cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunologic abnormalities in myelofibrosis with activation of the complement system

Eighteen patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis were studied for clinical and laboratory evidence of immunologic dysfunction. Clinical findings included the presence of arthritis, vasculitis, and erythema nodosum. Laboratory abnormalities included the presence of circulating immune complexes, antinuclear antibodies, positive direct Coombs tests, elevated latex fixations, and a circulating lupus type anticoagulant. Total hemolytic complement was markedly depressed in four patients. Analysis of complement (C) components C1-C9 and factor B demonstrated significant reduction of only C3 and factor B. By crossed-immunoelectrophoresis, both C3 and factor B, but not C4, were cleaved, indicating that C activation was occurring predominantly via the alternative pathway. The control proteins beta 1H and C3b inactivator were decreased in three of four patients with hypocomplementemia. These data suggest that immunologic mechanisms associated with activation of the complement system play an important role in the disease process of some patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis.
Identification of Human T Cell Antigens for the Development of Vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Development of a subunit vaccine for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) depends on the identification of Ags that induce appropriate T cell responses. Using bioinformatics, we selected a panel of 94 Mtb genes based on criteria that included growth in macrophages, up- or down-regulation under hypoxic conditions, secretion, membrane association, or because they were members of the PE/PPE or EsX families. Recombinant proteins encoded by these genes were evaluated for IFN-γ recall responses using PBMCs from healthy subjects previously exposed to Mtb. From this screen, dominant human T cell Ags were identified and 49 of these proteins, formulated in CpG, were evaluated as vaccine candidates in a mouse model of tuberculosis. Eighteen of the individual Ags conferred partial protection against challenge with virulent Mtb. A combination of three of these Ags further increased protection against Mtb to levels comparable to those achieved with bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination. Vaccine candidates that led to reduction in lung bacterial burden following challenge-induced pluripotent CD4 and CD8 T cells, including Th1 cell responses characterized by elevated levels of Ag-specific IgG2c, IFN-γ, and TNF. Priority vaccine Ags elicited pluripotent CD4 and CD8 T responses in purified protein derivative-positive donor PBMCs. This study identified numerous novel human T cell Ags suitable to be included in subunit vaccines against tuberculosis.
New high-temperature polyimides based on [5]helicene dianhydride

The new anhydride, [5]helicene-5,6,9, 10-tetracarboxylic 5,6:9,10-dianhydride (HLDA) was thermally imidized with four diamrnines: methylenedianiline (AAFIII), xylylenedianifine (AAFIV). 3,3'-hexafluoroisopropylidene)dianiline (AAFV) and 4",4"'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis(4-phenoxyaniline)(AAFVI). In thecase of AAFIII and AAFIV, a nadic endcap was added and the n value formulated for 2.087; for AAFV and AAFVI no endcap was used, Moulding powders were prepared either by imidizing these diamines in refluxing methanolic solutions of esterified HLDA followed by compression moulding at about 315 °C, or alternatively, in the case of AAFV and AAFVL, by imidizing in cold or refluxing NMP followed by compression moulding at about 365 °C. While the weight loss. results for AAFIII and AAFIV at 343 °C prove to be poorer than PMR-15, AAFV and AAFVI moulding powders prepared in cold or hot NMP result in resins which substantially outperform PMR-15. Indeed. the lowest rates of weight loss (mg cm -2)from AAFV (cold NMP)...
High-Performance Polymer Fibers

Since the pioneering work of Carothers which led to the introduction of strong nylon fibers by DuPont in the 1930s, polymer scientists have pursued the development of high-performance fibers to replace natural or metallic products, both to improve mechanical properties and to reduce weight. That development was relatively slow and evenly paced until DuPont again revolutionized the field with the release of Kevlar™, an aromatic polyamide with unprecedented mechanical properties. Since then, the field has literally boomed with new developments, and now organic fibers are available with properties that compete with the best inorganics and are far superior to metal fibers.Strong motivation for the invention of new organic fibers comes from the aerospace industry, which seeks fibers to use in reinforced composite structural materials. Composites bring new advances in stiffness (airplane wings can't bend too much!) in weight savings (every kilogram saved in the structure of an airplane saves 10,000), and in radically new ideas, such as radar-invisibility (stealth)5 and mission-adaptive wings (in-flight variable-shape wings). Hence, for a variety of specialty applications, otherwise commercially indefensible materials become viable.It may be somewhat counter intuitive to materials scientists unfamiliar with polymers to expect polymer mechanical properties to be greater than in the best metals. The origin of high strength and stiffness in a polymer fiber is the covalent bond, especially when aligned in an ordered array of long chain molecules.
Finite biaxial extension of partially set plain woven fabrics

Abstract This paper is concerned with the finite deformation of partially set plain woven fabrics subjected to biaxial stresses applied in the directions of the yarns. The configurations of the yarns in the stress-free state are assumed to consist of combinations of elasticas resulting from finitely deformed cantilevers under end loads. In our analysis, the yarns are treated as elastic curved rods subjected to combined extension and bending. As a result of fiber slippage, the moment-curvature relation of the yarn is regarded as bilinear with ideal Baushinger's effect. Residual stresses are found to exist in the fiber initially. A nonlinear boundary value problem can be formulated for the deformation of the fabric where the interyarn contact force is determined from the compatibility condition of displacements at the crimp for yarns in the warp and the weft directions. The effect of the contact deformation of yarns is included in this analysis. Numerical solutions are found for the problem of a uniaxial extension of the fabric and the problem of a biaxial extension of the fabric with equal stresses.
Leukoderma in the nude C57BL/6 mouse.

