cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program's recommended chest compression depth using computerized tomography imaging

Abstract Background Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) guidelines recommend chest compression depths of 1/3 the anterior–posterior (AP) chest depth. Appropriateness of this recommendation has not been rigorously assessed. Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of neonatal chest compression depths of 1/4, 1/3, and 1/2 AP chest depth during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Design/methods Anterior–posterior internal and external chest depth, heart dimensions, and non-cardiac thoracic tissue depth were measured from neonatal chest CTs. Using these measurements, residual internal chest depth, the remaining depth of the chest between the sternum and spine after external compression, was calculated for compression depths of 1/4, 1/3 and 1/2 anterior–posterior chest depth. Compression sufficient to compress the chest to t -test were used to analyze data, where appropriate. Results Fifty-four neonatal chest CT scans were evaluated. Estimated chest compression induced EF increased incrementally with increasing chest compression depth (EF was 51 ± 3% with 1/4 AP chest depth vs 69 ± 3% with 1/3 AP chest depth, and 106% with 1/2 AP chest depth, p p p Conclusions Mathematical modeling based upon neonatal chest CT scan dimensions suggests that current NRP chest compression recommendations of 1/3 AP chest depth should be more effective than 1/4 compression depth, and safer than 1/2 AP compression depth.
Theoretical analysis of a dynamically balanced Gifford-McMahon cryorefrigerator

Abstract A non-linear model describing the dynamics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of a dynamically balanced Gifford-McMahon (G-M) cryorefrigerator has been developed. The cryorefrigerator consists of two horizontally opposed first- and second-stage displacers, a first- and a second-stage thermal regenerator, and a rotary valve that cycles the compressor supply gas pressure. The model accurately describes the motion of the displacers and the refrigeration produced at the two stages of the cold head. The analytical model consists of a set of twelve first order non-linear differential equations. The numerical solution of the system is presented in the form of pressure histories in each chamber, position and velocity histories of each displacer and P-V diagrams of the two stages of the cold head. The performance of the cryorefrigerator is calculated under various conditions. It is clearly shown that the device can achieve non-impacting displacer motion with sufficient cooling capacities of the two stages. This nonimpacting operation creates a very low vibration device, which is valuable in applications where low vibration is required, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. It was also shown that the cooling capacity of the device can be optimized over the operating frequency.
Decreasing myocardial pH reflects ischemia during continuous warm retrograde cardioplegic arrest

Abstract Warm continuous retrograde cardioplegia is thought to prevent myocardial ischemia. We tested this hypothesis by subjecting canine hearts to 2 hours of either antegrade or retrograde perfusion with normothermic blood cardioplegia. Ischemie alterations were evaluated through the measurement of myocardial pH, tissue levels of adenosine triphosphate and lactate, and the preservation of left ventricular contractility. Antegrade perfusion resulted in uniformly positive changes in the myocardial pH in both ventricles, preserved levels of adenosine triphosphate, and small increases in the myocardial lactate levels. In contrast, retrograde perfusion caused the myocardial pH to decrease, especially in the right ventricle. Tissue lactate levels rose to a significantly greater extent during retrograde perfusion and adenosine triphosphate levels declined, although not to a statistically significant degree. Finally, myocardial function, as assessed by the preload recruitable work area, was preserved (103% ± 20% of baseline) in the antegrade group but was markedly diminished (33% ± 6%) in retrogradely perfused left ventricles 35 minutes after the aortic cross-clamp was removed. These data suggest that ischemie metabolism and the subsequent alteration of myocardial function take place despite continuous retrograde perfusion with normothermic blood cardioplegia.
Response of biological reactors to the addition of powdered activated carbon

Abstract A biological reactor operating on a synthetic feed was subjected to impulse and step disturbances of glucose and phenol. Powdered activated carbon was applied either as an impulse or as a step change to control reactor conditions. With glucose as the substrate, the addition of powdered carbon reduced the steady state TOC concentrations significantly but only slightly moderated the concentration transients after an upset. For impulse inputs of phenol, the simultaneous addition of carbon greatly reduced the magnitude of the transient changes in concentration. With step inputs of phenol, carbon addition rapidly lowered the phenol concentration in the reactor and permitted continuous operation with inlet phenol concentrations above 1000 mg 1 −1 . Thus, powdered carbon can provide an effective control method for maintaining effluent quality in the presence of toxic upsets.
The 26-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in vitro by chick renal homogenates.

