cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dancing with the Devil and Other Stories my Mother Told Me

"Dancing with the Devil and Other Stories My Mother Told" is an analysis of the history and growth of a popular folktale genre that developed during the 15th century in Mexico and has persisted over time throughout the Southwest. The oral tradition and the telling of folktales are means by which the cultural traditions of people of Mexican descent are maintained and fostered in informal as well as formal educational settings. The study is characterized by an examination of the cultural, religious, political, and historical characteristics of the indigenous, Spanish, and Mexican cultures that nurtured and promulgated the creation of this unique folktale motif. Furthermore, the various story types_etiologigal, the abandoned baby, devil as caballero or gentleman, and the-devil-at-a-dance_are carefully analyzed in terms of characterization, plot, setting, religious significance, and didactic function.
Homocysteine Synthesis Is Elevated but Total Remethylation Is Unchanged by the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase 677C→T Polymorphism and by Dietary Folate Restriction in Young Women

The effects of folate status and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T polymorphism on the kinetics of homocysteine metabolism are unclear. We measured the effects of dietary folate restriction on the kinetics of homocysteine remethylation and synthesis in healthy women (20-30 y old) with the MTHFR 677 C/C or T/T genotypes (n = 9/genotype) using i.v. primed, constant infusions of [(13)C(5)]methionine, [3-(13)C]serine, and [(2)H(3)]leucine before and after 7 wk of dietary folate restriction (115 mug dietary folate equivalents/d). Dietary folate restriction significantly reduced folate status ( approximately 65% reduction in serum folate) in both genotypes. Total remethylation flux was not affected by dietary folate restriction, the MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism, or their combination. However, the percentage of remethylation from serine was reduced approximately 15% (P = 0.031) by folate restriction in C/C subjects. Further, homocysteine synthesis rates of T/T subjects and folate-restricted C/C subjects were twice that of C/C subjects at baseline. In conclusion, elevated homocysteine synthesis is a cause of mild hyperhomocysteinemia in women with marginal folate status, particularly those with the MTHFR 677 T/T genotype.
Regulating For-Profit Nursing Education Programs

Over the last few years, concerns about the quality and value of for-profit educational programs have been raised. Currently, these programs have a fairly small presence in nursing education, though their presence is growing rapidly. After failures by the regulatory triad—the federal government, state governments, and accreditation agencies—to regulate these programs, reform is now under way. This article discusses the ongoing changes the triad is making and recommends a role for nursing regulators.
Development of a novel expression, ZIMAX/KZI, for determination of the counter-anion effect on the antimicrobial activity of tetrabutylammonium salts

Abstract Due to the increasing number of strains of drug-resistant bacteria, the development of new antibiotics has become increasingly important. The antibacterial properties of quaternary amines and their derivatives on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are well known. However, an encompassing study with specific emphasis on the role of the counter-anion has not been reported in the literature. By monitoring the Zone of Inhibition of various concentrations of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts, we observed that the counter anion plays a significant role in activity. We developed a novel method of reporting activity using zone of inhibition tests (ZI MAX /K ZI ) and found it to be strongly correlated with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Languages for Travel Industry Managers: Focus on Japanese.

: The choice of a major in travel industry management frequently is based on an interest in people from different countries. Paradoxically, however, courses on the languages and cultures of potential travelers are seldom included in degree programs in management. This paper describes courses that were developed to correct this omission at the School of Travel Industry Management. Four target languages were chosen: French, Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin. The development of the language program is discussed, with the courses in Japanese receiving special attention. The significance of the cultural component of the courses is explored. Among the questions which had to be answered were those addressing the characteristics of both the home culture (France, China, Japan, Spain, Latin America) and the natives of these countries when they travel abroad. Since our students are training to be managers, they need to know how to talk with management personnel as well as tourists. This paper explains the type of background information that was collected prior to developing materials for the first- and second-year Japanese courses. It shows how this information suggests which language structures and vocabulary items will be taught and how the teaching materials should be designed. The professors who designed the courses were concerned with developing an awareness of the crucial role of language and culture in the potential for success of any business venture.
Intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants: Mechanism of disease

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a major complication of prematurity. IVH typically initiates in the germinal matrix, which is a richly vascularized collection of neuronal-glial precursor cells in the developing brain. The etiology of IVH is multifactorial and is primarily attributed to the intrinsic fragility of the germinal matrix vasculature and the disturbance in the cerebral blood flow (CBF). Although this review broadly describes the pathogenesis of IVH, the main focus is on the recent development in molecular mechanisms that elucidates the fragility of the germinal matrix vasculature. The microvasculature of the germinal matrix is frail because of an abundance of angiogenic blood vessels that exhibit paucity of pericytes, immaturity of basal lamina, and deficiency of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the ensheathing astrocytes endfeet. High VEGF and angiopoietin-2 levels activate a rapid angiogenesis in the germinal matrix. The elevation of these growth factors may be ascribed to a relative hypoxia of the germinal matrix perhaps resulting from high metabolic activity and oxygen consumption of the neural progenitor cells. Hence, the rapid stabilization of the angiogenic vessels and the restoration of normal CBF on the first day of life are potential strategies to prevent IVH in premature infants.
Effect of smoking on the survival of patients with lung cancer