SUMMARY The nu gene bred into mice causes the animals to be athymic and nude, that is their hairs do not project past the follicular orifice making them appear to be hairless. The gene has been bred into C57BL/6 mice. C57BL/6 mice which are homozygous for the gene are runted and nude and develop leukoderma around 6 weeks of age. The leukoderma is caused by shedding of short stubby, barely visible black hairs, probably a normal hair cycle. This type of leukoderma is not vitiligo, a disease which causes the skin to turn white because of destruction of the melanocytes in the epidermis or hair bulbs.
3:1 magnetization plateau and suppression of ferroelectric polarization in an Ising chain multiferroic

Ferroelectric Ising chain magnet ${\text{Ca}}_{3}{\text{Co}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{Mn}}_{x}{\text{O}}_{6}$ $(x\ensuremath{\simeq}0.96)$ was studied in magnetic fields of up to 33 T. Magnetization and neutron-scattering measurements reveal successive metamagnetic transitions from the zero-field $\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}$ spin configuration to the $\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}$ state with a broad magnetization plateau, and then to the $\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}$ state. The absence of hysteresis in these plateaus reveals an intriguing coupling between the intrachain state and the three-dimensional geometrically frustrated magnetic system. Inversion symmetry, broken in the $\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}$ state, is restored in the $\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}$ state, leading to the complete suppression of the electric polarization driven by symmetric superexchange.
Group Actions on Binary Resilient Functions

Let Gn,t be the subgroup of GL(n,ℤ2) that stabilizes {xℤ2n:|x|≤t}. We determine Gn,t explicitly: For 1≤t≤n−2, Gn,t=Sn when t is odd and Gn,t=〈Sn,Δ〉 when t is even, where Sn<GL(n,ℤ2) is the symmetric group of degree n and ΔGL(n,ℤ2) is a particular involution. Let ℛn,t be the set of all binary t-resilient functions defined on ℤ2n. We show that the subgroup ℤ2n⋊(Gn,t∪Gn,n−1−t)<AGL(n,ℤ2) acts on ℛn,t/ℤ2. We determine the representatives and sizes of the conjugacy classes of ℤ2n⋊Sn and ℤ2n⋊〈Sn,Δ〉. These results allow us to compute the number of orbits of ℛn,t/ℤ2 under the above group action for (n,t)=(5,1) and (6,2).
The importance of a strategic plan in office information systems

Abstract Corporations and other large organizations are acquiring large numbers of personal computers, peripheral equipment, and software in their pursuits of office automation. Such organizations have strategic planners who oversee this evolution. Many pitfalls exist in automating America's offices. Discussed herein are examples of these pitfalls as they relate to compatibility, linking versus networking, security, privacy, ergonomics, records management, training, and justification. Avoidance of these pitfalls can result in increased acceptance of office automation and office worker performance.
Nitride and oxide semiconductor nanostructured hydrogen gas sensors

In this paper, we discuss the progress of nitride and oxide semiconductor nanostructures for hydrogen gas sensing. The use of catalyst metal coatings on GaN, InN and ZnO nanowires is found to greatly enhance the detection sensitivity. Pt- and Pd-coated GaN nanowires biased at small voltages show large changes in currents upon exposure to H2 gas at concentrations in the ppm range. Improvements in growth techniques for InN nanostructures have produced nanobelts and nanorods capable of hydrogen detection down to 20 ppm after catalyst coating. Functionalized ZnO nanorods were also investigated for hydrogen detection, but did not generate a relative response as high as that for the nitride-based sensors. All sensors tested exhibited no response at room temperature upon exposure to various other gases including O2, C2H5, N2O and CO2. The high surface-to-volume ratio of nanowires and the ability to use simple contact fabrication schemes make them attractive for hydrogen sensing applications.
Analyzing the intelligibility of real-time mobile sign language video transmitted below recommended standards

