cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene therapies for transfusion dependent β-thalassemia: Current status and critical criteria for success.

Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent monogenic diseases most frequently caused by quantitative defects in the production of β-globin leading to severe anemia. Technological advances in genome sequencing, stem cell selection, viral vector development, transduction and gene-editing strategies now allow for efficient ex-vivo genetic manipulation of human stem cells that can lead to correction leading to a meaningful clinical benefit in thalassemia patients. In this review, the status of the gene-therapy approaches available for transfusion dependent thalassemia are discussed, along with the critical criteria that affect efficacy and lessons that have been learned from the early phase trials. Salient steps necessary for the clinical development, manufacturing, and regulatory approvals of gene therapies for thalassemia are also highlighted, so that the potential of these therapies can be realized. It is highly anticipated that gene therapies will soon become a treatment option for patients lacking compatible donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplant and will offer an alternative for definitive treatment of β- thalassemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Atrial fibrillation and atrial cardiomyopathies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia among adults. While there have been incredible advances in the management of AF and its clinical sequelae, investigation of atrial cardiomyopathies (ACM) is becoming increasingly more prominent. ACM refers to the electromechanical changes-appreciated sub-clinically and/or clinically-that underlie atrial dysfunction and create an environment ripe for the development of clinically apparent AF. There are several subtypes of ACM, distinguished by histologic features. Recent progress in cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiography with speckle-tracking (e.g. strain analysis), cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and atrial 4-D flow CMR, has enabled increased recognition of ACM. Identification of ACM and its features carry clinical implications, including elevating a patient's risk for development of AF, as well as associations with outcomes related to catheter-based and surgical AF ablation. In this review, we explore the definition and classifications of ACM, its complex relationship with clinical AF, imaging modalities, and clinical implications. We propose next steps for a more unified approach to ACM recognition that can direct further research into this complex field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
INTERNAL COLONIALISM AND THE DISCIPLINE OF COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IN IRAN

This essay studies the history, current, and future status of the discipline of comparative literature in Iran. It compares the theoretical norms of contemporary comparative literature to the Pre-modern Perso-Islamic notion of “comparison,” which has been theorized in Iran and the Arab World as the Arabic, Islamic, and Iranian schools of comparative literature. The article highlights profound institutional and canonical Perso-Shi’a centrism in Iranian academia, and shows how the discipline of comparative literature has been used as a vehicle for transnationalism of this Perso-Shi’a centrism that has manifested in “Persianate World” in the context of European and North American academia. Marshall Hodgson’s 1960s neologism “Persianate World” has been placed with the paradigm shifts ushered in by the linguistic and cultural turns of the 1970s, the postcolonial scholarship that grew from Edward Said’s Orientalism in the late 1990s, and Sheldon Pollock’s formulation of a ‘Sanskrit cosmopolis’ in the 21st century. The article explains how the Persianate comparatists, under the banner of postcolonial studies, not only erased the experience of the subaltern and internally colonialized non-Persians of Iran in favor of the Middle Eastern states in a binary matrix (Western Imperialism versus a “colonialized” Islamic world), but also represents an unrealistic and exaggerated picture of the discipline to Western readers. The article further maps the conversations within the postcolonial Middle East about “internal colonialism,” as an analytic tool for thinking about operations and interlocking systems of power in the Middle East and abroad, here applied to the discipline of comparative literature for the first time.
From Legal Binaries to Configurations: Muslim Women's Rights Activism in South Asia

There are many misunderstandings about the Quran in regard to women's rights. Islam is not an obstacle toward the realisation of women's rights. The conservative clergy is! – Shaista Amber, AIMWPLB The postcolonial state needs to codify the Quran from a secular point of view so as to undermine misogynist interpretations of Muslim Family Law in the courts. – Naish Hasan, BMMA Once women understand their Islamic rights, they will also understand their rights as citizens. – Shehnaz Sidrat, Bazme Khawateen These voices belong to three prominent Muslim women activists based in the city of Lucknow. Lucknow is the capital of the north Indian state Uttar Pradesh, not far from the Nepal border, and home to a sizeable Muslim minority. Within the last decade, the city has – like no other Indian city – witnessed a proliferation of Muslim women's rights activists and accompanying womenled networks. These diverse groups are demanding gender justice from various religious perspectives within the framework of Islam. In their endeavour for justice, they reference both the Indian Constitution and the authority of the Quran in order to claim their rights as Muslim women and as citizens of India – home to the world's second-largest Muslim population. Their bold readings of the sacred texts challenge the dominant monolithic orthodox interpretations of women's rights concerning property, inheritance, education, divorce, and bodily integrity. According to these activists, the orthodox interpretations that were traditionally endorsed by Muslim India's powerful religious authorities, especially those affiliated with the all-national All India Muslim Personal Law Board, are directly linked to much of the dire economic, political, legal, and social realities faced by Muslim women in South Asia. Employing women-friendly interpretations of Muslim doctrine and tradition – derived from both secular and non-secular sources – these women are proactively stretching the boundaries of gender-appropriate activities within the public space. These innovative activists are leading rallies in major cities, drafting their own Muslim marriage contracts ( nikahnama ), solemnising weddings, dissolving marriages, engaging in dispute settlements, and participating in political debates.
Nanosecond Spectroscopy of Early Electron Transfers in Photosystem 1. Iron-Sulfur Cluster Fx is Reduced Within 5 Nanoseconds

