cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene therapy in infants with severe combined immunodeficiency.

Severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) are rare disorders that represent paediatric medical emergencies, as the outcome for affected patients can easily be fatal unless proper treatment is performed. The only curative treatment for SCID is reconstitution of the patient’s immunity. For more than 30 years, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been extremely successful for SCID. However, BMT often results in only incomplete restoration of B cell function in treated patients, especially when haploidentical donors are used. In addition, BMT can be associated with severe complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Alternative forms of therapy for SCID are therefore desirable. Genetic correction of peripheral T lymphocytes and/or haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by retrovirally mediated gene transfer has been attempted for patients with SCID due to adenosine deaminase deficiency, the first genetic disease targeted in clinical gene therapy trials with very limited success, overall. After these pioneer trials, recent progress has led to significant improvement of gene transfer techniques and better understanding of HSC biology which has culminated in the recent success of a gene therapy trial for patients affected with X-linked SCID (X-SCID). In this trial, patients with X-SCID received autologous bone marrow stem/progenitor cells which had been retrovirally transduced with a therapeutic gene. Based on the current follow-up, the overall efficacy of this gene therapy procedure is to be considered similar to or even better than that achievable by allogeneic BMT, because patients were not exposed to the risks of GVHD. Although these exciting results have clearly demonstrated that gene therapy is a feasible therapeutic option for X-SCID, they have also raised important questions regarding the long-term outcome of this experimental procedure and the possibility of translating this success into applications for other forms of SCID.
Induction of cytochrome P450 1B1 in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells by non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls

The effects of 12 non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners on the induction of human cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1), an estradiol 4-hydroxylase, were investigated in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Three independent quantitative assays were used, in which the rates of estrogen metabolism, the levels of the CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 mRNAs, and luciferase activities under the control of the CYP1B1 promoter were measured. Of the congeners investigated, 3,4,4',5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 81), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126), 3,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 39) and 3,3',4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 78) were the most potent in each assay, causing four to 10-fold increases in response. Exposure to 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 169) resulted in elevated CYP1B1 mRNA and increased CYP1B1-promoter driven luciferase activity, but caused depressed rather than elevated rates of E(2) metabolism due to inhibition of CYP1B1. The relative magnitudes of CYP1B1 induction by the PCB congeners, as determined by the three assays, were in close agreement, with the exception noted for PCB 169. These results indicate that PCB structure-activity relationships for the induction of human CYP1B1 are similar to those observed for human CYP1A1, but differ somewhat from what has been reported for induction of rat CYP1A1.
Sunitinib malate for the treatment of solid tumours: a review of current clinical data

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play important roles in the regulation of cellular growth, and mutated or overexpressed RTKs have been implicated in various human cancers. Sunitinib malate is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antitumour and antiangiogenic activity that recently received approval from the FDA for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and of gastrointestinal stromal tumours after disease progression on or intolerance to imatinib mesilate therapy. Sunitinib has also demonstrated promising clinical activity in the treatment of other advanced solid tumours. The present review provides an updated summary of emerging clinical experience with this promising new anticancer agent.
Fiber-Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors in the Near-Infrared Spectral Region:

The sensitivity of fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors was improved by a factor of at least thirteen for aqueous solutions by modifying the tip geometry to allow interrogation of the surface plasmon (SP) band in the near-infrared (NIR) region. This was achieved by tuning the angle at the distal end of the SPR sensor to a dual taper of 71° and 19°. Using a low numerical aperture (NA) fiber-optic sensor, NA = 0.12, is necessary to obtain a functional SPR sensor working in the NIR region. Theoretical simulations using the Maxwell equations demonstrated that even higher enhancement is theoretically possible while maintaining a narrow spectral feature upon the excitation of the SP bands on gold surfaces. The manufacture of the SPR sensors yields good agreement between theoretical simulations and experimental observations. To investigate the properties of these fiber-optic SPR-NIR sensors, sucrose solutions ranging from 0 to 15 × 10−3 in mole fraction were utilized. The increased sensitivity of the fiber-optic SPR sensors, when used to monitor biomarkers, would yield lower detection limits. The smaller sensing area, compared to planar or other fiber-optic SPR sensors, combined with an improvement of the sensitivity, would yield a dramatic reduction of the absolute amount detected by biosensors.
Further Studies on the Suppression of Luteinizing Hormone Release Due to Activation of Medial Preoptic-Anterior Hypothalamic Area μ-Opioid Receptors

