cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trade and Tobacco Control: Resolving Policy Conflicts through Impact Assessment and Administrative Type International Laws

The forward to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) describes the convention as a response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic and in particular, to the liberalisation of trade. Without doubt, the drafters were concerned with the potential for trade liberalisation to stimulate tobacco consumption. In response, the FCTC obliged parties to implement a range of tobacco control measures as indirect means of flanking trade liberalisation. This paper argues that the response of the FCTC to trade processes could be improved by the conclusion of a protocol setting out administrative style international laws governing processes of trade-related policy-making. This approach should improve the response of the FCTC to trade processes, promote the reconciliation of trade and tobacco control as policy choices and ensure that the FCTC is capable of serving as a model with respect to broader issues of trade and health.
Anatomic and hemodynamic investigation of an occluded common carotid chimney stent graft for hybrid thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract We examined the possible reasons for common carotid artery chimney stent graft occlusion through computational fluid dynamics analyses of follow-up imaging of a patient-specific aortic configuration reconstructed from computed tomography aortography. Anatomic and hemodynamic parameters were extracted for the bilateral common carotid and subclavian arteries before and after endograft placement. Results suggested that postoperative reduction in lumen diameter within the chimney stent graft combined with an increased flow rate led to complex hemodynamics with high wall shear stress, probably resulting in high-shear thrombogenesis and chimney stent graft occlusion 2.6 years after the primary repair. Early postoperative duplex ultrasound imaging might help identify at-risk conditions.
Ingredients for success in career development.

Hospitality managers can expect to confront have challenges in the decades ahead. A study of luxury hotel general managers identifies the skills and personal characteristics respondents perceived as most important to their career development, as well as the future requirements for unit level managers and the major challenges they anticipate. The author then maps those skills and personal characteristics identified by respondents against future industry challenges to suggest additional managerial needs. Recommendations are presented for development strategies that will ensure hospitality organizations identify, develop, and retain individuals with the "right stuff." This article is available in Hospitality Review: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/hospitalityreview/vol22/iss2/1 Ingredients for success in career development
The Exchange Rate in a Dynamic-Optimizing Current Account Model with Nominal Rigidities : A Quantitative Investigation

This paper studies dynamic-optimizing model of a semi-small open economy with sticky nominal prices and wages. The model exhibits exchange rate overshooting in response to money supply shocks. The predicted variability of nominal and real exchange rates is roughly consistent with that of G-7 effective exchange rates during the post-Bretton Woods era. The model predicts that a positive domestic money supply shock lowers the domestic nominal interest rate, that it raises output and that it leads to a nominal and real depreciation of the country’s currency. Increases in domestic labor productivity and in the world interest rate too are predicted to induce a nominal and real exchange rate depreciation.
Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities

Wind energy generation affects landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. Limiting the landscape change from these facilities likely minimizes impacts to biodiversity and sensitive wildlife species. We examined the effects of wind energy facilities' geographic context on changes in landscape patterns using three metrics: portion of undeveloped land, core area index, and connectance index. We digitized 39 wind facilities and the surrounding land cover and measured landscape pattern before and after facility construction using the amount, core area, and connectivity of undeveloped land within one km around newly constructed turbines and roads. New facilities decreased the amount of undeveloped land by 1.8% while changes in metrics of landscape pattern ranged from 50 to 140%. Statistical models indicated pre-construction development was a key factor explaining the impact of new wind facilities on landscape metrics, with pre-construction road networks, turbine spacing, and topography having smaller influences. As the proportion of developed land around facilities increased, a higher proportion of the facility utilized pre-construction developed land and a lower density of new roads were built, resulting in smaller impacts to undeveloped landscapes. Building of new road networks was also a predictor of landscape fragmentation. Utilizing existing development and carefully placing turbines may provide opportunities to minimize the impacts of new wind energy facilities.
Effect of knockout of the ASIC3 on cardiovascular reflexes arising from hindlimb muscle in decerebrated rats

The exercise pressor reflex is initiated by the contraction-induced activation of group III and IV muscle afferents. The reflex is manifested by increases in arterial blood pressure and cardiac out...
Ganglion Cells in Primate Retina Use Fuzzy Logic to Encode Complex Visual Receptive Fields

In most neurons, all spikes look alike. However, in this issue of Neuron, Rhoades et al. (2019) describe a ganglion cell in primate retina that reports visual input to different regions of its receptive field with distinct action potential waveforms.
THE IMPACTS OF THE USDA BROADBAND LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAMS: MOVING TOWARD ESTIMATING A RATE OF RETURN

