cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A discounting framework for regulatory impact analysis

This article presents a methodology designed to facilitate the systematic comparison of alternative discounting procedures for the costs and benefits of industrial regulatory activity. A discounting framework developed by Bradford is adapted for use in the context of industry regulation. Within this framework, the choice among the various discounting procedures is reduced to a choice between assumptions about various economic and financial parameter values. As an illustration of the way in which the framework can be applied, the article includes an examination of the validity of parameter assumptions implied by the discounting approach currently used by regulatory agencies in their analyses of regulations affecting the motor vehicle industry. Several hypothetical programs are analyzed to demonstrate the broad differences in program treatment that might be expected if this current discounting approach were replaced by procedures generated within the framework from more reasonable parameter assumptions. Sensitivity of the benefit/cost calculations to uncertainty about underlying parameters is also briefly discussed.
The impact of a clinical pathway for gastric bypass surgery on resource utilization

Abstract Background. Clinical pathways are believed to improve patient care and reduce costs. Our hypothesis was that a gastric bypass pathway would decrease hospital resource utilization and cost of care without adversely affecting patient care. Methods. The prepathway (Pre) group consisted of 16 gastric bypasses (6/98 to 3/99). The postpathway (Post) group includes 12 gastric bypass procedures performed after institution of the clinical pathway (4/99 to 12/99). The impact of the clinical pathway on hospital length of stay (LOS) and resource utilization was investigated. A comparison of costs was performed using cost/charge ratios. Hospital readmissions and postoperative complications were also examined. Results. Despite increased obesity/medical acuity of the Post group, hospital LOS decreased by 3 days ( P 15%). Postpathway savings were greatest for room and board (34%), supplies (41%), and lab/radiology costs (50%). An increase in OR costs (22%) was observed in the Post group. This was due to an increase in anesthesia time (epidural catheter placement) and equipment costs (ultrasonic shears). Despite reductions in hospital LOS and resource utilization, the complication rate (Pre 12%, Post 16%) was similar and two patients in each group required brief readmission. Conclusions. A pathway for gastric bypass decreased hospital LOS and resource utilization. OR-related expenses account for 34–50% of total costs and must be monitored closely for surgical patients. The reduction in costs observed with this clinical pathway was not associated with an increase in postoperative complications or hospital readmission.
Comparison of Scores on Regularly Scheduled Examinations and Makeup Examinations

Siimmay.-Two studies investigated students' performance on makeup examinations. In Study 1, 70 of 520 students used a comprehensive makeup, and in Study 2, 103 of 220 students used an hour makeup to replace missed regularly scheduled examinations. Students scored significandy higher on regularly scheduled than on either examination. Further, srudents who did not miss an examination earned higher total scores than students who did. Finally, more students took the hour makeup than comprehensive makeup examination. Ir is suggested that (a) these fmdings be included in instructors' manuals for introductory psychology textbooks, (b) instructors inform students about the makeup-examinauon scores at [he beginning of a term, and (c) instructors use this information ro decide on what format of makeup examination to use.
Morphometric changes in the human pulmonary acinus during inflation

Despite decades of research into the mechanisms of lung inflation and deflation, there is little consensus about whether lung inflation occurs due to the recruitment of new alveoli or by changes in...
Sampling out: regulatory avoidance and the Total Coliform Rule.

This paper investigates strategic noncompliance with the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) under the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act. The structure of the TCR provides incentives for some piped drinking water...
Calcium-dependent Gating of MthK, a Prokaryotic Potassium Channel

MthK is a calcium-gated, inwardly rectifying, prokaryotic potassium channel. Although little functional information is available for MthK, its high-resolution structure is used as a model for eukaryotic Ca(2+)-dependent potassium channels. Here we characterize in detail the main gating characteristics of MthK at the single-channel level with special focus on the mechanism of Ca(2+) activation. MthK has two distinct gating modes: slow gating affected mainly by Ca(2+) and fast gating affected by voltage. Millimolar Ca(2+) increases MthK open probability over 100-fold by mainly increasing the frequency of channel opening while leaving the opening durations unchanged. The Ca(2+) dose-response curve displays an unusually high Hill coefficient (n = approximately 8), suggesting strong coupling between Ca(2+) binding and channel opening. Depolarization affects both the fast gate by dramatically reducing the fast flickers, and to a lesser extent, the slow gate, by increasing MthK open probability. We were able to capture the mechanistic features of MthK with a modified MWC model.
Light Curve Studies of SN 1993J and SN 1994I

