cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reinforcing Stereotypes? Race and Local Television News Coverage of Congress*

Objective. Despite the increasingly diverse legislative records of African-American members of Congress, much of the population continues to believe that African-American legislators are interested only in minority issues. If African-American House members are becoming more like their nonblack colleagues, then why do many citizens continue to hold these stereotypes about African-American legislators? Methods. We examine local television news coverage of House members and compare the coverage received by African-American and nonblack incumbents. Results. We find that local television newscasts devote more coverage to African-American members of Congress but this coverage is also more race oriented, especially in less diverse markets. In fact, local television stations produce more race-oriented coverage of African-American legislators regardless of their legislative records on minority issues. Conclusions. Local television news stations may be partially responsible for the prevailing stereotype of African-American House members who are narrowly focused on race-oriented issues.
Etiologies of acute liver failure.

Purpose of reviewAcute liver failure remains a unique syndrome that results from massive loss of hepatocytes or hepatocyte function due to a variety of etiologies: viruses, drugs, toxins and other genetic and autoimmune conditions. The resulting clinical picture is remarkably similar across the diff
Local and Tunable n→π* Interactions Regulate Amide Isomerism in the Peptoid Backbone

We report that n→π* interactions are operative in peptoids and play a major role in controlling amide isomerism. These interactions can be tuned using α-chiral amide side chains known to promote peptoid folding. To our knowledge, this is the first report of n→π* interactions between amides in non-prolyl systems. Furthermore, we have characterized an n→π* interaction between backbone carbonyls and side chain aromatic rings that can dramatically stabilize the cis-amides required for peptoid helix formation. The tunability of both types of n→π* interactions in peptoids has significant implications for peptoid folding and could be exploited for the design of new peptoid architectures.
Reduced Left Executive Control Network Functional Connectivity Is Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders

Background Altered functional connectivity in critical networks has been associated with chronic alcohol abuse. In turn, changes in connectivity in executive control networks (ECNs) may undermine the ability to control alcohol consumption. It was hypothesized that network connectivity would be reduced in individuals with problematic alcohol use (ALC) compared with controls and that diminished network connectivity would be associated with greater failure to control drinking. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was analyzed to identify 14 previously identified intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) using a priori regions of interest in cases ranging from binge drinkers to those with severe alcohol use disorder, as well as control subjects. Analyses tested for differences in network connectivity strength between 255 ALC cases and 87 age- and gender-matched controls. Further, structural equation analysis, using 383 ALC cases, tested whether functional connectivity strength mediated the relationship between years of regular drinking and alcohol problems. Results The age- and gender-matched analysis showed that ALC had significantly lower network connectivity strength than controls in the left executive control (LECN), basal ganglia, and primary visual networks. For all ALC, LECN connectivity strength is negatively correlated with failed control and alcohol disorder severity. Edges connecting parietal regions with dorsolateral prefrontal, middle frontal, and temporal regions within the LECN drove these relationships. A positive association between years of drinking and severity of alcohol problems was mediated by reduced ECN connectivity. Conclusions This study reports relationships between network strength and problematic alcohol use, suggesting that chronic drinking negatively impacts brain connectivity, specifically in the LECN. Altered functional connectivity, related to chronic alcohol abuse, may contribute to the etiology of alcohol dependence and relapse.
High-Q Microsphere Cavity for Laser Stabilization and Optoelectronic Microwave Oscillator

With submillimeter size and optical Q up to approximately 10 (exp 10), microspheres with whispering-gallery (WG) modes are attractive new component for fiber-optics/photonics applications and a potential core in ultra-compact high-spectral-purity optical and microwave oscillators. In addition to earlier demonstrated optical locking of diode laser to WG mode in a microsphere, we report on microsphere application in the microwave optoelectronic oscillator, OEO. In OEO, a steady-state microwave modulation of optical carrier is obtained in a closed loop including electro-optical modulator, fiber-optic delay, detector and microwave amplifier. OEO demonstrates exceptionally low phase noise (-140 dBc/Hz at l0kHz from approximately 10GHz carrier) with a fiber length approximately 2km. Current technology allows to put all parts of the OEO, except the fiber, on the same chip. Microspheres, with their demonstrated Q equivalent to a kilometer fiber storage, can replace fiber delays in a truly integrated device. We have obtained microwave oscillation in microsphere-based OEO at 5 to 18 GHz, with 1310nm and 1550nm optical carrier, in two configurations: 1) with external DFB pump laser, and 2) with a ring laser including microsphere and a fiber optic amplifier. Also reported is a simple and efficient fiber coupler for microspheres facilitating their integration with existing fiber optics devices.
Sets of primitive elements in a free group

