cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choices and consequences of habitat selection for birds

The collection of papers in this special section explores the premise that avian habitat ecology can be approached as an interaction between choices made by individuals and consequences of those choices (Jones 2001). This seemingly simple distinction between choices and consequences is emerging as a powerful unifying concept in avian habitat ecology. It allows a richer understanding of the behavioral process by which habitat choices are made, and links behavior to populations. It allows apparently pathological, maladaptive behaviors (such as use of ecological traps; reviewed by Battin 2004) to be understood simply as one point along a continuum of the same process that produces adaptive habitat choice, such as the ideal-free distribution (Fretwell and Lucas 1970), by allowing choices and consequences to be based on different habitat characteristics (Kristan 2003). For example, habitat choice can be based on distribution of food resources, whereas the reproductive consequences of this choice may be determined by predation (Shochat et al. 2005). It also allows synthesis of multiple scales of habitat variation, which can both inform birds’ choices and bear consequences for their fitness at different stages in an annual cycle. A choice of habitat at first glance seems to be similar to a foraging decision, but the two differ notably in the speed with which individuals are able to judge the accuracy of their decisions. Optimal foraging theory, for example, relates choice of foraging patch to some measure of fitness, usually expressed in terms of energy gain, and this approach has been very successfully applied to understanding distributions and population dynamics of foraging birds (Stillman et al. 2000). A principal lesson of optimal foraging studies is that birds make sensible choices among available foraging patches, limited by individual variation in competitive ability and information availability. Feedback about the accuracy of a foraging decision is received promptly because changes in foraging rates and satiation happen rapidly, and birds can adjust their foraging behavior quickly in response to poor choices (e.g., leave a patch with low resource levels). In contrast, there is intrinsically less information for the selection of habitat for other purposes, such as breeding, and there will often be time lags between the time when a choice is made and the time when the consequences of the choice are realized (Orians and Wittenberger 1991). The information available to individuals when they choose breeding habitat may consist of past experiences and current cues about habitat quality (e.g., conspecifics, predators, or vegetation), but future conditions that determine the success or Manuscript received 27 February 2007; accepted 18 April 2007. 4 E-mail: wkristan@csusm.edu
Agricultural options: an alternative to current agricultural programs.

Agricultural options can enable farmers to obtain some of the same types of price protection currently available through the government's agricultural programs. Farmers can use agricultural options to reduce the price variability that they face when they sell their commodities, without disrupting market prices and thus market signals. The benefits of using agricultural options instead of price-support programs will be better allocation of resources, increased exports, and reduced government spending in agriculture. However, practical problems must be solved before agricultural options can replace certain agricultural programs.
Use of mixed media to improve the performance of kinestatic charge detectors

The kinestatic charge detector (KCD) is a digital radiographic detector that in brief consists of a scanning drift chamber whose velocity is synchronized to the drift velocity of the ions produced therein by detected x rays, so as to cause the moving (kinetic) ions to appear at rest (static) in the patient rest frame. The spatial resolution of the KCD is limited by mobility dispersion when the detector operates with noble gases such as xenon or krypton. The magnitude and dependence on drift distance of the peak widths of ionic signal pulses produced in the KCD provide a measure of mobility dispersion. These parameters have been measured in a KCD filled with krypton gas at several high pressures and in the same gas mixed with dopants (such as amines, alkanes, ethers, etc.). Considerable improvement and probably elimination of mobility dispersion is seen. The four amines tested (ammonia, monomethyl amine, dimethylamine and trimethyamine) and dimethyl ether were successful in reducing mobility dispersion whereas none of the alkanes tested (which include methane, ethane, propane, butane and cyclopropane in order of decreasing ionization potential) were successful. A closer look revealed that even though some of the alkanes (cyclopropane and butane) had the desired ionization potential, all of them had a zero or near-zero dipole moment. This suggests that both ionization potential and dipole moment are important parameters for an effective dopant. The details of this effect are given in an accompanying paper (Giakos et al.). In addition, electron attachment and ionic recombination in a kinestatic charge detector lead to a loss in useful signal from the detector and a consequent reduction in the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) because the pulse height distribution gets broadened. Extremely small amounts (1 ppm or more) of oxygen and other electronegative impurities can cause significant electron attachment and consequent recombination loss in the detector. The addition of a polyatomic gas such as carbon dioxide (according to our findings) and methane (according to other workers, at very low pressures however) has been found to reduce electron attachment to a considerable extent via the Ramsauer Effect. The consequent reduction in the signal loss due to recombination results inconsiderable improvement in the signal obtained from the KCD. It was shown that use of 0.1 percent (1000 ppm) of carbon dioxide along with a dopant and a parent gas resulted in considerable reduction in electron attachment.
Effects of ploidy, growth conditions and the mitochondrial nucleoid-associated protein Ilv5p on the rate of mutation of mitochondrial DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Microsatellites, or simple repetitive sequences, are abundant in eukaryotic genomes and in the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These sequences alter at rates significantly higher than non-repetitive sequences of comparable size. The stability of a mitochondrial microsatellite is nearly 100-fold greater in diploid yeast cells than in isogenic haploid cells. We were able to demonstrate that this effect is likely due to ploidy alone, rather than mating-type-specific gene expression. In addition, we demonstrated that amino acid starvation affects the organization of the mitochondrial DNA and its segregation into the bud. We also tested the effect of amino acid starvation on the copy number and the mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA in both haploid and diploid yeast cells. Yeast cells grown in rich medium have a lower mitochondrial DNA content than cells starved for amino acids and have a correspondingly higher mutation rate for both frameshift mutations and point mutations in mitochondrial DNA. These effects appear to be dependent on the mitochondrial nucleoid-associated protein Ilv5p.
Characterizing schema mappings via data examples

