cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Misinformation about medications in rural Ghana

Misuse of medications is a serious problem in developing countries where drug sales are not regulated. This study assessed drug knowledge and use in a rural Ghanaian town. We surveyed health care workers and a community population sample regarding knowledge and use of available drugs. Although drugs were used by a large percentage of the population, only a small percentage correctly described their recommended use. Doctors and medical assistants were knowledgeable in the correct use of drugs, while chemists were poorly informed. However, the majority of the non-health care worker (NHCW) population bought drugs from chemists without a prescription. We conclude that in this rural setting, chemists contributed to drug misuse by providing misinformation about drugs and selling drugs according to popular demand. Educational programs for chemists and the population regarding drug use and regulation of drug sales by chemists will be critical to drug reform in Ghana.
Registration of nine maize populations resistant to tropical diseases.

Nine open-pollinated populations of maize (Zea mays L.), 'HIC1' (Reg. No. CV-2, PI 652866), 'HIC2' (Reg. No. CV-3, PI 652867), 'HIC3' (Reg. No. CV-4, PI 652868), 'HIS1' (Reg. No. CV-5, PI 652869), 'HIS2' (Reg. No. CV-6, PI 652870), 'HIS3' (Reg. No. CV-7, PI 652871), 'HIS4' (Reg. No. CV-8, PI 652872), 'HIS5' (Reg. No. CV-9, PI 652873), and 'HIS6' (Reg. No. CV-10, PI 652874), were released by Hawaii Foundation Seeds of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii. Six are inbred-based synthetic populations (HIS1-HIS6) selected for resistance to specific diseases, and three are composites (HIC1-HIC3) derived from open-pollinated predecessors. The populations are largely tropically adapted flints that involve from 10 to 25% temperate parentage. They represent a total of 92 cycles of recurrent selection, and all are resistant to Maize mosaic virus.
Approaches to Ethics in International Business Education.

Summary This paper provides a brief overview of the major issues in international business ethics and issues that should be addressed when incorporating ethics in international business education. Some general pedagogical perspectives and approaches are presented for the integration of ethics in international business courses
Solar activity variation of ionospheric plasma temperatures

The present status of understanding and modeling of the variation of electron and ion temperatures with solar activity is reviewed. All atmospheric and ionospheric densities and temperatures are positively correlated with solar activity except the electron temperature, which exhibits a rather complex variation pattern during a solar cycle. The ion temperature at low altitudes closely follows the variation patterns of the neutral temperature. The electron temperature at high altitudes increases with increasing solar activity; the increase is larger during day than during night and exhibits a latitudinal variation. At low altitudes during daytime, tha amplitude of the seasonal variation of the electron temperature increases toward the solar maximum. At 400 km during daytime, the summer electron temperatures for Millstone Hill increase slightly toward higher solar activities, whereas the winter temperatures decrease distinctly. For Arecibo, an opposite trend is noticeable.
Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty Link: The Moderating Role of Service Locus of Control

This research investigates the moderating effect of service locus of control on the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Locus of control refers to the extent to which an individual believes they can control the outcome of the provided service. The data for testing a set of related hypotheses were collected from customers of three service industries. The findings provide support that beliefs in luck, a type of external locus of control, significantly alter the relationship between satisfaction and the loyalty behavior of repurchase intention. The direction of the moderating effect was found to vary with service industry.
Resolution of low-energy chlorophylls in Photosystem I of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 at 77 and 295 K through fluorescence excitation anisotropy.

Fluorescence excitation spectra of highly anisotropic emission from Photosystem I (PS I) were measured at 295 and 77 K on a PS II-less mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (S. 6803). When PS I was excited with light at wavelengths greater than 715 nm, fluorescence observed at 745 nm was highly polarized with anisotropies of 0.32 and 0.20 at 77 and 295 K, respectively. Upon excitation at shorter wavelengths, the 745-nm fluorescence had low anisotropy. The highly anisotropic emission observed at both 77 and 295 K is interpreted as evidence for low-energy chlorophylls (Chls) in cyanobacteria at room temperature. This indicates that low-energy Chls, defined as Chls with first excited singlet-state energy levels below or near that of the reaction center, P700, are not artifacts of low-temperature measurements.
Succinate oxidation by human liver mitochondria

Factors controlling the rate of oxidation of succinate were studied in mitochondria isolated from twenty-seven specimens of normal human liver obtained at operation. These were compared with mitochondria prepared from the livers of anesthetized and unanesthetized rats. Previously reported lower rates of succinate oxidation by human liver mitochondria were confirmed. This difference was no longer apparent when the succinic dehydrogenase activities of mitochondrial acetone powders were compared. The apparent. K, o f succinate for human liver mitochondrial succinoxidase is less than that of the anesthetized and unanesthetized rat. The concentration of oxalacetate is greater in human liver mitochondria compared with the anesthetized and unanesthetized rat. In both aerobic- and cyanide-inhibited mitochondria, the extent of the apparent succinate linked reduction of mitochondrial pyridine nucleot,ide was less in man than in the rat. In aerobic rat liver mitochondria, anesthesia lowers the extent of succinate-linked pyridine nucleotide reduction.
Discussion of “Underreaction to Self-Selected News Events”

