cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual drug delivery from vitamin E loaded contact lenses for glaucoma therapy.

Abstract Glaucoma patients frequently instill eye drops multiple times each day, which is a cause for reduced compliance. Additionally, eye drops suffer from other limitations including low bioavailability, which can lead to side effects. We propose to develop drug-eluting contact lenses for managing glaucoma with increased bioavailability and improved compliance. Contact lenses are developed for extended simultaneous release of timolol and dorzolamide, both of which are commonly prescribed hydrophilic drugs. The extended release is achieved by loading lenses with vitamin E barriers. In vitro release studies are performed with control and vitamin E loaded lenses for both drugs loaded separately and then together in the same lens. The safety and efficacy of combination therapy by contacts are demonstrated in a Beagle model of glaucoma. Simultaneous loading of timolol and dorzolamide increases the release duration of both drugs. Also vitamin E incorporation is highly effective in increasing the release durations of both drugs to about 2-days. The lenses loaded with both drugs exhibited superior IOP reduction compared to eye drops with about 6-fold lower drug loading. More importantly, combination therapy by continuous wear of vitamin E loaded contact for 2-days, followed by a new set of contacts for another two days, reduced IOP during the 4 days of wear time and for another 8 days after removal of the contacts. Vitamin E loading is very effective for providing combination therapy by contact lenses due to the increase in release durations of several drugs. The contact lens based therapy reduces IOP with lower drug dose compared to eye drops and may significantly improve the compliance as the effect of the therapy lasts significantly longer than the wear-duration.
Solvent Mean Force Perturbations of Molecular Vibration, Isomerization and Dissociation

The mean force potential represents the effect of solvent-solute interactions on solvation thermodynamics, and thus on solute chemical potentials and equilibrium constants. Chemical reaction dynamics, on the other hand, may involve additional non-equilibrium contributions to the solvation of short-lived intermediates. Nevertheless, the solvent mean force potential places significant constraints on reaction dynamics as well as thermodynamics by defining the equilibrium structure of the entire reactive potential surface. Perturbed hard sphere fluid theories [1, 2, 3], which make optimal use of analytical Statistical mechanical expressions for the thermodynamic properties of hard sphere fluids in predicting the properties of real liquids, offer an appealing formalism for modeling such effects [4, 5, 6].
Religion and Politics in the International System Today: Latin America: Indigenous Religions, Christianity, and Globalization

This fifth regional chapter covers Latin America. As in the previous four chapters, the text must both demonstrate the usefulness of the paradigm and explain the regional characteristics of political-religious identities, ideologies, and institutions. In terms of the paradigm, a Latin American analyst should focus on the contemporary interactions of the political and economic systems. Regional and national economies maintain overwhelming political significance. The communication system takes secondary importance. Global publicity about human rights violations and politically oriented telenovelas both remain relevant. Since Argentina and Brazil renounced nuclear weapons in the 1970s, the military system has consisted of “low-level” civil wars and uprisings against authoritarian regimes. At the beginning of the post–Cold War period, most Latin American countries found their political-economic equilibrium in democratic politics and integration into the global market under United States hegemony, best symbolized by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994. In the last decade, however, this “Washington Consensus” has failed to produce security and development, so that a majority of Latin Americans favor economic efficiency over political democratization, even if it means authoritarian leadership. National political chaos has increased in the region, especially among the Andean countries, while the “Big Three” ABC (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) nations have all opted for center-left governments and more distance from the United States. All analysts are struck by the tremendous social stratification on the continent.
Dictyostelium kinase DPYK3 negatively regulates STATc signaling in cell fate decision.

DPYK3, a member of the Dictyostelium TKL (tyrosine kinase like) kinase family, was ablated by homologous recombination. dpyk3− cells displayed aberrant pattern formation during development. The prestalk O zone was not properly formed and, instead, the prespore zone was expanded in dpyk3− slugs. During development, the transcription factor STATc (signal transducers and activators of transcription c) was persistently phosphorylated and ecmAO expression level was kept low in dpyk3− cells. Furthermore, in response to differentiation inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) in suspension culture, dpyk3− cells displayed persistent STATc phosphorylation and reintroduction of DPYK3 in dpyk3− cells restored transient STATc phosphorylation similarly to wild type cells. In contrast to the positive STAT regulation by Janus Kinase in metazoans, Dictyostelium DPYK3 negatively regulates STATc during development in response to DIF-1 signaling.
Synthesis of the tellurium-derivatized phosphoramidites and their incorporation into DNA oligonucleotides.

