cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Productivity Growth, Inflation, and Unemployment: Are Procyclical Productivity Fluctuations a Figment of Measurement Error?

INTRODUCTION Multifactor productivity (MFP), or “Solow's residual,” exhibits pronounced procyclical fluctuations in official data for the United States, Japan, and most other countries. These procyclical fluctuations have come to play a central role in recent macroeconomic debates. They provide the modus vivendum of the real business cycle (RBC) model, as well as the basis for Robert Hall's (1986, 1988) interpretation that the procyclicality of MFP demonstrates the existence of market power and/or increasing returns. They are also cited to support recent search models which demonstrate increasing returns in the form of “thick market externalities.” Scattered through the literature of the past three decades are suggestions that the mismeasurement of output, capital input, or of labor input, might contribute to the observed procyclicality of MFP. However, each of these three mismeasurement sources was examined singly by different authors. This essay is the first to study the potential for all three sources of mismeasurement, interacting together, fully to explain the procyclicality of MFP. The essay begins with a theoretical analysis that places the potential sources of mismeasurement in an explicit technological context. Part of the observed procyclicality of MFP may indeed be due to mismeasurement, but part may represent the overhead nature of some portion of both labor and capital, due to technological indivisibilities. We set out a model that allows separate roles for several cyclical phenomena that have often been confused in the literature on procyclical MFP, including labor hoarding, variable work effort, variable capital utilization, overhead labor, and overhead capital.
Dietary intake of low socioeconomic black and Hispanic teen-age girls.

In this study, mean nutrient intake of black and Hispanic teen-age girls was lower than or close to the 1974 RDAs for all nutrients studied except protein and ascorbic acid.
Random Variables and Expectation

This chapter deals with the important concepts of random variables and expectation. When a random experiment is performed, the interest lies only in the value of some numerical quantity determined by the result. The quantities of interest that are determined by the result of the experiment are known as random variables. Its value is determined by the outcome of the experiment, it may assign probabilities of its possible values. The different types of random variables are also discussed, such as jointly distribute random variable or independent random variable. When the random variables are independent, the variance of a sum of random variables is equal to the sum of the variances. Chebyshev's inequality and the weak law of large numbers enable to derive bounds on probabilities when only the mean, or both the mean and the variance, of the probability distribution are known. The chapter also provides a practice exercise and various examples.
Microglial activation by Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein and modulation by apolipoprotein E

A role for beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) in the development of Alzheimer's disease has been indicated by genetics, and many conditions in which beta-APP is raised have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease or an Alzheimer's-like pathology. Inflammatory events may also contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Here we investigate whether a secreted derivative of beta-APP (sAPP-alpha) can induce inflammatory reactions in microglia, which are brain cells of monocytic lineage. We found that treatment with sAPP-alpha increased markers of activation in microglia and enhanced their production of neurotoxins. The ability of sAPP-alpha to activate microglia was blocked by prior incubation of the protein with apolipoprotein E3 but not apolipoprotein E4, a variant associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's. A product of amyloidogenic beta-APP processing (sAPP-beta) also activated microglia. Because sAPP-beta is deficient in the neuroprotective activity shown by sAPP-alpha, our results indicate that increased amyloidogenic processing could adversely affect the balance of sAPP activities that determine neuronal viability.
Mechanism of action of coenzyme B12. Release of 5′-deoxyinosine on incubation of deoxyinosylcobalamin, 1,2-propanediol and propanediol dehydrase

We wish to report evidence that the covalent bond in coenzyme B_(12) between the cobalt atom and the methylene group (C-5′) of the nucleoside moiety is cleaved during enzymatic conversion of 1,2-propanediol to propionaldehyde. Acquisition of a third hydrogen satisfies the valence at C-5′ created by the cobalt-C-5′ bond cleavage; C-5′ is thus converted to a methyl group. The experimental result to support this assertion is the observation that mixtures of 1,2-propanediol, propanediol dehydrase and deoxyinosylcobalamin liberate 5′-deoxyinosine to solution.
Heavy metal uptake in relation to phosphorus nutrition in Anabaena variabilis (Cyanophyceae)

Abstract In one set of experiments cells were starved of phosphorus for 5 days and then exposed to the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn separately at 10 μg g−1. In a separate set of experiments, cells subcultured and grown in complete medium for 5 days were then exposed to the metals using various experimental conditions. An electron probe was then used to determine whether the heavy metal was taken up, and, if so, its location in the cell. In no case was Cd detectable in the cells and no change occurred in the elemental composition of polyphosphate bodies. In all other cases, the metal was taken up by polyphosphate bodies by 18h. In the case of Pb, a strong signal was also obtained in cell wall sectors and a weak signal from cytoplasmic sectors. In cells exposed to Cu, an S peak was also present. The metals Cu, Pb and Zn caused a reduction or loss of the K peak and an increase in the Ca peak in polyphosphate bodies. Differences between metal exposure to phosphorus starved cultures and normal 5-day cultures were determined.
In vitro growth-inhibitory activity of pneumocandins L-733,560 and L-743,872 against putatively amphotericin B- and fluconazole-resistant Candida isolates: influence of assay conditions

