cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ouabain sensitivity of the alpha 3 isozyme of rat Na,K-ATPase

The Na,K-ATPase of rat brainstem axolemma membranes contains two isozymes of its catalytic subunit, alpha 2 and alpha 3. To isolate the alpha 3 isozyme functionally, purified axolemma Na,K-ATPase was treated with trypsin. Immunoblot analysis of trypsin-treated Na,K-ATPase using isozyme-specific antibodies showed that alpha 3 was significantly more resistant to digestion than alpha 2. The trypsin-resistant alpha 3 isozyme fraction, devoid of alpha 2, contained 50-60% of the ATPase activity, and was inhibited by ouabain half-maximally at 0.13 microM. This indicates that the alpha 3 Na,K-ATPase isozyme has a high sensitivity to cardiac glycosides.
Exploring the Anatomy of Your Own Eye

Features of the cornea, iris, lens, and retina can be explored by students on their own eyes with the 11 activities described in this article.
Selecting activities for older adults

Once goals and 'objectives have been specified, the activity-specialist must select activities to meet these goals and objectives. The activities utilized in the intervention process must be thoroughly understood in order to assure optimal benefit to the older adult. The procedure for systematically achieving a precise and complete understanding of activities is activity analysis. Examples of aspects for possible consideration are presented for each of the following components: Psychomotor; Mental; Affective; Social; Adaptability and Variability of'Activities; Usefulness to Participants; and Feasibility. This process if analyzing activities should help activity specialists provide more meaningful activities for aged adults.
Current-driven defect-unbinding transition in an XY ferromagnet

A Keldysh-contour effective field theory is derived for magnetic vortices in the presence of current flow. The effect of adiabatic and nonadiabatic spin-transfer torques on vortex motion is highlighted. Similarities to and differences from the superconducting case are presented and are explained. Current flow across a magnetically ordered state is shown to lead to a defect-unbinding phase transition, which is intrinsically nonequilibrium in the sense of not being driven by a variation in effective temperature. The dependence of the density of vortices on the current density is determined.
Pathologic features of lung biopsy specimens from influenza pneumonia cases

Most histopathologic descriptions of influenza pneumonia are based on autopsy findings in fatal cases during epidemics and pandemics of influenza. We describe the histologic findings of influenza pneumonia observed in biopsy material derived from six sporadic cases of influenza (influenza A, four cases; influenza B, one case; and influenza A and B, one case). Four patients recovered completely, one patient died, and one was lost to follow-up. In addition to confirming previously published pathologic descriptions of influenza pneumonia, we also document a spectrum of less severe histologic findings with mild acute lung injury and bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia.
Computational model of heterogeneous heating in melanin

Melanin particles often present as an aggregate of smaller melanin pigment granules and have a heterogeneous surface morphology. When irradiated with light within the absorption spectrum of melanin, these heterogeneities produce measurable concentrations of the electric field that result in temperature gradients from thermal effects that are not seen with spherical or ellipsoidal modeling of melanin. Modeling melanin without taking into consideration the heterogeneous surface morphology yields results that underestimate the strongest signals or over{estimate their spatial extent. We present a new technique to image phase changes induced by heating using a computational model of melanin that exhibits these surface heterogeneities. From this analysis, we demonstrate the heterogeneous energy absorption and resulting heating that occurs at the surface of the melanin granule that is consistent with three{photon absorption. Using the three{photon dluorescence as a beacon, we propose a method for detecting the extents of the melanin granule using photothermal microscopy to measure the phase changes resulting from the heating of the melanin.
The Influence of Cognitive Styles on the Effectiveness of a Multimedia Tutor

Abstract The use of multimedia tutors for learning abstract concepts is one means by which students can experience difficult‐to‐simulate situations, often as adjuncts to other forms of instruction. This is particularly useful for developing mental models of phenomena. Another advantage to the use of such tutors is that a student can participate in individually tailored instruction that responds to his or her specific error patterns, misconceptions and learning styles. However, in designing tutorials that respond to individual learning styles, an examination of the relationship between learning styles and performance on tutorials in various scientific disciplines and for different levels of students is needed. This step precedes the development of intelligent tutors that actually respond to individual learning styles (i.e., strategies responsive to particular learning styles are built into the program).
Apraxia in a patient with atypical cerebral dominance

Abstract Liepmann postulated that the left hemisphere of right-handed persons contains the “movement formulas” that control purposeful skilled movements of the limbs on both sides of the body. Accordingly, in right-handers apraxia should follow damage to the left hemisphere, whereas right hemisphere damage should not lead to apraxia. Although this is generally true, we recently examined a right-handed man who after a right hemispheric stroke became aphasic and apraxic with his nonparalyzed right hand. Our observations suggest that the right hemisphere of this right-handed man made a critical contribution to the planning and execution of skilled movements. This case provides evidence that right-handers should not be considered a homogeneous group in terms of cerebral motor dominance and that contrary to Liepmann's postulate, hemispheric dominance for the control of skilled movements does not entirely determine handedness.
Some Observations on Political Gaming