During the past decade there have been several studies that suggest that stock prices tend to underreact to corporate events. These include announcements of earnings, dividend changes, capital structure changes (e.g., share issuances and repurchases) as well as stock splits, which are analyzed by Ikenberry and Ramnath (2001).1 Two theoretical articles that have explicitly examined the tendency to underreact to these corporate events include Barberis, Shleifer, and Vishny (1998 hereafter BSV) and Daniel, Hirshleifer, and Subrahmanyam (1998 hereafter DHS). The BSV article is based in part on experimental evidence of what is known as a "conservatism bias," which essentially means that individuals tend to underweight new information when updating their prior beliefs. This conservatism bias is consistent with the observed underreaction to all of the above-mentioned corporate events. However, as Hirshleifer (2001) discusses, conservatism bias is really just a description of the tendency of individuals to underreact to certain types of information and cannot really be viewed as an explanation for why they underreact. DHS develops a model of investor overconfidence that also examines how investors update their priors in response to new information. In DHS, investors are overconfident about the information they collect on their own, and as a result, overreact to this information. In addition, since they overweight the information they collect on their own, they tend to underweight and, as a result, underreact to information that is provided by managers. In this discussion I would also like to consider the possibility that investors make mistakes in their valuations that have nothing to do with psychological biases. Since it is quite difficult to assess how prices should react to the information events considered in the literature, one does not need to assume individuals are irrational for prices to systematically underreact or overreact over any relatively short interval. One question that financial economists should ask at this point is whether these overor underestimates are due to
Chiral Organolithium Complexes: The Structure of β-Lithiated β-Phenylcarboxamides and the Mechanism of Asymmetric Substitution in the Presence of (−)-Sparteine

Investigation of the structure and reactivity of β-lithiated β-phenylcarboxamides is reported. NMR spectroscopic investigations of β-lithiated amides 15 and 24 establish that the benzylic lithium i...
Mouse models for understanding human developmental anomalies.

The mouse experimental system presents an opportunity for studying the nature of the underlying mutagenic damage and the molecular pathogenesis of this class of anomalies by virtue of the accessibility of the zygote and its descendant blastomeres. Such studies could contribute to the understanding of the etiology of certain sporadic but common human malformations. The vulnerability of the zygotes to mutagens as demonstrated in the studies described in this report should be a major consideration in chemical safety evaluation. It raises questions regarding the danger to human zygotes when the mother is exposed to drugs and environmental chemicals.
A developmental mutation in Enteromorpha lingulata J. Ag. (Chlorophyta, Ulvales)

Abstract A mutation which appears only in the haploid female state and affects the early development of Enteromorpha lingulata by disorienting direction of cell division is described. The atypical spheroid thallus is the result of interaction between Mendelian and non-Mendelian or extrachromosomal factors.
Structure-based alignment and comparative molecular field analysis of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

The method of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was used to develop quantitative structure−activity relationships for physostigmine, 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA), edrophonium (EDR), and other structurally diverse inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The availability of the crystal structures of enzyme/inhibitor complexes (EDR/AChE, THA/AChE, and decamethonium (DCM)/AChE) (Harel, M.; et al. Quaternary ligand binding to aromatic residues in the active-site gorge of acetylcholinesterase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1993, 90, 9031−9035) provided information regarding not only the active conformation of the inhibitors but also the relative mutual orientation of the inhibitors in the active site of the enzyme. Crystallographic conformations of EDR and THA were used as templates onto which additional inhibitors were superimposed. The application of cross-validated R2 guided region selection method, recently developed in this laboratory (Cho, S. J.; Tropsha, A. Cross-Validated R2 Gu...
The Effect of Die Attach Voiding on the Thermal Resistance of Chip Level Packages

During semiconductor manufacturing, voids are easily formed in the die attach bond layer and are found to form, grow and coalesce with thermal cycling. The presence of such voids is known to adversely affect the package thermal resistance, but to this point, not enough data exists to precisely analyze the effects of void size, configuration and depth. Using an innovative experimental method the present study investigates these effects with a carefully controlled void geometry. The results show that the thermal resistance increases linearly with void percentage for random voids, but increases exponentially for contiguous voids.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Distribution of Hexadecenoic, Octadecenoic and Octadecadienoic Acid Isomers in Human Tissue Lipids

The trans 16:1, 18:1 and 18:2 fatty acid composition of various human organ lipids was studied to determine if isomers accumulated in specific tissues. "Trans" isomers are defined as those fatty acids containing one or more trans double bonds. Adipose, kidney, brain, heart and liver tissue lipids were analyzed. Gas chromatography with a 100-SP2560 capillary column was used to characterize the various positional and/or geometrical isomers. The distribution of trans 16:1 and 18:1 isomers ranged from 0.3% in the brain to 4.0% in adipose tissue, while trans 18:2 isomers ranged from 0.0% in the brain to 0.4% in adipose tissue. No trans 18:3 isomers were detected. Positional isomer ratios for cis 16:1 (delta 9 vs delta 7) and cis 18:1 (delta 11 vs delta 9) were also determined. Since these ratios are reproducible from one individual to the next, they might be useful for diagnosis of human metabolic disorders.
Effects of morphine on cat brain norepinephrine in regions with daily monoamine rhythms.