Abstract Kidney homogenates from vitamin D supplemented chicks produce a metabolite from 25-OH-[ 3 H]D 3 which comigrates with synthetic 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 on Sephadex LH-20 and high pressure liquid chromatography. This metabolite has been isolated in pure form from such incubations and positively identified as 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 by mass spectrometry. Kidney homogenates from Vitamin D deficient chicks do not produce this metabolite. Additionally, parathyroid hormone administration suppresses the 26-hydroxylase activity in vitamin D repleted chickens.
Second cancers in survivors of childhood cancer

More than 70% of children diagnosed with cancer can now be expected to be long-term survivors. However, the consequences of 'cure' might be considerable for the survivors of cancer: 60-70% of young adults who have survived childhood cancer will develop at least one medical disability as a result of their cancer or, more commonly, as a result of their therapy. Of these, the most devastating is a second cancer.
Effects of beta blockers and other antihypertensive drugs on cardiovascular risk.

Abstract The treatment of high blood pressure with β-blocking and other antihypertensive agents has been associated with a decrease in the incidence of stroke, progression of hypertension, heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy, retinopathy and renal failure. Although hypertension increases the risk for developing coronary disease, the risk is heightened markedly if coexistent hyperlipidemia, smoking or glucose tolerance is present. Thiazide diuretics, primarily used as antihypertensive agents, compromise glucose tolerance and are associated with increases in plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein levels. Nonselective and β 1 -selective β blockers have also been associated with increases in plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins, as well as with decreases in high density lipoprotein levels. The effects of various antihypertensive agents on lipid levels, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, left ventricular size and atherogenesis are discussed.
Preference revelation and supply response in the arena of local government

This paper represents an initial effort to build a model of the demand revelation and supply response mechanisms implicit in the effect of citizen lobbying efforts on the decisions of municipal officials. A utilitarian social welfare function was used as a benchmark to judge the results of this lobbying model.
Safe Transition to Home: Preparing the Near-term Infant for Discharge

Near-term infants, although often mature in appearance, are at risk for developing several complications, including hypothermia, hypoglycemia, infection, inadequate feeding, airway compromise, and hyperbilirubinemia. In many cases, these infants are discharged home with their mothers within 48 to 72 hours of delivery with similar discharge education and follow-up as full-term infants. This practice is not evidence-based and places these infants at risk for serious complications. In this article, the physiologic mechanisms that increase the risk of complications in this population are reviewed to provide the reader with an in-depth understanding of the importance of tailoring discharge education and follow-up to this specific population. Implications for practice are proposed and a near-term infant discharge checklist is introduced. The proposed changes in clinical practice aim at better meeting the needs of near-term infants and their families to promote the safe transition to home and prevent the development of complications and need for rehospitalization.
Transmission and Epidemiology of Zoonotic Protozoal Diseases of Companion Animals

Over 77 million dogs and 93 million cats share our households in the United States. Multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of pets in their owners' physical and mental health. Given the large number of companion animals in the United States and the proximity and bond of these animals with their owners, understanding and preventing the diseases that these companions bring with them are of paramount importance. Zoonotic protozoal parasites, including toxoplasmosis, Chagas' disease, babesiosis, giardiasis, and leishmaniasis, can cause insidious infections, with asymptomatic animals being capable of transmitting disease. Giardia and Toxoplasma gondii, endemic to the United States, have high prevalences in companion animals. Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi are found regionally within the United States. These diseases have lower prevalences but are significant sources of human disease globally and are expanding their companion animal distribution. Thankfully, healthy individuals in the United States are protected by intact immune systems and bolstered by good nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene. Immunocompromised individuals, including the growing number of obese and/or diabetic people, are at a much higher risk of developing zoonoses. Awareness of these often neglected diseases in all health communities is important for protecting pets and owners. To provide this awareness, this review is focused on zoonotic protozoal mechanisms of virulence, epidemiology, and the transmission of pathogens of consequence to pet owners in the United States.
Generation of cold free radicals by the reaction of organic halides with metal atoms produced by laser vaporization

Abstract Reactive Ba atoms are produced from a Ba rod by YAG laser vaporization in the throat of a seeded He supersonic jet expansion. As the expansion proceeds, the Ba atoms react with the seed gas, benzyl chloride. The reaction products, BaCl and benzyl radical, are observed substantially cooled downstream via laser-induced fluorescence.
Effects of different food-reinforcement histories on cocaine self-administration by rhesus monkeys.