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between cigarette smoking and length of survival for patients with lung cancer. The present data consist of 460 male patients with lung cancer on whom information on smoking history was obtained prior to the diagnosis of the disease. Patients were grouped according to the number of cigarettes smoked daily, and survival rates were computed. No significant differences in the survival rates among patients in the various smoking categories were detected. Stage of disease was found to be the main factor in length of survival. The smokers of 2+ packs a day had the largest percentage of squamous cell carcinoma, the highest percentage of localized cases, and the best survival. The two latter findings may have occurred because squamous cell carcinoma has a lower metastatic potential than adenocarcinoma or because the presence of respiratory symptoms caused the heavy smokers to seek medical care earlier.
Structural determinations of some chloroazepine-2,5-diones using a lanthanide shift reagent

The use of a lanthanide shift reagent, Eu(fod)3, to aid in the structural assignments of some chloroazepine-2,5-diones is described. The chloroazepine-2,5-diones, synthesized via the Schmidt reactions of chloro-1,4-benzoquinones, could not readily have their structures assigned by other spectroscopic methods. Correlations of plotted lanthanide induced shifts in pmr studies demonstrated that there was a large positional dependence on the magnitude of induced shifts. The large difference in the magnitude of induced shifts made it possible to assign protons and methyl substituents to specific positions on the azepine ring, thus assigning the structure of the compound.
The interactive effect of introversion-extraversion with caffeine induced arousal on verbal performance

Abstract In a test of the arousal hypothesis of introversion-extraversion, subjects were pre- and post-tested on practice Graduate Record Examination verbal performance items while administered caffeine at either 0, 2, or 4 mg/kg of body weight. Introverts increased dramatically in performance between the 0 and 2 mg/kg conditions and then decreased even more dramatically between the 2 and 4 mg/kg conditions. Extraverts showed decrements in performance at the 0 mg/kg level, improved slightly at the 2 mg/kg level, and showed marked improvement at the 4 mg/kg level. Further analyses revealed that introverts increased in both speed and accuracy at low levels of stimulation but then decreased in both at higher levels of stimulation. Extraverts showed continued increases in speed and accuracy across the increasing arousal levels.
Comparison of preparations of erythrocyte membranes and membrane proteins by SDS-gel electrophoresis.

Quelques preparations de membranes erythrocytaires et de leurs proteines extraites en phase aqueuse ont ete comparees par electrophorese sur gel de SDS-polyacrylamide. De faibles differences seulement ont ete notees d'une preparation a l'autre. Les extraits obtenus a force ionique basse ou elevee contiennent tous la meme proteine de poids moleculaire eleve (‘spectrine’) mais different quant a leur contenu en peptides de faible poids moleculaire. Les preparations obtenues a l'interieur de chaque groupe s'averent fondamentalement semblables.
A lot left over: Reducing CO2 emissions in the United States’ electric power sector through the use of natural gas

Abstract As the leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, the electricity sector stands to be impacted by policies seeking to curtail emissions. Instead of increasing electricity from renewable resources or nuclear power facilities, an alternative approach to reducing emissions in the electric power sector is changing the dispatch order of fossil fuels. Important differences between fossil fuels, and in the technologies used to burn them, make it possible to substantially reduce emissions from the sector. On average, each gigawatt-year of electricity generation switched from coal to natural gas reduces CO 2 emissions by 59 percent. As a result of significant investments in natural gas fired power plants in the United States between 1998 and 2005, there is an opportunity for electricity producers to take advantage of underutilized capacity. This is the first study to closely examine the new capital additions and analyze the technical potential for reductions in emissions. The analysis finds that 188 GW of capacity may be available to replace coal-fired baseload electricity generation. Utilizing this excess gas-fired capacity will reduce the sector's CO 2 emissions by 23 to 42 percent and reduce overall U.S. CO 2 emissions between 9 percent and 17 percent.
Analysis of the aroma of the intact fruit of Coffea arabica by GC-FT-IR

Gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been used to analyze preconcentrated headspace samples of the volatile mixture emanating from the intact fruit of Coffea arabica. Among the components identified were carbon dioxide, ethyl acetate, ethanol, isoval-eraldehyde, water, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone.
Systematics of inclusive pion double charge exchange in the Delta resonance region

