cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why Game Studies Now? Gamers Don't Bowl Alone:

Researchers are encouraged to study the social uses and effects of gaming before stereotypes form and guide both their own and the public's thinking. The rise of online games comes at a particular historical moment for social reasons as well as technological ones and prompts a wide array of questions. The transition of public life from common spaces to private ones is exemplified in the move of game play from arcades to homes. As our real-world civic and social institutions experience steady decay, what is the impact of transferring our social networks and communities into virtual spaces? Will games become our new third places, and how will that affect us? These are questions researchers can answer but ones that need to be addressed before ideologues, defenders, and attackers muddle empiricism.
Observation of Molecular Motion in Solid H 2 Below 4.2°K

NMR measurements in solid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ at low ortho concentrations between 0.4 and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K show that the equilibrium distribution of ortho molecules in the lattice is temperature dependent and is approached approximately exponentially in time at a given temperature. It is suggested that the rearrangement process occurs by means of ortho-para interchange.
The minimally invasive, endoscopic approach to sinus surgery

When anatomic abnormalities of the nose and sinuses contribute to sinusitis, and when medical therapy has failed, these anatomic or structural abnormalities can be surgically corrected. Examples of anatomic problems include nasal polyps, nasal septal deviations, and blockage of the osteomeatal complex--the "crossroads" of the sinuses. Endoscopic techniques allow sinus specialists to diagnose and treat these problems more easily than in the past, allowing them to be more proactive in the management of anatomic nasal abnormalities. In this article we review the minimally invasive, endoscopic approach to sinus surgery and discuss recent advances in sinus surgery. Specifically, we discuss the utility of powered instrumentation and image guidance in endoscopic sinus surgery.
Nonadiabatic frontal polymerization

Frontal polymerization is a process in which a spatially localized reaction zone propagates into a monomer, converting it into a polymer. In the simplest case of free-radical polymerization, a mixture of a monomer and initiator is placed into a test tube. Upon reaction initiation at one end of the tube a self-sustained thermal wave, in which chemical conversion occurs, develops and propagates through the tube. In a previous paper, a perfectly insulated tube (i.e., an adiabatic polymerization process) was considered. In reality, it is nearly impossible to eliminate heat losses completely, and an accurate model must take this into account. Extinction of polymerization waves and difficulties initiating the wave, both as a result of heat losses, are often encountered in experiments. This paper will therefore concentrate on nonadiabatic frontal polymerization. The propagation of nonadiabatic free-radical polymerization fronts is studied by methods originally developed in combustion theory, and employed in a previous paper. This analysis is accomplished by examination of the structure of the polymerization wave, its propagation velocity, degree of conversion of the monomer and maximum temperature, and how these quantities are affected by changes in initial temperature, concentrations and kinetic parameters. The values of these quantities near the extinction limit (beyond which traveling-wave solutions will no longer exist) are compared to those in the adiabatic case.
Stem cell biology and gene therapy

Stem Cell Systems: Basic Principles and Methodologies (S. Nilsson & P. Quesenberry). Cytokine/Growth Factor Responsiveness of Early Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells (A. Burgess). Molecular Mechanisms Controlling the Cell Cycle and Proliferation--Differentiation Interrelationships (G. Stein, et al.). Stem Cell Transcription (S. Weissman & A. Perkins). Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Proliferation, Purification and Clinical Applications (R. Pettengell & M. Moore). Delivery Systems for Gene Therapy: The Adenovirus (T. Shenk). Gene Transfer to Muscle and Spinal Cord Using Herpes Simplex Virus--Based Vectors (J. Huard, et al.). Herpes Virus Vectors (X. Breakefield, et al.). Delivery Systems for Gene Therapy: Adeno--Associated Virus (G. Kroner--Lux, et al.). Delivery Systems for Gene Therapy: Adeno--Associated Virus 2 (A. Srivastava). Ribozyme Gene Therapy Targeting Stem Cells for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (A. Ho, et al.). Elements of DNA Vaccine Design (M. Caufield & M. Liu). Development of Gene Therapy for Gaucher Disease (J. Barranger, et al.). Clinical Applications of Gene Therapy: Correction of Genetic Disease Affecting Hematopoietic Cells (J. Medin, et al.). Gene Therapy for Hemophilia (K. High). Clinical Applications of Gene Therapy: Anemias (G. Atweh & B. Forget). Clinical Applications of Gene Therapy in Cancer: Modification of Sensitivity to Therapeutic Agents (T. Licht, et al.). Clinical Applications of Gene Therapy: Brian Tumors (K. Culver & J. Van Gilder). Clinical Applications of Gene Therapy: Cardiovascular Disease (J. Fox). Applications of Gene Therapy to Neurological Diseases and Injuries (D. Choi--Lundberg & M. Bohn). Index.
Students' Perceptions of Family Influences on their Academic Motivation: A Qualitative Analysis.

