underclass that can be focused on in a time of crisis. In short, the current backlash against equal rights of homosexuals is a witch-hunt that uses ballots and pulpits instead of torches and pyres.
“We’re Part of the Solution”: Evolution of the Food and Beverage Industry’s Framing of Obesity Concerns Between 2000 and 2012

We investigated how industry claim-makers countered concerns about obesity and other nutrition-related diseases in newspaper coverage from 2000, the year before the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action on obesity, through 2012. We found that the food and beverage industry evolved in its response. The defense arguments were made by trade associations, industry-funded nonprofit groups, and individual companies representing the packaged food industry, restaurants, and the nonalcoholic beverage industry. Individual companies used the news primarily to promote voluntary self-regulation, whereas trade associations and industry-supported nonprofit groups directly attacked potential government regulations. There was, however, a shift away from framing obesity as a personal issue toward an overall message that the food and beverage industry wants to be “part of the solution” to the public health crisis.
Reflection and Self-Trust

The Reflection principle expresses a kind of epistemic deference to one's future self. There is a plausible intuitive argument to the effect that, if one believes one will reason well and gain information over time, then one ought to satisfy Reflection. There are also associated formal arguments that show that, if one's beliefs about one's current and future selves meet certain criteria, then one is committed by the axioms of probability to satisfy Reflection. The formal arguments, however, rely on an assumption that has no apparent relevance to the intuitive argument: the assumption that one has perfect access to one's beliefs. This paper explains why it is advantageous to replace the perfect access assumption with a self-trust assumption. The self-trust assumption is superior from a formal point of view, since it is formally weaker than the perfect access assumption, and from an intuitive point of view, since it leads to an improved formulation of the intuitive argument.
Pulse estimation in nonlinear detectors with nonstationary noise

We present an algorithm for the least-squares measure of pulse size in the presence of non-stationary system noise through the signal event, which is optimal in both the linear and nonlinear regime. In the case of a linear detector with stationary noise, the algorithm reduces to the Wiener filter. This algorithm is of particular interest with recent advances in the performance of transition edge superconductor (TES) detectors. While these devices can perform near the theoretical limits, their resolution is often limited by the high heat capacities required for linearity at the highest energies. With a robust algorithm for saturated pulse analysis, we can provide significant improvements in resolution while maintaining response over the full energy range. We show the ultimate resolution achievable with TES detectors.
Diffraction Anomalies in Grating Spectrophotometers

The Wood anomalies are dark or bright bands in the spectrum produced by a diffraction grating. They occur at observed wavelengths for which light of the same wavelength is diffracted in another order so as to graze the surface of the grating. The equations describing the position of the anomalies are discussed for a variety of grating arrangements. Some experimental observations of Wood anomalies are described, including a new finding concerning the reluctance of two anomalies to coincide. Finally, a discussion is given of spectrophotometric errors introduced by Wood anomalies.
Chronic Disease as an Evacuation Impediment: Using a Geographic Information System and 911 Call Data after Katrina to Determine Neighborhood Scale Health Vulnerability

This paper will add to the health and disasters literature by considering the spatial patterns of a factor not commonly associated with evacuation decisions, the existing chronic health burden of the population. 911 calls for the period from August 29 to September 8, 2005, were mapped using a Geographic Information System for 15 neighborhoods of New Orleans. For each neighborhood the total number of calls was reduced to unique residences, and any mention of a health-related problem was recorded. By using single locations and then reinterpreting medical attributes as a percentage of all such locations, or as a percentage of those mentioning medical information, an approach is presented to spatially standardize knowledge from these data. The results show that a sizable portion of those who did not evacuate from Katrina before landfall were suffering from some ailment, especially chronic diseases commonly associated with the urban poor. Of particular note is the diabetes rate, with six different neighborhoods having approximately 10% of their 911 calls mentioning the disease. The paper concludes with suggestions as to how this research should progress, with fine spatial scale geographic analysis of health data becoming more common in understanding evacuation impediments and the post-disaster landscape in general.
“Don't think zebras”: Uncertainty, interpretation, and the place of paradox in clinical education

