cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Tournaments, Equal Opportunity Laws, and Affirmative Action: Some Experimental Results

This paper assesses whether affirmative action programs and equal opportunity laws affect the output of economic agents. More precisely, we find that equal opportunity laws and affirmative action programs always benefit disadvantaged groups. Equal opportunity laws also increase the effort levels of all subjects and hence the profits of the tournament administrator (usually the firm). The effects of affirmative action programs depend on the severity of a group's cost disadvantage. When the cost disadvantage is severe, these programs significantly increase effort levels (and hence profits). The opposite is true when the disadvantage is slight.
Comparison of methods trial for high‐risk HPV

In efforts to improve service, we compared the performance of four methods of HPV detection: Invader HPV (Hologic), Hybrid Capture 2 (Qiagen), Inform HPV detection (Ventana), and standard PCR.Using blinded/de-identified cervical samples in Preservcyt (Hologic), we compared Ventana's Inform HPV Test, against Hologic's HPV Invader and PCR. In a separate evaluation, we compared Inform versus Invader versus hc2. Ventana employs in situ hybridization; Hologic's technology uses three specifically designed oligonucleotides and a fluorescent signal for detection. Qiagen's hc2 method incorporates enzyme-linked antibody detection of RNA-DNA hybrids. PCR testing was provided by Access Genetics (Minneapolis, MN). The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the Third Wave/Hologic Invader HPV high-risk test (rebranded as Cervista HPV HR Test).In this small study, involving a few hundred tests, Third Wave, Qiagen, and PCR tests were comparable. Kappa statistics comparing Third Wave to PCR and Third Wave to Qiagen were 0.88 and 0.74, respectively. Ventana's method did not correlate well with any of the other methods with Kappa's ranging from a low of 0.25 versus Qiagen to 0.31 versus PCR. Kappa statistics measure correlation and not accuracy of measurement.Although we felt that the specificity of our original HPV method, Ventana Inform was satisfactory and lowered our subsequent colposcopy rate, worries about its lower sensitivity caused us to look at other techniques. Other methods, PCR, hc2, and Invader, appeared comparable with one another in our series. We chose to implement the Third Wave test in our laboratory.
Enhancing the Performance of the Rechargeable Iron Electrode in Alkaline Batteries with Bismuth Oxide and Iron Sulfide Additives

Iron-based alkaline rechargeable batteries have the potential of meeting the needs of large-scale electrical energy storage because of their low-cost, robustness and eco-friendliness. However, the widespread commercial deployment of iron-based batteries has been limited by the low charging efficiency and the poor discharge rate capability of the iron electrode. In this study, we have demonstrated iron electrodes containing bismuth oxide and iron sulfide with a charging efficiency of 92% and capable of being discharged at the 3C rate. Such a high value of charging efficiency combined with the ability to discharge at high rates is being reported for the first time. The bismuth oxide additive led to the in situ formation of elemental bismuth and a consequent increase in the overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction leading to an increase in the charging efficiency. We observed that the sulfide ions added to the electrolyte and iron sulfide added to the electrode mitigated-electrode passivation and allowed for continuous discharge at high rates. At the 3C discharge rate, a utilization of 0.2 Ah/g was achieved. The performance level of the rechargeable iron electrode demonstrated here is attractive for designing economically-viable large-scale energy storage systems based on alkaline nickel-iron and iron-air batteries. (C)more » 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.« less
Phenotypic plasticity in female naked mole-rats after removal from reproductive suppression

Naked mole-rats are fossorial African rodents that live in large, eusocial groups. Adult subordinate female mole-rats are reproductively suppressed by the dominant breeding female in their colonies. As a result, subordinate females remain reproductively quiescent for their entire lives unless they are removed from the suppressive presence of the dominant female. This makes subordinate female mole-rats a tractable model for studying phenotypic plasticity. We measured skeletal growth of subordinate, suppressed females as they changed reproductive status. After housing subordinate female mole-rats separately from their home colonies, these animals experienced a growth surge that dramatically increased their body mass and length. After removal from reproductive suppression, females showed an 82% increase in body mass and a 37% increase in the length of their lumbar spines. The lumbar vertebrae were the only skeletal structures that exhibited this puberty-like growth. After colony separation, body mass and lumbar vertebrae growth rates peaked and remained elevated for several weeks before returning to control levels--suggestive of a puberty-like 'growth spurt'. Although previous studies have characterized pregnancy-induced lumbar spine elongation in female mole-rats, we demonstrate a significant change in the body morphology of female mole-rats after removal from reproductive suppression but before the first pregnancy.
Taking Off the White Coat: Can Family Members Who Are Physicians Be Good Surrogate Decision-Makers?

The challenges inherent in physicians treating members of their own families are well known. However, the issues related to physicians acting as surrogate decision-makers on behalf of relatives have not been addressed. The growing number of older persons will increase the need not only for healthcare resources, but also for physicians to act on behalf of incapacitated family members as surrogate decision-makers. In this paper, some of the clinical and ethical tensions evoked by physicians serving as surrogate decision-makers for family members are explored. Some recommendations for managing these tensions are suggested.
Expression of NR1, NR2A-D, and NR3 subunits of the NMDA receptor in the cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb of adult rat.

