cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of CFTR modulators on a cystic fibrosis patient presenting with recurrent pancreatitis in the absence of respiratory symptoms: a case report

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder of the epithelial CFTR apical chloride channel resulting in multi-organ manifestations, including pancreatic exocrine secretion. In the pancreas, CFTR abnormality results in abnormally viscous secretions that obstruct proximal ducts leading to fibrotic injury and ultimately pancreatic insufficiency in 85% of the CF population. CFTR modulators, including the potentiator ivacaftor, augment channel gating to restore 30–50% of CFTR-mediated anion transport. While CFTR modulation has been shown to alkalinize the pH of the alimentary tract and potentially augment pancreatic enzyme activity, the effect of ivacaftor on recurrent pancreatitis is emerging. Here we describe a case of a patient with CF (R117H/7 T/F508del) who presented with recurrent pancreatitis who was effectively treated with ivacaftor in the absence of respiratory symptoms. A 24-year-old white male with past medical history of recurrent acute pancreatitis presented for evaluation following a referral from an outside hospital. The patient reported a lifetime of gastrointestinal symptoms requiring over 20 hospitalizations for pancreatitis in the last 10 years. Prior U/S and CT imaging for pancreatitis ruled out gallstones or anatomical etiologies. Family history included a brother with CF carrier status who suffered from recurrent acute pancreatitis. Sweat chloride testing was suggestive of CFTR dysfunction (57 mmol/L). Genetic testing demonstrated disease causing CFTR mutations: R1117H/7 T/F508del. Patient was prescribed pancrelipase, however, he reported worsened gas and diarrhea symptoms. Pancrelipase was discontinued and the patient was prescribed ivacaftor 150 mg BID. After 6 weeks of ivacaftor treatment, patient reported improved gastrointestinal symptoms. For an additional 19 months, patient reported no episodes of pancreatitis until he discontinued ivacaftor. Over the next 3 weeks, patient experienced progressive nausea and sharp epigastric pain and laboratory studies confirmed pancreatitis. Patient was subsequently lost to follow up. These findings support a possible relationship between the use of CFTR modulators, such as ivacaftor, in the management of recurrent pancreatitis in the setting of patients with cystic fibrosis and a CFTR mutation with residual CFTR activity or otherwise known to be responsive in vitro. Ivacaftor may be useful for recurrent pancreatitis, even in the absence of respiratory morbidity.
Distinguishing Asthma from Comorbid Conditions in Older Adults

Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are common conditions in older adults and more prevalent in women than in men. Asthma is recognized less often in this population and is frequently undertreated. Multiple factors may contribute to this, including a predominance of cough and dyspnea symptoms in the older adult and confusion with multiple comorbid conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease, whose symptoms may mimic asthma. Diagnostic tests are useful to distinguish the predominant disease process resulting in respiratory symptoms such as pulmonary function tests, chest X-ray (CXR), sinus computed tomography (CT) scans, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Care needs to be taken not to confuse the following common causes with asthma: heart failure, airway obstruction by functional or structural abnormalities, foreign bodies, tumors, and external compression or infiltration. A patient often suffers from more than one condition. Careful, comprehensive evaluation is necessary for proper management of older adults with asthma.
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection with Human Metapneumovirus: Chest CT Imaging Features and Comparison with Other Viruses

Abstract Purpose Human metapneumovirus has been increasingly identified as a cause of lower respiratory tract infection in adults worldwide. The CT imaging features of human metapneumovirus in adults have not been characterized. The purpose of this paper is to determine the imaging features of human metapneumovirus and to compare them with features of other viruses. Methods Two clinicians retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 104 adults with lower respiratory tract infection due to human metapneumovirus at four hospitals in the northeast USA over 32 months. CT images were evaluated by two chest radiologists for airspace consolidation, bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, ground-glass opacities, pleural effusion and tree-in-bud opacities and the dominant imaging pattern. Results for human metapneumovirus were compared with results previously reported for other viruses. Results Human metapneumovirus predominantly caused an airway-centric pattern (71-81/104, 68-77%) of infection characterized by bronchial wall thickening, tree-in-bud opacities, peri-bronchial consolidation and/or peri-bronchial ground-glass opacities. The airway-centric pattern has been previously reported with other paramyxoviridae (parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus). However, human metapneumovirus was significantly more likely (p = 0.03-0.001) to cause bronchopneumonia (46-55%) than parainfluenza virus (17%) or respiratory syncytial virus (21%). Follow-up CT in 41 (39%) patients with hMPV revealed resolution of findings in 38/41 (91%). Conclusion The paramyxoviridae, including human metapneumovirus, are known to have a propensity to infect ciliated respiratory cells and we have demonstrated this leads to a propensity to cause bronchitis, bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia on CT scans. Of these, human metapneumovirus is most likely to cause bronchopneumonia. Healthcare providers should consider human metapneumovirus as a cause of pneumonia on chest CT.
More isn’t always better: when metacognitive prompts are misleading

