cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The attraction of cities: a review of the migration literature.

Abstract This survey focuses on information relevant to policy concerns about the possibility and desirability of regulating, or accidentally affecting, movement to the cities. Two kinds of empirical work are reviewed: the studies on the determinants of migration, and the empirical material on the migrant experience in urban locations. Unfortunately, the policy implications of the literature are much more tentative than the descriptive aspects -due to data, design, and methodological problems. However, the results suggest that while migration is controllable within limits, conditions in cities exert a strong pull, and that, in spite of large inflows, migrants are being assimilated into the urban economy and are contributing to urban output growth.
Heat and mass transfer during mixed convection melting of glacial ice in saline water

Abstract An analysis of laminar mixed convection melting of a vertical wall of pure water ice submerged in saline water is presented. The analysis shows that melt rates at saline water temperatures below 4oC are still of the order of centimeters per hour.
Experimental studies of segmented acoustically tailored photonic crystal fiber amplifier with 494 W single-frequency output

We present experimental studies of a novel polarization-maintaining (PM) Yb-doped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) possessing a two-segment transverse acoustic profile and a mode field diameter (MFD) of approximately 30 μm. The concentrations of the dopants (fluorine, aluminum, germanium) in the two segments were selected such that the corresponding Brillouin shifts were sufficiently separated to allow for the introduction of a large thermal gradient for further SBS suppression. A pump-probe experiment was conducted in order to characterize the Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) and to confirm the existence of two narrow Brillouin gain peaks. The separation of the two peaks was approximately 220 MHz and the bandwidth of each was estimated to be 50 MHz. The application of a step temperature profile resulted in the BGS displaying four distinct peaks; thus demonstrating further SBS suppression through a thermal gradient. By utilizing the thermal gradient obtained through quantum defect heating, we obtained 494 W of output power in a counter-pumped configuration without the onset of SBS. Measurements of the beam quality at various power levels and up to the highest reported power consistently indicated an M2 of less than 1.3.
In vivo labeling: A glimpse of the dynamic proteome and additional constraints for protein identification

Identities ascribed to the intact protein ions detected in MALDI-MS of whole bacterial cells or from other complex mixtures are often ambiguous. Isolation of candidate proteins can establish that they are of correct molecular mass and sufficiently abundant, but by itself is not definitive. An in vivo labeling strategy replacing methionine with selenomethionine has been employed to deliver an additional constraint for protein identification, i.e., number of methionine residues, derived from the shift in mass of labeled versus unlabeled proteins. By stressing a culture and simultaneously labeling, it was possible to specifically image the cells’ response to the perturbation. Because labeled protein is only synthesized after application of the stress, it provides a means to view dynamic changes in the cellular proteome. These methods have been applied to identify a 15,879 Da protein ion from E. coli that was induced by an antibacterial agent with an unknown mechanism of action as SpY, a stress protein produced abundantly in spheroplasts. It has also allowed us to propose protein identities (and eliminate others from consideration) for many of the ions observed in MALDI (and ESI-MS) whole cell profiling at a specified growth condition.
Acute myocardial infarction caused by infective endocarditis.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5] A 65-year old man with a history of intravenous drug use and bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement 1 year ago because of infective endocarditis presented to our emergency department with new-onset chest
Stress-management training: Evaluation of effects on school psychological services

Abstract School psychologists participated in a cognitive-behavioral stress-management training program. The data showed decreases in self-reported anxiety and increases in job satisfaction of school psychologists as a result of the training. In addition, teacher satisfaction with school psychological services increased after participation in teacher inservice workshops generated as a result of training the school psychologists.
FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN INHIBITOR OF PLASMIN FOUND IN NORMAL PLASMA.

Ultracentrifugation and enzyme kinetic studies with casein (pH stat) and LME assays have demonstrated that the immediate plasma plasmin inhibitor is a high-density protein which acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor of plasmin. The affinity of this inhibitor for plasmin (1.7×107M) is about three to five magnitudes greater than the affinity of casein (9.0×104M) or LME (5.5×101M) for plasmin. This supports the concept that this inhibitor can act effectively under physiologic conditions to protect proteins which are susceptible to digestion by plasmin in vivo.
Mechanically Induced Calcium Release From Bone Matrix Triggers Intracellular Ca2+ Signalling in Osteoblasts: A Novel Mechanotransduction Mechanism

Bone cells are responsible for sensing and converting the mechanical signals into cellular signals to drive bone adaptation and damage repair [1]. Cell-mediated repair of bone is reported to be in preferential association with regions filled with microdamage [2]. Although different theories have been proposed for mechanisms involved in those processes (such as substrate deformation, fluid flow shear, and hydrostatic pressure in mechanotransduction [3], or microcrack and osteocyte apoptosis in damage detection [4]), knowledge on the exact form of physical stimuli which trigger bone cells, especially in critically loaded regions of bone, is still elusive.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Phase retrieval and Zernike decomposition using measured intensity data and the estimated electric field