Abstract Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that specific activation of μ-opioid receptors in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area with [D-Ala 2 , N Me-Phe 4 , Gly-ol 5 ]-enkephalin (DAGO) suppresses luteinizing hormone secretion in the ovariectomized rat [29] . In the present study, three experiments were undertaken to ascertain whether changes in the activity of norepinephrine or dopamine neurons modulate the decrease in luteinizing hormone release in response to DAGO. The first experiment utilized push-pull perfusion in conjunction with HPLC to assess in vivo norepinephrine release in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area in response to perfusion of this site with DAGO (5 μg/h). DAGO significantly decreased luteinizing hormone release, but perfusate norepinephrine levels did not change. In the second experiment, push-pull perfusion in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or CSF containing DAGO was done in rats pretreated with the norepinephrine synthesis inhibitor, FLA-63. This drug pretreatment had no effect on the DAGO-induced suppression of luteinizing hormone secretion. In Experiment 3, push-pull perfusion in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area with CSF followed by CSF containing DAGO was done in rats pretreated with vehicle, or a dopamine receptor antagonist, either pimozide or d -butaclamol. Neither dopamine receptor antagonist had any effect on the DAGO-induced suppression of luteinizing hormone release. Thus, these studies do not support a role for alterations in the activity of norepinephrine or dopmaine neurons in mediating the suppression of luteinizing hormone release in response to activation of μ-opioid receptors in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area in the ovariectomized rat. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.
Seroma formation following abdominal liposuction.

Background Liposuction of the abdominal region is a common procedure performed in the United States. A variety of complications can occur when performing this procedure. Objective To present a case of a patient with a seroma as a complication of abdominal liposuction and its management. Results The patient had a recurring seroma of the right lower quadrant of the abdomen that necessitated ultrasound-guided drainage. Conclusion This case provided a valuable lesson. Clinicians should be conscious of the potential for this complication to occur. They must select patients appropriately to limit the risk of adverse events.
Factors affecting the resistance to heat transfer provided by clothing

Abstract 1. 1. This paper discusses the factors that affect the insulation and evaporative resistance provided by clothing. 2. 2. These include: fabric thickness and density, the amount of body surface area covered by garments, the evenness of the distribution of fabrics over the body surface, the increase in surface area for heat loss due to clothing, the looseness or tightness of fit, a person's body position (seated vs standing), body motion and wind.
Elevated temperature yield effect in iron-aluminum

Abstract The pronounced stress drop or yield-point phenomenon that is observed in partially ordered Fe-Al alloys which contain approximately 25 at.% Al has been evaluated by means of elevated temperature, constant strain-rate tests. The magnitude of the effect is found to depend on the particular combination of strain rate and test temperature employed. No stress drop is observed when complete Fe 3 Al order is present. However, a stress drop is observed whenever FeAl or partial Fe 3 Al order is present; this corresponds to a temperature region where the flow stress is unusually sensitive to the strain rate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the stress drop at yield is associated with an initially low dislocation density and rapid dislocation multiplication. Consequently, the yield phenomenon is believed to be of the type first discussed by Gilman and Johnston wherein a stress drop is caused by rapid dislocation multiplication in a structure in which the dislocation velocity is relatively insensitive to the stress.
Influence of Fluorescent Tag on the Motility Properties of Kinesin-1 in Single-Molecule Assays

Molecular motors such as kinesin and dynein use the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to walk processively along microtubule tracks and transport various cargoes inside the cell. Recent advancements in fluorescent protein (FP) research enable motors to be fluorescently labeled such that single molecules can be visualized inside cells in multiple colors. The performance of these fluorescent tags can vary depending on their spectral properties and a natural tendency for oligomerization. Here we present a survey of different fluorescent tags fused to kinesin-1 and studied by single-molecule motility assays of mammalian cell lysates. We tested eight different FP tags and found that seven of them display sufficient fluorescence intensity and photostability to visualize motility events. Although none of the FP tags interfere with the enzymatic properties of the motor, four of the tags (EGFP, monomeric EGFP, tagRFPt, and mApple) cause aberrantly long motor run lengths. This behavior is unlikely to be due to electrostatic interactions and is probably caused by tag-dependent oligomerization events that appear to be facilitated by fusion to the dimeric kinesin-1. We also compared the single-molecule performance of various fluorescent SNAP and HALO ligands. We found that although both green and red SNAP ligands provide sufficient fluorescent signal, only the tetramethyl rhodamine (TMR) HALO ligand provides sufficient signal for detection in these assays. This study will serve as a valuable reference for choosing fluorescent labels for single-molecule motility assays.
Sulfonated polyimide and PVDF based blend proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

Sulfonated polyimide (SPI) is synthesized by a polycondensation reaction and proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are prepared from the SPI/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blends. Compared to commercial Nafion, the SPI/PVDF blend PEMs have significantly improved swelling ratio of <3% (vs. ∼18% for Nafion), as well as high proton conductivity of 75 mS cm−1 for 50 wt% of SPI content (vs. ∼62 mS cm−1 for Nafion). The proton conducting mechanism in blend membrane was studied and dramatic increases in proton conductivity and water uptake at ∼30 wt% SPI were observed, which are proved by TEM to be due to the transition from isolated SPI ionic domains in PVDF matrix to a bi-continuous morphology – a percolation phenomenon.
Spatial Model of Movement and Foraging in Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex) (I): The Roles of Memory and Communication

