cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light-induced suppression of endogenous circadian amplitude in humans

A recent demonstration that the phase of the human circadian pacemaker could be inverted using an unconventional three-cycle stimulus has led to an investigation of whether critically timed exposure to a more moderate stimulus could drive that oscillator toward its singularity, a phaseless position at which the amplitude of circadian oscillation is zero. It is reported here that exposure of humans to fewer cycles of bright light, centered around the time at which the human circadian pacemaker is most sensitive to light-induced phase shifts, can markedly attenuate endogenous cicadian amplitude. In some cases this results in an apparent loss of rhythmicity, as expected to occur in the region of singularity.
Dose reduction fluoroscopy in pediatrics

Abstract Background. It is essential that we find ways to reduce radiation exposure to children and maintain image quality. Objectives. We compared radiation dose, image quality, and spatial resolution when continuous and pulse fluoroscopy with a full and half dose are applied to a phantom. The film-screen technique was compared to fluoroscopy with the digitized spot technique (fluoro grab image) in procedures such as voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Materials and methods. Using a 15.1-cm Plexiglas phantom, we obtained dosimetry in milligrays (mGy), spatial resolution in number of line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm), and threshold contrast resolution in number of visible holes. To measure total radiation dose, we calculated the average elapsed fluoroscopy time for VCUG to be approximately 3 min and estimated the average number of exposures as 10. Dosimetry was obtained for full dose and half dose continuous, for 15 pulses per second (pps), 7.5 pps, and 3.75 pps. These were also calculated with normal, magnification 1, and magnification 2 factors. Results. Results of the two most relevant parameters are shown: continuous full-dose fluoroscopy, 3 min, 10 photo spots, total dose of 28.7 mGy with 2 lp/mm of resolution and a threshold contrast of 2.2%, versus 3.75 pps half-dose fluoroscopy, 3 min, grab images, total dose of 3.7 mGy with 1.9 lp/mm of resolution and a threshold contrast of 2.3%. Conclusion. With minimal loss of resolution there is significant dose reduction (87%) when using 3.75 pps with digitized imaging.
Acinar Cell Carcinoma With Prominent Intraductal Growth Pattern: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas is rare, accounting for less than 1% of carcinomas arising in the exocrine pancreas. Patients are typically between the fifth and seventh decade of life and show a 2:1 male predominance. Symptoms tend to be nonspecific, and approximately 50% of the patients have metastases at the time of presentation. There have been recent case reports of acinar cell carcinoma showing both intraductal and/or papillary patterns of growth that could potentially be mistaken for intraductal neoplasia. The cases reported up to date presented as solitary nodules. The authors describe the first case of acinar cell carcinoma with both intraductal and tubuloglandular growth diffusely involving the pancreas. In addition, the authors review the published cases reporting acinar cell carcinoma with intraductal and/or papillary growth patterns.
A convenient spectrophotometric method for the kinetic analysis of the enzymatic hydrolysis of N-acyl peptides using phthaldialdehyde.

Abstract A spectrophotometric method for the analysis of the enzymatic hydrolysis of N -acyl peptides has been developed based on the reaction of amino acids with phthaldialdehyde in the presence of thiols. The method approaches the sensitivity of ninhydrin while being more simple and rapid. In addition, the reagent can be prepared, stored, and used without special handling. The substitution of ethanethiol for mercaptoethanol greatly enhances the stability of the colored product. The method has been applied to the study of the kinetics of the hydrolysis of N -acyl peptides by thermolysin and pepsin.
The impact of unemployment insurance taxes on wages

Abstract This paper examines the incidence of state unemployment insurance taxes on wages paid to workers in various demographic groups. The empirical work matches state level measures of unemployment insurance tax and benefit variables to data aggregated from the Current Population Survey on worker earnings for the period 1992 to 2002. Econometric evidence presented in the paper supports the paper's main hypothesis that UI tax rate structure has its greatest adverse impact on less mobile workers (prime age married women and young workers) and little impact on more mobile workers (prime age men).
Accessory subunit of mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophila embryos. Cloning, molecular analysis, and association in the native enzyme.