Research examining family influences on student motivation and achievement in school has generally focused on parental influences and has often been limited to one or two variables (e.g., parental expectations or aspirations, parental involvement in schoolwork). In the present study we interviewed high school seniors to examine whether and how family members affected their academic motivation and achievement. Interviews were coded holistically for the strength, affective tone, source, and types of familial influence. Emergent themes from the interview analyses revealed that students perceived a broad range of types and sources of familial influence on motivation. Interviews were divided into five prototypical patterns: Family Obligation, Family Pleasing, Family Support, Aversive Influence, and No Influence. The types of familial influence differed by cultural characteristics (generational status, native country) and by achievement level. Associations between the five patterns of family influence and existing theories of family influence are discussed.
Rudra Interrupts Receptor Signaling Complexes to Negatively Regulate the IMD Pathway

Insects rely primarily on innate immune responses to fight pathogens. In Drosophila, antimicrobial peptides are key contributors to host defense. Antimicrobial peptide gene expression is regulated by the IMD and Toll pathways. Bacterial peptidoglycans trigger these pathways, through recognition by peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs). DAP-type peptidoglycan triggers the IMD pathway via PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE, while lysine-type peptidoglycan is an agonist for the Toll pathway through PGRP-SA and PGRP-SD. Recent work has shown that the intensity and duration of the immune responses initiating with these receptors is tightly regulated at multiple levels, by a series of negative regulators. Through two-hybrid screening with PGRP-LC, we identified Rudra, a new regulator of the IMD pathway, and demonstrate that it is a critical feedback inhibitor of peptidoglycan receptor signaling. Following stimulation of the IMD pathway, rudra expression was rapidly induced. In cells, RNAi targeting of rudra caused a marked up-regulation of antimicrobial peptide gene expression. rudra mutant flies also hyper-activated antimicrobial peptide genes and were more resistant to infection with the insect pathogen Erwinia carotovora carotovora. Molecularly, Rudra was found to bind and interfere with both PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE, disrupting their signaling complex. These results show that Rudra is a critical component in a negative feedback loop, whereby immune-induced gene expression rapidly produces a potent inhibitor that binds and inhibits pattern recognition receptors.
Distributed ARTMAP: a neural network for fast distributed supervised learning

Distributed coding at the hidden layer of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) endows the network with memory compression and noise tolerance capabilities. However, an MLP typically requires slow off-line learning to avoid catastrophic forgetting in an open input environment. An adaptive resonance theory (ART) model is designed to guarantee stable memories even with fast on-line learning. However, ART stability typically requires winner-take-all coding, which may cause category proliferation in a noisy input environment. Distributed ARTMAP (dARTMAP) seeks to combine the computational advantages of MLP and ART systems in a real-time neural network for supervised learning. An implementation algorithm here describes one class of dARTMAP networks. This system incorporates elements of the unsupervised dART model, as well as new features, including a content-addressable memory (CAM) rule for improved contrast control at the coding field. A dARTMAP system reduces to fuzzy ARTMAP when coding is winner-take-all. Simulations show that dARTMAP retains fuzzy ARTMAP accuracy while significantly improving memory compression.
Young toddlers' word comprehension is flexible and efficient.

Much of what is known about word recognition in toddlers comes from eyetracking studies. Here we show that the speed and facility with which children recognize words, as revealed in such studies, cannot be attributed to a task-specific, closed-set strategy; rather, children’s gaze to referents of spoken nouns reflects successful search of the lexicon. Toddlers’ spoken word comprehension was examined in the context of pictures that had two possible names (such as a cup of juice which could be called “cup” or “juice”) and pictures that had only one likely name for toddlers (such as “apple”), using a visual world eye-tracking task and a picture-labeling task (n = 77, mean age, 21 months). Toddlers were just as fast and accurate in fixating named pictures with two likely names as pictures with one. If toddlers do name pictures to themselves, the name provides no apparent benefit in word recognition, because there is no cost to understanding an alternative lexical construal of the picture. In toddlers, as in adults, spoken words rapidly evoke their referents.
Effect of Compressive Stress on Electrochemical Performance of Silicon Anodes

In this study, we report on the effect that an externally applied compressive stress has on the electrochemical performance of Sianodes.Usingthecompressionofanall-solid-statecellasaconvenientformatforsimulatingvolumeconﬁnement,theelectrochemicalperformance of Si anodes as a function of externally applied compressive stress has been systematically investigated. We verify thatthe extent of Si lithiation is limited by conﬁning the free volume expansion of nano-Si particles. Volume conﬁnement of Si particlesis manifested as an overpotentialand results in a stable anode forlithium-ion batteries. These results are foundationaland lead to thebest understanding to date of the complex electrochemomechanics of a Si-based anode.© 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.064301jes] All rights reserved.Manuscript submitted September 12, 2012; revised manuscript received October 22, 2012. Published November 7, 2012.
Immunogenicity of panitumumab in combination chemotherapy clinical trials