Schema mappings are high-level specifications that describe the relationship between two database schemas; they are considered to be the essential building blocks in data exchange and data integration, and have been the object of extensive research investigations. Since in real-life applications schema mappings can be quite complex, it is important to develop methods and tools for understanding, explaining, and refining schema mappings. A promising approach to this effect is to use “good” data examples that illustrate the schema mapping at hand.We develop a foundation for the systematic investigation of data examples and obtain a number of results on both the capabilities and the limitations of data examples in explaining and understanding schema mappings. We focus on schema mappings specified by source-to-target tuple generating dependencies (s-t tgds) and investigate the following problem: which classes of s-t tgds can be “uniquely characterized” by a finite set of data examplesq Our investigation begins by considering finite sets of positive and negative examples, which are arguably the most natural choice of data examples. However, we show that they are not powerful enough to yield interesting unique characterizations. We then consider finite sets of universal examples, where a universal example is a pair consisting of a source instance and a universal solution for that source instance. We first show that unique characterizations via universal examples is, in a precise sense, equivalent to the existence of Armstrong bases (a relaxation of the classical notion of Armstrong databases). After this, we show that every schema mapping specified by LAV s-t tgds is uniquely characterized by a finite set of universal examples with respect to the class of LAV s-t tgds. Moreover, this positive result extends to the much broader classes of n-modular schema mappings, n a positive integer. Finally, we study the unique characterizability of GAV schema mappings. It turns out that some GAV schema mappings are uniquely characterizable by a finite set of universal examples with respect to the class of GAV s-t tgds, while others are not. By unveiling a tight connection with homomorphism dualities, we establish an effective, sound, and complete criterion for determining whether or not a GAV schema mapping is uniquely characterizable by a finite set of universal examples with respect to the class of GAV s-t tgds.
Microscopic age changes in the frontal bone of the domestic rabbit

This study reveals age related changes in the microscopic structure of the paired frontal bone of the domestic rabbit. Undecalcified ground sections were prepared from anterior frontal bone slices removed from New Zealand White rabbits ranging from birth to 24 months of age. Included were 40 females, 4 males and 6 rabbits less than 14 days old of unknown sex. The ground sections revealed both qualitative and quantitative age changes. Qualitative changes include change in bone tissue types and developmental processes, and presence or absence of primary and secondary osteones. Quantitative changes were measured by counting primary osteones in the outer table of each frontal bone half within 1.6 mm of the metopic suture. In this region, primary osteones were absent at birth, limited in number at 14 days and generally numerous between one and three months of age. In animals older than three months, numbers of primary osteones generally decreased with increasing age. No animals older than 16 months revealed primary osteones. Possible sources of variability in the relationship between observed primary osteone number and age include ability to recognize primary osteones, methods of sampling and processing bone slices, sex related differences and diseases afflicting specimen. Significance of this study includes increased knowledge of frontal bone growth and histology.
Ventricular aneurysm with calcification of the heart.

Abstract A case of aneurysm of the anterolateral wall of the left ventricle is reported. The wall of the aneurysm was calcified in its lower part (x-ray demonstration). It expanded during ventricular systole in its upper part causing a typical pattern of paradoxical pulse, proved by electrokymography, and a positive thrust of the chest wall.
Chemically Assisted Machining of Ceramics

Ceramics are hard and brittle. Machining such materials is time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Current machining technology requires stiff machine, high hardness tools, and small material removal rates to minimize surface damage. This study demonstrates the,feasibility of a novel ceramic machining concept that utilizes chemical reactions at the tool-workpiece inter,face to reduce the stress and minimize the surface damage. A series of cutting tests using a diamond wheel on silicon nitride with different chemical compounds has been per,formed
The dark heart of the bomb

