cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of neighborhoods in shaping perceived norms: An exploration of neighborhood disorder and norms among injection drug users in Baltimore, MD

A large literature suggests that social norms contribute to HIV and substance use related behaviors. Less attention has been given to neighborhood factors that may contribute to the development of norms about risky behaviors. We examined the cross-sectional associations between perceptions of one’s neighborhood and norms of perceived prevalence of, and peer support for sex exchange and risky injection behaviors. The sample consisted of 719 people who reported injecting heroin and cocaine and did not move in the past 6 months in Baltimore, MD. Living in a neighborhood with disorder was associated with believing that others exchanged sex, practiced risky injection behaviors (descriptive norms) and approved of risky injection behavior (injunctive norms).
Embedded Effort Indicators on the California Verbal Learning Test – Second Edition (CVLT–II): An Attempted Cross-Validation

This study determined whether the logistic regression method that was recently developed by Wolfe and colleagues (2010) for the detection of invalid effort on the California Verbal Learning Test – Second Edition (CVLT–II) could be cross-validated in an independent sample of 100 consecutively referred patients with traumatic brain injury. Although the CVLT–II logistic regression formula demonstrated a statistically significant level of agreement with results from the Word Memory Test, it was associated with an unacceptably high proportion of false positives. The component variables of the logistic regression were sensitive to length of coma but did not covary with psychosocial complicating factors (e.g., unresolved prior psychiatric history) that were associated with a higher relative risk of failure of WMT validity criteria. It is concluded that the Wolfe et al. logistic regression should be used only with great caution in the context of clinical neuropsychological evaluations.
Effect of NaCI and NaHCO3 on serum ionised calcium and blood gas status during sprinting

Sodium bicarbonate is often administered to horses before racing in an attempt to delay fatigue and improve performance. We examined the effect of acid-base status on serum ionised calcium concentration (iCa) during high intensity exercise in 8 Standardbred mares. In a randomised, blinded, cross-over study, mares were administered each of 3 treatments, NaCl (0.7 g/kg bwt), NaHCO3 (1 g/kg bwt) in 3 l water, or 3 l of water only, 4 h before performing a standardised exercise test to fatigue on a treadmill. Mixed venous blood samples were collected as the horses ran for 5 min at 3 m/s, to fatigue at a predetermined speed (approximately 113% VO2max) and for 5 min at 3 m/s. There was no effect of treatment on time to fatigue (P = 0.744). NaHCO3 attenuated (P<0.05) the exercise-induced decrease in venous pH (mean +/- s.e. 6.97, 6.95 and 7.06 +/- 0.02 at end of sprint for water, NaCl and NaHCO3, respectively). Both serum total calcium concentration (tCa) and iCa increased (P<0.05) with running. NaHCO3 decreased iCa (P<0.05) compared to water; iCa of 1.58 and 1.44 +/- 0.04 mmol/l before exercise and 1.69 and 1.49 +/- 0.05 end sprint, for water and NaHCO3 treatments, respectively. These results demonstrate an effect of NaHCO3 on iCa during exercise. Further study is necessary to determine the effect of alterations in iCa on exercise performance.
A contingent approach to strategy and tactics in formative and summative evaluations

Abstract A contingent approach to strategic and tactical choices in formative and summative evaluations is presented. Choices regarding evaluation phases and tactics were found to be dependent on evaluation goals (e.g., whether the evaluation has a formative or summative purpose) and contextual variables. A simulation was designed to pool the judgments of evaluators and users of evaluations to see how they felt evaluation strategy and tactics should change as the situation changes so as to increase the likelihood of evaluation success. Eight panels were constructed to examine eight different situations. The next step in this research is to determine whether following the pooled judgments does lead to greater evaluation success.
Professor Renzo De Felice and the Fascist Phenomenon

Renzo De Felice's most recent publications, Mussolini il duce and Fascism: An Informal Introduction to Its Theory and Practice, have caused considerable consternation among both the lay and academic public. De Felice has suggested that generic fascism, and particularly Italian Fascism, may have displayed some progressive and revolutionary features. He goes on to suggest that Italian Fascism shared some affinities with the traditional “left.” Most of these contentions are well supported in the specialized literature; while they may cause some political discomfort, they should generate little intellectual resistance. The discussion concerning sensitive political issues has caused scholars to neglect some important methodological theses which De Felice is prepared to defend. The most critical issue turns on the role and legitimacy of generalizing over an ill-defined generic fascism. De Felice has attempted to restrict the characterization “fascist” to one or two strictly European regimes. The article concludes that there are no methodological grounds for such a restriction.
On the rate of convergence of the Fourier spectral method for the Navier-Stokes equations

The optimal rate of convergence is obtained for the approximation of velocity by the application of the Fourier spectral method to the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations with periodic boundary conditions.
Educational issues concerning young children and microcomputers: Lego with logo?