Panitumumab is a fully human antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor that is indicated for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after disease progression on standard chemotherapy. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the immunogenicity of panitumumab and to evaluate the effect of anti-panitumumab antibodies on pharmacokinetic and safety profiles in patients with mCRC receiving panitumumab in combination with oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapies. Three validated assays (two screening immunoassays and a neutralizing antibody bioassay) were used to detect the presence of anti-panitumumab antibodies in serum samples collected from patients enrolled in four panitumumab combination chemotherapy clinical trials. The impact of anti-panitumumab antibodies on pharmacokinetic and safety profiles was analyzed using population pharmacokinetic analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively. Of 1124 patients treated with panitumumab in combination with oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy with postbaseline samples available for testing, 20 (1.8%) patients developed binding antibodies and 2 (0.2%) developed neutralizing antibodies. The incidence of anti-panitumumab antibodies was similar in patients with tumors expressing wild-type or mutant KRAS and in patients receiving oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapies. No evidence of an altered pharmacokinetic or safety profile was found in patients who tested positive for anti-panitumumab antibodies. The immunogenicity of panitumumab in the combination chemotherapy setting was infrequent and similar to the immunogenicity observed in the monotherapy setting. Panitumumab immunogenicity did not appear to alter pharmacokinetic or safety profiles. This low rate of immunogenicity may be attributed to the fully human nature of panitumumab. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00339183 (study 20050181), NCT00411450 (study 20060277), NCT00332163 (study 20050184), and NCT00364013 (study 20050203).
Multi-modal examination of psychological and interpersonal distinctions among MPI coping clusters: A preliminary study

The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) is a widely used instrument to characterize distinct psychosocial subgroups of patients with chronic pain: Adaptive (AC), Dysfunctional (DYS), and Interpersonally Distressed (ID). To date, several questions remain about the validity and distinctiveness of the patient clusters and continued scientific attention has strongly been recommended. It is unclear if AC patients experience better adjustment or merely present themselves favorably. Moreover, differences in psychological distress and interpersonal relations between DYS and ID patients are equivocal. The present study is the first to utilize comprehensive informant ratings to extend prior validity research on the MPI. We employed a multi-modal methodology consisting of patient self-report, parallel informant ratings, and behavioral measures. Ninety-nine patients with chronic pain, their partners, and providers participated. They completed measures of patients’ psychological distress and social relations. We also systematically observed patients’ pain behavior. Results provided strong support for the validity of the AC cluster in that patients’ positive adaptation was reliably corroborated by informants. The differentiating characteristics between the two maladaptive clusters, however, remain elusive. We found evidence that DYS patients’ distress appeared to be illness-specific rather than generalized; however, both clusters were equally associated with social distress and partner caregiver burden.
Identifying bus stop redundancy: A gis-based spatial optimization approach

Abstract Transit planners are often faced with a tradeoff between improving accessibility through the addition of stops while simultaneously increasing efficiency so that destinations can be reached in a reasonable amount of time. In this paper, we propose the development of an optimization framework integrated within a Geographical Information System (GIS) for addressing this specific problem. Our proposed modeling framework departs from well-known facility location coverage models by considering both the impact of walking distance from an individual residential location to a stop and the transit facility attractiveness (ease to cross, number of destinations served). Integration within a GIS environment is accomplished using a simulated annealing heuristic. An example on an inbound urban bus route illustrates the utility of the approach for transit planning, using model parameters developed in collaboration with local transit agencies.
Modulation of TASK-1 (Kcnk3) and TASK-3 (Kcnk9) Potassium Channels VOLATILE ANESTHETICS AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS SHARE A MOLECULAR SITE OF ACTION