Abstract Morphine (15 mg/kg i.p.) signficantly reduces the concentration of norepinephrine (NE) in selected regions of the brains and spinal cord of cat within three hours. There is a significant relationship between the susceptibility of a brain region to the NE-depleting action of morphine and the presence of daily rhythm of NE, but not serotonin, in that region.
Die Wirkung der Kurzwellenbesendung des Hypophysenzwischenhirns auf die vegetativen Funktionen beim Menschen

Es wurde die Einwirkung einer 20–30 Min. langen K.W.-Besendung des HZS beobachtet auf Blutbild (20 Versuchspersonen), auf Temperatur, Atmung, Puls, Blutdruck (32 Versuchspersonen), Blutzucker (11 Versuchspersonen), Grundumsatz (17 Versuchspersonen), Spontandiurese (20 Versuchspersonen) und Wasserhaushalt (12 Versuchspersonen). Die Versuchspersonen waren zum grosten Teil gesunde Kollegen und Kolleginnen. Blutbild, Temperatur, Puls, Atmung, Blutdruck, Blutzucker und Grundumsatz wurden nur geringfugig durch die Besendung beeinflust. Uberraschend war die Wirkung der Besendung auf die Diurese, die sich sowohl in der Spontandiurese als auch bei Prufung des Wasserhaushaltes durch Trinkversuch zeigte. Von nuchternen Menschen wurden Harnmengen von 350–500 ccm in 2 Stunden aus geschieden. Der Trinkversuch ergab nicht nur eine Diurese steigerung, sondern auch eine Mehrphasigkeit im Verlauf und eine Zunahme der Mineralausscheidung.
Virtual Justice: Testing Disposition Theory in the Context of a Story-Driven Video Game

Using a 2 × 2 experiment, this study tests whether disposition theory can be applied to the processing and enjoyment of video games. Specifically, we test how the interaction of the severity of a crime and the punishment administered to a criminal by the player character affect satisfaction, guilt, and enjoyment. Results show effects on satisfaction and guilt consistent with prior research, but no overall effect on enjoyment. Empathetic individuals enjoyed the more moral outcomes, whereas non-empathetic individuals did not. Broader implications for research on narrative in games are discussed.
Off with a theme: Emergent curriculum in action

Early childhood teachers can plan developmentally appropriate classrooms through a fusion of thematic and emergent curriculum approaches. Ernie, a preschool teacher/university professor working in a campus laboratory setting, designed and implemented a space theme which was relevant to young children, allowed them many opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills and expand upon them in significant ways, and incorporated a variety of materials and resources. Overall, the use of this theme reflected the initial and emergent interests of both the teachers and children, as they interacted in the social environment.
Cardiopulmonary responses to carbon monoxide breathing in the chicken

Abstract Effects of carbon monoxide (CO) on various cardiopulmonary parameters were determined in adult, male. White Leghorn type chickens. Four groups of ten birds each were allowed to breathe spontaneously 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5% CO, respectively, while cardiopulmonary and carboxy hemoglobin HbCO) measurements were obtained. No significant differences in respiratory frequency (fresp), tidal volume (V t ), minute volume (V), heart frequency (fresp), or systolic and diastolic blood pressure between birds receiving 0 or 0.01% CO for 60 min were detected (HbCO = 9%). Inhaling 0.1% CO for 60 min (HbCO = 39%) increased V T and V, and decreased blood pressure while fresp was unchanged. Inhaling 0.5% CO was lethal after an average of 20.5 min (range, 17.5–24.5 min). This concentration increased V t and V but decreased fresp, blood pressure and fresp and resulted in HbCO concentrations of 52% in 15 min. The effects of CO on cardiopulmonary control cannot be explained by an action on peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid body) because stimulation of those receptors increases fresp as well as V t . Carbon monoxide may, therefore, act directly on other peripheral receptors (intrapulmonary CO2-sensitive receptors) or on the CNS.
Melatonin rhythms in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

