cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Political Interactions among Teachers Sociocultural Context in the Schools

Teacher interactions can be viewed as, in part, "political. " They affect and are affected by the school's social structure and cultural orientations.
Sensitization by annular surrounds: individual differences.

Abstract Westheimer (1965) has shown that the scotopic increment threshold for a small test spot located at the center of an illuminated disk varies with the diameter of the disk. He found that, on his own eye, the threshold passed through a maximum for disks of approximately 45′ diameter (the “peak diameter”). In replications of his experiment on tea subjects, we find that the peak diameter varies consistently from one subject to the next; and, within some subjects, shifts from smaller to larger diameters with decreasing retinal illuminance.
Cardiac arrest secondary to indomethacin-induced renal failure: a case report.

Abstract Acute renal failure secondary to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents is an uncommon occurrence, but may have serious or even lethal consequences. We present one such reaction resulting in cardiac arrest in a 59-year-old diabetic treated with indomethacin. Since presenting symptoms may be vague and unimpressive, one must consider this potential complication to make an early diagnosis and intervene appropriately. In addition when prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin, one should be cautious in patients who are predisposed to the development of acute renal failure. Risk factors that should be considered are preexistent bepatorenal dysfunction, extracellular fluid volume contraction, and concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs.
Protein phosphatase inhibitors and bone resorption: inhibition by okadaic acid and biphasic actions of calyculin-A.

PTH receptors on osteoblasts and calcitonin receptors on osteoclasts are coupled to adenylate cyclase. Despite similar transduction mechanisms, these hormones have opposing physiological actions. We investigated the consequences of persistent protein phosphorylation on bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvariae using okadaic acid (OA) and calyculin-A, two inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1 and -2A. These two inhibitors caused different responses in bone at picomolar and low nanomolar concentrations. OA inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, bone resorption stimulated by PTH, 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3, phorbol ester, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). OA did not inhibit the generation of the second messengers cAMP or PGs and did not have nonspecific toxic effects, as measured by protein and RNA synthesis. Thus, OA appeared to mimic the global inhibitory action of calcitonin on bone resorption. Unlike OA, calyculin-A elicited a biphasic dose response. At concentrations of 3.3 nM and greater, calyculin-A inhibite...
Magnetic Dipole Moment of the Electron in the Ladder Approximation

In order to calculate the magnetic dipole moment of the electron in a nonperturbative manner, the vertex function of quantum electrodynamics is studied in the ladder approximation. The vertex function is written as the sum of form factors and coupled, linear integral equations are derived for these form factors. After converting the system of integral equations into differential equations, the form factors are expressed by means of an infinite series. By using the leading term in the series solution, an approximation for the magnetic dipole moment of the electron is obtained. This nonperturbative approximation is considered in the limit of a large coupling constant, $g$, and the electric dipole moment, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{E}$, of a magnetic monopole with mass $M$ is found to be ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{E}\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{[\sqrt{2}{(4\ensuremath{\pi})}^{2}{g}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{5}{2}}]g}{2M}$. Assuming the neutron to be a bound state of magnetic monopoles, the electric dipole moment of the neutron is estimated as being ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ e cm.
Hematologic and growth-related effects of frequent prenatal ultrasound exposure in the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Prior investigations have shown that reduced birth weights and transient neutropenias result from frequent exposure of monkey fetuses to ultrasound. To further explore these findings, 26 animals were studied (16 exposed, 10 controls; "triple mode"; ATL Ultramark 9 with HDI; ISPTAd approximately 645 to 714 mW/cm2). Exposures were performed daily for 5 days each week from gestational days (GD) 21 to 35 (5 min), three times weekly from GD 36 to 60 (5 min), then weekly from GD 61 to 153 +/- 1 (10 min). Fetal blood samples (FBS) were collected for complete blood counts (CBCs), hematopoietic progenitor assay, circulating insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I, IGF-II) and binding proteins (IGFBP-3) (GD 120, 140, 153 +/- 1). Animals were delivered by Cesarean section at term (GD 153 +/- 1), and body weights, morphometrics, CBCs, and bone marrow aspirates assessed at delivery and postnatally for 3 months. Fetal neutropenias were noted in exposed animals in addition to reduced circulating progenitors (colony forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage [CFU-GM]). Growth of CFU-GM from bone marrow was exuberant at term, whereas circulating levels were diminished comparable to prenatal samples. Exposed animals were smaller at birth; marked reductions in IGFBP-3 were noted prenatally. These data suggest that frequent prenatal ultrasound exposure can transiently alter the neutrophil lineage, although these findings may be the result of enhanced margination and organ sequestration. Data also suggest that transient, altered growth patterns may be due to perturbations of the IGF axis.
Characteristics of methotrexate polyglutamate formation in cultured hepatic cells.

