cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Compliance with Naltrexone Among Alcoholics

Objective: Naltrexone has been found to be an effective adjunct to treatment to reduce the rate of drinking among alcoholics. However, adherence to the medication has been of considerable concern; the high rates of noncompliance with the medication limits the benefits that could potentially be realized from this pharmacotherapy. Knowledge of predictors of noncompliance could result in interventions targeted at these variables. Method: Participants were 128 alcohol-dependent patients who participated in a clinical placebocontrolled trial of naltrexone. Upon discharge from a 1- to 2-week partial hospital program, patients were randomly placed into 12 weeks of naltrexone (50 mg/day) or placebo (n= 64 per condition). Patients met with a physician and a research assistant weekly for 4 weeks then biweekly for 8 weeks. Results: Compliance (number of days taking medication) was not predicted by demographic or pretreatment alcohol use variables. Number and severity of side effects in the first week, particularly nausea and fatigue, predicted early termination. Compliance was not predicted by commitment to abstinence or self-efficacy about abstinence, but was greater among patients who believed more strongly that the medication would help them stay sober. Compliance was not predicted by general level of urge to drink during the first week on medication but compliance was greater among those with a higher urge to drink in response to alcohol stimuli in the laboratory. Conclusions: Implications for approaches to increase compliance include reducing side effects and increasing patients’beliefs in the efficacy of naltrexone.
Parsimonious prediction of Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised memory indices.

The Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R ; D. Wechsler, 1987) represents a significant improvement over the original WMS ( D. Wechsler, 1945). However, its usefulness is diminished by the increased administration time, and the incremental validity of the new subtests is questionable. Using a sample of 308 patients referred for neuropsychological evaluation, two regression equations were developed to predict weighted raw score sums for General Memory (GM) and Delayed Recall (DR), using the WMS-R analogs of 5 subtests from the original WMS. Predicted scores were within ±6 points of actual performance for 92% of the sample for GM and for 96% of the sample for DR. Application of these equations to the WMS-R standardization sample subtest means produced estimated GM indices ranging from 96 to 103 and estimated DR indices ranging from 98 to 101 across age groups. These regression equations may prove useful for reducing WMS-R administration time without an appreciable decline in accuracy.
Lagrangian theory for 3D vortex sheets with axial or helical symmetry

Abstract Consider a three-dimensional vortex sheet in inviscid, incompressible flow which is irrotational away from the sheet. We derive an equation for the evolution of a vortex sheet in Lagrangian coordinates, i.e. an equation that is restricted to the sheet itself and is analogous to the Birkhoff-Rott equation for a two-dimensional (planar) sheet. This general equation is specialized to sheets with axial or helical symmetry, with or without swirl.
Teaching ideal fluid flows with personal computers

Abstract The subject of ideal fluid flows forms the basis for much of theoretical and applied aerodynamics and is, therefore, an indispensable element in an accredited curriculum in aerospace engineering. Traditionally, students encountering this subject for the first time have been frustrated by the level of mathematics required to model the most simple flow configurations, and the general difficulty they experience in graphically portraying such flows by classical methods. In recent times, more and more students enter this course either in possession of, or having ready access to, personal computers and a great predisposition toward using them. In this paper we present the results of an approach to teaching this subject that makes use of the finite difference method of flow calculations. This allows the student to graphically visualize each flow of interest as he or she progresses through the course. The algorithm itself is straightforward and an easy one to master conceptually, and the students have little difficulty creating and modifying their own programs as the need arises. This approach also serves as a natural transition from classical flow methodology to the modern field of computational aerodynamics. A number of examples are presented and discussed. It is found that this methodology provides a means of calculating pressure distributions with ease, and can be applied to virtually all flows encountered in potential fluid flow theory, including those derived from conformai transformations.
A Practical Algorithmic Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules: Part 1: Radiologic Characteristics and Imaging Modalities

The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is frequently encountered on chest imaging and poses an important diagnostic challenge to clinicians. The differential diagnosis is broad, ranging from benign granulomata and infectious processes to malignancy. Important concepts in the evaluation of SPNs include the definition, morphologic characteristics via appropriate imaging modalities, and the calculation of pretest probability of malignancy. Morphologic differentiation of SPN into solid or subsolid types is important in the choice of follow-up and further management. In this first part of a two-part series, we describe the morphologic characteristics and various imaging modalities available to further characterize SPN. In Part 2, we will describe the determination of pretest probability of malignancy and an algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of SPN.
Is intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring necessary with ipsilateral parathyroid gland visualization during anticipated unilateral exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism: A two-institution analysis of more than 2,000 patients