A full-length cDNA of the accessory (β) subunit of mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophilaembryos has been obtained, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA clone encodes a polypeptide with a deduced amino acid sequence of 361 residues and a predicted molecular mass of 41 kDa. The gene encoding the β subunit lies within 4 kilobase pairs of that for the catalytic subunit in the Drosophila genome, on the left arm of chromosome 2. The two genes have similar structural features and share several common DNA sequence elements in their upstream regions, suggesting the possibility of coordinate regulation. A human cDNA homolog of the accessory subunit was identified, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The human sequence encodes a polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 43 kDa that shows a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity to the Drosophila β subunit. Subunit-specific rabbit antisera, directed against the recombinant catalytic and accessory subunit polypeptides overexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli, recognize specifically and immunoprecipitate the native enzyme from Drosophilaembryos. Demonstration of the physical association of the two subunits in the Drosophila enzyme and identification of a human accessory subunit homolog provide evidence for a common heterodimeric structure for animal mitochondrial DNA polymerases.U94702U94703
Aspects of Anthropology and Language Study in the Peace Corps

M ORE than the members of other academic disciplines the anthropologists are intrigued by the Peace Corps. It covers the parts of the world that have been until recently their special interest; it aims to deal with that level of the world's people that anthropologists have studied-the "ordinary" people-andits conditions of action are in some important ways the same as those that cultural anthropologists have used in their research work overseas.
Diagnosis of subclavian steal syndrome using dynamic time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography: a technical note

We developed a dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic imaging protocol that can aide the diagnosis of subclavian steal syndrome (SSS). Our protocol combines a new pulse sequence: time-resolved echo-shared angiographic technique (TREAT) with parallel imaging: generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA). Our pulse sequence, like traditional catheter angiography exams, provides anatomic and dynamic flow pattern information in one scan. If included in comprehensive SSS MR imaging examinations, this sequence can potentially reduce the need for diagnostic X-ray angiography.
Quasiconformally Equivalent Domains and Quasiconformal Extensions

This paper concerns the extendability of boundary quasiconformal homeomorphisms of domains in and the problem of determining whether or not a domain is quasiconformally equivalent to a given domain. In particular, we prove that any boundary QC homeomorphism of domains bounded by finitely many QC-flat spheres has a QC extension to the entire domain, generalizing some well known results. We also show that if a portion of a domain D near its boundary can be mapped quasiconformally into a portion of a topological n-ball (n ≠ 4) D′ near its boundary, then D is QC equivalent to D′ generalizing a result of Gehring.
Partisan Bias in U.S. Congressional Elections, 1952-1996 Why the Senate is Usually More Republican than the House of Representatives

The Democratic Party held a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives from 1952 to 1994. During the same period, however, they did not demonstrate the same level of success in the Senate. What explains these differing levels of success in the two chambers of Congress? Here I explore the contribution of partisan bias to this discrepancy. Three separate measures of partisan bias (distributional, population, and turnout) are explained and calculated for each chamber for the elections from 1952 through 1996. These estimates of partisan bias are linked to the proportion of seats that the parties have controlled in both the House and the Senate. Results indicate that the Democrats reaped the benefits of bias in House elections (particularly turnout-related bias). Bias in the Senate, particularly distributional and population-related bias, favored the Republicans.
Theoretical Limits To Errors, Acquisition Rates, And Resolution In Microscopy Of Switchable Fluorophores: Replacing The Diffraction Limit With The Algorithm Limit

We calculate error rates, and their effects on imaging speed and resolution, in techniques that overcome the diffraction limit by using switchable fluorescent molecules. Recent experimental work has beaten the diffraction limit in fluorescence microcopy by activating and localizing subsets of the fluorescent molecules in the specimen, and repeating this process until all of the molecules have been imaged. Examples include PhotoActivation Localization Microscopy (PALM), STOchastic Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM), and microscopy of blinking quantum dots. In all these techniques there is a tradeoff between speed (activating more molecules per imaging cycle) and error rates (activating nearby molecules and producing overlapping images that hide information on molecular positions), and so intelligent image-processing approaches are needed to identify and reject bright spots containing multiple molecules. We show that there is a maximum acquisition rate determined by this trade-off, and that how closely one can approach this acquisition rate depends on the capabilities of the algorithm used to distinguish single-molecule spots from multi-molecule spots. In particular, we calculate the error rates of commonly-used algorithms that use the shape of the bright spot rather than the overall intensity. This technique is used in STORM because fluorescent dyes have fluorescence efficiencies that can be strongly affected by the local environment. We show that the capabilities of these algorithms, in combination with the target contrast between fluorophores and background, determine whether the resolution is limited by the capabilities of the algorithm or the number of photons collected, leading to photon-limited and algorithm-limited resolution regimes. Finally, we consider algorithms that can infer molecular positions from images of overlapping blurs, and derive the dependence of the minimimum acquisition time on algorithm performance for this class of algorithms.
Cardiovascular responses in type A and type B men to a series of stressors.