During the past five years the Social Science Division of The RAND Corporation has been developing a procedure for the study of foreign affairs that we call “political gaming.” This article gives a brief description of the technique and some of our observations about its utility.
Use of age-adjusted suicide rates in time series studies in Canada

Studies of the relations among birth, marriage, and divorce rates (per 100,000 population) and suicide typically use crude suicide rates (Lester, 1994), and the associations may, therefore, be affected by changes in the age distribution of the population. To check upon the effect of using age-adjusted suicide rates, data for Canada for 1950-1985 were analyzed using times series regression with the Cochrane-Orcutt technique to correct for serial autocorrelation (Doan, 1990). Suicide rates came from Health Canada (1994) and the marriage, birth, and divorce rates from the United Nations (annual). A simple correlational analysis and the regression analysis gave identical results. Suicide rates (total, men and women) were positively associated with dvorce rates and negatively associated with birth rates. The associations with marriage rates did not reach statistical significance except for a positive association for the female suicide rate. The R2 from regression equations for the crude and age-adjustei suicide rates respectively were for the total suicide rate .98 and .96, for the male suicide rate .98 and .95, and for the female suicide rate .97 and .95. Thus, the use of age-adjusted suicide rates had only a minor influence on the associations between suicide rates and dornestic integration in Canada.
Ethnographic Lessons on Substance Use and Substance Abusers

Abstract The primary purpose of this article is to introduce broadly comparative ethnographic studies on the role of psychoactive substance use. Examples are cited from case studies across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North, and South America. These varied studies are synthesized to provide the basis for a brief analysis of meaning and function on the integration of use, including ritual and the public nature of use. There is also discussion on the cultural construction of intoxication and of the abuser, along with some thoughts regarding humanizing the drug user and avoiding stereotypes.
Rod photoreceptor neurogenesis

Abstract This article reviews evidence about the phylogenetic and ontogenetic origins of rod photoreceptors. Studies of morphology, molecular phylogeny of the opsin molecules, and retinal wiring indicate cone photoreceptors are the more ancient of the two kinds of photosensitive cells in the retina. Consistent with this view, rod photoreceptors arise later in ontogenesis in all vertebrates. The most dramatic example of this ontogenetic sequence is retinal development in cold-blooded vertebrates, particularly teleost fish, in which rods continue to be added throughout life. Because of this extension of ontogenesis into adulthood, examination of the teleost eye offers a unique model system for studying retinal development. Control of retinal rod neurogenesis requires exquisite coordination of both genetic and extrinsic factors for appropriate temporal and spatial expression.
Spatial indexing in microsoft SQL server 2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 adds built-in support for 2-dimensional spatial data types for both planar and geodetic geometries to address the increasing demands for managing location-aware data. SQL Server 2008 also adds indexing capabilities that, together with the necessary plan selections done by the query optimizer, provide efficient processing of spatial queries. This paper will present an overview of the spatial indexing implementation in SQL Server 2008 and outline how the indexing is implemented and how the cost-based query optimizer chooses among the different plans.
The effects of zymosan upon the mast cell population of the peritoneal fluid.

SummaryA single intraperitoneal injection of zymosan into rats resulted in the engulfment of these particles by mast cells as well as by macrophages. There was a rapid fall in the numbers of free-floating mast cells which appeared to be a result of cellular clumping, and the numbers of peritoneal fluid mast cells remained depressed for at least 40 days. Unlike rats, neither mice, hamsters, nor gerbils displayed large scale engulfment of zymosan by peritoneal fluid mast cells.
Directed information measure for quantifying the information flow in the brain

In neurophysiology, it is important to determine the causal relationships between neuronal sites. The major problem with existing methods for quantifying the causality in the brain, e.g. Granger causality, is that they assume an multi-variate autoregressive signal model for the multi-channel EEG signals and do not take the nonlinear dependencies between neuronal oscillations into account. In this paper, we propose to quantify the causality of the interactions based on the directed information (DI) criterion, which measures the information flow between two signals over time. The proposed measure is applied to real EEG data from control and schizophrenic subject groups. The significance of the computed DI values are verified by Fourier bootstrapping technique.
Polarization-dependent excitonic population pulsation and slow light due to excitation-induced dephasing

We develop a theory for the excitonic population pulsation and slow light in semiconductor quantum wells. Our results agree well with the experimental data including absorption, refractive index dispersion, and the polarization-dependent characteristics
Correlation of Fragile Histidine Triad (Fhit) Protein Structural Features with Effector Interactions and Biological Functions