Introduction Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) monitoring during focused parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is used commonly, but some argue that ioPTH adds little if a normal ipsilateral parathyroid gland (IPG) is visualized. This hypothesis was tested for validity. Methods The prospective databases of consecutive patients with PHPT undergoing initial parathyroidectomy with ioPTH at two academic institutions were queried. Patients with ectopic adenoma, familial PHPT, previous parathyroidectomy, planned bilateral exploration, or Results From 1998 to 2013, 2,162 patients met inclusion criteria, and the rate of persistent disease was 1.5%. Most (n = 1,353; 63.5%) underwent single-gland resection with ioPTH and no IPG visualization, with 1% persistence. Among patients with a single adenoma resected and a normal IPG visualized, 15.2% had contralateral disease. Resection based on IPG appearance alone would have resulted in 13% persistent disease. Conclusion In PHPT, the cure rate for initial unilateral exploration guided by ioPTH is 98.5% versus a predicted rate of 87% when decision making is based on IPG appearance alone. Routine visualization of IPG is not necessary during exploration for suspected single adenoma guided by ioPTH. ioPTH remains useful in optimizing outcomes.
Optimizing the Sample Size and the Reduced Velocity To Achieve Maximum Production Rates of Enantiomers

Optimum experimental conditions are predicted for the maximum production rate of D- or L-alanine, purified to a 99% purity from a racemic mixture of their N-benzoyl derivatives by preparative chromatography on ionically immobilized bovine serum albumin. The experimental production rates and recovery yields measured under these conditions are in excellent agreement with the calculated values. These results validate the approach used for optimization of preparative liquid chromatography.
Twitter Mood as a Stock Market Predictor

Behavioral finance researchers can apply computational methods to large-scale social media data to better understand and predict markets.
Human striatal cholinergic neurons in development, aging and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract The cross-sectional area of cholinergic neurons stained immunohistochemically for choline acetyltransferase were measured in the striatum of infants, young adults, aged individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cholinergic neurons were distributed throughout the caudate nucleus and the putamen and displayed no significant variations in size across the two structures. The cross-sectional area of striatal cholinergic neurons was smaller in infants as compared with all the other groups examined. No significant changes were observed in the size of these neurons as a consequence of aging or Alzheimer's disease.
Structural transitions within human Rad51 nucleoprotein filaments

Rad51 is a core component of the eukaryotic homologous recombination machinery and is responsible for key mechanistic steps during strand invasion. Higher order oligomers of Rad51 display a remarkable degree of structural variation, forming rings, compressed filaments, and elongated filaments. It is unclear whether Rad51 can transition directly between these different oligomeric structures without disassembling first into monomers. We have used single-molecule microscopy to investigate the behavior of human Rad51 assembled on double-stranded DNA. Our results show that human Rad51 can form elongated nucleoprotein filaments on DNA, but ATP hydrolysis causes a decrease in their length without concomitant dissociation of protein. Compressed Rad51 filaments can re-elongate when presented with either ATP or the non-hydrolyzable analog AMP-PNP, and these cycles of elongation and compression are reversible. A Rad51 mutant deficient in ATP hydrolysis is locked into an extended conformation that is incapable of transitioning to a compressed filament. Similarly, wild-type Rad51 bound to DNA in the presence of AMP-PNP was trapped in the elongated state. Proteins incapable of transitioning to the compressed state were also highly resistant to dissociation from the DNA. Taken together, our results indicate that nucleotide hydrolysis by human Rad51 triggers a reversible structural transition leading to filaments with reduced helical pitch.
Irrational non-reproduction? The ‘dying nation’ and the postsocialist logics of declining motherhood in Poland

