cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic structures of viral agents in relation to the biosynthesis of selenoproteins.

The genomes of both bacteria and eukaryotic organisms are known to encode selenoproteins, using the UGA codon for selenocysteine (SeC), and a complex cotranslational mechanism for SeC incorporation into polypeptide chains, involving RNA stem-loop structures. These common features and similar codon usage strongly suggest that this is an ancient evolutionary development. However, the possibility that some viruses might also encode selenoproteins remained unexplored until recently. Based on an analysis of the genomic structure of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1, we demonstrated that several regions overlapping known HIV genes have the potential to encode selenoproteins (Taylor et al.[31], J. Med. Chem. 37, 2637–2654 [1994]). This is provocative in the light of over-whelming evidence of a role for oxidative stress in AIDS pathogenesis, and the fact that a number of viral diseases have been linked to selenium (Se) deficiency, either in humans or by in vitro and animal studies. These include HIV-AIDS, hepatitis B linked to liver disease and cancer, Coxsackie virus B3, Keshan disease, and the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), against which Se is a potent chemoprotective agent. There are also established biochemical mechanisms whereby extreme Se deficiency can induce a proclotting or hemorrhagic effect, suggesting that hemorrhagic fever viruses should also be examined for potential virally encoded selenoproteins. In addition to the RNA stem-loop structures required for SeC insertion at UGA codons, genomic structural features that may be required for selenoprotein synthesis can also include ribosomal frameshift sites and RNA pseudoknots if the potential selenoprotein module overlaps with another gene, which may prove to be the rule rather than the exception in viruses. One such pseudoknot that we predicted in HIV-1 has now been verified experimentally; a similar structure can be demonstrated in precisely the same location in the reverse transcriptase coding region of hepatitis B virus. Significant new findings reported here include the existence of highly distinctive glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-related sequences in Coxsackie B viruses, new theoretical data related to a previously proposed potential selenoprotein gene overlapping the HIV protease coding region, and further evidence in support of a novel frameshift site in the HIV nef gene associated with a well-conserved UGA codon in the-1 reading frame.
The affective tone of psychology.

(1966). The Affective Tone of Psychology. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 65-78.
Absenteeism and voluntary turnover in Central Florida hotels: a pilot study

Abstract A pilot study conducted among 62 hotel human resources managers (HRM) in Central Florida was undertaken for the purpose of investigating the magnitude and underlying causes of absenteeism and voluntary turnover. The results indicated that a large proportion of the HRMs would not, or could not compute the magnitude of their absenteeism and voluntary turnover rates in their properties. In the opinions of these HRMs, the factors that affect employee absenteeism were mostly work-related rather than demographic. On the other hand the factors that affect employee voluntary turnover according to the survey's respondents were a combination of work-related and personal characteristics.
Enzymes in the regeneration of rhodopsin

We have shown that regenerability of a photobleached digitonin extract of rhodopsin does not depend upon the presence of the retinal isomerase of Hubbard ( Hubbard, 1956 ) acting on all trans retinal. Regeneration kinetics were observed and no evidence for an enzyme controlled coupling reaction found.
Morphology and development of the multiple lateral line canals on the trunk in two species of Hexagrammos (Scorpaeniformes, Hexagrammidae).

The morphology and development of the multiple lateral line canals (canals 1-5 in dorsal to ventral sequence) on the trunk of two representative hexagrammids, Hexagrammos decagrammus and H. stelleri, were studied using histological and cleared and stained material. The morphology of the lateral line scales of which the lateral line canals are composed and the distribution of canal neuromasts within them were described quantitatively. We hypothesized that 1) one neuromast is contained in each lateral line scale and all five canals contain neuromasts, 2) all five canals develop similarly, and 3) the multiple trunk canals are an adaptation for the alteration of lateral line function. Lateral line scale morphology was found to be similar among the five canals in Hexagrammos decagrammus and H. stelleri. However, canal 3 is significantly wider than the other four canals. It is the only one of the five canals connected to the canals on the head, and more significantly, it is the only one of the five canals that contains neuromasts. The lateral line scales that comprise all five lateral line canals show the same pattern of development whether or not they contain neuromasts. The five canals develop asynchronously, and each of the canals develops either rostro-caudally or caudo-rostrally. Canal 3 is the homologue of a single trunk canal in other teleosts; canals 1, 2, 4, and 5 are apomorphic features of the two species of Hexagrammos. Canals 1, 2, 4, and 5 cannot be functional components of the lateral line system because they do not contain neuromasts and thus cannot be adaptations for the alteration of lateral line function. The occurrence of lateral line canals lacking neuromasts demands a direct assessment of neuromast distributions in the lateral line canals among fishes. Finally, our data suggest that the putative role of neuromasts in the morphogenesis of lateral line canals and the nature of neuromast-bone relationships need to be critically reevaluated. J. Morphol. 233:195-214, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Unlocking the Performance of the BlueGene/L Supercomputer