Accurate metacognitive monitoring improves performance in a variety of naturalistic contexts. However, the laboratory contexts used to study metacognition differ from naturalistic environments in important ways. Specifically, laboratory experiments require learners to make repeated, overt judgments that are thought to reflect underlying metacognitive processes. We conducted two research studies to determine how the frequency of overt prompts affects cue use, judgment accuracy, and performance. This was accomplished by manipulating the frequency with which participants made judgements of difficulty (JODs) while completing a primary task. We found that participants who made frequent overt prompts attended more strongly to peripheral cues than to central cues. Frequent overt prompts also had differing effects on performance and judgment accuracy: they reduced metacognitive accuracy in a visual search task (Experiment 1) and performance on a standardized exam (Experiment 2). Although our experiments do not identify a clear, causal agent that drives differences in performance and judgment accuracy, these results illustrate the interesting relationship between cue use and metacognitive monitoring.
Enhanced Catalytic Activity of a Vanadium-Doped Mesoporous Octahedral Molecular Sieve-2 (K-OMS-2) toward Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the cathodic reaction in electrochemical water splitting that produces H2 in a renewable pathway, primarily to be used in fuel cells. K-OMS-2, a manganese octah...
Population-based input function for TSPO quantification and kinetic modeling with [11C]-DPA-713.

Quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) studies of neurodegenerative diseases typically require the measurement of arterial input functions (AIF), an invasive and risky procedure. This study aims to assess the reproducibility of [11C]DPA-713 PET kinetic analysis using population-based input function (PBIF). The final goal is to possibly eliminate the need for AIF. Eighteen subjects including six healthy volunteers (HV) and twelve Parkinson disease (PD) subjects from two [11C]-DPA-713 PET studies were included. Each subject underwent 90 min of dynamic PET imaging. Five healthy volunteers underwent a test-retest scan within the same day to assess the repeatability of the kinetic parameters. Kinetic modeling was carried out using the Logan total volume of distribution (VT) model. For each data set, kinetic analysis was performed using a patient-specific AIF (PSAIF, ground-truth standard) and then repeated using the PBIF. PBIF was generated using the leave-one-out method for each subject from the remaining 17 subjects and after normalizing the PSAIFs by 3 techniques: (a) Weightsubject×DoseInjected, (b) area under AIF curve (AUC), and (c) Weightsubject×AUC. The variability in the VT measured with PSAIF, in the test-retest study, was determined for selected brain regions (white matter, cerebellum, thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, brainstem, hippocampus, and amygdala) using the Bland-Altman analysis and for each of the 3 normalization techniques. Similarly, for all subjects, the variabilities due to the use of PBIF were assessed. Bland-Altman analysis showed systematic bias between test and retest studies. The corresponding mean bias and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) for the studied brain regions were 30% and ± 70%. Comparing PBIF- and PSAIF-based VT estimate for all subjects and all brain regions, a significant difference between the results generated by the three normalization techniques existed for all brain structures except for the brainstem (P-value = 0.095). The mean % difference and 95% LOA is −10% and ±45% for Weightsubject×DoseInjected; +8% and ±50% for AUC; and +2% and ± 38% for Weightsubject×AUC. In all cases, normalizing by Weightsubject×AUC yielded the smallest % bias and variability (% bias = ±2%; LOA = ±38% for all brain regions). Estimating the reproducibility of PBIF-kinetics to PSAIF based on disease groups (HV/PD) and genotype (MAB/HAB), the average VT values for all regions obtained from PBIF is insignificantly higher than PSAIF (%difference = 4.53%, P-value = 0.73 for HAB; and %difference = 0.73%, P-value = 0.96 for MAB). PBIF also tends to overestimate the difference between PD and HV for HAB (% difference = 32.33% versus 13.28%) and underestimate it in MAB (%difference = 6.84% versus 20.92%). PSAIF kinetic results are reproducible with PBIF, with variability in VT within that obtained for the test-retest studies. Therefore, VT assessed using PBIF-based kinetic modeling is clinically feasible and can be an alternative to PSAIF.
Let Us Not Forget: Female Agency and Historical (Dis)remembering in Patricia Ferreira’s Film Sé quién eres

Neo-noir has been employed since the end of the Franco regime to explore Spain’s dark and turbulent history. This article focuses on Patricia Ferreira’s film Se quien eres (2000), where she transforms the genre of neo-noir into a vehicle of female empowerment and a powerful tool for societal critique. With a daring approach, Ferreira uses the lens of gender to explore the ‘politics of memory’ in Spain, questioning the validity of the official discourse surrounding the supposed peaceful process of the Spanish Transition, while giving the female subject a privileged role in the process of historical revisionism.
Social Information Processing in Substance Use Disorders: Insights From an Emotional Go-Nogo Task