We have previously shown that Fhit tumor suppressor protein interacts with Hsp60 chaperone machinery and ferredoxin reductase (Fdxr) protein. Fhit-effector interactions are associated with a Fhit-dependent increase in Fdxr stability, followed by generation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis induction under conditions of oxidative stress. To define Fhit structural features that affect interactions, downstream signaling, and biological outcomes, we used cancer cells expressing Fhit mutants with amino acid substitutions that alter enzymatic activity, enzyme substrate binding, or phosphorylation at tyrosine 114. Gastric cancer cell clones stably expressing mutants that do not bind substrate or cannot be phosphorylated showed decreased binding to Hsp60 and Fdxr and reduced mitochondrial localization. Expression of Fhit or mutants that bind interactor proteins results in oxidative damage and accumulation of cells in G2/M or sub-G1 fractions after peroxide treatment; noninteracting mutants are defective in these biological effects. Gastric cancer clones expressing noncomplexing Fhit mutants show reduction of Fhit tumor suppressor activity, confirming that substrate binding, interaction with heat shock proteins, mitochondrial localization, and interaction with Fdxr are important for Fhit tumor suppressor function.
The paired-placement of student teachers: An alternative to traditional placements in secondary schools

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of the paired-placement of student teachers in secondary school settings. Would such placements foster the learning and development of student teachers and the learning of their pupils? Participants were 23 student teachers who were placed as partners, their mentor teachers, and a sample of the pupils in their classes. After 15 weeks of student teaching, the participants were interviewed about (a) the perceived strengths and weakness of paired-placements, and (b) the relationships that developed between the student teachers and with their mentor teacher. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts went through a process of open coding followed by the development of coding instruments, which were used to assess the level of collaboration of the student teachers during planning and teaching. In addition, the transcripts were used to conduct a cost benefit analysis of paired-placements. Results indicated that pair-placed student teachers enjoyed a rich learning experience because of the tensions, dialog, and reflections that grew out of being placed with a peer. The secondary settings allowed for a combination of solo and team teaching. Results also suggested that pupil learning was facilitated by having two student teachers.
Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE)-like phenotype: an expanded clinical spectrum of POLG1 mutations

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of MNGIE-like phenotype in patients with recessive POLG1 mutations. Mutations in the POLG1 gene, which encodes for the catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma essential for mitochondrial DNA replication, cause a wide spectrum of mitochondrial disorders. Common phenotypes associated with POLG1 mutations include Alpers syndrome, ataxia-neuropathy syndrome, and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe gastrointestinal dysmotility, cachexia, PEO and/or ptosis, peripheral neuropathy, and leukoencephalopathy. MNGIE is caused by TYMP mutations. Rare cases of MNGIE-like phenotype have been linked to RRM2B mutations. Recently, POLG1 mutations were identified in a family with clinical features of MNGIE but no leukoencephalopathy. The coding regions and exon–intron boundaries of POLG1 were sequence analyzed in patients suspected of POLG1 related disorders. Clinical features of 92 unrelated patients with two pathogenic POLG1 alleles were carefully reviewed. Three patients, accounting for 3.3% of all patients with two pathogenic POLG1 mutations, were found to have clinical features consistent with MNGIE but no leukoencephalopathy. Patient 1 carries p.W748S and p.R953C; patient 2 is homozygous for p.W748S, and patient 3 is homozygous for p.A467T. In addition, patient 2 has a similarly affected sibling with the same POLG1 genotype. POLG1 mutations may cause MNGIE-like syndrome, but the lack of leukoencephalopathy and the normal plasma thymidine favor POLG1 mutations as responsible molecular defect.
Archaeological markers of agricultural risk management

Abstract Managing agricultural risk, or variance in annual production, is a priority for farmers and herders. This article reviews the ethnographic and historical literature on agricultural risk management and identifies diversification and intensification as two distinct approaches to managing risk. Quantitative analysis of plant and animal remains from archaeological sites produces robust datasets that can be used to test predictions of risk management models related to diversification and intensification strategies. I present a variety of established and novel paleoethnobotanical and zooarchaeological measures that have implications for risk management and argue that multiple lines of evidence are needed to identify risk-management practices from archaeological remains. The article concludes with a case study of the multiperiod urban center of Gordion in central Turkey, where quantitative analysis of plant and animal remains demonstrates diachronic changes in agricultural risk management over 3000 years of occupation.
On the radiation pattern of a multibeam antenna

The optimum radiation of a lens antenna with an array feed of M elements is desired, which will exhibit maximum gain in a number ( k ) of specified directions and nulls in other ( j ) specified directions. This optimum is not derived; however, a condition for the optimum is shown to be some superposition of just ( k + j ) individual radiation patterns where each individual pattern is obtained by a separate excitation set of all M feed elements such that the gain is maximized in each of the ( k + j ) directions. (The feed array excitation set for each of the ( k + j ) maximum gain individual patterns is derived.) Thus the number of unknown feed excitation coefficients is reduced from M to ( k + j ).
The consensual assessment technique: An examination of the relationship between ratings of product and process creativity

