cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of vowel quality on perception of post–vocalic nasal consonants in noise

Abstract: The study investigates the effect of vowel quality on perception of nasal consonants [m], [n], [ɳ] in VC syllables, in which V is [i], [e], [a], [o] or [u]. These VC syllables, spoken by male phoneticians, were masked with white noise and played to subjects with phonetic training. There were three listening conditions with different signal-to-noise ratios. The results suggest three principal findings: (1) [m] tends to be identified as [n] after the front vowels [i] and [e], (2) [ɳ] tends to be identified as [n] after the front vowel [i], and (3) nasal consonants tend to be correctly identified after vowel [a] even in the noisiest listening condition. The misidentifications of nasal consonants occur more frequently in the noisier listening conditions.
Efficacy of sequential radiation and chemotherapy in treating glioblastoma with poor performance status

While the current standard of care after maximal safe resection for glioblastoma (GBM) is concomitant radiation and chemotherapy, the ideal therapy for patients with poor performance status remains in question due to concerns about treatment tolerance. We sought to evaluate an alternative regimen, sequential radiation and chemotherapy, to assess its efficacy as a treatment option for poorly performing patients. We performed a retrospective analysis using the 2015 National Cancer Database in which the survival of patients with a KPS ≤ 70 who received sequential radiation and chemotherapy were compared to those who received radiation therapy alone. Survival outcomes were compared using Kaplan–Meier curves with log rank testing and Cox proportional hazard regression. There were 84 patients analyzed in this study, all of whom had a KPS between 10 and 70. Of those analyzed, 73.8% received radiation therapy alone, and 26.2% received sequential radiation and chemotherapy. There was no difference in survival between the two treatment groups (p = 0.84). Patient age of 70 years or older (n = 31) was associated with decreased survival (HR 1.06 per year, p < 0.0001), regardless of KPS and a KPS of < 70 correlated with a near-significant trend toward worse survival (HR 1.63, p = 0.06). Treatment with sequential radiation and chemotherapy in poorly performing patients is not associated with an advantage in survival outcome when compared to radiation alone in GBM patients with poor performance status.
David Oliver: Staff hydration matters more than keeping up appearances

Working as a clinician is physically and emotionally intense, often leaving little time to drink enough fluid, eat properly, or even have toilet breaks. A report by the Medical Protection Society on “breaking the burnout cycle” found that 40% of NHS doctors felt unable to take a break during the working day to eat and drink.1 Our nursing colleagues seem to experience the same pressure: a 2017 Royal College of Nursing report on safe and effective staffing found that 59% of nurses surveyed had not managed to take enough breaks during their last shift.2 We now have around one in 15 medical, and one in eight nursing, positions unfilled, with similar gaps across several clinical professions.3 We need to do all that we can to maintain staff …
(2 m +1) th -Degree Polynomial Systems

In this chapter, the global stability and bifurcations of equilibriums in the (2m)th-degree polynomial system are discussed for a better understanding of the complexity of bifurcations and stability of equilibriums. The appearing and switching bifurcations for simple equilibriums are presented, and the appearing and switching bifurcations for higher order equilibriums are discussed as well. The parallel appearing bifurcations, spraying-appearing bifurcations, and sprinkler-spraying-appearing bifurcations for simple and higher order equilibriums are presented. The antenna-switching bifurcations for simple and higher order equilibriums are discussed and the parallel straw-bundle-switching bifurcations and flower-bundle-switching bifurcations for simple and higher order equilibriums are presented as well.
El “otro” arquetipo de la prostituta y su diversificación identitaria en la «Carajicomedia»

La prostituta, como personaje literario, fue construida con el objetivo de representar, a traves de su conducta y psicologia, los males y las calamidades que afligian a las sociedades renacentistas. El genero de la picaresca, por ejemplo, utilizo personajes como el de la meretriz para justificar su caracter didactico ilustrando las vicisitudes de las clases bajas, la inmoralidad de los inadaptados y las consecuencias de las conductas desviadas. Sin embargo, la prostituta que se muestra en la Carajicomedia , poema de caracter burlesco publicado en la edicion de 1519 del Cancionero General, propone un modelo del personaje distinto. El arquetipo sugerido por este poema trastoca a la prostituta que, a traves de su desenvolvimiento con el texto, celebra la libertad sexual en vez de condenarla. En este ensayo se exploran las diferencias representativas entre el poema y la picaresca con el objetivo de mostrar como la servidora sexual de la Carajicomedia incitaba a la despenalizacion moral del placer sexual, la diversificacion del personaje femenino y la expansion de la condicion liminal del sexo ilicito.
The Role of German and Austrian Emigres in the US Army in the Liberation of Hitler’s Fortress Europe and the Denazification Process

