cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absorption of oral and intramuscular chlordiazepoxide by alcoholics

The effect of chronic alcoholism on oral and intramuscular plasma levels of chlordiazepoxide (CDX) was assessed. A 50-mg oral dose of CDX resulted in significantly higher plasma levels in the 2 hr following CDX than a 50-mg intramuscular dose administered to acute withdrawing alcoholic subjects. The same CDX dose was administered 7 days later and the same differences were observed between the mean oral and intramuscular plasma levels during the first 2 hr after administration of CDX. Peak concentration occurred significantly sooner after the oral than intramuscular dose of CDX in both the initial dose and the dose given a week later. It was also observed that the areas under the curve for CDX were significantly greater initially than 1 wk later. It is suggested this effect may be at least partially the result of the longer CDX half-lives initially than a week later. The active metabolite, N-desmethylchlordiazepoxide, peaked significantly earlier with the oral dose than with the intramuscular dose after the patient was alcohol free for a week.
Professional Stress and the Responses of Nurses Caring for Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Nurses employed in nephrology units report that caring for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an unusually stressful professional experience. Just how stressful this milieu is can be inferred from the apparent short tenure and high replacement rate among staff of dialysis and transplant units. Other observations reflecting this problem include the following: Some employers require a contractual commitment of at least two years employment in order to recover the high cost of training personnel for nephrology. Informal comments of peers indicate that nephrology is widely viewed as a depressing and unrewarding environment in which to work. There is reluctance to recruit and assign new or inexperienced nursing graduates to nephrology because of the acknowledged stressfulness of the area. Many dialysis and transplant services employ liaison psychiatrists whose primary responsibilities are the support and counselling of nursing and medical staffs who must interact with complex psychosocial needs of patients.
Time course and vectorial nature of albumin metabolism in isolated perfused rabbit PCT

The time course and vectorial nature of renal metabolism of albumin (Alb) were studied. The tubular absorption, accumulation, and hydrolysis of Alb and the release of the hydrolysis products were determined in the isolated rabbit proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) perfused with tritiated Alb ((/sup 3/H3C)Alb) at 36.4 micrograms/ml. The Alb absorption across the apical membrane was constant (99.9 +/- 4.9 x 10(-3) ng.min-1.mm-1). In contrast, the accumulation and hydrolysis of Alb in the cells increased nonlinearly with time. The bulk of the tritium that accumulated in the cells was associated with intact (/sup 3/H3C)Alb. Only the final hydrolysis products were released from the cells and these first appeared in the peritubular bath 6-7 min after the start of perfusion of the tubule with (/sup 3/H3C)Alb. The hydrolysis product was not detectable in the tubule lumen. The proteolytic activity correlated linearly with the protein load to the cells, characteristic of first-order kinetics and a high-capacity system. The results suggest that the renal tubular handling of proteins proceeds from the apical to the basolateral aspect of the cell. The transcellular processing of Alb is rapid and can occur in 6-7 min. The accumulation of intact protein in the cell and the first-ordermore » kinetics of hydrolysis of the absorbed protein suggest that the rate-limiting step in proximal tubular handling of proteins may include the initial hydrolysis of protein or reside in steps that precede the hydrolysis.« less
In situ TEM investigation of irradiation-induced defect formation in cold spray Cr coatings for accident tolerant fuel applications

Abstract The first in-situ ion irradiation and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of cold spray deposited Cr coatings was performed at the Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope (IVEM) facility at Argonne National Laboratory for preliminary investigation into the radiation damage tolerance of these materials for use in accident tolerance fuel cladding. The severely plastically deformed microstructure of the cold spray deposited Cr delayed the onset and growth of radiation induced defects when compared to an annealed coating simulating bulk Cr. Evidence to support this conclusion was based on defect density and defect size measurements of TEM images obtained at different irradiation intervals.
Field-induced phase coexistence in an artificial spin ice

Artificial spin-ice systems are magnetic metamaterials consisting of nanomagnet arrays that can be designed to study exotic magnetic states not found in natural materials. Typically, these arrays are modelled as interacting binary macrospins that can only be in an up or down state and are described by the Ising model. These materials have demonstrated ordering transitions, but only via a spontaneous symmetry-breaking mechanism. We have designed and studied a quadrupole artificial spin-ice system consisting of interacting plaquettes of coupled single-domain nanomagnets that can be interpreted as a composite, ternary variable. After annealing this system in an external magnetic field, we observe both a ferroquadrupolar and an antiferroquadrupolar phase, with an apparent first-order phase boundary and a coexistence regime. The phase diagram of this material is reminiscent of a model used to describe phase coexistence in the superfluid transition of 4He with 3He impurities. These results illustrate how composite magnetic objects realize exotic statistical physics models beyond the Ising model. Artificial spin-ice materials are usually described by spins that are either up or down. Here, a new type of spin ice is fabricated where the spins can be in one of three states with different coexisting phases separated by a first-order transition.
Effect of Cuterebra fontinella (Mouse Bot Fly) on the Movement of Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse)

Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse) is a common host for Cuterebra fontinella (Bot Fly), but few studies of this interaction in the southeastern US exist. We assessed the movement of White-footed Mice infested with Bot Flies at 9 riparian woodland sites in Spartanburg County, SC. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of bot warbles, lumps under the skin containing Bot Fly larva, on White-footed Mice and if the warbles reduced mouse movement. We found that 17.4% of mice had bot warbles during the August trapping period, with a mean intensity of 1.21 ± 0.09 (SE) per mouse. Male and female mice did not differ in the prevalence of bot infestation. Bot-infested mice did not differ from uninfested mice in their mean squared distance from center of activity (MSD). During May, mice that later became infested with a bot warble in August, did not differ in MSD from mice that did not become infested, suggesting that greater movement does not heighten the risk of infestation. Our data show that bot warbles do not reduce the movement of White-footed Mice and our findings add to the growing consensus that Bot Flies do not have a strong negative effect on the ecology of White-footed Mice.
Practitioner perceptions: Critical junctures and the global emergence and challenges of fact-checking:

Since 2003 and the emergence of FactCheck.org in the United States, fact-checking has expanded both domestically and internationally. As of February 2018, the Duke Reporter's Lab identified nearly ...
Intra- and Interobserver Reliability and Variability of Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm Measurements Between Pre- and Postprocessed B-mode Sonographic Images:

The objective was to enhance the contrast and segment the femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP) area from patients’ ultrasonography (US) images. In addition, this study compared the intra- and intero...
Perinatal Lead (PB) Exposure and Cortical Neuron-Specific DNA Methylation in male Mice

: Lead (Pb) exposure is associated with a wide range of neurological deficits. Environmental exposures may impact epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, and can affect neurodevelopmental outcomes over the life-course. Mating mice were obtained from a genetically invariant C57BL/6J background agouti viable yellow Avy strain. Virgin dams (a/a) were randomly assigned 0 ppm (control), 2.1 ppm (low), or 32 ppm (high) Pb-acetate water two weeks prior to mating with male mice (Avy/a), and this continued through weaning. At age 10 months, cortex neuronal nuclei were separated with NeuN⁺ antibodies in male mice to investigate neuron-specific genome-wide promoter DNA methylation using the Roche NimbleGen Mouse 3x720K CpG Island Promoter Array in nine pooled samples (three per dose). Several probes reached p-value < 10-5 , all of which were hypomethylated: 12 for high Pb (minimum false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.16, largest intensity ratio difference = -2.1) and 7 for low Pb (minimum FDR = 0.56, largest intensity ratio difference = -2.2). Consistent with previous results in bulk tissue, we observed a weak association between early-life exposure to Pb and DNA hypomethylation, with some affected genes related to neurodevelopment or cognitive function. Although these analyses were limited to males, data indicate that non-dividing cells such as neurons can be carriers of long-term epigenetic changes induced in development.
“Ever New Flights” of Creativity: Improvisation in South Indian Music

This inquiry explores the terms yogakshema, sampradaya, and manodharma sangita, as well as theories and practices of improvisation and innovation in music and other fields of Hindu culture. It considers (1) the ways Hindu traditions play out the human contradiction—that life must always combine both old and new; (2) the ways improvising is part of the Hindu frameworks in Vedic chanting, and the performance of ragas and other cultural activities in India. Both set patterns and nuanced interpretations in literary and musical works present processes which suggest models of progress and renewal in various fields of human endeavor. I am unpacking the scholar V. Raghavan’s ideas about how traditions in Indian culture can adapt creatively in time.
CENDERITIDE: A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TO INCREASE ENDOGENOUS CARDIAC NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES IN HEART FAILURE

The cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs) ANP and BNP are natriuretic and aldosterone suppressing via the activation of the pGC-A receptor. CNP is a fibro-inhibiting peptide through the activation of the pGC-B receptor. We engineered a novel dual pGC-A/pGC-B activator, Cenderitide (CD) that contains
A Neuro-ontology for the neurological examination