Working retrospectively in an uncertain field of knowledge, physicians are engaged in an interpretive practice that is guided by couterweighted, competing, sometimes paradoxical maxims. “When you hear hoofbeats, don't think zebras,” is the chief of these, the epitome of medicine's practical wisdom, its hermeneutic rule. The accumulated and contradictory wisdom distilled in clinical maxims arises necessarily from the case-based nature of medical practice and the narrative rationality that good practice requires. That these maxims all have their opposites enforces in students and physicians a practical skepticism that encourages them to question their expectations, interrupt patterns, and adjust to new developments as a case unfolds. Yet medicine resolutely ignores both the maxims and the tension between the practical reasoning they represent and the claim that medicine is a science. Indeed, resolute epistemological naivete is part of medicine's accommodation to uncertainty; counterweighted, competing, apparently paradoxical (but always situational) rules enable physicians simultaneously to express and to ignore the practical reason that characterizes their practice.
Cytokine Milieu of Atopic Dermatitis Skin Subverts the Innate Immune Response to Vaccinia Virus

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with eczema vaccinatum (EV), a disseminated viral skin infection that follows inoculation with vaccinia virus (VV). This study examined whether AD skin can control VV replication, and the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in modulating the human cathelicidin LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide that kills VV. AD skin exhibited increased VV replication and decreased LL-37 expression compared to normal or psoriasis skin. IL-4/IL-13 enhanced VV replication while downregulating LL-37 in VV-stimulated keratinocytes. Neutralizing IL-4/IL-13 in AD skin augmented LL-37 and inhibited VV replication. Cathelicidins were induced via toll-like receptor-3 and were inhibited by IL-4/IL-13 through STAT-6. Skin from cathelicidin-deficient mice exhibited reduced ability to control VV replication. Exogenous LL-37 controlled vaccinia viral replication in infected keratinocytes and AD skin explants. The current study demonstrates that Th2 cytokines enhance VV replication in AD skin by subverting the innate immune response against VV in a STAT-6-dependent manner.
Treating stimuli as a random factor in social psychology: A new and comprehensive solution to a pervasive but largely ignored problem.

Throughout social and cognitive psychology, participants are routinely asked to respond in some way to experimental stimuli that are thought to represent categories of theoretical interest. For instance, in measures of implicit attitudes, participants are primed with pictures of specific African American and White stimulus persons sampled in some way from possible stimuli that might have been used. Yet seldom is the sampling of stimuli taken into account in the analysis of the resulting data, in spite of numerous warnings about the perils of ignoring stimulus variation (Clark, 1973; Kenny, 1985; Wells & Windschitl, 1999). Part of this failure to attend to stimulus variation is due to the demands imposed by traditional analysis of variance procedures for the analysis of data when both participants and stimuli are treated as random factors. In this article, we present a comprehensive solution using mixed models for the analysis of data with crossed random factors (e.g., participants and stimuli). We show the substantial biases inherent in analyses that ignore one or the other of the random factors, and we illustrate the substantial advantages of the mixed models approach with both hypothetical and actual, well-known data sets in social psychology (Bem, 2011; Blair, Chapleau, & Judd, 2005; Correll, Park, Judd, & Wittenbrink, 2002).
Research on Dynamics of Rotor Systems in Large Centrifugal Compressor