A new direct search phase retrieval technique for determining the optical prescription of an imaging system in terms of Zernike coefficients is described. The technique provides coefficient estimates without the need to defocus point source images to generate phase diversity by using electric field (E-field) estimates in addition to intensity data. Numerical analysis shows that E-field patterns in the image plane produced by the Zernike polynomials are less correlated with each other than the intensity patterns. Therefore, the E-field pattern provides more information for Zernike coefficient estimation than the intensity pattern alone. The phase retrieval is accomplished through an iterative process that uses the measured point source data to estimate the E-field pattern in the image plane with the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm. The estimated E-field is correlated with a modeled E-field to produce estimates of the Zernike coefficients. Then the coefficients that minimize the error between measured data and the intensity model are selected. By using E-field estimates rather than phase estimates from the GS algorithm, the limitations of phase unwrapping for Zernike decomposition are avoided. Simulated point source data shows the new phase retrieval algorithm avoids getting trapped in local minima over a wide range of random aberrations. Experimental point source data are used to demonstrate the phase retrieval effectiveness.
The role of peripheral venous nutrition during childhood.

Case History A previously healthy 2-year-old presents to the local emergency room having an acute abdomen, anemia, and peritonitis. At laparotomy, a perforation of the proximal ileum with a Meckel diverticulum is discovered. Following a limited resection and reanastomosis, the child will remain NPO for at least 1 week, longer if septic complications ensue. Intravenous nutrition, therefore, will be required for at least 1 week, and you are asked to advise how this best can be accomplished. Discussion Over the past several decades, major advances in nutritional therapy have presented the pediatrician with a number of responses to a child9s nutritional needs. This spectrum ranges from ad lib oral intake when enteric function and access are intact to total venous nutrition when enteric function is lost. A child9s position on this spectrum, of course, is never fixed over time, thus mandating regular reassessment and adjustment of nutritional therapy. As enteric function declines, appetite is reduced and oral supplements are initiated. When enteric function reaches the point that not even tube feedings can meet the child9s need, intravenous nutrition is initiated. It is amazing to realize that total peripheral venous nutrition was first described nearly 50 years ago when Helfrick and Abelson reported in 1944 the successful "intravenous delivery of a complete diet to a child."
Far-ultraviolet fluorescence of carbon monoxide in the red giant Arcturus. II - Analysis of high-dispersion IUE spectra

Faint, diffuse emissions near 1380 A in deeply exposed IUE spectrograms of the red giant Arcturus very likely are associated with bands of the A-X fourth-positive system of carbon monoxide, fluoresced by multiplet UV2 of neutral oxygen near 1305 A. Numerical simulations indicate that the strength of the CO bands is exceedingly sensitive, in the best available one-dimensional model of the chromosphere of Arcturus, to a delicate balance between the rapid inward attenuation of the oxygen radiation field and the rapid outward decline of the molecular absorptivity. The fortuitous character of the overlap region in the single-component model argues that one should also consider the possibility that the pumping occurs in a highly inhomogeneous chromosphere, of the type proposed in previous studies of Arcturus based on observations of the infrared absorption bands of CO.
NUCLEON CORRELATION EFFECT ON THE QUADRUPOLE TRANSITION IN /sub lambda/$sup 7$He.

The shell-model calculations have been performed for the $E2$ decay rate of $_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{7}\mathrm{He}^{*}$. It is shown that the inclusion of nucleon-nucleon correlation in the usual independent-particle shell-model (IPSM) charge-density distribution of the core nucleus $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ provides an adequte description and leads to an identification of $_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{7}\mathrm{He}^{*}$ as an isomeric state. It also provides a method of studying the effect of core polarization. The treatment of the core nucleus can be applied with confidence to other nuclear systems. It would be particularly useful for those nuclei which cannot be well described by simple IPSM wave functions-e.g., $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$.
Preferential sorption of phenolic phytotoxins to soil: implications for altering the availability of allelochemicals.

Allelopathy, secondary metabolite-mediated plant-to-plant interaction, is gaining application in current agricultural science as well as in invasion ecology. However, the role of sorption to soil in modifying the bioavailability of components in complex allelochemical mixtures is still obscure. Hence, the role of preferential sorption to soil in altering the chemical composition of plant exudates was studied in a silt loam soil using representative mixtures of plant phenolic acids, namely, hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, coumaric acid, and ferulic acid. The experiment was conducted using a batch equilibration technique, and data were fitted to a Freundlich isotherm. The concentration-dependent sorption coefficient (Kd) at 10 μg mL-1 was used to assess the sorption affinity of phenolic acids across different systems. Along with solid phase dissolution, all of the phenolic acids exhibited strong site-specific sorption, as evident from their nonlinear isotherms. Removal of organic matter substantially de...
Pooling expressed breastmilk to provide a consistent feeding composition for premature infants