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether a history of responding under food reinforcement schedules that generated either high or low response rates would influence the acquisition and maintenance of cocaine self-administration. Eight experimentally naive rhesus monkeys were initially trained to respond on the right lever under either a fixed-ratio (FR) 50 or interresponse times (IRT) > 30-s schedule of food reinforcement. After 65 sessions of food-maintained responding, monkeys were surgically prepared with indwelling intravenous catheters and cocaine 0.03 mg/kg per injection (IV) was available on the left lever under a fixed-interval (FI) 5-min schedule. After at least 60 consecutive sessions at this dose, a cocaine dose-response curve (saline, 0.01–0.3 mg/kg per injection) was determined. The FR 50 schedule generated high rates of food-maintained responding (90.1±6.2 responses/min), while response rates under the IRT >30-s schedule were low (1.9±0.1 responses/min). Across the 60 consecutive sessions under the FI 5-min schedule, linear changes in response rates and cocaine intake were significantly different between FR- and IRT-history monkeys. FR-history monkeys responded at higher rates than IRT-history subjects, while cocaine intake during the first 15 sessions was lower in FR- compared to IRT-history monkeys. Rates of cocaine-maintained responding after food-reinforcement histories were compared to response rates of monkeys initially trained to self-administer cocaine under an FI 5-min schedule (Nader and Reboussin 1994). Response rates were higher in this latter group compared to rates generated by either group of monkeys after food-reinforcement histories. Furthermore, a significant interaction between behavioral history and cocaine dose on response rates was observed. Results from the present study indicate that a history of responding maintained by a nondrug reinforcer can have significant and long-lasting effects on response rates and total cocaine intake under an FI schedule. Furthermore, these results indicate that prior experiences may produce different effects on acquisition and maintenance of cocaine self-administration.
A World of Emergencies: Fear, Intervention, and the Limits of Cosmopolitan Order*

Interventions into “complex humanitarian emergencies” have become a central part of global society. This article provides an account of the construction of “emergencies” in terms of a social imaginary that gives characteristic form to both perception and action. This imaginary shapes the definition and rhetoric of emergencies, the ways in which they are produced and recognized, and the organization of intervention. It reflects both anxiety in the face of risk and a pervasive modern faith in capacity to manage problems. Though the events demanding these interventions–for example, in Sudan–are often presented as transparently compelling, the “social imaginary of emergencies” conceptually structures this system.
Electrical conductivity in ferromagnetic perovskite structures

A spin‐polaron Hamiltonian is proposed to study the electrical conductivity in perovskite structures. A crossover from the metallic conduction at low temperatures to the hopping‐type conduction at high temperature is calculated within the proposed model Hamiltonian. It is found that most of the experimental observations on resistivity and colossal magnetoresistance can be well explained with the assumption of the existence of spin clusters.
AADT prediction using support vector regression with data-dependent parameters

Traffic volume is a fundamental variable in several transportation engineering applications. For instance, in transportation planning, the annual average daily traffic (AADT) is a primary element that has to be estimated for the year of horizon of the analysis. The huge amounts of money to be invested in designed transportation systems are strongly associated with the traffic volumes expected in the system, which means that it is important that the AADT should be accurately predicted. In this paper, a modified version of a pattern recognition technique known as support vector machine for regression (SVR) to forecast AADT is presented. The proposed methodology computes the SVR prediction parameters based on the distribution of the training data. Therefore, the proposed method is called SVR with data-dependent parameters (SVR-DP). Using 20 years of AADT for both rural and urban roads in 25 counties in the state of Tennessee, the performance of the SVR-DP was compared with those of Holt exponential smoothing (Holt-ES) and of ordinary least-square linear regression (OLS-regression). SVR-DP performed better than both methods; although the Holt-ES also presented good results.
The rician distribution of noisy mri data

The image intensity in magnetic resonance magnitude images in the presence of noise is shown to be governed by a Rician distribution. Low signal intensities (SNR < 2) are therefore biased due to the noise. It is shown how the underlying noise can be estimated from the images and a simple correction scheme is provided to reduce the bias. The noise characteristics in phase images are also studied and shown to be very different from those of the magnitude images. Common to both, however, is that the noise distributions are nearly Gaussian for SNR larger than two.
Adsorption of proteins onto glass surfaces and its effect on the intensity of circular dichroism spectra

Errors in analyzing CD spectra of proteins arising from adsorption loss onto glass surfaces were examined for six proteins: apolipoproteins A-I and E, fibronectin, bovine serum albumin, insulin, and glucagon. Among these, the glycoproteins, apolipoprotein E and fibronectin, adsorbed most onto glass surfaces. Their CD intensities decreased by about 50% when proteins were diluted serially from 1 to 0.01 mg/ml in regular glass-ware and CD was measured in uncoated cells. The other proteins, except glucagon, also showed a certain degree of adsorption. Thus, adsorption loss of proteins onto glass surfaces is common and may lead to serious errors in experimental results. Adsorption can be minimized by using plastic containers and pipet tips, coating the cell with silicone, and wetting the cell before adding the protein solution.
Dual-task performance in depressed geriatric patients.