It is important to study system vibration characteristics for improving product quality and ensuring safety operation of units. In this paper, some dynamics of rotor systems are studied in large centrifugal compressor. The models of diaphragm coupling and tilting pad bearing are established by appropriate simplification. The finite element model of rotors with bearing and coupling is set up by taking interrelation of these subsystems into account. The unbalance responses of journal are computed based on the relative standard. The effect of bearing parameters (length-diameter ratio, clearance ratio and lubricating oil number) to journal vibration of rotor systems is analyzed. Finally test results and theoretical results are compared and errors are analyzed. The research results will provide theoretical basis for improving the bearing design of compressor rotor systems.
Graph-Theoretic Models of Mutations in the Nucleotide Binding Domain 1 of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common inherited diseases and is caused by a mutation in a membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This protein serves as a chloride channel and regulates the viscosity of mucus lining the ducts of a number of organs. Although much has been learned about the consequences of mutations on the energy landscape and the resulting disrupted folding pathway of CFTR, a level of understanding needed to correct the misfolding has not been achieved. The most common mutations of CFTR are located in one of two nucleotide binding domains, namely, the nucleotide binding domain 1 (NBD1). We model NBD1 using a nested graph model. The vertices in the lowest layer each represent an atom in the structure of an amino acid residue, while the vertices in the mid layer each represent the residue. The vertices in the top layer each represent a subdomain of the nucleotide binding domain. We use this model to quantify the effects of a single point mutation on the protein domain. We compare the wildtype structure with eight of the most common mutations. The graph-theoretic model provides insight into how a single point mutation can have such profound structural consequences.
GLUCAGON THERAPY IN HEART-FAILURE

Abstract Glucagon was administered by continuous intravenous infusion to four patients with refractory congestive cardiac failure, and clinical improvement ensued in all four. No side-effects other than nausea, which appears to be dose-related, were attributable to glucagon.
Reduction of ischemia with a new flow-adjustable hemoperfusion pump during coronary angioplasty

A new flow-adjustable pump for coronary hemoperfusion to prevent ischemia during routine coronary angioplasty was evaluated in a multicenter prospective study of 110 patients. The protocol included patients who had angina or ST segment elevation during a control balloon inflation of ≤3 min. Hemoperfusion was performed by means of a new large lumen angioplasty catheter utilizing the patient's renal vein or femoral artery blood. Vessels perfused were the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 74), right coronary artery (n = 39), left circumflex artery (n = 9) and coronary vein grafts (n = IS). Mean (± SD) perfusion flow was 41 ± 9 ml/min (range 17 to 70); mean perfusion time was 9.3 ± 4 min (median 8.5, range 2 to 30). Chest pain score (0 to 4) decreased from 2.9 ± 1 to 1.4 ± 1 during hemoperfusion (p Angioplasty was successful in 107 patients (97%), with mean stenosis reduced from 87 ± 11% to 20 ± 17%; 3 patients had urgent bypass surgery, 2 (1.8%) had a myocardial infarction (1Q wave, 1 non-Q wave) and 2 (1.8%) died later in the hospital of probable noncoronary causes. Complications related to hemoperfusion were transient heart block during dilation of the right coronary artery in two patients and hematoma requiring transfusion in five (4.5%). Thus, this initial feasibility study indicates that this new hemoperfusion system is safe and effective in ameliorating ischemia and allowing longer balloon inflations during coronary angioplasty.
FDA Regulation of Immunochemicals Used in Immunohistochemistry: Our View

(1994). FDA Regulation of Immunochemicals Used in Immunohistochemistry: Our View. Biotechnic & Histochemistry: Vol. 69, No. 6, pp. 348-350.
Extracorporeal enzymatic heparin removal: use in a sheep dialysis model.

