cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among individuals with comorbid other substance dependence

Aims: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research has indicated the involvement of frontal network in cocaine addiction. Resting-state f MRI approaches have revealed reduced (Kelly, 2011;Munier, 2012) aswell as enhanced (Camchong, 2011) resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in frontal network in cocaine users relative to control participants. Also, task fMRI research has identified the insula as an important region activated during cocaine craving (Bonson, 2002). We examined the relationship between resting state networks and measures of cocaine use [frequency, money spent per week; duration] in nontreatmentseeking, chronic cocaine smokers. Methods: Ten participants (39–53yrs; 6M;4F) abstinent from cocaine for 72h completed a resting state scan and an anatomical MPRAGE scan. Whole-brain Independent component analysis was performed on resting state fMRI data using FSL’sMELODIC program that identified brain networks representing RSFC of frontalparietal, dorsal-attention, and insula networks. FSL’s regression model then determined any correlations between the activity of these brain networks and cocaine use measures. Results: Activity in frontal-parietal and insula networks was positively correlated with all three outcomes: frequency of use, money spent/week and cocaine use duration. Medial frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule [a part of dorsal-attention network (DAN)] positively correlated with each measure. Thus, the increased activity in these brain regions was associated with increased cocaine use. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between RSFC in frontal and insula networks and measures of cocaine use in chronic cocaine smokers. Relationship between the DAN and cocaine use may suggest increased attentional bias to cocaine cues in the environment. As potential network level biomarkers of chronic cocaine use, these identified resting state networks may be usefully applied in treatment development. Financial support: Research supported byNIDAK01DA029047.
The production of Coombs reagent in chickens.

Resume Les auteurs decrivent une technique pour la production de serum antiglobuline chez les poules, a l'aide de laquelle ils ont pu obtenir chez une majorite des animaux employes des serums de titre eleve et de forte avidite. Zusammenfassung Die Autoren beschreiben eine Technik zur Gewinnung von Antiglobulinseren bei Huhnern. Es gelingt, bei diesen Tieren auf einfache Weise hochwertige Coombsseren in guter Ausbeute zu gewinnen.
Brachiocephalic Vein Bypass with Sternal Reconstruction for Symptomatic Occlusion

Complications attributed to central venous stenosis and subsequent thrombosis are increasing in frequency and are most commonly associated with neointimal fibroplasia as well as neoplastic, fibrotic, and traumatic pathologies. We present the successful venous bypass and thoracic wall reconstruction of a 58-year-old female with chronic atypical symptoms secondary to brachiocephalic vein occlusion from congenital thoracic dystrophy.
Effect of Trypsin on the Clotting of the Blood in Hemophilia

SummaryTrypsin accelerates the coagulation of hemophilic blood in vitro. Its action is similar to that of thrombin.
Effect of Various Dietary Lipid Levels on Quantitative Essential Fatty Acid Requirements of Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

A 6-wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of various dietary lipid levels on quantitative requirements for essential fatty acids (EFA) by juvenile Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. A factorial experiment with three dietary lipid levels (3, 6, and 9%) and three dietary levels (0.5, 1, and 2%) of a mixture of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) was used. An increase in quantitative requirements for EFA with increasing supplementation level of dietary lipid was not demonstrated. Results suggested that this shrimp species appeared to be able to satisfy its n-3 HUFA requirements when they were supplied at 0.5% of diet; this dietary level may be even lowered. Moreover, depressed growth was observed in shrimp fed diets with the HUFA mixture supplemented at 2%. In addition, the present study showed that increasing the dietary lipid level had an effect on lipid composition of shrimp, by increasing lipid deposition in hepatopancreas and muscle tissue, but without a significant effect on growth.
Combined Antiviral Effect of Interferon and Acyclovir on Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2

Acyclovir and human interferon displayed an additive to synergistic effect in reducing the number of herpes simplex viral plaque-forming units in Vero cells, suggesting a therapeutic potential for such combination therapy.
Entropy increase in dynamical systems

The rate of increase of the non-equilibrium entropy introduced by Goldstein and Penrose, defined on nonstationary probability measures for an abstract dynamical system, is quantitatively related to the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy of the system. It is shown in particular that for ergodic systems the asymptotic rate of entropy increase coincides with the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy.
Combination chemotherapy with vindesine-ifosfamide-cisplatin (VIP) in locally advanced unresectable stage III and in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II trial.

