cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Rules for a New Ballgame: Legislative and Judicial Rationales for Revamping the NCAA’s Enforcement Process

The NCAA is the largest and most well-known of four independent organizations that regulate intercollegiate athletics and part of its self governance structure is its membership-approved enforcement and infractions process used for assessing penalties for violation of the association’s bylaws. This process has often been criticized in the media, by the NCAA members themselves, and in the federal and state court system. One of the primary criticisms of the NCAA and its administrative law process has been that it does not provide any due process and procedural protection for those accused of NCAA rules violations. This article explores the history of the NCAA and the enforcement and infractions process, the many legal and legislative challenges to the process, and a template for reform to make the system impartial for all stakeholders involved.
Let’s make a better world: policy implications of the cultural work practice of Jane Wilburn Sapp

How can policies align K-12 arts education with urgent needs of students, their communities and our interconnected world? How can they nourish capacities for empathy and moral imagination? Inspirat...
Time Asynchronous NOMA for Downlink Transmission

We investigate the effect of time asynchrony in non- orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) for downlink transmission. First, we analyze the benefits of adding intentional timing offsets to the conventional power domain-NOMA (P-NOMA). The resulting method, called Asynchronous-Power Domain-NOMA (AP-NOMA), reduces the mutual interference which results in enlarging the achievable rate-region of the conventional P-NOMA. We also propose another multiple access scheme, called time domain-NOMA (T-NOMA), which provides higher degrees of freedom for users compared with the conventional P-NOMA or even the modified AP-NOMA. T-NOMA adopts a precoding at the base station and a linear preprocessing scheme at the receiving user which decomposes the broadcast channel into parallel channels circumventing the need for Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC). Numerical results show that T-NOMA outperforms AP-NOMA and both outperform the conventional P-NOMA.
Is the New England medicinal leech (Macrobdella sestertia) extinct

Abstract Despite recent interest in invertebrate extinctions, most go undocumented due to chronic data deficiencies. Here, we investigate the absence of the New England medicinal leech (Macrobdella sestertia), a species not sighted in the last decade, but which has been rediscovered several times since it was described in 1886. We collate all known records (19 specimens from nine independent sightings) of this rare species, and use sighting-based extinction date estimators to evaluate the odds that populations of M. sestertia might persist. Using all available data and several different models, we find that while the species may be extinct, there is also not enough evidence to eliminate the hypothesis that the species remains extant. Given that the geographic range of M. sestertia is now known to extend much further south than previously thought, we recommend protections for M. sestertia should be expanded at state and potentially federal levels. We also recommend that systematists should continue to revisit Macrobdella records in natural history collections, which may turn up new evidence of its range, habitat preference, and possible persistence. We conclude by discussing implications of this work for the broader picture of leech conservation in Europe and North America.
Racial Differences in Psychological Symptoms and Eating Behaviors Among Bariatric Surgery Candidates.

Black patients typically lose less weight than White patients following bariatric surgery; however, the reasons for this racial disparity are unclear. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether there are differences in psychiatric symptoms and problematic eating behaviors between White and Black patients pursuing bariatric surgery as this may aid in understanding postsurgical weight loss disparities and inform psychosocial assessment of bariatric candidates. A retrospective chart review was conducted of participants (N = 284) who completed a psychological evaluation prior to surgery. Information collected included history of binge eating and purging as well as data from measures administered (i.e., the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Emotional Eating Scale, and the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0). White patients reported higher levels of eating in response to anger/frustration (p = .03) and eating in response to depression (p = .01) than Black patients. White patients also reported more symptoms of food addiction, a difference that was trending toward significance (p = .05). No significant differences were found on measures of anxiety or depression. White patients appear to have higher levels of presurgical problematic eating as compared with Black patients pursuing bariatric surgery; thus, these measurements of problematic eating may not explain the racial disparity in outcomes. However, future research should determine whether measures are valid among diverse populations and identify additional factors that may contribute to racial disparities in bariatric outcomes.
Acute Intestinal Inflammation Depletes/Recruits Histamine-Expressing Myeloid Cells From the Bone Marrow Leading to Exhaustion of MB-HSCs.