Abstract: For over two decades, researchers have employed a consensual assessment technique in their investigations of creativity. Formally articulated by Amabile in 1982, this subjective rating procedure is based upon a consensual assessment of creativity: A product or response is creative to the extent that appropriate observers agree that it is creative. Although there exists a wealth of data on the reliability and construct validity of this approach, very little is known about what judges are responding to when they make assessments of product creativity. The four studies described here represent a preliminary exploration of the mechanisms underlying the consensual assessment procedure. Findings were that: (a) judges were able to reliably assess not only the creativity of a finished product but also the creativity of the process that went into producing that product; (b) ratings of process and product creativity (as well as a variety of other dimensions) tend to be highly correlated; and (c) informati...
Effect of furosemide administration on glomerular and tubular dynamics in the rat

Effect of furosemide administration on glomerular and tubular dynamics in the rat. Furosemide, a potent diuretic, has also been shown (1) to inhibit or reduce tubuloglomerular feedback activity, (2) act as a vasodilatory agent, and (3) exhibit a modest carbonic anhydrase inhibitory effect, which could potentially reduce proximal tubule reabsorption. If furosemide can inhibit tubuloglomerular feedback as well as cause vasodilation, then glomerular filtration rate (GFR) should increase through alterations in the dynamics of glomerular ultrafiltration. The effect of acute furosemide infusion (4 mg/kg of body wt per hour) on glomerular and tubular dynamics was examined in Munich-Wistar rats by two protocols: The first allowed a 3% volume depletion (based on body wt) to occur as a result of furosemide administration (group 1); the second allowed a complete replacement of volume after furosemide administration (group 2). The results demonstrated that when volume status was maintained after furosemide administration, the nephron filtration rate remained constant (35 ± 3 vs. 33 ± 2 nl/min, NS) despite a twofold increase in distal flow rate (5 ± 1 vs. 10 ± 1 nl/min, P Effet de l'administration de furosemide sur la dynamique glomerulaire et tubulaire chez le rat. Le furosemide, un diuretique puissant, peut egalement (1) inhiber ou reduire l'activite du retro-controle tubulo-glomerulaire, (2) se comporter comme un agent vasodilatateur, et (3) montrer un effet inhibiteur modeste de G anhydrase carbonique, qui pourrait reduire la reabsorption tubulaire proximale. Si le furosemide peut inhiber le retro-controle tubulo-glomerulaire et entrainer une vasodilatation, alors le debit de filtration glomerulaire (GFR) devrait s'elever en raison des alterations de la dynamique de l'ultrafiltration glomerulaire. Les effets d'une perfusion aigue de furosemide (4 mg/kg poids par hr) sur la dynamique glomerulaire et tubulaire ont ete examines grâce a deux protocoles chez des rats Munich-Wistar: depletion de 3% du volume corporel par administration de furosemide (groupe 1), et correction complete de la volemie apres furosemide (groupe 2). Les resultats demontrent que quand la volemie a ete maintenue apres administration de furosemide, la filtration nephronique restait constante (35 ± 3 contre 33 ± 2 nl/min, NS) malgre un doublement du debit distal (5 ± 1 contre 10 ± 1 nl/min, P
Interweaving Markov Chain Monte Carlo Strategies for Efficient Estimation of Dynamic Linear Models

ABSTRACTIn dynamic linear models (DLMs) with unknown fixed parameters, a standard Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling strategy is to alternate sampling of latent states conditional on fixed parameters and sampling of fixed parameters conditional on latent states. In some regions of the parameter space, this standard data augmentation (DA) algorithm can be inefficient. To improve efficiency, we apply the interweaving strategies of Yu and Meng to DLMs. For this, we introduce three novel alternative DAs for DLMs: the scaled errors, wrongly scaled errors, and wrongly scaled disturbances. With the latent states and the less well known scaled disturbances, this yields five unique DAs to employ in MCMC algorithms. Each DA implies a unique MCMC sampling strategy and they can be combined into interweaving and alternating strategies that improve MCMC efficiency. We assess these strategies using the local level model and demonstrate that several strategies improve efficiency relative to the standard approach an...
Potential for Distributed Combined Heat and Power in an Urban Environment