Abstract Upon exposure of primary monolayer cultures of hepatocytes and H35 hepatoma cells, methptrexate (MTX) is taken up by carrier-mediated mechanisms and converted to γ-glutamyl derivatives with one to four residues being added. Under conditions that result in 90% or greater conversion, the primary metabolite in both cell types is MTX with three additional glutamates (4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 PteGlu 4 ). When the time-dependent synthesis of MTX polyglutamates (4-NH 2 -10-CH 3 PteGlu 2 and higher) at extracellular concentrations of 10 and 100 μ m methotrexate is measured, both cell types exhibit linear synthesis for 4 to 6 hr, at which time an apparent steady state intracellular concentration of approximately 40 μ m is reached. The concentration of MTX polyglutamate synthesized is not due a restriction in MTX since the hepatocytes and H35 cells accumulated 400 and 138 μ m intracellular methotrexate, respectively, after 24 h in the presence of 100 μ m extracellular MTX. Examination of MTX polyglutamate formation following a 24-h incubation showed concentration dependence with respect to intra- and extracellular MTX. Saturation was reached at a medium concentration of approximately 2 μ m with both cell types which corresponded to 10 to 12 μ m intracellular MTX. Placement of cells at steady state in medium lacking MTX results in the rapid equilibration of all free intracellular MTX with the medium. The MTX polyglutamates leave the cell by a slow loss of intact polyglutamates and also by intracellular cleavage to MTX followed by efflux. The longer-chain-length γ-glutamyl derivatives (Glu 4–5 ) are more avidly retained by the cells than the shorter ones (Glu 2–3 ).
Influence of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and damage development in a SiC/Ti-15-3 MMC

Titanium alloys are commonly heat-treated to meet specific design requirements. In an effort to possibly create a better composite, the influence of heat treatments on the damage evolution and strength of a SiC/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composite (MMC) was studied. Heat treatments of 450 C and 700 C for 24 hours were performed on axial and transverse unidirectional specimens. These specimens, in addition to specimens in the as-received condition, were tested under nonproportional loading paths and then microstructurally analyzed to determine the induced damage. The axial composite with the 450 C heat treatment showed the highest elastic modulus and the lowest stiffness reduction than the other heat treatment conditions. The transverse composite in the as-received condition showed the highest room temperature elastic modulus and the lowest stiffness reduction compared with other heat treatment conditions. Typical damage modes of Ti MMC's, such as fiber/matrix debonding and matrix microcracking, were seen in all heat treatments. A micromechanics model based on the Mori-Tanaka averaging scheme was implemented to simulate the effects of microcracking induced damage on composite stiffness reduction.
Orientation dependence of the isoelectric point of TiO2 (rutile) surfaces.

The electroosmotic behavior of the rutile polymorph of titanium dioxide was explored as a function of the crystallographic orientation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to make high-resolution force spectroscopy measurements between a silica sphere attached to a traditional, contact-mode AFM cantilever and TiO2(110), TiO2(100), and TiO2(001) surfaces in aqueous solutions. Measurements were taken in multiple solution conditions across a broad range of pH values, and the resultant force−distance curves were used to deduce relative behaviors of each orientation of rutile, with particular interest in changes of the isoelectric point (iep). Differences in the iep as a function of orientation are explained in terms of differences in both the coordination number and density of acidic and basic sites on the surface. The results were supported by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements of a nominal monolayer of palladium metal deposited on each of the three orientations studied...
Intracellular Maturation of the Newcastle Disease Virus Fusion Protein Is Affected by Strain Differences in the Predicted Amphipathic α-Helix Adjacent to the Fusion Domain

The fusion (F) glycoprotein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) contains a predicted amphipathic alpha-helix C-terminal to its fusion domain. Of the 13 available NDV F protein sequences, only the Australia-Victoria (AV) strain alpha-helix is weakened, by the replacement of Ala159 with Thr. In this report, we demonstrate that the efficiency of cleavage and virion incorporation of the AV F protein, unlike that of other strains, is temperature sensitive. Pulse/chase experiments at 42 degrees revealed disulfide-linked aggregates containing both the F and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoproteins in strain AV, but not in strain Beaudette C. Furthermore, a revertant derived from AV, whose helix-weakening Thr159 has been replaced with the consensus Ala, produced fewer F protein aggregates, confirming the structural importance of this region in maturation. In addition, a novel disulfide-defined folding intermediate of the F protein was detected.
Methodology for the Study of Dynamic ON-Resistance in High-Voltage GaN Field-Effect Transistors

We have developed a new methodology to investigate the dynamic ON-resistance (RON) of high-voltage GaN field-effect transistors. The new technique allows the study of RON transients after a switching event over an arbitrary length of time. Using this technique, we have investigated dynamic RON transients in AlGaN/GaN high-voltage, high electron-mobility transistors over a time span of ten decades under a variety of conditions. We find that right after an OFF-to-ON switching event, RON can be several times higher under dc conditions. The increase in RON is enhanced as the drain-source voltage in the OFF-state increases. The RON recovery process after an OFF-to-ON switching event is characterized by a fast release of trapped charge through a temperature-independent tunneling process followed by conventional thermally activated detrapping on a longer timescale. After a high-power-to-ON switching event, in contrast, detrapping only takes place through a temperature-independent process. We postulate that the fast temperature-independent detrapping originates from interface states at the AlGaN barrier/AlN spacer interface. The thermally activated detrapping can arise from traps at the surface of the device or inside the AlGaN barrier. These findings are relevant in the quest to engineer a reliable GaN power switch with minimum dynamic RON problems.
The Iceland Basin excursion: Age, duration, and excursion field geometry