Abstract Objective: We hypothesized that pooling a mother's expressed breastmilk for 24 hours compared with individual pump session collection of milk would provide a more consistent caloric product without increasing bacterial contamination. Study Design: We investigated 24-hour pooled breastmilk collection by enrolling 19 mothers who were expressing milk for their infants. Mothers followed a standardized milk collection protocol for 4 study days: daily milk was pooled in a sterile 1-L bottle on Day 1, and on Day 2 milk was aliquoted for each pump session into a sterile 120-mL container. The next week the order of collection was reversed. Milk samples were plated, incubated, and evaluated for bacteria colonization. Milk samples were analyzed for protein, fat, and carbohydrate content. Results: There was inherently less variability in the caloric and nutrient content of pooled milk compared with individual samples, in which caloric density varied by as much as 29%. Mother's milk had highly variable bacter...
Simultaneous-Equation Regression Analysis of Sales and Advertising *

A simultaneous-equation regression model is developed and tested against aggregative time series data. The test involves the model as well as hypotheses regarding the structural parameters. Restrictions on the structural parameters imply limits on the parameters of the reduced-form equations. Estimates of the reduced-form coefficients must fall within the implied intervals in order for the model to be in agreement with the data.
Photon echo and exchange effects in quantum-confined semiconductors

Abstract Photon echo calculations for semiconductor quantum dots and quantum wells are presented and the role of the Fermion exchange effects is emphasized. The echoes for the quantum-dot systems arise as a consequence of the inhomogeneous broadening due to the dot size distribution. It is shown that quantum beats are superimposed to the echo signals, suggesting a sensitive way to determine the energy level separation in these systems. In semiconductor quantum wells the inhomogeneous broadening is caused by the continuum of states for the unconfined directions of electron motion. To investigate this case the semiconductor Bloch equations are generalized to include confinement induced valence band mixing. Photon echo and phase conjugate signals are computed with and without band mixing effects. The significance of the exchange contributions is analyzed for the different configurations.
Successful adoptive immunotherapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with in vitro immunized autologous lymphocytes and cimetidine

We report the results from a clinical trial of adoptive immunotherapy conducted in 20 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, a form of cancer unresponsive to traditional modalities of treatment. This novel approach is based on our previously described method for in vitro primary immunization of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). Patient PBM were depleted of suppressor T-cells and immunized in vitro against an autologous tumor antigen extract in the presence of a non-specific lymphocyte activator. After 1 week in culture the in vitro immunized cells were infused back into the patient. Each patient received a total of three infusions, delivered at weekly intervals of 50–150×106 cells per infusion. In addition, patients were treated with oral cimetidine, 600 mg 4×/day, as an anti-suppressor cell agent. A total of 60 immunized cell infusions were given to the 20 patients and no serious technical problems were encountered with this therapy. In addition, after follow-up of longer than 2 years in individual patients, we can report that toxicity is minimal, consisting only of four brief episodes of low-grade fever following infusion of the immunized cells. Of the 20 patients treated, 14 are evaluable with regard to therapeutic efficacy. Of these 14 patients, 9 (64%) had an objective response to this therapy. Three patients had a partial response (decrease of >50% of tumor), sustained for 18 months in two patients and still on-going in one of them. Two patients had tumor regression (decrease of >25% but <50% of tumor), and four patients have remained clinically stable for several months, after previously demonstrating rapid metastatic growth. This report corroborates previous observations concerning the usefulness of adoptive immunotherapy in cancer, but represents a significant improvement with regard to the use of specifically immunized lymphocytes and the addition of anti-suppressor cell therapy. Although many questions remain, we believe that expanded clinical studies using this treatment approach are justified at this time.
Estimation Procedures for Difference of Means with Missing Data

Abstract The maximum likelihood estimate of the difference of the means is obtained in sampling from a bivariate normal distribution with unknown variances and co-variance when some of the observations on one of the variables are missing. This estimate is compared to several others by using the mean square error criterion. It is found that, when there are a moderate number of complete pairs of observations, the maximum likelihood estimate has the smallest mean square error for most of the parameter values. Illustrative tables are given to support our conclusions.
Intra- and interobserver reliability of the Eaton classification for trapeziometacarpal arthritis: a systematic review.

Background Trapeziometacarpal, or thumb carpometacarpal (CMC), arthritis is a common problem with a variety of treatment options. Although widely used, the Eaton radiographic staging system for CMC arthritis is of questionable clinical utility, as disease severity does not predictably correlate with symptoms or treatment recommendations. A possible reason for this is that the classification itself may not be reliable, but the literature on this has not, to our knowledge, been systematically reviewed.
Electrophysiology of energy metabolism and neuronal function in the hippocampal slice preparation.