Abstract The efficacy and toxicity of a regimen adding ifosfamide to the more classical cisplatin-vindesine combination was studied in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Sixty-four good performance patients with inoperable stage III or stage IV were treated with VIP: vindesine 3 mg/m 2 days 1 and 8, ifosfamide 1200 mg/m 2 and platinum 30 mg/m 2 days 1, 2 and 3, repeated every 4 weeks, up to a maximum of six cycles. Response rate, clinical data and radiological tests were rigourously reviewed by a panel. Overall response rate was 39% (95% confidence interval, 27%–51%) with three patients achieving a complete response; response rate in stage III was 48%. Median survival was 9 months. Toxicity consisted mainly of bone marrow toxicity and nausea/vomiting, but was manageable. There was no renal toxicity greater than grade 2, four severe infections, but no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion: VIP as mentioned above is very active in good performance patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Its activity, together with its manageable toxicity—without severe renal or pulmonary toxicity—makes it an attractive candidate for induction chemotherapy.
Naltrexone administration affects ad libitum smoking behavior

Endogenous opioid peptides have been implicated in the reinforcement of smoking and opioid antagonists have been examined to determine their role in smoking behavior. To date, the relationship between smoking behavior and chronic opiate antagonist administration during ad libitum smoking has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between naltrexone, an opiate antagonist administered orally, and smoking behavior and mood states during ad libitum smoking. A repeated measures experimental design was used. Normal adult male and female volunteers, admitted to the Clinical Research Center, were randomly assigned to naltrexone-treated (n = 22) or placebo-control (n = 21) groups in a double-blind manner. Day 1 was considered acclimation to the unit and day 2 was baseline, or pre-drug administration. On days 3, 4, and 5, subjects received 50 mg naltrexone or a placebo at 0700 and 1600 hours. Plasma nicotine and expired air carbon monoxide levels were measured daily at 1900 hours. Number of cigarettes smoked, mood states, withdrawal symptomatology and self-reported satisfaction with smoking were also quantified daily. Results indicated that plasma nicotine levels (P = 0.005), number of cigarettes smoked daily (P = 0.003) and self-reported satisfaction with smoking (P = 0.043) were significantly lower among those treated with naltrexone, compared to the placebo-control group. Expired air carbon monoxide levels did not differ between the two groups. In addition, mood states and withdrawal symptoms did not differ between groups. These findings suggest that endogenous opioid peptides influence specific smoking behavior variables.
Communicating with cancer patients: what areas do physician assistants find most challenging?

Physician assistants (PAs) and other midlevel practitioners have been taking on increasing clinical roles in oncology settings. Little is known about the communication needs and skills of oncology PAs. PAs working in oncology (n = 301) completed an online survey that included questions about their perceived skill and difficulty on several key communication tasks. Overall, PAs rated these communication tasks as “somewhat” to “moderately” difficult and their skill level in these areas as “average” to “good.” Areas of most perceived difficulty were intervening with angry patients or those in denial and breaking bad news. Highest perceived skills were in communicating with patients from cultures and religions different than your own and telling patient he/she has cancer or disease has progressed, and the lowest perceived skills were in discussing do not resuscitate orders. There are areas in which enhancement of communication skills may be needed, and educational opportunities should be developed for PAs working in oncology.
Postabortion contraception: qualitative interviews on counseling and provision of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods.

CONTEXT: Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods (IUDs and implants) are the most effective and cost-effective methods for women. Although they are safe to place immediately following an abortion most clinics do not offer this service in part because of the increased cost. METHODS: In 2009 telephone interviews were conducted with 20 clinicians and 24 health educators at 25 abortion care practices across the country. A structured topic guide was used to explore general practice characteristics; training knowledge and attitudes about LARC; and postabortion LARC counseling and provision. Transcripts of the digitally recorded interviews were coded and analyzed using inductive and deductive processes. RESULTS: Respondents were generally positive about the safety and effectiveness of LARC methods; those working in clinics that offered LARC methods immediately postabortion tended to have greater knowledge about LARC than others and to perceive fewer risks and employ more evidence-based practices. LARC methods often were not included in contraceptive counseling for women at high risk of repeat unintended pregnancy including young and nulliparous women. Barriers to provision were usually expressed in terms of financial cost--to patients and clinics--and concerns about impact on the smooth flow of clinic procedures. Education and encouragement from professional colleagues regarding LARC as well as training and adequate reimbursement for devices were considered critical to changing clinical practice to include immediate postabortion LARC provision. CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence about the safety and cost-effectiveness of postabortion LARC provision many clinics are not offering it because of financial and logistical concerns resulting in missed opportunities for preventing repeat unintended pregnancies. Copyright (c) 2012 by the Guttmacher Institute.
General Disregard for Details of GRI Human Rights Reporting by Large Corporations