Fifty-six healthy adult males were administered the Type A Structured Interview and assessed as exhibiting either Type A (N=42) or Type B (N=14) behavior pattern. They were monitored for systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) responses during a series of six challenging tasks: Mental Arithmetic, Hypothesis Testing, Reaction Time, Video Game, Handgrip, and Cold Pressor. The results indicated that Type A subjects exhibited greater cardiovascular responses than did Type B subjects during some (Hypothesis Testing, Reaction Time, Video Game and Mental Arithmetic) but not all (Handgrip and Cold Pressor) of the tasks. These results are discussed in terms of previously reported findings on conditions that do and do not produce differences in Type A/B cardiovascular stress responses.
Sex-Role Identity and Sex as Predictors of Leadership Style

Sex did not predict students' preferred style of leadership as measured by the Least Preferred Co-worker Scale. However, scale scores were negatively related to the masculinity dimension of sex-role identity, indicating a positive association between task orientation and masculinity.
The molecular weight and subunit organization of Helisoma trivolvis (Say) hemoglobin: light-scattering and scanning transmission electron microscopic studies

Abstract The hemoglobin of the freshwater snail, Helisoma trivolvis has a molecular weight of 1.77(± 0.04) × 10 6 Da as determined by light-scattering measurements at 630 nm. Scanning transmission electron microscopic measurements gave nearly the same particle mass of 1.85(± 0.24) × 10 6 Da. The molecular weight of the denatured hemoglobin in 6.0 M GdmCl is found to be 3.96 × 10 5 Da, which is close to one-fifth of the mass of the parent hemoglobin. The molecular weight data based on light-scattering and STEM microscopy is consistent with a 10-subunit structure comprising five disulfide-linked dimers, as opposed to a 12-subunit assembly proposed by Ilan et al . (1986), which would necessitate a higher particle mass. Analysis of the molecular weight and the sedimentation data of H. trivolvis hemoglobin, suggests a compact two-layer ring structure of decamers of about 200 A to 250 A diameter, stabilized by disulfide-linkages between the subunits of the two pentameric layers.
Toward an Archaeology of the Future

Archaeologists have largely embraced the idea that our discipline is political; that from its inception it has been intimately linked to capitalism and implicated with nationalist, colonialist, imperialist, sexist and racist agendas. Archaeologists have always validated our existence by the social relevance of our work, often with varying success. We believe that the best method may be to study history backward: to begin with the present result and look to the past to consider its preconditions. Bringing these understandings forward again allows us to project this potential into the future and examine the present complete with its ties to the past. This dialectical connection of past, present and future provides an important perspective on the long-term historical study of the social relations of capitalism. In this paper, we provide the larger theoretical context to elucidate these issues that form the foundation for this issue.
A Time-Resolved EPR Study of the Electron-Spin-Polarization Pathways of p-Benzosemiquinone

Benzoquinone (BQ), deuterobenzoquinone (d4-BQ), and hydroquinone (BQH2) are investigated in ethylene glycol by means of direct detection fast time-resolved EPR spectroscopy after laser flash photolysis. The development of the magnetization as a function of time and magnetic field is obtained and analyzed in terms of the Bloch equations and hyperfine parameters. The signals are attributed to the semiquinones BQH(*) and d4-BQH(*). The presence of 1,2-dihydroxyethyl radicals during the photolysis of BQ and d(4)-BQ is verified. No alkyl radicals are observed in solutions of BQ with excess BQH2. Detailed analysis of the chemically induced dynamic electron polarization spectra with respect to their development in time shows that polarization patterns of the semiquinones can be traced back to a superposition of triplet mechanism and radical pair mechanism, the latter arising from geminate T-pairs. Hence, two independent pathways for polarization are assumed: reaction of triplet benzoquinone with ethylene glycol leads to the semiquinone and dihydroxyethyl radicals with all signals in emission, whereas the reaction of triplet BQ and BQH2 yields two semiquinones exhibiting both net emissive and multiplet emissive/absorptive intensity distributions.
Nucleoside drug resistance in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Drug resistant mutants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase suggests a role for the ‘inert’ p51 subunit in nucleotide-substrate binding.
Estimating time to ESRD using kidney failure risk equations: Results from the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK)

