cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Proposition 187 on mental health service use in California: a case study.

Abstract: In this DataWatch we examine whether the passage of California's Proposition 187 affected the use of mental health services in San Francisco County. Using time-series analyses, we identified a 26 percent decrease in the initiation of outpatient mental health services by younger Hispanics at selected service sites after the passage of Proposition 187 in November 1994. Further analyses suggest that decreased use of outpatient mental health services by young Hispanics was associated with their subsequent increased use of crisis services. Other studies of Proposition 187's effect on mental health service use in California are needed to corroborate the findings of this case study.
Stable transport and side-focusing of sheet electron beams in periodically cusped magnetic field configurations

Sheet electron beams and configurations with multiple electron beams have the potential to make possible higher power sources of microwave radiation due to their ability to transport high currents, at reduced current densities, through a single narrow RF interaction circuit. Possible microwave device applications using sheet electron beams include sheet-beam klystrons, grating TWTs, and planar FELs. Historically, implementation of sheet beams in microwave devices has been discouraged by their susceptibility to the diocotron instability in solenoidal focusing systems. However, recent theoretical and numerical studies have shown that stable transport of sheet beams is possible in periodically cusped magnetic (PCM) fields. The use of an offset-pole PCM configuration has been shown analytically to provide side-fields for 2D focusing of the beam, and this has been recently verified with PIC code simulations. We will present further theoretical studies of sheet and multi-beam transport and discuss experimental measurements of an offset-pole PCM array which is currently being constructed.
REM sleep inhibition by desipramine: evidence for an α-1 adrenergic mechanism

The acute administration of drugs that block norepinephrine (NE) reuptake suppresses rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in cats and other mammals. The mechanism is presumed to involve NE acting on cells in a pontine REM sleep-generator region. Postsynaptic noradrenergic receptor mechanisms have not been identified. In the present experiments, we tested the ability of the α-1 antagonist prazosin and the beta antagonist propranolol to reverse the REM sleep suppression produced by the NE reuptake blocker desipramine (DMI) in the cat. DMI reduced the number of REM sleep episodes, the REM percentage (REM sleep time/total sleep time), and the average REM sleep episode duration. The co-administration of prazosin, but not propranolol, increased the REM percentage and the average REM sleep episode duration toward the placebo level. The co-administration of the peripherally-acting, anti-hypertensive agent hydralazine did not reverse the DMI-induced REM sleep suppression. While the identity of the brain region(s) involved in mediating the α-1 noradrenergic suppression of REM sleep by DMI remains unclear, there is reason to consider forebrain structures including the amygdala as well as the pontine areas that generally have been implicated in REM sleep control.
Novel Nanoliposomal CPT-11 Infused by Convection-Enhanced Delivery in Intracranial Tumors: Pharmacology and Efficacy

We hypothesized that combining convection-enhanced delivery (CED) with a novel, highly stable nanoparticle/liposome containing CPT-11 (nanoliposomal CPT-11) would provide a dual drug delivery strategy for brain tumor treatment. Following CED in rat brains, tissue retention of nanoliposomal CPT-11 was greatly prolonged, with >20% injected dose remaining at 12 days for all doses. Tissue residence was dose dependent, with doses of 60 microg (3 mg/mL), 0.8 mg (40 mg/mL), and 1.6 mg (80 mg/mL) resulting in tissue half-life (t(1/2)) of 6.7, 10.7, and 19.7 days, respectively. In contrast, CED of free CPT-11 resulted in rapid drug clearance (tissue t(1/2) = 0.3 day). At equivalent CED doses, nanoliposomal CPT-11 increased area under the time-concentration curve by 25-fold and tissue t(1/2) by 22-fold over free CPT-11; CED in intracranial U87 glioma xenografts showed even longer tumor retention (tissue t(1/2) = 43 days). Plasma levels were undetectable following CED of nanoliposomal CPT-11. Importantly, prolonged exposure to nanoliposomal CPT-11 resulted in no measurable central nervous system (CNS) toxicity at any dose tested (0.06-1.6 mg/rat), whereas CED of free CPT-11 induced severe CNS toxicity at 0.4 mg/rat. In the intracranial U87 glioma xenograft model, a single CED infusion of nanoliposomal CPT-11 at 1.6 mg resulted in significantly improved median survival (>100 days) compared with CED of control liposomes (19.5 days; P = 4.9 x 10(-5)) or free drug (28.5 days; P = 0.011). We conclude that CED of nanoliposomal CPT-11 greatly prolonged tissue residence while also substantially reducing toxicity, resulting in a highly effective treatment strategy in preclinical brain tumor models.
Natural Killer Cells Against Human Corneal Endothelium

