cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions among Toxins That Inhibit N-type and P-type Calcium Channels

A number of peptide toxins from venoms of spiders and cone snails are high affinity ligands for voltage-gated calcium channels and are useful tools for studying calcium channel function and structure. Using whole-cell recordings from rat sympathetic ganglion and cerebellar Purkinje neurons, we studied toxins that target neuronal N-type (CaV2.2) and P-type (CaV2.1) calcium channels. We asked whether different toxins targeting the same channels bind to the same or different sites on the channel. Five toxins (ω-conotoxin-GVIA, ω-conotoxin MVIIC, ω-agatoxin-IIIA, ω-grammotoxin-SIA, and ω-agatoxin-IVA) were applied in pairwise combinations to either N- or P-type channels. Differences in the characteristics of inhibition, including voltage dependence, reversal kinetics, and fractional inhibition of current, were used to detect additive or mutually occlusive effects of toxins. Results suggest at least two distinct toxin binding sites on the N-type channel and three on the P-type channel. On N-type channels, results are consistent with blockade of the channel pore by ω-CgTx-GVIA, ω-Aga-IIIA, and ω-CTx-MVIIC, whereas grammotoxin likely binds to a separate region coupled to channel gating. ω-Aga-IIIA produces partial channel block by decreasing single-channel conductance. On P-type channels, ω-CTx-MVIIC and ω-Aga-IIIA both likely bind near the mouth of the pore. ω-Aga-IVA and grammotoxin each bind to distinct regions associated with channel gating that do not overlap with the binding region of pore blockers. For both N- and P-type channels, ω-CTx-MVIIC binding produces complete channel block, but is prevented by previous partial channel block by ω-Aga-IIIA, suggesting that ω-CTx-MVIIC binds closer to the external mouth of the pore than does ω-Aga-IIIA.
12.8-eV laser in neutral cesium.

We report the operation of a saturated 96.9-nm laser in Cs vapor that has an extrapolated small signal gain of exp(83) in a total length of 17 cm. We believe that lasing occurs from a core-excited level embedded in the continuum of the valence electron. The laser is pumped by soft x rays from a synchronous, traveling-wave, laser-produced (2.5-J, 20-ps, 1064-nm) plasma.
Initial results with a point projection microscope

Conventional scanning electron microscopes are now close to the limit of their performance for tasks such as the metrology of sub-micron design rule devices. In order to overcome these limits we are investigating the use of in-line electron holography for device metrology. The in-line holograms are formed in a point projection microscope using ultra-low energy electrons (50-250eV) emitted from a nano-tip electron source. Holograms in the transmission mode and in the reflection mode of the microscope as well are possible. Since these in-line holograms are equivalent to out of focus micrographs acquired in a transmission electron microscope with a field emission gun we can reconstruct the original wave front by means of Fourier optics. The resolution of the point projection microscope is given by the sharpness of the emitter. We investigate the electric potential of the emitter using off-axis electron holography in a transmission electron microscope and compare the results to simulations obtained by solving the appropriate Laplace equation.
Signals for CPT and Lorentz violation in neutral-meson oscillations

Experimental signals for indirect CPT violation in the neutral-meson systems are studied in the context of a general CPT- and Lorentz-violating standard-model extension. In this explicit theory, some CPT observables depend on the meson momentum and exhibit diurnal variations. The consequences for CPT tests vary significantly with the specific experimental scenario. The wide range of possible effects is illustrated for two types of CPT experiments presently underway, one involving boosted uncorrelated kaons and the other involving unboosted correlated kaon pairs. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.
Construct validity and dimensional structure of the ASIA motor scale.

AbstractBackground/Objective: The use of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score as an outcome measure requires metrological study. This paper tests the hypothesis that a more accurate representation of motor function is obtained using separate upper and lower extremity scales rather than combining all 20 key muscle ratings into a single ASIA motor score.Methods: We analyzed archived data from 6,116 ASIA motor scale records extracted from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center Database.Results: The hypothesis that separate scales more accurately represent motor function than a single motor scale was supported (X2(indifference)= 2,596; df= 1; P < 0.0001). Two scales account for 87% of the variance, whereas a single scale accounts for only 82%. Lower extremity function is well represented in both solutions; however, upper extremity function is accurately represented only with the use of 2 separate scales.Conclusions: The use of components of the ASIA standards for other than cl...
Interpreting belief functions as probabilities: a new combination rule

Dempster and Shafer introduced the belief function to measure someone's degree of beliefs or subjective probabilities. In IFSA'99 and NAFIPS'9, we presented two distinct proofs that a belief function is, in fact, an inner probability using the methods of functional analysis and measure theory respectively. In this paper, we continue the study and derive a new Dempster's rule of combination based on probability theory.
Three faces of human-computer interaction

Human-computer interaction is considered a core element of computer science. Yet it has not coalesced; many researchers who identify their focus as human-computer interaction reside in other fields. The author examines the origins and evolution of three HCI research foci: computer operation, information systems management, and discretionary use. The author describes efforts to find common ground and forces that have kept them apart.
Calcium store-mediated signaling in sustentacular cells of the mouse olfactory epithelium.

