cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous Violent Conflict as a System of Authority

This paper analyzes how authority can be maintained by structuring reality through continuous violent conflict. Using Lewis Coser's reformulation of Simmel's propositions on fostering continuous conflict as a raison d'etre in sect-like struggle groups as a general frame of analysis, the Stalinist case is then examined in order to evaluate systematically these propositions in a societal context and to specify the morphology of violence as a method of conflict. By examining a societal context, it is noted that instability in the social structure not only can be a condition for the legitimacy of a problematic political leadership and system, but also simultaneously be a consequence of a form of preventive punitive sanctioning, whereby potential threats, both persons and alternative courses of action, are eliminated before they become present dangers. In turn, an official definition of reality, justifying leadership and system, is constructed through the public documentation of a conspiracy, which employs invented categories to demonstrate ideological continuity and fabricates pseudo events to demonstrate indispensability in fulfilling necessary functions. This public documentation of a conspiracy is then used as a facade for a larger plan of social prophylaxis that implicates the public as well as the police in ferreting out tangible and visible enemies to till the invented categories in the pseudo events. As public complicity conjoins with the official definition of reality, commitment to the leadership and system is acquired.
Rapid binding and release of Hfq from ternary complexes during RNA annealing

The Sm protein Hfq binds small non-coding RNA (sRNAs) in bacteria and facilitates their base pairing with mRNA targets. Molecular beacons and a 16 nt RNA derived from the Hfq binding site in DsrA sRNA were used to investigate how Hfq accelerates base pairing between complementary strands of RNA. Stopped-flow fluorescence experiments showed that annealing became faster with Hfq concentration but was impaired by mutations in RNA binding sites on either face of the Hfq ring or by competition with excess RNA substrate. A fast bimolecular Hfq binding step (∼10(8) M(-1)s(-1)) observed with Cy3-Hfq was followed by a slow transition (0.5 s(-1)) to a stable Hfq-RNA complex that exchanges RNA ligands more slowly. Release of Hfq upon addition of complementary RNA was faster than duplex formation, suggesting that the nucleic acid strands dissociate from Hfq before base pairing is complete. A working model is presented in which rapid co-binding and release of two RNA strands from the Hfq ternary complex accelerates helix initiation 10 000 times above the Hfq-independent rate. Thus, Hfq acts to overcome barriers to helix initiation, but the net reaction flux depends on how tightly Hfq binds the reactants and products and the potential for unproductive binding interactions.
Photophilic behaviour in surface- and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae).

*Department of Behaviour , Biozentrum Grindel, University of Hambur g, Martin-Luther -King Platz 3, 20146 Hambur g, Germany , Institute of Zoology , University of Zurich,W interthur erstra§e 190, CHÐ8057 Zurich, Switzerland and aDepartment of Zoology ,University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, U .S.A.(Received 16 January 2007, Accepted 15 May 2007 )
Flexible DNA bending in HU-DNA cocrystal structures.

HU and IHF are members of a family of prokaryotic proteins that interact with the DNA minor groove in a sequence-specific (IHF) or non-specific (HU) manner to induce and/or stabilize DNA bending. HU plays architectural roles in replication initiation, transcription regulation and site-specific recombination, and is associated with bacterial nucleoids. Cocrystal structures of Anabaena HU bound to DNA (1P71, 1P78, 1P51) reveal that while underlying proline intercalation and asymmetric charge neutralization mechanisms of DNA bending are similar for IHF and HU, HU stabilizes different DNA bend angles (∼105–140°). The two bend angles within a single HU complex are not coplanar, and the resulting dihedral angle is consistent with negative supercoiling. Comparison of HU–DNA and IHF–DNA structures suggests that sharper bending is correlated with longer DNA binding sites and smaller dihedral angles. An HU-induced bend may be better modeled as a hinge, not a rigid bend. The ability to induce or stabilize varying bend angles is consistent with HU's role as an architectural cofactor in many different systems that may require differing geometries.
Interrelationship of somatostatin, insulin, and calcium in the control of gluconeogenesis in kidney cortex slices.

Summary The effects of somatostatin and insulin on renal gluconeogenesis and the involvement of Ca ++ in somatostatin action were investigated. Addition of somatostatin stimulated gluconeogenesis in the renal cortex and this stimulation was inhibited by insulin. Maximum stimulatory effect by somatostatin was observed at 30 minutes. No stimulatory effect of somatostatin was observed in calcium depleted kidney cortex slices. However, addition of Ca ++ completely restored the stimulatory effect of somatostatin. These results suggest that insulin and somatostatin may be playing important physiological roles in renal gluconeogenesis and that Ca ++ is required for the somatostatin-induced enhancement in gluconeogenic activity.
Mossy fiber lesion reduces the probability that kainic acid will provoke CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cell bursting

Hippocampal slices prepared from rats which had received a mossy fiber lesion differed in their response to 50 nM kainic acid. Those slices in which the mossy fiber projection had been substantially destroyed were significantly less likely to develop epileptiform bursting in area CA3 than slices in which the mossy fiber projection was only modestly damaged. Similarly, mossy fiber lesions prevent the development of electrographic status epilepticus after intracerebroventricular administration of kainic acid in 26% of rats. Therefore mossy fiber lesions probably act, both in vivo and in vitro, by reducing the sensitivity of CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells to the epileptogenic action of kainic acid.
Pathways from parental knowledge and warmth to adolescent marijuana use: an extension to the theory of planned behavior.