Human corneal endothelial cell monolayer preparations were incubated with fresh nonadherent peripheral blood lymphocytes. Vital and supravital staining and direct immunofluorescent techniques were used to analyze lymphocyte binding, endothelial cell viability, and the phenotypes of the lymphocyte populations binding to endothelial cells. Spontaneous lymphocyte-endothelial cell conjugate formation appeared maximal after six hours of incubation (86 lymphocytes per 1,000 endothelial cells). Cytotoxicity assays showed decreased endothelial viability after exposure to the lymphocytes when compared to controls incubated in media alone. The binding-lymphocyte population was a large granular nonadherent lymphocyte lacking surface immunoglobulin and stained positively for Leu-11 antigen, a surface marker expressed by natural killer cells. These data demonstrate that nonsensitized peripheral blood lymphocytes recognize and kill corneal endothelial cells in vitro. Thus, the lymphocyte subpopulations responsible for the destruction of corneal endothelial cells have functional and phenotype characteristics similar to natural killer cells and may be important participants in corneal graft injury.
Isolation and characterization of a basic carboxypeptidase from human seminal plasma

A carboxypeptidase which cleaves the C-terminal arginine or lysine from peptides was purified by a two-step procedure; gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and affinity chromatography on arginine-Sepharose. The activity increased 280% after the first step, indicating the removal of an inhibitor from the crude starting material. The activity in the crude seminal plasma eluted from the Sephacryl S-300 column with an apparent Mr 98,000 and after purification with an Mr 67,000, indicating that it binds to another protein in the crude seminal plasma. When analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, a single band at Mr 53,000 was seen which was converted to two smaller bands (Mr 32,000 and/or 26,000) after reduction. The seminal plasma carboxypeptidase has a neutral pH optimum, is inhibited by o-phenanthroline and by the inhibitor of carboxypeptidase B-type enzymes, 2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid, and can be activated by cobalt. The purified enzyme has a high specific activity (67.8 mumol/min/mg) with the ester substrate benzoyl (Bz)-Gly-argininic acid and readily cleaves Bz-Ala-Lys, Bz-Gly-Arg, and Bz-Gly-Lys. It also hydrolyzes biologically active peptides such as bradykinin (Km = 6 microM, kcat = 43 min-1), Arg6-Met5-enkephalin (Km = 103 microM, kcat = 438 min-1), and Lys6-Met5-enkephalin (Km = 848 microM, kcat = 449 min-1). The seminal plasma carboxypeptidase did not cross-react with antiserum to human plasma carboxypeptidase N; other properties distinguish it from the blood plasma enzyme as well as from pancreatic carboxypeptidase B and granular, acid carboxypeptidase H (enkephalin convertase). The carboxypeptidase could be involved in the control of fertility by activating or inactivating peptide hormones in the seminal plasma. In addition it could contribute to the degradation of basic proteins during semen liquefaction.
Transcervical thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

The use of transcervical thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis remains controversial. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with this procedure to determine its usefulness in the management of myasthenia gravis. Fifty-three selected myasthenic patients without thymoma underwent transcervical thymectomy between 1977 and 1991. The mean age (27.5 +/- 1.5 years), duration of symptoms (2 +/- 1.0 years), and preoperative Osserman classification (13% class I, 53% class IIA, 28% class IIB, 6% class III) were consistent with previous reports. The average hospitalization was 3.0 +/- 0.3 days, but has been 1.6 +/- 0.2 days since 1987 (n = 14). There were no deaths, and no patients required mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. Average follow-up was 4.3 +/- 0.4 years with a range of 0 to 13 years. Eighty-one percent of patients are symptom free, and 9 of 21 (43%) are in complete remission at least 5 years postoperatively. One patient required a transsternal exploration for worsening symptoms. Clinical improvement continued over an extended period of time, and a statistically significant decrease in symptoms was evident comparing the first and sixth postoperative years. Patients were more likely to be improved or in remission if thymectomy was performed within the first year of the onset of symptoms (p < 0.05). Osserman classification, thymus histology, and patient age were not prognostic indicators. Transcervical thymectomy is effective surgical therapy for myasthenia gravis in selected patients without thymoma.
Propanil : toxicological characteristics, metabolism, and biodegradation potential in soil

The purpose of this review is to discuss the persistence of propanil metabolites, their toxicity and metabolism, and the environmental implications to humans
The idea of the “political” in our histories of theatre: Texts, contexts, periods, and problems

The idea of the “political” provides one way to construct the context of a dramatic text and a theatrical event. By this means, theatre scholars identify the conditions within a period that supposedly shape or control texts and events. Yet despite general agreement that political factors influence theatrical events, our models of analysis are often inadequate. An examination of current scholarship on the English Renaissance theatre reveals some of the methods and problems facing theatre scholars today.
A phosphoproteomic screen demonstrates differential dependence on HER3 for MAP kinase pathway activation by distinct PIK3CA mutations

The PIK3CA gene encodes for the p110 alpha isoform of PI3 kinase and is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. However, the mechanisms by which PIK3CA mutations activate cell signaling are not fully understood. Here we used a phosphoproteomic approach to compare differential phosphorylation patterns between human breast epithelial cells and two isogenic somatic cell knock in derivatives, each harboring a distinct PIK3CA mutation. We demonstrated differential phosphorylation patterns between isogenic cell lines containing a PIK3CA helical domain mutation (E545K) compared to cells with a PIK3CA kinase domain mutation (H1047R). In particular, the receptor tyrosine kinase, HER3, showed increased phosphorylation at tyrosine 1328 in H1047R cells versus E545K cells. Genetic studies using shRNA demonstrated that H1047R cells have a profound decrease in growth factor independent proliferation upon HER3 knock down, but this effect was attenuated in E545K cells. In addition, HER3 knock down led to reductions in both PI3 kinase and MAP kinase pathway activation in H1047R cells, but in E545K cells only PI3 kinase pathway diminution was observed. These studies demonstrate the power of using paired isogenic cell lines for proteomic analysis to gain new insights into oncogenic signal transduction pathways.
Specific triiodothyronine binding by tumor cells and spleen cells in a thyroid hormone dependent mouse tumor system.