Sustentacular cells have structural features that allude to functions of secretion, absorption, phagocytosis, maintenance of extracellular ionic gradients, metabolism of noxious chemicals, and regulation of cell turnover. We present data detailing their dynamic activity. We show, using a mouse olfactory epithelium slice model, that sustentacular cells are capable of generating two types of calcium signals: intercellular calcium waves where elevations in intracellular calcium propagate between neighboring cells, and intracellular calcium oscillations consisting of repetitive elevations in intracellular calcium confined to single cells. Sustentacular cells exhibited rapid, robust increases in intracellular calcium in response to G-protein coupled muscarinic and purinergic receptor stimulation. In a subpopulation of sustentacular cells, oscillatory calcium transients were evoked. We pharmacologically characterized the properties of purinergic-evoked increases in intracellular calcium. Calcium transients were elicited by release from intracellular stores and were not dependent on extracellular calcium. BAPTA-AM, a cytosolic calcium chelator, and cyclopiazonic acid, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor irreversibly blocked the purinergic-induced calcium transient. Phospholipase C (PLC) antagonist {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"U73122","term_id":"4098075","term_text":"U73122"}}U73122 inhibited the purinergic-evoked calcium transient. 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor antagonist, and the ryanodine receptor (RyR) antagonists tetracaine and ryanodine, inhibited the UTP-induced calcium transients. Collectively, these data suggest that activation of the PLC pathway, IP3-mediated calcium release, and subsequent calcium-induced-calcium release is involved in ATP-elicited increases in intracellular calcium. Our findings indicate that sustentacular cells are not static support cells, and, like glia in the central nervous system, have complex calcium signaling.
Elastic nonlinearity imaging

Previous work has demonstrated improved diagnostic performance of highly trained breast radiologists when provided with B-mode plus elastography images over B-mode images alone. In those studies we have observed that elasticity imaging can be difficult to perform if there is substantial motion of tissue out of the image plane. So we are extending our methods to 3D/4D elasticity imaging with 2D arrays. Further, we have also documented the fact that some breast tumors change contrast with increasing deformation and those observations are consistent with in vitro tissue measurements. Hence, we are investigating imaging tissue stress-strain nonlinearity. These studies will require relatively large tissue deformations (e.g., > 20%) which will induce out of plane motion further justifying 3D/4D motion tracking. To further enhance our efforts, we have begun testing the ability to perform modulus reconstructions (absolute elastic parameter) imaging of in vivo breast tissues. The reconstructions are based on high quality 2D displacement estimates from strain imaging. Piecewise linear (secant) modulus reconstructions demonstrate the changes in elasticity image contrast seen in strain images but, unlike the strain images, the contrast in the modulus images approximates the absolute modulus contrast. Nonlinear reconstructions assume a reasonable approximation to the underlying constitutive relations for the tissue and provide images of the (near) zero-strain shear modulus and a nonlinearity parameter that describes the rate of tissue stiffening with increased deformation. Limited data from clinical trials are consistent with in vitro measurements of elastic properties of tissue samples and suggest that the nonlinearity of invasive ductal carcinoma exceeds that of fibroadenoma and might be useful for improving diagnostic specificity. This work is being extended to 3D.
Poor Glycemic Control in Diabetes and the Risk of Incident Chronic Kidney Disease Even in the Absence of Albuminuria and Retinopathy: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. The extent to which an elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration is associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the absence of albuminuria and retinopathy, the hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy, is uncertain. Methods Glycated hemoglobin concentration was measured in 1871 adults with diabetes mellitus followed up for 11 years in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Incident CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2after 6 years of follow-up or a kidney disease–related hospitalization. We categorized HbA1cconcentrations into 4 clinically relevant categories. Albuminuria and retinopathy were measured midway through follow-up. Results Higher HbA1cconcentrations were strongly associated with risk of CKD in models adjusted for demographic data, baseline glomerular filtration rate, and cardiovascular risk factors. Compared with HbA1cconcentrations less than 6%, HbA1cconcentrations of 6% to 7%, 7% to 8%, and greater than 8% were associated with adjusted relative hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.4 (0.97-1.91), 2.5 (1.70-3.66), and 3.7 (2.76-4.90), respectively. Risk of CKD was higher in individuals with albuminuria and retinopathy, and the association between HbA1cconcentration and incident CKD was observed even in participants without either abnormality: adjusted relative hazards, 1.46 (95% confidence intervals, 0.80-2.65), 1.17 (0.43-3.19), and 3.51 (1.67-7.40), respectively;Ptrend = .004. Conclusions We observed a positive association between HbA1cconcentration and incident CKD that was strong, graded, independent of traditional risk factors, and present even in the absence of albuminuria and retinopathy. Hyperglycemia is an important indicator of risk of both diabetic nephropathy with albuminuria or retinopathy and of less specific forms of CKD.
Main Linac issues and evolving test facilities