Numerical light curve calculations have been carried out to constrain the light-curve parameters of the recent SNs 1993J and 1994I. For SN 1993J the radius of the progenitor star is constrained to be in the range 2-4 × 1013 cm which is consistent with the candidate progenitor star. The ejected mass is constrained to be in the range 1.9-3.5 M☉; equating the ejected mass to the helium core mass of the progenitor implies a main-sequence mass in the range 12-17 M☉. Using the new Cepheid distance to M81, the ejected 56Ni mass is found to be in the range 0.10-0.14 M☉. For SN 1994I the ejected mass is in the range 0.9-1.3 M☉; equating the ejected mass to the carbon-oxygen core mass of the progenitor implies a main-sequence mass in the range 13-20 M☉. For a distance of 7 Mpc and an extinction AV = 1.4 mag, the ejected 56Ni mass is found to be 0.07 M☉. Recent studies of galactic chemical evolution have suggested that the main-sequence masses and ejected 56Ni masses of core collapse SNs may be inversely correlated. We examine this effect for 1993J, 1994I, and 1987A, but the small number of known nickel mass-main-sequence mass systems makes it too early to draw definitive conclusions.
Effect of hypertonic saline solution and dextran on ventricular blood flow and heart-lung interaction after hemorrhagic shock

Abstract Background: Hypertonic saline solutions may have beneficial hemodynamic effects in the resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock. The effects on cardiac function and potential interaction with lung function are controversial and served as the basis for this study. Methods: Domestic swine were resuscitated from hemorrhagic shock with equivalent sodium loads of lactated Ringer's solution (LR) or 7.5% NaCl plus 10% dextran (HSD). Hemodynamic data were obtained at baseline, shock, and after resuscitation. Right ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular change in pressure with respect to time (dP/dt) were used to index contractility. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined with microspheres. Lung water was determined gravimetrically. Results: There were no differences in the ability to restore hemodynamic parameters with equivalent sodium loads of LR and HSD resuscitation. Right ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular change in pressure with respect to time were only transiently affected by shock and resuscitation. Regional myocardial blood flow was increased above baseline values after HSD. The total resuscitation volumes were 1958 ± 750 mL and 140 ± 31 mL with LR and HSD, respectively. Conclusions: Although LR and HSD were equally effective in the early resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock, this occurred at the expense of significantly greater volume requirements for resuscitation with LR. This may contribute to cardiac dysfunction in this setting. Enhanced regional myocardial blood flow after HSD resuscitation may be beneficial against ongoing myocardial stress. (Surgery 1998;124:642-50.)
Subjective and objective outcomes 1 year after robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

We aimed to assess the subjective and objective outcomes 1 year after robotic sacrocolpopexy using a type I polypropylene mesh. This was a case series of 64 patients who underwent a robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy using a type I monofilament polypropylene mesh coated with hydrophilic porcine collagen. Objective and subjective outcomes were assessed using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q), the short forms of the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ 7) and the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20). Outcome measures were collected pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively on all but one patient, who was lost to follow-up. Paired comparisons between pre- and post-operative outcomes were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. At 1 year, POP-Q stage II or greater and loss of follow-up were considered to be surgical failure. The “surgical cure” rate was 89%. We observed three distal anterior failures, two distal posterior failures and one apical failure, and one patient was lost to follow-up. We found significant differences between pre- and post-operative POP-Q measurements (p < 0.001) and PFDI-20/PFIQ-7 total scores (p < 0.001). Robotic sacrocolpopexy using this polypropylene mesh resulted in significant improvements in subjective and objective outcome measures at 1 year.
Ultrasound and Review of Evidence for Lower Extremity Peripheral Nerve Blocks

This qualitative systematic review summarizes existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ultrasound (US) to alternative techniques for lower extremity peripheral nerve block. There were 11 RCTs of sufficient quality for inclusion. Jadad scores ranged from 1 to 4 with a median of 3. For femoral nerve blocks, US provided shorter onset and improved quality of sensory and motor block, as well as a decrease in local anesthetic requirements. For sciatic nerve blocks, US resulted in a higher percentage of patients with complete sensory and motor block, as well as decreased local anesthetic requirements. In 2 of the studies for sciatic nerve block, US resulted in a shorter time to successfully complete the procedure. No study was powered to detect a difference in surgical block success. Overall, there was significant heterogeneity in the definitions of successful sensory and motor block. In 2 studies, the optimal peripheral nerve stimulation technique may have not been used, resulting in a potential bias. No RCT reported US as inferior to alternative techniques in any outcome. There is level Ib evidence to make a grade A recommendation that US guidance provides improvements in onset and success of sensory block, a decrease in local anesthetic requirements, and decreased time to perform lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks.
Knife-edge profiling of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser beam and waist.