Background Planning for renal replacement therapy, such as referral for arteriovenous fistula placement and transplantation, often is guided by level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The use of risk equations might enable more accurate estimation of time to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), thus improving patient care. Study Design Prospective observational study. Setting & Participants 1,094 participants in the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) cohort. Predictor Age, sex, urine protein-creatinine ratio ≥ 1g/g, APOL1 high-risk status, and 3-year antecedent eGFR decline. Outcome Cumulative incidence of ESRD from 5 different starting points: eGFR of 30 and 15mL/min/1.73m 2 and 1-year ESRD risk of 5%, 10%, and 20%, estimated by a published 4-variable kidney failure risk equation. Results 566 participants developed eGFR of 30mL/min/1.73m 2 , 244 developed eGFR of 15mL/min/1.73m 2 , and 437, 336, and 259 developed 1-year ESRD risks of 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. The 1-year cumulative incidence of ESRD was 4.3% from eGFR of 30mL/min/1.73m 2 , 49.0% from eGFR of 15mL/min/1.73m 2 , 6.7% from 5% ESRD risk, 15.0% from 10% ESRD risk, and 29% from 20% ESRD risk. From eGFR of 30mL/min/1.73m 2 , there were several risk factors that predicted ESRD risk. From eGFR of 15mL/min/1.73m 2 , only level of proteinuria did; median time to ESRD was 9 and 19 months in those with higher and lower proteinuria, respectively. Median times were less variable from corresponding ESRD risk thresholds. For example, median times to ESRD from 20% ESRD risk were 22 and 25 months among those with higher and lower proteinuria, respectively. Limitations Relatively homogeneous population of African Americans with hypertensive kidney disease. Conclusions Results of the present study suggest the potential benefit of incorporating kidney failure risk equations into clinical care, with selection of a specific threshold guided by its intended use.
Mechanism of Interdiffusion in Hg1-XXxTe/CdTe Superlattices (X = Cd, Mn, AND Zn)

The interdiffusion mechanism in Hg(l-x)X(x)Te/CdTe superlattices where X is Cd, Mn, or Zn can be deduced from the magnitude of the interdiffusion activation energy. By comparing in-situ x-ray diffraction measurements (our work) with results from Tang and Stevenson (J. Vac. Sci. Technol. AS, 1987), it is found that anionic and cationic Frenkel pairs represent the most likely interdiffusion mechanism in Hg(l-x)X(x)Te/CdTe superlattices. This model mixes vacancies and interstitials, as well as maintaining the conduction type and the electronic mobility. It is further shown that interdiffusion sets in as soon as the growth starts.
‘Redneck Customs’: race and class at the demolition derby

Using data collected from ethnographic research at demolition derbies in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, this article focuses on the language used by drivers for car-naming practices in response to epithets routinely associated with rural, working-class whites. Briefly cast into mass consciousness by media coverage of the racialised 2008 US Presidential contest through a focus on the ‘Appalachian Belt’, the day-to-day experiences of rural working-class whites tend to stay below the news radar. This population, often publicly referred to by terms like ‘white trash’ or ‘rednecks’, has also received relatively little scholarly attention. That such language is used unproblematically in the public arena underscores the construction of the working-class white as embodying a complex mixture of racial privilege and class disadvantage. And while emerging studies of whiteness do address ‘redneck’ as a racialised class category, and research on poor rural Americans is attracting more researchers, studies on l...
Soluble suppressor factors elaborated in experimental malignant ascites

Soluble suppressor factors in the sera of cancer patients inhibit lectin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. These factors, derived from human material, preclude easy corroboration by other investigators. To gain a general understanding of soluble suppressor factors and to avoid the necessary restrictions of human experimentation, an animal model was devised. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected ip with the Walker 256 carcinoma. The resultant ascites proved to be a stable, reproducible source of soluble suppressor factors. Ascites inhibited phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced blastogenesis of normal splenocytes by 98%. The possibility of a toxic effect was eliminated by vital staining of splenocytes and by examination in a specific lymphotoxin assay. Suppressor activity persisted after heating at 100 degrees C for 40 min. Extraction by lipid solvents revealed that the bulk of suppressor activity resides in the lipid phase. The active fraction of heat-treated ascites passed through an Amicon PM-10 filter. Thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha. Tissue culture supernatants from short-term cultures derived from tumor-bearing animals revealed suppressor activity from thymus, spleen, and liver cultures (97, 91, and 71%, respectively). No suppressor activity was detected in cultures of cancer cells. This study has demonstrated in this animal model that prostaglandins play a major role in suppression of lectin-induced blastogenesis. All suppressor factors appear to be host derived. An understanding of the mechanism of release of these suppressor substances may open new avenues in the immunotherapy of cancer.
Perceived environmental quality of neighborhoods: Development of assessment scales and their relation to age and gender

Abstract The relation of age to perceived quality of neighborhoods is examined. For a large sample of persons age 18 and older ( N : 1520), 15 factor scales of perceived quality of neighborhoods were developed and confirmed on a second sample ( N : 1021). The scales are reliable (internally consistent and cross-validated) and ‘age fair’ in the sense that the internal structure of the set of scales is constant across age groups. The hypothesis of a positive, linear relationship between age and perceived quality of the neighborhood is supported in both exploratory and confirmatory samples. Some gender differences in scale level are also observed and cross-validated. No evidence of age-gender interaction is found for the age range: 21–69.
Impact of Human Diversity Education on Social Work Students