Despite research indicating that effective parenting plays an important protective role in adolescent risk behaviors, few studies have applied theory to examine this link with marijuana use, especially with national data. In the current study (N = 2,141), we hypothesized that parental knowledge (of adolescent activities and whereabouts) and parental warmth are antecedents of adolescents’ marijuana beliefs—attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—as posited by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen 1991). These three types of beliefs were hypothesized to predict marijuana intention, which in turn was hypothesized to predict marijuana consumption. Results of confirmatory factor analyses corroborated the psychometric properties of the two-factor parenting structure as well as the five-factor structure of the TPB. Further, the proposed integrative predictive framework, estimated with a latent structural equation model, was largely supported. Parental knowledge inversely predicted pro-marijuana attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control; parental warmth inversely predicted pro-marijuana attitudes and subjective norms, ps < .001. Marijuana intention (p < .001), but not perceived behavioral control, predicted marijuana use 1 year later. In households with high parental knowledge, parental warmth also was perceived to be high (r = .54, p < .001). Owing to the analysis of nationally representative data, results are generalizable to the United States population of adolescents 12–18 years of age.
A Quantitative Study of the Effect of Vagotomy on Gastric Secretion in the Dog.

Conclusions1. The totally isolated stomach with intact blood and nerve supply secretes large amounts of gastric juice even in the absence of food-taking.2. On the ingestion of food there occurs an immediate augmentation of secretion followed by a period of inhibition lasting 3 to 7 hours and then a period of profuse secretion.3. Section of the vagus nerves above the diaphragm reduces the secretion of gastric juice in the isolated stomach by an average of 56% and the output of hydrochloric acid by 77%. Nervous factors are thus more important than other mechanisms in determining gastric secretion in these animals.4. Chronic progressive peptic ulcers occur frequently in these isolated stomachs and cause death by hemorrhage or perforation. They rarely develop in such preparations that have been denervated, and following vagotomy, they tend to heal.5. Partial vagotomy has little or no effect on gastric secretion.6. After complete vagotomy, the secretory response to a standard dose of histamine is markedly reduced.
ERP correlates of anticipatory attention: spatial and non-spatial specificity and relation to subsequent selective attention

Brain-based models of visual attention hypothesize that attention-related benefits afforded to imperative stimuli occur via enhancement of neural activity associated with relevant spatial and non-spatial features. When relevant information is available in advance of a stimulus, anticipatory deployment processes are likely to facilitate allocation of attention to stimulus properties prior to its arrival. The current study recorded EEG from humans during a centrally-cued covert attention task. Cues indicated relevance of left or right visual field locations for an upcoming motion or orientation discrimination. During a 1 s delay between cue and S2, multiple attention-related events occurred at frontal, parietal and occipital electrode sites. Differences in anticipatory activity associated with the non-spatial task properties were found late in the delay, while spatially-specific modulation of activity occurred during both early and late periods and continued during S2 processing. The magnitude of anticipatory activity preceding the S2 at frontal scalp sites (and not occipital) was predictive of the magnitude of subsequent selective attention effects on the S2 event-related potentials observed at occipital electrodes. Results support the existence of multiple anticipatory attention-related processes, some with differing specificity for spatial and non-spatial task properties, and the hypothesis that levels of activity in anterior areas are important for effective control of subsequent S2 selective attention.
Slow-time acceleration for modeling multiple-time-scale problems

The numerical simulation of a system exhibiting a broad range of time scales can be very expensive because the time discretization will in general need to resolve the smallest time scale, and the simulation will have to extend over many times the longest time scale. However, it is common that not all the time scales are of interest for a particular problem. When the long time scales are of primary interest, a number of techniques are available to eliminate the unwanted short time scales from consideration. When the short time scales are of primary interest, a technique for mitigating the consequences of anomalously long time scales is needed. The ''slow-time acceleration'' technique presented here has been developed to address this problem. In the slow-time acceleration technique, a modified evolution equation is developed in which the longest time scale is much shorter than that of the original system, and which has the same multi-time scale asymptotic structure as the original system. As an example, this approach is applied to the numerical simulation of solid-propellant rockets in which the long time scale is associated with the regression of the burning propellant.
Regional distribution of polyphosphoinositides in rat brain.

