cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining Associations between Self-Rated Health and Proficiency in Literacy and Numeracy among Immigrants and U.S.-Born Adults: Evidence from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).

This paper uses data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) to analyze the relationship between self-reported health (SRH) and literacy and numeracy proficiency for immigrants compared to U.S.-born respondents and for Hispanic versus Asian immigrants. The research questions were: (1) Are literacy and numeracy scores associated with adults’ SRH? (2) Are associations between SRH and literacy and numeracy proficiency moderated by immigrant status? (3) Among immigrants, are literacy and numeracy scores more strongly associated with SRH for Hispanics versus Asians? Immigrants had significantly lower literacy and numeracy scores, yet reported better health than U.S.-born respondents. Ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that literacy and numeracy were both positively related to SRH for immigrants and U.S.-born adults, and should therefore be viewed as part of the growing evidence that literacy is an independent and significant social determinant of health. Second, U.S.-born and immigrant adults accrued similarly positive health benefits from stronger literacy and numeracy skills. Third, although Hispanic immigrants were more disadvantaged than Asian immigrants on almost all socioeconomic characteristics and had significantly lower literacy and numeracy scores and worse SRH than Asian immigrants, both Hispanic and Asian immigrants experienced similar positive health returns from literacy and numeracy proficiency. These findings underscore the potential health benefits of providing adult basic education instruction, particularly for immigrants with the least formal schooling and fewest socioeconomic resources.
The Matrix Exponential

The exponential of a matrix plays a crucial role in the theory of Lie groups. The exponential enters into the definition of the Lie algebra of a matrix Lie group (Sect. 3.3) and is the mechanism for passing information from the Lie algebra to the Lie group.
Carbene precursors and metal complexes

Abstract The complex IrCl2(CHF2)(CO)(PPh3)2 is synthesized by the thermal decomposition of IrCl(CHF2)(OCOCF2Cl)(CO)(PPh3)2 or by the extended reaction of Vaska's complex, IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2, with the carbene precursor CF2ClCOONa. The crystal and molecular structure of IrCl2(CHF2)(CO)(PPh3)2 has been determined from three dimensional X-ray data by standard heavy atom methods. The complex crystallizes in space group P22/c of the monoclinic system in a cell of dimensions a 10.47(1), b 14.45(2), c 24.58(2) A, β 97.68(5)o and V 3865 A3. The molecular structure of the complex consists of a slightly distorted octahedron with trans phosphine ligands. The difluoromethyl group is trans to a chlorine atom with an IrC(1) distance of 2.19(3) A. the existence of the proton of the difluoromethyl group is suggested by the bond angles about C(1), and is confirmed by a deuterium labelling experiment. The thermal composition of IrCl(CHF2)(OCOCF2Cl)(CO)(PPh3)2 to give IrCl2(CHF2)(CO)(PPh3)2 in quantitative yield is discussed as a means of generating CF2. Extension to other O- coordinated α-halocarboxylates is proposed.
Antarctic Exploration Parallels for Future Human Planetary Exploration: A Workshop Report

Four Antarctic explorers were invited to a workshop at Johnson Space Center (JSC) to provide expert assessments of NASA's current understanding of future human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit. These explorers had been on relatively sophisticated, extensive Antarctic expeditions with sparse or nonexistent support infrastructure in the period following World War II through the end of the International Geophysical Year. Their experience was similar to that predicted for early Mars or other planetary exploration missions. For example: one Antarctic a expedition lasted two years with only one planned resupply mission and contingency plans for no resupply missions should sea ice prevent a ship from reaching them; several traverses across Antarctica measured more than 1000 total miles, required several months to complete, and were made without maps (because they did not exist) and with only a few aerial photos of the route; and the crews of six to 15 were often international in composition. At JSC, the explorers were given tours of development, training, and scientific facilities, as well as documentation at operational scenarios for future planetary exploration. This report records their observations about these facilities and plans in answers to a series of questions provided to them before the workshop.
Visual fields of the scuba diver.

The restricted visual fields available to SCUBA divers were examined by means of an under-water perimetry apparatus. Measurements were obtained for three standard partial masks (covering only the eyes and nose), one atypical “wrap-round” partial mask, and one full-face mask. Data are presented along with some consideration of the interactions between mask design and visual field, and a brief resume of procedural variables affecting human factors experimentation underwater.
The Value Impact of New Residential Construction and Neighborhood Disinvestment on Residential Sales Price

The topic of neighborhood redevelopment is central to residential appraisal and the lending process. We examine both the effect of neighborhood upgrading and decline, captured by subsidized new res...
Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development as Applied to Social Work

social worker faces many conflicts. Ethical conflicts are frequently por trayed as forced choices or necessary tensions between incompatible but desirable goals—for example, chang ing society versus helping the indi vidual or protecting an individual's rights versus meeting his or her needs. The importance of these con flicts is evident in the development of the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) Code of Ethics.1 Although different values have been named in the code of ethics, they have not been justified with respect to their underlying ethical basis. The values are not tied to one or more
Selection of phage-displayed superantigen by binding to cell-surface MHC class II