In Almost Like a Whale, geneticist Steve Jones 'updated' Darwin's Origin of Species. Now in Coral: A Pessimist in Paradise, he does the same for Darwin's earlier Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs. With 150 years or so of hindsight, and with coral in the news as a victim of climate change, Jones has plenty of material to play with. Daniel Pauly — who says he'd have bought the book just for the cover — reviews Coral as one of the 'good reads' in this year's Spring Books special. Elsewhere, Kathleen Taylor reviews The Canon by Natalie Angier. This targets the same market as Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything but takes a different tack — and is shorter! Pat Shipman reviews The Invisible Sex, an antidote to male-dominated anthropology.
Use of left ventricular filling and ejection patterns in assessing severity of chronic mitral and aortic regurgitation.

Abstract To determine whether left ventricular (LV) filling and ejection patterns can be used to characterize the severity of mitral and aortic regurgitation (MR and AR), normalized volume vs time curves derived from left ventriculograms were plotted using a computer-based image analysis system. These patterns were measured in 20 normal subjects, 14 patients with MR and 21 patients with AR. In addition, timeaveraged volume changes (dV/dt) and diameter changes (dD/dt), stroke or filling volume, and ejection or filling fraction were measured during systole and diastole. The patients with volume overload were separated into 4 groups based on symptoms: asymptomatic (MR, 7 patients, AR, 10 patients); congestive heart failure (CHF) (MR, 7 patients, AR, 11 patients). Ejection fraction was significantly depressed in both CHF groups, even though stroke volume index was significantly increased in all groups. The temporal pattern of diastolic filling in patients with CHF secondary to MR and AR demonstrated slower, later diastolic filling compared with normal subjects, while in asymptomatic MR, diastolic filling was more rapid than in normal subjects. Diastolic filling patterns were similar to normal in asymptomatic AR patients. Temporal systolic emptying was slower in patients with CHF secondary to AR; emptying patterns in asymptomatic MR patients were similar to those of normal subjects; late systolic emptying was accelerated in patients with asymptomatic AR. Thus, there were filling and emptying abnormalities in all stages of volume overload secondary to regurgitation. These values can be measured noninvasively with scintigraphic angiography and echocardiography and may be useful as indicators of progressive ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic valvular regurgitation.
Numerical Study of Turbulent Flows Through a Circular Duct With a Rotating Fan

A fan is an important part for air circulation in household appliances and automobiles. In this research an attempt has been made to extract the flow information using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The numerical results were found for a case with a stationary fan inside the duct and the data obtained were in good agreement with the experiment. The evolution of velocity profiles at various axial locations for different flow conditions were also studied in this research. The numerical method was then extended to the cases with a rotating fan. A proof-of-concept run was also successfully carried out to showe the relationship between air flow rate in the duct and the corresponding pressure rise.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The role of leaky plasmon waves in the directive beaming of light through a subwavelength aperture

We show that the enhanced directivity phenomenon for light passing through a subwavelength aperture in a silver film with corrugations on the exit face, is due to a leaky wave that decays exponentially from the aperture. We show quantitatively that the field along the interface of the silver film is dominated by the leaky wave, and that the radiation of the leaky wave, supported by the periodic structure, yields the directive beam. The leaky wave propagation and attenuation constants parameterize the physical radiation mechanism, and provide important design information for optimizing the structure. Maximum directivity occurs when the phase and attenuation constants are approximately equal
A near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure study of atomic layer epitaxy: the chemistry of the growth of CdS layers on ZnSe(100)

Atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) using a binary reaction sequence of the precursors dimethylcadmium (DMCd) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is shown to produce epitaxial layers of CdS on a ZnSe(100) substrate. Near-edge X-ray adsorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra taken at the carbon K-edge and sulfur L-edge are consistent with a growth model based on self-limiting surface reactions and support a mechanism based on sequential surface ligand displacement. This evidence, combined with a TPD study, shows the presence of alternating methyl- and hydride-terminated surfaces, which are passivated to further uptake of Cd or S, respectively. Layer-by-layer growth of good quality CdS was confirmed by comparison of NEXAFS spectra of bulk CdS with our grown films.
Spatial organization and composition of the mucosal flora in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The composition and spatial organization of the mucosal flora in biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), self-limiting colitis, irritable-bowel syndrome (IBS), and healthy controls were investigated by using a broad range of fluorescent bacterial group-specific rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes. Each group included 20 subjects. Ten patients who had IBD and who were being treated with antibiotics were also studied. Use of nonaqueous Carnoy fixative to preserve the mucus layer was crucial for detection of bacteria adherent to the mucosal surface (mucosal bacteria). No biofilm was detectable in formalin-fixed biopsy specimens. Mucosal bacteria were found at concentrations greater than 109/ml in 90 to 95% of IBD patients, 95% of patients with self-limiting colitis, 65% of IBS patients, and 35% of healthy controls. The mean density of the mucosal biofilm was 2 powers higher in IBD patients than in patients with IBS or controls, and bacteria were mostly adherent. Bacteroides fragilis was responsible for >60% of the biofilm mass in patients with IBD but for only 30% of the biofilm mass in patients with self-limiting colitis and 40% of the biofilm in IBS patients but for <15% of the biofilm in IBD patients. In patients treated with (5-ASA) or antibiotics, the biofilm could be detected with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole but did not hybridize with fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. A Bacteroides fragilis biofilm is the main feature of IBD. This was not previously recognized due to a lack of appropriate tissue fixation. Both 5-ASA and antibiotics suppress but do not eliminate the adherent biofilm.
Effect of α, α'-Dipyridyl on the Basement Membrane of Tooth Germs In Vitro