Abstract 1. 1. The distribution of polyphosphoinositides was determined in anatomical regions of 34- and 60-day-old rat brain, reproducibly dissected and frozen either immediately after death or after 10 min at room temperature. 2. 2. Average levels of di- and triphosphoinositides (nmoles/g wet weight) in rapidly frozen samples from 34-day-old rats were 112.9 and 103.2 in cortical gray matter and 235.5 and 549.5 in brain stem with intermediate concentrations in whole brain, forebrain, thalamus-hypothalamus and cerebellum. 3. 3. The two lipids were distributed differently with relatively more diphosphoinositide located in regions rich in gray matter. 4. 4. The percent loss of both compounds during the 10-min period post mortem generally paralleled the content of gray matter structures and resulted in levels significantly lower than controls, except in brain stem where the decreases were minimal. 5. 5. The regional distribution of the remaining polyphosphoinositides approached that of galactolipids which substantiates earlier conclusions that a large fraction of these compounds is present in myelin and suggests that the labile portion may be predominantly in other structures.
New insights into the molecular actions of serotonergic antimigraine drugs

Migraine is a painful and debilitating neurological disorder that affects approximately 10% of the adult population in Western countries. Sensitization and activation of the trigeminal ganglia nerves that innervate the meningeal blood vessels is believed to play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of migraine pain. In this capacity, release of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the resultant neurogenic inflammation is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of migraine. Largely due to the success of the serotonin Type 1 migraine drugs such as sumatriptan, migraine pathology and therapy has become a focus of intensive clinical and physiological research during the past decade. The effectiveness of these drugs is thought to be due to their ability to block the stimulated secretion of neuropeptides from trigeminal nerves to break the vicious nociceptive cycle of migraine. A component of this nociceptive cycle involves activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Indeed, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways can increase CGRP neuropeptide synthesis and secretion. Recently, the serotonin Type 1 agonists have been shown to cause a prolonged increase in intracellular Ca(2+) in trigeminal ganglia neurons and an increased phosphatase activity that can repress stimulated CGRP secretion and transcription. Identification of molecular signaling events in migraine pathology and therapy has provided new insight into the pharmacology and signaling mechanisms of sumatriptan and related drugs, and may provide the foundation for development of novel treatments for migraine.
Does crime pay

The legitimate and the criminal earnings of mid-rate and high-rate burglars, robbers, auto thieves, swindlers, and mixed types (mostly drug dealers) among state prison inmates in California, Michigan, and Texas are estimated and compared to the inmates' perceptions of their earnings. Crime appears to pay less than legitimate work for most mid-rate offenders; the reverse is true for most high-rate offenders. Inmates believe that they receive from crime much more than they do in fact. The earnings from crime per day spent in prison decrease as the number of crimes increases, suggesting that high-rate offenders commit crimes with little regard to the net yield. We suggest that career criminals do not maximize the net benefits of crime because they are highly present-oriented and quite opportunistic.
Calcium transport in the thick ascending limb of Henle. Heterogeneity of function in the medullary and cortical segments.

Abstract Calcium transport was studied in medullary and cortical segments of the thick ascending limb of Henle perfused in vitro. 45Ca was added to the perfusate for measuring lumen-to-bath flux (JlbCa), to the bath for measuring bath-to-lumen flux (JblCa), or to both perfusate and bath for measuring net flux (JnetCa). In the medullary segment JlbCa exceeding JblCa and the efflux:influx coefficient ratio was not different from the value predicted from the observed potential difference (PD). In the cortical segments, however, efflux:influx coefficient ratio was greater than the value predicted from the PD, suggesting that calcium transport in this segment may be active, while it is passive in the medullary segment. Furosemide, which reversibly decreases PD in both cortical and medullary segments, inhibited JlbCa only in the medullary segment. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), on the other hand, had no effect on JnetCa in the medullary segment, but it significantly augmented JnetCa in the cortical segment. These results indicate that calcium transport in the thick ascending limb is heterogeneous. In the medullary segment it is passive, inhibited by furosemide and not influenced by PTH. In the cortical segment, however, calcium transport appears to be active, not inhibited by furosemide and stimulated by PTH.
Oppositional defiant and conduct disorder: a review of the past 10 years, part I.