This article examines the web-based social responsibility reporting of the 100 largest companies in six broad industrial sectors to determine the extent to which the reporting follows the specific guidance of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Human Rights Performance Indicators (HR1–HR9). Ninety-seven of these companies have some sort of social information on their websites, and 95 of them have formal corporate responsibility reports. Seventy-one of these companies indicate that their reports were based on the G3 guidelines, and 66 of these provide a detailed index to them. The nine G3 HR guidelines can be subdivided into 17 specific items; six of them can be interpreted as requiring only that actions or measures taken be described, and these are widely followed, primarily in the form of policy statements. The remaining items, reported much less frequently, are quantitative, requiring total numbers or percentages of specific actions or incidents, or identification of operations in which such incidents are at significant risk. Thus, although the G3 guidelines for human rights reporting contemplate quantitative statements of performance, most of the reports examined for this article do not provide any, nor, for the most part, indicate why not. I argue that the reporting likely would be more informative if the guidelines were rewritten to request the nature of the processes and procedures the company is implementing for achieving the desired human rights outcomes, and the degree to which they are in place.
Techniques for culturing and determining antimicrobial susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis.

The application of cell culture techniques to the study of chlamydiae have led to isolation of C. trachomatis from a variety of syndromes, among which are nongonococcal urethritis, post-gonococcal urethritis, cervicitis, acute salpingitis, neonatal conjunctivitis, and pneumonia of infants. The methods currently employed for chlamydia isolation are described, as well as the conditions which affect the infectivity of these organisms to cells in vitro. Cell culture methods applicable to the study of the effect of antibacterial drugs on C. trachomatis are also presented.
Scaling gross ecosystem production at Harvard Forest with remote sensing: a comparison of estimates from a constrained quantum‐use efficiency model and eddy correlation

Two independent methods of estimating gross ecosystem production (GEP) were compared over a period of 2 years at monthly integrals for a mixed forest of conifers and deciduous hardwoods at Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts. Continuous eddy flux measurements of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) provided one estimate of GEP by taking day to night temperature differences into account to estimate autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. GEP was also estimated with a quantum efficiency model based on measurements of maximum quantum efficiency (Qmax), seasonal variation in canopy phenology and chlorophyll content, incident PAR, and the constraints of freezing temperatures and vapour pressure deficits on stomatal conductance. Quantum efficiency model estimates of GEP and those derived from eddy flux measurements compared well at monthly integrals over two consecutive years (R2= 0–98). Remotely sensed data were acquired seasonally with an ultralight aircraft to provide a means of scaling the leaf area and leaf pigmentation changes that affected the light absorption of photosynthetically active radiation to larger areas. A linear correlation between chlorophyll concentrations in the upper canopy leaves of four hardwood species and their quantum efficiencies (R2= 0–99) suggested that seasonal changes in quantum efficiency for the entire canopy can be quantified with remotely sensed indices of chlorophyll. Analysis of video data collected from the ultralight aircraft indicated that the fraction of conifer cover varied from < 7% near the instrument tower to about 25% for a larger sized area. At 25% conifer cover, the quantum efficiency model predicted an increase in the estimate of annual GEP of < 5% because unfavourable environmental conditions limited conifer photosynthesis in much of the non-growing season when hardwoods lacked leaves.
Point mutations in two EVI1 zn fingers abolish EVI1-GATA1 interaction and allow erythroid differentiation of murine bone marrow cells

EVI1 is an aggressive nuclear oncoprotein deregulated by recurring chromosomal abnormalities in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The expression of the corresponding gene is a very poor prognostic marker for MDS patients and is associated with severe defects of the erythroid lineage. We have recently shown that the constitutive expression of EVI1 in murine bone marrow results in a fatal disease with features characteristic of MDS, including anemia, dyserythropoiesis, and dysmegakaryopoiesis. These lineages are regulated by the DNA-binding transcription factor GATA1. EVI1 has two zinc finger domains containing seven motifs at the N terminus and three motifs at the C terminus. Supported by results of assays utilizing synthetic DNA promoters, it was earlier proposed that erythroid-lineage repression by EVI1 is based on the ability of this protein to compete with GATA1 for DNA-binding sites, resulting in repression of gene activation by GATA1. Here, however, we show that EVI1 is unable to bind to classic GATA1 sites. To understand the mechanism utilized by EVI1 to repress erythropoiesis, we used a combination of biochemical assays, mutation analyses, and in vitro bone marrow differentiation. The results indicate that EVI1 interacts directly with the GATA1 protein rather than the DNA sequence. We further show that this protein-protein interaction blocks efficient recognition or binding to DNA by GATA1. Point mutations that disrupt the geometry of two zinc fingers of EVI1 abolish the protein-protein interaction, leading to normal erythroid differentiation of normal murine bone marrow in vitro.
Energy and heat fluxes due to vertically propagating Yanai waves observed in the equatorial Indian Ocean

