cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heart-After-Liver Transplantation Attenuates Rejection of Cardiac Allografts in Sensitized Patients.

Abstract Background In patients undergoing heart transplantation, significant allosensitization limits access to organs, resulting in longer wait times and high waitlist mortality. Current desensitization strategies are limited in enabling successful transplantation. Objectives The purpose of this study was to describe the cumulative experience of combined heart-liver transplantation using a novel heart-after-liver transplant (HALT) protocol resulting in profound immunologic protection. Methods Reported are the results of a clinical protocol that was instituted to transplant highly sensitized patients requiring combined heart and liver transplantation at a single institution. Patients were dual-organ listed with perceived elevated risk of rejection or markedly prolonged waitlist time due to high levels of allo-antibodies. Detailed immunological data and long-term patient and graft outcomes were obtained. Results A total of 7 patients (age 43 ± 7 years, 86% women) with high allosensitization (median calculated panel reactive antibody = 77%) underwent HALT. All had significant, unacceptable donor specific antibodies (DSA) (>4,000 mean fluorescence antibody). Prospective pre-operative flow cytometric T-cell crossmatch was positive in all, and B-cell crossmatch was positive in 5 of 7. After HALT, retrospective crossmatch (B- and T-cell) became negative in all. DSA fell dramatically; at last follow-up, all pre-formed or de novo DSA levels were insignificant at 1R rejection over a median follow-up of 48 months (interquartile range: 25 to 68 months). There was 1 death due to metastatic cancer and no significant graft dysfunction. Conclusions A heart-after-liver transplantation protocol enables successful transplantation via near-elimination of DSA and is effective in preventing adverse immunological outcomes in highly sensitized patients listed for combined heart-liver transplantation.
U.S. Catholic Schools and the Religious Who Served in Them: Contributions in the First Six Decades of the 20th Century

This article, the second in a series of three articles surveying the contributions of the religious to U.S. Catholic schooling, focuses upon their contributions during the first six decades of the 20th century. Through this period, not only did the religious provide the personnel needed to support the tremendous expansion of Catholic schooling, they also stepped forward to provide diocesan and national Catholic educational leadership, pushed Catholic pedagogical theory beyond its traditional European roots, designed new religion curricula, advanced women’s equality, and upheld parental rights in educating their children. These contributions made it possible for Catholic schools to provide Catholic youth the moral and intellectual formation to lead the American Catholic community during the post-Vatican II decades.
Utilization of the vacuum form machine: Custom mouthguards versus esthetic bleaching trays

UTILIZATION OF THE VACUUM FORM MACHINE: CUSTOM MOUTHGUARDS VERSUS ESTHETIC BLEACHING TRAYS By Jacqueline M. Carney, D.D.S. A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003 Thesis Director: Arthur P. Mourino, D.D.S., M.S., M.S.D. Department of Pediatric Dentistry Purpose: This study analyzed the percentage of Virginia practitioners using vacuum form machines for mouthguards or home bleaching trays and types of patient information provided for these appliances. Methods: Questionnaires were constructed and mailed to 2500 dentists Results: 80% of dentists used vacuum form machines, 42.5% recommended mouthguards, 60.2% recommended home bleaching trays, 37.6% provided patient information on mouthguards, 37.1% provided patient information on home bleaching trays, 16.5% inquired on patient health histories about mouthguard protection during contact sports, and 17.3% inquired on patient health histories about tooth color satisfaction. Conclusions: Dentists use vacuum form machines for home bleaching trays more than mouthguards. General dentists and pediatric dentists provide patient information on mouthguards and home bleaching trays more often than orthodontists. General dentists provide patient information on home bleaching trays more often than pediatric dentists. Dentists in practice 25 or more years are the most likely to have patient health histories that address the use of mouthguards.
Other Bacterial Pathogens: Aeromonas, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, Mycobacterium, Plesiomonas, and Streptococcus

This chapter covers the bacterial pathogens that include: Aeromonas, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, Mycobacterium, Plesiomonas, and Streptococcus and attempts to provide a concise, thorough overview of the significance, characteristics, and food safety concerns involving each pathogen. Aeromonas species are indicated as important human pathogens causing gastrointestinal and other infections in healthy and immunocompromised hosts. “Aerolysins” are toxins produced by some Aeromonas species that have hemolytic, enterotoxic, and cytolytic activity. The importance of aeromonads as pathogens of food-borne origin dates back to the 1950s, following their isolation from humans. Campylobacter spp. have been identified as the leading cause of bacterial food-borne diarrheal illness in humans. The genus Helicobacter was created in 1989 and includes about 23 recognized species. Transmission of Helicobacter pylori through foods leading to incidences of food-borne illness has been speculated but not demonstrated to date. In both humans and animals, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is thought to exist in protoplast form, which makes identification by acid-fast staining (Ziehl-Neelsen method) untenable. Plesiomonas shigelloides produces a heat-stable enterotoxin, but based on a lack of consistent in vitro and in vivo evidence, the species is thought to possess low pathogenicity. Earlier in the 20th century, there were efforts to reduce the incidence of food-borne illness due to Streptococcus species. While there are still occasional cases of illness reported, the intervention methods put in place have greatly reduced the likelihood of food-borne illness due to members of this genus.
The Moral System

