cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Denying Aid: An Analysis of Disaster Declaration Turndowns

Federal disaster aid provides resources to affected victims and potential votes for both governors and presidents, but the denial of aid can especially painful for all parties involved. This paper examines whether political factors contribute to which areas are denied federal disaster aid. Analyzing county-level data from 1992 through 2005, I find that political factors do shade a president’s decision to deny aid, but that some of these factors are only present during presidential elections years. ∗Visiting Assistant Professor, 5032 Forbes Ave # 1070, Qatar Office, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15289. http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/∼gasper, gasper@andrew.cmu.edu, (862) 438-5841. Natural disasters give political leaders a stage to show their concerns for citizens’ suffering and needs. Victims of these disasters often are faced with hardship that they have never experienced before and look to their elected officials for help. Governors and the President are in a position to redirect resources to those affected, but those officials are also responsible for efficient and effective governance. As severe weather and disaster declarations become more common and state and federal and state budgets become tighter, the choice officials face as to who does or does not receive aid becomes more difficult. This paper presents an county-level analysis of which areas are denied a presidential disaster declaration. Both political folk-wisdom and previous academic studies contend that politics and disaster declarations are intertwined. James Lee Witt, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told Congress in 1996 that “disasters are very political events.” (quoted in Sobel and Leeson 2006) Natural disasters offer an opportunity for officials to demonstrate their ability to lead during stressful times (Boin, ’t Hart, Stern, and Sundelius 2005; Birkland 2007). Citizens don’t ask whether governments should play a role, but these events are seen as public problems requiring public intervention and strong leadership (Schneider 2011). Intergovernmental relations and interactions between local, state, and federal officials are key to successful post-disaster policy (Rubin and Barbee 1985). Other scholarly work has shown that disaster declarations can be electorally beneficial to both presidents and governors (Gasper and Reeves 2011). Some studies have found that presidents are sensitive to electoral concerns when granting aid (Reeves 2011; Garrett and Sobel 2003). In particular, Garrett and Sobel (2003) finds that half of all disaster relief is motivated politically rather than by need. Disaster declarations denials, or turndowns, may be exceptionally worrisome for elected officials. While granting federal monies can be seen
When Lions Talk: Wittgenstein, Kipling, and the Language of Colonialism1

This paper uses a Wittgensteinian framework to analyze the ethical representation of otherness in Rudyard Kipling’s short story, “Her Majesty’s Servants.” These texts address a central dilemma in representing difference, that the mere fact of viable, verifiable otherness problematizes the universal validity of one’s representational practices. By analyzing the tension between comprehension and incomprehension in narrating talking animals, this paper critiques the colonial tendency to domesticate otherness by describing it, arguing instead that one can productively respond to difference only by recognizing but not transgressing the limits of representation.
MR Imaging of the Lower Leg versus Clinical Electrophysiologic Examination in the Differential Diagnosis of Neurogenic Foot Drop

Patients with foot drop are frequently seen in clinical practice. Foot drop may be due to a lesion of the common peroneal nerve, L5 radiculopathy, or a partial sciatic nerve lesion or lesions involving the lumbosacral plexus or cauda equina. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) are of
The aqueous extract of a popular herbal nutrient supplement, Angelica sinensis, protects mice against lethal endotoxemia and sepsis.

Despite recent advances in antibiotic therapy and intensive care, sepsis remains a widespread problem in critically ill patients. The high mortality from sepsis is in part mediated by bacterial endotoxin, which stimulates macrophages/monocytes to sequentially release early (e.g., tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and interferon-γ) and late [e.g., high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1)] proinflammatory cytokines. Our discovery of HMGB1 as a late mediator of lethal systemic inflammation has initiated a new field of investigation for the development of experimental therapeutics. A popular Chinese herb, Angelica sinensis (also known as Dang Gui or Dong Quai) has been used traditionally for treating women with gynecological disorders (such as dysmenorrheal and hot flashes). Here we examined the effect of Angelica sinensis extract on endotoxin-induced HMGB1 release in vitro, and explored its therapeutic potential in animal models of lethal endotoxemia and sepsis [induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)] in vivo. We demonstrated that a low-molecular-weight (<10 kDa) fraction of A. sinensis extract significantly attenuated endotoxin-induced HMGB1 release in part through interfering with its cytoplasmic translocation in macrophage cultures. Prophylactic administration of an aqueous extract of A. sinensis significantly attenuated systemic HMGB1 accumulation in vivo, and conferred a dose-dependent protection against lethal endotoxemia. Furthermore, delayed administration of A. sinensis extract beginning 24 h after CLP attenuated systemic HMGB1 accumulation, and significantly rescued mice from lethal sepsis. Taken together, these data suggest that A. sinensis contains water-soluble components that exert protective effects against lethal endotoxemia and experimental sepsis in part by attenuating systemic accumulation of a late proinflammatory cytokine, HMGB1.
Examining the cellular pathways involved in influenza virus induced apoptosis.