L-733,560 and L-743,872 are water-soluble pneumocandins with potent antifungal activity. By beginning with the NCCLS M27-T method and varying test format (microdilution vs macrodilution), time of reading (24 h vs 48 h), and test medium (RPMI 1640 vs Antibiotic Medium 3), we have demonstrated that the MICs for these compounds can be altered significantly: the microdilution format, reading after 24 h and use of Antibiotic Medium 3 all reduced the measured MIC. No cross-resistance was demonstrated with either fluconazole or amphotericin B.
Altered phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase in brain cortical membranes of cats with GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis.

Abstract Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase were studied in brain cortical membranes from cats with GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis. In contrast to brain cortical membranes from unaffected control cats, phospholipase C acting against exogenously supplied phosphoinositide substrates did not respond to stimulation by GTPγS, carbachol or fluoroaluminate in cortical membranes of cats with gangliosidosis. However, the enzyme was activated by calcium in membranes from affected cats to the same extent as in membranes from control cats. Basal adenylyl cyclase activity was increased 3-fold in cortical membranes of cats with GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis, compared with unaffected sibling controls. Fluoroaluminate was equally effective in stimulating adenylyl cyclase in controls and in membranes of affected and normal cats. In addition, GppNHp was able to inhibit the forskolin-activated enzyme both in membranes from cats with gangliosidosis and sibling controls. These data suggest that the activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in brain membranes by guanine nucleotide binding proteins is markedly impaired in GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses.
Varicella-Zoster Virus-Specific HLA-Restricted Cytotoxicity of Normal Immune Adult Lymphocytes After in Vitro Stimulation

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cytotoxic T cell responses were studied in 35 presumably immune and two nonimmune adult donors and in two patients with herpes zoster. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were stimulated for five or 12 days with autologous, irradiated, VZV-infected PBLs. Cytotoxicity was measured in a chromium-release assay. Target cells were usually cryopreserved, phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBLs, either infected with VZV or uninfected. In testing the presumably immune adults, VZVspecific cytotoxicity was observed in 32 (91^0) of 35 cases after five days and in 19 (90^0) of 21 cases after 12 d of stimulation. Lysis of HLA-matched target cells was significantly greater than that of mismatched, VZV-infected target cells after both intervals. Responses were similar when PBLs from two patients with acute zoster were tested after in vitro stimulation and in one of those two tested without in vitro stimulation. Cell-mediated immunity appears to be important in determining the outcome of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections in humans. This conviction is based primarily on observations of the greater frequency and severity of these infections in patients with depressed cellular immunity. One laboratory parameter of cellular immunity in VZV infections is lymphocyte proliferation in response to viral antigens
The 19-amino acid cassette of cyclooxygenase-2 mediates entry of the protein into the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation system

Cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms catalyze the committed step in prostaglandin biosynthesis. The primary structures of COX-1 and COX-2 are very similar except that COX-2 has a 19-amino acid (19-AA) segment of unknown function located just inside its C terminus. Here we provide evidence that the major role of the 19-AA cassette is to mediate entry of COX-2 into the ER-associated degradation system that transports ER proteins to the cytoplasm. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in many cells, whereas COX-2 is usually expressed inducibly and transiently. In murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, we find that COX-2 protein is degraded with a half-life (t½) of about 2 h, whereas COX-1 is reasonably stable (t½ >12 h); COX-2 degradation is retarded by 26 S proteasome inhibitors. Similarly, COX-1 expressed heterologously in HEK293 cells is quite stable (t½ > 24 h), whereas COX-2 expressed heterologously is degraded with a t½ of ∼5h, and its degradation is slowed by proteasome inhibitors. A deletion mutant of COX-2 was prepared lacking 18 residues of the 19-AA cassette. This mutant retains native COX-2 activity but, unlike native COX-2, is stable in HEK293 cells. Conversely, inserting the COX-2 19-AA cassette near the C terminus of COX-1 yields a mutant ins594–612 COX-1 that is unstable (t½ ∼3 h). Mutation of Asn-594, an N-glycosylation site at the beginning of the 19-AA cassette, stabilizes both COX-2 and ins594–612 COX-1; nonetheless, COX mutants that are glycosylated at Asn-594 but lack the remainder of the 19-amino acid cassette (i.e. del597–612 COX-2 and ins594–596 COX-1) are stable. Thus, although glycosylation of Asn-594 is necessary for COX-2 degradation, at least part of the remainder of the 19-AA insert is also required. Finally, kifunensine, a mannosidase inhibitor that can block entry of ER proteins into the ER-associated degradation system, retards COX-2 degradation.
Outcomes After Unilateral Lung Volume Reduction