A systematic study of inclusive pion double charge exchange is reported for nuclei between A=16 and A=208. The doubly differential cross sections for the A(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{+}$,${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$) and A(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{+}$) reactions in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{103}\mathrm{Rh}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ were measured at incident energies between 120 and 270 MeV at three to five outgoing pion angles. Pion spectra were measured over the energy range from 10 MeV to the kinematic limit for double charge exchange. Integrating these spectra over outgoing pion energy generated angular distributions, and subsequently integrating these angular distributions generated total reaction cross sections. The shapes of the measured spectra are compared with those determined by the distribution of events in four-body phase space and with those predicted by a model in which the pion undergoes two sequential single charge exchanges on nucleons in a Fermi gas. The cross sections are compared with predictions of cascade calculations in which more than two interactions, including pion absorption and scattering without charge exchange, may occur.
The Process of Criticism in Interpretive Sociology and History

A central theme of recent philosophy of science, developed most fully in the work of Karl Popper (1965), has been that one of the features distinguishing science from other sorts of intellectual activities is a process of critical revision. The classical variation on this theme is the thesis called "naive falsificationism" which holds that there is a line between sentences which are proper elements of scientific discourse and those which are not. The "demarcation criterion" is falsifiability: sentences which are not open to objective test are beyond the line; those which are open to test are within. More subtle formulations of this theme have chosen classes of objects other than "sentences" ? such as "theories" or "research programs" ? to divide into scientific and nonscientific. Lakatos (1970), for example, wishes to deal with "research programs" taken as historical wholes and draw the line of demarcation between programs with a history of continuous theoretical growth and those "consisting of a mere patched up pattern of trial and error" (p. 175). It may well be that the whole notion of constructing a demarcation criterion will prove as unrealizable as the Logical Positivists' program to construct a set of criteria of meaningfulness for scientific statements. But the legacy of Popperian ism as a philosophical movement, when it is finally bequeathed, will surely in? clude the recognition that it is crucial to an understanding of scientific discourse to understand the ways in which a scientific claim or theory is structured so as to be open to falsification, and therefore to criticism and revision, and the ways in which it may be structured so as to preclude particular classes of criticism. The efforts of "interpretive sociology" and efforts at "revisionist" or "psy? chological" or "sociological" history have often been dismissed by mainstream sociologists and historians who have seen these efforts as lacking an adequate process of criticism and revision. In part, this misapprehension stems from inade? quacies in the accounts that have been given of the character of interpretive
An evolutionarily conserved cyclin homolog from Drosophila rescues yeast deficient in G1 cyclins

We have isolated two Drosophila cDNA clones that rescue Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in CLN functions. One of these clones is the Drosophila homolog of the cdc2 gene. The second encodes a distant and new member of the cyclin family of proteins, cyclin C. It is highly homologous (72% identity) to a human clone isolated in a similar screen. Yeast cells rescued by a plasmid constitutively expressing this Drosophila cyclin C are unusually small, consistent with an unregulated high level of G1 cyclin function. Sequence comparisons identified regions conserved among the more distantly related cyclins. Based on these conserved elements, we identified homology between cyclins and the ras oncogene.
A Rapid Assay for Gene Expression in Cotton Cells Transformed by Oncogenic Agrobacterium Strains

Abstract A simple expression assay for evaluation of gene constructs for input traits into cotton cells (Gossypium hirsutum L.) using oncogenic Agrobacterium strains is presented. Explants from three commercial cotton varieties, representing diverse genotypes, exhibited tumor or root formation to an equal degree in response to infection by different types of oncogenic Agrobacterium strains. Cotyledon explants readily developed tumors (100%) within a week and the tumors doubled in fresh weight every two weeks. A. rhizogenes super-rooting mutant strain MT232 was highly infective on cotyledon explants. Experiments with oncogenic strains served as a basis for development of an assay using tumor-inducing binary vectors carrying the gene to be evaluated, a truncated Bacillus thringiensis (Bt) cry1Ac insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) gene. The efficacy of the truncated ICP gene was first demonstrated using transgenic tobacco plants challenged with the Lepidopteran pest, tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta). An onco...
Expression in yeast of a cDNA copy of the K2 killer toxin gene.

A cDNA copy of the M2 dsRNA encoding the K2 killer toxin ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was expressed in yeast using the yeastADH1 promoter. This construct produced K2-specific killing and immunity functions. Efficient K2-specific killing was dependent on the action of the KEX2 endopeptidase and the KEX1 carboxypeptidase, while K2-specific immunity was independent of these proteases. Comparison of the K2 toxin sequence with that of the K1 toxin sequence shows that although they share a common processing pathway and are both encoded by cytoplasmic dsRNAs of similar basic structure, the two toxins are very different at the primary sequence level. Site-specific mutagenesis of the cDNA gene establishes that one of the two potential KEX2 cleavage sites is critical for toxin action but not for immunity. Immunity was reduced by an insertion of two amino acids in the hydrophobic amino-terminal region which left toxin activity intact, indicating an independence of toxin action and immunity.
A Preliminary Study of Silicone Oils as Dermatological Vehicles