ABSTRACT This research explores the attitudinal change of undergraduate students in a social work program after completing a course on human diversity. A total of 153 students participated in the study. A cross-sectional pre/post survey design with non-randomized comparison groups was employed in the research. The findings suggest that a course on human diversity had a positive impact on junior level students' attitudes on the topic of diversity and that these attitudes continued to be evident in students enrolled in more advanced social work courses.
Preferential recognition of a fragment species of osteoarthritic synovial fluid fibronectin by antibodies to the alternatively spliced EIIIA segment.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the species of synovial fluid (SF) fibronectin (FN) bearing the alternatively spliced EIIIA segment. METHODS SF from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as corresponding affinity isolation products, were subjected to 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional electrophoresis followed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS Regardless of the clinical type of arthritis, a polyclonal antibody that recognizes antigenic determinants throughout the FN molecule produced staining of predominantly approximately 200+ and approximately 170-kd species in reduced 1-dimensional electrophoresis. Despite the overall prevalence of the larger species, 4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with sequences lying near the center of the EIIIA segment exhibited a relative failure to recognize the larger of these 2 species in OA, but not RA, SF. The absence of recognition of EIIIA sequences within the approximately 200+ kd forms of OA SF FN was unrelated to their derivation from dimers, since anti-EIIIA mAb recognized the smaller fragment species in preference to both monomeric and dimeric forms. The approximately 170-kd EIIIA+ fragments were observed to have minimal gelatin-binding capacity and appeared on 2-dimensional electrophoresis to extend from the N-terminus of FN through at least the center of the EIIIA segment. Similar results were obtained for samples obtained by needle aspiration or arthroscopic lavage, suggesting a widespread applicability of these findings. CONCLUSION The approximately 170-kd EIIIA+ species of FN could potentially constitute a soluble "vehicle" by which chondrocyte-regulating EIIIA sequences, liberated from inhibitory flanking C-terminal sequences, could reach cells in the arthritic joint. Additionally, "FN species-specific" recognition of this segment within OA SF could constitute a marker by which to gauge the activity of the OA disease process.
Pregnancy Motivations and Contraceptive Use: Hers, His, or Theirs?

Abstract Context Studies increasingly consider the role of pregnancy motivations on contraceptive use. Few studies include measures of men's pregnancy motivations. Methods We used baseline data (from a couples-intervention study) to examine the contribution of women's and men's pregnancy motivations and participation in decision making to contraceptive use by women in relatively stable relationships who were not trying to get pregnant. In addition to conducting multivariate analyses, we assessed agreement between a woman's perceptions of and her partner's reports of his pregnancy motivations. Results We observed moderate agreement between men's pregnancy motivations and their partners' perceptions of those motivations. Levels of agreement about participation in decision making were somewhat lower. In bivariate analyses, effective contraceptive use was significantly associated with two measures of pregnancy motivation for men and women. In multivariate analyses, only women not wanting a child in 2 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.73), women's (aOR, 1.80) and men's (aOR, 0.78) participation in decision making, women believing their partners favored contraceptive use (aOR, 2.01), relationships lasting 2 or more years (aOR, 1.98), and ethnicity/race (Latina aOR, 0.27; other race aOR , 0.45) were associated with effective contraceptive use. Conclusion Providers and those developing interventions must recognize that some women who are “not trying to get pregnant” have weak motivations to avoid pregnancy, and so should help women to clarify their motivations and seek support from their partners for contraceptive use. To understand the role of pregnancy motivations, future research may include both qualitative and longitudinal quantitative studies.
Modelling spatial disease rates using maximum likelihood.

This paper concerns maximum likelihood estimation for a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) useful for modelling spatial disease rates.The model allows for log-linear covariate adjustment and local smoothing of rates through estimation of spatially correlated random effects. The covariance structure of the random effects is based on a recently proposed model which parameterizes spatial dependence through the inverse covariance matrix. A Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for performing maximum likelihood estimation for this model is described. Results of a computer simulation study that compared maximum likelihood (ML) and penalized quasi-likelihood (PQL) estimators are presented. Compared with PQL, ML produced less biased estimates of the intercept but the ML estimates were slightly more variable. Estimates of the other regression coefficients were unbiased and nearly identical for the two methods. ML estimators of the random effects standard deviation and spatial correlation were more biased than the corresponding PQL estimators. The conclusion is that ML estimators for GLMMs cannot be expected to perform better than PQL for small samples. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photographic Studies of Convection Patterns Between Concentric Spheres