The reaction-center protein complex of Photosystem 1 is comprised of the primary photo-oxidant, P700, and a triad of non-heme iron-sulfur clusters, labeled FX, FA and FB. Clusters FA and FB have been assigned to a 8.9 kDa polypeptide associated with PSl and are (4Fe-4S) structures exhibiting reduction potentials of -540mV and -590mV respectively [1]. Recent EXAFS studies suggest that Center Fx is also a 4Fe-4S cluster [2], although the esr spectrum and reduction potential for this species (~-720mV) is anomalous for four iron clusters.
Influence of the neuronal environment on the pattern of reactive astrocytosis following cerebral ischemia.

Publisher Summary The specific neuronal environment in which astrocytes are located determines not only their morphology but also many of their metabolic properties. The influence of the neuronal environment on reactive astrocytosis is explored in a number of animal models, including trauma, demyelination, and toxic-metabolic injury. Several general findings emerged from these studies: astrocytic hypertrophy precedes, and is more pronounced than astrocyte hyperplasia; increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity are not necessarily associated with increases in protein content; and astrocyte hypertrophy can occur in seemingly non-damaged brain at sites remote from the injury. Cerebral ischemia provides a unique opportunity to study neuronal-astrocytic interaction in brain injury since global ischemia produces neuronal necrosis in selectively vulnerable brain areas. Regional differences in the astrocytic response, therefore, are likely to be due to differences in their neuronal environment since astrocytes throughout the cerebral hemispheres experience a uniform ischemic insult. The chapter presents the studies designed to determine if the early proliferative response of astrocytes indicates increased metabolic activity and offers possible protection from ischemic-induced neuronal injury.
Regulation of Protein Degradation in Plants

The dynamic state of proteins in higher plants has been known since the 1930s (1). The importance of protein degradation during seed germination and seedling establishment that allows utilization of proteinaceous reserves in seeds has been appreciated for some time and the study of this process has advanced significantly (2, 3). Although much work remains, for some seed storage proteins current studies in this area now focus on specific proteases and their cleavage specificity on native substrates (4, 5, 6, 7). In contrast, our understanding of the molecular details of protein degradation and more importantly its regulation, in other aspects of plant metabolism, is less advanced. However, protein degradation is equally important in these other processes. An explanation for this discrepancy might be the greater complexity of proteolytic pathways, substrates and regulatory mechanisms operating both within a species and among higher plants compared to the process of seed storage protein degradation. In the latter case, even with a lower diversity of substrates, a battery of proteinases is required. This review will highlight the complexity of in vivo proteolysis.
3-Hydroxy bile acid dehydrogenase from Escherichia freundii.

The utilization of bile acids as carbon sources by enteric bacteria has been frequently observed although the metabolic pathways of utilization have not been elaborated. One attempt in this direction has been reported by Halperin et al. (1954) who obtained the oxidation of cholic acid to 3-ketocholanic acid by the use of preparations of a species of Nocardia treated with a Hughes press. Earlier investigations of bile acid metabolism have been extensively reviewed by Haslewood (1955). Preliminary experiments had established that soluble extracts of Escherichia freundii can carry out the reversible dehydrogenation of a group of 3a-hydroxy bile acids (Hayaishi et al., 1955; Jakoby and Tomkins, 1956). The present report is an account of the partial purification and characterization of an enzyme, 3-hydroxy bile acid dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the following reaction :2
Cost And Economic Analysis For PACS, A Tutorial

In order to better understand the potential viability of Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) as an addition to the operating environment of hospitals and clinics, the cost and economic implications of these systems must be evaluated. This paper discusses some key cost-related concepts basic to such an analysis.
Caroline Elementary School’s hybrid garden: a case study in social marketing