Older patients suffering from a major depression are often impaired on tasks that require executive control processes. However, a wide variety of executive abilities exist in humans, and it is not clear that all are impaired in depression or that such impairments persist beyond remission of the depression. One executive process that plays a central role in mental operations such as working memory is the ability to co-ordinate the simultaneous performance of multiple tasks. Dual-task performance has been extensively studied in normal subjects but there is little work with depressed patients. The present study examined the performance of depressed (M age=71.0, S.D.=7.1) and control subjects (M age=69.3, S.D.=7.0) on two tasks (visual tracking and backward digit span), both when each task was carried out by itself and when the two tasks were carried out simultaneously. Dual-task performance was impaired in depressed patients prior to antidepressant treatment and this impairment persisted even after remission of the depression. These results suggest that, like other executive abilities, the ability to schedule and co-ordinate the conflicting processing demands present in a dual-task situation is impaired in depressed geriatric patients and that this impairment may be a trait effect.
Solidification of binary hypoeutectic alloy matrix composite castings

We consider a binary hypoeutectic alloy casting which solidifies in dendritic form in an unreinforced engineering casting and seek to predict its microstructure in a metal matrix composite. We focus on the case where the reinforcement is fixed in space and fairly homogeneously distributed. We assume that the reinforcement does not catalyze heterogeneous nucleation of the solid. We show that the reinforcement can cause several microstructural transitions in the matrix alloy, depending on the matrix cooling rate, the width, A, of interstices left between reinforcing elements, and the initial velocityV of the solidification front. These transitions comprise the following: (1) coalescence of dendrite arms before solidification is complete, causing solidification to proceed in the later stages of solidification with a nondendritic primary phase mapping the geometry of interstices delineated by reinforcement elements; (2) sharp reduction or elimination of microsegregation in the matrix by diffusion in the primary solid matrix phase; and (3) a transition from dendrite to cell formation, these cells featuring significant undercoolings or a nearly plane front configuration when reinforcing elements are sufficiently fine. Quantitative criteria are derived for these transitions, based on previous work on composite solidification, observations from directional solidification experiments, and current solidification theory. Theory is compared with experimental data for aluminum-copper alloys reinforced with alumina fibers and for the dendrite to cell transition using data from directional succinonitrile-acetone solidification experiments. Theory and experiment show good agreement in both systems.
Free surface flow-exposing the hidden nonlinearity

Most calculations of free surface flow use an inconsistent equation. The inconsistency comes about through the need to apply the boundary conditions on the known boundary instead of on an unknown (advanced time step) boundary. That condition represents a nonlinearity and its treatment should be made consonant with that of the other nonlinearities. Although algebraically difficult, that nonlinearity can be treated in a rational manner with the result that the accuracy is improved.
Boundary and insulator elements in chromosomes

Abstract Recent progress in understanding boundary and insulator elements has concentrated on the identification of their protein components. BEAF-32 is a protein present in the scs' element of Drosophila that is also localized to most interband regions and puffs of polytene chromosomes, suggesting a role in the organization of structural chromosomal domains. The suppressor of Hairy-wing and modifier of modg4 proteins have been characterized as components of the gypsy insulator. The latter seems to play a crucial role in conferring on the insulator its ability to unidirectionally affect enhancer function.
Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Pigment Dispersion Syndrome

Purpose: To examine the positional relations of the iris, lens, ciliary processes, and zonules in eyes with the pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS). Methods: High-resolution, anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed on 16 untreated eyes of 11 patients with PDS. Scanning was repeated on four eyes after miotic treatment and four eyes after laser iridotomy. Results: Mid-peripheral iris concavity could be demonstrated in 56%, irido-zonular contact in 25%, and irido-ciliary process contact in 75% of untreated eyes with PDS. Repeat scanning after laser iridotomy or pilocarpine therapy showed resolution of the iris concavity and irido-zonular contact in all eyes receiving these therapies. Irido-ciliary process contact persisted in some eyes. Conclusion: The authors' findings demonstrate the structural relations among the iris, lens, zonules, and ciliary processes in vivo that characterize the PDS. Miotic therapy and laser iridotomy eliminate the iris concavity in all patients with this finding, supporting the hypothesis of reverse pupillary block. Irido-ciliary process contact may be another mechanism causing release of pigment. This issue merits further clinical and histologic study.
Identification of a novel protein, DMAP, which interacts with the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase and shows strong homology to D1 snRNP.

The most common adult form of muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, is due to a triplet repeat (CTG) expansion in the 3′ untranslated region of the myotonic dystrophy gene. Although this gene is known to encode a protein kinase, the mechanism by which a defect in this gene results in a disease state is not understood. To gain insight into this mechanism, the yeast two hybrid system was utilized to identify proteins which interact with myotonic dystrophy protein kinase. Eight positive clones were identified that interact specifically with the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase. One clone, which encodes a novel protein interacting with myotonic dystrophy protein kinase bothin vivo in yeast andin vitro, was characterized further. The gene encoding this protein may represent a member of a small gene family, and the protein (95 amino acids) exhibits a high degree of homology to an snRNP protein, D1. This novel protein may be a member of the signal transduction pathway which is responsible for the manifestation of this disease.
The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase Arg regulates gastrulation via control of actin organization.

Coordinated cell movements are crucial for vertebrate gastrulation and are controlled by multiple signals. Although many factors are shown to mediate non-canonical Wnt pathways to regulate cell polarity and intercalation during gastrulation, signaling molecules acting in other pathways are less investigated and the connections between various signals and cytoskeleton are not well understood. In this study, we show that the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase Arg modulates gastrulation movements through control of actin remodeling. Arg is expressed in the dorsal mesoderm at the onset of gastrulation, and both gain- and loss-of-function of Arg disrupted axial development in Xenopus embryos. Arg controlled migration of anterior mesendoderm, influenced cell decision on individual versus collective migration, and modulated spreading and protrusive activities of anterior mesendodermal cells. Arg also regulated convergent extension of the trunk mesoderm by influencing cell intercalation behaviors. Arg modulated actin organization to control dynamic F-actin distribution at the cell–cell contact or in membrane protrusions. The functions of Arg required an intact tyrosine kinase domain but not the actin-binding motifs in its carboxyl terminus. Arg acted downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases to regulate phosphorylation of endogenous CrkII and paxillin, adaptor proteins involved in activation of Rho family GTPases and actin reorganization. Our data demonstrate that Arg is a crucial cytoplasmic signaling molecule that controls dynamic actin remodeling and mesodermal cell behaviors during Xenopus gastrulation.
High and low gender schematic children's release from proactive interference

Thirty-seven 4–5 year-old predominantly white children from moderate SES households, identified as high and low gender schematic, completed a Release from Proactive Interference task (RPI) comprised of drawings of same-sex gender-typed toys and animals. The RPI task assesses spontaneous comprehension, encoding, and short-term recall of items from two categories of information. As predicted, high gender schematic children demonstrated significantly greater patterns of release from proactive interference than low schematic children. Specifically, high and low schematic children's patterns of recall following a shift from same-sex gender-typed toys to animals differed significantly, suggesting that gender roles are a more salient and influential information processing dimension to high than low gender schematic children. Results add to data validating the present measure of gender schematicity and its ability to differentiate individual differences in the salience of gender roles to young children. Results also corroborate and expand on theory and research describing the impact and consequences of individual differences in the salience of the gender role dimension on the information processing of high and low gender schematic children.
Effect of Phonon Free Path Distributions on Nanostructure Thermal Conductivity

We determine how the natural distributions of phonon-phonon and phonon-boundary scattering free paths affect the prediction of thermal conductivity for thin films, nanowires, and porous nanofilms. Using Monte Carlo sampling, the effective mean free path for each phonon mode is calculated using a Poisson distribution for the phonon-phonon free path and assuming an equal probability of the phonon originating at any point in the nanostructure. We find our predictions to be consistent with an analytical result for the in-plane direction in the thin films, as opposed to the Matthiessen rule, which leads to an under-prediction by up to 10%. Furthermore, we are able to use our approach to predict the thermal conductivities of complex nanostructures, where correct application of the Matthiessen rule is challenging.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Filtering spam e-mail on a global scale

In this paper we analyze a very large junk e-mail corpus which was generated by a hundred thousand volunteer users of the Hotmail e-mail service. We describe how the corpus is being collected, and analyze: the geographic origins of the e-mail who the e-mail is targeting and what the e-mail is selling.
Optimizing trajectories of mobile beacons to localize sensor networks

This paper deals with localizing nodes in a sensor network. More precisely, we consider the situation where sensor nodes localize themselves off a mobile beacon node traveling over the deployment area. We describe a genetic approach to derive semioptimal paths for a mobile beacon, where the optimal path is defined as the beacon trajectory resulting in the highest overall localization precision for sensor nodes, with certain constraints on path length. For this, we assume that the beacon periodically broadcasts its location. The sensors can extract this location information as well as the signal strength from received packets to estimate their location. In such localization scenarios, the trajectory of the beacon heavily affects the accuracy of location estimate. To evaluate paths, we employ Cramer Rao bounds (CRB) which provide an unbiased evaluation regardless of the location estimation algorithm. A genetic approach is employed to evolve paths toward an optimal trajectory, with a C++ simulator calculating sensor node CRB estimates as the objective function. We provide a description of the approach and provide insights on what the influence of our genetic algorithm is on the accumulative overall localization CRB.
Pyrroline Chromophores for Electro-Optics

We have synthesized a new class of highly efficient nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores based on the novel tricyanopyrroline (TCP) electron acceptor. Molecular linear and nonlinear optical properties of the prototypical chromophores were measured and calculated to understand structure−property relationships. One such chromophore showed molecular first hyperpolarizability (β) of (8700 ± 702) × 10-30 esu at excitation wavelengths of 1.9 μm, and another showed macroscopic electro-optic (EO) coefficients (r33) of 51 pm/V at 1.55 μm with 20 wt % chromophore loading when poled with 65 V/μm in amorphous polycarbonate film. Synthetic strategies for extending the utility of the acceptor and chromophores are discussed.
Minimum Hellinger Distance based classification of underwater acoustic signals

Source classification and localization in the underwater environment is a challenging problem in part because propagation through the space- and time-varying medium introduces uncertainty in the signal. Coupled with uncertainty in environmental parameters, this uncertainty in received signals leads to a statistical treatment. Minimum Hellinger Distance (MHD) methods provide a robust and efficient framework for making classification decisions in this context.
Genomic signatures of germline gene expression

Transcribed regions in the human genome differ from adjacent intergenic regions in transposable element density, crossover rates, and asymmetric substitution and sequence composition patterns. We tested whether these differences reflect selection or are instead a byproduct of germline transcription, using publicly available gene expression data from a variety of germline and somatic tissues. Crossover rate shows a strong negative correlation with gene expression in meiotic tissues, suggesting that crossover is inhibited by transcription. Strand-biased composition (G+T content) and A → G versus T → C substitution asymmetry are both positively correlated with germline gene expression. We find no evidence for a strand bias in allele frequency data, implying that the substitution asymmetry reflects a mutation rather than a fixation bias. The density of transposable elements is positively correlated with germline expression, suggesting that such elements preferentially insert into regions that are actively transcribed. For each of the features examined, our analyses favor a nonselective explanation for the observed trends and point to the role of germline gene expression in shaping the mammalian genome.
Information Communication Technologies and Framing for Backfire in the Digital Rights Movement

In 2001, Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested for his role in designing the Advanced e-Book Processor, the software that cracked Adobe's e-Book encryption. Using historical data and situating itself within social movement theory, this article focuses on the case of Sklyarov's arrest to show how the digital rights movement, using online networks, mobilized activists and framed the event in a manner that led to 'backfire' against government prosecutors and Adobe Systems Inc. The case illustrates positive outcomes for social movements when they use movement-specific online networks---networks that help rapidly define the meaning of issues and that have the potential to inform mass media outlets, and through them, broader publics.
DOES GENETIC RELATEDNESS INFLUENCE SPACE USE PATTERN? A TEST ON FLORIDA BLACK BEARS

It has been hypothesized that, in species exhibiting natal philopatry, genetically related individuals would have home ranges closer to each other than those of unrelated individuals. Using radiotelemetry (2001–2003) and genetic data from 35 female Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus), we tested the hypothesis that genetic relatedness among individuals influenced the spatial organization of home ranges. Genetic relatedness was negatively correlated with geographic distance between home ranges for each year and season (except autumn 2000), suggesting that genetically related individuals established home ranges closer to each other, whereas home ranges of unrelated females were geographically separated. Additionally, females that had overlapping core home ranges were more closely related than females whose home ranges did not overlap. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that genetic relatedness influences spatial organization of home ranges.
Divining the design principles of voltage sensors.

The ability of membrane proteins to sense and respond to changes in membrane voltage is critical for a vast array of biological processes, from generating and propagating the nerve impulse to excitation–secretion coupling. [Hodgkin and Huxley (1952)][1] were the first to characterize voltage-
Symbolizing as a Constructive Activity in a Computer Microworld

In the design of computer microworlds as media for children's mathematical action, our basic and guiding principle was to create possible actions children could use to enact their mental operations. These possible actions open pathways for children's mathematical activity that coemerge in the activity. We illustrate this coemergence through a constructivist teaching episode with two children working with the computer microworld TIMA: Bars. During this episode, in which the children took turns to partition a bar into fourths and thirds recursively, the symbolic nature of their partitioning operations became apparent. The children developed their own drawings and numeral systems to further symbolize their symbolic mental operations. The symbolic nature of the children's partitioning operations was crucial in their establishment of more conventional mathematical symbols.
Shaken Not Stirred: Magnetic Viruses for Biomagnetic Sensing

Magnetic nanoparticles coated with biochemical surfactants have emerged as an important component for enabling many biological and medical applications. A general challenge in the fabrication of these nanoparticles is to generate a high degree of uniformity both in the magnetic and biochemical properties of the nanoparticles. We address this issue through biological templating of inorganic nanoparticles, which offers promising opportunities for realizing the full potential of self-assembled materials. We implemented such biotemplating to create magnetic nanoparticles by utilizing native protein capsid shells derived in high yield from T7 bacteriophage viruses.The magnetic nanoparticles are grown inside of hollowed-out capsids that retain their original chemical recognition properties. The resultant "magnetic viruses" are uniform in geometry, physical properties, and biochemical functionality. We first coax the DNA out of the T7 virus by means of an alkaline treatment, and then grow cobalt or ironoxide particles inside the remaining hollow capsid shell. The advantage of our approach is twofold: (i) the use of native virus capsids allows for a straight-forward and economical production of the magnetic nanoparticles in large quantities, which enables practical applications, and (ii) given the richness of protein types that form the native T7 capsid, our magnetic virus can be tailored via phage display libraries to tune the bio-functionality and/or bio-tagging of a sample. Thus in our approach the biological functionality of the particles is established first before the magnetism is subsequently added. This is in contrast to the traditional fabrication of bio-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, where the particles are typically functionalized after the preparation of the magnetic particles.
The Role of Mast Cells in Acute Coronary Syndromes

A B S T R A C T OBJECTIVE: Review evidence supporting the role of mast cells in cardiovascular pathophysiology. BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular inflammation has emerged as a key pathogenetic factor in coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. IR complicates all forms of coronary artery revascularization. Cardiac mast cells have been implicated in CAD, IR and myocardial infarction (MI) through the release of pro-arrhythmogenic and inflammatory mediators, especially interleukin-6 (IL-6), considered an independent risk factor. METHODS: We reviewed relevant literature and summarized our own findings. RESULTS: We showed that CAD is associated with high intracoronary release of IL-6. Acute stress triggers mast cell- dependent release of histamine and IL-6. Moreover, acute stress in ApoE -/- mice leads to ischemia. Mast cells express corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH) receptors, activation of which leads to selective release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an isoform of which is vasodilatory. In a randomized prospective study, we investigated serum IL-6 levels and cardiac tissue susceptibility in the mast cell deficient (W/Wv) mice (n=12) and their normal littermates (+/+). When the left coronary artery (LCA) was ligated followed by 6 hr of reperfusion IL-6 levels increased significantly after reperfusion only in the +/+ mice, but not in mast cell deficient W/Wv mice; cardiac muscle viability was significantly higher in W/Wv than the +/+ mice. CONCLUSION: These results support targeting selective inhibition of cardiac mast cell activation as prophylactic therapy in clinical situations involving myocardial inflammation and/or revascularization.
Three responses to small changes in stream temperature by autumn-emerging aquatic insects

In this experimental study, conducted in coastal Oregon USA, we examined how small increases in summer water temperatures affected aquatic insect growth and autumn emergence. We maintained naturally fluctuating temperatures from 2 nearby streams and a3 rd regime, naturally fluctuating temperatures warmed by 3-5uC, in flow-through troughs from mid-summer until autumn. We added selected abundant Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera species to the 3 treatments in late July and observed emergence until early December. We described the taxon-specific responses of the caddisfly Psychoglypha bella and the mayfly Paraleptophlebia bicornuta, both of which survived well in the troughs (67-86%), and the stonefly Mesocapnia projecta, which we did not collect in mid-summer but had colonized all experimental troughs by October. We observed primarily phenological rather than morphological responses to higher water temperatures. The most synchronous emergence of male and female P. bella and P. bicornuta occurred in the trough with the coolest temperatures. Only P. bella emerged asynchronously from the trough with the warmest temperatures. The decreases in synchrony were largely the result of earlier emergence of males. Paraleptophlebia bicornuta were larger and tended towards asynchrony in the trough with water (and temperatures) from their natal stream. Individuals in the trough with the warmest temperature were smaller than individuals in other troughs, but did not emerge earlier. Mesocapnia projecta showed greater synchrony in emergence, which occurred over a shorter interval, than the other species. When exposed to increased water temperatures, autumn-emergent taxa may be most vulnerable to trade-offs between asynchronous emergence and the probabilities for finding mates in unpredictable weather conditions.
Identification of critical contact residues in the NC41 epitope of a subtype N9 influenza virus neuraminidase

We have examined amino acids on influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) subtype N9 (A/tern/Australia/G70c/75) which are in contact with monoclonal antibody NC41 to analyze individual interactions important for antibody recognition. The crystal structure of NA complexed with NC41 Fab1 shows antibody contacts at 19 amino acid residues on the NA surface which are localized on five polypeptide loops surrounding the enzyme active site. Fifteen mutant NA genes were constructed to encode a protein which contained a single amino acid substitution and these were tested for effects of the replacement on NC41 binding. Our data revealed that NAs with changes at 368, 400, and 434 completely lost NC41 recognition. NAs with side chains replaced at residues 346 and 373 exhibited binding reduced to less than 50% of wild-type binding. Changes in seven other contacting residues, including substituted side chains which differed considerably from wild-type NA in size and charge, had no significant effect on NC41 binding. These results indicate that only a few of the many residues which make up an epitope are crucial for interaction and provide the critical contacts required for antibody recognition. This implies that antibody escape mutants are selected only if they contain changes at these crucial sites, or changes which introduce bulky side chains that sterically prevent antibody attachment.
A Dead Horse Flogged Again