Positive social connections are crucial for recovery from Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Of interest is understanding potential social information processing (SIP) mediators of this effect. To explore whether persons with different SUD show idiosyncratic biases toward social signals, we administered an emotional go-nogo task (EGNG) to 31 individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder (CoUD), 31 with Cannabis Use Disorder (CaUD), 79 with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), and 58 controls. Participants were instructed to respond to emotional faces (Fear/Happy) but withhold responses to expressionless faces in two task blocks, with the reverse instruction in the other two blocks. Emotional faces as non-targets elicited more "false alarm" (FA) commission errors as a main effect. Groups did not differ in overall rates of hits (correct responses to target faces), but participants with CaUD and CoUD showed reduced rates of hits (relative to controls) when expressionless faces were targets. OUD participants had worse hit rates [and slower reaction times (RT)] when fearful faces (but not happy faces) were targets. CaUD participants were most affected by instruction effects (respond/"go" vs withhold response/"no-go" to emotional face) on discriminability statistic A. Participants were faster to respond to happy face targets than to expressionless faces. However, this pattern was reversed in fearful face blocks in OUD and CoUD participants. This experiment replicated previous findings of the greater salience of expressive face images, and extends this finding to SUD, where persons with CaUD may show even greater bias toward emotional faces. Conversely, OUD participants showed idiosyncratic behavior in response to fearful faces suggestive of increased attentional disruption by fear. These data suggest a mechanism by which positive social signals may contribute to recovery.
Virtue intellectualism and Socratic forms

Aristotle famously claims that Plato, unlike Socrates, separated the forms. Some argue that Plato's dialogues provide a record of this disagreement, with the Socratic and Platonic theories presente...
Bacterial evolution during human infection: Adapt and live or adapt and die

Microbes are constantly evolving. Laboratory studies of bacterial evolution increase our understanding of evolutionary dynamics, identify adaptive changes, and answer important questions that impact human health. During bacterial infections in humans, however, the evolutionary parameters acting on infecting populations are likely to be much more complex than those that can be tested in the laboratory. Nonetheless, human infections can be thought of as naturally occurring in vivo bacterial evolution experiments, which can teach us about antibiotic resistance, pathogenesis, and transmission. Here, we review recent advances in the study of within-host bacterial evolution during human infection and discuss practical considerations for conducting such studies. We focus on 2 possible outcomes for de novo adaptive mutations, which we have termed "adapt-and-live" and "adapt-and-die." In the adapt-and-live scenario, a mutation is long lived, enabling its transmission on to other individuals, or the establishment of chronic infection. In the adapt-and-die scenario, a mutation is rapidly extinguished, either because it carries a substantial fitness cost, it arises within tissues that block transmission to new hosts, it is outcompeted by more fit clones, or the infection resolves. Adapt-and-die mutations can provide rich information about selection pressures in vivo, yet they can easily elude detection because they are short lived, may be more difficult to sample, or could be maladaptive in the long term. Understanding how bacteria adapt under each of these scenarios can reveal new insights about the basic biology of pathogenic microbes and could aid in the design of new translational approaches to combat bacterial infections.
Organithms: the dynamics of software evolution

Summary form only given, as follows. No software system is static. A useful one evolves rapidly: the greater the number of users, the more rapid the change. How does one design for change? How does one treat specification dynamically? The issues that must be treated are local and global prototyping, rapid reconfiguring, and the control of function access and diffusion. What are the properties of an implementation language that are crucial? Why is a Lisp-based implementation language preferable to Ada? Does machine architecture play an important part? Can one separate portability from evolution?. >
Cell Culture in Neurobiology

The sections in this article are: 1 Introduction 1.1 Primary Cell Cultures 1.2 Cell Lines 1.3 Muscles as Models 2 Techniques 2.1 Primary Cultures 2.2 Cell Lines 3 Cell Form 3.1 Distinctive Cell Shapes 3.2 Development of Cell Form 3.3 Growth Cones 3.4 Factors Affecting Process Formation 4 Resting Membrane Potential 5 Action Potential 5.1 Ionic Determinants 5.2 Developmental Aspects 6 Synaptic Transmission 6.1 Nerve-Muscle Synapses 6.2 Synapses Between Neurons 6.3 Chemosensitivity of Neurons 6.4 Transmitter Metabolism 6.5 Factors Affecting Synapse Formation 7 Summary
Adolescent Issues in Renal Treatment

Everyone who helps to care for a growing and developing child has the potential to impact the future. Families provide the greatest influence and bear the major responsibility, but physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, teachers, camp counselors, and others who work with children make a direct contribution toward the development of the child's self image and image of the world around them. At no other time in an individual's life do other people have such awesome power and responsibility. Families and caregivers working together on behalf of a child may be likened to an extended family; their combined efforts are needed to help promote the resilience that children need to cope with serious chronic illness.
Computer Vision and Machine Learning for Enhancing Pedestrian Safety