The BlueGene/L supercomputer is expected to deliver new levels of application performance by providing a combination of good single-node computational performance and high scalability. To achieve good single-node performance, the BlueGene/L design includes a special dual floating-point unit on each processor and the ability to use two processors per node. BlueGene/L also includes both a torus and a tree network to achieve high scalability. We demonstrate how benchmarks and applications can take advantage of these architectural features to get the most out of BlueGene/L.
Corporate society: A time series analysis of network structure☆

Abstract The conceptual problem addressed here is the transition of the United States from a person-oriented society in the 19th century to a corporate society during the 20th century. Using the content analysis of mass media records from 1877 to 1972, annual networks of associations among categories of actors are analyzed for trends in their structure where z ii is a percentage of attention given to actors in the i th category of actors and z ij is a percentage of attention given jointly to actors in the i th and j th categories. Stable estimates are found for the increasing attention given to corporate entities, the decreasing attention given to persons, and the increasing use of unorganized collectivities of actors as a means of interaction between persons and corporate entities. “Ideal type” networks are identified and described which are reflected in the observed networks as a function of existing conditions in the nation. Distinct ideal types are associated with conditions of economic decline, conditions of unusual collective action by the populace, and conditions of joint economic growth and lack of collective action. Implications of the findings for the study of persons and corporate entities in a corporate society are discussed.
Thinking: How do we know students are getting better at it?

Students' progress toward educational goals is usually assessed using achievement tests. Assessment of students’ growth in thinking abilities, however, requires alternate techniques. Since thinking is most often performed in problem‐solving situations, teachers can become the best observers of it by providing situations in which students can practice and demonstrate intelligent behaviors. Some indicators include: perseverence, precision of language, problem‐finding, decreased impulsivity, meta‐cognition, checking for accuracy, transference, flexibility, drawing upon previous knowledge and enjoyment of thinking.
Using apodization functions to reduce sidelobes in rugate filters

Appending gradient-index matching regions and apodization, which is an amplitude modulation of the rugate sinusoidal index profile, are two effective means to reduce and nearly eliminate the sidelobes. When a combination of these methods is used in the rugate design, the resulting filter will have good sidelobe suppression both near to and far from the stopband and will have high reflectance in the stopband.
Critical Technology Gaps and Potential Solutions for Mobile Free Space Optical Networking

Communication traffic for the DoD is expected to experience enormous growth over the next couple of decades due mainly to the deployment of high resolution advanced sensors, rapid growth of communication network users which not only includes humans but also a large number of manned and unmanned sensor and shooter platforms, and the net-centric infrastructure overheads. Recent deployment of fiber-optic backbone under DoD GIG-BE (Global Information Grid ? Bandwidth Extension) program is intended to meet the traffic requirements of static backbone. However, the capacity bottleneck is likely to happen at the tactical communication edge network, primarily supported today by RF communication technologies, limiting the ability to support end-to-end bandwidth-intensive war-fighting applications. In addition to enhancing the communication capacity at the tactical edge, extending high bandwidth connections from diverse end-user geographical locations to the GIGBE through fixed and mobile optical wireless reach-back networks seems essential for realizing DoD's net-centric vision. Although the fixed, fiber-optic communication technology has matured over the last couple of decades, the mobile free space optical (FSO) technology is still in its infancy. This paper will discuss critical technology, integration, and network architecture gaps as well as the potential approaches for implementing FSO networks in the GIG.
Enhancement of hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scattering in N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III-transfected HepG2 cells

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), which catalyzes the synthesis of a bisecting GlcNAc residue of N-glycans, is thought to be involved in the function of glycoproteins such as growth factor receptors. We investigated the effects of the overexpression of GnT-III on the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met, a glycoprotein, in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. GnT-III activity was elevated about 250-fold in HepG2 cells stably transfected with the GnT-III gene, whereas no significant change in GnT-III activity was observed in mock transfectants. Cell scattering assay revealed that HGF-induced cell scattering was enhanced depending on the GnT-III activities in the GnT-III transfectants. Western blot analysis and E-PHA lectin blot analysis showed that the level of c-Met protein was the same in both transfectants; however, the bisecting GlcNAc residue on c-Met was detected only in the GnT-III transfectants. Although the peak level of c-Met phosphorylation was not different in both transfectants, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met decreased more rapidly in the GnT-III transfectants than in the mock transfectants. Furthermore, HGF-induced extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was slightly higher in the GnT-III transfectants than in the mock transfectants. These results show that overexpression of GnT-III in HepG2 cells enhances HGF-induced cell scattering, which may result from, at least in part, enhancement of HGF-induced ERK phosphorylation.
Direct measurement of alcohol and its metabolites.