Combined heat and power (CHP) has the potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing waste heat that is typically rejected to the environment. CHP systems have been used to satisfy loads on university and corporate campuses but there may be other clusters of mixed used buildings that are viable for a CHP system. In an urban environment, such as New York City, high electricity loads and space heating loads are located in close proximity to each other, whether in a single building or in a neighborhood. This indicates a potential for clusters of buildings demand that could be satisfied by CHP. The analysis presented attempts to determine the potential for CHP systems for the 28,840 blocks of New York City many of which incorporate buildings of mix use. The systems are sized to meet the electrical base load and are considered viable if the CHP efficiency (useful electrical and thermal energy divided by the fuel input) is greater than 60% and the system size is larger than 30kW. The analysis determined that of the 28,840 blocks in New York City, 3,205 could be considered for a CHP system.© 2012 ASME
Melodic contour identification and sentence recognition using sung speech

For bimodal cochlear implant users, acoustic and electric hearing has been shown to contribute differently to speech and music perception. However, differences in test paradigms and stimuli in speech and music testing can make it difficult to assess the relative contributions of each device. To address these concerns, the Sung Speech Corpus (SSC) was created. The SSC contains 50 monosyllable words sung over an octave range and can be used to test both speech and music perception using the same stimuli. Here SSC data are presented with normal hearing listeners and any advantage of musicianship is examined.
Myoinositol Uptake by Rat Hepatocytes In Vitro

Abstract Myoinositol uptake by rat hepatocytes in vitro was studied. Adult rat hepatocytes were prepared by digestion of the perfused liver with collagenase. Cell suspensions were incubated with tritium‐labeled myoinositol in pH 7.4 Krebs bicarbonate solution containing 1% gelatin at 37°. 14 C‐Carbon‐labeled polyethylene glycol was used as a marker of adherent extracellular fluid volume. Myoinositol uptake was demonstrable after 5 min of incubation, but no intracellular concentration in excess of that in the incubation medium was observed after 60 min of incubation. Uptake saturation over a wide myoinositol concentration range could not be demonstrated. Neither the omission of sodium ions nor the inclusion of ouabain suppressed the distribution ratio significantly. Metabolic inhibitors and lower temperatures also showed no effect. Hexoses, phlorizin or mannitol, exerted no observable effect on myoinositol uptake. The results indicated that myoinositol uptake by rat hepatocytes is probably a passive process.
Optimization of Solid-Phase Microextraction Analysis for Headspace Flavor Compounds of Orange Juice

The headspace flavor compounds of orange juice were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coated with 100 μm of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and separated by gas chromatography. The effects of the orange juice temperature from 25 to 80 °C and the adsorption time from 5 to 40 min on the equilibrium of flavor compounds between the SPME coating and the orange juice indicated that the equilibrium time decreased as the sample temperature increased. The equilibrium of the flavor compounds between the SPME coating and the orange juice required 30 min at 40 °C or 20 min at 60 °C. The amount of orange flavor compounds adsorbed by SPME coating decreased as the orange juice temperature increased from 25 to 80 °C. The resolution of the gas chromatogram increased as the inside diameter of the injection port liner decreased from 1 to 0.75 mm. The concentrations of ethyl butyrate, octanal, decanal, α-pinene, and limonene in orange juice were 0.4, 1.1, 1.0, 1.4, and 254 ppm, respectively. The coefficients of var...
A port simulation model for bulk cargo operations

A port simulation model (Monte Carlo type) is presented to simulate the future economic port capacity to meet projected cargo demand. The first part of the model determines the effects caused by the port capacity expansion. The second part evaluates the port economics due to changes in the port capacity. The simulation model was tested by applying it to the actual port expansion followed at the Port of Mobile in Alabama.
Structural Instability of a Constitutively Active G Protein-coupled Receptor AGONIST-INDEPENDENT ACTIVATION DUE TO CONFORMATIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Mutations in several domains can lead to agonist-independent, constitutive activation of G protein-coupled receptors. However, the nature of the structural and molecular changes that constitutively turn on a G protein-coupled receptor remains unknown. Here we show evidence that a constitutively activated mutant of the beta2 adrenergic receptor (CAM) is characterized by structural instability and an exaggerated conformational response to ligand binding. The structural instability of CAM could be demonstrated by a 4-fold increase in the rate of denaturation of purified receptor at 37 degrees C as compared with the wild type receptor. Spectroscopic analysis of purified CAM labeled with the conformationally sensitive and cysteine-reactive fluorophore, N,N'dimethyl-N-(iodoacetyl)-N'-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl)ethylenediamine, further indicated that both agonist and antagonist elicit more profound structural changes in CAM than in the wild type protein. We propose that the mutation that confers constitutive activity to the beta2 adrenergic receptor removes some stabilizing conformational constraints, allowing CAM to more readily undergo transitions between the inactive and the active states and making the receptor more susceptible to denaturation.
Local ocular hypothermia in experimental intraocular surgery.

