cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assembly and function of the photosystem II manganese stabilizing protein: lessons from its natively unfolded behavior.

The Photosystem II (PS II) manganese stabilizing protein (MSP) possesses characteristics, including thermostability, ascribed to the natively unfolded class of proteins (Lydakis-Simantiris et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38: 404–414). A site-directed mutant of MSP, C28A, C51A, which lacks the -S–S- bridge, also binds to PS II at wild-type levels and reconstitutes oxygen evolution activity [Betts et al. (1996) Biochim Biophys Acta 1274: 135–142], although the mutant protein is even more disordered in solution. Both WT and C28A, C51A MSP aggregate upon heating, but an examination of the effects of protein concentration and pH on heat-induced aggregation showed that each MSP species exhibited greater resistance to aggregation at a pH near their pI (5.2) than do either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or carbonic anhydrase, which were used as model water soluble proteins. Increases in pH above the pI of the MSPs and BSA enhanced their aggregation resistance, a behavior which can be predicted from their charge (MSP) or a combination of charge and stabilization by -S–S- bonds (BSA). In the case of aggregation resistance by MSP, this is likely to be an important factor in its ability to avoid unproductive self-association reactions in favor of formation of the protein–protein interactions that lead to formation of the functional oxygen evolving complex.
YOHKOH-SXT OBSERVATIONS OF RECONNECTION

Abstract In this paper I review the different strong indications for the occurrence of reconnection in the solar corona observed of with Yohkoh -SXT. I make a distinction between the unique indicator of reconnection, i.e. the change in connectivity in the magnetic field, and non-unique signatures of reconnection, that also can originate from other processes. I review five different types of Yohkoh -SXT observations that indicate reconnection in the solar corona: erupting plasmoids, X-ray jets, formation of sigmoids through “linkage”, the existence of interconnecting loops, and the rigid rotation of coronal holes. I conclude that the presence of reconnection in the solar corona has been established with near certainty, but that higher resolution soft X-ray and EUV observations are needed to firmly establish the full physical picture for each of The phenomena described.
Ligation of intercellular adhesion molecule 3 inhibits GM-CSF production by human eosinophils

Background: Intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3) has recently been identified on the surface of eosinophils. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize ICAM-3 expression on eosinophils in response to cytokines and to determine whether ligand binding of ICAM-3 modulates inflammatory responses of eosinophils, as it does in other leukocytes. Methods: To determine effects of ICAM-3 on eosinophil function, we isolated human eosinophils and used a monoclonal antibody directed against the epitope of ICAM-3 that binds to leukocyte-function antigen-1 to mimic binding of ICAM-3 and this natural ligand. We measured granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production by unstimulated eosinophils and eosinophils stimulated with ionomycin (1 μmol/L), both in the presence and absence of this anti-ICAM-3 antibody. Results: We found that 99% of eosinophils expressed ICAM-3, regardless of whether allergic symptoms were present or absent. Expression of ICAM-3 was not enhanced by proinflammatory cytokines. Expression of ICAM-3 was reduced in apoptotic cells and in cells incubated with the combination of GM-CSF and tumor necrosis factor-α (n=3). Antibody binding of ICAM-3, which mimics leukocyte-function antigen-1 binding, had no effect on baseline GM-CSF production but reduced by 80% the production of GM-CSF stimulated by ionomycin (control 1969 pg/mL ± 1259 SD versus anti-ICAM-3 396 pg/mL ± 207 SD, n=8) and reduced GM-CSF mRNA content. Conclusions: ICAM-3 is highly expressed on the surface of human eosinophils, and downregulation of GM-CSF production by anti-ICAM-3 mAb suggests that ICAM-3 ligation may inhibit eosinophil inflammatory responses and survival.
Obituary: William White Howells (1908-2005).

William White Howells was born in New York City in 1908, educated at Harvard University (1926–1934), served as a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History (1934–1939), joined the anthropology faculty at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1937– 1954) and began his professorship at Harvard in 1954. He retired in 1974, but continued publishing papers and books well into his 90s. He had a profoundly positive influence on biological anthropology and education by his elegant writing, his superb teaching and mentorship, and his extensive service to our profession. That service includes stewardship of this journal (1949–1954). The quality of his writing is apparent from the start and marked him as a clear thinker with a gift of making any subject delightful to read. One can see this in his very earliest publications. His 1932 contribution on the skeletal material from the Swart Ruin (New Mexico) is an unlikely place to look for literary clarity and engaging reading, but it is fun to read even through what some might consider the tediousness of osteometry (Howells, 1932). He made reports on blood-group frequencies (Howells, 1933), anthropometry (Howells, 1937), and craniometry (Howells, 1934, 1936, 1953) interesting. His first book, ‘‘Mankind So Far’’ (Howells, 1944) was translated into Spanish, French, and Japanese soon after its publication and sparkles with prose that may, at first reading, seem overly fanciful, but conveys with precision what is known and what is unknown:
Field Experience in Public Affairs Management: The Michigan State University Approach

