cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Artifact Subspace Reconstruction for Automatic EEG Artifact Removal

One of the greatest challenges that hinder the decoding and application of electroencephalography (EEG) is that EEG recordings almost always contain artifacts - non-brain signals. Among existing automatic artifact-removal methods, artifact subspace reconstruction (ASR) is an online and realtime capable, component-based method that can effectively remove transient or large-amplitude artifacts. However, the effectiveness of ASR and the optimal choice of its parameter have not been evaluated and reported, especially on real EEG data. This study systematically validates ASR on ten EEG recordings in a simulated driving experiment. Independent component analysis (ICA) is applied to separate artifacts from brain signals to allow a quantitative assessment of ASR's effectiveness in removing various types of artifacts and preserving brain activities. Empirical results show that the optimal ASR parameter is between 10 and 100, which is small enough to remove activities from artifacts and eye-related components and large enough to retain signals from brain-related components. With the appropriate choice of the parameter, ASR can be a powerful and automatic artifact removal approach for offline data analysis or online real-time EEG applications such as clinical monitoring and brain-computer interfaces.
Deaf children need language, not (just) speech:

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children need to master at least one language (spoken or signed) to reach their full potential. Providing access to a natural sign language supports this goal. Despit...
Role of KASH domain lengths in the regulation of LINC complexes

The linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex is formed by the conserved interactions between Sad-1 and UNC-84 (SUN) and Klarsicht, ANC-1, SYNE homology (KASH) domain proteins, providing a physical coupling between the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton that mediates the transfer of physical forces across the nuclear envelope. The LINC complex can perform distinct cellular functions by pairing various KASH domain proteins with the same SUN domain protein. For example, in Caenorhabditis elegans, SUN protein UNC-84 binds to two KASH proteins UNC-83 and ANC-1 to mediate nuclear migration and anchorage, respectively. In addition to distinct cytoplasmic domains, the luminal KASH domain also varies among KASH domain proteins of distinct functions. In this study, we combined in vivo C. elegans genetics and in silico molecular dynamics simulations to understand the relation between the length and amino acid composition of the luminal KASH domain, and the function of the SUN-KASH complex. We show that longer KASH domains can withstand and transfer higher forces and interact with the membrane through a conserved membrane proximal EEDY domain that is unique to longer KASH domains. In agreement with our models, our in vivo results show that swapping the KASH domains of ANC-1 and UNC-83, or shortening the KASH domain of ANC-1, both result in a nuclear anchorage defect in C. elegans.
Assessing the effect of different bathymetric models on hydraulic simulation of rivers in data sparse regions

Abstract River bathymetry, which is vital for accurate hydraulic modeling, is not readily available at large scales because of the logistical difficulties in field surveys and uncertainties associated with remote sensing techniques. Several studies have explored the potential of conceptual models and interpolation algorithms to estimate bathymetry. These models have certain underlying assumptions that limit their accuracy and widespread implementation. This study aims to provide insights into the choice of bathymetric model for different hydraulic applications by analyzing the effect of different bathymetric models on hydraulic modeling under different geomorphologic and flow settings. This study does not aim to reinforce the importance of bathymetry, rather its objective is to identify the bathymetric properties that are critical to accurate estimation of different hydraulic outputs. The study accomplishes its objectives by implementing three different bathymetric models with varying cost and efficiency at four sites with diverse bathymetric characteristics. Five hydraulic outputs, namely wetted cross-sectional area, water surface elevation, inundation extents, velocity and shear are estimated at three characteristic low and high flows and the results from the four sites are grouped together to perform an unbiased and robust evaluation. The performance of these models is evaluated using the best available bathymetric representation generated from detailed field surveys as a benchmark. The results indicate that 1D flood modeling is somewhat insensitive to channel shape as long as the estimated shape reflects the channel storage accurately. Velocity and shear related applications should incorporate bathymetry that represent both the cross-sectional area and channel thalweg accurately. Reaches with low sinuosity (
An efficient, conservative, time-implicit solver for the fully kinetic arbitrary-species 1D-2V Vlasov-Ampère system

Abstract We consider the solution of the fully kinetic (including electrons) Vlasov-Ampere system in a one-dimensional physical space and two-dimensional velocity space (1D-2V) for an arbitrary number of species with a time-implicit Eulerian algorithm. The problem of velocity-space meshing for disparate thermal and bulk velocities is dealt with by an adaptive coordinate transformation of the Vlasov equation for each species, which is then discretized, including the resulting inertial terms. Mass, momentum, and energy are conserved, and Gauss's law is enforced to within the nonlinear convergence tolerance of the iterative solver through a set of nonlinear constraint functions while permitting significant flexibility in choosing discretizations in time, configuration, and velocity space. We mitigate the temporal stiffness introduced by, e.g., the plasma frequency through the use of high-order/low-order (HOLO) acceleration of the iterative implicit solver. We present several numerical results for canonical problems of varying degrees of complexity, including the multiscale ion-acoustic shock wave problem, which demonstrate the efficacy, accuracy, and efficiency of the scheme.
A numerical study on deblending of land simultaneous shooting acquisition data via rank‐reduction filtering and signal enhancement applications