This talk will focus on ILC Main Linac issues and how they can be addressed via various existing test facilities or by those planned or under construction. The talk will focus on ILC main linac component test facilities in the U. S. Facilities described will include Vertical test setups to test bare SCRF cavities to demonstrate maximum achievable accelerating gradient. Horizontal testing of cavities equipped with tuners and couplers and the ILC RF unit test facility at Fermilab. Test facilities existing or under construction at DESY and KEK will also be described for context.
Pc-naive 6.01: A review

PC-NAIVE is a Monte Carlo simulation package from David Hendry (author of PC-GIVE), Adrian Neale, and Neil Ericsson. It comprises two separate menu-driven programs: PCNAIVE.EXE, which performs Monte Carlo simulation of a user-specified Data Generating Process (DGP), and PCASYMP.EXE, which computes asymptotic first and second moments for OLS and IV estimators of the parameters of certain DGPs as well as power functions. The program is intended primarily as a live teaching tool for both undergraduate and graduate level classes, but it also has some limited use in research.
A secondary path modeling technique for active noise control systems

A secondary path modeling technique for active noise control systems is developed for both on-line and off-line modeling with faster convergence and higher modeling accuracy. The optimum delay for the adaptive prediction error filter to reduce the interference in system modeling is equal to the length of the impulse response of the secondary path being modeled.
Incorporating Events into Cross-Organizational Business Processes

Because Web-scale processes are inherently cross-organizational, they require the robust enactment of interactions among autonomous parties. However, specifying the processes involved is difficult. To overcome this obstacle, the authors use a business protocol that lets the applicable events and responses vary based on where the process is deployed and the infrastructure and IT applications installed therein. Treating events and business logic as separate concerns also yields clearer models and improves reusability. The authors describe the architecture and tools and outline a methodology by which each participant in a process can define, detect, and respond to events.
A matrix metalloproteinase mediates long-distance attenuation of stem cell proliferation

Ligand-based signaling can potentiate communication between neighboring cells and between cells separated by large distances. In the Drosophila melanogaster ovary, Wingless (Wg) promotes proliferation of follicle stem cells located ~50 µm or five cell diameters away from the Wg source. How Wg traverses this distance is unclear. We find that this long-range signaling requires Division abnormally delayed (Dally)-like (Dlp), a glypican known to extend the range of Wg ligand in the wing disc by binding Wg. Dlp-mediated spreading of Wg to follicle stem cells is opposed by the extracellular protease Mmp2, which cleaved Dlp in cell culture, triggering its relocalization such that Dlp no longer contacted Wg protein. Mmp2-deficient ovaries displayed increased Wg distribution, activity, and stem cell proliferation. Mmp2 protein is expressed in the same cells that produce Wg; thus, niche cells produce both a long-range stem cell proliferation factor and a negative regulator of its spreading. This system could allow for spatial control of Wg signaling to targets at different distances from the source.
A general expression for the correlation of rates of transfer and other phenomena

The expression Y = (1 + Zn)1/n where Y and Z are expressed in terms of the solutions for asymptotically large and small values of the independent variable is shown to be remarkably successful in correlating rates of transfer for processes which vary uniformly between these limiting cases. The arbitrary exponent n can be evaluated simply from plots of Y versus Z and Y/Z versus 1/Z. The expression is quite insensitive to the choice of n and the closest integral value can be chosen for simplicity. The process of correlation can be repeated for additional variables in series. Illustrative applications are presented only for flow, conduction, forced convection, and free convection, but the expression and procedure are applicable to any phenomenon which varies uniformly between known, limiting solutions.
Parallel Database Management Systems

The sections in this article are 1 Parallel Database Server Architectures 2 Data Partitioning Techniques 3 Parallel Execution 4 Load Balancing 5 Future Directions and Research Problems
Reproductive Freedom, Educational Equality, and Females' Preference for Resource-Acquisition Characteristics in Mates

Females' preference for resource-acquisition characteristics in mates has been explained as an evolved psychological mechanism that conveyed reproductive advantage to human ancestors. To explore the hypothesis that females express this preference more strongly when their educational opportunities and reproductive freedom are limited, we reanalyzed mate-preference data collected from 37 cultures by Buss et al. (1990). The results demonstrate that females (but not males) strongly prefer resource-acquisition characteristics in mates when they live in cultures low in both female reproductive freedom and educational equality between the sexes. Discussion focuses on how evolutionary, interactionist, and social-role theories might explain these results.
Extracellular 2',3'-cAMP and 3',5'-cAMP stimulate proliferation of preglomerular vascular endothelial cells and renal epithelial cells.