Abstract We have reported thyroid hormone dependency of syngeneic mouse tumor (fibrosarcoma T241 in C57Bl/6J mice) for growth and spread. To study further the mechanisms of thyroid hormone action we assayed tumor cells and spleen cells for thyroid hormone receptors. Cells were incubated at 37°C for 1 hr with [ 125 I]triiodothyronine with and without unlabeled T3. Competitive inhibition of [ 125 I]T3 bound to spleen cells was demonstrated by increasing the amount of unlabeled T3 and T4. Similar competitive inhibition of binding was minimal for intact tumor cells. Saturable binding sites in muclei were demonstrated in all these cell populations. A Scatchard analysis of nuclei fraction from these cells showed equilibrium dissociation constant (K d ) of 0.56 × 10 −9 for normal spleen cells and tumor cells and 1.4 × 10 −9 M for tumor-bearing mice spleen cells. The estimated maximum binding capacity for nuclei of these cells was 26 fmol/10 × 10 6 cells for normal spleen cells, 46 mol/10 × 10 6 cells for tumor-bearing mice spleen cells and 45 fmol/10 #x0000D7; 10 6 cells for tumor cells. Our results established the presence of T3 receptors in nuclei of tumor cells as well as spleen cells and suggests the direct metabolic effect of thyroid hormone as a possible mechanism for thyroid hormone dependency of this tumor.
Experimentation and `horrid curiosity' in Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer

L'auteur etudie l'influence de l'experimentation psychologique presente dans La Religieuse de D. Diderot sur le traitement voyeuriste de la souffrance dans Melmot the Wanderer, et son harmonisation avec la problematique religieuse de C. R. Maturin
The torquoselectivity of electrocyclic reactions of 3-donor-3-acceptor-substituted cyclobutenes

Abstract Theory predicts that electron donors have larger outward rotation preferences than acceptors in thermal ring openings of cyclobutenes. Experimental verifications are presented for several 3,3-disubstituted cyclobutenes.
Assessing the safety of new nuclear fuels – Focus on degradation behaviors

Abstract New nuclear fuels offering enhanced operational safety levels are being developed. A tool for qualitatively assessing their safety credentials is proposed in the form of twelve key “behavioral characteristics” at the level of the 'fuel meat'-cladding-coolant system. The assessment of safety credentials for new fuel variants should be made using guidelines that are more generic than the industry criteria for standard Zr-clad uranium oxide fuels, otherwise safety margin benefits may not be adequately recognized.
Cycle time distribution and control for the Deficit Round Robin packet scheduler

Deficit Round Robin (DRR) is a widely implemented packet scheduling algorithm for providing throughput fairness among competing traffic flows in a router. However, its original form may yield poor response times for short-lived flows when the load is heavy. In this paper, we derive the probability distribution of the DRR cycle time, which is key to response times experienced by short-lived flows, with the aids of Renewal Theory and Central Limit Theorem. To utilize the analytical results on DRR cycle time, we then present a mechanism that adjusts the DRR service quanta offered to active traffic flows such that the DRR cycle time is contained. As a result, the response times for short-lived flows can be protected at a desired statistical level. Simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the Gaussian DRR cycle time distribution as well as the significant improvements achieved by adjusting the quanta.
The GC separation of C2-naphthalene isomers using cyclodextrins and crown ethers

The twelve structural C2 isomers of naphthalene are resolved on a single capillary column using α, β, or γ cyclodextrin as the stationary phase. A change in elution order is seen upon going from α to β and then γ cyclodextrin which can be related to the size of the cyclodextrin cavity and the stereochemical fit of the isomer. A crown-ether column and a liquid-crystal column were found to be unable to separate all of the isomers.
Diastereoselectivity in the Staudinger reaction of pentafluorosulfanylaldimines and ketimines.

β-Lactams were diastereoselectively formed by the reaction of SF5-containing aldimines, or an SF5-containing ketimine, with benzyloxyketene in a conrotatory ring closure process. Imine formation and cyclization were possible in spite of the acidification of protons on the carbon bound to SF5. The reactions of the aldimines demonstrated very good 1,2-lk diastereoselectivity, however lack of stereochemical control of the C–N ketimine geometry was reflected in the stereochemistry of the product β-lactam. Cyclization of imines with a stereogenic center bearing SF5 was reflected in the 1,2-lk,lk selectivity of the β-lactam.
THE STRENGTH OF WEAK INDICATORS: A Response to Gilles, Brown, Geletta, and Dalecki

This article responds to Gilles, Brown, Geletta, and Dalecki's (1990) claim that the Legitimate Violence Index (LVX) is invalid because of problems with eight of its twelve indicators and because it is confounded with region and population density.
Maternal controlling feeding practices and girls’ inhibitory control interact to predict changes in BMI and eating in the absence of hunger from 5 to 7 y

Background: Mothers use a range of feeding practices to limit children's intake of palatable snacks (eg, keeping snacks out of reach, not bringing snacks into the home), but less is known about the effects of these practices on children's eating and weight outcomes. Objective: The objective was to identify distinct feeding practice profiles and evaluate the interactive effects of these profiles and girls’ temperament (inhibitory control and approach) on girls’ eating behaviors and weight outcomes at 5 and 7 y. Design: Participants included 180 mother-daughter dyads; measures were mothers’ reports of controlling feeding practices and girls’ height and weight, eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) at 5 y, and inhibitory control (a measure of behavioral inhibition) and approach (a measure of appetitive motivation) at 7 y. Results: Latent profile analysis of maternal feeding practices showed 4 feeding profiles based on maternal use of limit-setting practices and keeping snacks out of girls’ physical reach, a restrictive practice: Unlimited Access to Snacks, Sets Limits+Does Not Restrict Snacks, Sets Limits+Restricts High Fat/Sugar Snacks, and Sets Limits+Restricts All Snacks. Girls whose mothers used Sets Limits+Restricts All Snacks had a higher approach and EAH at 5 y. Low inhibitory control girls whose mothers used Sets Limits+Restricts All Snacks or Unlimited Access to Snacks had greater increases in EAH and body mass index (BMI) from 5 to 7 y. Conclusions: Effects of maternal control on girls’ EAH and BMI may differ by the type of practice used (eg, limit-setting or restrictive practices). Girls with low inhibitory control were more susceptible to the negative effects of low and high control.
Lower extremity compensatory neuromuscular and biomechanical adaptations 2 to 11 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose To determine whether compensatory neuromuscular and biomechanical adaptations exist after successful anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and rehabilitation. Methods Seventy subjects, 5.3 ± 3 years after surgery, participated in this study. Sagittal-plane lower extremity kinematic, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis, medial hamstring, and gastrocnemius electromyography (EMG) and vertical ground reaction force data were collected during single-leg countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Results Women had lower propulsive and landing forces, lower CMJ heights, less hip and knee flexion, and greater angular hip, knee, and ankle velocities than men ( P ≤ .014). The involved lower extremity of men and women had decreased landing forces ( P = .008). During propulsion, men and women had increased involved–lower extremity gluteus maximus ( P P = .013) EMG amplitudes, whereas women had bilaterally increased gastrocnemius EMG amplitudes compared with men ( P = .003). During propulsion, men had longer gluteus maximus and vastus medialis EMG durations than women ( P P P = .01) and gastrocnemius ( P P = .004), vastus medialis ( P = .012), and gastrocnemius ( P = .007) EMG durations than women and the involved–lower extremity vastus medialis EMG durations of both men and women were shorter than at the noninvolved lower extremity ( P = .011). Conclusions Decreased involved–lower extremity landing forces, decreased vastus medialis activation, and increased gluteus maximus and gastrocnemius activation suggest a protective mechanism to minimize knee loads that increase anterior translatory knee forces during single-leg jumping. Women showed more balanced gluteus maximus, vastus medialis, and gastrocnemius contributions to dynamic knee stability than men during CMJ landings but used shorter activation durations. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Classroom Learning as a Function of Method of Presenting Instructional Materials

In two experiments the efficiencies of programmed, television, and conventional textbook instruction were compared. Ss were randomly assigned to a group which worked through a standard programmed text; one which read the same material in conventional textbook form; one which listened to and saw a verbatim video-taped lecture of the programmed material. A 30-item multiple-choice test was administered immediately following instruction (Exps. I and II; Ns = 160, 134) or 1 wk. later (Exp. II). The results indicate that Ss who simply read the material in conventional textbook format only tended to have higher criterion test scores than Ss in either the programmed or television instruction groups. The results were, therefore, interpreted as consistent with the contention often made that differences in effectiveness of various methods of instruction are negligible, or at best, slight.
Practices to prevent venous thromboembolism: a brief review

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common cause of preventable harm for hospitalised patients. Over the past decade, numerous intervention types have been implemented in attempts to improve the prescription of VTE prophylaxis in hospitals, with varying degrees of success. We reviewed key articles to assess the efficacy of different types of interventions to improve prescription of VTE prophylaxis for hospitalised patients. Methods We conducted a search of MEDLINE for key studies published between 2001 and 2012 of interventions employing education, paper based tools, computerised tools, real time audit and feedback, or combinations of intervention types to improve prescription of VTE prophylaxis for patients in hospital settings. Process outcomes of interest were prescription of any VTE prophylaxis and best practice VTE prophylaxis. Clinical outcomes of interest were any VTE and potentially preventable VTE, defined as VTE occurring in patients not prescribed appropriate prophylaxis. Results 16 articles were included in this review. Two studies employed education only, four implemented paper based tools, four used computerised tools, two evaluated audit and feedback strategies, and four studies used combinations of intervention types. Individual modalities result in improved prescription of VTE prophylaxis; however, the greatest and most sustained improvements were those that combined education with computerised tools. Conclusions Many intervention types have proven effective to different degrees in improving VTE prevention. Provider education is likely a required additional component and should be combined with other intervention types. Active mandatory tools are likely more effective than passive ones. Information technology tools that are well integrated into
Abridgment of synchronous machines — IV

The special case of cylindrical rotor machine has been treated previously by Boucherot and others. The present paper solves the general case, including salient pole machines. The cylindrical rotor type thus becomes merely a limiting case. The principle assumption which distinguishes the present theory from the extensively studied cylindrical rotor theory is that the total armature self-inductance is here taken as variable with respect to rotor position, whereas the previous theory of short circuits, as represented by Boucherot, for instance, assumes this inductance to be constant — in other words, that the air-gap is uniform. Expressions are derived for the short-circuit currents in the armature and field, for voltage induced in the open phase, and for voltages across external reactances in the armature and field circuits. Comparison of calculated and test curves for these quantities are shown in Figs. 5 to 8, for a 7000-kv-a., 385-rev. per min., salient pole alternator, and in Figs. 11 to 25 for a 20-hp., 1800-rev. per min. induction machine (cylindrical rotor). These show satisfactory agreement. The mathematical work and definitions are in Appendixes as follows: A. Summary of Equations. B. Armature Current. C Field Current. D. Voltage Across External Reactance in Armature Circuit. E. Voltage Across the Open Phase. F. Voltage Across the Open Phase. G. Variation of Armature Inductance with Position. H. Decrement Factors. I. Reactances — Definitions and Relations.
Identification and Characterization of Growth Suppressors of Escherichia coli Strains Lacking Phosphorolytic Ribonucleases

RNases are involved in critical aspects of RNA metabolism in all organisms. Two classes of RNases that digest RNA from an end (exo-RNases) are known: RNases that use water as a nucleophile to catalyze RNA degradation (hydrolytic RNases) and RNases that use inorganic phosphate (phosphorolytic RNases). It has been shown previously that the absence of the two known Escherichia coli phosphorolytic RNases, polynucleotide phosphorylase and RNase PH, leads to marked growth and ribosome assembly defects. To investigate the basis for these defects, a screen for growth suppressors was performed. The majority of suppressor mutations were found to lie within nsrR, which encodes a nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive transcriptional repressor. Further analysis showed that the suppressors function not by inactivating nsrR but by causing overexpression of a downstream gene that encodes a hydrolytic RNase, RNase R. Additional studies revealed that overexpression of another hydrolytic RNase, RNase II, similarly suppressed the growth defects. These results suggest that the requirement for phosphorolytic RNases for robust cellular growth and efficient ribosome assembly can be bypassed by increased expression of hydrolytic RNases.
Divided Edge Bundling for Directional Network Data

The node-link diagram is an intuitive and venerable way to depict a graph. To reduce clutter and improve the readability of node-link views, Holten & van Wijk's force-directed edge bundling employs a physical simulation to spatially group graph edges. While both useful and aesthetic, this technique has shortcomings: it bundles spatially proximal edges regardless of direction, weight, or graph connectivity. As a result, high-level directional edge patterns are obscured. We present divided edge bundling to tackle these shortcomings. By modifying the forces in the physical simulation, directional lanes appear as an emergent property of edge direction. By considering graph topology, we only bundle edges related by graph structure. Finally, we aggregate edge weights in bundles to enable more accurate visualization of total bundle weights. We compare visualizations created using our technique to standard force-directed edge bundling, matrix diagrams, and clustered graphs; we find that divided edge bundling leads to visualizations that are easier to interpret and reveal both familiar and previously obscured patterns.
On compound channels with side information at the transmitter

Costa has proved that for noncausally known Gaussian interference at a power constrained transmitter communicating over an additive white Gaussian noise channel there is no capacity loss when compared to a scenario where interference is not present. For the case of a transmitter communicating over a quasistatic (i.e., nonergodic) fading channel, his method does not apply. In this correspondence, we derive upper and lower bounds on the capacity of compound channels with side information at the transmitter, first for finite alphabet channels and then, based on this result, for channels on standard alphabets (this includes real alphabets). For the special case of a degenerate compound channel with only one possible realization, our bounds are equivalent to the well-known capacity with side-information formula of Gel'fand and Pinsker. For the quasistatic fading channel, when fading is Ricean, we suggest a scheme based on our lower bound for which the performance is found to be relatively good even for moderate K-factor. As K/spl rarr//spl infin/, the uncertainty on the channel vanishes and our scheme obtains the performance of dirty paper coding, namely that the interference is perfectly mitigated. As K/spl rarr/0, the proposed scheme treats the interferer as additional noise. These results may be of importance for the emerging field of cognitive radios where one user may be aware of another user's intended message to a common receiver, but is unaware of the channel path gains.
Increased IL-4+ CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood and autoreactive CD8+ T cell lines of patients with inflammatory arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To measure the frequencies of IL-4+ CD8+ T cells from patients with AS and RA, and to assess their clinical relevance and properties. METHODS: Peripheral blood (PB) and clinical data were obtained from 37 AS, 36 RA patients and 37 healthy controls. We also generated IL-4-producing CD8+ T cell lines and clones by co-culture with autologous dendritic cells. Using flow cytometry, we evaluated intracellular cytokine expression by T cells following stimulation with PMA and calcium ionophore. The phenotype and ability of the IL-4-producing CD8+ T cell clones to suppress IFN-gamma production were examined. RESULTS: The percentages of IL-4+ CD8+ T cells were higher in PB of patients with AS and RA than controls (medians 0.90 and 0.84% vs 0.30%). In RA, patients with active inflammation had an increased percentage of IL-4+ CD8+ T cells. Higher frequencies of IL-4+ CD8+ T cells were also found in CD8+ T cell lines established from patients with arthritis. Interestingly, most IL-4+ CD8+ T cells produced TNF-alpha. Cloning the CD8+ T cell lines yielded more IL-4-producing clones from AS (23%) and RA patients (14%) than from controls (7%). The ability to suppress IFN-gamma production was observed in 56% (AS) and 85% (RA) of IL-4-producing clones. Suppressive IL-4+ CD8+ T cell clones from RA patients showed a similar regulatory phenotype to the clones previously isolated from AS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Expansion of IL-4+ CD8+ T cells, which may include precursors of a regulatory CD8+ T cell subset, may represent a general response to chronic joint inflammation.
Assigning traffic over essentially-least-cost paths

The concept of a least-cost path is generalized. The simplest of all traffic assignment models assumes that all trip makers from a single origin-destination (O-D) pair take a single path, for example, the minimum cost path or the equilibrium path. However, in many applications, it is observed that trips from a single O-D do not all take the same path. It is not difficult to imagine commuters from a large residential area using different routes to travel to a common workplace simply because each has a different disutility function. In reality no two routes have exactly the same cost; however, when modeled deterministically as network graphs, these graphs invariably have O-Ds with degenerate (multiple) shortest paths. The ability to measure the "best" route should also be seriously questioned. Given the level of uncertainty that exists in any link attribute, the variance of the accumulated uncertainty of that attribute over any given route can easily be such as to make many routes statistically indistinguis...
An intensive evaluation period in a large california school district: Highlights and lessons

Abstract This article focuses on eight evaluation studies conducted in one school district in California during a period of 25 months (July 1999 to July 2001). The district enrolls close to 30,000 students in kindergarten through Grade 8. Three goals guide this article, as follows: (1) to highlight the studies, (2) to examine them in relation to educational administration, and (3) to derive lessons and implications from the analysis.
Synchronous Reference Frame Based Active Filter Current Reference Generation Using Neural Networks

The increased use of nonlinear devices in industry has resulted in direct increase of harmonic distortion in the industrial power system in recent years. The significant harmonics are almost always 5th, 7th, 11th and the 13th with the 5th harmonic being the largest in most instances. Active filter systems have been proposed to mitigate harmonic currents of the industrial loads. The most important requirement for any active filter is the precise detection of the individual harmonic component's amplitude and phase. Fourier transform based techniques provide an excellent method for individual harmonic isolation, but it requires a minimum of two cycles of data for the analysis, does not perform well in the presence of subharmonics which are not integral multiples of the fundamental frequency and most importantly introduces phase shifts. To overcome these difficulties, this paper proposes a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network trained with back-propagation training algorithm to identify the harmonic characteristics of the nonlinear load. The operation principle of the synchronous-reference-frame-based harmonic isolation is discussed. This proposed method is applied to a thyristor controlled dc drive to obtain the accurate amplitude and phase of the dominant harmonics. This technique can be integrated with any active filter control algorithm for reference generation.
Charles Bennett: Quantum Protocols

This chapter ends with the theme that even when you have a proof, do you really know what you think you know? Proofs of security of quantum communication systems have proved especially liable to kinds of attacks that were underestimated or not considered in the provers’ modeling. Thus research seems unavoidably a social process, a game in which one side proves and the other challenges.
Air leakage around endotracheal tube cuffs.

SummaryBackground and objective:To compare the recently introduced Microcuff® endotracheal tube with conventional tubes in respect of the cuff pressures required to prevent air leakage.Methods:The following tubes (ID 7.0 mm) were compared: Microcuff® HVLP ICU, Mallinckrodt HiLo®, Portex Profile Soft
The Nature of CaO Produced by Calcite Powder Decomposition in Vacuum and in CO2

Specially reactive (sr-) CaO can be produced by decomposing 1- to 10-μm particles of CaCO3 in vacuum at ∼650°C. Particles of sr-CaO appear unchanged in dimension from the original CaCO3, but have internal pores with surface areas of 92 m2/g, more than twice the surface areas reported in a previous study for CaO made from calcite in vacuum at about the same temperature. Weak and broad X-ray diffraction peaks in normal CaO first become discernible only after about half the CO2 content of a calcite sample has been lost, but the molar surface areas of samples decomposed in vacuum or in 0.1 torr CO2 are linear functions of the extent of reaction. The sr-CaO, therefore, must be a phase with ion positions and spacings like those of normal CaO. Background pressures of CO2 (up to ∼1 torr) influence the surface area of the CaO by increasing the pore dimensions at the CaCO3-CaO reaction interface. Sintering of the CaO is negligible at 650°C in CO2 pressures of≤0.1 torr, but sintering is pronounced in CO2, at 9 torr pressure.
LP-ESTIMATORS AS ESTIMATES OF A PARAMETER OF LOCATION FOR A SHARP-POINTED SYMMETRIC DENSITY

We study the asymptotics of Lp estimators, p > 0, over a sample having a symmetric density with a sharp–point at the centre of symmetry of the distribution. The rates of convergence of the Lp estimators in this situation depend on p and on the shape of the density. To obtain some of the limit distributions, we present new results in the asymptotics of M–estimators. We extend the delta method to the case when the Euclidean norm of the conveniently normalized M–estimators converge to a power of the Euclidean norm of a (possibly Gaussian) stable distribution.
Evidence for a pfcrt-associated chloroquine efflux system in the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Resistance to the antimalarial drug chloroquine has been linked with polymorphisms within a gene termed pfcrt in the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, yet the mechanism by which this gene confers the reduced drug accumulation phenotype associated with resistance is largely unknown. To investigate the role of pfcrt in mediating chloroquine resistance, we challenged P. falciparum clones differing only in their pfcrt allelic form with the “varying-trans” procedure. In this procedure, movement of labeled substrate across a membrane is measured when unlabeled substrate is present on the trans side of the membrane. If a transporter is mediating the substrate flow, a stimulation of cis-to-trans movement may be observed with increasing concentrations of trans substrate. We present evidence for an association of those pfcrt alleles found in chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strains with the phenomenon of stimulated chloroquine accumulation under varying-trans conditions. Such an association is not s...
Diffusion-Based Motion Planning for a Nonholonomic Flexible Needle Model

Fine needles facilitate diagnosis and therapy because they enable minimally invasive surgical interventions. This paper formulates the problem of steering a very flexible needle through firm tissue as a nonholonomic kinematics problem, and demonstrates how planning can be accomplished using diffusion-based motion planning on the Euclidean group, SE(3). In the present formulation, the tissue is treated as isotropic and no obstacles are present. The bevel tip of the needle is treated as a nonholonomic constraint that can be viewed as a 3D extension of the standard kinematic cart or unicycle. A deterministic model is used as the starting point, and reachability criteria are established. A stochastic differential equation and its corresponding Fokker-Planck equation are derived. The Euler-Maruyama method is used to generate the ensemble of reachable states of the needle tip. Inverse kinematics methods developed previously for hyper-redundant and binary manipulators that use this probability density information are applied to generate needle tip paths that reach the desired targets.
Ren1d and Ren2 cooperate to preserve homeostasis: evidence from mice expressing GFP in place of Ren1d

To distinguish the contributions of Ren1d and Ren2 to kidney development and blood pressure homeostasis, we placed green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the Ren1d renin locus by homologo...
Is Aggregate Idiosyncratic Risk Priced? Follow the Bid-Ask Bounce

This paper models a market microstructure bias, driven by the bid-ask spread, that is evident in the pricing of aggregate firm-level risk embodied by the stock return variance estimates of Goyal and Santa-Clara (2003). Controlling for this bias, we find no pricing ability for aggregate firm-level variance for the period 1927 to 2012 or for any sub-period tested. Market microstructure also explains the time-trend of aggregate firm-level volatility observed from 1962 to 1997 (Campbell, Lettau, Malkiel, and Xu, 2001), and subsumes any relation between retail trading and future idiosyncratic volatility from 1983 to 1999 (Brandt, Brav, Graham, and Kumar, 2010). We conclude that the aggregate firm-level bid-ask spread is priced with future market returns rather than any of the aggregate firm-level risk measures.
IRS Continues Attack on Accelerated 401(k) Plan Deductions

For over 10 years, the IRS has been denying deductions for contributions to 401(k) plans, or to a defined contribution plan as matching contributions under Code Section 401(m), where the contributions are attributable to compensation earned after the end of the tax year for which the deduction is claimed. The most recent salvo fired by the IRS in this war is the issuance in October 2004 of "Appeals Settlement Guidelines ("ASG"), Deduction of Contributions to I.R.C. 401(k) Plan or to a Defined Contribution Plan as Matching Contribution Earned After the End of the Tax Year Under IRC 404(a)(6)." The ASG are essential reading for anyone interested in this topic. This article discusses the history of this controversy, and the various steps taken by the IRS to combat the use of this technique.After this article was written, the Treasury Department issued final regulations amending Circular 230 in December 2004. The final regulations are similar to the proposed regulations, though somewhat less stringent. The final regulations will be covered in a future issue of the Journal.
El racionamiento de crédito en Colombia: Un análisis a nivel de empresa

Las autoridades colombianas monetarias han disenado un regimen para el control de la tasa de interes y para dirigir el credito a sectores especificos. En el articulo se argumenta que esta politica junto con otras distorsiones del mercado y el proceso inflacionario, pueden haber sesgado la distribucion de creditos a favor de grandes firmas. Presenta los criterios seguidos por los intermediarios de los sectores formales para asignar los prestamos. Las grandes firmas son mas atractivas para los acreedores que empresas pequenas que presentan el mismo riesgo financiero. Finalmente confronta esta vision de asignacion de creditos con una muestra de los balances de firmas manufactureras.
Dynamic Sampling of Multiple Conformations in FimH Modulates Bacterial Adhesion

Gram-negative bacteria express hundreds of diverse pili assembled by the chaperone-usher pathway (CUP) for surface colonization and biofilm formation. CUP pili are multi-subunit surface appendages tipped with two-domain adhesins that recognize distinct ligands through a receptor-binding domain while anchored to an adaptor subunit through a pilin domain. Uropathogenic E. coli utilize the type 1 pilus adhesin FimH to bind mannose, which decorates the bladder epithelium. This interaction is critical in urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogenesis. Bioinformatic studies have demonstrated that the composition of three positively selected residues (PSRs) in FimH impact its role in pathogenesis. However, the mechanism by which residues that lie outside the mannose-binding pocket alter the binding and virulence of FimH remains poorly understood. Crystallographic studies indicate that FimH adopts elongated and compact conformations. We postulated that PSRs in FimH allosterically modulate a dynamic equilibrium of multiple conformations in solution, which impacts function. To address this hypothesis, we first show by small-angle X-ray scattering that FimH alleles bound to FimG peptide, which reflects a tip-like setting, vary drastically in their average conformation. PSRs that promote extension of FimH conformation exhibit high affinity for mannose. Further, collision cross-section distributions measured by ion mobility mass spectrometry indicate that FimH alleles adopt altered equilibria of two major conformations. Congruently, preliminary analyses of molecular dynamics simulations suggest that PSRs modulate flux across a conformational landscape characterized by a constricted tense state and multiple, rapidly exchanging relaxed states. Currently, we are investigating the biophysical implications of multiple relaxed states with predicted functionality on bacterial attachment. Altogether, by integrating biophysical and computational methods to map the FimH conformer-function relationship, this work begins to unravel how a conformational phase switch regulates bacterial adhesion and how evolutionary processes fine-tune protein dynamics to guide host colonization.
Epitheliotropic Gastrointestinal T-Cell Lymphoma With Concurrent Insulinoma and Adrenocortical Carcinoma in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract A 5-year-old male castrated ferret was presented for evaluation of chronic diarrhea, unresponsive to medical therapy. Initial examination and minimum database findings failed to determine an underlying etiology for the ferret's gastrointestinal disorder. Biopsies obtained by exploratory surgery confirmed a diagnosis of epitheliotropic gastrointestinal T-cell lymphoma. Several treatment strategies were discussed, and ultimately palliative care with prednisolone was elected. Over the course of treatment, the ferret developed concurrent pancreatic beta-cell adenomas (insulinoma) and a left adrenocortical carcinoma. At the time of necropsy, nearly 15 months after the exploratory surgery, the lymphoma appeared to be in regression despite the use of only palliative therapy.
The Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of Using a Wireless Pedometer to Improve the Activity Level in a Cohort of Nurses:

Purpose: This study had two aims: (1) to test the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of using a wireless pedometer in a cohort of nurses; and (2) to understand if wireless pedometer use increased nu...
Assessing the role of business faculty values and background in the recognition of an ethical dilemma

ABSTRACTThe author sought to determine whether business faculty values and background can discriminate between a yes or no response to the introduction of an ethically challenged product. The results reveal that two competing views of the enterprise (stakeholder vs. stockholder) along with a faculty member's departmental membership do discriminate in the expected direction. The results suggest that a faculty member's values have the potential to create student confusion and require additional inquiry concerning impediment removal.
Parasitism of the Alfalfa Weevil in the Western Plains States from 1963 to 1966

Parasitism of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) by Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomas) was studied in 1963-66 in a 5-State area immediately east of the Rocky Mountains. The parasite was easily detected wherever weevil larvae were collected and reared. The highest rate of parasitism found was 94%. Both rate of parasitism and magnitude of weevil populations fluctuated greatly during the course of this study.
The Starting Point of Total Budget

The total management of enterprises' budget is the core of enterprises' internal controlling. Drawing up the total budget is the important premise of enterprises' internal controlling. Before the enterprises' budget is practically drawn up, to determine the total budget's starting point is the key issue that any budget's department must solve in the first place. This article attempts to discuss and analyze these discrepancies so as to find ways to avoid total budget failure.
Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy in the Child: Initial Case Report

Laparoscopy in the pediatric population is beginning to be used for major therapeutic procedures. We report the completion of a laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and bladder diverticulectomy in a 6-year-old child.