Shipboard current measurements in the equatorial Indian Ocean in October and November of 2011 revealed oscillations in the meridional velocity with amplitude ∼0.10m/s. These were clearest in a layer extending from ∼300 to 600 m depth and had periods near 3 weeks. Phase propagation was upward. Measurements from two sequential time series at the equator, four meridional transects and one zonal transect are used to identify the oscillation as a Yanai wave packet and to establish its dominant frequency and vertical wavelength. The Doppler shift is accounted for, so that measured wave properties are translated into the reference frame of the mean zonal flow. We take advantage of the fact that, in the depth range where the wave signal was clearest, the time-averaged current and buoyancy frequency were nearly uniform with depth, allowing application of the classical theoretical representation of vertically propagating plane waves. Using the theory, we estimate wave properties that are not directly measured, such as the group velocity and the zonal wavelength and phase speed. The theory predicts a vertical energy flux that is comparable to that carried by midlatitude near-inertial waves. We also quantify the wave-driven meridional heat flux and the Stokes drift.
A new feedback neural network with supervised learning

A model is introduced for continuous-time dynamic feedback neural networks with supervised learning ability. Modifications are introduced to conventional models to guarantee precisely that a given desired vector, and its negative, are indeed stored in the network as asymptotically stable equilibrium points. The modifications entail that the output signal of a neuron is multiplied by the square of its associated weight to supply the signal to an input of another neuron. A simulation of the complete dynamics is then presented for a prototype one neuron with self-feedback and supervised learning; the simulation illustrates the (supervised) learning capability of the network. >
Importins and exportins: how to get in and out of the nucleus

Every minute, several million protein and RNA molecules must be transported between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. The characterization of mediators, receptors and accessory factors for different nuclear import and export pathways has provided a glimpse at the molecular machinery that is responsible for these trafficking events. It appears that both inbound and outbound traffic is mediated by a protein family of related transport factors that can be classified as importins and exportins.
Ultrahigh (0.93A) resolution structure of manganese peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: implications for the catalytic mechanism.

Abstract Manganese peroxidase (MnP) is an extracellular heme enzyme produced by the lignin-degrading white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium . MnP catalyzes the peroxide-dependent oxidation of Mn II to Mn III . The Mn III is released from the enzyme in complex with oxalate, enabling the oxalate–Mn III complex to serve as a diffusible redox mediator capable of oxidizing lignin, especially under the mediation of unsaturated fatty acids. One heme propionate and the side chains of Glu35, Glu39 and Asp179 have been identified as Mn II ligands in our previous crystal structures of native MnP. In our current work, new 0.93 A and 1.05 A crystal structures of MnP with and without bound Mn II , respectively, have been solved. This represents only the sixth structure of a protein of this size at 0.93 A resolution. In addition, this is the first structure of a heme peroxidase from a eukaryotic organism at sub-Angstrom resolution. These new structures reveal an ordering/disordering of the C-terminal loop, which is likely required for Mn binding and release. In addition, the catalytic Arg42 residue at the active site, normally thought to function only in the peroxide activation process, also undergoes ordering/disordering that is coupled to a transient H-bond with the Mn ligand, Glu39. Finally, these high-resolution structures also reveal the exact H atoms in several parts of the structure that are relevant to the catalytic mechanism.
ALCHEMIST: Bringing genomic discovery and targeted therapies to early-stage lung cancer

The identification of druggable molecular alterations represents one of the greatest advances in cancer treatment. Such progress is particularly evident for lung cancer, which now has numerous molecularly defined subsets such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements. However, understanding of the significance of these genomic alterations is largely limited to incurable, metastatic lung cancer. ALCHEMIST (Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial) is a National Cancer Institute-sponsored initiative to address these questions in earlier-stage disease.
Estimating the Electoral Effects of Voter Turnout

This article examines the electoral consequences of variation in voter turnout in the United States. Existing scholarship focuses on the claim that high turnout benefits Democrats, but evidence supporting this conjecture is variable and controversial. Previous work, however, does not account for endogeneity between turnout and electoral choice, and thus, causal claims are questionable. Using election day rainfall as an instrumental variable for voter turnout, we are able to estimate the effect of variation in turnout due to across-the-board changes in the utility of voting. We re-examine the Partisan Effects and Two-Effects Hypotheses, provide an empirical test of an Anti-Incumbent Hypothesis, and propose a Volatility Hypothesis, which posits that high turnout produces less predictable electoral outcomes. Using county-level data from the 1948–2000 presidential elections, we find support for each hypothesis. Failing to address the endogeneity problem would lead researchers to incorrectly reject all but the Anti-Incumbent Hypothesis. The effect of variation in turnout on electoral outcomes appears quite meaningful. Although election-specific factors other than turnout have the greatest influence on who wins an election, variation in turnout significantly affects vote shares at the county, national, and Electoral College levels.
Drought-induced mosquito outbreaks in wetlands

Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but also vector many important human and animal diseases. Here, in opposition with the dogma that increased precipitation predicts mosquito abundance, we hypothesize that mosquitoes should show population outbreaks after drought years. Specifically, we suggest that in wetlands that never dry (permanent), predators limit mosquito abundance, whereas in wetlands that dry yearly (temporary), competitors that are well adapted to predictable drying, limit mosquito abundance. However, in wetlands that dry only during drought years (semi-permanent), mosquito predators and competitors are eliminated and must recolonize following a drought, and the abundance of wetland mosquitoes can skyrocket. We present supportive evidence for this hypothesis from surveys of natural wetlands and from a controlled mesocosm experiment. We conclude that this framework may provide a reliable way to predict and prepare for year-to-year variation in mosquito abundances at large spatial scales.
Ethylene reduces gas exchange and growth of lettuce plants under hypobaric and normal atmospheric conditions

Elevated levels of ethylene occur in controlled environment agriculture and in spaceflight environments, leading to adverse plant growth and sterility. The objectives of this research were to characterize the influence of ethylene on carbon dioxide (CO(2)) assimilation (C(A)), dark period respiration (DPR) and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Buttercrunch) under ambient and low total pressure conditions. Lettuce plants were grown under variable total gas pressures of 25 kPa (hypobaric) and 101 kPa (ambient) pressure. Endogenously produced ethylene accumulated and reduced C(A), DPR and plant growth of ambient and hypobaric plants. There was a negative linear correlation between increasing ethylene concentrations [from 0 to around 1000 nmol mol(-1) (ppb)] on C(A), DPR and growth of ambient and hypobaric plants. Declines in C(A) and DPR occurred with both exogenous and endogenous ethylene treatments. C(A) was more sensitive to increasing ethylene concentration than DPR. There was a direct, negative effect of increasing ethylene concentration reducing gas exchange as well as an indirect ethylene effect on leaf epinasty, which reduced light capture and C(A). While the C(A) was comparable, there was a lower DPR in hypobaric than ambient pressure plants - independent of ethylene and under non-limiting CO(2) levels (100 Pa pCO(2), nearly three-fold that in normal air). This research shows that lettuce can be grown under hypobaria ( congruent with25% of normal earth ambient total pressure); however, hypobaria caused no significant reduction of endogenous ethylene production.
Does sonographic determination of placental location predict fetal birth weight in diamniotic-dichorionic twins?

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between placental location in diamniotic-dichorionic twins as determined at the time of anatomic survey and birth weight. Methods. We retrospectively identified all diamniotic-dichorionic twins in our Maternal-Fetal Medicine sonography database between 2000 and 2005 who had an anatomic survey, went on to be delivered at our hospital, and had records available for review (n = 304). Placental location for each twin was determined at the time of anatomic survey and grouped into both anterior or both posterior versus separate anterior and posterior. Maternal and fetal characteristics were collected from chart review. Placental pathologic findings were available for 249 (83%) patients. Outcomes analyzed were percent discordance, small size for gestational age of twin A or B, and difference in birth weight as a continuous variable. Multivariable logistic regression using stepwise backward elimination was used to adjust for potential confounders. Results. There was no difference in discordance of 20% or greater or incidence of small size for gestational age when both placentas were both anterior and both posterior compared with separate anterior and posterior: adjusted odds ratio (AdjOR), 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64‐2.95); and AdjOR, 1.29 (95% CI, 0.57‐2.89). The actual birth weight difference (A ‐ B) was not affected by placental location (P = .36). Opposite sex fetuses and nulliparity were significantly associated with birth weight discordance: AdjOR, 2.68 (95% CI, 1.39‐5.17); and AdjOR, 0.34 (95% CI, 0.28‐0.94). Conclusions. We did not find a correlation between birth weight and placental location in our cohort analysis. The presence of sex-discordant twins was associated with birth weight discordance of 20% or greater, whereas nulliparity was protective. Key words: birth weight; diamniotic-dichorionic twins; placental location.
American Collegiate Populations: A Test of the Traditional View