Over thirty thousand recent emigres from Germany and Austria served in the US army during World War II. About two thousand from this sizeable cohort found their niche in military intelligence, where their linguistic talents, knowledge about German customs and culture, coupled with their specialized training, enabled them to gain important information from German prisoners of war, which helped to facilitate the advance of US troops toward victory. They were also called upon to facilitate the liberation of concentration camps, and helped capture, interrogate and prosecute war criminals. Although these men made significant contributions in all of these important areas in general and the war effort in particular, scholars have paid scant attention to their accomplishments. This essay will shed light on their remarkable efforts and make the case that their contributions warrant a significant place in the historiography of the Holocaust, World War II and its aftermath.
133. Creation of an Emergency Department (ED)-Specific Urine Antibiogram and Evaluation of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Prescribing Practices at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center

Background Inpatient settings have been the focus of most antimicrobial stewardship (AS) practices; however, the Joint Commission has now published requirements for accredited ambulatory healthcare organizations to implement AS. This analysis aimed to create a urine isolate antibiogram and to evaluate microbiological data and prescribing practices for UTI patients in the ED.
Advances in Rare-Earth Tritelluride Quantum Materials: Structure, Properties, and Synthesis

A distinct class of 2D layered quantum materials with the chemical formula of RTe3 (R = lanthanide) has gained significant attention owing to the occurrence of collective quantum states, superconductivity, charge density waves (CDW), spin density waves, and other advanced quantum properties. To study the Fermi surface nesting driven CDW formation, the layered RTe3 family stages an excellent low dimensional genre system. In addition to the primary energy gap feature observed at higher energy, optical spectroscopy study on some RTe3 evidence a second CDW energy gap structure indicating the occurrence of multiple CDW ordering even with light and intermediate RTe3 compounds. Here, a comprehensive review of the fundamentals of RTe3 layered tritelluride materials is presented with a special focus on the recent advances made in electronic structure, CDW transition, superconductivity, magnetic properties of these unique quantum materials. A detailed description of successful synthesis routes including the flux method, self-flux method, and CVT along with potential applications is summarized.
Doing philosophy with a water-lance: art and the future of embodied cognition:

We take the approach developed by Rietveld and RAAAF to be a paradigm example of a much-needed development in embodied cognitive science: applying the insights gained into the nature of cognition b...
The Human Factor in Cybersecurity: Robust & Intelligent Defense

In this chapter, we review the pervasiveness of cyber threats and the roles of both attackers and cyber users (i.e. the targets of the attackers); the lack of awareness of cyber-threats by users; the complexity of the new cyber environment, including cyber risks; engineering approaches and tools to mitigate cyber threats; and current research to identify proactive steps that users and groups can take to reduce cyber-threats. In addition, we review the research needed on the psychology of users that poses risks to users from cyber-attacks. For the latter, we review the available theory at the individual and group levels that may help individual users, groups and organizations take actions against cyber threats. We end with future research needs and conclusions. In our discussion, we first agreed that cyber threats are making cyber environments more complex and uncomfortable for average users; second, we concluded that various factors are important (e.g., timely actions are often necessary in cyber space to counter the threats of the attacks that commonly occur at internet speeds, but also the ‘slow and low’ attacks that are difficult to detect, threats that occur only after pre-specified conditions have been satisfied that trigger an unsuspecting attack). Third, we concluded that advanced persistent threats (APTs) pose a risk to users but also to national security (viz., the persistent threats posed by other Nations). Fourth, we contend that using “red” teams to search cyber defenses for vulnerabilities encourages users and organizations to better defend themselves. Fifth, the current state of theory leaves many questions unanswered that researchers must pursue to mitigate or neutralize present and future threats. Lastly, we agree with the literature that cyber space has had a dramatic impact on American life and that the cyber domain is a breeding ground for disorder. However, we also believe that actions by users and researchers can be taken to stay safe and ahead of existing and future threats.
Small Boat Fishing in Hawaii: A Random Utility Model of Ramp and Ocean Destinations

This paper investigates small boat fishing on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. We develop a model in which anglers choose where to launch their trailered boats, as well as their ocean destination. The model allows us to study spatial aspects of small boat fishing, including the benefits and costs of attributes of different regions of the ocean, such as fish aggregating devices. Second, it allows us to understand the effects of limiting access to various fishing areas.
Community engagement for the development of a micro-hydroelectric site in Ifugao, Philippines

Micro hydroelectric systems have been implemented in Ifugao, Philippines over the past few years. These approaches adopted a top-down approach where the local government or NGO implements a system within a rural community without proper community engagement. The authors of this paper believe that community engagement is paramount for the success of any rural development project. It gives the community a sense of ownership and empowerment during the implementation and usage of any project. The authors adopted a bottom-up approach for a planned micro-hydroelectric system in the village of Duli, Ifugao Philippines. The community was selected after multiple trips to various communities across the region. Duli was selected because the community members showed enthusiasm and exhibited the ability to present income generating activities for electric energy such as a welding shop, tailoring facility and bakery. The authors then worked with the community to develop a business plan for the construction, implementation and maintenance of the system. Multiple meetings were held with community members to present ideas and obtain feedback to develop the business plan as the community sees fit. Community surveys were held to get a better understanding of the local community population and layout. Moreover, a socio-economic and socio-cultural analysis was completed in order to guide the business plan development. A terrain and household mapping survey was completed to guide the engineering design work that served as a basis to estimate the system cost. The paper provides the steps carried out by the authors to complete the work and presents the lessons learned from the experience.
Counseling Adults in Career Transition: Reflections of a Counselor-in-Training