Dipyridyl inhibits the morphogenesis of tooth germs, but the germs recover when transferred to control medium. In this study, the effect of dipyridyl on basement membrane was investigated in vitro. The basal lamina was always present, but the subjacent collagen fibrils disappeared in the presence of dipyridyl and reappeared during recovery in control medium.
Tear dynamics in healthy and dry eyes.

AbstractPurpose: Dry-eye disease, an increasingly prevalent ocular-surface disorder, significantly alters tear physiology. Understanding the basic physics of tear dynamics in healthy and dry eyes benefits both diagnosis and treatment of dry eye. We present a physiological-based model to describe tear dynamics during blinking.Materials and methods: Tears are compartmentalized over the ocular surface; the blink cycle is divided into three repeating phases. Conservation laws quantify the tear volume and tear osmolarity of each compartment during each blink phase. Lacrimal-supply and tear-evaporation rates are varied to reveal the dependence of tear dynamics on dry-eye conditions, specifically tear osmolarity, tear volume, tear-turnover rate (TTR), and osmotic water flow.Results: Predicted periodic-steady tear-meniscus osmolarity is 309 and 321 mOsM in normal and dry eyes, respectively. Tear osmolarity, volume, and TTR all match available clinical measurements. Osmotic water flow through the cornea and conjun...
On the construction of 2-connected virtual backbone in wireless networks

Virtual backbone has been proposed as the routing infrastructure to alleviate the broadcasting storm problem in ad hoc networks. Since the nodes in the virtual backbone need to carry other node's traffic, and node and link failure are inherent in wireless networks, it is desirable that the virtual backbone is fault tolerant. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm called Connecting Dominating Set Augmentation (CDSA) to construct a 2-connected virtual backbone which can resist the failure of one wireless node. We show that CDSA has guaranteed quality by proving that the size of the CDSA constructed 2-connected backbone is within a constant factor of the optimal 2-connected virtual backbone size. Through extensive simulations, we demonstrate that in practice, CDSA can build a 2-connected virtual backbone with only small overhead.
Extent of and Reasons for Nonuse of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Devices in Clinical Practice Among Eligible Patients With Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

Background—Several studies that used claims and registry data have reported that 40% to 80% of patients eligible for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fail to receive one in clinical practice, and the rates are especially high among women and blacks. The extent and documented reasons for nonuse of ICDs among patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction are unknown. Methods and Results—Using hospital claims and clinical data, we identified patients hospitalized with a heart failure diagnosis and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% between January 1, 2007, and August 30, 2007, at a tertiary-care center. Using claims data, we determined placement of an ICD or cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation device at any time up to 1 year after hospitalization. Medical records for patients without an ICD were abstracted to determine reasons for nonuse. Patients with an ICD were compared with patients without an ICD and also with patients without an ICD who did not have any contr...
Middle School Students’ Preferences for Anti-Bullying Interventions

In this study, 285 middle school students in the United States were surveyed to obtain their preferences regarding anti-bullying intervention strategies. Participants rated their preferences for 15...
Throughput analysis of an extended service set in IEEE 802.11

We present a method to determine the throughput of an extended service set in an IEEE 802.11 network. The method combines two tools. The first tool takes the location of access points and a floor plan and uses an RF propagation model to predict the spatial distribution of SNR and interference that mobile stations will experience. The second tool takes the SNR of mobile stations and predicts system throughput, based on an analytical Markov chain model. The method can help to intelligently plan WLAN deployment.
Fossil Frogs of the Late Clarendonian (Late Miocene) Pratt Slide Local Fauna of Nebraska, with the Description of a New Genus