Abstract To evaluate the relative importance of memory and pheromone trails to seed foraging, we constructed an individual-based model of ant foraging for a colony of the western harvester ant Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, a central-place forager. The model simulates the dynamic spatial positions of all individuals of three classes: ants without seeds, ants with seeds, and seeds. Each ant foraging above-ground is moved in a non-stationary correlated random walk according to a set of rules that determine the direction and distance of each successive step. We used movement rules that hypothesized behavioral mechanisms in five general areas: (i) space perception, (ii) memory, (iii) chemical communication, (iv) physiological competence of sensory systems, and (v) stimulation of nestmates. Field experiments that manipulated seed densities were simulated by depositing model seeds in patches at different times and places during the simulation. We simulated experimental presentations of renewing seed patches using several different movement rules and mechanisms of chemical communication. When pheromones were laid on a trail to the nest the best models had rules in which (i) ants used memory, (ii) foragers were stimulated at the nest by successful ants, and (iii) the interval between pheromone deposits was small. Models without any one of these three components failed to predict correctly. Sensitivity analyses indicated that ant foraging abilities were not strongly affected by chemical properties of the pheromone, but were influenced by the frequency of pheromone deposition and the geometry of the nest opening.
Role of activated oxygen species in benzo[a]pyrene:DNA adduct formation in vitro.

Abstract The role of several activated oxygen species in the oxidation and binding of B[a]P to calf thymus DNA in vitro was investigated. B[a]P was reacted with calf thymus DNA in the presence and absence of scavengers of active oxygen species. Reactions were performed in the dark at 37 °C for 30 min in a buffered aqueous solution with 250 μg of calf thymus DNA. The levels of B[a]P:DNA adducts formed were determined using the 32 P-postlabeling assay. B[a]P:DNA adduct levels ranged from 1.5–2.6 and 0.25 pmol adducts/mg DNA in reactions with 120 or 12 nmol of B[a]P, respectively. The addition of scavengers of reactive oxygen species to reaction mixtures resulted in a considerable decrease in the levels of DNA adducts formed in comparison to control reactions. Reactions performed with 500 units catalase or 100 units superoxide dismutase significantly inhibited DNA adduct formation. In these reactions adduct levels were 32 and 48% of control levels, respectively. The addition of both catalase and superoxide dismutase to reactions inhibited adduct formation by 95% relative to control reactions. A decrease in adduct levels was also observed when reactions were performed with citrate-Fe 3+ chelate, a scavenger of superoxide. In reactions with 50 mM mannitol and 50 mM sodium benzoate, both of which are hydroxyl radical scavengers, adduct formation was significantly inhibited with adduct levels being 30 and 51% of control values, respectively. Adduct levels were decreased to 26% of control values in reactions with 10 mM 2,5-dimethylfuran, a scavenger of singlet oxygen. These data demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen are involved in the nonenzymatic binding of B[a]P to DNA in vitro.
A Rose by any other name: Attitudes toward feminism as a function of its label

Male and female subjects were asked to rate one of the following labels on a variety of evaluative dimensions: “equal rights for women” (ERW), “feminism” (FEM), “women's liberation” (WLN) and “women's lib” (WLB). It was found that there were differences among the labels, with ERW being the most positively evaluated and WLN being the most negatively evaluated. Furthermore, there were sex differences on some of the dimensions wherein females made more favorable evaluations than males. Subjects' ratings were mixed, being favorable on some dimensions and unfavorable on others. Interpretations and implications of the results are discussed.
Digital Clubbing: Demonstration With Positron Emission Tomography

Digital clubbing is a classic cutaneous manifestation of pulmonary disease, but its mechanism is unknown. We describe a patient with lung cancer and clubbing in whom positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated, for the first time, that increased glucose metabolism occurs at the nailbed. PET may contribute to future investigations of digital clubbing.
Estimating Variance Components and Random Effects Using the Box-Cox Transformation in the Linear Mixed Model

The linear mixed model assumes normality of its two sources of randomness: the random effects and the residual error. Recent research demonstrated that a simple transformation of the response targets normality of both sources simultaneously. However, estimating the transformation can lead to biased estimates of the variance components. Here, we provide guidance regarding this potential bias and propose a correction for it when such bias is substantial. This correction allows for accurate estimation of the random effects when using a transformation to achieve normality. The utility of this approach is demonstrated in a study of sleep-wake behavior in preterm infants.
Measuring attosecond ionization dynamics inside dielectrics