Background Ethanol can be easily and accurately measured in body fluids or vapours by several chemical and enzymatic methods. However, the persistence of ethanol in the body is short lived and ethanol's metabolism and distribution within the body are extremely complex. Aim This article discusses the complex pharmacokinetics of ethanol and how pharmacokinetics can affect measured ethanol concentrations when ethanol is sampled across different individuals or from different body fluids or vapors, such as whole blood, plasma, breath, urine, saliva, or transdermal ethanol. Findings Several physical methods for the quantification of ethanol concentrations are described, including gas chromatography, electrochemical detection, infrared detection and enzymatic methods, along with their advantages and limitations. Also discussed, is the utility of the measurement of several immediate metabolites of ethanol, including acetaldehyde, acetate, and fatty acid ethyl esters. Conclusions The complex distribution and metabolism of ethanol and its metabolites can obscure the relationship between the ethanol concentration that is measured in body fluids or vapours and the amount of ethanol that is actually taken into the body.
Therapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma with a combination of methyl-CCNU, 5-fluorouracil vincristine and streptozotocin (MOF-Strep)

Seventy-seven previously untreated patients with measurable metastatic colorectal carcinoma were treated with a combination of methyl-CCNU, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), vincristine and streptozotocin (MOF-Strep). The treatment schedule consisted of methyl-CCNU, 30 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days q 10 weeks; 5-FU, 300 mg/m2 IV for five consecutive days q 5 weeks; vincristine, 1 mg IV q 5 weeks; and streptozotocin, 500 mg/m2 IV weekly. Two (3%) patients achieved complete remission (CR); 22 (29%) patients, a partial remission (PR); and 13 (18%) patients, a minor remission (MR). The median duration of remission was eight months (range, 4-25+months) for patients obtaining CR/PR status, and six months (range, 4-15 months) for MR status. The median survival time was 14 months for patients achieving CR/PR versus seven months for non responders. Comparison with a previous study of MOF at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, showed that the MOF-Strep combination produced a significant (P = 0.004) increase in the number of complete and partial remissions, 32% versus 11%, and in survival, 11 versus 9 months, (P = 0.003), respectively.
Fourier-based approach to interpolation in single-slice helical computed tomography.

It has recently been shown that longitudinal aliasing can be a significant and detrimental presence in reconstructed single-slice helical computed tomography(CT) volumes. This aliasing arises because the directly measured data in helical CT are generally undersampled by a factor of at least 2 in the longitudinal direction and because the exploitation of the redundancy of fanbeam data acquired over 360° to generate additional longitudinal samples does not automatically eliminate the aliasing. In this paper we demonstrate that for pitches near 1 or lower, the redundant fanbeam data, when used properly, can provide sufficient information to satisfy a generalized sampling theorem and thus to eliminate aliasing. We develop and evaluate a Fourier-based algorithm, called 180FT, that accomplishes this. As background we present a second Fourier-based approach, called 360FT, that makes use only of the directly measured data. Both Fourier-based approaches exploit the fast Fourier transform and the Fourier shift theorem to generate from the helical projection data a set of fanbeam sinograms corresponding to equispaced transverse slices. Slice-by-slice reconstruction is then performed by use of two-dimensional fanbeam algorithms. The proposed approaches are compared to their counterparts based on the use of linear interpolation—the 360LI and 180LI approaches. The aliasing suppression property of the 180FT approach is a clear advantage of the approach and represents a step toward the desirable goal of achieving uniform longitudinal resolution properties in reconstructed helical CT volumes.
Acquisition of #sC clusters in Spanish-English bilingual children

We evaluate productions of word-initial /s/ clusters (#sC clusters) in English by 40 Spanish-English bilingual children (aged 2;11 – 4;5). These clusters have been studied considerably in research on the phonology of English and related languages because of their unusual patterning. Specifically, #sC clusters violate several phonotactic and/or universal constraints on syllable structure. Monolingual English-speaking children also show production patterns for these clusters that are quite different from those of other clusters. Yet to be fully explored, however, is how these clusters pattern in the speech of English-speaking children who also speak another language that prohibits #sC clusters, such as Spanish. We evaluate Spanish-English bilingual children's productions of #sC clusters to compare their production patterns with the findings of previous research. Results generally indicate that these children's production patterns are consistent with cross-linguistic predictions related to sonority and sonor...
Quasi-static punch indentation of a honeycomb sandwich plate: experiments and modelling