Abstract The Pratt Slide fossil site of Brown County, Nebraska has yielded a diverse frog fauna from the late Clarendonian North American Land Mammal Age (late Miocene; ca. 10.5–9.5 Ma). The fauna includes the extant genera Spea, Rana, Bufo, Hyla, and cf. Acris, the second record of the late Clarendonian genus Tregobatrachus, and a new, unique genus of frog. The fauna was dominated by Rana (at least 39 individuals). Overall, the taxonomic composition of the Pratt Slide frog fauna supports suggestions by others that the frog fauna of the Great Plains was predominantly modern at the generic level by ca. 10 Ma. Fossil evidence also suggests that the extinct toad Bufo pliocompactilis was common in the Great Plains during the late Miocene, and the extant genus Hyla occupied a larger Great Plains distribution during the late Miocene than today.
Basophil Leucocytes (Blood Mast Cells) in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary Basophil leucocytes, morphologically and functionally related to tissue mast cells have been studied quantitatively in 76 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and compared with basophil counts in 46 normal control subjects.The mean basophil count for 47 patients with long-standing severe rheumatoid arthritis was 24.9 ± 8.8/mm3 which is significantly much lower (P < 0.001) than that of the normal controls (39.8 ± 20.1 basophils/mm3). Basophil counts tended to be higher (49.8 ± 18.6/mm3) in 10 cases in early stages of severe rheumatoid arthritis. The count varied from normal very slightly (37.7 ± 18.3/mm3) in 19 cases of mild rheumatoid arthritis.These changes may be due to generalized quantitative and/or qualitative changes in mucopolysaccharide production in rheumatoid subjects.A new approach to the study of the mucinous system by way of the circulating basophil leucocytes is suggested.
Immune tolerance: critical issues of factor dose, purity and treatment complications.

Summary. The current practice of immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy has been largely influenced by the results of small institutional studies and three large registries. However, many questions remain. Successful outcome predictors for ITI in haemophilia A have been suggested by the analyses of two of these registries. Among these predictors, factor VIII (FVIII) dose/dosing regimen remains a controversial outcome parameter, demonstrating a strong direct relationship to ITI success in the international registry and a weaker inverse relationship in the North American registry. There is an international multicentre prospective randomized trial underway to further study the role of FVIII dose in successful ITI induction in a good risk haemophilia A inhibitor patient cohort. FVIII purity also remains an unproved ITI outcome predictor. Institutional experience with von-Willebrand-factor-containing products has suggested its therapeutic advantage in both inhibitor development and eradication. The International ITI Study, although not designed to answer this particular question, may be able to determine an impact on outcome depending on the final distribution of investigator choice of product among the study subjects. Much less is known about the influence of factor IX (FIX) dose and purity on ITI success in haemophilia B. Importantly, nephrotic syndrome has been a major determinant of ITI failure in FIX inhibitor patients, particularly those with the allergic phenotype. Unfortunately, large prospective randomized trials in this group will not be feasible. Rather, we will have to rely on prospectively collected registry data to build our knowledge base of inhibitors and ITI in haemophilia B.
The spleen and splenectomy in immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura

The benefits of surgical splenectomy in patients with immune (Idiopathic) thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) probably reflect the combined effects of eliminating a source of antiplatelet antibody synthesis as well as the primary site of platelet destruction. The recent availability of intravenous Rho(D) Immune globulin (WinRho SDF; Nabi, Boca Raton, FL) presents an opportunity to extend the duration of nonsurgical (spleen-sparing) management of chronic ITP by inducing reversible Fc blockade. While new methods for laparoscopic splenectomy may offer improved surgical outcomes and reduced costs for ITP patients in the near-term, the long-term consequences of splenectomy remain to be determined. Partial splenectomy has been shown to be effective in the management of anemia in hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis, while preserving vital splenic phagocytic and immune functions. The concept that cell destruction occurs in reticuloendothelial cells has been updated with recognition that the mononuclear phagocyte is neither a reticular nor an endothelial cell. Immune phagocytosis is now understood to be mediated by macrophage IgG Fc and complement receptors. A key factor for devising a strategy for selecting medical or surgical splenectomy, or postponing splenectomy, is an assessment of the relative importance of splenic immune versus phagocytic function in the pathogenesis of ITP.
A variable polytrope index applied to planet and material models

We introduce a new approach to a century-old assumption which enhances not only planetary interior calculations but also high-pressure material physics. We show that the polytropic index is the derivative of the bulk modulus with respect to pressure. We then augment the traditional polytrope theory by including a variable polytrope index within the confines of the Lane–Emden differential equation. To investigate the possibilities of this method, we create a high-quality universal equation of state, transforming the traditional polytrope method to a tool with the potential for excellent predictive power. The theoretical foundation of our equation of state is the same elastic observable which we found equivalent to the polytrope index, the derivative of the bulk modulus with respect to pressure. We calculate the density–pressure of six common materials up to 10 18 Pa, mass–radius relationships for the same materials, and produce plausible density–radius models for the rocky planets of our Solar system. We argue that the bulk modulus and its derivatives have been underutilized in previous planet formation methods. We constrain the material surface observables for the inner core, outer core, and mantle of planet Earth in a systematic way including pressure, bulk modulus, and the polytrope index in the analysis. We believe that this variable polytrope method has the necessary apparatus to be extended further to gas giants and stars. As supplemental material we provide computer code to calculate multi-layered planets.
Novel type I interferon IL-28A suppresses hepatitis C viral RNA replication.