To discern whether the multiple neuroendocrine-metabolic dysfunctions observed in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are associated with altered diurnal variations in serum melatonin profiles, we compared cycling and amenorrheic women with normal weight BN (n = 8) and AN (n = 7) to 21 normal cycling controls. Endogenous depression, which has confounded prior studies of melatonin profiles in women with eating disorders, was excluded in all subjects. Serum samples for melatonin measurements were obtained at frequent intervals (every 20 min) in a controlled light-dark environment, and cycling women were studied in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Mean (+/- SE) peak melatonin levels were similar in AN, BN, and controls (325 +/- 43, 310 +/- 33, and 334 +/- 30 pmol/L, respectively). The time of melatonin peak, the time of onset and offset of the nocturnal serum melatonin excursion, and the duration of the nocturnal elevation were also similar in the three groups. Analysis of covariance revealed no independent effects of age or time of year on the data. Moreover, when subjects were separated into those with and without menstrual cyclicity, no significant differences in any parameter of melatonin diurnal variation were observed. Taken together, these data suggest that pineal melatonin secretion is unaltered in women with eating disorders, in whom depression is excluded, and that the frequent occurrence of amenorrhea in this population is not mediated by melatonin.
ECONOMIC, EMISSIONS, AND ENERGY BENEFITS FROM COMBINED HEAT AND POWER SYSTEMS BY LOCATION IN THE UNITED STATES BASED ON SYSTEM COMPONENT EFFICIENCIES

A graphical evaluation is performed for combined heat and power (CHP) systems using screening parameters for optimized performance with respect to operating costs, emissions, and energy consumption. CHP systems have the potential to reduce operating costs, emissions, and primary energy consumption when compared with electricity purchased from the grid and thermal energy produced from a boiler, and these benefits have been shown to depend on the location where the system is to be installed as well as the characteristics of the system itself. A CHP system is analyzed in 9 U.S. cities in different climate zones which differ in both the local electricity generation fuel mix and local electricity prices. Its potential to produce economic, emissions, and energy savings is quantified based on the concepts of required spark spread, emissions spark spread, and primary energy spark spread. The corresponding parameters for cost ratio, carbon dioxide emissions ratio, and primary energy ratio are plotted on a 3-dimensional graph which illustrates these potential benefits simultaneously. The location of each point on the 3-D graph indicates for a given geographical location whether the system falls within a region of multiple potential benefits from CHP technology. The results are unique to the efficiencies of the CHP system components and the alternate heating system. A simple sensitivity analysis is then conducted to examine the influence of electrical generation efficiency, the percentage of heat recovered, and the heating system on the cost, emissions, and energy savings potential of CHP systems. Of the 9 cities analyzed, Duluth, MN, is shown to have the greatest potential to provide these three types of benefits by using a CHP system. The results are most sensitive to the values of two input parameters: CHP electrical efficiency and CHP thermal efficiency. Changes in the input efficiency values are most influential when the
Rb atomic absorption line reference for single Sr+ laser cooling systems

Rb, 5s2S1/2(F”=2)→6p2P1/2(F’=2,3) absorption resonance with the 88Sr+, 5s2S1/2→5p2P1/2 transition is exploited to provide a simple, effective frequency reference for a laser cooling/fluorescence excitation source applied to single Sr+ ions. A modulation-free frequency stabilization system has been designed which uses the differential signal from two frequency-displaced beams traversing a Rb cell and which probe the Doppler-broadened Rb S–P lineshape at microwatt power levels. The method is applied to frequency lock a 422-nm frequency-doubled diode laser system that is used for excitation of a single 88Sr+ ion. Stable, long-term laser cooling and fluorescence are achieved using the frequency-stabilized 422-nm source resulting in observed ion confinement times without adjustment of over 8 h, together with an improvement in single-ion loading efficiency.
Creole is, Creole ain't: Diachronic and synchronic attitudes toward Creole identity in southern Louisiana

Creole identity in Louisiana acquired diverse meanings for several ethnic groups during the French and Spanish regimes, before and after the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, and through the last part of the 20th century. In spite of a strong shift toward “Black” identity by many African Americans in the state, those who are fluent Creole French speakers now seem to be the repository of Louisiana Creole identity. This article presents a diachronic study of the different meanings applied to Creole identity which resulted from dramatic social, political, and economic changes. It also delimits and defines the actual attributes of Creole identity within two representative African American communities. Because of the historical and political conditions underlying Creole identity, African Americans who still identify as Creoles insist on linguistic attributes, rather than on the criterion of race, as essential characteristics of their ethnic identity.
Note on arc crack experiencing slip

Abstract Under certain loading conditions a crack surface may undergo partial sliding (slip). Such slip may be triggered by non-uniformity of frictional characteristics along the crack surface, variability of applied stresses or curvilinearity of a crack path. In the present work we study the influence of a curvilinear shape of a crack on slip evolution. The analysis is carried out for the case of a two-dimensional circular arc crack. Initiation and propagation of a slip zone is investigated based on the criterion that the shear stress intensity factor vanishes at endpoints of the slip zone. Two case scenarios are studied: first, when slip is attributed to the non-uniform distribution of a coefficient of friction and, second, when slip is initiated by the far field compressive loads. The curvilinear effects are estimated by comparing the obtained solutions with the ones for a straight crack. Analytical expressions for the stress intensity factors (SIFs) derived in this work may also present certain interest of their own.
STATs Dimerize in the Absence of Phosphorylation