Punching experiments on wide honeycomb sandwich beams were performed to evaluate the predictive capabilities of a newly developed constitutive model in structural applications. The employed constitutive model for plastically compressible orthotropic materials accounts for both non-uniform hardening and softening associated with stressing in different directions. This feature is vital when assessing the structural performance of metal sandwich plates with low density cellular cores. Pure shear and uniaxial compression tests have been carried out to identify the input stress-strain data for the constitutive model. The sandwich beam has been modeled with shell/beam elements for the face sheets and only one continuum element through-the-thickness for the honeycomb core material. Comparison of the numerical results with experimental observations validates the capability of the proposed approach based on continuum modeling of the core in capturing the main features of sandwich beam response under punch loading.
Leadership: A Challenge to Traditional Research Methods and Assumptions

Traditional methods and assumptions employed in leadership research are inadequate to advance understanding of the leadership concept. This article identifies two specific problems and offers constructive solutions contingent on the analysis of research purpose. Three propositions are formulated and suggested as guidelines for reduction of definitional confusion and clarification of leadership construct(s).
Dual Promoters Control Expression of the Bacillus anthracis Virulence Factor AtxA

The AtxA virulence regulator of Bacillus anthracis is required for toxin and capsule gene expression. AtxA is a phosphotransferase system regulatory domain-containing protein whose activity is regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of conserved histidine residues. Here we report that transcription of the atxA gene occurs from two independent promoters, P1 (previously described by Dai et al. [Z. Dai, J. C. Sirard, M. Mock, and T. M. Koehler, Mol. Microbiol. 16:1171-1181, 1995]) and P2, whose transcription start sites are separated by 650 bp. Both promoters have −10 and −35 consensus sequences compatible with recognition by σA-containing RNA polymerase, and neither promoter depends on the sporulation sigma factor SigH. The dual promoter activity and the extended untranslated mRNA suggest that as-yet-unknown regulatory mechanisms may act on this region to influence the level of AtxA in the cell.
Two-dimensional echocardiographic anatomy of atrioventricular alignment discordance with situs concordance

Abstract Relationships between the atria and the ventricles are commonly described in tems of either atrioventricular (AV) alignments (or connections) or AV situs (i.e., the type of atrial situs and the type of ventricular situs or ventricular loop). With either method of analysis, only one type of AV relationship (situs or alignment) is diagnosed specifically and is considered to be predictive of the other type of AV relationship. The two-dimensional echocardiographic characteristics of two patients with incongruent AV situs and alignments are described for the first time. Patient 1 had situs solitus of the viscera and atria (S), ventricular D-loop (D), and solitus normally related great arteries (S), or {S,D,S} segmental combination with concordant AV situs. However, the right-sided right atrium drained into the inferior and right-sided left ventricle, and the left-sided left atrium drained into the superior and left-sided right ventricle. Hence AV alignment discordance was present. Patient 2 had visceroatrial situs solitus (S), ventricular D-loop (D), and double-outlet right ventricle with a rightward aortic valve (D), or {S,D,D} segmental set (AV situs concordance). Similar to patient 1, AV alignment discordance was demonstrated. In both patients the diagnosis was established by two-dimensional echocardiography and subsequently confirmed by cardiac catheterization. The key to accurate echocardiographic diagnosis of this congenital heart disease was independent analysis of the AV alignments and the segmental situs of the three main cardiac segments. This diagnosis was determined by scanning from the parasternal, subxiphoid, and apical windows. The cases reported here illustrate that for complete and accurate anatomic descriptions of congenitally malformed hearts, both alignments and situs must be independently analyzed and reported as separate variables. Such analysis can be achieved readily by two-dimensional echocardiography.
Surface tension measurements of refractory liquids using the modified drop weight method

Liquid surface tension measurements using the sessile drop, pendant drop and drop weight methods are discussed. These measurements refer to high temperature materials which melt at temperatures greater than 2000° C. The liquid surface tension of copper was determined to be 1212 dyn/cm at its melting point, and that of Al2O3 to be 600 dyn/cm at its melting point. Discussion is presented giving preference to the drop weight method.
The politicization of football: the European game and the approach to the Second World War

During the period of the Second World War, European Football underwent a massive transformation. With a sharp rise in its popularity at a time of high political intensity, as this essay argues, the game became politicized. The game took on four main characteristics. First, it became an agent of international relations. The foreign policies of European nations became ostensibly articulated in the international game. Second, it became a source of political propaganda. The use of the game to expose the virtues of the state was most apparent in the fascist states of Italy, German and Spain. Thirdly, it became a tool of public pacification. Football worked well with nations’ plans to depoliticize their populations. And finally, it became a medium of popular protest. The football arena became a safe channel for the expression of disaffection with the regimes concerned. The essay thus shows that an examination of the game’s development in the period covering the Second World War not only serves as a valuable pol...
Molecular Interactions in the Development of Brain Metastases