Abstract Apoptosis is essential in many physiological processes including wound healing and development of the immune response. Apoptosis also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many infectious diseases including those caused by viruses. Influenza viruses induce apoptosis in cells that are permissive for viral replication and cells that do not support viral replication. The cellular pathways involved in influenza virus induced apoptosis are currently ill defined. Previous studies suggest that influenza virus infection increased the expression of the Fas antigen in HeLa cells, and that Fas antigen is partially involved in apoptosis. In these studies we examined the cellular pathways involved in avian influenza virus induced apoptosis in two cell lines that support productive viral replication: Madin–Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) and mink lung epithelial (Mv1Lu) cells.
Economic-Legal Perspectives on the Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide of 1915, while causing substantial loss of life, also had enormous economic consequences. Important new scholarship has established that depriving Armenians of their homes, businesses, and personal effects was a means of ensuring their removal from Turkey. The findings establish that Armenian property was then misappropriated to benefit Turkey. The economic harm continues today, largely unmitigated. Mere economic loss due to State action, alone, is difficult to fit within the accepted definition of genocide. Yet, the mass killings and deportations surrounding the property losses make the economic harm legally relevant. Further, the economic dimension has significance, the genocide aside. Claims for reparation, which arise out of contract and property law, are the most viable legal option for many of the heirs of the Armenians. Pursuing claims, however, is costly and time-consuming. Ideally, the significance of the claims and the difficulties of a piece-meal approach to resolving them could lead to an international claims settlement process for the benefit of the affected Armenians.
Out-of-Class Versus In-Class Service Delivery in Language Intervention

The interactions of young children and their speech-language pathologist during out-of-class and in-class language intervention were compared for 15 children with disabilities attending a mainstrea...
Muscular and other abnormalities in a case of Edwards' syndrome (18-trisomy).

This paper describes the anatomical variations observed in a specimen exhibiting Edwards' Syndrome (18-trisomy). The clinical and autopsy data are compared with those reported in earlier literature. Aside from having a tracheoesophageal fistula, the viscera were characterized by abnormalities of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. The facial musculature was relatively undifferentiated. Only a few abnormalities were recorded in the otomandibular and suprahyoid structures. The infrahyoid region had three pairs of supernumerary muscles, including the “sternohyoideus azygos.”. The bulk of abnormalities were found in the muscles and nerves of the upper limb. These included the absence of the palmaris longus and brevis, the subclavius and the extensor digiti quinti proprius; the presence of supernumerary muscles, e.g., the “rhomboideus occipitalis,” the “latissimocondyloideus,” and the “subclavius posticus.” The deltoid and the pectoralis major were fused to form the “deltopectoral” complex. A definitive musculocutaneous nerve was found in the right arm only. In the lower extremity supernumerary muscles included the “tenuissimus,” “peroneus quinti digiti,” and the “extensor primi internodii hallucis”.
The delay of spontaneous labor by Naproxen in the rat model.

Abstract The effects on spontaneous labor of Naproxen, an inhibitor of Prostaglandin synthesis, were examined in 345 pregnant rats. The administration of Naproxen, at the time when the delivery process was already in progress (day 21 of pregnancy) and in doses of 20 mg/kg/day or more, resulted in high incidence of prolonged and interrupted labor, with consequent adverse effects. Naproxen given at a daily dose of 5 to 15 mg/kg, beginning 3 days before term effectively delayed the onset of labor, without evident adverse effects on the gestating animals and the fetuses. Pregnancy was delayed in 98% of the animals and 88% of the fetuses remained undelivered until autopsy terminated the study, 24 hours after the Controls delivered spontaneously. It is concluded that in rats Naproxen effectively prolongs pregnancy and delays labor.
Faculty Acceptance of the World Wide Web for Student Research.

Although undergraduates frequently use the World Wide Web in their class assignments, little research has been done concerning how teaching faculty feel about their students’ use of the Web. This study explores faculty attitudes toward the Web as a research tool for their students’ research; their use of the Web in classroom instruction; and their policies concerning Web use by students. Results show that although faculty members generally feel positive about the Web as a research tool, they question the accuracy and reliability of Web content and are concerned about their students’ ability to evaluate the information found.
Studies on Anti‐Eluate Sera