Mobile sign language video communication has the potential to be more accessible and affordable if the current recommended video transmission standard of 25 frames per second at 100 kilobits per second (kbps) as prescribed in the International Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Q.26/16 were relaxed. To investigate sign language video intelligibility at lower settings, we conducted a laboratory study, where fluent ASL signers in pairs held real-time free-form conversations over an experimental smartphone app transmitting real-time video at 5 fps/25 kbps, 10 fps/50 kbps, 15 fps/75 kbps, and 30 fps/150 kbps, settings well below the ITU-T standard that save both bandwidth and battery life. The aim of the laboratory study was to investigate how fluent ASL signers adapt to the lower video transmission rates, and to identify a lower threshold at which intelligible real-time conversations could be held. We gathered both subjective and objective measures from participants and calculated battery life drain. As expected, reducing the frame rate/bit rate monotonically extended the battery life. We discovered all participants were successful in holding intelligible conversations across all frame rates/bit rates. Participants did perceive the lower quality of video transmitted at 5 fps/25 kbps and felt that they were signing more slowly to compensate; however, participants' rate of fingerspelling did not actually decrease. This and other findings support our recommendation that intelligible mobile sign language conversations can occur at frame rates as low as 10 fps/50 kbps while optimizing resource consumption, video intelligibility, and user preferences.
Evidence for endonucleolytic attack in decay of lac messenger RNA in Escherichia coli.

Abstract The size distribution of decaying messenger RNA molecules from the lactose (lac) operon of Escherichia coli has been measured. A one-minute induction period was terminated by rifampicin, then a further period was allowed for completion of the lac mRNA transcription. All incomplete lac mRNA molecules could then be identified as degradation products. RNA was labeled with [3H]-uracil and purified by procedures which produced no significant cleavage. The purified RNA was centrifuged in sucrose gradients and then each fraction was hybridized with excess φ80dlac DNA to determine the amounts of lac message as a function of size. The size distributions observed at various times have been compared to those expected according to different mechanisms of degradation. These include a 5′ to 3′ exonucleolytic degradation as opposed to mechanisms in which the primary attack is endonucleolytic. The results clearly exclude an exclusive exonucleolytic degradation. Although the number and distribution of sites subject to endonucleolytic cleavage cannot be determined, the results are consistent with a model in which there are vulnerable sites at the start of the message specifying each polypeptide chain.
Oncologic and quality-of-life outcomes with wide resection in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Objectives: To assess urinary quality-of-life (QoL) and oncologic outcomes between wide resection (WR) robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and non-WR (NWR) RALP in men with intermediate- or high-risk (Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment [CAPRA]-9 42) prostate adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients undergoing RALP (2004–2013) for intermediate- or high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier methodology with Cox proportional hazards regression evaluated biochemical recurrence–free survival (BCR-FS). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between (1) WR with positive surgical margins (þSM) and (2) WR with posterolateral þSM after adjusting for demographics and CAPRA-9 score. University of California, Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index and Extended Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaires assessed urinary QoL. Multiple mixed-effects linear regression adjusting for demographics and CAPRA-9 evaluated differences in QoL between WR and NWR. Results: A total of 483 RALP cases met inclusion criteria—129 (26.7%) underwent WR and 354 (73.3%) underwent NWR-RALP. There were no demographic differences between groups. Burden of disease was greater in patients undergoing WR (P o 0.001). There was no difference in þSM rates between WR and NWR (P ¼ 0.505). Adjusting for demographics and CAPRA-9 score, WR patients had a clinically relevant 27% decrease in posterolateral þSM (odds ratio ¼ 0.73; 95% CI: 0.38–1.41; P ¼ 0.351). WR was not associated with worse BCR-FS (hazard ratio ¼ 1.24; 95% CI: 0.83–1.86, P ¼ 0.30). Adjusting for pathology, University of California, Los Angeles and Extended Prostate Cancer Index Composite urinary domain scores were similar between WR and NWR groups. Conclusion: Despite WR patients having worse clinical disease, WR-RALP can be performed with minimal detriment to BCR-FS and urinary QoL. The greater incidence of occult metastasis in higher risk patients may make surgical technique a nonsignificant factor. Nevertheless, WR remains a reasonable option for complete surgical excision. r 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Extinction of liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase in osteosarcoma hybrid cells.

We have constructed a series of interspecific somatic cell hybrids between the human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma, TE85, and a mouse fibrosarcoma, La−t−. In these whole-cell hybrids, we observed a 10-fold reduction of human liver/bone/kidney (L/B/K) alkaline phosphatase steady-state mRNA and alkaline phosphatase protein activity. The phenomenon of loss of tissue-specific gene expression has been termed extinction. Subclones of these hybrids were isolated, which reexpressed the alkaline phosphatase gene product. These late-passage hybrids had a reduced number of mouse fibroblast chromosomes when compared to earlier passages. This suggests that atrans-acting negative regulatory element, encoded in the fibroblast genome, regulates expression of L/B/K alkaline phosphatase. This is the first evidence that extinction plays a role in the regulation of osteoblast gene expression.
Conjugation involving dividing cells of Tetrahymena thermophila