Background & Aims Histidine decarboxylase (HDC), the histamine-synthesizing enzyme, is expressed in a subset of myeloid cells but also marks quiescent myeloid-biased hematopoietic stem cells (MB-HSCs) that are activated upon myeloid demand injury. However, the role of MB-HSCs in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis has not been addressed. Methods We investigated HDC+ MB-HSCs and myeloid cells by flow cytometry in acute intestinal inflammation by treating HDC–green fluorescent protein (GFP) male mice with 5% DSS at various time points. HDC+ myeloid cells in the colon also were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Knockout of the HDC gene by using HDC-/-; HDC-GFP and ablation of HDC+ myeloid cells by using HDC-GFP; HDC–tamoxifen-inducible recombinase Cre system; diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) mice was performed. The role of H2-receptor signaling in acute colitis was addressed by treatment of DSS-treated mice with the H2 agonist dimaprit dihydrochloride. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the effect on survival. Results In acute colitis, rapid activation and expansion of MB-HSC from bone marrow was evident early on, followed by a gradual depletion, resulting in profound HSC exhaustion, accompanied by infiltration of the colon by increased HDC+ myeloid cells. Knockout of the HDC gene and ablation of HDC+ myeloid cells enhance the early depletion of HDC+ MB-HSC, and treatment with H2-receptor agonist ameliorates the depletion of MB-HSCs and resulted in significantly increased survival of HDC-GFP mice with acute colitis. Conclusions Exhaustion of bone marrow MB-HSCs contributes to the progression of DSS-induced acute colitis, and preservation of quiescence of MB-HSCs by the H2-receptor agonist significantly enhances survival, suggesting the potential for therapeutic utility.
Brian Street and African American Feminist Practices: Two Histories, Two Texts

This article focuses on how Street’s naming and delineation of the concept of “literacy practices” and the “ideological model” of literacy enable us to see and understand the literacy work of two 19th century African American women “literacy workers.” It introduces and provides an overview of the work of Frances (Fanny) Jackson Coppin and Hallie Quinn Brown and seeks to add early Black feminist voices of literacy workers in spaces often left out of dominant discourses around literacy. This article reveals how literacy for African American was, and is, tied to political, and social survival of a people.
Reliability of corticospinal excitability estimates for the vastus lateralis: Practical considerations for lower limb TMS task selection.

Abstract Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used to examine lower extremity corticospinal excitability (CSE) in clinical and sports research. Because CSE is task-specific, there is growing emphasis on the use of ecological tasks. Nevertheless, the comparative reliability of CSE measurements during established (e.g. knee extensions; KE) and more recent ecological (e.g. squats; SQT) lower extremity tasks has received less attention. The aim of this study was to compare the test–retest reliability of CSE, force, and muscle activity (EMG) during isometric SQT and KE. 19 right-footed men (age: 25 ± 5 yrs) with similar fitness and body composition performed SQT (N = 7) or KE (N = 12) on two consecutive days. Force and EMG were recorded during maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVC). Corticospinal excitability was determined in the dominant leg during light (15% MVC) contractions based on motor evoked potential (MEP) stimulus–response-curves (SRC). Test-retest reliability, absolute agreement, and consistency were determined for force, EMG, and SRC MEP maximum (MEPMAX) and rising phase midpoint (V50). As a secondary analysis, all outcomes were compared between groups with mixed-methods ANCOVAs (Task × Time, covariate: body-fat-percentage). Compared with SQT, KE displayed better test–retest reliability and agreement for MEPMAX whereas V50, force, and EMG were similarly reliable. Force (p = 0.01) and MEPMAX (p = 0.02) were also greater during KE despite a similar V50 (p = 0.11). Differences in test–retest reliability, absolute agreement, and between-group comparisons highlight the need to carefully select lower limb TMS assessment tasks and encourage future efforts to balance ecological validity with statistical sensitivity.
Current Status and Future Targeted Therapy in Adrenocortical Cancer

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. The current treatment standards include complete surgical resection for localized resectable disease and systemic therapy with mitotane alone or in combination with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in patients with advanced ACC. However, the efficacy of systemic therapy in ACC is very limited, with high rates of toxicities. The understanding of altered molecular pathways is critically important to identify effective treatment options that currently do not exist. In this review, we discuss the results of recent advanced in molecular profiling of ACC with the focus on dysregulated pathways from various genomic and epigenetic dysregulation. We discuss the potential translational therapeutic implication of molecular alterations. In addition, we review and summarize the results of recent clinical trials and ongoing trials.
Analyzing the Effect of Electromagnetic Radiations’ Risk Factors with the Intention on the Usage of Smart Phones and Mobile Services

Recent research presents Electro Magnetic Radiations (EMR) from the smartphone as a major risk contributor. The research study presents the critique of previous research work and professionals discussions exploring users’ perception and investigates the criteria impacting their inclination towards the usage of smartphones and services. Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) have been used to understand the cause-effect associations.
Materials price increases and aggregate adjustment in an open economy: A Stochastic Approach

Abstract This paper develops a stochastic macroequilibrium frameworks to analyze the differing implications of alternative types of input price disturbances. The distinctions between expected and unexpected, permanent and transitory, nominal and real disturbances are considered. The introduction of input disturbances involves a more elaborate modelling of the supply side of the economy. Both constant returns to scale and decreasing returns to scale technologies are considered. The analysis highlights the sensitivity of the macroeconomic impacts of input price shocks to their specific type. The analytical results obtained are not unambiguous and are supplemented with numerical simulations.
Reducing system level power consumption for mobile and embedded platforms