An investigation was made of the pharmaceutical properties of silicone oils in dermatological preparations. The oils were mixed with a series of acids, alcohols, waxes, and commercial ointment bases to determine their compatibilities. Silicone oil emulsions and suspensions were prepared, and the use of silicones in liniments was studied. Six silicone ointment bases, 3 U. S. P. ointment bases, and 17 commonly prescribed medicinal agents were used in preparing a series of ointments for aging and compatibility tests. The diffusion rates of some medicinal agents from these silicone bases and official otment bases were determined in vitro.
How to design an energy efficient fiber-wireless network

We analyze the energy consumption of current in-building networks and show that new network designs employing fiber-wireless technologies could lead to significant energy savings in future high-speed networks.
ESR study of the primary electron donor in highly 13C-enriched Chlorobium limicola f. thiosulfatophilum

Abstract The photo-induced electron spin resonance signal of the primary donor P840+ in unit membrane fractions of the title photosynthetic bacterium was measured. Bacteria containing natural isotopic abundances and 82% 13C-enrichment were examined. Second moment analysis of the lineshape of the 13C-enriched P840+ signal shows that P840+ consists of two bacteriochlorophyll a-type macrocycles. The data thus obtained are independent of difficulties in interpreting either peak-to-peak linewidths or ENDOR data with respect to intermolecular spin delocalization.
Mars Opportunity rover finds gypsum veins

Bright linear features about the width of a human thumb that were found on Mars by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity appear to be gypsum veins deposited by groundwater, a team of scientists announced at a 7 December news briefing at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. “To me, this is the single most powerful piece of evidence for liquid water on Mars that has been discovered by the Opportunity rover,” said Steve Squyres, a geoscientist at Cornell University in Ithaca, N. Y., and principal investigator for NASA Mars Exploration Rovers Opportunity and Spirit. “We have found sulfates before. Those sulfates were formed somewhere; we don't know where. They have been moved around by the wind, they've been mixed with other materials. It's a big, jumbled, fascinating mess. This stuff was formed right here. There was a fracture in the rock, water flowed through it, gypsum was precipitated from the water. End of story. Okay, there is no ambiguity about this. This is what makes it so cool.”
Properties of persons and situations related to overall and distinctive personality-behavior congruence

Congruence is the degree to which one's personality matches one's behavior in a particular situation. On four separate occasions over several weeks, 202 undergraduate participants described a situation they encountered the previous day and their behavior. Analyses considered overall congruence as well as dis- tinctive congruence, adjusted for the match of personality and behavior to the normative personality and behavior profile. Overall congruence was strongly associated with better psychological adjustment; dis- tinctive congruence was not. Similarly, situation strength and affordances for autonomy, relatedness to others, and competence were strongly linked to overall congruence, but only weakly associated with dis- tinctive congruence. Behaving in accordance with one's true self is only related to positive psychological outcomes when it is accordance with normative standards.
A derivation of the master equation by restricted quantum exchange

Abstract The Pauli master equation for intramolecular vibrational relaxation and the heat bath feedback Bloch equations for radiative pumping of polyatomic molecules can be derived by replacing the standard assumption of random matrix element coupling between zero-order vibrational states by an assumption that relaxation is governed by restricted quantum exchange.
SMRDB: key-value data store for shingled magnetic recording disks

Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) disks employ a shingled write process that overlaps the data tracks on the disk surface like the shingles on a roof, thereby increasing disk areal density with minimal manufacturing changes. While these disks have the same read behavior as current disks, random writes and in-place data updates are no longer possible, since a write to a track must overwrite and destroy data on all tracks that it overlaps.Given this change in write behavior, we argue that the best way to utilize these disks is not by masquerading them as traditional disks, but by using approaches that leverage their proclivity for sequential writes. To address this need, we developed SMRDB, a key-value data store for SMR disks, demonstrating that SMR disks can be effectively used to replace conventional disks for many applications. We evaluate SMRDB against a state-of-the-art LSM-tree based key-value database engine, LevelDB, on conventional disks. Our Yahoo! Cloud Serving Benchmark results show that, despite being restricted to sequential writes, SMRDB outperforms LevelDB by 8.8--123.6%.
Stability robustness of linear discrete-time systems in the presence of uncertainty

The stability robustness problem is considered for nominally stable linear discrete-time systems. Using time-domain analysis methods and Lyapunov theory, bounds on the norms of the time-varying (non-)linear perturbations are given, to maintain the asymptotic stability of these systems in the presence of such perturbations.
High level reading and data structure compilation

In [Paige89], it was shown how to simulate a set machine in real-time on a RAM that provides cursor or even only pointer access to data. The underlying assumption was that the establishment of efficient data structures would be provided by some 'client' program. In the current paper, we fill in the gap by presenting a linear-time high level reading method that translates external input in string form into data structures that facilitate such real-time simulation. The algorithm builds the data structures for a much richer type system than what appeared in [Paige94], and is powerful enough to support our reading algorithm itself in an efficient way. Consequently, it equips a high level set-theoretic language with I/O, without the loss of computational transparency.This work alleviates the burden of creating low-level data structures manually, and builds the internal pointer-based inputs required by most pointer algorithms [Ben-Amram95] from the external string representation.
Copolymers containing alternating sequences of nucleic acid base pairs. III. Spectroscopic studies