In this article, we evaluate the rate of return to government efforts to promote broadband. Specifically, we estimate the impact of USDA's broadband loan and grant programs on the average payroll per worker using zip code level data from the Zip Code Business Patterns for the period from 1997 to 2007. Our results indicate that two of the smaller broadband programs (the Pilot loan program and the broadband grants program) likely had no effect on local payroll per workers. On the other hand, the largest program in terms of funding and coverage (the current broadband loan program) likely had a positive impact. Our estimate implies that a $1 per capita increase in a particular zip code's one‐time receipt of the current program broadband loan results in a $0.92 increase in payroll per worker annually. Our calculated point estimates of the benefit: cost ratios for this broadband program range from 1.98 to 2.99, depending on assumptions about the time frame over which benefits accrue. However, the confidence intervals are wide enough to include the possibility that the costs outweigh the benefits.(JEL L86, J30, O18)
Desquamating pustular rash.

A66-year-old man presented with burning pain and erythema over the left axilla, and pustules that had ruptured and crusted over. The rash also involved the right axilla, trunk, abdomen, and face. He said the symptoms had developed 3 days after starting to use ciprofloxacin eye drops for eye redness
Probing the physical limits of reliable DNA data retrieval.

Synthetic DNA is gaining momentum as a potential storage medium for archival data storage. In this process, digital information is translated into sequences of nucleotides and the resulting synthetic DNA strands are then stored for later retrieval. Here, we demonstrate reliable file recovery with PCR-based random access when as few as ten copies per sequence are stored, on average. This results in density of about 17 exabytes/gram, nearly two orders of magnitude greater than prior work has shown. We successfully retrieve the same data in a complex pool of over 1010 unique sequences per microliter with no evidence that we have begun to approach complexity limits. Finally, we also investigate the effects of file size and sequencing coverage on successful file retrieval and look for systematic DNA strand drop out. These findings substantiate the robustness and high data density of the process examined here. The physical limits and reliability of PCR-based random access of DNA encoded data is unknown. Here the authors demonstrate reliable file recovery from as few as ten copies per sequence, providing a data density limit of 17 exabytes per gram.
Designing Social Interactions with a Humorous Robot Photographer

This paper describes our efforts to explore the design space of social interactions for a robot portrait photographer. Our human-centered design process involved professional and amateur photographers to better understand the social dimensions of subject-photographer interactions. This exploration then guided our design of a robot photographer, which employs humor to elicit spontaneous smiles during photography events. In a laboratory evaluation of our robot prototype, we found that the majority of the subjects considered the robot’s humor to be comical and appreciated it. More spontaneous smiles were elicited by the robot when it delivered humorous content to its subjects than when it was not humorous. Our findings provide insights for the design of future social robot photographers. CCS CONCEPTS •Human-centered computing → Collaborative and social computing devices. ACM Reference Format: Timothy Adamson, C. Burton Lyng-Olsen, Kendrick Umstattd, and Marynel Vazquez. 2020. Designing Social Interactions with a Humorous Robot Photographer. In Proceedings of the 2020 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI ’20), March 23–26, 2020, Cambridge, United Kingdom. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 9 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3319502.3374809
Relationships among parenting stress, health-promoting behaviors, and health-related quality of life in Korean mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Health-promoting behaviors have been shown to enhance the quality of life across diverse populations. In this study, we examined the indirect effects of several health-promoting behaviors on the relationship between parenting stress and health-related quality of life in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). A convenience sample of Korean mothers (N = 180) of children aged 10 months to 12 years with CP was recruited from clinical and school settings. Health-promoting behaviors were measured using the health-promoting lifestyle profile II, which is comprised of six subscales: health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to examine the mediating role of these behavioral categories. Spiritual growth (β = .56, p < .05) had an indirect effect on the relationship between parenting stress and physical health-related quality of life while spiritual growth (β = -1.00, p < .01) and stress management (β = -.80, p < .05) were found to mediate the association between parenting stress and mental health-related quality of life. The findings of multiple mediation analyses provide evidence of the influence of specific health-promoting behaviors on health-related quality of life, thereby informing the development of intervention programs for mothers of children with disabilities.
Immediate effects of hemodialysis on upper extremity and cognitive function