Feulgen-stained preparations of mixtures of starved Tetrahymena thermophila cells of complementary mating types have revealed an atypical form of conjugation involving cells which have completed the nuclear events of cell division, but have not undergone cytokinesis. Both micronuclei in the dividing cells are induced to undergo meiosis, but in 21 of 23 cases, the anterior micronucleus was activated 1st, suggesting that the meiotic inducer is synthesized near the mating junction and diffuses posteriad. Despite the induction of two micronuclei, “triad” conjugants appear to regulate nuclear events so as to produce a normal outcome.
Glycerol-assisted Restorative Adjustment of Flavoenzyme Conformation Perturbed by Site-directed Mutagenesis

Abstract The replacement of histidine 307 with leucine in pig kidney d-amino acid oxidase perturbs its active site conformation accompanied by dramatic losses in protein-flavin interactions and enzymatic activity. However, the negative effect of this mutation on the holoenzyme structure is essentially eliminated in the presence of glycerol, resulting in up to 50% activity recovery and greater than 16-fold increase in the flavin affinity. Further analysis revealed that glycerol assists in the rearrangement of the protein toward its holoenzyme-like conformation together with reduction in the solvent-accessible protein hydrophobic area as demonstrated by limited proteolysis and use of affinity and hydrophobic probes. A substantial decrease in the protein-flavin interactions was demonstrated at a low temperature, but this reversible process was completely blocked in the presence of 40% glycerol. We suggest that the perturbation of thed-amino acid oxidase active site is due to the nonpolar nature of the mutation whose negative impact on the holoenzyme structure can be overcome by glycerol-induced strengthening of protein internal hydrophobic interactions.
Rings whose cyclics are essentially embeddable in projective modules

A ring R is quasi-Frobenius (QF) if and only if every right R-module is embeddable in a projective module. We call a ring R a right (left) CEPring if each cyclic right (left) R-module is essentially embeddable in a projective module. Examples of right CEP-rings include QF-rings and right uniserial rings. Indeed R is a QF-ring if and only if R is both a right and left CEP-ring [S]. A right CEP-ring which is QF-3 is shown to be QF (Theorem 3.3). Semiperfect CEP-rings and rings, each of whose homomorphic images is a right CEP-ring, are characterized in Theorems 5.2 and 6.2, respectively. The last section deals with split extensions of right uniserial rings as examples of CEP-rings.
Sources of research in art education

(1970). Sources of research in art education. Peabody Journal of Education: Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 224-228.
Reliability in Interpretation of Median Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in the Setting of Coma: Factors and Implications

Median nerve short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) are useful in determining prognosis for awakening after coma following hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, but reliability of interpretation is unclear. To measure inter- and intra-observer reliability of determining presence or absence of SSEPs in comatose patients following hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and to identify factors that enhance reliability. Retrospective review by four readers (experience ranging from 2–27 years) of SSEP recordings in 95 comatose patients. Twenty waveforms were presented twice and five waveforms were presented pre- and post-neuromuscular junction (NMJ) blockade. Academic teaching hospital and level 1 trauma center. Inpatients in coma due to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Kappa values among the four readers, reflecting inter-observer reliability, ranged from 0.39 to 0.79 (mean 0.60, SD 0.16), a level of agreement interpreted as “moderate.” Better inter-observer reliability was seen when: cortical amplitudes were ≥0.7 μV, baseline noise was smaller, and when experience level between reviewers was most similar. In cases examined both pre- and post-NMJ blockade, average kappa values of inter-observer reliability increased significantly from 0.03 pre-NMJ blockade to 0.41 post-NMJ blockade. Intra-observer reliability was higher than that for inter-observer, with a “substantial” average kappa of 0.84 (range 0.79–0.89, SD .06). Inter- and intra-observer reliability of SSEP interpretation in comatose patients varies from moderate to substantial, respectively. In order to reliably interpret the presence of small cortical responses, NMJ blockade should be used when baseline noise is excessive.
Passive dendritic integration heavily affects spiking dynamics of recurrent networks

According to dendritic cable theory, proximal synapses give rise to inputs with short delay, high amplitude, and short duration. In contrast, inputs from distal synapses have long delays, low amplitude, and long duration. Nevertheless, large scale neural networks are seldom built with realistically layered synaptic architectures and corresponding electrotonic parameters. Here, we use a simple model to investigate the spike response dynamics of networks with different electrotonic structures. The networks consist of a layer of neurons receiving a sparse feedforward projection from a set of inputs, as well as sparse recurrent connections from within the layer. Firing patterns are set in the inputs, and recorded from the neuron (output) layer. The feedforward and recurrent synapses are independently set as proximal or distal, representing dendritic connections near or far from the soma, respectively. Analyses of firing dynamics indicate that recurrent distal synapses tend to concentrate network activity in fewer neurons, while proximal recurrent synapses result in a more homogeneous activity distribution. In addition, when the feedforward input is regular (spiking or bursting) and asynchronous, the output is regular if recurrent synapses are more distal than feedforward ones, and irregular in the opposite configuration. Finally, the amplitude of network fluctuations in response to asynchronous input is lower if feedforward and recurrent synapses are electrotonically distant from one another (in either configuration). In conclusion, electrotonic effects reflecting different dendritic positions of synaptic inputs significantly influence network dynamics.
Evaluation of orally administered antibiotics for treatment of upper respiratory infections in Thai children.

