cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of Discrete-Time Switched Homogeneous Systems on Cones and Conewise Homogeneous Inclusions

This paper presents a stability analysis of switched homogeneous systems on cones under arbitrary and optimal switching rules with extensions to conewise homogeneous or linear inclusions. Several interrelated approaches, such as the joint spectral radius approach and the generating function approach, are exploited to derive necessary and sufficient stability conditions and to develop suitable algorithms for stability tests. Specifically, the generalized joint spectral radius and the generalized joint lower spectral radius are introduced to characterize the radii of domains of strong and weak attraction. Furthermore, strong and weak generating functions and their radii of convergence are employed to derive stability conditions; their analytic properties, numerical approximations, and convergence analysis are established. Extensions to conewise homogeneous or linear inclusions are made to address state-dependent switching dynamics. Relations between different stability notions in the strong or weak sense ar...
Using Pentaarylfullerenes to Understand Network Formation in Conjugated Polymer-Based Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells

We have synthesized a series of pentaarylfullerene derivatives and incorporated them into bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells using poly(3-hexylthiophene) as the electron donating material. Through a combination of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy we see two distinct nanoscale morphologies emerge across the series. Investigating the device physics using J–V characterization, light intensity dependence, and fluorescence quenching studies, we are able to correlate the morphology to the device physics. This has afforded the opportunity to clearly see how altering the nanoscale phase segregation can change the distinct physical processes occurring within a BHJ solar cell. We observe an order of magnitude increase in the efficiency of devices that utilize self-assembling fullerene derivatives over their nonassembled counterparts. More importantly, however, these results allow us to shed light on the mechanism behind this differential phase segregation using a fullerene self-ass...
At Issue Identifying Schizophrenic Patients Who Should Not Receive Medication

There is clinical research evidence that there exists a subgroup of schizophrenic patients who should not be treated with neuroleptics. To date there has been no reliable method of identifying these patients. Systematic predictive studies of different subjective experiences of schizophrenia are suggested as a method of elucidating who should or should not receive medication. The studies should focus on patients' psychological experience and attitude toward the illness both during the acute phase and recovery from psychosis and examine their relationship to clinical outcome. Such studies may have utility in developing psychological "markers" for treatment of subtypes. For some time it has been apparent that there is a subgroup of schizophrenic patients who should not be treated with neuroleptics. Davis (1975), in a review of maintenance drug therapy in schizophrenia, has suggested that there is a population of patients who are quite different from patients with chronic relapsing schizophrenia and for whom maintenance drug therapy may not be indicated. Carpenter, McGlashan, and Strauss (1977) demonstrated that not using
Industry fellows: bringing professional practice into the classroom

The Industry Fellows project involves a practicing college or university faculty member and practicing industry professional (the industry fellow) in the joint curriculum review, planning and delivery of a course related to the professional's domain of expertise. Working together exploits what each does best. The faculty member brings a broad, theory-based understanding to the discipline, while the industry fellow brings knowledge gained from professional practice. The faculty member retains full responsibility for all academic aspects of the course: planning and writing the syllabus, developing the assignments and examinations, and assigning grades. The professional joins the faculty member in the classroom on a regular basis as a co-lecturer, interacts directly with the students, and evaluates a sample of the student work on an advisory basis. This model was successfully run in winter 2009, with the project leader collaborating with an interaction designer from Google on teaching a Human Computer Interaction course at the University of Washington, Tacoma (UWT). This paper describes the Industry Fellows model, its instantiation at UWT, and an evaluation of this instantiation.
Evidence for Periciliary Liquid Layer Depletion, Not Abnormal Ion Composition, in the Pathogenesis of Cystic Fibrosis Airways Disease

The pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis (CF) airways infection is unknown. Two hypotheses, "hypotonic [low salt]/defensin" and "isotonic volume transport/mucus clearance," attempt to link defects in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated ion transport to CF airways disease. We tested these hypotheses with planar and cylindrical culture models and found no evidence that the liquids lining airway surfaces were hypotonic or that salt concentrations differed between CF and normal cultures. In contrast, CF airway epithelia exhibited abnormally high rates of airway surface liquid absorption, which depleted the periciliary liquid layer and abolished mucus transport. The failure to clear thickened mucus from airway surfaces likely initiates CF airways infection. These data indicate that therapy for CF lung disease should not be directed at modulation of ionic composition, but rather at restoring volume (salt and water) on airway surfaces.
The revolution was (over)televised: reconstructing the Venezuelan media coup of 11 April 2002

This article considers a series of documentaries revisiting the Venezuelan coup of 11 April 2002. These documentaries have attempted to reconstruct the event, relying on witness testimony, television coverage and on-the-ground reportage and home movies. The documentaries’ appropriation of televised footage allows us to reassess the so-called ‘media coup’ and to discuss the theoretical implications of re-using televisual footage to re-articulate historical traumatic events. The events of April 2002 provide a rich site to examine: first, the evolving national mediascape and the contestation of public and private spaces; secondly, the changing paradigms of political filmmaking in the Latin American context, suggesting how uses of television and new media help us expand the theater of the political documentary; and, thirdly, the medium-specific challenges of revolutionary cinema where political testimony becomes (re)mediated in a political space that conflates physical and virtual political space.
Petrology and Tectonics of the Derewo Metamorphic Belt, West New Guinea

The Derewo Metamorphic Belt (also known as the Ruffaer Metamorphic Belt) is a >500 km long, narrow (~10-30 km wide), roughly E-W-trending terrane composed mostly of slate and phyllite, on the northern flank of the Central Range of Papua, Indonesia (west New Guinea). This investigation, the first systematic petrologic study of the belt, is based on petrographic and mineral chemical analysis of 133 samples collected across the 1:250,000 scale Hitalipa Geologic Map Sheet. The southern edge of the Derewo Metamorphics (DM) is a structural boundary, the Derewo fault, in the western half of the map and gradational with unmetamorphosed passive margin strata in the eastern half. The northern boundary of the DM is a fault contact with the Irian Ophiolite Belt. The metamorphic protoliths are Jurassic-Cretaceous Australian passive-margin strata (Kembelangan Group). Most of the rock in the DM is of pelitic bulk composition. The common mineral assemblage is quartz + white mica + chlorite + pyrite + graphite, with many ...
Designing remote labs for broader adoption

If learning technologies such as remote online labs are to achieve broad adoption, it is imperative that we take seriously the needs of the instructor and the real world context in which he or she will use these resources. Here we describe efforts to address the many barriers to successful adoption of remote lab technologies in secondary school settings. An iterative, design-based research process that includes close collaboration with classroom teachers has produced a more robust and user-friendly platform with several unique new capabilities.
Absorption, body distribution, and excretion of dietary zinc by rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were held in metabolizable energy chambers at Standard Environmental Temperature (15°C) for 72h following a single feeding of a semi-purified test diet containing tracer quantities of a radioisotope of zinc (65Zn) and different combinations of dietary calcium level and zinc source. Gill wastes, urine, and feces were separately collected. After 72h, the fish were killed, and samples of the following tissues removed: eyes, skin, muscle, blood, bone, liver, bile, kidney, gill, spleen, stomach, pyloric caeca, intestine, gonad, and remaining carcass. Radioactivity in the tissues and wastes was determined and the body distribution of the ingested zinc was quantified. Approximately 58% of the administered dose of65Zn was recovered. Of the recovered dose, 43.2% was present in the gastro-intestinal tract, 27% in the feces, 14% in the gill water, 16% in the body of the fish, and less than 1% in the urine. Of individual tissues, the gill, liver, kidney, and spleen had concentrations of65Zn higher than blood, while the remaining tissues had lower concentrations. Body and tissue levels were increased but not significantly by feeding65Zn as an amino acid chelate, compared to feeding as inorganic65Zn, while dietary calcium level had no effect. The results of this study indicate that the gills play a major role in excretion of dietary zinc, while the urine plays a minor role.
Stressed and Helping: The Relations Among Acculturative Stress, Gender, and Prosocial Tendencies in Mexican Americans

Available evidence suggests that stress is not necessarily linked to negative outcomes and, in fact, may lead to increases in sympathy and helping. In this study, we examined whether acculturative stress was associated with prosocial tendencies in a sample of 148 Mexican American college students (M age = 23.05 years; 99 women). Participants completed measures of acculturative stress, sympathy, and prosocial tendencies. The relations between acculturative stress and prosocial tendencies were generally positive but varied by the type of helping and gender. Higher levels of acculturative stress were linked to greater emotional, dire, compliant, and anonymous prosocial tendencies, as well as with fewer costly (altruistic) prosocial tendencies. Sympathy mediated the relations between acculturative stress and prosocial tendencies for men only.
Effect of amphetamine and pentobarbital on sleep-wake patterns of cats with basal forebrain lesions.

The effects of amphetamine and pentobarbital upon electrographic state were studied in naive cats and cats with forebrain lesions that induce insomnia. Amphetamine increased alertness and decreased both slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep states for up to 12 h in both intact animals and cats with lesions. Pentobarbital inhibited REM sleep and alert states while increasing SWS and drowsy states in naive cats. The effect was mainly restricted to the first 8 h. In cats with forebrain lesions, the effects were similar except that the amount of REM sleep was significantly elevated. During a portion of the first 8 h, the tracing cannot be distinguished from a normal control sample. It is hypothesized that pentobarbital mimics the normal inhibitory influence of the intact forebrain and either induces or facilitates ‘normal’ sleep patterns in cats with forebrain lesions.
Nonlinear Electroreflectance in Silicon and Silver

The intensity of second harmonic light produced in reflection by a laser beam incident on silver and silicon surfaces shows a significant variation when a dc electric field is applied normal to the surface. Experimental data on the intensity, polarization, and dispersive properties of the induced surface harmonic polarization are presented and discussed.
Pustular plaques on the face of a patient with renal failure.

A 23-year-old African American woman presented with a dark plaque containing a nodule on her cheek. Although the plaque had been present since birth, a small area of it had become raised over the last 6 months before presentation. Physical examination revealed a 4.5-cm, wellcircumscribed, asymmetrical, verrucous, brown-black plaque on the left preauricular area (Figure 1). A pedunculated nodule arose from the inferior margin (arrow). A complete excision was performed, and the specimen was sent forhistologic examination(Figures2,3, and4). What is your diagnosis?
College Students' Attitudes toward Workers' Competence and Age

An investigation was conducted among 120 college men and women to study their attitudes toward a worker described in scenarios using the dimensions of competence and age. The attitude measure included 7 questions to be rated. Ratings were analyzed using 2 × 2 × 2 randomized groups design. Results indicated that the competence variable was significant for 6 of the 7 questions. On these 6 questions the highly competent worker was viewed more positively than the worker of average competency. Males indicated less preference to work for an older worker than did females. Students viewed the older worker as making fewer future valuable contributions and as catching on to new ideas less quickly. There was no over-all negative evaluation to the older worker except in regard to these mental and physical abilities.
Bone marrow engraftment and associated dermatologic sequelae in a three‐yr‐old after liver transplantation

We present a case of a three-yr-old child with a history of multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis treated with systemic chemotherapy, who developed progressive liver failure and received an orthotopic split liver transplant while continuing on chemotherapy. One month following transplant, he developed acute graft-vs.-host disease of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Peripheral blood chimerism studies post-transplant demonstrated an increasing predominance of donor lymphocytes and granulocytes. Shortly after, the patient developed vitiligo, and two yr after transplantation, the patient developed skin manifestations of psoriasis. We discuss and review the current literature, which demonstrates that chimerism following liver transplantation is rare and in our patient may be related to his profound immunosuppression around the time of liver transplant as well the development of acute graft-versus-host disease. While autoimmune disease can occur after solid organ and stem cell transplant, our patient developed skin manifestations of autoimmunity after liver transplantation, which is also rarely described.
Wall thickness distribution in thermoformed food containers produced by a Benco aseptic packaging machine

Effects of process parameters such as forming temperature, forming air pressure and heating time on wall thickness distribution in plug-assist thermoformed food containers using multilayered material were investigated. Multilayered rollstock-base material formed into containers by thermoforming process using a Benco aseptic packaging machine. Forming temperatures in the range of 131-170°C, air-forming pressures of 2, 3, 3. 5 and 4 bars, and heating times of 66, 74, 84, 97 and 114 seconds were used in the thermoforming process. Analysis of wall thickness data obtained for the thermoforming parameters used in this study showed that wall thickness was significantly affected by forming temperature, pressure and heating time at 0.05 significance level. Besides the processing parameters, wall location, container side, and their interactions significantly affected wall thickness. Forming temperature was found to be the principle parameter influencing wall thickness distribution in a plug-assist thermoforming operation. The optimum operating conditions of the packaging machine for the thermoforming process are: 146-156°C for forming temperature, 2-4 bars for air-forming pressure and 74-97 seconds for heating time.
CARBON FIBER REINFORCED CERAMIC COMPOSITES

Unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced SiC, B4C and mullite composites have been fabricated by a process consisting of slurry impregnation followed by hot pressing. Identification of crystal phase and observation of metallographie structures in the composites were carried out. Mechanical properties such as flexural strength and fracture toughness were measured and discussed in connection with the metallographic structures.
Hypoxia, Not the Frequency of Sleep Apnea, Induces Acute Hemodynamic Stress in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate whether brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) changes during sleep are associated with the frequency and severity of apneic/hypopneic episodes, intermittent arousals, and hypoxia. Background Sleep apnea is strongly associated with heart failure (HF) and could conceivably worsen HF through increased sympathetic activity, hemodynamic stress, hypoxemia, and oxidative stress. If apneic activity does cause acute stress in HF, it should increase BNP. Methods Sixty-four HF patients with New York Heart Association functional class II and III HF and ejection fraction Results There was no relationship between BNP and the number of apneic/hypopneic episodes or the number of arousals. However, the burden of hypoxemia (the time spent with oxygen saturation Conclusions Hypoxemia appears to be an important factor that underlies the impact of sleep abnormalities on hemodynamic stress in patients with HF. Prevention of hypoxia might be especially important for these patients.
Dynamic data fusion for future sensor networks

DFuse is an architectural framework for dynamic application-specified data fusion in sensor networks. It bridges an important abstraction gap for developing advanced fusion applications that takes into account the dynamic nature of applications and sensor networks. Elements of the DFuse architecture include a fusion API, a distributed role assignment algorithm that dynamically adapts the placement of the application task graph on the network, and an abstraction migration facility that aids such dynamic role assignment. Experimental evaluations show that the API has low overhead, and simulation results show that the role assignment algorithm significantly increases the network lifetime over static placement.
Friends, romans, countrymen: lend me your URLs. using social chatter to personalize web search

People often find useful content on the web via social media. However, it is difficult for users to aggregate the information and recommendations embedded in a torrent of social feeds like email and Twitter. At the same time, the ever-growing size of the web and attempts to spam commercial search engines make it a challenge for users to get search results relevant to their unique background and interests. To address this problem, we propose ways to let users mine their own social chatter and extract people, pages and sites of potential interest. This information can be used to effectively personalize their web search results. Our approach has the benefits of generating personalized and socially curated results, removing web spam and preserving user privacy. We have built a system called Slant to automatically mine a user's email and Twitter feeds and populate four personalized search indices that are used to augment regular web search. We evaluated these indices with users and found that the small slice of the web indexed using social chatter can produce results that are equally or better liked by users compared to personalized search by a commercial search engine. We find that user satisfaction with search results can be improved by combining the best results from multiple indices.
Integrin associated proteins.

Abstract Integrin cytoplasmic domains may interact directly with serveral different cytoskeletal proteins and intracellular signaling molecules. Also, integrins interact directly with other transmembrane structures, including transmembrane-4 superfamily (TM4SF) proteins. New evidence suggests that TM4SF proteins may act as linkers between extracellular integrin α chain domains and intracellular signaling molecules, such as phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase and protein kinase C.
Vascularized bone grafting in a canine carpal avascular necrosis model.

Background Limited experimental research has been performed on the treatment of avascular necrosis (AVN) by vascularized bone grafting.
The Critical Inquiry Imperative: Information Literacy and Critical Inquiry as Complementary Concepts in Higher Education

Sharing a variety of characteristics and theories, critical inquiry and information literacy have the potential to complement one another in a higher education setting. This article explores an initiative at the University of South Carolina Aiken to help students with their critical thinking and reasoning skills through the implementation of a new, one-credit, freshman seminar course. The class, entitled Critical Inquiry, would address three student learning outcomes, including one directed at information literacy. A case study of how the initiative was implemented is discussed.
How Src exercises self-restraint

Two recent landmark structures of Src family kinases reveal how a sensitive conformational switch can be built with SH2 and SH3 domains.
Pure phase mass matrices

We study quark mass matrices whose matrix elements in a given quark sector differ only in their phases and we describe how such matrices can be compared with quark masses and family mixing.
Quality of physician-patient relationships is associated with the influence of physician treatment recommendations among patients with prostate cancer who chose active surveillance

Abstract Objective With growing evidence that some men with prostate cancer (PCa) may be overtreated, clinicians need greater knowledge of the factors that influence uptake of treatment recommendations in general, and specifically, uptake of active surveillance in patients for whom this is an appropriate treatment option. The objective of this study was to test the role of the quality of the physician-patient relationship in the choice to be followed by active surveillance, rather than receive definitive therapy (e.g., surgery and radiation). We hypothesized that patients would have been more influenced by their physicians' treatment recommendations to the degree that they held more positive perceptions of their relationship with their physicians, independent of treatment recommended. Methods and materials Patients with PCa ( n = 120) being followed with active surveillance at a comprehensive cancer center completed self-report assessments of their treatment decision-making process. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the association between participants' perceptions of their relationships with their physicians and influence of these physicians' recommendations on their treatment decision. Results After controlling for the type of treatment recommended, Gleason score, and education, 3 predictors, trust in the physician, perceived closeness with the physician, and the degree to which the physician shared control over treatment decision making, were associated with greater influence of physician's treatment recommendation. Receiving a recommendation for active surveillance, compared with definitive therapy, was also associated with higher perceived trust, closeness, shared control over treatment decision making, lower likelihood of having been treated poorly by a physician, and greater influence of physician's treatment recommendation. Conclusions There is increasing concern that patients with relatively less aggressive PCa, older age, or serious comorbidities are being unnecessarily treated with surgery or radiation, putting them at risk for side effects, and contributing to high health care costs. When active surveillance is an appropriate course of treatment, the quality of patients' relationships with their physicians may be a determinant of following a recommendation for active surveillance. Results may have implications for treatment uptake in general, indicating that the quality of the physician-patient relationship, including trust, closeness, shared decision making—all elements of patient-centered care—may be important motivators of treatment adoption and adherence.
Iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. A comparative kinetic analysis of native and Cys-substituted ISA-mediated [2Fe-2S]2+ cluster transfer to an apoferredoxin target.

ISA type proteins mediate cluster transfer to apoprotein targets. Rate constants have been determined for cluster transfer from Schizosaccharomyces pombe ISA to apo Fd. Substitution of the cysteine...
A review of Alam and Bagchi's “Supply chain capability as a determinant of FDI”

Purpose – The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the interpretation of the work by Alam and Bagchi in the larger context of foreign direct investment (FDI) in practice.Design/methodology/approach – This commentary is an essay.Findings – While this paper does a creditable job of inferring relationships based on available data, conclusions regarding the dynamics of FDI decision making in practice should be avoided. This is because all of the data used is inferred from observable precursors and effects of FDI, but does not observe actual decision making in practice.Research limitations/implications – While noting that conclusions based on inference from observable and countable artifacts of FDI should be handled with caution, there are no recommendations in this essay about what alternative methods other researchers could use to obtain this sort of information.Originality/value – The cautionary message of this commentary is not unique, but should be repeated frequently, as people all have a tendency to...
The outmoded psychology of Aristotle's rhetoric

(1990). The outmoded psychology of Aristotle's rhetoric. Western Journal of Speech Communication: Vol. 54, Rhetoric and historiography, pp. 204-218.
Family Farming: A New Economic Vision

Americans decry the decline of family farming but stand by helplessly as industrial farming takes over. The prevailing sentiment is that family farms should survive for important social, ethical, and economics reasons. But will they? Possibly not, if current policies are not altered, say Marty Strange. This timely book exposes the biases in American farm policies that irrationally encourage expansion-a bias evident in federal commodity programs, income tax provisions, and subsidized credit services. The farm financial crisis of the 1980s is a result of this trend toward bigness. As family farms are transformed, they become more specialized, more capital-intensive, and less resilient to the inherently unstable conditions in agriculture. Financial risks are therefore greater, and public assistance to expanding farms is more frequent and costly. Family Farming also exposes internal conflicts, particularly the conflict between the private interests of individual farmers and the public interest in family farming as a whole. It challenges the assumption that bigger is better, critiques the technological base of modern agriculture, and calls for farming practices that are ethical, economical, and ecologically sound. The alternative policies discussed in this book could yet save the family farm. And the ways and means of saving it are argued here with special urgency.
From Nanotechnology to Epigenomics and Regenerative Medicine

From Nanotechnology to Epigenomics and Regenerative Medicine The objective of regenerative medicine is to repair tissues and organs that are damaged by trauma, disease or aging. The stem cell based technologies have promised to advance therapeutic applications including organ transplants and tissue repair. Although more studies are now being conducted to reveal mechanisms regulating stem cell fate, epigenetic events that contribute to cell differentiation are still relatively poorly defined. Next generation sequencing combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIPseq) or bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) is the most common tool to study histone modifications and DNA methylation. However, it requires an abundance of research material and has limited ability to detect different epigenetic signatures in the same cell type. The recent development of the single chromatin analysis at the nanoscale (SCAN) using the nanofluidic single-molecule sorter allows the simultaneous detection of multiple epigenetic marks in a small number of cells.
Effect of Trend or Technology Variables and Record Period on Prediction of Corn Yields with Weather Variables

Abstract Reliable crop-weather-technology models are needed for yield prediction and for the determination of climatic risks in crop production. Accurate and timely information on crop yields would help both industry and government anticipate and more efficiently allocate food supply and create a more stable grain price for individual farm planning. Critical analyses of several multiple regression models for predicting county average corn (Zea mays L.) yields with weather information in Indiana showed that yield predictions are very sensitive to the trend variable(s) used to account for technology and also to the specific period of record used to estimate the regression parameters. Models using a function of year as the variable to represent technology trend showed great fluctuation in their parameter estimates and in their yield predictions from year to year. Predicted yields with average weather fluctuated up to 22 bushels per acre from one year to the next in the 1970's as each additional year was adde...
Relative importance of external R&D: Trends and motivations

This paper reports the findings of our survey study of the methods firms use to generate new basic and applied research and development (R&D). By far, the most important source of new R&D are the firms' in-house programs. This finding holds for firms of all sizes. External R&D arrangements are most common for basic research, although most firms indicated that in the future they expect to increase their reliance on external sources for applied R&D. Small firms tend to acquire technology from the provider, whereas larger firms seem to utilize licensing agreements for gaining access to the results of R&D. Large firms may also be using more of a portfolio approach to external R&D in that they often use several different sources. They also appear to form their outside R&D ventures not only for traditional cost/risk-sharing reasons but also for strategic and competitive reasons. Their attempts to diversify their sources of technology are just as important as the traditional cost- and risk-sharing motivation. Finally, although some collaborative R&D ventures are in response to foreign competition, this appears to be of more concern to mid-sized firms than small or large ones.
Measuring the kinetics of calcium binding proteins with flash photolysis

Background Calcium-binding proteins (CBPs) are instrumental in the control of Ca2+ signaling. They are the fastest players within the Ca2+ toolkit responding within microseconds to [Ca2+] changes. The CBPs compete for Ca2+ which plays a direct role in modulating Ca2+ transients and the resulting biochemical message. The kinetic properties of the CBPs have to be known to have a good understanding of Ca2+ signaling.
Multiple, Closely Spaced Alternative 5′ Exons in the DmCKIIβ Gene of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster casein kinase II (CKII) is composed of catalytic alpha and regulatory beta subunits. Using the two-hybrid system, we have isolated a number of cDNAs that are related to a previously published cDNA encoding the beta subunit, but exhibit divergent 5' sequences. To determine the source of this sequence variation, we have isolated the gene encoding the beta subunit of CKII. The beta gene contains five exons encompassing the complete open reading frame, as well as five alternative exons in the 5' untranslated region (UTR). Only one 5' UTR exon is contained in each cDNA, implying five distinct classes of transcript. In addition, the beta gene contains at least two poly(A) addition signals which generate additional complexity at the 3' end. The complex pattern of transcription may serve a role in the spatial and/or temporal expression of the beta subunit since, with one exception, all transcripts encode the full-length beta polypeptide. Phylogenetic comparison of the beta genes of Drosophila, C. elegans, and mammals reveals three invariant introns as well as evidence of recent intron gain/loss.
Kinetic Parameters for the Elementary Steps in the Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Vinyl Acetate

The kinetics of the reaction between gas-phase ethylene and adsorbed acetate species to form vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) on a Pd(111) surface are measured using infrared spectroscopy to monitor the rate of acetate removal, as well as the rates of VAM and ethylidyne formation, at various temperatures. The results are fit using a kinetic model first proposed by Samanos in which ethylene reacts with acetate species to form an acetoxyethyl intermediate that forms VAM via β-hydride elimination. The results of the kinetic model agree well with the experimental data and Arrhenius plots of the rate constants yield activation energies that are in good agreement with those predicted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. DFT also predicts that the reaction activation energies should depend on the acetate coverage while the experimental data can be fit by constant values of the rate constants, suggesting that the reaction activation energies are similar for a reaction center surrounded either by acetate species, ethylidynes, or a combination of both. Finally, the kinetic parameters for VAM desorption are in good agreement with the experimental peak temperature measured by temperature-programmed desorption for VAM desorbing from an ethylidyne-covered surface.
Mending the message

An ancient, archaeal splicing endonuclease provides a promising alternative for gene therapy.
The Conway–Maxwell–Poisson model for analyzing crash data

(Discussion paper associated with ‘The COM-Poisson Model for Count Data: A Survey of Methods and Applications’ by Sellers, K., Borle, S., and Shmueli, G. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
Environmental factors and membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in schizophrenia

There is accumulating evidence of reductions in red blood cell membrane essential fatty acids in patients with schizophrenia. The mechanisms that may underlie these reductions have yet to be determined. It is possible that the observed membrane fatty acid deficits are associated with the development of schizophrenia. Alternatively, the membrane fatty acid deficits may be due to environmental factors, such as smoking and variations in diet, which may not be associated specifically with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia smoke cigarettes at very high rates. Cigarette smoke contains many pro-oxidants that contribute directly to oxidative stress. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are very susceptible to oxidative effects of free radicals. Thus, smoke-induced oxidative stress could plausibly account for reductions in membrane fatty acid in schizophrenia. Recent studies provide conflicting evidence for smoking effects on membrane fatty acid deficits. Likewise, the effects of diet on membrane PUFAs in schizophrenia are not entirely clear. Essential PUFAs need to be consumed in diet. Thus, differences in membrane PUFAs observed between patients and control subjects may be due to dietary variation. Few studies that have examined dietary effects differ in their interpretation of the effects of diet on membrane PUFAs. Thus, the jury is still out whether smoking or dietary effects are the primary causes of membrane PUFA deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Future studies will need to systematically examine the potential effects of smoking and diet, as well as other environmental factors such exercise, to definitively establish whether or not PUFA abnormalities are inherent to schizophrenia.
The concentric loop-gap resonator—A compact, broadly tunable design for NMR applications☆

Abstract A loop-gap resonator design is described for use in NMR applications. Previously reported versions have employed discrete capacitors at the “gap,” which typically yields a very limited tuning range. The resonator described here uses one or more concentric tuning cylinders around the inner loop to permit tuning over a range of several hundred megahertz. Construction is straightforward, the Q is high, and the excellent inherent RF field homogeneity of the loop-gap resonator is retained. A simple theoretical model for the operation of this device is presented and verified experimentally. The performance of this concentric loop-gap resonator has proven excellent for 1 H and 19 F NMR imaging and spectroscopy at 4.7 T.
The metabolism of formate-C14 by rabbit bone marrow in vitro.

Abstract In investigations of the uptake of isotopic formate into DNA and acid-soluble fractions of rabbit bone marrow in vitro , glycine was found to increase the fixation of formate carbon in the acid-soluble fraction but not into the DNA. Both glucose and sodium succinate were found to increase the specific activity of the DNA as well as of the acid-soluble fraction. The amount of fixation of isotopic formate was not reduced by the addition of a relatively large proportion of choline; was slightly reduced by betaine, sarcosine, l -methionine, l -histidine, or thiomethyl adenosine; whereas the addition of dl -serine was followed by a significant fall in activity. These results were interpreted as indicating that the substances named are, in marrow, ineffective precursors of the “active 1-carbon” intermediate. Aminopterin inhibited the fixation of formate into the DNA with an unexpectedly steep dose-response curve. Inhibition was partly prevented by tetrahydroformylfolic acid but not by folic acid. Inhibition by aminopterin of formate uptake into purines of DNA was less marked than was the effect on thymine incorporation of formate carbon. The purine analog, 2-mercaptoazahypoxanthine, appeared to inhibit uptake of formate into the purines of RNA more effectively than into purines or thymine of DNA.
Effects of a preventive cardiology curriculum on behavioral cardiovascular risk factors and knowledge of medical students

We evaluated a Preventive Cardiology Academic Award (PCAA) program designed to integrate preventive cardiology concepts into the medical school curriculum. Diet, preventive cardiology knowledge, preventive cardiology attitudes, exercise behavior, and body mass index were compared at entrance to medical school and during the graduation year. Complete data were available on 94 students (65 men and 29 women). Similar data from students who graduated in 1987, prior to the introduction of the PCAA curriculum, served as a control. Women showed a significant enhancement in attitude towards cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, while both men and women significantly increased their knowledge about CVD prevention. The frequency of planned physical activity decreased significantly in both sexes and men showed a significant increase in body mass index. Men significantly reduced total calories, percent of calories from fat and saturated fat and dietary cholesterol and increased fiber intake. In women, the only significant reduction was in total calories. In comparison to the control class that did not have the program, men receiving the PCAA curriculum reduced dietary cholesterol, dietary fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Changes in these dietary parameters were nonsignificant for women in comparison to the control class women. Additional analyses showed no systematic secular trends in dietary or other variables in classes entering from 1986 to 1990. We conclude that the PCAA curriculum changes have favorably affected the preventive cardiology knowledge, attitudes and diet of medical students.
Estimating the size of the world's threatened flora.

). Here we estimate themissing tropical data from global patternsof plant endemism. The results suggest thatas many as half of the world’s plant speciesmay qualify as threatened with extinctionunder the World Conservation Union(IUCN) classification scheme.Comprehensive Red Lists for plants areavailable for only a scattering of tropicalcountries, making it difficult to assess thetrue scale of the global conservation crisisfor plants. We have approximated the miss-ing tropical data by observing that the num-ber of plant species endemic to a country isa reasonable proxy for the number of glo-bally threatened plant species in that coun-try. In European countries, the former is astrong predictor of the latter (
Image Based Hand Tracking via Interacting Multiple Model and Probabilistic Data Association (IMM-PDA) Algorithm

Traditional image based hand tracking uses a single Kalman filter to estimate and predict the hand state (position, velocity, and acceleration). However, this approach may fail in the case of large maneuvers and cluttered measurements. In this paper we propose to use the interacting multiple model (IMM) filter to catch a maneuver and the probabilistic data association (PDA) method to process noisy measurements and false alarms. A theoretical framework of image based hand tracking by IMM-PDA is set up. Experiment results from several video segments show that IMM-PDA can successfully track hand motions in a natural conversational environment.
Establishing a Center to Support Faculty Research

This article describes the establishment in fall 2002 of a School of Education Research Center designed to support faculty in increasing productivity and quality in research. Details are provided about center goals, services, staffing, space, resources, and logistics during the first year of operation. In addition, data are shared about faculty usage of the Center, the level of faculty satisfaction with center services in the first year, and initial increases in faculty productivity. The article concludes with plans for continued data collection to monitor the impact of the Center, a discussion of lessons learned at this point in the Center's development, and possibilities for the evolution of the Center.
Postoperative complications in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome undergoing hip or knee replacement: a case-control study

Objective To identify and assess the impact of postoperative complications in patients with unrecognized or known obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) undergoing hip replacement or knee replacement compared with control patients undergoing similar operations. Although OSAS is a risk factor for perioperative morbidity, data quantifying the magnitude of the problem in patients undergoing non-upper airway operations are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective, case-control study from a single academic medical institution included patients diagnosed as having OSAS between January 1995 and December 1998 and undergoing hip or knee replacement within 3 years before or anytime after their OSAS diagnosis. Patients with OSAS were subcategorized as having the diagnosis either before or after the surgery and also, regardless of time of diagnosis, by whether they were using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) prior to hospitalization. Matched controls were patients without OSAS undergoing the same operation. Interventions were defined specifically as administration of a particular treatment in the context of each complication, eg, supplemental oxygen, implementation of additional monitoring such as oximetry for hypoxemia, or transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) for cardiac ischemia concerns. Postoperative complications were assessed for all patients in the different categories and included respiratory events such as hypoxemia, acute hypercapnia, and episodes of delirium. Serious complications were noted separately, including unplanned ICU days, reintubations, and cardiac events. The length of hospital stay was also tabulated. Results There were 101 patients with the diagnosis of OSAS in this study and 101 matched controls. Thirty-six patients had their joint replacement before OSAS was diagnosed, and 65 had surgery after OSAS was diagnosed. Of the latter 65 patients, only 33 were using CPAP at home preoperatively. Complications were noted in 39 patients (39%) in the OSAS group and 18 patients (18%) in the control group ( P =.001). Serious complications occurred in 24 patients (24%) in the OSAS group compared with 9 patients (9%) in the control group ( P =.004). Hospital stay was significantly longer for the OSAS patients at a mean ± SD of 6.8±2.8 days compared with 5.1±4.1 days for the control patients ( P Conclusion Adverse postoperative outcomes occurred at a higher rate in patients with a diagnosis of OSAS undergoing hip or knee replacement compared with a group of matched control patients.
Laser Ray Tracing in a Parallel Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian Adaptive Mesh Refinement Hydrocode

ALE-AMR is a new hydrocode that we are developing as a predictive modeling tool for debris and shrapnel formation in high-energy laser experiments. In this paper we present our approach to implementing laser ray tracing in ALE-AMR. We present the basic concepts of laser ray tracing and our approach to eciently traverse the adaptive mesh hierarchy.
A prospective study of musculoskeletal outcomes among manufacturing workers: II. Effects of psychosocial stress and work organization factors.

Objective:The aim of this study was to characterize associations between psychosocial and work organizational risk factors and upper-extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders.Background:Methodological limitations of previous studies of psychosocial and work organizational risk factors and musculoskeletal outcomes have produced inconsistent associations.Method:In this prospective epidemiologic study of 386 workers, questionnaires to assess decision latitude (“control”) and psychological job demands (“demand”) were administered to study participants and were used to classify them into job strain “quadrants.” Measures of job stress and job change were collected during each week of follow-up. Incident hand/arm and neck/shoulder symptoms and disorders were ascertained weekly. Associations between exposure measures and musculoskeletal outcomes were estimated with proportional hazard methods.Results:When compared to the low-demand/high-control job strain referent category, large increases in risk of hand/...
A. H. Almaas’s Diamond Approach: Divine Individualism or Mystical Humanism?

A debate over the integration of depth psychology and nondual, particularly Asian, spiritualities has recently engaged academic, therapeutic and spiritual communities. While some evaluations celebrate contemporary Western psychospiritual integrations as psychologically sophisticated forms of modern religiosity, other accounts reject them as psychological dilutions of traditional mysticism. Drawing on fieldwork and discourse analysis, this paper aims to further this discussion by providing a detailed treatment of the issues at stake through analysis of one such tradition, A. H. Almaas’s Diamond Approach. The Diamond Approach provides a useful study of contempo-rary American psychospirituality on two counts. First, it reconciles American concerns with individual development with Asian mystical goals of self-transcendence through an incorporation of Asian and Western religious and secular models of subjectivity. Second, it utilizes psycho-analytic theory—ranging from Freudian to intersubjectivist perspectives—to elaborate on pre-modern, particularly nondual Asian, mysticism.