Purpose – This study aims to examine the installation of a garden at an elementary school. Bringing in elements of healthy eating choices, the local food movement and social marketing implications for all stakeholders, this study examines the genesis and launch of the garden and related activities. It reviews initial results, again with an eye to different stakeholder groups. Design/methodology/approach – The case study methodology was applied. Findings – The case study method provides some depth of detail to a unique and specific circumstance. As such it allows bringing together so many streams of the literature in a social marketing context and illuminates how and why such an installation works (and does not work). Research limitations/implications – This analysis focuses on a specific example, in a specific location and at a specific time. While potentially extendable, any such attempt should be made with care. Practical implications – Social marketing installations are hard. This example demonstrates ...
Settable Systems: An Extension of Pearl's Causal Model with Optimization, Equilibrium, and Learning

Judea Pearl's Causal Model is a rich framework that provides deep insight into the nature of causal relations. As yet, however, the Pearl Causal Model (PCM) has had a lesser impact on economics or econometrics than on other disciplines. This may be due in part to the fact that the PCM is not as well suited to analyzing structures that exhibit features of central interest to economists and econometricians: optimization, equilibrium, and learning. We offer the settable systems framework as an extension of the PCM that permits causal discourse in systems embodying optimization, equilibrium, and learning. Because these are common features of physical, natural, or social systems, our framework may prove generally useful for machine learning. Important features distinguishing the settable system framework from the PCM are its countable dimensionality and the use of partitioning and partition-specific response functions to accommodate the behavior of optimizing and interacting agents and to eliminate the requirement of a unique fixed point for the system. Refinements of the PCM include the settable systems treatment of attributes, the causal role of exogenous variables, and the dual role of variables as causes and responses. A series of closely related machine learning examples and examples from game theory and machine learning with feedback demonstrates some limitations of the PCM and motivates the distinguishing features of settable systems.
Bronchoconstriction and delayed rapid shallow breathing induced by cigarette smoke inhalation in anesthetized rats.

Bronchomotor and ventilatory responses to inhalation of cigarette smoke (50% concentration, 6 ml) were studied in anesthetized and vagotomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Low-nicotine cigarette smoke did not cause any detectable delayed response, whereas high-nicotine cigarette smoke induced rapid, shallow breathing, and a marked increase in airway resistance (RL). The increase in f reached a peak (Δf=43±8%) at the 5th breath after the onset of smoke inhalation, preceding both the decrease in VT (ΔVT=−27±4%) and the increase in RL (ΔRL=89±19%); the latter 2 reached their peaks at approximately the 10th breath, displaying a similar temporal pattern of responses between them. The bronchomotor response to high-nicotine cigarette smoke was slightly attenuated but not prevented by prior administration of isoproterenol (0.2 mg/kg, intravenously [iv]), nor was the smoke-induced rapid, shallow breathing. In contrast, prior administration of mecamylamine (0.9 mg/kg, iv) completely abolished both the bronchomotor and ventilatory responses to smoke inhalation, indicating that nicotine is the primary causative agent responsible for these changes.
Microsomal activation of thioacetamide-S-oxide to a metabolite(s) that covalently binds to calf thymus DNA and other polynucleotides

Abstract In the presence of NADPH liver microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-pretreated rats catalyze the conversion of [3H]thioacetamide-S-oxide to a reactive intermediate(s) which covalently binds to calf thymus DNA, calf liver RNA, polyguanylic acid (poly(G)) and polyadenylic acid (poly(A)). The highest level of binding of radioactivity was obtained with poly(G), followed by poly(A), RNA and DNA. The incorporation of radioactivity into DNA was linear for 30 min and there was a requirement for NADPH for time-dependent covalent binding to occur. Performing the microsomal incubations in an atmosphere of 80% CO/20% O2 or adding partially purified anti cytochrome P-450 immune serum to the microsomal incubations inhibited the total metabolism of thioacetamide-S-oxide and had a small, but insignificant, inhibitory effect on binding of radioactivity to calf thymus DNA. Using a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing cytochrome P-450 purified from phenobarbital-treated rats we were unable to detect any metabolism of thioacetamide-S-oxide. Only background levels of radioactivity were incorporated into calf thymus DNA when microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rats were incubated with [3H]thioacetamide in the presence of NADPH. These results suggest that thioacetamide-S-oxide is an obligatory intermediate in the metabolic activation of thioacetamide to a reactive metabolite(s) which binds to calf thumus DNA.
Measurements of the polarization of radiation emitted by fast argon ions scattered by adsorbates on surfaces

The circular polarization of radiation emitted by fast Ar ions in the 4p'2F72 state was measured following near-grazing collisions with a surface. Under uhv conditions, at 60 keV incident ion energy, the relative Stokes parameter SI = 0.38, but with N2 and H2 gases present and adsorbed on the surface, SI = 0.25 and 0.30, respectively. The original polarization was recovered following removal of the gases. These gas-specific, reversible polarization changes are interpreted in terms of formation and orientation of the fast ion state by a final collision involving electron capture from the adsorbates.
The effect of verapamil is reduced in isolated airway smooth muscle preparations lacking the epithelium.