Objective: To review empirical findings on oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD).Method: Selected summaries of the literature over the past decade are presented. Results: Evidence supports a distinction between the symptoms of ODD and many symptoms of CD, but there is controversy about whether aggressive symptoms should be considered to be part of ODD or CD. CD is clearly heterogenous, but further research is needed regarding the most useful subtypes. Some progress has been made in documenting sex differences. Symptoms that are more serious, more atypical for the child’s sex, or more age-atypical appear to be prognostic of serious dysfunction. Progress has been made in the methods for assessment of ODD and CD, but some critical issues, such as combined information from different informants, remains to be addressed. A proportion of children with ODD later develop CD, and a proportion of those with CD later meet criteria for antisocial personality disorder. ODD and CD frequently co-occur with other psychiatric conditions. Conclusions: Although major advances in the study of the prevalence and course of ODD and CD have occurred in the past decade, some key issues remain unanswered.J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2000, 39(12):1468‐1484.Key Words: oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, sex differences, review.
Plastic bifurcation buckling of lined pipe under bending

Abstract Linepipe used in offshore and other operations is often protected from corrosive contents by lining internally a carbon steel carrier pipe with a thin layer of corrosion resistant material. In many applications the lined pipeline can experience bending or compression severe enough for the liner to buckle and collapse inside an intact carrier pipe. This paper presents a solution procedure for establishing the onset of the first bifurcation buckling of such a lined pipe under bending. Bending induced differential ovalization of the two shells causes partial separation of the liner from the carrier pipe. The compressed liner intrado at some stage buckles into periodic wrinkles. This bifurcation check is established numerically using the J 2 -deformation theory of plasticity. It is shown to occur at bending strain levels very similar to those of the liner shell bent alone but smaller than those of lined pipe under uniform compression. The post-buckling behavior of the lined pipe under bending was subsequently studied by introducing to the liner initial imperfections in the form of the wrinkling buckling mode. Under increasing bending the wrinkle amplitude grows eventually yielding to a second diamond-type buckling mode that results in local collapse. Collapse, while shown to be imperfection sensitive, occurs at a much higher bending strain than the critical wrinkling bifurcation values and it should thus be the failure mode governing design.
Organization–Public Relationships and Crisis Response Strategies: Impact on Attribution of Responsibility

The study examines how relationships with an organization and crisis response strategy affect attribution of crisis responsibility. Participants were exposed to 1 of 4 different crisis response strategies, manipulated through news articles. The study measured perceptions of the organization–public relationship, and after exposure to 1 of the 4 news articles, attribution of crisis responsibility. People with a positive relationship with the organization were less likely to place blame for the crisis on the organization regardless of crisis response strategy. The study provides evidence that maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders may be more important that individual crisis strategies.
Assessment of the environmental profile of PLA, PET and PS clamshell containers using LCA methodology

Life cycle assessments of bio-based polymer resin and products historically have shown favorable results in terms of environmental impacts and energy use compared to petroleum-based products. However, calculation of these impacts always depends on the system and boundary conditions considered during the study. This paper reports a cradle-to-cradle Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in comparison with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(styrene) (PS) thermoformed clamshell containers, used for packaging of strawberries with emphasis on different end-of-life scenarios. It considers all the inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and seed corn required for the growing and harvesting of corn used for manufacturing PLA. For PET and PS, the extraction of crude oil and the entire cracking processes from crude oil through styrene and ethylene glycol and terephathalic acid are considered. Global warming, aquatic acidification, aquatic eutrophication, aquatic ecotoxicity, ozone depletion, non-renewable energy and respiratory organics, land occupation and respiratory inorganics were the selected midpoint impact categories. The geographical scope of the study reflects data from Europe, North America and the Middle East. PET showed the highest overall values for all the impact categories, mainly due to the higher weight of the containers. The main impacts to the environment were the resin production and the transportation stage of the resins and containers. This implies that the transportation stage of the package is an important contributor to the environmental impact of the packaging systems, and that it cannot be diminished.
A Copula-Based Sample Selection Model of Telecommuting Choice and Frequency:

The objective of this study is to contribute to the telecommuting literature by jointly examining the propensity and frequency of workers to telecommute, using a rich set of individual demographics...
Prospectives for Genetic Improvement in the Economic Efficiency of Dairy Cattle

Abstract Decision methods affecting genetic composition of a herd become more practical as the objective function summarizes outputs at higher levels of organization. Incorporation of utility concepts beyond those strictly economic would lead also to practical decision methods by satisfying a spectrum of value considerations. Utility should include economic value and risk philosophy. Measurements of the net effect of performance derived from cows bred and producing in a herd over time lead to complex decision methods. A selection index or a best linear unbiased prediction technique by itself does not accommodate resource constraints, for example. Results from the literature are used to illustrate applications of animal indexing and mathematical programming that reflect differences in improvement programs differing in level of organization and concept of utility. Further developments of decision methods to improve economic efficiency will depend on important cost factors not now in applied objective functions. Effects of costs, per cow fixed costs, and cost of feed energy are important for evaluating genotypes for economic efficiency. Higher production per cow contributes to decrease of cost of production by spreading costs of a cow space per year over more units of output. When body size limits further declines of cost from production, increasing body size may provide capacity necessary to utilize more forages at lower cost per nutrient unit. Relative differences in average cost of feed energy should be included in sire indexes.
A brief history of human brain mapping