Summary 1 Positive antiglobulin reactions were obtained with the red cells from 29 of 70 patients with acquired hemolytic anemia tested against serial dilutions of a conventional antiglobulin serum and three antieluate antisera. Of these, 17 were positive with 4 of 4 sera, 3 with 3 of 4 sera, 1 with 2 of 4 sera, and 8 with the conventional antiglobulin serum only. 2 Marked heterogeneity was observed among the 29 positive antiglobulin reactions. Five general patterns of reaction could be discerned, depending on which of the antisera reacted with the patients' cells and whether a prozone occurred. The patterns did not appear to depend on whether the red cell coating substance was gamma globulin or non-gamma globulin in type. 3 Certain broad diagnostic categories (idiopathic acquired hemolytic anemia, chronic leukemia, lymphoma) tended to segregate predominantly into one or two of the major patterns of reaction, but the correlation was not absolute. Resume 1 °Sur les 70 patients atteints d'anemie hemolytique acquise, les erythrocytes de 29 d'entre eux donnent des reactions positives a l'anti-globuline. Les tests ont ete pratiques au moyen de dilutions progressives d'un serum anti-globuline ordinaire et de 3 sera anti-eluat. Parmi les echantillons d'erythrocytes donnant des reactions positives, 17 d'entre eux reagissent avec les 4 sera; 3, avec 3 des 4 sera; 1, avec 2 des 4 sera et 8, avec le seul deum anti-globuline ordinaire. 2 °Les 29 reactions positives a l'anti-globuline ont demontre une forte heterogeneite. D'une maniere generale, les auteurs ont pu de-celer 5 types de reactions dependant de l'anti-serum utilise et de la presence ou de l'absence d'un phenomene de prozone. Le type de reaction ne semble pas dependre du fait que les erythrocytes soient sensibilises par des substances du type gamma-globulinique ou non gamma-globulinique. 3 °Certaines categories d'affections (anemie hemolytique acquise, leucemie chronique, lymphome) ont une certaine predominace a se classer dans le cadre d'un ou deux types de reactions; toutefois, la correlation n'est pas absolue. Zusammenfassung 1 29 von 70 Blutproben von Patienten mit erworbener hamolytischer Anamie zeigten im Ansatz mit einem gewohnlichen Anti-globulinserum und drei Anti-Eluat-Seren positive Reaktionen. Von diesen 29 Proben reagierten 17 positiv mit allen 4 Seren; 3 reagierten positiv mit 3 der 4 Seren; 1 reagierte positiv mit 2 der 4 Seren, und 8 reagierten lediglich mit dem gewohnlichen Antiglobulinserum. 2 Die 29 positiv reagierenden Blutproben zeigten eine ausgesprochene Heterogenitat ihres Reaktionstypus. Immerhin gelang es, auf Grund der verwendeten Seren und der vorhandenen bzw. fehlenden Prozone 5 Reaktionstypen auseinanderzuhalten. Diese 5 Typen zeigten keine Beziehung zur Art des sensibilisierenden Antikorpers (Gammaglobulintypus, «Mischtypus» oder «Nicht-Gammaglobulin»-Typus). 3 Gewisse Krankheitsgruppen (idiopathische erworbene hamolytische Anamie, chronische Leukamie, Lymphom) zeigten eine gewisse Pradominanz bezuglich ihres Reaktionstypus. Die Korrelation war aber nicht absolut.
Seven habits of a highly effective smell detector

The process of refactoring code---changing its structure while preserving its meaning---has been identified as an important way of maintaining code quality over time. However, it is sometimes difficult for progammers to identify which pieces of code are in need of refactoring. "Smell detectors" are designed to help programmers in this task, but most smell detectors do not mesh well with "floss refactoring," the recommended tactic in which refactoring and programming are finely interleaved. In this paper we present a smell detector that we have built with floss refactoring in mind by combining seven habits that we postulate are important to consider when designing usable smell detectors. We hope that this combination can help the designers of future smell detectors build tools that align with the way that programmers refactor.
Undergraduate research and the institutional review board: a mismatch or happy marriage?

(1996). Undergraduate research and the institutional review board: A mismatch or happy marriage? Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 20-25.
art: A Framework for New, Small Experiments at Fermilab

Fermilab is preparing to mount a variety of new experiments at the Intensity Frontier, all of which require infrastructure software including a framework, an event data model, persistency, run-time configuration, management of singleton-like entities such as the geometry and conditions data, integration with Geant4 (G4), build and release management, and integration with GRID based work-flow management systems. In order to maximize the return on both past and future effort invested in supporting CMS, the Fermilab Computing Division (CD) has extracted the core of the CMS framework plus many parts of its associated infrastructure software; CD is supporting this infrastructure for use by the new Intensity Frontier experiments. This talk will present the plans for and status of this infrastructure software including points of view from both the developers and the physicist-clients working on the Mu2e experiment.
PHYSICAL STUDIES OF CONFORMATIONAL PLASTICITY IN A RECOMBINANT PRION PROTEIN

PrP(Sc) is known to be the major, if not the only, component of the infectious prion. Limited proteolysis of PrP(Sc) produces an N-terminally truncated polypeptide of about 142 residues, designated PrP 27-30. Recently, a recombinant protein (rPrP) of 142 residues corresponding to the Syrian hamster PrP 27-30 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified (Mehlhorn et al., 1996). rPrP has been refolded into both alpha-helical and beta-sheet structures as well as various intermediates in aqueous buffers. The beta-sheet state and two pH-dependent alpha-helical states were characterized by CD and NMR. The alpha-helical conformation occurred only after the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond, whereas the beta-sheet form was accessible either with or without the disulfide. Of the different alpha-helical forms studied, only those refolded in the pH range 5-8 were substantially soluble at physiological pH, exhibiting similar conformations and monomeric analytical sedimentation profiles throughout the above pH range. Furthermore, refolded alpha-rPrP showed NMR chemical shift dispersion typical of proteins with native conformations, although 2D NMR indicated large segments of conformational flexibility. It displayed a cooperative thermal denaturation transition; at elevated temperatures, it converted rapidly and irreversibly to the thermodynamically more stable beta-sheet form. Unfolding of alpha-rPrP by GdnHCl revealed a two-phase transition with a relatively stable folding intermediate at 2 M GdnHCl. The deltaG values were estimated to be 1.9 +/- 0.4 kcal/mol for the first phase and 6.5 +/- 1.2 kcal/mol for the second, consistent with a folding core surrounded by significant segments of flexible conformation. By NMR, alpha-rPrP(acid) isolated at pH 2 without refolding exhibited heterogeneous line widths, consistent with an acid-denatured molten globular state. We conclude that to the extent that rPrP constitutes a relevant folding domain of PrP(C), the various conformations exhibited by rPrP suggest that the PrP sequence may be intrinsically plastic in its conformations; indeed, portions of PrP(C) may possess a relatively open conformation which makes it susceptible to conversion into PrP(Sc) under appropriate conditions.
Fecal bile acids and neutral sterols in the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)