Brain metastases are a much-feared complication of cancer. The development of brain metastases requires a malignant cell to acquire characteristics that facilitate dissemination away from the primary site, entrance into the nervous system, and establishment in the brain. This review summarizes recent work focused on the molecular derangements leading to brain metastases and outlines areas in need of greater understanding.
Evaporation and coverage area of pesticide droplets on hairy and waxy leaves

The fate of pesticide droplets on leaves is significantly influenced by the fine structures found on leaf surfaces. Evaporation times and the maximum coverage areas of single droplets (246, 343, 575, 762, and 886 μm) on hairy and waxy geranium leaf surfaces were determined under controlled conditions. Stereoscopic sequential images of the droplet evaporation processes were taken for five droplet sizes, three relative humidity (RH) conditions and 13 different sprays. The sprays were combinations of water, a non-ionic colloidal polymer drift retardant, an alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant, a fungicide and three insecticides. The evaporation time and maximum coverage area of droplets were significantly changed by adding the surfactant or drift retardant to the sprays, but not by adding fungicide or insecticide. Droplet evaporation times on waxy leaves were longer than those on hairy leaves. Evaporation times increased exponentially as droplet diameter and RH increased with limited variability of regression coefficients independent of spray type and leaf surface. The maximum coverage area of droplets also increased exponentially as droplet diameter increased but it was not significantly affected by RH. On the waxy geranium leaf surfaces, the coverage area of pesticide droplets decreased throughout the evaporating process and at all RH conditions, while, on hairy leaf surfaces for the same size droplets, and at the same RH conditions, the coverage area continued to spread until evaporation was nearly completed. Given that the duration of evaporation time and the extent of the coverage area affect pesticide distribution on waxy or hairy leaves, recommendations for pesticide dosage and spray methods should be taken into account for different leaf surfaces to obtain the optimum biological effect and reduced pesticide use.
Why I Love Being an Academic Psychiatrist

do physicians choose careers in academic medicine? a literature review. Acad Med 2010; 85:680–686 5. Adler DG, Hilden K, Wills JC, et al: What drives US gastroenterology fellows to pursue academic vs. non-academic careers?: results of a national survey. Am J Gastroenterol 2010; 105:1220–1223 6. LevinsonW, LinzerM:What is an academic general internist? career options and training pathways. JAMA2002; 288:2045– 2048 7. Coleman MM, Richard GV: Faculty career tracks at U.S. medical schools. Acad Med 2011; 86:932–937 8. Berthold J. Is the generation gap a growth opportunity? ACP Internist 2010; April 2008 9. American Psychiatric Association: Resident Census: Characteristics and Distribution of Psychiatry Residents in the U.S.: 2009–2010. Arlington, VA, 2010 10. Straus SE, Straus C, Tzanetos K; International Campaign to Revitalise Academic Medicine: Career Choice in Academic Medicine: Systematic Review. J Gen InternMed 2006; 21:1222–1229 11. Borges NJ, Navarro AM, Grover AC: Women physicians: choosing a career in academic medicine. Acad Med 2012; 87: 105–114 12. Borus JF: The Transition to Practice Seminar. Boston, MA, Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, 2009 13. Holcombe RF: Viewpoint: who’s watching out for the clinical academician? Acad Med 2005; 80:905–907 14. Roberts LW, Hilty DM: Handbook of Career Development in Academic Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2006 15. Lowenstein SR, Fernandez G, Crane LA: Medical school faculty discontent: prevalence and predictors of intent to leave academic careers. BMC Med Educ 2007; 7:37
Small Farm Definition and Public Policy

Even the most casual review of literature suggests that there are numerous definitions of small farm. Range in definitions varies from acres of land, units of livestock, value of farm products sold, days worked off-farm, level of farm income, to level of total family income (Lewis). Many authors combine two or more of these classifications to arrive at a more limited definition. Some authors even display wisdom by not attempting to define specifically what they mean by small farms. It becomes clear that the small farm is not precisely defined either within the agricultural research community or for the general public. As Wood recently pointed out, "Small becomes less a descriptive term than it is a philosophical one .... Policy objectives and small farm categories are interrelated, and they are identified on the basis of the concerns of interested parties or participants" (Wood). Public discussion of small farm issues is also confounded by a lingering set of beliefs about farming-some of which may no longer be valid. These beliefs include: (a) The economic performance of the farm establishment is an accurate reflection of the economic well-being of the farm family. (b) Small farms are problems, while family farms have problems. Images of the family farm are inherently positive, while images of the small farm are inherently negative. (c) Small farms are inherently inefficient, thus are poor users of resources. (d) The relative vitality of a rural community is directly dependent on the vitality of the farming sector in and around that community. Clearly, our individual response to small farm issues depends to some extent on our perceptions about agriculture and rural America.
An undergraduate program in bioinformatics