Polish birthrates during the state socialist period, 1948–1989, stayed above replacement level but since 1989 fell dramatically to one of the lowest in Europe, at 1.29 in 2010. The Polish Catholic Church and the newly-elected nationalist government of Lech Walesa reacted by escalating pronatalist rhetoric calling on women to increase childbearing in the name of economic and nationalist causes. Reflecting the renewed dominance of the Church, Walesa implemented restrictions on family planning, including abortion, contraception, and sex education, justifying them in moral and demographic terms. Plummeting fertility has been portrayed by the Church, media, and state as dangerous and unreasonable – a sign of Polish women's rejection of motherhood and the embrace of selfish priorities. Simultaneously however, the state cut back motherhood-friendly policies established by the socialist regime, including subsidized childcare, maternity leave, and healthcare. This paper draws on 19 months of fieldwork between 2000...
Thoracoscopically guided transaxillary resection of adjoining intercostal plexiform neurofibromas: review of mosaicism in neurofibromatosis: technical note.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The present article describes a rare presentation of Type I neurofibromatosis (NFI) involving adjoining intercostal plexiform neurofibromas, as well as the novel use of thoracoscopy to guide surgical resection. This presentation highlights the manner in which NFI may affect selective regions of the body disproportionately through genetic mosaicism. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old man had intractable neuropathic anterior right chest wall pain in the distribution of T2 and T3. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the chest revealed masses deep to the second and third ribs in the axilla. Biopsy of a subcutaneous nodule in the right chest wall revealed a small neurofibroma. An extensive workup revealed no masses outside the region of the right chest wall and no stigmata of NFI. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent right-sided thoracoscopy for identification of the intrathoracic neurofibromas and placement of spinal needles to localize the anterior and posterior extent of the masses. These landmarks were used to guide a transaxillary approach to third rib resection and nerve-sparing neurofibroma resection. CONCLUSION: Isolated adjoining intercostal plexiform neurofibroma is a unique presentation of mosaic NFI. Because of its limited penetrance, this variant may present as a regional pain syndrome. Thoracoscopy can be used effectively to guide intercostal nerve sheath tumor resection.
Characterization of Neutral Fragments in Tandem Mass Spectrometry: A Unique Route to Mechanistic and Structural Information

The neutral species eliminated upon fragmentation of fast-moving mass-selected ions can be directly identified by collisional ionization and detection in neutral fragment reionization (Nf R) mass spectra. Establishment of the identity of neutral fragments yields valuable insight into the decomposition mechanism of a precursor ion, as demonstrated for fullerene and alkali metal iodide cluster ions as well as metal ion adducts of amino acids. In addition, neutral fragment reionization also provides structural information that may not be available from the complementary ionic fragments alone; this is illustrated in the differentiation of isomeric mononucleotides. The parameters influencing the appearance of Nf R spectra are discussed and the scope and general applicability of the method are briefly evaluated.
Visualization and measurement of periodic reverse flow and boiling fluctuations in a microchannel evaporator of an air-conditioning system

Abstract This paper presents a simultaneous visualization and measurement on periodic reverse flow and boiling fluctuations of R-134a in a parallel flow microchannel evaporator used for air-conditioning systems. The visualization study shows that the microchannel repeats the transient flow patterns with two stages: liquid rewetting stage, and transient annular evaporating/dewetting stage. Correspondingly, five transient flow patterns are identified along the microchannel: bubbly flow, elongated bubble, liquid lump flow, annular flow, and mist/dryout flow. The reverse flow is observed to begin with the elongated bubble flow at the upstream channel and continue until the transient annular film evaporating/dewetting stage, indicating that the existing immeasurable high pressure within the elongated bubble or at a certain location in the annular flow exceeds the channel inlet and exit pressures. The period of the pressure drop fluctuation and flow pattern alternation are almost identical with that of the reverse flow, and it decreases from 1.49 s to 1.13 s when the average heat flux increases from 14.1 kW/m2 to 18.3 kW/m2. The decrease in oscillation period is mainly due to the shortened time interval for the annular film evaporating/dewetting stage.
Glucocorticoid inhibition of activation-induced cytidine deaminase expression in human B lymphocytes.

We examined whether glucocorticoids could modulate the expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA), the principal regulator of the processes of immunoglobulin gene somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination in B lymphocytes. Treatment of human B cells with IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody for 18–20 h resulted in induction of expression of AICDA mRNA by over 10-fold. Dexamethasone at 10 nM concentration inhibited AICDA induction by an average of 51.8% (p < 0.0001). These effects of glucocorticoids were found to be dose dependent in the physiologic range and were reversible by co-treatment with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. Human B cell viability and proliferation were unaltered by glucocorticoid treatment. These data demonstrate that physiologic concentrations of glucocorticoids can act on human B lymphocytes through glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mechanisms to diminish the expression of AICDA, a key regulator of humoral immune responses.
EXAMINATION OF A PATH MODEL RELATING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH FIRM PERFORMANCE

This article draws on the resource-based view of the firm to investigate the mechanisms through which information technology (IT) impacts firm performance. Research suggests that the relationship between IT and firm performance may be both direct and indirect. In this study, a path model is tested that proposes a firm's IT infrastructure resources as having both a direct impact on organizational performance, as well as an indirect effect that is propagated through its impact on an intermediate organizational resource, a firm's logistics information system (LIS). The results suggest that positive firm performance may be derived directly from an organization's superior IT infrastructure, as well as indirectly, through its enabling impact on LIS's. These findings contribute to our understanding of the nature of the relationship between IT and firm performance by exploring the value of IT at both the process and organizational levels.
The contribution of man-made ditches to the regional stream biodiversity of the new river watershed in the Florida panhandle