The Iceland Basin geomagnetic excursion coincided with the marine isotope stage (MIS) 6/7 boundary. The age and duration of the excursion, at seven North Atlantic sites with sufficient isotope data, are estimated by matching marine isotope stage (MIS) 7a–7c to a calibrated template. Two criteria for defining the excursion, virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) latitudes <0° and <40°N, yield excursion durations of 1–4 and 2–5 kyr, respectively. The midpoints of the excursion are in the 189–192 ka range, with a mean of ∼190.2 ka. Although component magnetization directions are generally well defined, rapid changes in field direction during a time of low field intensity are not adequately recorded. During the excursion, VGPs transit southward over Africa and the South Atlantic, reach high southern latitudes at the culmination of the excursion, with partial recovery in relative paleointensity (RPI), and then track northward through the western Pacific. The high southern latitude VGPs, and the recovery in RPI, imply that the Earth's main axial dipole reversed polarity during the excursion, if only for ∼1 kyr; implying that excursions can be manifested globally and are important in millennial-scale stratigraphy. VGP clustering in the South Atlantic and NW Pacific roughly coincide with maxima in the vertical-downward component of the modern nondipole (ND) field determined at the Earth's surface, which implies that the ND field became dominant as the geocentric dipole field weakened during the excursion, and also that the ND field configuration is long-lived on multimillennial timescales.
The long‐term impact of adolescent gestational weight gain

This study involved 330 primiparous Black adolescents. The purpose of the study was to examine predictors of body mass index (BMI) change in Black adolescents 6 and 9 years after they gave birth. Predictors were gestational weight gain, pre-pregnant BMI, and age (p < .001). For older adolescents (ages 18–19), gestational weight gain was the only predictor of BMI change (p = .008). Regardless of pre-pregnant BMI category, adolescents whose gestational weight gain exceeded Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations were 4.6 times more likely to be obese than those whose weight gain was within recommendations. Excessive gestational weight gain and pre-pregnant overweight contribute to adolescent obesity. These findings have implications from both a clinical and public health perspective. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:108–118, 2008
Extrasolar planets: Water world larger than Earth.

The hunt for Earth-like worlds has taken a major step forward with the discovery of a planet only 2.7 times larger than Earth. Its mass and size are just as theorists would expect for a water-rich super-Earth.
Biogas plasticization coupled anaerobic digestion: Batch test results

Biogas has unique properties for improving the biodegradability of biomass solids during anaerobic digestion (AD). This report presents batch test results of the first investigation into utilizing biogas plasticization to "condition" organic polymers during active digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS). Preliminary design calculations based on polymer diffusion rate limitation are presented. Analysis of the 20 degrees C batch test data determined the first order (k(1)) COD conversion coefficient to be 0.167 day(-1) with a maximum COD utilization rate of 11.25 g L(-1) day(-1). Comparison of these batch test results to typical conventional AD performance parameters showed orders of magnitude improvement. These results show that biogas plasticization during active AD could greatly improve renewable energy yields from biomass waste materials such as MSW RDF, STP sludges, food wastes, animal manure, green wastes, and agricultural crop residuals.
Measuring functional cohesion

We examine the functional cohesion of procedures using a data slice abstraction. Our analysis identifies the data tokens that lie on more than one slice as the "glue" that binds separate components together. Cohesion is measured in terms of the relative number of glue tokens, tokens that lie on more than one data slice, and super-glue tokens, tokens that lie on all data slices in a procedure, and the adhesiveness of the tokens. The intuition and measurement scale factors are demonstrated through a set of abstract transformations. >
Simulation study of the equilibrium morphology in ionomers with different architectures

The influence of the side chain and the backbone segment length on the shape of the hydrophilic clusters in an ionomer with sulfonate-terminated side chains is investi- gated by molecular dynamics computer simulations. Different ionomer architectures, ranging from Nafion-like molecules to ionomer structures with extremely long side chains and back- bone segments, are analyzed. It is shown that the size and the sulfonate population of hydrophilic clusters are differently affected by the variation of the backbone length in homologous membranes. Although the clusters swell when the backbone length is increased, they contain fewer head groups, and the average sulfonate-sulfonate separation in these swollen clusters becomes larger. An increase in the equivalent weight (EW) of homologous membranes thus hinders proton transport through hydrophilic channels. We also have shown that larger sulfonate clusters are formed in modified membranes with longer side chains. Compared to the case of membranes with shorter side chains but the same EW, those with longer side chains have a higher proton diffusivity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 368-376, 2011
The causes of bloat, the limits of health