Abstract The brain slice preparation offers a unique opportunity to study synaptic function in vitro. Employing electrophysiological methods to measure synaptic activity, we manipulated the extracellular environment of the rat hippocampal slice preparation: (1) by exposing it to different degrees of hypoxia, (2) by changing the levels of glucose, (3) lactate, and (4) H+, separately and in combination with each other. The lower the oxygen level during hypoxia and the longer its duration were, the lower was the recovery rate of synaptic function in the slice upon restoration of oxygenation. Reduction or complete depletion of glucose from the perfusion medium had similar effects, although synaptic function could recover after longer periods of glucose lack as compared with oxygen lack. Reduction in the levels of both oxygen and glucose had an additive effect on the recovery rate of synaptic function when compared with the effect of each of them alone. ‘Hyperglycemic’ concentration of glucose prolonged the hypoxic period slices could tolerate. Acidosis, induced either by lactic acid or HCl, had no adverse effect on hypoxic slices when the pH was held at or above 6.0 or when lactic acid concentration was below 20 mM. At 10 mM, lactic acid appeared to have a beneficial effect on hypoxic slices. Consequently, it was found that lactate can replace glucose as the sole aerobic energy substrate to support synaptic function in cerebral tissue in vitro.
Jammed acid-base reactions at interfaces.

Using nonlinear optics, we show that acid−base chemistry at aqueous/solid interfaces tracks bulk pH changes at low salt concentrations. In the presence of 10 to 100 mM salt concentrations, however, the interfacial acid−base chemistry remains jammed for hours, until it finally occurs within minutes at a rate that follows the kinetic salt effect. For various alkali halide salts, the delay times increase with increasing anion polarizability and extent of cation hydration and lead to massive hysteresis in interfacial acid−base titrations. The resulting implications for pH cycling in these systems are that interfacial systems can spatially and temporally lag bulk acid−base chemistry when the Debye length approaches 1 nm.
Can National Information Infrastructures Enhance Social Development in the Least Developed Countries? An Empirical Investigation

The need for national information infrastructures (NII) in the worldâ€™s least developed countries (LDCs) tends to be overshadowed by the nationâ€™s severe deficiencies in physical infrastructure. Consequently NII may be inadequately addressed by governments and supporting agencies in their plans for stimulating social growth. The example of Singaporeâ€™s TradeNet and other lesser-developed countries developing national, electronic information infrastructures, suggests that information technology infrastructure may enable an LDC to develop at a particularly advanced rate. This paper studies the relationship of information infrastructure and social development. It establishes a clear correlation between 1) levels of information infrastructure and social development, and 2) growth rates of information infrastructure and social development. The findings suggest that governments of LDCs may enhance their countriesâ€™ growth by developing strategic plans for NII development.
Reproductive biology of two biotypes of Edovum puttleri, a parasitoid of Colorado potato beetle eggs

Emergence of adults of Edovum puttleri Grissell (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has a diel periodicity: most emergence occurred within 2 h of ‘lights on’ (16L:8D, 24 ± 1 °C). Males emerged 2.0 ± 3.0 h prior to females, and soon thereafter mated with emerging females. Courtship behavior did not differ between the Colombian and Mexican biotypes and was similar to that of members of the eulophid subfamily Tetrastichinae. The preoviposition period and oviposition period did not differ between biotypes. Males and females of both biotypes were long-lived, with the longevity of females of the Mexican biotype being significantly longer than that of Colombian females. Males of both biotypes lived equally long. Mexican females produced more offspring than Colombian females, although this difference was not significant. After approximately 3 weeks, production of female offspring declined in both biotypes. A single mating was sufficient for females to produce a full complement of female offspring. Head capsule width of females correlated positively with fecundity.
Poor sleep quality as a risk factor for lapse following a cannabis quit attempt

Treatments for cannabis dependence are associated with high rates of lapse/relapse, underscoring the importance of identifying malleable risk factors that are associated with quit failure. Whereas research has demonstrated that poor sleep quality following cannabis discontinuation is related to subsequent use, there has yet to be an examination of whether poor sleep quality prior to a quit attempt results in a similar pattern of lapse. The present study addressed this gap by examining the role of pre-quit sleep quality on early lapse to cannabis use following a self-guided quit attempt, among 55 cannabis dependent military veterans. Results indicated that participants who experienced poor pre-quit sleep quality had greater risk for lapse within the first 2 days (out of 7) following their quit attempt. Findings are discussed in terms of improving treatments for individuals who report poor sleep quality prior to a cannabis quit attempt.
Factors affecting psychiatrists' availability to serve in public programs

This paper examines the factors contributing to reduced psychiatric participation in community mental health centers and state hospitals. Important considerations include level of compensation, other incentives, experiences during medical education, affiliation with medical settings, and licensing requirements. Suggestions are offered which may improve recruitment and retention of psychiatrists, as well as increase psychiatric involvement in the public mental health sector.
Core polarization and quantum defects in high-angular-momentum states of alkali atoms