Upon activation by tyrosine kinases, members of the STAT family of transcription factors form stable dimers that are able to rapidly translocate to the nucleus and bind DNA. Although crystal structures of activated, near full-length, Stat1 and Stat3 illustrate how STATs bind to DNA, they provide little insight into the dynamic regulation of STAT activity. To explore the unique structural changes Stat1 and Stat3 undergo when they become activated, full-length inactive recombinant proteins were prepared. To our surprise, even though these proteins are unable to bind DNA, our studies demonstrate that they exist as stable homodimers. Similarly, the Stat1 and Stat3 found in the cytoplasm of unstimulated cells also exhibit a dimeric structure. These observations indicate that Stat1 and Stat3 exist as stable homodimers prior to activation.
Regulation of Ribonucleotide Reductase during Iron Limitation

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Sanvisens et al. (2011) report a new mechanism for regulation of yeast ribonucleotide reductase activity that occurs during iron deprivation.
Perceptions of Non-Accounting Business Majors about the Managerial Accounting Course

This study examines the perception of non-accounting business major students about the managerial accounting course. The knowledge of these perceptions will help determine whether educators need to be concerned about inspiring certain groups of students to be more aggressive in learning the material. We found that all non-accounting majors, regardless of their major field of study think the managerial accounting course is interesting and has real-world application. The finance and management major students think that the course is related to their field of study and it should be made a required course, but not the MIS and marketing major students. The higher the academic skills and the more the work experience, the greater is the student's perception that managerial accounting should be a required course and has real-world application. Based on the results, we suggest that development of teaching materials aimed at reinforcing the importance of managerial accounting topics to all business majors, particularly MIS and marketing majors may overcome some barriers to learning the subject. This research also has implications for Pacific Basin business schools as our findings indicate that Pacific Basin business schools that do not require non-accounting majors to take managerial accounting course should make it a required course for all undergraduate non-accounting majors.
Identification of a Novel Protonation Pattern for Carboxylic Acids upon QB Photoreduction in Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center Mutants at Asp-L213 and Glu-L212 Sites†

In the reaction center from the photosynthetic purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, light energy is rapidly converted to chemical energy through coupled electron-proton transfer to a buried qu...
Complexity of globally coupled chaotic electrochemical oscillators

Interactions among small sets of two to eight nickel electrodes undergoing chaotic electrodissolution in sulfuric acid were studied. A single oscillator under these conditions exhibits low-dimensional chaotic behavior. Global coupling among the electrodes was added with the use of external resistors in a manner such that the strength of the coupling could be varied while the other parameters of the system remained constant. Such global coupling is of course equivalent to an appropriate local coupling for the two-electrode system and even for a three-electrode system if arranged in a ring. We investigate the changes in complexities of both the individual oscillators and of the total current as functions of coupling strength and of array size. The dynamics of the individual oscillators are almost identical to those of the single oscillator at added coupling strengths of zero (where the oscillators are almost independent) and at maximum coupling strength (where they are synchronized). There are two trends (with exceptions) with changing coupling strength. (1) The complexity (information dimension) of the individual currents has a maximum at intermediate values of the coupling strength, i.e., at conditions in which interactions occur but where the coupling is not strong enough to produce synchronization. (2) An increase in global coupling decreases the complexity of the total current. The general trends with coupling strength are interrupted by clustering that occurs with the four and eight electrode arrays. Cluster configurations for the larger array exhibiting both chaotic (3,5 cluster) and periodic (4,4 cluster) dynamics were observed.
Variation in probability levels in electrocardiographic diagnosis.

Abstract Consistency of results is extremely important in analyzing electrocardiograms (ECGs), particularly when judging critical changes between sequential records. Thus, studies in variability are very important, and those published have shown computer results to be more repeatable than those from humans. The ECG computer program of the Veterans Administration (VA) has been particularly noteworthy in this regard. However, this study elucidates a new facet, that variability is also a function of the average probability level of the diagnostic result. Minimizing previously recognized sources of variation, 3 1 2 minute ECGs were collected from 98 normal subjects. The average probability of diagnosis and the standard deviation of that average were computed and plotted in a scattergram. A curve of variation computed from the data shows that the standard deviation is nearly zero when the probability of diagnosis is high (nearly 100%) but increases to 12% when the diagnosis is in the 50% probability range. ECGs collected in a day-to-day variation study with ordinary control on error sources are compared to this curve and are compatible with this picture of variation. The conclusions consider how the probability level itself may be useful in setting criteria for significant ECG changes.
Historical considerations, property rights, and budgets: A comment on the use of inputs by the Federal Reserve