In this unit, an efficient method for the synthesis of 2’-tellerium modified phosphoramidite and its incorporation into oligonucleotide are presented. We choose 5’-O-DMTr-2,2’-anhydro-uridine and -thymidine nucleosides (S.1, S.2) as starting materials due to their easy preparation. The 5’-O-DMTr-2,2’-anhydro-uridine and -thymidine can be converted to corresponding the 2’-tellerium-derivatized nucleosides by treating with the telluride nucleophiles. Subsequently, the 2’-Te-nucleosides can be transformed into 3’-phosphoramidites, which are the building blocks for DNA/RNA synthesis. The DNA synthesis, purification and applications of oligonucleotides containing 2’-Te-U or 2’-Te-T are described in this protocol.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms in community‐dwelling Mexican‐Americans: results from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (HEPESE) study

Objective The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a well-established measure of psychopathology and frequently used in dementia studies. Little is known about its psychometric characteristics at a population level, particularly among Hispanics. We report the frequency of NPI symptoms in a community-dwelling older Mexican-American (MA) population cohort and the degree of symptom-related distress experienced by participant informants. Methods Participants were 1079 MA age 80 years and over residing in five southwestern states who were administered the NPI as part of wave-7 of the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (HEPESE) conducted from 2010 to 2011. Results Nine hundred twenty-five informants rated NPI domains. Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) varied by symptom domain and ranged from agitation/aggression (32%) to euphoria/elation (5%). The overall rate of behavioral disturbances was 62.7%. On the other hand, 37.3% of informants reported no NPS. A significant fraction of the informants reported distress from the mood disorder cluster of the scale. Conclusions A large percentage (>60%) of community-dwelling older MA have one or more informant-reported NPS. These symptoms have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. Although neuropsychiatric disorders may be the initial clinical manifestation of dementia and often appear before cognitive alterations, the high frequency of these symptoms in the HEPESE cohort may reflect a high prevalence of these disorders among community-dwelling MA. The pattern we observed also suggests relatively advanced stages of dementia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What Do Welfare-to-Work Demonstrations Reveal to Welfare Refomers?

Under the new welfare system, states must design and institute programs that both provide assistance and encourage work, two objectives that have thus far appeared incompatible. Will states meet these new requirements? For many innovative programs, the randomized welfare-to-work experiments conducted over the last three decades may be the only source of observed data. While these experiments yield information on the outcomes of mandated treatments, the new regime permits states and localities much discretion. Using data from four experiments conducted in the mid-1980s, this study examines what welfare-to-work demonstrations reveal about outcomes when the treatments are heterogenous. In the absence of assumptions, these data allow us to draw only limited inferences about the labor market outcomes of welfare recipients. Combined with prior information, however, data from experimental demonstrations are informative, suggesting either that the long run federal requirements cannot be met or that these standards will only be met under special circumstances.
Research in the Shadow of DNA Patents

In recent years, the Federal Circuit and the Patent Office have characterized the legal doctrines governing the patentability of DNA molecules as essentially settled. This Article argues that the factual premises underlying those doctrines are increasingly being undermined by ongoing developments in biotechnology. Specifically, it may soon be possible to demonstrate that the patenting of DNA molecules retards the identification and sequencing of so many other useful DNA molecules that patent-driven DNA research is a self-defeating enterprise. To this end, this Article provides quantitative evidence of the preclusive effects of DNA patenting on specific laboratory procedures in genetic research. In drawing its methodologies and motivation from genetic engineering and bioinformatics, this Article establishes a new interdisciplinary space wherein the technological consequences of DNA patenting can be rigorously described and studied.
Replication of Measles Virus: Continued Synthesis of Nucleocapsid RNA and Increased Synthesis of mRNA in the Presence of Cycloheximide

The effect of cycloheximide on virus specific RNA synthesis in Vero cells infected with either wild-strain (Edmonston) or subacute sclerosing panencephalitis strain measles virus was investigated. At 3 days postinfection, cells treated with cycloheximide (2.6 x 10(-4) M) and then exposed to [(3)H]uridine showed a marked increase in labeled virus-specific RNA. A major portion of this incremental labeled RNA was putative viral mRNA which sedimented at 16, 22, and 30S. Five distinct classes of polyribosomes, which were not evident in untreated cells, were found in cycloheximide-treated cells and each contained similar species of virus-specific RNA. Viral nucleocapsid RNA, 50 and 18S, was synthesized and encapsidated in the presence of cycloheximide. The latter observation is in apparent contrast to reports that cycloheximide inhibits replication of RNA of classical paramyxoviruses, and may indicate that mechanisms for replicating RNA of measles virus are different from those for replicating RNA of paramyxoviruses.
Ivoirien television, willing vector of cultural imperialism

The debate over cultural imperialism often neglects the role of the recipient nation in inviting and sanctioning foreign media materials. The present analysis considers the role played by Houphouet‐Boigny in welcoming foreign programming as a means of “modernization”; in Cote d'lvoire.
Extraction of visual pigments with certain alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol surface-active compounds.