Background For patients with end-stage emphysema undergoing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), we have preferred a bilateral (BLVRS) approach to achieve maximum benefit with a single procedure. A unilateral (ULVRS) approach has been used in certain patients in whom BLVRS is contraindicated. Methods Between January 1993 and December 2006, 43 consecutive patients underwent ULVRS. The study excluded patients undergoing giant bullectomy. Relative contraindications for BLVRS were unilateral emphysema, 21; unilateral emphysema plus other factors, 2; and other factors alone, 10. Preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation was required. Postrehabilitation data were used as the baseline for analyses. Outcome measurements for ULVRS were compared with BLVRS results. Results After ULVRS, the mean increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) from postrehabilitation values was 32% at 6 months ( p ≤ 0.001) and 28% at 3 years ( p = 0.036). The FEV 1 was not significantly improved at 5 years. The mean reduction in residual volume after ULVRS was 23% at 6 months ( p ≤ 0.001) and 38% at 5 years ( p = 0.001). Supplemental oxygen requirements declined initially postoperatively. One patient (2%) died in the hospital. The 90-day mortality was 0%. Kaplan-Meier survival after ULVRS was 97.7%, 80.9%, and 45.5%, at 1, 3, and 5 years. Conclusions ULVRS produces improvements in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life with an acceptable morbidity and mortality in patients for whom BLVRS is contraindicated, but the benefits are of lower magnitude than those achieved with BLVRS.
The Long-term Effects of Disturbance on Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Export in the White Mountains, New Hampshire

Traditional biogeochemical theories suggest that ecosystem nitrogen retention is controlled by biotic N limitation, that stream N losses should increase with successional age, and that increasing N deposition will accelerate this process. These theories ignore the role of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) as a mechanism of N loss. We examined patterns of organic and inorganic N export from sets of oldgrowth and historically (80 ‐110 years ago) logged and burned watersheds in the northeastern US, a region of moderate, elevated N deposition. Stream nitrate concentrations were strongly seasonal, and mean (6 SD) nitrate export from old-growth watersheds (1.4 6 0.6 kg N ha 21 y 21 ) was four times greater than from disturbed watersheds (0.3 6 0.3 kg Nh a 21 y 21 ), suggesting that biotic control over nitrate loss can persist for a century. DON loss averaged 0.7 (6 0.2) kg N ha 21 y 21 and accounted for 28 ‐ 87% of total dissolved N (TDN) export. DON concentrations did not vary seasonally or with successional status, but correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which varied inversely with hardwood forest cover. The patterns of DON loss did not follow expected differences in biotic N demand but instead were consistent with expected differences in DOC production and sorption. Despite decades of moderate N deposition, TDN export was low, and even old-growth forests retained at least 65% of N inputs. The reasons for this high N retention are unclear: if due to a large capacity for N storage or biological removal, N saturation may require several decades to occur; if due to interannual climate variability, large losses of nitrate may occur much sooner.
Prevalence of acne keloidalis nuchae in football players

Abstract Background: Acne mechanica (AM) is common in football players. Severe cases of nuchal AM may precede acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN). Factors that may be associated with the progression of nuchal AM to AKN are unknown. The prevalence of AKN in football players has not been reported. Objective: We investigated the frequency of nuchal AM and AKN within a susceptible population and attempted to identify factors that may be associated with AKN. Methods: Four hundred fifty-three high school, collegiate, and professional football players were examined for the presence of nuchal AM or AKN. Those with positive findings completed a questionnaire regarding their disease. Results: Nuchal AM was more prevalent in high school players (15.5%) than older players (1.2%). AKN was more frequent in players beyond the high school level and was found exclusively in blacks. AKN was not associated with a positive family history of AKN nor a positive personal or family history of keloid formation. Conclusion: AKN occurs almost exclusively in blacks. The level of football play may be associated with the development of AKN. Positive family history of AKN and positive family or personal history of keloids is not associated with AKN development. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:570-4.)
Paracortical axillary sentinel lymph node ectopic breast tissue

Benign glandular inclusions in axillary lymph nodes are uncommon, and their presence in axillary sentinel lymph nodes is exceptionally rare. The possibility of over-staging due to misinterpretation of glandular inclusions as metastatic carcinoma is a concerning issue. We present a 54-year-old female with high grade ductal carcinoma in-situ undergoing simple mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Permanent sections of the sentinel lymph node revealed scarce naked small glands without surrounding stroma scattered in the paracortex in the superficial level. Deeper levels showed glands spanning a much larger area (2 mm), with bland ducts and tubules separated by abundant stroma. The myoepithelial layer was visible and was immunohistochemically confirmed. A final diagnosis of benign ectopic breast tissue within an axillary sentinel lymph node was rendered. Previous studies described axillary sentinel lymph nodes with glandular inclusions separated by stroma or subcapsular in location. It has been suggested that paracortical location and absence of stroma are characteristics of metastasis. As demonstrated in our report, benign inclusions may be paracortical and lack surrounding stroma. We recommend that glandular inclusions should be a diagnostic consideration for cases in which paracortically located naked glands do not histologically resemble the corresponding primary tumor.
Molecular Size Based Approach To Estimate Partition Properties for Organic Solutes