When considered in an alternative historical setting with a property right perspective, the extended public choice model found in AMCD offers strong confirmation for the S-T view of monetary authority behavior. In this light, a next step is to find an econometric specification that accounts for changing bureaucratic incentives within changing monetary regimes or constitutions. A rational expectations model of a bureaucratic Fed is beyond the scope of this comment. However, if a public choice approach to Fed behavior is to be useful, it must differentiate between variables, or the effects of variables, in a bureaucratic model relative to a model based on public service. For example, it is unclear how a significant debt variable in a static model of the monetary base supports or confirms a public choice view of the Fed. It is also possible that a public service oriented monetary authority could be motivated by national debt considerations. At least for now, Board employment appears to be a better public choice candidate. It is controllable by the central bankers and would be unimportant if the Fed was only interested in the public welfare.
A Single S1034C Mutation Confers Altered Drug Sensitivity to PfMDR1 ATPase Activity That is Characteristic of the 7G8 Isoform

The mechanism behind how PfMDR1 may contribute to antimalarial drug resistance is unclear. Transfection studies suggest that PfMDR1 mutations may make small contributions to drug sensitivity in a strain-dependent fashion, whereas field data link over expression (not necessarily mutation) of the gene with clinical drug treatment failure. This study dissects the contribution of individual mutations of PfMDR1 that contribute to the unique behavior of the 7G8 PfMDR1 isoform. A single mutation in putative TM 11 (S1034C) is found to abolish drug stimulation of PfMDR1 ATPase activity.
PTSD in Psychiatric Nurses and Other Mental Health Providers: A Review of the Literature

Psychiatric nurses are subject to a high rate of assault by patients. The stress of exposure to assault and the potential for assault appear to impact nurses' emotional states in the form of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most studies report a prevalence rate of PTSD in this population of between 9-10%. Training in the management of aggressive patients, participating in Critical Incident Debriefing, and having routine structured debriefing meetings may play a role in facilitating the development of resilience in nurses with respect to the risk of PTSD. Knowledge about the state of the science regarding aggression and PTSD is necessary for clinicians and researchers to develop and test effective strategies. This article presents a review of the current literature on this topic.
Spatial Analysis of Urban Growth Impacts on Vegetative Greenness with Landsat TM Data

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data have been used to monitor land cover types and to estimate biophysical parameters. However, studies examining the spatial relationships between land cover change and biophysical parameters are generally lacking. With the integration of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), these relationships can be better explored. The research reported in this paper applies this integrated approach for detecting urban growth and assessing its impact on vegetative greenness in the Zhujiang Delta, China. Multi-temporal Landsat TM data were utilized to map urban growth and to extract and identify changes in vegetative greenness. GIS analyses were conducted to examine the changing spatial patterns of urban growth and greenness change. Statistical analyses were then used to examine the impact of urban growth on vegetative greenness. The results revealed that there was a notably uneven urban growth pattern in the delta, and urban development had reduced the scaled Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) value by 30% in the urbanized area.
Cytochrome P4504A Genotype Cosegregates With Hypertension in Dahl S Rats

Abstract Recent studies indicate that the production of 20-HETE by a P4504A2 enzyme in the outer medulla of the kidney is reduced in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rats, but the contribution of this abnormality to the elevation in loop Cl − transport and development of hypertension in this model is unknown. The present study found that alleles at the locus for the P4504A2 gene cosegregate with blood pressure in an F 2 population (n=151) derived from a cross between SS/Jr and Lewis rats ( P P4504A2 gene in the kidneys of SS/Jr and Lewis rats. Although the production of 20-HETE from 14 C-arachidonic acid was similar in microsomes prepared from the renal cortex of SS/Jr and Lewis rats (54±3 versus 55±3 pmol·min −1 ·mg protein −1 ), the production of 20-HETE in microsomes prepared from the outer medulla (OM) was markedly reduced in SS/Jr rats (2.8±0.8 versus 6.7±1 pmol·min −1 ·mg protein −1 ). The diminished production of 20-HETE in the OM was due to a threefold reduction in the level of P4504A2 protein. These results suggest that an altered expression of the P4504A2 enzyme in the OM may contribute to the development of hypertension in SS/Jr rats.
A study on the negative photoresponse of AlGaAs/GaAs MODFETs

A model for the mechanism of negative photoresponse, i.e. the decrease of drain current under illumination, in AlGaAs/GaAs MODFETs (modulation-doped field--effect transistors) is presented. A comprehensive experimental study examining the dependence of this phenomena on gate-to-source bias voltage and optical power is also reported. The negative photoresponse is attributed to trapping of photogenerated carriers in the GaAs buffer layer, causing a change in the potential profile and a consequent reduction in the number of carriers in the 2-DEG (two-dimensional electron gas) channel. >
Distributed effects of methylphenidate on the network structure of the resting brain: a connectomic pattern classification analysis