A study was conducted of the complementary base pair interactions between various pairs of electron-donor monomers, electron-acceptor monomers, homopolymers and alternating copolymers selected from the following group: (1) 9-(2-vinyloxyethyl)adenine; (2) 1-(2-vinyloxyethyl)thymine; (3) 1-(2-vinyloxyethyl)cytosine; (4) 9-(2-maleimidoethyl)adenine; (5) 6-chloro-9-(2-maleimidoethyl)purine; (6) 1-(2-maleimidoethyl)thymine; (7) 1-(2-maleimidoethyl)cytosine; (8) homopolymer of (4); (9) homopolymer of (6); (10) alternating copolymer of (2) and maleic anhydride; (11) alternating copolymer of (2) and (5); and (12) alternating copolymer of (2) and (4). By 1H-NMR, in CDCL3, the base pair interactions between (1) and (2) were shown to be hydrogen bonding, the extent of which was shown by a calculated binding constant, K = 61.81 L/mol. The nature of this interaction was conformed by IR. Neither monomer pairs (1)/(2) nor (4)/(6) exhibited hydrogen bonding in DMSO-d6. However, hydrogen bonding interaction was observed for DMSO-d6 solutions of homopolymers (8) and (9) and for alternating copolymer (12). On the basis of an upfield chemical shift of the 2- and 8-aromatic protons of ademine of (1) in D2O, a partial overlap stacking interaction is proposed. No charge-transfer interactions could be observed by UV between donor-acceptor monomer pairs.
Responding to drug information requests

A pharmacist is busy entering a complicated order into the pharmacy computer system when the phone rings. The caller asks, “What is the dose of Lovenox?” The pharmacist places the caller on hold and logs on to a computerized drug information (DI) resource or opens up a book, locates an answer,
Expression of poliovirus P3 proteins using a recombinant vaccinia virus results in proteolytically active 3CD precursor protein without further processing to 3Cpro and 3Dpol

Abstract The expression of the poliovirus genome occurs by the translation of a single open reading frame to generate a long polyprotein which is subsequently processed by viral encoded proteases. The initial proteolytic cleavages result in the production of a P1 polyprotein which contains the capsid proteins, and the P2 and P3 polyproteins which contain proteins required for replication. The P3 polyprotein consists of the 3AB protein (containing the viral genome-linked protein, VPg), the viral protease, 3Cpro, and RNA polymerase, 3Dpol. To further study the expression and proteolytic processing of poliovirus P3 proteins in vivo, we have utilized recombinant vaccinia virus vectors to express nucleotides 5240–7400 containing the P3 region proteins of poliovirus. The P3 protein expressed from the recombinant vaccinia virus VV-P3 exhibited in vivo proteolytic activity as evident by processing of the polyprotein to generate the 3CD protein, consisting of a fusion between the 3Cpro and 3Dpol proteins. Further processing of the 3CD protein to 3Cpro and 3Dpol, however, was not detected in cells infected with VV-P3. Subcellular fractionation of VV-P3-infected cells demonstrated that the 3CD protein was present in both the soluble and membrane fractions. Finally, the 3CD protein expressed from VV-P3 was stable in cells co-infected with VV-P3 and poliovirus and no further processing to 3Dpol was detected. These results are discussed with regards to in vivo studies which suggest that the 3CD polyprotein is not a precursor to 3Dpol in poliovirus-infected cells.
Ligand-dependent conformational changes in thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors are potentially enhanced by heterodimerization with retinoic X receptor.

Abstract Recently, many lines of evidence have been accumulated indicating that thyroid hormone receptor (TR) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR) undergo a ligand-dependent conformation change. Since most of these results were obtained by either gel-shift assay or circular dichroism spectroscopic studies, it was not clear which part of the receptor bore the major conformational change. Moreover, it is not clear whether the formation of heterodimer between TR or RAR and retinoic X receptor (RXR) has any effects on this structural change. Utilizing partial proteolytic analysis, we demonstrated that thyroid hormone and retinoic acid induce a specific protease-resistant conformation to their cognate receptors. Studies of various deletion mutants reveal that the entire ligand binding domain of these receptors is involved in this change, and suggest that ligand may induce a more compact structure in its binding domain. Evidence from native gel electrophoresis supports this notion. This conformational change occurs in the absence of DNA and occurs indenpendently of other domains in the receptor. Heterodimerization between TR or RAR and the RXR has little effect on receptor conformation in the absence of hormone but does enhance the ligand-dependent structural change. Interestingly, dual hormone treatment, i.e. thyroid hormone and 9- cis RA, intensifies this enhancement. We suggest that the observed protease-resistant conformation may introduce a different configuration to the receptor and therefore may effect the receptor in various ways, but most likely is involved in converting the receptor from a negative regulator to a positive activator.
Magnification and mass resolution in local-electrode atom probes