A model is presented that achieves a remarkable reduction in the number of parameters used to predict the log octanol−water partition coefficient (log P) by using a three-dimensional estimate of molecular size. An algorithm combining analytical and numerical techniques is used to compute van der Waals molecular volume and surface area. Using this computed volume, a simple equation that adequately describes log P for a wide variety of organic compounds is obtained by introducing only one additional parameter. Its value is determined by the oxygen- or nitrogen-containing functional groups present in the molecule and correlates with hydrogen bond acceptor basicity. The corresponding free energy change agrees well with that accepted for hydrogen bonding in water. Tested on over 700 organic compounds comprising various pharmaceutically useful molecules, including even neutral peptides, this distinctively simple and fully computerized 3D approach compares favorably with empirical, complicated, “two-dimensional”...
On the validity and utility of queueing models of human service systems

Based on observations made during an extensive study of police patrol operations in New York City, we examine the issues of the validity and utility of queueing models of service systems in which adaptive behavior by the (human) customers or servers is likely. We find that in addition to depending on the technical accuracy of its assumptions, the accuracy of such a model will also depend upon the level of managerial control of the system and adequacy of resources. We recommend that queueing models of human service systems be used in a normative fashion and incorporated in the management feedback loop.
Polymerized Phosphatidylcholine Vesicles as Drug Carriers

Polymerized ammonium and phosphatidylcholine vesicles have been synthesized via poly(methacrylate) and poly(disulfide) formation. A functionalized polymeric liposome has also been synthesized and effectively conjugated with alpha chymotrypsin. Vesicles derived from 2 have been studied most extensively as potential carriers of drugs. The are extremely stable toward physical perturbation and exposure to organic solvents or detergents, and should be able to maintain their integrity and homogeneity during pharmaceutical manufacturing procedures, including lyophilization. The fact that they retain substantial quantities of lipophilic substances in the presence of detergent concentrations in excess of those found in the upper gastrointestinal tract suggests that they should be able to carry and selectively release lipophilic drugs in the lower reaches of the GI tract. Moreover, the apparent lack of acute toxicity of these vesicles, as indicated by intravenous administration to outbred mice, further suggests that such photopolymerized liposomes may represent a unique and valuable carrier for the controlled delivery of certain types of therapeutic agents, especially by the oral route.
Suppression of Interleukin 2 Activity by Natural Products: Effects of Serum Lipoproteins

The results presented here demonstrate that mouse serum lipoproteins inhibit Interleukin 2 (IL2)-mediated proliferation of CTLL-2 cells. Lipoproteins account for a variable portion (29–83%) of the total inhibitory activity of whole serum and are not specific inhibitors of IL2-mediated cell proliferation, as evidenced by their inhibitory activity for non-IL2-dependent MPC 11 cells. Lipoproteins did not accelerate the death of CTLL-2 cells deprived of IL2, indicating that their inhibition of proliferation is not due to toxic effects. Finally, the inhibitory activity of serum and isolated lipoproteins was increased when the donor mice were maintained on a diet high in polyunsaturated fats for 16 days prior to bleeding. These findings provide a basis for future investigations of the relationship between dietary fats, lipoprotein quantity and composition, and alteration of immune responses.
Enhancing Medicare's hospital-acquired conditions policy to encompass readmissions.

Background The current Medicare policy of non-payment to hospitals for Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) seeks to avoid payment for preventable complications identified within a single admission. The financial impact ($1 million–$50 million/yr) underestimates the true financial impact of HACs when readmissions are taken into account.
Complex chromosome aberrations in continuous mammalian cell lines.

Complex chromosome aberrations (CCA) are described, occurring spontaneously in low frequency, in numerous mammalian cell lines. These aberrations appear similar to those reported in leukocyte cultures of some Yanamama Indians. In some cell lines the frequency of CCA is increased by the administration of cytochalasin B (CB) a drug which prevents cytoplasmic division. The frequency of CCA may also be increased by the protease inhibitor tosyl lysyl chloro methyl ketone (TLCK). TLCK may also produce binucleate cells but unlike CB does not result in high degrees of multinucleation. In one cell line, 3T12, the simultaneous administration of CB and TLCK resulted in high frequencies of CCA. Thus the induction of CCA in cell culture is reproducible. However the etiology of CCA remains unknown.
Optimizing the Synchronization Operations in Message Passing Interface One-Sided Communication

