cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy versus cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones.

Abstract To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy vs. cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones, a model was constructed that projects charges and survival for both treatments. For a 45-year-old woman with one small stone, treatment with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy rather than cholecystectomy is projected to result in an average gain of only 3 days of life and an average increase in direct medical charges of $1729 over 5 years of follow-up. The resulting marginal cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy vs. cholecystectomy is $216,000 of extra charges per year of life gained with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is projected to be much more cost-effective for elderly than for young patients (10–20-fold difference), but considerably less cost-effective for multiple stones than a single stone (2–4-fold difference), and less cost-effective for women than men (twofold difference). Adjusting for effects of morbidity on quality of life, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is projected to have slightly better quality-adjusted survival than cholecystectomy for the small subset of patients with one stone (by 8 to 43 days at 5 years) but not for young patients with multiple stones. It is concluded that decisions about appropriate use of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy should consider the effects of patient characteristics on clinical and economic outcomes.
Describing undergraduate STEM teaching practices: a comparison of instructor self-report instruments

Collecting data on instructional practices is an important step in planning and enacting meaningful initiatives to improve undergraduate science instruction. Self-report survey instruments are one of the most common tools used for collecting data on instructional practices. This paper is an instrument- and item-level analysis of available instructional practice instruments to survey postsecondary instructional practices. We qualitatively analyzed the instruments to document their features and methodologically sorted their items into autonomous categories based on their content. The paper provides a detailed description and evaluation of the instruments, identifies gaps in the literature, and provides suggestions for proper instrument selection, use, and development based on these findings. The 12 instruments we analyzed use a variety of measurement and development approaches. There are two primary instrument types: those intended for all postsecondary instructors and those intended for instructors in a specific STEM discipline. The instruments intended for all instructors often focus on teaching as well as other aspects of faculty work. The number of teaching practice items and response scales varied widely. Most teaching practice items referred to the format of in-class instruction (54 %), such as group work or problem solving. Another important type of teaching practice items referred to assessment practices (35 %), frequently focusing on specific types of summative assessment items used. The recent interest in describing teaching practices has led to the development of a diverse set of available self-report instruments. Many instruments lack an audit trail of their development, including rationale for response scales; whole instrument and construct reliability values; and face, construct, and content validity measures. Future researchers should consider building on these existing instruments to address some of their current weaknesses. In addition, there are important aspects of instruction that are not currently described in any of the available instruments. These include laboratory-based instruction, hybrid and online instructional environments, and teaching with elements of universal design.
Combing over heritable gene silencing

Recent publications suggest that certain proteins of the Polycomb group interact with DNA methyltransferases. This may connect the two systems that are known to mediate somatic inheritance of states of gene expression during development.
Assessment of coronary microcirculation in a swine animal model

Coronary microvascular dysfunction has important prognostic implications. Several hemodynamic indexes, such as coronary flow reserve (CFR), microvascular resistance, and zero-flow pressure (Pzf), w...
Schwann cell-like differentiation by adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells following engraftment into the demyelinated spinal cord is BMP-dependent

The development of remyelinating strategies designed to enhance recruitment and differentiation of endogenous precursor cells available to a site of demyelination in the adult spinal cord will require a fundamental understanding of the potential for adult spinal cord precursor cells to remyelinate as well as an insight into epigenetic cues that regulate their mobilization and differentiation. The ability of embryonic and postnatal neural precursor cell transplants to remyelinate the adult central nervous system is well documented, while no transplantation studies to date have examined the remyelinating potential of adult spinal-cord-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (adult OPCs). In the present study, we demonstrate that, when transplanted subacutely into spinal ethidium bromide/X-irradiated (EB-X) lesions, adult OPCs display a limited capacity for oligodendrocyte remyelination. Interestingly, the glia-free environment of EB lesions promotes engrafted adult OPCs to differentiate primarily into cells with immunophenotypic and ultrastructural characteristics of myelinating Schwann cells (SCs). Astrocytes modulate this potential, as evidenced by the demonstration that SC-like differentiation is blocked when adult OPCs are co-transplanted with astrocytes. We further show that inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling through noggin overexpression by engrafted adult OPCs is sufficient to block SC-like differentiation within EB-X lesions. Present data suggest that the macroglial-free environment of acute EB lesions in the ventrolateral funiculus is inhibitory to adult spinal cord-derived OPC differentiation into remyelinating oligodendrocytes, while the presence of BMPs and absence of noggin promotes SC-like differentiation, thereby unmasking a surprising lineage fate for these cells.
Mu2e, a coherent μ → e conversion experiment at Fermilab

We describe a proposed experiment to search for Charged Lepton Flavor Violation (CLFV) using stopped muons at Fermilab. A primary Proton beam will strike a gold target, producing pions which decay to muons. Low-momentum negative muons will be collected, selected, and transported by a custom arrangement of solenoidal magnets and collimators. Muons will stop in thin foil targets, creating muonic atoms with significant nuclear overlap. Mu2e will search for the coherent conversion of nuclear bound muons to electrons, with an experimental signature of a single mono-energetic electron. Conversion electrons will be detected and measured in a low-mass straw tracker and a crystal calorimeter. Mu2e will have a sensitivity four orders of magnitude better than the most sensitive published result for μ → e conversion, and will have complementary physics reach to LHC experiments and μ → eγ decay experiments such as MEG.
Substrate recognition and catalysis by the exoribonuclease RNase R.