Abstract The mass resolution of a local-electrode atom probe can be improved by accelerating the evaporated ions to a higher energy in order to reduce the energy-deficit-related dispersion. A simple model of the instrument is developed and used to estimate the effects of this secondary acceleration on image magnification and mass resolution. Effects of non-instantaneous secondary acceleration, variations in the secondary acceleration field distribution and electrode length are evaluated using the model. The addition of an acceleration electrode after the extraction electrode is shown to improve the performance of local-electrode atom probes.
Morphological, molecular, and functional heterogeneity of cholangiocytes from normal rat liver

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: While the lobular heterogeneity of hepatocytes is established, limited data suggest that bile duct epithelial cells, of cholangiocytes, are heterogeneous along the normal intrahepatic biliary tree. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that cholangiocytes are structurally and functionally heterogeneous in the biliary tract of normal rats. METHODS: A series of in situ and in vitro experiments was performed in normal rats using complementary morphometric, molecular, and functional approaches. RESULTS: In situ morphometry showed that (1) intrahepatic bile ducts are heterogeneous in external diameter (5-200 mum); (2) individual cholangiocytes lining bile ducts are heterogeneous in area (3-80 mum2); and (3) a significant relationship exists between bile duct diameter and cholangiocyte area. Using a novel approach developed by us, we isolated three subpopulations of small, medium, and large cholangiocytes and compared them at the molecular and functional level. The expression of two cholangiocyte-specific genes (gamma- glutamyl transpeptidase and cytokeratin 19) was similar among the three subpopulations. In contrast, secretion receptor, Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator messenger RNAs were differentially expressed, being present on medium and large but not small cholangiocytes. At the functional level, adenosine 3', 5'- cyclic monophosphate and intracellular pH responses and Cl-/HCO3- exchanger activity was enhanced by secretion in medium and large but not small cholangiocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that cholangiocytes are morphologically and functionally heterogeneous along the normal intrahepatic biliary tree and suggest that secretion- regulated transport of water and electrolytes occurs principally in medium and large ducts. (Gastroenterology 1996 May;110(5):1636-43)
Glass formability of ferrous- and aluminum-based structural metallic alloys

Abstract Synthesis of ferrous- and aluminum-based amorphous metals as prospective structural materials is presented and discussed in light of atomic size–composition interaction effects. The search of prospective bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) may benefit from noting that current BMG alloys can be broadly categorized into two atom size-composition classes, distinctly different from ordinary metallic glasses which can exist over a much wider atom size-composition range. The high formability of one class of BMGs is suggested to be due to the presence of a structure-reinforced network or backbone formed by tightly bound components in the undercooled liquid. For the ferrous-based BMG alloys investigated, it is proposed that zirconium-boron and molybdenum–carbon atom pairs constitute the strong backbone structures. Although aluminum-based BMG has not been reported, the good formability of some current aluminum-glasses is suggested to be due to the presence of backbone structures formed by transition metal–lanthanide and magnesium–copper pairs. The ferrous-based bulk metallic glasses obtained have a high reduced glass transition temperature reaching 0.63 and large supercooled liquid region up to 100 K. These bulk metallic glasses are found to be non-ferromagnetic above 160 K as well as having Vickers hardness and specific tensile strengths that far exceed those reported for steel alloys. Magnetization and susceptibility results are presented and compared with ab initio magnetic-structure calculations [D.M. Nicholson, M. Widom, Y. Wang, unpublished results]. Relevant factors on forming bulk metallic glasses are discussed.
Choline Uptake in the Frontal Cortex Is Proportional to the Absolute Error of a Temporal Memory Translation Constant in Mature and Aged Rats

Abstract The relationship between the magnitude of the error in the content of temporal memory and sodium-dependent high-affinity choline uptake (SDHACU) in the frontal cortex and hippocampus was examined in mature (10- to 16-month-old) and aged (24- to 30-month-old) male rats. The peak time of the response rate distribution that relates the probability of a response to signal duration in a 20-s peak-interval timing procedure was used to index the remembered time of reinforcement. Regression analyses indicated that SDHACU in the frontal cortex of both mature and aged rats and in the hippocampus of aged rats is proportional to the absolute error in the content of temporal memory. These biochemical effects of peak-interval training were also compared with biochemical measures taken from control rats that received random-interval training. This comparison indicated that the observed changes in SDHACU were dependent upon the predictability of the programmed time of reinforcement and age-related changes in memory encoding and retrieval.
Debugging Computer History: My Summer with the Atanasoff-Berry Computer

This paper is a personal account that describes a oncein- a-lifetime project debugging the replica of one of the most important inventions of the 20th century: The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). This experience was a first-hand introduction to the genius of John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry and the computer that influenced a technological revolution.
Multinuclear NMR studies of intracellular cations in the prehypertensive rat kidney