A TEM/sub 00/ laser beam operated at a 2.0-kHz repetition rate and 1W average power was studied on a laser resistor trimmer.(AIP)
Two Short Proofs on Total Domination

A set of vertices of a graph G is a total dominating set if each vertex of G is adjacent to a vertex in the set. The total domination number of a graph t (G) is the minimum size of a total dominating set. We provide a short proof of the result that t (G) 2 n for connected graphs with n 3 and a short characterization of the extremal graphs.
Assessing denitrification from seasonally saturated soils in an agricultural landscape: A farm-scale mass-balance approach

Abstract Riparian zones have received considerable attention as potential hotspots of denitrification at the landscape- or watershed-scale. Conceptually, the conditions that promote denitrification in these zones are also found in other parts of the landscape, namely those areas that are prone to saturate. However, spatiotemporal characterization and quantification of these potential denitrification hotspots are lacking, despite their importance to land managers tasked with mitigation of nitrogen (N) pollution, particularly in human-dominated landscapes. We quantified denitrification fluxes from the shallow saturated zone of an agricultural landscape using a topographic index-denitrification model, which facilitates scaling of in situ denitrification rates across the landscape based on frequency and duration of saturated conditions. Denitrification in the shallow saturated zone (i.e., where the water table is at or within a few meters of the soil surface) resulted in a N flux that was nearly half of the total denitrification from the landscape—in about a third of the area—as determined from a well-constrained whole-farm N balance constructed from farm records and field measures. Denitrification flux rates from saturated riparian soils were among the highest in the landscape, however the contribution of riparian areas to total landscape denitrification was less than 10%.
Spiny Norman in the Garden of Eden? Dispersal and early biogeography of Placentalia

The persistent finding of clades endemic to the southern continents (Afrotheria and Xenarthra) near the base of the placental mammal tree has led molecular phylogeneticists to suggest an origin of Placentalia, the crown group of Eutheria, somewhere in the southern continents. Basal splits within the Placentalia have then been associated with vicariance due to the breakup of Gondwana. Southern-origin scenarios suffer from several problems. First, the place of origin of Placentalia cannot be reconstructed using phylogenetic reasoning without reference to outgroups. When available outgroups are considered, a Laurasian origin is most parsimonious. Second, a model of pure vicariance would require that basal placental splits occurred not with the breakup of Gondwana, but of Pangea in the Late Triassic—Early Jurassic. This event long preceded even the oldest molecular divergence estimates for the Placentalia and was coeval only with the earliest mammals in the fossil record. Third, a problem with the number of dispersal events that would be required emerges under different southern-origin scenarios. In considering the geographic distribution of the major placental clades at their first appearance (mostly Early Cenozoic), it becomes clear that a Laurasian center of origin would require fewer dispersal events. Southern-origin models would require at least twice the number of dispersal events in comparison with a model of Laurasian origins. This number of required dispersal events increases if extinct groups of placental mammals are also considered. Results are similar assuming a morphology-based phylogeny. These facts, along with earlier findings speaking against a major placental radiation deep in the Cretaceous without leaving fossil evidence, suggest an origin of Placentalia somewhere in Laurasia with few supraordinal splits occurring before the last 5–10 million years of the Cretaceous.
Clinical investigation: Regional nodal failure patterns in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy without radiotherapy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe regional nodal failure patterns in patients who had undergone mastectomy with axillary dissection to define subgroups of patients who might benefit from supplemental regional nodal radiation to the axilla or supraclavicular fossa/axillary apex. Methods and Materials: The cohort consisted of 1031 patients treated with mastectomy (including a level I-II axillary dissection) and doxorubicin-based systemic therapy without radiation on five clinical trials at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Patient records, including pathology reports, were retrospectively reviewed. All regional recurrences (with or without distant metastasis) were recorded. Median follow-up was 116 months (range, 6–262 months). Results: Twenty-one patients recurred within the low-mid axilla (10-year actuarial rate 3%). Of these, 16 were isolated regional failures (no chest wall failure). The risk of failure in the low-mid axilla was not significantly higher for patients with increasing numbers of involved nodes, increasing percentage of involved nodes, larger nodal size or gross extranodal extension. Only 3 of 100 patients with Seventy-seven patients had a recurrence in the supraclavicular fossa/axillary apex (10-year actuarial rate 8%). Forty-nine were isolated regional recurrences. Significant predictors of failures in this region included ≥4 involved axillary lymph nodes, >20% involved axillary nodes, and the presence of gross extranodal extension (10-year actuarial rates 15%, 14%, and 19%, respectively, p Conclusions: These results suggest that failure in the level I-II axilla is an uncommon occurrence after modified radical mastectomy and chemotherapy. Therefore, supplemental radiotherapy to the dissected axilla is not warranted for most patients. However, patients with ≥4 involved axillary lymph nodes, >20% involved axillary nodes, or gross extranodal extension are at increased risk of failure in the supraclavicular fossa/axillary apex and should receive radiation to undissected regions in addition to the chest wall.
Plasma corticosterone responses to electrical stimulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Abstract The effect of ventral septal stimulation on pituitary-adrenal function was assessed by evaluating plasma corticosterone obtained prior to and following sham or electrical stimulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of female rats anesthetized with urethane (1.3 g·kg−1). Hippocampal EEG, ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration were routinely monitored; timed blood samples (0.2 ml) for determining plasma corticosterone (RIA) were obtained from a catheterized tail artery. Samples were taken at 0.5 min prior to and at 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after initiation of stimulation. Whereas increased plasma corticosterone levels followed stimulation of the medial aspect of the BNST, lateral stimulation resulted in decreased plasma corticosterone levels. The overall increase in plasma corticosterone following medial stimulation was 24%; the overall decrease was 13%. The largest increase in plasma corticosterone (36%) occurred at 30 poststimulation; the largest decrease (22%) occurred at 15 min. Stimulation of the most rostral aspect of the BNST produced plasma corticosterone responses similar to that observed following medial stimulation. In contrast, no changes in corticosterone levels were observed following either sham stimulation of the corpus callosum, fornix or anterior commissure.
Activation and inhibition of rat neuronal nicotinic receptors by ABT-418