The power consumption of peripheral devices is a significant portion of the overall energy usage of a mobile platform. To take advantage of idle times, most devices offer the ability to transition into low power states. However, the amount of energy saved by utilizing these sleep states depends on the lengths and number of idle periods experienced by the device. This paper describes a new process scheduling algorithm which accumulates device usage information in the form of device windows to make power a first class resource: it attempts to increase the burstiness of both device accesses and idle periods, and it provides enhanced behavior for timeout-based sleep mechanisms. An initial implementation based on the default Linux scheduler demonstrates the algorithm's and approach's ability to reduce the average power consumption of devices by increasing device sleep times and reducing transition overheads.
Algorithm design by successive transformation

Algorithms courses are typically organized either by application area or by design technique. Each of these organizations has its strength, but neither effectively reflects the fact that sophisticated algorithms are not designed in a single pass. This paper describes and gives an example of the strategy of successive transformation, in which a sequence of algorithms is generated to solve a single problem. Design of algorithms by successive transformation requires more time per problem, since each problem requires multiple phases of analysis. To the extent that this method is used, the breadth of the course in terms of areas and algorithms is reduced. However, we assert that at least a few such experiences are indispensable, because such painstaking analysis is representative of algorithm design as it really is, and because successive transformation is an excellent way to show students the power of theory to improve applications.
Identifying sources of a conservative groundwater contaminant using backward probabilities conditioned on measured concentrations

[1] If contamination is observed in an aquifer, a backward probability model can be used to obtain information about the former position, source location, or release time of the observed contamination. A backward location probability density function (PDF) describes the possible former positions of an observed contaminant particle at a specified time in the past and can be used to identify the location of the contaminant source. A backward travel time probability density function describes the possible travel times of an observed contaminant particle from a known upgradient location to the observation location and can be used to determine the time of release of contamination from the source. Neupauer and Wilson (1999, 2001, 2002) obtained backward PDFs that depend on the observation locations and sampling times, in addition to the transport properties of the aquifer and solute. We present an approach for conditioning these backward PDFs on measured concentrations. We focus on identifying the location or release time of an instantaneous point source of contamination. We derive the conditioning equations and demonstrate some important features of the technique through the use of a hypothetical example.
The "Ethics" of Ethical Investing

There appears to be an implicit assumption by those connected with the ethical investment movement (e.g., ethical investment firms, individual investors, social investment organizations, academia, and the media), that ethical investment is in fact ethical. This paper will attempt to challenge the notion that the ethical mutual fund industry, as currently taking place, is acting in an ethical manner. Ethical issues such as the transparency of the funds and advertising are discussed. Ethical mutual fund screens such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and the military are preliminarily examined to better determine whether they can actually be defined as "ethical" screens as opposed to merely social, political, or religious screens. A code of ethics for ethical investment is constructed by which ethical mutual fund firms can be audited for ethical compliance.
Can 13C stable isotope analysis uncover essential amino acid provisioning by termite-associated gut microbes?

Gut-associated microbes of insects are postulated to provide a variety of nutritional functions including provisioning essential amino acids (EAAs). Demonstrations of EAA provisioning in insect-gut microbial systems, nonetheless, are scant. In this study, we investigated whether the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes sourced EAAs from its gut-associated microbiota. δ (13)CEAA data from termite carcass, termite gut filtrate and dietary (wood) samples were determined following (13)C stable isotope analysis. Termite carcass samples (-27.0 ± 0.4‰, mean ± s.e.) were significantly different from termite gut filtrate samples (-27.53 ± 0.5‰), but not the wood diet (-26.0 ± 0.5‰) (F (2,64) = 6, P < 0.0052). δ (13)CEAA-offsets between termite samples and diet suggested possible non-dietary EAA input. Predictive modeling identified gut-associated bacteria and fungi, respectively as potential major and minor sources of EAAs in both termite carcass and gut filtrate samples, based on δ (13)CEAA data of four and three EAAs from representative bacteria, fungi and plant data. The wood diet, however, was classified as fungal rather than plant in origin by the model. This is attributed to fungal infestation of the wood diet in the termite colony. This lowers the confidence with which gut microbes (bacteria and fungi) can be attributed with being the source of EAA input to the termite host. Despite this limitation, this study provides tentative data in support of hypothesized EAA provisioning by gut microbes, and also a baseline/framework upon which further work can be carried out to definitively verify this function.
Cholesterol absorption efficiency declines at moderate dietary doses in normal human subjects