Abstract We previously reported a significant derangement of intracellular free calcium ion concentration in the isolated perfused kidney of adult spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) (J. Biol. Chem. 267, 3637–3643, 1992). In order to investigate whether an abnormality in intracellular free calcium or another ion precedes the development of elevated blood pressure in SHR, we have now compared intracellular free Ca2+, Na+ and pH, using 31P, 19F, and triple quantum-filtered (TQ) 23Na NMR, in perfused kidneys from prehypertensive young SHR and normotensive young Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (5–6 weeks old) which showed no significant difference in blood pressure B.P.=120±5 mmHg and 115±3 mmHg, for SHR and WKY rats, respectively). Like the adult kidney, no significant differences in intracellular ATP concentration or intracellular pH were found between young prehypertensive SHR and normotensive WKY rat kidneys. The TQ 23Na NMR signal was 47% higher in the SHR kidney, but, due to biological variability and measurement errors, this difference could not be shown to be statistically significant. However, a significant (40%; P
A question of credibility

The issue of credibility, which is crucial to the status of the engineering profession, will come under increasingly intense scrutiny and controversy in the months and years ahead. If our competence can be successfully questioned and our professional ethics bent and distorted, then we will soon become the handmaidens of any number of outside alien interests and pressures. Furthermore, our independence and integrity will be undermined and our authority diminished. Protecting our hard-won and irreplaceable professional credibility, therefore, becomes a matter of the utmost priority. We must answer our critics rationally, firmly, and irrefutably. We must continue to work to strengthen our professional practices and code of ethics. And perhaps the most important, we must stimulate widespread debate and discussion among our members on what steps we can take to maintain the high prestige and respect traditionally accorded the engineering profession.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Adverse Selection

I model the interaction of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and conventional insurance in a simple discrete loss setting with asymmetric information. I show that FSA availability can break a separating equilibrium, even when one would otherwise exist, because high-risk types might prefer the lower coverage contract supplemented with FSA funds. In this case there may exist a Pareto-inferior separating equilibrium. It is also shown that FSA availability alters the optimal pooling contract. Employers can reduce coverage levels, raising expected utility for low-risk types, and can compensate high-risk types by offering supplemental FSA coverage. Thus, it is possible that FSAs strengthen pooling contracts. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health care expenses offer an attractive way to avoid taxes. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey, 22 percent of all firms offering health insurance benefits offered FSAs as an option to their employees, but 73 percent of large firms (200 or more workers) offered FSAs. The advantage to the employee can be significant, although there is a financial risk. The advantage is that qualified expenses escape both state and federal income taxation and also all payroll taxes; the risk is that unused funds are forfeited to the employee's firm. Employers also avoid payroll taxes on employee elections. FSA participation decisions are made concurrently with insurance plan choices each year during the firm's open enrollment period. Therefore, these decisions are made jointly and with the same information. Because FSAs reduce out-of-pocket costs, their availability should have predictable effects on insurance choices. Yet there is little theoretical or empirical work on the interaction of FSAs and insurance. Cardon and Showalter (2001) look at FSA usage patterns conditional on insurance choices, whereas Hamilton and Marton (2008) use panel data to examine the joint insurance/FSA choice.
Photorearrangement mechanism of 1-nitro-naphthaldehyde and application to three-dimensional optical storage devices

Abstract The photorearrangement of 1-nitro-2-naphthaldehyde to the nitroso acid has been studied by means of time-resolved picosecond and nanosecond spectroscopy. Based on the experimental data we propose that the photoreaction proceeds via both the 1 n π * excited singlet state and the low lying 3 ππ * triplet state, 1-Nitro-2-naphthaldehyde is the critical component used to generate a new memory material, which has been successfully utilized by us in two-photon three-dimensional optical storage devices.
Inhibition of NADPH oxidation and related drug oxidation in liver microsomes by zinc

Abstract Rat liver microsomes were incubated in the presence of zinc and the rate of NADPH oxidation and related metabolism of aniline and ethylmorphine by appropriate oxidases were studied. A competitive mechanism of the inhibition of NADPH oxidation by zinc was found, with Vmax = 10.3 nmoles NADP/min/mg of protein and Ki amounting to 7.22 μM zinc. In microsomes dialyzed against EDTA, addition of Mn2+ but not of Mg2+ enhanced the rate of NADPH oxidation. A complex relation of Zn2+ and Mn2+ in liver microsomes was found, the data not obeying the rigorous treatment for enzyme kinetics. The activity of aniline hydroxylase and ethylmorphine-N-demethylase was inhibited by zinc; 50 per cent inhibition was reached at 60 and 55 μM Zn2+ respectively. Another microsomal enzyme, glucose 6-phosphatase, independent of NADPH, was not affected by zinc. The content and spectral characteristics of cytochrome P-450 were not affected by zinc. It is concluded that Zn2+ inhibits oxidation of NADPH and prevents this pyridine nucleotide from functioning in the microsomal electron transport system. The possibility that Zn2+ may interfere with other ions or enzymes involved in microsomal electron transport cannot be excluded.
Volcano Deformation and Gravity Workshop Synopsis and Outcomes: The 2008 Volcano Deformation and Temporal Gravity Change Workshop; Vancouver, Washington, 13–15 May 2008