Abstract We have expressed the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) on the surface of bacteriophage as a fusion with the gene VIII protein (gVIIIp). This phage-displayed superantigen retains the properties inherent in the natural protein. It binds to MHC class II and activates T-cells bearing appropriate Vβ regions. A flexible 5-amino acid linker sequence between the SEA molecule and the phage coat protein improved the production of functional phage-displayed SEA. Binding to MHC class II-expressing cells effectively selected SEA-phage from non-SEA-phage background. This indicates that this will be an effective method for selecting new specificities of superantigen from libraries of SEA mutants and for cloning of novel superantigens.
Theranostic agents: From micro to nano in seconds.

Multimodal microbubbles exposed to ultrasound shrink to nanoparticles that retain the imaging and drug delivery potential of the parent microbubble.
Flow near the leading edge of a rectangular wing of small aspect ratio with applications to the bow of a ship

A local solution is developed for the square-root singularity at the leading edge of a rectangular flat plate of small aspect ratio. The analysis is based on the assumption that the spanwise load distribution is elliptical, and it follows that the two-dimensional lifting-surface integral equation can be reduced to a one-dimensional integral equation of the Wiener-Hopf form. A solution is then obtained, valid near the leading edge, which yields the strength of the square-root singularity. This solution is used to compute the leading-edge suction force, which differs by 15% from the known value based on the total lift and drag expressions. The local solution is applied to study the flow around the stem of a ship's bow, as a result of a yawing motion, using Lighthill's rule to correct for the finite radius of curvature at the bow.
Combinatorics and Statistical Issues Related to the Kruskal–Wallis Statistic

We explore criteria that data must meet in order for the Kruskal–Wallis test to reject the null hypothesis by computing the number of unique ranked datasets in the balanced case where each of the m alternatives has n observations. We show that the Kruskal–Wallis test tends to be conservative in rejecting the null hypothesis, and we offer a correction that improves its performance. We then compute the number of possible datasets producing unique rank-sums. The most commonly occurring data lead to an uncommonly small set of possible rank-sums. We extend prior findings about row- and column-ordered data structures.
Silver-Promoted Desilylation Catalyzed by Ortho- and Allosteric Cucurbiturils

Cucurbit[6]-, [7]-, and [8]uril can catalyze the silver(I)-promoted desilylation of trimethylsilylalkynyl-containing pseudorotaxanes by stabilizing a key π-alkynyl silver intermediate through favorable interactions between the metallic cation and the cavitand carbonylated portal.
The behavior of retinal tissue in vitro, light and electron microscopic observations.

Retinae from two day old rats were used in this study and the cultures were handled according to standard methods used in this laboratory. In the first few days of cultivation an abundant outgrowth of nerve fibers into the cell-free medium was observed. These fibers later degenerated and by the beginning of the second week they had completely disappeared. In the living cultures, differentiating ganglion cells, bipolar and horizontal neurons could be seen in the main explant in association with various types of glial cells. Rod cells became arranged as epithelial sheets or as clusters of cells which often formed rosettes. The nuclei of these sensory cells possessed a characteristic chromatin pattern by which they always could be differentiated from other cells in the cultures. Cytoplasmic extensions that developed from the free surface of the sensory rod cells were observed within a week following explantation. A “limiting membrane” separated these extensions from the nucleated part of the rod cells. Morphologic details of the different neuronal cell types could be demonstrated in cultures by Bodian's silver impregnation technique.
Effect of Chitosan on the Biological Properties of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The effect of the treatment of chitosan at various concentrations (0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) upon sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) before seeding and transplanting was investigated in aspects of the amount of phenolic and terpenic compounds, antioxidant activity, and growth of the basil, as well as the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity. The total amount of the phenolic and terpenic compounds increased after the chitosan treatment. Especially, the amounts of rosmarinic acid (RA) and eugenol increased 2.5 times and 2 times, respectively, by 0.1% and 0.5% chitosan treatment. Due to the significant induction of phenolic compounds, especially RA, the corresponding antioxidant activity assayed by the DPPH* (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging test increased at least 3.5-fold. Also, the activity of PAL, a key regulatory enzyme for the phenylpropanoid pathway, increased 32 times by 0.5% chitosan solution. Moreover, after the elicitor chitosan treatment, the growth in terms of the weight and height of the sweet basil significantly increased about 17% and 12%, respectively. Our study demonstrates that an elicitor such as chitosan can effectively induce phytochemicals in plants, which might be another alternative and effective means instead of genetic modification.
Unusual magnetic properties of a two-coordinate heteroleptic linear cobalt(II) complex