ABSTRACT We propose a workflow of deblending methodology comprised of rank‐reduction filtering followed by a signal enhancing process. This methodology can be used to preserve coherent subsurface reflections and at the same time to remove incoherent and interference noise. In pseudo‐deblended data, the blending noise exhibits coherent events, whereas in any other data domain (i.e. common receiver, common midpoint and common offset), it appears incoherent and is regarded as an outlier. In order to perform signal deblending, a robust implementation of rank‐reduction filtering is employed to eliminate the blending noise and is referred to as a joint sparse and low‐rank approximation. Deblending via rank‐reduction filtering gives a reasonable result with a sufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio. However, for land data acquired using unconstrained simultaneous shooting, rank‐reduction–based deblending applications alone do not completely attenuate the interference noise. A considerable amount of signal leakage is observed in the residual component, which can affect further data processing and analyses. In this study, we propose a deblending workflow via a rank‐reduction filter followed by post‐processing steps comprising a nonlinear masking filter and a local orthogonalization weight application. Although each application shows a few footprints of leaked signal energy, the proposed combined workflow restores the signal energy from the residual component achieving significantly signal‐to‐noise ratio enhancement. These hierarchical schemes are applied on land simultaneous shooting acquisition data sets and produced cleaner and reliable deblended data ready for further data processing.
Pathways of Legal Strategy

Strategy is a hot topic. Entire journals are dedicated to publishing business strategy articles and the study of it comprises a major subfield in the management discipline. Almost every source of competitive advantage imaginable – marketing resources, organizational capital, financial planning, company culture, information technology, and many others – has been examined except law. This is likely because most strategists are not legally trained and most lawyers graduate without a single course in business strategy. Thus a discipline that attracts the focus of almost half of key Wall Street Journal articles and consumes up to a quarter of executives’ available time remains unaddressed. A vast gap lies between law and strategy, and this article presents a first and modest effort to bridge the disciplinary divide. This article proposes that there are five pathways that firms pursue when interacting with their legal environment. Some firms treat laws as just a nuisance to be ignored. Others implement prevention programs to avoid litigation. Only a few firms apply a genuine legal strategy to capture value in the marketplace. This article shows the benefits and costs of each pathway through the lenses of fit (consistency with internal resources), strategy (consistency with external environment), and sustainability (defensibility against competing rivals). This article offers research opportunities to further the embryonic study of law and strategy and concludes with recommendations.
Analyzing Cataloging Job Descriptions: Are Cataloging Jobs Disappearing, Changing, or Merging?

To determine the state of the cataloging job market, this study compares job advertisements from August 2016-August 2018 advertising for jobs with cataloging in the title, metadata in the title, an...
Long Noncoding RNAs in Plant Viroids and Viruses: A Review

Infectious long-noncoding (lnc) RNAs related to plants can be of both viral and non-viral origin. Viroids are infectious plant lncRNAs that are not related to viruses and carry the circular, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs that replicate with host enzymatic activities via a rolling circle mechanism. Viroids interact with host processes in complex ways, emerging as one of the most productive tools for studying the functions of lncRNAs. Defective (D) RNAs, another category of lnc RNAs, are found in a variety of plant RNA viruses, most of which are noncoding. These are derived from and are replicated by the helper virus. D RNA-virus interactions evolve into mutually beneficial combinations, enhancing virus fitness via competitive advantages of moderated symptoms. Yet the satellite RNAs are single-stranded and include either large linear protein-coding ss RNAs, small linear ss RNAs, or small circular ss RNAs (virusoids). The satellite RNAs lack sequence homology to the helper virus, but unlike viroids need a helper virus to replicate and encapsidate. They can attenuate symptoms via RNA silencing and enhancement of host defense, but some can be lethal as RNA silencing suppressor antagonists. Moreover, selected viruses produce lncRNAs by incomplete degradation of genomic RNAs. They do not replicate but may impact viral infection, gene regulation, and cellular functions. Finally, the host plant lncRNAs can also contribute during plant-virus interactions, inducing plant defense and the regulation of gene expression, often in conjunction with micro and/or circRNAs.
MICE: The International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment

Ionization cooling of a muon beam is a key technique for a Neutrino Factory or Muon Collider. An international collaboration is mounting an experiment to demonstrate muon ionization cooling at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. We aim to complete the experiment by 2010.
Geographic Proximity and Insider Trading: Evidence from COVID-19