The concept of earning academic credit for career-related work performed outside the classroom has many names. Internship, cooperative program, field placement, experiential education, work-study program, and field experience are the more common names for such activities. In our program at Michigan State University, we have chosen to use the term "field experience" and this term shall be used throughout this paper. In a session at the 1974 annual meetings dealing with the advantages and disadvantages of field experience, Milton Snodgrass presented as part of his paper the historical background of field experience and included a definition that is still appropriate. "Defined broadly," Snodgrass wrote, "the concept encompasses any offcampus work or study experience with a private business or government agency which is organized by the university for which academic credit and/or pay is received by the student" (p. 1153). Formal programs incorporating field experience into the curriculum have been in existence for over seventy years. The merits of academic credit for field experience are still debated by many academicians and undoubtedly will continue to be argued. Ultimately, the decision to incorporate a field experience component into an agricultural economics curriculum relates to the faculty's definition of education and the value placed on field experience as an integral part of education. In the Department of Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University, we have concluded that field experience is worthy of academic credit. In this paper we shall describe how the field experience program evolved, the guidelines for doing field experience, how it is managed, the benefits to the s udent and the department, evaluation problems we have encountered, and recommendations for establishing a field experience.
Nucleus basalis lesions attenuate aquisition, but not retention, of Pavlovian heart rate conditioning and have no effect on eyeblink conditioning

Rabbits with lesions of the anterior nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) were compared with animals with sham lesions or unoperated control animals on a classical conditioning task in which heart rate (HR) and eyeblink (EB) conditioned responses (CRs) were as sessed. The nBM lesions impaired the magnitude of the decelerative HR CR, but had no effect on the EB CR. A second experiment, in which animals were lesioned af ter acquisition was complete, showed that anterior nBM lesions had no effect on retention of either the HR or EB CR. These data suggest that the anterior nBM may participate in the early stages of information processing in which stimuli are evaluated for their significance based on their association with a reinforcer. However, the ante rior nBM is apparently not involved in the selection of a somatomotor response to deal effectively with such changing stimulus contingencies.
Adenosine A2A Receptor Antagonists in Parkinson’s Disease: Progress in Clinical Trials from the Newly Approved Istradefylline to Drugs in Early Development and Those Already Discontinued

Neurotransmitters other than dopamine, such as norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, adenosine and acetylcholine, are involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and contribute to its symptomatology. Thus, the progress of non-dopaminergic therapies for PD has attracted much interest in recent years. Among new classes of drugs, adenosine A2A antagonists have emerged as promising candidates. The development of new highly selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonists, and their encouraging anti-parkinsonian responses in animal models of PD, has provided a rationale for clinical trials to evaluate the therapeutic potential and the safety of these agents in patients with PD. To date, the clinical research regarding A2A antagonists and their potential utilization in PD therapy continues to evolve between drugs just or previously discontinued (preladenant and vipadenant), new derivatives in development (tozadenant, PBF-509, ST1535, ST4206 and V81444) and the relatively old drug istradefylline, which has finally been licensed as an anti-parkinsonian drug in Japan. All these compounds have been shown to have a good safety profile and be well tolerated. Moreover, results from phase II and III trials also demonstrate that A2A antagonists are effective in reducing off-time, without worsening troublesome dyskinesia, and in increasing on-time with a mild increase of non-troublesome dyskinesia, in patients at an advanced stage of PD treated with l-DOPA. In addition, early findings suggest that A2A antagonists might also be efficacious as monotherapy in patients at an early stage of PD. This review summarizes pharmacological and clinical data available on istradefylline, tozadenant, PBF-509, ST1535, ST4206, V81444, preladenant and vipadenant.
Rats bred for susceptibility to depression-like phenotypes have higher kainic acid-induced seizure mortality than their depression-resistant counterparts

Epidemiological evidence suggests that epilepsy and depression are comorbid diseases. In fact, depression is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder associated with epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy, and individuals with a history of depression are at a higher risk for developing epilepsy than the general population. Despite the epidemiological evidence for this link, there has been little experimental evidence to support the connection or elucidate possible underlying mechanisms. In an effort to address this problem and develop an animal model of epilepsy and depression comorbidity, we assessed seizure susceptibility and severity parameters in rats selectively bred for either susceptibility (the SwLo, SUS, and HYPER lines) or resistance (the SwHi, RES, and MON RES lines) to depression-like phenotypes. We found that rats bred for susceptibility to depression-like phenotypes experienced higher mortality following kainic acid-induced seizures than their resistant counterparts. In contrast, most line differences were not recapitulated when flurothyl was used to elicit seizures. Stress reduced kainic acid-induced mortality rates in all lines except the HYPER rats, supporting previously established indications that the stress response of HYPER rats is abnormal. These combined results support a neurobiological link between epilepsy and depression, advancing us towards an animal model of their comorbidity.
Constrained water access to the active site of cytochrome P450 from the piezophilic bacterium Photobacterium profundum