Quantitative reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the relative expressions of NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, NR2D, and NR3 subunits of the NMDA receptor in the piriform, entorhinal, visual, and motor cortices as well as in the olfactory bulb of adult rat. The analysis detected clear differences in the relative proportions of the NMDA receptor subunits between the five forebrain regions examined. These differences were particularly striking when the piriform and motor cortices were compared. In the piriform cortex, NR1 was the predominant transcript. The expression of NR2A was only slightly higher than half of that of NR1. NR2B was expressed even at lower levels ( approximately 30% of NR1). NR2C and NR3 were expressed at levels which were approximately 15% of those of NR1. NR2D had the lowest levels of expression ( approximately 3% of NR1). In contrast, NR2B was the predominant transcript in the motor cortical region, where it was expressed at the levels close to 135% of those of NR1 message. NR2A had the levels of expression of approximately 50% of those of NR1. The NR2C expression was close to 25% that of NR1, and the NR2D and NR3 transcripts were totally absent from this cortical area. These findings suggest a significant regional variability of the NMDA receptors in the adult rat forebrain.
Quantum tunnelling and the activated complex theory

Abstract The quantum tunneling of a proton in a hydrogen bond is studied by solving the Schrodinger equation with a three-dimensional symmetric double well potential. Energy eigenvalues are obtained for the three-dimensional case and the results are contrasted to the one-dimensional case. The hypothesis of the activated complex theory of reactions that the rate of reaction is proportional to the probability that the particle is in the activated state is investigated for a quantum tunneling reaction.
The role of an awarding body – a perspective

ABSTRACT:Central Qualifications (CQ) was developed by those working in practice as a not-for-profit awarding body dedicated to the veterinary profession. Here director Jacqui Garrett explains the position of CQ in the industry and explores the qualifications available to future generations of veterinary nurses.
Differential Oxidation of Two Thiophene-Containing Regioisomers to Reactive Metabolites by Cytochrome P450 2C9

The uricosuric diuretic agent tienilic acid (TA) is a thiophene-containing compound that is metabolized by P450 2C9 to 5-OH-TA. A reactive metabolite of TA also forms a covalent adduct to P450 2C9 that inactivates the enzyme and initiates immune-mediated hepatic injury in humans, purportedly through a thiophene-S-oxide intermediate. The 3-thenoyl regioisomer of TA, tienilic acid isomer (TAI), is chemically very similar and is reported to be oxidized by P450 2C9 to a thiophene-S-oxide, yet it is not a mechanism-based inactivator (MBI) of P450 2C9 and is reported to be an intrinsic hepatotoxin in rats. The goal of the work presented in this article was to identify the reactive metabolites of TA and TAI by the characterization of products derived from P450 2C9-mediated oxidation. In addition, in silico approaches were used to better understand both the mechanisms of oxidation of TA and TAI and/or the structural rearrangements of oxidized thiophene compounds. Incubation of TA with P450 2C9 and NADPH yielded t...
SLEEP INFLUENCES THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO HEMORRHAGE IN LAMBS

Newborns spend a large portion of their time asleep. During the first postnatal month lambs spend about 45% of their time in quiet sleep (QS) and about 10% of their time in active sleep (AS). The extent to which sleep affects the cardiovascular response to perturbation in young lambs is unknown. We, therefore, investigated the effect of sleep on the cardiovascular response to an acute venous hemorrhage in 7 lambs aged 13 to 19 days. Each lamb was anesthetized and instrumented for measurements of electrocorticogram, electro-oculogram, nuchal and diaphragm electromyograms, pulmonary blood flow, aortic and right atrial blood pressures. The lambs were not studied before the third postoperative day. Measurements were made during a 1-min control period and during a 1-min experimental period that followed a 10 ml/kg hemorrhage during quiet wakefulness (QW), QS and AS. Hemorrhage produced similar decreases in right atrial pressure and pulmonary blood flow during the three behavioral states. However, mean aortic pressure decreased more (p<0.05 by 1-way ANOV) following hemorrhage during AS (75.5±13.9 to 65.7±11.5) than during QS (72.5±11.3 to 70.8±10.4) or QW (76.3±14.9 to 72.6±12.0). Calculated systemic vascular resistance increased more (p<0.05) during QW and QS than during AS. These results provide evidence that reflex control of the peripheral circulation is altered during AS compared to QS and QW in lambs.
Copper(II)-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in liposomes and erythrocyte membranes