Applications often have large runtime memory requirements. In some cases, large memory footprint helps accomplish an important functional, performance, or engineering requirement. A large cache,for example, may ameliorate a pernicious performance problem. In general, however, finding a good balance between memory consumption and other requirements is quite challenging. To do so, the development team must distinguish effective from excessive use of memory. We introduce health signatures to enable these distinctions. Using data from dozens of applications and benchmarks, we show that they provide concise and application-neutral summaries of footprint. We show how to use them to form value judgments about whether a design or implementation choice is good or bad. We show how being independent ofany application eases comparison across disparate implementations. We demonstrate the asymptotic nature of memory health: certain designsare limited in the health they can achieve, no matter how much the data size scales up. Finally, we show how to use health signatures to automatically generate formulas that predict this asymptotic behavior, and show how they enable powerful limit studies on memory health.
Safety and efficacy of golimumab in Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: 1-year results of a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of golimumab in Chinese patients with active AS. METHODS Two hundred and thirteen patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either s.c. injections of placebo from weeks 0 to 20 followed by golimumab 50 mg from weeks 24 to 48 (group 1, n = 105) or golimumab 50 mg from weeks 0 to 48 (group 2, n = 108), both every 4 weeks. Placebo crossover occurred at week 24, while early escape was at week 16. The primary endpoint was an improvement of at least 20% in the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS20) criteria at week 14. Major secondary endpoints included week 24 ASAS20 response and week 14 change scores for BASFI and BASMI. RESULTS Golimumab treatment elicited significantly better responses than placebo in week 14 ASAS20 response [49.1% (53/108) vs 24.8% (26/105), respectively, P < 0.001], week 24 ASAS20 response (50.0% vs 22.9%, P < 0.001) and mean improvements in BASFI (-1.26 vs 0.11, P < 0.001) and BASMI (-0.42 vs -0.19, P = 0.021) scores at week 14. Additionally, golimumab treatment led to significant improvements in the mental and physical components of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep problems at week 24, all of which were further improved through week 52. During the 16-week placebo-controlled study period, 31.4% and 30.6% of patients had adverse events (AEs) in groups 1 and 2, respectively; similar AE reporting rates were observed through week 24 (34.3% and 32.0%) and among the golimumab-treated patients through week 56 (41.2%). CONCLUSION Golimumab significantly reduced clinical symptoms/signs and improved physical function, range of motion and HRQoL in Chinese patients with active AS without unexpected safety concerns. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01248793.
Cohort Profile: The biopsychosocial religion and health study (BRHS)

How did the study come about? In The Secrets of Long Life in the National Geographic Buettner explored longevity among three communities in Sardinia Italy, Okinawa Japan, and Loma Linda California. Loma Linda is largely a community of 7th-day Adventists. In 1969 initial research found that among individuals surviving past age 35 Adventist women in California lived 3.7 years longer than their counterparts and Adventist men 6.2 years longer. In a later, larger California sample the differences were even stronger—4.4 years for women and 7.3 years for men. Exercise, vegetarian diet, not smoking, eating nuts and social support have been found to predict longevity in Adventists. Yet even when these and several psychological variables are controlled church attendance still predicts greater longevity. Interest has been increasing regarding the association of both mental and physical health with religion or spirituality. There have been a number of literature reviews that have concluded that the associations of religion and health are largely positive. In fact, Hall concluded religious attendance was more cost-effective in increasing longevity than statin-type medications. While some have questioned the quality of these research conclusions and others have pointed out that the benefits or costs of religion may vary depending on the indicator of religious involvement, there is general agreement regarding the need for more and better research on the subject. Nonetheless, Hummer and his colleagues concluded there was consistent evidence that religious attendance was associated with lower mortality risk in cross-sectional and prospective studies. They also concluded there was a need for more diverse measures of religious involvement, comparison among specific subpopulations, and a better understanding of the pathways by which religion might influence health (p. 1226). It was with this goal in mind that this Biopsychosocial Religion and Health Study was developed.
Reconsidering the pathogenesis of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Abstract PURPOSE: To review recent observations regarding the sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection and rates of ocular involvement in cases of infection acquired after birth, and to reconcile them with older observations and widely held beliefs about the pathogenesis of ocular toxoplasmosis. METHOD: A review of pertinent reports from the medical literature. RESULTS: There are several potential sources and routes of infection, including inhalation of spores and ingestion of contaminated drinking water, that were previously unrecognized. Ocular involvement in cases of acquired infection appears to be more common than heretofore believed. A variety of host and parasitic factors may influence rates of ocular infection and the characteristics of ocular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The scars from which recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis arise may be the result of remote, acquired infections in many cases, rather than the residua of congenital infections, as commonly assumed. A better understanding of the epidemiology of T. gondii infection, as well as the host and parasitic factors that influence disease presentation, is important for developing strategies for prevention and management of ocular toxoplasmosis.
Command and data subsystem for the Seawinds instrument on Quickscat spacecraft