Living species inhabiting ocean deeps must adapt to high hydrostatic pressure. This adaptation, which must enable functioning under conditions of promoted protein hydration, is especially important for proteins such as cytochromes P450 that exhibit functionally important hydration–dehydration dynamics. Here we study the interactions of substrates with cytochrome P450-SS9, a putative fatty acid hydroxylase from the piezophilic bacterium Photobacterium profundum SS9, and characterize the protein's barotropic properties. Comparison of P450-SS9 with cytochrome P450BM-3, a mesophilic fatty acid hydroxylase, suggests that P450-SS9 is characterized by severely confined accessibility and low water occupancy of the active site. This feature may reveal a mechanism for the structural adaptation of the piezophilic enzyme. We also demonstrate that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids exert opposite effects on solvent accessibility and hydration of the active site. Modulation of the protein conformation by fatty acids...
Formation of Hæmosiderin and its Relation to Ferritin

SUPPORT for the hypothesis that the protein moiety of haemosiderin is the same as that of ferritin can be found in the literature1,2. Iron tetrad (or, more recently, ‘hexad’3,4) structures in a protein matrix characteristic of ferritin have been reported in electron photomicrographs of tissue sections variously interpreted as ferritin, haemosiderin, aggregates of ferritin, etc.3,5,6. It is not uncommon, therefore, to consider both ferritin and haemosiderin as being more or less identical. However, the results of our biochemical and histochemical work lead to opposite conclusions7,8.
The population dynamics of black-white-mulatto racial systems.

Building on Preston and Campbell’s two-sex model of intergenerational transmission, this article provides a theoretical analysis of the dynamics of the racial distribution in black-white-mulatto systems. The author shows that “bounded” patterns of racial classification and switching imply long-run racial homogeneity in the absence of differential reproduction. Beyond the theoretical analysis, the author attempts to account for the dramatic growth of the white population share in Puerto Rico in the early 20th century. Because the effects of racial classification and differential reproduction were roughly offsetting, the observed growth of the white share can be attributed almost entirely to racial switching.
Mutagenicity of Urine from Psoriatic Patients Undergoing Treatment with Coal Tar and Ultraviolet Light

The possible percutaneous absorption of mutagens from patients receiving crude coal tar (CCT) and ultraviolet light was investigated. Urine samples were collected from nonsmoking volunteers, smoking, and nonsmoking psoriatic patients. Patients were treated with 1% CCT U.S.P. or 1 to 10% CCT in petrolatum in the evening. The following morning, patients received coal tar baths and then ultraviolet light (mainly 290–320 nm, UVB). Nonpolar organics in urine samples were extracted by adsorption onto XAD-2 resin and the extracted organics assayed in the Ames Salmonella /Microsome test. TA98 was the most sensitive bacterial strain to detect mutagenicity. Except for smoking psoriatic patients, the addition of liver homogenate was necessary to see mutagenicity. No increase in the number of revertants was observed when B-glucuronidase was added to the assay. Of 14 patients studied 12 had at least one mutagenic urine sample. Typical values for nonsmoking psoriatics treated with CCT ranged from 42 to 496 his + /20ml of urine after the subtraction of spontaneous his + counts (26 ± 6). Two nonsmoking normal volunteers were found to excrete mutagenic urines. Smoking psoriatic patients ranged from 213 to 1,100 his +/20ml urine. This study demonstrates the percutaneous absorption of mutagens from CCT and indicates that its effects may not be limited to the skin.
Review of Future Short Baseline Accelerator Oscillation Experiments

Abstract There are several hints of high Δ m 2 ≈ 1 eV 2 oscillation signals and new experiments are being developed to explore the possibility that these signals are associated with oscillations through sterile neutrinos. The new experiments need to have improved significance and background separation along with possibly observing oscillatory behavior for the oscillation signal within the detector. This talk will review some the future experiments and their capabilities.
Aggressive Surgery for Lung Cancer

This issue of the Thoracic Surgery Clinics is devoted to the topic of ‘‘aggressive’’ surgery for lung for other unusual circumstances, such as NSCLCs with a solitary metastasis or small cell lung cancers, cancer. What does the word ‘‘aggressive’’ mean in this context? It implies that surgical resection is being performed under circumstances that are technically challenging and beyond the usual scope of an operation for lung cancer, mostly non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). During the past two decades, resectional techniques for tumors that are locally advanced according to T status (eg, invasion of the carina, mediastinum, spine) have been refined, allowing consideration of curative surgical therapy in patients who would not previously have been considered operative candidates. Likewise, the development of effective preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy now makes curative treatment possible for tumors that are locally advanced according to N status (ipsilateral or contralateral mediastinal lymph node metastases). Surgery on patients after induction therapy poses special perioperative risks and technical challenges, however. In addition, the role of surgery
Dichotomy of differential equations on Banach spaces and an algebra of weighted translation operators