The use of clinical data in electronic health records for machine-learning or data analytics depends on the conversion of free text into machine-readable codes. We have examined the feasibility of capturing the neurological examination as machine-readable codes based on UMLS Metathesaurus concepts. We created a target ontology for capturing the neurological examination using 1100 concepts from the UMLS Metathesaurus. We created a dataset of 2386 test-phrases based on 419 published neurological cases. We then mapped the test-phrases to the target ontology. We were able to map all of the 2386 test-phrases to 601 unique UMLS concepts. A neurological examination ontology with 1100 concepts has sufficient breadth and depth of coverage to encode all of the neurologic concepts derived from the 419 test cases. Using only pre-coordinated concepts, component ontologies of the UMLS, such as HPO, SNOMED CT, and OMIM, do not have adequate depth and breadth of coverage to encode the complexity of the neurological examination. An ontology based on a subset of UMLS has sufficient breadth and depth of coverage to convert deficits from the neurological examination into machine-readable codes using pre-coordinated concepts. The use of a small subset of UMLS concepts for a neurological examination ontology offers the advantage of improved manageability as well as the opportunity to curate the hierarchy and subsumption relationships.
Creating a Sustainable Vaccine Delivery Practice

Providing vaccines places a significant logistical and financial burden on an office but is important in providing care to patients. Start the process by finding a vaccine champion, choosing a primary and backup vaccine coordinator, and creating a team in the office to promote and administer vaccines. Follow best practices when storing and monitoring vaccines. Create office policies for ordering vaccines in a fiscally sound manner, accepting deliveries, and managing inventory. Have backup processes in place to avoid preventable errors when administering vaccines. In addition, bill vaccine administration codes appropriately to collect the full reimbursement that is due.
Appraisals of Self in the Caregiver Role as Made by Married Custodial Grandparents

Objective We examined how married custodial grandparents from the same household appraise the impact of caring for a grandchild on their sense of self, and how these appraisals are related to their psychological well-being. Background This study is important because there is scant information on how custodial grandmothers and grandfathers both experience their caregiver role, even though 70% of these grandparents are married. Method Four competing measurement and structural models from the combined perspectives of the stress process model and the two-factor model of caregivers' psychological well-being were tested with 193 married grandmothers and grandfathers. Results The best fitting model was one in which two positive (personal gain and satisfaction) and two negative (loss of self and role captivity) appraisals emerged as distinct first-order constructs. Both negative appraisals correlated highest with negative affect, and both positive appraisals correlated highest with positive affect. The measurement and structural components of this model were largely invariant by grandparent gender. Mean comparisons showed that grandmothers reported significantly higher negative appraisals than grandfathers, with the latter reporting significantly greater perceived gain in the caregiving role. Bivariate correlations between grandmothers' and grandfathers' appraisals were nonsignificant for perceived gain and loss of self and of only moderate magnitude for caregiver satisfaction and role captivity. Conclusions Given that appraisals are a core component of coping with stressors, our findings have important practice implications and point to meaningful directions for future research regarding custodial grandparent families.
Quantitative response to nitrite from field-induced decomposition of the chloride adduct of RDX by reactive stage tandem ion mobility spectrometry.

An additional dimension of selectivity for the determination of RDX by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) was introduced through field-induced decomposition of RDX·Cl− to NO2− on a spectral baseline free of interfering peaks. In this variant of reactive stage tandem IMS, the explosive ion is decomposed selectively in the presence of an interferent and from significantly convolved peaks which were mobility isolated within a narrow range of drift times using dual ion shutters. Field-induced decomposition at 170 °C and field strength of 112 Td (∼16 kV cm−1) provided 15% decomposition yield and RDX, amid interferent, was detected decisively even when peaks differed in reduced mobility coefficients (Ko) by only 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1. A nitrite peak with S/N of 8.5 was observed with vapour concentrations of 54 ppb for RDX and 329 ppb for Interferent A in the ionization volume corresponding to 2 ng of RDX and 100 ng of Interferent A deposited on sample traps in the thermal desorption inlet. Findings on quantitative response suggest the presence of excessive amounts of interferent caused ionization suppression of RDX. Still, RDX was determined quantitatively using sequential processing of ions by mobility isolation, selective field induced decomposition, and mobility analysis in a second drift region.
Developing nations, drones and deterrence: Unmanned aerial vehicles and small nuclear powers

Ensuring the survivability of second-strike nuclear forces is critical for strategic stability, yet some scholars contend that technological changes in surveillance by established nuclear powers ar...
Essential concepts for interpreting the dose-response of low-level arsenic exposure in epidemiological studies