We resolve attosecond dynamics of multiphoton ionization in solids. We subdivide the laser cycle using differential absorption between the major and the minor axes of elliptically polarized beam.
Two-branch microwave channelized active bandpass filters

The realization of small highly selective microwave filters has emerged as a prominent issue in the design of miniaturized high-frequency systems. In this paper, a new way to implement channelized active bandpass filters is presented that deals with the impasse. The concept involves a two-branch configuration, which yields filter circuits that are more compact and offer lower noise figures than earlier three-branch versions, while still retaining all the advantages of channelized feedforward operation. The practicability of the technique is demonstrated with two 10 GHz bandpass filters of different design, whose assessed performance characteristics include signal distortion and noise properties.
Corporate mindset, denial and resistance to change in health leaders

Purpose – Corporate culture is a product of managerial mindset and it consists of obscured, undisclosed and unconditionally accepted assumptions that underlie corporate behaviour. This study seeks to investigate the extent of corporate mindset since it is a causal factor in crises. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained by questionnaire from decision-making executives in hospitals, medical centres, aged care, pharmacies, dental clinics and practices in physiotherapy, chiropractic and podiatry. Findings – Organizations were judged to be in a state of medium disavowal concerning their belief that the impact of any crisis would be small. Around two thirds of participants indicated that the general mind-set of organizations contributes to effective crisis management, and that a welcoming attitude would prevail in the event of the implementation of a organization-wide, systems-wide, crisis management program. With regard to denial mechanisms or beliefs that hinder effective crisis management, two-thi...
Analog CMOS velocity sensors

A family of analog CMOS velocity sensors is described which measures the velocity of a moving edge by computing its time of travel between adjacent pixels. These sensors are compact, largely invariant to illumination over a wide range, sensitive to edges with very low contrast, and responsive to several orders of magnitude of velocity. Two successful 1D velocity sensors are described in detail; preliminary data on a new 2D velocity sensor is shown. Work in progress to extend these sensors to processing of 2D optical flow is outlined.
Background for the studies on ancillary services and primary care use.

Timely and optimal HIV primary care is a key tenet of the Ryan White CARE Act, a safety net programme for vulnerable and marginalized people living with HIV in the USA. Health services researchers, local providers and policy makers suspect that ancillary services are necessary to improve entry into and retention in HIV primary care for vulnerable populations experiencing barriers to HIV services, including access to antiretroviral therapies. This paper provides background to the eight studies featured in this special supplement to AIDS Care. The eight studies examine retrospectively ancillary (support) services data collected after 1996 in six HIV epicenters (New York and Chicago, plus four sites included in the Client Demonstration project-Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County [California] and Washington, DC), three smaller hard-hit cities (Boston, New Orleans and St Louis) and several states (California, plus Michigan and Virginia from the Client Demonstration Projects). These varied delivery settings serve racial and ethnic minority populations, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, women and mothers. The studies use a range of analytic approaches to understand whether receipt of certain enabling services correlated with early entry into and retention in care. Ancillary services (support services such as case management, housing, food, transportation, mental health and substance abuse treatment) are used by local HIV medical and community-based organizations in facilitative strategies directed to populations that have difficulty entering or staying in HIV primary care. Understanding the contribution of ancillary services to timely entry into and consistent use of primary care, including the expanding range of HIV therapeutics, is important to service delivery system planners and resource allocation decision-makers.
Explaining the cultural and symbolic resonance of zero tolerance in contemporary criminal justice

Zero tolerance has been described as a "popular slogan for politicians talking tough." It is also a slogan with international advocates. In addition to the US, politicians from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and South Africa have praised this aggressive policing strategy. While this is a testament to the ease with which ideas diffuse between nations in the contemporary world, it does not explain why this particular idea is so popular. Nor does it explain why zero tolerance animated so many in the mid- to late-1990s. In order to answer these questions adequately, it is important to place zero tolerance in a wider social, political, and economic context. As this article argues, zero tolerance resonates in contemporary culture because it symbolizes a variety of tensions and anxieties found in late modern society. These anxieties are revealed through the often volatile and contradictory politics of law and order; through the routine scrutiny of marginal populations in society; and through the high degree of ...
Sexual arousal and arousability in a sexual offender population.