Abstract 1. 1. The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), a small New World primate susceptible to spontaneous development of colon cancer, was studied for its fecal neutral sterol and bile salt composition. 2. 2. Standardization procedures to establish the effect of exposure of the stool to room temperature air for various time-periods showed no significant effects on the neutral sterol and bile salt composition of the samples. 3. 3. Microbial degradation of cholesterol and bile acids to secondary metabolites showed a progressive rise during the first year of life after which some degree of homeostasis was observed. 4. 4. The proportion of cholesterol that remained unmetabolized by colonic microflora was in excess of 50%, an amount that was significantly higher than in man and other higher primates. 5. 5. Ursodeoxycholic acid was identified as a significant (12%) component of fecal bile acids in this species. 6. 6. Secondary bile acids formed by the action of enteric microflora were also significantly lower than levels found in man and other animals.
Double-Coincidence Trident Experiments

Some general features of trident production (electroproduction of a lepton pair) are discussed, and numerical calculations are given for double-coincidence trident cross sections (where two of the three final leptons are detected). The calculations suggest that double-coincidence trident experiments may be done with equipment and counting rates rather similar to those of experiments on the photoproduction of wideangle lepton pairs.
Tryptophan fluorescence reveals the conformational state of a dynamic loop in recombinant porcine fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

Wild-type porcine fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) has no tryptophan residues. Hence, the mutation of Try57 to tryptophan places a unique fluorescent probe in the structural element (loop 52−72) putatively responsible for allosteric regulation of catalysis. On the basis of steady-state kinetics, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography, the mutation has little effect on the functional and structural properties of the enzyme. Fluorescence intensity from the Trp57 mutant is maximal in the presence of divalent cations, fructose 6-phosphate and orthophosphate, which together stabilize an R-state conformation in which loop 52−72 is engaged with the active site. The level of fluorescence emission decreases monotonically with increasing levels of AMP, an allosteric inhibitor, which promotes the T-state, disengaged-loop conformation. The titration of various metal−product complexes of the Trp57 mutant with fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F26P2) causes similar decreases in fluorescence, suggesting...
Use of photo diode stimulation in clinical and experimental electroencephalography and electroretinography.

Abstract A photo diode light stimulator and driving circuits is described. This has advantages over present methods for clinical and research application due to small size, electrical safety, light patterning control and monochromaticity.
Giftwrapping a curve with the convex hull

We develop an algorithm to compute the convex hull of a closed planar parametric curve. The algorithm sweeps a tangent around the curve, using bitangents to define events and effectively wrapping a tangent around the hull. First, a point on the hull is found using a walk out of a concavity and next, the entire hull is found using a walk punctuated by bitangents. The algorithm is a smooth analogue to two classical computational geometry algorithms: plane sweep and giftwrapping. It leverages our recent work on the computation of bitangents.
A Determination of the Terminal Velocity and Drag of Small Water Drops by Means of a Wind Tunnel.

Abstract Measurements of the drag on small water drops falling in water-saturated air at terminal velocity were carried out in a wind tunnel for Reynolds numbers R between 0.2 and 200. The fractional deviation (D/Ds) − 1 of the actual drag D from the Stokes drag Ds was determined as a function of R and empirical formulae for (D/Ds) − 1 were derived for the three ranges 0.2≤R≤2,2≤R≤21 and 21≤R≤200. From these relations drag coefficients were computed and the terminal velocity of water drops of radii between 10 and 475 μ calculated for drops falling in water-saturated air and at pressure levels of 400, 500, 700 and 1013 mb, where the temperature was assumed to be −16, −8, 14 and 20C, respectively. It is shown, for 0.2≤R≤200, that the values derived for the drag on water drops are in good agreement with those for the drag on solid spheres experimentally determined by Pruppacher and Steinberger, and with those for the drag on solid spheres theoretically computed by Rimon. It is pointed out that there is a str...
Measurement of H2CO hyperfine structure with a two-cavity maser