The following is a description of the experiences of a counselor-in-training at the University of Missouri–Columbia Career Center. The Career Center at the University of Missouri–Columbia serves a wide variety of clients ranging from 16-year-old high school students needing help on deciding on a college major to sixty-year-old adults seeking to make a major career transition. This diversity of clients and their needs is illustrated through case examples and it is suggested that the holistic model of career counseling that is taught at the University of Missouri Career Center is appropriate for these clients. What is also described through case examples is how counselors-in-training in settings such as career centers may benefit from additional training outside of what is normally taught in graduate level career development courses.
Spacer-dependent coupled and decoupled super absorbing metasurfaces

We differentiate the spacer-dependent peak shift in coupled and decoupled super absorbing metasurfaces based on magnetic resonance and interference mechanism, respectively, which was experimentally validated by low-cost structures fabricated by lithography-free processes.
Statistical mechanics of solitons

I was asked to talk about the statistical mechanics (SM) of solitons (in 1-d). This is an almost open-ended brief — indeed the “soliton” concept is one of the major unifying threads of low-d physics. Fortunately, at this Conference there are a number of interrelated soliton contributions. Here, I have decided to i) indicate natural connections with other invited papers; ii) survey what is known rigorously about soliton SM, what is conjectured, and what important open questions remain; iii) emphasize SM of solitons rather than of soliton Hamiltonians. By this I mean that I will mostly stress what is known rigorously about “solitons” as (nonlinear) elementary modes. I contrast this with purely numerical results [e.g., from the transfer integral operator (TIO) or molecular dynamics (MD)] without interpretation or with approximate mode interpretations — these are hopefully useful for experimental guidance and will be surveyed by SCHNEIDER. I will omit any discussion of dynamics here. Little is known rigorously; the many interesting questions concerning analytic, numerical or phenomenological approaches in Hamiltonian or Langevin frameworks will be surveyed by BUTTIKER and SCHNEIDER.
On Burning One's Bridge: The Context of Gluckman's Zulu Fieldwork – With the previously unpublished chapter "The Research Situation" (circa 1946)

Gluckman’s 1940 essay “An Analysis of a Social Situation in Modern Zululand” (aka as “The Bridge”) is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential in social anthropology for signalling a paradigm shift. This paper publishes a chapter of a previously unpublished, undated manuscript by Gluckman – probably from 1946 – describing how he did fieldwork in Zululand. A contextualizing essay discusses why Gluckman went to Zululand, what his preparations were, how he famously got “banned,” the role of the regent and the native commissioners in orchestrating this, and how local anti-semitism also played its part. It also suggests that his “banning,” coupled to his marriage in 1939 to Mary Brignoli, a member of the communist party, were crucial factors leading to this paradigm change. Finally, the afterlife of “The Bridge” is sketched showing how dismal was its original reception among peers and colleagues.
Assessment For Learning: The Role of Feedback

Formative assessment (FA) and learning-oriented assessment (LOA) focus on the learning process. These ongoing assessments for learning can be an integral part of instruction and may add a new dimension to the learning mandate inherent in the classroom. Assessment for learning is founded on the notion that learners can raise their consciousness of their learning aims through the process of assessment and work towards improvement (Luoma & Tarnanen, 2003). Leung (2004) defines classroom-based FA as “the noticing and gathering of information about student language use in ordinary (noncontrived) classroom activities, and the use of that information to make decisions about teaching (to promote learning) without necessarily quantifying it or using it for reporting purposes” (p. 20). Indeed, FA or LOA serves both the teacher in terms of planning future curricula as well as the students in giving them feedback so that they become aware of their strengths, weaknesses, and what needs to be implemented to make improvement. This discussion will focus on the important role of feedback in FA or LOA.
A static voltage stability detector using only local measurements of droop-controlled generators for stressed power distribution networks

To assess static voltage stability in power networks, critical load values were examined at each load bus as a voltage instability predictor. However, the information that is required to evaluate loadability conditions is usually not available at load buses. To predict impending voltage collapse in a droop-controlled power distribution network, this paper introduces a static voltage stability detector that only uses local measurements at generator buses. The local stability detector derives a voltage threshold from dynamics of each droop-controlled generator. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted in the IEEE nine-bus network to evaluate the detector's receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Simulations show that the local voltage stability detector has a better performance than loadability conditions in a stressed power distribution network with droop-controlled generators and requires much less information to implement.
A BiCMOS Bluetooth/Wi-Fi receiver