An apparatus has been designed for the photographic observation of fluid flow between concentric isothermal spheres. A description of the apparatus and the solutions to photographic problems encountered are presented and discussed.
Insulin inhibits nuclear phosphatase activity: requirement for the C-terminal domain of the insulin receptor

Insulin's interaction with its receptor initiates a multitude of cellular effects on metabolism, growth, and differentiation. We recently described an insulin-mediated inhibition of nuclear protein phosphatase 2A (PP-2A), which is associated with an increase in phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein. To clarify the role of nuclear PP-2A inhibition in the insulin signaling cascade, we examined the regulation of this phosphatase activity by insulin in Rat-1 fibroblasts overexpressing normal (HIRc) or mutant human insulin receptors (delta CT cells, deletion of a 43-amino acid C-terminal domain). The delta CT cells represent an excellent model of impaired metabolic and intact mitogenic action of insulin. Insulin inhibited nuclear PP-2A activity and enhanced cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation in HIRc cells, but not in delta CT cells. The delta CT cells exhibited normal ras activation and blunted mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphorylation and activation in response to insulin (16-fold in HIRc cells vs. 3-fold in delta CT cells), indicating that the mitogen-activating protein kinase pathway is important for the regulation of nuclear PP-2A activity by insulin. We conclude that insulin inhibits nuclear PP-2A activity, and that the carboxy-terminal domain of the insulin receptor is important for this effect.
Specific binding of phorbol ester tumor promoters to mouse skin

Abstract The tumor promoter 20- 3 H-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate bound in a specific manner to particulate preparations from both whole mouse skin and mouse epidermis. The binding, which was comparable in both whole skin and epidermal preparations, occurred rapidly, was reversible upon addition of non-radioactive ligand and showed high affinity (K D = 2.4 × 10 −8 M). The potencies of phorbol esters for inhibiting binding of 3 H-PDBu corresponded to their biological and tumor-promoting activities: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, K I = 0.74 nM; phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, K I = 16 nM; phorbol 12,13-dibenzoate, K I = 82 nM; mezerein, K I = 98 nM; phorbol 12,13-diacetate, K I = 3 μM; phorbol 12,13,20-triacetate, K I = 5.6 μM; phorbol 13-acetate, K I = 64 μM. The biologically inactive derivatives phorbol (0.88 mM) and 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (15 μM) did not inhibit binding. Likewise, 3 H-PDBu binding was only weakly inhibited by phorbol-related diterpenes which are highly inflammatory but nonpromoting. These structure-activity relationships suggest that the 3 H-PDBu binding activity mediates phorbol ester tumor promotion. 3 H-PDBu binding was not inhibited by the nonphorbol promoters examined. Similarly, it was not blocked by compounds which antagonize (dexamethasone acetate, 2 μM; retinoic acid, 10 μM) or mimic (epidermal growth factor, 100 ng/ml; melittin, 25 μg/ml; PGE 2 , 1 μM) some of the effects of the phorbol esters in vivo or in vitro.
Flow distance reduction for a multi-product flowline with sets of identical machines

Abstract A group of M machines for processing a set of jobs in a manufacturing system is often located in a serial line. An efficient strategy for locating these machines is desired such that the total travel distance or the cost of transporting the jobs is minimized. If an application requires more than one identical machine, the cost is minimized by flow distributions between the machines. The problem of minimizing the travel distance that involves sets of identical machines is often formulated as a tertiary assignment problem. Finding an optimal solution for such a problem can be very complicated due to its combinatorial nature. This research proposes a two-stage solution methodology to ease the computation and to obtain a better solution. First, the problem of sets of identical machines is decomposed into sets of unique machines to find the machine assignment. Second, the task is to find the flow assignment by holding the machine assignment found in the previous stage. Results are encouraging and they are demonstrated through numerical examples and a set of test problems.
“Whose Barrio Is It?”: Chico and the Man and the Integrated Ghetto Shows of the 1970s

The popular 1970s sitcom Chico and the Mandepicted whites and Chicanos living side by side in the East L.A. barrio. As a prime-time network series, Chico presented a mediated fantasy space that appealed to utopian possibilities and offered multiple sorts of pleasure and displeasure to a multiracial audience, providing the opportunity to interrogate cultural signs of Otherness or Chicano-ness in comparison to whiteness, which traditionally “never has to acknowledge its role as an organizing principle,” as George Lipsitz states. Although the paternalistic relationship between an older white figure and a young Chicano at the show’s core invokes the racial power dynamics of other 1970s integrated ghetto shows, Chico offers brief disruptive moments that escape this strategy of ideological containment. These highlight the contradictory nature of the show (and TV itself), which often succeeds in quelling minoritized voices but can still be mobilized by them as an instrument for enjoyment/self-affirmation.
The role of cultural knowledge in distorting recall for stories