Extracorporeal enzymatic heparin removal: Use in a sheep dialysis model. Extracorporeal medical devices such as the hemodialyzer rely on systemic heparinization to prevent thrombus formation. Heparin, however, can lead to serious hemorrhagic complications. A blood filter containing immobilized heparinase, a heparin specific enzyme, was used to degrade heparin into small fragments which have significantly less anticoagulant activity than the parent compound. The heparinase filter was tested in the extracorporeal circuit during the hemodialysis of adult sheep. At a blood flow of 200 ml/min, the clearance of heparin varied from 50 to 70 ml/min (N = 16) depending on the amount of immobilized heparinase in the filter. Hemolysis was insignificant as measured by the animals' red cell counts, hematocrit, total hemoglobin and a plasma-free hemoglobin value of 89 ± 33 mg/dl (N = 16) (less than 1% of the total hemoglobin). The white cell counts dropped to 47 ± 7% (N = 16) of the initial value at 20 minutes and rebounded to 72 ± 10% (N = 16) after one hour. The platelet counts decreased to 55 ± 8% (N = 16) of the initial value after one hour. No change in heparin clearance was observed when reactors were used repeatedly in adult sheep over a 10 week period. The red cell counts, white cell counts, platelet counts, total hemoglobin and hematocrit did not change after 10 weeks of exposure to the device. These results suggest that with further study, heparinase may be useful in removing heparin used to anticoagulate blood in extracorporeal circuits.
Neuron-Specific Feeding RNAi in C. elegans and Its Use in a Screen for Essential Genes Required for GABA Neuron Function

Forward genetic screens are important tools for exploring the genetic requirements for neuronal function. However, conventional forward screens often have difficulty identifying genes whose relevant functions are masked by pleiotropy. In particular, if loss of gene function results in sterility, lethality, or other severe pleiotropy, neuronal-specific functions cannot be readily analyzed. Here we describe a method in C. elegans for generating cell-specific knockdown in neurons using feeding RNAi and its application in a screen for the role of essential genes in GABAergic neurons. We combine manipulations that increase the sensitivity of select neurons to RNAi with manipulations that block RNAi in other cells. We produce animal strains in which feeding RNAi results in restricted gene knockdown in either GABA-, acetylcholine-, dopamine-, or glutamate-releasing neurons. In these strains, we observe neuron cell-type specific behavioral changes when we knock down genes required for these neurons to function, including genes encoding the basal neurotransmission machinery. These reagents enable high-throughput, cell-specific knockdown in the nervous system, facilitating rapid dissection of the site of gene action and screening for neuronal functions of essential genes. Using the GABA-specific RNAi strain, we screened 1,320 RNAi clones targeting essential genes on chromosomes I, II, and III for their effect on GABA neuron function. We identified 48 genes whose GABA cell-specific knockdown resulted in reduced GABA motor output. This screen extends our understanding of the genetic requirements for continued neuronal function in a mature organism.
Humanity as the model system.

F or the past year, I have been a member of a cavalcade traveling around the world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA. We have been asked to talk about the past, the present, and especially about the promise of DNA research for the future of
Escape reactions to the blood of selected mammals by rats.

Female Holtzman rats were placed on an elevated glass surface which was coated with either Holtzman rat blood, Long-Evans rat blood, mouse blood, human blood, or distilled water. Their escape latencies from these substances were recorded and compared. Both strains of rat blood and the mouse blood elicited significantly faster escape latencies than the distilled water, while human blood did not. The possibility that only the blood of organisms sharing a common habitat or common predators may normally elicit escape responses was suggested.
Split-and-merge method for accelerating convergence of stochastic linear programs

Stochastic program optimizations are computationally very expensive, especially when the number of scenarios are large. Complexity of the focal application, and the slow convergence rate add to its computational complexity. We propose a split-and-merge (SAM) method for accelerating the convergence of stochastic linear programs. SAM splits the original problem into subproblems, and utilizes the dual constraints from the subproblems to accelerate the convergence of the original problem. Our initial results are very encouraging, giving up to 58% reduction in the optimization time. In this paper we discuss the initial results, the ongoing and the future work.
An intrinsically magnetic biomaterial with tunable magnetic properties.