The loss of the ADEOS I spacecraft brought an abrupt end to the ocean wind scatterometer data from orbit. The NSCAT instrument onboard the ADEOS I had provided valuable information to atmospheric scientists as well as weather forecasters. The next generation scatterometer, Seawinds, was scheduled for launch in August of 1999 onboard ADEOS II but was almost sure to be delayed due to the investigation of ADEOS I failure and the required modifications to ADEOS II. To fill the gap in the ocean wind data, NASA embarked on a fast track building of a spacecraft and instrument to bridge the gap between the NSCAT data and the projected launch and operation of Seawinds instrument. The total time allotted for acquisition of LV and Satellite, the development of the instrument and integration and test was one year, hence the name Quickscat. This paper describes the command and data systems for the instrument and describes how we were able to define and develop a new interface for the instrument and deliver within 3 months.
Neurotransmitter and psychostimulant recognition by the dopamine transporter

Na(+)/Cl(-)-coupled biogenic amine transporters are the primary targets of therapeutic and abused drugs, ranging from antidepressants to the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamines, and to their cognate substrates. Here we determine X-ray crystal structures of the Drosophila melanogaster dopamine transporter (dDAT) bound to its substrate dopamine, a substrate analogue 3,4-dichlorophenethylamine, the psychostimulants d-amphetamine and methamphetamine, or to cocaine and cocaine analogues. All ligands bind to the central binding site, located approximately halfway across the membrane bilayer, in close proximity to bound sodium and chloride ions. The central binding site recognizes three chemically distinct classes of ligands via conformational changes that accommodate varying sizes and shapes, thus illustrating molecular principles that distinguish substrates from inhibitors in biogenic amine transporters.
Comparison of results of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in patients with mild and moderate mitral stenosis to those with severe mitral stenosis

Most reported studies of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in adults with acquired mitral stenosis have used patients with severely stenosed valves. The risks and benefits of valvuloplasty were examined in a multicenter registry of patients to determine whether balloon valvuloplasty can effectively dilate less severely obstructed valves, and to clarify the role of this procedure in symptomatic patients with mild and moderate mitral stenosis. The study groups were derived from the North American Inoue Balloon Valvuloplasty Registry. Full hemodynamic data were available in 264 patients; 45 (17%) with mild or moderate mitral stenosis (mitral valve area > or = 1.3 cm2) were compared with the remaining 219 with severe mitral stenosis (valve area or = 1.9 cm2 was achieved in 37 patients (82%). There were no procedural deaths, but complications included right atrial perforation, transient ischemic attack and emergency surgery for severe mitral regurgitation. One-year follow-up evaluation revealed symptomatic improvement in most patients (mean New York Heart Association class 1.4 +/- 0.6; p < 0.0001). However, 2 patients needed repeat valvuloplasty for restenosis, and 5 had mitral valve replacements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change

The pursuit of happiness is an important goal for many people. However, surprisingly little scientific research has focused on the question of how happiness can be increased and then sustained, probably because of pessimism engendered by the concepts of genetic determinism and hedonic adaptation. Nevertheless, emerging sources of optimism exist regarding the possibility of permanent increases in happiness. Drawing on the past well-being literature, the authors propose that a person's chronic happiness level is governed by 3 major factors: a genetically determined set point for happiness, happiness-relevant circumstantial factors, and happiness-relevant activities and practices. The authors then consider adaptation and dynamic processes to show why the activity category offers the best opportunities for sustainably increasing happiness. Finally, existing research is discussed in support of the model, including 2 preliminary happiness-increasing interventions.
Expression of bcl-2 and nr-13 in hen ovarian follicles during development.

Follicle atresia is initiated within the granulosa cell layer of ovarian follicles and is mediated via the process of apoptosis. In the hen, at least two populations of granulosa cells can be distinguished during follicle development on the basis of their inherent susceptibility or resistance to apoptosis, in vitro. Given the previously established correlation between expression of bcl-xLong and hen granulosa cell resistance to apoptosis, the present studies were conducted to characterize expression of bcl-2 and an avian bcl-2 homologue, nr-13, in follicles at various stages of development. Levels of nr-13 mRNA were significantly higher only in granulosa cells from the largest (F1) preovulatory follicle compared to 3- to 5-mm prehierarchal follicles. By comparison, bcl-2 mRNA levels were 5- to 9-fold higher in granulosa cells from the three largest preovulatory follicles compared to those from follicles 9 to 12 mm in diameter and prehierarchal follicles. The increase in neither nr-13 nor bcl-2 was correlated with the stage of follicle development associated with the acquisition of resistance to apoptosis in granulosa cells (e.g., at the 9- to 12-mm stage). Results from the present studies do not support a close correlation between constitutive expression of nr-13 or bcl-2 mRNA and the transition from a state of apoptosis susceptibility to apoptosis resistance in hen granulosa cells. Thus, it is proposed that nr-13 and bcl-2 play more of a supportive role in regulating additional aspects of ovarian cell function such as cell proliferation and/or differentiation.
Substrate recognition by a eukaryotic RNase III: the double-stranded RNA-binding domain of Rnt1p selectively binds RNA containing a 5'-AGNN-3' tetraloop.