Abstract Hyperfine structure on the 1 10 → 1 11 rotational transition in H 2 CO was measured using a two-cavity maser spectrometer with 0.3 kHz resolution. The measured spin-rotation constants are C (1 10 ) = −0.80 ± 0.05 kHz and C (1 11 ) = −3.07 ± 0.05 kHz. The hydrogen spin-spin interaction strength is D = 17.74 ± 0.10 kHz. The line center is at 4 829 659.89 ± 0.12 kHz. Properties of the beam source and computer line resolving methods are discussed briefly.
Atomic physics measurements using an ECR ion source located on a 350 kV high-voltage platform

Abstract We report on a new atomic physics facility at the Argonne PII ECR ion source which was built for the Uranium Upgrade of the ATLAS heavy-ion accelerator. An important feature of our ECR ion source is that it is on a high-voltage platform which provides beam energies of up to 350 q keV, where q is the charge of the ion. We discuss the experimental program in progress at this ion source which includes measurements of state-selective electron capture cross sections, photon and electron spectroscopy, studies of quasi-molecular collisions, and polarization studies using an optically pumped Na target.
Interferon-γ Rapidly Increases Peptide Transporter (TAP) Subunit Expression and Peptide Transport Capacity in Endothelial Cells

Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize specific complexes of HLA class I molecules and peptides, which assemble when nascent class I molecules bind peptides transported from the cytoplasm into the endoplasmic reticulum by the heterodimeric transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). Increased class I molecule expression on the cell surface increases the efficiency of CTL lysis. The kinetics of interferon (IFN)-gamma induction of TAP, peptide transport capacity, and HLA class I molecule expression was determined in endothelial cells, which are targets of CTL following transplantation or viral infection. TAP mRNAs are induced rapidly, increasing 20-fold (TAP1) or 10-fold (TAP2) by 12 h, whereas HLA class I mRNA is induced more slowly, increasing 10-fold in 24 h. TAP1 and TAP2 proteins are also induced rapidly, increasing 10-fold in 24 h, whereas HLA class I heavy chain proteins and surface expression increase more slowly. Peptide transport capacity in endothelial and HeLa cells increases within 6 h of IFN-gamma treatment, suggesting that the IFN-gamma-induced TAP heterodimers are functional. Therefore, the IFN-gamma-induced increase in TAP proteins is accompanied by an increased peptide transport capacity, which may be important in supporting the subsequent rise in HLA class I protein expression.
Suppressed multiplication of pulmonary tubercle bacilli in bacillary trypsin extract-immunized mice.

Extrakte aus Tuberkelbazillen, die mit Trypsin verdaut werden, erzeugen in Mausen eine Tbc-Immunitat, die jener durch BCG entspricht.
Immunomodulatory effects of systemic low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in humans.

The adoptive immunotherapy of human cancer using lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in combination with high-dose systemic recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) has been associated with global changes in several hematological and immunological parameters while imposing profound toxicity on patients. We have evaluated an alternative LAK cell therapy utilizing low-dose systemic rIL-2 in 27 consecutive patients with metastatic cancer. We report that the administration of systemic low-dose rIL-2 is also characterized by significant changes in immunological and hematological parameters, which are qualitatively similar to those induced by high-dose rIL-2. Low-dose systemic rIL-2, given by i.v. bolus, is cleared to baseline levels within 240 min of administration. The induction of lymphocytosis and eosinophilia, which has characterized other protocols, is also a feature of this protocol. In addition, low-dose systemic rIL-2/LAK cell immunotherapy results in increased peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) expression of T-cell activation markers such as OKIa, OKT10 and IL-2 receptor. PBMC sampled approximately 100 h after the final infusion of LAK cells demonstrated a statistically significant increase in their ability to kill natural killer (NK)-sensitive and NK-resistent cell lines such as K562 and Daudi compared to baseline values (P <.05). These data suggest that rIL-2-based immunotherapy using low-dose rIL-2 is capable of inducing quantitative hematological and immunological changes while (in combination with LAK cells) retaining the ability to mediate tumor regressionin vivo.
Endoscopic Evaluation of large gastric folds: A comparison of biopsy techniques

Large gastric folds detected radiographically were evaluated by 3 biopsy techniques: standard Martin mucosal biopsy forceps, Rubin-Quinton aspiration biopsy tube, and electrosurgical snare biopsy. In 6 of 10 patients, clinically significant histologic abnormalities were diagnosed with the electrosurgical snare biopsy but not with the other 2 biopsy methods. No significant complications occurred with electrosurgical snare biopsy of large gastric folds.
Waiting for the stimulus suffix: Decay, delay, rhythm, and readout in immediate memory

The degree to which a redundant suffix impairs performance on digit lists depends on the delay between the last memory item and the suffix. A set of three experiments is offered, establishing the inadequacy of hypotheses based on simple decay of prelinguistic information, passage of time before recall, and rhythmic periodicities in attention. The delayed suffix effect is consistent with a fourth hypothesis whose emphasis is on access to precategorical auditory information through a “readout” process rather than on the sheer availability of such information.
Abstract 2072: The role of the integrated stress response proteins GCN2 and ATF4 in autophagy and tumor migration