TASK-1 and TASK-3, members of the two-pore-domain channel family, are widely expressed leak potassium channels responsible for maintenance of cell membrane potential and input resistance. They are sites of action for a variety of modulatory agents, including volatile anesthetics and neurotransmitters/hormones, the latter acting via mechanisms that have remained elusive. To clarify these mechanisms, we generated mutant channels and found that alterations disrupting anesthetic (halothane) activation of these channels also disrupted transmitter (thyrotropin-releasing hormone, TRH) inhibition and did so to a similar degree. For both TASK-1 and TASK-3, mutations (substitutions with corresponding residues from TREK-1) in a six-residue sequence at the beginning of the cytoplasmic C terminus virtually abolished both anesthetic activation and transmitter inhibition. The only sequence motif identified with a classical signaling mechanism in this region is a potential phosphorylation site; however, mutation of this site failed to disrupt modulation. TASK-1 and TASK-3 differed insofar as a large portion of the C terminus was necessary for the full effects of halothane and TRH on TASK-3 but not on TASK-1. Finally, tandem-linked TASK-1/TASK-3 heterodimeric channels were fully modulated by anesthetic and transmitter, and introduction of the identified mutations either into the TASK-1 or the TASK-3 portion of the channel was sufficient to disrupt both effects. Thus, both anesthetic activation and transmitter inhibition of these channels require a region at the interface between the final transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic C terminus that has not been associated previously with receptor signal transduction. Our results also indicate a close molecular relationship between these two forms of modulation, one endogenous and the other clinically applied.
Hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently occur together, and their coexistence markedly enhances the risk for cardiovascular and renal disease. Each plays an important role in the metabolic syndrome, in which insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are features of both diseases. Objective: This article discusses the loss of hormonal homeostasis due to insulin resistance and the relationships among the triad of hypertension, type 2 DM, and cardiovascular disease. Methods: An online PubMed database search of articles published from 1994 to 2005 was conducted using search terms that included hypertension, type 2 DM , and cardiovascular disease . Relevant articles were studied and summarized in combination with the existing knowledge and expertise of the authors. Results: There is increasing evidence that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is activated at the local-tissue level in patients with type 2 DM, as a result of insulin resistance, glucotoxicity, and other metabolic abnormalities. The common fertile soil of insulin resistance and lost hormonal homeostasis (genetic and environmentally driven) links these two entities. Multiple metabolic toxicities contribute to the strong association of an underlying oxidative-redox stress and reactive oxygen species, resulting in endothelial dysfunction and microalbuminuria. Because microalbuminuria is a precursor to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic renal disease, it is important to screen for its presence in each patient with hypertension and type 2 DM. Conclusions: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade is the cornerstone in managing these abnormalities; however, in type 2 DM, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or the angiotensin receptor blockers seldom control the elevated blood pressure when used as monotherapy. Therefore, combination therapy with ≥2 antihypertensive agents, including thiazide diuretics, β-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, is required to reach the established blood pressure goal of
Comparison of Tribological Performances of High Density Polyethylene Enhanced With Carbon Nanofibers

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is widely used as bearing material in industrial application because of its low friction and high wear resistance properties. Carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforced HDPE nanocomposites are promising materials for biomedical applications as well, such as being the bearing materials in total joint replacements. The main objective of the present study is to investigate how the wear of HDPE can be altered by the addition of either pristine or silane treated CNFs at different loading levels (0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.%). Two types of silane coating thicknesses, 2.8 nm and 46 nm, were applied on the surfaces of oxidized CNFs to improve the interfacial bonding strength between the CNFs and the matrix. The CNF/HDPE nanocomposites were prepared through melt mixing and hot-pressing. The coefficients of friction (COFs) and wear rates of the neat HDPE and CNF/HDPE nanocomposites were determined using a pin-on-disc tribometer under dry sliding conditions. The microstructures of the worn surfaces of the nanocomposites were characterized using both scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope to analyze their wear mechanisms. Compared with the neat HDPE, the COF of the nanocomposites were reduced. The nanocomposite reinforced with CNFs coated with the thicker silane coating (46 nm) at 0.5 wt.% loading level was found to yield the highest wear resistance with a wear rate reduction of nearly 68% compared to the neat HDPE.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Proton transfer between Cl− and C6H5OH. OH bond energy of phenol

Abstract The gas phase acidity of phenol, C 6 H 5 OH, is measured relative to the gas phase acidity of hydrogen chloride, HCl, using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry techniques. The reaction endoergicity for the proton transfer reaction Cl − + C 6 H 5 OH → C 6 H 5 O − + HCl is measured, Δ r H 0 = 75 ± 13 kJ/mol. Using well-established thermochemical constants, the gas phase acidity of phenol, Δ acid H 0 = 1466 ± 13 kJ/mol or Δ acid H 298 = 1471 ± 13 kJ/mol, and the phenol bond dissociation energy, D 0 (C 6 H 5 OH) = 371 ± 13 kJ/mol or D 298 (C 6 H 5 OH) = 377 ± 13 kJ/mol, are derived. Our guided ion beam results are compared with previous experiments, showing good agreement with equilibrium gas phase acidity values and resolving an ambiguity in the bond dissociation energy. Reaction path energetics are studied by examining collision-induced dissociation of the phenol-chloride adduct and with ab initio calculations.
Characterization of New Yeast Lipases

Previously, we used a simple, sensitive agar plate method to screen lipase activity from 1229 selected cultures, including 508 bacteria, 479 yeasts, 230 actinomycetes and 12 fungi, that covered many genera and species. About 25% of the cultures tested were lipase-positive. We also expanded our screening method to focus specifically on the pH dependence and thermostability of these lipase activities. In this report, we have characterized 25 yeast lipases, obtained from our screening program, on the basis of their positional specificity against triglycerides. Lipase was produced by growing cultures on nutrient medium in the presence of vegetable oil at 25°C for 4 d. Of the 25 new yeast lipases analyzed, 19 showed 1,3-positional specificity and 6 showed random specificity. No 2-positional specific lipases were found. Among those cultures with highest lipase activity are: Candida silvicola NRRL YB-2846 (random); Candida sp. 55 (random); Candida sp. 125 (random); Pichia americana NRRL Y-2156 (1,3-specific); P. muscicola NRRL Y-7005 (random); P. petersanii NRRL YB-3808 (1,3-specific); and Yarrowia lipolytica NRRL YB-423 (random). Characterization of Candida sp. strain 55 lipase on its substrate preference showed that this enzyme hydrolyzed soybean oil triglyceride species LLLn, LLL, LLO, and LLP more readily than LOO, LOP, OOO, LOS, and POO, where L=linoleic, Ln=linolenic, O=oleic, P=palmitic, and S=stearin.
Tunneling magnetoresistance from a symmetry filtering effect