We examine the ability of insiders of firms with operational connections to China to anticipate the COVID-19 stock market crash. The COVID-19 crash provides a unique identification opportunity to study insiders’ informational advantages due to its sudden and historic nature. We find that China insiders sold more (less) stock in the early (late) COVID-19 period than non-China insiders consistent with greater attentiveness to public information about the COVID-19 pandemic arising from their geographic proximity to China. Further, these results are driven by non-preplanned trades and are consistent with their anticipation of the systematic market effects of COVID-19 on their firm. These results contribute to the insider trading literature, which has otherwise found little evidence that insider sales precede major stock market declines. Our results also extend the literature by documenting a geographic component to the information advantages of insiders.
Becoming a Successful Clinical Trialist

There are many paths to becoming a successful clinical trialist. Common actions that can lead to achievement include identify a research mentor, learn how to conduct clinical trials, collaborate with leaders in your specialty, demonstrate productivity in research, and always be ethical.
Dynamic task-belief is an integral part of decision-making

Natural decisions involve two seemingly separable processes: inferring the relevant task (task-belief) and performing the believed-relevant task. The assumed separability has led to the traditional practice of studying task-switching and perceptual decision-making individually. Here, we used a novel paradigm to manipulate macaque monkeys9 task-belief, and demonstrated inextricable neuronal links between flexible task-belief and perceptual decision-making that substantially impact behavior. We showed that in animals, but not artificial networks trained to make perceptual decisions under fluctuating task-belief, stronger task-belief is associated with better perception. Correspondingly, recordings from neuronal populations in monkey cortical areas 7a and V1 revealed that stronger task-belief is associated with better discriminability of the believed-relevant but not the believed-irrelevant feature. Perception also impacts belief updating: noise fluctuations in V1 help explain how task-belief is updated. Our results demonstrate that complex tasks and multi-area recordings can reveal fundamentally new principles of how biology affects behavior in health and disease.
Variable strategies to solve risk-reward tradeoffs in carnivore communities

Mesopredator release theory suggests that dominant predators suppress subordinate carnivores and ultimately shape community dynamics, but the assumption that subordinate species are only negatively affected ignores the possibility of facilitation through scavenging. We examined the interplay within a carnivore community consisting of cougars, coyotes, black bears, and bobcats using contemporaneous Global Positioning System telemetry data from 51 individuals; diet analysis from 972 DNA-metabarcoded scats; and data from 128 physical investigations of cougar kill sites, 28 of which were monitored with remote cameras. Resource provisioning from competitively dominant cougars to coyotes through scavenging was so prolific as to be an overwhelming determinant of coyote behavior, space use, and resource acquisition. This was evident via the strong attraction of coyotes to cougar kill sites, frequent scavenging of cougar-killed prey, and coyote diets that nearly matched cougars in the magnitude of ungulate consumption. Yet coyotes were often killed by cougars and used space to minimize encounters, complicating the fitness benefits gained from scavenging. We estimated that 23% (95% CI: 8 to 55%) of the coyote population in our study area was killed by cougars annually, suggesting that coyote interactions with cougars are a complex behavioral game of risk and reward. In contrast, we found no indication that bobcat space use or diet was influenced by cougars. Black bears avoided cougars, but there was no evidence of attraction to cougar kill sites and much lower levels of ungulate consumption and carcass visitation than for coyotes. Interspecific interactions among carnivores are multifaceted, encompassing both suppression and facilitation.
The Politics and Civics of National Service: Lessons from the Civilian Conservation Corps, VISTA, and AmeriCorps

In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt created America's first domestic national service program: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). As part of this program - the largest and most highly esteemed of its kind - nearly three million unemployed men worked to rehabilitate, protect, and build the nation's natural resources. It demonstrated what citizens and government could accomplish together. Yet despite its success, the CCC was short lived. While more controversial programs such as President Johnson's Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and President Clinton's AmeriCorps survived, why did CCC die? And why - given the hard-won continuation and expansion of AmeriCorps - is national service an option for fewer Americans today than at its start nearly eighty years ago? In The Politics and Civics of National Service , Melissa Bass focuses on the history, current relevance, and impact of domestic civilian national service. She explains why such service has yet to be deeply institutionalized in the United States; while military and higher education have solidified their roles as American institutions, civilian national service is still not recognized as a long-term policy option. Bass argues that only by examining these programs over time can we understand national service's successes and limitations, both in terms of its political support and its civics lessons. The Politics and Civics of National Service furthers our understanding of American political development by comparing programs founded during three distinct political eras - the New Deal, theGreat Society, and the early Clinton years - and tracing them over time. To a remarkable extent, the CCC, VISTA, and AmeriCorps reflect the policymaking ethos and political controversies of their times, illuminating principles that hold well beyond the field of national service. By emphasizing these programs' effects on citizenship and civic engagement, The Politics and Civics of National Service deepens our understanding of how governmental programs can act as "public policy for democracy".
Law and Economics

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 12, pp. 8436–8442, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
The chiral logs of the K→ππ amplitude

Abstract I calculate the leading logarithmic contributions up to two-loop order of the octet part of the K 0 → π π amplitude. This sector of the weak chiral Lagrangian is believed to be the main source of the enhancement of the I = 0 relative to the I = 2 K 0 → π π amplitude, the so-called Δ I = 1 / 2 rule. I discuss the procedure of chiral extrapolations of lattice data specific to K → π π decays and study the implication of the present calculation on these numerically. The latter reinforces the fact that one has to expect a large enhancement of the I = 0 part of the amplitude due to re-scattering effects between the three mesons.
A model for conductance changes in the squid giant axon. I. Interactive relaxation.