Accidents involving pedestrians is one of the leading causes of death and injury around the world. Intelligent driver support systems hold a promise to minimize accidents and save many lives. Such a system would detect the pedestrian, predict the possibility of collision, and then warn the driver or engage automatic braking or other safety devices. This chapter describes the framework and issues involved in developing a pedestrian protection system. It is emphasized that the knowledge of the state of the environment, vehicle, and driver are important for enhancing safety. Classification, clustering, and machine learning techniques for effectively detecting pedestrians are discussed, including the application of algorithms such as SVM, Neural Networks, and AdaBoost for the purpose of distinguishing pedestrians from background. Pedestrians unlike vehicles are capable of sharp turns and speed changes, therefore their future paths are difficult to predict. In order to estimate the possibility of collision, a probabilistic framework for pedestrian path prediction is described along with related research. It is noted that sensors in vehicle are not always sufficient to detect all the pedestrians and other obstacles. Interaction with infrastructure based systems as well as systems from other vehicles can provide a wide area situational awareness of the scene. Furthermore, in infrastructure based systems, clustering and learning techniques can be applied to identify typical vehicle and pedestrian paths and to detect anomalies and potentially dangerous situations. In order to effectively integrate information from infrastructure and vehicle sources, the importance of developing and standardizing vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-infrastructure communication systems is also emphasized.
Architectural issues in spreadsheet languages

We have recently begun to develop a programming language model for concurrent computation based upon the popular spreadsheet metaphor. We call it the Generalized Spreadsheet Model (GSM); it provides an easy-to-use, geometrically appealing interface to a concurrent computational facility. This interface directly captures the Dataflow relationships inherent in many important problems and makes them available for determining the order of computations. GSM's hierarchical approach to problem modeling also allows us to control granularity. In this paper we use a simple neural net example program to explore some architectural implications of our approach to concurrent computation; we conclude that some reasonably simple hardware assistance would yield significant performance gains.
An Automated Photometer for a One Meter Telescope

A new photometer is described which has some unique optical features. Emphasis is given to those features that improve the measurement precision and efficiency of use.
Modeling the influence of photochemistry on hydrogen peroxide concentrations in an Arctic snowpack

[1] While laboratory experiments suggest that hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) on polar snow grains should be completely photolyzed during summer, field measurements show a continuous, multiyear record of HOOH in the snowpack. To understand this discrepancy, we apply a snow parcel model to follow HOOH in the snowpack at Summit, Greenland. Taking into account snowfall and variations in actinic flux, we evaluate the impact of three photochemical factors on HOOH preservation: the quantum efficiency of HOOH photodestruction, HOOH recycling through organic compounds, and HOOH photoproduction from snowpack chromophores. We find that 60%–100% of deposited HOOH is preserved in the first year, with less preservation of HOOH deposited during summer, and that the OH produced from HOOH photolysis likely contributes strongly to transforming snowpack bromide and organic compounds. Our findings suggest that photochemistry plays an important role in HOOH loss in snows at Summit and other polar sites, complementing temperature-dependent physical processes.
Prenatal psychotherapy and maternal transference to fetus

The psychodynamics of normal pregnancy include ambivalence, identification with the fetus as an outside object, as a part of self, and, finally, as a separate person. Positive and negative attributes can be projected upon the fetus. In infant-centered maternal psychotherapy, the infant often serves as a transference object. Many disorders of attachment or disorders of early parenting have their origins or manifest themselves in the prenatal period. During prenatal psychotherapy, the fetus can serve as a transference object. Review of the literature reveals conflicting views with regard to the effectiveness of prenatal psychotherapy. The developmental crisis of pregnancy may lead the woman to resolution of underlying problems with early detection and intervention. Review of the literature reveals cases of disorders of attachment and disorders of early parenting starting prenatally related to the mother's difficulties with her own parents or siblings. Case studies of prenatal psychotherapy demonstrate the role that the fetus plays as a transference object in the mother's efforts to rework some conflict from her own infancy or childhood.
Bringing Society Back In: Grassroots Ecosystem Management, Accountability, and Sustainable Communities

Bringing Society Back In: Grassroots Ecosystem Management, Accountability, and Sustainable Communities.
Distributed application support: survey and synthesis of existing approaches

Abstract Great advances have been achieved in distributed systems during the last decade. In particular, a rapid technological deployment has taken place in communication networks and protocols. On top of basic communication protocols, several higher-level communication facilities have been developed to support distributed applications. From the application point of view, there is a growing demand for distributed programming. Important example areas are computer-integrated manufacturing and office automation. The paper surveys the distributed application support area, especially focusing on distributed programming and configuration techniques, use of object-oriented techniques, and development support. Several existing approaches are classified and compared with each other. Important communication approaches covered are extended message passing and remote procedure call facilities, as well as new distributed object-oriented interaction mechanisms and multiparty communication support. Important distributed configuration management issues include placement and structure support for distributed applications, dynamic configuration change support, and associated configuration languages. Details are derived from foreign system developments as well as from personal experiences with distributed systems. As an integration effort, the architecture of an object-oriented environment for distributed application development support is outlined. The paper is for researchers interested in further work in the area of distributed systems and software developers interested in a survey of existing mechanisms to support their development work.
Team discourse explains media richness and anonymity effects in audit fraud cue brainstorming