Assessed penile erections in response to descriptions of consenting sex, rape, and nonsexual assault among 78 inpatient male sexual offenders. All forms of sexual arousal were positively correlated, and sexual arousal to consenting stimuli exceeded arousal to coercive stimuli. Subjects who were able to completely inhibit their arousal exhibited less arousal to sexual assault stimuli than did subjects who were unable to completely inhibit arousal when both groups were not instructed to inhibit arousal. Inhibitory ability covaried with victim maturity, and with months spent in a treatment program. The maturity of the victims in the subjects' sexual offenses was not significantly related to sexual arousal. Thus, sexual offenders' sexual arousal as assessed by physiological measures may be more a function of arousability variables than of actual offending behaviors. Language: en
Search for Fractionally Charged Particles in Cosmic Rays Near Sea Level

An array of spark chambers and scintillation-counter trays has been used to search for fractionally charged particles in cosmic rays near sea level. No acceptable events have been found with energy losses by ionization between 0.04 and 0.7 that of singly charged minimum-ionizing particles. This experiment sets new upper limits for the fluxes of fractionally charged particles in cosmic rays, namely, 1.7×10^(-10) and 3.4×10^(-10) cm^-2 sr^-1 sec^-1 (90% confidence) for minimum-ionizing particles with charges 1/3 and 2/3, respectively.
Oil road effects on the anuran community of a high canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) in the upper Amazon basin, Ecuador.

Tropical forest canopies are among the most species-rich terrestrial habitats on earth and one of the remaining relatively unexplored biotic frontiers. Epiphytic bromeliads provide microhabitat for a high diversity of organisms in tropical forest canopies and are considered a keystone resource. A number of amphibians inhabit these phytotelmata, yet their ecological role and status in forest canopies remains unknown. For this study, anurans were collected from an upper canopy tank bromeliad (Aechmea zebrina) at ∼20–45 m (x¯ = 33 m) above the forest floor. Bromeliads were sampled from trees located near trails in undisturbed primary rainforest and oil access roads in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve of Amazonian Ecuador. We collected 95 anurans representing 10 species from 160 bromeliads in 32 trees. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the effects of disturbance and habitat factors on the occupancy and abundance of anurans collected. Bromeliads in forest along oil roads had a lower occupancy and abundance of anurans than those in undisturbed forest, a somewhat unexpected result due to the intactness and quality of forest adjacent to the roads. Recorded habitat variables had no relationship with occupancy or abundance of anurans, and did not differ significantly between treatments. Our findings reveal that even the minimal footprint of natural resource extraction operations, primarily roads, in rainforest environments can have significant negative impacts on the unique upper canopy anuran community. Based on these results, we recommend that natural resource development treat rainforest habitat as an offshore system where roads are not used, employ industry best practice guidelines, and current access roads be protected from colonization and further deforestation.
The presence of a cytopathologist increases the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis

Objective A meta-analysis has not been previously performed to evaluate critically the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of solely pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and address factors that have an impact on variability of accuracy. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of a cytopathologist, variability of the reference standard and other sources of heterogeneity significantly impacts diagnostic accuracy.
High-Speed AlN/GaN MOS-HFETs With Scaled ALD $ \hbox{Al}_{2}\hbox{O}_{3}$ Gate Insulators

Highly scaled AlN/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor heterojunction field-effect transistors (MOS-HFETs) with Al2O3 gate dielectrics of varying thicknesses deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were fabricated, and their performance was compared with Schottky-barrier HFETs (SB-HFETs). MOS-HFETs with an ultrathin 2-nm-thick Al2O3 dielectric and a gate length of 40 nm had direct-current (dc) and radio-frequency (RF) performances similar to the SB-HFETs, with a high extrinsic transconductance of 415 mS/mm, fT of 134 GHz, and fmax of 261 GHz. In contrast, the dc and RF performances of a MOS-HFET with a 4-nm-thick Al2O3 dielectric were degraded by short-channel effects. The 2-nm-thick Al2O3 gate insulator reduced the forward-bias gate current by more than two orders of magnitude. The data suggest the promise of ultrathin ALD Al2O3 gate dielectrics for next-generation high-speed GaN HFETs.
Circulation of Critical Thinking

: [commentary, circulation, critical thinking, knowledge, education, civil society, discourse, Europe, liberalism, theory]
Exploring the Influence of Emotion on Human Decision Making in Human–Wildlife Conflict

Human decisions and behaviors influence whether human–wildlife encounters result in negative outcomes for people and wildlife. For instance, the decision to feed or to approach a bear for a photogr...
Towards an epistemological basis for andragogy in midwifery education

In designing the curriculum for pre and post registration midwifery courses, the author has utilised an andragogical model. This term refers to the art and science of teaching adults (Knowles 1978). The ideas that Knowles (1978) put forward about andragogy while not new, have been implemented in adult education and are certainly relevant to the modern practice of midwifery education. The aim of this paper is to examine the two extreme philosophical views about the nature of man and to provide an epistemological basis for andragogy in midwifery education.
Induction of auroral zone electric currents within the Alaska pipeline