Kidneys release into the extracellular compartment 3′,5′-cAMP and its positional isomer 2′,3′-cAMP. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the metabolism of extracellular 2′,3′-cAMP an...
Solid-armature railguns without the velocity-skin effect

The performance limits for railguns which are free of the velocity-skin effect are investigated by deriving the upper limits for a specific kind of power supply. Previous performance estimates made for solid-armature railguns are examined in the light of these results and are found to be relatively very optimistic. A novel railgun design has been invented called the muzzle-fed railgun which could allow control of the velocity-skin effect and thereby greatly improve performance of solid armature railguns. >
Tailored Rheological Behavior of Mullite and BSAS Suspensions Using a Cationic Polyelectrolyte

The effects of a cationic polyelectrolyte, polyethylenimine, on the rheological behavior of aqueous mullite and celsian phase, barium strontium aluminosilicate (BSAS) suspensions have been studied to optimize a dip-coating process. The surface of the ceramic particles was characterized in aqueous media using zeta potential measurements. The ionization behavior and hydrodynamic radius of polyethylenimine in aqueous media was characterized by potentiometric titration and dynamic light scattering measurements, respectively. The rheological behavior of concentrated ceramic suspensions containing polyethylenimine was characterized by stress viscometry and elastic modulus measurements. Polyethylenimine imparts repulsive, electrosteric interactions between mullite and BSAS particles in aqueous suspension, resulting in shear thinning flow behavior, linear elastic moduli, and yield stress values that are minimized for suspensions with a critical PEI concentration of 0.2 mg PEI per m 2 of mullite and 0.4 mg PEI per m 2 of BSAS, respectively. The elastic moduli and yield stress of mullite and BSAS suspensions were nearly identical at equivalent fractions of their critical PEI concentration. Uniform coatings were obtained upon dipping SiC, Si3N4, and Si-metal substrates into shear-thinning suspensions containing PEI at 81-88% of the critical concentration. Dense mullite coatings were demonstrated on SiC substrates after sintering at 1400 o C.
Viscosity and thermal conductivity of nitrogen—n‐heptane and nitrogen—n‐octane mixtures

Measurements of the thermal conductivity and viscosity of n-heptane and n-octane in the gas phase were made at temperatures of 100° and 160°F. and at pressures below 1 atm. In addition, measurements of the viscosity and thermal conductivity of binary gas mixtures of nitrogen and n-heptane were made at 160°F. at pressures below 1 atm.
Cognitive psychology and "library learning" Nigel Ford

Assumptions that libraries are central to the process of learning are as yet neither well defined nor supported directly by empirical research evidence. However, recent advances in the study of learning have yielded research results of greater relevance to the study of library organization and use than were previously available, allowing a closer integration of the fields of librarianship and education. Several such studies are briefly reviewed.A conceptual model uniting "libraries" and "learning" is called for, in order to faci litate the application, and generation of research of relevance to the two areas. The concepts "independence" and "structure" are suggested as possibly central components of such a model, and problems of the operational definition of such terms are discussed. Recent approaches to the study of learning are interpreted as a new "challenge to librarians", and implications for research in librarianship are outlined.
the structural context of religious conversion in Petén, Guatemala: status, community, and multicommunity1

Why do some people change their religious affiliations, with all this may imply for family and community relations? Why are some communities more receptive than others to religious innovation? Are there any patterned relationships among social position, group organization, and community culture which help account for intra- and intercommunity variation in religious conversion? In Latin America, one area for investigating these questions is the conversion of traditional and folk Catholics to Protestantism and to modern Catholicism. The questions are, of course, related to the larger issues of change and stability, and for those interested in applied anthropology the answers may bear on the strategy used in approaching “target” societies; for others, the answers are relevant to theories of cultural innovation and continuity.
Intraoperative application of geometric three-dimensional mitral valve assessment package: a feasibility study.

Objective: To study the feasibility of using 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography in the operating room for mitral valve repair or replacement surgery. To perform geometric analysis of the mitral valve before and after repair. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Academic, tertiary care hospital. Participants: Consecutive patients scheduled for mitral valve surgery. Interventions: Intraoperative reconstruction of 3D images of the mitral valve. Results: One hundred and two patients had 3D analysis of their mitral valve. Successful image reconstruction was performed in 93 patients—8 patients had arrhythmias or a dilated mitral valve annulus resulting in significant artifacts. Time from acquisition to reconstruction and analysis was less than 5 minutes. Surgeon identification of mitral valve anatomy was 100% accurate. Conclusions: The study confirms the feasibility of performing intraoperative 3D reconstruction of the mitral valve. This data can be used for confirmation and communication of 2-dimensional data to the surgeons by obtaining a surgical view of the mitral valve. The incorporation of color-flow Doppler into these 3D images helps in identification of the commissural or perivalvular location of regurgitant orifice. With improvements in the processing power of the current generation of echocardiography equipment, it is possible to quickly acquire, reconstruct, and manipulate images to help with timely diagnosis and surgical planning.
Design of Composite Laminates for Strength, Weight, and Manufacturability