American Collegiate Populations is an exhaustive and definitive study of the membership of American colleges and universities in the nineteenth century. Colin B. Burke explores the questions of who went, who stayed and where they came from, presenting as answers to these questions a mass of new data put together in an original and interpretive manner. The author offers a devastating critique of the two reference works which until now have commanded scholars' attention. Burke examines Bailey Burritt's Professional Distribution of College and University Undergraduates (1912) noting that Burritt's categories oversimplify the data of the 37 institutions he studies. Donald G. Tewksbury's American Colleges and Universities Before the Civil War (1932), the author explains, presents a skewed interpretation of collegiate decline in the antebellum period. Using a far larger data base and capitalizing on the advances in quantitative history made in the last decade, Burke adopts appropriate analytic categories for college students and their subsequent careers. Amierican Collegiate Populations thus becomes the referent work to replace Burritt and Tewksbury and will likely have an equal longevity in print. American Collegiate Populations systematically compares denominational colleges, colleges by region, and student groups from a host of angles - age entering college, geographical origins, parental occupations. subsequent careers, and professional choices. Burke shows the reach of American colleges back into the socio-economic fabric of the culture. a reach that carries implications for many subjects - religious, economic, social, and intellectual - beyond the mere subject of college alone. Few works force the re-thinking of a whole field of historical inquiry - particularly one that has important bearings on current policy - as Burke's study does. The findings and implications presented in American Collegiate Populations will profoundly affect the scholarly community for decades to come.
Social correlates of female abstinence from marijuana: results of a household survey.

Using data collected from a household survey carried out in Pennsylvania in 1976, this study examines the social and attitudinal correlates of female abstinence from marijuana. Generally, it is found that women with “weaker” attachments to traditional social control systems, women in “nontraditional” roles, and higher status women are more likely to be among those who have used the substance at least once than are other women.
Proactive resource allocation for asynchronous real-time distributed systems in the presence of processor failures

We present two proactive resource allocation algorithms, RBA*-FT and OBA-FT, for fault-tolerant asynchronous real-time distributed systems. The algorithms consider an application model where task timeliness is specified by Jensen's benefit functions and the anticipated application workload during future time intervals is described by adaptation functions. In addition, we assume that reliability functions of processors are available a priori. Given these models, our objective is to maximize aggregate task benefit and minimize aggregate missed deadline ratio in the presence of processor failures. Since determining the optimal solution is computationally intractable, the algorithms heuristically compute sub-optimal resource allocations, but in polynomial time. Experimental results reveal that RBA*-FT and OBA-FT outperform their non-fault-tolerant counterparts in the presence of processor failures. Furthermore, RBA*-FT performs better than OBA-FT, although OBA-FT incurs better worst-case and amortized computational costs. Finally, we observe that both algorithms robustly withstand errors in the estimation of anticipated failures.
Analysis of a cylindrical antenna containing an aperture coupled load

In this paper we present the basis for the analysis of shielded tuning networks coupled to wire antenna elements. The structure analyzed comprises three conducting cylindrical tubes that form an aperture-fed circular coaxial waveguide. Two methods are presented for formulating and solving integral equations for the structure. The first method is based on the mixed potential electric field integral equation enforced on the three cylindrical tubes, and the second is based on aperture theory. An end correction capacitance is used to adjust the reflection coefficient in the eigenmode expressions of the aperture method. The data obtained by the two methods are in close agreement. Differences in actual currents and equivalent currents obtained from solutions are discussed and reconciled.
Physiologic effects of forced down-regulation of dnaK and groEL expression in Streptococcus mutans

Strains of Streptococcus mutans lacking DnaK or GroEL appear not to be isolable. To better distinguish the roles played by these chaperones/chaperonins in the physiology of S. mutans, we created a knockdown strategy to lower the levels of DnaK by over 95% in strain SM12 and the level of GroEL about 80% in strain SM13. Interestingly, GroEL levels were approximately twofold higher in SM12 than in the parent strain, but the levels of DnaK were not altered in the GroEL knockdown strain. Both SM12 and SM13 grew slower than the parent strain, had a strong tendency to aggregate in broth culture, and showed major changes in their proteomes. Compared with the wild-type strain, SM12 and SM13 had impaired biofilm-forming capacities when grown in the presence of glucose. The SM12 strain was impaired in its capacity to grow at 44 degrees C or at pH 5.0 and was more susceptible to H(2)O(2), whereas SM13 behaved like the wild-type strain under these conditions. Phenotypical reversions were noted for both mutants when cells were grown in continuous culture at a low pH, suggesting the occurrence of compensatory mutations. These results demonstrate that DnaK and GroEL differentially affect the expression of key virulence traits, including biofilm formation and acid tolerance, and support that these chaperones have evolved to accommodate unique roles in the context of this organism and its niche.
Riblet drag reduction in mild adverse pressure gradients: A numerical investigation