Human functional brain mapping as we presently know it began when the experimental strategies of cognitive psychology were combined with modern brain-imaging techniques (first positron emission tomography and then functional magnetic resonance imaging) to examine how brain function supports mental activities. This marriage of disciplines and techniques galvanized the field of cognitive neuroscience, which has rapidly expanded to include a broad range of the social sciences in addition to basic scientists interested in the neurophysiology, cell biology and genetics of the imaging signals. Although much of this work has transpired over the past couple of decades, its roots can be traced back more than a century.
Intramedullary Abscess of the Cervical Spinal Cord in an Otherwise Healthy Man

Background An intramedullary spinal cord abscess is a rare, albeit widely publicized entity. Classically, patients have an acute onset of symptoms with fevers and leukocytosis supporting the diagnosis. We present a case of intramedullary spinal cord without classic history or imaging characteristics in which the diagnosis was made with diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Case Description A 57-year-old physician presented with severe neck and shoulder pain, which progressed over several days to right-sided hemiparesis with dysesthesias. There was no history of fevers, rigors, or illness. A contrast enhanced MRI of the cervical spine revealed an intramedullary lesion centered around C6-T1 that showed peripheral enhancement with gadolinium and edema extending rostrally and caudally. He was then transferred to our institution where the novel application of diffusion weighted MRI of the spinal cord was performed, suggesting an abscess. He then underwent focal laminectomies and biopsy of this lesion with drainage of the necrotic cavity. Intraoperative Gram stain revealed gram-positive cocci, and cultures were sent to the laboratory. After draining the purulent material and completing a course of tailored antibiotics, the patient showed improvement of his neurologic deficit. Conclusions The use of diffusion weighted imaging in the spine is a novel application of technology that provided an accurate preoperative diagnosis and allowed us to tailor our surgical approach and provide a rapid focal decompression.
Terbium-mediated footprinting probes a catalytic conformational switch in the antigenomic hepatitis delta virus ribozyme.

The two forms of the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme are derived from the genomic and antigenomic RNA strands of the human hepatitis delta virus (HDV), where they serve a crucial role in pathogen replication by catalyzing site-specific self-cleavage reactions. The HDV ribozyme requires divalent metal ions for formation of its tertiary structure, consisting of a tight double-nested pseudoknot, and for efficient self- (or cis-) cleavage. Comparison of recently solved crystal structures of the cleavage precursor and 3 0 product indicates that a significant conformational switch is required for catalysis by the genomic HDV ribozyme. Here, we have used the lanthanide metal ion terbium(III) to footprint the precursor and product solution structures of the cis-acting antigenomic HDV ribozyme. Inhibitory Tb 3þ binds with high affinity to similar sites on RNA as Mg 2þ and subsequently promotes slow backbone scission. We find subtle, yet significant differences in the terbium(III) footprinting pattern between the precursor and product forms of the antigenomic HDV ribozyme, consistent with differences in conformation as observed in the crystal structures of the genomic ribozyme. In addition, UV melting profiles provide evidence for a less tight tertiary structure in the precursor. In both the precursor and product we observe high-affinity terbium(III) binding sites in joining sequence J4/2 (Tb1/2 < 4 mM) and loop L3, which are key structural components forming the catalytic core of the HDV ribozyme, as well as in several single-stranded regions such as J1/2 and the L4 tetraloop (Tb1/2 < 50 mM). Sensitized luminescence spectroscopy confirms that there are at least two affinity classes of Tb 3þ binding sites. Our results thus demonstrate that a significant conformational change accompanies catalysis in the antigenomic HDV ribozyme in solution, similar to the catalytic conformational switch observed in crystals of the genomic form, and that structural and perhaps catalytic metal ions bind close to the catalytic core. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Computer forensics in forensis

Different users apply computer forensic systems, models, and terminology in very different ways. They often make incompatible assumptions and reach different conclusions about the validity and accuracy of the methods they use to log, audit, and present forensic data. This is problematic, because these fields are related, and results from one can be meaningful to the others. We present several forensic systems and discuss situations in which they produce valid and accurate conclusions and also situations in which their accuracy is suspect. We also present forensic models and discuss areas in which they are useful and areas in which they could be augmented. Finally, we present some recommendations about how computer scientists, forensic practitioners, lawyers, and judges could build more complete models of forensics that take into account appropriate legal details and lead to scientifically valid forensic analysis.
Recognition of double helical DNA by alternate strand triple helix formation