Abstract Data are presented which show that certain water-soluble, nonionic, alkylphenol surfactants (Triton) are capable of extracting rhodopsins from the retinas of frog, bullfrog, albino rat and cattle. These extracts can be analyzed spectrophotometrically as readily and as precisely as extracts made with the commonly used digitonin. Moreover, the results are similar for both types of extracts. These Tritons have several practical advantages over digitonin as visual pigment extractants. The properties of these rhodopsins are similar when solubilized in the Tritons as when present in the digitonin environment.
1206 GLUCOSE OXIDATION IN THE HUMAN NEWBORN INFANT

Top of pageAbstract The contribution of glucose to oxidative metabolism was quantified in the human newborn using [U-13C]glucose and indirect respiratory calorimetry. Six infants, gestational age 39.9 ± 0.5 wks (mean ± SD), birth weight 3.06 ± 0.13 kg were studied at 43.7 ± 5.0 hrs of age following a 9.3 ± 0.4 hour fast. A primed constant rate infusion of the tracer was given for 4 to 5 hours. VO2 (ml/kg·min), VCO2 (ml/kg·min) and RQ were measured during the last 2 hours of the study. The fraction of glucose turnover oxidized (FGO) was calculated from the rate of U-13C glucose infused and the change in 13C enrichment of CO2 above baseline. Plateau was achieved after approximately 3½ hrs. The fuel mixture was calculated from VO2 and RQ data assuming an 8% protein contribution. Conclusions: Only half of the carbohydrate calories can be accounted for by oxidation of glucose turnover. These data suggest that in the fasting newborn, local tissue oxidation of glycogen makes a significant contribution to calories derived from carbohydrate.
NMR solution structure of the 21 kDa chaperone protein DnaK substrate binding domain: a preview of chaperone-protein interaction.

The solution structure of the 21 kDa substrate-binding domain of the Escherichia coli Hsp70-chaperone protein DnaK (DnaK 386−561) has been determined to a precision of 1.00 A (backbone of the β-domain) from 1075 experimental restraints obtained from multinuclear, multidimensional NMR experiments. The domain is observed to bind to its own C-terminus and offers a preview of the interaction of this chaperone with other proteins. The bound protein region is tightly held at a single amino acid position (a leucyl residue) that is buried in a deep pocket lined with conserved hydrophobic residues. A second hydrophobic binding site was identified using paramagnetically labeled peptides. It is located in a region close to the N-terminus of the domain and may constitute the allosteric region that links substrate-binding affinity with nucleotide binding in the Hsp70 chaperones.
Effects of alkaline-earth metal ions on the transformation of aragonite to calcite in aqueous solution☆

Abstract The transformation kinetics of aragonite a metastable form of CaCO3, to the stable form calcite has been measured for the heterogeneous system of solids in contact with solutions of alkaline-earth metal ions at 50°C. The kinetic data are consistent with the expression, 1nx/(1 − x) = kt, where x is the fraction of calcite at a given time, t. Under conditions of constant pH and temperature, the rate constant k is a function of the concentration of the non-common alkaline-earth metal ion, all of which tend to inhibit the recrystallization at higher concentrations. The inhibiting concentrations (as 105 M) are: Be,
Carbon–Oxygen Bond Formation via Organometallic Baeyer–Villiger Transformations: A Computational Study on the Impact of Metal Identity

Metal-mediated formation of C–O bonds is an important transformation that can occur by a variety of mechanisms. Recent studies suggest that oxygen-atom insertion into metal–hydrocarbyl bonds in a reaction that resembles the Baeyer–Villiger transformation is a viable process. In an effort to identify promising new systems, this study is designed to assess the impact of metal identity on such O-atom insertions for the reaction [(bpy)xM(Me)(OOH)]n → [(bpy)xM(OMe)(OH)]n (x = 1 or 2; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl; n is varied to maintain the d-electron count at d6 or d8). Six d8-square-planar complexes (M = PtII, PdII, NiII, IrI, RhI, and CoI) and eight d6-octahedral systems (M = IrIII, RhIII, CoIII, FeII RuII, OsII, MnI, and TcI) are studied. Using density functional theory calculations, the structures and energies of ground-state and transition-state species are elucidated. This study shows clear trends in calculated ΔG⧧’s for the O-atom insertions. The organometallic Baeyer–Villiger insertions are favored by lower c...
Pharmacology of some Marijuana Constituents and Two Heterocyclic Analogues