There is currently considerable disagreement among educators as to whether or not microcomputers should be a part of preschool education. The debate is intense with few educators suggesting a position predicated on current research or a period of experimental testing Four issues are discussed in this article, cognitive theory/microcomputers, social isolation and social interactions, real life experiences, and the hurried child. Past literature is cited for each issue which shows the microcomputer either as monster or messiah. We enter the debate midway between these two extreems and predicate our arguments on more recent research and theory. Conclusions are drawn for each issue and a recommendation is made for an extended period of testing before educators make pedagogical decisions.
Defusing the Global Timebomb

Almost zo years have passed since the unprecedented resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. From 1985 to 1992, TB cases increased almost zo% nationally (i) and increased more than 35% in children (2), along with dramatic changes in the nature and magnitude of the disease (3). Despite many contributing factors, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, increases in substance abuse and homelessness, increased immigration, and lack of patient compliance, concerned observers felt that the TB resurgence was directly due to policy-maker neglect of appropriate TB control mandates, which led to the dismantling of programs that had previously and quietly kept TB under control (4,5). The societal response to this resurgence was an unprecedented initiative, a veritable "war" against TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) organized a multi-agency governmental task force to coordinate the effort (6); huge increases in congressional appropriations for direct support were obtained (5); major research efforts by government and industry were started; new cost-effective strategies, including directly observed therapy (DOT) (7), fixed-dose combination drugs (8), nurse case management (9), educational innovations (io), and, when necessary, long-term hospitalization (i i) were established or reintroduced. Ultimately, this acute public health crisis led to rapid adoption of long-needed solutions that were extraordinarily effective in turning the crisis around.
An estrogen receptor alpha activity indicator model in mice.

Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα), plays essential roles in the female reproduction. To investigate the dynamic changes in ERα activity in vivo, we have developed an ER Alpha Activity Indicator (ERAAI) mouse. This ERAAI mouse harbors both a modified ERα Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clone and a reporter gene which is regulated specifically by the modified receptor. The ERα modification (Gal4-ERα) consists replacing the DNA binding domain (DBD) of ERα with the DBD of yeast Gal4 transcription factor. This reporter transgene consisting of a humanized renilla Green Fluorescent Protein (hrGFP) sequence controlled by the Upstream Activating Sequences for the Gal4 gene (UASG) was inserted into the modified ERα BAC clone. Expression of Gal4-ERα and hrGFP reliably recapitulates endogenous ERα expression and activity in the estrogen target tissues in response to estrogen stimulation. Therefore, the ERAAI mouse represents a novel animal model to investigate dynamic ERα activity in vivo.
Vertical Integration: Scale Distortions, Partial Integration, and the Direction of Price Change

Two new features are introduced in a standard model of forward vertical integration by an intermediate good monopolist into a contestable downstream industry. First, U-shaped average costs replace constant returns in the downstream industry. Second, the effect of subjecting the monopolist to the pressure of upstream entry is explored. It is found that monopoly pricing of the intermediate good can distort the scale as well as the input proportions of the downstream firms. Either distortion leads to integration, but here integration may be partial rather than full. Prices rise with partial integration when there is no upstream entry, but prices fall when upstream entry is free.
Pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to corticotropin-releasing hormone in patients receiving chronic, alternate day glucocorticoid therapy.

We examined the responsiveness of the pituitary- adrenal axis to ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (oCRH) in 14 women with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving chronic, alternate day glucocorticoid therapy with prednisone. Testing was done twice and in a random order (at 2000 h) on the day when the steroid was taken (12 h after the last dose) and on the day when no glucocorticoid was administered (36 h after the last dose). Plasma ACTH and cortisol responses were markedly blunted on the day of treatment and mildly blunted on the day off treatment compared to those in normal subjects. Altered metabolic clearance of exogenous oCRF was not responsible for this difference, since the plasma disappearance curves of immunoreactive oCRH were similar on both days. The degree of suppression was dependent on the dose of prednisone, and the amount of cortisol secreted during the oCRH test was directly proportional to the logarithm of the concurrent plasma ACTH level. Thus, the cortisol response to ACTH was norm...
A systematic examination of the in vitro Ussing chamber and the in situ single-pass perfusion model systems in rat ileum permeation of model solutes.