Interferon alpha (IFN-α)-based therapy is the currently approved treatment for chronic hepatitis C viral infection. The sustained antiviral response rate is approximately 50% for genotype-1 infection. The major challenge to the HCV community is to improve antiviral efficacy and to reduce the side effects typically seen in IFNα-based therapy. One of the strategies is to identify new interferons, which may have better efficacy and less undesirable side effects. In this report, we examined the role of IL-28A (IFN λ2), a novel type I IFN, in suppression of human hepatitis C viral RNA replication. We have cloned both the human genomic DNA and cDNA of IL-28A, and evaluated their biological activity using HCV RNA replicon cell culture system. The results show that IL-28A effectively inhibits HCV subgenomic RNA replication in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of human hepatoma cells with IL-28A activates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and induces the expression of some interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), such as 6–16 and 1–8U. We also demonstrate that IL-28A induces expression of HLA class I antigens in human hepatoma cells. Moreover, IL-28A appears to specifically suppress HCV IRES-mediated translation. Although IL-28A receptor shares one subunit with the IL-10 receptor, IL-10 treatment has no detectable effect on IL-28A-induced antiviral activity. Interestingly, IL-28A can synergistically enhance IFNα antiviral efficacy. Our results suggest that IL-28A antiviral activity is associated with the activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and expression of ISGs. The effectiveness of IL-28A antiviral activity and its synergistic effect on IFN-α indicate that IL-28A may be potentially used to treat HCV chronic infection.
Drug failure in reducing pressor effect of isometric handgrip stress test in hypertension.

Abstract A pilot study is reported on the isometric handgrip contraction (IHC) test, comparing its effects on the blood pressure of normotensive and untreated hypertensive persons and evaluating the effect of antihypertensive drugs on this test. IHC caused a greater percentile increase of blood pressure in untreated hypertensive patients, and this hyperreactivity of systolic and diastolic pressure to IHC stress is not affected by therapeutic doses of hydrochlorthiazide, guanethidine, reserpine, and hydralazine.
Stress distributions and material properties determined in articular cartilage from MRI-based finite strains

The noninvasive measurement of finite strains in biomaterials and tissues by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables mathematical estimates of stress distributions and material properties. Such methods allow for non-contact and patient-specific modeling in a manner not possible with traditional mechanical testing or finite element techniques. Here, we employed three constitutive (i.e. linear Hookean, and nonlinear Neo-Hookean and Mooney–Rivlin) relations with known loading conditions and MRI-based finite strains to estimate stress patterns and material properties in the articular cartilage of tibiofemoral joints. Displacement-encoded MRI was used to determine two-dimensional finite strains in juvenile porcine joints, and an iterative technique estimated stress distributions and material properties with defined constitutive relations. Stress distributions were consistent across all relations, although the stress magnitudes varied. Material properties for femoral and tibial cartilage were found to be consistent with those reported in literature. Further, the stress estimates from Hookean and Neo-Hookean, but not Mooney-Rivlin, relations agreed with finite element-based simulations. A nonlinear Neo-Hookean relation provided the most appropriate model for the characterization of complex and spatially dependent stresses using two-dimensional MRI-based finite strain. These results demonstrate the feasibility of a new and computationally efficient technique incorporating MRI-based deformation with mathematical modeling to non-invasively evaluate the mechanical behavior of biological tissues and materials.
Velocity of energy transport for a time-harmonic field in a multiple-resonance Lorentz medium

The velocity of propagation of electromagnetic energy for a monochromatic plane-wave field in a causally dispersive dielectric, medium with absorption as described by the Lorentz model, is considered within the framework of Poynting’s theorem. A general, rigorous expression for the energy-transport velocity in a Lorentz medium with multiple-resonance frequencies is derived. From this rigorous result, an approximate expression for the energy velocity is obtained that is in a form that is independent of the medium model and so is likely to be applicable to general dispersive media.
Acute Sulfonylurea Therapy at Disease Onset Can Cause Permanent Remission of KATP-Induced Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) can be caused by gain-of-function ATP-sensitive K + (K ATP ) channel mutations. This realization has led to sulfonylurea therapy replacing insulin injections in many patients. In a murine model of K ATP -dependent NDM, hyperglycemia and consequent loss of β-cells are both avoided by chronic sulfonylurea treatment. Interestingly, K ATP mutations may underlie remitting-relapsing, transient, or permanent forms of the disease in different patients, but the reason for the different outcomes is unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS To gain further insight into disease progression and outcome, we examined the effects of very early intervention by injecting NDM mice with high-dose glibenclamide for only 6 days, at the beginning of disease onset, then after the subsequent progression with measurements of blood glucose, islet function, and insulin sensitivity. RESULTS Although ∼70% of mice developed severe diabetes after treatment cessation, ∼30% were essentially cured, maintaining near-normal blood glucose until killed. Another group of NDM mice was initiated on oral glibenclamide (in the drinking water), and the dose was titrated daily, to maintain blood glucose CONCLUSIONS At least in a subset of animals, early sulfonylurea treatment leads to permanent remission of NDM. These cured animals exhibit insulin-hypersensitivity. Although untreated NDM mice rapidly lose insulin content and progress to permanently extremely elevated blood glucose levels, early tight control of blood glucose may permit this insulin-hypersensitivity, in combination with maintained basal insulin secretion, to provide long-term remission.
Straight Talk: Delivering Bad News Through Electronic Communication

Delivering bad news can be an unpleasant task, therefore people often either postpone it or mitigate its effect through positive distortion. However, delivering (and receiving) timely and accurate negative information can be critical for performance improvement and organizational learning. This paper investigates the possibility that computer-mediated communication can increase honesty and accuracy in delivering negative information that has personal consequences for the recipient. In a laboratory experiment, 117 participants delivered positive or negative personally-consequential information to a "student" (confederate) using one of three types of media: computer-mediated communication, telephone, or face-to-face conversation. Participants distorted negative information less, i.e., were more accurate and honest, when they used computer-mediated communication than face-to-face or telephone communication. There was no difference in distortion of positive information across media conditions. Participants also reported higher levels of satisfaction and comfort in the computer-mediated communication situation. The perceived quality of the relationship mediated the impact of medium on satisfaction, but not on distortion.
Establishing standard hospital performance measures for cervical spinal trauma: a Nationwide In-patient Sample study.

A retrospective national administrative database study. Patient safety indicators (PSIs) and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are metrics for quality of health care and are linked to reimbursement. The prevalence of PSIs/HACs may impact access to health care for certain conditions. We estimated the national occurrence rates of PSIs/HACs among cervical trauma patients and identified patient factors that correlate with their occurrence. United States of America. We queried Nationwide In-patient Sample database (NIS) hospitalizations (2002–2010) for diagnoses of cervical fracture with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). The incidence of each PSI/HAC was determined by ICD-9 (International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision) codes. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the correlation between specific variables and the probability of each indicator. There were 52 377 hospitalizations for cervical fracture in the NIS (without SCI, n=41 708; with SCI, n=10 669). Among those without SCI, there were 5374 (12.9%) reported PSIs and 117 (0.3%) HACs. Leading adverse events were postoperative respiratory failure (8.45%), pulmonary embolism (1.70%) and pressure ulcer (1.12%). Among those with SCI, there were 6600 (61.9%) PSIs and 143 (1.3%) HACs. Leading adverse events were postoperative respiratory failure (39.2%), pressure ulcer (7.78%), sepsis (5.71%), deep venous thrombosis (3.81%) and PE (1.70%). Adverse events were associated with several factors, including age, gender, Comorbidity Score and Injury Severity Score. Those with ⩾1 PSI/HAC had significantly longer lengths of stay (P<0.0001) and higher hospital costs (P<0.0001) and mortality (P<0.0001) compared with patients without events. These results estimate baseline national rates of PSIs/HACs in patients with cervical spine trauma. These data may be used to gauge individual institutional quality of care in comparison with national data.
Magnetic–Electrical Interface for Nanomagnet Logic

We present simulations of, and design alternatives for, an interface between nanomagnet logic (NML) and electrical circuitry. We propose using the fringing fields from a nanomagnet to help set the state of the free layer of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Our first magnetic-electrical interface design (MEI-1) assumes an MTJ stack layout, commonly seen in commercial magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM). Our second design (MEI-2) is also based on a traditional MRAM process flow, but layers of the MTJ are deposited in reverse order. In MEI-2, the NML devices have the same thickness as the MTJ free layer. Simulations for MEI-2 suggest that the layer thickness and size are important design parameters, when considering realistic implementations of this MEI. By comparison, MEI-2 is applicable for the present process technology, while MEI-1 would be more easily fabricated with further technology development.
Sequence analysis of RNase MRP RNA reveals its origination from eukaryotic RNase P RNA