In this article undergraduate-level bioinformatics curriculum that is easily tailored to the needs and resources of various institutions are discussed. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary and rapidly evolving field that has emerged from the fields of biology, chemistry, and computer science. Bioinformatics research explores the functional relationships between the composition of the genes within the context of the genome and the structure and function of the proteins encoded by these genes. This model will serve as a framework for and guide towards the rapid development of bioinformatics programs that capitalize on tile strengths of their specific institution
Radiative hyperon decays at KTeV

Experiment 799 at Fermilab was the rare decay run of the KTeV apparatus. Besides collecting a large number of neutral kaon decays, the apparatus was used to trigger for rare decays of neutral hyperons. In this paper we present the status of our measurements of the hyperon radiative decays Ξ0 → Σ0γ, Ξ0 → Λγ, Λ → pπt- γ, as well as evidence for the first observation of Ξ0 → Λπ0γ and Σ0 → Λe+e−.
Toward a More Nuanced Approach to Program Effectiveness Assessment: Hierarchical Linear Models in K–12 Program Evaluation:

Most K–12 evaluations are designed to make inferences about how a program implemented at the classroom or school level affects student learning outcomes and such inferences inherently involve hiera...
Mandating Party Development in the Russian Federation: Effects of the 2001 Party Law

Abstract For the first 10 years of competitive elections, Russian party development remained behind party development in many Central and East European states, let alone the rest of Europe. Perhaps not surprisingly then, one of President Putin’s first reforms entailed requiring political parties to register regional branches in a majority of Russia’s 89 regions. While the declared intent of the law was to spur the development of a national party system, the requirement – 100 registered members in at least 45 regions – appeared more like a formality than either a carrot or a stick motivating parties to develop regional organization. Moreover, the Putin administration has pursued various other reforms widely considered undemocratic. Given the ambiguity of Putin’s actions while president of the Russian Federation, this paper takes a closer look at one of the most commonly overlooked presidential reforms – the 2001 law on political parties – to determine whether the legislation correlated with greater party o...
Ecological criteria, participant preferences and location models: a GIS approach toward ATV trail planning.

This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based method for recreational trail location for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) which considers environmental factors, as well as rider preferences for trail attributes. The method utilizes the Least-Cost Path algorithm within a GIS framework to optimize trail location. The trail location algorithm considered trail impacts and benefits associated with water bodies, slope, land ownership, noise, trail separation, views, and rider preferences for vegetation types and loop trails. Alternative trails were generated to highlight the influence of different preferences for trail attributes and to demonstrate the capabilities of the Least-Cost Path algorithm as applied to trail location. The method shows promise for use in generating ATV trails, as well as other types of recreational trails, for consideration in recreational planning and analysis.
A simulation technique for 3D MR-guided acoustic radiation force imaging.

Purpose: In magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) therapies, the in situ characterization of the focal spot location and quality is critical. MR acoustic radiation force imaging (MR-ARFI) is a technique that measures the tissue displacement caused by the radiation force exerted by the ultrasound beam. This work presents a new technique to model the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model. Methods: When a steady-state point-source force acts internally in an infinite homogeneous medium, the displacement of the material in all directions is given by the Somigliana elastostatic tensor. The radiation force field, which is caused by absorption and reflection of the incident ultrasound intensity pattern, will be spatially distributed, and the tensor formulation takes the form of a convolution of a 3D Green’s function with the force field. The dynamic accumulation of MR phase during the ultrasound pulse can be theoretically accounted for through a time-of-arrival weighting of the Green’s function. This theoretical model was evaluated experimentally in gelatin phantoms of varied stiffness (125-, 175-, and 250-bloom). The acoustic and mechanical properties of the phantoms used as parameters of the model were measured using independent techniques. Displacements at focal depths of 30- and 45-mm in the phantoms were measured by a 3D spin echo MR-ARFI segmented-EPI sequence. Results: The simulated displacements agreed with the MR-ARFI measured displacements for all bloom values and focal depths with a normalized RMS difference of 0.055 (range 0.028–0.12). The displacement magnitude decreased and the displacement pattern broadened with increased bloom value for both focal depths, as predicted by the theory. Conclusions: A new technique that models the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model theory has been rigorously validated through comparison with experimentally obtained 3D displacement data in homogeneous gelatin phantoms using a 3D MR-ARFI sequence. The agreement of the experimentally measured and simulated results demonstrates the potential to use MR-ARFI displacement data in MRgFUS therapies.
Levetiracetam, seizures, and suicidality.