1. ABT-418 appeared to function as a relatively broad spectrum activator of neuronal nicotinic receptors, expressed in Xenopus oocytes, with little cross reactivity to the mammalian muscle receptor subtype. However, the relative potencies of ABT-418 at the various subtypes differed from those acetylcholine (ACh). For example, ACh was most potent at alpha 3 beta 2 (EC50 approximately 30 microM) and least potent at alpha 2 beta 2 (EC50 approximately 500 microM). ABT-418 was most potent at alpha 4 beta 2 and alpha 2 beta 2 (EC50 approximately 6 microM and 11 microM, respectively) and least potent at alpha 3 beta 4 (EC50 approximately 188 microM). 2. In addition to activating neuronal receptors, ABT-418 exhibited complex properties, including the inhibition of ACh responses. 3. The current responses elicited by relatively high concentrations of ABT-418 on the alpha 4 beta 2 receptor subtype were protracted beyond the application interval. The coapplication of ABT-418 with either of the use-dependent inhibitors bis(1,2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-pipendimyl)sebacate (BTMPS) or tetramethyl-pipenidine (TMP) eliminated the late protracted phase of the currents with only small effects on the initial activation phase. When the reversible inhibitor TMP was washed from the bath, the previously inhibited late current reappeared, suggesting that the observed mixed agonist-antagonist effects of ABT-418 and (+/-)-epibatidine on alpha 4 beta 2 were due to a concentration-dependent noncompetitive inhibition, an effect similar to that obtained for (-)-nicotine. 4. The inhibition of alpha 4 beta 2 receptors by ABT-418 was voltage-dependent. When high concentrations of ABT-418 were applied under depolarizing conditions, additional late currents could be observed under conditions which suggested that a build up of ABT-418 in an unstirred layer over the surface of the oocyte was occurring. This may have been due to the dissociation of the drug from channel blocking sites on the receptors themselves, or alternatively, from the plasma membrane of the cells.
Effects of pancreaticoduodenal allografts on diabetic testicular lesions in the rat

Abnormal testicular histology is common in untreated diabetic animals and men. Reversal of testicular lesions with return of function and fertility are seen in controlled diabetes. We investigated the effects of pancreaticoduodenal (PD) allografts on testicular lesions of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. For periods of l to 15 months, 190 diabetic Lewis rats were allowed to remain diabetic before receiving PD transplants and Cyclosporin A (CsA); 190 other rats were divided into 4 control groups: normal rats with and without CsA, and diabetic rats with and without CsA. Following transplantation, transplanted rats and corresponding controls were sacrificed at 3-month intervals. Testicles were morphometrically examined. CsA did not affect rat testicular histology. All successfully transplanted rats (n = 97) had complete reversal of hyperglycemia. In the first 6 months following transplantation, the testicular lesions appear to worsen; thereafter, the testicular sizes, tubular densities, and percentages of germinal tissue converge toward nondiabetic levels. This convergence was more marked in the later transplantation groups (≥ 9 months of diabetes before receiving transplantation) than in the earlier groups (<9 months). Overall, these results suggest that PD transplantation may partially reverse testicular lesions. Although pancreas transplantation may initially worsen diabetic testicular lesions, after 6 months, improvement of the lesions can be expected. Thus, an important result from this study relating to the clinical laboratory is that good control of the blood glucose in diabetics causes reversal of diabetic testicular lesions with return of function and fertility. In addition, Cyclosporin levels should be monitored in clinical laboratories in transplant patients to prevent toxic injury to the kidney and liver. However, Cyclosporin did not damage the testis in our study.
Using Picture Books to Teach Geography in the Primary Grades.

(1989). Using Picture Books to Teach Geography in the Primary Grades. Journal of Geography: Vol. 88, No. 4, pp. 126-136.
Thinking about Sodomy: Public Schools, Legal Panopticons, and Queers.