A set of elements in a free group F is said to be a primitive set if it is a subset of some basis of F. In this paper several theorems about primitive sets are proven. The results are applications of Whiteheadʼs 3-dimensional model for studying automorphism of free groups; Nielsen transformations; and, the folding method of labeled graphs initiated by J. Stallings.
Optical detection of paramagnetic resonance in phosphorescent triplet states

Abstract The Δ m = 1 and Δ m = 2 transitions between the Zeeman levels of phosphorescent triplet states have been detected by monitoring the optical radiation emitted from those levels. The results corroborate the 3 B 2 assignment for the lowest triplet state of phenanthrene.
Effect of exercise on equine behavior

Caanitz, H., O'Leary, L., Houpt, K., Petersson, K. and Hintz, H., 1991. Effect of exercise on equine behavior. Appl. Anita. Behav. Sci., 31: 1-12. The effect of short periods of strenuous exertion, in this case treadmill exercise, on the subsequent behavior of Standardbred horses was examined. Six horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill 4 or 5 days per week, for 3-4 miles (approximately 1.8 m s- x for 3 rain, 5 m s- ~ for 12 min, 9 m sfor 3 min, 3 m s -~ for 3 min, 1.8 m s -~ for 3 min). The behavior of the horses was observed in the horse's home stall immediately after exercise and 2-7 h after exercise. Focal animal sampling for a total of 150 h revealed that the horses spent significantly more time drinking and less time resting after exercise than they did on control (non-exercise or rest days ). The greatest influence on behavior was seen immediately after exercise. The horses spent 13.2 +_ 2.7 s per 15 min drinking after exercise and 7.2 _+ 2.3 s per 15 min drinking on non-exercise days. They spent 7.3 + 1.5 min h-~ stand resting after exercise and 9.7 _+ 2.1 min h-J on non-exercise days. These changes in behavior may be related to the physiological changes that accompany exercise. Eating, walking, elimination and self-grooming were not significantly influenced by exercise. In a second experiment the activities of two groups of six Standardbred mares were compared. One group was exercised on the treadmill and the other was not. The exercised horses spent more time drinking and lying, but urinated less than the non-exercised group.
The measurement of radioactivity in Italian drinking waters

Abstract Drinking waters generally contain variable amounts of radioactivity. Many radionuclides, like 40 K and those belonging to the natural decay series of 238 U, 235 U and 232 Th, are transferred to the water from the aquifer rocks by erosion and dissolution mechanisms. In recent years, a great interest arose towards the natural radioactivity in drinking water. The European Council Directive 98/83/EC, subsequently enforced in Italian law, pushed public authorities to organize tap water surveys. Parameter values for radioactivity levels in water are given, according to World Health Organization recommendations. Maximum concentration values for radon are separately proposed in a European Commission Recommendation. For this reason, during the latest years, the Regional Environment Protection Agency (ARPA) has been performing an extensive monitoring of tap waters in the Lombardia district of Italy. Natural radioactivity content was measured to check the compliance with recent European and Italian rules. Analyses were performed by an ultra-low level scintillation counter equipped with an alpha–beta discrimination device. Specifically arranged procedures, requiring quick and easy pre-treatments, allowed to measure gross alpha and beta activity, 222 Rn, 226 Ra, and uranium isotopes concentrations in a relatively short time. Subsequently, more complex procedures, involving radiochemical separation of radionuclides, are currently being studied for 210 Pb, 210 Po and 228 Ra. Method performances were carefully tested by both internal validation procedures and international intercomparison exercises. These procedures have been employed for a wide range screening in the Lombardia district in Italy. Obtained results showed that in most cases gross alpha activity was lower than the parameter value given by the cited regulations. When these values were exceeded, a more detailed survey was planned: at present three of them, in the western and south-western part of Lombardia and in the city of Milan have been carried out.
Trade, Jobs, and the Economic Outlook for 2005

From newspaper accounts, one might think that the U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse. But the economy performed well in 2004, with real GDP growth of 3.9%, inflation at only 2.2%, unemployment down to 5.4%, and over two million jobs added to the payrolls (performance that is the envy of America's trade partners in Europe). And much the same, perhaps with moderate increases in interest rates, is expected in 2005. Concerns about the trade deficit in particular have given rise to familiar calls to protect U.S. industries and jobs. But job losses due to “offshoring” amount to just 1% of total job losses each year, with little effect on the growth in overall employment. Manufacturing jobs have declined, but the value of manufactured goods as a share of real GDP has remained steady because of productivity growth in the manufacturing sector. Rather than spending vast amounts of money to protect jobs that are destined to go overseas, the correct policy response is to help people retrain and find employment elsewhere. Trade deficits arise in countries that experience either investment booms or declines in savings. Thus, trade deficits are not necessarily an indication of economic failure. Foreigners invest in America because the U.S. is still the world's largest and most productive economy. And provided that the U.S. continues to offer such investment opportunities, foreign investors' search for low-risk assets will continue to be a major (if not the main) cause of the U.S. trade deficit.
Increased soil moisture content increases plant N uptake and the abundance of 15 N in plant biomass