Danny is a 28-year-old, white male with a history of depression, anxiety and panic attacks, childhood abuse, and multiple medical problems. As a newborn he was treated with ventriculo-peritoneal sh...
The effects of spatial population distributions and political districting on minority representation

In this article, the authors explore the relationships between the geographical distribution of population, potential political redistricting schemes, and the resulting level of minority representation. The maximal fraction of districts that are minority districts is twice the fraction of minorities in the total population. The authors show how this maximum declines with increasing residential segregation. Finally, they provide some simulation results for both hypothetical cities and Buffalo council wards showing the degree of minority representation under random districting plans. This gives a baseline indicator of how population distribution is expected to influence representation and can then be compared with actual plans.
Censorship in Community College Theatre Programs.

The research reported in this article explored the extent of self‐censorship in community college theatre programs across the country. What part of the college administration plays in such censorship is also examined. Censorship does exist in community college theatre. Much of the censorship is self‐imposed. Directors avoid plays that are controversial. The audience is protected from harm. Profanity, racial slurs, and negative religious references are cut. When cuts are not made, disclaimers are often published in programs or placed in the lobby or both. Further research opportunities suggested by this study lie in examinations of how theatre departments deal with copyright issues when cutting objectionable material from plays. Defining the responsibility of the community college theatre program to the community is another area of research that needs to be addressed. Little censorship occurs from external sources. Finally, how the responsibilities of the college and the theatre to truth can be resolved wi...
Effect of Excess Dietary l-, dl- and d-Serine on the Chicks

Abstract A series of experiments were conducted to study the effects of excess dietary l -, dl - and d -serine on growth and blood serine concentration in the chick. Day-old chicks (N.H.×S.C.W.L.) were fed either an l -amino acid diet or a practical diet containing various amounts of serine for two weeks. At the end of the experiment, the blood was taken for the determination of plasma or serum free serine. The growth of chicks was significantly depressed when 2.86% l -serine was included in the l -amino acid diet or in the practical diet. Severe growth depression and mortality were observed when dietary l -serine exceeded the 4% level. The addition of excess folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 (20×N.R.C. requirement) to the practical diet containing 4% l -serine was able to correct partially the growth depression effect caused by excess dietary serine, but was unable to restore the growth of chicks to the controls. dl -serine was less harmful to the chick at the level corresponding to that of l -serine. d -serine fed at the 4% level had a slight growth inhibition on the chick. The level of serine in the plasma or serum was increased with the increases of dietary serine content. An extremely high concentration of serine was observed whenever there was a severe growth depression. d -serine was absorbed and metabolized in the chick.
Standing on Solid Ground

The new Editor in Chief of IEEE Micro introduces himself and the first issue of 2007. He thanks outgoing Editor in Chief Pradip Bose for his outstanding work on Micro during his tenure. He assesses the current state of the microarchitecture field, speculates on the future, and asks readers for their suggestions on topics the magazine should cover in coming issues.
The structural elucidation of polyene macrolide antibiotics by mass spectrometry Nystatin, amphotericin B and pimaricin.

Complete mass spectra of the pertimethylsilylated derivatives of three high molecular weight polyene macrolide antibiotics are reported for the first time. The fragmentation pathways which are proposed have been corroborated by the stable isotope derivatives d9-TMS and d3-acetyl. Accurate mass measurements and metastable transitions confirm the proposed fragmentation mechanisms in the low mass range. Nystatin—the macrolide of highest molecular weight in this study—expels several TMSOH molecules and a TMS radical. Amphotericin B underwent extensive rearrangements preliminary to eliminating a series of TMSOH molecules. An apparent equilibrium between the keto and ketal forms of amphotericin B facilitated the rearrangements. Pimaricin fragmented in a manner parallel to that of the other two macrolides. The sugar portion of the molecules dominated the fragmentation in the low mass region in the spectra of all compounds. The transfer of a TMS group from the sugar amine to the glycosidic oxygen was observed when the amino sugar was eliminated from the intact molecule. The resulting sugar ion then expelled ammonia.
Intestinal and Hepatobiliary Disposition of Drugs