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant medication that produces improvements in functions associated with multiple neurocognitive systems. To investigate the potentially distributed effects of methylphenidate on the brain's intrinsic network architecture, we coupled resting state imaging with multivariate pattern classification. In a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, counterbalanced, cross-over design, 32 healthy human volunteers received either methylphenidate or placebo prior to two fMRI resting state scans separated by approximately one week. Resting state connectomes were generated by placing regions of interest at regular intervals throughout the brain, and these connectomes were submitted for support vector machine analysis. We found that methylphenidate produces a distributed, reliably detected, multivariate neural signature. Methylphenidate effects were evident across multiple resting state networks, especially visual, somatomotor, and default networks. Methylphenidate reduced coupling within visual and somatomotor networks. In addition, default network exhibited decoupling with several task positive networks, consistent with methylphenidate modulation of the competitive relationship between these networks. These results suggest that connectivity changes within and between large-scale networks are potentially involved in the mechanisms by which methylphenidate improves attention functioning.
Children's text comprehension: effects of genre, knowledge, and text cohesion

Our goal in this project is to develop a better understanding of text comprehension exhibited by elementary-school children. The research focused on the role of text genre (narrative and expository text), text cohesion (high or low) and the readers' level of prior world knowledge (assessed using the Woodcock--Johnson III Academic Knowledge test). Sixty-four students in the fourth grade read four texts, including one high-cohesion and one low-cohesion text from each genre. Comprehension of each text was assessed with 12 multiple-choice questions, including both local questions (focusing on specific information contained in one or two sentences) and global questions (focusing on general themes). Children showed better comprehension of the narrative than expository texts, but this advantage appeared only on global questions. There was a benefit of higher knowledge, but only for the expository texts. The benefits of cohesion were greatest for narrative text comprehension and on global questions.
Quadratic optimal control of switched linear stochastic systems

This paper studies a quadratic optimal control problem for discrete-time switched linear stochastic systems with nonautonomous subsystems perturbed by Gaussian random noises. The goal is to jointly design a deterministic switching sequence and a continuous feedback law to minimize the expectation of a finite-horizon quadratic cost function. Both the value function and the optimal control strategy are characterized analytically. A numerical relaxation framework is developed to efficiently compute a control strategy with a guaranteed performance upper bound. It is also proved that by choosing the relaxation parameter sufficiently small, the performance of the resulting control strategy can be made arbitrarily close to the optimal one.
Spatial Distributions and Stochastic Parameter Influences on SWAT Flow and Sediment Predictions

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was implemented in Northwest Arkansas to investigate flow and sediment predictive ability at multiple subbasin and hydrologic response units (HRU) distributions. The objectives of this study were to use SWAT and identify differences in annual predicted flow and sediment response of a watershed considering two subbasin delineations with six different HRU distributions each; quantify the uncertainty in SWAT output when sensitive model parameters are considered to have stochastic distribution; and evaluate the ability of the model to describe flow and sediment predictions of an ungauged watershed by stochastically validating the model. Flow results from the Single-Factor Between-Subjects Analysis of Variance test (α=0.05) indicated that predicted flow means were not significantly different from each other for all SWAT subbasin/HRU combinations; however, predicted flow means and measured flow mean were significantly different. Sediment simulation results suggested sig...
A Systematic Approach for Evolving VLAN Designs

Enterprise networks are large and complex, and their designs must be frequently altered to adapt to changing organizational needs. The process of redesigning and reconfiguring enterprise networks is ad-hoc and error-prone, and configuration errors could cause serious issues such as network outages. In this paper, we take a step towards systematic evolution of network designs in the context of virtual local area networks (VLANs). We focus on VLANs given their importance and prevalence, the frequent need to change VLAN designs, and the time-consuming and error-prone process of making changes. We present algorithms for common design tasks encountered in evolving VLANs such as deciding which VLAN a new host must be assigned to. Our algorithms trade off multiple criteria such as broadcast traffic costs, and costs associated with maintaining spanning trees for each VLAN in the network, while honoring correctness and feasibility constraints on the design. Our algorithms also enable automatic detection of network-wide dependencies which must be factored when reconfiguring VLANs. We evaluate our algorithms on longitudinal snapshots of configuration files of a large-scale operational campus network obtained over a two year period. Our results show that our algorithms can produce significantly better designs than current practice, while avoiding errors and minimizing human work. Our unique data-sets also enable us to characterize VLAN related change activity in real networks, an important contribution in its own right.
Structural Interpretation of Buried Silurian Reefs in Southwestern Indiana: ABSTRACT