A strongly continuous evolutionary family {U(T, s)}~>~ of operators on an arbitrary Banach space X is considered. This family can be viewed as a propagator for the differential equation x'(7) = A(T)x(T), T E ]~, on X with, generally, unbounded operators A(T). Associated with this family is an evolutionary semigroup (etrf)(r) = U(T, r -- t)f(T -- t), V e ]~, on Lp(R; X) with generator F which is often expressible by the formula (Ff)(r) = --if(T) + A(T)f(T). We prove that the evolutionary family has an exponential dichotomy if and only if this semigroup is hyperbolic or, equivalently, its generator F is invertible. To this end the invertibility of the operators from an algebra of weighted translation operators with strongly continuous coefficients on Lp (R; X) is studied. We represent this algebra by weighted shift operators on Ip(; X) and show, in addition, that this algebra is inverse-closed in B(Lp(]~; X)). Consequences include a description of the Green's function for the evolutionary family in terms of P -1. We show that the Green's function exists if and only if the evolutionary family has an exponential dichotomy. It is also shown that exponential dichotomy persists under small perturbations of the evolutionary family.
A methodology for intercity transportation planning in Egypt

Abstract This paper describes the development of the Egypt Intercity Transportation Model, designed to assess alternative transportation investment, maintenance, operating and pricing policies within Egypt. The Intercity Model encompasses movements of both intercity freight and intercity passengers on highway, railway, and waterways, and predicts transportation system performance, costs, and impacts resulting from different policies that may be specified. The Model incorporates a number of state-of-the-art analytical procedures and features particularly suited to analyzing transportation problems in developing countries, including: (1) An equilibration procedure which provides a simultaneous solution of the generation, distribution, modal split and assignment problems; (2) Interactions among investment, maintenance, operating and pricing policies through the use of simulation models (rather than closed-form functions) to estimate link costs; and (3) Explicit treatment of constraints on availability of transportation services—not only link capacity (congestion), but also fleet capacity and the potential inability of modes to satisfy all of the latent demand.
Quantitative characterization of bone marrow edema pattern in rheumatoid arthritis using 3 Tesla MRI.

Purpose: To develop imaging techniques that provide quantitative characterization of bone marrow edema pattern (BME) in wrist joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including volume, signal intensity changes, and perfusion properties. Materials and Methods: Fourteen RA patients and three controls were scanned using 3 Tesla MR. BME was semi-automatically segmented in water images obtained from iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) sequences. BME perfusion parameters (enhancement and slope) were evaluated using three-dimensional (3D) dynamic enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Experimental reproducibility, inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of BME quantification were evaluated using root mean square coefficients of variation (RMS-CV) and intraclass correlation (ICC). Results: The RMS-CV for BME volume quantification with repeated scans were 6.9%. The inter-observer ICC was 0.993 and RMS CV was 5.2%. The intra-observer ICC was 0.998 and RMS CV was 2.3%. Both maximum enhancement and slope during DCE-MRI were significantly higher in BME than in normal bone marrow (P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between BME quantification and clinical evaluations. Conclusion: A highly reproducible semi-automatic method for quantifying BME lesion burden in RA was developed, which may enhance our capability of predicting disease progression and monitoring treatment response. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:211-217. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Note on Relative Backwardness and Industrial Structure

Introduction, 520. — Structural bias and relative backwardness: a proposed measurement, 522. — Conclusions, 525. — Appendix, 526.
Analytic theory of symmetric two-beam interference in high-NA optical lithography

It is well known that TM-waves are not as effective as TE-waves in forming interference fringes in oblique incidence. In lithography, this corresponds to contrast loss when imaging with the high-NA exposure tool that employs strong off-axis illumination. One usually explains that there is an angle between electric fields of TM-waves in the resist. However, when the resist is absorptive, the calculation of reduction of contrast for TM-waves becomes rather complicated. In this paper, we show that the analytic formula for symmetric two-beam interference can be derived by straightforward full-vector approach. With the help of the Poynting vector and Poynting's theorem, aerial image in the resist can be calculated. The contrast-reduction factor for TM-waves is thus be found to be [formula] where k0+ is the wave vector in the resist and N0 is the complex index of refraction of the resist. When the resist is non-absorptive, the contrast loss factor for TM-waves reduces to the well-known form e, = cos2θ0, where θ0 is the angle of refraction in the resist. It can also be shown that for TE-waves aerial image in the resist is separable in its transverse and longitudinal coordinate dependence, as is also true for TM-waves under reasonable approximations. That is, the thin-film effect can be regarded as independent of aerial image formation. This conclusion makes possible the development of an efficient methodology for optimizing the thin-film stack used in optical lithography.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
To unscramble an egg.