A volcano workshop was held in Washington State, near the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cascades Volcano Observatory. The workshop, hosted by the USGS Volcano Hazards Program (VHP), included more than 40 participants from the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Goals were to promote (1) collaboration among scientists working on active volcanoes and (2) development of new tools for studying volcano deformation. The workshop focused on conventional and emerging techniques, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), borehole strain, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), gravity, and electromagnetic imaging, and on the roles of aqueous and magmatic fluids.
What are the health hazards of snowboarding

First introduced in the 1920s with little success, snowboarding is now one of the fastest growing winter sports in the world. In the 1999-2000 season, 3.3 million snowboarders contributed about 13.5 million visits to US ski resorts, representing 27% of total days on the snow. Many resorts now have special areas set aside just for snowboarding. These areas, called pipelines, are wide semicylindrical “shoots” carved out of snow. They are up to several hundred feet long with high vertical walls that allow snowboarders to ride from side to side. They are designed for “jumps and bumps” (aerial maneuvers and acrobatics). The typical snowboarder is a male adolescent, although the age range is widening and the proportion of female snowboarders is increasing.1 ​,​, Table 1 Shoulder injuries associated with snowboarding9 Dislocation Acromioclavicular separation Fracture of the clavicle Rotator cuff strain Fracture of the proximal humerus View it in a separate window Table 2 Management of shoulder and elbow injuries associated with snowboarding7 Refer to an orthopedist if fracture involves the growth plate (Salter-Harris type III or higher) Perform a neurovascular examination before and after reduction of a dislocation Assess reduction of dislocation radiographically Consider surgical stabilization of dislocations in young patients involved in collision sports10 View it in a separate window HOW COMMON ARE INJURIES? With the increasing popularity of snowboarding, injuries—the predominant health hazard associated with the sport—are seen more often than in the past. About 27,000 injuries related to the sport occurred in the United States in 1994. While most injuries are treated by health care personnel close to ski resorts, primary care physicians often provide follow-up care and can be instrumental in the primary prevention of injuries. The reported injury rate varies from 3.5 per 1,000 snowboard days to more than 40 per 1,000 snowboard days.2,3 Mortality rates are low (0.2 per million snowboarding days).1 Recent cohort studies suggest that the rate4 and severity3 of injuries among snowboarders are higher than among alpine skiers of similar levels of ability. Forty-two percent of snowboard injuries, compared with only 16% of ski injuries, were considered emergent (defined as necessitating immediate medical intervention, including fractures, concussions with any loss of consciousness, dislocations, and lost teeth). Concussions and wrist fractures accounted for most of the difference in emergent injuries between the 2 groups.3
Preliminary data on the induction of ovulation in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus Richardson).

Abstract Forty-six white sturgeon females captured prior to their spawning migration in the San Francisco Bay and during their spawning run in the Sacramento River were induced to ovulate with three different hormonal substances: white sturgeon and common carp crude pituitary extracts, and [D-Ala6] GnRH analogue. All three inducing agents were potent at the respective doses of 2.5 mg, 4.0 mg and 0.1 mg dry matter per kilogram of female body weight. The best ovulatory responses and egg fertilities were observed in fish administered hormonal treatment during the months of March and April. Fish captured prior to and during their spawning migration exhibited similar spawning success.
Recognition of mother by newborn goats

Abstract The ability of newborn domestic goats to discriminate their mothers from other familiar adult females was assessed by using a 2-choice selection chamber to measure the latency and intensity of proximity-seeking to dam. Newborns displayed a highly significant preference for proximity to dam at less than 48 h post-partum. This preference for dam remained relatively unchanged throughout the first 3 weeks following birth. These results give evidence that goat newborns can respond selectively to specific aspects of their social environment very soon after parturition, and suggest they may play a more active role in the establishment and maintenance of the mother-infant relationship than has previously been described.
An Assessment of the “Eggshell Psyche” in Simulated Civil Litigation

The eggshell plaintiff rule dictates that in the event that a defendant causes some amount of damage, he or she also becomes liable for all of the plaintiff’s injuries, including any unforeseeable harm. The present study investigated whether adults who may have an “eggshell psyche” due to childhood abuse endorse more symptoms of trauma after a simulated motor vehicle accident than individuals without a history of abuse. Participation in litigation was also examined as a potential stressor over and above the experience of a traumatic event. The results confirm that an individual’s abuse history was related to elevated symptom reports. However, the type of abuse and the litigation context did not incrementally contributed to symptom reports. Results have implications for attorneys, psychological expert witnesses, and plaintiffs who have a history of trauma.