The triplet specificities and required strand orientations of two classes of DNA triple helices can be combined to target double helical sequences containing all four base pairs by alternate strand triple helix formation. This allows for the use of oligonucleotides containing only natural 3'-5' phosphodiester linkages to simultaneously bind both strands of double helical DNA in the major groove. The stabilities and structures of these alternate strand triple helices depend on whether the binding site sequence is 5'-(purine)_m(pyrimidine)_n-3' or 5'-(pyrimidine)_m(purine)_n-3'. The sequence type 5'-(purine)_m-(pyrimidine)_n-3' was targeted with an oligonucleotide consisting of a pyrimidine domain and a purine domain linked by a 3'-5' phosphodiester. To bind the duplex sequence type 5'-(pyrimidine)_m(purine)_n-3', the third strand requires at least two nucleotides linking binding domains at the site of crossover in the major groove. A new class of oligonucleotides capable of binding mixed duplex sequences by crossovers in the major groove may be possible.
The Hepatitis C Self-Management Program Sustainability of Primary Outcomes at 1 Year

Objective. Chronic hepatitis C infection afflicts millions of people worldwide. Although antiviral treatments are increasingly effective, many hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients avoid treatment, do not complete or respond to treatment, or have contraindications. Self-management interventions are one option for promoting behavioral changes leading to liver wellness and improved quality of life. Our objective was to evaluate whether the effects of the HCV self-management program were sustained at the 12-month follow-up assessment. Methods. Veteran Affairs patients with hepatitis C (N = 134; mean age = 54.6 years, 95% male, 41% ethnic minority, 48% homeless in last 5 years) were randomized to either a 6-week self-management workshop or an information-only intervention. The weekly 2-hour self-management sessions were based on a cognitive–behavioral program with hepatitis C–specific modules. Outcomes including hepatitis C knowledge, depression, energy, and health-related quality of life were measured at baseline...
Two novel cardiac atrial K+ channels, IK.AA and IK.PC.

Two K(+)-selective channels in neonatal rat atrial cells activated by lipophilic compounds have been characterized in detail. The arachidonic acid-stimulated channel (IK.AA) had a slope conductance of 124 +/- 17 pS at +30 mV in symmetrical 140 mM potassium and a mean open time of approximately 1 ms, and was relatively voltage independent. IK.AA activity was reversibly increased by lowering pH to 6.0. Arachidonic acid was most effective in activating this channel, although a number of lipophilic compounds resulted in activation. Surprisingly, choline, a polar molecule, also activated the channel. A second K+ channel was activated by 10 microM phosphatidylcholine applied to the intracellular surface of inside-out atrial patches. This channel (IK.PC) had a slope conductance of 60 +/- 6 pS at +40 mV and a mean open time of approximately 0.6 ms, and was also relatively voltage independent. Fatty acids are probably monomeric in the membrane under the conditions of our recording; thus detergent effects are unlikely. Since a number of compounds including fatty acids and prostaglandins activated these two channels, an indirect, channel-specific mechanism may account for activation of these two cardiac K+ channels.
Work in progress - strengthening HBCU engineering education research capacity

The Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education (CASEE) has collaborated with the council of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) engineering school deans to develop each school's capacity for rigorous engineering education research. As the project has drawn to a close, the schools were asked to provide written reports summarizing their activities, knowledge gained, and research planned or performed. This paper will summarize a) the campus reports on the impact of their participation in the project, b) the lessons learned by individuals attending engineering education research conferences, and c) the future plans submitted by the participating campuses. Particular attention will be paid to emerging themes and concerns of the campuses and individuals.
Expansion strategies of a mutual help organization

Described a study of the expansion strategies of a successful self- and mutual help organization for persons with mental illness. Resource mobilization and behavior-setting theories were used as conceptual frameworks to guide the investigation. Collaborative methods and a grounded theory approach were used. Archives, reports of contacts outside of the organization, and naturalistic observations were data sources. Of particular interest are the processes used by the organization to mobilize internal and external resources and to start new mutual help groups. Results suggest that the organization mobilizes resources from a variety of sources, displays flexibility in securing resources and defining organizational roles, and creates underpopulated settings to encourage individual involvement. The strategies appear to avoid overtaxing resource pools, reduce role ambiguity, and encourage pluralistic participation. Discussion includes several potential explanations for the successful growth of the organization.
Activation of big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1/ERK5) inhibits cardiac injury after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1/ERK5) plays a critical role in pre-natal development of the cardiovascular system and post-natal eccentric hypertrophy of the heart. Of the two isoforms upstream of MAPK-kinase 5 (MEK5) known to exist, only the longer MEK5α isoform potently activates BMK1. We generated cardiac-specific constitutively active form of the MEK5α (CA-MEK5α transgenic (Tg) mice), and observed a 3 to 4-fold increase in endogenous BMK1 activation and hyperphosphorylation of connexin 43 in the ventricles of the Tg compared to wild-type mice. The CA-MEK5α-Tg-mice demonstrated a profoundly accelerated recovery of left ventricular developed pressure after ischemia/reperfusion. We propose a novel role for BMK1 in protecting the heart from ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac injury.
Linear and nonlinear crosstalk suppression for DWDM RZ-DPSK transmitter using a saturated SOA as power booster amplifier