The role of culturally based knowledge on the recall of stories was examined. Subjects read three stories about people performing everyday script-based activities. The stories were either consistent or inconsistent with the subjects’ own cultural knowledge about those activities. Either 1/2 h or 2 days later, subjects received a copy of each story with certain words and phrases deleted and were asked to fill in the blanks as best they remembered. There were fewer correct recalls after 2 days than after1/2 h, but recall did not differ for the consistent and inconsistent story. However, the recall of the inconsistent story after 2 days showed a substantial increase in the number of errors that reflected the intrusion of the subjects’ own cultural knowledge. The results confirmed findings from similar studies using a modified recognition-memory measure.
INVARIANT CHARACTERISTICS OF HORIZONTAL-PLANE MINIMUM-TORQUE-CHANGE MOVEMENTS WITH ONE MECHANICAL DEGREE OF FREEDOM

Uno et al. (1989) suggested that movements are organized such that the squared change of torque is minimized over time. Although influential, this theory has attracted much less attention from experimental researchers than the competing minimum-jerk model (Flash and Hogan 1985). One reason for this relative neglect has been the lack of general quantitative predictions, which results from the belief that minimum-torque-change trajectories have to be computed numerically for individual movements and arm-dynamical parameters. In the present paper, we show that for an important special case, that of planar horizontal movements with one mechanical degree of freedom (DOF), it is actually possible to find an analytic expression for the predicted minimum-torque-change trajectories. Based on this mathematical result, we derive a set of properties which are characteristic of these trajectories and compare them to experimental data which have not previously been related to the minimum-torque-change model. Certain discrepancies between these experimental data and minimum-torque-change model predictions are revealed.
Model for the distribution of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis in freshwater sediments

Abstract A model, based on the in situ physiological characteristics of methanogens and sulfate reducers, was developed to describe the distribution of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in freshwater sediments. The model predicted the relative importance of methane production and sulfate reduction in lakes of various trophic status and generated profiles of sulfate, acetate, methanogenesis, and sulfate reduction comparable to the profiles that are expected based on field studies. The model indicated that at sulfate concentrations greater than 30μM a sulfate-reducing zone develops because sulfate reducers maintain acetate concentrations too low for methanogens to grow. At lower sulfate concentrations a methanogenic zone develops because the dual limitations of low sulfate concentrations and acetate consumption by methanogens prevents sulfate reducers from growing. The model and a compilation of previously published field data indicate that, within the reported range of sulfate concentrations, the relative importance of methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in freshwater sediments is primarily dependent upon the rates of organic matter decomposition.
The Budget Contraction Effect: How Contracting Budgets Lead to Less Varied Choice

How do consumers adjust their spending when their budget changes? A common view is that the allocation of one's current budget should not depend on previous budget allocations. Contrary to this, the authors find that when the budget contracts to a particular level, consumers select less variety (as measured by the number of different items with some of the budget allocated to them) than when their budget expands to that same level. This budget contraction effect stems from a reduction in variety under the contracting budget, not from variety expansion under the expanding budget. Evidence from five experiments indicates that the effect is driven by a desire to avoid feelings of loss associated with spreading allocation cuts (relative to reference quantities from previous allocations) across many items.
Variability of the diameter and taper of size #30, 0.04 gutta-percha cones.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine variability of gutta-percha (GP) cone tip diameter (D(0)) and taper among five different brands of #30, 0.04 GP cones (n = 15/brand). Mean percent D(0) difference from the manufacturer's reported (nominal) diameter of Maillefer (-15.42 +/- 7.16%) and Lexicon (-12.76 +/- 4.98%) were significantly different (p 0.05) from each other or any other brand. Based on the evidence, there is significant variability between GP cone brands for both diameter and taper, with Maxima and Diadent, respectively, exhibiting the smallest mean difference from manufacturer's nominal tip diameter and taper. However, the high standard deviation values associated with most of the diameter and taper differences from nominal values also suggest high variability within individual brands.
The impact of Priceline.com on the grocery industry

Between November 1999 and September 2000, Priceline.com offered a new service in grocery stores in certain US cities, which allowed customers to shop for low prices online. The service required consumers to make bids on various items and then Priceline would tell them whether their bids were accepted. Consumers would then go to the grocery store to collect the actual items and use their Priceline.com card to pay at the register. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how this service affected members of the grocery marketing channel including: retail stores, manufacturers of packaged goods and consumers. The analysis suggests that the Priceline system could have altered the power structure of the grocery industry, had they been able to keep the cash draining service alive and had they cultivated the appropriate partnerships.
Constrained Leja points and the numerical solution of the constrained energy problem