Biliary excretion of xenobiotics is a complex process involving uptake into liver, intracellular sequestration and/or biotransformation, and transport into bile. A description of liver morphology is included to aid in the understanding of how chemical and physiological factors affect hepatic uptake and biliary excretion. Data will be presented with morphine and nalorphine that illustrate how efficient the intestinal and hepatobiliary system is in clearing drugs from the body. However, enterohepatic circulation can interfere with these processes.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy might improve certain pathophysiological findings in autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder currently affecting as many as 1 out of 166 children in the United States. Numerous studies of autistic individuals have revealed evidence of cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation and gastrointestinal inflammation, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, relative mitochondrial dysfunction, neurotransmitter abnormalities, impaired detoxification of toxins, dysbiosis, and impaired production of porphyrins. Many of these findings have been correlated with core autistic symptoms. For example, cerebral hypoperfusion in autistic children has been correlated with repetitive, self-stimulatory and stereotypical behaviors, and impairments in communication, sensory perception, and social interaction. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) might be able to improve each of these problems in autistic individuals. Specifically, HBOT has been used with clinical success in several cerebral hypoperfusion conditions and can compensate for decreased blood flow by increasing the oxygen content of plasma and body tissues. HBOT has been reported to possess strong anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to improve immune function. There is evidence that oxidative stress can be reduced with HBOT through the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. HBOT can also increase the function and production of mitochondria and improve neurotransmitter abnormalities. In addition, HBOT upregulates enzymes that can help with detoxification problems specifically found in autistic children. Dysbiosis is common in autistic children and HBOT can improve this. Impaired production of porphyrins in autistic children might affect the production of heme, and HBOT might help overcome the effects of this problem. Finally, HBOT has been shown to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow to the systemic circulation. Recent studies in humans have shown that stem cells can enter the brain and form new neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. It is expected that amelioration of these underlying pathophysiological problems through the use of HBOT will lead to improvements in autistic symptoms. Several studies on the use of HBOT in autistic children are currently underway and early results are promising.
Intravascular cryptococcal culture filtrate (CneF) and its major component, glucuronoxylomannan, are potent inhibitors of leukocyte accumulation.

Disseminated cryptococcosis is characterized by high titers of cryptococcal polysaccharides in serum and minimal cellular infiltrates in infected tissues of patients. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the circulating cryptococcal polysaccharides could contribute to the lack of cellular infiltration into infected tissues. To assess this possibility, a gelatin sponge implantation model was used. We found that intravenous (i.v.) injection of mice with cryptococcal culture filtrate antigen (CneF) inhibited migration of leukocytes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes) into the intrasponge sites of acute inflammation induced by CneF, tumor necrosis factor alpha, or formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine. In addition, i.v. administration of CneF inhibited leukocyte migration into the intrasponge sites of a cell-mediated immune reaction irrespective of whether the delayed-type hypersensitivity response was to CneF or the mycobacterial antigen purified protein derivative. Glucuronoxylomannan, a major constituent of CneF and a major cryptococcal antigen detected in the sera of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis, when given i.v. to mice, inhibited leukocyte migration into the sponges. Our results suggest that the minimal cellular infiltrates observed in infected tissues of cryptococcosis patients may be due, in part, to the circulating cryptococcal polysaccharide functioning as we have demonstrated in the mouse model. Furthermore, the high titers of cryptococcal antigen in the sera of patients may diminish leukocyte migration in response to stimuli other than Cryptococcus neoformans, a point that may be relevant in AIDS patients with cryptococcosis.
Derivation of high-order compact finite difference schemes for non-uniform grid using polynomial interpolation

In this paper simple polynomial interpolation is used to derive arbitrarily high-order compact schemes for the first derivative and tridiagonal compact schemes for the second derivative (consisting of three second derivative nodes in the interior and two on the boundary) on non-uniform grids. Boundary and near boundary schemes of the same order as the interior are also developed using polynomial interpolation and for a general compact scheme on a non-uniform grid it is shown that polynomial interpolation is more efficient than the conventional method of undetermined coefficients for finding coefficients of the scheme. The high-order non-uniform schemes along with boundary closure of up to 14th order thus obtained are shown to be stable on a non-uniform grid with appropriate stretching so that more grid points are clustered near the boundary. The stability and resolution properties of the high-order non-uniform grid schemes are studied and the results of three numerical tests on stability and accuracy properties are also presented.
Advanced Querying Features for Disease Surveillance Systems

Most automated disease surveillance systems notify users of increases in the prevalence of reports in syndrome categories and allow users to view patient level data related to those increases. Occasionally, a more dynamic level of control is required to properly detect an emerging disease in a community. Dynamic querying features are invaluable when using existing surveillance systems to investigate outbreaks of newly emergent diseases or to identify cases of reportable diseases within data being captured for surveillance. The objective of the Advance Querying Tool (AQT) is to build a more flexible query interface for most web-based disease surveillance systems. This interface allows users to define and build their query as if they were writing a logical expression for a mathematical computation. The AQT allows users to develop, investigate, save, and share complex case definitions. It provides a flexible interface that accommodates both advanced and novice users, checks the validity of the expression as it is built, and marks errors for users.