Abstract This article contributes by extending media richness (MRT) and media synchronicity theories (MST) to explore how media richness and anonymity influence team interactions and success in audit fraud brainstorming. Sixty-three, three-person teams, with 189 student participants from two Universities, identified fraud risk cues in a SAS 99 audit planning case. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: electronic anonymity (EA; n = 18 teams), electronic identified (EI; n = 28 teams), or identified face-to-face (FtF; n = 17 teams). Compared with teams in the low media richness conditions, i.e., the EA and EI, discussions in FtF teams produced more and better dialog, which resulted in better identification of fraud risk cues. Additionally, compared with the discussions in the EA teams, FtF team discussions evidenced less narcissism and were more focused and inhibited. Mediation analyses of team interactions indicated that the quantity of dialog (team production) completely explains, fully mediates, the effects of media richness and anonymity on risk assessments. Contributions include extending MRT and MST, and using automated content analysis, to explicate the role of media richness, anonymity, and team interactions in explaining audit team fraud identification success. The concluding section identifies the sample, design, and method limitations, and, discusses the potential for group support technologies to enhance or detract from audit team processes, depending on task, context, and technology.
Integrative suppression of dnaA(Ts) mutations mediated by plasmid F in Escherichia coli is a DnaA-dependent process.

The thermosensitivity of dnaA(Ts) mutations can be suppressed by integration of plasmid F (integrative suppression). In the light of the recent finding that F requires DnaA protein for both establishment and maintenance, integrative suppression of 11 dnaA(Ts) mutations by a mini-F, pML31, integrated near oriC was examined. The plating efficiency of integratively suppressed strains was dnaA(Ts) allele-dependent and medium-dependent. The initiation capability of suppressed dnaA(Ts) strains lacking the oriC site and their F- counterparts was determined at various temperatures between 30°C and 42°C. The degree of integrative suppression measured by the initiation capability varied in a dnaA(Ts) allele-dependent manner. F-directed DNA replication was most affected by the dnaA(Ts) mutations mapping in the middle of the gene whereas oriC-dependent replication was most thermosensitive in strains carrying mutations mapping in the carboxy-terminal half of the gene. The results indicated that the integrative suppression by F plasmid is a DnaA-dependent process and suggested that the requirements for DnaA protein in the oriC-dependent replication and F replication processes are qualitatively different.
Mechanisms of low temperature epitaxial silicon growth using ArF excimer laser photochemical vapor deposition from disilane

Abstract An ArF excimer laser has been used with the beam parallel to the Si(100) substrate in order to deposit homoepitaxial silicon films at temperatures from 250 to 350 °C with growth rates from 1 to 10 A min −1 . The growth involves photolytic decomposition of Si 2 H 6 and the generation and adsorption of growth precursors on the hydrogenated silicon surface. The deposition yield of solid silicon from photo-excited Si 2 H 6 is estimated to be 0.20 ± 0.04. Growth rates vary linearly with laser intensity and Si 2 H 6 partial pressure over the ranges 1–15 mJ cm − pulse −1 and 5–40 m Torr respectively. Epitaxy is maintained for temperatures above the threshold for thermal dissociation of surface (SiH 2 ) n chains at about 250 °C, and for temperatures below the onset of Si 2 H 6 pyrolysis and rapid thermal desorption of surface H 2 at about 350 °C. Epitaxy is achieved for laser intensities and Si 2 H 6 partial pressures that result in low initial photofragment concentrations (below 10 13 cm −3 ), and for total pressure and flow conditions such that there is little secondary photolysis of the initial photofragments. Very low defect density films in terms of stacking faults and dislocation loops (less than 10 5 cm −2 ), and excellent crystallinity, have been grown, as confirmed by Schimmel defect etching in conjunction with Nomarski microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction.
Topological evaluation of feedback matrices in multiple-loop feedback amplifiers

Abstract Topological formulas for the evaluation of the elements of the return difference and the null return difference matrices of a multiple-loop feedback amplifier are presented. They are expressed in terms of the directed-tree and directed-two-tree admittance products in the associated digraph. In the situation where the controlling parameters of all the controlled sources are chosen as the elements of interest, the associated digraph is simply the graph representing the feedback amplifier after the independent source and controlled sources have been removed. The significance of the present approach is that it not only provides a short-cut for the evaluation of the feedback matrices, but also gives an insight into the behavior of the feedback amplifier under consideration.
Measuring the Effect of “Ethnicity”:

Most tests of hypotheses about the effects of “ethnicity” on outcomes use data or measures that confuse or conflate what are termed ethnic structure and ethnic practice. This article presents a conceptualization of ethnicity that makes the distinction between these concepts clear; it demonstrates how confusion between structure and practice hampers the ability to test theories; and it presents two new measures of ethnic practice—ECI (the ethnic concentration index) and EVOTE (the percentage of the vote obtained by ethnic parties)—that illustrate the pay-offs of making this distinction and collecting data accordingly, using examples from the civil war literature.
PBAN stimulation of pheromone biosynthesis by inducing calcium influx in pheromone glands of Helicoverpa zea.