One-sided communication in Message Passing Interface (MPI) requires the use of one of three different synchronization mechanisms, which indicate when the one-sided operation can be started and when the operation is completed. Efficient implementation of the synchronization mechanisms is critical to achieving good performance with one-sided communication. However, our performance measurements indicate that in many MPI implementations, the synchronization functions add significant overhead, resulting in one-sided communication performing much worse than point-to-point communication for short- and medium-sized messages. In this paper, we describe our efforts to minimize the overhead of synchronization in our implementation of one-sided communication in MPICH2. We describe our optimizations for all three synchronization mechanisms defined in MPI: fence, post-start-complete-wait, and lock-unlock. Our performance results demonstrate that, for short messages, MPICH2 performs six times faster than LAM for fence synchronization and 50% faster for post-start-complete-wait synchronization, and it performs more than twice as fast as Sun MPI for all three synchronization methods.
Mutational analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Erf2 reveals a two-step reaction mechanism for protein palmitoylation by DHHC enzymes

DHHC protein acyltransferases (PATs) catalyze the palmitoylation of eukaryotic proteins through an enzymatic mechanism that remains largely unexplored. In this study we have combined genetic and biochemical approaches to examine the molecular mechanism of palmitate transfer of the yeast Ras PAT, which is composed of Erf2 and Erf4. The palmitoylation reaction consists of two steps; they are autopalmitoylation of the enzyme to create a palmitoyl-Erf2 intermediate followed by the transfer of the palmitoyl moiety to the Ras substrate. Palmitoyl-CoA serves as the palmitate donor. To elucidate the kinetic properties of the Erf2·Erf4 PAT, we have developed a coupled enzyme assay that monitors the turnover of the palmitoyl-enzyme species indirectly by measuring the rate of CoASH release. Mutational analysis indicates that the DHHC motif constitutes the catalytic core of the enzyme required for autopalmitoylation and palmitoyl transfer to the Ras2 substrate. In the absence of Ras2, the palmitoyl-Erf2·Erf4 complex undergoes a cycle of hydrolysis and re-palmitoylation, implying that in the presence of palmitoyl-CoA, the complex is autopalmitoylated and competent to transfer palmitate to a protein substrate.
Electrokinetic properties of particles in concentrated suspensions: Heterogeneous systems

Abstract The first paper in the series [ J. Colloid Interface Science 115, 422 (1987)] dealt with the electrokinetic behavior of homogeneous suspensions. There it was found that the net particle—particle interaction was negligible for particles undergoing electrophoresis; the particles behaved as electromechanical ghosts. In the current work, attention is focused on heterogeneous systems where a portion of the particles that make up the suspension have electrokinetic properties different from the remainder. Transparent particles (fast ghosts) were prepared by lysis of red blood cells to remove hemoglobin and fixed using glutaraldehyde. To prepare particles with a different mobility (slow ghosts), the fixed ghosts were treated with neuraminidase to remove part of the sialic acid. Tracer particles were prepared in similar ways by omitting the lysis step. The electrical conductivities of suspensions of fixed ghosts and neuraminidase treated fixed ghosts were almost indistinguishable, whereas the electrophoretic mobility of the latter particles was less than half that of the untreated particles. Although the average conductivity of a 50-50 mixture of fast and slow ghosts decreased rapidly with increasing particle concentration, the mobilities of individual constituents did not. To within the experimental accuracy of the measurement, the mobilities of individual constituents varies as (1 — C ), C being the volume fraction of particles, irrespective of the electrokinetic makeup of the suspension. This behavior is the same as that encountered with homogeneous systems.
Effect of photoaffinity labeling on rabbit uterine progesterone receptor.

Photoaffinity labeling with [17 α-methyl-3H]promegestone ([3H]R5020) is an effective technique for the covalent labeling of the progesterone receptor (PR), which allows monitoring of the steroid receptor complex under denaturing conditions. The present study was initiated to evaluate whether photolabeled PR could be used also as a marker for PR under nondenaturing conditions. Accordingly, the effect of irradiation on each component of the reaction was evaluated separately. When [3H]R5020 alone was irradiated, there was a rapid (<5 min), light dependent destruction of [3H]R5020, as evident from increased formation of a more polar tritiated product on TLC and a concomitant decrease in the ability of the irradiated preparation to bind to PR. When rabbit uterine PR was irradiated in the absence of steroid, a gradual decrease in the binding capacity was observed, reaching 70% of the nonirradiated control in 10 min. The optimal irradiation time for covalent [3H]R5020-PR complex formation was determined by irradiation for up to 5 min, and separation of the products by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific labeling of proteins of Mr 116,000 and 85,000 was observed, with the rate of labeling of the two being similar, and reaching a plateau by 4 min of irradiation. The photolabeling efficiency ranged from 2 to 12%. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation of photolabeled PR revealed that both the irradiated sample and the nonirradiated control sedimented to the same position. Subsequent SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the sucrose gradient peak from the photolabeled sample showed the presence of both labeled proteins of Mr 116,000 and 85,000. In addition, photolabeled rabbit uterine PR (Mr 116,000 and 85,000) could be immunoprecipitated with a guinea pig antiserum raised against rabbit uterine PR. Analysis of the photoaffinity labeling procedure in our system revealed that the photodestruction of [3H]R5020 was very rapid. However, maximal labeling with [3H]R5020 was obtainable with minimal photodestruction of PR which suggests that photolabeled receptor can be used as a marker for PR under nondenaturing conditions.
Under the (Glue) Gun: Containing and Constructing Reality in Home Makeover TV