The effect of epithelium removal on the reactivity of rabbit airway smooth muscle to bronchoactive agents and on the effect of verapamil was studied in vitro using preparations from several levels within the respiratory tree, i.e., trachea, primary (10) and secondary (20) bronchus. Methacholine contracted tissues from all three levels of airway. Histamine contracted strips from 20 bronchus, had an inconsistent action in strips from 10 bronchus and was without effect in tracheal preparations. K+ contracted tissues from the trachea and 10 bronchus, and had a mixed action in 20 bronchial strips. Removal of the epithelial cell layer variably affected the reactivity of the smooth muscle to the three agents studied. In 20 bronchus, epithelium removal potentiated responses to histamine and methacholine. In 10 bronchus, only responses to methacholine were consistently augmented. In tracheal preparations epithelium removal did not alter the reactivity of the tissue to any agent examined. Verapamil (1 microM) attenuated responses to all agents and increased in its potency from tracheal through 10 to 20 bronchial preparations. Following epithelium removal, verapamil was substantially less effective in 20 bronchi, yet its effects were unchanged in the trachea. The results indicate that the epithelial cell layer modulates airway smooth muscle reactivity; this phenomenon is apparently widespread in mammals, the modulatory effect is more prominent in the smaller airways, and the magnitude of the effect of verapamil on airway smooth muscle is, in part, related to the presence of the epithelium.
A probabilistic graphical model for brand reputation assessment in social networks

Social media has become a popular platform that connects people who share information, in particular personal opinions. Through such a fast information exchange mechanism, reputation of individuals, consumer products, or business companies can be quickly built up within a social network. Recently, applications mining social network data start emerging to find the communities sharing the same interests for marketing purposes. Knowing the reputation of social network entities, such as celebrities or business companies, can help develop better strategies for election campaigns or new product advertisements. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic graphical model to collectively measure reputations of entities in social networks. By collecting and analyzing large amount of user activities on Facebook, our model can effectively and efficiently rank entities, such as presidential candidates, professional sport teams, musician bands, and companies, based on their social reputation. The proposed model produces results largely consistent with the two publicly available systems - movie ranking in Internet Movie Database and business school ranking by the US news & World Report - with the correlation coefficients of 0.75 and -0.71, respectively.
Functionalities of Web Archives

The functionalities that are important to the users of web archives range from basic searching and browsing to advanced personalized and customized services, data mining, and website reconstruction. The author examined ten of the most established English language web archives to determine which functionalities each of the archives supported, and how they compared. A functionality checklist was designed, based on use cases created by the International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC), and the findings of two related user studies. The functionality review was conducted, along with a comprehensive literature review of web archiving methods, in preparation for the development of a web archiving course for Library and Information School students. This paper describes the functionalities used in the checklist, the extent to which those functionalities are implemented by the various archives, and discusses the author's findings.
PS(B2Π → X2Π) chemiluminescence from Alkali-PSCl3 reactions

Abstract The reaction between alkali vapors and PSCl 3 produces PS(B 2 Π → X 2 Π) chemiluminescence.
Investigators' assessment of NIH mandated inclusion of women and minorities in research

Background While investigators were concerned about the impact of mandated inclusion of minorities and women on the conduct of research, there has been little subsequent assessment of investigator views on the effectiveness of the mandate in achieving gender and racial/ethnic research diversity. We describe investigators' assessment of the impact of the mandate on inclusion of women and minorities in research.
Observation of Raman resonance of a probe in a Rb cell added to an Ethane-Rb laser for realizing a superluminal laser

We report sub-natural linewidth Raman resonance for a probe applied to an auxiliary Rb cell added to an Ethane-Rb laser as a key step towards realizing a superluminal ring laser for ultrasensitive gyroscopy and accelerometry.
Reimplantation of a total elbow prosthesis following resection arthroplasty for infection.

Background: The best approach for treatment of infection after total elbow arthroplasty is not clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with reimplantation of a total elbow prosthesis following a prior resection arthroplasty to treat infection. Methods: Between 1976 and 2003 at our institution, twenty-nine patients were treated with reimplantation of a total elbow prosthesis after a prior resection arthroplasty following a deep periprosthetic infection. Eleven of the twenty-nine patients had had at least one procedure performed on the elbow prior to the primary arthroplasty. The mean time interval between the resection arthroplasty and the reimplantation was 72.5 weeks. Patients were followed for an average of 7.4 years after the reimplantation. All patients were assessed clinically, and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The mean total Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was 35.5 points (range, 15 to 60 points) before the reimplantation and 66.3 points (range, 20 to 100 points) postoperatively (p < 0.001). The most common infecting organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was present in thirteen (45%) of the twenty-nine elbows, followed by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, which was present in seven (24%). The infection was not eradicated in eight elbows (28%). Conclusions: Reimplantation of a total elbow prosthesis after a prior resection arthroplasty is a reasonable option for the treatment of infection. Improvement in function can be expected in most patients. However, the chance of the infection recurring and requiring additional revision surgery is high. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Stellar black holes in globular clusters