The Integrated Stress Response (ISR) is a program elicited by mammalian cells to attenuate global translation in response to a variety of stressors. The GCN2 arm of the ISR is activated in response to amino acid deprivation, resulting in the upregulation of the transcription factor ATF4. ATF4 modulates the expression of genes involved in amino acid transport and synthesis. We have previously demonstrated that the expression of both GCN2 and ATF4 is increased in tumor cells compared to normal tissue, and the ablation of ATF4 or GCN2 significantly decreases tumor growth in mice. WE are interested in the contribution of the GCN2-ATF4 pathway in cell migration and autophagy, two processes that contribute to tumor growth and metastasis. The impact of ATF4 expression on the migration of human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) was assessed using scratch assays and transwell migration analysis, and invasion was analyzed using Matrigel-coated inserts. Preliminary results indicate that decreased expression of ATF4 or GCN2 is associated with diminished migration and invasion in HT1080 cells. We can exploit this finding therapeutically through the pharmacological inhibition of ATF4 To this end, we have employed a small molecule screen to identify inhibitors of ATF4 via a reporter construct with the 5’-UTR of ATF4 fused to the luciferase gene in HT1080 cells. When ATF4 reporter cells were treated with Thapsigargin, we observed more than a four-fold induction of luciferase over control cells in a PERK-dependent manner. Using a chemical library of over 160,000 diverse small molecules and the NIH Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository we performed a primary screen on the HT1080 ATF4-luciferase cells. We have identified 4 small molecules based on the inhibition of ATF4 induction, and low µM or high nM IC50 values. The compounds are currently undergoing validation in secondary screens for the specific inhibition of ATF4 and not CMV-luciferase or XBP-1-luciferase reporters. We plan to identify structural families and perform structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis to identify related compounds. Validated compounds are currently being analyzed for the ability to reduce tolerance to amino acid deprivation through cell proliferation, cell survival, and in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity assays. Interestingly, a compound which appears to activate ER stress was identified from the screen. The effects of this drug on autophagy and cell migration are currently being assessed. Our findings represent a novel translational strategy by which the ISR is exploited to sensitize tumors to microenvironmental stressors, such as amino acid deprivation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2072. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2072
Adjustment to the Nursing Home as a Social Interactional Accomplishment.

A variety of individual/psychological and institutional variables influence patients’ adjustments to life in nursing homes. The present article argues that adjustment to nursing homes is also influenced by the context of peer group and staff‐patient interaction. Ethnographic observation and interviewing were conducted in one American nursing home over a fifteen month period. Both staff and residents placed demands and expectations on newcomers’ conduct. In addition, staff nembers defined what was considered “successful”; and “unsuccessful”; adjustment, with the result that patients were constrained in the range of socially acceptable behavior they were permitted to display.
van der Waals force between positronium and hydrogenic atoms: Finite-mass corrections.

The Feshbach projection-operator formalism is used to derive the asymptotic effective interaction potential between two atoms. Beyond the usual van der Waals potential, falling like x exp -6, three x exp -8 terms are also obtained: an attractive dipole-quadrupole term (absent in the positronium-positronium case because of symmetry), a repulsive energy-dependent term, and a repulsive mass-dependent but energy-independent one. This last term was not obtained by Manson and Ritchie (1985) using an independent method.
Statistical Evaluation of Salinity and Nitrate Content and Trends Beneath Urban and Agricultural Areas — Fresno, California

The salinity and nitrate content of well water for an urban zone (Fresno-Clovis, California) and the immediate surrounding irrigated agricultural zone were compared using data for 1950 through 1967. Time trends in these water chemical properties were evaluated statistically by dividing the 18-year period into three 6-year periods. Salinity of the urban zone ground water has increased with time, whereas that of the agricultural zone has fluctuated considerably. Possible reasons for changes are discussed. The nitrate content of well water from both zones has increased with time, with water from the agricultural zone showing the greatest increase. Key words; ground-water degradation; salinity; nitrate.
Kalman filtering with state constraints: a survey of linear and nonlinear algorithms

The Kalman filter is the minimum-variance state estimator for linear dynamic systems with Gaussian noise. Even if the noise is non-Gaussian, the Kalman filter is the best linear estimator. For nonlinear systems it is not possible, in general, to derive the optimal state estimator in closed form, but various modifications of the Kalman filter can be used to estimate the state. These modifications include the extended Kalman filter, the unscented Kalman filter, and the particle filter. Although the Kalman filter and its modifications are powerful tools for state estimation, we might have information about a system that the Kalman filter does not incorporate. For example, we may know that the states satisfy equality or inequality constraints. In this case we can modify the Kalman filter to exploit this additional information and get better filtering performance than the Kalman filter provides. This paper provides an overview of various ways to incorporate state constraints in the Kalman filter and its nonlinear modifications. If both the system and state constraints are linear, then all of these different approaches result in the same state estimate, which is the optimal constrained linear state estimate. If either the system or constraints are nonlinear, then constrained filtering is, in general, not optimal, and different approaches give different results.
Tonsillectomy vs. deep tonsil biopsies in detecting occult tonsil tumors.