Saturated semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be used as booster amplifiers for dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) transmitters. By introducing time interleaving (TI), both linear crosstalk induced by WDM components and nonlinear crosstalk induced by SOA nonlinearities are suppressed. Receiver sensitivities for four-channel DWDM RZ-DPSK signals with 100- and 50-GHz channel spacing were improved 2.2 and 4.2 dB, respectively, by applying proper TI between adjacent channels. A 1-dB gain enhancement was also achieved.
Neonatal Hypocalcemic Seizures Due to Excessive Maternal Calcium Ingestion

Hypocalcemia is a common, treatable cause of neonatal seizures. A term girl neonate with no apparent risk factors developed seizures on day 5 of life, consisting of rhythmic twitching of all extremities in a migrating pattern. Physical examination was normal except for jitteriness. Laboratory evaluation was unremarkable except for decreased total and ionized serum calcium levels and an elevated serum phosphorus level. The mother had ingested 3-6 g of calcium carbonate daily during the final 4 months of pregnancy to control morning sickness. The baby's electroencephalogram showed multifocal interictal sharp waves and intermittent electrographic seizures consisting of focal spikes in the left hemisphere accompanied by rhythmic jerking of the right arm and leg. Treatment with intravenous calcium gluconate over several days resulted in cessation of seizures and normalization of serum calcium. The child has remained seizure free and is normal developmentally at 9 years of age. Hypocalcemic seizures in this newborn were likely secondary to excessive maternal calcium ingestion, which led to transient neonatal hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia. Inquiry about perinatal maternal medication use should include a search for over-the-counter agents that might not be thought of as "drugs," as in this case, antacids.
Invariant manifolds for time-discretizations of nonlinear systems

Some computational experiments have shown that one can design difference methods for differential equations and control systems with the property that the resulting difference equations will live on, or uniformly near, a specified constraint-manifold. Here a few concrete results are given: systems that live on manifolds defined by sets of quadratic forms should be discretized by the midpoint method, which gives a system living on the same manifold; and for discretizations of autonomous Hamiltonian systems by either the midpoint or updated-Euler methods, the first few terms of an asymptotic expansion for (approximate) invariant energy-functions can be obtained easily.
Glucocorticoid receptor expression profiles in mononuclear leukocytes of periparturient Holstein cows

Cortisol-activated glucocorticoid receptors modulate cellular responses to stress by translocating from the cytosol to the nucleus and enhancing or repressing the transcription of target genes. The functional capacity of mononuclear leukocytes is inhibited in parturient dairy cows at a time when blood cortisol concentrations are high. Because the glucocorticoid receptor is autoregulatory in many cell types, the hypothesis of the current study was that glucocorticoid receptor expression by mononuclear leukocytes is altered around parturition in association with elevated blood cortisol. If true, the glucocorticoid receptor could be involved in suppressed functions of mononuclear leukocytes in parturient cows. The objectives of this study were to determine effects of parturition on lymphocyte and monocyte glucocorticoid receptor expression and to correlate expression with serum cortisol concentrations. Objectives were achieved by using fluorescence staining and flow cytometric analyses to monitor glucocorticoid receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes collected multiple times from 13 periparturtient test cows (eight multi- and five primiparous) and 10 midgestation control cows (five multi- and five primiparous). Serum cortisol concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Based on intensity of the fluorescent glucocorticoid receptor stain, parturition caused 42 and 47% reductions in lymphocyte and monocyte glucocorticoid receptor expression, respectively, compared with mean expression in corresponding cells from control cows. When mean prepartum values were compared with nadir values at parturition in the test cows, glucocorticoid receptor expression was reduced by 67% in lymphocytes and by 54% in monocytes. Mononuclear cell expression of glucocorticoid receptors was negatively correlated with serum cortisol concentrations. Results suggest that glucocorticoid receptors are down-regulated in bovine mononuclear leukocytes in association with increased adrenal secretion of cortisol at calving. It is possible that glucocorticoid receptor down-regulation is also associated with altered phenotype or function (or both) of lymphocytes and monocytes. This possibility should be substantiated because it could explain increased disease susceptibility in periparturient dairy cows.
Splenic Hemangioma With Thrombocytopenia in a Newborn