Following the discovery of X-ray sources in globular clusters, the accretion of matter onto a central massive black hole was suggested as a possible explanation. Subsequently, it was found that these sources could be readily explained by thermonuclear instabilities on neutron-star surfaces and the black-hole models were abandoned. We show here, however, that the recent discovery of large populations of millisecond pulsars—and hence neutron stars—in globular clusters implies that several hundred stellar black holes (of about ten solar masses) should form within a typical cluster. In clusters of high central density, we find that the rapid dynamical evolution of the black-hole population will cause ejection of nearly all of the holes on a relatively short time-scale. But in systems of intermediate density, some of the surviving holes may capture a normal star to form a low-mass X-ray binary. We suggest that there may be one or more such binaries in the globular clusters surrounding our Galaxy. These systems will be quiescent most of the time—with only occasional X-ray outbursts—but future observations of the hard X-ray spectrum may indirectly establish their existence.
Genomer--a Swiss army knife for genome scaffolding.

The increasing accessibility and reduced costs of sequencing has made genome analysis accessible to more and more researchers. Yet there remains a steep learning curve in the subsequent computational steps required to process raw reads into a database-deposited genome sequence. Here we describe “Genomer,” a tool to simplify the manual tasks of finishing and uploading a genome sequence to a database. Genomer can format a genome scaffold into the common files required for submission to GenBank. This software also simplifies updating a genome scaffold by allowing a human-readable YAML format file to be edited instead of large sequence files. Genomer is written as a command line tool and is an effort to make the manual process of genome scaffolding more robust and reproducible. Extensive documentation and video tutorials are available at http://next.gs.
The square pyramid puzzle

(1990). The Square Pyramid Puzzle. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 97, No. 2, pp. 120-124.
C19 adrenal steroids enhance prostaglandin F2α output by human endometrium in vitro

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate significantly increased prostaglandin F 2α output by fragments of human secretory endometrium during the first and second 24-hour periods of incubation in Ham's F-10 medium containing 10% charcoal-treated calf bovine serum. The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were noted at 10 −6 mol/L concentrations, which are close to the normal plasma levels of this compound. For the purpose of comparison, the effects of estradiol at 10 −8 mol/L and those of unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone acetate, 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol, or 5α-dihydrotestosterone were evaluated at 10 −8 to 10 −6 mol/L concentrations in parallel experiments. All of the Δ 5 -C 19 steroids tested enhanced prostaglandin F 2α output at 10 −6 mol/L but not at 10 −6 mol/L; 5α-dihydrotestosterone was inactive at 10 −6 mol/L but showed a stimulatory effect at 10 −5 mol/L in two experiments. The stimulation of prostaglandin F 2α production by the adrenal steroids was significantly reduced by the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen at 10 −6 mol/L (a finding consistent with the reported utilization of the estrogen receptor for their actions on other systems) but was not affected by the antiandrogen 4-hydroxyflutamide at 10 −6 mol/L. Progesterone (10 −7 mol/L) also lowered the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (10 −6 mol/L) and 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol (10 −6 mol/L), as well as those of estradiol (10 −6 mol/L). Δ 5 -C 19 steroids at 10 −6 mol/L levels did not antagonize the effect of 10 −6 mol/L estradiol, whereas 5α-dihydrotestosterone reduced it by 50% at these concentrations. The significant effect of 5α-dihydrotestosterone points to potential antiestrogenic effects of the C 19 compounds that may be manifested in vivo at particular C 19 /estradiol concentration ratios. The demonstration of direct estrogenic effects of Δ 5 -C 19 steroids, which are not significantly converted to estrogens in vivo, justifies their use in estrogen replacement preparations and indicates that aromatase inhibitors may not eliminate completely the stimulation of estrogen-responsive breast and endometrial tumors by the patient's adrenal steroids.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated with Aripiprazole