IT is good to be home again home in two senses in Chapel Hill and in the company of mediaevalists. As dean of an undergraduate college, I am no longer a respectable mediaevalist, a fact that one of my students perceived when she wrote on a course evaluation sheet that mine was a superb course: everything was very good except the lectures, and they were not bad when the professor was out of town. I shall not, therefore, pretend to deliver a scholarly address on a mediaeval subject, nor shall I read the footnotes of the first chapter and the last chapter of my forthcoming book, for I may never write another mediaeval book perhaps not even another mediaeval footnote.' Instead, I shall direct myself toward mediaeval studies in general, their place in the American college and university and in preparation for life in America. No after-dinner meeting of a learned society today is complete without an address on the plight of the humanities. I shall proceed to deliver one without further ado. It is customary to blame the plight of the humanities, in which I include history, on the crass and materialistic stupidity of presidents, deans, and trustees, on the concern of the students with things of the flesh, and even of the fleshpots, and their desire for a vocational education. It is customary to point with gloom to the decreasing enrollment in the humanities, both on the graduate and undergraduate level, and with even greater gloom to the lack of opportunities for young Ph.D.'s in the humanities. With the faultless logic of the scholar, the humanist bewails the existence of unhired doctors; in the next breath he calls for larger enrollments in these subjects in the graduate schools; and proceeds to beguile a foundation into making large grants to lure unsuspecting bachelors into graduate studies in the humanities, with the engaging afterthought that they must at least pretend that they are not seriously interested in teaching. I shall place the blame for the plight of the humanities in another place. I shall place it on some humanists, if they should be so called. I shall bewail their preoccupation with the obscure and curse their avoidance of things that are important and therefore interesting. I shall point with scorn to their contempt for intelligibility, for communication to lay audiences, and for their lack of interest in synthesis, and pity them for their general desiccation. I shall deplore their scholarly avoidance of judgments of value and ethics. The well-counseled graduate student in an American graduate school who is searching for the subject of a thesis does not seek a topic through which he can study the development of an idea, the growth and influence of a literary movement, the meaning of human experience; he selects instead a forgotten play by a third-rate author, a play which should never have been printed in the first place,
FemoroPopliteal and FemoroTibial Arterial Bypasses for Limb Salvage

Personal experiences with femoropopliteal and tibial artery bypasses to save limbs are reviewed. There were 315 consecutive bypass procedures in 249 patients over a period of 5 years and 6 months. Femoropopliteal bypasses were done with autogenous greater saphenous vein grafts in 102 cases and with PTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, Gore-Tex) grafts in 100 cases.Femoropopliteal artery bypasses were done with superficial femoral vein grafts in three cases, with bank veins in two cases, and with arm veins in three. In two cases proximal bypasses were made above the inguinal ligament, and these were included in the series of femoropopliteal artery bypasses. There were 70 cases of femorotibial artery bypasses with autogenous greater saphenous vein grafts, two cases with arm veins, and 19 cases with PTFE grafts.In seven cases sequential bypasses were done (femoropoplitealtibial arte rial bypasses) with autogenous greater saphenous vein grafts. In 15 cases popliteal-distal tibial artery bypasses were done ...
A Gifted Amateur: The Case of George Washington Ellis

George Washington Ellis published Negro Culture in West Africa in 1914 in response to the social gospel prophets' racist and stereotypical perspectives of West Africa and Africans. In so doing. Ellis attempted to shift the discourse from one that emphasized African barbarism to one that repudiated the idea of African inferiority. Unwittingly, however, Ellis preached a brand of romantic racialism—a benign doctrine that was commonplace in the racial discourse of African American elites at the Turn of the Century. Asa consequence, his loyalties were divided between 19th-century ethnological science and the "new ethnology" of Franz Boas. [Keywords: George Washington Ellis, history of racism, antiracism, African American anthropology, social gospel prophets]
Trends in Antimicrobial Drug Development: Implications for the Future

The need for new antimicrobial agents is greater than ever because of the emergence of multidrug resistance in common pathogens, the rapid emergence of new infections, and the potential for use of multidrug-resistant agents in bioweapons. Paradoxically, some pharmaceutical companies have indicated that they are curtailing anti-infective research programs. We evaluated the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) databases of approved drugs and the research and development programs of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to document trends in the development of new antimicrobial agents. FDA approval of new antibacterial agents decreased by 56% over the past 20 years (1998-2002 vs. 1983-1987). Projecting future development, new antibacterial agents constitute 6 of 506 drugs disclosed in the developmental programs of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Despite the critical need for new antimicrobial agents, the development of these agents is declining. Solutions encouraging and facilitating the development of new antimicrobial agents are needed.