ABSTRACT: In situ and in vitro intestinal absorption in the rat ileum was systematically studied and mechanistically quantified in terms of permeability coefficients ( P ) of a series of [ 3 H]steroids as model transcellular permeants, [ 3 H]taurocholate utilizing the active membrane transport systems to define the aqueous boundary layer (ABL), and [ 14 C]urea and [ 14 C]mannitol as pore-hindered paracellular diffusants. In situ single-pass perfusion experiments were performed in isolated ileal segments and blood samples were collected from the cannulated mesenteric vein. For the in vitro experiments, an excised, serosal and muscular layer-removed, ileal tissue was mounted in the Ussing chamber diffusion cells. In situ and in vitro P values versus logarithm of the partition coefficient in n-octanol/water (log K ) of the steroids were characterized by a sigmoidal-shaped curve in which plateau values were attained for the highly lipophilic steroids with log K ≳ 2.5. The in situ and in vitro transport barriers in series were viewed as ABL/mucosal epithelium and ABL/mucosal epithelium/submucosal tissue, respectively. Within this framework and the use of experimental strategies and theoretical reasoning, the transport barriers of the steroids were quantitatively delineated and the rate-determining barriers identified. In the plateau region, the analyses indicate that the in situ absorption of the lipophilic steroids was essentially ABL controlled, whereas the in vitro absorption was about equally controlled by diffusion across the ABL and submucosal tissue. The in situ and in vitro pore radii of the paracellular route were 7.2 and 9.2 A, respectively, and the difference was likely the result of perturbation of the tight junctions during the in vitro preparation of the ileal tissue.
Response of plant fruiting to hydrogen fluoride fumigation

Abstract Plants of ten species, representing important crops grown primarily for fruit or seed production, were exposed to hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas in growth chambers and fruiting was evaluated. Soybean produced almost no seeds under continuous exposure to HF at 0.64 μg F m −3 , whereas cotton showed no apparent effects at 8.0 μg F m −3 . In order of decreasing sensitivity of fruiting to HF, bell pepper, sweet corn, cucumber, pea, grain sorghum, oat, wheat and barley ranked between soybean and cotton. Development of fewer seeds was the most common response of fruiting to HF. Flower development was inhibited on pepper and corn plants. The effects on fruiting apparently were independent of HF injury to the plant foliage.
Link Between Childhood Asthma and Mental Health Conditions

Asthma and mental health conditions often coexist and studies support a link between the two disorders. Indeed, an increase in the incidence of depression and anxiety has been reported in children with asthma compared to those without asthma. Direction of causality in the relationship is unclear. Parental stress appears to be an important factor important in the development of infant wheezing. There is support for a working hypothesis, linking inner-city violence and the development of childhood asthma via pathways that include parental mental health conditions, parental nicotine addiction, environmental tobacco smoke, and Th2 skewing in infants. It is anticipated that a better understanding of the above relationships will lead to the development of new targeted treatment strategies for childhood asthma in the future.
Consequences of consequentialism

(C) It is right for S to do A (S ought to do A-or S should do A) iff no total state of affairs that would be a consequence of S 's doing any alternative to A would be better than the total state of affairs that would be a consequence of S's doing A. The view to be considered is no novelty. Moore (1903, 1912, 1922), for example, made significant contributions to understanding this doctrine.' The goal of this paper is to make precise a version of the view and to absolve it of alleged difficulties.
Validity of criteria used for detecting underuse of coronary revascularization

Objective. —To assess criteria used for detecting underuse of coronary artery revascularization procedures in terms of patient outcomes. Design. —Retrospective cohort study using medical records supplemented by a telephone survey and review of county death records. Setting. —Four public hospitals and two academically affiliated private hospitals in Los Angeles County, California. Participants. —A total of 671 patients who had coronary angiography between June 1,1990, and September 30,1991, and who met explicit clinical criteria for the necessity of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Main Outcome Measures. —For all patients (n=671), we estimated the association between receipt of necessary revascularization and mortality (median follow-up after angiography, 797 days) after adjusting for potential confounders. For the patients completing the telephone interview (n=374), we examined the relationship between receipt of necessary revascularization and frequency of chest pain. Results. —Patients who received necessary revascularization within 1 year of angiography had lower mortality than those who did not (8.7% vs 15.8%, P =.01), and this association persisted after adjustment for extent of coronary artery disease, clinical symptom complex, ejection fraction, and cardiac surgical risk index (adjusted odds ratio=0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.28 to 0.86). The same general results were obtained whether revascularization was received within 1 year or within 30 days of the catheterization, whether panelists' ratings or individual clinical variables were entered as covariates, and whether the statistical procedure used was logistic regression or Cox proportional hazards analysis. In addition, among patients responding to the telephone survey, those receiving necessary revascularization had less chest pain at follow-up ( P =.03). Conclusions. —Among patients meeting criteria for the necessity of revascularization, those receiving a revascularization procedure within 1 year had lower mortality than those treated medically. These results support the validity of the RAND/ UCLA criteria for detecting underuse of these procedures, but more research is needed to confirm the findings and to determine the validity of guidelines for other procedures. ( JAMA . 1995;274:632-638)
Altered Protozoan and Bacterial Communities and Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Monensin-Treated Wastewater from a Dairy Lagoon