Isolated pheromone glands of Helicoverpa zea were utilized to investigate the physiological action of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) with regard to the role of calcium ions in stimulating pheromone biosynthesis under various incubation conditions. Incubation of glands with 1 μM or 1 nM PBAN produced a significant amount of pheromone after a 5 min incubation period and reached maximum pheromone production after 30 min. Glands incubated with PBAN for 1 min, and then without PBAN for 30 min, produced pheromone whether or not extracellular calcium was present during the first 1 min. The presence of lanthanum as a calcium channel blocker did not affect pheromone production if present during the first 1 min of incubation with PBAN. However, if calcium was absent or lanthanum ion was present during the 30 min of incubation, no pheromone was produced. A maximum amount of pheromone was reached when glands were incubated for 1 min with PBAN and for 10 min without PBAN, and repeated three times. The present results indicate that a time interval exists between PBAN binding to a receptor and opening of extracellular calcium channels. Calcium influx into the cytosol from extracellular stores is required for PBAN to stimulate pheromone production. This could be achieved by PBAN either binding periodically to the receptor or the plasma membrane calcium channel could remain activated for a period of time after the initial activation.
Action Research and Collaborative Inquiry in a School-University Partnership

Abstract In the last decade action research has played a significant role in education reform and in instituting change and improvement in school curriculum and professional education. In the context of a school-university partnership project, action research takes on the additional qualities of collaborative inquiry for purposes of achieving the goals of the partnership. The author's intent is to promote a wider use of action research as collaborative inquiry in school-university partnerships and to explain its powerful use for instituting change and improvement in education. A description of the partnership project and a historical review of collaborative inquiry provide a framework for the research. An explanation of the critical role action research plays in the partnership program and a description of two action studies conducted by the school practitioners and college personnel are presented, as examples of the value and power of action research.
Simplex splitting in the light actinides.

The structure of the nucleus /sup 219/Ac(Z = 89,N = 130) has been studied via the /sup 209/Bi(/sup 13/C,3n)/sup 219/Ac reaction. In-beam ..gamma..-ray spectroscopic techniques, including ..gamma..-ray and ..cap alpha..-particle excitation functions, ..cap alpha..-..gamma.. coincidence, ..gamma..-..gamma.. coincidence, and ..gamma..-ray angular distribution measurements were used in the construction of a level scheme up to a spin of J = (31/2)h at an excitation energy of 2245 keV. A total of five bands have been constructed and a series of parity doublets has been observed. For four of the bands the states have been labeled in terms of the simplex quantum number, which should be an appropriate quantum number even for octupole deformed nuclei. However, considerable simplex splitting is observed. The level scheme of /sup 219/Ac indicates that the nucleus lies in the boundary region between the single-particle shell structure seen in the nuclei immediately surrounding /sup 208/Pb and the collective rotational structure prevalent in the heavier actinides. However, no detailed model predictions are, as yet, available to describe the observed structure, which may require quadrupole, octupole, and nonaxial degrees of freedom.
Immunotherapeutic strategies employing RNA interference technology for the control of cancers

The human immune system is comprised of several types of cells that have the potential to eradicate tumors without inflicting damage on normal tissue. Over the past decade, progress in the understanding of tumor biology and immunology has offered the exciting possibility of treating malignant disease with vaccines that exploit the capacity of T cells to effectively and selectively kill tumor cells. However, the immune system frequently fails to mount a successful defense against cancers despite vaccination with tumor-associated antigens. The ability of these vaccines to generate an abundant supply of armed effector T cells is often limited by immunoregulatory signaling pathways that suppress T cell activation. In addition, many tumors create a local microenvironment that inhibits the function of T cells. The attenuation of these pathways, which facilitate the evasion of tumors from immune surveillance, thus represents a potentially effective approach for cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, it may be of interest to modify the properties of dendritic cells, T cells, and tumor cells to downregulate the expression of proteins that diminish the immune response to cancers. RNA interference (RNAi) techniques have developed into a highly effective means of intracellular gene ‘knockdown’ and may be successfully employed in this way to improve cancer immunotherapies. This strategy has recently been explored both in vitro and in vivo, and has generated significantly enhanced antitumor immunity in numerous studies. Nevertheless, several practical concerns remain to be resolved before RNAi technology can be implemented safely and efficiently in humans. As novel developments and discoveries in molecular biology rapidly continue to unfold, it is likely that this technology may soon translate into a potent form of gene silencing in the clinic with profound applications to cancer immunotherapy.
Two-Year Creel Census of the Little Salmon River, Idaho