The clinical responses of children with upper respiratory infections to 1 of 3 treatment regimens (tetracycline, penicillin, and placebo) were evaluated in relation to the bacterial and viral pathogens cultured from nasopharyngeal swabs. The 3 treatment groups were similar in size and in the frequency and type of pathogens recovered. The groups did not differ in their response to the treatment regimens in terms of mean duration of fever, failure to improve, the development of complications, or the persistance of bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx.
Crystallization and orientation development in fiber and film processing of polypropylenes of varying stereoregular form and tacticity

We investigated the crystallization and orientation development in melt spinning and tubular blown film extrusion of several different types of polypropylenes, including conventional high tacticity isotactic polypropylenes (iPP) and metallocene catalyst low tacticity iPPs and syndiotactic polypropylenes (sPP). The fiber and film samples were characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), birefringence and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In melt spinning iPP, we found that the mesomorphic structure of iPP is more readily formed in lower tacticity fibers, and significant amounts of hexagonal β-form crystals are found in low tacticity iPP fibers spun at high draw-down ratios. Low tacticity iPP fibers exhibited a significant decrease in the crystalline chain-axis orientation at high draw-down ratios, resulting from increased epitaxially branched lamellae. Melt-spun sPP fibers exhibit Form I helical structure at low spinning speeds and Form III zigzag all trans structure at high spinning speeds. We found that the level of spinline stress is the governing factor for this structural change. Melt-spun sPP fibers exhibit much higher chain-axis (c-axis) orientation factors (f c ) and lower birefringence than iPP fibers spun at the same spinline stresses. In tubular blown sPP films, the a-axis of Form I unit cell tends to orient perpendicular to the film surface. while the b-axis of monoclinic α unit cell does so in iPP blown films.
Clinical considerations for allied professionals: optimizing outcomes: surgical incision techniques and wound care in device implantation.

Whereas implanters of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) consider implant procedures successful when lead measurements are adequate and the incision has healed without complication, patients often base their final opinion of the procedure on the cosmetic outcome. Fortunately, optimization of cosmetic results is strongly linked to minimization of wound complications as well as simple refinement of techniques and strategies throughout the peri-implant period.
The effects of interelectrode distance over the innervation zone and normalization on the electromyographic amplitude and mean power frequency versus concentric, eccentric, and isometric torque relationships for the vastus lateralis muscle.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of interelectrode distance (IED) over the estimated innervation zone (IZ) for the vastus lateralis muscle and normalization on the torque-related patterns of responses for electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF) during concentric isokinetic, eccentric isokinetic, and isometric muscle actions of the leg extensors. Eight men performed submaximal to maximal concentric isokinetic, eccentric isokinetic, and isometric muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors. Surface EMG signals were recorded simultaneously with two bipolar electrode arrangements in single differential configuration (20 and 40mm IEDs) placed over the estimated IZ for the vastus lateralis muscle and a third electrode arrangement in single differential configuration (20mm IED) placed distal to the estimated IZ. The results indicated that there were only a few (six of 90 statistical comparisons) significant ( p
Up-regulation of GADD45α expression by NSAIDs leads to apoptotic and necrotic colon cancer cell deaths.

Growth arrest and DNA damage inducible 45 alpha (GADD45α) is a central player in mediating apoptosis induced by a variety of stress stimuli and genotoxic agents. Regular usage of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin and sulindac is associated with reduced risk for various cancers, including colon cancer. The role of GADD45α in NSAID-induced colon cancer cell cytotoxicity is unknown. In this study, we report that indomethacin and sulindac sulfide treatments up-regulate GADD45α mRNA expression and protein levels in colon cancer HT-29, RKO and Caco-2 cells. This up-regulation of GADD45α is accompanied by necrotic cell death and apoptosis. Anti-sense suppression of GADD45α expression inhibited indomethacin and sulindac sulfide-induced necrotic cell death and apoptosis. These findings confirm a role for GADD45α in NSAID-induced cytotoxicity, a mechanism for the anti-neoplastic effect of NSAIDs in colon tumorigenesis and cancer growth.
Using electronic meeting system support in the design of the graduate core curriculum

This article focuses on the use of an electronic meeting system (EMS) to facilitate the selection and refinement of a set of common graduate core courses for all master's degrees within the school of education in an upper-division university. The EMS was used at selected intervals within a seven months' process and provided an opportunity for broad-based group involvement in selection of the core competencies to be included. The seven-member task force generated ideas, discussed highly charged issues, prioritized competencies, and came to consensus through a combination of traditional and electronic meeting environments. The process followed, as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and insights gained, are reported here.
Clinical gestalt and the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: Does experience matter?

Study objectives: We seek to determine whether the accuracy of pretest assessment of the likelihood of pulmonary embolism was related to physician experience. We compared the accuracy of the subjective pretest probability assessment made by senior physicians (postgraduate year [PGY]-4+) to that of interns (PGY-1) and residents (PGY-2 and PGY-3) working in the emergency department (ED) of a large teaching hospital. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study in an urban, academic ED with annual census of 48,000 patient visits. Eligible patients had at least 1 diagnostic test ordered to evaluate pulmonary embolism. The physician treating the patient was asked whether he or she considered pulmonary embolism the "most likely" diagnosis or whether an alternative diagnosis was "most likely." This result was compared with the patient's ultimate diagnosis. Physicians' experience was categorized by the number of years of training since medical school graduation. Results: We enrolled 583 adults evaluated for pulmonary embolism in the ED. Pulmonary embolism was considered the most likely diagnosis for 26% of patients. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 10% of patients. There was a trend toward increasing diagnostic accuracy with increasing experience, as demonstrated by the frequency of true positive assessments (17% versus 20% versus 25%), true negative assessments (89% versus 94% versus 96%), and likelihood ratio (1.49 versus 2.34 versus 3.33), respectively ( P for trend .1). However, when compared with validated clinical prediction rules, no rule was identified with a likelihood ratio between those of the inexperienced and experienced physicians in our study. Conclusion: Clinical experience appears to be related to the ability to accurately determine the pretest probability of pulmonary embolism. However, this difference is unlikely to be clinically significant. The difference in accuracy between inexperienced and experienced physicians is not sufficiently large to distinguish between the 2 when determining whether clinical gestalt or a clinical prediction rule should be used to determine the pretest probability of pulmonary embolism.
Cinnamic acid inhibition of detritus feeding

AN important advance in ecology has been the general acceptance of Fraenkel's postulate that certain chemicals in plants deter herbivores1–3. Such chemicals are usually termed secondary plant substances because they are not involved in primary metabolic pathways. Very little of the annual production of biomass by higher plants is consumed by herbivores or phyto-pathogens4. Instead, most of the biomass becomes litter and eventually decays through the activity of decomposers. The secondary compounds that deter grazers while the plants are alive do not disappear immediately when plants senesce and die. We have therefore investigated whether these anti-herbivore substances continue to inhibit consumption by organisms feeding on litter or detritus. We report here that cinnamic acids, one type of secondary plant substances found in detritus, inhibit feeding by detritivores. This inhibition occurs at concentrations found in nature and may be a major factor controlling the rate of decay of organic matter.
Decentralization and local public finance in Tunisia

The Tunisian government has long admitted that its excessively centralized administrative and political systems have generated heavy costs in terms of inefficiency and citizen alienation. A major decentralizing reform effort was launched in the mid-1970s, the most important parts of which dealt with changes in local taxation powers, and in the sources and size of grants and loans which Tunisian communes receive from national sources. The result to date has been a modest increase in communal revenues from the new or increased taxes, and a more significant increase in central government grants to local governments. Smaller and more rural communes are heavily dependent on grants to undertake development actions, their tax base being negligible. The revised systefn generates more revenue, and distributes resources more equitably, than the previous arrangements. In theory, it gives a greatly increased latitude to elected communal councils. Nonetheless, the local governments-and the communes in particular-remain severely constrained by central government authorities. The conclusion is that the decentralization reform has been partial and halting, and will in all probability continue in the same manner.
Exploring the relationships among student preferences, prewriting tasks, and text quality in an EAP context

Abstract Despite their prevalence in second language (L2) writing classrooms, prewriting discussions have not been widely investigated in terms of their relationship to students' written texts. Furthermore, students' preferences for individual or collaborative work have not been considered in terms of their potential impact on the quality of either prewriting tasks or written texts. The current study investigates the relationships among students' preferences for collaboration, the format of prewriting tasks (collaborative or individual) and student text quality in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course ( N = 21). The students carried out three collaborative and three individual prewriting tasks, submitted six written texts, and completed a questionnaire about their learning preferences. Analysis of two focal participants with divergent preferences for collaboration revealed that the collaboratively-oriented student reflected more on content during the collaborative discussions than the individually-oriented student. However, the individually-oriented students did not engage in more reflection during individual prewriting tasks. In addition, the texts both students produced after collaborative prewriting discussions received higher ratings than the texts they wrote after individual prewriting tasks. The findings suggest that collaborative prewriting may be beneficial for text quality, even for students who prefer to work individually.
Neurotransmitter metabolism in murine neuroblastoma cells.