Statistical analysis of single-molecule tracking data maps the number of states occupied by a molecule in a bacterial cell.
Simulation model of a predator-prey system comprised ofPhytoseiulus persimilis andTetranychus urticae. II. Model sensitivity to variations in the life history parameters of both species and to variations in the functional response and components of the numerical response

A detailed sensitivity analysis of a model of a predator-prey system comprised ofTetranychus urticae andPhytoseiulus persimilis was performed. The aim was to assess the relative importance of the life history parameters of both species, the functional response, and the components of the numerical response. In addition, the impact of the initial predator-prey ratio and the timing of predator introduction were tested. Results indicated that the most important factors in the system were relative rates of predator and prey development, the time of onset of predator oviposition, and the mode of the predator's oviposition curve. The total oviposition of the predator, the effect of prey consumption on predator oviposition, and predator searching were important under some conditions. Factors of moderate importance were the adult female predator's functional response, total prey oviposition, the mode of the prey's oviposition curve, abiotic mortality of the pre-adult predator, and the effect of prey consumption on predator development and on the immature predator's mortality. Factors of least importance were the variances of the predator's and prey's oviposition curves, the abiotic mortality of the adult predator, the abiotic mortality of the pre-adult and adult prey, the functional response of the nymphal and adult male predators, and the effect of prey consumption on adult predator mortality. The sex ratios had little effect, except when the proportion of female predators was very low. The initial predator-prey ratio and time of predator introduction had significant impacts on system behavior, though the patterns of impact were different.
A 50–64 Gb/s Serializing Transmitter With a 4-Tap, LC-Ladder-Filter-Based FFE in 65 nm CMOS Technology

This paper presents a complete 50–64 Gb/s serializing transmitter including a 4-tap equalizer. An LC-based FFE structure is proposed. The FFE improves the bandwidth of the delay line and the output combiner by applying the design methodology of LC-ladder filters. Proper arrangement of the output combiner reduces the required number of inductors and hence reduces the area. In addition, a novel 4:1 multiplexer (MUX) is used as the final stage of the serializer to reduce power. Designed and fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology, the transmitter achieves a maximum data rate of 64.5 Gb/s with an energy efficiency of 3.1 pJ/bit.
A quality guarantee in acute coronary syndromes: the American College of Cardiology's Guidelines Applied in Practice program taken real-time.

Background Wide variation exists in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs), which includes an apparent underutilization of evidence-based therapies. We have previously demonstrated that application of the American College of Cardiology Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) tools can improve quality indicator rates and outcomes of patients hospitalized with ACS. Objective To determine whether a real-time system for monitoring key quality-of-care indicators using GAP would improve both process indicators and outcomes beyond those of the initial implementation of GAP. Design Prospective patient identification, prospective chart coding, retrospective data abstraction. Patients All patients with ACS admitted (N = 3189) to our institution between January 1, 1999, and December 2004; 2019 studied before real-time implementation from January 1, 1999, to June 30, 2002, and 1170 studied during real-time implementation from July 1, 2002, to December 31, 2004. Main Outcome Measure The effect of real-time monitoring of key quality indicators on inhospital therapy and outcomes, and 6-month outcomes in patients admitted with ACS. Results The real-time GAP implementation correlated with more frequent use of inhospital angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (72.7% vs 63.7%, P P = .0016), statins (81.2% vs 65.9%, P P P P P P P P P P = .0014), myocardial infarction (3.5% vs 5.4%, P = .0243), and combined death/cerebrovascular accident/myocardial infarction (9.5% vs 13.9%, P = .0009) during the first 6 months after discharge. Conclusion The institution of a formal system to review and "guarantee" key quality-of-care indicators real time in the hospital is associated with improved outcomes in patients admitted with ACS. The combination of American College of Cardiology's GAP program and its real-time implementation leads to higher use of evidence-based therapies and correspondingly better outcomes than those associated with the initial GAP implementation.
The clinical utility of adenosine in difficult to diagnose tachyarrhythmias.