A procedure is presented for determining the layups of unidirectional fiber reinforced composite plates (with or without cutouts) subjected to multiple in-plane and out-of-plane loadsets, such that the plate satisfies the Tsai-Wu Quadratic Strength Failure criterion, is of low weight, and has a layup which is easy to manufacture. Additionally, the desired cure cycle is generated for thermosetting matrix composite plates such that during cure the maximum allowed temperature is not exceeded, after cure the plate is fully cured and fully compacted, and the cure is achieved in the shortest time.The design of the layup for strength and weight (utilizing a finite element method for the stress analysis) is based on the Hybrid Algorithm for Laminate Optimization, modified to result in plates in which preassigned regions are of uniform thickness. The design of the layup for ease of manufacture is based on rules. The cure cycle is determined by simulating the cure process of the thermosetting matrix with a determin...
An Integrative Review of Separation in the Context of Victimization: Consequences and Implications for Women

Given the number of divorces that occur each year as well as the high rates of intimate partner violence, it is critical that divorce/separation and victimization be considered in research and in clinical practice with women. However, the separation/divorce research and victimization research has often been conducted independently, with limited attention to integration. The integration of these two domains is critically important in facilitating the understanding of these issues for women. This article has 5 main purposes: (a) to review the research on the general consequences of separation; (b) to review the research on the consequences of separation when children are involved; (c) to review the research on the consequences of victimization; (d) to integrate the separation and victimization research to examine separation in the context of victimization; and (e) to discuss the implications of separation in the context of victimization for practice and research.
Bioimpedance Spectroscopy for Clinical Assessment of Fluid Distribution and Body Cell Mass

Body composition assessment has been used to evaluate clinical interventions in research trials, and has the potential to improve patient care in the clinical setting. Body cell mass (BCM) is an important indicator of nutrition status; however, its measurement in the clinic has been limited. BCM can be estimated by the measurement of intracellular water (ICW). The assessment of extracellular water (ECW) is also important because many clinical populations undergo alterations in fluid distribution, particularly individuals with wasting, those receiving dialysis, and obese individuals. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is a unique bioimpedance approach that differs in underlying basis from the more readily recognized single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SF-BIA) in that it does not require the use of statistically derived, population-specific prediction equations. It has the potential advantage of not only measuring total body water (TBW), as does SF-BIA, but also offering the unique capacity to differentiate between ECW and ICW and, thus, to provide an estimate of BCM. This literature review was conducted to compare available BIS devices to multiple dilution for measuring fluid compartments or BCM in a number of populations. Variable results regarding the ability of BIS to measure absolute volumes, as well as the observation of wide limits of variation, make BIS problematic for individual assessment in the clinic, particularly in populations with abnormal fluid distribution or body geometry. BIS has been found to be more accurate for measuring changes in fluid volumes or BCM, particularly in post-surgical and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. It is certainly possible that population-specific adjustments may improve the accuracy of BIS for assessing individuals in the clinical setting; however, additional research and development is needed before the method can be accepted for routine clinical use.
NF-κB activation in premalignant mouse tal-1/scl thymocytes and tumors

TAL-1/SCL activation is a common genetic event in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Expression of tal-1/scl or a DNA binding mutant of tal-1/scl induces arrest of thymocyte development, resulting in decreases in double-positive and single-positive CD4 thymocytes. Moreover, nuclear p65/p50 heterodimers are detected in premalignant tal-1/scl and mut tal-1/scl thymocytes, suggesting that E2A depletion may induce developmental arrest and stimulate NF-kappaB activation. Increased NF-kappaB activity is also observed in tal-1/scl tumors and bcl-2 is overexpressed. To examine the contribution of NF-kappaB to tal-1/scl tumor growth in vivo, we expressed a mutant form of IkappaBalpha in tal-1/scl tumor cells. Although expression of mutant IkappaBalpha inhibited the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced NF-kappaB response, it had no effect on tumor growth in mice. These data suggest that NF-kappaB activation is an early event in tal-1/scl-induced leukemogenesis, associated with arrest of thymocyte development, and does not appear to contribute to tal-1/scl-induced tumor growth.
Tandem Repeat Sequence Variation and Length Heteroplasmy in the Mitochondrial DNA D-Loop of the Threatened Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi

Genetic variability within the Suwannee River, Florida, population of Gulf of Mexico sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus desotoi, was assessed by examining sequence and length variation within the control region, or D-loop, of the mitochondrial genome. Although once abundant throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf sturgeon are now listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mitochondrial DNA was analyzed for length variation from 168 individual Gulf sturgeon by PCR amplification and visualization of PCR products using ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Of the 168 individual Gulf sturgeon, 31 (18.5%) were heteroplasmic for one to four copies of an 81-base pair, tandemly repeated sequence in the D-loop region. However, no individuals homoplasmic for multiple copies of the repeat sequence were observed. The existence and nature of these tandem repeats in heteroplasmic individuals was confirmed by direct sequencing of the PCR products for a subset of 22 individuals. The results are consistent with the apparent nature and mechanism of heteroplasmy observed in a congeneric species, A. transmontanus. In addition, sequences for 187 base pairs outside of the tandem repeats were identical among all 16 individuals assayed for this region. Lack of variable sequences is concordant with earlier studies involving mtDNA restriction fragment length profiles of Gulf sturgeon found in the Suwannee River. The absence of sequence variation exclusive of the tandem repeats is consistent with the hypothesis that the subspecies has undergone a population or evolutionary bottleneck.
'Fixing' the First Sale Doctrine: Adapting Copyright Law to the New Media Distribution Paradigm

This Article discusses Section 109 of the Copyright Act, the first sale doctrine, in the context of digital media and internet-based storage. Traditionally, the first sale doctrine served as an important limitation on the exclusive rights of copyright owners, allowing copies of lawfully obtained works to be resold without interference from the copyright owner. As a result of this limitation, physical media remains freely alienable after the first sale, providing secondary markets for used copies and more consumer choice. However, due to the nature of digital media and the recent market shift among media distributors, first sale doctrine has become ambiguous and inconsistently applied.This Article argues that Section 109 of the Copyright Act should be amended to allow consumers to resell their lawfully acquired digital media. By amending the Copyright Act for the digital media age, copyright holders will benefit from the increased clarity of the extent of their rights, while consumers will benefit from greater choice and competition in the market. Alternatively, this Article argues that reinterpreting the first sale doctrine using the common law principle of copyright exhaustion is necessary to restore the balance between the ability of copyright holders to exploit their works and the ability of consumers to alienate and resell their property.
Influence of timing of growth implant administration on performance and health of newly received beef cattle1,2

ABSTRACT A total of 442 Angus and crossbred steers (initial BW = 243 ± 13.1 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effect of implant timing on performance and health of newly received steers. Treatments included administration of a growth implant (Revalor-XS; Merck Animal Health, Summit, NJ) on d 0 of the experiment (ARR) or d 28 (DEL). On d 0, 5 steers from each pen were injected with ovalbumin (OVA) to evaluate a primary humoral immune response. On d 28, the same 5 steers received a secondary OVA injection, and 5 additional steers from each pen received a single OVA injection. Final BW ( P = 0.02) and ADG d 0 through slaughter ( P = 0.03) were greater for DEL compared with ARR (BW: 636 vs. 627 ± 8.3 kg; ADG: 1.78 vs. 1.74 kg ± 0.029, respectively). Steers implanted on arrival had greater DMI ( P ≤ 0.02) d 0 to 28, d 29 to 56, and d 57 to 112 and lower ( P ≤ 0.03) G:F d 57 to 112, d 113 to 169, d 170 to slaughter, and d 0 to slaughter (0.175 vs. 0.186 ± 0.003) when compared with DEL steers. On a pen mean basis, BW at d 28 and ADG d 0 to 28 were numerically higher ( P = 0.25) for ARR steers as compared with DEL steers (294 vs. 291 ± 1.8 kg and 1.80 vs. 1.71 ± kg, respectively). Hot carcass weight was numerically greater ( P = 0.16) for DEL compared with ARR steers (383 vs. 378 ± 3.6 kg, respectively). Steers implanted on arrival tended ( P
Syk Inhibition in Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is a major global public health concern. Antiplatelet therapies are a mainstay of treatment. There remains a clinical need to prevent stroke when possible and to minimize neurological damage with minimal bleeding when stroke has occurred. That is why it is particularly exciting to see the work by van Eeuwijk et al1 from the group of Bernhard Nieswandt in this issue. Based on a compelling rationale of the role of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase Syk in platelet activation, van Eeuwijk et al report the use of a novel oral Syk inhibitor BI1002494 for prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke in a well-established mouse model. See accompanying article on page 1247 Platelet activation at the sites of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques results …
A simplified lymphoscintigraphic score for extremity lymphedema

2715 Objectives Radiocolloid lymphoscintigraphy has been shown to be useful in the evaluation of chronic edema of the extremities. Typically, a lymphoscintigraphy transport index (TI), incorporating five imaging parameters is used, based on previous publications (1-3). The object of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of TI using 5 parameters, compared to a simple model built from the imaging data. Methods 33 patients with known or suspected lymphedema were studied. After intradermal injection of filtered TC 99m SC, dynamic imaging of injection sites was performed, followed by planar imaging at 30,60 and 120 minutes post injection. Images were assessed for 5 parameters: lymph node transport, dermal backflow, time to sentinel lymph node appearance, assessment of lymph nodes and assessment of lymph vessels. Results The analysis is based on 65 extremities from 33 patients (39 lower extremities and 26 upper extremities). Clinical findings were negative for lymphedema in 24 extremities and positive in 41 extremities. Imaging findings are summarized in the table below by clinical outcome: Time to node appearance reached statistical significance as a discriminator between presence and absence of lymph edema. TI did not reach statistical significance. We built a new simpler model with the two most discriminating variables: time to node appearance and assessment of lymph nodes. Our two variable model had a C-index of 0.725, which was similar to that of the TI (C=0.734). This was significantly better than the null value of 0.5 (P-value=0.036). Conclusions In lymphoscintigraphic evaluation of extremity lymphedema, our study suggests that a simpler two-variable model is as good as a previously published five variable TI model.
VACT: Visualization-aware CT reconstruction