Rnt1p is an RNase III homolog from budding yeast, required for processing snRNAs, snoRNAs, and rRNA. Numerous Rnt1p RNA substrates share potential to form a duplex structure with a terminal four-base loop with the sequence AGNN. Using a synthetic RNA modeled after the 25S rRNA 39 ETS cleavage site we find that the AGNN loop is an important determinant of substrate selectivity. When this loop sequence is altered, the rate of Rnt1p cleavage is reduced. The reduction in cleavage rate can be attributed to reduced binding of the mutant substrate as measured by a gel-shift assay. Deletion of the nonconserved N-terminal domain of Rnt1p does not affect cleavage site choice or the ability of the enzyme to distinguish substrates that contain the AGNN loop, indicating that this region is not required for selective cleavage. Strikingly, a recombinant fragment of Rnt1p containing little more than the dsRBD is able to discriminate between wild-type and mutant loop sequences in a binding assay. We propose that a major determinant of AGNN loop recognition by Rnt1p is present in its dsRBD.
Psychometric Characteristics of Megargee's Work Performance and Interpersonal Adjustment Rating Schedules:

Since their introduction in 1972, the Megargee Interpersonal Adjustment (IAR) and Work Performance Rating (WPR) forms have been adopted at a number of state and federal correctional institutions to facilitate the systematic recording of quantifiable observations of inmate behavior. Interpretation of these forms has been hampered by the lack of information regarding the psychometric characteristics of those instruments. In this report, approximately 2,500 reports filed on a cohort of 1,344 young adult offenders at a medium security Federal prison were analyzed; means, standard deviation, T-score equivalents, skew, kurtosis, and intercorrelations of the items on each form are reported. Factor analysis yielded one general factor for each instrument and factor weights are provided for those wishing to calculate a composite factor T-score for each instrument.
Reply: Citizenship, Policy, and the Political Construction of Gender Interests

Louise Tilly's comparative essay seeks to understand the relationship be tween women's collective action, the wider political opportunity structure, and the quality and timing of the achievement of women's citizenship rights. As such, it is a welcome addition to the literature on gender politics, and I will not belabor the many points on which I agree with Tilly, partic ularly on the need for political organizing to secure and maintain rights and the importance of the larger political opportunity structure for gender politics and policies. I write not as an expert on social movements, and therefore do not take up issues related to the mobilization processes she describes; rather, I respond to her arguments as someone who has done research on what are usually thought of as "outcomes" of political mobiliz ations and power struggles?social policy developments in the English speaking countries over the last century or so. On two main issues I suggest somewhat different interpretations and conceptualizations than does Tilly. First, I interrogate Tilly's framework for assessing and comparing the content and meaning of citizenship rights and policies for women. I argue that we need to be explicit as to our criteria in evaluating states' "gender regimes" and take into account that visions of gender equality have differed historically and transnationally.1 I also con tend that we need greater attention to matters of the body and sexuality than Tilly has shown in her survey of rights. Second, I agree with Tilly's claim that the strength and efficacy of women's movements only partially explain outcomes in regard to citizenship rights, and that one needs to consider the political incentives and gender ideologies of elite male politi cians as well as the historical legacies of women's participation in waged work, among other factors. However, it is also important to consider the character of states and party systems, including state administrative capaci ties, and how these shape both organizing opportunities for women and the parameters of political elites' policy responses. Tilly organizes her contentions around the explanatory power of wom en's movements, but I begin with what I take to be a prior question: What are the characteristics of the "dependent variable," that is, the policy and legal outcomes that are relevant for gender relations? Or, by what criteria are Tilly's four states to be evaluated? Tilly is not explicit on this point, although she refers to progress toward the "elusive goal of social equality." She relies mainly on a feminist reading of T. H. Marshall's conceptual framework of civil, political, and social rights, supplemented by Nancy
Further decrease in glycated hemoglobin following ingestion of a LoBAG30 diet for 10 weeks compared to 5 weeks in people with untreated type 2 diabetes.