The synthesis and characterization of two-coordinate cobalt(II) complexes CoAr′2 (1) and Ar′CoN(SiMe3)2 (2) (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2) are reported. The magnetic data for 2 show that it has an unexpectedly high μeff of 5.65 μB whereas the bent complex 1 has a significantly lower moment.
The Journal of Clinical Psychology, the next five years

This is the first issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology containing articles accepted under the current editorship (Beverly Thorn, Charles Ward, Stephen Saunders, and Mary Louise Cashel). As such, the Editor in Chief, Beverly Thorn, decided that it would be timely to offer brief editorial comments regarding the past year as the new EIC, recount a brief history of JCLP, and offer her vision statement for the Journal. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 62: 253–257, 2006.
Solubilizing amino acids and polypeptides in supercritical CO2 via reverse micelle formation

Abstract Water-in-CO 2 reverse micelles stabilized by ionic perfluoroalkyl and non-ionic perfluoropolyether surfactants were used to host amino acids and polypeptides in supercritical (SC) CO 2 . The minimum pressure at which micellization occurs ( P trans ) was found to be affected by the surfactant concentration and H 2 O/CO 2 ratio. Due to the differences in hydrophilic/CO 2 balance, the two surfactants exhibited different phase behaviors at 19.3 MPa and 40 °C. At certain H 2 O/CO 2 /surfactant compositions, while coagulation was more evident when using perfluoroalkyl surfactant, flocculation was found to dominate the system containing perfluoropolyether surfactant. The presence of amino acid and polypeptide in reverse micelles was found to increase the P trans of the system due to enthalpic and entropic changes. In perfluoroalkyl reverse micelles, the P trans was found to increase with increasing hydrophilicity of the amino acid added. The presence of hydrophobic moieties in amino acids promotes interfacial solubilization that eventually resulted in lower P trans . On the other hand, the nature of the amino acid was not found to affect P trans in perfluoropolyether reverse micelle. Overall, this work demonstrates that polypeptides with varying molecular weight could be solubilized in water-in-CO 2 reverse micelles using perfluoropolyether while perfluoroakyl surfactants were ineffective.
Modeling 3-D solar wind structure

Abstract Recent advances in numerical methods and computer systems make it possible to tackle complicated, more realistic ambient and transient solar wind flows. An overview of the ongoing work performed at the NOAA Space Environment Center is presented with examples illustrating: (a) global.3-D interaction of a CME propagating in structured background solar wind, (b) incorporation of a more realistic ambient solar wind, (c) merging of coronal and heliospheric models to track CMEs, and (d) near-Earth solar wind simulations. The aim is to highlight the complexities confronting numerical modelers in meeting challenges imposed by space weather research and forecasting.
THE EFFECT OF CASTEATION ON THE ANTERIOR HYPOPHYSIS OF THE FEMALE RAT1

Although changes following castration were described in the anterior pituitaries of cattle, buffaloes and fowls as early as 1905 (Fichera), the earliest investigation on the effect of castration on the anterior pituitary of the albino rat was that of Zacherl reported by Biedl in 1912. He described an increase in the volume of the organ and a diminution in the number of aeidophiles, but of most interest was his description of a new cell type which he designated as a castration cell. He did not determine the origin of this new cell type. Addison in 1917, using male rats, presented a more complete histologieal analysis of the changes occurring in the anterior hypophysis after castration. He described an early increase in the number and size of the basophiles, the larger ones becoming vacuolated in two months after castration. With the increase in the size and number of these vacuoles, the cytoplasm and nuclei were pushed to the side, producing the typical castration cell or “signet-ring” cell. Colloid fillin...
A protein pore with a single polymer chain tethered within the lumen

A transmembrane protein pore with a single 5000 Da poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecule attached covalently within the channel lumen has been constructed from seven staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin subunits. The modified heptamer is stable and can be purified by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, without dissociation of the subunits. The properties of the modified pore were studied by single channel current recording. The PEG molecule reduces the mean conductance of the pore by 18%, as would be predicted from the effects of PEG on the conductivity of bulk electrolytes. The recordings also reveal a variety of low amplitude current fluctuations on a time scale of seconds, which are tentatively ascribed to the reorganization of the PEG molecule within the channel lumen and associated movements of the polypeptide chain. Another class of events, comprising uniform high-amplitude negative fluctuations in current with durations of milliseconds, is ascribed to motions of the PEG molecule into one of the channel entrances, thereby producing more extensive channel block. When instead a 3000 Da PEG is attached within the channel lumen, the single channel properties are changed in keeping with the lower mass of the polymer. For example, the high-amplitude fluctuations occur more frequently and are of shorter duration suggesting that the 3000 Da PEG is more mobile than the 5000 Da chain. With further development, the approach taken here should be useful for the indirect monitoring of polymer dynamics at the single molecule level. By using polymers that respond to analytes, it should also be possible to make biosensors from the covalently modified pores.
Strategize on a napkin