Surviving predation is a fitness trait of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EcO157) that provides ample time for the pathogen to be transported from reservoirs (e.g. dairies and feedlots) to farm produce grown in proximity. Ionophore dietary supplements that inhibit rumen protozoa may provide such a selective advantage for EcO157 to proliferate in lagoons as the pathogen is released along with the undigested supplement as manure washings. This study evaluated the fate of an outbreak strain of EcO157, protozoan and bacterial communities in wastewater treated with monensin. Although total protozoa and native bacteria were unaffected by monensin, the time for 90% decrease in EcO157 increased from 0.8 to 5.1 days. 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of wastewater samples revealed that monensin eliminated almost all colpodean and oligohymenophorean ciliates, probably facilitating the extended survival of EcO157. Total protozoan numbers remained high in treated wastewater as monensin enriched 94% of protozoan sequences undetected with untreated wastewater. Monensin stimulated 30-fold increases in Cyrtohymena citrina, a spirotrichean ciliate, and also biflagellate bicosoecids and cercozoans. Sequences of gram-negative Proteobacteria increased from 1% to 46% with monensin, but gram-positive Firmicutes decreased from 93% to 46%. It is noteworthy that EcO157 numbers increased significantly (P<0.01) in Sonneborn medium containing monensin, probably due to monensin-inhibited growth of Vorticella microstoma (P<0.05), a ciliate isolated from wastewater. We conclude that dietary monensin inhibits ciliate protozoa that feed on EcO157. Feed supplements or other methods that enrich these protozoa in cattle manure could be a novel strategy to control the environmental dissemination of EcO157 from dairies to produce production environments.
Action of organophosphates on binding of cholinergic ligands

Abstract Four organophosphates: DFP, Guthoxon, Tetram and 2-( O,S -dimethylthiophosphorylimino-)-3-ethyl-5-methyl-1,3-oxazolidine, were found (at 10 −4 M ) to block the binding of 3 H-nicotine and 3 H-decamethonium (at 10 −7 M ) to macromolecules suggested to be acetylcholine receptors (ACR) in preparations of the housefly brain and electroplaxes of Torpedo and Electrophorus . Differences in blocking abilities were attributed to variations in ACR of the different tissues, structural differences amongst the organophosphates and ligand affinities. Organophosphates showed much lower affinities for ACR than for acetylcholinesterase. Binding of 3 H-muscarone and 3 H-acetylcholine to Torpedo electroplax was measured in the presence of increasing amounts of Tetram. The organophosphate blocked the binding of both ligands to ACR at concentrations higher than 5 × 10 −4 M . At low Tetram concentrations ( −5 M ) acetylcholine binding was reduced because of its hydrolysis by some acetylcholinesterase. Whereas the binding of organophosphates to acetylcholinesterase was irreversible, their binding to ACR was completely reversible.
Effect of optical aberration on Gaussian laser speckle

Optical aberration effects up to the second moment of Gaussian laser speckle are theoretically investigated for both partially and fully developed speckle. In the development, a plane-wave illuminated diffuser generates a phase-perturbed random field in the object plane that creates speckle in the image plane. Theoretical derivations show that image field statistics are generally non-circular Gaussian due to aberrations. Speckle statistics are not affected by odd-functional aberrations, such as coma, and dependency of aberrations is asymptotically ignorable for very weak or strong diffusers. Furthermore, Gaussian speckle contrast as a functional of optical aberrations exhibits a stationary point for the aberration free condition, where apparently contrast does not achieve a local maximum. Calculations of speckle contrast for several aberration conditions are also presented.
The effect of melt processing conditions on the hydrogen-bonded sheet orientation and polarization of nylon 11 films

Abstract : It is known that melt-quenched, cold-drawn, and then annealed nylon 11 films possess a particular doubly oriented hydrogen-bonded sheet structure: the hydrogen-bonded sheets being in the plane of the film and the molecular chain direction being in the direction of draw. In this study, nylon 11 was melted at 210 deg C in a hot press for different melting times (ranging from 30 seconds to 20 minutes) prior to quenching into an ice-water bath. The resulting orientation of the hydrogen-bonded sheet structure in these films following quenching, cold-drawing, and then annealing for the uniaxially drawn-annealed samples, and following quenching and then annealing for the undrawn-annealed samples, was examined using wide-angle x-ray diffraction and F.T.I.R spectroscopy. The results showed that for short times in the melt, films which are subsequently cold-drawn and then annealed exhibit a double orientation but as time in the melt increases, a change to a random orientation of the sheet structure about the draw (chain direction) is obtained. These results show that for melt quenched films with short times in the melt, a degree of preferred orientation of the hydrogen-bonded sheets in the plane of the film occurs. As time in the melt increases, the preferred orientation in the plane decreases. However, following cold drawing and several cycles of polarization using a maximum field of 150 MV/m at room temperature, the uniaxially drawn films processes from films with different times in the melt possessed the same final orientation of the hydrogen-bonded sheets in the film thickness direction and the same remanent polarization.
Endoluminal stenting for benign colonic obstruction