A theory of moral systems and moral evolutionary change is presented. Durkheimian concepts are modified so as to divert attention away from religious practices per se and to refocus analysis on the underlying moral system. A cosmology, metaphysic, and moral code are identified as components of a moral system, after which a theory of moral change is described and summarized in six propositions.
Lessons for International Law from the Gulf War

Politically and militarily, the War in the Gulf remains an unsettled event. Although nearly two years have passed since the War, its political consequences are still evolving. Militarily, the recent reintroduction of allied forces into Iraqi air space suggests that the War continues, though at a much reduced level.1 In the long run, the War will probably be seen as a footnote to the larger political upheavals that marked the start of this decade-noteworthy because it made visible the realignment of the international order that had already occurred. While the War may be merely a footnote from the perspective of political history, it is a major event from the perspective of international law. It marked one of the few occasions on which there was a deliberate invocation of international law to justify military force. For this reason, an examination of the War can teach us much about the reality of, and possibilities for, international law. Given the continuing tumultuous politics of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, this legal reconsideration is important. Already, the international-legal machinery deployed in the War has served as a precedent for United Nations Security Council action authorizing military intervention in Bosnia and Hercegovina.2 We are moving rapidly toward a new world order of some sort. While it may be too early to predict the political shape of that order, it is not too early to consider the role that international law may play in it. Before we raise our hopes for a vital future for international law, we need to fully understand the character and power of existing international law. To that end, it is useful to examine international law as it operated, and failed to operate, in the Gulf War.
Efficient Parallel Recovery in Replicated Databases

Recovery in replicated databases is an important issues for fault-tolerant processing and non-stop computing. Recent database servers such as Oracle7 server are shipping with distributed and parallel options. The distributed option allows co-operative transaction processing by allowing selective replication of files in read-only and read-write modes on multiple servers and transactions that can execute across multiple servers are then co-ordinated by the two-phase commit operation. Moreover, the Oracle7 server allows parallel processing on multiprocessor machines such as the Sequent, to execute operations in parallel. It is of primary importance that the recovery algorithm for a distributed and parallel database server incorporate parallel operations to allow faster and efficient recovery. In this chapter we propose such an algorithm. One way in which recovery can be facilitated is by using semantic knowledge of database operations to embed intelligence in the recovery algorithm. The idea of using semantic knowledge to increase concurrency was investigated by Garcia-Molina [208]. In an algorithm proposed in [208], transactions are divided into a collection of disjoint sets or classes, so that the transactions that belong to the same class are compatible. Transactions that are compatible can be allowed to interleave arbitrarily, whereas incompatible transactions (transactions that do not belong to the same class) are not allowed to interleave. Commutativity of database operations is an important property that can be utilized for enhancing concurrency within transactions [24,604]. In [24], a property known as recoverability, has been defined, which can be used to decrease the delay involved in processing non-commuting operations while avoiding cascading aborts. When an invoked operation is recoverable with respect to an uncommitted operation, the invoked operation can be executed by forcing a commit-dependency between the invoked operation and the uncommitted operation. In this way the transaction invoking the operation will not have to wait for the uncommitted operation to abort or commit. To enforce the serializability of transactions, the recoverability relationship between transactions is constrained to be acyclic. A semantics based transaction management technique for managing replicated data was proposed in [337]. Conventional consistency control algorithms using one-copy serializability as the correctness criteria, are designed to deliver fast response times and
In-VIGO virtual networks and virtual application services: automated grid-enabling and deployment of applications

This poster briefly introduces two resource-virtualization techniques needed for the creation of virtual(ized) grids: virtual networks and virtual application services. The former provides bidirectional network connectivity even in the presence of firewalls, network address translation gateways and proxies by creating virtual routers and virtual IP space. The later allows automated creation and deployment of legacy applications into grids by generating a virtual application service that allows the execution in shared resources of multiple isolated application instances with customized behavior.
Disclosure, Dis-closure, diss/clothes/sure: Commentary on Paper by Helen K. Gediman