Background: The use of intravenous adenosine to help differentiate the origin of tachyarrhythmias has been suggested to be beneficial. However, the benefit of this intervention to physicians with different levels of training in electrocardiographic (ECG) interpretation is unknown. Hypothesis: The purpose of the study was to determine whether intravenous adenosine improved the diagnostic accuracy of difficult to diagnose tachyarrhythmias when used by physicians with different levels of training in ECG interpretation. Methods: We studied 28 consecutive patients presenting with wide and narrow complex tachyarrhythmias, in whom adenosine was given specifically for diagnostic purposes. Two groups of physicians, attending (n = 14) and housestaff (n = 10), reviewed each ECG before and after the administration of adenosine. Results: For narrow complex tachyarrhythmias, neither physician group derived diagnostic benefit from the use of adenosine. However, for wide complex tachyarrhythmias, the diagnostic accuracy of the housestaff group significantly improved with the use of adenosine (pre = 54%, post = 70%, p < 0.01), while the attending physician group had no significant improvement (pre = 61%, post = 71%, p = NS). Conclusion: This study suggests that adenosine provides useful diagnostic information to physicians less experienced in ECG interpretation when presented with patients having wide complex tachyarrhythmias of uncertain origin.
The Roommate Relationship for the Elderly Nursing Home Resident

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the roommate relationship for the institutionalized elderly adult. More specifically, two research questions were examined: Does roommate rapport predict life-satisfaction for elderly nursing home residents? What variables contribute to roommate rapport for the elderly nursing home resident? For this study, 50 elderly persons from six different long-term care facilities were interviewed. The nursing home residents ranged in age from 58 to 98 years, with 43 persons 75 years of age or older. The participants completed the Life Satisfaction Index A, the Short Form of the Roommate Rapport Scale and the Adult Communication Questionnaire through personal interviews. The results of this study indicated that roommate rapport predicted life satisfaction only for those who talked to their roommates. Perceived talk, engaging in activities with one's roommate and talking about the topic of family predicted roommate rapport for the elderly. Nearly half of the elderly re...
nDEP microwells for single-cell patterning in physiological media.

We present a novel technique to accurately position single cells on a substrate using negative dielectrophoresis and cell–substrate adhesion. The cells are suspended in physiological media throughout the patterning process. We also verify the biocompatibility of this method by demonstrating that the patterned cells proliferate and show normal morphology. We calculate the temperatures and transmembrane potential that cells in the device experience and compare them to physiologically acceptable levels described in previous studies.
Development and Pilot Testing of an OSCE for Difficult Conversations in Surgical Intensive Care

Objectives To describe the development and results of an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) for leading family conferences in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Design Pilot demonstration and reliability assessment. Setting General surgery residency program at a major academic teaching hospital. Participants PGY-2 and PGY-4 categorical general surgery residents (n = 8). Results The SICU Family Conference OSCE consists of two 20-minute stations, one requiring residents to lead an end-of-life discussion and the other to disclose an iatrogenic complication. Actual case scenarios and trained actors were used; the examinations were videotaped in a standardized setting. Two professional raters as well as the participating actors assessed each resident performance using rating tools developed for each station and based on guiding principles gleaned from the literature. Resident debriefings and evaluation surveys were also conducted. Resident perception of the OSCE overall was positive. Analysis of the videotapes revealed the need for greater standardization of the actors’ roles. The rating tools showed strong internal consistency (0.77-0.85), but inter-rater agreement of scores was generally low ( Conclusions This pilot provided residents with a positive learning experience and valid formative feedback. Case materials developed for each station served their function well. More work in actor and rater training is needed before the examination scores can be reliably used in summative evaluation.
Interventions for fatigue.

Fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom of cancer and cancer treatment, which can significantly impair the patient's quality of life. It may also interfere with cancer therapy compliance and even limit the amount of treatment that a patient receives. There is little information on, and research into, the mechanisms of fatigue and the relationships between its multiple causes, patterns and the many factors that may improve or worsen the condition. The management of fatigue, therefore, represents a major nursing challenge. The nurse's role in combating cancer-related fatigue spans the treatment continuum from prevention to research. It includes: patient assessment to identify those at high risk and to evaluate potential causes of fatigue; and the implementation of interventions to manage the fatigue, such as patient and family education, self-care activities and treatment of specific problems. Continued research on the multiple aspects of cancer-related fatigue, together with multifaceted projects such as the fatigue initiative, will lead to improved oncology nursing care of patients with cancerrelated fatigue.
Transcriptional atlas of cardiogenesis maps congenital heart disease interactome