Purpose – The author urges managers to pay more respect to the time‐honored tradition of sketching ideas on the back of an envelope or a napkin managers. It is a way to become more skilled at imaginatively using simple yet sophisticated cognitive tools.Design/methodology/approach – A number of examples of using images to achieve leaps of learning are cited.Findings – Senior managers often make breakthrough ideas at informal sessions when they sketch their thoughts literally on a napkin.Research limitations/implications – Crafting strategy on a piece of paper is a creative activity ripe for both exploration and exploitation in all organizations.Practical implications – Managers should save the napkin on which they have sketched out their bold idea and present it at future sessions for reevaluation.Originality/value – An entertaining look at how important ideas germinate and get communicated.
A further refinement of discretized Lyapunov functional method for the stability of time-delay systems

The discretized Lyapunov functional method for the stability problem of time-delay systems is further refined using a combination of integral inequality and variable elimination technique. As a result, the computational requirement is further reduced for the same discretization mesh. For systems without uncertainty, the convergence to the analytical solution is greatly accelerated. For uncertain systems, the new method is much less conservative. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.
Antibiotics and Pharmacotherapeutics in the Neonate

Neonates are unique related to the pharmacotherapeutics of medications. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are affected by gestation, chronological age, and disease state. All care takers need to understand indications, therapeutic effect, and toxicity of commonly used therapies. Many neonates admitted to neonatal nurseries require antibiotic treatment for presumed sepsis, based on maternal history. Infants presenting with clinical symptoms, either early onset or later, require a sepsis evaluation with blood cultures, complete blood count, and depending on the timing of clinical symptoms, a lumbar puncture and urine culture. The choice of antibiotics for initial sepsis evaluation is based on the most common organisms seen at birth. Late-onset sepsis is treated based on the presenting clinical signs of the infant, presence of indwelling catheters, and hemodynamic stability. The importance of monitoring drug levels, renal and hepatic function, and organism susceptibility and sensitivity will guide the caregivers in dosing and timing of medications.
Brokered Politics in Brazil: An Empirical Analysis

An emerging literature emphasizes the importance of vote brokers for electoral politics in the developing world. Yet in spite of the great interest in the topic, attempts to assess the impact of vote brokerage on election returns are exceedingly rare. This paper provides the first explicit assessment of the electoral returns to politicians from purchasing the allegiances of brokers. It does so by drawing upon a unique dataset documenting the allocation of off-the-books payments to vote brokers during a gubernatorial reelection campaign in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The study finds that in the typical municipality buying off local brokers was associated with a 4–6 percentage point increase in the vote share obtained by the governor. All told, the findings suggest that vote brokerage is a resilient form of political linkage that can shape vote choice even in contexts of vote secrecy and intermediate levels of economic development.
Independent predictors of complication following surgery for spinal metastasis

Purpose Surgery for spinal metastasis is often associated with significant morbidity. Despite a number of preoperative scoring systems/scales and identified variables that have been reported to predict complication risk, clinical studies that directly evaluate this issue using multivariate analysis are scarce. The goal of our study was to assess independent predictors of complication after surgery for spinal metastasis.
Fast and slow dynamics of northern small mammal populations

Abstract Animal populations interact with their environments in a scale-dependent manner and exhibit scale-dependent dynamics. Animals may adjust reproductive frequency and fecundity in response to fluctuating environments to maximize reproductive success. We hypothesize that populations of insectivorous small mammals undergo seasonal variations owing to predictable shortages of winter food and short breeding periods, whereas populations of herbivorous small mammals may exhibit multi-year fluctuations owing to food-induced variability in the length of the breeding period among years. We predict that omnivorous Peromyscus and Reithrodontomys species would have population dynamics patterns similar to insectivorous small mammals, if the omnivorous rodents rely on insects as winter food. Using the wavelet transform, we re-analyzed nine long-term monthly population time series of Blarina brevicauda , Microtus ochrogaster , Microtus pennsylvanicus , Peromyscus leucopus , Peromyscus maniculatus , Reithrodontomys megalotis , and Sigmodon hispidus from Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, United States to test our hypothesis. Populations of B. brevicauda in Illinois, P. leucopus in Pennsylvania, and S. hispidus and R. megalotis in Kansas resonated with climate change at an annual scale (8–16 months), whereas Microtus populations in Illinois and Kansas and P. leucopus , P. maniculatus , and S. hispidus populations in Kansas exhibited the greatest variability at a scale of 32 months. Our Kansas M. ochrogaster population cycled every 2–3 years from 1984 to 1994. Therefore, small mammal populations form a continuum of slow–fast dynamics. Variation in small mammal population abundances is related to climate dynamics only at annual scales. However, it is unlikely that long-term dynamics of local climate directly result in long-term variation in small mammal population abundances, including population cycles. Our findings demonstrate the importance of scale-specific effects of exogenous factors in the dynamics of animal populations and offer a new interpretation of complex effects of climate on population dynamics.
Indefinite terminating points and the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma

In conclusion, I shall indicate one consequence of (3.4). The major resultof work on infinitely iterated Prisoner's Dilemma games is that there existcooperative equilibria in such games. I have suggested above that myaccount of finitely, but indefinitely, iterated Prisoner's Dilemma gamesreflects the nature of genuine iterated Prisoner's Dilemmas more accu-rately than accounts involving infinite iterations. If my suggestion iscorrect, then one consequence of (3.4) - of there being only uncooperativeequilibria in finitely, but indefinitely, iterated games - is to call intoquestion the significance of the existence of cooperative equilibria ininfinitely iterated Prisoner's Dilemma games.
Boranophosphate Oligonucleotides: New Synthetic Approaches

Abstract Recently our laboratory reported a new backbone-modified class of oligonucleotides, with a borane (B33−) group replacing one of the non-bridging oxygen atoms. Here we present two new approaches to synthesize the boranophosphate oligonucleotides. All-stereoregular boranophosphate oligonucleotides can be prepared by enzymatic template extension reactions using nucleoside a-boranotriphosphates, which are good substrates for a number of polymerases. Larger scale synthesis of boranophosphate oligonucleotides can be carried out by effective chemical synthesis using the H-phosphonate approach, instead of previously used phosphoramidite methodology. The main advantage of H-phosphonate methodology is the ability to carry out one boronation reaction, after oligonucleotide chain elongation has been completed, using mild conditions without base damage and producing the desired boranophosphate oligonucleotides in high yield.
Attitudes, Behaviors, and Cognition in Distributed Teams: The Effect of Team Opacity on Process and Performance:

In this paper we discuss the small, but growing, area of distributed teams and emphasize how work characteristics associated with such teams may alter both the processes and the products emerging f...
In vivo expansion of the megakaryocyte progenitor cell population in adult CD26-deficient mice

Objective Megakaryopoiesis involves commitment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) toward the myeloid lineage in combination with the proliferation, maturation, and terminal differentiation of progenitors into megakaryocytes. The exact mechanism of megakaryocyte development from HSC is unknown, but growth factors such as thrombopoietin have been identified as critical. Additionally, it has been suggested that the chemokine CXCL12/stromal-cell derived factor-1α has a role in regulating megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. We recently reported the importance of the extracellular protease CD26 (dipeptidylpeptidase IV) in regulating HSC responses to CXCL12, as well as modulating HSC trafficking into and out of the bone marrow. However, the importance of CD26 for megakaryopoiesis has not been reported. We therefore compared megakaryocyte development between CD26-deficient (CD26 −/− ) mice and C57BL/6 control mice. Materials and Methods Adult CD26 −/− mice and C57BL/6 control mice were evaluated using blood differentials, histological analysis, flow cytometric analysis, and progenitor colony assays. Results Bone marrow from CD26 −/− mice has a significantly expanded megakaryocyte and megakaryocyte progenitor population compared to control C57BL/6 mice bone marrow. Conclusions Our results indicate that endogenous CD26 normally suppresses megakaryopoiesis and that loss of CD26 activity results in expansion of the megakaryocyte progenitor population in vivo. This suggests the potential use of CD26 inhibitors to improve megakaryocyte progenitor function and/or reconstitution of the megakaryocyte cell population.
Three- and four-dimensional simplicial quantum gravity

Abstract The Application of numerical methods to the dynamical triangulation formulation of quantum gravity is discussed and the phase diagram for three - and four-dimensional simplicial quantum gravity is outlined. The main part of the paper presents the (still preliminary) results in four dimensions.
Monophyly and generic relationships of polemoniaceae based on matK Sequences