This article presents a case study of two families over a seven-month period as they move from fan to applicant to cast of the home improvement reality TV program Trading Spaces: Family. Specifically, we detail the discrepancies between the actuality of participation and the preferred “reality” of dramatic and collaborative interior design. We explore how program format, contracts, and selective editing are employed to control unscripted events and how these strategies shape the participants' experiences and expectations of their home makeovers.
Predictors of Health Care Use for Children of Marriage and Family Therapy Clients

The goal of this study was to determine predictors of children's health care use in families that were presenting for couple and family therapy. Participants completed a battery of assessments addressing various aspects of biopsychosocial functioning. Best subsets multiple regressions were used to determine which variables were best suited as predictors of children's health care use. Results suggest that parents’ marital cohesion and life satisfaction were significant predictors of their children's medical use. Specifically, an increase in parents’ marital cohesion was associated with increased use of health care services by children. Also, lower life satisfaction reported by the parent was related to more use of health care services by the child. These two variables accounted for 46% of the variance in the children's health care use. The identified predictors are valuable potential targets for therapeutic intervention in a family and couple therapy setting.
Influence of patient caregivers on course of patient illness: “Expressed emotion” and alternative measures

The influence of the quality of care that patients receive during the course of their illness has been the subject of special scrutiny in the area of mental health. The concept of "expressed emotion" (EE) evolved in an effort to understand the impact of family and social environment on the vulnerability to relapse of schizophrenic patients. A semistructured interview, the Camberwell Family Interview, was developed to assess expressed emotion. This article examines the historical context, generalizability, methodological strengths and limitations of the construct of EE and the Camberwell Family Interview, as well as the nature and effects of treatment intervention programs designed to neutralize adverse effects of patient caretaker attitudes.
Transient global amnesia mimics: Transient epileptic amnesia

We describe the case of a 79-year-old patient referred for suspected transient global amnesia, after an episode of anterograde amnesia which lasted 90 min. An EEG, performed after the episode, showed bilateral temporal electrographic seizures, orienting the diagnosis toward a transient epileptic amnesia. Transient epileptic amnesia is defined by temporal lobe epilepsy characterized by recurrent transient amnestic episodes of 30–90 min in duration, sometimes associated with olfactory hallucinations or oral automatisms. Response to antiepileptic drugs is excellent. We would like to raise awareness toward this epileptic amnesia when facing atypical or recurrent transient amnestic episodes.
Cognitive strategies and misconceptions in introductory statics problems

Introductory engineering problems set foundational knowledge required by students. While statics is a course that is typically offered during the start of an engineering student's sophomore year, it is one of the first pre-professional engineering courses students are exposed to and is important to their persistence in engineering. An understanding of the strategies and misconceptions that students employ to solve 2-D and 3-D force problems in statics is warranted due to its ties to their success and thus persistence. This study hopes to reveal some of the strategies and misconceptions engineering students implement and encounter when introduced to 2-D and 3-D concepts in Statics. The research design will focus on a qualitative approach where participants will engage in a Talk Aloud protocol implemented during problem solving activities. Data will be collected, segmented, and coded to determine misconception themes, strategies, and procedural understanding associated with solving equilibrium problems. A pilot study focusing on the experiences of 12 participants (3 female and 9 male) will be discussed in this paper. The study aims to identify areas where interventions may be strategically instituted facilitating students' success in solving Statics problems. Results will foster future research and refine the qualitative methods that will be applicable to such research.
Variable Organizational Risk Preferences: Tests of the March-Shapira Model

March and Shapira's (1987, 1992) model of managers' risk preferences allows for shifts in attention between survival and aspiration levels. Our study provides initial empirical tests of their model...
The evolution of storage service providers: techniques and challenges to outsourcing storage

As enterprise storage needs grow, it is challenging to manage storage systems. The costs of locally managing, supporting, and maintaining resilience in storage systems has skyrocketed. Also, companies must comply with a growing number of federal and state legislations mandating secure handling of electronic information.In this context, outsourcing of storage to utility-model based service providers has emerged as a popular and often cost-effective option. However, this raises issues related to data safety and storage techniques. In this paper, we discuss the business model and evolution of service-oriented companies known as Storage Service Providers and examine the challenges organizations should consider when outsourcing their storage management. To our knowledge, this is the first work to study the SSP model from both technical and business viewpoints. Lastly, we present two case studies, one of a failed SSP and the other of a successful market leader.
The Locomotor Responses of Male Ictalurus punctatus, the Channel Catfish, to a Pheromone Released by the Ripe Female of the Species