Computed tomography (CT) reconstruction methods are often unaware of the requirements of the subsequent 3D volume visualization stage. In this stage, a delicate and often-studied component is the interpolation of off-grid samples, where aliasing can lead to misleading artifacts and blurring, potentially hiding fine details of critical importance. The visualization-aware CT reconstruction framework we describe aims to account for these errors directly in the volume generation stage. Our framework informs the CT reconstruction process of the specific filter intended for interpolation in the subsequent visualization process, and this in turn ensures an accurate interpolation there at a set tolerance. Here, we focus on fast trilinear interpolation in conjunction with an octree-type mixed resolution volume representation without T-junctions. Efficient rendering is achieved by a space-efficient and locality-optimized representation, which can straightforwardly exploit fast fixed-function pipelines on GPUs.
Predicting Rights-Only Score Distributions from Data Collected Under Formula Score Instructions

Under a formula score instruction (FSI), test takers omit items. If students are encouraged to answer every item (under a rights-only scoring instruction, ROI), the score distribution will be different. In this paper, we formulate a simple statistical model to predict the score ROI distribution using the FSI data. Estimation error is also provided. In addition, a preliminary investigation of the probability of guessing correctly on omitted items and its sensitivity is presented in the paper. Based on the data used in this paper, the probability of guessing correctly may be close or slightly greater than the chance score.
The Growth of Tantalum Thin Films by Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition and Diffusion Barrier Properties

Ta films were grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) at temperatures from room temperature up to 300 °C using TaCl5 as source gas and RF plasma-produced atomic H as the reducing agent. Post-deposition ex situ chemical analyses showed that the main impurity is oxygen, incorporated during the air exposure prior to analysis with typically low Cl concentration below 1 at %. The X-ray diffraction indicates that ALD Ta films are amorphous or composed of nano-grains. The typical resistivity of ALD Ta films was 150-180 μΩ cm, which corresponds to that of β-Ta phase, at a wide range of growth parameters. The conformality of the film is 100 % up to an aspect ratio of 15:1 and 40 % for aspect ratio of 40:1. The thickness per cycle, corresponding to the growth rate, was measured by Rutherford back scattering as a function of various key growth parameters, including TaCl5 and H exposure time and growth temperature. The maximum thickness per cycle values were below 0.1 ML, probably due to the steric hindrance for TaCl5 adsorption. Bilayer structures consisting of Cu films deposited by sputtering and ALD Ta films with various thicknesses were prepared and the diffusion barrier properties of ALD Ta films were investigated by various analysis techniques consisting of X-ray diffraction, elastic light scattering, and resistance analysis. The results were compared with Ta thin films deposited by sputtering with comparable thicknesses. Also, the growth of TaN films by PE-ALD using consecutive exposures of atomic H and activated N2 is presented.
The feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of PRIME‐D: A novel mobile intervention treatment for depression

Background Despite decades of research and development, depression has risen from the fifth to the leading cause of disability in the United States. Barriers to progress in the field are (1) poor access to high-quality care; (2) limited mental health workforce; and (3) few providers trained in the delivery of evidence-based treatments (EBTs). Although mobile platforms are being developed to give consumers greater access to high-quality care, too often these tools do not have empirical support for their effectiveness. In this study, we evaluated PRIME-D, a mobile app intervention that uses social networking, goal setting, and a mental health coach to deliver text-based, EBT's to treat mood symptoms and functioning in adults with depression. Methods Thirty-six adults with depression remotely participated in PRIME-D over an 8-week period with a 4-week follow-up, with 83% retained over the 12-week course of thestudy. Results On average, participants logged into the app 5 days/week. Depression scores (PHQ-9) significantly improved over time (over 50% reduction), with coach interactions enhancing these effects. Mood-related disability (Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)) also significantly decreased over time with participants no longer being impaired by their mood symptoms. Overall use of PRIME-D predicted greater gains in functioning. Improvements in mood and functioning were sustained over the 4-week follow-up. Conclusions Results suggest that PRIME-D is a feasible, acceptable, and effective intervention for adults with depression and that a mobile service delivery model may address the serious public health problem of poor access to high-quality mental health care.
Sediment transport time scales and trapping efficiency in a tidal river