The case report of a newborn infant with a splenic hemangioendothelioma with the life-threatening complications of thrombocytopenia, anemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation is presented together with a review of the literature. Removal of the tumor via splenectomy, despite the known risk of subsequent over-whelming sepsis due to encapsulated organisms in the young child, is the treatment of choice for splenic hemangiomas complicated by thrombocytopenia. The use of enhanced CT with delayed filling is a diagnostic tool in the workup of suspected hemangiomatous lesions.
A fast 3-D eigenvalue solver for finite-element-based analysis of multilayered integrated circuits

Electromagnetics-based modeling and simulation has become increasingly important in the design of next generation integrated circuits. Many of the integrated circuit problems can be analyzed by formulating a generalized eigenvalue problem. To solve the generalized eigenvalue problem, the Arnoldi process is typically used. State-of-the-art Arnoldi algorithms require O(N2) storage units and operations for solving the generalized eigenvalue problem with N unknowns. In [3] and [4], we reduced the O(N2) complexity to O(N) complexity for solving Manhattan-type large-scale 3-D on-chip interconnects. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a fast algorithm that achieves a similar reduction in complexity for solving generalized eigenvalue problems in arbitrarily-shaped 3-D integrated circuit structures.
Some practical improvements in the continual reassessment method for phase I studies

The Continual Reassessment Method (CRM) is a Bayesian phase I design whose purpose is to estimate the maximum tolerated dose of a drug that will be used in subsequent phase II and III studies. Its acceptance has been hindered by the greater duration of CRM designs compared to standard methods, as well as by concerns with excessive experimentation at high dosage levels, and with more frequent and severe toxicity. This paper presents the results of a simulation study in which one assigns more than one subject at a time to each dose level, and each dose increase is limited to one level. We show that these modifications address all of the most serious criticisms of the CRM, reducing the duration of the trial by 50-67 per cent, reducing toxicity incidence by 20-35 per cent, and lowering toxicity severity. These are achieved with minimal effects on accuracy. Most important, based on our experience at our institution, such modifications make the CRM acceptable to clinical investigators.
Fuzzy logic average current-mode control for DC/DC converters using an inexpensive 8-bit microcontroller

Described in This work is the design and implementation of a microcontroller-based fuzzy logic average current-mode control (ACMC) for DC/DC converters. A fuzzy logic ACMC boost converter operating in the continuous conduction mode has been designed using a PIC16C782 microcontroller. Design procedures and implementation issues are discussed. No complex algorithm is required to estimate the controlled current because of the on-board peripherals of the microcontroller. By using lookup tables and other techniques, the fuzzy logic algorithm is implemented on the microcontroller successfully. Experimental results are presented, and encouragingly demonstrate the performance that a fuzzy logic ACMC DC-DC converter can achieve.
STATISTICAL ASPECTS OF MARTENSITIC NUCLEATION.

Analysis of the Cech-Turnbull small-particle martensitic transformation experiments in terms of heterogeneous nucleation theory defines an exponential nucleation-site potency distribution. Sensitive acoustic-emission detection of martensitic nucleation events shows that the same form of distribution describes the behavior of bulk polycrystals, and the influence of heat treatment on the distribution amplitude can be identified in this way. On the assumption of a random distribution of pre-existing nucleation-site orientations, the effect of applied stress on the effective potency distribution has been calculated, thus accounting for an observed nonlinear stress dependence of the transformation kinetics. The model also predicts a transformation “yield locus” for multiaxial stress.
Experiments with personal ownership of quality at the University of Texas at El Paso

The lack of commitment to create quality work is a long-standing problem in education, and it is a direct negative driver of student performance, disturbing students' ability to: apply imparted concepts, build team quality work, and foster industry's economy. The quality of delivered work is poor mainly because students do not spend needed time and effort to review their own work; e.g., research papers, group projects, and assignments. At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), experimental developments targeted students' commitment to create quality work, creating infrastructure to conduct personal reviews for different types of work products, and teaching students to conduct effective personal reviews of their own work. A partial implementation of check lists, review processes, and teaching material has been used in courses at UTEP. The work to be developed includes measuring time distributions of effort (time to build the product vs. time to correct the product), recording the defects injected in products, creating checklists based on the recorded defects, creating a process to review products, and defining a defect log. The goal is to create a habit within students to create quality work by using personal reviews to improve the quality of submitted work.
Personnel Survivability in Blast Wind Environment

An analysis method has been developed for the purpose of predicting the survivability (relative safety) of people who may be located in conventional buildings when subjected to the direct effects of megaton-range nuclear weapons in the Mach region. This computational scheme was developed for the purpose of rating existing buildings relative to the inherent protection afforded by them and thus to provide a rational approach for allocating shelter spaces in the event of an emergency. The primary emphasis is on casualties produced by the blast winds. The overall simulation process is described in general terms. The wind model and the people simulation model are described in more detail. The procedure used is illustrated by means of a sample problem.