Abstract Background Subjects undergoing hemodialysis often describe feeling “weak” and “fatigued” after dialysis. This has not previously been quantified. We sought to evaluate upper extremity and cognitive function before and after hemodialysis to see if differences existed and how long recovery takes. Methods Subjects undergoing hemodialysis in an inpatient hospital dialysis unit were recruited. Subjects underwent assessment of upper extremity strength (grip (GS) and pinch (PS)), dexterity (pegboard assembly (PA)), finger sensation (monofilaments), and cognitive function (mini-mental status exam (MMS)) immediately pre- and post-dialysis, 3 h post-dialysis, and the following morning. Both the dialysis (index) and non-dialysis extremities were evaluated. Results were also stratified for fistulas vs. central venous catheters. Patients were dialyzed at the same flow rate and duration. Results 21 subjects were evaluated, 13 (62%), male, mean age 56 ± 17 years, 15 (71%) diabetic, 15 (71%) fistulas, 6 (29%) central venous catheters. Overall, there were no significant changes in GS, PS, PA, immediately or 3 h after dialysis. MMS was non-significantly reduced 3 h after dialysis (22.8 ± 10.3 vs 27.0 ± 3.5, p = 0.06). PA was significantly improved the following morning (6.4 ± 4.8 assembled units vs 7.5 ± 5.1, p = 0.049). Patients dialyzing through catheters had reduced grip strength 3 h after dialysis compared to fistulas (−4.6 ± 2.7 N from baseline vs 1.4 ± 4.3 N from baseline, p = 0.018) that was resolved by the next day. Conclusions Hemodialysis in hospitalized inpatients does not cause acute objective deficits in upper extremity or cognitive function, with a significant improvement in hand dexterity the day after dialysis.
Effect of preload reducing therapy on right ventricular size and function in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes. To date, no treatment has proven to slow the progression of the disease. Preload reducing agents such as nitrates and diuretics have shown promising results in preventing training-induced development of ARVC in a murine model. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with preload reducing therapy in patients with ARVC and symptomatic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Methods We performed retrospective chart review of prospectively collected registry data and included 20 patients with definite ARVC who had serial echocardiographic measurements and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Six of the 20 patients with RV end-diastolic area (RVEDA) above median (>25 cm2) and New York Heart Association functional class II–IV symptoms were successfully treated with long-term isosorbide dinitrate 5–40 mg tid (at maximum tolerated dose) and hydrochlorothiazide-spironolactone 25–25 mg daily. The main outcomes of interest were RVEDA, RV fractional area change (FAC), and RV outflow tract measurements. Generalized estimating equations with repeated measures were used to identify the association between preload reducing agents and echocardiographic structural progression. Results Patients who received preload reducing agents (n = 6) were older and had larger RVs with lower FAC at baseline. However, treatment with preload reducing agents was associated with less RVEDA enlargement during mean 3.3 (range 1–6.7) years of treatment in multivariate analysis (% change in RVEDA associated with treatment –7.71; 95% confidence interval –13.29 to –2.13; P = .007). Conclusion Preload reducing agents show promising results in slowing RV enlargement in patients with ARVC and show possible disease-modifying potential.
H dibaryon and the hard core

The H dibaryon, a single, maximally symmetric bag containing two up, two down, and two strange quarks, has long been sought after in a variety of experiments. Its creation has been attempted with K{sup -}'s or protons as projectiles and most recently in relativistic heavy ion induced reactions. We concentrate on the latter, but our conclusions are more generally applicable. The two baryons coalescing to form the single dibaryon, likely {lambda}{lambda} in the case of heavy ions, must penetrate the short range repulsive barrier which is expected to exist between them. We find that this barrier can profoundly affect the probability of producing the H state, should it actually exist. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.
Interfacial fracture characterization of multi-material additively manufactured polymer composites

Abstract In this study, a comprehensive experimental investigation is performed to observe the influence of printing process parameters on the interfacial fracture toughness of bi-material additively manufactured composites. A single leg bending (SLB) specimen made of Polylactic acid (PLA) and Nylon is loaded under the quasi-static three-point bending condition to initiate the fracture between the PLA/Nylon interface. Six different process parameters (bed temperature, printing temperature, printing speed, printing orientation, layer height, and thickness ratio) are considered to investigate the fracture toughness. It is observed that process parameters have a significant impact on the bi-material interfacial fracture toughness. Due to the increase of crystallinity of the polymer, the fracture toughness decreases by about 40% when the bed temperature increases from 60 °C to 100 °C. However, with improved molecular diffusion, the fracture toughness is enhanced by 95% with the increase of the printing temperature. Although printing speed has not any significant impact on fracture toughness, thinner layers provide a better bond strength and polymer wetting, resulting in a higher fracture initiation toughness compared to thicker layers. Due to the presence of extra voids and anisotropic behavior, the specimens of 0o/90o raster-orientation demonstrate about 75% lower fracture toughness compared to those of +45o/-45o orientated specimens.
COVID-19 Associated Venous Thromboembolism Portends Worse Survival

ABSTRACT Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seem to be at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) development, but there is a paucity of data exploring both the natural history of COVID-19–associated VTE and the risk for poor outcomes after VTE development. This investigation aims to explore the relationship between COVID-19–associated VTE development and mortality. A prospectively maintained registry of patients older than 18 years admitted for COVID-19–related illnesses within an academic health care network between March and September 2020 was reviewed. Codes from the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases for VTE were collected. The charts of those patients with a code for VTE were manually reviewed to confirm VTE diagnosis. There were 2,552 patients admitted with COVID-19–related illnesses. One hundred and twenty-six patients (4.9%) developed a VTE. A disproportionate percentage of patients of Black race developed a VTE (70.9% VTE v 57.8% non-VTE; P = .012). A higher proportion of patients with VTE expired during their index hospitalization (22.8% VTE v 8.4% non-VTE; P
Congenital hydrometrocolpos: review of the literature and report of a case with uterus duplex and incompletely septate vagina.

Abstract The case of a newborn infant with hydrometrocolpos involving a uterus duplex and septate vagina is reported. The cystic vagina compressed and obstructed the ureters, with resulting hydroureter and hydronephrosis. Of the thirty-one cases of congenital hydrometrocolpos in the literature, seventeen patients were known to be under the age of 2 months, one was aged 2½ years, two were 6 and 7 years, respectively, and three were over 12 years of age. The reports of eight of the cases, in the older European literature, were not available for study. It is evident that the cystic dilatation of the vagina and uterus can be demonstrated by the injection of radiopaque media, and the obstruction relieved by incision of the imperforate vaginal septum, usually with recovery in cases which are not complicated by prolonged urinary obstruction or infection.
An Adaptive Controller for Systems with Unmeasurable Disturbance

By using internal model principle, this paper proposes a simple adaptive controller for time invariant multivariable linear system in discrete time with unmeasurable external disturbances. The controller incorporates an internal mode of external disturbances and reference signals as well as exogenous stabilizing signals, and makes the tracking error asymptotically tend to zero and the whole system globally asymptotically stable under suitable assumptions.
A Review of: “TWIN-TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME”: By Rubén A. Quintero. Oxon, United Kingdom: Informa Healthcare, 2007, 201 pp.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a complication unique to monochorionic twin pregnancies that untreated has lead to almost universal perinatal mortality. The incidence of TTTS may have incr...
Effective Hamiltonian Methods for Molecular Collisions

Publisher Summary A large number of atomic and molecular properties are observed in processes that involve collision events. The chapter presents an operator approach of general applicability to molecular collisions. The formalism of collision theory is introduced in its time-dependent and time-independent forms. The partitioning technique is used since its introduction in collision theory and in work on bound states. Distortion, and adiabatic and sudden approximations, based on the different splittings of effective Hamiltonians are described in the chapter. The resonance energies and widths in the general case of overlapping resonances for couplings of arbitrary strength are discussed focusing on their determination as energy-independent quantities. Optical potentials may be as useful in molecular processes as they have been in nuclear studies. Finally, further approximations of the semi-classical or eikonal type might bring physical insight in the form of simpler analytical results.
Behavioral Measures of Expected Market Return

Investor behavior is an important determinant of individual as well as market-wide equity returns. In this study, I extend the behavioral investing literature by introducing Strategy Market Barometers, that are based on the extent to which investors are currently rewarding one equity strategy over another. I combine US and International Strategy Market Barometers with Baker & Wurgler’s (2006) Sentiment Index, and other variables, to explain subsequent S&P 500, Russell 2000, and EAFE returns. The empirical results for January 1981 through December 2011 produce an astonishing 12 month expected equity premium range of 60%, compared to an actual annual equity premium range of 115% over this same time period. The results, which are both economically and statistically significant, cannot be explained by trailing equity premiums nor changing economic fundamentals. The predictive power of the Strategy Market Barometers and the Sentiment Index produce a behavioral measure of expected equity premiums. Thus I provide evidence that expected equity market returns vary widely over time and that investor behavior is a much more important contributor to this variability than are changing economic fundamentals, both results consistent with the predictions of Shefrin’s Pricing Kernel Model.
One Hundred Victories: Special Ops and the Future of American Warfare, by Robinson, Linda

It is often instructive in examining the context of a recently published book to understand who is endorsing the work. In this case, Linda Robinson’s book One Hundred Victories has garnered accolad...
From Kansei to KanseiGenie: Architecture of Federated, Programmable Wireless Sensor Fabrics

This paper deals with challenges in federating wireless sensing fabrics. Federations of this sort are currently being developed in next generation global end-to-end experimentation infrastructures, such as GENI, to support rapid prototyping and hi-fidelity validation of protocols and applications. On one hand, federation should support access to diverse (and potentially provider-specific) wireless sensor resources and, on the other, it should enable users to uniformly task these resources. Instead of more simply basing federation upon a standard description of resources, we propose an architecture where the ontology of resource description can vary across providers, and a mapping of user needs to resources is performed to achieve uniform tasking. We illustrate one realization of this architecture, in terms of our refactoring the Kansei testbed to become the KanseiGenie federated fabric manager, which has full support for programmability, sliceability and federated experimentation over heterogeneous sensing fabrics.
AE monitoring for control of carbon-carbon pyrolysis

A capability has been developed for monitoring the AE (acoustic emission) activity in carbon-carbon composites during pyrolysis. Small flat sheets of 2-D woven laminates heated at factory-representative (slow) rates exhibit two stages of intense activity. The first occurs during carbonization, and the second during cool-down. In both cases the emission amplitudes are fairly low and apparently result from microcracking within the matrix and between the matrix and fibers. The driving stresses during heating are due to gas pressure, matrix shrinkage, and thermal expansion. The cool-down emissions are presumed due to thermal stresses. It was possible to force delaminations to occur by rapid heating. Delaminations generate easily identifiable large-amplitude, long-duration emissions. >
The Rest of the Story: A Qualitative Study of Chinese and Indian Women’s Graduate Education Migration

Previous migration discourse views educational migration through narrowly defined push-pull forces, which ignores overseas graduate education as a path for maneuvering through restrictive gendered and cultural experiences. The purpose of this exploratory research is to expand migration research and view women’s migration decisions as employing active, personal agency. The women’s narratives express the underlying influences of family, class, and environment combined with a personal rejection of societal biases and discrimination (gender, age, and political) for a pursuit of freedom via higher education.Based on in-depth interviews and a feminist framework, this study presents and compares the migration influences for thirteen Chinese and Indian women. These women migrated to the United States for graduate education and later transitioned into faculty positions in science and engineering. This research has implications for expanding migration theory and scholarship.
Scanning electron microscope technique for measuring electrical conductivity: Application to tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane

A new technique for measuring the electrical conductivity of small samples and its application to the organic conductor tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) is reported. A movable current source provided by the electron beam of a scanning electron microscope is used to map out the potential distribution on crystal faces containing the a-b crystallographic axes. Silver paint contacts are used to return the beam current to ground and measure voltage changes as the beam position is moved. The results of the new technique are confirmed and complemented by the conventional movable contact method and the extension of both methods to low temperature is discussed. The potential distributions for our samples reveal frequently occurring irregularities in current flow which are attributable to sample imperfections and inhomogeneities in the silver paint contacts. Methods are presented whereby the commonly reported conductivities sigma/sub a/ and sigma/sub b/ can be determined despite the presence of certain current flow irrgularities; room temperature values are found to be: sigma/sub b/ = 490 +- 80 (Ωcm)/sup -1/ and sigma/sub a/ = 1.21 +- 0.15 (Ωcm)/sup -1/. The relationship of sigma/sub a/ and sigma/sub b/ to the elements of the correctly expressed conductivity tensor for TTF-TCNQ is clarified. The influence of contactmore » inhomogeneities on four-probe measurements of the temperature dependence of the b-axis conductivity as determined with an electrolytic tank model are also presented. It is found that there is a large probability of slightly underestimating conductivity, but that it is possible in a small number of cases to greatly overestimate conductivity.« less
The effect of social context on psychiatrists’ judgments of adolescent antisocial behavior

Background: The DSM assumes that mental disorders can be identified by the presence of specific co-occurring symptoms associated with certain duration and impaired functioning, independent of the social context in which symptoms occur. The validity of this assumption was tested using the judgments of experienced psychiatrists. We hypothesized that psychiatrists would judge an identical set of adolescent antisocial behaviors, meeting the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder, as indicative of mental disorder or non-disordered problem-in-living, depending on the social context. Method: A representative sample of 483 psychiatrists in the United States read one of three experimentally manipulated vignettes depicting adolescent antisocial behavior and responded to questions concerning its nature, prognosis, cause, and response to various treatments. Results: Results supported our hypothesis. Under some circumstances, a youth may exhibit behaviors that meet the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder, but be judged by psychiatrists as not having a mental disorder. In addition, as predicted, psychiatrists reached different judgments about course, etiology, and treatment responsiveness when the identical behaviors occurred in different social contexts. Conclusions: The findings illuminate weaknesses in the validity of classification systems based on behavioral criteria independent of their social context. Implications of findings are discussed.
Computer aids in teaching statistics and methodology

Detailed information is provided on the use of a computer as an aid in the teaching of statistics. A review of the state of the art is included.
Using picture books to teach mathematical concepts

We have just provided a few picture books and activities that can enhance children's understanding of mathematics. There are many picture books that can teach children about mathematics. We hope that this article helps you to begin to use those books as a starting point for creating a mathematics-enriched early childhood classroom.
Good times, bad times: a study of the future path of U.S. fertility.

Abstract A simple version of Easterlin's relative‐cohort‐size model of fertility is presented and used to forecast fertility. The model tracks postwar U.S. experience closely and predicts an upturn in fertility in the 1980's. To illustrate the model's long‐run properties, births are forecast to the year 2070. The forecast shows pronounced every‐other generation cycles in births suggesting that, unless conditions change, concern with the economic consequences of declining population growth and crises in education and the youth labor market may be recurring features of the U.S. system.
Effect of microsomal enzyme inducing agents on hepatic biotransformation in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus): comparison to that in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract 1. Activities of several biotransformation enzymes were determined in male and female Sigmodon hispidus . Benzphetamine N -demethylase and glutathione S -transferases toward l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and sulfobromophthalein were higher in male Sigmodon hispidus than the female animals. 2. The study also determined the effect of microsomal enzyme inducing agents on hepatic biotransformation in male Sigmodon hispidus . 3. Cytochrome P-450 concentration was similar in cotton and Sprague-Dawley rats, and was increased after phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile, or 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. 4. Benzphetamine YV-demethylase was 4-fold higher in Sigmodon hispidus and was induced by 75–100% after phenobarbital. 5. UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase toward estrone, 1-naphthol, diethylstilbestrol and testosterone was 2- to 4-fold higher in cotton rats and was not altered by treatment with the inducing agents. 6. Conjugation of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, ethacrynic acid and sulfobromophthalein with glutathione was similar in both rodent species and was not inducible. 7. Sulfation of 2-naphthol was 15–30% of that in Sprague-Dawley rats and was not increased by inducer administration.
Relationship between1H and13C NMR chemical shifts and the secondary and tertiary structure of a zinc finger peptide

Essentially complete assignments have been obtained for the1H and protonated13C NMR spectra of the zinc finger peptide Xfin-31 in the presence and absence of zinc. The patterns observed for the1H and13C chemical shifts of the peptide in the presence of zinc, relative to the shifts in the absence of zinc, reflect the zinc-mediated folding of the unstructured peptide into a compact globular structure with distinct elements of secondary structure. Chemical shifts calculated from the 3D solution structure of the peptide in the presence of zinc and the observed shifts agree to within ca. 0.2 and 0.6 ppm for the backbone CaH and NH protons, respectively. In addition, homologous zinc finger proteins exhibit similar correlations between their1H chemical shifts and secondary structure.
Ketotifen prevents terbutaline-induced down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors in Guinea pig lung

We examined the effect of ketotifen on the down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors in guinea pig lung chronically treated with terbutaline. There was a significant decrease in the density of beta-adrenoceptors following chronic administration of terbutaline. Ketotifen prevented the decrease in beta-adrenoceptor density induced by terbutaline in a dose-dependent fashion; ketotifen alone, also increased the density of beta-adrenoceptors. However, neither ketotifen nor terbutaline significantly changed the KD values in either group. These findings suggest that ketotifen might be valuable when beta-agonists are administered for long term treatment in asthmatic patients.
On generic polynomials

Abstract We examine over arbitrary fields the possible implications among the concepts due to D. Saltman of generic Galois extension, retract rational extension, the lifting property for Galois extensions, the notions due to G. Smith of generic polynomial, and of descent generic polynomial due to F. DeMeyer.
Introduction to the special series

This special series on prevention of eating disorders offers an expanded discussion of a laudable effort at eating disorders prevention, the Body Logic Program, highlighting both the successful aspects of the program and the disappointments and challenges. Three experts in eating disorders prevention then provide commentaries on the Body Logic Program in view of the current status of the research, competing conceptual models, and real-world challenges of prevention of eating disorders.
Insulin regulation of multiple ribonucleic acid species in human skeletal muscle in insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant subjects

In vivo short term (2 h) insulin-regulated gene expression was examined in skeletal muscle of persons with differing insulin sensitivities. Nine genes were analyzed by a S1 nuclease protection assay with multiple probes (multiple S1 nuclease protection assay) to allow the simultaneous examination of RNA abundances from the multiple genes. In insulin-sensitive individuals, 5 of these 9 genes were insulin responsive. RNA from the proto-oncogenes c-Ha-ras, c-myc, and c-src transiently increased 2- to 4-fold within 30 min of insulin infusion. In addition, the RNA abundance of myf-5, a muscle specific differentiation factor, increased 3-fold with a time course similar to that of c-Ha-ras, c-myc, and c-src. In contrast, type 1 protein phosphatase alpha (PPP1A) RNA levels decreased by 50% within 30 min. In insulin-resistant individuals, the RNA levels of c-Ha-ras and myf-5 did not increase, whereas c-src RNA did increase within 30 min of insulin infusion. RNA encoding c-myc transiently increased in both groups; however, this response was lower in insulin-resistant individuals than in insulin-sensitive individuals in a pattern similar to c-Ha-ras and myf-5. PPP1A RNA levels slightly increased in insulin-resistant individuals. In both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant persons, RNA quantities of GLUT4, c-jun, c-fos, and the insulin receptor did not change over the period of insulin infusion. However, overall RNA levels of the insulin receptor and c-jun were lower in insulin-resistant individuals.
Affinity of P2 rdl for prophage sites on the chromosome of Escherichia coli strain C

Abstract The choice of sites for the establishment of a P2 prophage at the chromosome of Escherichia coli C was studied using P2 rdl phages liberated by two donors, one carrying P2 rdl at site I, the other at site II. Values for the following parameters were determined: (i) probability of acceptance of superinfecting P2 vir1 by cells lysogenized with P2 rdl, (ii) immunity level of cells lysogenized with P2 rdl, and (iii) probability of coexistence of P2 rdl prophage with a P2 Hydis prophage. The results, together with those of bacterial crosses, indicate that phage from a donor carrying P2 rdl at site I is strongly restricted to reoccupation of site I, whereas phage from a donor carrying P2 rdl at site II is not restricted to reoccupation of either site II or site I. The results also show a correlation between the immunity level of a cell lysogenic for P2 rdl and the site(s) occupied by its P2 rdl prophage(s).
Population prevalence estimates from complex samples

Epidemiologic studies are often designed to severe several purposes. The complex sampling plans necessary to ensure an adequate number of cases, a similar age distribution among cases and controls, or other important design constraints for comparative studies may make the additional goal of estimating prevalence in the population or in important subgroups difficult to attain with existing computer software, which typically assumes simple random sample selection. We consider here various methods for estimating overall and subgroup prevalence from complex samples, including crude prevalences, direct standardization of prevalences, and standardization using logistic regression to smooth the sampling group prevalences. We illustrate these methods using a complex sample to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in an urban community. A simulation study under various models in this setting is also described. We conclude that the use of logistic regression to smooth sampling group prevalences before standardization is an effective method for estimation of overall prevalence, provided that the adequacy of fit of a logistic model is carefully checked.
Estrogen-progesterone combination causing hypertension in latent unilateral ischemic renal disease.

Abstract Idiopathic unilateral renal parenchymal ischemia was the underlying cause for high blood pressure in a young woman in whom hypertension occurred following administration of an oral contraceptive agent. Differential renal function studies documented unilateral disease but suggested tubular impairment; angiography failed to indicate an acquired cause for renal parenchymal atrophy; differential renal vein renins did not localize the lesion until birth control medication was discontinued. Nephrectomy was effective. Possible mechanisms for the coexistence of these two entities are discussed.
Immunological studies of lactoferrin in human placentae

Lactoferrin (LF) and transferrin (Trf) are glycoproteins with strong affinities for ferric ions. Human syncytiotrophoblastic membranes analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting were negative with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to LF. Immunohistological studies of 35 normal placentae showed that LF was absent from the trophoblast basement membranes, stroma and fetal stem vessel endothelium, but positive cells were occasionally noted in intervillous spaces and fetal stem vessels. In contrast, many LF-positive cells were identified within areas of immunopathology identified by the presence of T cells, HLA-DR-positive macrophages and platelets. Double-antibody experiments showed that the LF-positive cells in these areas reacted with CD15 and CD16 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), indicating that the cells were polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). PMN from peripheral blood analyzed by flow cytometry and immunocytology also showed reactivities with anti-LF, CD15 and CD16 and we consistently found that circulating PMN reacted better than placental PMN with antibodies to MHC class I antigens and gp 100, (CD67), which is a neutrophil activation marker. PMN adherent within placentae had no detectable MHC class I or CD67 antigens. These findings suggest PMN adherent to placental tissues down-regulate or alter plasma membrane markers. LF appears to play a role in placental inflammation, for LF-positive cells were significantly enriched in areas of immunopathology.
Brodie's abscess of the talus caused by Serratia marcescens

Sir Benjamin Brodie first described a localised abscess in the tibia that developed without previous acute illness and did not produce clinical signs in 1836. Cases of chronic subacute osteomyelitis may initially be misdiagnosed. Treatment may be delayed because the typical signs and symptoms of acute osteomyelitis are absent. Brodie's abscess of the talus is rare. The following case study demonstrates some of the difficulties in diagnosing this condition.
Theory and Methods in Socio-Legal Research. Edited by Reza Banakar and Max Travers

Theory and Methods in Socio-Legal Research. Edited by Reza Banakar and Max Travers. Oxford, United Kingdom, and Portland, Oregon: Hart Publishing, 2005. Pp. xvi + 376. $44.00 paper. This volume constitutes the fourteenth title in the Law and Society Series, published for the Onati (Spain) Institute for the Sociology of Law. The series, begun in 2000, now boasts nearly 20 titles on diverse legal issues ranging from criminal policy to Luhmann's legal theory, from family law to the semiotics of law. Like the other volumes in the series, Theory and Methods in Socio-Legal Research consists of a collection of original essays written by some of the top scholars in the area of sociolegal studies. In addition, like the other books, originating as they did in workshops hosted by the institute, this one comprises 16 papers, most of which were first presented at a seminar on research methods held at Onati in April 2003. The book's editors are two of the leading lights in sociolegal studies and, more specifically, in its subfield of research methods. In collaboration with each other as well as in their solo endeavors they have, during the past dozen years or so, published extensively, and impressively, in sociolegal research and theory, and this volume is their latest joint effort. Having as their general aim "to explore how different methods can be used in researching law and legal phenomena, and how methodological issues and debates in sociology are relevant to the study of law" (p. ix), the editors divide the book into six well-organized, if somewhat conceptually corrugated, sections: Method Versus Methodology, Ethnography and Law, Studying Legal Texts, Structural Approaches, Studying Legal Cultures, and SocioLegal Research in the U.K. They provide pithy introductions to each of the sections, but it is in their opening statement on law, sociology, and method (it alone merits the price of the book) that the editors consider the interdisciplinary nature of sociolegal research as well as the challenges of working in a field in which most of its practitioners are academic lawyers, not social scientists, and therefore lack systematic training in both sociological theory and research methods. The collection contains contributions from sociolegal scholars working and researching in Australia as well as several European countries including Germany, Italy, and Denmark, but with the United Kingdom being the dominant case. Two chapters, however, are of studies done in non-European legal cultures: Botswana and Russia. The contributors, the majority of whom are based in departments of law, represent a wide variety of theoretical traditions. For instance, Ziegert cites the many advantages of systems theory in conducting empirical sociolegal research, from the micro (e. …
Effects of aluminum on rat bone cell populations

Aluminum (Al) loading is associated with reduced bone formation and osteomalacia in human and certain animal models. However, uncertainty exists as to the cellular effect(s) of Al as both inhibition and stimulation of osteoblast proliferation have been reported. Furthermore, the extent to which Al affects osteoprogenitor cell populations is unknown. To determine the cellular effects of Al in the rat, an animal model in which Al bone disease has been produced, we compared the in vitro effect of 10-50 microns Al on the proliferation and hydroxyproline collagen formation of marrow osteoprogenitor stromal cell populations and perinatal rat calvarial osteoblasts. In subconfluent cultures, Al suppressed proliferation of both marrow fibroblast-like stromal cells and calvarial osteoblasts. In confluent cultures, however, Al selectively stimulated periosteal fibroblast and osteoblast DNA synthesis and collagen (hydroxyproline) production, both in the presence or absence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Osteocalcin was not detected in osteoblast-conditioned media or extracellular matrix. These observations suggest that the bone formation defect associated with Al toxicity in growing rats may be a function of impaired patterns of osteoprogenitor/osteoblast proliferation. Furthermore, the Al-stimulated increase in collagen formation is consistent with the development of osteomalacia in Al-toxic humans and animals. The mechanism by which Al stimulated DNA synthesis and collagen production in more mature cultures awaits further study.
A model of Ca2+-free calmodulin binding to unconventional myosins reveals how calmodulin acts as a regulatory switch

Abstract Background In contrast to conventional muscle myosins, where two different light chains (LCs) stabilize the elongated regulatory domain (RD) region of the head portion of the molecule, unconventional myosins are a diverse group of motors in which from one to six calmodulin (CaM) subunits are bound tandemly to the RD. In both cases, the heavy chains of the RDs have special sequences called ‘IQ motifs' to which the LCs or CaM bind. A previously puzzling aspect of certain unconventional myosins is their unusual mode of regulation, where activation of motility occurs at low levels of Ca 2+ . Although the atomic structure of the conventional muscle myosin RD has been determined, no crystallographic structure of the RD of an unconventional myosin is yet available. Results We have constructed a model of vertebrate CaM bound to the first IQ motif present in the neck region of an unconventional myosin (chicken brush border myosin I), using strict binding rules derived from the crystal structure of the scallop RD. The model accounts for aspects of the regulation of many unconventional myosins where CaM is bound at low levels of Ca 2+ and released or changed in conformation at high levels of Ca 2+ . The conformational changes as a function of Ca 2+ depend not only on the precise sequence of the IQ motifs but also on the interactions between CaM molecules bound to adjacent sites on the myosin heavy chain. Conclusions According to our model, the full versatility of CaM binding to target peptides is displayed in the regulation of unconventional myosins. At low concentrations of Ca 2+ , CaM binds in a manner similar to the LCs of conventional myosins. At higher Ca 2+ concentrations, CaM changes conformation and acts as a switch to regulate the activity of the unconventional myosin molecules.