This article explores the status of U.S. public school educators both queer and non-queer who have historically resided at the intersection of sodomy laws and professional norms including licensure, morality clauses, and professional socialization. Employing Foucault’s notion of panopticism, the author examines how sodomy laws and professional norms—which are social norms—have historically shaped the work environment of public school educators. Furthermore, this article explores how both queer and non-queer public school administrators have functioned as sexuality and gender police. It also briefly examines the current state of civil rights law at both the state and federal levels regarding queer people. It concludes with a discussion of the recent U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas and the larger issues of the politics of state-sponsored stigma and the politics of social justice for U.S. public schools.
Real time frequency domain fiberoptic temperature sensor

The excited state phosphorescence lifetime of alexandrite crystals is used to monitor temperature in the physiological range from 15-45/spl deg/C with precision and accuracy of 0.2/spl deg/C. A 500-/spl mu/m cubic alexandrite crystal bounded to the distal end of an optical fiber of similar core dimensions is excited with pulsed Ne-He laser light. This apparatus uses a sampler for data acquisition and frequency domain methods for data fitting. The instrument amplifies the AC components of the detector output and band limits the signal to 12.5 kHz. The fundamental frequency of the excitation is set to 195.13 Hz to obtain 64 harmonics. This band limited signal is sampled and averaged over few hundred cycles in the time domain. The frequency domain representation of the data is obtained by employing fast Fourier transform algorithms. The phase delay and the modulation ratio of each sampled harmonic are then computed. Five to 50 values of the phase and modulations are averaged before computing the sensor lifetime. The instrument is capable of measuring precise and accurate excited state lifetimes from subpicowatt luminescent signals in plastic optical fibers. A least squares fit yields the lifetimes of single exponentials. A component of zero lifetime is introduced to account for the backscatter excitation seen by the photodetector leaking through optical interference filters. The phosphorescence lifetimes measured reproducibly to about three parts in a thousand are used to monitor physiological temperature. Temperatures are computed employing empirical polynomials. The system drift is negligible over 15 h of continuous operation. The instrumentation and methods allow 1.3-s update times and 30-s full response times. >
Cancer and Communication in the Health Care Setting: Experiences of Older Vietnamese Immigrants, A Qualitative Study

Background As patients grow older, accurate communication with health care providers about cancer becomes increasingly important. However, little is known about the cancer communication experiences of older Asian immigrants.
Type Systems for Useless-Variable Elimination

We present a type-based specification for useless-variable elimination for a higher-order, call-by-value functional language. Utilizing a weak form of dependent types, we introduce a mechanism for eliminating at runtime useless code that is not detectable statically. We prove the specifications sound and safe with respect to an operational semantics, ensuring that eliminated expressions contributed no observable behavior to the original program. We define an algorithm that implements useless-variable elimination without dependent types, and we prove this algorithm correct with respect to the specification.
A requirement for membrane cholesterol in the β-arrestin- and clathrin-dependent endocytosis of LPA1 lysophosphatidic acid receptors

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulates heterotrimeric G protein signaling by activating three closely related receptors, termed LPA(1), LPA(2) and LPA(3). Here we show that in addition to promoting LPA(1) signaling, membrane cholesterol is essential for the association of LPA(1) with beta-arrestin, which leads to signal attenuation and clathrin-dependent endocytosis of LPA(1). Reduction of clathrin heavy chain expression, using small interfering RNAs, inhibited LPA(1) endocytosis. LPA(1) endocytosis was also inhibited in beta-arrestin 1 and 2-null mouse embryo fibroblasts (beta-arrestin 1/2 KO MEFs), but was restored upon re-expression of wild-type beta-arrestin 2. beta-arrestin attenuates LPA signaling as LPA(1)-dependent phosphoinositide hydrolysis was significantly elevated in beta-arrestin 1/2 KO MEFs and was reduced to wild-type levels upon re-expression of wild-type beta-arrestin. Interestingly, extraction of membrane cholesterol with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin inhibited LPA(1) signaling, beta-arrestin membrane recruitment and LPA(1) endocytosis. Cholesterol repletion restored all of these functions. However, neither the stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by the M(1) acetylcholine receptor nor its endocytosis was affected by cholesterol extraction. LPA treatment increased the detergent resistance of LPA(1) and this was inhibited by cholesterol extraction, suggesting that LPA(1) localizes to detergent-resistant membranes upon ligand stimulation. These data indicate that although LPA(1) is internalized by clathrin- and beta-arrestin dependent endocytosis, membrane cholesterol is critical for LPA(1) signaling, membrane recruitment of beta-arrestins and LPA(1) endocytosis.
The Corporate Campaign against Homelessness: Class Power and Urban Governance in Neoliberal Atlanta, 1973–1988

This article deals with the efforts of Atlanta's business community to remove homeless people from the downtown area during the 1970s and 1980s. The corporate sector pursued a two-pronged strategy in rolling out this removal project. First, it attempted to define homelessness as a public safety problem requiring a beefed-up police presence in the central city. Second, it attempted to leverage social services in such a way as to physically displace homeless people from the downtown area. The corporate campaign against homelessness culminated in the Central Area II Study of 1986-1988, a blueprint for downtown revitalization that targeted homeless people for removal. The corporate campaign against homelessness illuminates the "roll out phase" of neo-liberalism when the "right hand" and "left hand" of the state underwent a significant reconfiguration.
The dynamic association of RCC1 with chromatin is modulated by Ran-dependent nuclear transport.