A fully integrated direct conversion receiver, supporting both Bluetooth and 802.11b standards, is implemented using IBM 0.25 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology. The RF front-end is shared between both standards while the baseband blocks are programmable for each receiving mode. All the components of the receiver from the LNA to the ADC are integrated using 19 mm/sup 2/ of silicon area. The current consumption of the chip is 41.3 mA/45.6 mA in Bluetooth/802.11b standard and the measured sensitivity is -91 dBm/-86 dBm, respectively.
Scientific ethos and the cinematic zombie outbreak: Science in fictional narratives

Public anxiety about emerging biothreats is evident in the recent glut of popular entertainment where the demise, or near demise, of humankind is imagined to be the result of a new infectious pathogen against which science has no existing vaccine or cure. This article examines the figure of the scientist in such fictional narratives and what these characterizations indicate about public attitudes toward science in our contemporary world. It focuses in particular on the image of the scientist as clumsy naive, immoral experimenter, heroic savior, and self-reflexive ethical agent.
Generation of policy-rich websites from declarative models

Protecting sensitive data stored behind online websites is a major challenge, but existing techniques are inadequate. Automated website builders typically offer very limited options for specifying custom access policies. Manually adding access policy checks to website code is tedious and error-prone, and it is currently not feasible to automatically verify that a website conforms to its required access policy. Furthermore, policies change over time, and it can be costly to modify an existing website to reflect the changes or to certify that the modified website still complies with the desired policy. This research presents a declarative modeling approach designed to address these issues, where the data model and the access policy are specified using Alloy, and the Weballoy tool automatically generates a dynamic website that guarantees the access policy by construction. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Modified wideband three-dimensional late gadolinium enhancement MRI for patients with implantable cardiac devices.

Purpose To study the effects of cardiac devices on three-dimensional (3D) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI and to develop a 3D LGE protocol for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients with reduced image artifacts. Theory and Methods The 3D LGE sequence was modified by implementing a wideband inversion pulse, which reduces hyperintensity artifacts, and by increasing bandwidth of the excitation pulse. The modified wideband 3D LGE sequence was tested in phantoms and evaluated in six volunteers and five patients with ICDs. Results Phantom and in vivo studies results demonstrated extended signal void and ripple artifacts in 3D LGE that were associated with ICDs. The reason for these artifacts was slab profile distortion and the subsequent aliasing in the slice-encoding direction. The modified wideband 3D LGE provided significantly reduced ripple artifacts than 3D LGE with wideband inversion only. Comparison of 3D and 2D LGE images demonstrated improved spatial resolution of the heart using 3D LGE. Conclusion Increased bandwidth of the inversion and excitation pulses can significantly reduce image artifacts associated with ICDs. Our modified wideband 3D LGE protocol can be readily used for imaging patients with ICDs given appropriate safety guidelines are followed. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differential Pattern of Interhemispheric Connections Between Homotopic Layer V Regions in the Forelimb Representation in Rat Barrel Field Cortex.

Layer V neurons in forelimb and shoulder representations in rat first somatosensory cortex (SI) project to the contralateral SI. However, few studies have addressed whether projections from specific subregions of the forelimb representation, namely forepaw, wrist, or forearm, terminate at homotopic sites in the contralateral SI. Neuroanatomical retrograde (cholera toxin B subunit [CT-B]) or anterograde (biodextran amine [BDA]) tracers were injected into physiologically identified sites in layer V in specific forelimb and/or shoulder representations in SI to examine the projection to contralateral SI in young adult rats (N = 17). Injection and target sites were flattened and cut in a tangential plane to relate labeling to the body map or cut along a coronal plane to relate labeling to cortical layers. Results indicate that layer V neurons project to cortical laminae II-VI in contralateral SI, with the densest labeling in layer V followed by layer III. In contrast, layer V neurons send sparse projections to layer IV. Furthermore, layer V neurons in wrist, forearm, and shoulder project to homotopic sites in contralateral layer V, while neurons in the forepaw representation project largely to sites in perigranular and dysgranular cortex adjacent to their homotopic territory. Our results provide evidence for a differential pattern of interhemispheric projections from forelimb and shoulder representations to the opposite SI and a detailed description of areal and laminar projection patterns of layer V neurons in the SI forelimb and shoulder cortices.
Does intergenerational social support influence the psychological well-being of older parents? The contingencies of declining health and widowhood.