Polemoniaceae are often considered a model family for studying evolutionary processes, yet a reliable phylogeny for the family is only now beginning to emerge. To test the monophyly of this family and to elucidate intergeneric relationships, we employed comparative sequencing of the chloroplast gene matK. Parsimony analysis of matK sequences representing 18 genera of Polemoniaceae and nine families from Asteridae sensu lato places Polemoniaceae apart from Solanaceae near Fouquieriaceae, Ericaceae, Sarraceniaceae, and Diapensiaceae. Both this and a subsequent analysis of 59 species of Polemoniaceae indicate that Cobaea is derived from within Polemoniaceae, rather than being the sister to Polemoniaceae as suggested by some authors. The tropical genera Bonplandia, Cantua, and Cobaea form a clade, and the remaining, primarily temperate genera, excluding Acanthogilia, form a second monophyletic group. Acanthogilia is placed ambiguously as sister to either the tropical or temperate groups depending on the location of the root for Polemoniaceae. Within the temperate lineage, Polemonium is sister to three large clades: a well-supported clade comprising Phlox, Gymnosteris, Linanthus, Leptodactylon, and Gilia filiformis; a moderately well-supported clade comprising Allophyllum, Collomia, Navarretia, and several species of Gilia; and a weakly supported clade comprising Eriastrum, Ipomopsis, Langloisia, Loeseliastrum, Loeselia, and several species of Gilia. In addition to revealing the extreme polyphyly of Gilia, this analysis suggests that Ipomopsis and Linanthus are also polyphyletic.
Impact of septal myectomy on left atrial volume and left ventricular diastolic filling patterns: an echocardiographic study of young patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background Septal myectomy in young patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be performed with low mortality, and leads to excellent improvement in symptoms. Left atrial (LA) enlargement has been associated with exercise intolerance, severity of mitral regurgitation (MR), and left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in adults with HCM. Methods Young patients (1-22 years of age) who had a septal myectomy for obstructive HCM between 2002 and 2005 were identified. Retrospective analyses of premyectomy and postmyectomy echocardiograms were performed. Results In this cohort of 32 patients (25 male), the average maximal LV wall thickness was 25 ± 9 mm and LVOT maximal instantaneous gradient was 106 ± 44 mm Hg. MR was present in all patients with a mean grade of 3 ± 1. All patients had successful myectomy and there were no early deaths. After myectomy, LVOT maximal instantaneous gradient decreased to 17 ± 13 mm Hg ( P 2 ( P P P = .001) and change in degree of MR ( P = .04). Conclusion Septal myectomy not only reduces LVOT maximal instantaneous gradient and MR in young patients, but also results in decreased LAV index, and E/A and E/E' ratios. These hemodynamic improvements may contribute to the observed survival benefit and increased exercise tolerance observed after myectomy. This is the first series to demonstrate that LAV correlates closely with hemodynamic status in children with obstructive HCM and may be a significant predictor of clinical outcome in these patients.
An Evaluation of the Vanderbilt-JCEE Experimental PSI Course in Elementary Economics

This is considerably longer than articles normally accepted by the JEE, but we considered it to be an important follow-up of our Special Issue No. 2, “The Vanderbilt-JCEE Experimental Course in Elementary Economics.” (Winter 1974.) The authors address a number of aspects of PSI, some of which have rarely been touched upon by other researchers interested in this method. This paper deals not only with student learning and student reactions to PSI, but with its effects on performance in higher level economics courses, its impact on the student proctors in terms of their learning of economics, and the costs of establishing and maintaining a PSI course. Siegfried and Strand have not answered all the questions pertaining to self-paced instruction but, along with Allison, Billings, Fels, Soper, Spector, Tietenberg and others, they have contributed significantly to our knowledge of the effectiveness of PSI.
NUMERICAL STUDIES OF THE THERMAL DESIGN SENSITIVITY CALCULATION FOR A REACTION-DIFFUSION SYSTEM WITH DISCONTINUOUS DERIVATIVES

The aim of this study is to find a reliable numerical algorithm to calculate thermal design sensitivities of a transient problem with discontinuous derivatives. The thermal system of interest is a transient heat conduction problem related to the curing process of a composite laminate. A logical function which can smoothly approximate the discontinuity is introduced to modify the system equation. Two commonly used methods, the adjoint variable method and the direct differentiation method, are then applied to find the design derivatives of the modified system. The comparisons of numerical results obtained by these two methods demonstrate that the direct differentiation method is a better choice to be used in calculating thermal design sensitivity.
Using genetic markers to orient the edges in quantitative trait networks: The NEO software

Systems genetic studies have been used to identify genetic loci that affect transcript abundances and clinical traits such as body weight. The pairwise correlations between gene expression traits and/or clinical traits can be used to define undirected trait networks. Several authors have argued that genetic markers (e.g expression quantitative trait loci, eQTLs) can serve as causal anchors for orienting the edges of a trait network. The availability of hundreds of thousands of genetic markers poses new challenges: how to relate (anchor) traits to multiple genetic markers, how to score the genetic evidence in favor of an edge orientation, and how to weigh the information from multiple markers. We develop and implement Network Edge Orienting (NEO) methods and software that address the challenges of inferring unconfounded and directed gene networks from microarray-derived gene expression data by integrating mRNA levels with genetic marker data and Structural Equation Model (SEM) comparisons. The NEO software implements several manual and automatic methods for incorporating genetic information to anchor traits. The networks are oriented by considering each edge separately, thus reducing error propagation. To summarize the genetic evidence in favor of a given edge orientation, we propose Local SEM-based Edge Orienting (LEO) scores that compare the fit of several competing causal graphs. SEM fitting indices allow the user to assess local and overall model fit. The NEO software allows the user to carry out a robustness analysis with regard to genetic marker selection. We demonstrate the utility of NEO by recovering known causal relationships in the sterol homeostasis pathway using liver gene expression data from an F2 mouse cross. Further, we use NEO to study the relationship between a disease gene and a biologically important gene co-expression module in liver tissue. The NEO software can be used to orient the edges of gene co-expression networks or quantitative trait networks if the edges can be anchored to genetic marker data. R software tutorials, data, and supplementary material can be downloaded from: http://www.genetics.ucla.edu/labs/horvath/aten/NEO .
Effect of anticoagulation on the lysis of filter entrapped thromboembolism in dogs