RNase R is a processive, 3′ to 5′ hydrolytic exoribonuclease that together with polynucleotide phosphorylase plays an important role in the degradation of structured RNAs. However, RNase R differs from other exoribonucleases in that it can by itself degrade RNAs with extensive secondary structure provided that a single-stranded 3′ overhang is present. Using a variety of specifically designed substrates, we show here that a 3′ overhang of at least 7 nucleotides is required for tight binding and activity, whereas optimum binding and activity are achieved when the overhang is 10 or more nucleotides in length. In contrast, duplex RNAs with no overhang or with a 4-nucleotide overhang bind extremely poorly to RNase R and are inactive as substrates. A duplex RNA with a 10-nucleotide 5′ overhang also is not a substrate. Interestingly, this molecule is bound only weakly, indicating that RNase R does not simply recognize single-stranded RNA, but the RNA must thread into the enzyme with 3′ to 5′ polarity. We also show that ribose moieties are required for recognition of the substrate as a whole since RNase R is unable to bind or degrade single-stranded DNA. However, RNA molecules with deoxyribose or dideoxyribose residues at their 3′ termini can be bound and degraded. Based on these data and a homology model of RNase R, derived from the structure of the closely related enzyme, RNase II, we present a model for how RNase R interacts with its substrates and degrades RNA.
Incidence and risk factors for the development of incisional hernia following elective laparoscopic versus open colon resections.

Abstract Background There are few studies that compare the incidence of incisional hernia following elective laparoscopic colon resection to open colectomy and determine the risk factors for its development. Methods Elective open and laparoscopic colon resections performed between February 2002 and May 2007 were reviewed. In the laparoscopic group, mesenteric transection was performed via intracorporeal division for left-sided colectomy and via extracorporeal technique for right-sided colectomy. The ileocolic anastomosis was performed by extracorporeal stapling for right colectomies and by intracorporeal for left colectomies. Results Two hundred eighteen patients (mean age 62 years, 52% male) underwent elective colon resection (50% open, 5% hand-assisted, and 45% laparoscopic). Six percent of the cases that started as laparoscopic were converted and are included in the open group. Mean follow-up was 26 months. The overall incisional hernia rate was 16% (open and minimally invasive group 17% vs 15%, P = .14). Hernia was not dependent on the type of resection, indication, or extraction site. Body mass index >36 kg/m 2 , male gender, and surgical site infection were risk factors for hernia development. Conclusions Laparoscopic colectomy does not reduce the development of incisional hernia.
Cryopreservation, culture, and transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue into monkeys

Studies in animals suggest that fetal neural grafts might restore lost neurological function in Parkinson's disease. In monkeys, such grafts survive for many months and reverse signs of parkinsonism, without attendant graft rejection. The successful and reliable application of a similar transplantation procedure to human patients, however, will require neural tissue obtained from human fetal cadavers, with demonstrated cellular identity, viability, and biological safety. In this report, human fetal neural tissue was successfully grafted into the brains of monkeys. Neural tissue was collected from human fetal cadavers after 9 to 12 weeks of gestation and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Viability after up to 2 months of storage was demonstrated by cell culture and by transplantation into monkeys. Cryopreservation and storage of human fetal neural tissue would allow formation of a tissue bank. The stored cells could then be specifically tested to assure their cellular identity, viability, and bacteriological and virological safety before clinical use. The capacity to collect and maintain viable human fetal neural tissue would also facilitate research efforts to understand the development and function of the human brain and provide opportunities to study neurological diseases.
In vitro expression of bovine leukemia virus in isolated B-lymphocytes of cattle and sheep

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of T-lymphocytes and phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a T-cell mitogen, on the expression of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in cultured B-lymphocytes from BLV-infected cattle and sheep. Bovine B-lymphocytes were isolated by negative selection via complement-mediated lysis of T-lymphocytes. Additionally, bovine and ovine B-lymphocytes were positively selected using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Expression of BLV in cultured bovine and ovine B-lymphocytes occurred in the absence of T-lymphocytes and without PHA stimulation. The results of this study demonstrate that BLV replication in cultured B-lymphocytes is T-cell independent. This finding may have implications for the mechanism of viral latency within infected B-lymphocytes.
Post-surgical and obstructive gastroparesis