Observations and a numerical model are used to characterize sediment transport in the tidal Hudson River. A sediment budget over 11 years including major discharge events indicates the tidal fresh region traps about 40% of the sediment input from the watershed. Sediment input scales with the river discharge cubed, while seaward transport in the tidal river scales linearly, so the tidal river accumulates sediment during the highest discharge events. Sediment pulses associated with discharge events dissipate moving seaward and lag the advection speed of the river by a factor of 1.5 to 3. Idealized model simulations with a range of discharge and settling velocity were used to evaluate the trapping efficiency, transport rate, and mean age of sediment input from the watershed. The seaward transport of suspended sediment scales linearly with discharge but lags the river velocity by a factor that is linear with settling velocity. The lag factor is 30–40 times the settling velocity (mm s−1), so transport speeds vary by orders of magnitude from clay (0.01 mm s−1) to coarse silt (1 mm s−1). Deposition along the tidal river depends strongly on settling velocity, and a simple advection-reaction equation represents the loss due to settling on depositional shoals. The long-term discharge record is used to represent statistically the distribution of transport times, and time scales for settling velocities of 0.1 mm s−1 and 1 mm s−1 range from several months to several years for transport through the tidal river and several years to several decades through the estuary.
Does a Target Dose or a Target Heart Rate Matter to Outcomes When Prescribing β-Blockers to Patients With Chronic Heart Failure?

For better or worse, many cardiovascular disorders are treated based on changes in a biomarker. Antihypertensive drugs are titrated to achieve specific decreases in blood pressure, and the doses of lipid-lowering drugs are often adjusted based on serum cholesterol. Investigators have proposed measuring natriuretic peptides and C-reactive protein to titrate drugs for heart failure and for high-risk coronary artery disease, respectively. Use of a biomarker often represents an effort to practice personalized medicine; theoretically, a drug is given only to people who need it and only in a dose that achieves what is perceived to be a worthwhile change. Yet, biomarkers present us with challenges. When observed in populations, even small differences in a biomarker—for example, 1- to 2-mm Hg difference in blood pressure—are clinically important; yet, when treating individuals, few physicians are inclined to increase the dose of an antihypertensive drug with the primary intent of achieving such a small additional decrease in blood pressure. The oldest biomarker in cardiovascular medicine is resting heart rate. Physicians have been monitoring the rapidity and quality of the pulse for several thousand years, and great emphasis has been placed on changes in heart rate as an indicator of impending improvement or deterioration. Many patients suffer when their heart rates are too fast or too slow. Yet, even in the absence of a tachyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia, physicians dutifully record the resting heart rate during normal sinus rhythm at nearly every patient encounter. The resting heart rate has recently gained attention as a biomarker in the management of patients with chronic heart failure. Heart rate (measured at rest and during sinus rhythm) has prognostic importance in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and changes in heart rate are predictive of outcomes.1 The I f current antagonist ivabradine was specifically developed to modulate heart rate …
No Time like the Present: Making Rule of Law and Constitutional Competence the Theoretical and Practical Foundation for Public Administration Graduate Education Curriculum

Most Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs across the United States focus extensively on policy analysis, management, and leadership, because organization...
Effects of photoperiod on testicular inhibin-α and androgen binding protein mRNA expression during postnatal development in siberian hamsters,

Abstract The effects of short photoperiod (SPP) on testicular inhibin-α and androgen binding protein (ABP) mRNA expression were investigated in Siberian hamsters during postnatal development. Hamsters were raised in either long photoperiod (LPP; 16L:8D) or in a SPP (6L:18D). Hamsters were sacrificed at the following developmental ages: preweaning (18–20 days), immature (28–30 days), pubertal (38–40 days), postpubertal (48–50 days) and adult (60–62 days; n = 7–12 animals per group). Body and testicular weights were determined and plasma FSH levels were measured by validated RIA. As expected, testicular weight and circulating FSH levels were significantly lower in hamsters raised in SPP than in LPP animals. Photoperiod had no significant effect on body weight except during postpubertal age. The northern analyses of inhibin-α and ABP expression in the testes revealed that the corresponding relative mRNA levels were higher in animals exposed to SPP than in animals from LPP. These findings suggest that the testes of hamsters exposed to a SPP can synthesize inhibin-α and ABP and we speculate that the release of these proteins may be regulated by photoperiod and the role of FSH in the control of inhibin-α and ABP gene expression in male Siberian hamsters may be minimal.
Electronic Structure of Carbon and Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen Nanotubes

In addition to the multi-wall carbon nanotubes originally found in arc-discharge synthesis of fullerenes, other nanotubes including noncarbon ones have been predicted theoretically and synthesized experimentally. These quasi-one-dimensional objects have highly unusual electronic properties (some are conductors, others semiconductors or insulators). In this Chapter, theoretical studies on the structure and properties of the carbon nanotubes and their junctions and on those of nanotubes made out of various combinations of B, C., and N atoms are presented. Because of their nanometer dimensions, these structures can have novel properties and yield unusual scientific phenomena. The possibility of making device elements with nanotube junctions and the properties of ropes of carbon nanotubes are also described.