Regulator of chromosome condensation (RCC1) binding to chromatin is highly dynamic, as determined by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis of GFP-RCC1 in stably transfected tsBN2 cells. Microinjection of wild-type or Q69L Ran markedly slowed the mobility of GFP-RCC1, whereas T24N Ran (defective in nucleotide loading) decreased it further still. We found significant alterations in the mobility of intranuclear GFP-RCC1 after treatment with agents that disrupt different Ran-dependent nuclear export pathways. Leptomycin B, which inhibits Crm1/RanGTP-dependent nuclear export, significantly increased the mobility of RCC1 as did high levels of actinomycin D (to inhibit RNA polymerases I, II, and III) or α-amanitin (to inhibit RNA polymerases II and III) as well as energy depletion. Inhibition of just mRNA transcription, however, had no affect on GFP-RCC1 mobility consistent with mRNA export being a Ran-independent process. In permeabilized cells, cytosol and GTP were required for the efficient release of GFP-RCC1 from chromatin. Recombinant Ran would not substitute for cytosol, and high levels of supplemental Ran inhibited the cytosol-stimulated release. Thus, RCC1 release from chromatin in vitro requires a factor(s) distinct from, or in addition to, Ran and seems linked in vivo to the availability of Ran-dependent transport cargo.
Improving the Transition Fault Coverage of Functional Broadside Tests by Observation Point Insertion

Functional broadside tests were defined to address overtesting that may occur due to high peak current demands when tests for delay faults take the circuit through states that it cannot visit during functional operation (unreachable states). The fault coverage achievable by functional broadside tests is typically lower than the fault coverage achievable by (unrestricted) broadside tests. A solution to this loss in fault coverage in the form of observation point insertion is described. Observation points do not affect the state of the circuit. Thus, functional broadside tests retain their property of testing the circuit using only reachable states to avoid overtesting due to high peak current demands. However, the extra observability allows additional faults to be detected. A procedure for observation point insertion to improve the coverage of transition faults is described. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that significant improvements in transition fault coverage by functional broadside tests is obtained.
Accumulation of acidic renin isoforms in kidneys of cyclosporine-A-treated rats.

Chronic cyclosporin A (C5A) treatment results in major hemodynamic changes in the renal microvascula- ture and in expression of the intrarenal renin angio- tensin system. Changes in renin expression in kidneys of CsA-treated rats include the recruitment of immu- noreactive renin in afferent arterioles and in the jux- taglomerular apparatus. This study presents evidence that an acidic isoform of renin is increased in kidneys of CsA-treated rats. Immunoblots of rat kidney homo- genate separated by polyacrylamide-gel electro- phoresis and also by isoelectric focusing demon- strafe the presence of an acidic isoform (p1 5.5 and estimated molecular weight of approximately 32 to 36 kd) seen in increased amounts in kidney homoge- nate from CsA-treated rats. Silver- stained two-dimen- sional gels of renin separated from kidney homoge- nate with pepstafin agarose confirm the presence of an acidic renin isoform in CsA-treated rats. In rats that received CsA for varied intervals of 1, 3, 5, and 8 wk, this acidic isoform is shown to significantly accumu- late relative to duration of treatment with CsA when immunoreactive bands are analyzed by densitomet- nc scanning (,� = 0.90, P < 0.001). Renin enzymatic activity also increased in kidney homogenate of CsA- treated rats relative to duration of treatment with CsA (r2 0.486, P < 0.001). Prorenin in these same samples was significantly decreased compared with controls. The acidic renin isoform identified in kidney homoge-
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates the sodium chloride cotransporter via Ras guanyl releasing protein 1 (Ras-GRP1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway

The sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) is the principal salt absorptive pathway in the mammalian distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and is the site of action of thiazide diuretics. Using a mammalian cell model system to assess NCC function, we demonstrated previously that Ras guanyl releasing protein 1 (Ras-GRP1) mediates phorbol ester-induced suppression of the function and surface expression of NCC in a protein kinase C (PKC)-independent and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2-dependent manner. Given that phorbol esters are functional analogs of diacylglycerol (DAG), this finding suggested a potential physiologic regulation of NCC by DAG. The parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is expressed in the DCT and activates PLC resulting in the generation of DAG. In this article, we demonstrate that PTH suppresses NCC function via a PLC/Ras-GRP1/ERK pathway. A functional assessment of NCC measuring thiazide-sensitive 22 Na + flux revealed that PTH suppresses NCC function. The inhibition of PLC prevented the suppression of NCC, indicating that PLC was necessary for this effect. Inhibitors of PKC and protein kinase A (PKA) had no effect on this suppression, but mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors prevented the PTH effect completely. Ras-GRP1 activates the MAPK pathway though activation of the small G-protein Ras. Gene silencing of Ras-GRP1 prevented the PTH-mediated suppression of NCC activity, the activation of the H-Ras isoform of Ras, and the activation of ERK1/2 MAPK. This finding confirmed the critical role of Ras-GRP1 in mediating the PTH-induced suppression of NCC activity through stimulation of the MAPK pathway.
Electrophilic Intermediates Produced by Bioactivation of Furan

The industrial and environmental chemical, furan, is a liver toxicant and carcinogen in laboratory animals. It has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. The mechanism of tumor induction is unknown. However, toxicity is initiated by cytochrome P450 catalyzed oxidation of furan to an α,β-unsaturated dialdehyde, cis-2-butene-1,4-dial. This metabolite reacts readily with protein and DNA nucleophiles and is a bacterial mutagen in Ames assay strain TA104. Metabolism studies indicate that this reactive metabolite is formed in vivo. It is also an intermediate leading to other metabolites whose role in furan-derived toxicities has yet to be explored.
The System‐Maintenance Role of the White Psychologist

A practicing investigator cognizant of the limitations of science claims that the white psychologist cannot help but maintain the current social system since he is rewarded quite well by it for his current activities. If he were to radically change his current activities, he would no longer be rewarded by the system in which he functions. The common dimension characteristic of white psychologists, justification for the status quo, manifests itself in three distinct orientations: (a) bio-asocial-ism which justifies traditional instrumentation, (b) cultural pathologism which justifies traditional paradigms, and (c) integrationism which justifies traditional policies. A further two-fold dimension common to these orientations is a belief that black people are similar enough to white people to permit measurement by common instruments, and different enough from white people to justify scientific research into the causes of the differences.
Evaluation of liver stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography in patients with constrictive pericarditis: Preliminary findings.

Purpose To evaluate with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) whether patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) have increased hepatic stiffness. CP results in reduced pericardial compliance, ventricular interdependence, and right heart failure. Patients with untreated CP may develop liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis due to chronic venous congestion. Chronic venous congestion ± fibrosis may lead to increased liver stiffness. Materials and Methods Prospectively, patients with suspected CP underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and liver MRE. An automated method was used to draw regions of interest (ROIs) on the stiffness maps to calculate the mean liver stiffness in kilopascals (kPa). A t-test with α = 0.05 was performed between stiffness values of patients with positive and negative CP findings based on previously published echocardiography criteria. Results Nineteen patients met inclusion criteria with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 51 ± 16 years. Nine patients (47%) had CP. Mean liver stiffness trended higher in patients with CP compared to those without CP (4.04 kPa vs. 2.46; P = 0.045). Liver stiffness correlated with MRI septal bounce (P = 0.04), inferior vena cava size (P = 0.003), echo abnormal septal motion (P = 0.04), and echo mitral inflow variation >25% (P = 0.02). Only MRI septal bounce predicted CP by echocardiography (P < 0.001). Conclusion CP was associated with increased liver stiffness. The increased stiffness is most likely secondary to chronic hepatic venous congestion and/or fibrosis. MRE may be useful for noninvasive liver stiffness assessment in CP. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015.
At a Loss for Words: Measuring Racial Inequality in America

Scholars of race tend to measure racial inequality in either absolute or relative terms. How much Blacks have advanced from their historical antebellum status is an absolute measure. How the status of Blacks compares with that of Whites is a relative measure. A more revealing measure might be how much racial equality will be strategically necessary to avoid a major politico-economic crisis like the ones that occurred during the civil war and the 1960s. Though it is easier to measure absolute or relative equality, measures of strategic equality yeild more important information. Using the Current Population Survey, General Social Survey, Center for Education Statistics, Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, and Census Bureau estimates, I find that, strategically, America is actually declining in racial equality, not advancing.
Student Satisfaction in STEM: An Exploratory Study

This research presents the findings of a survey conducted to measure students’ satisfaction with the Information Systems programs of a public college. The survey consisted of 29 questions. An invitation email was sent to 1244 students (361 Associate degree students, and 883 Bachelor’s degree students). For ease of access to the survey, a web link was embedded in the invitation email. In addition, the students were assured that they will remain anonymous and that their responses can not be distinguished from those of others. The survey was available for 1.5 weeks from Dec 10th to Dec 19th 2012, and students could only take it once. In addition, department faculty were asked to encourage students to take the survey and to dedicate 10 minutes at the beginning of their classes for the students to take the survey online if they wished to do so. By the end of the period, 593 students (47.7%) took the survey. Because the survey responses were anonymous, it is fair to say that the responses reflect the students’ true feelings and perceptions. In this research, the author showed that satisfaction with teaching, skills acquired, program, effectiveness, the availability of an internship program, technological resources, as well as the number of credit acquired, all had positive impact on students’ overall satisfaction with the program. Gender and having English as a first language were not found to have a direct impact on satisfaction though.
Statutory Interpretation in Utah

Justice Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner recently noted that canons of statutory interpretation “exist within the thousands of law reports scattered through a law library, expounded at length but with questionable lucidity.” Statutory Interpretation in Utah represents a diligent search through Utah’s collection of law reports for the most lucid explanations of the methods of statutory interpretation as adopted and applied in Utah, including emerging trends like Justice Lee’s somewhat controversial endorsement of data-driven corpus analysis. The Utah Supreme Court has made clear that “evaluation of the statutes purpose must start with its text, not the legislative history.” Hooban v. Unicity Int’l., Inc., 2012 UT 40, ¶17, 285 P.3d 766. Despite this clear direction, practitioners often skip over textual tools in favor of legislative history or some other vague argument about the legislature’s intent. This paper will guide practitioners in the how and why of making the arguments that they may currently be overlooking.
Energy intake highs and lows: how much does consistency matter in weight control?

Summary Behavioural weight control programmes recommend adherence to daily energy intake goals, yet also allow for flexibility in intake across days. Evidence is lacking as to whether intake consistency is important for weight control. The current study explored the relation between day-to-day intake consistency and weight loss in the context of behavioural weight loss treatment and examined the relationship between variability in intake and several factors known to be associated with weight control success. Participants (N = 283) enrolled in a 12-month behavioural weight loss programme completed 24-h recalls of dietary intake and psychological measures. At the end of treatment, low intake variability and greater weight loss were associated, but variability was not predictive of weight loss independent of mean intake in continuous analyses. Interestingly, participants who met the programme goal of ≥10% weight loss had less intake variability compared to those who lost <10%, although groups did not differ significantly on mean intake. Results suggest that daily intake consistency may facilitate successful weight loss for some. Additionally, autonomous motivation for weight management and cognitive dietary restraint were inversely related to end-of-treatment intake variability. Additional research is needed to examine whether recommendations to limit intake variability during behavioural weight loss treatment improve long-term weight control.
Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Trajectory and Atmosphere Reconstruction

Flight data from an entry, descent, and landing (ED L) sequence can be used to reconstruct the vehicle’s trajectory as well as com pute the associated uncertainty. The atmospheric profile encountered by the vehicle can also be estimated from flight data. Past Mars missions have contained instruments, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and radar altimeters that do not provide direct measurement o f the free-stream atmospheric conditions. Thus, uncertainties in the atmospheric reconstruction and the aerodynamic database knowledge cannot be separated. However, the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) will take measurements of the pressure on the aeroshell forebody during entry. These measurements will provide means to determine the free-stream conditions and to separate the atmospheric and aerodynamic uncertainties. In this paper, analytical methods to statistically determine trajectories and free-strea m conditions from flight data and to quantify uncertainties in these estimates are discu ssed. A sample data set from the ballistic range test of Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is then used to demonstrate results from applying these procedures. This approach utilizes the same techniques and toolset planned for subsequent application for the reconstr uction of MSL’s EDL sequence in 2012.
Granulocyte colony formation in chronic granulocytic leukemia during stable, accelerated and blastic disease.

SummaryThe number of granulocyte colony forming cells (CFU-C) has been determined in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) during the stable, accelerated and blastic phases of the disease. These studies have corroborated previous work indicating that blood CFU-C numbers are high during the stable phase of CGL. In the accelerated and blast phases of CGL, CFU-C numbers in the peripheral blood and bone marrow may be decreased, normal or increased, but are not consistently low. Changes in CFU-C numbers could not be correlated with clinical patterns of CGL, or eventual outcome of the disease.
Soluble T lymphocyte antigen-specific molecules.

The immune response is characterized by the recognition of self versus nonself, specificity, in-ducibility, and memory. These hallmarks are manifested by the activity of lymphocytes, their differentiated progeny, and some of their soluble products. Specificity of the immune response is ultimately due to cell membrane receptors of T and B lymphocyte clones which bind specifically to antigen. This interaction results in a complex series of events leading to expansion and differentiation of the responding clones, and immunologic memory of the previous exposure to the antigenic stimulus. B lymphocytes extend their specific recognition of antigen by the production of soluble, antigen-specific immunoglobulins with combining sites identical (or very similar) to the heavy and light chain V regions of the B cell membrane immunoglobulin receptor (1) for antigen. In contrast to B lymphocytes, most antigen-specific T lymphocyte activity is mediated by cell membrane-associated receptors which recognize fragments of an...
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1981

The following article highlights the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1981 (Pub. L. No. 97-116). During the past session of the Ninety-seventh Congress, the bill, which was referred to as the "efficiency bill", passed the House by a voice vote on October 13, 1981 and was received in the Senate on October 14, 1981. Its purpose is to improve the efficiency of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, to provide clarification of certain provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act and in some case to eliminate the need for Congress to consider private immigration bills. With the exception of a few provisions relating to students, foreign medical students, and the retention of fees by naturaliza? tion courts, the new law went into effect December 29, 1981.