We report a case of complete descending colon obstruction due to diverticular disease that was initially managed by endoscopic stent placement followed by single-stage left colectomy with primary anastomosis. Traditional management of complete large bowel obstruction, whether due to benign or malignant disease, most often requires a temporary colostomy because of unprepared colon. In this case, preparation of the colon was accomplished by successful stenting of the benign colonic obstruction. We believe that endoscopic colonic stenting is an effective way of avoiding a temporary colostomy in patients with complete large bowel obstruction.
Structural heterogeneity in proteins at cryogenic temperatures. Cooling rate dependence

Abstract The influence of the cooling rate on the structural heterogeneity of sperm whale myoglobin in solution at cryogenic temperatures was studied. Samples were either cooled slowly (0.03 K/s) or rapidly by immersing in liquid propane at 77 K, which yielded a cooling rate of more than 100 K/s. FTIR spectra of the stretch bands of the heme-bound CO showed that the population of the A substates depends on the cooling rate. The structural heterogeneity within each A substate was assessed by temperature-derivative spectroscopy (TDS), which yields the distribution of enthalpy barriers for CO rebinding after photodissociation. No significant changes of the barrier distribution were found. It is concluded that, within the range explored, the cooling rate plays a negligible role in the structural heterogeneity of protein solutions at cryogenic temperatures
Regional cutaneous differences in the duration of bupivacaine local anesthesia in mice.

At this time little is know about local anesthesia of the skin, and the sensitivity of different cutaneous regions to local anesthetics. Studies were conducted in mice to test the hypothesis that cutaneous regions are differentially sensitive to bupivacaine, and to the ability of epinephrine (EPI) to prolong local anesthesia. Infiltration of 0.25% and 0.5% bupivacaine s.c. in the dorsal aspect of the mouse tail produced local anesthesia that lasted 15 and 45 min, respectively, against radiant heat nociception. EPI (1:200,000) prolonged the local anesthetic effects of the 0.25% concentration by 45 min, whereas the effect of the 0.5% concentration was extended by only 15 min. Bupivacaine (0.25% and 0.5%) infiltrated in the dorsal aspect of the hind-paw produced local anesthesia that lasted 5 and 30 min, respectively. EPI prolonged the local anesthetic effects of the 0.25% concentration by only 10 min, whereas EPI did not prolong anesthesia but appeared to increase the efficacy of the 0.5% concentration. These results provide evidence of regional differences in cutaneous sensitivity to local anesthetics, and the ability of EPI to extend the duration of anesthesia.
A power electronic transformer-based three-phase PWM ac drive with lossless commutation of leakage energy

This paper proposes a novel dc/ac converter topology with a high frequency ac-link for three-phase adjustable speed PWM ac drives. Such drives find applications in UPS systems and renewable energy sources like solar and fuel cells. This topology provides single-stage power conversion with bidirectional power flow capability. The high frequency transformer offers the benefits of galvanic isolation and high power density. The topology proposed in this paper minimizes the number of switching transitions between the transformer winding and the load. This reduces common-mode voltage switching and improves the output voltage profile. A lossless source based commutation technique has been developed for the commutation of the energy stored in the leakage inductances of the high frequency transformer. This method also results in zero current switching (ZCS) of all four-quadrant switches in the load side converter. The proposed topology has been analyzed and simulated. Simulation results that verify the operation of the proposed topology are presented.
A retrospective study of the incidence of adverse drug reactions from topical ocular medications

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to gather general incidence data on adverse drug reaction rates from topical ocular medications. Study design: A retrospective study from January 1993 to March 1996 was conducted at the Columbus, Ohio Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. Adverse drug reaction data was compiled for the topical ocular medications on formulary using monthly minutes from the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Data was analyzed using an incidence equation. Results: Of the seventeen reported adverse drug reactions, 76.5% were hypersensitivity reactions. No adverse reactions were reported for 1993. Dipivefrin 0.1% had the highest incidence rate of 1.1% in 1994 while apraclonidine 0.5% had the leading incidence rates of 6.6% and 5.6% for 1995 and 1996, respectively. Conclusion: This study found adverse drug reactions from topical ocular medications at this facility were mild and rare with an average incidence of 1.5%.
Do recent reports of prolonged survival in patients with follicular lymphoma suggest that deferral of therapy is no longer justifiable

After an era in which it was unclear whether available systemic therapies for follicular lymphoma (FL) had influenced the survival of patients, several recent reports now suggest that survival of FL patients has improved over the past 25 years, presumably owing to expansion of therapeutic options. Has the pendulum swung so far that it is no longer justifiable to defer therapy in selected patients with FL? To date, the strongest evidence in support of treating all patients comes from randomized studies of different regimens suggesting that one offers a survival advantage over the other. The strongest evidence in support of deferring therapy for select patients comes from a few problematic randomized trials showing no difference between initial therapy and deferred therapy. The subset of patients with early-stage FL presents special but still inconclusive considerations. Accrual to prospective randomized trials is needed to answer the question.
The SCFDia2 ubiquitin E3 ligase ubiquitylates Sir4 and functions in transcriptional silencing.