Abstract A relaxation model which describes the time course of the early sodium current is proposed as an alternative to the Hodgkin-Huxley description of voltage clamped squid giant axons. The membrane lattice is an array of subunits each of which is capable of binding calcium ion. These subunits can assume two configurations under the action of applied fields and the kinetic model describes transitions between these two configurations. One configuration is capable of interaction with neighboring subunits and this interaction is included in the kinetic scheme. The subunits are distinct from the membrane channels which are assumed to be scattered randomly on the surface with low density. However, transitions between configurations trigger changes in the channels which produce the subsequent stages required for the total time course of the voltage clamped axon. The relaxation model suggests a number of experiments which can be used to differentiate the relaxation approach from that developed by Hodgkin and Huxley.
Equivalence classes of maximal orders

Let k denote the quotient field of a complete discrete rank one valuation ring R. The purpose of this paper is to establish a relationship between the Brauer group of k and the set of maximal orders over R which are equivalent to crossed products over tamely ramified extensions of R.
Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake from Physiological-type Pulses of Calcium A DESCRIPTION OF THE RAPID UPTAKE MODE

A controversy in the field of bioenergetics has been whether mitochondria are capable of sequestering enough Ca2+ from cytosolic Ca2+ pulses to raise their intramitochondrial free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]m). This is significant because an increase in [Ca2+]m has been linked to an increase in cellular metabolic rate through various mechanisms. To resolve this question, we exposed isolated liver mitochondria to physiological type pulses of Ca2+ produced using a pulse-generating system (Sparagna, G. C., Gunter, K. K., and Gunter, T. E. (1994) Anal. Biochem. 219, 96-103). We then measured the resulting mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. The uniporter was previously thought to be the only specific Ca2+ uptake mechanism in mitochondria. Our studies have uncovered an additional uptake mechanism, the rapid mode of uptake or RaM, which functions at the beginning of each pulse and allows mitochondria to sequester a considerable amount of Ca2+ from short pulses. We have shown that the RaM is reset by decreasing the [Ca2+] between pulses for a very short time, making this uptake mode ideally suited for Ca2+ sequestration from Ca2+ pulse sequences. With rapid Ca2+ uptake occurring at the beginning of each pulse, liver mitochondria may be able to sequester sufficient Ca2+ from a short sequence of pulses to activate the cellular metabolic rate.
The FDA alert on serotonin syndrome with combined use of SSRIs or SNRIs and Triptans: an analysis of the 29 case reports.

Background On July 19, 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert, “Potentially Life-Threatening Serotonin Syndrome With Combined Use of SSRIs or SNRIs and Triptan Medications.” However, the cases that were the basis for the alert were not made available. The FDA recommends that patients treated concomitantly with a triptan and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)/selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) be informed of the possibility of serotonin syndrome.
Learnability in inductive logic programming: some basic results and techniques

Inductive logic programming is a rapidly growing area of research that centers on the development of inductive learning algorithms for first-order definite clause theories. An obvious framework for inductive logic programming research is the study of the pac-learnability of various restricted classes of these theories. of particular interest are theories that include recursive definite clauses. Because little work has been done within this framework, the need for initial results and techniques is great. This paper presents results about the pac-learnability of several classes of simple definite clause theories that are allowed to include a recursive clause. In so doing, the paper uses techniques that may be useful in studying the learnability of more complex classes.
Hyperfine Interactions of 181Ta in Zr2Ni Observed Using PAC Spectroscopy

We have measured nuclear electric–quadrupole interactions (EQI) at 181Ta impurities substituted as Hf atoms into the Zr site in Zr2Ni. Using perturbed-angular-correlation (PAC) spectroscopy, we measured the EQI over temperatures ranging from 10 to 1200 K. Over the entire range of temperature, the Zr2Ni crystal has a bct Al2Cu structure that includes a single Zr site. The crystal field symmetry surrounding this site is rather low, giving rise to a highly asymmetric electric-field gradient tensor. At 10 K, the EQI is characterized by an angular frequency ω0=601(3) Mrad s−1, and an asymmetry parameter η=0.835(2). At 1200 K, ω0 decreases to 516(3) Mrad s−1, and η also decreases to 0.790(4). Although weak, the temperature dependence of ω0 is consistent with a (1−BT 3/2) power law, in which B=6×10−6 K−3/2. The EQI also manifests a very narrow linewidth. We observed no evidence either for magnetic ordering or for structural phase transitions in the temperature range covered by this experiment. Moreover, the sharpness of the EQI indicates that the samples as prepared are remarkably free of strain and defects. These results indicate that the Zr2Ni structure does not promote the formation of defects and that the power-law dependence of ω0 on T is insensitive to the asymmetric nature of the crystal.
Analysis of temporal and spatial distribution and change-points for annual precipitation in Kansas, USA