We discuss the systematics of energy levels of high-angular-momentum Rydberg states of alkali-metal atoms, and show that they are well described by a quantum-defect model. Polarization of the core electrons by the valence electron is shown to be the dominant contribution to the quantum defect. As an example, recently observed splittings between the $l=3,4,\mathrm{and} 5$ levels in various Rydberg states of sodium are analyzed to yield values for the core polarizabilities. Effective values of the dipole and quadrupole polarizability of 1.0015(15) and 0.48(15) a.u., respectively, are obtained. Implications for the precise determination of the structure of highly excited Rydberg states in alkali atoms are discussed.
Neighbouring optimal feedback law for linear time-delayed dynamical systems

One way to obtain a neighbouring feedback law for a time-delayed optimal control problem is to first transform it into a ‘standard’ optimisation problem. That is one without terms having a time-delayed argument. To this end, I use a Pade approximation to determine a differential relation for y(t), an augmented state that represents x(t−τ). The time-delayed optimisation problem can then be rewritten in terms of an augmented state vector consisting of both the physical state x(t) and the delayed state y(t). Once reformulated, one may use to advantage existing well-developed techniques such as the backward sweep method to obtain the neighbouring feedback law. Results obtained from two examples show good agreement between the exact results and those predicted by the feedback law for small variations in both the initial condition and a system parameter.
Fatigue-Life Evaluation of Steel Post Structures. II: Experimentation

Changeable message signs (CMS) are supported by cantilevered, inverted L-shaped structural components composed of a vertical post and a horizontal mast arm. The high-cycle fatigue failure of one CMS structure in southern California led to a detailed analytical and experimental study of components of CMS structures. This paper reports the results of the experimental studies and presents recommendations for future CMS construction. A companion paper documents the results of the field studies and finite-element analysis of components of CMS structures. Six cantilever specimens were tested to failure: one as-built post (AB1); two retrofitted posts (GR1 and CIP1); and three mast arms (MA1, MA2, and MA3). The specimens were tested at a stress range of 691 MPa (101 ksi). The fatigue life of all six specimens exceeded the AASHTO design fatigue life of 400,000 cycles for a stress range of 69 MPa. Alternate construction details; improved welding, fabrication, and quality assurance/quality control practices; additional field and wind-tunnel testing; and further laboratory experimentation are recommended.
Activated carbon catalyst for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulphide: On the influence of pore structure, surface characteristics, and catalytically-active nitrogen

Abstract The catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) on various activated carbon materials was studied. The effects of pore structure, surface characteristics, and nitrogen content on the activity and selectivity of the carbons towards oxidation of H 2 S were investigated. It was found that a high volume of both micropores and small mesopores, in combination with a relatively narrow pore size distribution, were crucial for the retention of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), a by-product of H 2 S oxidation. For the retention of carbonyl sulphide (COS), another H 2 S oxidation by-product, high surface reactivity with a significant amount of basic groups were found to be important. The only carbon with all these characteristics, and consequently the carbon that was able to retain both H 2 S and COS for an extended period of time, was an experimental product, “WSC”. This carbon was found to be superior to the other carbons studied, exhibiting high activity and selectivity for oxidation of H 2 S to sulphur. H 2 S breakthrough capacities and selectivity values of the carbons were found to be dependent on the nitrogen content of the carbons. In a hydrogen stream, carbons possessing the highest nitrogen contents exhibited the greatest H 2 S breakthrough capacities but, at the same time, the lowest selectivity with respect to sulphur formation. In reformate streams, the maximum breakthrough capacity and greatest selectivity were exhibited by carbons with a nitrogen content of about 1–1.5 wt%.
The effect of baffling on divertor leakage in Alcator C-Mod

Abstract The effect of divertor baffling on Alcator C-Mod has been investigated using a novel divertor bypass. The bypass allows in situ variations in the leakage conductance between the divertor plenum and the main chamber. The experimental results, supported by simple modeling, suggest that C-Mod operates in a regime where the leakage flux is independent of the leakage conductance. The relatively large leakage flux is driven by the high gas pressure in the C-Mod divertor and is `flux-limited' by the atom creation rate at the target plate and the atom escape probability from the divertor plasma. These results, along with results from other tokamaks, suggest that baffling needs to be significantly tighter than had been previously thought to ensure low levels of divertor leakage and maximum divertor pressures.
Association and interaction analyses of GABBR1 and GABBR2 with nicotine dependence in European- and African-American populations.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor plays an essential role in modulating neurotransmitter release and regulating the activity of ion channels and adenyl cyclase. However, whether the naturally occurring polymorphisms in the two GABAB receptor subunit genes interact with each other to alter susceptibility to nicotine dependence (ND) remains largely unknown. In this study, we genotyped 5 and 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for GABAB receptor subunit 1 and 2 genes (GABBR1, GABBR2), respectively, in a sample of 2037 individuals from 602 nuclear families of African- American (AA) or European-American (EA) origin. We conducted association analyses to determine (1) the association of each subunit gene with ND at both the individual SNP and haplotype levels and (2) the collective effect(s) of SNPs in both GABAB subunits on the development of ND. Several individual SNPs and haplotypes in GABBR2 were significantly associated with ND in both ethnic samples. Two haplotypes in AAs and one haplotype in EAs showed a protective effect against ND, whilst two other haplotypes in AAs and three haplotypes in EAs showed a risk effect for developing ND. Interestingly, these significant haplotypes were confined to two regions of GABBR2 in the AA and EA samples. Additionally, we found two minor haplotypes in GABBR1 to be positively associated with Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) in the EA sample. Finally, we demonstrated the presence of epistasis between GABBR1 and GABBR2 for developing ND. The variants of GABBR1 and GABBR2 are significantly associated with ND, and the involvement of GABBR1 is most likely through its interaction with GABBR2, whereas GABBR2 polymorphisms directly alter susceptibility to ND. Future studies are needed with more dense SNP coverage of GABBR1 and GABBR2 to verify the epistatic effects of the two subunit genes.
Mandatory audit firm rotation: Fresh look versus poor knowledge