The Alaskar pipeline is a highly conducting anomaly extending 800 miles (1300 km) from about 62° to 69° geomagnetic latitude beneath the most active regions of the ionospheric electrojet current. The spectral behavior of the magnetic field from this current was analyzed using data from standard geomagnetic observatories to establish the predictable patterns of temporal and spatial changes for field pulsation periods between 5 min and 4 hr. Such behavior is presented in a series of tables, graphs and formulae. Using 2- and 3-layer models of the conducting earth, the induced electric fields associated with the geomagnetic changes were established. From the direct relationship of the current to the geomagnetic field variation patterns one can infer counterpart temporal and spatial characteristics of the pipeline current. The relationship of the field amplitudes to geomagnetic activity indices,A p, and the established occurrence of various levels ofA p over several solar cycles were employed to show that about half of the time the induced currents in the pipe would be under 1 A for the maximum response oscillatory periods near 1 hr. Such currents should be of minimal consequence in corrosion effects for even a section of the pipeline unprotected by sacrificial electrodes. Of greater interest was the result that the extreme surges of current should reach over one-hundred amperes in the pipeline during high activity.
Identification of Soybean Genotypes Resistant to Fusarium graminearum and Genetic Mapping of Resistance Quantitative Trait Loci in the Cultivar Conrad

Fusarium graminearum, a necrotroph, has emerged as an important soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seedling pathogen in Ohio. An effective management strategy for seedling pathogens is host resistance; thus, the objectives of this research were to identify and characterize sources of resistance to F. graminearum. Twenty-four soybean genotypes were screened for resistance using a rolledtowel assay; seeds were inoculated with 2.5 × 10 4 macroconidia mL −1 . A disease severity index (DSI) was calculated on the basis of the ratio of lesion length to total plant length at 7 days after inoculation. Five genotypes had high levels of resistance to F. graminearum, with DSIs ranging from 24 to 41.5%. These included the cultivar Conrad, which has high levels of partial resistance to the hemibiotroph, Phytophthora sojae. A population of 262 F 6:8 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross of Conrad × Sloan (susceptible) was then evaluated for resistance. The same rolled towel method was used, and resistance to F. graminearum segregated as a quantitative trait. The DSI ranged from 22 to 100% and the broad-sense heritability estimate was 0.72. Four putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identifi ed from Conrad on chromosomes 8, 13, 15, and 16, and one putative QTL from Sloan mapped to chromosome 19. The putative QTLs identifi ed in this population were not the same as those that confer resistance to P. sojae, which suggests that different loci are required for resistance to these two different types of seedling pathogens.
Molecular Basis of the Increase in Invertase Activity Elicited by Gravistimulation of Oat-Shoot Pulvini

Summary An asymmetric (top vs. bottom) increase in invertase activity is elicited by gravistimulation in oatshoot pulvini starting within 3 h after treatment. In order to analyze the regulation of invertase gene expression in this system, we examined the effect of gravistimulation on invertase mRNA induction. Total RNA and poly(A) + RNA, isolated from oat pulvini, and two oligonucleotide primers, corresponding to two conserved amino-acid sequences (NDPNG and WECPD) found in invertase from other species, were used for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A partial-length cDNA (550 base pairs) was obtained and characterized. There was a 52 % deduced amino-acid sequence homology to that of carrot β-fructosidase and a 48 % homology to that of tomato invertase. Northern blot analysis showed that there was an obvious transient accumulation of invertase mRNA elicited by gravistimulation of oat pulvini. The mRNA was rapidly induced to a maximum level at 1 h following gravistimulation treatment and gradually decreased afterwards. The mRNA level in the bottom half of the oat pulvinus was significantly higher (five-fold) than that in the top half of the pulvinus tissue. The induction of invertase mRNA was consistent with the transient enhancement of invertase activity during the graviresponse of the pulvinus. These data indicate that the expression of the invertase gene(s) could be regulated by gravistimulation at the transcriptional and/or translational levels. Southern blot analysis showed that there were four genomic DNA fragments hybridized to the invertase cDNA. This suggests that an invertase gene family may exist in oat plants.
Phenotypic identification of amplifications of the ADH4 and CUP1 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Primary gene amplification, i.e., mutation from one gene copy to multiple gene copies per genome, is important in genomic evolution, as a means of producing anti-cancer drug resistance, and is associated with the progression of tumor malignancy. Primary amplification has not been studied in normal eukaryotic cells because amplifications are extremely rare in these cells. A system has been developed to phenotypically identify co-amplifications of the ADH4 and CUP1 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 21 independent spontaneous amplifications have been isolated.
Severe adverse interaction between pethidine and selegiline

One of the most serious drug interactions with non-selective MAO inhibitors such as selegiline is with the narcotic pethidine. The combination has been reported to produce rigidity, delirium, hyperthermia, convulsions, and death
Corruption, Poverty and Tropical Land Use