Abstract Riblet films are a passive method of turbulent boundary layer control that can reduce viscous drag. They have been studied with great detail for over 30 years. Although common riblet applications include flows with Adverse Pressure Gradients (APG), nearly all research thus far has been performed in channel flows. Recent research has provided motivation to study riblets in more complicated turbulent flows with claims that riblet drag reduction can double in mild APG common to airfoils at moderate angles of attack. Therefore, in this study, we compare drag reduction by scalloped riblet films between riblets in a zero pressure gradient and those in a mild APG using high-resolution large eddy simulations. In order to gain a fundamental understanding of the relationship between drag reduction and pressure gradient, we simulated several different riblet sizes that encompassed a broad range of s + (riblet width in wall units), similarly to many previously published experimental studies. We found that there was only a slight improvement in drag reduction for riblets in the mild APG. We also observed that peak values of streamwise turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and streamwise vorticity scale with riblet width. Primary Reynolds shear stresses and turbulence kinetic energy production however scale with the ability of the riblet to reduce skin-friction.
Efficient replication management in distributed systems

Replication is a critical aspect of large-scale distributed systems. Without it, the size of a system is limited by factors such as the increased risk of component failures, the overloading of popular services, and access latency to remote parts of the system. Replicating alleviates these problems by allowing service to continue despite failures using remaining replicas, and by distributing requests for a given service among multiple servers. However, replicated systems incur significant performance overhead for maintaining multiple replicas and keeping them mutually consistent. Managing replication efficiently is therefore important in building large-scale distributed systems. This dissertation concentrates on quorum-based replication management. It proposes several ways to efficiently manage replication in systems using different types of quorums. First, we study structure-based quorums, which are attractive because they result in low-overhead replica management when the number of replicas is high. We propose a way to significantly improve system availability in protocols using these quorums. We also study in depth the performance of a particular class of these quorums based on a grid structure. Second, for voting-based quorums, we propose a way to include new/repaired replicas into the system and exclude failed/disconnected/deactivated replicas, asynchronously with user operations. Thus, such reconfiguration does not involve any system interruption and can be done more freely for various purposes, e.g., improving data availability, migrating data, or redistributing load. Third, we propose a way to efficiently manage read-one-write-all (ROWA) replication. Protocols based on ROWA quorums maintain consistency by reading one copy of the data and writing all copies. They are especially attractive because they provide for highly efficient and fault-tolerant read operations, and because many services and data in distributed systems fall under the mostly-read category. The obvious weakness of ROWA, which has prevented it from being widely used in commercial wide-area networks, is lack of fault-tolerance for writes. This thesis proposes a new ROWA protocol that provides fault-tolerant write operations without any significant deterioration of read properties. This protocol offers immediate benefits to current systems. Finally, the thesis studies some issues that are common for all types of quorums, including semantics of write operations and efficient protocols for transaction commitment.
When Does an Incentive for Free Riding Promote Rational Bidding

Economics has focused on models of individual rational agents. But many important decisions are made by small groups such as families, management teams, boards of directors, central bank boards, juries, appellate courts, and committees of various types. For example, bid amounts in common value auctions such as the Outer Continental Shelf oil lease auction are typically decided by committees. Previous experimental research with natural groups has found that group bidders are significantly less rational than individual bidders in how they use information in common value auctions. Experiments reported here involve cooperative and non-cooperative nominal groups. The unequal profit-sharing rule applied to non-cooperative nominal groups creates an incentive to free ride within the bidding groups. This incentive to free ride tends to offset the winner’s curse and promote rational bidding.
Abstract LB-68: Mouse mammary tumor virus suppress apoptosis through Src signaling in the mammary epithelial cells

Many receptors in the hematopoietic immune cells use common signaling pathway that relies on immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). ITAMs are highly conserved sequence. Signal transduction by these motifs is mediated by Src family tyrosine kinases including Lyn, Fyn, Lck. ITAM bearing proteins are found in many oncogenic viruses and associated with transformation and tumorigenesis in epithelial and endothelial cells. These proteins include Epstein Barr Virus LMP2A, Kaposi9s sarcoma virus K1, and bovine leukemia virus gp30. MMTV envelope protein is another viral ITAM bearing protein implicated in mammary tumor development. We previously have shown that MMTV envelope protein expression transform mouse mammary epithelial cells and Src kinases are important mediators in this transformation. To study how ITAM signaling affects transformation and progression of mammary tumor we developed mammary cell lines that express MMTV provirus and have a mutated ITAM counterpart. Using PCR based expression profiling we found that MMTV-ITAM turns on the embryonic transcription factors and induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition which is important in malignant tumor progression. Many genes related to cell adhesion and invasion was changed. Anti-apoptotic regulator bcl-2 level was significantly increased. Importantly MMTV expressing cells became resistant to apoptosis induced by serum starvation. Cells transduced with ITAM mutated MMTV were indistinguishable from wild type cells. We also found Src kinase, a downstream signal transducer of ITAM signaling is activated in the MMTV expressing cells, and MMTV induced apoptosis resistance was completely restored by Src inhibitor PP2. Our results show that MMTV suppress apoptosis through ITAM mediated Src tyrosin kinase signaling. The studies in signaling pathways and apoptosis resistance induced by ITAM containing proteins in nonhematopoietic cells could lead to the development of effective treatment of cancers in which ITAM-mediated signaling plays a role. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-68. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-68
TCT-784 Alternative Applications of a Novel Hybrid Closure Technique in Large Bore Arteriotomies—Uses in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and the Axillary Artery