Precipitation directly impacts agricultural production, water resources management, and recreational activities, all of which significantly affect a state's economy. As the human population increases, demand for water escalates due to its crucial role in human health and food production. The question then becomes, can current water management strategies ensure sustainable access to clean water, maintain food supplies, and permit industrial uses given a changing climate? Developing a solid understanding of rainfall patterns and trends is vital, particularly for regions like Kansas with high spatial and temporal climate variability. In this study, three statistical methods were used to analyse annual rainfall trends in Kansas using daily rainfall data from 1890 through 2011: (1) a linear regression model, (2) the Mann-Kendall test, and (3) the Spearman test. A gradual increase in total annual rainfall was noted for 21 of 23 stations, including eight statistically significant upward trends. The 23 station period of record average slope for Kansas was 6.8 mm per 10 year with a minimum value of −8.5 mm per 10 year for Saint Francis in the northwest and a maximum value of 20.1 mm per 10 year for Independence in the southeast. In addition, sudden change analyses were conducted using cumulative sum and Pettitt tests. At 12 stations, significant change-points were detected as early as 1940 and as recently as 1980. The increasing trend, particularly after the significant change-points, is useful in updating water management plans. Total annual rainfall correlates with available water in soil, lakes, streams, and reservoirs and can assist with agricultural production decisions such as crop selection and new plant variety development when combined with rainfall distribution analysis throughout the year.
Corticosteroid-responsive Enteropathy of Infancy

Nineteen American infants aged less than three months developed persistent diarrhoea, acidosis, hypoalbuminaemia, and malnutrition, without evidence of enteric pathogens. Symptoms began 11-59 days before admission to the University of North Carolina Children's Hospital, and infants were fed semi-elemental formula. Despite further treatment with amino acid-based formula by continuous nasogastric infusion, diarrhoea persisted. Endoscopic biopsies showed inflammation in the stomach, duodenum, and/or colon. A trial of intravenous corticosteroids was initiated in 14 infants. Corticosteroids were associated with rapid resolution of diarrhoea (duration after corticosteroids=3.8Â±1.7 days [mean+SD]). In contrast, five infants with identical history were not treated with corticosteroids. In three infants, diarrhoea lasted for 92-147 days versus 31Â±3 total days in the treated group. In the other two infants, diarrhoea worsened after discharge, but were treated later with corticosteroids, with rapid resolution. Corticosteroids were uneventfully weaned over a four-month period. The results suggest that a trial of corticosteroids in infants with unresponsive persistent diarrhoea of unknown origin is beneficial and deserves prospective evaluation. Key words: Diarrhoea, Chronic; Diarrhoea, Persistent; Diarrhoea, Infantile; Corticosteroids; Acidosis; Hypoalbuminaemia; Retrospective studies; United States
Judeo-Christian Attitudes Toward Employed Women:

The relationship between Judeo-Christian beliefs and attitudes toward employed women was examined. Participants (N = 9,742) responded to the National Opinion Research Center's General Social Survey (Davis & Smith, 1996a). Attitudes toward employed women varied by strength of religiosity, gender, religious affiliation, and year; as strength of religiosity increased, attitudes became more traditional. Men had more traditional attitudes than women. The women who are more religious had attitudes that were more conservative than less religious women. Christians had more traditional attitudes than Jews and the nonreligious. Between 1985 and 1996, attitudes became less traditional. These findings suggest that attitudes toward working women are changing in a gradual manner, but that men and women hold very different attitudes about working women, even within the same religious affiliation.
Overview of the Benzene and Other Toxics Exposure (BEE-TEX) Field Study

The Benzene and other Toxics Exposure (BEE-TEX) field study was an experimental campaign designed to demonstrate novel methods for measuring ambient concentrations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in real time and to attribute these concentrations to quantified releases from specific emission points in industrial facilities while operating outside facility fence lines. BEE-TEX was conducted in February 2015 at three neighboring communities in the Houston Ship Channel of Texas, where a large number of petrochemical facilities are concentrated. The novel technologies deployed during BEE-TEX included: (1) tomographic remote sensing based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy; (2) real-time broadcasting of ambient air monitoring data over the World Wide Web; (3) real-time source attribution and quantification of HAP emissions based on either tomographic or mobile measurement platforms; and (4) the use of cultured human lung cells in vitro as portable indicators of HAP exposure.
Medical treatment of recurrent meningiomas

Meningiomas are the second most common primary brain tumor and are primarily treated with surgery (with or without embolization) and radiotherapy. Increasingly today, meningiomas undergo multiple resections and two radiotherapy treatments (either stereotactic or conventional external beam) before consideration for hormonal, chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The failure of hormonal and cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent meningioma and increasing understanding of potential molecular targets in meningioma has resulted in multiple studies utilizing single-agent targeted therapy directed at biologically relevant signaling pathways, such as somatostatin (Sandostatin(®) LAR, SOM230c), PDGF (imatinib), EGF (erlotinib) and VEGF (sunitinib and vatalanib). Early results using a targeted approach have been modest at best and are often associated with significant toxicity. Consequently and at present, the brain tumor guidelines recognize only three medical therapies for inoperable and radiation-refractory meningiomas: hydroxyurea, IFN-α and Sandostatin LAR, a somatostatin analogue. Clearly, there remains an unmet need in neuro-oncology with respect to the medical treatment of recurrent meningiomas.
The democratization of service delivery

A debate is currently raging about the future of health care in the United States. Some parties want more government intervention in the delivery of service, while others advocate the privatization of the health care system. In this discussion, however, an important dimension has been overlooked. What has been obscured is the impact of democratization on social service organizations. Accordingly, this article advances some preliminary notions about the democratization of care. The authors illustrate in their discussion how knowledge bases, social relationships, and service agencies can be democratized.
Finding little hyperplanes in bigger ones

Abstract If L is a field extension of K and V is an L -vector space, when is it possible to find in a K -hyperplane in V some L -hyperplane? If the L -dimension of V is at least 2, then this is possible for every K -hyperplane in V iff L is a finite degree extension of K . If L is infinite over K and if V is large enough, there will always be K -hyperplanes in V which contain no L -subspace of countable codimension. A study of K -linear functionals on V which factor through L is also given. Some explicit examples of K -hyperplanes which contain no L -hyperplanes are provided.
Effects of transmitter mimickers at sites of angiotensin-induced drinking in the cat

A variety of mimickers of synaptic transmitter activation were tested at neural sites in the cat effective for the elicitation of drinking by angiotensin-II. The angiotensin-II was administered in a dose of 1,000 ng and the mimickers, norepinephrine, epinephrine, isoproterenol, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and carbacl,01, in doses of 10 micrograms. None of the putative neurotransmitter agonists elicited water ingestion. The carbachol produced parasympathetic arousal, emotional activation, convulsions, and circling behavior. The catecholamines produced drowsiness and sleep. The isoproterenol and 5-hydroxytryptamine were without obvious behavioral effects. The role of brain synaptic transmitter systems in the mediation of thirst by angiotensin is discussed. Angiotensin-II (All) is an endogenous dipsogen found in the blood and brain of mammals (Booth, 1968; Fitzsimons, 1972; Ganten, Boucher, & Genest, 1972; Ganten et aI, 1971). This substance is produced in a two-step process. First, renin from the kidneys acts on angiotensinogen from the liver to form angiotensin-I. Second, this substance is altered by converting enzyme · to form All (Goodman & Gilman, 1970; Gross, 1971; Guyton, 1971). Since microinjection of All into the brain produces water ingestion, one important question is whether this substance acts via one of the biochemical synaptic transmitter systems presently known, and if so, which one (or ones). drinking elicited by All and renin have recently been reported for the cat (Brophy & Levitt, in press; Sturgeon, Brophy, & Levitt, 1973; Sturgeon & Levitt, in press). This report is a preliminary study of the behavioral effects in the cat of a variety of putative neurotransmitters when administered to brain sites at which All is an effective dipsogen.
Tuberculin Skin Test Reversion following Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Reflects Diversity of Immune Response to Primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Rationale Healthy household contacts (HHC) of individuals with Tuberculosis (TB) with Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) conversions are considered to harbor latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and at risk for TB. The immunologic, clinical, and public health implications of TST reversions that occur following Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) remain controversial. Objectives To measure frequency of TST reversion following IPT, and variation in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses to Mtb, in healthy Ugandan TB HHC with primary Mtb infection evidenced by TST conversion. Methods Prospective cohort study of healthy, HIV-uninfected, TST-negative TB HHC with TST conversions. Repeat TST was performed 12 months following conversion (3 months following completion of 9 month IPT course) to assess for stable conversion vs. reversion. Whole blood IFN-γ responses to Mtb antigen 85B (MtbA85B) and whole Mtb bacilli (wMtb) were measured in a subset (n = 27 and n = 42, respectively) at enrollment and TST conversion, prior to initiation of IPT. Results Of 122 subjects, TST reversion was noted in 25 (20.5%). There were no significant differences in demographic, clinical, or exposure variables between reverters and stable converters. At conversion, reverters had significantly smaller TST compared to stable converters (13.7 mm vs 16.4 mm, respectively; p = 0.003). At enrollment, there were no significant differences in IFN-γ responses to MtbA85B or wMTB between groups. At conversion, stable converters demonstrated significant increases in IFN-γ responses to Ag85B and wMtb compared to enrollment (p = 0.001, p<0.001, respectively), while there were no significant changes among reverters. Conclusions TST reversion following IPT is common following primary Mtb infection and associated with unique patterns of Mtb-induced IFN-γ production. We have demonstrated that immune responses to primary Mtb infection are heterogeneous, and submit that prospective longitudinal studies of cell mediated immune responses to Mtb infection be prioritized to identify immune phenotypes protective against development of TB disease.
Post-traumatic delayed onset pectoralis myospasm secondary to α-γ dysfunction

A restrained motor vehicle accident victim suffered from delayed onset left pectoralis myospasms refractory to multiple treatments: behavioural, conservative, physical therapy, opiate, muscle relaxer and incomplete response to invasive pain management spinal blocks. After conduction of a literature review, several authors had noted the mechanism of α-γ loop dysfunction resulting in myospams, and also case studies which described painful postsurgical myospasms that were treated with neurectomy and/or botulinum toxin A with successful results. The patient in this case underwent an initial lidocaine injection to observe response to treatment, followed by two treatments with botulinum toxin A treatment with subsequent resolution of symptoms. Successful therapy and previous research supports that botulinum toxin A can be an effective treatment for myospasms secondary to trauma-induced α-γ dysfunction, as suggested by the cellular pathophysiology.
Differential Regulation of Unconventional Fission Yeast Myosins via the Actin Track

Summary Background Fission yeast possesses three unconventional myosins: Myo1p (a class I myosin that functions at endocytic actin patches) and Myo51p and Myo52p (class V myosins that function at contractile rings and actin cables, respectively). Here we used a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches to investigate how changes in the actin track influence the motor activity and spatial regulation of these myosins. Results We optimized the isolation of Myo1p, Myo51p, and Myo52p. All three myosins exhibited robust motor activity in ATPase and actin filament gliding assays. However, decoration of actin with tropomyosin differentially regulates the activity of these motors. Tropomyosin inhibits Myo1p by blocking its ability to form productive associations with actin filaments, whereas tropomyosin increases the actin affinity and ATPase activity of Myo51p and Myo52p. The actin filament crosslinking protein fimbrin rescues Myo1p motor activity by displacing tropomyosin from actin filaments. Consistent with our in vitro findings, fimbrin and tropomyosin have opposing effects on Myo1p function at actin patches. Defects in tropomyosin function led to shorter Myo1p patch lifetimes, whereas loss of fimbrin extended Myo1p lifetimes. Furthermore, defects in tropomyosin function decreased the efficiency of Myo52p-directed motility along actin cables in the cell. Conclusion Tropomyosin promotes myosin-V motility along actin cables. Accumulation of fimbrin at actin patches relieves Myo1p from tropomyosin-mediated inhibition, ensuring maximal myosin-I motor activity at these sites. Thus, spatial regulation of myosin motor function is in part controlled by specific changes in the composition of the actin track.
The genome of Haemophilus influenzae Rd has a unique NotI site.

Abstract Previous analysis of physical maps of Haemophilus influenzae, which is circular and 1.9 Mb in length [Lee and Smith, J. Bacteriol. 170 (1988) 4402–4405; Kauc et al., J. Bacteriol. 171 (1989) 2474–2479], did not detect any NotI (GCGGCCGC) restriction sites. A transposon, Tn916, was constructed to contain a NotI linker cloned into its NciI site and introduced into the H. influenzae chromosome. NotI digestion of chromosomes containing a Tn916-associated NotI site followed by separation of fragments by field-inversion gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of two fragments obtained by two NotI cuts, one in Tn916 and the other, a unique, ‘natural’ NotI site in the original chromosomal DNA. The examination of other Haemophilus strains demonstrated the presence of one or more NotI sites in all of those tested.
Capsule commentary on Brooks et al., Strategies used by older adults with asthma for adherence to inhaled corticosteroids.

Previously identified factors affecting asthma therapy in older patients include decreased cognitive functioning, physical limitations, and polypharmacy due to chronic disease. The consequence is lower adherence among older compared to younger patients.1–4 Brook et al.5 assessed adherence strategies with respect to inhaled corticosteroids among older asthmatic patients. Five of six identified strategies promoted adherence: keeping medications in the same location, integrating medication use with a daily routine, taking the medicine at a specific time or with other medications and using reminders, either prompting by someone else, written reminders or setting alarms. One strategy was associated with reduced adherence: taking the medication only as needed. After controlling for other variables, keeping medication in the bathroom and integrating medications as a part of a daily routine improved adherence threefold, whereas the strategy of using medication only when needed reduced adherence among study participants. The study strength involves employing a multi-faceted approach in evaluation of adherence patterns in older adults taking inhaled corticosteroids for asthma management. The study provides a number of lessons that clinicians can use while counseling their own patients, such as discussing the identified helpful strategies with patients in addition to other commonly used methods, such as simplifying regimens and educating patients about the importance of adherence. Specifically, suggesting that the medication be kept in the bathroom rather than at the bedside, taking the medication at a designated time of day and integrating medication with their morning routine (such as when they brush their teeth) may improve adherence in older patients. The findings from the study are limited by the subjects being female in majority, and by their being a convenience sample from two specific locations (New York and Chicago). Additional research assessing a larger population, exploring adherence strategies across different routes of treatment administrations, may prove to be clinically significant to clinical researchers and investigators in identifying employed treatment strategies.
A chemical method for estimating the availability of iron to phytoplankton in seawater

Abstract A technique that employs the complexing agent 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) to measure a labile portion of total Fe in seawater was used to test the hypothesis that the biological availability of colloidal Fe is a direct function of its chemical lability. Three colloidal ferrihydrites (amorphous FeOOH) were examined for their lability in seawater and for their ability to support growth of three species of neritic phytoplankton ( Thalassiasira pseudonana, Isochrysis galbana and Dunaliella terriolecta ). Earlyphase (freshly precipitated) ferrihydrite was ∼65% oxine-labile and proved to be an excellent source of available Fe, as determined by organism growth. Limited heating of this ferrihydrite, which accelerates low-temperature aging processes similar to those operating in nature, caused sharp decreases in both the algal growth responses and in the oxine-lability of the ferrihydrite. The correspondence between colloid lability and organism growth in culture suggests that Fe availability is related strongly to its chemical lability. It thus appears that the oxine technique provides an operational method for estimating the biological availability of Fe in seawater.
Adhesion strength and spreading characteristics of EPS on membrane surfaces during lateral and central growth

Deposition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on membrane surfaces is a precursor step for bacterial attachment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphological changes on a clean polysulfone ultrafilration membrane after exposure to effluent from a membrane bioreactor. The effluent was filtered to remove bacteria before exposing the membrane. The morphological characterization was performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lateral (2D) and central growth characteristics (3D) of the EPS deposits were evaluated by section and topographical analyses of the height images. The contact angle of single EPS units was 9.07 ± 0.50° which increased to 24.41 ± 1.00° for large clusters (over 10 units) and decreased to 18.68 ± 1.00° for the multilayered clusters. The surface tension of the single EPS units was 49.34 ± 1.70 mNm(-1). The surface tension of single layered small and large EPS clusters were 51.26 ± 2.05 and 53.48 ± 2.01 mNm(-1), respectively. For the multilayered clusters, the surface tension was 51.43 ± 2.05 mNm(-1). The spreading values were negative for all deposits on the polysulfone membrane indicating that the EPS clusters did not have tendency to spread but preferred to retain their shapes.
Unimodality, symmetry and the step-state hypothesis of electrophoretic variation in natural populations.

The population frequency distributions of electromorphs of polymorphic loci, when ordered by electrophoretic mobility, tend strongly and significantly to be both unimodal and symmetrical. Such distributions are predicted by all step-change models and their generality in published data can be construed as supportive of the step-change hypothesis. On the other hand, unimodality and symmetry might also be due to artifactual “unit perception” biases that affect the interpretation and reporting of electro-phoretic data. In any case, it appears that perceived electromorphs are highly heterogeneous.
Survival of Arctic Grayling Eggs Water‐Hardened in Various Concentrations of lodophor

Abstract Survival of eggs of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) following water hardening in various concentrations of an iodophor, povidone-iodine, solution was investigated. The treatment is effective in reducing the external bacterial load at the surface of the egg and is thought to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of pathogens from parent to offspring. However, in some cases, the use of iodophor during water hardening of salmon and trout eggs has resulted in significant egg losses. Treatment duration and concentrations similar to those commonly used during water hardening of eggs of other salmonid species were tested with Arctic grayling eggs. Water hardening in 50, 75, and 100 mg active iodine per liter resulted in significantly greater egg losses at eye-up than occurred when eggs were hardened in lake water. Mortality was highest in treatments with the strongest iodine concentrations.
Ligand Recognition by E- and P-Selectin: Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Inhibitory Activity of Bivalent Sialyl Lewis x Derivatives and Sialyl Lewis x Carboxylic Acids

Described is the preparation of five sLex dimers and five sLex carboxylic acids by coupling chemoenzymatically synthesized amino-substituted sialyl Lewis x (sLex) derivative 4 to homobifunctional cross-linkers 20−24 of varying chain length. 20−24 were obtained by alkylating low-molecular-weight oligoethylene glycols with tert-butyl bromoacetate and subsequent transformation of the di-tert-butyl esters into disuccinimide esters. The products were assayed for inhibition against binding of a sLea-polymer to immobilized E- and P-selectin. In the E-selectin assay all dimers had lower IC50 values than the sLex monomer. The results show that comparable binding enhancements can be obtained with linkers of completely different length and rigidity. In the P-selectin assay four of the five sLex carboxylic acids displayed significantly improved inhibitory potency. The lowest IC50 value was observed for the compound with the shortest spacer between the sLex moiety and the additional carboxylate, being ca. 20−40 times ...