Many magnetic materials lack intrinsic biocompatibility and require surface functionalization for in vivo applications. In this study, we fabricated an intrinsically biocompatible, biodegradable magnetic material through iron substitution into hydroxyapatite (FeHA) via ion-exchange. Controlling the oxidation state of iron in the ion exchange solution resulted in ‘tunable’ magnetic properties. Superparamagnetic behavior was observed in Fe2+HA and Fe2+3+HA and paramagnetism in Fe3+HA. FeHA powders were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with no detection of iron oxide phases. The as-synthesized HA and Fe2+3+HA samples were characterized in vitro using MC3T3-E1 cells. Cellular proliferation of Fe2+3+HA was found comparable to HA, while our cytotoxicity results from a lactate dehydrogenase assay showed Fe2+3+HA to be less toxic than pure HA, a widely used implantable biomaterial. Thus, these results collectively suggest that we have fabricated a magnetic biomaterial with intrinsic biocompatibility.
Variability in channel form in a free-flowing dryland river

This study examines channel form of the Verde River system in order to explain system fragmentation. Morphologic analyses draw from discharge and shear stress calculations generated by modelling the flow through 14 surveyed cross-sections along the Verde River, representing six river segments with distinct hydrologic and geologic characteristics. At-a-station and downstream hydraulic geometries for the Verde River highlight local variability in channel morphology. Modified at-a-station hydraulic geometry analyses using cross-section subsection discharge and shear stress values similarly show greater variability within cross-sections than between cross-sections. Competence and capacity increase at a fairly uniform rate for similar features throughout the system, indicating an overall efficiency in sediment transport. Variations in channel form and associated sediment transport as represented by competence and capacity are largely related to combinations of macroscale local factors, including channel pattern, gradient, valley width, tributary inputs and human activity rather than megascale, basin-scale or subbasin scale factors.
The effect of some brain/gut peptides on plasma cholesterol levels in the rat.

Abstract The effect of substance P (SP), bombesin (BBS), somatostatin (SRIF) and neurotensin (NT) on the plasma cholesterol levels was studied in the rat. SP and BBS had no effect, but SRIF produced a significant transient hypocholesterolemia and NT a significant transient hypercholesterolemia 15 minutes after the intravenous injections. Neither SRIF nor NT influenced the rate of the 7α-hydroxylation of cholesterol. The data suggest a relation of SRIF and NT to the maintenance of the plasma cholesterol concentration.
A subcultural study of credit card debt and foreclosures

This study explored predictors of credit card debt and foreclosure rates in the states of the USA, based on the average personality scores of the residents of the states obtained from an Internet questionnaire completed by 619 397 residents (Rentfrow et al., 2008). It was found that states whose residents had higher credit card debt in the year 2000 had residents who scored higher in openness and lower in agreeableness. States with higher foreclosure rates in 2007 had residents who scored higher in openness and also had lower average intelligence test scores. The results were used to argue for a subcultural approach for ecological studies of economic behaviour.
Interaction of CD44 variant isoforms with hyaluronic acid and the cytoskeleton in human prostate cancer cells

CD44 is a glycosylated adhesion molecule which may undergo alternative splicing of 10 possible exons to generate variant isoforms. A number of CD44 variant isoforms expressed by tumor cells have been correlated with metastatic and proliferative behavior. In this study, we have characterized CD44 isoform expression on three prostate cancer cell lines: ALVA-31, PPC-1, and LNCaP. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we have found that ALVA-31 and PPC-1 cells express multiple CD44 isoforms, including CD44s (standard form), CD44E (epithelial form), and an exon 14-containing form. In addition, two smaller forms have been detected: one using an alternative donor splice site within exon 5, and a novel form omitting exon 5 entirely. The CD44 isoforms expressed by ALVA-31 and PPC-1 cells appear to be preferentially located on the cell surface. By contrast, LNCaP cells do not express any of the CD44 forms at the RNA or protein level. Both PPC-1 and ALVA-31 cells display tumorigenesis and invasiveness in nude mice, whereas LNCap cells exhibit a less malignant phenotype, suggesting a correlation between CD44 variant (CD44v) expression and aggressive prostate tumor behavior. Functional characterization reveals that CD44 mediates prostate cell adhesion to extracellular hyaluronic acid (HA). In addition, the CD44 cytoplasmic domain binds specifically to ankyrin, a membrane cytoskeletal protein. Double immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscopic analyses indicate that HA binding induces the HA receptor (i.e., CD44) to form capped structures. Importantly, intracellular ankyrin is preferentially accumulated underneath HA receptor-capped structures. These results suggest that cytoskeletal proteins such as ankyrin are closely associated with CD44-mediated signaling events induced by HA. Finally, HA-mediated transmembrane interactions between CD44 isoforms and cytoskeletal proteins (i.e. ankyrin) may play a pivotal role in regulating tumor cell behavior during human prostate cancer development.
Impact of the 12-lead electrocardiogram on ED evaluation and management