Abstract Local ocular hypothermia was evaluated in experimental open sky vitrectomy, closed vitrectomy, and anterior chamber irrigation and aspiration in 40 albino rabbits (80 eyes). The irrigating balanced salt solution was used at room temperature in control eyes and was cooled to 7°C in experimental eyes. Experimental eyes demonstrated less intraocular bleeding volume, less fibrin production, and less postoperative inflammation. No detectable tissue intolerance to hypothermia was observed on short- or long-term follow-up.
New algorithm for testing random access memories

A linear time complexity algorithm to test RAMs is presented. The algorithm requires only 7n read/write operations and provides an extensive fault coverage. The main advantage of the proposed scheme is that a small test time can be achieved.
The Effect of Increasing α1-Acid Glycoprotein Concentration on the Antiviral Efficacy of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitors

The effect of a 4-fold increase in alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) on the antiviral efficacy of 5 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors (PIs) was examined by the effect of HIV PIs on p24 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with protease wild-type and PI-resistant HIV isolates. For wild-type virus, the efficacy of the PIs at trough concentrations was unaffected by a 4-fold increase in AGP. With the partially HIV PI-resistant isolate, a 4-fold increase in AGP resulted in 2%, 30%, 37%, 37%, and 42% loss of activity for indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and amprenavir, respectively. The high-level HIV PI-resistant isolate had a greater loss in activity. The change in IC50 secondary to the addition of AGP was the greatest for ritonavir, nelfinavir, and amprenavir and lowest for indinavir. These data suggest that the target plasma concentration for the highly bound HIV PIs may need to be raised in subjects with elevated AGP who harbor partially PI-resistant isolates.
Syncope Due to Advanced Atrioventricular Block Despite No Demonstrable Cardiac Disease

Cardiovascular syncope can be due to a variety of abnormalities. Often, multiple testing modalities are necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis. We report on a young female patient with recurrent syncope in whom conventional evaluation was unremarkable. A diagnosis was established by prolonged ambulatory monitoring.
Advances in modeling microwave window breakdown

Summary form only given. Dielectric window breakdown remains a significant issue for high power microwave systems. Using a particle-in-cell (PIC) model with Monte Carlo collisions, we investigate the transition of dielectric window breakdown from a vacuum multipactor discharge to a collisional microwave discharge in a number of noble gases. At low pressure, the dominant mechanism of electron creation is the single-surface multipactor, and the mean energy of the electron population is hundreds of eV. As pressure increases to 10-50 torr, an intermediate regime is obtained in which electrons generated in volumetric ionization compete with the multipactor electrons generated at the dielectric window surface. In this regime, the mean energy declines significantly, and we observe two distinct electron populations: a surface population participating in the multipactor process, and a detached population shielded from the surface fields by ions. Approaching atmospheric pressure, volumetric ionization dominates, and the multipactor process is extinguished as the electron mean energy drops to a few eV. In this collisional regime, the nearly neutral discharge detaches from the dielectric window surface, and the surface charge and field that drives electrons into the window is also eliminated. The electron energy probability function changes from a bi- Maxwellian at low pressure to a higher order kinetic form at high pressure. The time to achieve breakdown is described across a broad range of pressures for Ne, Ar, and Xe, and a general analytic scaling law was deduced. Using the electron generation rates from the kinetic PIC model, we developed a global model with an enhanced electron energy distribution function form along with an energy equation which matches the kinetic results well across a broad range of pressure. We are now extending that model to air, a broader range of frequency and microwave power levels.
Characterization of human MRP/Th RNA and its nuclear gene: full length MRP/Th RNA is an active endoribonuclease when assembled as an RNP

Abstract Vertebrate cells contain a site-specific endoribonuclease (RNase MRP) that cleaves mitochondrial RNA transcribed from the origin of leading-strand mitochondrial DNA replication. This report presents the characterization of the human enzyme and its essential RNA component. Human RNase MRP is a ribonucleoprotein with a nucleus-encoded RNA of 265 nucleotides. As expected, the single-copy RNA coding region is homologous (84%) to the corresponding mouse gene; surprisingly, at least 700 nucleotides of the immediate 5'-flanking region are conserved. The 265-nucleotide MRP RNA and an MRP RNA cleavage product representing the 3'-terminal 108 nucleotides exist in nuclear and mitochondrial RNA isolates; the larger MRP RNA is present in greatest abundance in the nucleus. The putative processing site within the 265-nucleotide MRP RNA is offset from that of mouse MRP RNA, but in each case cleavage is precise and occurs at the sequence ANCCCGC. Oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition experiments reveal that both the 5' and 3' portions of the MRP RNA are involved in cleavage by RNase MRP; this implies that full length MRP RNA complexed with proteins is an active species in vertebrate cells.
Knowledge Acquisition, Network Reliance, and Early‐Stage Technology Venture Outcomes