Growth in crop production in many developing economies continues to require new land to be converted and brought into production. In addition, “marginal” land expansion appears to serve as an outlet for the rural poor. Evidence shows that the rural poor are increasingly concentrated in low productivity and fragile environments. Cross-country analysis of tropical agricultural land expansion supports these links between agricultural development and land conversion. In addition, corruption appears to be an important factor in affecting tropical land conversion, both directly and through interaction with the terms of trade. An increase in agricultural land expansion in the long run is also associated with a lower level of per capita income across developing economies. Those economies who have expanded agricultural land area have not achieved greater economy-wide gains compared to economies with little agricultural land expansion. Rent-seeking and corruption, reinforced by policies, contribute both to excessiv...
Race and Support for State Takeovers of Local School Districts

State takeovers of local school districts represent one of the most recent kinds of education reform. Americans favor both local control over education and state takeovers of failing schools. African American leaders tend to oppose takeovers, but survey data suggest that African American citizens support greater state influence over local education. To explain these paradoxes, this study examines conditions under which jurisdictions support state intervention. It concludes that opposition to this reform emanates from jurisdictions where large percentages of African American voters turn out at high rates. The percentage of a jurisdiction’s schools eligible for takeover because of academic deficiencies exerts a statistically insignificant effect on aggregate-level votes for intervention.
The Policy Relevance of The General Theory

Keynes taught us in The General Theory that neither economic depressions nor fluctuations were inevitable. If nothing is done, these problems would continue. However, by the judicious employment of economic policies, these problems could be mitigated, if not totally remedied.
Liposomal Induction of NO Synthase Expression in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Transfection of bovine smooth muscle cells with plasmid constructs containing the full coding sequence for endothelial NO synthase (NOS3) using liposome mediated gene transfer gave rise to cells that produced high levels of NO. Western analysis indicated that transfected cells were indeed expressing NOS3 protein, but in addition expression of inducible NO synthase (NOS2) was detected. The latter accounted for the high levels of NO produced by transfectants. Treatment of bovine or rat smooth muscle cells or 3T3 fibroblasts with only liposome preparations resulted in the induction of NOS2 expression and NO production. All liposomal reagents were shown to be endotoxin free. Direct induction of gene expression by liposomes alone suggests caution in interpretation of data for which gene transfer is mediated by liposomal preparations.
Topographic Distribution of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by Mapping in Coronal Sections of 125 Consecutive Thyroidectomy Specimens.

INTRODUCTION Mapping of different foci in multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has previously not been done as it is difficult to do so when thyroid specimens are serially sectioned transversely (ie, parallel to the horizontal plane). In this study, thyroidectomy specimens were serially sectioned coronally (ie, parallel to the largest surface of the thyroid gland), which allows for panoramic and 3-dimensional visualization of PTC foci and their relationship to one another. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 125 consecutive total thyroidectomies or lobectomies followed by completion thyroidectomies were serially sectioned coronally and reviewed with identification and characterization of PTC foci. PTCs were grouped into either discrete, encapsulated nodule(s) (EN) of both follicular or papillary architecture, usual variant (UV), or tall cell variant (TCV). RESULTS The predominant tumor masses were identified in the right lobe, isthmus, and left lobe in 52%, 8%, and 40%, respectively. The largest tumor nodules ranged from 3 to 60 mm (18.8 ± 6.6) with the UV, EN, and TCV groups accounting for 58%, 24%, and 18% of cases, respectively. Three topographic patterns of PTC can be distinguished as follows: (a) single tumor nodule (37 cases), (b) main tumor nodule with satellite nodule(s) displaying no or varying degrees of fusion with the main one (30 cases), and (c) main tumor nodule with either a second large nodule or randomly occurring tumor nodules (58 cases). Bilaterality can be seen in all 3 patterns but was most prevalent in the group comprising the main tumor nodule with either a second large nodule or random tumor nodules. It was least frequent in the EN group without random tumor nodules. The difference in rates of bilaterality between tumors <10 mm and ≥10 mm was statistically significant (P < .01). For all 3 groups, satellite nodules displayed histopathological features that were similar or dissimilar to the main tumor mass. They may be of a different variant than that of the main tumor nodule. CONCLUSIONS With panaromic and 3-dimensional visualization, individual tumors/satellite or random nodules of multifocal PTC were readily identified in serial coronal sections of thyroidectomy specimens. Bilaterality was frequently observed in tumors associated with random PTC foci, whereas, the EN group tended to be unilateral and was not associated with random foci.
Mapping low-mode internal tides near Hawaii using TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data

[1] Objective maps of M2 internal-tide variability are derived from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data obtained near the Hawaiian Ridge. An estimate of the wavenumber spectrum shows that the radiation is dominated by a few spectral peaks at wavenumbers consistent with the theoretically expected value for mode-1 internal tides. The data are not always consistent with the traveling wave model. Because the spacing of the altimeter tracks is larger than the internal-tide wavelength, the objective map underestimates the energy between the altimeter tracks. With this caveat, the maps are used to determine that 2.6 GW of power is radiated from a 1700 km section of the Hawaiian Ridge. Time series of hydrographic data obtained at the HOT site north of Oahu, Hawaii show that changes in mode-1 phase speed, caused by variations in stratification, have only a small effect on the propagation of the mode-1 internal tides.
Historical trends in the mass and chemical species concentrations of coarse particulate matter in the Los Angeles Basin and relation to sources and air quality regulations.