The role of ditches as reservoirs for or contributors to regional diversity has rarely been assessed. In this study, we aimed (1) to assess the effect of ditches on aquatic faunal assemblages of first order streams and (2) to assess the extent to which the animal communities in altered streams that are crossed by ditches resembled those found in nearby natural streams. We examined the fauna of four different aquatic habitats of the New River watershed in the Florida Panhandle: (1) natural streams, (2) altered streams, (3) ditches that cross the altered streams, and (4) ditches that do not cross the altered streams, sampling these habitats in three geographically distinct sites and visiting each location three times during a summer. Ditches did not have the same environmental features as streams and as a result their faunal community did not completely mimic those of natural streams. Streams contained 50% less aquatic vegetation and more canopy cover, while natural streams were more acidic than any other habitat. The connected altered stream and ditch habitats contained the highest biodiversity, while natural streams contained the lowest. Our ordination of taxonomic composition did not reveal any significant differences between habitats. However, natural streams were more likely to contain Hyalella spp., Oligochaetes, and Palaemonetes spp. than other sites, yet did not contain Baetidae spp., Naucorida spp., Trepobate spp., Dolomedesokefinokensis, Leptolucania ommata, or any Centrarcids. These results indicate the importance of ditches within this system as a reservoir for and contributor to regional stream biodiversity and this finding should be taken into consideration by managers for the conservation of the regional freshwater biodiversity.
Complications of balloon-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms.

The very experienced endovascular group of Sluzewski and colleagues presents us with a candid assessment of the complications and the short-term clinical and angiography results of balloon assisted coil embolization (BACE) of intracranial aneurysms. Their study is important because other groups have reported a relatively low incidence of complications with this technique; the incidences in the largest six studies in the literature range from 0 to 5.3%. Sluzewski and colleagues treated 71 aneurysms using the balloon-assisted technique. During the 10 years of their study, they treated an additional 756 aneurysms with coils without balloon assistance. In the group treated with balloon assistance, there was a 14.1% incidence of serious procedural complications leading to death in six patients and dependency in four. Of these complications, seven were thromboembolisms and three were intraprocedural ruptures. In contrast, the procedural complication rate in patients treated without balloon assistance was only 3% (death in 1.7% and dependency in 1.3%); 17 of the 23 complications in this group were thromboembolisms and six were procedural ruptures. This difference is very significant statistically, although, of course, the two groups are not comparable given that balloon assistance was used only for large and/or broad-based aneurysms in which CE without balloon assistance was believed to be impossible or had failed.
A climate model intercomparison at the dynamics level

Until now, climate model intercomparison has focused primarily on annual and global averages of various quantities or on specific components, not on how well the general dynamics in the models compare to each other. In order to address how well models agree when it comes to the dynamics they generate, we have adopted a new approach based on climate networks. We have considered 28 pre-industrial control runs as well as 70 20th-century forced runs from 23 climate models and have constructed networks for the 500 hPa, surface air temperature (SAT), sea level pressure (SLP), and precipitation fields for each run. We then employed a widely used algorithm to derive the community structure in these networks. Communities separate “nodes” in the network sharing similar dynamics. It has been shown that these communities, or sub-systems, in the climate system are associated with major climate modes and physics of the atmosphere (Tsonis AA, Swanson KL, Wang G, J Clim 21: 2990–3001 in 2008; Tsonis AA, Wang G, Swanson KL, Rodrigues F, da Fontura Costa L, Clim Dyn, 37: 933–940 in 2011; Steinhaeuser K, Ganguly AR, Chawla NV, Clim Dyn 39: 889–895 in 2012). Once the community structure for all runs is derived, we use a pattern matching statistic to obtain a measure of how well any two models agree with each other. We find that, with the possible exception of the 500 hPa field, consistency for the SAT, SLP, and precipitation fields is questionable. More importantly, none of the models comes close to the community structure of the actual observations (reality). This is a significant finding especially for the temperature and precipitation fields, as these are the fields widely used to produce future projections in time and in space.
Comparison of two-beam coupling response for three dopant densities of BaTiO/sub 3/:Rh

We have measured two-beam coupling response times and gains for BaTiO/sub 3/:Rh for three different dopant densities. Comparing our results with the two-site and three-state models confirms the three-state model for BaTiO/sub 3/:Rh.
An Update of Genetic Stock Identification of Chinook Salmon in the Pacific Northwest: Test Fisheries in California

Analyzing the stock composition of mixed-stock fisheries using genetic stock identification (GSI) procedures was developed for chinook salmon in the early 1980s when an incipient baseline was focus...
An investigation of the strain path dependence of the forming limit curve