A numerical method for solving the constrained energy problem from potential theory is proposed. The method is based on the use of constrained Leja points. Several numerical examples, related to significant problems are presented, and the results are discussed.
Parallelism and locality in priority queues

We explore two ways of incorporating parallelism into priority queues. The first is to speed up the execution of individual priority operations so that they can be performed one operation per time step, unlike sequential implementations which require O(log N) time steps per operation for an N element heap. We give an optimal parallel implementation that uses a linear array of O(log N) processors. Second, we consider parallel operations on the priority queue. We show that using a d-dimensional array (constant d) of P processors we can insert or delete the smallest P elements from a heap in time O(P/sup 1/d/log/sup 1-1/d/ P), where the number of elements in the heap is assumed to be polynomial in P. We also show a matching lower bound, based on communication complexity arguments, for a range of deterministic implementations. Finally, using randomization, we show that the time can be reduced to the optimal O(P/sup 1/d/) time with high probability. >
The Facial Disability Index: reliability and validity of a disability assessment instrument for disorders of the facial neuromuscular system.

Background and Purpose. Disorders of the facial neuromuscular system can result in marked disfigurement of the face and difficulties in activities of daily living such as eating, drinking, and communicating. No systematic means of measuring the disability associated with facial nerve disorders exists. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the reliability and construct validity of the Facial Disability Index (FDI), a disease-specific, self-report instrument for the assessment of disabilities of patients with facial nerve disorders. Subjects and Methods. The FDI was administered to 46 ambulatory patients of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Facial Nerve Center. The relationship of the FDI subscale and total scores with clinical impairment measures was determined, and a comparison of the use of the FDI and subscales of the more general SF-36 was made. Results. The FDI subscales produced reliable scores (theta reliability: physical function=.88; social/well-being function=.83). Construct validity of the FDI physical function subscale was demonstrated by a correlation with the clinician's physical examination of facial movement. The FDI social/well-being subscale was associated with the FDI physical function subscale and with a clinical assessment of psychosocial status within a subset of the sample (n=14). The FDI represented the relationship between impairments, disability, and psychosocial status better than the generic SF-36 did. Conclusion and Discussion. The FDI subscales produce reliable measurements, with construct validity for measuring patient-focused disability of individuals with disorders of the facial motor system.
Defining the needs of a telemedicine service

While telemedicine programme objectives, technologies and even philosophies will differ, certain common factors that enhance programme success can be identified. For example, a programme design which is driven by technological imperatives is likely to fail. It must also be recognized that telemedicine programmes cannot force remote sites to use their services. Thus developers must assess the needs for the proposed telemedicine service from a clinical, economic and technical perspective. From a clinical perspective, it is important to remember that certain clinical services can be provided via telemedicine while others cannot. Programme developers must recognize the significant role of the remote team in sustaining services; the on-site presenter is essential for the successful practice of telemedicine. Evaluating a telemedicine programme should be viewed as an integral step in its design and implementation. One site may define effectiveness in terms of access to services while another may measure success by cost savings. The success of future telemedicine programmes will be strongly related to their ability to recognize that they should be used to enhance current health-care delivery rather than to replace it.
A reactively controlled array over ground plane for hemispherical coverage

The results presented here represent the beginning of an investigation of a new class of reactively controlled arrays. The array extends only lambda/2 above the ground plane. Hence, it could find use in applications where a quasi- conformal antenna with a moderate amount of pattern control is needed. Although fully excited conformal phased arrays are likely to provide better performance than this one, reactively controlled arrays have the advantages of low cost, light weight, and simplicity of construction.
Bosentan for the treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and digital ulcers

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a devastating multisytemic autoimmune disease associated with widespread vascular damage. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) occurs in a significant proportion of patients and contributes to the morbidity and mortality that occurs in this disease. The recent development of specific therapies for the treatment of PAH mandates the early recognition, appropriate evaluation and judicious management of PAH in patients with SSc. Because endothelin (ET)-1 plays an important role in the development of PAH in SSc, and may also contribute to the vascular damage and fibrosis that occur in multiple organs in patients with the disease, inhibiting the production and activity of ET-1 is an appealing strategy for the treatment of SSc. This article reviews the pathophysiology of SSc and its vascular complications, and critically evaluates the current knowledge regarding the potential role of the ET-1 receptor blocker bosentan in the management of patients with SSc.