This paper provides a brief overview of the young, but rapidly growing field of spintronics. Its primary objective is to explain how as electrons tunnel through simple insulators such as MgO, wavefunctions of certain symmetries are preferentially transmitted. This symmetry filtering property can be converted into a spin-filtering property if the insulator is joined epitaxially to a ferromagnetic electrode with the same two-dimensional symmetry parallel to the interface. A second requirement of the ferromagnetic electrodes is that a wavefunction with the preferred symmetry exists in one of the two spin channels but not in the other. These requirements are satisfied for electrons traveling perpendicular to the interface for Fe-MgO-Fe tunnel barriers. This leads to a large change in the resistance when the magnetic moment of one of the electrodes is rotated relative to those of the other electrode. This large tunneling magnetoresistance effect is being used as the read sensor in hard drives and may form the basis for a new type of magnetic memory.
Knowledge, consensus, and rhetorical theory

(1976). Knowledge, consensus, and rhetorical theory. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 1-14.
Microwave instability as a coherent light source

We suggest that the coherent radiation observed recently at SURF II and the National Snychrotron Light Source vacuum ultraviolet ring is due to coherent microwave instability or, equivalently, to {open_quotes}microbunching{close_quotes} of the electron beams in the storage rings. We formulate in this paper the problem of microwave instability in the time domain. A linear homogeneous integro-differential equation for the perturbed current distribution is derived to describe the microwave coherent motion inside the electron bunch. For a specific band-limited high-frequency impedance, the equation can be diagonalized analytically and the eigensolution manifests explicitly the characteristics of microbunching. Coherent radiation power is also calculated for this solvable model, assuming the instability to be initiated by the shot noise inherent in the electron beam. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
EFFECTS OF IRON ON CHLOROPHYLLOUS PIGMENTS, ASCORBIC ACID, ACIDITY AND CARBOHYDRATES OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR., SUPPLIED WITH NITRATE OR AMMONIUM SALTS.

In a former paper (12) data were presented on the effects of iron on growth, certain physiochemical properties, and ash constituents of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. The present paper is concerned with data from the same plants pertaining to the amounts and distribution of chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, dextrose, l?vulose, sucrose, starch, the pentosan and hexosan fractions of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignins in different sections of the leaves, stem, and roots.
Magnesium-Ion Modulates the Sensitivity of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore to Cyclosporine-A and ADP

Abstract Regulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been investigated following the release of matrix solutes which normally participate in pore regulation. Under these conditions, neither cyclosporin A nor ADP induces pore closure, as judged by restoration of Δ Ψ, unless Mg2+ is also added. Mg2+ alone is ineffective. In liver mitochondria, the Mg2+ effect is expressed over a 0 to 0.5 mM concentration range with higher concentrations inhibiting repolarization. In heart mitochondria, the inhibitory action of high Mg2+ is not seen and it can be shown that the Mg2+ effect on repolarization increases progressively up to a concentration of 5 mM. In liver mitochondria, when the pore is closed by maximally effective concentrations of Mg2+ plus cyclosporin A or Mg2+ plus ADP, reopening occurs upon the addition of carboxyatractyloside. The latter compound, however, fails to reopen the pore when Mg2+, cyclosporin A, and ADP are present simultaneously. In heart mitochondria, where higher Mg2+ concentrations can be employed, Mg2+ plus cyclosporin A or Mg2+ plus ADP produces pore closure in a carboxyatractyloside insensitive manner. Titration experiments support the adenine nucleotide translocase as the site at which carboxyatractyloside acts to regulate the pore. However, the action of ADP appears to involve a translocase-independent site. In intact mitochondria the action of carboxyatractyloside on pore opening is counteracted by oligomycin, apparently through inhibition of the F1F0 ATP synthase, with a consequent increase in the matrix space ADP/ATP ratio. It is concluded that the permeability transition pore induced by Ca2+ plus Pi is not formed from the adenine nucleotide translocase although the translocase conformation is one of several factors which regulate the pore. The matrix Mg2+ concentration is also one of these factors. Formation of the pore by a Ca2+ and ADP binding protein is one model which is consistent with the present data.
A comparison in the quality of care among legally coerced and voluntary clients in outpatient substance abuse treatment programs

Methods This study used data from the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES). The NTIES was a prospective study of the impact of treatment programs on persons in publicly funded substance abuse treatment program. Subjects for this study were from outpatient non-methadone and non-correctional settings (N = 1,439) from 31 different treatment programs. Objective quality of care was measured by the presence of a treatment plan, whether subjects were in agreement with the treatment goals, and the proportion of service needs that were matched. Subjective quality was measured using an indicator of overall treatment satisfaction. The primary analytic strategy was multilevel linear and logistic modeling.
Microvolt T-wave alternans: an effective approach to risk stratification in ischemic cardiomyopathy?