While unphysiologically large cholesterol doses are known to reduce percent cholesterol absorption, smaller amounts are reported to have no effect in human subjects. To determine the dose-response relation between dietary cholesterol consumed and the efficiency of intestinal cho- lesterol absorption, we fed 18 normal subjects two test meals containing different amounts of natural cholesterol. In each test pentadeuterated cholesterol tracer was given orally, hexadeuterated cholesterol tracer was given intrave- nously, and the tracer ratio was measured in plasma 4 days later by gas chromatography/negative ion mass spectrome- try. Baseline cholesterol absorption in the presence of 26 mg cholesterol tracer was 40.7 6 2.3%. This decreased by 4.9 percentage points ( P 5 0.05) when a total of 188 mg cholesterol was included in the meal and by 15.6 percentage points ( P 5 0.006) when 421 mg cholesterol was given, showing that the efficiency of cholesterol absorption de- clines appreciably even with modest increases in cholesterol dose. Considerable variation was noted in the response of different subjects and, on the higher cholesterol dose, di- etary cholesterol absorption varied 5-fold from 40 mg to 212 mg. Fasting plasma insulin was correlated with the abil- ity to absorb higher cholesterol doses without loss of effi- ciency ( r s 5 0.700, P 5 0.036). Percent cholesterol ab- sorption in a single meal is significantly influenced by the amount of cholesterol in that meal, suggesting that acute di- etary factors influencing cholesterol absorption need fur- ther study. —Ostlund, R. E., Jr., M. S. Bosner, and W. F. Sten- son. Cholesterol absorption efficiency declines at moderate dietary doses in normal human subjects. J. Lipid Res. 1999. 40: 1453-1458.
Role of Kv1.3 Potassium Channels in Auditory Function

Kv1.3 is a low threshold voltage-dependent potassium channel involved in various physiological functions. Within the central nervous system, deletion of Kv1.3 gene from mitral cells of the olfactory bulb dramatically increased the sensitivity of the olfactory system. We have recently shown that Kv1.3 channels are present in presynaptic terminals of the medial nucleus trapezoid body (MNTB) within the auditory brainstem and in bouton-like structures on inner and outer hair cells within the cochlea. Whether Kv1.3 channels contribute to auditory function is, however, unknown. We have therefore used in vivo and in vitro approaches to examine the role of Kv1.3 channels in the peripheral and central auditory system. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) show that the thresholds of ABR are elevated in 2-4 months old Kv1.3-/- KO mice over those in wild type (WT) mice. Latencies of peaks I, II and IV are prolonged in 4 month old Kv1.3 -/- KO mice. In addition, we have found a desynchronization of ABR waves in Kv1.3-/- KO mice suggesting an alteration of synaptic transmission and changes in spike fidelity within auditory pathways. To further investigate the mechanisms of these alterations in ABR waves in Kv1.3-/- KO mice, we carried out in vitro slice recordings of the high fidelity calyx of Held/MNTB synapse. Our preliminary results from whole cell patch-clamp recordings in young mice (P13-17) show that lack of Kv1.3 channels increases the spike frequency and the spike threshold at presynaptic terminals (Calyx of Held) in response to square pulses of injected currents. Our preliminary data showing that loss of Kv1.3 channels primarily influences the properties of presynaptic terminals and of the ABR waves strongly suggest that Kv1.3 channels are required for normal auditory function.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of milk oral immunotherapy for cow's milk allergy.

Background Orally administered, food-specific immunotherapy appears effective in desensitizing and potentially permanently tolerizing allergic individuals. Objective We sought to determine whether milk oral immunotherapy (OIT) is safe and efficacious in desensitizing children with cow's milk allergy. Methods Twenty children were randomized to milk or placebo OIT (2:1 ratio). Dosing included 3 phases: the build-up day (initial dose, 0.4 mg of milk protein; final dose, 50 mg), daily doses with 8 weekly in-office dose increases to a maximum of 500 mg, and continued daily maintenance doses for 3 to 4 months. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges; end-point titration skin prick tests; and milk protein serologic studies were performed before and after OIT. Results Nineteen patients, 6 to 17 years of age, completed treatment: 12 in the active group and 7 in the placebo group. One dropped out because of persistent eczema during dose escalation. Baseline median milk IgE levels in the active (n = 13) versus placebo (n = 7) groups were 34.8 kUa/L (range, 4.86–314 kUa/L) versus 14.6 kUa/L (range, 0.93–133.4 kUa/L). The median milk threshold dose in both groups was 40 mg at the baseline challenge. After OIT, the median cumulative dose inducing a reaction in the active treatment group was 5140 mg (range 2540-8140 mg), whereas all patients in the placebo group reacted at 40 mg ( P = .0003). Among 2437 active OIT doses versus 1193 placebo doses, there were 1107 (45.4%) versus 134 (11.2%) total reactions, with local symptoms being most common. Milk-specific IgE levels did not change significantly in either group. Milk IgG levels increased significantly in the active treatment group, with a predominant milk IgG4 level increase. Conclusions Milk OIT appears to be efficacious in the treatment of cow's milk allergy. The side-effect profile appears acceptable but requires further study.
Cardiovascular disease: World Kidney Day 2011: protect your kidneys, save your heart.