In budding yeast, transcriptional silencing, which is important to regulate gene expression and maintain genome integrity, requires silent information regulator (Sir) proteins. In addition, Rtt106, a histone chaperone involved in nucleosome assembly, functions in transcriptional silencing. However, how transcriptional silencing is regulated during mitotic cell division is not well understood. We show that cells lacking Dia2, a component of the SCFDia2 E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in DNA replication, display defects in silencing at the telomere and HMR locus and that the F-box and C-terminal regions of Dia2, two regions important for Dia2's ubiquitylation activity, are required for proper transcriptional silencing at these loci. In addition, we show that Sir proteins are mislocalized in dia2Δ mutant cells. Mutations in Dia2 and Rtt106 result in a synergistic loss of silencing at the HMR locus and significant elevation of Sir4 proteins at the HMR locus, suggesting that silencing defects in dia2Δ mutant cells are due, at least in part, to the altered levels of Sir4 at silent chromatin. Supporting this idea, we show that SCFDia2 ubiquitylates Sir4 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Sir4 binding to silent chromatin is dynamically regulated during the cell cycle, and this regulation is lost in dia2Δ mutant cells. These results demonstrate that the SCFDia2 complex is involved in transcriptional silencing, ubiquitylates Sir4, and regulates transcriptional silencing during the cell cycle.
Thermodynamics of Aggregation of Amphiphiles in Solution from Lattice Monte Carlo Simulations

Monte Carlo simulations of a three-dimensional lattice model of an amphiphile−solvent system are presented and examined for their usefulness in predicting the thermodynamics of self-association of amphiphiles in solution. The size distribution of the aggregates obtained from the simulations is usedin combination with the mass action modelto obtain the thermodynamic properties of the solution of aggregates and to obtain expressions for the coefficients of an empirical equation for the Gibbs energy available in the literature for aqueous nonionic surfactant solutions. The results are in good agreement with the empirical model, and the essential microstructural features and thermodynamic properties of the micellar solution can be extracted reasonably well using such an empirical fitting of the simulation data. The effects of the lengths of the solvophobic and solvophilic sections of the amphiphile on critical micelle concentration extracted from the simulations are consistent with experimental results report...
Microstructural and Mechanical Characterisation of 43/43/14 Tin/Lead/Bismuth

A mechanical and microstructural study was performed of 43/43/14 tin/lead/bismuth solder. This alloy melts lower than the commonly used tin/lead solders and therefore holds promise as a useful material in two‐step soldering processes or in processes with thermally sensitive components. Mechanical testing of 43/43/14 tin/lead/bismuth showed a strength comparable to that of tin/lead solders but increased creep rate. Microstructural analysis (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray) exhibited the same mechanism of fatigue as for tin/lead solders, viz., heterogeneous coarsening. Thermocyclic fatigue demonstrated that the long‐term reliability of 43/43/14 tin/lead/bismuth is comparable to that of tin/lead solders.
Pollen taphonomy in a canyon stream

Abstract Surface soil samples from the forested Chuska Mountains to the arid steppe of the Chinle Valley, Northeastern Arizona, show close correlation between modern pollen rain and vegetation. In contrast, modern alluvium is dominated by Pinus pollen throughout the canyon; it reflects neither the surrounding floodplain nor plateau vegetation. Pollen in surface soils is deposited by wind; pollen grains in alluvium are deposited by a stream as sedimentary particles. Clay-size particles correlate significantly with Pinus, Quercus, and Populus pollen. These pollen types settle, as clay does, in slack water. Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus, Artemisia, other Tubuliflorae, and indeterminate pollen types correlate with sand-size particles, and are deposited by more turbulent water. Fluctuating pollen frequencies in alluvial deposits are related to sedimentology and do not reflect the local or regional vegetation where the sediments were deposited. Alluvial pollen is unreliable for reconstruction of paleoenvironments.
Eye movement potentials following visual deafferentation

Abstract Cats bearing chronically implanted electrodes were used to study the effects of uni- or bilateral optic nerve (ON) section on eye movement-related electrical activity in lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex (VC). Section of one ON reduced the amplitude of all LGN spikes bilaterally by about 25% commencing about the fourth day. Subsequent section of the second ON was followed in about 4 days by further reduction of all LGN spike amplitudes to about 50% of control values except for LGN spikes accompanying nystagmus in alert cats, which disappeared. One-stage bilateral ON section also produced all of these latter effects on about the fourth day. Bilateral more than unilateral ON section intensified VC spiking during fast-wave sleep (FWS). The rhythmic 3–5 Hz LGN activity seen during FWS was unaffected by ON section. Therefore: (1) ON terminals in part generate LGN spikes; (2) the 3–5 Hz LGN activity does not depend upon retinal input; (3) mechanisms generating LGN spikes in sleeping and reserpine-treated cats in part differ from those active in alert cats.
Effect of low dissolved oxygen on aquatic life stages of the caddisfly Clistoronia magnifica (Limnephilidae).