Microvolt T-wave alternans: an effective approach to risk stratification in ischemic cardiomyopathy?
Comparative acute ototoxicity of intravenous bumetanide and furosemide in the pure-bred beagle.

The effects of various doses of intravenous bumetanide and furosemide on the N1 and cochlear microphonics (CM) of beagles were determined in a quantitative (statistical) manner. Serum concentrations of these two “loop” diuretics were also determined at 3.5 min after the injections in the majority of the animals. The dose-response relationships of the N1 depressions to bumetanide and furosemide are parallel; those of the CM depressions are also parallel but have a much shallower slope than those of the N1 depressions. With both drugs, N1 depression occurs at lower doses than does CM depression. When multiple linear regression analysis is performed, the N1 depression produced by a particular dose of bumetanide or furosemide is found to bear a linear relationship to the CM depression produced. This finding supports the postulate that the cochlear site and mechanism of ototoxic action of the “loop” diuretics are directed at an earlier step of the cochlear transduction process than N1. Serum concentrations of bumetanide and furosemide increase linearly with the doses of the two drugs, except for the highest dose given (100 mg/kg for both drugs). The serum concentrations at that dose of both drugs are lower than the mathematically predicted values. Histological (light microscopic) examination of the cochleas did not reveal any significant pathological changes produced in the stria vascularis, outer and inner hair cells, afferent and efferent nerve terminals, or the spiral ganglia and efferent nerve bundles. Using N1 depression as the gross electrophysiologic index of ototoxicity, the acute ototoxic potency of bumetanide in beagles is approximately 6.5 times that of furosemide whereas its diuretic potency is 40–60 times that of furosemide. Therefore, when clinical dosages of the two drugs are considered, the relative, acute ototoxic potency of bumetanide in the beagle is 0.11–0.16 that of furosemide. This range is identical to the relative ototoxic potency of 0.11–0.16 previously obtained in the cat.
Fruit and vegetable allergy in children

Abstract Rationale Fruit and vegetable allergy is common in pollen allergic adults. We sought to characterize plant food allergy in children. Methods Chart reviews of children with fruit/vegetable allergy evaluated at Mount Sinai Allergy Clinic from 2000 to 2002 and telephone interviews were performed. Results Ninety five patients were identified, and 69 were enrolled. Participants were median 11 years old (range, infancy to 18), reported onset of fruit/vegetable allergy at a median age of 5 years (range, infancy to 16) and reacted to a median of 5 fruits/vegetables (range, 1 to 20). A total of 383 fruit/vegetable reactions were reported; 52% occurred to foods typically associated with birch (apple, carrot, peach) and 33% with ragweed pollen (cantaloupe, banana, honeydew). Symptoms were predominantly limited to oropharyngeal mucosa but progression was reported in 4 children; 2 developed respiratory or cardiovascular reactions to carrots, 1 had generalized urticaria to carrot, broccoli and cauliflower, and 1 developed severe throat angioedema to tomato. Additionally, 9 children reported 14 initial systemic reactions to 11 foods, 5 of which do not have a well established cross-reactivity with pollen. Generalized urticaria occurred in 10 reactions, 1 also associated with cough. Respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms occurred in 4 reactions, one of which was caused by carrot. Conclusions Fruit/vegetable allergy in children is similar to that in adults; symptoms are generally mild and associated with pollen-rhinitis. Systemic reactions occur rarely and may be more common with carrot and with foods not classically cross-reactive with pollen.
Changes in neighbourhood food store environment, food behaviour and body mass index, 1981--1990.

Objective: This paper examines trends in the neighbourhood food store environment (defined by the number and geographic density of food stores of each type in a neighbourhood), and in food consumption behaviour and overweight risk of 5779 men and women. Design: The study used data gathered by the Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program in four cross-sectional surveys conducted from 1981 to 1990. Setting: Four mid-sized cities in agricultural regions of California. Subjects: In total, 3154 women and 2625 men, aged 25‐74 years. Results: From 1981 to 1990, there were large increases in the number and density of neighbourhood stores selling sweets, pizza stores, small grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. During this period, the percentage of women and men who adopted healthy food behaviours increased but so did the percentage who adopted less healthy food behaviours. The percentage who were obese increased by 28% in women and 24% in men. Conclusion: Findings point to increases in neighbourhood food stores that generally offer mostly unhealthy foods, and also to the importance of examining other food pattern changes that may have a substantial impact on obesity, such as large increases in portion sizes during the 1980s.
Local delivery of c-myb antisense oligonucleotides during balloon angioplasty.