The natural abundance of 15N in plant biomass has been used to infer how N dynamics change with elevated atmospheric CO2 and changing water availability. However, it remains unclear if atmospheric CO2 effects on plant biomass 15N are driven by CO2-induced changes in soil moisture. We tested whether 15N abundance (expressed as δ15N) in plant biomass would increase with increasing soil moisture content at two atmospheric CO2 levels. In a greenhouse experiment we grew sunflower (Helianthus annuus) at ambient and elevated CO2 (760 ppm) with three soil moisture levels maintained at 45, 65, and 85% of field capacity, thereby eliminating potential CO2-induced soil moisture effects. The δ15N value of total plant biomass increased significantly with increased soil moisture content at both CO2 levels, possibly due to increased uptake of 15N-rich organic N. Although not adequately replicated, plant biomass δ15N was lower under elevated than under ambient CO2 after adjusting for plant N uptake effects. Thus, increases in soil moisture can increase plant biomass δ15N, while elevated CO2 can decrease plant biomass δ15N other than by modifying soil moisture.
Transformation-invariant cues in the recognition of simple visual patterns

Two alternative hypotheses about the discriminative cues in visual patterns were tested by comparing the speed with which Ss could apply two different classification rules for identifying a set of 16 simple dot patterns, consisting of four groups of four transformations. One rule required discrimination between groups of transformations, and another rule required discrimination between transformations within groups. The patterns within a transformation group were less similar in their positioning of dots than were patterns of the same transformation in different groups. Speed of identification, however, was more rapid for the discrimination between groups than for the discrimination of transformations within groups and was also invariant with respect to the specific transformations included in the same category under the between-groups classification rule. The discriminative cues in these patterns were thus indicated to be relationships among dots that remained invariant under the group of transformations.
Engineering next generation interfaces: past and future

Tools, abstractions, models, and specification techniques for engineering new generations of interactive systems have tended to follow the development of such systems by about half a generation. In each case, hackers first start experimenting with new types of systems. Then the model developers and tool builders enter as requirements and paradigms solidify. And ultimately the tools and abstractions become so widely accepted and commonplace that they are no longer an open research area. This has happened with conventional graphical user interfaces, and it continues through new generations of interaction styles. It poses a continuing challenge to our community to focus ahead on the tools and techniques needed for each new emerging future interaction style.I will discuss research projects on specifying previous and current genres of "next generation" user interfaces and how each has been matched to its target domain and has followed this pattern. I will also describe a new genre of adaptive, lightweight brain-computer interfaces as an example of the kinds of next generation interfaces that I see emerging. I offer it as a challenge to our community - to think about tools and techniques for engineering a new generation of interfaces of this sort.
Retail premiums for honey characteristics

The retail demand for characteristics of honey is estimated using retail scanner data. The results show that consumers pay substantial premiums for honey based on form, container, brand, and floral source. The highest price premiums are associated with unique monofloral sources, followed by other unusual, but less pure, floral sources. The results demonstrate that consumers will pay for unique characteristics of honeys associated with particular floral sources. Thus, honey producers may be able to further promote honey products or develop new products on the basis of floral source differentiation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Molecular Basis of Thermal Sensitivity of Heat-Activated Vanilloid Receptor ion Channels

In contrast to a hailstorm of information about voltage- or ligand-dependent gating, our knowledge of temperature-driven gating of ion channels is scarce. Temperature-gated channels, as epitomized by thermally active transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, are necessary for thermal sensation, an ability that is vital to survival and conform-seeking of all living organism. Residing at nerve endings underneath skins, these channels figure a role as biological thermometers for perception of ambient temperature. Here we are concerned with the molecular foundations of thermal sensitivity in heat-sensitive vanilloid receptors. We show that, when exposed to rapid temperature jumps, these homologous channels display markedly different activation kinetics and temperature dependence. We construct chimeric channels at strategic positions to delineate contributions of distinct molecular regions of the channels. We identified a cytoplasmic domain to be essential to temperature gating. Alterations of the region were able to fundamentally change the kinetics and temperature dependence of functional wild-types while rescue the heat response of normally temperature-insensitive isoforms. Other regions of the channels, on the other hand, exhibit negligible chimeric effects on the large energetics of thermal gating, suggesting that the gating by temperature in these channels involves localized structural domains for interaction with ambient temperature.
Combined Heat and Power Systems in University Environment

ABSTRACT Combined heat and power (CHP) technology is still underutilized in the building sector due to the concern of insufficient economic returns related to the seasonal heating and cooling loads and the initial costs of installing these applications. In order to justify the use of CHP systems, the thermal energy created has to be used in a fashion that is favorable to the building's environment. The thermal load is used for heating, hot water, and thermal-driven cooling and humidity controls. This includes a variety of CHP technologies along with absorption chillers or desiccant dehumidification systems. This article provides a summary on some of the CHP installations in university environment. The constant influence of changing technologies and higher utility rates has forced universities and colleges to make energy management improvements. The literature survey on these universities is not vast because the new and improved systems are still in their beginning years and have not established concrete s...
Cost associated with stroke: outpatient rehabilitative services and medication.