This study investigates whether social support from adult children improves the psychological well-being of elderly parents. Support is studied as a direct influence on emotional distress and as a moderator of the distressing consequences of health problems and widowhood. Research questions are addressed using data from elderly parents participating in 1985 and 1988 surveys of the U.S.C., Longitudinal Study of Three Generation Families. Results from multiple regression analyses indicate that instrumental and expressive forms of social support are weakly related to 3-year change in positive and negative aspects of psychological well-being. However, both types of support moderate declines in well-being associated with poor health and widowhood. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational social support are contingent on the vulnerability of the older parent, when expectations for assistance are at their greatest. This finding has considerable implications for family theory and policy.
Interactions among the epidermal growth factor-like modules of thrombospondin-1.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules are defined in part by six cysteines joined by disulfides in a 1–3, 2–4, and 5–6 pattern. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multimodular glycoprotein with three EGF-like modules, E1, E2, and E3, arranged in tandem. These modules likely propagate conformational changes between surrounding C-terminal and N-terminal elements of TSP-1 and interact with other extracellular molecules. E1, E2, and their homologs in other TSPs are unique among EGF-like modules in having two residues rather than one between Cys-4 and Cys-5. In addition, E2 has a calcium-binding site and an unusually long loop between Cys-5 and Cys-6. The structure of E1, E2, or E3 expressed alone changed little upon heating as monitored by far-UV CD, whereas more marked changes occurred in E12, E23, and E123 tandem constructs. The individual modules denatured in differential scanning calorimetry experiments only at >85 °C. E12, E23, or E123 tandem constructs, however, had a transition in the range of 44–70 °C. The temperature of the transition was higher when calcium was present and higher with E123 than with E12 or E23. Isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated KD values of binding of calcium to E2, E12, E23, or E123 at 25 °C of 11.5, 2.9, 2.2, or 0.3 μm, respectively. Monoclonal antibodies HB8432 and C6.7, which recognize epitopes in E2, bound to E12, E23, or E123 with greater affinity than to E2 alone. These results indicate that interactions among the modules of E123 influence the tertiary structure and calcium binding of E2.
Expansion of the myotonic dystrophy CTG repeat reduces expression of the flanking DMAHP gene

Myotonic dystrophy, or dystrophia myotonica (DM), is a highly variable multisystem disease in which the classic adult-onset form displays progressive muscle wasting, cataracts, heart block, gonadal atrophy, insulin resistance and neuropsychiatric impairment. Its genetic basis is an expansion of CTG trinucleotide repeats in the DMPK protein kinase gene1–5. Among the triplet repeat expansion disorders, DM is distinguished by the extended length of the repeat tract (5–13 kb in postmortem tissue6,7) and its location in the 3′ untranslated region of the gene that contains it8. The pathophysiological mechanism for multisystem degeneration in DM is not understood. In contrast to the profound muscle wasting that characterizes advanced DM, only minor histopathological abnormalities have occurred in DMPK knockout mice or in mice that overexpress a human DMPK transgene9,10, making it unlikely that changes in DMPK activity provide a unitary explanation for the disease. A DNAse hypersensitive site that maps 0.7 kb downstream (centromeric) from the CTG repeats is eliminated on DM chromosomes11. This finding indicates that the repeat expansion may alter the adjacent chromatin structure and raises the possibility that it may also affect the expression of flanking genes. An interesting candidate flanking gene is DMAHP, a recently discovered homeodomain-encoding gene12. We show here that DMAHP expression in myoblasts, muscle and myocardium is reduced by the DM mutation in as, and the magnitude of this effect depends on the extent of CTG repeat expansion. These observations support the hypothesis that DMAHP participates in the pathophysiology of DM.
TORSO LINKAGE MODELING. A DISCUSSION

Body measurement requirements of human engineering specialists cannot be fully met by the use of traditional anthropometry. The human engineer needs anthropometric data which can be used to describe the spatial location, configuration, and mobility of both external and internal landmarks for prescribed operator tasks and workspaces. In order to accomplish this goal, multidisciplinary studies are needed that will incorporate the fields of anthropometry, biomechanics, statistics, ergonomics and others.
Alpha1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors co-expressed on cloned MDCK cells are distinct glycoproteins

We have explored the molecular differences between alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors that are co-expressed by a clonally-derived cell line, Madin-Darby canine kidney clone D (MDCK-D). MDCK-D membranes were pre-labeled with selective alpha 1- and beta-adrenergic radioligands and were then solubilized with the non-ionic detergent digitonin. Solubilized alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors were retained by immobilized wheat germ agglutinin and were eluted following addition of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or sialic acid. Both receptors were also retained by immobilized Limax flavus lectin, a sialic acid-binding lectin. Lectins that were specific for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues did not bind to these receptors. These results indicate that both alpha 1 and beta 2 receptors are sialylated glycoproteins. The solubilized alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors migrated with different elution profiles from an Ultragel AcA 34 column. The apparent molecular sizes of the digitonin-receptor complexes were 68A for the alpha 1 receptor and 55A for the beta 2 receptor. These results show that alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors can be present on the same cell as distinct sialic acid-containing glycoproteins.
The meaning of “Snopesism”

(1966). The meaning of “Snopesism”. The Southern Speech Journal: Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 223-225.
BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF THE MOUSE RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA GTPASE REGULATOR (MRPGR)