We have previously demonstrated the safety and efficacy of our hybrid closure (HC) technique which employs the combination of 1 “pre-closed” Perclose (P) suture mediated vascular closure device (VCD) followed by the deployment of a 6 French (Fr) Mynx or 6 Fr Angioseal to effect hemostasis in up
Nondestructive Detection and Evaluation of Subgrade Compaction Using Data from Portable Falling Deflectometer

In order to improve the detection efficiency and accuracy of subgrade compaction,based on the platform of PFWD,the information of time histories of dynamic load and deflection of PFWD was mined using dynamic signal analysis and digital signal processing technologies.The dynamic characteristic parameters of the time histories were analysed from the aspects of time domain signal,the frequency domain signal and mechanical impedance of real data collected from the field.On this basis,multivariate regression and artificial neural network were utilized respectively to develop two predictive models of high liquid limit clay roadbed.The prediction results from the two models were compared with the results of coring.It shows that both models could exhibit good prediction accuracy of roadbed compactness.The results could provide a reference for the prediction of subgrade compaction.
An empirically derived taxonomy of errors in SNOMED CT

Ontologies underpin methods throughout biomedicine and biomedical informatics. However, as ontologies increase in size and complexity, so does the likelihood that they contain errors. Effective methods that identify errors are typically manual and expert-driven; however, automated methods are essential for the size of modern biomedical ontologies. The effect of ontology errors on their application is unclear, creating a challenge in differentiating salient, relevant errors with those that have no discernable effect. As a first step in understanding the challenge of identifying salient, common errors at a large scale, we asked 5 experts to verify a random subset of complex relations in the SNOMED CT CORE Problem List Subset. The experts found 39 errors that followed several common patterns. Initially, the experts disagreed about errors almost entirely, indicating that ontology verification is very difficult and requires many eyes on the task. It is clear that additional empirically-based, application-focused ontology verification method development is necessary. Toward that end, we developed a taxonomy that can serve as a checklist to consult during ontology quality assurance.
Assessing medical student cultural competence: what really matters.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore medical students’ attitudes and beliefs toward Latino patients, specifically: to assess students’ levels of knowledge, cultural competence, and comfort with Latinos; to determine students’ exposure to and previous experience with Latinos; and to evaluate whether factors such as study abroad, living abroad, previous clinical experience with Latinos, and language proficiency predict Latino knowledge, cultural competence, and comfort with Latinos. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were third and fourth year medical students at three medical schools in the Southeastern United States. Three composite measures: Latino knowledge, Cultural competence, and Comfort with Latino patients, were predicted in a multivariate regression model including individual sociodemographic characteristics and past clinical or social experience with Latinos. Results: A total of 170 medical students completed the survey (43% response rate). Spanish language proficiency was a statistically significant predictor (t(131)=2.72, p<0.05) of Latino knowledge. Social interaction with Latinos in the past year (t(126)=3.09, p<0.01), ever having lived in a Spanish-speaking country (t(126)=2.86, p<0.01), and Spanish language proficiency (t(126)=3.28, p<0.01) independently predicted cultural competence. Previous clinical experience with Latinos was not significantly associated with the three composite dependent variables, and comfort with Latino patients was not significantly predicted by any of the six Latino-related explanatory variables. Conclusions: Factors prior to medical school matriculation and during medical education may contribute to increased cultural competence and comfort with multicultural patients. Cultural patient-partner programs may be an effective way to increase cultural competence within the confines of medical school curricula.
Effect of Confinement on the Dynamic Contact Angle of Hydrocarbons

Unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs and their characteristics have promoted an area of research exploring the effect of small pore size on the reservoir fluid and its associated properties. There is a general agreement that (i) the confined fluid flow and associated properties in shale are substantially different from its corresponding bulk properties and (ii) these differences have a significant impact on the prediction of well performance and ultimate recovery in shale reservoirs. However, experimental measurements of fluid flow and properties in shale rocks are currently very limited, which has led to a significant amount of uncertainty in reservoir modeling. In this study, a nonfluidic device is designed, fabricated, packaged, and tested, and an experimental investigation of the gas–liquid contact angle of hydrocarbons confined in nanosized channels within a nanofluidic platform is conducted. Reservoirs in the nanofluidic chip are filled with a hydrocarbon liquid and epi-fluorescence imaging is simu...