Cu++ was uniquely capable of catalyzing the peroxidation of rat erythrocyte membrane lipid in the presence of 10 mM H2O2, whereas several other transition metal ions were without significant effect. In contrast, peroxidation of soybean phospholipid liposomes could be catalyzed with decreasing efficiency by Co++, Cu++, Pb++, or Cr+++ also in the presence of H2O2. The effect of imidazole on Cu++-catalyzed lipid peroxidation was stimulatory in liposomes and inhibitory in membrane preparations, whereas EDTA, histidine, citrate and alanine inhibited peroxidation in both systems. EDTA could stop the peroxidation after initiation, but catalase could not, indicating that Cu++ alone was necessary for the propagation of the chain reaction. Competitive inhibition studies with various scavengers of hydroxyl radicals or singlet oxygen and the absence of significant reaction enhancement by D2O indicated that neither of these reactive oxygen species was a major mediator in the Cu++-H2O2 oxidative system. A copper-oxygen complex may be directly involved in the initiation of peroxidation. Normal erythrocyte membranes and phospholipid liposomes also differ in their sensitivities toward external oxidative stress. In the absence of H2O2, Cu++ (0.2 mM) was capable of catalyzing lipid peroxidation in liposomes, aged erythrocyte membranes and membranes from vitamin-E-deficient rats; however, freshly prepared membranes from control rats and liposomes containing α-tocopherol required H2O2 greater than 2 mM for the catalytic effect of Cu++ to be observed.
Gemfibrozil, a Lipid-lowering Drug, Increases Myelin Genes in Human Oligodendrocytes via Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-β

An increase in CNS remyelination and a decrease in CNS inflammation are important steps to halt the progression of multiple sclerosis. Earlier studies have shown that gemfibrozil, a lipid-lowering drug, has anti-inflammatory properties. The current study identified another novel property of gemfibrozil in stimulating the expression of myelin-specific genes (myelin basic protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase, and proteolipid protein (PLP)) in primary human oligodendrocytes, mixed glial cells, and spinal cord organotypic cultures. Although gemfibrozil is a known activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), we were unable to detect PPAR-α in either gemfibrozil-treated or untreated human oligodendrocytes, and gemfibrozil increased the expression of myelin genes in oligodendrocytes isolated from both wild type and PPAR-α(−/−) mice. On the other hand, gemfibrozil markedly increased the expression of PPAR-β but not PPAR-γ. Consistently, antisense knockdown of PPAR-β, but not PPAR-γ, abrogated the stimulatory effect of gemfibrozil on myelin genes in human oligodendrocytes. Gemfibrozil also did not up-regulate myelin genes in oligodendroglia isolated from PPAR-β(−/−) mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that gemfibrozil induced the recruitment of PPAR-β to the promoter of PLP and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein genes in human oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, gemfibrozil treatment also led to the recruitment of PPAR-β to the PLP promoter in vivo in the spinal cord of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice and suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis symptoms in PLP-T cell receptor transgenic mice. These results suggest that gemfibrozil stimulates the expression of myelin genes via PPAR-β and that gemfibrozil, a prescribed drug for humans, may find further therapeutic use in demyelinating diseases.
Use of the multiple copy simultaneous search (MCSS) method to design a new class of picornavirus capsid binding drugs

A combinatorial ligand design approach based on the multiple copy simultaneous search (MCSS) method and a simple scheme for joining MCSS functional group sites was applied to the binding pocket of P3/Sabin poliovirus and rhinovirus 14. The MCSS method determines where specific functional (chemical) groups have local potential energy minima in the binding site. Before the virus application, test calculations were run to determine the optimal set of input parameters to be used in evaluating the MCSS results. The MCSS minima are analysed and selected minima are connected with (CH2)n linkers to form candidate ligands, whose structures are optimized in the binding site. Estimates of the binding strength were made for the ligands and compared with those for known drugs. The results indicate that the proposed ligands should bind to P3/Sabin poliovirus at least as well as the best of the existing drugs, and that they should also bind to P1/Mahoney poliovirus and rhinovirus 14. A detailed comparison of the poliovirus and rhinovirus binding pockets and an analysis of drug binding specificity is presented.
Identifiability, Performance Feedback and the Köhler Effect

Research, starting with Kohler (1926), has demonstrated a type of group motivation gain, wherein the less capable member of a dyad working conjunctively at a persistence task works harder than comparable individuals. To explore possible boundary conditions of this effect, the current experiment systematically varied the amount and timing of performance feedback group members received. Results showed: (a) continuous feedback of both members’ performance was not necessary for producing the effect; (b) the effect was attenuated, but not eliminated by delaying and restricting feedback, such that group members only learned which of them was the less capable worker (but not how long s/he persisted) sometime after the task trial was completed; and (c) the motivation gain was eliminated in the absence of any performance feedback (i.e. when neither worker could tell who quit first nor how long either had persisted). Some implications of these results for currently viable explanations of the Kohler effect are discu...
Text-critiquing with the EPISTLE system: an author's aid to better syntax

The experimental EPISTLE system is ultimately intended to provide office workers with intelligent applications for the processing of natural language text, particularly business correspondence. A variety of possible critiques of textual material are identified in this paper, but the discussion focuses on the system's capability to detect several classes of grammatical errors, such as disagreement in number between the subject and the verb. The system's error-detection performance relies critically on its parsing component which determines the syntactic structure of each sentence and the grammatical functions fulfilled by various phrases. Details of the system's operations are provided, and some of the future critiquing objectives are outlined.
P450BM3-Axial Mutations: A Gateway to Non-Natural Reactivity

Enzymes capable of catalyzing non-natural reactions have the potential to alter the way relevant molecules are prepared on-scale. Efforts to this end have largely focused on combining non-natural cofactors with proteins lacking catalytic function to obtain non-natural reactivity. An alternative approach is to utilize a native cofactor to catalyze non-natural reactions. Recently, our group demonstrated that heme-containing cytochrome P450s are able to catalyze the highly selective cyclopropanation of alkenes. Superior activity was observed upon changing the axial cysteine to serine (“P411”). Mutation at the conserved axial ligand has enabled P450s to catalyze other non-natural reactions such as N—H insertion and C—H amination.
Acute toxicity of tricyclohexyltin hydroxide to livestock

Abstract Thirty adult sheep of both sexes were treated intrarumenally with tricyclohexyltin hydroxide. Groups of five sheep each were treated with 750, 500, and 250 mg/kg; groups of four sheep each were given 150, 25, and 15 mg/kg; and three sheep received 50 mg/kg. All were affected except the sheep treated with 15 mg/kg. Sheep treated with 750 and 500 mg/kg had severe cardiovascular and respiratory changes at necropsy. On dermal treatment, no ill effect was observed in eight yearling cattle (two per group) sprayed with suspensions of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5%. Three yearling cattle were anorectic after being sprayed with the 1.0% suspension. Two baby calves (one per group) tolerated spraying at 0.075 and 0.1%. Fifteen yearling Angora goats (five per group) tolerated exposure by spraying with the 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1% suspensions. Transitory anorexia and eye irritation were noted in three goats sprayed with the 2.0% suspension. Of 15 sheep (five per group) sprayed at 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1%, no ill effect was observed. Three of five sheep were mildly affected when sprayed at 0.5%. At the 1.0% spraying, one sheep was affected and died, three sheep were mildly affected and survived, and one was unaffected. Of two sheep sprayed at 2.0%, one was mildly affected and survived, but the other sheep was affected, aborted, and died of complications.
Enhancing the Determination of Sulfonic Acids using Anion‐Exchange Chromatography with Post‐Column Derivatization and Spectrometric Detection

Abstract Accurate determination of cysteic acid, homocysteic acid, and taurine in aqueous solution is essential in many analyses of biological and clinical applications. These sulfonic acids are difficult to be separated and determined using reversed phase chromatography and cation‐exchange chromatography. In this research, an accurate and sensitive determination for the three sulfonic acids has been achieved using anion‐exchange chromatography with post‐column derivatization and spectrometric detection. This technique has outperformed the technique using suppressed conductivity detection. It has enormously enhanced the accuracy, detection limit, sensitivity, and linearity in the determination of these three sulfonic acids. This technique has demonstrated to be excellent for simultaneously determining cysteic acid, homocysteic acid, and taurine.
Planning for the Manpower Needs for the Next Generation of Periodontal Patients

Projections by the bureau of the census indicate that there will be an additional 55.6 million people 20 years and older living in this country by the year 2020. Estimates are developed for each state and region of the needed numbers of periodontists to maintain current practitioner levels. The availability of needed practitioners is considered in terms of the number of graduates from periodontal training programs. A short-fall is projected in the number of training program graduates needed to maintain current periodontist-to-population ratios by 2020. J Periodontol 1995;66:599–604.
Evaluation of Medication Administration Process: Tools and Techniques

Health care safety improvement focuses on redesign of high-risk health care processes such as the medication administration process (MAP) to enhance safety and reduce errors. A key limitation of MAP redesign efforts is the lack of validated tools by which to accurately record process observations. This paper discusses a pilot study conducted to develop and evaluate a handheld device application for recording observations of oral MAP functions and tasks. The aim of the study was to leverage existing technology to develop an observation recording device comparable to handwritten recordings commonly used to document workflow observations in health care settings. Device recordings were statistically compared to handwritten recordings of the same MAP functions and tasks. Findings provided preliminary evidence that handheld device recordings were consistent with handwritten recordings for documenting task duration but not task sequence. Interruptions were not examined due to insufficient data and additional research is needed.
SIR1, an upstream component in auxin signaling identified by chemical genetics.

Auxin is a plant hormone that regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. We used a chemical genetics approach to identify SIR1, a regulator of many auxin-inducible genes. The sir1 mutant was resistant to sirtinol, a small molecule that activates many auxin-inducible genes and promotes auxin-related developmental phenotypes. SIR1 is predicted to encode a protein composed of a ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1–like domain and a Rhodanese-like domain homologous to that of prolyl isomerase. We suggest a molecular context for how the auxin signal is propagated to exert its biological effects.
A Scalable Group Key Management Protocol

Group key management brings challenges on scalability for multicast security. In this paper, we propose a new group key management protocol and demonstrate that it has better scalability when compared with other important centralized protocols.
Composite Interlaminar Shear Fracture Toughness, G(sub 2c): Shear Measurement of Sheer Myth?

The concept of G2c as a measure of the interlaminar shear fracture toughness of a composite material is critically examined. In particular, it is argued that the apparent G2c as typically measured is inconsistent with the original definition of shear fracture. It is shown that interlaminar shear failure actually consists of tension failures in the resin rich layers between plies followed by the coalescence of ligaments created by these failures and not the sliding of two planes relative to one another that is assumed in fracture mechanics theory. Several strain energy release rate solutions are reviewed for delamination in composite laminates and structural components where failures have been experimentally documented. Failures typically occur at a location where the mode 1 component accounts for at least one half of the total G at failure. Hence, it is the mode I and mixed-mode interlaminar fracture toughness data that will be most useful in predicting delamination failure in composite components in service. Although apparent G2c measurements may prove useful for completeness of generating mixed-mode criteria, the accuracy of these measurements may have very little influence on the prediction of mixed-mode failures in most structural components.
Adipokines Mediate Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

For many years, adipose tissue was considered as an inert energy storage organ that accumulates and stores triacylglycerols during energy excess and releases fatty acids in times of systemic energy need. However, over the last two decades adipose tissue depots have been established as highly active endocrine and metabolically important organs that modulate energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. In rodents, brown adipose tissue plays an essential role in non-shivering thermogenesis and in energy dissipation that can serve to protect against diet-induced obesity. White adipose tissue collectively referred too as either subcutaneous or visceral adipose tissue is responsible for the secretion of an array of signaling molecules, termed adipokines. These adipokines function as classic circulating hormones to communicate with other organs including brain, liver, muscle, the immune system, and adipose tissue itself. The dysregulation of adipokines has been implicated in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, inflammatory responses in adipose tissue have been shown as a major mechanism to induce peripheral tissue insulin resistance. Although leptin and adiponectin regulate feeding behavior and energy expenditure, these adipokines are also involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses. Adipose tissue secretes various pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines to modulate inflammation and insulin resistance. In obese humans and rodent models, the expression of pro-inflammatory adipokines is enhanced to induce insulin resistance. Collectively, these findings have suggested that obesity-induced insulin resistance may result, at least in part, from an imbalance in the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines. Thus we will review the recent progress regarding the physiological and molecular functions of adipokines in the obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance with perspectives on future directions.
Use Of Laser Annealing To Achieve Low Loss In Corning 7059 Glass, ZnO, Si3N4, Nb205, and Ta205 Optical Thin-Film Waveguides

We report considerable success in using the technique of laser annealing to reduce scattering in a variety of thin-film optical waveguides deposited onto thermally oxidized silicon substrates. For the materials Si3N4, Nb2O5, and Ta205, values of waveguide loss less than 1 dB/cm were achieved. Values of waveguide loss as low as 0.01 dB/cm have been measured for laser-annealed ZnO waveguides and for Corning 7059 glass waveguides which have been both laser annealed and had surface coatings applied.
Formkontrolle bei der Synthese von Metallnanokristallen: einfache Chemie, komplexe Physik?

Nanokristalle sind von grundlegender Bedeutung in der modernen Wissenschaft und Technologie. Die Eigenschaften eines Nanokristalls lassen sich uber seine Form beeinflussen und auf eine bestimmte Anwendung hin zuschneiden. Ziel dieses Aufsatzes ist es, einen umfassenden Uberblick uber den aktuellen Stand der Forschung auf dem Gebiet der formkontrollierten Synthese von Metallnanokristallen zu geben. Nach einer kurzen Einleitung uber die Prinzipien von Kristallkeimbildung und -wachstum diskutieren wir einzelne Arten von Nanokristallformen und betrachten verschiedene experimentelle Parameter, uber die die Keimbildung und das Wachstum von Metallnanokristallen in der Losungssynthese gezielt manipuliert werden kann. Wir erlautern diese Methoden anhand von Beispielen, wo zumindest ein Grundverstandnis fur die beobachtete Formkontrolle vorhanden ist. Schlieslich stellen wir Anwendungen vor, bei denen die Formkontrolle von Metallnanokristallen ein entscheidender Faktor ist, und beenden den Aufsatz mit einem personlichen Ausblick auf kunftig zu erwartende Entwicklungen auf diesem Gebiet.
Numerically Converged Solutions of the Global Primitive Equations for Testing the Dynamical Core of Atmospheric GCMs

Solutions of the dry, adiabatic, primitive equations are computed, for the first time, to numerical convergence. These solutions consist of the short-time evolution of a slightly perturbed, baroclinically unstable, midlatitude jet, initially similar to the archetypal LC1 case of Thorncroft et al. The solutions are computed with two distinct numerical schemes to demonstrate that they are not dependent on the method used to obtain them. These solutions are used to propose a new test case for dynamical cores of atmospheric general circulation models. Instantaneous horizontal and vertical cross sections of vorticity and vertical velocity after 12 days, together with tables of key diagnostic quantities derived from the new solutions, are offered as reproducible benchmarks. Unlike the Held and Suarez benchmark, the partial differential equations and the initial conditions are here completely specified, and the new test case requires only 12 days of integration, involves no spatial or temporal averaging, and does not call for physical parameterizations to be added to the dynamical core itself.
Pharmacogenetics in esophageal cancer

The current oncology practice of treating cancer with aggressive doses of radiation and chemotherapy is potentially disastrous, as response and side effects vary depending on several factors including pharmacogenetics. This study is the first to evaluate esophageal cancer treatment with a pharmacogenetic paradigm and its application of pharmacogenetic analysis to multiple genes in each drug action pathway as a means of developing a more accurate and consistent risk prediction model. This study has enrolled 235 patients with resectable adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who had been treated with chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy. The preliminary finding that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms modify 5-fluorouracil response supports the hypothesis that response or resistance to therapy in esophageal cancer patients may be modulated by genetic variants involved in the metabolism or mechanism of chemotherapy drug action. Our ongoing esophageal cancer research aims to determine individual pharmacogenetic profiles to identify patients most likely to have chemotherapeutic benefit and patients with the highest risk of suffering genotoxic side effects. These profiles will ideally lead to individualized therapies, improved treatment outcomes, and a movement toward clinically applied pharmacogenetics. This emergent area of biomedicine could lead to substantially improved clinical outcomes for patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
Open Language Learning for Information Extraction

Open Information Extraction (IE) systems extract relational tuples from text, without requiring a pre-specified vocabulary, by identifying relation phrases and associated arguments in arbitrary sentences. However, state-of-the-art Open IE systems such as ReVerb and woe share two important weaknesses -- (1) they extract only relations that are mediated by verbs, and (2) they ignore context, thus extracting tuples that are not asserted as factual. This paper presents ollie, a substantially improved Open IE system that addresses both these limitations. First, ollie achieves high yield by extracting relations mediated by nouns, adjectives, and more. Second, a context-analysis step increases precision by including contextual information from the sentence in the extractions. ollie obtains 2.7 times the area under precision-yield curve (AUC) compared to ReVerb and 1.9 times the AUC of woeparse.
Chemical and sensory characterization of commercial sauerkraut

Canned sauerkraut from eight U.S. companies was analyzed for salt, titratable acidity (TA), fermentation substrates and end products, volatile sulfur compounds and sensory characteristics. The TA ranged from 0.9-1.5%, while salt content ranged from 1.4-2.0%, which was lower than in previous surveys. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to monitor lactic, acetic, malic, succinic, propionic and butyric acids ; mannitol, ethanol, propanol, glycerol, glucose, fructose and sucrose. Low concentrations of propionic acid, propanol and glycerol were found. These three compounds are not characteristic of lactic acid fermentations. No butyric acid was detected. GC analysis revealed seven main sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, dimethyl disulfide, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and dimethyl trisulfide) and six other organic compounds (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, 2propanol, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate) in the headspace of sauerkraut juice. A profile panel characterized aroma, flavor and after-taste of sauerkraut with ten distinct notes. The sour, sulfur and salt notes had the greatest impact on sauerkraut flavor.
Die Vermessung des Weltalls: Rotverschiebungen und Standardkerzen

In einem Planetarium sind die Sterne sanfte Lichtpunktchen, einige hell, einige schwach, aber alle in gleicher Entfernung auf eine dunkle Kuppel projiziert. Auch am Himmel sind die Sterne solche Lichtpunktchen, einige hell, einige schwach. Wie konnen wir wissen, das sie nicht ebenfalls an einem nachtlichen, dunklen Gewolbe befestigt sind, alle in gleicher Entfernung? Die Sterne sind so weit weg, das genaue Messungen und ein wenig geometrische Findigkeit notig sind, um aus ihren Bewegungen auf ihre Entfernungen zu schliesen. Sobald wir jedoch lernen, die Sterne in ihre wahren Entfernungen zu setzen, konnen wir die Vorstellung von einem flachen Weltraum durchbrechen und zu einer reicheren, dreidimensionalen Sicht gelangen. Indem wir mit den Sternen und ihren Entfernungen beginnen, dann die gleichen Sterntypen in anderen Galaxien betrachten und danach die Eigenschaften dieser Galaxien kennenlernen, konnen wir uns langsam % einen Werkzeugkasten ausrusten, der es uns ermoglicht, stabile Fundamente fur eine Brucke zum Rand des beobachtbaren Weltalls zu errichten.
Benzene-free synthesis of hydroquinone.