We previously determined that a weight-maintenance, non-ketogenic diet containing 30% carbohydrate (CHO), 30% protein, 40% fat, (30:30:40) (LoBAG30) decreased glycated hemoglobin (%tGHb) from 10.8 to 9.1% over a 5 week period in subjects with untreated type 2 diabetes. Both the fasting glucose and postprandial glucose area were decreased. Our objective in the present 10-week study was to determine: 1) whether the above results could be maintained, or even improved (suggesting a metabolic adaptation) and 2) whether the subjects would accept the diet for this longer time period. In addition, protein balance, and a number of other blood and urine constituents were quantified at 5 and at 10 weeks on the LoBAG30 diet to address metabolic adaptation. Eight men with untreated type 2 diabetes were studied over a 10-week period. Blood was drawn and urine was collected over a 24 hour period at the beginning of the study with subjects ingesting a standard diet of 55% CHO, 15% protein, 30% fat, and at the end of 5 and 10 weeks following ingestion of a LoBAG30 diet. Body weight was stable. Fasting glucose decreased by 19% at week 5 and 28% at week 10; 24-h total glucose area decreased by 27% at week 5 and 35% at week 10 compared to baseline. Insulin did not change. Mean %tGHb decreased by 13% at week 5, 25% at week 10, and was still decreasing linearly, indicating that a metabolic adaptation occurred. Serum NEFA, AAN, uric acid, urea, albumin, prealbumin, TSH, Total T3, free T4, B12, folate, homocysteine, creatinine, growth hormone and renin did not differ between weeks 5 and 10. IGF-1 increased modestly. Urinary glucose decreased; urinary pH and calcium were similar. A LoBAG30 diet resulted in continued improvement in glycemic control. This improvement occurred without significant weight loss, with unchanged insulin and glucagon profiles, and without deterioration in serum lipids, blood pressure or kidney function. Extending the duration of time on a LoBAG30 diet from 5 to 10 weeks had little or no further effect on the hormones and metabolites measured, i.e. a metabolic equilibrium was established.
Emergence of Shiga toxin 1 genes within Shigella dysenteriae type 4 isolates from travelers returning from the Island of Hispañola.

Shiga toxins are produced by Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and certain strains of Escherichia coli. Three cases of Shiga toxin-producing S. dysenteriae type 4 were identified among travelers to the island of Hispanola between 2002 and 2005. Clinical and public health practitioners should be aware of this newly identified strain.
Phenotyping of apolipoprotein E using immobilized pH gradient gels for one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional separations

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) is a normal component of several classes of plasma lipoproteins. Apo E phenotypes are closely related to total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and apo B concentration. The apo E 2/2 phenotype is related to the type III hyperlipoproteinemia due to the defective binding of apo E-2 to the hepatic receptors. The apo E 4/4 phenotype has been reported to be present in most elderly people suffering from the Alzheimer disease, and is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Therefore, apo E phenotyping is essential. The method described here uses a precast immobilized pH gradient, avoids time-consuming separation of lipoproteins from plasma, needs no pretreatment with neuraminidase and involves highly sensitive enhanced chemiluminescence for visualization. Therefore it has many advantages over previously published methods.
A Planar Compatible Traveling-Wave Waveguide-Based Power Divider/Combiner

The operation of a planar compatible traveling-wave power divider and combiner structure is presented. Design guidelines of the scalable structure are presented as are simulated and measured results of two- and four-way devices at -band frequencies. A transmission line model of the divider/combiner is presented to provide additional insight into its operation. The measured 15-dB return-loss bandwidth of the structure is on the order of 20% with a power combining efficiency as high as 90% around the design frequency. The measured structure exhibited a 15-dB return-loss bandwidth of 15% with a power combining efficiency of approximately 80%.
The Pattern of Progesterone Secretion in Hypophysectomized Rats Bearing Pituitary Transplants: Effects of Hysterectomy, Estrogen, and Indomethacin

Cyclic rats were hypophysectomized and their pituitaries transplanted beneath the kidney capsule on day 2 (day 1, ovulation); they were then either hysterectomized or sham hysterectomized (uterus intact rats) and injected sc daily with either 1.0 μg 17β-estradiol (El) or with the sesame oil vehicle until autopsy on day 105. Blood samples were drawn by jugular venipuncture every 2 to 3 days until day 21 and once weekly thereafter. In these rats the serum progesterone level rose until about day 8 and tended to reach a plateau between days 8 and 14. The regression phase began, in general, after days 8 to 14 and continued, without change in rate, for at least 3 months. In both the uterus-intact and the hysterectomized rats, El seemed to induce an earlier onset of regression and a brief increase in its rate, but did not otherwise affect the rate of regression. In the hysterectomized rats regression began later than in the uterus-intact rats, but its rate was also not different from the latter. The serum proges...
Prevalence and Predictors of Significant Sleep Disturbances in Children Undergoing Ambulatory Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

Objective To evaluate children’s sleep patterns before and after ambulatory surgery and to identify predictors of sleep decrements following surgery. Methods Participants were 55, 6- to 12-year-old children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Sleep was assessed using actigraphy for 5 nights prior to and 5 nights following surgery. Parent state and trait anxiety, and child perioperative anxiety and temperament were assessed. Data on postoperative pain and use of analgesics were collected. Results Children had significantly less efficient sleep following surgery than before surgery. Approximately one-third of children demonstrated clinically significant decrements in sleep efficiency. Discriminant function analysis indicated less sociable and more anxious children were more likely to experience these sleep decrements, as were children who experienced greater pain in the postoperative period. Conclusion Children’s sleep is an important consideration in recovery from surgery and this article takes a first step toward identifying predictors of the development of clinically significant sleep disruptions following surgery.
Pancytopenia Associated With Hypothermia