Murine neuroblastoma cells in culture are able to synthesize the putative neurotransmitters--acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, octopamine, histamine, serotonin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). They possess not only synthetic, but also degradative enzymes involved in metabolism of these transmitters, and many of these enzymes increase in activity as the cells “differentiate”. Catecholamines, and perhaps other transmitters, appears to be stored within membrane-limited vesicles which accumulate within the process endings of these cells. Uptake of some transmitters, GABA, glycine, dopamine and norepinephrine, shows characteristics of the high affinity transport systems observed in other neuronal populations; uptake of choline and other amino acids is similar to that in non-neuronal populations. Cells show receptor sensitivities to acetyl-choline, dopamine, norepinephrine, prostaglandins E1 and morphine, as demonstrated by electrophysiologic, toxin binding and cyclic nucleotide studies.
Integrated Optical Pulse Shaping

Advances in pulsed lasers have resulted in a growing need for methods and devices for controlling and exploiting the temporal bandwidth of pulsed fields. Mode-locked diode sources with subpicosecond pulse widths have recently been integrated [1]. We consider high-resolution integrated systems for modulating the bandwidth of such pulses. These systems are capable of creating arbitrarily-shaped optical pulses with bandwidths limited only by the bandwidth of the pulsed source. Applications for pulse-shaping devices exist in communications, optical computing, and nonlinear spectroscopy.
Legislating Gender-based Violence in Post-conflict Africa

Much of the literature on post-conflict Africa has focused either on the backlash against women's rights or referred very generally to new openings for gender-related policy in particular countries. A closer look at developments across the continent shows that the steady demise of a significant number of major conflicts in Africa since the mid-1980s and especially after 2000 has been accompanied by a new focus on women's representation and woman-friendly legislation and policy. This article focuses on the adoption of gender-based violence legislation, which has not to date been examined cross-nationally. It argues that post-conflict countries have adopted legislation pertaining to gender-based violence at significantly higher rates than in other countries. The article shows how this is related to the legacy of conflict. The pressures to address GBV have come from 1) women's movements, 2) changing international norms and practices reflected in programmatic shifts within international bodies like the United...
Painless juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Pain and arthritis are synonymous in the minds of many patients and physicians. Pain control is a major goal in the treatment of arthritis and is emphasized in medical and lay Painful Painless publications. Several authors, however, have reported that some children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis do not No. % No. % P seem to experience pain or that children with JRA report Mean age (yr) 4.7 4.9 NS less pain than do adults with rheumatoid arthritis. 1-4 Female patients (%) 77 76 26 72 NS We have frequently seen children with arthritis in whom Presence of iritis 14 14 4 11 NS the diagnosis of JRA had not been suspected specifically Mean delay in 5.0 10.1 0.038 because of the lack of pain. It was our impression that these diagnosis (too) Positive ANA 72 71 24 67 NS children presented a particularly difficult diagnostic probPositive RF 3 3 1 3 NS lem for the primary physician. Delayed diagnosis may exMean ESR (mm/hr) 26 18 0.028 pose the child to an increased risk of disease complications, Arthrocentesis 18 18 15 42 0.008 including untreated iritis or joint destruction. We report our Roentgenographic 16 16 5 14 NS changes analysis of 41 children with apparently painless JRA to identify characteristics that distinguish children with painless JRA from those with painful JRA.
Reciprocal relationships between pulsatile androgen secretion and the expression of mating behavior in adult male ferrets

Abstract The pulsatile secretion of androgen was similar over a 12-hr period in breeding male ferrets implanted with jugular catheters which either achieved an intromission with an estrous female or received no socio-sexual contact. This negative result contrasts with the previous demonstration ( Carroll, Erskine, and Baum, 1987 , Endocrinology121, 1349–1359) of a significant, delayed rise in mean plasma androgen concentrations in breeding male ferrets 5–12 hr after mating. Males used in that previous study had lower initial mean plasma levels of androgen and smaller testis diameters than the present males. We therefore asked whether differences in circulating androgen levels, characteristic of males in different phases of the seasonal breeding cycle, might affect the expression of mating behavior. Castrated males given 0, 0.2, 2.0, or 5.0 mg/kg of testosterone propionate (TP) showed dose-related increases in the expression of different components of sexual behavior, including neck gripping, mounting, and intromitting. Surprisingly, intromissive performance was significantly better in intact breeding males than in castrates given even the highest dosage of TP. These results suggest that ferrets' mating performance may vary with seasonal variations in androgen availability, and that the ability of males to exhibit a postcoital increase in the testicular secretion of androgen may be limited to the beginning or end of the breeding season, when circulating levels of androgen are relatively low. Mating-induced increments in androgen secretion at these times may enhance subsequent reproductive success by facilitating males' intromissive capacity, which is required for the induction of ovulation and optimal sperm transport in female partners.
Focus Groups Highlight That Many Patients Object To Clinicians’ Focusing On Costs