Objectives: To compare the yield of detecting occult tumors by performing tonsillectomy and deep tonsil biopsies in patients with metastatic carcinoma to the neck in whom a primary tumor was not evident on physical examination, radiography, or panendoscopy. Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Over a 10-year period, the charts of all patients diagnosed with metastatic carcinoma to the neck in whom a primary tumor was not evident on examination, imaging, and panendoscopy were reviewed. Specifically, we compared groups of patients who had undergone diagnostic tonsillectomy with those who had undergone deep tonsil biopsies in search of an occult primary tumor. Results: One hundred twenty-two patients were identified as meeting study criteria. All underwent directed biopsies of the tongue base, hypopharynx, and nasopharynx as well as either deep tonsil biopsies or diagnostic tonsillectomy. Deep tonsil biopsies were performed in 95 patients. In this group, 11 primary tumors were subsequently identified (11.6%): three in the tonsil, six in the tongue base, one in the hypopharynx, and one in the nasopharynx. Tonsillectomy was performed in 27 patients. Eleven primary tumors were identified (40.7%): eight in the tonsils, two in the tongue base, and one in the hypopharynx. All tonsil primary tumors identified were ipsilateral to the presenting neck mass. The overall yield of finding an occult primary carcinoma in the tonsil was 3.2% for deep tonsil biopsies vs. 29.6% for tonsillectomies (P < .0002). Conclusions: Tonsillectomy offers a significantly higher likelihood of finding occult tonsillar tumors than deep tonsil biopsy. Laryngoscope, 119:102–106, 2009
Technological Constraints During the First 40 Years of Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica Aquaculture

This article focuses on early efforts to culture eastern oyster larvae to settlement. Initial experiments were performed in 1878 and 1879 by Brooks, the first researcher to produce fertilized eggs. The subsequent challenge was to rear the microscopic larvae to settlement by feeding them and changing their culture water without losing them. Researchers like Ryder struggled with these problems, devising a number of filters and water circulation schemes, none of which were practical. Ryder eventually abandoned laboratory work and invented extensive and imaginative, but commercially unsuccessful, field trials to cultivate larvae in ponds and sluiceways. Subsequently, the Nelsons in New Jersey in the early 1900s tried similar experiments, ultimately focusing on understanding larval biology in nature and on predicting when naturally spawned larvae would settle so that settlement surfaces could be provided expeditiously. A breakthrough came in 1920 when Wells used a centrifuge to separate oyster larvae from old ...
Uptake and binding of vincristine by murine leukemia cells.

Abstract Uptake, metabolism and binding of tritium-labeled vincristine sulfate were studied in L1210, P388 and P388/VCR murine leukemia cells in vitro. Negligible metabolism of the drug by these cells was suggested by thin-layer chromatography experiments, in which more than 90 per cent of the label was recovered from cells incubated in tritiated vincristine. and greater than 95 per cent of the recovered tritium was found in the vincristine peak. Serial uptake measurements between 30 sec and 40 min disclosed a biphasic uptake pattern, the early component of which demonstrated Michaelis-Menten kinetics, temperature dependence, inhibition by metabolic poisons, and competitive inhibition by the structural analogue, vinblastine. Efflux experiments disclosed a fraction which was not free to leave the cell and progressively increased during uptake, but at a rate slower than that of entry of the alkaloid into the cells. Accumulation of total and of bound vincristine occurred most rapidly in P388 cells, the subline most sensitive among those studied to the cytotoxic effects of vincristine. The results implicate the presence of a carrier-mediated transport mechanism for translocation of the drug into the cells, and suggest that drug resistance in these cells is due at least in part to impaired accumulation and binding of vincristine within the cell.
What explains consciousness? Or…What consciousness explains?

In this invited commentary I focus on the topic addressed in three papers: De Sousa's (2013 [16],[17] ) Toward an Integrative Theory of Consciousness, a monograph with Parts 1 & 2, as well as commentaries by Pereira (2013a [59] ) and Hirstein (2013 [42] ). All three are impressively scholarly and can stand-and shout-on their own. But theory of consciousness? My aim is to slice that topic into the two fundamentally different kinds of theories of consciousness, say what appears to be an ideology, out of behaviourism into cognitivism, now also influencing the quest for an explanation of consciousness in cognitive neuroscience. I will then say what can be expected given what we know of the complexity of brain structure, the richness of a conscious vocabulary, and current technological limits of brain imaging. This will then turn to the strategy for examining what consciousness explains-metatheory, theories, mappings, and a methodology of competitive support, a methodology especially important where there are competing commitments. There are also increasingly common identifications of methodological bias in, along with failures to replicate, studies reporting unconscious controls in decision, social priming-as there have been in perception, learning, problem solving, etc. The literature critique has provided evidence taken as reducing, and in some cases eliminating, a role for conscious controls-a position consistent with that ideology out of behaviourism into cognitivism. It is an ideological position that fails to recognize the fundamental distinction between theoretical and metaphysical assertions.
AGU Hosts Leadership Summit on Climate Science Communication