Knowledge acquisition is central to entrepreneurship when explaining successful venturing. However, little is known about how knowledge acquisition during early venture development affects desirable venture outcomes. This study draws on the knowledge-based view and social network theory to develop and test a conceptual model of knowledge acquisition using a sample of early-stage technology entrepreneurs operating in university-affiliated incubators. We examine how an entrepreneur's acquisition of different types of knowledge and reliance on their network for knowledge relate to outcomes of product/service innovativeness and first-year venture sales. Results suggest that acquiring technology knowledge positively relates to the innovativeness of products/services developed by entrepreneurs. Moreover, entrepreneurs can enhance this positive relationship by relying more on networks for technology knowledge acquisition.
Reduced-rank least squares channel estimation

A reduced-rank least squares (RRLS) algorithm based on oversampling the channel output by an integer factor and singular value decomposition (SVD) of a data matrix is shown to have certain advantages over the nonparametric least-squares (LS) and the parametric Evans and Fischl (EF) alternative algorithm for estimating the pulse response of a truncated equivalent baseband communication channel. By sampling the channel output faster than the training symbol rate and applying SVD to the data matrix formed from the observed data, the method is shown to exhibit improved-error performance over existing nonparametric LS methods and the parametric EF iterative algorithm. The RRLS algorithm's performance has been shown to be somewhat sensitive to model order selection and observation noise statistics. The normalized mean squared error (MSE) performance of the RRLS algorithm is shown to be essentially independent of oversampling factors that are not much greater than the span of the truncated channel. It performs well even in severe noise environments. >
University Prestige and Black Academic Performance

Neither strength of racial identification nor some other conventional variables seem to predict black students'success at predominantly white colleges or universities. However, the nature of the schools is a predictor.
Numerical considerations for the finite-difference time-domain modeling of scattering by plasmonic nanocylinders

Numerical modeling of silver cylinders is examined using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique.Numerical experiments are performed and the scattering cross section of a single cylinder is predicted and compared to the analytical solution. It is demonstrated how the coarseness of the model can affect the quality of the results. The same experiments are performed in the case of an array consisting of three cylinders. The response of the structure is examined, and the significance of the cell size for the accurate prediction of the plasmon resonance red shift is demonstrated.
Global Biomass Variation and Its Geodynamic Effects: 1982–98

Redistribution of mass near Earth's surface alters its rotation, gravity field, and geocenter location. Advanced techniques for measuring these geodetic variations now exist, but the ability to attribute the observed modes to individual Earth system processes has been hampered by a shortage of reliable
Social neuroscience: challenges and opportunities in the study of complex behavior

Social species are so characterized because they form organizations that extend beyond the individual. The goal of social neuroscience is to investigate the biological mechanisms that underlie these social structures, processes, and behavior and the influences between social and neural structures and processes. Such an endeavor is challenging because it necessitates the integration of multiple levels. Mapping across systems and levels (from genome to social groups and cultures) requires interdisciplinary expertise, comparative studies, innovative methods, and integrative conceptual analysis. Examples of how social neuroscience is contributing to our understanding of the functions of the brain and nervous system are described, and societal implications of social neuroscience are considered.
The use of probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in the premature infant.

Studies have suggested the possible benefits of prophylactic administration of probiotics to the premature infant for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A survey was designed to determine the knowledge and practices of neonatal intensive care practitioners regarding the use of probiotics for the prevention of NEC in the premature infant. One hundred seventy-one surveys were completed. Most respondents were neonatal nurse practitioners (n = 100, 59%). Most (64%, n = 110) indicated that NEC was a significant problem; however, only 13 (8%) of these respondents used probiotics for the prevention of NEC. Eighty-six respondents (57%) identified the lack of published studies on the use of probiotics for the prevention of NEC as the reason for not administering probiotics. No statistically significant relationship was found between the use of probiotics for the prevention of NEC and duration of practice, location of practice, or willingness to try new treatments. A statistically significant relati...
Screening or Symptoms? How Do We Detect Colorectal Cancer in an Equal Access Health Care System?

Detection of colorectal cancer ideally occurs at an early stage through proper screening. We sought to establish methods by which colorectal cancers are diagnosed within an equal access military health care population and evaluate the correlation between TNM stage at colorectal cancer diagnosis and diagnostic modality (i.e., symptomatic detection vs screen detection). A retrospective chart review of all newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients from January 2007 to August 2014 was conducted at the authors’ equal access military institution. We evaluated TNM stage relative to diagnosis by screen detection (fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography, colonoscopy) or symptomatic evaluation (diagnostic colonoscopy or surgery). Of 197 colorectal cancers diagnosed (59 % male; mean age 62 years), 50 (25 %) had stage I, 47 (24 %) had stage II, 70 (36 %) had stage III, and 30 (15 %) had stage IV disease. Twenty-five percent of colorectal cancers were detected via screen detection (3 % by fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), 0.5 % by screening CT colonography, 17 % by screening colonoscopy, and 5 % by surveillance colonoscopy). One hundred forty-eight (75 %) were diagnosed after onset of signs or symptoms. The preponderance of these was advanced-stage disease (stages III–IV), although >50 % of stage I–II disease also had signs or symptoms at diagnosis. The most common symptoms were rectal bleeding (45 %), abdominal pain (35 %), and change in stool caliber (27 %). The most common overall sign was anemia (60 %). Screening FOBT (odds ratio (OR) 8.7, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.0–78.3; P = 0.05) independently predicted early diagnosis with stage I–II disease. Patient gender and ethnicity were not associated with cancer stage at diagnosis. Despite equal access to colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis after development of symptomatic cancer remains more common. Fecal occult blood screen detection is associated with early stage at colorectal cancer diagnosis and is the focus for future initiatives.
Repression, Response, and Contained Escalation Under "Liberalized" Authoritarianism in Jordan