Abstract The retinitis pigmentosaGTPase regulator (RPGR) gene encodes a protein homologous to the RCC1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor and is mutated in 20% of patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. We have characterized the full-length and variant cDNAs corresponding to the mouse homolog of the RPGR gene (mRpgr). Comparison with the human cDNA revealed sequence identity primarily in the region of RCC1 homology repeats. As in humans, the mRpgr gene maps within 50 kilobases from the 5′-end of the Otc gene. The mRpgr transcripts are detected as early as E7 during embryonic development and are expressed widely in the adult mice. Variant mRpgr isoforms are generated by alternative splicing and by utilizing two in-frame initiation codons. The products of mRpgr cDNAs migrate aberrantly in SDS-polyacrylamide gels because of a charged domain. In transfected COS cells, the mRpgr protein is isoprenylated and is localized in the Golgi complex. This subcellular distribution is not observed after treatments with brefeldin A or mevastatin and when the conserved isoprenylation sequence (CTIL) at the carboxyl terminus is deleted or mutagenized. These studies suggest a role for the mRpgr protein in Golgi transport and form the basis for investigating the mechanism of photoreceptor degeneration in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.
Estrogen control of the synthesis of RNA and protein in the uterus.

Estrogen action in the rat uterus can be arbitrarily considered as occurring in three steps. The first step is the interaction of the estrogen with the target tissue. This appears to be of stereospecific interaction with a receptor that is sensitive to proteinases and extremes of pH and insensitive to ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease. The second step involves a change in the biological activity of this receptor protein due to the interaction with estrogen, a mechanism about which we have no definitive information at present. Eventually, this primary function does bring about an increase in glucose metabolism and an increase in lipid and RNA synthesis, as well as a number of other responses. The fact that these responses are all blocked by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis at a time when no effect on overall protein synthesis is noted suggests that the synthesis of specific enzymes may be involved. Certain complications in this interpretation are discussed. The events of the third, or amplification, step of estrogen action arise as a consequence of the first two events, and appear to include a number of metabolic changes which contribute to the increase in overall protein synthesis occurring between 2 and 4 hours after estrogen administration.
Identifying potential protein targets for toluene using a molecular similarity search, in silico docking and in vitro validation

The toxicity of chemicals greatly depends on their interaction with macromolecular targets. The main goal of this study was to develop an approach for predicting protein targets for chemical toxins using a molecular similarity search of toxin–target information collected in the Toxin and Toxin-Target Database. The developed method was used to identify new targets for toluene which could predict potential cellular toxicity and to validate the approach with in vitro laboratory studies. We obtained 124 potential targets for toluene from a molecular similarity search. Results were further analysed using in silico molecular docking methods. The binding of toluene to two proteins, hemoglobin and serum albumin, was validated by the measurement of binding using microscale thermophoresis. The measured binding constant between toluene and hemoglobin was 1.9 μM, while albumin demonstrated toluene-induced aggregation. These results demonstrate the applicability of an exploratory in silico toxicity tool, based on a molecular similarity search and protein–ligand docking, for identification of potential targets for chemical toxins.
Dynamic Competition with Experience Goods

This paper considers dynamic competition in the case in which consumers are only able to learn about their preferences for a certain product after experiencing it. After trying a product a consumer has more information about that product than about untried products. When competing in such a market firms with more sales in the past have an informational advantage because more consumers know their products. If products provide a better-than-expected fit with greater likelihood, taking advantage of that informational advantage may lead to an informational disadvantage in the future. This paper considers this competition with an infinite horizon model in a duopoly market with overlapping generations of consumers. Two effects are identified: On one hand marginal forward-looking consumers realize that by purchasing a product in the current period will be charged a higher expected price in the future. This effect results in reduced price sensitivity and higher equilibrium prices. On the other hand, forward-looking firms realize that they gain in the future from having a greater market share in the current period and compete more aggressively in prices. For similar discount factors for consumers and firms, the former effect is more important, and prices are higher the greater the informational advantages. The paper also characterizes oscillating market share dynamics, and comparative statics of the equilibrium with respect to consumer and firm patience, and the importance of the experience in the ex post valuation of the product.
Concepts of gene-structure and gene-action derived from tetrad analysis of Saccharomyces.