Abstract The use of stratified periods, random sampling days and voluntary information provided by the participating anglers provided a method of creel census which required a minimum of working days and still allowed constant highway travel in the working area to flow uninterrupted. A maximum of two men on 24 days was used to census a season total of nearly 7,000 anglers on 24 miles of the stream. In 1952, of 1,107 anglers interviewed 940 (84.9 percent) returned catch data. In 1953 1,140 anglers were interviewed and 1,042 of these (91.4 percent) responded. Total estimated catch was 47,772 in 1952 and 46,997 in 1953. Hatchery-reared rainbow trout comprised 2,223 of the 1952 catch and 4,867 of the catch in 1953. Recovery of these planted fish amounted to 37.1 percent of 6,000 released in 1952 and 57.9 percent of 8,400 in 1953. Anglers retained an estimated 58.5 percent of the total catch in 1952 and 72.2 percent in 1953. Statistical analysis proved the estimate of the total reported catch to be within the ...
Kidney Transplantation in Elderly People: The Influence of Recipient Comorbidity and Living Kidney Donors

OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent to which donor and recipient characteristics were associated with transplant outcomes in elderly kidney transplant recipients. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Single university center. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand one hundred two patients, including 266 patients aged 60 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Recipient and donor characteristics and patient and graft outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,102 patients included in this study, 266 (25%) were aged 60 and older, and 117 (11%) were aged 67 and older. According to Cox proportional hazards analysis, patient survival was worse in elderly recipients, although the survival outcome in the oldest group (ages 68–86) was comparable with that in their slightly younger peers (ages 61–67). Graft function did not differ according to age. Comorbidity was a significant predictor of patient survival in elderly recipients (hazard ratio (HR)=1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03–1.34, P=.02) but not in the subset of elderly recipients of living donor kidneys (HR=1.01, 95% CI=0.8–1.3, P=.9). CONCLUSION: Older adults can achieve good outcomes with kidney transplantation, although in recipients with significant comorbid illness, careful donor selection and selective use of living donors may be vital to achieving good outcomes.
Navigating the Bosporus and the Dardanelles: A Test for the International Community

This article addresses the ongoing controversy over the 1994 Regulations imposed by Turkey over the traffic flow in the Strait of Istanbul, the Strait of Canakkale and the Sea of Marmara. It provides background information and a synopsis of the conflict, reviews the consistency of the Turkish Regulations with the existing international law, and offers a constructive suggestion for resolving the impasse. The navigation and the geo-political situation of the Straits is laid out followed by a presentation of, and comments on, the elements of the existing international legal regime governing the navigation in the Straits. A synopsis of the dispute is offered and the Turkish Regulations are reviewed. Elaborating on their ramifications, the article concludes that, while changes of the navigation control scheme of the Straits are unavoidable, it is only prudent for all involved parties to seek a lasting resolution of the present dispute through the amendment mechanism provided in the 1936 Montreux Convention. A framework for achieving this objective is presented.
Higher order nuclear organization: three-dimensional distribution of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles

The structural and functional organization of the cell nucleus has been investigated using three-dimensional reconstruction, immunoelectron microscopy, and high-resolution in situ autoradiography. Nuclear regions enriched in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) form a reticular network within the nucleoplasm that extends between the nucleolar surface and the nuclear envelope. The snRNPs occupy approximately 18% of the volume of CHOC 400 cell nuclei. The in situ sites of DNA replication and transcription are complementary to, rather than coincident with, the nuclear regions concentrated in snRNPs. Based on these data a three-dimensional model of the organization of the mammalian cell nucleus is presented.
Key modifiable factors in weight maintenance: Fat intake, exercise, and weight cycling

Abstract Objective This 6- to 42-month follow-up study of a 6-month worksite weight control intervention examined predictors of weight maintenance, with a focus on those that could be modified. Subjects Twenty-nine participants, 14 men and 15 women, from a behavior modification program completed follow-up measurements. Main outcome measures Height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, food and beverage intake from a 3-day food record, weight history, social support and physical activity were the main outcome measures. Results One third of the participants maintained their weight losses within 2 kg at follow-up, although all had higher relative weights at follow-up than immediately after the program. High daily fat consumption ( r = .40) and reduced time in physical activity ( r = .34) correlated with increased relative weight at follow-up ( P Application Because previous weight cycling was so strongly related to weight loss maintenance ( r = .55), potential weight program participants should learn and practice the weight maintenance behaviors of reduced dietary fat and regular exercise, independently of and before weight reduction attempts.
Stability of fiber spinning of power‐law fluids