Mammalian heart development is built on highly conserved molecular mechanisms with polygenetic perturbations resulting in a spectrum of congenital heart diseases (CHD). However, knowledge of cardiogenic ontogeny that regulates proper cardiogenesis remains largely based on candidate-gene approaches. Mapping the dynamic transcriptional landscape of cardiogenesis from a genomic perspective is essential to integrate the knowledge of heart development into translational applications that accelerate disease discovery efforts toward mechanistic-based treatment strategies. Herein, we designed a time-course transcriptome analysis to investigate the genome-wide dynamic expression landscape of innate murine cardiogenesis ranging from embryonic stem cells to adult cardiac structures. This comprehensive analysis generated temporal and spatial expression profiles, revealed stage-specific gene functions, and mapped the dynamic transcriptome of cardiogenesis to curated pathways. Reconciling known genetic underpinnings of CHD, we deconstructed a disease-centric dynamic interactome encoded within this cardiogenic atlas to identify stage-specific developmental disturbances clustered on regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), BMP signaling, NF-AT signaling, TGFb-dependent EMT, and Notch signaling. Collectively, this cardiogenic transcriptional landscape defines the time-dependent expression of cardiac ontogeny and prioritizes regulatory networks at the interface between health and disease.
Scleroderma: Gastrointestinal Features

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease characterized by associated autoantibodies, vascular alterations, and fibrosis. The skin is most commonly affected, although any organ can be involved. Prognosis is determined by the extent of disease and involvement of the lung.
Spacecraft alignment estimation

A numerically well-behaved factorized methodology is developed for estimating spacecraft sensor alignments from prelaunch and inflight data without the need to compute the spacecraft attitude or angular velocity. Such a methodology permits the estimation of sensor alignments (or other biases) in a framework free of unknown dynamical variables. In actual mission implementation such an algorithm is usually better behaved than one that must compute sensor alignments simultaneously with the spacecraft attitude, for example by means of a Kalman filter. In particular, such a methodology is less sensitive to data dropouts of long duration, and the derived measurement used in the attitude-independent algorithm usually makes data checking and editing of outliers much simpler than would be the case in the filter. >
FEM-based dynamic subdivision splines

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic growth in the use of subdivision schemes for graphical modeling and animation, especially for the representation of smooth, often complex, shapes of arbitrary topology. Nevertheless, conventional interactive approaches to subdivision objects can be extremely laborious and inefficient. Users must carefully specify the initial mesh and/or painstakingly manipulate the control vertices at different levels of the subdivision hierarchy to satisfy a diverse set of functional requirements and aesthetic criteria in the modeled object. This modeling drawback results from the lack of direct manipulation tools for the limit geometric shape. To improve the efficiency of interactive design, we have developed a unified finite element method (FEM) based dynamic methodology for arbitrary subdivision schemes by marrying principles of computational physics and finite element analysis with powerful subdivision geometry. Our dynamic framework permits users to directly manipulate the limit surface obtained from any subdivision procedure via simulated "force" tools. Our experiments demonstrate that the new unified FEM-based framework promises a greater potential for subdivision techniques in geometric modeling, finite element analysis, engineering design, computer graphics and other visual computing applications.
The information systems research program at the Wharton School: doing more with less

The Wharton MIS program is extremely small, is embedded in a larger, multi-disciplinary Decision Sciences Department, and is perpetually short of resources. This requires the authors at all times to maintain careful focus and direction in all of their teaching and research efforts, and has led them to adopt the following over-riding policy statement: 'If it's not worth doing, it's not worth doing well!' It has also led the authors to careful utilization and conservation of their limited resources. The program has two research streams: the coast guard project on model management extends the state-of-the-art in man-machine interaction, model management and complex decision support, while the Reginald H. Jones Center project on information systems, telecommunications, and business strategy has been one of the premier research programs in the strategic and competitive impacts of information technology. >
Alpha-helical topology and tertiary structure prediction in globular proteins

Within the field of protein structure prediction, the packing of alpha-helical proteins has been one of the more difficult problems. Distance constraints and topology predictions can be highly useful for reducing the conformational space that must be searched to find a protein structure of minimum conformational energy. We present a novel first principles framework to predict the structure of alpha-helical proteins. Given the location of the alpha-helical regions, a mixed-integer linear optimization model maximizes the inter helical residue contact probabilities to generate distance restraints between alpha-helices. A hybrid global optimization approach combines torsion angle dynamics with a deterministic global optimization technique (alphaBB) and a stochastic optimization technique (conformational space annealing) to minimize a detailed atomistic-level energy function subject to these constraints. Several improvements to this hybrid algorithm will also be described, including more robust initial point selection, the incorporation of side chain optimization techniques, and a streamlined parallel implementation. The proposed framework does not assume the form of the helices, so it is applicable to all alpha-helical proteins, including helices with kinks and irregular helices. The predictions of the proposed overall framework on a number of proteins, including the blind prediction of a four helical bundle designed from a combinatorial library, are presented.
The Monitor Model and Neurofunctional Theory: An Integrated View