Intraluminal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to c-myb was assessed following balloon angioplasty in swine peripheral arteries. Successful delivery and intramural persistence of oligonucleotide for over 24 h were demonstrated following angioplasty with hydrogel balloons coated with 32P-labeled antisense. Delivery of fluorescein-labeled antisense demonstrated further localization within the arterial media and intracellularly. Preliminary in vitro studies demonstrated the feasibility of inhibition of porcine lymphocyte proliferation using the murine antisense to c-myb. Twelve iliac or carotid arteries underwent angioplasty with antisense-coated balloons, while the contralateral vessels underwent angioplasty with the same-sized balloons coated with the complementary sense strand. Six to seven days later, dilated arterial segments were surgically isolated. In 10 of 12 vessel pairs, antisense-treated vessels demonstrated less cellular proliferation than did contralateral sense-treated vessels, as assessed by quantitative immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and smooth muscle cell proliferation was reduced 18% in antisense-treated vessels compared to the contralateral sense-treated vessels (PCNA-positive nuclear area: 7.7 ± 4.9% vs. 9.3 ± 5.2%, P < 0.04). Intraluminal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to c-myb is feasible with a catheter-based system and may reduce smooth muscle cell proliferation following arterial injury. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 41:232–240, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diurnal Variation of Blood Pressure in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes - Dippers and Non-Dippers

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of impaired nocturnal BP fall in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Thirty-six normoalbuminuric normotensive adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (19 males, 17 females) aged 14.4 +/- 2.1 years (mean +/- SD) with duration of 4.0 (2.6-7.5) years (median (25-75th percentile)) and 23 controls (11 males, 12 females) aged 15.0 +/- 1.6 years were studied. Day/night BP variation was examined using Ambulatory Accutracker II Monitor (Raleigh, NC). Recordings were made at 30 min intervals during the day and 60 min intervals during the night. Time records were set according to individual diaries. There was no significant difference in day and night systolic or diastolic BP or in mean day/night BP variability between patients with Type 1 diabetes and control subjects. 15/36 patients compared to 3/23 controls (chi squared = 5.43, p < 0.02) were non-dippers defined as a nocturnal fall in either systolic (13/36) or diastolic (6/36) BP or both (4/36) of less than 10%. These non-dippers had normal day-night ratio of heart rate when compared with the remainder of the patients or controls. In conclusion a significant number of young normotensive normoalbuminuric patients with Type 1 diabetes show an impaired fall in blood pressure at night, predominantly in systolic BP. These changes may be relevant to the long-term development of macrovascular or microvascular disease.
A Structural Analysis of Dominant Coalitions in Small Banks

This study examined the orientations of 125 executive officers and board members from seven financial institutions concerning the composition of their firm’s sociometrically-defined dominant coalitions. Hypotheses testing found that in seven small banks, dominant coalition members could be distinguished from non-members by their orientation toward internal organizational factors. In contrast to prior research, the study found no evidence of a significant relationship between board members’ tenure, relative to that of the CEO, and their membership in the organization S dominant coalition.
Double dislocation pole model for deformation twinning in f.c.c. lattices

A double dislocation pole model is proposed for deformation twinning in f.c.c. lattice structures. Operation of the twinning source proposed occurs when the passing stress that poses a high energy barrier to the nucleation and growth of a twin is surmounted by thermal activation. Orowan stress barriers are also involved in the twinning process and reduce the twin nucleation and growth rates.
Progress report: the prevalence of required medical school instruction in musculoskeletal medicine at decade's end.

Background In a 2003 report, required courses in musculoskeletal medicine were found in only 65 of the 122 medical schools in the United States. Since then, national efforts to promote musculoskeletal medicine education were led by the US Bone and Joint Decade, the American Medical Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the National Board of Medical Examiners, among others. Whether these efforts resulted in any changes in curricula is unclear.
Effects of 3'deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) and 2'deoxyadenosine on nucleoside transport, macromolecular synthesis, and replication of cultured Novikoff hepatoma cells.

Abstract 3′Deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) inhibits the incorporation of uridine and adenosine into RNA and, to a lesser extent, DNA by Novikoff rat hepatoma cells growing in suspension culture without affecting the intracellular phosphorylation of the nucleosides to the triphosphate level. Although 3′deoxyadenosine competitively inhibits adenosine and uridine transport into the cell, this effect plays a minor role in its inhibition of nucleoside incorporation into nucleic acids. In contrast, 2′deoxyadenosine inhibits uridine and adenosine incorporation into nucleic acids in direct proportion to its effect on nucleoside transport and it is three to four times more effective as competitive inhibitor of nucleoside transport than is 3′deoxyadenosine. The latter inhibits preferentially the synthesis of ribosomal precursor RNA and transfer RNA, whereas the synthesis of heterogeneous nucleoplasmic RNA is little affected. It also inhibits to a much greater extent uridine incorporation into CMP than UMP of RNA. In addition, 3′deoxyadenosine inhibits amino acid incorporation into protein to about the same extent as DNA synthesis and, at 0.4 m m , stops very rapidly and completely cell division. These and other results suggest that most of the multiple effects of 3′deoxyadenosine might be related to an interference by 3′deoxyadenosine nucleotides with various normal functions of ATP and 2′deATP.
Seven graphic sins