Abstract The dependence of the forming limit curve on the deformation history is examined by considering two specific examples of sheet metal forming, representative of two classes of non-proportional strain path: one example is an axisymmetric punch stretching problem, which gives rise to a gradual variation in the strain path from a proportional path; the other example consists of a sheet with residual strains subjected to a proportional stretching so that the complete deformation history, if represented in the principal in-plane strain coordinates, takes a sharp turn. Results are presented for these examples for each of three plasticity theories: flow theory, J 2 -deformation theory and the recently proposed corner theory. By assuming a plastic potential increment dependent on the direction and magnitude of the incipient plastic strain increment the corner theory gives results which agree qualitatively with experimental observations and therefore seems to be favored for the bifurcation analysis of sheet metal forming problems involving significant strain path variations.
A New Virus Isolated from an Ash Tree with Die‐Back

A virus isolated from an ash tree with die-back has icosahedral virions c. 28 nm in diameter which contain a polyadenlyated and infectious bipartite single stranded RNA genome. The RNAs have M. Wts of c. 2.4 and 2.6 × 106. The virus was transmitted in 5/48 seed from infected Chenopodium quinoa. Serological tests failed to detect any relationships with 10 viruses. cDNA to the viral RNA was cloned. The sequences of the 5′ and 3′ ends of two clones were determined. One of these clones represents the 3′-terminus of one of the viral genomic fragments. A search of nucleic acid sequence databases showed some similarity of the 3′-terminal sequence of the virus to the 3′-terminal sequence of cowpea mosaic virus. The virus is possibly a previously undescribed nepovirus or comovirus.
Hepatotoxicity with antiretroviral treatment of pregnant women

Abstract BACKGROUND: Hepatotoxicity in adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been associated with all classes of antiretroviral drugs and coinfection with hepatitis B and C virus. We treated two HIV-infected pregnant women in whom hepatotoxicity developed after initiating antiretroviral therapy. CASES: The first woman developed icterus, jaundice, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated serum aminotransferase levels approximately 5 months after beginning combination antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz. Serum aminotransferase abnormalities improved after discontinuation of antiretroviral medications. The second woman had similar symptoms and laboratory abnormalities 3 months after initiation of zidovudine, lamivudine, and nelfinavir. Despite initial improvement after discontinuing her antiretroviral medications, fulminant hepatic failure developed and she died. Both patients tested negative for hepatitis A, B, and C; Epstein-Barr virus; and cytomegalovirus. There was no history of illicit drug use, alcohol use, or blood transfusions in either case. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the need for careful monitoring for hepatotoxicity after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.
Age-related differences in lymphocyte adherence to myelinated tissue in multiple sclerosis.

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from patients with MS and from healthy controls. Comparisons were made between the adherence of lymphocytes from donors of varying ages to myelin from donors of different age groups at the time of death. The adherence of control lymphocytes was maximum with lymphocytes from donors in their 30s. No obvious maximum for lymphocyte age was found for adherence of MS lymphocytes. However, MS adherence levels were significantly higher than control levels at most ages tested. Maximum adherence levels were observed for both MS and control cells with myelin from donors who were 20 to 45 years of age at the time of death. No significant difference between MS and control adherence to myelin from elderly donors was observed. Possible age-related changes in myelin and the relationship of maximum adherence to the peak age of onset of MS is discussed.
Nitrogen and biomass accumulation by alfalta under high temperatures of late summer

Abstract A “summer slump” has been commonly observed in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) whereby biomass accumulation in the late summer was decreased. It was hypothesized that high soil temperature in late summer may be deleterious to nitrogen fixation so that alfalta plants become nitrogen limited. To examine this hypothesis, late-summer soil temperature treatments of 17 or 23°C were imposed on plants grown in the field at Gainesville, FL. Late-summer ambient soil temperatures are frequently greater than 33°C at this location. No evidence was obtained in this 2-year study that cooling the soil resulted in either greater nitrogen or biomass accumulation. To explain the summer slump, the relationship between biomass accumulation and amount of incident solar radiation was examined and found to be unchanged through the growing season (0.35 g MJ−1 in 1987 and 0.31 g MJ−1 in 1988). It was concluded that the summer slump under these conditions was a consequences of decreased incident solar radiation during the late summer, rather than any physiological adjustment by the alfalta plants.
US3 Protein Kinase of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Blocks Caspase 3 Activation Induced by the Products of US1.5 and UL13 Genes and Modulates Expression of Transduced US1.5 Open Reading Frame in a Cell Type-Specific Manner