Abstract Scientifically robust selections of epidemiological studies and assessments of the dose-response of inorganic arsenic in the low-dose range must consider key issues specific to arsenic in order to reduce risk of bias. The abundance of toxicological, mechanistic, and epidemiological evidence on arsenic enables a nuanced assessment of risk of bias in epidemiological studies of low-level arsenic, as opposed to a generic evaluation based only on standard principles. Important concepts in this context include 1) arsenic metabolism and mode of action for toxicity and carcinogenicity; 2) effects of confounding factors such as diet, health status including nutritional deficiencies, use of tobacco and other substances, and body composition; 3) strengths and limitations of various metrics for assessing relevant exposures consistent with the mode of action; and 4) the potential for bias in the positive direction for the observed dose-response relationship as exposure increases in the low-dose range. As an example, evaluation of a recent dose-response modeling using eight epidemiological studies of inorganic arsenic and bladder cancer demonstrated that the pooled risk estimate was markedly affected by the single study that was ranked as having a high risk of bias, based on the above factors. The other seven studies were also affected by these factors to varying, albeit lesser, degrees that can influence the apparent dose-response in the low-dose range (i.e., drinking water concentration of 65 µg/L or dose of approximately ≤1 µg/kg-day). These issues are relevant considerations for assessing health risks of oral exposures to inorganic arsenic in the U.S. population, and setting evidence-based regulatory limits to protect human health.
O12 The Inside Scoop: Sensory Evaluation Feedback from Peer Educators Provides Important Perspective on Direct Education Recipes

Background Federal nutrition education programs such as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) utilize a peer educator model to teach low-income Americans about healthy eating behaviors. Recipe demonstrations are an important part of such programs and may influence participants’ eating and food preparation behaviors at home. Little is known about how peer educators perceive program recipes and related participants’ recipe acceptability and preparation behaviors. Objective To examine peer educators’ acceptability of recipes through evaluation of sensory attributes (appearance, flavor, texture, and saltiness or sweetness), preparation behaviors, and participants’ perceived behaviors. Study Design, Setting, Participants Eight online surveys were conducted with peer educators (100% female, 47% African American, 14-28 responses per recipe) in the University of Georgia EFNEP and SNAP-Ed programs. Educators completed the surveys independently in a location of their choice. Survey links were sent to educators in a single document, and weekly reminders paced them to complete 2 surveys per week. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Sensory acceptability of 16 recipes was evaluated on a 9-point hedonic scale (0=Dislike Extremely; 5=Neither Like nor Dislike; 9=Like Extremely). Preparation intent and behaviors of educators and participants were evaluated on a similar scale. Standard range of acceptability is ≥7. Results Thirteen recipes received acceptable ratings on most sensory attributes and preparation questions. Three recipes (Curly Noodles Supreme, Easy Cheesy Broccoli Soup, and Ranch Sauce) received unacceptable ratings. Across all recipes, recipe acceptability, preparation intent, and program participant perception were not significantly different by educators’ program, length of employment, and quadrant district in Georgia. Conclusion The findings suggest that peer educators for the nutrition education of low-income Georgians reported overall acceptable sensory attributes and preparation behaviors related to the program recipes and indicate areas for improvement in select recipes. Sensory evaluation methodology could be used to improve nutrition education recipes for higher acceptability and healthier recipe preparation behaviors in low-income participants.
Aggregating Artificially Intelligent Earnings Forecasts

This paper proposes a new artificial intelligence-based framework for aggregating the opinions of sell-side equity analysts. Our key conjecture is that analyst-level individual errors are more predictable and can be corrected more effectively than the aggregate consensus forecast. Artificial neural network models are able to learn the individual-level biases of sell-side equity analysts and can compensate for their biases more effectively. Using the bias-corrected consensus earnings forecasts and a neural network-based aggregation method, we find that the accuracy of the consensus forecast improves by 24% relative to a benchmark linear model. The neural network-based model can predict the correct sign for the earnings surprise 68% of the time. A portfolio strategy that uses the improved consensus forecasts earns a monthly abnormal return of 0.50% on a risk-adjusted basis.
Children's early school attendance and stability as a mechanism through which homelessness is associated with academic achievement

Abstract Unfortunately, family homelessness is a crisis in the United States. The majority of families experiencing homelessness are headed by single mothers and half of children who experience homelessness are less than five years of age. In the current study, we investigated whether children's school attendance and stability mediated the association between early experiences of homelessness (in infancy and toddlerhood) with children's school performance on standardized assessments of math and English language arts administered in the spring of third grade in a sample of children of young mothers. We used a person-centered analytic technique (i.e., repeated measures latent class analysis) to identify three classes of children's patterns of school attendance and stability from kindergarten through third grade that consisted of (a) High Absenteeism, (b) Decreasing Absenteeism, and (c) Low Absenteeism classes. Early experiences of homelessness were directly and indirectly associated with math, but not English language arts scores, through the three identified classes. The results of the current study have important implications for young children who experience homelessness and suggest promoting school attendance as one avenue to support academic achievement. In addition, supporting families and children early (i.e., before they begin pre-kindergarten) will be key in ensuring that young children who experience homelessness are successful in educational environments.
The Atypical Antipsychotic Quetiapine Induces Multiple Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli

Atypical antipsychotic (AAP) medication is a critical tool for treating symptoms of psychiatric disorders. While AAPs primarily target dopamine (D2) and serotonin (5HT2A and 5HT1A) receptors, they also exhibit intrinsic antimicrobial activity as an off-target effect. Because AAPs are often prescribed to patients for many years, a potential risk associated with long-term AAP use is the unintended emergence of bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we show that exposure to the AAP quetiapine at estimated gut concentrations promotes AMR in Escherichia coli after six weeks. Quetiapine-exposed isolates exhibited an increase in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for ampicillin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and levofloxacin. By whole genome sequencing analysis, we identified mutations in genes that confer AMR, including the repressor for the multiple antibiotic resistance mar operon (marR), and real-time RT-qPCR analysis showed increased levels of marA, acrA, and tolC mRNAs and a reduced level of ompF mRNA in the isolates carrying marR mutations. To determine the contribution of each marR mutation to AMR, we constructed isogenic strains carrying individual mutant marR alleles in the parent background and re-evaluated their resistant phenotypes using MIC and RT-qPCR assays. While marR mutations induced a robust activity of the mar operon, they resulted in only a modest increase in MICs. Interestingly, although these marR mutations did not fully recapitulate the AMR phenotype of the quetiapine-exposed isolates, we show that marR mutations promote growth fitness in the presence of quetiapine. Our findings revealed an important link between the use of AAPs and AMR development in E. coli.
Ten years of Nature Physics: Bound to be universal?

Three papers published in Nature Physics in 2009 revealed the intriguing three- and four-body bound states arising from the predictions by Vitaly Efimov nearly half a century ago. But some of these findings continue to puzzle the few-body physics community.
Nature/Nurture – A Philosophical Analysis

The debate about whether some attribute is ‘by nature’ or ‘by nurture’ has a long history and it covers numerous topics. For instance, Socrates proposed that our ideas of complex concepts come from memories that are innate within us. Even today thinkers believe that some of our ideas are part of our nature rather than our nurture. This theory has social and policy implications. If intellectual quotient (IQ) is a fixed part of nature, is it worthwhile to contribute tax dollars to improve one's nurturing environment? Or, more generally, some think that understanding human nature might affect how we ought to live. Influenced by Darwin and developments in genetics, the nature/nurture debate has reduced to a debate about whether our attributes are ‘genetic’ or ‘environmental’. Yet, the implications of the genetic theories of human nature are not obvious since genes alone do not produce any attributes. Key concepts: ‘Nativists’ employ ‘poverty of stimulus’ arguments to demonstrate that an idea or cognitive ability could not have been learned. ‘Empiricists’ believe that our beliefs about the world come from our perceptual connection to the world and not from our natures. IQ is likely to be influenced by nurturing environments. Likely, there is no such thing as the singular good life; rather there are numerous valid conceptions of the good life. The gene/environment dichotomy is false but that does not mean we cannot distinguish between robust and plastic developmental events. Keywords: nature; nurture; genetics; language; knowledge
A performance model of synchronization mechanisms in a file system

This paper presents a practical method for evaluating file systems in which synchronization mechanisms are modeled using measurable parameters. A queueing network model of a file system is introduced. The model allows various type of locks, multiple classes of transactions, and files and sectors shared by different types of transactions to be represented. The model parameters are estimated from the values of measurable quantities. The service times of lock servers are calculated as functions of the loads on all service centers. The various lock granularities can be represented by this model. Performance measures applicable to the evaluation of computer systems are introduced and evaluated. An example involving a file system and measurement data collected in a small business installation is given to compare performance measures provided by the simulation and analytic models.
Individual Stress Management Interventions:: Evaluation of Techniques

With the increased interest in work‐related stress that has evolved in the last several years has come a corresponding interest in stress management techniques and interventions. The effectiveness of four individual stress management techniques (relaxation training, biofeedback, cognitive techniques, and exercise) are considered and some of the weaknesses of much of the current stress management evaluation research are identified. Finally, some suggestions are made for improving the overall quality of such research.
A Note on the Toronto Printers' Strike, 1872

The Toronto printers' strike of 1872 stands out as one of the most impor tant events in Canadian labour history, and the story has already been told from several different perspectives. Two decades ago the biographers of Macdonald and Brown presented it from the viewpoint of their protagonists, while Bernard Ostry placed the episode in the context of Grit and Tory politics in the 1870s. More recently Sally Zerker has covered some of the same ground, but from the standpoint of the Toronto printers' union. John Battye treats the strike in relation to the Nine-Hours movement in central Canada, while Greg Kealey interprets it as part and parcel of an emergent working-class consciousness in the Queen City.1 None of these authors has cited the letter reprinted below, a recollection by one of the major participants in the strike which was composed some 35 years after the event. John Armstrong, a leader of the Toronto Typographical Union and later president of the International Typographical Union, was closely affiliated with the Conservative party. After the strike he served as president of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council, and Macdonald appointed him in the 1880s to the Royal Commission on the Relations of Labor and Capital. Still later he became secretary of the Ontario Labor Bureau, where he was working when this letter was written. He sent it to Edmund Bristol in response to a telegraphed request, but unfortunately the exact nature and purpose of Bristol's query is not known. Bristol, a well-known Toronto lawyer and Conservative party supporter, had succeeded E.F. Clarke as MP for the Toronto Centre riding in 1905.2 Armstrong's letter to Bristol sheds some new light on details sur rounding the strike, and, more importantly, lends weight to the conclusions of some interpreters, while undermining the arguments of others.
Involvement of the SIN4 global transcriptional regulator in the chromatin structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have cloned and sequenced the SIN4 gene and determined that SIN4 is identical to TSF3, identified as a negative regulator of GAL1 gene transcription (S. Chen, R.W. West, Jr., S.L. Johnson, H. Gans, and J. Ma, submitted for publication). Yeast strains bearing a sin4 delta null mutation have been constructed and are temperature sensitive for growth and display defects in both negative and positive regulation of transcription. Transcription of the CTS1 gene is reduced in sin4 delta mutants, suggesting that Sin4 functions as a positive transcriptional regulator. Additionally, a Sin4-LexA fusion protein activates transcription from test promoters containing LexA binding sites. The sin4 delta mutant also shows phenotypes common to histone and spt mutants, including suppression of delta insertion mutations in the HIS4 and LYS2 promoters, expression of promoters lacking upstream activation sequence elements, and decreased superhelical density of circular DNA molecules. These results suggest that the sin4 delta mutation may alter the structure of chromatin, and these changes in chromatin structure may affect transcriptional regulation.
Biomechanical Comparison of Syndesmosis Fixation with 3.5- and 4.5-millimeter Stainless Steel Screws:

Although most authors recommend either 3.5-mm or 4.5-mm cortical screws for syndesmosis fixation, the optimum screw size has yet to be defined. The present study was designed to biomechanically compare syndesmosis fixation with 3.5-mm and 4.5-mm stainless steel screws. Simulated pronation external rotation ankle injuries were created in twelve paired, fresh-frozen cadaveric leg specimens. One limb from each pair received a 3.5-mm tricortical stainless steel screw for syndesmosis fixation (group I), while the contralateral specimen was stabilized using a 4.5-mm screw (group II). Sub-maximal axial ramp (0 to 1200 N) and external rotation/torsional ramp (0 to 5 N-m) loading was performed on each specimen prior to ligament division, following ligament division and following syndesmosis fixation. Axial fatigue testing was then performed at 1.5 Hz for a total of 100,000 cycles (0 to 900 N), and each specimen was subsequently tested to failure in external rotation. Ligament division resulted in syndesmosis widening (p<0.001) and reduced stiffness (p<0.001) during torsional ramp loading. Subsequent syndesmosis screw placement reduced syndesmosis widening (p<0.05) and increased stiffness (p<0.05). Following screw fixation, however, widening remained greater (p<0.005) and stiffness less (p<0.001) than pre-injury levels. No differences between groups I and II were observed during submaximal testing. In external rotation to failure testing, group I failed at a greater angle (38.9 degrees +/- 4.1 degrees vs. 32.0 degrees +/- 3.8 degrees in group II; p<0.05). Failure torque was slightly higher in group I; however, the difference was not statistically significant (17.8 +/- 2.0 N-m vs. 14.3 +/- 2.6 N-m in group II; p=0.082). Five specimens in group I failed by screw pullout and five specimens in group II failed by fibula fracture (p=0.061). The present results suggest that there is no biomechanical advantage of a 4.5-mm screw over a 3.5-mm in fixation of the syndesmosis.
A Decade of RLIN CJK

September 12, 1993, marked a full decade of the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) Chinese-Japanese-Korean (CJK) enhancements. When the Research Libraries Group, Inc., (RLG) introduced the CJK enhancements to R U N ten years ago, catalogers of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language materials for the first time could create cataloging records with CJK scripts that could be copied by other libraries and viewed by researchers across the country. Since the Library of Congress (LC), Columbia, Princeton, and Stanford created those first CJK records, the number of CJK records in the RLIN database has grown to 1,201,421 (as of June 30, 1993), representing the holdings of thirty-seven RLIN libraries as well as OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC) CJK libraries.
Genetic Mapping of a Highly Variable Norovirus GII.4 Blockade Epitope: Potential Role in Escape from Human Herd Immunity

Noroviruses account for 96% of viral gastroenteritis cases worldwide, with GII.4 strains responsible >80% of norovirus outbreaks. Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are norovirus binding ligands, and antigenic and preferential HBGA binding profiles vary over time as new GII.4 strains emerge. The capsid P2 subdomain facilitates HBGA binding, contains neutralizing antibody epitopes, and likely evolves in response to herd immunity. To identify amino acids regulating HBGA binding and antigenic differences over time, we created chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) between the GII.4-1987 and GII.4-2006 strains by exchanging amino acids in putative epitopes and characterized their antigenic and HBGA binding profiles using anti-GII.4-1987 and -2006 mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and polyclonal sera, 1988 outbreak human sera, and synthetic HBGAs. The exchange of amino acids 393 to 395 between GII.4-1987 and GII.4-2006 resulted in altered synthetic HBGA binding compared to parental strains. Introduction of GII.4-1987 residues 294, 297 to 298, 368, and 372 (epitope A) into GII.4-2006 resulted in reactivity with three anti-GII.4-1987 MAbs and reduced reactivity with four anti-GII.4-2006 MAbs. The three anti-GII.4-1987 MAbs also blocked chimeric VLP-HBGA interaction, while an anti-GII.4-2006 blocking antibody did not, indicating that epitope A amino acids comprise a potential neutralizing epitope for GII.4-1987 and GII.4-2006. We also tested GII.4-1987-immunized mouse polyclonal sera and 1988 outbreak human sera for the ability to block chimeric VLP-HBGA interaction and found that epitope A amino acids contribute significantly to the GII.4-1987 blockade response. Our data provide insights that help explain the emergence of new GII.4 epidemic strains over time, may aid development of norovirus therapeutics, and may help predict the emergence of future epidemic strains.
Decentralizing the distribution of fresh agricultural produce

Abstract The current system for distributing fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers to consumers in California is highly centralized: most produce travels through either Los Angeles or the San Francisco Bay area. This article describes the flow of important items of fresh produce from California producers to California consumers, and compares more decentralized patterns of distribution with the current, centralized system. A linear programming model is used to derive a set of commodity flows that collectively minimize the cost of transportation subject to available supply and demand. The model is run for 10 crops, 12 months, and low and high estimates of demand, for each of the following 3 scenarios: Centralized (most like the present, with all produce moving through either the Los Angeles or San Francisco areas), Decentralized (direct movement from producing country to consuming country), and Intermediate (with 6 distribution cities). The overall cost of the Centralized Scenario is consistent with revenue figures from the trucking industry, confirming the Centralized Scenario as a representation of current conditions. The average trip in the Decentralized Scenario is 150 miles, 25% shorter than the average trip in the Centralized Scenario, suggesting that a more decentralized distribution system could generate large savings in transportation costs and fuel usage. Savings in the Intermediate Scenario, which represents a less radical restructuring of the system, are about half those of the Decentralized Scenario.
An elective course in evidence-based health care using team-based learning

The objective of this article is to describe the implementation of an elective course in evidence-based health care (EBHC) using team-based learning (TBL) for pharmacy students. In 2012 and 2013, an elective course in EBHC with 15 contact hours was offered to third-year pharmacy students using TBL methods. Course readings involved recently published studies in common disease states and assessments involved literature evaluation concepts and pharmacotherapy principles. Attainment of knowledge was assessed by individual readiness assessment tests, team readiness assessment tests, and team application activities. Annual course evaluations revealed consistently favorable student feedback regarding the design and content of the elective. Students also responded positively to TBL as a method for learning the material. It was concluded that an elective course in EBHC was well received by pharmacy students.
Editorial: Responding to Changes in the Field

Since LMLP, the precursor of LPLP, began publication over thirty years ago, the field of sociolinguistics and language policy has changed. Dedicated to the study of the terrain where languages intersect, the journal began in an environment in which the principal problem was the failure of information to flow across language barriers; today the issue is not porosity but homogeneity: English has pulled ahead of its competitors as globalization continues. LPLP has had mixed success over the years in promoting the study of international aspects of language contact and policy. What can it do today to increase that success? Should it be renamed, to take into account a shift in overall scholarly interest from language planning to language choice? Should it continue to encourage submission of manuscripts in languages other than English? Should the content of the journal change to match changing times? Should the journal be linked with other means of communication, e.g. a website for updates and reader comments? Above all, what can it do to stimulate more research and writing in its chosen fields of language policy, language choice, and multilingualism?
The Cytoplasmic Substrate Permeation Pathway of Serotonin Transporter

Serotonin transporter (SERT) catalyzes reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and is a target for antidepressant drugs and psychostimulants. It is a member of a large family of neurotransmitter and amino acid transporters. A recent study using site-directed cysteine modification identified a helical region of the transporter with high accessibility to the cytoplasm. Subsequently, the high resolution structure of LeuT, a prokaryotic homologue, showed that the residues corresponding to this helical region are part of the fifth transmembrane domain. The accessibility of these positions is now shown to depend on conformational changes corresponding to interconversion of SERT between two forms that face the extracellular medium and the cytoplasm, respectively. Binding of the extracellular inhibitor cocaine decreased accessibility at these positions, whereas 5-HT, the transported substrate, increased it. The effect of 5-HT required the simultaneous presence of Na+ and Cl-, which are transported into the cell together (symported) with 5-HT. In light of the LeuT structure, these results begin to define the pathway through which 5-HT diffuses between its binding site and the cytoplasm. They also confirm a prediction of the alternating access model for transport, namely, that all symported substrates must bind together before translocation.
The effect of contact area on the permeability of fractures

Abstract The permeability of a rock fracture is controlled primarily by the geometry of its void space. One effect of void space geometry is to cause the fluid to follow a tortuous path to flow around the asperities, which are regions where the two faces of the fracture are in contact. To examine the tortuosity induced by the contact area, we consider an idealized fracture consisting of two parallel plates propped open by isolated asperities. Boundary-element calculations, analogue electrical conductivity measurements and an effective medium approximation are used to study the permeability of fractures with circular, elliptical and irregular asperity shapes. The permeability is seen to depend not only on the amount of contact area, but also on the shape of the asperities. For circular or elliptical asperities, very accurate estimates are found by using the effective medium theory proposed by Maxwell.
The Value of Land Use Patterns and Preservation Policies

In many communities, land-use and open-space preservation have become important concerns. Using a large dataset containing every home sale in the state of Massachusetts over 8 years, this paper simultaneously measures the impact of the mix of land-uses in the immediate neighborhood of a home on property values and the impact of a locally-implemented program, the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which provides funds for local open-space and historic preservation as well as affordable housing. I exploit the panel nature of the dataset to conduct a difference-in-differences analysis using local as well as house level fixed effects to overcome omitted variables bias. My results indicate that, on average, passage of the CPA reduces property values by about 1.5% in Massachusetts towns. However, when I allow the CPA effect to differ by county, I find some heterogeneity -- it increases property values in some communities and reduces them in others. Variation in local spending priorities appears to have little impact on property values or the effect of the CPA. Finally, I find that cropland and pasture, as well as low-density residential development, are the most preferred local land-uses, and that homes are more expensive as one increases distance to highways and active rail lines.
A quadratic-shaped-finger comb parametric resonator

A large-stroke (8 µm) parametric resonator excited by an in-plane 'shaped-finger' electrostatic comb drive is fabricated using a 15 µm thick silicon-on-insulator microelectromechanical systems (SOI-MEMS) process. A quadratic capacitance-engagement response is synthesized by engineering a custom-shaped comb finger profile. A folded-flexure suspension allows lateral motion while constraining rotational modes. The excitation of the nonlinear parametric resonance is realized by selecting an appropriate combination of the linear and cubic electrostatic stiffness coefficients through a specific varying-gap comb-finger design. The large-amplitude parametric resonance promotes high signal-to-noise ratio for potential use in sensitive chemical gravimetric sensors, strain gauges, and mode-matched gyroscope applications.
Spectral emissivity of tungsten: analytic expressions for the 340-nm to 2.6-microm spectral region.

To correct emission spectra a standard radiance source is often used to determine the spectral responsivity of the detection system. In the near-UV, visible, and near-IR spectral regions the most common radiance standard is a tungsten strip lamp calibrated by a standards laboratory. For day-to-day experiments where slightly less accuracy is acceptable, a less expensive uncalibrated lamp is useful. In this case, the radiant temperature T/sub r/ of the lamp is measured with an optical pyrometer, generally at a single wavelength such as 650 nm, and the source spectral radiance L(lambda) is calculated from L(lambda) = tau(lambda)epsilon(lambda,T)L/sub B/(lambda,T). The transmittance of the source is tau(lambda), the spectral emissivity is epsilon(lambda,T), and L/sub B/(lambda,T) is the spectral distribution of blackbody radiation, Planck's radiation law. To obtain the true temperature T, Wien's approximation is employed. To conveniently calibrate a system, especially one which utilizes a microcomputer, it is advantageous to have analytic expressions for the spectral emissivity of tungsten. Although Larrabee has published such expressions, they are limited to the 450-800-nm spectral region. To obtain analytic expressions from 340 nm to 2.6 ..mu..m they have used the measurements of DeVos. Although DeVos's results differ by 2% from those of Larrabee, this differencemore » is assumed to be acceptable.« less
Quantization of Fayet-Iliopoulos Parameters in Supergravity

In this short article we discuss quantization of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter in supergravity theories. We argue that, in supergravity, the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter determines a lift of the group action to a line bundle, and such lifts are quantized. Just as D-terms in rigid $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetry are interpreted in terms of moment maps and symplectic reductions, we argue that in supergravity the quantization of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter has a natural understanding in terms of linearizations in geometric invariant theory quotients, the algebro-geometric version of symplectic quotients.