End_Page 1283------------------------------Two or more generations of buried Silurian reefs are present in southwestern Indiana. Possibly all the larger reefs grew until Devonian time. Some may have attained thicknesses greater than those of any other group of Silurian reefs. Strata topping the reefs range from Middle or Late Silurian to Middle Devonian in age. Deep drilling is sparse in southwestern Indiana, and limited geophysical surveys are mostly confidential. Interpretation of the reef province then relies heavily on evaluation of structural deformation (broad sense) of the rocks both encasing and overlying these and other Silurian reefs and of the reefs-proper and their flanks. The amounts of suprareef drape in strata as young as Pennsylvanian are related to reef thickness, kind of reef, erosion of reef and postreef rocks, height above reef, and counterproductive subreef sagging. Both suprareef draping and subreef sagging are expectable for any given reef. Long-continued diagenesis, even to the present time, was the most significant cause of such structural deformation; subreef soft-sediment deformation penecontemporaneous with reef growth also was a factor. Differential compaction between reef and contemporaneously deposited interreef rocks was the most important diagenetic process. Differential compaction in rocks far above the reefs, acting in concert with lithologic and thickness differences brought about by continued growth of drape structure, had a min r role. Differential solution and recrystallization could have contributed especially to subreef sagging. These interpretations temper some ideas that localized tectonic uplifts influenced both reef siting and suprareef draping and that early cementation resulted in structural stabilization of substrate, reef, and reef flank penecontemporaneous with growth. The ranges in geologic circumstances that apply--in setting, reef genesis and abortion, erosion or nonerosion and burial of reefs, and postreef attainment of structural clues to reef recognition--suggest that southwestern Indiana has a reef-related reservoir potential that applies differentially within the reef province. The differential extends to the reefs themselves and to individual formations draped over the reefs. This province, surely, is inadequately explored for hydrocarbon potential in sub-Mississippian rocks. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1284------------
Vitamin a: Evidence for its preventive role in human cancer∗

Both the provitamin beta-carotene and natural vitamin A and its derivatives (the retinoids) are being proposed as potential chemopreventive agents. The biochemistry and pharmacology of vitamin A suggest a number of mechanisms whereby carcinogenesis can be affected. Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated an increased relative risk of cancer for people with low vitamin A intake or low-to-normal serum retinol values. Chemoprevention trials in humans are only now beginning. In the interim, daily consumption of vitamin-A-containing foods may be a "prescription" worth following.
Outcomes of the use of fully covered esophageal self-expandable stent in the management of colorectal anastomotic strictures and leaks.

Introduction. Colorectal anastomotic leak or stricture is a dreaded complication leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The novel use of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in the management of postoperative colorectal anastomotic leaks or strictures can avoid surgical reintervention. Methods. Retrospective study with particular attention to the indications, operative or postoperative complications, and clinical outcomes of SEMS placement for patients with either a colorectal anastomotic stricture or leak. Results. Eight patients had SEMS (WallFlex stent) for the management of postoperative colorectal anastomotic leak or stricture. Five had a colorectal anastomotic stricture and 3 had a colorectal anastomotic leak. Complete resolution of the anastomotic stricture or leak was achieved in all patients. Three had recurrence of the anastomotic stricture on 3-month flexible sigmoidoscopy follow-up after the initial stent was removed. Two of these patients had a stricture that was technically too difficult to place another stent. Stent migration was noted in 2 patients, one at day 3 and the other at day 14 after stent placement that required a larger 23 mm stent to be placed. Conclusions. The use of SEMS in the management of colorectal anastomotic leaks or strictures is feasible and is associated with high technical and clinical success rate.
Divertículo uretral femenino. a propósito de un caso

Resumen Objetivo Se describe la reparacion transvaginal de un diverticulo uretral grande y complejo. Se ha realizado una revision y analisis critico de la epidemiologia, los metodos diagnosticos, tratamientos y complicaciones de los diverticulos uretrales femeninos. Pacientes y metodos Una mujer de 35 anos consulto por goteo terminal, dispareunia e infecciones urinarias de repeticion durante cuatro meses. Las imagenes de resonancia magnetica nuclear mostraron dos formaciones liquidas en la pelvis de 3,5 y 1 cm de tamano, respectivamente, que podian corresponder a un gran diverticulo complejo, sin poder descartar un quiste de la glandula de Bartolino. En la cistouretroscopia se encontro un diverticulo uretral a 10 mm del cuello vesical, con dos ostium. Se realizo una diverticulectomia transvaginal con colgajo de la pared anterior vaginal. Se identifico y analizo la literatura publicada de diverticulo uretral femenino mediante la busqueda en Pubmed Medline. Resultados Convalecencia sin complicaciones. El tubo de cistostomia suprapubica se retiro 2 semanas despues de la intervencion. La paciente recupero la miccion normal. En la literatura publicada no hay consenso ni en los metodos de diagnostico ni en las tecnicas quirurgicas para los diverticulos vesicales femeninos. Conclusiones Los diverticulos uretrales se diagnostican cada vez con mas frecuencia. Sin embargo, continuan pasando desapercibidos porque los sintomas simulan otros trastornos. La cistouretroscopia, el uretrograma retrogrado mediante el cateter de doble balon y ultimamente las imagenes de resonancia magnetica nuclear pueden diagnosticar esta patologia. Con la indicacion quirurgica adecuada, se curan el 86-100% de los diverticulos uretrales. La extirpacion completa a traves de la pared vaginal anterior es el mejor tratamiento con las minimas complicaciones post-operatorias.