All current routes for the synthesis of hydroquinone utilize benzene as the starting material. An alternate route to hydroquinone has now been elaborated from glucose. While benzene is a volatile carcinogen derived from nonrenewable fossil fuel feedstocks, glucose is nonvolatile, nontoxic, and derived from renewable plant polysacharrides. Glucose is first converted into quinic acid using microbial catalysis. Quinic acid is then chemically converted into hydroquinone. Under fermentor-controlled conditions, Escherichia coli QP1.1/pKD12.138 synthesizes 49 g/L of quinic acid from glucose in 20% (mol/mol) yield. Oxidative decarboxylation of quinic acid in clarified, decolorized, ammonium ion-free fermentation broth with NaOCl and subsequent dehydration of the intermediate 3(R),5(R)-trihydroxycyclohexanone afforded purified hydroquinone in 87% yield. Halide-free, oxidative decarboxylation of quinic acid in fermentation broth with stoichiometric quantities of (NH4)2Ce(SO4)3 and V2O5 afforded hydroquinone in 91% ...
An overview of temporal trends in multiple births after assisted reproductive technology in the USA

Transfer of multiple embryos for IVF was an early and important advance to improve procedure effectiveness. Along with the increase in live birth rate, this advance resulted in a three-decade long battle to counteract high rates of multiple delivery that have accompanied multiple embryo transfer. This review chronicles the history of the struggle in the USA to reduce the number of embryos transferred and the multiple births that resulted from this practice while continuing to strive for high live birth delivery rates in young as well as older patients. The positive and negative influences of law, professional guidelines, inadequate medical insurance and patient preference are discussed. Recent reporting strategies and technical advances in embryo selection that can help us achieve single embryo transfer are reviewed.
A JOINT EFFORT TO AFFECT LIVES : THE COPD WELLNESS PROGRAM

Abstract Abstract: Health care providers can work toward the goal of maintaining quality, dignity, and independence in the elderly when they combine resources with the community to promote wellness and help manage chronic problems. The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Wellness Program was undertaken for this purpose. The target participants were elderly individuals and their care partners who met the program qualifications: a diagnosis or symptoms of COPD and residency in a certain independent housing facility. The program was designed to help the participants maximize their independence through knowledge and improved management of their disease process. (Geriatr Nurs 1999;20:200-2)
Digital Display of Measurements in Instrumentation

Being a short chronicle of the advent of digital display in divers new electronic instruments, sundry remarks telling of the wonders they can do, together with a few words to the wise concerning pitfalls which may accompany their indiscriminate use.
Phosphorylation of the Ndc80 complex protein, HEC1, by Nek2 kinase modulates chromosome alignment and signaling of the spindle assembly checkpoint

The spindle assemble checkpoint (SAC) is critical for accurate chromosome segregation. Hec1 contributes to chromosome segregation in part by mediating SAC signaling and chromosome alignment. However, the molecular mechanism by which Hec1 modulates checkpoint signaling and alignment remains poorly understood. We found that Hec1 serine 165 (S165) is preferentially phosphorylated at kinetochores. Phosphorylated Hec1 serine 165 (pS165) specifically localized to kinetochores of misaligned chromosomes, showing a spatiotemporal distribution characteristic of SAC molecules. Expressing an RNA interference (RNAi)-resistant S165A mutant in Hec1-depleted cells permitted normal progression to metaphase, but accelerated the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. The S165A cells were defective in Mad1 and Mad2 localization to kinetochores, regardless of attachment status. These cells often entered anaphase with lagging chromosomes and elicited increased segregation errors and cell death. In contrast, expressing S165E mutant in Hec1-depleted cells triggered defective chromosome alignment and severe mitotic arrest associated with increased Mad1/Mad2 signals at prometaphase kinetochores. A small portion of S165E cells eventually bypassed the SAC but showed severe segregation errors. Nek2 is the primary kinase responsible for kinetochore pS165, while PP1 phosphatase may dephosphorylate pS165 during SAC silencing. Taken together, these results suggest that modifications of Hec1 S165 serve as an important mechanism in modulating SAC signaling and chromosome alignment.
Multi-parameter controllers for audio mixing

This paper describes the design of multi-parameter controllers for sound engineering applications. These devices accept multi-dimensional input to allow simultaneous control of many parameters. We describe two gestural input d evices and their application to sound spatialization tasks.
Homophobia as Moral Geography

Gay men’s stories about homophobic violence will, at times, disguise reference to the persons who initiate harassment and injury. Instead, these stories emphasize the details of location or allow the victim of narrated violence to confirm the status of narrative hero. Each approach to story-telling has noticeable effects on the connections between sexual sameness and violence as displayed within the narrative. This paper examines these approaches to story-telling and their effects on homophobic formation (Leap, introduction, this volume), and traces the broader implications of these narrative styles within contemporary politics of gay visibility, assimilation and whiteness.
The Role of Inhibitory Control in Forgetting Unwanted Memories: A Consideration of Three Methods