RNase MRP is ae ukaryote-specific endoribonuclease that generates RNA primers for mitochondrial DNA replication and processes precursor rRNA. RNase Pi sa ubiquitous endoribonuclease that cleaves precursor tRNA transcripts to produce their mature 5 9 termini. We found extensive sequence homology of catalytic domains and specificity domains between their RNA subunits in many organisms. In Candida glabrata ,t he internal loop of helix P3 is 100% conserved between MRP and PR NAs. The helix P8 of MRP RNA from microsporidia Encephalitozoon cuniculi is identical to that of PR NA. Sequence homology can be widely spread over the whole molecule of MRP RNA and PR NA, such as those from Dictyostelium discoideum .T hese conserved nucleotides between the MRP and PR NAs strongly support the hypothesis that the MRP RNA is derived from the PR NA molecule in early eukaryote evolution.
The Magic of Disappearing Stents

In this issue of the Journal ([1][1]), we are presented with 1-year outcomes of a fourth-generation drug-eluting stent (DES): an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (E-BVS). Made of thick strut poly-L-lactide, with another lactide acting as a controlled release polymer coating, the
89: The comparative effectiveness of intravenous acetaminophen versus intravenous morphine for pain relief in early labor: a randomized controlled trial

89 The comparative effectiveness of intravenous acetaminophen versus intravenous morphine for pain relief in early labor: a randomized controlled trial Nana-Ama E. Ankumah, Marissa Tsao, Maria Hutchinson, Claudia Pedroza, Jaideep Mehta, Sean Blackwell, Jerrie Refuerzo UT Health University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX OBJECTIVE: Intravenous (IV) opioids are common analgesics in early labor, but are limited by marginal pain relief and adverse maternal/fetal effects. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of IV acetaminophen to IV morphine in reducing pain in early labor. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an open-label, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of women 34 weeks gestation with regular uterine contractions and cervical dilation 2-6 cm. Women received either IV acetaminophen 1000 mg or IV morphine 2 mg. Women with contraindications to either study drug were excluded. Effectiveness of analgesics was assessed by monitoring the patient’s need for rescue analgesia and by obtaining visual analog scales (VAS) prior and at 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours. VAS scores, rescue analgesics, maternal side effects (nausea, emesis, drowsiness, pruritus, headache, insomnia) and fetal heart rate tracing changes (accelerations, decelerations, baseline change, variability) were compared between groups. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed with chi-square, t-test and logistic regression as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 40 women randomized, 18 received IV acetaminophen (2 did not receive study drug) and 20 received IV morphine. Within 2 hours of analgesics, over half the women who received IV acetaminophen required rescue analgesic demonstrating its minimal effect in pain control (acetaminophen: 52.9 % vs morphine: 17.6%, p1⁄4 0.02). Within 4 hours, there were no differences in rate of rescue analgesics, (acetaminophen: 73.3% vs morphine: 56.3%, p1⁄40.16). VAS scores were similar at each time point for both groups, p>0.05 (Fig 1). Maternal/fetal adverse effects were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Although overall VAS were comparable between groups across each time interval, over half of women receiving IV acetaminophen required rescue analgesic within 2 hours of treatment. Our findings suggest that IV acetaminophen is less effective for initial pain relief in early labor compared to IV morphine.
Beyond mourning and melancholia: Nostalgia, anger and the challenges of political action

Political theorists have increasingly adopted the psychoanalytic language of ‘mourning’ to characterize experiences of loss and injury, and to legitimate these as claims about a past political or cultural order. Mourning would seek to work through these experiences while opening persons to their shared vulnerabilities. With this article, I return to Freud’s original distinction between mourning and melancholia, along with its development through the work of Donald Winnicott and the relational school of psychoanalysis. Although psychoanalytic mourning balances a coming-to-terms with loss against investment in new social relations, when it is extrapolated to a broader community it risks over-determining the social field. The cost is a foreclosure of other modalities for articulating claims about injury and political order, and in particular those that might draw on anger as a resource for political action and solidarity.
Conditional Benchmarks and the Identification of Skill in Active Management

Recent studies link mutual fund performance to measures of active management, and this evidence often takes the form of large spreads in unconditional alphas for characteristic-sorted portfolios. Unconditional benchmarks can, however, produce misleading inferences on managerial skill for strategies that exhibit substantial turnover and unstable factor exposures. We propose an approach to performance attribution that accounts for predictable changes in portfolio style. Compared to existing methods, our benchmarks yield superior tracking performance and a more powerful statistical assessment of abnormal returns. We reevaluate six proxies for active management using our method and conclude that these measures are largely unrelated to managerial ability.