In response to Gediman's paper, I argue that disclosure is really not a choice. It happens all the time, revealing how that which is co-constructed has always already been there. One dis-closes that which has already been (in some unformulated way) disclosed. This entails a radically different understanding of what disclosure is, how it happens, when it is judicious to disclose, and what it means to interpret than was the case in the Freudian tradition. By contrasting Gediman's view of disclosure with a postmodern one, I argue that the relational perspective understands and structures knowledge differently than its Freudian forebear and that it is not possible to choose among paradigms. The clinical theory that emerges in relational practice is contrasted to Freudian technique-based theory. A strong case is made for the interdependence of theory and practice in relational psychoanalysis.
Surgery Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Evidence on nonsurgical alternatives to surgical decompression for patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is limited. This randomized, controlled trial randomly assigned patients wi...
Very Decent of You

If you drive east on D117 you come up on a twisty road out of the scenic gorge where the town of Quillan is spread, and cross part of the Plateau du Sault to get to the little French town of Puivert. As you dip down the road to drive in, you notice a recreational lake, which was at one time a much larger body of water. If you come in from the west on the D road, you go through the market towns of Lavalenet and Foix before you arrive. You turn into the village and notice the aged stone row houses leaning over the narrow streets. An old church near the mairie just off the town square seems to be crumbling, some of its windows cracking as it falls back to an earlier time. There is a severe, cold looking war memorial near a bricked-up fountain, and a small caf? just up the hill beside an open atrium. You turn on to a road that swings toward the lake and drive through clusters of newer dwellings on the outskirts of town before you turn right into another row of stone houses at least several centuries old. These are in various states of order and disorder?but something catches your eye as you make a turn and drive down the narrow pavement. Propped against the bright blue door of one of the houses as you pass is a pair of binoculars leaning on the baseboard against the painted steel trim. If you know anything about optics, you quickly see that these are very good binoculars?Bushneil, made for the National Audubon Society, 8 x 42WA, a focus that brings distant objects up in marvelous clarity, 430 feet at 1100 yards with adjust able lenses in both eye pieces as well as the main focus wheel. There it is?this very good instrument without a case, just propped up on the base against the blue door. Perhaps fifty yards further down the pavement, past three or four more houses, the landscape opens to pastures and a stunning view of the Pyrenees foothills. You would like to reverse the car and go back to borrow those binoculars to take a look at this view, but you drive on a bit puzzled.
The molecular genetics of colonic cancer

The molecular genetics of tumor initiation and progression is understood better for colonic cancer than for any other human solid tumor. While much remains to be learned regarding the mechanisms that contribute to the altered growth and metastatic properties of colonic epithelial cells, and in particular, how multiple alterations in gene structure and function interact in affecting cell and tissue homeostasis, the advances thus far are being moved into translational research and direct clinical application for diagnosis and prognosis of colon cancer, and new treatment modalities will certainly develop from these areas of investigation. Moreover, the approaches — both conceptual and methodological — that have driven the research in this disease now serve as models for understanding the fundamental process of tumorigenesis in other organs. Thus, the work in colon cancer has established a new paradigm regarding the causes and clinical progression of human cancer, and has already formulated new approaches to clinical management of populations at risk for disease development and of patients with established tumors. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular genetics of colonic tumorigenesis is essential for the practicing oncologist.
Electrical and thermal conductivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys

A rotational contactless inductive measurement technique has been used to measure the electrical resistivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys at both solid and liquid states. The method is based on the phenomena that when a conducting material rotates in a magnetic field, circulating eddy currents are induced and generate an opposing torque, which is proportional to the electrical conductivity of the material. The technique was checked and calibrated with pure aluminum where considerable electrical resistivity data exist in the literature. Wiedemann-Franz-Lorenz law was used to estimate the thermal conductivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys in liquid state.
Gout and the risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective To determine if hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis are independent risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (MI) and, if so, whether they are independent of renal function, diuretic use, metabolic syndrome, and other established risk factors. Methods We performed multivariable logistic and instrumental variable probit regressions on data from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). Results Overall, there were 12,866 men in the MRFIT who were followed up for a mean of 6.5 years. There were 118 events of acute MI in the group with gout (10.5%) and 990 events in the group without gout (8.43%; P = 0.018). Hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor for acute MI in the multivariable regression models, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.08–1.15, P < 0.001). In multivariable regressions in which the above risk factors were used as covariates, gout was found to be associated with a higher risk of acute MI (OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.14–1.40], P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that a relationship between gout and the risk of acute MI was present among nonusers of alcohol, diuretics, or aspirin and among those who did not have metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, or obesity. In separate analyses, a relationship between gout and the risk of acute MI was evident among those with and without those hyperuricemia. Conclusion The independent risk relationship between hyperuricemia and acute MI is confirmed. Gouty arthritis is associated with an excess risk of acute MI, and this is not explained by its well-known links with renal function, metabolic syndrome, diuretic use, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Developing a Framework for Intuitive Human-Computer Interaction

Many technology marketing materials tout the intuitive nature of products, but current human-computer interaction (HCI) guidelines provide limited methods to help designers create this experience beyond making them easy to use. This paper proposes a definition for intuitive interaction with specific attributes to allow designers to create products that elicit the target experience. Review of relevant literatures provides empirical evidence for the suggested working definition of intuitive HCI: interactions between humans and high technology in lenient learning environments that allow the human to use a combination of prior experience and feedforward methods to achieve an individual's functional and abstract goals. Core concepts supporting this definition were compiled into an organizational framework that includes: seeking user goals, performing well-learned behavior, determining what to do next, metacognition, knowledge in the head, and knowledge in the world. This paper describes these concepts and proposes design approaches that could facilitate intuitive behavior and suggests areas for further research.
Oxidative methylation of α-, β- and γ-picolines with methane vinylpyridines and ethylpyridines over mono- and bialkali promoted magnesia catalysts

The oxidative methylation of α-, β- and γ-picolines with methane to the corresponding vinyl- and ethylpyridines was carried out at 750°C and under normal atmospheric pressure, over sodium, cesium or sodium-cesium promoted magnesia catalysts. Among the three picolines, the γ-picoline was the most reactive, followed by α- and β-picolines. The (5 mol% Na-5 mol% Cs)/MgO catalyst provided higher yields than the individual promoters, at the same total alkali content of 10 mol%.
Alteration of peripheral β-adrenergic responsiveness in fasted rats

Total food deprivation for 72 hrs (3 day fast) in female rats resulted in a reduction in serum thyroid hormones as well as a reduced peripheral beta-adrenergic responsiveness to isoproterenol. Food deprivation for 48 or 72 hrs significantly decreased both serum T3 and T4 values as compared to non-fasted controls. There were no significant differences in either T3 or T4 levels as a result of a 24 hr fast. Rats deprived of food for 72 hr had significantly smaller increases in oxygen consumption, colonic and tail skin temperatures following administration of isoproterenol (100 micrograms/kg b.w., s.c.) when compared to non-fasted control rats. Arterial blood pressure and heart rates were measured in unrestrained, unanesthetized, chronically cannulated rats. Food deprivation for 72 hrs significantly attenuated the decrease in blood pressure and the increase in heart rate associated with administration of isoproterenol (10 micrograms/kg b.w., s.c.). Possible mechanisms for the reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness associated fasting are discussed.
The Cosmic X-ray background as a measure of history

Analysis of the cosmic X-ray background within the context of accretion driven AGN indicates that most black hole galactic nuclei must be dormant at present but suggests that they were X-ray bright during a brief epoch signaling an early phase of galaxy formation.
Using Stochastic Modeling for Texture Generation

A new computer graphics technique generates complicated random textures, like those found on natural objects. Requiring little data, it allows easy control of textural properties.
Feed Flavors in Milk and Milk Products

Summary The investigators on the effect of feeds on the flavor and odor of milk have shown that: Many feeds impart their flavor to milk, the intensity of the imparted flavor depending upon the character of the feed, quantity consumed, and the time the feed is consumed in relation to the time of milking. Feed flavors enter milk mainly through the body of the cow and in most cases these flavors are not imparted to milk except for a few hours after feeding. Strong feed flavors are reduced in intensity and slight flavors may be eliminated by proper aeration. Highly flavored feeds should be fed immediately after, never just before, milking.
What can you do for me? Attachment style and motives underlying esteem for partners

Two event-contingent diary studies investigated whether people of diVerent attachment styles value partners for diVerent reasons (e.g., self-esteem regulation, closeness). In Study 1, preoccupied individuals more positively regarded partners when they provided help with selfregulatory functions, and they did so to a greater extent than either secure or dismissing-avoidant individuals. In Study 2, preoccupied and fearful-avoidant individuals were more likely to want to gain approval from partners. Also, when preoccupied individuals obtained partner approval, they valued their partner more, and they did so to a greater extent than secure individuals. Continuous attachment measures produced weaker Wndings, but people higher in anxious-ambivalence generally showed patterns similar to those found for preoccupied individuals. Findings suggest that the process by which people come to positively view their partners may vary depending on their attachment-related goals.
Analysis of hemoglobin oxygenation from combined equilibrium and kinetic data. Is quaternary enhancement necessary

An experimental approach based on four independent techniques, in which kinetic and equilibrium measurements of subunit assembly reactions are combined with concentration-dependent oxygen-binding curves, has previously been used to resolve parameters of the linkage system for human hemoglobin over a wide range of conditions [(G.K. Ackers and H.R. Halvorson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71 (1974) 4312; F.C. Mills et al., Biochemistry 15 (1976) 1093; M.L. Johnson et al., Biochemistry 15 (1976) 5363). Throughout this extensive body of results it has been found that the affinity for binding oxygen to tetramers at the fourth step exceeds the mean affinity of dissociated dimers. The existence of this "quaternary enhancement" effect has recently been questioned by Gibson and Edelstein (J. Biol. Chem. 262 (1987) 516) and by Philo and Lary (J. Biol. Chem. 265 (1990) 139) on the basis of kinetically derived oxygen-binding constants that do not exhibit quaternary enhancement. These authors have also suggested that quaternary enhancement might not be necessary to explain the oxygen-binding data mentioned above. In this study, we have explored the effect of constraining the numerical analysis of oxygen-binding data against the new kinetically derived binding constants. It is found that the sets of linkage constants which are compatible with both the oxygen-binding data and the new kinetically derived dimer binding constant require both quaternary enhancement and substantial dimer cooperativity. Increasing the dimer cooperativity to compensate completely for quaternary enhancement requires both dimeric and tetrameric binding constants that disagree with the kinetically derived values. Thus, the quaternary enhancement effect cannot be eliminated by readjustment of the remaining constants of the linkage system. Possible sources of the discrepancy between the kinetically derived binding constants and the otherwise self-consistent data from the other four techniques are discussed.
Towards a fixed value of the Planck constant: Reproducibility and an updated NIST-3 watt balance

The scientific community is presently engaged in a historic attempt to fix the value of the Planck constant h so that it might ultimately serve as a base constant in a revised system of units. To assist this effort, NIST is examining its existing watt balance experiment, NIST-3, and will measure h once again, aiming at a final rigorous test of reproducibility. The main objectives are to modify and update the existing apparatus so that it can be used both to measure the Planck constant and to support other experiments related to the mise en pratique for mass, to attempt a determination of the Planck constant that is largely independent of previous NIST results, and to probe the discrepancy between the value of h measured in 2007 and other latest published results through a careful re-examination of the NIST-3 measurement procedures and uncertainty budget.
trans-Difluoro complexes of palladium(II)

Complexes trans-[(Py)(2)Pd(Ph)(F)] (1; Py = pyridine) and trans-[(t-BuPy)(2)Pd(Ph)(F)] (2; t-BuPy = 4-tert-butylpyridine) have been prepared from the corresponding iodides and AgF. Thermal decomposition of 1 and 2 in anhydrous benzene at 80 degrees C did not result in C-F bond formation, but Pd black and Ph(2) were produced instead, along with novel difluorides trans-[(Py)(2)Pd(F)(2)] (3) and trans-[(t-BuPy)(2)Pd(F)(2)] (4). Both 3 and 4, the first trans-difluoro d(8) square complexes, were independently synthesized from the corresponding diiodides and AgF and fully characterized. Contrary to filled/filled d(pi)-p(pi) repulsion considerations, the Pd-F bond distances in 3 and 4 are unprecedentedly short, being only 1.947(4)-1.958(4) A and shorter than those in 1 and 2 by 0.12-0.13 A. The mechanism of formation of 3 and 4 and bonding in these complexes are discussed.
Feasibility and safety of string, wireless capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus

Background Capsule endoscopy is a major technological advancement in the visualization of the small bowell. Its utility in the evaluation of the esophagus is mainly limited by its rapid and unpredictable transmission, thus limiting the number of pictures of the esophagus, in particular, the distal esophagus. Methods Strings were attached to the wireless capsule endoscopy device to allow its controlled movement up and down the esophagus. Microbiologic cultures of the capsule's surface after high-level disinfection were carried out after the procedure. At the time of recording, discomfort associated with the procedure was documented. Patient preference compared with conventional EGD was recorded. An independent endoscopist blinded to the EGD diagnoses assessed the diagnostic accuracy of pictures obtained. Observations Fifty patients with Barrett's esophagus were enrolled: 28 with short-segment Barrett's and 22 with long-segment Barrett's. The procedure was safe (no strings were disrupted, and no capsule was lost), and it rendered negative microbiologic cultures after high-level disinfection. The mean recording time was 7.9 minutes; all patients with both short- and long-segment Barrett's esophagus were successfully identified. The difficulty/discomfort associated with swallowing the device, throat discomfort, gagging, moving the capsule (up and down and upon retrieval of the capsule) was none or minimal in 74%, 98%, 96%, 94%, and 76%, respectively. A single capsule was used in 24 studies, and the majority of patients (92%) preferred string-capsule endoscopy to EGD. Conclusions String-capsule endoscopy was feasible, safe, and highly acceptable, and was preferred by patients and may prove to be more cost effective than screening EGD.
Top physics at CDF

Recent results in top physics at CDF presented at the Lake Louise Winter Institute 2008 are discussed, including updates to the top mass, single top search, a search for flavor changing neutral currents in top decay, and W-helicity measurements. Several newer measurements are also presented including the forward-backward asymmetry, the t{bar t} differential cross-section d{sigma}/dM{sub t{bar t}}, and a search for top pair production from massive gluons. Most of the discussed measurements utilize close to 2 fb{sup -1} of data collected at CDF.
Prolactin-induced cell proliferation in PC12 cells depends on JNK but not ERK activation.

Abstract The effects of pituitary and extrapituitary prolactin include cellular proliferation and differentiation. PC12 cells was used as a model to delineate respective signaling of prolactin. Prolactin acted as a mitogen for undifferentiated PC12 cells, as measured by significant increases in bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and in cell numbers, with an efficacy equal to epidermal growth factor. Both the long and short form of the prolactin receptor was expressed, yet only the long isoform was tyrosine-phosphorylated upon agonist binding. Functional prolactin receptor signaling was further demonstrated in the activation of JAK2 and phosphorylation activation of the transcription factors Stat1, -3, and -5a. Surprisingly, prolactin stimulated a sustained activation of Raf-B, without activation of the MAP kinases ERK1 or -2. Instead, in solid phase kinase assays using a glutathione S-transferase-c-Jun fusion protein (amino acids 1–79) as the substrate, a significant activation of the mitogen-activated protein Janus kinase (c-Jun N-terminal kinase; JNK) was observed. The prolactin-induced activation of JNK was prolonged and accompanied by a significant increase in c-Jun mRNA abundance and c-Jun protein synthesis. Moreover, analysis of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation at the single cell level revealed that epidermal growth factor-dependent incorporation was inhibited by PD98059 and independent of SB203580, whereas prolactin-induced incorporation was ERK and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 independent but was abolished with JNK inhibition by 30 μm SB203580. Our studies suggest that prolactin may have a role in the growth of PC12 cells, where it stimulates concurrent mitogenic and differentiation-promoting signaling pathways.
Molecular contingencies in schedules of intermittent punishment.

In two experiments, key pecking of pigeons was maintained by a variable-interval 180-s schedule of food presentation. Conjointly, a second schedule delivered response-dependent electric shock. In the first experiment, shocks were presented according to either a variable-interval or a nondifferential interval-percentile schedule. The variable-interval shock schedule differentially delivered shocks following long interresponse times. Although the nondifferential shock schedules delivered shocks less differentially with respect to interresponse times, the two shock schedules equally reduced the relative frequency of long interresponse times. The second experiment differentially shocked long or short interresponse times in different conditions, with resulting decreases in the relative frequency of the targeted interresponse times. These experiments highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate level of analysis for the interaction of behavior and environment. Orderly relations present at one level of analysis (e.g., interresponse times) may not be revealed at other levels of analysis (e.g., overall response rate).
Virtual labyrinth model of vestibular afferent excitation via implanted electrodes: Validation and application to design of a multichannel vestibular prosthesis

To facilitate design of a multichannel vestibular prosthesis that can restore sensation to individuals with bilateral loss of vestibular hair cell function, we created a virtual labyrinth model. Model geometry was generated through 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of microMRI and microCT scans of normal chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) acquired with 30-48 μm and 12 μm voxels, respectively. Virtual electrodes were positioned based on anatomic landmarks, and the extracellular potential field during a current pulse was computed using finite element methods. Potential fields then served as inputs to stochastic, nonlinear dynamic models for each of 2,415 vestibular afferent axons with spiking dynamics based on a modified Smith and Goldberg model incorporating parameters that varied with fiber location in the neuroepithelium. Action potential propagation was implemented by a well validated model of myelinated fibers. We tested the model by comparing predicted and actual 3D angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) axes of eye rotation elicited by prosthetic stimuli. Actual responses were measured using 3D video-oculography. The model was individualized for each animal by placing virtual electrodes based on microCT localization of real electrodes. 3D eye rotation axes were predicted from the relative proportion of model axons excited within each of the three ampullary nerves. Multiple features observed empirically were observed as emergent properties of the model, including effects of active and return electrode position, stimulus amplitude and pulse waveform shape on target fiber recruitment and stimulation selectivity. The modeling procedure is partially automated and can be readily adapted to other species, including humans.
TEACHING PROFESSIONAL WRITING TO FAMILY THERAPISTS: THREE APPROACHES

The authors present three educational approaches designed to demystify the writing process and to support better writing skills among family therapists. One framework is an academic course in professional writing, another is a writing seminar for family therapy and physician trainees within a medical school setting, and the third is a 2-hour continuing education writing workshop for family therapists. Each is replicable within a variety of settings.
Molecular basis of inhibition of the ribonuclease activity in colicin E5 by its cognate immunity protein.

Colicin E5 is a tRNA-specific ribonuclease that recognizes and cleaves four tRNAs in Escherichia coli that contain the hypermodified nucleoside queuosine (Q) at the wobble position. Cells that produce colicin E5 also synthesize the cognate immunity protein (Im5) that rapidly and tightly associates with colicin E5 to prevent it from cleaving its own tRNAs to avoid suicide. We report here the crystal structure of Im5 in a complex with the activity domain of colicin E5 (E5-CRD) at 1.15 A resolution. The structure reveals an extruded domain from Im5 that docks into the recessed RNA binding cleft in E5-CRD, resulting in extensive interactions between the two proteins. The interactions are primarily hydrophilic, with an interface that contains complementary surface charges between the two proteins. Detailed interactions in three separate regions of the interface account for specific recognition of colicin E5 by Im5. Furthermore, single-site mutational studies of Im5 confirmed the important role of particular residues in recognition and binding of colicin E5. Structural comparison of the complex reported here with E5-CRD alone, as well as with a docking model of RNA–E5-CRD, indicates that Im5 achieves its inhibition by physically blocking the cleft in colicin E5 that engages the RNA substrate.
A Comparison of the Power of Rasch Total and Between-Item Fit Statistics to Detect Measurement Disturbances.

This study investigates the properties of the total and between fit statistics commonly used in Rasch model calibration and analysis programs to assess the fit of items to various Rasch models. There are two aspects of the study: an examination of the distributional properties of the item between fit statistics when the data fit the dichotomous model and a comparison of the power of the item between and total fit statistics to detect various types of simulated measurement disturbances in dichotomous data. The results indicate that the distributional properties of the between fit statistic are approximate unit normals and stable over a wide variety of testing conditions. In the presence of measurement disturbances, the between fit statistic appears to be more sensitive to systematic measurement disturbances and the total fit statistic is more sensitive to random measurement disturbances.
Does muscle fatigue limit advertisement calling in the oyster toadfish Opsanus tau

Many sonic fishes appear to produce advertisement calls at a lower rate than insects, frogs and birds (song). Fish sonic muscles in many species rank among the fastest in vertebrates, suggesting that acoustic signalling is a costly activity. Surprisingly however, sound production in the oyster toadfish Opsanus tau requires negligible oxygen consumption. Male toadfish produce a long-duration tonal advertisement call, the boatwhistle, and both sexes produce short-duration agonistic grunt calls. The question of what limits the calling activity in fishes has not been addressed. We tested the hypothesis that calling in the oyster toadfish is limited by fatigue of the sonic muscles by stimulating them intermittently at the most rapid rate evoked by playbacks of the courtship boatwhistle call (100 ms every 4 s at 200 Hz = 1.5 s stimulation/min) for 5 min and measured swimbladder movement, sound production and glycogen use. Muscles in both sexes showed almost complete fatigue by 5 min (7.5 s of stimulation), although rested control muscles contained over twice as much glycogen in males as in females. Glycogen use was similar in both sexes, but males used 10.8% of their glycogen and females used 23.2%. Glycogen would support muscle contraction at this rate for 15 min in males during mating call production. It appears that sound production in the oyster toadfish is fatigue limited, which dictates a low rate of spontaneous calling that can be elevated for brief bursts of activity.
Pathologic Conditions of the Lower Cranial Nerves IX, X, XI, and XII

The glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory, and hypoglossal cranial nerves can be affected by an acute or chronic process that has an impact on the way the patient presents clinically. Knowledge of nerve pathways and relations to surrounding structures is fundamental when evaluating patients who have lower cranial nerve symptoms. A systematic "segment-based" approach helps to narrow the differential diagnosis Pathologic conditions that cause lower cranial nerve symptoms are presented.
In-service monitoring for cell loss quality of service violations in ATM networks

A new method for in-service cell loss ratio (CLR) QoS estimation for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks has been developed. For a typical CLR, a large number of cells must be observed before statistically meaningful results can be achieved. These results may be obsolete resulting in ineffective network management reactions. For a variety of arrival processes, many analyses have shown there exists a relationship between the logarithm of the cell loss probability and buffer size. For models that do not possess long-range dependence, this relationship is often linear. On the other hand, for the fractional Brownian motion model that captures long-range dependent traffic behavior, this relationship has a polynomial form. The proposed method uses these relationships and observations of cell loss for several small pseudo-buffers to characterize the behavior of the actual system. Specifically, a real-time technique to dynamically detect the failure of meeting a cell loss quality of service (QoS) objective has been developed. The method requires a short observation period and is suitable for in-service monitoring of CLR QoS. Simulation studies show the effectiveness of this method for both modeled traffic and measured network trace data.
Facilitating the Acquisition of Sensorimotor Behavior with a Microcomputer-Mediated Teaching System: An Experimental Analysis:

The effects of a combined neuromotor/behavioral approach on the acquisition of basic motor skills by young children with severe and multiple disabilities was examined. Two children, 17 and 24 month...
An in vitro model to assess mechanisms and efficacy of a cellular conduit for treatment of avascular meniscal injuries

Tears in the avascular portion of the knee meniscus are commonplace and are frequently incapable of healing spontaneously. Delivery of synovial cells from the meniscal periphery to avascular injuries can result in an effective healing response but is difficult to accomplish surgically. This report describes the development of a novel in vitro model comprised of three-dimensionally cultured cells in agarose used to assess the proof of concept that a cellular conduit device could be used to facilitate the delivery of synovial fibroblasts from a cell source to a remote acellular recipient site. The results indicate that synovial fibroblasts are capable of migrating through a cellular conduit more optimally than a created trephined channel over a clinically relevant distance in response to a chemotactic gradient. This model proved to be a reliable way to assess fibroblast-like synoviocyte migration in a clinically relevant fashion for application to avascular meniscal tear healing methodologies, and provided mechanistic information regarding the successful in vivo testing of this specific biomedical device.
High Surface Area SiC/Silicon Oxycarbide Glasses Prepared from Phenyltrimethoxysilane-Tetramethoxysilane Gels

Phenyltrimethoxysilane (PhTMS) was hydrolyzed or cohydrolyzed with tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to make aerogels and xerogels. Porous SiC/silicon oxycarbide glasses were prepared by further pyrolyzing these gels in inert atmosphere up to 1500°C. The pore structure and chemical nature were studied by nitrogen and water sorption measurement, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It has been found that the addition of PhTMS into TMOS gels decreased the surface area and porosity of TMOS gels, but enhanced their hydrophobicity and thermal stability. Pyrolyzing 25 mole% PhTMS-75 mole% TMOS aerogel in argon resulted in porous silicon oxycarbide glass which has a surface area of 581 m2/g at 1000°C. Pyrolyzing pure PhTMS gels at 1400°–1500°C produced porous SiC/C/silicon oxycarbide composites having surface areas in the range of 400–500 m2/g.
James C. Anthony on Zili Sloboda's “The State of Support for Research on the Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders in the USA”

In the essay titled “The state of support for research on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of drug use and drug use disorders in the United States,” Dr. Zili Sloboda provides a superb in...
Why the Observed Motion History of World Trade Center Towers Is Smooth

The collapse of the World Trade Center towers was initiated by the impact of the upper falling part onto the underlying intact story. At the moment of impact, the velocity of the upper part must have decreased. The fact that no velocity decrease can be discerned in the videos of the early motion of the tower top has been recently exploited to claim that the collapse explanation generally accepted within the structural mechanics community was invalid. This claim is here shown to be groundless. Calculations show that the velocity drop is far too small to be perceptible in amateur video records and is much smaller than the inevitable error of such video records.
Family structure and child outcomes: a high definition, wide angle “snapshot”

Using data from the National Survey of America’s Families (NSAF), this research investigates the relationships between a highly defined set of family structures and a broad set of child outcomes at a particular point in time in a child’s life. A detailed classification of family structures is constructed that clarifies key differences among various types of diverse families, and facilitates equivalencies testing and pairwise comparisons across nontraditional family structures. The NSAF contains a large number of observations for less common, but growing, family structures such as single-father families, grandparent-headed households and cohabiters, which makes such detailed analyses feasible and allows further stratification by child age, gender and race. The data also contains information on child behavioral, educational and physical health outcomes, as well as extensive household characteristics, economic resources and parental behaviors and inputs. Results suggest that differences across nontraditional family structures are particularly prominent for child health outcomes and that the gender of the resident parent is empirically important, more so than the presence of a cohabiting or married step-parent. Children in single father families have lesser access to health care yet enjoy better health outcomes than those in other families, even after controlling for economic resources (and inputs). In contrast, few differences are found between grandparent-headed families and other non-parent families. While we explore alternative explanations for these results, our cross-sectional data and complex set of family structure variables preclude isolating causal relationships; instead, our analyses yield empirically important distinctions that point to promising avenues for future research.
Family Social Work Practice: Onward to Therapy and Policy

ABSTRACT In a recent article published in the Journal of Family Social Work McNeece (1995) argued that family therapy has no interest in or relevance for social policy interventions. Through the presentation of several arguments he constructs an irreconcilable dichotomy between policy and practice, suggesting that therapeutic interventions are responsible for pulling resources away from the development of effective social policy interventions. This paper challenges the dichotomy between policy and practice and presents an alternative view concerning the relationship between social policy and family therapy. The increasing importance of family policy in family therapy is summarized and a new trend within marriage and family practice, policy as practice, is discussed. Current family practice literature and personal case examples are used to provide alternative viewpoints to three main points that were presented by McNeece concerning family therapy practice, and the therapy/policy interface. Finally, the cur...