Abstract Our aim in this paper is to investigate the effects of mandatory audit firm rotation (MAR) on companies’ investment decision and auditor choice in a capital market setting. We compare a MAR regime with a non-MAR regime in a setting in which auditors’ independence and companies’ opinion shopping are real concerns. To capture auditor independence and opinion shopping, we model auditor biases (a conservative bias or an aggressive bias) and client firms’ incentives to engage auditors with desired biases. We find that when firms engage in opinion shopping, MAR improves investment efficiency for some firms but impairs investment efficiency for other firms. More generally, we contribute to the literature by demonstrating the real effects of auditing on corporate resource allocation decisions.
Probing adsorbed fibronectin layer structure by kinetic analysis of monoclonal antibody binding.

Abstract Adsorbed protein layers are often away from equilibrium and thus exhibit history dependent structures. We use the kinetics of monoclonal antibody binding, as measured using optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS), to investigate the structure of adsorbed fibronectin (Fn) layers formed under different kinetic paths. For all of the layers investigated, we find no difference between the apparent adsorption rate constants of (i) monoclonal antibodies specific to Fn's cell binding site (α-Fn) and (ii) monoclonal antibodies specific to cytochrome c (α-CC, as a control), indicating initial adsorption of antibodies to be non-specific. For certain layers, the saturation density and the initial projected area per antibody differ significantly between α-Fn and α-CC, suggesting specific binding to follow the initial non-specific attachment. The fraction of antibodies binding specifically to the Fn layer, and the number of Fn binding sites per specific binding event, are estimated in terms of the difference in initial projected areas between α-Fn and α-CC. For a Fn layer formed at a bulk concentration of 2 μg/mL, we find a decrease in specific binding with an increase in Fn layer formation time, suggesting post-adsorption structural changes of a lower density adsorbed layer diminish binding site availability. Conversely, for a Fn layer formed at a bulk concentration of 40 μg/mL, we find an increase in specific binding with an increase in the aging time of the Fn layer, implying post-adsorption structural changes reveal binding sites for a higher density adsorbed layer.
Proscriptive Models and Evidence in Antismoking Advertising

This study assessed the proscriptive models and evidence used in antismoking campaigns. A content analysis of 399 television advertisements cataloged in the Media Campaign Resource Center database was conducted. Findings reveal that the analyzed advertisements fail to use evidence and often reinforce proscriptive models of smoking. In advertisements with images of a smoker (N = 111), 40% showed no graphic visual consequences from smoking, and 2% portrayed the smoker as someone engaged in vigorous activities. In 20% of the advertisements, smoking was portrayed as a rite of passage to adulthood. Most of the advertisements did not provide any evidence to support the claims made, and advertisements aimed at teenagers were significantly less likely to use evidence than were advertisements aimed at adults (p < .01). The research identifies several areas of improvement for antismoking campaigns.
Bulking up: The roles of sex and sexual orientation on attempts to manipulate physical attractiveness

Descriptive data were collected to test an ethological model of gendered behavior. I hypothesized that people have evolved psychological propensities to adopt behaviors that, in the past, would have enhanced reproductive fitness. Exaggeration of gender‐related physical signals is one example. I therefore predicted that men and women would use weight room equipment in ways that exaggerated, rather than reduced, biological sex differences. A brief anonymous survey was completed by 448 individuals as they entered 1 of 5 gymnasiums to begin their workout. Comparisons both within and across gender supported the ethological model. Additional comparisons of data from heterosexual and gay men suggest that the propensity to exaggerate gender signals covaries with gender rather than with sexual orientation.
Bilirubin Alters Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis • 1135