The coding domain of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) α22 gene encodes two proteins, the 420-amino-acid infected-cell protein 22 (ICP22) and US1.5, a protein colinear with the carboxyl-terminal domain of ICP22. In HSV-1-infected cells, ICP22 and US1.5 are extensively modified by the UL13 and US3 viral protein kinases. In this report, we show that in contrast to other viral proteins defined by their properties as α proteins, US1.5 becomes detectable and accumulated only at late times after infection. Moreover, significantly more US1.5 protein accumulated in cells infected with a mutant lacking the UL13 gene than in cells infected with wild-type virus. To define the role of viral protein kinases on the accumulation of US1.5 protein, rabbit skin cells or Vero cells were exposed to recombinant baculoviruses that expressed US1.5, UL13, or US3 proteins under a human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. The results were as follows. (i) Accumulation of the US1.5 protein was reduced by concurrent expression of the UL13 protein kinase and augmented by concurrent expression of the US3 protein kinase. The magnitude of the reduction or increase in the accumulation of the US1.5 protein was cell type dependent. The effect of UL13 kinase appears to be specific inasmuch as it did not affect the accumulation of glycoprotein D in cells doubly infected by recombinant baculoviruses expressing these genes. (ii) The reduction in accumulation of the US1.5 protein was partially due to proteasome-dependent degradation. (iii) Both US1.5 and UL13 proteins activated caspase 3, indicative of programmed cell death. (iv) Concurrent expression of the US3 protein kinase blocked activation of caspase 3. The results are concordant with those published elsewhere (J. Munger and B. Roizman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:10410–10415, 2001) that the US3 protein kinase can block apoptosis by degradation or posttranslational modification of BAD.
Use of half-cell barriers to eliminate junction clogging and thermal hysteresis in silver/silver chloride reference electrodes

Abstract The junctions of Ag/AgCl electrodes rapidly become clogged with precipitated silver chloride during use. This causes loss of flow and slow response with thick junctions and may cause offset and stirring error with thin junctions. This problem can be eliminated by using a pure potassium chloride junction electrolyte, together with suitable barriers to impede migration of silver chloride from the half-cell. Diffusional transport through a mechanical barrier is inversely proportional to its electrical resistance when filled with electrolyte. Based on this principle, very effective barriers to half-cell diffusion and flow were fabricated from microporous glass. Alternatively, a cation-selective membrane was used to block soluble silver chloride complexes without a significant increase in electrode resistance. Thermal drift and hysteresis are not inherent features of the Ag/Cl couple and are eliminated by proper design of the half-cell.
Replicative and conservative transposition in bacteria

When a bacterial transposon jumps to a new genomic location, does it replicate itself in the process thus generating two transposon copies, or does it excise itself from the old site and integrate into the new site without duplication? eplicative or conservative: this has been a central question concerning the mechanism of transposition. The lack of any well-characterized in vitro systems for studying transposition (with the exception of the bacteriophage Mu system) has restricted progress. However, thanks to some elegant genetic experiments, the answer now seems much clearer. Replicative Transposition Most mechanistic studies have been performed with members of three common groups of bacterial transposons: (i) the insertion sequences (IS) and their composite transposons; (ii) the Tn3 family of transposons; and (iii) the transposing bacteriophage Mu. The case for a replicative mechanism of transposition was established early and was a strong one. It came on two fronts-from studies of Tn3 and bacteriophage Mu. Transposition of Tn3 and related elements generally occurs by a two-step process (see Grindley, Cell 32, 3-5, 1983; Heffron, in Mobile Genetic Elements, ed. J. Shapiro, Academic Press, 1983, pp. 223-260). First, the donor and target replicons are fused to form a cointegrate molecule, which has a copy of the transposon at each junction of target and donor DNA (Figure 1). A site-specific recombination between the two transposon copies then reduces the cointegrate into its two constituent replicons, regenerating the donor and forming the target with a simple insertion. The two steps involve the consecutive action of two proteins, transposase and resolvase, both encoded by the transposon. The replicative nature of the transposasedependent step is clear from the nature of the cointegrate intermediate; although formed from a target and a donor with a single transposon copy, it contains two copies of the transposon. The replicative nature of Mu transposition was evident from the fact that replication of the phage during a lytic infection was absolutely dependent upon its transposition to many sites in the genome of a single cell. The short segments of random bacterial DNA joined to the ends of Mu in viral particles are a signature of this orgy of transposition. Elegant biochemical studies have firmly established that Mu transposition is generally replicative and, in addition, have elucidated the structure of an intermediate (see below) formed through the action of the Mu transposase (A protein), the B protein, and the E. coli histone-like protein HU (Mizuuchi, Cell 35, 785-794, 1983; Craigie and ireview
Jetting during vertical impacts of spherical projectiles

Abstract The extreme pressures reached during jetting, a process by which material is squirted out from the contact point of two colliding objects, causes melting and vaporization at low impact velocities. Jetting is a major source of melting in shocked porous material, a potential source of tektites, a possible origin of chondrules, and even a conceivable origin of the Moon. Here, in an attempt to quantify the importance of jetting, we present numerical simulation of jetting during the vertical impacts of spherical projectiles on both flat and curved targets. We find that impacts on curved targets result in more jetted material but that higher impact velocities result in less jetted material. For an aluminum impactor striking a flat Al target at 2 km/s we find that 3.4% of a projectile mass is jetted while 8.3% is jetted for an impact between two equal sized Al spheres. Our results indicate that the theory of jetting during the collision of thin plates can be used to predict the conditions when jetting will occur. However, we find current analytic models do not make accurate predictions of the amount of jetted mass. Our work indicates that the amount of jetted mass is independent of model resolution as long as some jetted material is resolved. This is the result of lower velocity material dominating the mass of the jet.
A hybrid micro–macro BEM formulation for micro‐crack clusters in elastic components

Local analysis schemes capable of detailed representations of the micro-features of a problem are integrated with a macro-scale BEM technique capable of handling complex finite geometries and realistic boundary conditions. The micro-scale effects are introduced into the macro-scale BEM analysis through an augmented fundamental solution obtained from an integral equation representation of the micro-scale features. The proposed hybrid micro-macro BEM formulation allows decomposition of the complete problem into two sub-problems, one residing entirely at the micro-level and the other at the macro-level. This allows for investigations of the effects of the micro-structural attributes while retaining the macro-scale geometric features and actual boundary conditions for the component or structure under consideration. As a first attempt, elastic fracture mechanics problems with interacting cracks at close spacings are considered. The numerical results obtained from the hybrid BEM analysis establish the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed micro–macro computational scheme for this class of problems. The proposed micro–macro BEM formulation can easily be extended to investigate the effects of other micro-features (e.g. interfaces, short or continuous fibre reinforcements, voids and inclusions, in the context of linear elasticity) on macroscopic failure modes observed in structural components.
Polymerization of vinyl acetate promoted by iron complexes

Polymerization of vinyl acetate (VOAc) was carried out using CCl4 as the initiator in the presence of the Fe(OAc)2/PMDETA (PMDETA = N,N,N‘,N‘‘,N‘‘-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) complex. Poly(vinyl...
Domains of the positive transcription factor specific for the Xenopus 5S RNA gene

Abstract The 40 kd positive transcription factor that interacts with the 50 nucleotide internal control region of 5S ribosomal RNA genes in Xenopus can be subdivided into three functional domains by proteolytic cleavage. At one end of the protein is a 10 kd domain that is required for efficient RNA transcription but not for binding to the DNA. This adjoins a second domain that binds to the 5′ end of the internal control region, a region of the DNA known to contribute only weakly to binding the protein but one that is essential for RNA transcription. The removal of both of these protein domains leaves a half of the protein that binds only to the 3′ side of the control region and is inactive in promoting transcription. Quantitative DNA binding and in vitro transcription experiments show that only a single molecule of 40 kd factor binds to the internal control region, and that this stoichiometry is sufficient to give maximal stimulation of 5S RNA transcription in a reconstituted system. Consideration of the essential DNA contact points of the factor, taken together with the constraints imposed by a 1:1 protein to DNA stoichiometry permit the linear projection of the extended protein molecule onto its binding site along the internal control region of the 5S RNA gene.
Developmental Considerations and Acculturation of Children: Measures and Issues

This article presents the secondary validation of the Brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (Brief ARSMA-II) for use with children— carried out using two samples of Mexican-descent children (ages = 9-11) from two states ( N = 295). The Brief ARSMA-II was originally normed on adolescents and adults but has been validated and used with children. Ethnic identity development perspectives suggest that the interpretation of scores derived from acculturation measures normed on adolescents and adults may not extend accurately to children. Convergent validity and differential discrimination between groups were examined using scores on the Brief ARSMA-II; scores on an acculturation measure designed for the present study, the Things About Me (TAM); and traditional proxy measures of acculturation. Results from this study do not support the use of the Brief ARSMA-II with children. The importance of considering contextual effects in the interpretation of scores of children's acculturation experience...
Latino Caregivers of Relatives with Alzheimer's Disease