Die mit Tetradenanalyse durchgefuhrten Untersuchungen fordern eine grundsatzliche Modifikation der Mendel-Theorie. Die Experimente fuhren zur Annahme, dass das Gen eine grosse Zahl ubertragbarer Bestandteile tragt, die ringformig um das Chromosom gelagert sind. Diese Teilchen konnen bei der Reduktion ungleichmassig auf die Allele verteilt werden. Gewisse Gene werden als « Enzym-Matrizen-Gene » (enzyme-template) bezeichnet, und ihre ubertragbaren Bestandteile werden als Spiegelbilder des Substrats aufgefasst. Die Untersuchung einer multiplen Allelserie eines Enzyme-template-Gens ergab, dass das Gen nicht selbst das Enzym darstellt, sondern nur als eine Rezeptorstelle wirkt, die durch die Einwirkung des Substrats angeregt wird. Dies fuhrt zur Bildung des Enzyms.
Renal angiography in renovascular hypertension

Renal angiography continues to be the most accurate and definitive means of diagnosing renovascular hypertension. In addition to the visualization of renal arterial stenosis, it allows the assessment of the functional status of renal artery stenosis with the use of vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory agents. Furthermore, with the use of a balloon catheter and delivery of occluding agents, the angiographic technique permits nonoperative therapy for renovascular occlusive lesions.
In Search of the Grail: The Conceptual Origins of the “Encyclopedia Africana”

Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, which offers comprehensive summaries by persons of African descent about persons of African descent throughout the world, appeared in 1999, but its origins have eluded scholars. They attribute the project's idea to W. E. B. Du Bois. But archival evidence tells us the conception of such an encyclopedia emerged independently of him. Proceeding from an effort contemporaneous to Du Bois's project backward to a much earlier conception of this publishing goal reveals that the idea to publish an encyclopedia of the African diaspora was not handed down by members of its intellectual elite but bubbled up to meet the needs of their ordinary lives.
A bayesian test for a two‐way contingency table using independence priors

One method of testing for independence in a two-way table is based on the Bayes factor, the ratio of the likelihoods under the independence hypothesis H and the alternative hypothesis H. The main difficulty in this approach is the specification of prior distributions on the composite hypotheses H and H. A new Bayesian test statistic is constructed by using a prior distribution on H that is concentrated about the “independence surface” H. Approximations are proposed which simplify the computation of the test statistic. The values of the Bayes factor are compared with values of statistics proposed by Gunel and Dickey (1974), Good and Crook (1987), and Spiegelhalter and Smith (1982) for a number of two-way tables. This investigation suggests a strong relationship between the new statistic and the p-value. Une des methodes pour tester l'independance dans un tableau 2 × 2 est basee sur le facteur de Bayes, c'est-a-dire le rapport des vraisemblances sous l'hypothese d'independance, H, et d'hypothese alternative H. Suivant cette approche, on doit specifier des lois a priori sous les hypotheses composees H et H, cela represente une difficulte importante. Un nouveau test bayesien est construit. On utilise une loi a priori sous H qui est concentree autour de la “surface d'independance” H. Des approximations permettant de simplifier le calcul de la statistique sont proposees. Pour divers tableaux 2x2, les valeurs du facteur de Bayes sont comparees aux valeurs de statistiques proposees par Gunel et Dickey (1974), Good et Crook (1987) et Spiegelhalter et Smith (1982). Cette comparaison suggere qu'il y une forte relation entre la nouvelle statistique et la probabilite de depassement.
Cultural Expectations of One's Own and Other Nations' Foreign Policy Action Templates

One useful conceptualization of culture is that of a preestablished set of behavioral competencies, which in turn form behavioral dispositions. According to this variant of culture theory, decision-makers faced with new situations will rely on established behavioral competencies in forming an initial policy response. This assumption can also be applied at the nation-state level, where established behavioral predispositions may lessen uncertainty and stress in ambiguous yet salient foreign policy situations. Likewise, observers in one nation-state may be able to identify such behavioral dispositions in other nation-states, lending greater transparency and predictability to international interactions. Do such culturally based action templates exist? Are they recognizable even to ordinary citizens? Citizens in Russia, Japan, and the United States were asked to posit the most likely and least likely behavioral responses to a variety of foreign policy situations by their own nation and by the other two nations in the sample. The results indicate that recognition of such templates takes place, and that recognition of one nation's template content by citizens of the other nations typically matches recognition of template content by the nation's own citizens. The research also shows that such action templates can be eroded and become unrecognizable over time, both to insiders and to outsiders.
THE CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS HYPOTHESIS AND SPELLING ERRORS

The implications of three versions of the contrastive analysis hypothesis (CAH) are explored. The strong and weak forms are rejected in favor of a more moderate version which predicts the results of a spelling error analysis on the dictation section of the UCLA placement examination in English as a second language. Spelling errors of foreign students whose native language employed a Roman alphabet (Group H) were compared with spelling errors of foreign students whose native language used some non-Roman system (Group NR). An analysis of covariance with non-spelling errors as the covariate, and spelling errors as the dependent variable showed NR superior to R (p < .025) with a significantly smaller percentage of spelling errors. These results support a more moderate CAH which predicts that spelling errors are based on “interference” of similar patterns due to false generalizations.
Dipole transition strengths in Ba + from Rydberg fine-structure measurements in Ba and Ba +