Neurons tightly regulate the level of free intracellular calcium in the nanomolar range. Alteration of intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) homeostasis can result in modulation of neuronal excitability and, in extreme cases, neuronal cell death. We hypothesized that bilirubin toxicity-induced neuronal injury is due to an alteration of Ca2+i homeostasis, and that Ca2+i would increase after bilirubin exposure. We utilized the Meridian ACAS confocal interactive laser cytometer system and exposed cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons (n=16 neurons in 3 experiments) to bilirubin 32 μM bound in a 1:1 molar ratio with human albumin 32 μM at physiological pH. Baseline Ca2+i levels of approximately 200 nM were observed prior to bilirubin toxicity exposure. Immediately following addition of bilirubin solution, Ca2+i increased to a peak level of 993±26 nM at 1 min., then decreased to a new, elevated level of 347±8 nM at 20 min., and remained elevated for up to 45 mins, as long as bilirubin was present in the media. To further determine whether the bilirubin toxicity-induced increase in Ca2+i could modulate neuronal excitability, we tested the neuronal response to the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Sham-treated primary neuronal cultures responded to 50 μM glutamate with an immediate increase in Ca2+i that returned to baseline levels within 6-8 min. after removal of glutamate. In neurons exposed to bilirubin, the initial increase in Ca2+i was observed after glutamate, but neurons were unable to restore resting Ca2+i for up to 40 min. After the removal of glutamate. Thus, in primary hippocampal neurons in culture, bilirubin exposure results in an elevation of Ca2+i. In addition, bilirubin exposure results in increased sensitivity to glutamate exposure because of an inability of bilirubin-exposed neurons to restore resting Ca2+i levels following transient glutamate exposure. The data support the hypothesis that prolonged exposure of neurons to bilirubin results in increased Ca2+i and increased neuronal excitability. The data also provide a cellular mechanism whereby bilirubin exposure can result in delayed neuronal cell death.
Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics at Water Interfaces

Time-resolved sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy permits the study of hitherto neglected ultrafast vibrational dynamics of neat water interfaces. Measurements on interfacial bonded OH stretch modes revealed relaxation behavior on sub-picosecond time scales in close resemblance to that of bulk water. Vibrational excitation is followed by spectral diffusion, vibrational relaxation, and thermalization in the hydrogen-bonding network. Dephasing of the excitation occurs in ≤100 femtoseconds. Population relaxation of the dangling OH stretch was found to have a time constant of 1.3 picoseconds, the same as that for excitation transfer between hydrogen-bonded and unbonded OH stretches of water molecules surrounded by acetone.
Overweight, Elevated Blood Pressure, Acanthosis Nigricans and Adherence to Recommended Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines Among Hmong and White Middle School Students

This cross-sectional study was conducted among low-income middle-school students (N = 426) in rural northern California to compare rates of overweight, elevated blood pressure and acanthosis nigricans (AN) between Hmong and white students. Associations among rates of overweight, elevated blood pressure, AN, and scores for adherence to recommended dietary guidelines were also examined. Fifty-two percent (52%) of white students were overweight/obese compared to 38% of Hmong students. Higher fruit consumption was associated with a lower BMI among white, but not Hmong students. Whereas 7% of white students were classified as pre-hypertensive/hypertensive, the rate for Hmong students was 17%. Additionally, at 13 versus 2%, six-fold more Hmong students had an elevated blood pressure with a normal BMI compared to white students, respectively. Ethnicity was also an independent predictive factor for AN. Hmong students appear to be at higher risk for both hypertension and AN than white students irrespective of BMI.
Effects of blood processing techniques on sodium and potassium values: a comparison between Aldabra tortoises (Geochelone gigantea) and Burmese mountain tortoises (Manouria emys).

Background Hematologic and plasma biochemical evaluations are routinely used in evaluating the chelonian patient, but appropriate processing techniques have been minimally defined. Objectives This study was designed to compare the effects of temperature, time, anticoagulant, and species on sodium and potassium values in the Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) and the Burmese mountain tortoise (Manouria emys). Methods Blood samples from 7 Aldabra tortoises and 8 Burmese mountain tortoises were collected into tubes without anticoagulant and tubes containing lithium heparin. Sodium and potassium concentrations were measured by flame photometry in serum and plasma harvested immediately after collection and from aliquots of whole blood stored at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C for 5 to 120 minutes. Results In Aldabra tortoises, storage time and temperature had no significant effect on potassium concentrations in heparinized blood and in blood without anticoagulant. However, sodium concentrations in serum and plasma decreased significantly in samples without anticoagulant stored at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C and in heparinized samples stored at 4 degrees C. In Burmese mountain tortoises, potassium concentrations in serum and plasma increased significantly with time in samples without anticoagulant and in heparinized samples stored at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C, but the increases were less at 4 degrees C. Sodium concentrations in serum and plasma decreased significantly in blood without anticoagulant and heparinized blood stored at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C. Conclusions Storage of blood samples with and without anticoagulant at 4 degrees C significantly improved the stability of potassium and sodium concentrations in both species of tortoises. Early separation of red cells from serum or plasma after blood collection is especially important to ensure the reliability of potassium measurements.
Improvements in magnetographs and variometers for observatory and field use