Metabolic adverse effects such as hyperglycemia, alterations in insulin sensitivity, and weight gain are known to be potential complications of atypical antipsychotic therapy. In certain cases, hyperglycemia may be so profound that diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperosmolar coma may result. Aripiprazole, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2002, appears to have fewer metabolic adverse effects than other atypical antipsychotics. We describe a 44-year-old man with no personal or family history of diabetes mellitus who was prescribed aripiprazole for schizoaffective disorder. Two weeks after starting this therapy, the patient developed DKA, which was corrected with insulin therapy and aggressive hydration. According to the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, aripiprazole was the probable trigger of his DKA. An exhaustive search for other causes of DKA was unrevealing. Administration of aripiprazole or any other atypical antipsychotic should be terminated when impaired glucose tolerance is suspected. Vigilance regarding the potential adverse effects of this class of drugs, including new agents such as aripiprazole, is crucial to preventing potentially life-threatening complications of hyperglycemia.
A Predictive Model for Adsorptive Gas Partitioning of SOCs on Fine Atmospheric Inorganic Dust Particles

The adsorptive gas/particle (G/P) partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) on inorganic Arizona road dust was studied using outdoor Teflon film chambers. Physicochemical parameters from SOC molecular structural information were implemented to describe nonspecific and specific interactions relating to G/P adsorption. Experimental partitioning data were successfully interpreted using physicochemical parameters such as vapor pressure, molecular polarizability, and solute solvation. To evaluate the effect of surface functional groups on the adsorptive G/P partitioning of SOCs, untreated and baked Arizona road dust particles were used. The partitioning coefficients, Kp, for a range of different SOCs on baked dust particles and on untreated dust particles were measured from simultaneous experiments in two outdoor Teflon film chambers that were operated at the same temperature and humidity conditions. Kp values for the two different surface properties of untreated and baked particles were better pre...
Measurement of activity in small animals using a microcomputer-controlled system

A computer-controlled system that detects spontaneous activity (locomotion and rearing) and diurnal activity rhythms in small animals is described. Automatic recording of subtotals during test periods provides data about habituation (nonassociative learning). The system is relatively inexpensive to construct. Fabricated from highly reliable circuit components, it provides replicable measures that enable comparisons between different experimental treatments to be made using parametric statistics.
Using District Magnitude to Regulate Political Party Competition

This is an essay about the use of districting systems to regulate electoral outcomes and the evolution of party systems. By changing the number of seats from each district, a balance can be struck between the often conflicting goals of minority representation and defractionalization. Defractionalization is the process of forming broad-based governing majorities. Special attention is given to the electoral systems of Italy, Spain, and the United States. In the case of the United States, the author recommends a proportional representation system that mixes high-magnitude districts that encourage minority representation and low-magnitude districts that promote defractionalization.
A general equilibrium model of heterogeneous local property taxes

Abstract A formal model of an economy consisting of many production centres, each of which levies property taxes at a different rate, is developed and analyzed. In the context of the model, it is shown that holders of capital may have either a positive or negative willingness to pay for a heterogenous system of taxes relative to a uniform tax which raises the same revenue. Particular emphasis is placed on interpretation of the ‘new view’ of the property tax in light of this and other results which derive from the model.
Consolidated states of dilation in granular material: Experimental investigation and comparison of rheological properties

Abstract The intention of this study was to investigate the consolidation states of dilation of granular material with respect to mechanical shear, size and component fraction, geometry and scale of the processing equipment. Dilation of pharmaceutical powders and mixtures was measured in a rotating drum at various speeds of rotation (10, 15, 20, 25 rpm). It was interesting to note that the dilation did not change with an increase in the rotational rate of the cylinder. Furthermore, studies carried out in various sizes of cylinders showed that the dilation was poor in the lower and higher volume of cylinder. An optimum volume of the cylinder with highest dilation was found to exist in the middle scale. Decrease or increase in the cylinder volume hindered the dilation of powder. Lubricated blends exhibited higher bed density than the non-lubricated blends, and therefore showed lower dilation. More interestingly, higher dilation was achieved at 35–45% of fill level of cylinder. Any further increase or decrease of powder fill level beyond this range drastically decreased the ability of powders to dilate. Eventually, dilation of powders decreased with increased in powder bed density. Cohesive materials when mixed with free flowing powders could improve the flowability (reduced dilation) only when they constituted 40–60% of blend composition. Percentage of free flowing material below this composition was found to be ineffective in reducing the dilation.
Synthesis of protein and other cell substances from acetic acid in isolated bone marrow.

Abstract Carboxyl labelled acetic acid has been used to study the synthetic processes occurring in isolated bone marrow—slices and homogenates. The labelled carbon was rapidly incorporated into protein and phospholipid, more slowly into nucleic acids. The rate of protein synthesis parallelled the respiratory rate. All of the C 14 in the protein was in carboxyl groups, with the major site being the carboxyl groups of glutamic and aspartic acids—particularly the γ-carboxyl group of glutamic acid.
How does civil society thicken? the political construction of social capital in rural Mexico

Abstract The growth of the building-block organizations of an autonomous civil society in an authoritarian environment depends on the “political construction” of social capital. Social capital can be coproduced by state and local societal actors or by the interaction of local societal actors and external actors in civil society. Social capital may also be produced from below, but external allies still turn out to be crucial in the ability of such organizations to survive. An examination of variety in political dynamics across different regions and over time in rural Mexico provides ample illustration of these general points.
Ion channels: Cooperativity in twin gatings.