The fine structure of high-$L$ $n$ $=$ $19$ and $20$ Rydberg states of Ba${}^{+}$ has been measured precisely using the resonant excitation Stark ionization spectroscopy technique, allowing for a determination of the Ba${}^{2+}$ polarizability: ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{D}$(Ba${}^{2+}$) $=$ $10.75(10)$ a.u. This result, in combination with an improved model of the $K$ splittings in Ba Rydberg levels, allows for a more precise determination of the Ba${}^{+}$ dipole transition strengths connecting the $6$$ {}^{2}{S}_{1/2}$ ground state to the $6$$ {}^{2}{P}_{1/2}$ and $6$$ {}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ excited states. The results, in atomic units, are $\ensuremath{\langle}$$6$$ {}^{2}{S}_{1/2} ||D|| 6 {}^{2}{P}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rangle}$ $=$ $3.3251(21)$ and $\ensuremath{\langle}$6$ {}^{2}{\mathrm{S}}_{1/2} ||D|| 6 {}^{2}{P}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rangle}$ $=$ $4.7017(27)$.
Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of fentanyl analogs

Natural abundance carbon-13 chemical shifts are reported for the hydrochloride salts of fentanyl (1a) and fifteen analogs. The signals are assigned on the basis of chemical shift theory, SFORD multiplicities, signal intensities, comparisons with model compounds, and thiophene carbon-proton coupling constants. In addition to its forensic value, the data suggest that the solution conformations of the analogs are similar to that of fentanyl hydrochloride.
Electronic Equalization of Fiber Optic Links

The days when optical fiber was viewed as having unlimited capacity have come to an end due to the steady growth in demand for bandwidth. Dispersion, noise and nonlinearities pose substantial channel impairments that need to be overcome. As a result, over the last decade, signal processing has emerged as a key technology to the advancement of low-cost high data rate optical communication systems. The unrelenting progress of semiconductor technology exemplified by Moore's Law provides an efficient platform for implementing signal processing techniques in the electrical domain leading to what is known as electronic dispersion compensation (EDC). In this paper, we provide an overview of some of the driving factors that limit the performance of optical links and provide a design example of an MLSE-based receiver for 10 Gb/sec long haul links.
Acute Hemorrhage Related to a Residual Cervical Pregnancy: Management with Curettage, Tamponade, and Cerclage

Cervical ectopic pregnancy is uncommon, with no universally accepted protocol for conservative management of acute hemorrhage due to residual cervical ectopic pregnancy. Herein is presented the case of a 33-year-old woman with profuse vaginal bleeding 3 months after receiving treatment including intraamniotic potassium chloride injection, systemic methotrexate, and uterine artery embolization because of a cervical ectopic pregnancy. A residual cervical pregnancy was suspected. Hemorrhage was controlled using curettage, tamponade with a Bakri balloon, and cerclage. The balloon and cerclage were removed on postoperative day 2, with no recurrence of symptoms. Our experience suggests that a combination of curettage, balloon tamponade, and cerclage may be considered in the management of cervical ectopic pregnancies with acute hemorrhage, in particular in patients desiring future childbearing.
Some Further Notes on Franz Boas' Arctic Expedition

BECAUSE Franz Boas' field trip to the Eskimo in 1883-4 was so important in shaping his career and thus, indirectly, in shaping the development of American anthropology, facts regarding it have had a particular interest for those concerned with the earlier currents of American anthropological theory and method. This interest was apparent in the fact that a considerable proportion of the private comments I have received as a result of the publication of my biography of Boas have had to do with this point. One of these responses was from the late Dr. Ernst P. Boas, who first wrote me (on October 28, 1953) giving excerpts from a contemporary letter of his father's bearing on the point, and later sent a copy of the full German text of this letter. It will be remembered that in discussing the point, I quoted Ruth Benedict (Herskovits 1953:9) as stating that Boas went to the Arctic "specifically to study the reaction of the human mind to the natural environment."' I cited this as an instance of the customary explanation, which I termed "apocryphal," that Boas' intent was to study the influence of culture on color perception in terms of Eskimo ideas of the color of sea water. Marian Smith (1954) has pointed out that Benedict's statement was a direct quotation-though it was not given as such-from an article by Boas published in The Nation in 1938.
Double Porosity Finite Element Method for Borehole Modeling

This paper considers the mechanical and hydraulic response around an arbitrary oriented borehole drilled in a naturally fractured formation. The formation is treated as a double porosity medium consisting of the primary rock matrix as well as the fractured systems, which are each distinctly different in porosity and permeability. The poro-mechanical formulations that couple matrix and fracture deformations as well as fluid flow aspects are presented. A double porosity and double permeability finite element solution for any directional borehole drilled in the fractured porous medium is given. Compared with conventional single-porosity analyses, the proposed double-porosity solution has a larger pore pressure in the matrix and a smaller tensile stress in the near-wellbore region. The effects of time, fracture, mud weight, and borehole inclination in the double-porosity solution are parametrically studied to develop a better understanding of physical characteristics governing borehole problems.