Post-surgical gastroparesis (PSG) is recognized as a consequence of vagal nerve injury following upper abdominal surgery. It has been well documented following vagotomy for peptic ulcer surgery. With the increasing role of surgical treatment in the management of GERD and morbid obesity, PSG is now being diagnosed after fundoplication and bariatric surgery. PSG has also been reported after heart and lung transplantation, possibly due to opportunistic viral infection or motor-inhibitory effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, in addition to vagal nerve injury. Initial postoperative management of PSG should be conservative as many symptoms following abdominal surgery resolve with time. This occurs possibly because the enteric nervous system is able to adapt to the loss of vagal input or vagal reinnervation occurs. Persistent symptoms are difficult to manage and require a multidisciplinary team approach. Gastric electrical stimulation has shown promise in small series.
Simulation of temperature-compensated voltage limit curves for aerospace NiCd batteries using a first principles' model

Abstract Temperature-compensated voltage limits ( V / T limits) are routinely used in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to permit fast charging of the NiCd battery with minimum overcharge and without the problems of thermal runaway during overcharge. The voltage limits are experimentally determined from extensive testing of cells for a proper design of the charge control system to achieve the desired charge/discharge ratio in orbit. Here, we demonstrate the use of first-principles', mathematical models to construct the V / T curves theoretically. The predicted charge/discharge ratios under various orbit conditions such as different states of charge, in-rush currents and temperatures are compared with the experimental data.
Microfloral response to aquatic weed decomposition

Abstract Microfloral response to the liberation of N and P from decomposing water milfoil tissue ( Myriophyllum heterophyllum ) was determined under various laboratory conditions. The death and decay of the macrophyte released ammonia and phosphate in concentrations sufficient to promote algal growth. The oxidation of ammonia by resident nitrifiers exercised a striking impact on microfloral succession. Nitrification was accompanied by a decrease in pH and thereafter by a decline in the numbers of bacteria and protozoa. Subsequently, coincident with the accumulation of nitrite and nitrate, the numbers of the resident green algal communities rose dramatically. These results, coupled with field observations, indicate that nutrient released by decomposing aquatic weeds and the changes attendant upon nitrification are of significance in the distribution and abundance of aquatic microflora.
Cellular differences in protein synthesis regulate tissue homeostasis

Although sometimes considered a "house-keeping" function, multiple aspects of protein synthesis are regulated differently among somatic cells, including stem cells, and can be modulated in a cell-type-specific manner. These differences are required to establish and maintain differences in cell identity, cell function, tissue homeostasis, and tumor suppression.
Possible roles of glutamate transporter EAAT5 in mouse cone depolarizing bipolar cell light responses

Abstract A remarkable feature of neuronal glutamate transporters (EAATs) is their dual functions of classical carriers and ligand-gated chloride (Cl−) channels. Cl− conductance is rapidly activated by glutamate in subtype EAAT5, which mediates light responses in depolarizing bipolar cells (DBC) in retinae of lower vertebrates. In this study, we examine whether EAAT5 also mediates the DBC light response in mouse. We took advantage of an infrared illuminated micro-injection system, and studied the effects of the EAAT blocker (TBOA) and a glutamate receptor agonist (LAP4) on the mouse electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave responses. Our results showed that TBOA and LAP4 shared similar temporal patterns of inhibition: both inhibited the ERG b-wave shortly after injection and recovered with similar time courses. TBOA inhibited the b-wave completely at mesopic light intensity with an IC50 value about 1 log unit higher than that of LAP4. The inhibitory effects of TBOA and LAP4 were found to be additive in the photopic range. Furthermore, TBOA alone inhibited the b-wave in the cone operative range in knockout mice lacking DBCRs at a low concentration that did not alter synaptic glutamate clearance activity. It also produced a stronger inhibition than that of LAP4 on the cone-driven b-wave measured with a double flash method in wildtype mice. These electrophysiological data suggest a significant role for EAAT5 in mediating cone-driven DBC light responses. Our immunohistochemistry data indicated the presence of postsynaptic EAAT5 on some DBCCs and some DBCRs, providing an anatomical basis for EAAT5’s role in DBC light responses.
Gender, marital status, and commercially prepared food expenditure.

Abstract Objective Assess how per capita expenditure on commercially prepared food as a proportion of total food expenditure varies by the sex and marital status of the head of the household. Design Prospective cohort study, data collected by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics 2004 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Setting United States. Participants Randomly selected nationally representative sample of 5744 US citizens. Main Outcome Measures Per capita spending on commercially prepared food (dependent variable) for every $1 increase in total per capita food spending (independent variable). Analysis Linear regressions run separately for each permutation of gender and marital status (never married, married, divorced/separated). Results Proportionate per capita household expenditure on commercially prepared food was found to vary by marital status and gender. Households headed by unmarried men (both divorced/separated and never married) spent a significantly greater proportion of their food budget on commercially prepared food than their married male peers (38% and 60% higher, respectively). Regardless of marital status, households headed by women were found to spend approximately one-third of their total food budget on commercially prepared foods outside the home. Households headed by never married men spent 63% more per capita than those headed by never married women and households headed by divorced or separated men spent 37% more than those headed by divorced or separated women. Conclusions and Implications Marital status is significantly related to the dietary patterns of households headed by men. In light of the high rates of divorce, separation, and delay of marriage, marriage cannot be considered an inclusive or permanent solution to changing male eating patterns. It is important that nutrition educators learn more about the dietary patterns of households headed by males outside the institution of marriage.
Single-Molecule Tracking of Sub-millisecond Domain Motion in Calmodulin

We used single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) to track distance changes between domains of fluorescently labeled calmodulin (CaM) on the sub-millisecond time scale. In most cases, CaM remained in the same conformational substate over time periods of up to 1 ms, showing that conformational interchange occurs on a longer time scale. However, in some instances, apparent transitions between conformational substates could be detected. The magnitude of sub-millisecond motion within the dominant conformational substate also revealed fluctuations in distance between domains that were dependent on pH and ionic strength.
Shallow water processes govern system-wide phytoplankton bloom dynamics: A modeling study

Abstract Prior studies of the phytoplankton dynamics in South San Francisco Bay, California, USA have hypothesized that bivalve filter-feeders are responsible for the limited phytoplankton blooms in the system. This study was designed to examine the effects of benthic grazing and light attenuation on this shallow, turbid, and nutrient replete system. We found that grazing by shallow water bivalves was important in determining phytoplankton bloom occurrence throughout the system and that above a shallow water bivalve grazing threshold, phytoplankton biomass did not exceed bloom levels. Wind speed, used as a proxy for light attenuation in the shallow water, was similarly important in determining bloom development in the shallow water. Environmental conditions and benthic grazing in the deep water channel had a less discernible effect on system-wide phytoplankton blooms although persistent water column stratification did increase bloom magnitude. The shallow water bivalves, believed to be preyed upon by birds and fish that migrate through the system in fall and winter, disappear each year prior to the spring phytoplankton bloom. Because growth of the phytoplankton depends so strongly on shallow water processes, any change in the shallow-water benthic filter-feeders or their predators has great potential to change the phytoplankton bloom dynamics in this system.
High-density lipoproteins: Marker of cardiovascular risk and therapeutic target

Abstract The high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are complex, polymolecular assemblies produced by the jejunum, liver, in serum, and on the surface of macrophages. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are an independent predictor of risk for cardiovascular events in both men and women. High serum levels of this lipoprotein are associated with reduced risk for atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death. The molecular basis for the apparent vasculoprotection afforded by elevated HDL-C is widely attributed to the ability of HDL particles to drive reverse cholesterol transport. The proteosome (protein cargo) of HDL also appears to endow this lipoprotein with a capacity to reduce oxidized lipids, promote endothelial cell nitric oxide production, reduce adhesion molecule expression, inhibit platelet activation, stimulate endothelial proliferation and inhibit apoptosis, and reduce inflammatory mediator expression, among other functions. Recent investigation suggests that among patients with coronary artery disease, HDL can also be dysfunctional, yielding a pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative phenotype. Numerous drugs are currently in development in an effort to devise the means by which to optimally increase serum levels of functional, antiatherogenic HDL species. These drugs exploit a diverse range of mechanisms with potential for beneficially impacting the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease.
On the role of bottom roughness in overflows

Abstract Overflows play an important role in the downwelling limb of the oceanic thermohaline circulation. In light of the recognition that some overflows are not homogenous but exhibit a vertical density structure, and details of topography influence the pathways of some overflows, the impact of topographic roughness on the product property distribution is explored using the 3D non-hydrostatic spectral element model Nek5000. Numerical experiments are carried out by varying bottom roughness amplitude and ambient stratification parameters, in a regime where equilibrated product water masses are formed in a non-rotating environment. Our main finding is that bottom roughness can influence the overflow product distribution such that the highest salinity classes are removed and neutral buoyancy level is attained higher up in the stratified ambient water column. It is also shown that the form drag coefficients in overflows over rough bottom can be much larger than the skin drag coefficient over smooth bottom. To our knowledge, form drag has never been measured in oceanic overflows. As such, these numerical experiments imply that such measurements would be useful for a better understanding of overflow dynamics. It is also found that the ratio of source and product overflow mass transports is robust to changes in bottom roughness. This appears to happen because the distribution of entrainment is totally different in the case of rough bottom. Entrainment tends to initiate earlier (due to vertical motion induced by topography) and terminate earlier (due to development of form drag) than that over smooth topography.
Supporting online team editing: Using technology to shape performance and to monitor individual and group action

Abstract Supporting collaborative editing on computers poses a significant challenge. An editor must show proposed changes to other members of the editing team, and the team must then work together to decide which changes to act upon. This environment is difficult to negotiate face to face with paper, much less over a network. Algorithms that compare different versions of a document can help, but they typically lack the interface requirements needed to negotiate change at a distance. In this article, we describe how software we have developed—the prep editor —can be used to support online collaborative editing. The prep interface allows teams to extract two measures across versions of a document that can be very helpful in negotiating change: claimed and unclaimed work. Claimed work refers to the actions of an individual editor that get accepted by the editing team into a new version. Unclaimed work refers to the actions of an individual editor that are not accepted by the team into the new version. We discuss and illustrate how the prep editor interface allows teams to extract the claimed and unclaimed work of each member and how this information can support a team's further decision making.
Oscillatory free-induction decay

Large-amplitude oscillations are predicted in the free-induction decay (FID) of atomic or spin two-level quantum systems that are coherently prepared by a resonant electromagnetic field in the form of a square amplitude pulse of duration $T$. The effect should be detectable in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or in optical resonance experiments when the transition line shape is inhomogeneously broadened (${T}_{2}^{*}\ensuremath{\ll}{T}_{2}$) and the applied field is intense enough that the pulse area $\ensuremath{\chi}T\ensuremath{\ge}2\ensuremath{\pi}$, where $\ensuremath{\chi}$ is the Rabi frequency. Physically, the effect is due to Rabi oscillations which are generated in the preparative stage and are then reproduced because of atomic memory in the radiative period which follows. The atomic polarization derived from the Bloch equations assumes the form of an integral over the inhomogeneous line shape, and can be evaluated numerically for arbitrary linewidth $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ or analytically when $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. The characteristics of the oscillation are unusual since the oscillation frequency, which is of order $\ensuremath{\chi}$, increases with time while the oscillation envelope vanishes identically for times $t\ensuremath{\ge}2T$. Coherent emission is therefore confined to one pulse width $T$ immediately following the pulse. Previous NMR and infrared FID experiments with small-area pulses ($\ensuremath{\chi}T\ensuremath{\le}4\ensuremath{\pi}$), interpreted erroneously in terms of an edge echo effect, support the oscillatory FID behavior described here. For the case $\ensuremath{\chi}Tg4\ensuremath{\pi}$, an experimental test would be even more decisive, as the oscillations are more pronounced.
Sovereignty and the other in Ecuadorian nationalist discourse

This article explores how exhortations for national unity are intrinsically linked to the symbolic displacement of a problematic other through an examination of elite Ecuadorian nationalist discourse and its construction of Indigenous activists as internal enemies. Specifically, this article looks at the role that the 2008 border row between Ecuador and Colombia played in publicly legitimating a concept of Ecuadorian citizenship rooted in racial homogeneity. Ecuador's northern border served as an ideal mechanism for performing the Ecuadorian state's authority to establish the internal borders that separated ‘citizens’ from ‘enemies’. These performances of state legitimacy highlighted Ecuador's victimisation by a more powerful neighbour/imperial proxy as a means for building regional empathy, while reinforcing the legitimacy of the Ecuadorian government to marginalise Indigenous social movements as a means to symbolically assert ‘national unity’.
Biliary Motility: Postnatal Changes in Guinea Pigs

Intravital microscopy, a new in vivo technique, documented age-dependent changes in choledochoduodenal junction motility in male guinea pigs. In the guinea pig, the choledochoduodenal junction served as a pump that actively emptied its luminal contents into the duodenum. In the neonates (less than or equal to 1 wk old), this choledochoduodenal junction pump was not fully developed. Unlike the older guinea pigs, some neonates had an incompetent sphincter ductus choledochi (SDC) allowing retrograde flow of bile during ampullary contractions. While fasting, neonates had decreased frequency of SDC (1.2 +/- 0.4 contractions/min) and ampullary (0.1 +/- 0.1 contractions/min) contractions as compared to juveniles (4-6 wk old) (SDC = 6.4 +/- 1.0; ampulla = 1.2 +/- 0.2 contractions/min) and adults (greater than 1 yr old) (SDC = 6.7 +/- 1.6; 0.8 +/- 0.2 contractions/min). Following a meal (Ensure), unlike older guinea pigs, the neonate did not have a significant increased duration and decreased frequency of SDC contractions. Altered neonatal SDC motility correlated with an incompletely developed SDC including decreased muscle mass and mucosal thickness. By 4 wk of age, choledochoduodenal junction motility was similar to that of the adult. These developmental alterations in junctional motility and structure may affect the flow of bile into the duodenum contributing to physiologic cholestasis and decreased intraduodenal bile acids seen in neonates.
The Effect of Government Incentives and Assistance on Location and Job Growth in Manufacturing

WALKER R. and GREENSTREET D. (1990) The effect of government incentives and assistance on location and job growth in manufacturing, Reg. Studies 25, 13–30. Many states and local development authorities attempt to create jobs through the application of incentive and assistance programmes meant to attract industry, to encourage entrepreneurship, and to promote the growth of existing establishments. Despite these efforts, which in many instances are quite costly, little is known about the efficacy of particular programmes. This paper addresses the impact of such programmes by presenting the results of an econometric analysis based on micro data from an extensive mail and telephone survey of 540 new manufacturing plants in the Appalachian region. A components of growth approach is taken, in which two particular components are considered: the job growth attributable to location decisions of new start-ups; and that stemming from the expansion of existing establishments. It is shown that incentive offerings are ...
Predicting Conduct Problems from Community and Family Violence: The Moderating Effects of Hurricane Katrina

Although the devastation was immediately apparent, the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the behavior of youth are just now being revealed. Much post-disaster research targets adjustment of adults, but ample evidence indicates that youth experience a variety of psychological symptoms following a disaster, including depressive symptoms, aggression, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. The aim of the current study was to determine whether hurricane exposure serves as a risk factor for developing conduct problems among violence-exposed youth. Results indicate that hurricane exposure had differential effects on the relations between conduct problems and community violence versus corporal punishment in the home. Though not statistically significant, there was an unexpected trend for youth with high hurricane exposure to show decreased conduct problems and those with low hurricane exposure to show increased conduct problems as violence exposure increased. Hurricane exposure played the predicted role in the relation between corporal punishment and conduct problems, such that high levels of hurricane exposure predicted increased conduct problems among youth experiencing high levels of corporal punishment, but not among those experiencing low levels of corporal punishment. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Monte Carlo simulation techniques and electric utility resource decisions

This paper explores the use of Monte Carlo simulation techniques as an approach to electric utility integrated resource planning (IRP) that explicitly identifies key risks imposed on decision makers and/or shareholders. We discuss in general methods of examining risk, including sensitivity analysis, decision analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. We also present an example of how Monte Carlo simulation can be used in the context of resource planning. When used in conjunction with a model that captures the main engineering, economic and financial operations of a utility, Monte Carlo simulation can be used to account for planning uncertainties and examine tradeoffs between expected costs and risk.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase is key to peroxynitrite-mediated, LPS-induced protein radical formation in murine microglial BV2 cells

Microglia are the resident immune cells in the brain. Microglial activation is characteristic of several inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Though lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation in models of Parkinson's disease is well documented, the free radical-mediated protein radical formation and its underlying mechanism during LPS-induced microglial activation are not known. Here we have used immuno-spin trapping and RNA interference to investigate the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in peroxynitrite-mediated protein radical formation in murine microglial BV2 cells treated with LPS. Treatment of BV2 cells with LPS resulted in morphological changes, induction of iNOS, and increased protein radical formation. Pretreatments with FeTPPS (a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst), L-NAME (total NOS inhibitor), 1400W (iNOS inhibitor), and apocynin significantly attenuated LPS-induced protein radical formation and tyrosine nitration. Results obtained with coumarin-7-boronic acid, a highly specific probe for peroxynitrite detection, correlated with LPS-induced tyrosine nitration, which demonstrated involvement of peroxynitrite in protein radical formation. A similar degree of protection conferred by 1400W and L-NAME led us to conclude that only iNOS, and no other forms of NOS, is involved in LPS-induced peroxynitrite formation. Subsequently, siRNA for iNOS, the iNOS-specific inhibitor 1400W, the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 was used to inhibit iNOS directly or indirectly. Inhibition of iNOS precisely correlated with decreased protein radical formation in LPS-treated BV2 cells. The time course of protein radical formation also matched the time course of iNOS expression. Taken together, these results prove the role of iNOS in peroxynitrite-mediated protein radical formation in LPS-treated microglial BV2 cells.
Kinetic Data for Solid Phase Transitions by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The rates of solid-solid phase transitions have been measured by nonspectroscopic techniques, such as differential thermal analysis (DTA), dilatometry, and x-ray powder diffraction. With DTA, the accuracy of the activation energy is rarely better than ±15% in part because good thermal contact between the sample and, the pan is difficult to maintain. Dilatometry measures the volume change accompanying a thermodynamic first order phase transition. Crystal decomposition and out-gassing of trapped solvent molecules complicate the method. High temperature x-ray powder diffraction is restricted to relatively slow phase transformations. If the solid phase transition is quenched and the intensity of a characteristic peak measured, errors can be incurred in determining the concentration. Internal standards may alleviate this problem, but sample homogeneity becomes an issue.
Electrical stimulation and biofeedback effect on recovery of Tenodesis grasp: A controlled study

Abstract Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation and biofeedback on the recovery of tenodesis grasp in tetraplegic individuals during the initial phase of acute rehabilitation. Design: A 2 × 2 block design was used with subjects randomized to treatment groups. Forty-five subjects completed the study. Setting: Inpatient occupational therapy department. Subjects: Inpatients with tetraplegia, first admission for rehabilitation after an acute spinal cord injury. Interventions: The four treatment groups were: conventional treatment, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, and combined electrical stimulation and biofeedback. The treatment period was between 5 and 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Manual muscle testing and scoring of activities of daily living performance by a blinded evaluator. Results: All four treatment groups showed improvements. No treatment group was superior to the others. Conclusions: Biofeedback and electrical stimulation alone or in combination offer no advantages over conventional rehabilitation treatment of wrist extensors in tetraplegic patients after spinal cord injury.
On the minimum bit-error rate of linear codes

We investigate the bit-error rate (BER) of linear block codes. The BER is a function of the encoder realization of the code. We express the BER in terms of the weight profiles of the subspaces of the code. We also discuss the relation between the Hadamard transform and the BER. >
Education Changes Mexican Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pediatric Pain

This study explored the effectiveness of a pain education intervention on Mexican nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric pain. A convenience sample of 106 registered nurses from three hospitals in Mexico City was recruited. A Pediatric Pain Education Program (PPEP) was developed, implemented, and evaluated by a nurse researcher, clinical nurse specialist, and a child life specialist. The 4-hour program, which was translated into Spanish, consisted of pain assessment, physiology, and management, including pharmacology and nonpharmacology. The effects of PPEP were measured in a one-group pretest-posttest design using a translated Spanish version of the Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (PNKAS). A total of 79 nurses completed both tests. A paired t test indicated significant differences between pre- and posttest results (p < .0001) on the PNKAS. The hospital site and years of nursing experience were significantly related to nurses' pre- and post-PNKAS scores. One test item on children's ability to reliably report their pain had a significantly lower score after the intervention (p = .016). The intervention was effective in improving Mexican pediatric nurses' knowledge and attitudes. However, it is not known how long this effect was maintained. Health care professionals can share a common vision for pain management by increasing international collaborative efforts and by advancing pediatric pain knowledge.
Relationship of test-taking strategies to test anxiety and performance: Toward a task analysis of examination behavior

An open-ended questionnaire was developed to gather retrospective descriptions of test-taking strategies used in working classroom exam questions. Responses were independently rated on a 3-point scale of effectiveness based on the degree to which subjects' strategies matched methods recommended by experts in remedial education. The study focused initially on evaluating the reliability and validity of the Questionnaire of How You Take Tests (QHTT).Reliability estimates were very adequate and the QHTT was unrelated to verbal ability and sex. Subsequently, the QHTT was used as a dependent measure to assess the degree to which lack of confidence (high text anxiety)in evaluative situations is related to deficits in test-taking strategies. Subjects with high and moderate levels of general test anxiety evidenced significantly less effective problem-solving strategies than low-anxiety subjects. Also, subjects with high and moderate levels of math anxiety were significantly less knowledgeable about effective tactics for working math-reading items than were low math anxiety subjects. The relationship between subjects' repertoire of test-taking strategies and their academic performance was also analyzed. High compared to low QHTT scorers attained significantly higher grade point averages over two consecutive semesters. Ways in which the results extend laboratory investigations of problem-solving skills and text anxiety are discussed as well as the limitations of the current method of assessing cognitive strategies.
Electrical Resistivity of Potassium from 1 to 25 °K

Low-temperature electrical-resisitivity data are presented for pure and impure potassium samples [$8000\ensuremath{\gtrsim}\frac{\ensuremath{\rho}(20 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}}{\ensuremath{\rho}(0 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{K})\ensuremath{\gtrsim}100}$] and compared with theory. The experimental and theoretical results are tabulated, interpreted, and compared with the work of others. In particular, the resistivity data of the impure samples exhibited only relatively minor deviations from Matthiessen's rule and did not differ appreciably in temperature dependence from the resistivity data of the pure samples. Experimental details are presented and a short study of quenching effects has been made.
Observation of Ramsey's Interference Fringes in the Profile of Doppler-Free Two-Photon Resonances

Using two coherent time-delayed short pulses, we have demonstrated that one can obtain, in the profile of Doppler-free two-photon resonances, interference fringes with a splitting $\frac{1}{2T}$ ($T$, delay time between the two pulses) much smaller than the spectral width $\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ of each pulse ($\ensuremath{\tau}$ duration of each pulse). This method should lead to a number of important improvements in the presently available techniques of ultrahigh-resolution laser spectroscopy of atoms and molecules.
Elevated-temperature implantations of Au into Zr

Abstract Polycrystalline Zr samples were implanted with 200 keV Au ions at several temperatures between 295 and 790 K to a dose of 5 × 10 15 /cm 2 . The implanted Au distributions were analyzed with RBS. A strong dependence of the Au distribution on implantation temperature was found for temperatures ⩾ 450 K, in good agreement with previous studies of interdiffusion and ion-beam mixing in Au/Zr multilayer specimens. For implantation temperatures between 500 and 600 K, a narrowing of the implanted distribution and an increase in the peak concentration were observed. At implantation temperatures ⩾ 650 K, a substantial fraction of the Au migrated toward the implanted surface. Systematic shifts of the peak in the implanted distribution were also found. The effects observed at the higher temperatures can be understood qualitatively in terms of radiation-induced segregation (RIS) and radiationenhanced diffusion (RED) becoming dominant. The combined effects of sputtering, RIS and RED substantially reduce the fraction of Au retained at elevated temperature.
Limited abdominal MRI in the evaluation of acute right upper quadrant pain.

Background: We investigated whether limited abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is as effective as transabdominal ultrasound (US) in evaluating patients presenting with acute right upper quadrant pain. Methods: Twenty-four patients underwent evaluation with a limited abdominal MRI using single-shot fast spin-echo sequences and a right upper quadrant US within 24 h. Two MRI and two US readers independently evaluated the images for gallstones, gallbladder wall thickness, pericholecystic fluid, acute cholecystitis, visualization of the common bile duct, and requests for further imaging. US and MRI findings were compared. Surgical pathology was the gold standard. Results: MRI and US demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the diagnosis of gallbladder wall thickening, the presence of gallstones or pericholecystic fluid, or the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (p > 0.05). The sensitivity of both for acute cholecystitis was 50%, with specificities of 89% and 86% for US and MRI, respectively. US readers more frequently requested additional tests and displayed more variability in whether they could adequately see the common bile duct. Conclusion: Limited MRI is equivalent to US in diagnosing gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, and acute cholecystitis in patients presenting with symptoms of acute right upper quadrant pain. Especially in sonographically challenging patients, limited MRI may provide a faster, easier method of diagnosis.
Antioxidant activity of Sonoran Desert bee pollen

Abstract Bee pollen (pollen collected by honey bees) was collected in the high intensity ultraviolet (UV) Sonoran Desert and analyzed by the DPPH (radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl) assay and the FRAP (ferric reducing-antioxidant power) assay on six different pollen samples and in eight different water miscible solvents at 50 mg/ml. The bee pollen taxa were characterized for each pollen type by acetylization of the pollen extracts followed by microscopy and comparison with a library of samples native to the Sonoran Desert. The standards (R-(+)-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), known as TROLOX, gallic acid and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were analysed as standards to determine the potency of each pollen sample in the most efficient solvent. The Mimosa pollen sample displayed the highest antioxidant activity. Total polyphenolics, flavanols, flavones were determined, and the results are reported in milligrams of gallic acid, quercetin and naringenin per gram of pollen, respectively. There was good correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolics. The order of effectiveness of the pollen samples in regard to antioxidant activity was determined and the most effective extraction solvents are discussed. Finally, solid phase micro-extraction, coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy was utilized to identify and quantify polyphenolic compounds known to have free radical scavenging activity in the pollen samples.
THE SEPARATION OF NEON FROM HIGH-HELIUM-CONTENT NATURAL GASES AND THE ATMOSPHERE FOR ISOTOPIC ANALYSES.

Abstract The purpose of this work was to improve the determination of the isotopic composition of neon from natural gases and the atmosphere. The apparatus and method described concentrates neon directly from high-helium-content natural gases or from the atmosphere by utilizing two adsorption traps of activated coconut charcoal at 30 and 77°K. Using this method, a survey was made of the isotopic composition of neon in natural gases. The results confirmed the presence of excess 21Ne and supported the belief that neon is produced in the earth's crust in the course of extensive nuclear processes. The work agreed with previous results using a different method of separation. The concentration relationship between 4He and 21Ne(rad) (4He/21Ne(rad)) was found to be approximately 4× 107. A redermination of the isotopic composition of atmospheric neon gave percentage abundances of 20Ne, 90.61±0.03; 21Ne, 0.264±0.003; and 22Ne, 9.13±0.03. These percentages correspond to ratios of 20Ne/22Ne = 9.92±0.03 and 20Ne/21Ne = 343.2±343.2±3.9.