Having patients weigh costs when making medical decisions has been proposed as a way to rein in health care spending. We convened twenty-two focus groups of people with insurance to examine their willingness to discuss health care costs with clinicians and consider costs when deciding among nearly comparable clinical options. We identified the following four barriers to patients’ taking cost into account: a preference for what they perceive as the best care, regardless of expense; inexperience with making trade-offs between health and money; a lack of interest in costs borne by insurers and society as a whole; and noncooperative behavior characteristic of a “commons dilemma,” in which people act in their own self-interest although they recognize that by doing so, they are depleting limited resources. Surmounting these barriers will require new research in patient education, comprehensive efforts to shift public attitudes about health care costs, and training to prepare clinicians to discuss costs with the...
Study of phases formed during production of copper indium diselenide by reacting copper, indium and selenium layers

Abstract CuInSe 2 films were grown by reacting stacked layers of Cu, In and Se in an atmosphere of Se vapor. Incremental growth of the various phases was followed at different temperatures until a single phase CuInSe 2 film was formed. Conventional X-ray diffraction was used in identifying the different phases formed. Along with the knowledge of different phases formed at increasing reaction temperatures, it was concluded that CuInSe 2 is formed at temperatures as low as 235°C, although a single phase film is obtained only at higher temperatures (≈350°C).
Adoption of new surgical technology.

Surgeons and patients seeking improved treatment often forget that a new technique is not necessarily a better one
Forecasting in the presence of large shocks

Abstract Nelson and Plosser (1982) argued that the trend in many macroeconomic time series changes frequently. Perron (1989), Rappoport and Reichlin (1989), and Balke and Fomby (1991), on the other hand, presented models that say changes in trend occur only relatively rarely. This paper provides a model that can account for evidence like that presented by Perron, Rappoport and Reichlin, and Balke and Fomby while being consistent with Nelson and Plosser's hypothesis of frequent shifts in trend. The paper gives methods for estimating the model, and it shows how estimates of the model's parameters can be used to construct parametric bootstrap forecast intervals. These methods are applied to the extended Nelson-Plosser data set used by Schotman and van Dijk (1991).
Forming a Partnership to Avoid Bycatch

ABSTRACT Bycatch of Yellowtail Flounder in the U.S. Sea Scallop Fishery is a constraint to achieving optimum yield of scallops. Between 2000 and 2009, in-season bycatch closures of prime scallop grounds resulted in economic losses over US$100 million. To address this constraint, we collaborated with the scallop fishing industry to implement a bycatch avoidance program in the Nantucket Lightship harvest area in 2010. Vessels shared near real-time location information about bycatch amounts during fishing activities. We compiled the information, identified bycatch hotspots, and provided daily advisories to vessels on the fishing grounds. Catch per tow of Yellowtail and fishing effort in high bycatch regions significantly declined after the fleet received the advisories. The fleet harvested the target scallop allocation worth US$40 million while catching only 32% of the Yellowtail bycatch limit. This program continues as a collaborative, iterative approach to bycatch reduction that balances fleet objectives w...
Third order nonlinear optical properties of bacteriochlorophylls in bacterial photosynthetic light-harvesting proteins

Enhancement of the nonresonant second order molecular hyperpolarizabilities {gamma} were observed in stacked macrocyclic molecular systems, previously in a {micro}-oxo silicon phthalocyanine (SiPcO) monomer, dimer and trimer series, and now in bacteriochlorophyll a (BChla) arrays of light harvesting (LH) proteins. Compared to monomeric BChla in a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution, the for each macrocycle was enhanced in naturally occurring stacked macrocyclic molecular systems in the bacterial photosynthetic LH proteins where BChla`s are arranged in tilted face-to-face arrays. In addition, the {gamma} enhancement is more significant in B875 of LH1 than in B850 in LH2. Theoretical modeling of the nonresonant {gamma} enhancement using simplified molecular orbitals for model SiPcO indicated that the energy level of the two photon state is crucial to the {gamma} enhancement when a two photon process is involved, whereas the charge transfer between the monomers is largely responsible when one photon near resonant process is involved. The calculated results can be extended to {gamma} enhancement in B875 and B850 arrays, suggesting that BChla in B875 are more strongly coupled than in B850. In addition, a 50--160 fold increase in for the S{sub 1} excited state of relative to S{sub 0} of bacteriochlorophyll in vivo was observedmore » which provides an alternative method for probing excited state dynamics and a potential application for molecular switching.« less
The effect of brand awareness on the evaluation of search engine results

In this paper we investigate the effect of search engine brand (i.e., identifying name that distinguishes a product from its competitors) on evaluation of system performance. Our research is motivated by the large amount of search traffic directed to less than a handful of Web search engines, even though many are of equal technical quality with similar interfaces. We conducted a laboratory experiment with 32 participants measuring the effect of four search engine brands while controlling for the quality of search engine results. Based on average relevance ratings, there was a 25% difference between the most highly rated search engine and the lowest, even though search engine results were identical in both content and presentation. We discuss implications for search engine marketing and the design of empirical studies measuring search engine quality.