Resolution of thrombi entrapped in Greenfield vena caval filters is a primary mechanism for maintenance of caval patency with this device following an embolic event. In order to determine if anticoagulation is beneficial in this setting, thrombus was harvested from 65 mongrel dogs with infrarenal IVC thrombosis after phenolization. These thrombi were weighed and embolized into Greenfield filters placed above the renal veins. The infrarenal IVCs were then ligated and the animals allowed to recover. Beginning the first postoperative day, animals were given either oral coumadin daily to elevate the prothrombin time above 1.5 normal, subcutaneous heparin 500 u/kg/day divided into two doses, or received no treatment. They were sacrificed either 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks after embolism and the residual thrombi weighed. Initial thrombus weights were similar for each period (differences NS). Comparison of initial with final weights revealed that both coumadin and heparin-treated animals had a significantly increased resolution in the first week when compared to controls. By 2 weeks, however, there were no significant differences between the groups, and controls proceeded to a mean of 95% resolution by 4 weeks. A general linear model used to separate the effects of treatment, time, and initial thrombus weight showed that resolution was primarily a function of initial thrombus weight, and of time. Coumadin was marginally beneficial. Thrombus resolution proceeds rapidly in this model without anticoagulation. These data suggest that prevention of deep vein thrombosis and its sequelae remain the sole indication for anticoagulation after filter placement.
Therapeutic Aspects of Volunteer and Advocacy Activities

Although the ultimate goal of occupational therapy with the elderly is to "help keep the aged within the mainstream of human activity" (Hasselkus, 1985, p. 157) engaged in meaningful and growth-oriented activities, more immediate problems such as dealing with environmental barriers or limitations in range of motion seem to take precedence in the day-to-day delivery of services. Clients' potentials for personal growth and for developing or practicing those abilities which might enable them to be active contributing members of society are thereby neglected. The occupational therapist is in an ideal position to encourage older persons to become involved in self-help, volunteer and advocacy activities. Identifying, referring and/or training persons who can contribute to-benefit from-such activities is a pertinent and exciting extension of the occupational therapy concepts of "meaningful" and "purposeful". Involvement in such activities engenders an increased sense of self-worth, empowerment and productivity i...
Metabolism-directed optimization of 3-aminopyrazinone acetamide thrombin inhibitors. Development of an orally bioavailable series containing P1 and P3 pyridines

Recent efforts in the field of thrombin inhibitor research have focused on the identification of compounds with good oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. In this manuscript we describe a metabolism-based approach to the optimization of the 3-(2-phenethylamino)-6-methylpyrazinone acetamide template (e.g., 1) which resulted in the modification of each of the three principal components (i.e., P1, P2, P3) comprising this series. As a result of these studies, several potent thrombin inhibitors (e.g., 20, 24, 25) were identified which exhibit high levels of oral bioavailability and long plasma half-lives.
Conceptual evaluation of intensive production systems for tomatoes.

A constant source of nutrients (gradient or fertigation) in conjunction with a constant source of water (water table or microirrigation) has been used to provide nutritional stability in the development of intensive production systems. The maximum buffer capacity of the gradient concept compared to the less than maximum buffer capacity of fertigation procedure provides the differential in nutritional stability that is significant for advances in productivity. The average statewide tomato yield in Florida has doubled with the adoption of the mulched gradient system (reevaluation of the entire production system including cultivars and cultural procedures as well as advances in nutritional stability). The development of a containerized gradient system which is currently being evaluated may have the potential to further advance productivity by reducing the unit cost of production and, at the same time, increasing environmental and conservational compatibility.
Clinical Characteristics and Long Term Outcomes in Septuagenarians Undergoing Cardiac Transplantation