Patch-clamp fluorometry measurements of cAMP binding and channel opening combined with global kinetic fitting revealed that ligand binding to the tetrameric hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated channel is favored at the second and fourth binding events.
Error Climatology of the 80-Wave Medium-Range Forecast Model

A climatology of the once-daily (0000 UTC) 1000-hPa error fields of the National Meteorological Center's 80-wave Medium-Range Forecast (MRF) model is studied. An analysis of the error field has been conducted over the contiguous United States and over the Northern Hemisphere from 20° to 80°N for three warm and four cool seasons (9 September 1987 to 6 March 1991). Temporal and spatial mean error fields over various integration lengths are presented. The skill, as measured by the anomaly correlation, has not significantly changed over the lifetime of the 80-wave MRF model. Anomaly correlation values at 1000 hPa and 500 hPa show that the model is retaining useful information about the anomalies in the height field out to about one week. A reduction in the model biases may reflect an improvement in model physics (longwave radiational calculations, etc). The cool and warm seasons have distinctly different spatial error patterns. The 1000-hPa warm season shows spurious height falls over the southwestern United States that grow with increasing integration length. The 1000-hPa cool season underestimates the intensity of low pressure systems over and east of Hudson Bay and overestimates their strength over the Pacific Northwest. Principal components analysis of the 429-variable error covariance matrices for the cool and warm seasons identifies 6 orthogonal variables that explain over 60% of the original error variance. MRF model problems appear to be related to problems the model has with simulating the atmosphere's interaction with orographic features (Alberta and Colorado Rockies), storm tracks and baroclinic zones (Gulf Stream region and United States-Canadian border), and persistent atmospheric features (Hudson Bay low, eastern Pacific subtropical high, and desert Southwest heat low).
Lidocaine in experimental epilepsy: correlation of anticonvulsant effect with blood concentrations

Abstract The convulsant and anticonvulsant actions of lidocaine HCI have been studied in cats with penicillin-induced epileptogenic foci. Following i.m. or i.v. administration, blood levels of 0.5–4.0 μg/ml were rapidly attained with concomitant reduction in epileptiform activity. Blood levels above 5.0 μg/ml were accompanied by cortical irritability and convulsions. These high blood levels, however, were not observed after intramuscular injection and anti-epileptic control was more predictable with i.m. injection than with i.v. infusion. In addition, the additive effects of diphenylhydantoin and lidocaine in reducing epileptiform activity are presented and possible mechanisms of anti-epileptic action discussed. Implications for neurophysiologic experiments requiring local anesthesia in awake, paralyzed animals and the possible use of lidocaine in acute convulsive disorders in man are likewise discussed.
The metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (RS)-MCPG produces hyperlocomotion in amphetamine pre-exposed rats.

It is known that, over a wide range of doses, the selective metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist, 1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid [(1S,3R)-ACPD], increases locomotion whereas the selective mGluR antagonist, (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) [(RS)-MCPG], is without effect when microinjected into the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of drug-naive rats. The present experiments determined whether these responses are altered by pre-exposing rats to a regimen of systemic amphetamine (AMPH) injections known to produce locomotor sensitization. Rats in different groups were administered four injections of saline or AMPH (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), one injection every third day. Two weeks after the last injection, rats were challenged with microinjections of either saline, (RS)-MCPG (2.5 nmole/side) or (1S,3R)-ACPD (0.5 nmole/side) into the NAcc. While (1S,3R)-ACPD increased locomotor activity when injected into the NAcc, no significant difference between saline and AMPH pre-exposed rats was observed. However, and interestingly, (RS)-MCPG which had no effect on locomotor activity when given to saline pre-exposed rats induced significantly higher locomotor activity in AMPH compared to saline pre-exposed rats. These results indicate that glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by mGluRs in the NAcc is altered by repeated systemic injections of AMPH. Such changes may ultimately position the mGluR to contribute to the expression of sensitization by AMPH as well as other psychomotor stimulant drugs.
Developments In Thermoplastic Tape For Optical Recording

The Thermoplastic-Photoconductor medium on a transparent polyester tape base is the subject of this paper. Specific areas of interest that will be covered are the use of the tape for holographic and bit serial optical data recording. The tape functions at speeds up to 30 ips and we report this performance with projections to 60 ips on both 4 mil and 1 mil substrates. High contrast reconstructions of 1-D holograms recorded on the moving tape (at a carrier frequency of 800 LP/mm) are shown as well as bit serial data bits (3 μm bits on 7 μm center) with a readout S/N of 10:1.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Personality and students' academic achievement: Interactive effects of conscientiousness and agreeableness on students' performance in principles of economics