Graphics are very powerful. They have tremendous impact. On any given page, the graphic is the thing that readers notice first. Because of this power, graphics may either communicate information powerfully, or interfere with communication, equally powerfully. It is my contention, and the basis for this paper, that graphics are either information or noise. Noise is anything which interferes with the flow of information from page to reader. This means that graphics aren’t neutral they’re either helping or hindering. In other words, the graphics we put in our presentations and documents can do as much harm as they can good. I’ve categorized seven ways in which we use graphics to foul up otherwise good presentations. They are the seven graphic sins: l Using the wrong graphic for the purpose
Empirical confidence intervals for USDA commodity price forecasts

Conventional procedures for calculating confidence limits of forecasts generated by statistical models provide little guidance for forecasts based on a combination or a consensus process rather than formal models, as is the case with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts. This study applied and compared several procedures for calculating empirical confidence intervals for USDA forecasts of corn, soybean and wheat prices over the 1980/81 through 2006/07 marketing years. Alternative procedures were compared based on out-of-sample performance over 1995/96 through 2006/07. The results of this study demonstrate that kernel density, quantile distribution and best fitting parametric distribution (logistic) methods provided confidence intervals calibrated at the 80% level prior to harvest and 90% level after harvest. The kernel density-based method appears most accurate both before and after harvest with the final value falling inside the forecast interval 77% of the time before harvest and 92% after harv...
Anonymous Data Collection in Sensor Networks

Sensor networks involving human participants will require privacy protection before wide deployment is feasible. This paper proposes and evaluates a set of protocols that enable anonymous data collection in a sensor network. Sensor nodes, instead of transmitting their actual data, transmit a sample of the data complement to a basestation. The basestation then uses the negative samples to reconstruct a histogram of the original sensor readings. These protocols, collectively defined as a negative survey, are computationally simple and do not increase communication overhead. Thus, the negative survey can be implemented efficiently on existing sensor network platforms. We analyze the accuracy of the negative survey under a variety of conditions and define a range of parameter values for which it is practical. We also describe an example traffic monitoring application that uses the negative survey to classify traffic behavior. We demonstrate that for reasonable traffic scenarios, the system accurately classifies traffic behavior without revealing private information.
Predictors of Long Term Outcomes in Symptomatic Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Patients Undergoing Surgical Relief of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction

Background—We report the predictors of long-term outcomes of symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing surgical relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Methods and Results—We studied 699 consecutive patients who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with severe symptomatic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (47±11 years, 63% male) intractable to maximal medical therapy, who were referred to a tertiary hospital between January 1997 and December 2007 for the surgical relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We excluded patients <18 years of age, those with an ejection fraction <50%, those with hypertensive heart disease of the elderly, and those with more than mild aortic or mitral stenosis. Clinical, echocardiographic, and Holter data were recorded. A composite end point of death, appropriate internal cardioverter defibrillator discharges, resuscitated from sudden death, documented stroke, and admission for congestive heart failure was recorded. During a mean...
Induced defensive response of myrtle oak to foliar insect herbivory in ambient and elevated CO2.

The rising level of atmospheric CO2 has stimulated several recent studies attempting to predict the effects of increased CO2 on ecological communities. However, most of these studies have been conducted in the benign conditions of the laboratory and in the absence of herbivores. In the current study, we utilized large octagonal chambers, which enclosed portions of an intact scrub-oak community to investigate the interactive effects of CO2 and insect herbivory on myrtle oak, Quercus myrtifolia. Specifically, we assessed the effects of ambient and elevated CO2 (2× current concentrations) on percent foliar nitrogen, C:N ratio, total relative foliar tannin content, and the presence of leaf damage caused by leaf mining and leaf chewing insects that feed on myrtle oak. Total foliar N declined and C:N ratios increased significantly in oaks in elevated CO2 chambers. The percentages of leaves damaged by either leafminers or leaf chewers tended to be lower in elevated compared to ambient chambers, but they co-occurred on leaves less than expected, regardless of CO2 treatment. Leaves that had been either mined or chewed exhibited a similar wounding or defensive response; they had an average of 25 and 21% higher protein binding ability, which is correlated with tannin concentration, compared to nondamaged control leaves, respectively. While the protein-binding ability (expressed as total percent tannin) of leaves from elevated CO2 was slightly higher than from leaves grown in ambient chambers, this difference was not significant.
Lactobacillus Sepsis Associated With Probiotic Therapy: In Reply

In Reply .— We thank Kunz et al for their update and comments regarding our article1 describing 2 cases of bacteremia complicating Lactobacillus probiotic ingestion. Reference …