When confronted with reminders to things that we would prefer not to think about, we often attempt to put the unwanted memories out of awareness. Here, I argue that the ability to control memory is a special case of a broad class of situations thought to require executive control: response override. In such situations, one must stop a strong habitual response to a stimulus due to situational demands, a function thought to be accomplished by inhibitory processes that suppress the response, enabling more flexible, context-sensitive control over behavior. Recent behavioral studies show that inhibitory mechanisms that control overt behavior are also targeted at declarative memories to control retrieval. Recent neuroimaging findings (Anderson et al., 2004) further establish that controlling awareness of unwanted memories is associated with increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation, reduced hippocampal activation, and impaired retention of the unwanted trace and that the magnitude of activation in prefrontal cortex predicts memory suppression. These findings indicate that cognitive and neural systems that support our ability to override prepotent responses can be recruited to override declarative memory retrieval, and that this cognitive act leads to memory failure. The relation between these findings and those obtained with the directed forgetting procedure is also discussed.
Abstract 14: Pim-1 Preserves Mitochondrial Morphology by Inhibiting Drp1 Translocation

Rationale: Mitochondrial morphological dynamics affect the outcome of ischemic heart damage. Mitochondrial fission protein Dynamin Related Protein 1 (Drp1) is a mediator of mitochondrial morphological changes and cell death during ischemic injury. Mitochondrial integrity is maintained by cardioprotective kinase Pim1, which enhances resistance to apoptotic challenge and ischemia reperfusion injury. In this study we examine the relationship between Pim1 activity and Drp1 regulation of mitochondrial morphology in cardiomyocytes challenged by ischemia. Objective: To demonstrate that Pim1 inhibits Drp1 translocation to the mitochondria in response to ischemic injury. Methods and Results: Simulated ischemia and simulated ischemia reperfusion (sI & sI/R) induced mitochondrial fragmentation and cell death in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (NRCM), respectively. Mitochondrial fragmentation accompanied Drp1 translocation to the mitochondria in NRCM. Inhibition of Drp1 by mdivi1 preserved mitochondrial reticular morphology and inhibited apoptotic cell death. Mice subjected to sI/R injury displayed Drp1 mitochondrial localization, while exposure to mdivi1 led to reduced infarct size. Interestingly, transgenic hearts overexpressing Pim1 decreased total Drp1 levels, increased phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 637, and inhibited Drp1 localization to mitochondria while preserving reticular morphology after sI. In contrast, Pim1 dominant negative (PDN) transgenic hearts and NRCM exhibit increased Drp1 translocation to mitochondria and fragmented mitochondria. PDN hearts exhibit decreased phosphorylation of serine 637 and upregulation of BH3 protein PUMA, inducing Drp1 accumulation at mitochondria and increased sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli. In PDN NRCMs, overexpression of Puma dominant negative (PumaDN) attenuated localization of Drp1 to mitochondria and inhibited cell death during sI. Conclusion: Pim1 activity prevents Drp1 compartmentalization to the mitochondria and preserves reticular mitochondrial morphology in response to simulated ischemia. Therefore, selective manipulation of Pim1 should be pursued as a therapeutic target to maintain mitochondrial morphology for cardioprotection.
Critical Race Media Projects: Counterstories and Praxis (Re)Claim Chicana/o Experiences.

This article maps out two critical race media projects – a documentary and a Chicana/o-centric student newspaper – developed by Chicana/o scholars seeking to fulfilll the promise of praxis hailed b...
Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cancer

(1998). Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cancer. Veterinary Quarterly: Vol. 20, Voorjaarsdagen Congress 1998, pp. S75-S75.
Values and the Explanation of Behaviour

1. The explanation of a man's behaviour in terms of his values is a procedure frequently resorted to in historiography, in everyday discussion, and in the informal psychology of literature (especially in plays and novels). Nor has this useful procedure of workaday life been abandoned by the social scientist : it is, for example, commonly met with in readings in sociology, and in individual and social psychology. An analysis of the conceptual role of values in the explanation of behaviour is therefore quite obviously a question of substantial interest for philosophers, if only because the problem is a meeting-ground of the traditional interests of philosophical value-theory with concerns in the philosophy of the social sciences, as well as with issues in philosophical psychology.1 In the reasoned analysis of the springs of human action, one expects to find an appeal to values primarily in two contexts-in deliberation and decision-making on the one hand, and in the explanation of human behaviour upon the other.2 These two facets of values are of course closely connected. The connection between them is effected by the mediating principle that in maintaining that X (e.g., honesty) is one of N's (e.g., Smith's) values we are prepared to claim that N would take his subscription to X into due account in making relevant choices, with the result that the outcome of these choices, viz. N's actions, significantly reflect-and are thus in some measure explicable in terms of-N's commitment to X. But just how are we to conceive of the holding of a value as being " reflected " in action ? This key question must be answered if appropriate light is to be thrown upon the explanatory role of values. We are concerned to consider the role of values in the explanation of actions. This is not to say that values cannot be invoked in the explanation of certain other sorts of things, such as habits (' Smith is a free-and-easy spender because liberality is one of his values ') or even of values themselves (' Smith values economic justice because justice-i.e., justice-in-general-is one of his values '). But such value-explainable items will of course be, in their turn, hooked up with human behaviour, that is, with actions.