To assess the impact of past, current and proposed air quality regulations on coarse particulate matter (CPM), the concentrations of CPM mass and its chemical constituents were examined in the Los Angeles Basin from 1986 to 2009 using PM data acquired from peer-reviewed journals and regulatory agency database. PM10 mass levels decreased by approximately half from 1988 to 2009 at the three sampling sites examined- located in downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and Riverside. Annual CPM mass concentrations were calculated from the difference between daily PM10 and PM2.5 from 1999 to 2009. High CPM episodes driven by high wind speed/stagnant condition caused year-to-year fluctuations in the 99th/98th percentile CPM levels. The reductions of average CPM levels were lower than those of PM10 in the same period, therefore the decrease of PM10 level was mainly driven by reductions in the emission levels of PM2.5 (or fine) particles, as demonstrated by the higher annual reduction of average PM2.5 (0.92 µg/m3) compare...
Exploring social tagging graph for web object classification

This paper studies web object classification problem with the novel exploration of social tags. Automatically classifying web objects into manageable semantic categories has long been a fundamental preprocess for indexing, browsing, searching, and mining these objects. The explosive growth of heterogeneous web objects, especially non-textual objects such as products, pictures, and videos, has made the problem of web classification increasingly challenging. Such objects often suffer from a lack of easy-extractable features with semantic information, interconnections between each other, as well as training examples with category labels.In this paper, we explore the social tagging data to bridge this gap. We cast web object classification problem as an optimization problem on a graph of objects and tags. We then propose an efficient algorithm which not only utilizes social tags as enriched semantic features for the objects, but also infers the categories of unlabeled objects from both homogeneous and heterogeneous labeled objects, through the implicit connection of social tags. Experiment results show that the exploration of social tags effectively boosts web object classification. Our algorithm significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art of general classification methods.
The non‐formal business of cyber cafés: a case‐study from India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to profile everyday management and business strategies of 30 cyber cafes in Mumbai and contextualize them in the broader and pervasive culture of non‐formal economy.Design/methodology/approach – The paper conducts an ethnographic study of open‐ended interviews of cyber cafe owner/managers to understand everyday patterns of managing a cyber cafe. The field observations and literature review aid an understanding of non‐formal economy in Mumbai.Findings – The paper finds three important insights: business with internet technologies, even at the level of a small cafe, is expensive, requiring reasonable computing skills to maintain or expand business potential; in order to survive expense management several unauthorized practices are routinised and merge with the broader structures of non‐formal economy; and the non‐formality of business practices influence an open, liberal atmosphere to browse the internet and turn in a predominantly youth clientele.Research limitations/...
Determination of the stoichiometry, structure, and distribution in living cells of protein complexes from analysis of single-molecular-complexes FRET

ABSTRACT Advances in two-photon microscopy with spectral resolution (TPM-SR) and the development of a simple theory of Forster Resonance Energy Tran sfer (FRET) for single molecular complexes recently lead to the development of a novel method for the determination of structure and localization in living cells of membrane protein complexes (Raicu et al., Nature Photon. , 3, 2009). An appealing feature of this method is its ability to provide such important information while being unaffected by spurious signals originating from stochastic FRET (Singh and Raicu, Biophys. J., 98 , 2010). We will present the results obtained from our recent studies of trimeric FRET calibration standards expressed in the cytoplasm of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, as well as a model G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the membrane of yeast. Emphasis will be placed on the measurement and analysis of single-molecular-complex FRET data for determination of the quaternary structure of some proteins (or the protein complex structure). Keywords: Forster (Fluorescence) Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET); two-photon microscopy; Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells; G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR); spectral resolution; sterile two alpha-factor receptor.
Primeval gas clouds and the low-energy X-ray background

A model for the appearance of the all-sky low-energy X-ray background on a fine angular scale is presented which is based on primeval hot gas clouds associated with the formation of clusters of galaxies according to the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (1972) model. It is noted that the background could have both granular and diffuse components if it is due to such gas clouds. The observed appearance of the granular component is predicted along with the observable characteristics of collapsing protoclusters. The effects of distant X-ray-emitting QSOs, radio galaxies, and normal galaxies on the observations are considered, and these sources are shown not to interfere with the possibility of observing the protoclusters. It is concluded that if sufficient heating occurred in an intracluster medium within some clusters of galaxies at the protocluster epoch, the ensemble properties of protoclusters could be observed with an X-ray telescope, and the time at which protoclusters formed could perhaps be estimated.