Embryos, larval stages (instars I–V), pupal stages, and pharate adults of the caddisfly Clistoronia magnifica (Limnephilidae) were exposed to a range of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (0.9–8.3 mg/L) for 4–88 days in the laboratory. Some embryos suspended growth at low DO, resuming growth and hatch when DO was increased. Embryos and larvae all had 96-h EC50 values (50% mortality at 96 h) of about 2.0 mg/L DO. The statistical Effect and No-Effect Thresholds for larvae exposed through two molts from instars I–III were 1.6 and 2.4 mg/L, respectively. At DO concentrations below 4.6 mg/L, egg hatch, larval development, molting success, time of molting, pupation, and adult emergence were delayed.
Design of robust shipboard power automation systems

Abstract Emergent power and automation technologies provide new opportunities and challenges for multi-disciplinary ship design. In particular, these dynamically interdependent systems require dependable, fault-tolerant control to efficiently manage limited resources and to respond to casualty conditions. Design of an electric warship engineering and damage control system of systems is considered as an illustrative example. In this context, cost and survivability can be considered as either deterministic or probabilistic independent variables. In the stochastic formulation, design robustness is defined with respect to uncertainties including technology readiness, mission creep, and operational environment.
Multispectral uncooled infrared enhanced-vision system for flight test

The 1997 Final Report of the 'White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security' challenged industrial and government concerns to reduce aviation accident rates by a factor of five within 10 years. In the report, the commission encourages NASA, FAA and others 'to expand their cooperative efforts in aviation safety research and development'. As a result of this publication, NASA has since undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at meeting the stated goal. Among these, the NASA Aviation Safety Program was initiated to encourage and assist in the development of technologies for the improvement of aviation safety. Among the technologies being considered are certain sensor technologies that may enable commercial and general aviation pilots to 'see to land' at night or in poor visibility conditions. Infrared sensors have potential applicability in this field, and this paper describes a system, based on such sensors, that is being deployed on the NASA Langley Research Center B757 ARIES research aircraft. The system includes two infrared sensors operating in different spectral bands, and a visible-band color CCD camera for documentation purposes. The sensors are mounted in an aerodynamic package in a forward position on the underside of the aircraft. Support equipment in the aircraft cabin collects and processes all relevant sensor data. Display of sensor images is achieved in real time on the aircraft's Head Up Display (HUD), or other display devices.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rhabditidoides humicolus n. sp. associated with arthropods from rotting palm tissue in Florida, USA

Rhabditidoides humicolus n. sp. is described and illustrated from arthropods associated with decaying tissue from the crown shaft of a living spindle palm, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, in southern Florida, USA. In addition to its generic character, i.e., the arrangement of male genital papillae, ⟨v1, v2, v3d, CO, v4, (ad, v5, ph, v6), (pd, v7)⟩, the new species is characterised by its small stomatal flaps, a secretory pore-like opening, a pair of deirids, two pairs of post-deirids and small subventral vulval papillae located just anterior to the vulva. Besides those newly found characters, there are only a few typological differences between R. humicolus n. sp. and several previously described species in the genus. However, based on the biological characters, e.g., gonochoristic reproduction, association as dauers with the crane fly, Limonia (Rhipidia) schwarzi (Diptera: Limoniidae), millipedes, an immature cockroach, and staphylinid beetle adults, and distribution in southern Florida, the new species was considered to be different from others in the genus.
A report of fetal demise during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Background Therapeutic hypothermia is becoming the standard-of-care for coma following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Pregnancy has been considered a contraindication for therapeutic hypothermia.
Plessy as “Passing”: Judicial Responses to Ambiguously Raced Bodies in Plessy v. Ferguson

The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) is infamous for its doctrine of “separate but equal,” which gave constitutional legitimacy to Jim Crow segregation laws. What is less-known about the case is that the appellant Homer Plessy was, by all appearances, a white man. In the language of the Court, his “one-eighth African blood” was “not discernible in him.” This article analyzes Plessy as a story of racial “passing.” The existence of growing interracial populations in the nineteenth century created difficulties for legislation designed to enforce the separation of the races. Courts were increasingly called upon to determine the racial identity of particular individuals. Seen as a judicial response to racial ambiguity, Plessy demonstrates the law's role not only in the treatment of racial groups, but also in the construction and maintenance of racial categories.
Evaluation of a recently described risk classification scheme for pancreatic fistulae development after pancreaticoduodenectomy without routine post-operative drainage

Background Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) formation occurs frequently after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Recently, a 10-point Fistula Risk Score (FRS) evaluating the likelihood of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) development has been described and validated. This scheme has yet to be evaluated in PD patients managed without intra-operative drain placement.
Supranuclear Ophthalmoplegia as a Complication of Coronary Angiography