AbstractPurpose: This study aimed to capture direct costs of outpatient rehabilitative stroke care and medications for a 1-year period after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Outpatient rehabilitative services and medication costs for 1 year, during the time period of 2001 to 2005, were calculated for 54 first-time stroke survivors. Costs for services were based on Medicare reimbursement rates. Medicaid reimbursement rates and average wholesale price were used to estimate medication costs. Results: Of the 54 stroke survivors, 40 (74.1%) were categorized as independent, 12 (22.2%) had modified dependence, and 2 (3.7%) were dependent at the time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Average cost for outpatient stroke rehabilitation services and medications the first year post inpatient rehabilitation discharge was $17,081. The corresponding average yearly cost of medication was $5,392, while the average cost of yearly rehabilitation service utilization was $11,689. Cost attributed to m...
Variation in antibiotic treatment for diabetic patients with serious foot infections: A retrospective observational study

Diabetic foot infections are common, serious, and diverse. There is uncertainty about optimal antibiotic treatment, and probably substantial variation in practice. Our aim was to document whether this is the case: A finding that would raise questions about the comparative cost-effectiveness of different regimens and also open the possibility of examining costs and outcomes to determine which should be preferred. We used the Veterans Health Administration (VA) Diabetes Epidemiology Cohorts (DEpiC) database to conduct a retrospective observational study of hospitalized patients with diabetic foot infections. DEpiC contains computerized VA and Medicare patient-level data for VA patients with diabetes since 1998, including demographics, ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes, antibiotics prescribed, and VA facility. We identified all patients with ICD-9-CM codes for cellulitis/abscess of the foot and then sub-grouped them according to whether they had cellulitis/abscess plus codes for gangrene, osteomyelitis, skin ulcer, or none of these. For each facility, we determined: 1) The proportion of patients treated with an antibiotic and the initial route of administration; 2) The first antibiotic regimen prescribed for each patient, defined as treatment with the same antibiotic, or combination of antibiotics, for at least 5 continuous days; and 3) The antibacterial spectrum of the first regimen. We identified 3,792 patients with cellulitis/abscess of the foot either alone (16.4%), or with ulcer (32.6%), osteomyelitis (19.0%) or gangrene (32.0%). Antibiotics were prescribed for 98.9%. At least 5 continuous days of treatment with an unchanged regimen of one or more antibiotics was prescribed for 59.3%. The means and (ranges) across facilities of the three most common regimens were: 16.4%, (22.8%); 15.7%, (36.1%); and 10.8%, (50.5%). The range of variation across facilities proved substantially greater than that across the different categories of foot infection. We found similar variation in the spectrum of the antibiotic regimen. The large variations in regimen appear to reflect differences in facility practice styles rather than case mix. It is unlikely that all regimens are equally cost-effective. Our methods make possible evaluation of many regimens across many facilities, and can be applied in further studies to determine which antibiotic regimens should be preferred.
Excluded volume effects on the birefringence and stress of dilute polymer solutions in extensional flow

An algorithm is derived for calculating flow-induced birefringence using a bead-spring model with and without excluded volume effects. The simulation results for the bead-spring model compare well with experimental results for stress and birefringence in extensional flows of dilute solutions of polystyrene molecular weight 2 million in a filament-stretching device in both “theta” and “good” solvents (Orr and Sridhar 1999; Sridhar et al. 2000). In a “good” solvent, both stress and birefringence rise much more rapidly with strain than in a “theta” solvent, making extensional rheology a very sensitive indicator of solvent quality.
S-nitrosylated GAPDH initiates apoptotic cell death by nuclear translocation following Siah1 binding

S -nitrosylated GAPDH initiates apoptotic cell death by nuclear translocation following Siah1 binding
Quality of life in adult bone marrow transplant patients: Beyond the first year

Currently, there are more than 2,000 marrow transplant patients surviving between 5 and 20 years. Thus, increased attention is focusing on information about the nature of posttransplant survival and quality of life (QOL). Assessment of the survivor's QOL and rehabilitation needs should consider the domains of physical well-being and symptoms as well as psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. An analysis of the QOL reported in 780 adult survivors from 15 separate studies provides a perspective on the adult BMT survivor beyond the 1-year milestone.
Fine structure of gold particles in thin films prepared by metal-insulator co-sputtering

Abstract Thin films containing a homogeneous dispersion of small gold particles were formed by co-sputtering composite targets of gold with Al 2 O 3 and polyester in separate experiments. The nanostructure of these films was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution scanning-transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Diffraction data obtained from STEM show the gold islands to be simple and multiply twinned crystallites even in particles as small as 15 A across. The existence of such fine structure in sputtered gold particles is consistent with the earlier TEM work reported by other workers for gold particles grown from colloidal solutions and by evaporation onto single-crystal substrates.
GEFE: genetic & evolutionary feature extraction for periocular-based biometric recognition

Personal identification using an individual's periocular skin texture (e.g. the texture of the skin around the eye) is a promising and exciting new biometric modality [11]. For the application presented in this paper, local binary patterns (LBPs) are used to extract 1416 features from the periocular regions of images within the Face Recognition Grand Challenge (FRGC) dataset. GEFE (Genetic & Evolutionary Feature Extraction) is then used to evolve optimized subsets of the original feature set. Our results show that not only do the evolved subsets consist of approximately 50% fewer features but they also have higher recognition rates.
Mitral Regurgitation in Congenital Heart Defects: Surgical Techniques for Reconstruction

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is an important source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While globally the primary etiology is rheumatic, the incidence of MR appears to be increasing in the United States as well. There are multiple etiologies for MR, and the specific pathologic anatomy varies widely. Similarly, there are a multitude of options for operative repair, and recent series report very good survival rates as well as freedom from re-intervention.
STAT3 activation protects retinal ganglion cell layer neurons in response to stress

STAT3 is a major signaling molecule for many neurotrophic factors but its direct role in the protection of neurons in response to stress has not been addressed. We have studied the role of STAT3 in protecting retinal neurons from damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion and glutamate excitotoxicity by using adenovirus constructs to introduce active, normal or inactive STAT3 into retinal ganglion cells in culture and cells of the ganglion cell layer in the intact retina. Transient ischemia/reperfusion was induced in adult CD1 mice by elevating the intraocular pressure to the equivalent of 120 mmHg for 60 min, followed by a return to normal pressure. The levels, activation and distribution of STAT3 protein were evaluated by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. A transient peak of STAT3 activation was seen at 24 h post ischemia and a strong increase in STAT3 protein levels 24 h later. The increase in levels of STAT3 was detected in both ganglion cell bodies and processes in the plexiform layers by immunocytochemistry. The time course of STAT3 increase was slower than the time course of ganglion cell death as measured by TUNEL assay. Intravitreal injection of NMDA led to peak increases in activated STAT3 and STAT3 at 12 and 24 h post insult respectively. Purified RGCs were infected with recombinant wild-type STAT3, constitutively active and dominant negative forms of STAT3 adenoviruses or control empty virus and then treated with glutamate. Surviving infected cells were counted 24 and 48 h later. Infection with constitutively active STAT3 gave substantial protection when compared to the other constructs. Similarly, intravitreal injection of constitutively active STAT3 adenovirus one day before ischemia-reperfusion resulted in a decreased neural cell death in the ganglion cell layer compared with GFP adenovirus control. Our results suggest that persistent activation of STAT3 by neurotrophic factors provides strong neuroprotection and will be an effective strategy in a number of chronic retinal diseases.
Outcomes of Infants Weighing Three Kilograms or Less Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Cardiac Surgery

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the most common form of cardiac support for postcardiotomy cardiac failure in children. While its benefits have been thoroughly explored in infants weighing more than 3kg, similar analyses are lacking in lower weight neonates. This single-center study investigated outcomes and risks for poor survival among infants weighing 3 kg or less. Methods A retrospective review of infants 3 kg or less who required postcardiotomy ECMO support was performed (January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2010). Primary outcome was 30-day survival after decannulation. Factors analyzed for association with poor outcome included demographics, cardiac anatomy, bypass and circulatory arrest times, total ECMO support time, postoperative lactate, inotrope use, and need for renal replacement therapy. Results During the study period, 64 patients weighing 3 kg or less required postcardiotomy ECMO. Median gestational age and age at ECMO initiation were 38 weeks (interquartile range, 36 to 39) and 7 days (interquartile range, 4 to 9), respectively, with median ECMO support time of 164 hours (interquartile range, 95 to 231). Overall 30-day survival after decannulation was 33%. Factors associated with poor outcome were longer duration of support (231 hours or more, 12% survival, versus less than 231 hours, 40% survival; p = 0.05) and renal replacement therapy (n = 36, survival 17% versus 54%; p = 0.002). Multivariable regression analysis identified renal replacement therapy as the only independent factor associated with poor survival (odds ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 14.9, p = 0.02). Conclusions For infants weighing 3 kg or less, 30-day survival after decannulation after cardiac ECMO is poor. Factors associated with poor prognosis were need for renal replacement therapy and longer duration of ECMO support. These findings may provide a useful guide for medical decision making among this unique, high-risk patient group.
Complement deposition in early cardiac transplant biopsies is associated with ischemic injury and subsequent rejection episodes.

Background. Prolonged warm or cold ischemia is associated with poor survival of cardiac transplants, and ischemic changes in early posttransplantation endomyocardial biopsies correlate with the later development of chronic rejection. In animal models, tissue ischemia has been shown to activate complement. Methods. To determine whether ischemic changes in endomyocardial biopsies were associated with complement deposition, biopsies obtained 1‐3 weeks after transplantation from 33 patients were evaluated immunohistologically for C4d and C3d deposition as well as for IgM, IgG, and IgA. The histological changes associated with ischemic injury were scored independently, using previously reported criteria without knowledge of the immunohistochemical results. Results. Diffuse capillary and pericapillary deposition of C4d or C3d were detected in endomyocardial biopsies of 14 of the 33 patients. The majority of biopsies (79%) with C4d or C3d deposits had histological evidence of ischemic injury, including eight of the nine biopsies containing both C4d and C3d deposition. In contrast, only 8 of 18 (45%) of the biopsies without C4d or C3d deposition had ischemic injury. Only trace amounts of IgM and no IgG or IgA were demonstrable in the biopsies. Only 2 of the 14 biopsies with C4d or C3d deposition had evidence of moderate acute rejection, whereas 5 of the 18 biopsies without C4d or C3d deposition had moderate acute rejection. However, C4d and C3d deposition did correlate with repeated acute rejection episodes on subsequent biopsies. Conclusions. Thus, ischemic changes are associated with the activation of complement. Complement activation may in turn promote tissue injury and provide a potential target for future treatment. Warm and cold ischemia have been implicated clinically and experimentally as risk factors for the development of acute and chronic graft dysfunction (1‐ 8). The link between ischemia and complement was made in experimental models, in which the arterial supply to the myocardium, skeletal muscle, or renal tissue is occluded temporarily. This warm ischemic injury initiates a series of events including complement deposition, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cytokine release (9 ‐13). The capacity of complement inhibitors to decrease ischemia-related tissue injury indicates that complement has a causal role in this process (9, 10). We and others have shown the effects of ischemic injury are not short-lived, but rather ischemic injury can progress to a chronic inflammatory response that continues to increase months later (14 ‐17). On the basis of the experimental animal models, we predicted that evidence of ischemic damage in clinical endomyocardial biopsies obtained in the early posttransplantation period would correlate with complement deposition. PATIENTS AND METHODS
Ambient Air Cooling for Concealed Soft Body Armor in a Hot Environment

Concealed soft body armor inhibits convective and evaporative heat loss and increases heat storage, especially in hot environments. One option to potentially mitigate heat storage is to promote airflow under the soft body armor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ambient air induction (∼100 liters per minute) on heat strain while wearing concealed soft body armor in a hot environment (wet bulb globe temperature = 30°C). A counter-balanced, repeated measures protocol was performed with nine healthy male volunteers. Participants were fitted with either a traditional or modified Level II concealed soft body armor. Participants performed cycles of 12 min of walking (1.25 liters per minute) and 3 min of arm curls (0.6 liters per minute) for a total of 60 min. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the mean differences in physiological measures (rectal temperature, heart rate, micro-environment [temperature and relative humidity]). Post hoc Bonferroni analysis and paired samples...
Incentives for Advanced Pollution Abatement Technology at the Industry Level: An Evaluation of Policy Alternatives

Abstract In this research, we evaluate the incentive effects of five environmental policy instruments to promote the development and adoption of advanced pollution abatement technology in a heterogenous industry. From most to least incentive, the policy instruments can be rank-ordered as follows: (i) auctioned permits; (ii) emissions taxes and subsidies; (iii) issued marketable permits; (iv) performance standards. Including performance standards in this list necessitates the assumption that they are differentiated between heterogeneous firms before the technology adoption in a way which replicates the initial emissions control distribution of the efficient incentive-based instruments. With the starting point normalized in this fashion, the instrument rankings are invariant with respect to the size of firms, the size of the industry, or the industry's abatement cost structure.
Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations – By Charles Wilkinson

At last! The long‐anticipated companion to Charles Wilkinson's 1987 American Indians, Time, and the Law has arrived, and it is worth every minute of the wait. Although Wilkinson's earlier book was ...
Microwave Satellite Reception Technology

This paper considers primarily the microwave sphere in the broad spectrum of satellite reception technology, which has, over the last few years advanced to become an accepted household concept.
Structured Multiple Endosymbiosis of Bacteria and Archaea in a Ciliate from Marine Sulfidic Sediments: A Survival Mechanism in Low Oxygen, Sulfidic Sediments?

Marine micro-oxic to sulfidic environments are sites of intensive biogeochemical cycling and elemental sequestration, where prokaryotes are major driving forces mediating carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and metal cycles, important from both biogeochemical and evolutionary perspectives. Associations between single-celled eukaryotes and bacteria and/or archaea are common in such habitats. Here we describe a ciliate common in the micro-oxic to anoxic, typically sulfidic, sediments of Santa Barbara Basin (California, USA). The ciliate is 95% similar to Parduzcia orbis (18S rRNA). Transmission electron micrographs reveal clusters of at least three different endobiont types organized within membrane-bound sub-cellular regions. CARD-FISH and 16S rRNA clone libraries confirm the symbionts include up to two sulfate reducers (Desulfobulbaceae, Desulfobacteraceae), a methanogen (Methanobacteriales), and possibly a Bacteroidete (Cytophaga) and a Type I methanotroph, suggesting synergistic metabolisms in this environment. This case study is discussed in terms of implications to biogeochemistry, and benthic ecology.
New Galactic Wolf-Rayet Stars Discovered via 2MASS + Spitzer

We have undertaken a campaign to expand the census of WRs throughout the Galaxy using the 2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE surveys. Free-free emission generated within the ion-dense winds of WRs generates a significant infrared excess which forms the basis of an excellent criterion for photometrically selecting WRs from the stellar field.
The Relationship between Assertiveness, Internal-External Locus of Control, And Overt Conformity.

Summary This study examined the relationship between the assertiveness, conformity, and internal-external locus of control of 30 university students who were exposed to a series of 10 conformity tasks based on Asch's classic paradigm. The College Self-Expression Scale and Rotter's IE Scale were administered. Assertiveness and internal-external locus of control scores were blocked on high-conformity (n = 10) and low-conformity (n = 10). One-way analyses of variance revealed that high-conformity students were less assertive than low-conformity students. No differences in students' locus of control were found.
Perioperative Management of the Patient With Cancer

There are a number of conditions that present commonly in patients with cancer that may have a significant effect on the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative treatment of these patients. These effects can be broadly categorized into anatomic and physiologic effects and may be examined as direct effects of the tumor or as effects of therapy administered for the tumors. Tumors that cause anatomic effects of importance to perioperative management include head and neck tumors with airway obstruction, mediastinal masses with respiratory compromise, pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, and superior vena cava syndrome. Some tumors that cause physiologic effects include pheochromocytomas and carcinoid tumors. Anatomic effects of tumor therapy are important after radiation therapy to the head and neck and after radiation therapy to the abdomen. Tumor therapy has important physiologic effects in such areas as the cardiopulmonary complications of chemotherapy, hematologic effects of chemotherapy, steroid administration, and wound healing. While the list of topics is not exhaustive, this is a useful framework for discussing the effects of tumors and their therapy on the cancer patient, especially in regard to perioperative management. Most importantly, these examples demonstrate the importance of close cooperation among surgeon, anesthesiologist, and referring physician to assure the conduct of surgical procedures on the patient with cancer with maximal safety.
A multiple principal components based adaptive filter

Proportionate normalized least mean squares (PNLMS) is an adaptive filter that has been shown to provide exceptionally fast convergence and tracking when the underlying system parameters are sparse. A good example of such a system is a network echo canceller. Principal components based PNLMS (PCP) extends this fast convergence property to certain nonsparse systems by applying PNLMS while using the principal components of the underlying system as basis vectors. An acoustic echo canceller is a possible example of this type of nonsparse system. Simulations of acoustic echo paths and cancellers indicate that PCP converges and tracks much faster than the classical normalized least mean squares (NLMS) and fast recursive least squares (FRLS) adaptive filters. However, when a basic parameter, like room temperature, changes, the underlying acoustic structure of the room changes as well and principal components of the room responses at one temperature are very different from those at another. This paper addresses this problem by using multiple sets of principle components as basis vectors and performing PNLMS in each basis set. Each set of principle components are derived from the room at a different temperature. The new algorithm, multiple principal components PNLMS (MPCP) is a generalization of PNLMS++. Simulations show the potential effectiveness of the approach.
Variation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Bean Isolates from Multisite Resistance Screening Locations

Abstract There is no complete resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, cause of white mold in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Variable resistance expression is one problem in screening for improved white mold resistance. With no previous information in the literature, pathogen variation in multisite screening nurseries was evaluated as one cause of diverse resistance expression. In all, 10 isolates of S. sclerotiorum used in greenhouse screening and 146 isolates collected from nine white mold field screening nurseries in major bean production areas in the United States were compared using mycelial compatibility groupings (MCGs) and an aggressiveness test. These 10 greenhouse screening isolates formed six MCGs. Among 156 field and greenhouse isolates, 64 MCGs were identified and 36 of those were each composed of a single unique isolate. Significant differences in isolate aggressiveness were found between some isolates in different MCGs but the isolates within an MCG did not differ in aggressiveness. High iso...
Developing an integrated computer engineering technology curriculum

The implementation and sophistication of computers in various systems used in today's occupational spectrum has made it necessary to prepare individuals with the knowledge and skills required to adapt new science to new products. The integration of different engineering technologies is increasing in the modern industrial environment. The need to serve today's industrial environment makes it necessary for inter-disciplinary understanding among all engineering technologists. The depth and details of the fundamentals of the Computer Engineering Technology (CET) curriculum is different from other Engineering Technology curriculums. CET programs provide a bridge between engineering advancement and practical applications of computers. The challenge in developing an integrated CET curriculum is how to make changes to the CET curriculum without changing the basic nature of the CET experience. A CET curriculum focusing on multidisciplinary aspects will benefit students pursuing a career in computer engineering technology.
Automated characterization of potentially active retroid agents in the human genome

Retroid agents are genomes that encode the reverse transcriptase (RT) and replicate by way of an RNA intermediate. Some retroid agents are implicated in disease via insertional mutagenesis, while others have been found to encode proteins essential to primate reproduction or provide regulatory sequences for host cell processes. The Genome Parsing Suite (GPS), a generic multistep automated process, was developed to characterize all RT-like sequences in the human genome database and to annotate the gene complement of the retroid agents that encode these sequences. In this report the GPS analyzes all significant WU-tBLASTn hits returned for 30 representative RT queries. A total of 128,779 unique RT signals were identified, and 7594 of these were retrieved by RTs not previously reported in the human genome. We have identified 9652 full-length long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs). Only 159 LINEs are without stop codons or frameshifts.
Recurrent Eye Tracking Network Using a Distributed Representation of Image Motion

We have constructed a recurrent network that stabilizes images of a moving object on the retina of a simulated eye. The structure of the network was motivated by the organization of the primate visual target tracking system. The basic components of a complete target tracking system were simulated, including visual processing, sensory-motor interface, and motor control. Our model is simpler in structure, function and performance than the primate system, but many of the complexities inherent in a complete system are present.
Temporal variation of wall shear stress on the aneurysms in the supraclinoid internal carotid artery

We investigate temporal and spatial variation of wall shear stress (WSS) vectors in aneurysms in the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA). This study shows that contrary to our expectation, WSS vectors do not change their directions significantly over the cycle, especially when the WSS magnitude is larger that 5 N/m2. However, the direction-change may increase as high as 100 degrees when the WSS magnitude is small or hydrodynamic instability exists inside the aneurysms or when the swirling motion in the ICA segment is strong. Minimum WSS and maximum WSS magnitude on a patch demonstrate a linear relationship.
Electronic measurement of microchannel plate pulse height distributions

MicroChannel plates are a central component to the x-ray framing cameras used in many plasma experiment diagnostic systems. The microchannel plate serves as an amplifying element, increasing the electronic signal from incident radiation by a factor of $10^3-10^5$, with a broad pulse-height distribution. Seeking to optimize the photon-to-electron conversion efficiency and noise distribution of x-ray cameras, we will characterize the pulse-height distribution of the electron output from a single microchannel plate. Replacing the framing camera's phosphor-coated fiber optic screen with a charge-collection plate and coupling to a low-noise multichannel analyzer, we will quantify the total charge generated per photon event over a range of x-ray energies and incident fluxes. The electronically-measured pulse height distribution will be compared to the same data collected via a purely-optical method, as described previously1
RF Conditioning and Testing of Fundamental Power Couplers for SNS Superconducting Cavity Production

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) makes use of 33 medium beta (0.61) and 48 high beta (0.81) superconducting cavities. Each cavity is equipped with a fundamental power coupler, which should withstand the full klystron power of 550 kW in full reflection for the duration of an RF pulse of 1.3 msec at 60 Hz repetition rate. Before assembly to a superconducting cavity, the vacuum components of the coupler are submitted to acceptance procedures consisting of preliminary quality assessments, cleaning and clean room assembly, vacuum leak checks and baking under vacuum, followed by conditioning and RF high power testing. Similar acceptance procedures (except clean room assembly and baking) were applied for the airside components of the coupler. All 81 fundamental power couplers for SNS superconducting cavity production have been RF power tested at JLAB Newport News and, beginning in April 2004 at SNS Oak Ridge. This paper gives details of coupler processing and RF high power-assessed performances.
Child Snatching: A Case Report

The case of a 2¼-year-old boy who was "snatched" from his natural father and stepmother by his natural mother is presented. The child subsequently developed a severe depressive reaction, together with several other post-traumatic emotional consequences. A review of the pertinent literature and recommendations for management of this type of case is included.