The relationship of psychological types of agreeableness and conscientiousness and their interactive effects among students with their academic performance in the course were investigated. On the basis of data from 105 students in an introductory economics course, results indicated that conscientiousness ( r = .413), agreeableness ( r = .335), and interaction of agreeableness and conscientiousness ( r =. 364) were all significantly related to students' performance in the course. Consistently with our expectations, students high in conscientiousness and agreeableness performed better than did those low in conscientiousness and agreeableness. Implications and directions for future research are noted.
Attending, house officer, and medical student perceptions about teaching in the third-year medical school general surgery clerkship.

Background There has been declining interest in surgery among medical students and one reason might be the third-year clerkship experience. The aim of this study was to clarify the perceptions and expectations of attendings, residents, and medical students on the clerkship experience. Study design A survey was distributed to all general surgery attendings, the entire general surgery house staff, and an entire third year medical school class inclusive of the 2001–2002 academic year at a single institution. Statistic analysis consisted of chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis-ANOVA on ranks with Dunn's test for multiple comparisons. A p Results Responses were obtained from 59 attending surgeons (50%), 38 surgical residents (32%), and 107 medical students (66%). Of this student cohort, 35% were planning to choose a surgical specialty as a career. Agreement was high among faculty, students, and residents about factors considered important in evaluation, expectations of skills, and level of skills needed before the clerkship. Medical students desired more hours of instruction, believed they performed fewer procedures per week, and thought that feedback was poor compared with the opinions of faculty and residents (p 95%). Faculty believed residents did a better job teaching than either the students or residents themselves did (p Conclusions Considerable differences exist between faculty, surgical resident, and medical student perceptions and expectations of medical student education. Structured direct faculty contact, definition of medical student roles on the surgical team, and more consistent feedback can be rapidly improved.
Microtrial Methods for Translating Gene-environment Dynamics into Preventive Interventions

Genetically informed research on behavioral outcomes holds substantial promise for guiding efforts to enhance the efficacy and effectiveness of preventive interventions, but it also poses considerable challenges given the complexities of the dynamic interplay between genes and environment. This paper introduces a relatively uncommon research design, called microtrials, to provide a means of translating basic research findings into prevention trials, particularly through introducing genetic effects into prevention models. Microtrials are defined as randomized experiments testing the effects of relatively brief and focused environmental manipulations designed to suppress specific risk mechanisms or enhance specific protective mechanisms, but not to bring about full treatment or prevention effects in distal outcomes. Microtrial methods are described in detail, with discussion of their unique advantages for translating this knowledge base into prevention research. We end by raising several issues to consider when constructing genetically sensitive microtrials.
The sequencing-based typing tool of dbMHC: typing highly polymorphic gene sequences

The dbMHC resource (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mhc/sbt.cgi?cmd=main) at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has developed an online tool for evaluating the allelic composition of sequencing-based typing (SBT) results of cDNA or genomic sequences. Whether the samples are heterozygous, haploid or a combination of the two, they can be compared with two up-to-date databases of all known alleles of several human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) loci. The results of the submission are returned as a table of potential allele hits, along with the respective base changes and an interactive sequence viewer for close examination of the alignment.
Socialism after communism?: The socioeconomic and cultural foundations of left politics in post-soviet russia

Abstract This article examines socioeconomic foundations of leftist politics in post-Soviet Russia. It is often argued that the reemergence of left politics is the result of contingent factors connected to transitional crises. While this is one source of strength for the left, there are two more important and enduring sources: a “socialist value culture” among a large majority of Russians, and an emerging pseudo-capitalist system that is creating “traditional” class-based and left-leaning attitudes and affiliations among particular social groups. The article examines the extent of this value culture and the emergence of these attitudes and affiliations through an analysis of statistical data and interviews conducted with Russian workers and intelligentsia figures from 1994–1997.
Impact of gender on angiographic and clinical outcomes after fibrinolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

P studies have consistently demonstrated higher rates of in-hospital and 30-day adverse outcomes and mortality among women with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with thrombolytic therapy. However, the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying these differences in clinical outcomes has not been fully explored. Older age as well as differences in other baseline characteristics have been demonstrated to explain some of the differences. Even after adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics, however, gender still remains independently associated with mortality. Given the inability of differences in baseline characteristics to fully account for the disparities in clinical outcomes, we hypothesized that there may be underlying differences in the way men and women respond to thrombolytic administration. To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared angiographic and electrocardiographic measures of reperfusion success in men and women.