Supranuclear ophthalmoplegia following open and invasive cardiac procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting has rarely been reported. We present two patients who developed supranuclear ophthalmoplegia following less-invasive cardiac catheterization. Potential pathophysiologies of this entity are reviewed.
Purification and partial characterization of membrane-associated type II (cGMP-activatable) cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from rabbit brain

Membrane-associated, Type II (cGMP-activatable) cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) from rabbit brain, representing 75% of the total homogenate Type II PDE activity, was purified to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme was released from 13000× g particulate fractions by limited proteolysis with trypsin and fractionated using DE-52 anion-exchange, cGMP-Sepharose affinity and hydroxylapatite chromatographies. The enzyme showed 105 kDa subunits by SDS-PAGE and had a Stokes radius of 62.70as determined by gel filtration chromatography. Hydrolysis of cAMP or cGMP showed positive cooperativity, with cAMP kinetic behavior linearized in the presence of 2 μM cGMP. Substrate concentrations required for half maximum velocity were 28 μ M for cAMP and 16 μM for cGMP. Maximum velocities were approx. 160 μmol/min per mg for both nucleotides. The apparent K act for cGMP stimulation of cAMP hydrolysis at 5 μM substrate was 0.35 μM and maximal stimulation (3–5-fold) was achieved with 2 μM cGMP. Cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis was not enhanced by calcium/calmodulin. The purified enzyme can be labeled by cAMP-dependent protein kinase as demonstrated by the incorporation of 32 P from [γ- 32 P]ATP into the 105 kDa enzyme subunit. Initial experiments showed that phosphorylation of the enzyme did not significantly alter enzyme activity measured at 5 μM [ 3 H]cAMP in the absence or presence of 2 μM cGMP or at 40 μM [ 3 H]cGMP. Monoclonal antibodies produced against Type II PDE immunoprecipitate enzyme activity, 105 kDa protein and 32 P-labeled enzyme. The 105 kDa protein was also photoaffinity labeled with [ 32 P]cGMP. The purified Type II PDE described here is physicochemically very similar to the isozyme purified from the cytosolic fraction of several bovine tissues with the exception that it is predominantly a particulate enzyme. This difference may reflect an important regulatory mechanism governing the metabolism of cyclic nucleotides in the central nervous system.
THE GYNECOLOGICAL CARE EXPERIENCE OF ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE : A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

ABSTRACT The gynecological care experiences of 44 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and 30 non-abused controls were investigated and compared. On a self-administered survey, survivors rated the gynecological care experience more negatively than the controls, experienced more intensely negative feelings, and reported being more uncomfortable during almost every stage of the gynecological examination than did the controls. Survivors also reported more trauma-like responses during the gynecological examination, including overwhelming emotions, intrusive or unwanted thoughts, memories, body memories, and feelings of detachment from their bodies. Eighty-two percent of the survivors in the sample had never been asked about a history of sexual abuse or assault by a gynecological care provider, despite clear evidence from this study that such information would be relevant to their care. Implications of the study's findings for gynecological care practice and training are explored, and questions for future...
Popliteal-to-distal bypass for limb-threatening ischemia.

Abstract In a subset of patients requiring lower extremity revascularization, the popliteal artery may be used for inflow, thereby minimizing dissection and the length of vein required for bypass. This retrospective study was done to define the risks and benefits of arterial reconstruction in a population of patients having popliteal-to-distal bypass procedures. Between 1986 and 1990, 32 surgical procedures were performed on 29 patients. The patient's ages ranged from 46 to 86 years, with a mean age of 68 years. Twenty-four of 29 (83%) were men and 19 of the 29 (66%) had diabetes. Most patients had multiple indications for surgical intervention, and these included rest pain (54%), nonhealing ulcers (64%), and gangrene (29%). Arterial bypass with use of the popliteal artery for the proximal anastomosis was performed with in situ saphenous vein (50%), reversed saphenous vein (41%), and orthograde autologous vein (9%). Distal anastomoses were to the posterior tibial artery in 11 bypasses (33%), the peroneal artery in 10 (30%), the anterior tibial artery in two (6%), and the dorsal pedal artery in 10 (30%). Two deaths occurred in the perioperative period for an operative mortality rate of 6.9%. With use of life-table analysis, the cumulative graft patency rate was 97% at 1 year, 97% at 2 years, and 63.5% at 4 years. The overall cumulative limb salvage rate was 90.1% at 1 year, 90.1% at 2 years, and 78.8% at 4 years. Four patients required below-knee amputation; two of these amputations were performed in the perioperative period in patients with persistent and intractable pedal sepsis despite patent bypasses, and two were due to graft failure and subsequent ischemia during the late follow-up period. The remainder of the patients were ambulatory throughout their period of follow-up. The findings of this study support the selective use of the popliteal artery for proximal inflow, as excellent long-term patency and limb salvage rates may be anticipated. (J Vasc Surg 1992;15:755–60.)