Abstract The monitoring of the locomotor movements of ripe male channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in response to a sexual pheromone released by a ripe female of the species demonstrated a very strong attraction to the source. The specific locomotor responses exhibited in different experimental conditions strongly supported the conclusion that, when the stimulus was at appropriate strength, tropotaxis was the orienting mechanism. When the pheromone was introduced at a point source, the tenacity of the male's response diminished gradually as the relative concentration of the pheromone was decreased, resulting in more widely dispersed locomotor movements which were indicative of “searching” behavior or “alarm” response. When confronted with two point sources of the pheromone of different strengths in an open field, the male was not attracted preferentially by the stronger.
Scales to evaluate psychosis in Parkinson's disease

Hallucinations and psychotic behaviors are a frequent non-motor aspect of Parkinson's disease and its treatment. These behaviors usually do not occur in the presence of the physician and are therefore difficult to rate. Further, because of their bizarre nature, hallucinations are frequently underreported by patients, and caregivers are often unaware of them until they become problematic. A number of scales have been developed for rating these behaviors, most of them borrowed or adapted from assessment tools used in other psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. In the latter disorders, however, hallucinations and psychosis are phenomenologically different than the typical hallucinations of Parkinson's disease. The Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales has completed a systematic critique of scales used in clinical trials focusing on hallucinations and psychosis. In this critique, the following scales met the criteria to be classified as Recommended: Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Schedule for Assessment of Positive Symptoms. However, the Task Force felt that each of these scales has significant weaknesses and is insufficient to be considered a definitive rating tool. The Task Force officially recommended the development of a new scale to assess hallucinations and psychosis in Parkinson's disease. This effort is now ongoing with official endorsement by the Movement Disorder Society.
Obligatory reduction of ferric chelates in iron uptake by soybeans.

The contrasting Fe2+ and Fe3+ chelating properties of the synthetic chelators ethylenediaminedi (o-hydroxyphenylacetate) (EDDHA) and 4,7-di(4-phenylsulfonate)-1, 10-phenanthroline (bathophenanthrolinedisulfonate) (BPDS) were used to determine the valence form of Fe absorbed by soybean roots supplied with Fe3+-chelates. EDDHA binds Fe3+ strongly, but Fe2+ weakly; BPDS binds Fe2+ strongly but Fe3+ weakly. Addition of an excess of BPDS to nutrient solutions containing Fe3+-chelates inhibited soybean Fe uptake-translocation by 99+%; [Fe(II) (BPDS)3]4− accumulated in the nutrient solution. The addition of EDDHA caused little or no inhibition. These results were observed with topped and intact soybeans. Thus, separation and absorption of Fe from Fe3+-chelates appear to require reduction of Fe3+-chelate to Fe2+-chelate at the root, with Fe2+ being the principal form of Fe absorbed by soybean.
The spectrum of congenital facial diplegia (Moebius syndrome)

The Moebius syndrome consists of congenital facial diplegia with associated anomalies. No single pathophysiologic hypothesis accounts for all aspects of the syndrome. We present six cases which manifest a very broad spectrum of associated neurologic anomalies. Postmortem examination was performed on two cases. Midline brainstem necrosis was evident in one while the other had subtle brainstem hypoplasia. The four other patients have demonstrated fixed deficits on follow-up examinations. Improvement in brainstem evoked potential waveforms has occurred in three cases, but the significance is uncertain. Many of the cases were delivered by caesarean section because of failure of labor to progress, and had associated polyhydramnios and arthrogryposis. These features suggest that a defect is established in utero. Only one infant, born prematurely, may have suffered some perinatal brainstem insult. Congenital facial diplegia is a heterogenetic entity which can affect the nervous system in many different ways.
Combined force and photonic probe microscope with single molecule sensitivity

Direct integration of atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging with single molecule optical detection promises to combine the resolving power of AFM with the chemical identification capabilities of optical techniques. We present a straightforward experimental approach to achieving such integration. Our design allows simultaneous acquisition of topographical images and optical images with single molecule sensitivity at any region of the optical spectrum. We describe an instrument that combines atomic force microscopy and scanning confocal optical microscopy in a single multifunctional setup that maximizes the use of commercially available parts. To build this instrument we replaced the built-in piezoscanner of a commercial optical microscope–AFM platform with an external scanner that translates the sample. We also added a simple circuit to the setup that modulates the AFM head laser and synchronizes collection of the AFM and optical data in interleave scanning mode. Finally, we demonstrate the technique’s ide...
Clinical management of drug interaction with antiretroviral agents.