THERE have been few reports concerning the chemistry and pharmacology of marijuana and its constituents1,2, and most investigators have studied the natural product or a crude extract. Mechoulam and co-workers3 isolated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is believed to be the most active constituent of marijuana and has been shown to have marijuana-like activity in man4. Subsequently, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol was purified and now both isomers have been prepared synthetically and are available in small quantities for pharmacological experimentation. These substances are somewhat unique in that there are few agents which have such a profound effect on the central nervous system yet do not contain either a sulphur or nitrogen atom in the molecule. We report here some preliminary pharmacological results with pure synthetic Δ8 and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and also describe the effect of the insertion of a heterocyclic atom in ring C on the pharmacology of these agents. The nitrogen analogue of Δ9-THC (I in Fig. 1) was synthesized by Pars and co-workers5 and the sulphur analogue (II) by R. K. R. (unpublished data).
Developmental factors regulating susceptibility to perinatal brain injury and seizures

Purpose of review To review the unique pattern of developmentally regulated factors that govern the susceptibility of the brain during the preterm and term windows of development. Recent findings The neonatal brain shows unique regional differences in susceptibility to injury. In response to the common insult of hypoxia/ischemia, the preterm brain exhibits regional white matter susceptibility, while gray matter is affected in the term brain. Developmental regulation of specific cellular factors is likely to underlie these age-specific differences. Summary A better understanding of these factors could contribute to the development of new age-specific therapeutic strategies with clinical potential for disorders such as periventricular leukomalacia in the preterm and neonatal seizures in the term infant.
Evidence for and impact of selective reporting of trauma triage mechanism criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether out-of-hospital care charts selectively report trauma triage criteria, and the impact of such documentation on triage guideline development. METHODS: A special structured data instrument that requested the presence or absence of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) trauma triage criteria was completed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel transporting victims of motor vehicle crashes. The standard written EMS report forms for a subset of 199 patients with at least 1 ACS trauma triage mechanism criterion were reviewed by the investigators. Outcome data were obtained from medical record review. The structured data instrument and the standard EMS report were compared for concordance. The impact of method of data collection on the ability of the ACS criteria to predict patient outcome was determined. RESULTS: EMS reports and structured data instruments similarly noted the presence of anatomic, physiologic, and "other" trauma triage criteria (p > 0.07 for all individual comparisons). Most mechanism-of-injury criteria noted on the data instrument (pedestrian struck > 20 mph; crash speed > 20 mph; vehicle deformity; compartment intrusion; rollover; and ejection) were infrequently documented on the standard EMS report (median 28.5% noted, range 0-100%). Patients who had mechanism criteria noted on the EMS report were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (44% vs 13%; p = 0.006), to require major operative procedures (10% vs 0%; p = 0.005), and to have prolonged lengths of stay (26% vs 9%; p = 0.02) and injury severity scores > or = 16 (15% vs 3%; p = 0.03) than were patients who had mechanism criteria documented only on the structured data instrument. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' EMS system, standard EMS report documentation underreports ACS trauma triage mechanism criteria. This underreporting appears to bias outcome analysis in the direction of a worse outcome and more resource utilization. Reporting of mechanism-of-injury criteria improves with use of a structured data instrument. Language: en
Indications for modification of coexisting dual atrioventricular node pathways in patients undergoing surgical ablation of accessory atrioventricular connections.

Abstract Concomitant susceptibility to atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia has been demonstrated in certain patients having reentrant tachycardia utilizing accessory AV connections. For those patients undergoing accessory connection ablation, AV node surgical modification may be warranted during the same operative procedure. To assess indications for a combined operative procedure, this study evaluated potential predictors of subsequent spontaneous AV node reentrant tachycardia in patients undergoing ablation of accessory AV connections. Among 62 consecutive patients undergoing surgical ablation of an accessory AV connection, 13 (21%) manifested dual AV node pathways. The latter were identified preoperatively in five patients (four with concealed and one with bidirectional accessory connections) and postoperatively in seven (all seven with bidirectional accessory connections). In one patient with a bidirectional accessory connection, dual AV node pathways could not be demonstrated preoperatively, but AV node reentrant tachycardia was induced. Operative ablation of an accessory connection was successful in all patients. However, postoperatively, 2 of the 13 patients had inducible AV node reentrant tachycardia, 5 had AV node “echo” beats and 6 had no inducible arrhythmia. During 26 ± 7 months of follow-up study, the two patients with inducible AV node reentrant tachycardia postoperatively had symptomatic AV node reentrant tachycardia. In addition, the one patient with inducible AV node reentrant tachycardia preoperatively had recurrence of this tachycardia 4 months after attempted surgical modification of the AV node. Consequently, although dual AV node pathways appear to be common in patients undergoing surgical ablation of an accessory AV connection (21%), only a small group (3 of 13) of these patients are at risk for subsequent clinical AV node reentrant tachycardia. The presence of dual AV node pathways either alone or in conjunction with AV node echoes does not predict occurrence of AV node reentrant tachycardia. However, induction of sustained AV node reentrant tachycardia appears to be associated with a greater likelihood of spontaneous symptomatic tachycardia and therefore warrants consideration of AV node modification at the time of surgical ablation of an accessory connection.
Acorn mass and seedling growth in Quercus rubra in response to elevated CO2

. In order to explore whether seed size affects plant response to elevated CO2, plants grown from red oak (Quercus rubra L.) acorns were studied for differences in their first year response to CO2 concentrations of 350 and 700 μl/l. Overall, at final harvest, total biomass of plants grown in elevated CO2 were 47 % larger than that of plants grown in ambient CO2. There were significant interactions between CO2 treatments and initial acorn mass for total biomass, as well as for root, leaf, and stem biomass. Although total biomass increased with increasing initial acorn mass for both high and ambient CO2 plants, high CO2 plants exhibited a greater increase than ambient CO2 plants, as indicated by a steeper slope in high CO2 plants. However, CO2 levels did not affect biomass partitioning traits, such as root/shoot ratio, leaf, stem, and root weight ratios, and leaf area ratio. These results suggest that variation in seed size or initial plant size can cause intraspecific variation in response to elevated CO2.
Effectiveness and Heat Transfer With Full-Coverage Film Cooling

The paper presents experimental results for performance of full-coverage film cooled surfaces. Effectiveness and heat transfer are measured on plane surfaces with discrete injection through the surface at an array of points into a turbulent mainstream boundary layer. The injection is normal to the surface, through circular holes arranged in both in-line and staggered patterns with 4.8 hole diameters used for both the row-to-row spacing and the hole-to-hole spacing within a single row. Both the film and mainstream fluids are air, and property differences are kept small throughout the study. Uniform injection over the entire array at film-to-mainstream velocity ratios of 0.1 and 0.2 with a uniform wall temperature boundary condition are covered. Results are compared with predictions using superposition of available single hole local effectiveness values.
Differential regulation of receptor‐stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production by polyvalent cations in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts

Extracellular cations have paradoxical trophic and toxic effects on osteoblast function. In an effort to explain these divergent actions, we investigated in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts if polyvalent cations differentially modulate the agonist-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway, an important regulator of osteoblastic function. We found that a panel of cations, including gadolinium, aluminum, calcium, and neomycin, inhibited prostaglandin E 1 (PGE)-stimulated cAMP accumulation but paradoxically potentiated parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated cAMP production. In contrast, these cations had no effect on forskolin- or cholera toxin-induced increases in cAMP, suggesting actions proximal to adenylate cyclase and possible modulation of receptor interactions with G proteins. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetated (PMA) mimicked the effects of cations on PGE 1 -and PTH-stimulated cAMP accumulation in MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively, diminishing and augmenting the responses. Moreover, down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by overnight treatment with PMA prevented gadolinium (Gd 3+ ) from attenuating PGE 1 and enhancing PTH-stimulated cAMP production, indicating involvement of PKC-dependent pathways. Cations, however, activated signal transduction pathways not coupled to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), since there was no corresponding increase in inositol phosphate formation or intracellular calcium concentrations. In addition, pertussis toxin treatment failed to prevent Gd 3+ -mediated suppression of PGE 1 -stimulated cAMP, suggesting actions independent of G αi . Thus, polyvalent cations may either stimulate or inhibit hormone-mediated cAMP accumulation in osteoblasts. These differential actions provide a potential explanation for the paradoxical trophic and toxic effects of cations on osteoblast function that occur in vivo under different hormonal conditions.
The role of stimulus disparity in concurrently available reinforcement schedules

Eight White King pigeons were exposed to various two-component arrangements of concurrently available variable-interval reinforcement schedules. Line orientation stimuli associated with each component differed by 45,15, or 0 deg for different subjects. Relative responding matched relative reinforcement with 45 deg separation, while undermatching resulted with 15 deg separation and extreme undermatching resulted with 0 deg separation. Since obtained relative reinforcement indicated contact with the contingencies in all conditions of line orientation disparity, it is concluded that stimulus disparity between components of concurrently available reinforcement schedules is an important determinant of response distribution between components.
Identification of functional beta-adrenergic receptors on AC glioma cells.

Abstract AC glioma cells, a clonal cell line derived from a rat glioma, responded to 1 mM dibutyrylcyclic AMP and isobutylmethylxanthine with a change to stellate morphology. A concentration-related morphological change was induced by β 1 - and β 2 -adrenergic agonists with the order of potency being isoproterenol > soterenol > norepinephrine. Propranolol (nonselective β-antagonist), butoxamine (β 2 -antagonist) and metoprolol (β 1 -antagonist) significantly decreased the cell response to isoproterenol. Schild analysis of the response, using the competitive antagonist metoprolol, gave pA 2 values of 7.5 and 8.5 for the agonists norepinephrine and soterenol, respectively, with slopes of the curves being less than unity. These observations indicate that both β 1 - and β 2 -adrenergic receptors mediate the change in cellular morphology.
Analyzing mental demonstratives

Analyse de la nature demonstrative des concepts phenomenaux definis comme la reconnaissance a la premiere personne d'un evenement sensible du type de la douleur. A travers l'exemple de simples experiences de pensee, l'A. montre que le caractere demonstratif doit etre compris en termes de propriete intrinseque des etats phenomenaux
Statement presented to the house subcommittee on crime

Mr. Chairman. Members of the Subcommittee on Crime. My name is Wilbur C. Miller. I am the President of Drake University, which is located in Des Moines, Iowa. I am here today, by your invitation, to share my views on the ". . . future problems with electronic and computer fraud and the effect such innovations will have on educational institutions." At Drake, as with many institutions of higher education, this issue is not and has not been a consideration merely of problems for the future but has, in fact, been of great concern since the initial use of computers on the university campus. The views that I will be sharing with you are not hypothetical nor are they totally philosophical. On the evening of January 31, 1984, one of Drake University's computers was penetrated by hackers. These individuals had no connection with the University as students, faculty or staff and gained access to the computer through a telephone connection from an off-campus location. As a result of this unauthorized intrusion into the system, the University has been forced to dedicate scarce resources to the task of determining the extent and the effect of the intrusion. Many students and faculty members have been seriously inconvenienced by having their research and curricular efforts restricted. While new and additional security provisions have been introduced following the intrusion, it must be understood that it is probably not possible to make an academic computing system totally secure against penetration by hackers. Use of the computer system in question goes on, but there is a new aura of concern. Users wonder, "Are my materials that I have stored in the computer system secure or have they been compromised?" Prudence dictates that the integrity of the system must be viewed as suspect and the use of the system for sensitive purposes must be curtailed. Indeed, this is the nature of the problem.
Coherent feedforward impedance correction and feedback power regulation in a plasma processing RF power delivery system

A breadth of advanced manufacturing technologies utilize plasma based material processing. A central system to plasma processing schemes is the RF power delivery and associated components. In a conventional RF power delivery system, the RF power supply performs power regulation for a desired power leveling quantity, and an impedance tuning network operates autonomously to match the dynamic and nonlinear plasma impedance to the transmission line impedance. We centralize these controllers to the RF power supply and remove systematic redundancy, coupling our feedforward controller with the conventional power feedback controller. With our RF power delivery control scheme, next generation plasma tool requirements for thin-film manufacturing is achievable with performance gains to commensurate with a lower system cost.
Semiparametric Double Balancing Score Estimation for Incomplete Data With Ignorable Missingness

When estimating the marginal mean response with missing observations, a critical issue is robustness to model misspecification. In this article, we propose a semiparametric estimation method with extended double robustness that attains the optimal efficiency under less stringent requirement for model specifications than the doubly robust estimators. In this semiparametric estimation, covariate information is collapsed into a two-dimensional score S, with one dimension for (i) the pattern of missingness and the other for (ii) the pattern of response, both estimated from some working parametric models. The mean response E(Y) is then estimated by the sample mean of E(Y∣S), which is estimated via nonparametric regression. The semiparametric estimator is consistent if either the “core” of (i) or the “core” of (ii) is captured by S, and attains the optimal efficiency if both are captured by S. As the “cores” can be obtained without correctly specifying the full parametric models for (i) or (ii), the proposed es...
Secular change in the variability of temperature

The mean temperatures for January, April, summer and October at New Haven, Connecticut, for 1781-1970 were analyzed for evidence of a secular change in several indices of variability. The January—July difference decreased significantly. Although the standard deviation (SD) of the summer temperature within decades decreased significantly, the SDs of January, April, and October did not, and none of the SDs were correlated with means. The SD about trends within decades was not correlated with the magnitude of the trends except in April. There was no significant trend in the January-to-January persistence during the 19 decades.
Evaluation of Safety in a Radiation Oncology Setting Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

Purpose Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is a widely used tool for prospectively evaluating safety and reliability. We report our experiences in applying FMEA in the setting of radiation oncology. Methods and Materials We performed an FMEA analysis for our external beam radiation therapy service, which consisted of the following tasks: ( 1 ) create a visual map of the process, ( 2 ) identify possible failure modes; assign risk probability numbers (RPN) to each failure mode based on tabulated scores for the severity, frequency of occurrence, and detectability, each on a scale of 1 to 10; and ( 3 ) identify improvements that are both feasible and effective. The RPN scores can span a range of 1 to 1000, with higher scores indicating the relative importance of a given failure mode. Results Our process map consisted of 269 different nodes. We identified 127 possible failure modes with RPN scores ranging from 2 to 160. Fifteen of the top-ranked failure modes were considered for process improvements, representing RPN scores of 75 and more. These specific improvement suggestions were incorporated into our practice with a review and implementation by each department team responsible for the process. Conclusions The FMEA technique provides a systematic method for finding vulnerabilities in a process before they result in an error. The FMEA framework can naturally incorporate further quantification and monitoring. A general-use system for incident and near miss reporting would be useful in this regard.
AppA, a Redox Regulator of Photosystem Formation in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1, Is a Flavoprotein IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL FAD BINDING DOMAIN

The AppA protein is required for increased photosystem gene expression upon transition of the facultatively photoheterotrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 from aerobic to anaerobic photosynthetic conditions. AppA shows no obvious similarity to proteins with established function. Genetic evidence suggests that its effect is exerted through modulation of the activity of the repressor PpsR, which controls expression of multiple photosystem genes. To gain insight into the nature of AppA involvement in redox-dependent photosystem gene expression, theappA gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. AppA was produced as insoluble inclusion bodies. The purified inclusion bodies were found to contain FAD. By overexpressing various deletion derivatives, we were able to localize the region of AppA sufficient for FAD binding to approximately 120 amino-terminal residues. To assess the role of FAD binding in AppA function, we constructed an AppA derivative lacking the entire FAD binding domain. Surprisingly, this derivative complemented the AppA null mutant undergoing transition from aerobic to anaerobic photosynthetic growth conditions almost to the same extent as the full-length AppA protein. When the sequence of the amino-terminal portion of AppA was examined, it was shown not to contain any known flavin binding motifs. However, two open reading frames of unknown function, showing significant similarity to the amino terminus of AppA, were identified,i.e. Synechocystis sp. Srl1694 and E. coli F403. The latter gene was amplified and overexpressed inE. coli, and the partially purified F403 protein was found to contain FAD as a cofactor. We have therefore concluded that the amino terminus of AppA represents a novel FAD binding domain present in a small group of bacterial proteins. The binding of FAD by AppA may be the first clue as to how this regulatory protein is involved in redox-regulated reactions.
Why Government Succeeds and Why It Fails

Why Government Succeeds and Why It Fails. By Amihai Glazer and Lawrence S. Rothenberg. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2005. 224p. $42.00 cloth, $18.95 paper. In a 1964 book review (“American Business, Public Policy, Case Studies, and Political Theory, World Politics 16 [4]: 677, 693–715), Theodore Lowi challenged the conventional wisdom that politics determined policy. The causal relationship, he argued, ran in the opposite direction: “[F]or every type of policy there is likely to be a distinctive type of political relationship” (1964, 688). In their bold effort to explain why government succeeds (and why it fails), Amihai Glazer and Lawrence Rothenberg again prompt us to examine the relationship between politics and policy, this time by setting the “political machinations” of politicians and interest groups to the side in order to ask: How do economic conditions impact the success or failure of a public policy? To try to determine the success or failure of a policy by examining “only the interaction between politicians and constituencies is like investigating the efficacy of medical treatment by looking only at the motives of physicians and ignoring the biology of different diseases” (p. 2). For Glazer and Rothenberg, an exclusive focus on politics ignores the “biology” (so to speak) of different policies that are best discovered by examining the ways in which rational economic actors respond to government actions. More specifically, they argue that an analysis of public policy based upon four economic constraints—credibility, rational expectations, crowding out or in, and multiple equilibria—will help reveal the kinds of problems that government is most likely able to solve, and why.
Sex and the City in Decline: Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Klute (1971):

This essay looks at two popular and influential films of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were both shot in New York City: Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Klute (1971). It places them in film history, New York City history, and U.S. urban history more generally, finding that they offer an update on earlier century narratives of the connections between urban areas and deviant sexuality. In this modern version, it is not just a moral tale but also an economic one, where, because of the historical decline of the U.S. city and of New York in particular, sex work becomes a plausible, if unsettling means of support. These films find both narrative and spatial terms for advancing the contemporary antiurban narrative, envisioning New York as an impinging vertical space and seeing possible redemption only in the protagonists leaving the city.
Mothers' and fathers' parenting challenges, strategies, and resources in toddlerhood

This study examined mothers’ and fathers’ parenting challenges and strategies/resources used when parenting toddlers. Through a qualitative interview protocol, implemented with mothers and fathers separately at a university laboratory, this study found that both fathers and mothers appeared to be transitioning from traditional gender roles towards co-parenting practices. Thirty-eight, mostly Caucasian and middle-class, mothers and fathers of toddlers reported many similarities in parenting challenges, coping strategies, and resource use. Common sources of parenting stress for both mothers and fathers were developmental and behavioural concerns about their toddler and time management concerns in balancing between various responsibilities. Some fathers reported difficulty and less perceived competence in taking care of children during daily routines than did mothers. Mothers used a greater variety of emotion regulation strategies than fathers did. These strategies, which included support-seeking from more d...
High temperature, polymeric, structural foams from high internal phase emulsion polymerizations

Abstract High temperature, polymeric, structural foams were prepared using a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) to copolymerize styrene with maleimide based monomers. In this work, N -ethylmaleimide and a bismaleimide (BMI) monomer, bis(3-ethyl-5-methyl-4-maleimide-phenyl)methane, were successfully free-radically copolymerized with styrene in a water-in-oil HIPE to produce polymeric foams with glass transition temperatures ( T g s) ranging from 140 to 220°C depending on composition. The ethylmaleimide and BMI were uniformly incorporated throughout the polymer, which allowed the thermal performance of the foams to be tailored by controlling the concentration of ethylmaleimide and BMI modifiers. In addition, the thermal oxidative stability of the foam systems increased with increasing concentration of maleimide based monomers. The resulting polymeric foams contained an open cell morphology with cell sizes of approximately 10μm in diameter. Compression tests of the high temperature foam systems showed that compression strengths of approximately 700–850 kPa were obtainable at foam densities under 80 mg cm −3 (5.0 lb ft −3 ).
Clinical and anatomic outcomes after carotid endarterectomy

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine 30-day and long-term outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in a contemporary series and to identify variables associated with stroke and death after CEA. Methods This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing an isolated CEA at a single institution between January 1989 and December 2005. Primary study end points were 30-day and long-term overall stroke, ipsilateral stroke, and death. Secondary end points were recurrent stenosis (>70% stenosis) and reintervention. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to create survival curves for the long-term study end points. Multivariate models were created to identify variables associated with the study end points. Results During the study period, 3014 CEAs were performed on 2644 patients (mean age, 71.0 ± 8.9 years; 60.9% male; 33.5% symptomatic; 37% primary closure), with mean follow-up of 7.0 years. The 30-day ipsilateral stroke, death, and combined ipsilateral stroke/death rates were 1.3%, 1.1%, and 2.2%, respectively. Previous ipsilateral CEA or neck dissection for cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 3.68; P = .0081) and symptomatic disease (HR, 2.45; P = .0071) were predictive of 30-day ipsilateral stroke. Stroke-free survival was 93.8% at 4 years and 86.9% at 10 years. Diabetes (HR, 1.94; P P P = .035), and increasing age (HR, 1.02; P P = .025) and symptomatic disease (HR, 1.87; P = .003) were predictors of ipsilateral stroke, whereas antilipid therapy was protective (HR, 0.65; P = .049). Overall survival was 70.1% at 5 years and 42.2% at 10 years, with no difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Although a variety of comorbidities were associated with inferior late survival, as anticipated, female gender (HR, 0.89; P = .016) and lipid-lowering therapy (HR, 0.69; P P = .007). Conclusions CEA has favorable perioperative and long-term clinical and anatomic outcomes with respect to its goal of stroke prevention for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Adjuvant medical therapy (antilipid) has increased overall and ipsilateral stroke-free survival.
Postsynaptic Glutamate Transport at the Climbing Fiber-Purkinje Cell Synapse

The role of postsynaptic, neuronal glutamate transporters in terminating signals at central excitatory synapses is not known. Stimulation of a climbing fiber input to cerebellar Purkinje cells was shown to generate an anionic current mediated by glutamate transporters. The kinetics of transporter currents were resolved by pulses of glutamate to outside-out membrane patches from Purkinje cells. Comparison of synaptic transporter currents to transporter currents expressed in Xenopus oocytes suggests that postsynaptic uptake at the climbing fiber synapse removes at least 22 percent of released glutamate. These neuronal transporter currents arise from synchronous activation of transporters that greatly outnumber activated AMPA receptors.
Treatment outcomes in patients with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacter bacteremia.

AbstractBackground: Infections with resistant Enterobacter spp. are increasingly described, yet data on outcomes associated with these infections are limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate outcomes of hospitalized patients with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (CR) Enterobacter bacteremia. Cephalosporin resistance was detected using cefotaxime and cefpodoxime. Patients with Enterobacter spp. bacteremia from January 2006 through February 2008 defined the population. We defined cases as those with CR isolates; controls were patients with bacteremia due to non-CR isolates. Treatment failure was defined as persistence of the presenting signs of infection 72 h after initial culture collection. Results: Of the 95 Enterobacter cases identified, 31 (33%) were CR. CR cases were significantly associated with treatment failure (odds ratio (OR) 2.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–6.94). This association was not seen after adjustment for age, simplified acute physiology...
Lowest T = 32 state in 29p☆

The residual activity between bursts of a mechanically copped beam has been used to measure the 28Si(p,γ)29P yield near the lowest T=32 state. This resonance was found at Ep = 5.833 ± 0.010 MeV and has Γtotal = 2.5 keV and Γγ = 0.8 ± 0.3 eV.