*† Studies of repression’s effects on mobilization overwhelmingly focus on how severe repression affects the volume of protest, overlooking how activists perceive and experience a range of repressive tactics and how their tactical adaptations to this repertoire produce broader patterns of contention. This study therefore identifies repression’s variegated forms and movements’ corresponding responses using fifty-seven interviews with reform-oriented activists in Jordan, a “liberalized” authoritarian state, obtained in 2011. The findings demonstrate that activists (1) transformed softer repression into valued opportunities for communication with officials, and (2) responded to harder forms by publicizing repression through protests and their alliance networks, which persuaded the image-conscious regime to temper its tactics and prompted both sides to return to bargaining. This dynamic exemplifies a process of contained escalation, which helps to explain why Jordan’s Arab Spring remained nonrevolutionary. I conclude by discussing the implications for studies of repression and response in illiberal contexts.
Dinosaurs and Indians: Fossil Resource Dispossession of Sioux Lands, 1846-1875

The emergence of vertebrate paleontology as an established, scientific discipline can in part be attributed to large vertebrate fossils found on land dispossessed from indigenous populations from around the world. Specifically, geographic locations of the North American continental interior are known to yield fossiliferous stratagraphic sequences. I argue that vertebrate fossils are another natural resource dispossessed from Native peoples within the historical boundaries of Sioux lands. This body of research discusses the physical and geographical evidence of the first quarter-century of fossil dispossession in Indian country between the years 1846 and 1875.
Metabolomic Profiles of Body Mass Index in the Framingham Heart Study Reveal Distinct Cardiometabolic Phenotypes

Background Although obesity and cardiometabolic traits commonly overlap, underlying pathways remain incompletely defined. The association of metabolite profiles across multiple cardiometabolic traits may lend insights into the interaction of obesity and metabolic health. We sought to investigate metabolic signatures of obesity and related cardiometabolic traits in the community using broad-based metabolomic profiling.
Treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia

Purpose Treatment options for chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) based on medication-resistant mutations in BCR-ABL are reviewed. Summary Imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib are first-line therapies for chronic-phase CML. Nilotinib or dasatinib can be used as first- or second-line treatment, with nilotinib preferred in patients with BCR-ABL F317 and V229 mutations and dasatinib in patients with Y253H, E255, and F359 mutations. All three medications are associated with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia; the reported rates varied but ranged from 38% to 90% in Phase III studies. Although less data are available for bosutinib, the drug can be used as second-line therapy and is effective against F317L, Y253H, and F359 mutations. Mutations at position T315I are generally resistant to all of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) but may respond to ponatinib or omacetaxine. The choice of third-line therapy can be driven by mutational analysis or patient-specific characteristics. While ponatinib and omacetaxine have activity in patients with T351I mutations, they have not been directly compared. Differences in patient characteristics and adverse-effect profiles may also aid in the selection of appropriate therapy. Conclusion Several TKIs are effective in the treatment of chronic-phase CML. Imatinib, nilotinib, or dasatinib may be used as first-line therapy, while second- and third-line treatments are determined based on previous failed therapy as well as BCR-ABL mutation status.
Identifying Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Reducing Energy Consumption in an Affordable Housing Complex

Reduction of energy consumption in the affordable housing sector is highly impacted by human behavior. However, only limited behavior change research exists that is aimed at reducing energy consumption in this sector. This study seeks to implement the first two phases of the community-based social marketing (CBSM) framework in an affordable housing setting. The goals of the research are to identify the optimal behaviors for energy reduction and to identify the perceived barriers and benefits associated with those behaviors in a low-income housing facility. The results of this study identify five target behaviors along with their barriers and benefits. In addition, the study identifies potential issues and nuances in the CBSM process that researchers should take into consideration during future implementations of CBSM in affordable housing environments.
A Pioneering Experiment in Assessing Advertising Effectiveness

According to this article, there are only two basic dimensions to the effectiveness of advertising: (1) size of audience, and (2) depth of impact.The advertising industry has been spending most of ...