was the primary indication for device placement (n59), followed by chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (n53) and cardiac transplant rejection (n51). The average duration of Impella support was 1167.5 days. Within 24 hours of device placement, patients had an increase in cardiac output to 5.5L/min61.4 vs 4.4L/min61.3 (p50.005), which was associated with an improvement in GFR from 45.0613.5 to 52.0614.5 (p50.01), pulmonary artery pressures 41 613.0 to 3167.0 (p50.01), right atrial pressures 11 64 to 1066 (p50.04) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 326 12.0 to 2065.0 (p50.03). In 84% of cases (n511), the Impella provided adequate left ventricular support, with patients either successfully weaned off support completely (n54), or receiving permanent LVADs (n55) or cardiac transplant (n52). Only 16% of patients (n52) died while actively on the Impella .The 30 day mortality was 23% (n53), while overall mortality at 90 days stood at 54% (n57). The causes of mortality included device malfunction, fatal arrhythmia 24 hours after Impella removal and withdrawal of care in 1 patient each and multi-organ failure in 4 patients who were transitioned to permanent LVAD’s. Conclusions: The Impella 5.0 has been shown to be a safe and efficacious device for use in patients with cardiogenic shock. In our high risk population, the device was easily and quickly inserted and demonstrated consistent hemodynamic augmentation. It also established itself as a good supportive modality in our acutely ill patients as well. Though our overall results in terms of mortality have not been very encouraging, the Impella was indeed successful in bridging patients to either, a permanent LVAD, transplant or in some cases ventricular recovery as well. Therefore in these high risk patients with profound cardiogenic shock, this is indeed a suitable treatment strategy.
Role of phosphatidylserine in the MI-MIII equilibrium of rhodopsin*

Bovine rhodopsin was recombined with various phospholipids in which the lipid acyl chain composition was held constant at that of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), while the identity of the headgroups was varied. The ratio of MII / MI produced in the recombinant membrane vesicles by an actinic flash was studied as a function of pH, and compared to the photochemical activity observed for rhodopsin in native ROS membranes. MI and MII were found to coexist in a pH-dependent, acid-base equilibrium on the millisecond timescale. Recombinants made with phospholipids containing unsaturated acyl chains were capable of full native-like MII production, but demonstrated titration curves with different pK values. The presence of phosphoethanolamine or phosphoserine headgroups increased the amount of MII produced. In the case of phosphatidylserine this may result from alteration of the membrane surface potential, leading to an increase in the local H + activity. The results indicate that the Gibbs free energies of the MI and MII conformational states are influenced by the membrane bilayer environment, suggesting a possible role of lipids in visual excitation.
The role of glycoconjugates in metastatic melanoma blood-borne arrest and cell surface properties.

The role of glycoconjugates in cell surface and blood-borne implantation properties of murine metastatic melanoma sublines of low (B16-F1) or high (B 16-F10) potential to colonize lungs was investigated by treating melanoma cells with the antibiotic tunicamycin. This drug prevents glycosylation of glycoproteins by inhibiting the formation of lipid-linked oligosaccharide precursors. The degree of tunicamycin-mediated modifications in glycoproteins was assessed by monitoring the decrease in cell surface sialogalactoproteins by binding of 125I-labeled Ricinus communis agglutinin I. Scanning electron microscopy of tunicamycin-treated B16-F1 and B16-F10 cells showed morphologic changes such as cell rounding and formation of numerous surface blebs. Tunicamycin-treated B16-F1 and B16-F10 cells lost their lung colonization abilities when injected intravenously into C57BL/6 mice, concomitant with lowered rates of adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers, endothelial extracellular matrix (basal lamina), and polyvinyl-immobilized fibronectin in vitro, suggesting that this drug inhibits experimental metastasis by modifying the surface glycoproteins involved in determining the adhesive properties of malignant cells.
The Problematic Role of Responsibility in Contexts of Distributive Justice

It would be surprising if our idea of ourselves as responsible agents did not have a significant place in our understanding of one another as members of a political community with common claims and obligations. We see this idea at work, for example, in disputes about the extent to which the poor are or are not responsible for their lot or smokers for their ill-health. Its most common use, it seems, is to explain and justify differences in shares of economic and other social goods. We see this use implicitly in the following letter to the Editor during the recent Presidential campaign. The author of the letter declares:
Modeling and simulation with the Brahms agent environment

Brahms (http://www.agentisolutions.com) is an agent-based modeling and simulation environmenta. for developing simulations of people, organizations, objects such as tools, documents and systems andb. for designing, simulating and implementing multi-agent software systems.
Presidential address: Remembrance of things past — New England surgeons and infrainguinal reconstruction☆☆☆★★★♢

As I look back on a surgical career spent largely in New Engjand, I am struck by the contributions that have been made by New England surgeons to the development of many aspects of our specialty of vascular surgery. I have chosen to talk about only one of these aspects today--infralngUinal arterial reconstruction---becanse I believe more New England surgeons have been responsible for substantial advances in this area of vascular surgery than any other. These remarks will reflect a personal perspective only, and I have not attempted to do an exhaustive literature search on this subject. You will undoubtedly find that I have missed important contributors. For the purpose of this discussion and without asldng anyone's permission, however, I have claimed as New England surgeons those who received their surgical training in this region as well as those who practice or practiced surgery here. Although autogenous saphenous vein grafts had been used in a few instances to replace popliteal aneurysms in the early part of the 20th century, it was not until the 1940s, when both angiography and heparin were available, that treatment of occlusive disease in the arteries of the leg was begun, first by Dos Santos with endarterectomy 1 and shortly thereafter by Kunlin with reversed saphenous vein grafts. 2 Both