Purpose of reviewCombination antiretroviral therapy has improved the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients worldwide. As patients live longer, management of HIV infection extends to treatment of a wide spectrum of co-morbid conditions. Pharmacokinetic interactions are common among antiret
Outpatient Psychotropic Medication Use in the US: A Comparison Based on Foster Care Status

Using data from the Client/Patient Sample Survey, a nationally representative study of outpatient mental health service utilization, the prevalence and correlates of psychotropic medication receipt for youth who live with families and in foster care are compared. The medication rate is similar for both groups, with slightly more than one-third of youth treated with medication. Additionally, when medication is prescribed, it is the sole intervention provided for close to one half of each group, and the distribution of other services received (such as clinical case management and collateral services) is similar, regardless of living situation. However, the predictors of medication use differ for the two groups. Among foster care youth, only presenting problems of depressed mood, being withdrawn, and suicidality significantly increase the odds of medication; among youth with families, sociodemographic characteristics (male gender), and a range of clinical factors (disruptive behavior disorder, presenting problems of hyperactivity and sleep disturbance, prior mental health service receipt, and inpatient or residential care referral sources) increase the likelihood of medication. The conclusion that distinct sets of factors predict medication for the two groups was reinforced by results of multivariate analyses; foster care status moderates the association between medication receipt and only one of the correlates examined (gender). Implications, limitations, and areas for future research are presented.
Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-lipid bilayer membrane (BLM) interaction

The effect of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) on bimolecular lipid membranes formed in different buffers and at varying pH values was studied. The KLH was added after forming the black film. Upon its addition, the electrical resistance of the film decreased by as much as 6 orders of magnitude. The maximum change was observed in membranes bathed in “C” media at pH 7.1.
IMPROVEMENT IN EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE FOR TEACHERS OF BOTANY

As the title suggests, the writer offers something in the way of improvement of the traditional written examination. A comparison of the essay type of examination with the newer objective type leaves little in favor of the former where a measure of the student's knowledge of a subject is the chief purpose of the examiner. Several examples of objective tests are given and methods of devising the newer type of examination are discussed in the complete paper. Nearly five years experimenting and use of the newer examination in connection with teaching classes in Botany at the University of Tennessee finds the writer more favorably disposed to the use of this type of examination because (1) it can be made to measure what it is really intended to measure, (2) degree to which personal judgment is eliminated in grading, (3) it possesses reliability in accuracy and consistency of measurement, (4) it may be quickly and easily scored, (5) less fatiguing for student as well as instructor.
Fault weakening and earthquake instability by powder lubrication

Ze'ev Reches and David Lockner present laboratory evidence for dynamic weakening of faults that are sheared at velocities approaching earthquake slip rates. Their experimental faults, which were made of solid granite blocks, quickly wore away to form a fine-grained rock powder, known as gouge, which reduced the fault's strength by a factor of two to three. After slip had ceased, the gouge rapidly 'aged' and the fault regained its strength in a matter of hours to days. They thus conclude that only newly formed gouge can weaken the experimental faults. Earthquake instability has long been attributed to fault weakening during accelerated slip, but what are the mechanisms that control this weakening? Here laboratory evidence is presented for the dynamic weakening of faults that are sheared at velocities approaching earthquake slip rates. The experimental faults, made from solid granite blocks, quickly wore to form a fine-grain rock powder, known as gouge, which reduced the faults' strength. It is concluded that only newly formed gouge can weaken the experimental faults. Earthquake instability has long been attributed to fault weakening during accelerated slip1, and a central question of earthquake physics is identifying the mechanisms that control this weakening2. Even with much experimental effort2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, the weakening mechanisms have remained enigmatic. Here we present evidence for dynamic weakening of experimental faults that are sheared at velocities approaching earthquake slip rates. The experimental faults, which were made of room-dry, solid granite blocks, quickly wore to form a fine-grain rock powder known as gouge. At modest slip velocities of 10–60 mm s−1, this newly formed gouge organized itself into a thin deforming layer that reduced the fault’s strength by a factor of 2–3. After slip, the gouge rapidly ‘aged’ and the fault regained its strength in a matter of hours to days. Therefore, only newly formed gouge can weaken the experimental faults. Dynamic gouge formation is expected to be a common and effective mechanism of earthquake instability in the brittle crust as (1) gouge always forms during fault slip5,10,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20; (2) fault-gouge behaves similarly to industrial powder lubricants21; (3) dynamic gouge formation explains various significant earthquake properties; and (4) gouge lubricant can form for a wide range of fault configurations, compositions and temperatures15.
A static sims study of H2O adsorption and reaction on clean and oxygen-covered Pt(111)+

Abstract By combining temperature programming with static secondary ion mass spectrometry (TPSSIMS) the surface rearrangement of water on clean and oxygen-covered Pt(111) has been followed. Surface reactions, with and without desorption, are delected providing data complementary to elcetron spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy.