cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethanol-nicotine interactions at α-bungarotoxin-insensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat cortical neurons

Numerous studies have indicated a correlation between ethanol intake and cigarette smoking in heavy drinkers. We have studied the underlying pharmacological basis of this relationship using cultured rat cortical neurons. These neurons express nicotinic receptors having characteristics similar to those described for the alpha4beta2 subunit combination. In the presence of alpha-bungarotoxin both acetylcholine (ACh) and nicotine evoked currents with respective EC50 values of 4.3 and 3.4 microM. The maximal nicotine-activated response, however, was only 56% that of the maximal ACh current. It was previously shown that 10 to 100 mM of ethanol potentiated ACh-mediated currents in these neurons. We demonstrate that 100 mM ethanol similarly potentiates currents evoked by 300 nM (40%) and 1 microM nicotine 61%). This suggests that an ethanol-induced potentiation of nicotinic currents may enhance the acute positive reinforcement associated with nicotine and could increase tobacco use during heavy ethanol intake. However, further experimentation indicated that the continuous perfusion of 30, 100, or 300 nM nicotine desensitizes ACh-evoked currents by 38, 54, and 62%, respectively, with little direct receptor-channel activation. The residual ACh currents of nicotine-desensitized receptor channels were potentiated by 100 mM ethanol to nearly the extent as were the undesensitized control responses. We propose that the opposing effect of ethanol on nicotine-induced desensitization could also explain the increased tobacco use observed with excessive drinking. Thus, ethanol has a dual effect regarding nicotine. It enhances acute nicotine-mediated receptor activation, although opposing the net effect of nicotine-induced receptor channel desensitization.
The pressor effect of recombinant human erythropoietin is not due to decreased activity of the endogenous nitric oxide system

In a subset of dialysis patients, erythropoietin (rHuEpo) treatment exacerbates hypertension. The mechanism of this pressor effect is unknown; however, it has been suggested that decreased endogenous nitric oxide (NO) activity may play a role. To explore this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were given rHuEpo (150 U/kg s.c. three times per week) or corresponding vehicle. Blood pressure, haematocrit, and urinary excretion of the stable NO metabolites, nitrite (NO2) and nitrate (NO3), were determined at baseline and 3 weeks. After 3 weeks of rHuEpo treatment there was a significant increase in blood pressure and haematocrit, while in vehicle-treated rats blood pressure and haematocrit remained at basal levels. Urinary excretion of NO2+NO3 increased compared to basal in rHuEpo, but not vehicle rats. Thus in normal rats rHuEpo does have a significant pressor effect, but this is not associated with decreased activity of the endogenous NO system. Thus decreased endogenous NO activity is not responsible for rHuEpo-associated hypertension. These data further suggest that endogenous NO activity is increased in rHuEpo-treated rats, perhaps as a counter-regulatory mechanism that limits the pressor effect. Whether this mechanism is active in the setting of rHuEpo-treated chronic renal failure in humans is unknown.
Control of Multiple Magnetic Micro Robots

A magnetic micro robot is a microscopic magnet that is controlled by a system of electromagnetic coils that generate a magnetic field to manipulate the magnetic robot. A major challenge for manipulating multiple magnets at microscale is that the applied field affects the entire workspace, making it difficult to address individual magnets. In this paper, we propose a system where electromagnetic coils are close to the magnets being manipulated to exploit spatial non-uniformities in the magnetic field. Our model considers the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coils and the magnetic fields present from neighboring magnetic robots to generate the desired force on each magnet. This approach is demonstrated on a macroscopic, one-dimensional system with two magnets controlled by two electromagnets using visual feedback control. Additionally, simulation results for a linear system with three magnets and three electromagnets are shown. While demonstrated at the macroscale, our results suggest that our methods can be extended for microscale manipulation, where it is advantageous to control multiple identical magnets with global fields.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Molecular and morphological differentiation of Botryosphaeria dothidea (anamorph Fusicoccum aesculi) from some other fungi with Fusicoccum anamorphs.

Differentiation of Botryosphaeria species with Fusicoccum anamorphs has depended on recog- nition of the anamorphs. This has resulted in some confusion in the taxonomy and our understanding of the pathology of these species because these ana- morphs are very similar morphologically and the characters used for differentiation can be influenced by the substrate. We have examined 89 isolates iden- tified by the collectors as B. dothidea (F aesculi), B. ribis (Fusicoccum sp.), B. parva (F. parvum), or F lu- teum. Cluster analysis of random amplified polymor- phic DNA (RAPD) marker data identified three dis- tinct groups, which we have designated Bd (probable B. dothidea), Br (probable B. ribis, but including iso- lates of B. parva), and Fl (probable E luteum). Anal- ysis of DNA sequence of the nuclear rDNA ITS re- gion from a subset of isolates from each group sup- ports these relationships. Measurement of conidia from a subset of isolates revealed statistically signifi- cant differences in shape that can be used to differ- entiate between conidia of the Bd group isolates and those of the other groups. Conidia of the Br and Fl group isolates, however, were similar. We conclude that B. dothidea can be differentiated from these oth- er fungi with Fusicoccum anamorphs by all three tech- niques.
Graduate Trainees’ Social Justice Supports, Beliefs, Interest, and Commitment

The present study examined the direct and indirect relationships between belief in a just world, belief in an unjust world, perceived social supports, and training supports, and social justice self-efficacy beliefs, interest, and commitment among 274 graduate counselor trainees. Structural equation modeling revealed that social justice self-efficacy had direct and indirect effects on social justice commitment by bolstering social justice interest. Furthermore, the more participants believed that the world was a just place, the less interest and commitment they expressed for social justice advocacy. Moreover, the more social support, training supports, social justice self-efficacy, and interest participants reported, the higher their commitment to doing social justice work. Finally, training supports only had a direct link to social justice commitment. Implications for theory, training programs, and research are addressed.
Head-Up vs. Head-Down Displays: Examining Traditional Methods of Display Assessment While Driving

Technological advances in Head-Up Displays (HUDs) have renewed vehicle manufacturer interest. Recent research links time with eyes off of the road to increased chance of accidents, a problem that could be diminished when using HUDs. Before HUDs can be safely integrated, there must be proven methods of assessing these displays. NHTSA established guidelines for assessing in-vehicle tasks; however, these have not been examined with HUDs, differ from traditional Head-Down Displays (HDDs). This study followed most of the NHTSA guidelines for the Eye Glance Test for a visual text search task while tracking driving and secondary task performance measures. The HUD performed worse on the NHTSA eye glance test than the HDD did; however, the driving performance measures were superior when driving with the HUD. There were no significant differences in the secondary task performance between the two displays. Therefore, the NHTSA standard may not adequately assess HUDs in vehicles.
Exploring constant substrate temperature and constant high pressure SCD growth using variable pocket holder depths

Abstract SCD substrates were successfully synthesized using an optimized pocket holder design. The pocket holder design creates an appropriate thermal environment to shield the diamond substrate from the intense microwave discharge. This substrate configuration allows for a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) rimless, uniform single crystal diamond (SCD) growth process. Square shaped pocket holders with a constant width but with varying depths were used. The SCD growth procedures were carried out via microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) in a 2.45 GHz microwave cavity plasma reactor C at a constant pressure of 240 Torr and high power density of ~ 500 W/cm 3 . By continuously adjusting incident microwave power (P inc ), the substrate temperature ( T s ) was held at 1020 °C ± 5 °C throughout the entire process cycle. Under these growth conditions, the crystal morphologies exhibited a smooth and flat surface. The average growth rate of the SCDs varied between 30 and 24 μm/h as the pocket depth increased from 2.0 to 2.9 mm. The PCD rim was eliminated for all pocket depths and the shape of the final, as grown, top SCD surface varied from a square to a circular shape as the pocket holder depth increased. When using the 2.0 mm and 2.3 mm pockets, the final top SCD surface area increased to almost twice the original HPHT diamond seed area and the lateral growth rate was slightly larger than the vertical growth rate. Birefringence imaging of the grown CVD diamond indicated low stress and SIMS analysis indicated nitrogen concentration levels in the freestanding, CVD diamond plates were in the range of 50 ppb to 140 ppb. Prime novelty statement Single crystal diamond is grown by high power density, microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition in a pocket holder held at a constant temperature of 1020 °C, a constant pressure of 240 Torr and with 5% CH 4 /H 2 . Experimental variables were pocket depth and deposition time. Thick, PCD rimless growth was achieved, and for shallow holders, top growth surface area gains of 1. 4–1.9 were demonstrated.
Barriers and Strategies Related to Qualitative Research on Genetic Ancestry Testing in Indigenous Communities

Conducting genetics-related research with populations that have historically experienced considerable harm and little benefit from genetics research poses unique challenges for understanding community-based perceptions of new genetic technologies. This article identifies challenges and strategies for collecting qualitative data on the perceptions of direct-to-consumer (DTC) Genetic Ancestry tests (GAT) among diverse Indigenous communities. Based on a 3-year project related to perceptions, attitudes, and values associated with genetic ancestry testing among diverse Indigenous communities in Oklahoma, the engagement process revealed specific opportunities to improve the process of qualitative data collection related to GAT, and more broadly, to conduct genetics-related research with Indigenous communities in culturally and methodologically appropriate ways. Priority areas include issues related to participant recruitment and tribal advisory boards, challenges of self-identification as a recruitment mechanism, and the necessity of including Indigenous researchers in all aspects of the research process.
The ACT hand

Robotic hands built for manipulation are often anthropomorphic but not anatomically accurate. We are constructing an anatomically-correct testbed (ACT) of the human hand to understand its mechanisms, function, and control. We have previously demonstrated that an accurate model of the extensor mechanism in the ACT Hand is crucial in realizing the human-like finger movements. Here, we present design of the bones and joints that form the skeletal structure for the ACT Hand. The bones are machined from human bone data, and are accurate in surface shape, mass, and center-of-gravity, while joints have been designed to match both degrees-of-freedom and passive stiffness. Our evaluation of the assembled index finger confirms the anatomic properties, and reveals the function of some of the peculiar shapes of the finger bones, necessity of matching the joint passive stiffness properties, and connections of the extensor mechanism. Keywords-Humanoid Robots; Biologically Inspired Systems, Biomechanics, Hand, Hand Surgery, Anatomically-Correct Testbed
OC symptoms in African American young adults: The associations between racial discrimination, racial identity, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Abstract Although studies illustrate the role of racial discrimination as a risk factor for increased psychiatric symptoms for African American young adults, none has explored the link between racial discrimination and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms within such a sample. Racial identity has been shown to moderate the association between racial discrimination and psychiatric symptoms; yet, no studies have investigated its protective role in the context of OC symptoms. This study examined the association between racial discrimination and OC symptom distress over time, as well as how racial identity moderates this relationship. Participants were 171 African American young adults who completed measures of racial discrimination, racial identity, and OC symptom distress. Latent profile analysis revealed three patterns of racial identity: Multiculturalist, Race-Focused, and Humanist. Racial discrimination frequency at Time 1 was positively associated with OC symptom distress one year later for the Race-Focused racial identity group, but unrelated to OC symptom distress for the Multiculturalist and Humanist groups. Results support the notion that racial discrimination is a risk factor, and specific patterns of racial identity are vulnerability and protective factors, in the development and maintenance of OC symptoms. These findings have the potential to transform assessment and treatment of OC symptoms within African American samples.
A review of the utility of tacrolimus in the management of adults with autoimmune hepatitis.

Background: There is paucity of data on alternative drug therapies for patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Tacrolimus (TAC) is a promising salvage agent. We present a review of TAC therapy in...
2017 Jack Kenney Award for Outstanding Service.

![Figure][1] On April 30, 2010, Jack Kenney retired from the ASM Journals Department after 25 years of service. He served as the production editor for the Journal of Bacteriology for the last 13 of those years. I worked with Jack for almost 10 years. He was an especially gifted production
Chronic extensor hallucis longus tendon rupture treated with double-bundle autograft of extensor hallucis capsularis: A case report:

The extensor hallucis capsularis is an accessory extensor tendon with varied occurrence. Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old man with chronic extensor hallucis longus tendon rupture treated ...
Judgments of American male talkers who are perceived to sound gay or heterosexual: Certain social contexts don’t affect perception of personality traits

Researchers proposed that different social contexts influence how listeners perceive talkers’ emotional states (Bachorowski and Owren, 2002). Furthermore, it was discovered that, in the absence of any context (i.e., listeners were not informed of talkers’ sexual orientation), some personality traits (e.g., confident, mad, stuck-up, and outgoing) were associated with gay-sounding male talkers, while other personality traits (e.g., boring, old, and sad) were associated with heterosexual-sounding male talkers (Tracy, 2016). The first experiment examined whether a stronger association between these traits and voices might emerge if listeners were informed of the talkers’ sexual orientation (i.e., greater social context). After hearing a spoken utterance, listeners rated gay-sounding and heterosexual-sounding talkers along the previously mentioned personality traits. For the majority of traits, the results demonstrated that listeners’ personality judgments did not change if they were told or were not told the sexual orientation of the talker. The second experiment revealed that, in the absence of vocal information, participants do not associate these personality traits with these particular talkers. Thus, the data from the two studies align. If listeners have knowledge of a talker’s sexual orientation, they do not associate this knowledge with particular personality traits and, thus, their personality judgments of the voices would not be affected.
Longitudinal, Near-Surface Maneuvering of a Prolate Spheroid

Abstract A motion model for a prolate spheroid moving beneath a calm free surface is used to develop a gain-scheduled controller for longitudinal, near-surface maneuvering. The motion model that is used for control design is the impulsive (memory-free) component of a Lagrangian mechanical system model that was recently developed for submerged vessels maneuvering near a free surface. A simple representation of memory effects is included as a perturbation to examine the effectiveness of the feedback controller designed using the simpler model.
Elites tecnológicas, meritocracia e mitos pós raciais no Vale do Silício

Entre as modernas elites tecnologicas digitais, os mitos da meritocracia e da facanha intelectual sao usados como marcadores de raca e genero por uma supremacia branca masculina que consolida recursos de forma desproporcional em relacao a pessoas nao brancas, principalmente negros, latinos e indigenas. Os investimentos em mitos meritocraticos suprimem os questionamentos de racismo e discriminacao, mesmo quando os produtos das elites digitais sao infundidos com marcadores de raca, classe e genero. As lutas historicas por inclusao social, politica e economica de negros, mulheres e outras classes desprotegidas tem implicado no reconhecimento da exclusao sistemica, do trabalho forcado e da privacao de direitos estruturais, alem de compromissos com politicas publicas dos EUA, como as acoes afirmativas, que foram igualmente fundamentais para reformas politicas voltadas para participacao e oportunidades economicas. A ascensao da tecnocracia digital tem sido, em muitos aspectos, antitetica a esses esforcos no sentido de reconhecer raca e genero como fatores cruciais para inclusao e oportunidades tecnocraticas. Este artigo explora algumas das formas pelas quais os discursos das elites tecnocraticas do Vale do Silicio reforcam os investimentos no pos racialismo como um pretexto para a re-consolidacao do capital em oposicao as politicas publicas que prometem acabar com praticas discriminatorias no mundo do trabalho. Por meio de uma analise cuidadosa do surgimento de empresas de tecnologias digitais e de uma discussao sobre como as elites tecnologicas trabalham para mascarar tudo, como inscricoes algoritmicas e geneticas de raca incorporadas em seus produtos, mostramos como as elites digitais omitem a sua responsabilidade por suas reinscricoes pos raciais de (in)visibilidades raciais. A partir do uso de analise historica e critica do discurso, o artigo revela como os mitos de uma meritocracia digital baseados em um “daltonismo racial” tecnocratico emergem como chave para a manutencao de exclusoes de genero e raca.Palavras-chave: Tecnologia. Raca. Genero.
The Causal Relationship between Eating Animals and Viral Epidemics

For decades it has been known that infectious agents including pathogenic protozoans, bacteria, and viruses, adapted to a particular animal host, can mutate to gain the ability to infect another host, and the mechanisms involved have been studied in great detail. Although an infectious agent in one animal can alter its host range with relative ease, no example of a plant virus changing its host organism to an animal has been documented. One prevalent pathway for the transmission of infectious agents between hosts involves ingestion of the flesh of one organism by another. In this article we document numerous examples of viral and prion diseases transmitted by eating animals. We suggest that the occurrence of cross-species viral epidemics can be substantially reduced by shifting to a more vegetarian diet and enforcing stricter laws that ban the slaughter and trade of wild and endangered species.
Intrinsic Motivation to Share Health Information: Design Guidelines and Features for Patient Sharing Platforms

Health-related social media platforms, such as PatientsLikeMe, have enabled patients to share information with other patients with similar conditions and more advanced in their health care continuum (i.e., survivors). These platforms have demonstrated the value of patient to patient communication; such as learning more about new treatment options, outcomes, and quality of life. Yet, evidence suggests that most health applications have low usage rates by physicians and patients. Data sharing platforms where patients share their medical information will not succeed unless security and confidentiality are assured, and enough patients are motivated to participate. Drawing on the theories of motivation, we developed design guidelines and features for a platform that encourages long-term participation. The proposed design guidelines and features are anticipated to increase users’ intrinsic motivation through feelings of competence and autonomy; which in turn will increase information sharing. In collaboration with an oncologist and a non-profit cancer survivor organization, we design an experimental study to test our design guidelines and features.
Voluntary Associations and Collectivity: A View from the East and the West

This chapter incorporates evidence for voluntary associations of bakers from the eastern Mediterranean to help explore the evidence for collectivity among Roman bakers in the west. In the study of voluntary associations of Roman craftsmen, collegia have loomed large. These formal trade associations are not, however, ubiquitous and it is unclear what exact role they played in regulating the industry, if they did at all. Moreover, we have evidence that some forms of collectivity did exist independently of formal associations, including rogatores inscriptions and collective fines of pistores in places where we have no evidence for collegia. Small-town collectivity among bakers took a very different form and function than the associations of large cities; members tended to be more homogenously modest in their means. Their aims were more focused on managing social perceptions and providing social benefits for the bakers than on creating opportunity for increased profits or mitigating operating costs.
Reimagining Rights & Responsibilities in the United States: Freedom of Speech and Media

The First Amendment guarantees some of the most fundamental rights provided to Americans under the Constitution. The right to free expression is a foundational tenet of American values. In fact, it was the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and the press that provided much of the basis for the revolution that led to America’s founding. The First Amendment provides broad protection from government censure of speech, although limitations on some forms of published or broadcast speech, such as obscenity and hate speech, have been allowed. As the traditional public square governed and protected by federal regulation moves online to spaces governed by private corporations, the rules for how speech is both expressed and censored are also changing. How should legal protections for speech adapt to these new tech-powered, private forums? This chapter will explore the current landscape of free speech and the associated information landscape as well as the threats that they face.
Telemedicine in Otolaryngology During COVID-19: Patient and Physician Satisfaction.

ObjectiveTo examine patient and physician satisfaction with telemedicine in otolaryngology during COVID-19 and identify associated factors.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTertiary care ...
Energy-Based Models for Continual Learning

We motivate Energy-Based Models (EBMs) as a promising model class for continual learning problems. Instead of tackling continual learning via the use of external memory, growing models, or regularization, EBMs have a natural way to support a dynamically-growing number of tasks and classes and less interference with old tasks. We show that EBMs are adaptable to a more general continual learning setting where the data distribution changes without the notion of explicitly delineated tasks. We also find that EBMs outperform the baseline methods by a large margin on several continual learning benchmarks. These observations point towards EBMs as a class of models naturally inclined towards the continual learning regime.
Green’s Functions for the Finite Difference Heat, Laplace and Wave Equations

In this paper, representations are developed for the Green’s functions for a partial difference formulation of an initial-value problem that includes the half-plane heat (diffusion), Laplace, and wave equations as special cases. Solutions of the partial difference equation are shown to be given by a discrete convolution that is analogous to integral representations for the continuous case. A convergence property relating each discrete Green’s function to that of its associated partial differential equation is also presented. The initial research for this paper was conducted with the assistance of student Steven F. Ashby.*
Apolipoprotein Β mRNA Editing

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA editing was the first instance of RNA editing described in vertebrates. The subcellular location for apoB mRNA editing has been examined in rat liver. The situation in vivo, however, is much more complex, because the presence of the mooring sequence is not necessarily associated with editing of its upstream C. When researchers in 1997 overexpressed apobec-1 in mice, a novel mRNA, NAT1, was found to be edited. The evolutionary relationship of apobec-1 with the cytidine/cytidylate deaminases has been noted by a number of investigators. This chapter outlines a few salient points concerning the evolution of the apobec-1-related deaminase gene family, taking into consideration some novel homologous sequences published earlier. Based on the current knowledge of the area, a model of the apoB mRNA editing enzyme complex is presented. The presence of a lipoprotein phenotypic effect in animals with only partial inhibition of editing activity in the liver contrasts sharply with the relative lack of an effect in apobec-1 knockout mice that do not edit apoB mRNA either in the liver or the small intestine.
Local Control of Low-Volume Brain Metastasis Using Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive means of treating brain metastases with high dose radiation therapy in a single fraction. It is a useful alternative to surgical resection in selected patients with good performance status and low-volume brain metastases. It can complement or replace whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), which has historically been the mainstay of palliative brain radiation therapy. Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the survival benefit of adding SRS to WBRT in the case of a single brain metastasis in a patient with good performance status. Conversely, there appears to be no survival detriment to using SRS alone in patients with up to 4 and possibly even more brain metastases. While there is an increase in recurrent lesions either locally or in distant areas of the brain with the use of SRS alone, these are amenable to salvage therapy if found early with stringent follow-up imaging. Such a strategy has been used successfully in our institution and others to delay or forego WBRT in most patients with low-volume brain metastases. This helps to avoid the morbidities that have been documented with WBRT including neurocognitive impairment, alopecia, fatigue and associated psychological stress. In addition, SRS alone avoids the delay in systemic therapy that is common with the use of WBRT. In this chapter, we focus on the randomized clinical trials that have examined SRS as a primary treatment modality for low-volume brain metastases.
Nationalism: The Communitarian Block

The difficulties experienced by the European Union, and in particular the 17 members of the eurozone, highlight a major challenge faced by many nations that are not in the EU. These nations face a communitarian paradox: on the one hand, they need a significantly higher level of transnational governance, which, as I shall attempt to show, can be provided only if the expansion of such governance is paralleled by a considerable measure oftransnational community-building. On the other hand, this communal expansion encounters nationalism, which acts as an overpowering communitarian block by standing in the way of 229 building more encompassing communities, ones comprised of nations.
Stress and Relationships

When addressing the topic of stress and relationships, it is important to identify the key social roles and relationships that structure a person's identity. Family and work are life domains defined by the marital, parental, and worker roles. These social roles are beneficial to health, but they are also demanding on time and energy, which ultimately results in stress. Family relationships are particularly important to individual health, but the stress arising out of these relationships offsets the benefits of social connections. Marital stress, for example, undermines the health benefits of the intimacy and purpose typically derived from marriage. The important areas of concern for stress researchers examining marital relationships include interactions between married partners, disagreements, and the association between stress in marital relationships and marital instability. Keywords: sociology of family; sociology of mental health; stress
The Impact of Immigration on Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, 1994-2006

This paper analyzes the issue of immigration and health insurance coverage in the United States. It is important to examine the health insurance status of immigrants, as growth in the immigrant population can drive up the uninsured. Between 1994 and 2006, immigrants accounted for an increasing portion of the nonelderly population, rising from 8.8 percent to 12.8 percent. Over the entire 1994-2006 period, immigrants accounted for 55 percent of the increase in the uninsured. More than 12 million immigrants in the United States were uninsured in 2006, accounting for 26.6 percent of the 46.5 million uninsured individuals in the country. Given that foreign-born entrants to the United States have a high likelihood of being uninsured, it is likely that the uninsured will also grow as a proportion of the population as immigration continues to increase. Data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS) are used to examine health insurance and immigration. The paper first examines the status of health insurance coverage among immigrants compared with nonimmigrants. It then examines the impact of immigration over the period 1994-2006, a much longer period than was covered in previous research. The legal status of immigrants is not discussed, as relevant data are not included in the CPS; illegal immigrants probably are included in the analysis, but cannot be identified as such. The PDF for the above title, published in the August 2008 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another August 2008 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: "Saving for Health Care Expenses in Retirement: The Use of Health Savings Accounts."
High Affinity Binding of α-Latrotoxin to Recombinant Neurexin Iα

α-Latrotoxin is a potent neurotoxin from black widow spider venom that stimulates neurotransmitter release. α-Latrotoxin is thought to act by binding to a high affinity receptor on presynaptic nerve terminals. In previous studies, high affinity α-latrotoxin binding proteins were isolated and demonstrated to contain neurexin Iα as a major component. Neurexin Iα is a cell surface protein that exists in multiple differentially spliced isoforms and belongs to a large family of neuron-specific proteins. Using a series of neurexin I-IgG fusion proteins, we now show that recombinant neurexin Iα binds α-latrotoxin directly with high affinity (Kd≈ 4 nM). Binding of α-latrotoxin to recombinant neurexin Iα is dependent on Ca2+ (EC50≈ 30 μM). Our data suggest that neurexin Iα is a Ca2+-dependent high affinity receptor for α-latrotoxin.
Cooperative caching with optimal radius in hybrid wireless networks

In this paper, we propose a novel caching scheme, called energy efficient cooperative caching with optimal radius (ECOR), to overcome the limitations of hybrid wireless networks such as high energy consumption, long access latency and poor load balance. In ECOR, each mobile user (MU) forms a cooperation zone with MUs in proximity to share cached data items. An analytical model of ECOR is developed to determine the optimal radius of the cooperation zone based on MU’s location, data popularity and node density. Experimental results show that ECOR achieves significant performance improvement in power saving, network throughput and load balance in comparison with other existing approaches.
Extending a general-purpose algebraic modeling language to combinatorial optimization: a logic programming approach

General-purpose algebraic modeling languages are a central feature of popular computer systems for large-scale optimization Languages such as AIMMS [2], AMPL [12, 13], GAMS [4, 5], LINGO [23] and MPL [18] allow people to develop and maintain diverse optimization models in their natural mathematical forms. The systems that process these languages convert automatically to and from the various data structures required by packages of optimizing algorithms (“solvers”), with only minimal assistance from users. Most phases of language translation remain independent of solver details, however, so that users can easily switch between many combinations of language and solver.
Persuading Small Manufacturing Companies to Become Active Exporters

Abstract The rapid globalization of competition and markets in the 1990's has convinced many companies that participation in global business may no longer be a matter of choice, but most are still purely domestic. The U.S. federal and most state governments themselves spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year trying to persuade small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to become active exporters. However, the fact that only two percent of all U.S. companies actually export, casts doubt on the universal appeal of current standardized promotional messages in mass produced pamphlets. A survey of 114 companies in California on the role played by message framing and focus in enhancing the effectiveness campaigns (behavioral intentions) of export promotion found that non-exporters are more likely to be persuaded when the arguments presented them have a micro-economic focus rather than a macro-economic one. Furthermore, the great majority of arguments reported as compelling by respondents were positiv...
From GPS and virtual globes to spatial computing - 2020

Spatial computing is a set of ideas, solutions, tools, technologies, and systems that transform our lives with a new prospect of understanding, navigating, visualizing and using locations. In this community whitepaper, we present a perspective on the changing world of spatial computing, research challenges and opportunities and geoprivacy issues for spatial computing. First, this paper provides an overview of the changing world of spatial computing. Next, promising technologies that resulted from the integration of spatial computing in the everyday lives of people is discussed. This integration results with promising technologies, research challenges and opportunities and geoprivacy issues that must be addressed to achieve the potential of spatial computing.
The Rhetoric of an Ordinary Political Argument: Liberalism and Zionism

TW A HAT ARE the standards for a good political argument? A lesson learned from reading liberal political theory is that the conduct of everyday or ordinary political arguments does not provide adequate answers to that question. Notwithstanding their diversity, theoretical efforts to say what constitute good reasons always challenge the reliability and precision of ordinary standards for persuasiveness or "reasonableness." From Hobbes' Leviathan to Rawls' A Theory of Justice, a liberal theoretical epistemology presumes that ordinary arguments about "rights," "freedom," "justice," "equality," and other like concepts are too vague, ambiguous, or liable to bias to be the basis for evaluating political claims. Anxieties about the lack of reliability and accountability of reasonableness lead theorists to adopt standards of a more abstract origin from philosophy or mathematics ("the rational"). This preference for the rational over the reasonable implies that good reasons only arise from epistemological standards which transcend ordinary language and meaning. The most familiar and accomplished attempt to transcend reasonableness is utilitarianism. Its rational epistemology and vocabulary system of Pareto optimality, marginal utility, indifference, and statistical calculations constrains common-sense and has almost monopolized our confidence in what counts as a good policy argument. Still, its theoretical and practical success has not removed doubts about how well the rational rises above the reasonable.
Evaluation of existing correlations for the prediction of pressure drop in wire-wrapped hexagonal array pin bundles

Abstract Existing wire-wrapped fuel bundle friction factor correlations were evaluated to identify their comparative fit to the available pressure drop experimental data. Five published correlations, those of Rehme (REH), Baxi and Dalle Donne (BDD, which used the correlations of Novendstern in the turbulent regime and Engel et al. in the laminar and transition regimes), detailed Cheng and Todreas (CTD), simplified Cheng and Todreas (CTS), and Kirillov (KIR, developed by Russian scientists) were studied. Other correlations applicable to a specific case were also evaluated but only for that case. Among all 132 available bundle data, an 80 bundle data set was judged to be appropriate for this evaluation. Three methodologies, i.e., the Prediction Error Distribution, Agreement Index and Credit Score were principally used for investigating the goodness of each correlation in fitting the data. Evaluations have been performed in two categories: 4 cases of general user interest and 3 cases of designer specific interest. The four general user interest cases analyzed bundle data sets in four flow regimes – i.e., all regimes, the transition and/or turbulent regimes, the turbulent regime, and the laminar regime. The three designer interest cases analyzed bundles in the fuel group, the blanket and control group and those with P/D > 1.06, for the transition/turbulent regimes. For all these cases, the detailed Cheng and Todreas correlation is identified as yielding the best fit. Specifically for the all flow regimes evaluation, the best fit correlation in descending order is CTD, BDD/CTS (tie), REH and KIR. For the combined transition/turbulent regime, the order is CTD, BDD, REH, CTS and KIR. In the turbulent regime alone, the order is CTD, BDD/REH, CTS and KIR. In the laminar regime, the order is CTD, CTS, KIR and BDD/REH. For fuel assemblies, the order is CTD, BDD, REH, CTS and KIR. For blanket and control assemblies, the order is CTD, CTS, KIR, REH and BDD. For bundles with P/D > 1.06, the order is the same as that for the fuel group. Three supplemental evaluations have been performed, one being the 80 bundle set in the transition and/or turbulent regimes with 8 added CFD simulation results. The other two are based on the appropriate set of 109 bundles covering all flow regimes and 108 bundles covering the transition/turbulent regimes, respectively. In these supplemental evaluations the correlation order is CTD, CTS/BDD, REH and KIR for the CFD results added case; CTD, REH, BDD, CTS and KIR for the 109 bundle case and REH, CTD, BDD, CTS and KIR for the 108 bundle case. Several shortcomings were found in the most recently published evaluation for the best fit correlation by Bubelis and Schikorr. The twenty-two bundle set evaluated by Bubelis and Schikorr is reexamined by the methodologies in this study, resulting in the correlation order of REH, CTD, CTS, BDD and KIR.
Generation and Sequencing of Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor Cell Lines

Introduction Pulmonary carcinoid tumors account for approximately 5% of all lung malignancies in adults, and comprise 30% of all carcinoid tumors. There are limited reagents available to study these rare tumors, and consequently no major advances have been made for patient treatment. We report the generation and characterization of human pulmonary carcinoid tumor cell lines to study underlying biology, and to provide models for testing novel chemotherapeutic agents. Methods Tissue was harvested from three patients with primary pulmonary typical carcinoid tumors undergoing surgical resection. The tumor was dissociated and plated onto dishes in culture media. The established cell lines were characterized by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and cell proliferation assays. Tumorigenicity was confirmed by soft agar growth and the ability to form tumors in a mouse xenograft model. Exome and RNA sequencing of patient tumor samples and cell lines was performed using standard protocols. Results Three typical carcinoid tumor lines grew as adherent monolayers in vitro, expressed neuroendocrine markers consistent with the primary tumor, and formed colonies in soft agar. A single cell line produced lung tumors in nude mice after intravenous injection. Exome and RNA sequencing of this cell line showed lineage relationship with the primary tumor, and demonstrated mutations in a number of genes related to neuronal differentiation. Conclusion Three human pulmonary typical carcinoid tumor cell lines have been generated and characterized as a tool for studying the biology and novel treatment approaches for these rare tumors.
Spin-Hall Magnetic Random-Access Memory With Dual Read/Write Ports for On-Chip Caches

This paper proposes two types of dual-ported (1-read/1-write: 1R/1W) spin-Hall magnetic random-access memory (SH-MRAM) suitable for on-chip cache applications. Separate write and read ports allow simultaneous write and read access, which can mitigate the impact of slow write latency on the system performance without any area overhead compared to the single-ported SH-MRAM. The efficient spin-Hall effect based spin-transfer torque (STT) leads to low-power write operation. In addition, separate read and write current paths of the devices can enhance the read operation without much impact on the write operation. The differential sensing scheme in 1R/1W differential SH-MRAM can further improve sensing power and sensing margin. Compared to the 1R/1W STT-MRAM bit cell, the 1R/1W SH-MRAM bit cell can achieve lower power consumption for write operation and higher sensing margin with low read power consumption under an iso-area condition.
Model for the 5 March 1979 gamma-ray transient.

A model is proposed for the March 5, 1979 gamma-ray transient. A small lump of strange matter, previously ejected from a supernova explosion, struck a slowly rotating strange star. This resulted in a high-intensity flash of radiation from a hot spot produced by the impact. The high-intensity radiation blew open a crater in the crust; the energy released as this crater refilled was responsible for the longer-duration, lower-intensity phase. The 8-s modulation is due to the rotation of the star. A plausible scenario for the production of this event is discussed.
Russian chemical weapons: Proliferation or destruction?

The 11 September 2001 attack on the USA revealed that terrorists are willing to inflict mass casualties and might use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to increase the scope of their acts. Chemical weapons (CW) are the easiest WMD to use and obtain, and have been more frequently used in terrorist acts and terrorist threats. However, it is not very easy to produce them, and far easier to steal them. Poorly secured and protected Russian CW storages could become a source of CW for terrorists. The easiest way to prevent CW smuggling is to destroy chemical arsenals as soon as possible. The article addresses the problems associated with CW destruction in Russia and ways to solve them.
Three-Dimensional Localization of Wild-Type and Myosin II Mutant Cells during Morphogenesis of Dictyostelium

Dictyostelium amoebae that lack myosin II (mhcA-) are unable to undergo morphogenesis. The cells aggregate slowly to form hemispherical mounds, but the mounds never extend a tip upward. Expression of developmentally regulated genes appears normal in the absence of morphogenesis. When mixed with an excess of wild-type cells, some mutant cells form differentiated spores; however, rescue is extremely inefficient (Knecht and Loomis, 1988). In order to assess how morphogenesis is normally accomplished and why mutants lacking myosin II cannot develop, a new method has been developed that allows individual amoebae to be localized and tracked at high resolution within the multicellular organism during development. Amoebae are labeled with a fluorescent dye at the beginning of starvation, mixed with an excess of unlabeled cells, and allowed to develop. The three-dimensional position of labeled cells in the multicellular organism is then determined using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Using this methodology, we have shown that labeled wild-type cells are randomly distributed throughout the organism and complete development normally. When labeled mhcA- mutant cells are mixed with a 20-fold excess of wild-type cells, they are non-randomly localized even at the earliest stages of development. Mutant cells in aggregation streams are found primarily at the edges of the streams and many cells never become part of the streams or are left behind as the wild-type cells complete aggregation. Those that are incorporated into the aggregate are found at the edge and base, the backs of slugs and the base of the fruiting bodies. A few mutant cells can be found in the sorus, where they presumably become spores. The segregation of mhcA- mutant cells to the outside of the wild-type aggregation streams argues that the mutant cells are unable to penetrate a mass of adhered, wild-type cells. We hypothesize that mutant cells lacking cortical integrity are unable to generate sufficient protrusive force to break the adhesion of wild-type cells to each other. This would make the mutants incapable of moving through a mass of cells (either mutant or wild type) or of changing shape when adhered to other cells. We propose that mutants lacking myosin II are unable to accomplish morphogenesis because they cannot move correctly in a three-dimensional mass of adhered cells.
Controlling shop crime in Britain: costs and trends

Crime is a major problem for many retailers. Uses data from three national retail crime surveys, analyses the extent and costs of retail crime in the UK and evaluates trends in customer and employee theft. Finds that most surveys show that crime costs UK retailers an average of 1.0‐1.5 per cent of their sales, whilst US retailers lose in excess of 25 per cent more. Discusses the management of retail security and the major loss prevention approaches adopted by stores. Reviews security technology used in both the UK and US, store exclusions, and civil recovery programmes. Concludes that combating retail crime requires a range of integrated policies to be used.