An outstanding need in recording devices for continuous registration of the magnetic elements is better time control. At present the Eschenhagen magnetograph is the one most generally used at observatories. It depends for time control upon short breaks each hour in the base-line produced by a cam and lever actuating a shutter to cut off, for from one to two minutes, the beam of light making the base-line. With such a device, usually operated by the same clock as that driving the rotating drum on which the photographic sheet is placed, parallax of the moving-mirror reflected beam as referred to the fixed-mirror reflected beam may be a serious-matter calling for correction; this may arise from lack of parallelism of the horizontal axis of the condensing cylindrical lens in the recorder and of the axis of rotation of the recording cylinder, lack of appropriate adjustment of the mirror systems particularly as regards verticality when swinging freely, etc. The adjustment, so far as the first is concerned, is comparatively easy, but not so as regards the second. Since the time-scale usually employed is 20 millimeters to the hour or one-third millimeter to one minute of time, the error of parallax may become an important consideration, the more so as it may not be constant with varying ordinate. A longer time-scale might help, but economically this is not feasible in view of the greater expense necessitated for paper, for attendance, and for reduction.
The ethics of testing in humans

"It is our duty and our right to perform an experiment on man whenever it can save his life, cure him or gain him some personal benefit. The principle of medical and surgical morality, therefore, consists in never performing on man an experiment which might be harmful to him to any extent, even though the result might be highly advantageous to science, i.e., to the health of others." BERNARD (1957).
Effects of imipramine on the na+-dependent exchange and retention of γ-aminobutyric acid by mouse brain subcellular particles

Abstract The effects of imipramine were investigated with respect to exchange and net content of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in mouse brain subcellular particles in the presence of Na + at 2°. The effects of chlorpromazine and orphenadrine on the system were also investigated. Evidence is presented indicating an inhibition by these three drugs of the Na + -dependent binding of GABA to sites on the membrane which mediate a transmembrane flux of GABA. In the presence of greater concentrations of these drugs a pronounced increase in a nonmediated efflux of endogenous GABA from particles was detected. Studies of the binding of tritiated imipramine demonstrated a complex relationship to drug concentration, indicative of two distinct uptake processes. This paper discusses the possible correlation between the two components of the imipramine binding and the effects of the drug on the exchange and net release of GABA by the particles.
STIM1 Enhances SR Ca2+ Refilling through Activating SERCA2a in Rat Ventricular Myocytes

In cardiac ventricular myocytes, the function of “stromal interaction molecule 1” (STIM1), an ER/SR Ca2+ sensor, is still a mystery regarding its localization, mobilization, and Ca2+ signaling regulation. Here, adult rat ventricular myocytes freshly isolated or in primary culture were examined. Endogenous STIM1 was found by immunofluorescence and shown to be distributed mainly within the Z-disk. Using mcherry tagged expression of STIM1, we found that re-distribution of STIM1 does not occur after SR Ca2+ depletion (using thapsigargin, 2 μM) nor does SR Ca2+ depletion affect STIM1 movement within the SR when evaluated with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Consistent with this result, native protein electrophoresis showed that STIM1 exists mainly as an oligomer, which is not altered upon SR Ca2+ depletion. Additionally, no store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) or Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC) was observed in control or STIM1 overexpressing ventricular myocytes. The overexpression of STIM1 did, however, have dramatic consequences in ventricular myocytes: The SR Ca2+ content did increase as did SR Ca2+ leak. Parallel investigations indicated that STIM1 physically binds to phospholamban (PLN), suggesting that overexpressed STIM1 may activate SERCA2a by regulating PLN and this may underlie the increase in SR Ca2+ content. The molecular signaling and regulatory pathways that may be involved in these pathways are discussed.
Cryopreservation of nuclear material as a potential method of fertility preservation.

Abstract Objective To establish a cryopreservation method for female nuclear materials with the aim of creating viable embryos or offspring by nuclear transfer. Design A randomized controlled study. Setting Clinical and academic research facility. Animal(s) B6D2F1 mice. Intervention(s) Female pronuclei (FPNs) and second polar bodies (2PBs) isolated from superovulated mouse zygotes were cryopreserved, thawed, and transferred into donor zygotes. Main outcome measure(s) Survival rates after freeze–thaw and blastocyst formation rates were evaluated. Result(s) Female pronuclei and 2PBs preserved with three tested methods resulted in survival rates ranging from 11.5% to 85% for FPNs vs. 46.9% to 95.0% for 2PBs and blastocyst formation rates ranging from 0% to 35.5% for FPNs vs. 9.1% to 47.4% for 2PBs. Live birth offspring also resulted from both FPNs and 2PBs preserved with vitrification. Conclusion(s) We have established a new system to effectively revive frozen nuclei into viable embryos by a combination of nuclei preservation, zygote reconstruction, and coculturing of reconstructed zygotes with mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. Our data suggest that the preserved female genomic DNA material can be potentially used for future nuclear transfer to preserve female fertility.