The acquisition-learning distinction is the foundation for much current research in second language acquisition (SLA), yet we lack an analysis of the applicability of this distinction to the whole of the SLA process, including input, storage, retrieval, and performance. This article details the meaning of the acquisition-learning distinction in the Monitor Model and Neurofunctional Theory. It is argued that the two models provide complementary accounts of different components of the SLA process, with the Monitor Model employing the acquisition-learning distinction in an analysis of input and performance, and Neurofunctional Theory using the distinction to describe the formation of linguistic knowledge. Thus an integrated SLA model is proposed that carries the acquisition-learning distinction to all components of the SLA process and that incorporates the main elements of the Monitor Model and Neurofunctional Theory.
On the dynamics and kinematics of two-fluid-phase flow in porous media

A model formulated in terms of both conservation and kinematic equations for phases and interfaces in two-fluid-phase flow in a porous medium system is summarized. Macroscale kinematic equations are derived as extensions of averaging theorems and do not rely on conservation principles. Models based on both conservation and kinematic equations can describe multiphase flow with varying fidelity. When only phase-based equations are considered, a model similar in form to the traditional model for two-fluid-phase flow results. When interface conservation and kinematic equations are also included, a novel formulation results that naturally includes evolution equations that express dynamic changes in fluid saturations, pressures, the capillary pressure, and the fluid-fluid interfacial area density in a two-fluid-system. This dynamic equation set is unique to this work, and the importance of the modeled physics is shown through both microfluidic experiments and high-resolution lattice Boltzmann simulations. The validation work shows that the relaxation of interface distribution and shape toward an equilibrium state is a slow process relative to the time scale typically allowed for a system to approach an apparent equilibrium state based upon observations of fluid saturations and external pressure measurements. Consequently, most pressure-saturation data intended to denote an equilibrium state are likely a sampling from a dynamic system undergoing changes of interfacial curvatures that are not typically monitored. The results confirm the importance of kinematic analysis in combination with conservation equations for faithful modeling of system physics.
Soil respiration in the cold desert environment of the Colorado Plateau (USA): Abiotic regulators and thresholds

Decomposition is central to understanding ecosystem carbon exchange and nutrient- release processes. Unlike mesic ecosystems, which have been extensively studied, xeric landscapes have received little attention; as a result, abiotic soil-respiration regulatory processes are poorly understood in xeric environments. To provide a more complete and quantitative understanding about how abiotic factors influence soil respiration in xeric ecosystems, we conducted soil- respiration and decomposition-cloth measurements in the cold desert of southeast Utah. Our study evaluated when and to what extent soil texture, moisture, temperature, organic carbon, and nitrogen influence soil respiration and examined whether the inverse-texture hypothesis applies to decomposition. Within our study site, the effect of texture on moisture, as described by the inverse texture hypothesis, was evident, but its effect on decomposition was not. Our results show tem- perature and moisture to be the dominant abiotic controls of soil respiration. Specifically, temporal offsets in temperature and moisture conditions appear to have a strong control on soil respiration, with the highest fluxes occurring in spring when temperature and moisture were favorable. These temporal offsets resulted in decomposition rates that were controlled by soil moisture and tem- perature thresholds. The highest fluxes of CO2 occurred when soil temperature was between 10 and 16 � C and volumetric soil moisture was greater than 10%. Decomposition-cloth results, which integrate decomposition processes across several months, support the soil-respiration results and further illustrate the seasonal patterns of high respiration rates during spring and low rates during summer and fall. Results from this study suggest that the parameters used to predict soil respiration in mesic ecosystems likely do not apply in cold-desert environments.
AIR-QUALITY BIOINDICATION IN THE GREATER CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA, WITH EPIPHYTIC MACROLICHEN COMMUNITIES

Air-quality monitoring in the United States is typically focused on urban areas even though the detrimental effects of pollution often extend into surrounding ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to construct a model, based upon epiphytic macrolichen community data, to indicate air-quality and climate in forested areas throughout the greater Central Valley of California (USA). The structure of epiphytic lichen communities is widely recognized as an effective biological indicator of air-quality as sensitivities to common anthropogenic pollutants vary by species. We used nonmetric multidimensional-scaling ordination to analyze lichen community data from 98 plots. To calibrate the model, a subset of plots was co-located with air-quality monitors that measured ambient levels of ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Two estimates of ammonia deposition, which is not regularly monitored by any state or federal agency in California, were approximated for all plots using land-use maps and emissions est...
Announcement Effects Of Working Mother Annual Survey Of Family-Friendly Firms

An increasing number of firms are adopting family-friendly policies as a means of improving morale and increasing the productivity of their workforce. Firms adopting such policies are often lauded for their concern for their workers. Beginning in 1986, Working Mother magazine began publishing an annual survey of the 100 best companies for working mothers to recognize those firms with exemplary family-friendly policies. Implementing family-friendly strategies can be quite costly. While workers may find these companies attractive, does the market find that the potential benefits of these programs outweigh their costs? In this article, the authors examine the stock market9s reaction to firms that are listed on Working Mother9s annual survey. They find that the market reacts negatively to announcements of firms that are included in the survey.