March 10, 2011 will mark the 6th World Kidney Day, an annual event jointly sponsored by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness among both the general public and government health officials about the dangers of kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease.
On handling textual errors in latent document modeling

As large-scale text data become available on the Web, textual errors in a corpus are often inevitable (e.g., digitizing historic documents). Due to the calculation of frequencies of words, however, such textual errors can significantly impact the accuracy of statistical models such as the popular Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. To address such an issue, in this paper, we propose two novel extensions to LDA (i.e., TE-LDA and TDE-LDA): (1) The TE-LDA model incorporates textual errors into term generation process; and (2) The TDE-LDA model extends TE-LDA further by taking into account topic dependency to leverage on semantic connections among consecutive words even if parts are typos. Using both real and synthetic data sets with varying degrees of "errors", our TDE-LDA model outperforms: (1) the traditional LDA model by 16%-39% (real) and 20%-63% (synthetic); and (2) the state-of-the-art N-Grams model by 11%-27% (real) and 16%-54% (synthetic).
Transforming Work-Family Conflict into Commitment in Network Marketing Organizations

A qualitative study of three network marketing organizations that sell products and services using distributed workforces suggests how these organizations harvest members' work-family conflict and ...
Maintaining a near zero-order drug delivery from minidose reservoirs: simultaneous drug diffusion and binary vehicle evaporation.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new design for transdermal system that provides a nearly constant drug delivery rate for the desired period of time in the absence of a large excess of drug in the donor reservoir. Simultaneous drug diffusion and aqueous binary vehicle evaporation has been investigated as a means of maintaining constant drug delivery from minidose reservoirs. Benzocaine was used as the model drug and water–ethanol mixtures as the binary vehicles. Benzocaine is much more soluble in ethanol than in water. Simultaneous diffusion-evaporation experiments were conducted using the water-ethanol mixture saturated with benzocaine as the minidose reservoir. The reservoir vehicle was allowed to evaporate through a permselective membrane so as to maintain drug saturation in the vehicle even though the drug mass in the donor reservoir was constantly decreasing. Saturation activity of drug is maintained during donor depletion of drug by the selective loss of alcohol from the donor solvent, which concomitantly lowers the solubility. The superiority of the evaporable binary vehicle over a conventional sealed system was demonstrated by achieving near zero-order drug delivery with minimum drug remaining. A theoretical model was developed to predict drug flux, drug amount delivered, reservoir solvent volume and composition, and drug solubility during the two simultaneous processes of drug release and preferential solvent evaporation. Experimental data are in good agreement with theoretical calculations.
Ultrasonic characterization of surface modified layers

Nondestructive techniques are required for the in-process characterization of rapidly solidified and surface modified layers to fulfill the role of sensors in emerging intelligent materials processing technologies. In steels, where surface modificationvia directed high energy sources is being investigated for surface hardening, it has been found that a difference exists in the Rayleigh wave velocity of martensite and pearlite. The difference in velocity can be used to characterize the hardness of a surface modified layer on a pearlite substrate. By varying the Rayleigh wave frequency (and thus the depth of wave penetration) and measuring velocity dispersion, it has also been possible to determine nondestructively the depth of modified surface layers on both AISI 1053 and 1044 steels produced by electron beam melting.
Generalized embedded-atom format for semiconductors

A new type of total-energy functional for semiconductors is proposed, using a form based on an approximate quantum-mecahnical analysis. Two new types of terms are included: pair terms giving a matrix description of an atom's local environment, and cluster terms describing the ring topology. The scheme reproduces both the covalent and metallic behavior of semiconductor materials in the appropriate limits. A parametrized form of the scheme is applied to Si.
Attitudes toward mental health professionals in a hospital-based community mental health center.

This study examined the attitudes of several diverse subject groups in a large medical center toward various mental health professionals. The groups consisted of: 1) general hospital staff; 2) professional mental health workers; and 3) psychiatric in-patients. Subjects evaluated a selection of 11 professional health related role titles (clinical psychologist, physician, psychiatrist, etc.) and the categories “me” and “mental patient” by marking a series of 19 seven-step rating scales, each composed of bipolar anchoring adjectives. Additionally, a “familiarity” rating for each of the role titles was obtained. An “understanding” and a “value” cluster were derived from the 19 adjectives along with an overall favorability-unfavorability score for each role title. It was expected that subjects would “value” mental health professional roles more strongly than they would indicate an “understanding” of these same roles. Secondly, it was expected that the hospital setting itself, the subject's role within that setting, and the degree of familiarity with the role being rated would have a significant impact on the subject's attitude. Results generally supported the above expectations. Overall ratings of the professional groups were consistently high, with less difference between the “health” designations (physician, nurse) and the “psych” designations than has been previously reported in the literature.
The treatment received by American slaves: A critical review of the evidence presented in Time on the Cross

*An early draft of this article was prepared during the summer of 1974 and presented to the American Economic Association’s Summer Program for Minority Economists, the Economics Department Visiting Speaker Series at the University of Michigan, and the Mathematical Social Science Board Conference held in Rochester, New York, October 24-26, 1974. In revising that draft I have attempted to eliminate all errors and misunderstandings on my part which have been called to my attention and to make those changes which seemed to improve the clarity of my argument. In this regard I am grateful to the participants of these meetings for their comments and advice. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have prevented me from extending my comments or of taking advantage of the many suggestions which were offered for the supplementation of my evidence. I would like to express my particular appreciation to Paul David, Carl Degler, Albert Fishlow, Herbert Gutman, Roger Ransom, Kenneth Stampp, Peter Temin, and Gary Walton for advice and suggestions which, in my opinion, improved the final draft. Stanley Engerman and Robert Fogel generously provided me with the raw data which they relied upon and answered numerous questions which immeasurably facilitated my task. I wish to emphasize my gratitude to them. ‘Robert William Fogel and Stanley L. Engerman, Time on the Cross, Vol. I: The Economics of American Negro Slavery. and Vol. II: Evidence and Methods-A Supplement, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1974. Hereafter these volumes are cited as FE, I and FE, II. All other references are listed alphabetically by author in the bibliography and are referred to in the text by the author’s last name and the date of publication, for example: Smith, 1960. 2The book has been reviewed in Time Magazine (Foote, 1974), Newsweek (Clemens, 1974), The Wall Street Journal (Otten, 1974), The Washington Post (Genovese, 1974), The Christian Science Monitor (Woodman, 1974), The New York Times (Passell, 1974), The New York Review ofBooks (Woodward, 1974; Haskill, 1974) The New Yorker (Bliven, 1974), The New Republic (Lichtman, 1974), The New Leader (Rothman, 1974), Atlantic Monthly (Blassingame, 1974), Esquire (Muggeridge, 1974), Commentary (Glazer, 1974), and Daedalus (Davis, 1974), among other newspapers and magazines. The academic reviews include those by David andTemin (1974, 1975). Ransom (1974), Gutman (1975), Lebergott (1975), and Parker (1974). 31n addition to challenging the traditional view of slave treatment, Time on the Cross also discusses the Atlantic slave trade (FE, I, Chap. 1; FE, II, pp. 27-37). the profitability of slavery (FE, I, pp. 59-70; FE, II, pp. 5479), the viability of slavery (FE, I, pp. 86-94, 103-106; FE, II, pp. 85-87), slavery in the cities (FE, I, pp. 94-102; FE, II, pp. 87, 152-155), and the efficiency of slavery (FE, I, pp. 191-209,247-257; FE, II, pp. 126-151, 162-167). I have focused my attention on slave treatment since that topic represents, in my opinion, the major contribution of 335
Cofolding Organizes Alfalfa Mosaic Virus RNA and Coat Protein for Replication

Alfalfa mosaic virus genomic RNAs are infectious only when the viral coat protein binds to the RNA 3´ termini. The crystal structure of an alfalfa mosaic virus RNA-peptide complex reveals that conserved AUGC repeats and Pro-Thr-x-Arg-Ser-x-x-Tyr coat protein amino acids cofold upon interacting. Alternating AUGC residues have opposite orientation, and they base pair in different adjacent duplexes. Localized RNA backbone reversals stabilized by arginine-guanine interactions place the adenosines and guanines in reverse order in the duplex. The results suggest that a uniform, organized 3´ conformation, similar to that found on viral RNAs with transfer RNA-like ends, may be essential for replication.
A soft detector with good performance/complexity trade-off for a MIMO system

We present a hybrid soft detector that has a good performance/complexity trade-off for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system with known channel information. The new soft detector combines the merits of a simple unstructured least-squares (LS)-based soft detector and a list sphere decoder (LSD)-based soft detector for data bit detection. The former is computationally much more efficient than the latter at the cost of poorer performance. The poor performance of the former occurs mainly when the channel matrix is ill-conditioned. Whenever this happens, we use the LSD-based soft detector in the hybrid soft detector; otherwise, we use the LS-based one. Moreover, we provide a tight radius for a sphere decoder, a hard detector, via using the output of an LS-based hard detector. These two hard detectors are needed to determine if LS or LSD should be used in the hybrid soft detector. As an application example, we consider doubling the maximum data rate of the IEEE 802.11a conformable wireless local area networks by a MIMO system with two transmit and two receive antennas. For this application, the new soft detector is about 10 times faster than the LSD-based one and is about 10 times slower than the LS-based one. Yet the packet error rate due to using the new soft detector is quite close to that of using the LSD-based one.
Conjugal transfer of plasmid and transposon DNA from Escherichia coli into Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract Using the broad host-range vector R751 to provide transfer functions, plasmid pVAL-1 and transposon Tn4351 were conjugally mobilized from Escherichia coli into Porphyromonas gingivalis . Transfer frequencies for both elements varied between 10 −6 and 10 −11 , depending upon the recipient. The behavior of pVAL-1 and Tn4351 in P. gingivalis was essentially as described previously in Bacteroides spp. These data indicate that plasmid and transposon DNA can be conjugally transferred into P. gingivalis and that these elements can be used to genetically manipulate the organism in examining putative virulence determinants that may participate in the induction or exacerbation of periodontal disease.
A Precision Photoelectric Azimuthal Polarimeter

A high precision photoelectric azimuthal polarimeter has been designed and constructed. The instrument is designed to determine the angle of rotation with an accuracy (3a) of better than 1 part in 104. The instrument is of a relatively compact design and quite simple in construction.
Modeling multipulsing transition in ring cavity lasers with proper orthogonal decomposition

A low-dimensional model is constructed via the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to characterize the multipulsing phenomenon in a ring cavity laser mode locked by a saturable absorber. The onset of the multipulsing transition is characterized by an oscillatory state (created by a Hopf bifurcation) that is then itself destabilized to a double-pulse configuration (by a fold bifurcation). A four-mode POD analysis, which uses the principal components, or singular value decomposition modes, of the mode-locked laser, provides a simple analytic framework for a complete characterization of the entire transition process and its associated bifurcations. These findings are in good agreement with the full governing equation.
Effects of dopamine D1 antagonists SCH23390 and SK&F83566 on locomotor activities in rats

The effects of the dopamine D1 antagonists R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-H-3 -benzazapine (SCH23390) and (+-)-7-bromo-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1- H-3-benzazapine (SK&F83566) were tested for 2 h on linear locomotor, rearing, stereotypy, and margin times in an open field. Each of the antagonists attenuated the duration of linear locomotion, rearing, and stereotypy times in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effectiveness of the antagonists was relatively brief and SCH23390 was more effective than SK&F83566 on each behavior. The two antagonists had differential effects on margin time.
The cyclic nucleotide gated cation channel AtCNGC10 traffics from the ER via Golgi vesicles to the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis root and leaf cells

Background The cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) maintain cation homeostasis essential for a wide range of physiological processes in plant cells. However, the precise subcellular locations and trafficking of these membrane proteins are poorly understood. This is further complicated by a general deficiency of information about targeting pathways of membrane proteins in plants. To investigate CNGC trafficking and localization, we have measured Atcngc5 and Atcngc10 expression in roots and leaves, analyzed AtCNGC10-GFP fusions transiently expressed in protoplasts, and conducted immunofluorescence labeling of protoplasts and immunoelectron microscopic analysis of high pressure frozen leaves and roots.
The effect of Li+ on NaCa exchange in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles

The effects of Li+ on Na-Ca exchange in bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were examined. The initial rate of Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ uptake and efflux was inhibited by Li+ in a dose dependent manner. The initial rate of Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ uptake was inhibited 49.8 +/- 2.9% (S.E.) (n = 6) in the presence of Li+ compared to activity in external K+ or choline+. Kinetic analysis indicated that Li+ increased the Km for Ca2+ (96.3 microM) compared to K+ and choline+ (25.5 and 22.9 microM respectively) while Vmax (1.4, 1.2 and 1.1 nmol Ca2+/mg protein/sec respectively) remained unchanged. Li+ did not alter the experimentally derived stoichiometry of the exchange reaction of 3 Na+ for 1 Ca2+.
Development of an embedded instrumentation system architecture and its comparison to the test and training enabling architecture

This paper describes an information-centric embedded instrumentation systems architecture (EISA) and in particular its technical reference model (TRM) as they relate to the network-centric Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA). The embedded instrumentation systems architecture is meant to describe the operational, behavioral and informational requirements for a general "embedded instrumentation test and evaluation system" encased within an operational weapons system. The weapons system application could be in a weapon round, or in an entire large platform such as a warfare fighting unit, battle group or single war-craft such as a ship, plane or tank. TENA and the EISA models have much in common as will be described. The differences lie in the focus of each model's intended application domain. Both are part of the military support communities for aiding the military in training, testing, evaluating, verification or validation of weapons systems.
Psychometrics of child health questionnaire parent short form (CHQ-28) used to measure quality of life in HIV-infected children on complex anti-retroviral therapy

The purpose of this report is to expand the psychometric properties of the Child Health Questionnaire parent report short form (CHQ-28) as a measure of well-being for children with chronic illness. The purposive sample included 33 HIV-infected children ages 5–18 years who were patients of a comprehensive specialty clinic in an urban Northeast medical center and were cared for at home on complex anti-retroviral drug regimens. Parents reported the children’s functioning in multiple domains using the American Spanish (one-third) or English (two-thirds) versions of the CHQ-28. Internal consistencies ranged from Cronbach’s alpha of 0.62–0.83. Correlations between the physical and psychosocial summary scores and their components supported the instrument’s conceptualization of health although some overlap between domains was demonstrated. Differences between the CHQ profile for healthy norm children and this clinical sample were logically consistent with the disease characteristics. Individual scales of the CHQ-28 show promise as research outcome measures for health related quality of life in children living in the community with HIV disease and perhaps could be useful for studies of children with other chronic illness.
Suction drain management of salivary fistulas.

Salivary fistulas remain an unpleasant complication of upper aerodigestive tract surgery. To avoid a disastrous outcome such as carotid rupture, clinicians "medialize" (i.e., incise the skin flap in the anterior aspect of the neck and insert a Penrose drain) to divert fistula fluid from the carotid sheath and then perform laborious wound care. Meanwhile, patients endure the unpleasant odor, discomfort due to the wound dressing, occasional secondary surgical procedures, a lengthened hospital stay, and increased financial costs. In an effort to mitigate these problems, suction drains that had been placed at the time of the original surgical procedure were used as an alternative management technique. Out of a population of 118 reviewable patients who underwent standard or extended variations of supraglottic laryngectomy, partial laryngopharyngectomy, near-total laryngectomy, or total laryngectomy between 1988 and 1992, 16 patients appropriate for inclusion in this study developed postsurgical fistulas. Eight of these patients were treated with traditional medialization procedures, and the other 8 patients were treated with suction drainage. Comparison of the two groups revealed no significant difference with respect to complications or time to fistula closure. The advantages of simplified postsurgical care, less patient discomfort, reduced time demands on the clinician, and cost containment were noted for the group treated with suction drainage.
Multisite Autophosphorylation of p21-activated Protein Kinase γ-PAK as a Function of Activation

p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) is a family of serine/threonine kinases whose activity is stimulated by binding to small G-proteins such as Cdc42 and subsequent autophosphorylation. Focusing on the ubiquitous γ-isoform of PAK in this study, baculovirus-infected insect cells were used to obtain recombinant γ-PAK, while native γ-PAK was isolated from rabbit reticulocytes. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of γ-PAK followed by immunoblot analysis revealed a similar profile for native and recombinant γ-PAK, both consisting of multiple protein spots. Following Cdc42-stimulated autophosphorylation, the two-dimensional profiles of native and recombinant γ-PAK were characterized by a similar acidic shift, suggesting a common response to Cdc42. To understand the effect of differential phosphorylation on its activation status, γ-PAK autophosphorylation was conducted in the presence or absence of activators such as Cdc42 and histone II-AS, followed by tryptic digestion and comparative two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping. The major phosphopeptides were subjected to a combination of manual and automated amino acid sequencing. Overall, eight autophosphorylation sites were identified in Cdc42-activated γ-PAK, six of which are in common with those previously reported in α-PAK, while Ser-19 and Ser-165 appear to be uniquely phosphorylated in the γ-form. Further, the phosphorylation of Ser-141, Ser-165, and Thr-402 was found to correlate with γ-PAK activation.
Repeat gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Background: Although gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), there are few studies that report the re
Challenges of device therapy for ventricular tachycardia in the rate range of sinus rhythm

A method is described for patient-activated detection of ventricular tachycardia, under circumstances in which automatic algorithms fail. We present a case of a patient with an implanted defibrillator (Jewel PCD) who presented with symptomatic exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia that was only marginally faster than the preceding sinus tachycardia. Programming the sudden onset criterion avoided delivery of therapy into sinus tachycardia, but failed to detect ventricular tachycardia. Brief application of a magnet resulted in successful detection and therapy. This method is device-specific and requires a co-operative, insightful patient. The benefits and risks of such an approach are discussed.
Balancing a transportation problem: Is it really that simple?

The transportation problem (TP) is discussed in all operational research textbooks. Although the TP can be formulated as a linear programme, owing to its special structure, it can be solved more efficiently than just using the standard simplex algorithm. Typically, the first step in solving a TP is to ‘balance’ the problem. If total supply is not equal to total demand, then a dummy column (supply greater than demand) or dummy row (demand greater than supply) is created. Although a few papers have discussed the importance of how the dummy column (row) is handled, this has been done only with reference to using one particular heuristic (Vogel's approximation method or VAM). Furthermore, the impact on solution quality based on how a heuristic processes the dummy column or row has not been empirically quantified. The closer an initial heuristically determined basic feasible solution is to the optimal solution, the fewer the required iterations of the modified transportation simplex to determine the optimal solution. The purpose of this article is to empirically quantify the importance of how five TP heuristics (northwest corner method, the greedy heuristic, VAM, Russell's method and the maximum demand method) process the dummy column (row) in a balanced TP.