This review of the literature discusses the experience of Latinos who provide care to a family member with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD). This discussion is imperative in light of the present demographic changes and in light of current findings suggesting that the risk for dementia is significantly higher for Hispanic elderly. All studies reviewed reported that the ADRD Latino caregiver is most likely to be a female caring for her parents or her parents-in-law. Despite the relatively low availability of informal support and the high levels of depression among ADRD Latino caregivers, most studies reported that ADRD Latino caregivers underutilize formal services. The major implications of the present review are that a heterogeneous perspective of the Latino community should be adopted by taking into consideration within group differences. In addition, systematic study of outreach and therapeutic interventions aimed specifically towards ADRD Latino caregivers is recommended.
A generic method for variability analysis of nanoscale circuits

We present a generic method for analyzing the effect of process variability in nanoscale circuits. The proposed framework uses kernel and a generic tail probability estimator to eliminate the need for a-priori density choice for the nature of circuit variation. This allows capturing the true nature of the circuit variation from a few random samples of its observed responses. The data-driven, non-parametric, and generic nature of the proposed method can greatly facilitate the technology-circuit co-design.
Learning Experiments Using AB Testing at Scale

We report the one of the first applications of treatment/control group learning experiments in MOOCs. We have compared the efficacy of deliberate practice-practicing a key procedure repetitively-with traditional practice on "whole problems". Evaluating the learning using traditional whole problems we find that traditional practice outperforms drag and drop, which in turn outperforms multiple choice. In addition, we measured the amount of learning that occurs during a pretest administered in a MOOC environment that transfers to the same question if placed on the posttest. We place a limit on the amount of such transfer, which suggests that this type of learning effect is very weak compared to the learning observed throughout the entire course.
The Salience of Negative Information in Impression Formation Among Two Danish Samples

Two Danish samples were asked to rate an unknown other based on two descriptions, one containing praiseworthy and the other reproachable behaviors. With both samples, negative descriptions had a delayed disproportionate effect on the impression formed. The results for Danish subjects are similar to those found with Americans in spite of broad social and cultural differences which would seem to militate against this similarity.
Demographic characteristics of pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy: a report of the prospective pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy registry.

Background: This article reports demographic characteristics and intensive care unit survival for 344 patients from the Prospective Pediatric Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (ppCRRT) Registry, a voluntary multicenter observational network. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: Ages were newborn to 25 yr, 58% were male, and weights were 1.3 to 160 kg. Patients spent a median of 2 d in the intensive care unit before CRRT (range 0 to 135). At CRRT initiation, 48% received diuretics and 66% received vasoactive drugs. Mean blood flow was 97.9 ml/min (range 10 to 350 ml/min; median 100 ml/min); mean blood flow per body weight was 5 ml/min per kg (range 0.6 to 53.6 ml/min per kg; median 4.1 ml/min per kg). Days on CRRT were Results: Overall survival was 58%; survival differed across participating centers. Survival was lowest (51%) when CRRT was started for combined fluid overload and electrolyte imbalance. There was better survival in patients with principal diagnoses of drug intoxication (100%), renal disease (84%), tumor lysis syndrome (83%), and inborn errors of metabolism (73%); survival was lowest in liver disease/transplant (31%), pulmonary disease/transplant (45%), and bone marrow transplant (45%). Overall survival was better for children who weighed >10 kg (63 versus 43%; P = 0.001) and for those who were older than 1 yr (62 versus 44%; P = 0.007). Conclusions: CRRT can be used successfully for a wide range of critically ill children. Survival is best for those who have acute, specific abnormalities and lack multiple organ involvement; sicker patients with selected diagnoses may have lower survival. Center differences might suggest opportunities to define best practices with future study.
Mitosis futures: the past is prologue

The mechanisms by which cells organize and segregate their chromosomes have been under close scrutiny for years, and significant progress has been made in understanding how mitosis works. Modern cell biology has identified most of the molecules that underlie mitotic spindle function, but the ways in which they are organized and controlled to make an effective and accurate cellular machine are exciting subjects for future study.
Rizatriptan reduces vestibular-induced motion sickness in migraineurs.

A previous pilot study suggested that rizatriptan reduces motion sickness induced by complex vestibular stimulation. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study we measured motion sickness in response to a complex vestibular stimulus following pretreatment with either rizatriptan or a placebo. Subjects included 25 migraineurs with or without migraine-related dizziness (23 females) aged 21–45 years (31.0 ± 7.8 years). Motion sickness was induced by off-vertical axis rotation in darkness, which stimulates both the semicircular canals and otolith organs of the vestibular apparatus. Results indicated that of the 15 subjects who experienced vestibular-induced motion sickness when pretreated with placebo, 13 showed a decrease in motion sickness following pretreatment with rizatriptan as compared to pretreatment with placebo (P < 0.02). This significant effect was not seen when subjects were exposed to more provocative vestibular stimulation. We conclude that the serotonin agonist, rizatriptan, reduces vestibular-induced motion sickness by influencing serotonergic vestibular-autonomic projections.