A stability analysis of fiber spinning of isothermal power-law fluids has been carried out. The analysis for purely viscous fluids indicates that the critical extension ratio increases with an increase in power-law constant q above 1. For q greater than approximately 1.5, very high values of critical extension ratio are obtained. A stability analysis in the presence of viscous and inertial forces indicates that for q > 1 critical extension ratio can be correlated to a quantity Rq = q − 1 + 3Re, wherein Re is the Reynolds number. For the values of Rq greather than approximately 0.5, very high values of critical extension ratios are obtained.
Liquid crystal polymer/polyethylene blends for thin film applications

A series of liquid crystal polymer/polyethylene (LCP/PE) blends have been studied to determine the potential of such a system to produce a high modulus film material which retains fabrication and low temperature characteristics of some current PE films. The subject of liquid crystalline polymer blends has been the focus of significant attention for the last decade due to the novel rheological and mechanical properties of this class of polymers. It has been demonstrated that if an LCP blend is processed under elongational flow conditions, the partially ordered LCP meso-phase intermediate allows the development of an oriented fibrillar morphology which is retained upon solidification. In this study, blown films of blends of 5 and 15% LCP in PE have been produced which show an enhancement in modulus over the neat PE matrix. These results are discussed in terms of processing conditions, LCP reinforcement aspect ratio, fibril diameter, and LCP/PE modulus ratio.
Adic Dirichlet characters of algebraic function fields

A theory of precyclic P-extensions is developed which contains the well-known Witt theory. This theory makes it possible to describe so-called P-adic Dirichlet characters of function fields. In particular, for a trigonometric sum of the form where P is a prime number and f is a polynomial, its expression in terms of the zeros of a certain L function of the base field is obtained
Designing and scaling up an innovation in abstract algebra

Abstract In this paper, we describe the process of designing and scaling up the TAAFU group theory curriculum. This work unfolded in three overlapping stages of research and design. The initial designs emerged along with local instructional theories as the result of small-scale design experiments conducted with pairs of students. A second stage of the research and design process focused on generalizing from the initial laboratory design context to an authentic classroom setting. The third (ongoing) stage involves generalizing to instructors (mathematicians) who were not involved in the design process. We describe each of these stages, and our efforts to investigate the efficacy of the resulting curriculum, in order to provide an illustrative example of the process of scaling up an innovation.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Gene Expression iii GH3 Rat Pituitary Cells: Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Content, Immunocytochemistry, and Secretion

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-Ij is present in multiple tissues and cell types. Expression of the IGF-I gene was examined in GH3 cells, a rat pituitary tumor cell line secreting GH and PRL.. Increasing concentrations of RNA extracts of GH3 cells yielded a linear increase in hybridization intensity with a 32P-labeled mouse IGF-I cDNA probe. Northern analysis of GH3 cells poly(A) RNA revealed IGF-I mRNA transcripts 1.3, 5.3, and 7.7 kilobases in size. Poly(A) RNA extracts of BALBc/3T3 fibroblasts, a cell line dependent ori exogenous somatomedins for DNA synthesis, and of JEG-3 cells, a choriocarcinoma cell line, did not hybridize with the IGF-I cDNA probe. GH3 cells showed positive immunoperoxidase staining using a rabbit anti[Thr59] IGF-I antibody which was largely blocked by prior incubation of the antibody with excess IGF-I. Negligible background peroxidase activity wa9 present in cells incubated with a rabbit nonimmune serum and PBS. Furthermore, BALBc/3T3 fibroblasts showed only weak specific stain...
Confirmation and the computational paradigm (or: Why do you think they call itartificial intelligence?)

The idea that human cognitive capacities are explainable by computational models is often conjoined with the idea that, while the states postulated by such models are in fact realized by brain states, there are no type-type correlations between the states postulated by computational models and brain states (a corollary of token physicalism). I argue that these ideas are not jointly tenable. I discuss the kinds of empirical evidence available to cognitive scientists for (dis)confirming computational models of cognition and argue that none of these kinds of evidence can be relevant to a choice among competing computational models unless there are in fact type-type correlations between the states postulated by computational models and brain states. Thus, I conclude, research into the computational procedures employed in human cognition must be conducted hand-in-hand with research into the brain processes which realize those procedures.
Investigation of multilevel amplitude modulation for a dual-wavelength free-space optical communications system using realistic channel estimation and minimum mean-squared-error linear equalization

Fog is a highly dispersive medium at optical wavelengths, and the received pulse waveform may suffer significant distortion. Thus it is desirable to have the impulse response of the propagation channel to recover data transmitted through fog. The fog particle density and the particle size distribution both strongly influence the channel impulse response, yet it is difficult to estimate these parameters. We present a method using a dual-wavelength free-space optical system for estimating the average particle diameter and the particle number density and for approximating the particle distribution function. These parameters serve as inputs to estimate the atmospheric channel impulse response using simulation based on the modified vector radiative transfer theory. The estimated channel response is used to design a minimum mean-square-error equalization filter to improve the bit error rate by correcting distortion in the received signal waveform due to intersymbol interference and additive white Gaussian noise.