This is the first report of pancytopenia associated with moderate hypothermia occurring in an elderly patient, where no other etiologic or associated factors could account for the hematologic abnormalities found. Reversible pancytopenia should be added to the list of hematologic abnormalities that can be seen in patients with hypothermia.
Adsorption, desorption, and dissociation of benzene on TiO 2 ( 110 ) and Pd ∕ TiO 2 ( 110 ) : Experimental characterization and first-principles calculations

Adsorption and reaction of benzene molecules on clean ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}(110)$ and on ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}(110)$ with deposited Pd nanoparticles are investigated using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), temperature-programmed desorption, and first-principles calculations. Above $\ensuremath{\sim}50\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, the one-dimensional motion of benzene between bridging oxygen rows is shown to be too fast for STM imaging. At $40\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ benzene molecules form chains on top of titanium rows, with calculations indicating every other benzene is rotated $30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. Both experimental and theoretical studies find no dissociative reactivity of benzene on the clean ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}(110)$ surface, due to little hybridization between ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ and benzene electronic states. After deposition of Pd nanoparticles, molecular benzene is observed with STM both on the substrate and adjacent to metallic particles. Upon heating to $800\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, benzene fully breaks down into its atomic constituents in a multistep decomposition process.
Uninterrupted Dynamic Voltage Restorer (UDVR) Using Wavelet Transform and In-phase Compensation

The work principle,topologic structure,operation pattern and voltage compensation strategy of an uninterrupted dynamic voltage restorer(UDVR) are introduced in detail,respectively.The wavelet transform is used detecting distortion voltage components of UDVR.The proposed detecting method based wavelet transform algorithm can detect the magnitude and phase angle of the distortion components of the source voltage instantaneously under sag,swell,unbalanced and harmonics conditions.The traditional main circuit of three-phase simultaneous compensation is improved by replacing with three independent single-phase compensations based on voltage source inverter circuit.The dynamic compensation characteristics of UDVR are applied to voltage transient disturbance analysis under various run conditions.Simulation results prove that the proposed method is correct and has better real-time and compensation flexibility.The UDVR can mitigate many kinds of voltage transient disturbances in power system.It is an effective means to solve power quality problems and can satisfy the uninterrupted run of sensitive loads under various voltage transient conditions.
Is Reported Ethnicity Affected by the Language of the Questionnaire

During the 1980s, marketers realized the importance of both self-reported measures of ethnic identity and of the impact of the situation upon felt ethnicity. However, research on the impact of the language(s) of the research instrument upon these measures is contradictory.
Reasons for Prolonged Length of Stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (P6.347)

Objective: To evaluate the duration of epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) admissions and reasons for prolonged lengths of stay (LOS), with the hopes of identifying modifiable factors contributing to prolonged stays. Background: EMU admissions are essential for the classification/localization of epileptic seizures (ES) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). However, the duration of admissions is highly variable and may be prolonged by modifiable factors. Given the changing healthcare landscape and a desire to maximize utility, we evaluated the duration of EMU admissions and reasons for prolonged (>7 days) LOS. Design/Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all 596 patients admitted to the adult EMU at UCLA Medical Center from 2004-2008. Data abstracted included age, duration of seizures, reason for admission, LOS, and discharge diagnosis. For patients with LOS >7 days, we recorded the reasons contributing to prolonged LOS. Results: The average LOS for all admissions was 7.2+/-4.1 days. The average LOS was longer for patients diagnosed with ES (8.0+/-4.1 days) than all others (6.0+/-3.9 days, independent samples T test, 2 tailed, equal variances not assumed, p<0.001). Of the 596 admissions, 231 (38.8[percnt]) had prolonged LOS. The most commonly reported reason for prolonged stay was need to record additional seizures (33[percnt]). Other contributors included complications such as seizure clusters (6.9[percnt]), status epilepticus (1.6[percnt]), test complications (3.7[percnt]), psychiatric concerns (4.3[percnt]), and medication side effects (1.6[percnt]). Conclusions: Recording an insufficient number of seizures was the leading cause of prolonged LOS, which was over twice the percentage of reported complications (17.6[percnt]). Efforts to shorten LOS may be best directed at faster recording of seizures, but this may increase LOS due to complications. Our results may be helpful when assessing whether efforts to shorten LOS improve the quality and cost of care. Study Supported by: No outside funding was utilized. Disclosure: Dr. Seals has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dewar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haneef has nothing to disclose. Dr. Eliashiv has received research support from DARPA. Dr. Stern received personal compensation for activities with UCB Pharma, Sunovian, Lundbeck, Eisai Inc., and Cyberonics as an advisor and/or speaker. Dr. Stern has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for MedLink Neurology as editor. Dr. Moseley has received personal compensation for activities with UCB Pharma, Cyberonics, and Eisai.