Abstract Study Objective This study was conducted to assess the impact (diagnostic, therapeutic, and disposition) of the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) on emergency department (ED) patient evaluation and management. Methods This project was a prospective study of a convenience sample of 304 ED patients undergoing ECG analysis during their evaluation in the ED of a level 1 trauma center. The data collection for this study was divided into 4 parts. In part I, the treating physicians determined the specific reasons for ECG analysis; categories include complaint-based (eg, chest pain), syndrome-based (eg, overdose/poisoning), and system-based (eg, “requested by consult”). In part II, all treating physicians were surveyed before ECG interpretation regarding the future diagnostic, therapeutic, and disposition plans for the patient based only on history and physical examination. Their comments were recorded on a standardized data sheet. In part III, the physicians were surveyed after their interpretation of the ECG as to whether the results could suggest any further diagnostic information (eg, normal vs abnormal), or provide enough information for the patient care plan to be altered. In part IV of the study period, alterations to the original diagnostic, therapeutic, and disposition plans made by information provided by the ECG were obtained from the treating physician. Results A total of 304 patients underwent ECG examination and were used for data analysis. The average age of patients, of which 48% were men, was 60 years. The most common complaints that prompted electrocardiographic evaluation were chest pain and dyspnea. The most common reason an ECG was ordered was nursing staff protocol. Physicians determined that they were able to make a diagnosis based primarily on ECG in 33 (10.9%) cases. The total number of ECGs that were determined to be normal was 95 (31.3%), 7 (2.3%) of which allowed a rule-out diagnosis; 209 (68.7%) of total ECGs were determined to be abnormal, 72 (23.6%) of which were considered “of diagnostic significance.” In 96 (31.6%) cases of electrocardiographic interpretation, alterations were made to the diagnostic, therapeutic, or disposition plans because of the information provided by the ECG. Conclusions The ECG provides clinical information that frequently alters the management plan.
Coverings and Automorphisms of Chamber Systems

The recent work of J. Tits [4] on local characterizations of building introduces the important new concept of chamber system and its ramified covers, and it is the purpose of this paper to present a systematic and elementary development of the basic results on ramified covers of chamber systems. This has applications to Buekenhout's work [1] on diagram geometries, whose connection with chamber systems is explained in [4]. After some preliminary definitions and lemmas in Section 1, we introduce in Section 2 two types of complexes associated with a chamber system. If the chamber system {ie259-1} has finite rank it is equivalent to a certain type of regular cell complex {ie259-2}, which in special cases is a building, see [4]. We also introduce some 2-dimensional simplicial complexes {ie259-3}, topological covers of which corresponds to {ie259-4}-covers of the chamber system. Sections 3–6 deals with the elementary theoery of {ie259-5}-covers without assuming any prior knowledge of topology; the proofs of the results are short and straightforward, so there is little to be gained by the less direct method of using known topological results for {ie259-6}. Section 7 deals with automorphisms; we give necessary and sufficient conditions for an automorphism of {ie259-7} to lift to an automorphism of some {ie259-8}-cover {ie259-9}, and we show that if the covering is characteristic, the Aut {ie259-10} lifts to a section of Aut {ie259-11}. Finally I should like to make it quite clear that many concepts and definitions in this paper (e.g. chamber system, galleries, m-covers, elementary homotopy) are due to J. Tits [4], and I would like to thank him for several helpful discussion at Santa Cruz. The reader should refer to Tits' work in [4] for motivation, relationships with combinatorial geometries, and the beautiful characterization of buildings given therein.
Ex vivo bioluminescence imaging of late gestation ewes following intrauterine inoculation with lux-modified Escherichia coli