[1] Building on informal meetings among a small group of scientific societies and research institutions concerned with climate science, AGU hosted a Leadership Summit on Climate Science Communication, 7–8 March 2011, in Washington, D. C. Presidents, executive directors, and senior public policy staff from 17 science organizations engaged with experts in the social sciences regarding effective communication of climate science and with practitioners from agriculture, energy, and the military. The keynote speaker for the summit was Bob Inglis, former U.S. representative from South Carolina's 4th Congressional District.
Effect of operational variables, microstructure and mechanical properties on the erosion of Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract The erosion behavior of Ti-6A1-4V alloy was studied under ambient conditions using a sand-blast type test rig and silicon carbide particles. The effect of microstructure and mechanical properties on erosion was evaluated by heat treating the alloy at different solution treatment and aging temperatures for different lengths of time. It is found that erosion rate increases with the precipitation on aging, but decreases with overaging due to the agglomeration of precipitates. Erosion rate decreases with the increase in ductility occurring as a result of the changes in heat treatment. The effect of impingement angle, impact velocity and erodent particle size on erosion rate was investigated. The erosion mechanisms were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The material removal in erosion is attributed to cutting, ploughing or pile-up leading to flake formation and separation, and lip fragmentation.
Isothermal kinetic studies using a thermomechanical analyzer II. Rates of penetration of a polymer by a spherical indenter

The use of a commercially available thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) operated in its isothermal mode is illustrated for studies of penetration of a hemispherically-tipped probe into a material sample. Two amorphous copolymers were studied at various temperatures above their softening points. Kinetics of penetration are compared with tensile creep measurements for these viscoelastic materials. A simple semi-empirical relationship between creep and penetration at small strains is applied and found to yield approximate although not exact agreement with experiment. It is thus possible that for homogeneous materials of this type creep data might be easily predicted with a fair degree of accuracy from penetration data and vice versa. Experimental problems involved in the TMA penetration technique are discussed.
Combined cognitive-behavioral and time-limited alprazolam treatment of panic disorder

A combined cognitive-behavioral and time-limited alprazolam, treatment model for panic disorder was evaluated within the context of routine clinical practice. Twenty-two patients were followed for 1 year after the completion of cognitive-behavior therapy and alprazolam discontinuation. At 1-year follow-up, 76% of the original sample were medication-free and 85% remained panic-free. These results are comparable to previous reports of cognitive-behavioral therapy alone (e.g., Craske, Brown, & Barlow, 1991 ) and are far superior to medication-only studies (e.g., Fyer et al., 1987 ). These results suggest that both rapid and long-lasting treatment effects may be obtained through such a combination, and that the combined treatment approach does not necessarily interfere with the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This study represents a first step in evaluating this combined treatment approach and supports the utility of conducting controlled randomized studies to evaluate these issue systematically.
Dissociation of Chemotaxis from Agonist-induced Receptor Internalization in a Lymphocyte Cell Line Transfected with CCR2B EVIDENCE THAT DIRECTED MIGRATION DOES NOT REQUIRE RAPID MODULATION OF SIGNALING AT THE RECEPTOR LEVEL

To investigate the role of the carboxyl-terminal region (52 amino acids) of the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 receptor (CCR2B) in chemotaxis, we created a series of mutants and expressed them in a murine pre-B lymphocyte cell line. Truncation of the cytoplasmic carboxyl tail to 20 amino acids had little or no effect on chemotaxis or signal transduction, but further truncation resulted in marked functional defects. Upon incubation with monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, CCR2B underwent rapid and extensive internalization, and this was impaired progressively as the carboxyl tail was truncated from 52 to 8 amino acids. Mutation of all of the serine and threonine residues in the carboxyl tail to alanine also resulted in markedly impaired receptor internalization but did not affect signaling or chemotaxis. We conclude that the membrane-proximal portion of the cytoplasmic carboxyl tail of CCR2B is critically involved in chemotaxis and signal transduction, but neither phosphorylation of carboxyl serines or threonines nor internalization of the receptor is required for robust chemotaxis.
The troublesome broadband evolution of GRB 061126: Does a gray burst imply gray dust?

We report on observations of a gamma-ray burst (GRB 061126) with an extremely bright (R ≈ 12 mag at peak) early-time optical afterglow. The optical afterglow is already fading as a power law 22 s after the trigger, with no detectable prompt contribution in our first exposure, which was coincident with a large prompt-emission gamma-ray pulse. The optical-infrared photometric SED is an excellent fit to a power law, but it exhibits a moderate red-to-blue evolution in the spectral index at about 500 s after the burst. This color change is contemporaneous with a switch from a relatively fast decay to slower decay. The rapidly decaying early afterglow is broadly consistent with synchrotron emission from a reverse shock, but a bright forward-shock component predicted by the intermediate- to late-time X-ray observations under the assumptions of standard afterglow models is not observed. Indeed, despite its remarkable early-time brightness, this burst would qualify as a dark burst at later times on the basis of its nearly flat optical-to-X-ray spectral index. Our photometric SED provides no evidence of host galaxy extinction, requiring either large quantities of gray dust in the host system (at redshift 1.1588 ± 0.0006, based on our late-time Keck spectroscopy) or separate physical origins for the X-ray and optical afterglows. © 2008. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.