Abstract Our objectives were to develop an ovine model for Escherichia coli -induced preterm delivery, and monitor E. coli (lux modified for photonic detection) invasion of the fetal environment—ewes (124 ± 18 d of gestation) received intrauterine inoculations using E. coli -lux as follows: control ( n = 5), 1.2 × 10 6 CFU/ml ( n = 5), 5.6 × 10 6 CFU/ml ( n = 5) E. coli -lux. Preterm delivery occurred between 48 and 120 h post-inoculation in 60%, 60% of ewes infected with 1.2, and 5.6 × 10 6 CFU/ml E. coli -lux, respectively, with presence of emitting bacteria confirmed by real-time imaging of lamb tissues. In summary, preterm delivery and/or fetal distress were observed in a majority of inoculated ewes. Finally, the use of photonic bacteria with imaging was a feasible means to monitor bacterial presence ex vivo .
Impact of toroidal ULF waves on the outer radiation belt electrons

[1] Relativistic electron fluxes in the outer radiation belt exhibit highly variable complex behavior. Previous studies have established a strong correlation of electron fluxes and the inner magnetospheric ULF waves in the Pc 3–5 frequency range. Resonant interaction of ULF waves with the drift motion of radiation belt electrons violates their third adiabatic invariant and consequently leads to their radial transport. If the wave-particle interaction has a stochastic character, then the electron transport is diffusive. The goal of this paper is to analyze the impact of toroidal ULF waves on radiation belt electrons. The study is based on direct measurements of ULF electric fields on the CRRES spacecraft. We show that the electric fields of inner magnetospheric toroidal ULF waves exhibit high asymmetry in magnetic local time and have narrow-band frequency spectra. Such narrow-band waves can induce radial diffusion of energetic electrons, if an extrinsic stochasticity is introduced in the system. The quasi-periodic variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure are identified as a possible source of extrinsic stochasticity. In the asymmetric magnetic field, drifting electrons can interact with both azimuthal and radial electric field components. We derive analytically and then calculate numerically the diffusion rates associated with azimuthal and radial electric field components of the waves. It is shown that even under highly disturbed geomagnetic conditions, when the background field asymmetry is large, the diffusion rates due to the radial field component are small. At the same time, the resonant scattering of energetic electrons by the azimuthal electric field of the waves provides an efficient form of radial diffusion and therefore can play an important role in the dynamics of the outer radiation belt.
M-chlorophenylpiperazine increases blood pressure and heart rate in pithed and conscious rats

In pithed rats, m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) produced marked, dose-dependent (ED50 = 0.18 mumol) increases in mean arterial blood pressure which peaked within 1 minute and were sustained over 15 minutes. Two serotonin antagonists, metergoline and ritanserin, completely blocked the pressor responses to 2.5 mg/kg m-CPP in pithed adrenal demedullated rats, while alpha-adrenergic blockade by prazosin plus yohimbine was without effect, suggesting that the doubling in blood pressure produced by m-CPP was mediated via serotonin receptors within blood vessels. Somewhat smaller increases in blood pressure over baseline values were observed after m-CPP administration to conscious, freely moving rats. A small but statistically significant increase in heart rate peaked 5 minutes after m-CPP and also was blocked by metergoline but was only minimally affected by ritanserin or the prazosin-yohimbine combination. These results with m-CPP support other evidence for two or more separable effects of serotonergic agonists on the peripheral cardiovascular system.