cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential abnormalities of cerebrospinal fluid dopaminergic versus noradrenergic indices in synucleinopathies.

The synucleinopathies Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and pure autonomic failure (PAF) are characterized by intra-cytoplasmic deposition of the protein alpha-synuclein and by catecholamine depletion. PAF, which manifests with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) and no motor signs of central neurodegeneration, can evolve into PD+nOH. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of catecholamine metabolites may indicate central catecholamine deficiency in these synucleinopathies, but the literature is inconsistent and incomplete. In this retrospective cohort study we reviewed data about CSF catecholamines, the dopamine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), and the norepinephrine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). The compounds were measured in 36 patients with PD, 37 patients with MSA, and 19 patients with PAF and in 38 controls. Compared to the control group, the PD, MSA, and PAF groups had decreased CSF MHPG (p < .0001 each by Dunnett's post hoc test), DHPG (p = .004; p < .0001; p < .0001) and norepinephrine (p = .017; p = .0003; p = .044). CSF HVA and DOPAC were decreased in PD (p < .0001 each) and MSA (p < .0001 each) but not in PAF. The three synucleinopathies therefore have in common in vivo evidence of central noradrenergic deficiency but differ in the extents of central dopaminergic deficiency-prominent in PD and MSA, less apparent in PAF. Data from putamen 18 F-DOPA and cardiac 18 F-dopamine neuroimaging in the same patients, post-mortem tissue catecholamines in largely separate cohorts, and review of the neuropathology literature fit with these distinctions. The results suggest a 'norepinephrine first' ascending pathogenetic sequence in synucleinopathies, with degeneration of pontine locus ceruleus noradrenergic neurons preceding the loss of midbrain substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons.
Blame, then shame? Psychological predictors in cancel culture behavior

‘Cancel culture’ is defined as the withdrawal of support for individuals who have acted in a way deemed to be unacceptable or problematic related to social media, viewership, or the purchase of pro...
Reviving the WTO: Five Priorities for the Liberalization

Established in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was the culmination of half a century of global trade liberalization achieved under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Subsequent agreements to achieve further liberalization — and to establish rules for emerging forms of cross‐​border trade and investment — were among the expectations of WTO members from the outset. But very little in the way of agreements on new rules has been achieved in the quarter century since the WTO’s founding, and today the institution is facing an existential crisis. Discord among members over a variety of matters; mounting tensions in the U.S.-China relationship; differences over definitions, priorities, and expectations; and the general absence of a requisite sense of urgency have left the organization in a state of paralysis. The failure to reach any new multilateral or other agreements — or even to agree on next steps at the conclusion of the last Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in 2017 — left many wondering if the end of the WTO was in sight. Should the WTO continue to fade into irrelevance, the world will no doubt have deep regrets. The rule of law in the international trading system has fostered greater certainty, international cooperation, and recourse to adjudication — all pillars of global economic growth that will be missed if we allow the WTO to descend into obsolescence. To help ward off that outcome, WTO members should be prepared to treat the next ministerial meeting, scheduled for June 2021 in Kazakhstan, as a make‐​or‐​break event where they must forge agreement on how to pursue further trade liberalization and what policy areas should take priority. This paper recommends five policy areas that should take priority in these discussions. If members cannot make progress in these areas before and during the ministerial meeting, the end of the WTO may indeed be upon us.
Fusing information from multifidelity computer models of physical systems

When analyzing complex physical systems, it is often the case that many different computer-based simulation models are available to the analyst. These models will likely vary in terms of their predictive capability, or fidelity, but all will likely provide some level of unique information that could be of use in an inference, prediction, or decision problem of interest. To enable the use of all available information from multifidelity models, it is critical that a means of fusing estimates from multiple models be developed. This is of particular importance for situations where experimental data regarding a particular system is unavailable, thus requiring that all decisions be made solely on the basis of the information provided by numerical simulation models of the system. For this circumstance, we have developed a model fusion methodology that uses model inadequacy information to generate synthetic data as part of a model reification process, which is then used to estimate the correlation between model errors. This information is used as part of an updating approach whereby uncertain outputs from multiple dependent models may be fused together to provide better estimates than any model in isolation.
Problem-Based Learning in the Middle School: A Research Case Study of the Perceptions of At-Risk Females.

The purpose of this study was to examine problem-based learning (pbl) and how students in the middle grades math and science classroom perceived its effectiveness. Analysis of student perceptions o...
Ligand binding to metalloporphyrins—II: The equilibrium between iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride and imidazole in various media

Abstract The equilibrium between imidazole and iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride has been studied in various solvents. Thermodynamic parameters have been obtained in acetone, chloroform, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. For these latter solvents, the number of imidazole molecules that coordinate to the metalloporphyrin is shown to be two. The values of ΔG° are reconciled on the basis of the polarity and hydrogen bonding ability of the solvent. The average value of ΔS° is −22 eu/ligand. From spectrophotometric data, there appears to be no significant interaction between di- n -propylsulfide and iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin.
False Dichotomies of Transitional Justice: Gender, Conflict and Combatants in Colombia

At the time of publication Shana Tabak was at The George Washington University Law School.
Baseline duty hours recorded with time-cards: a pre-regulation study of internal medicine residents.

OBJECTIVE The acquisition of data on resident duty hours has been largely dependent on self-report surveys collected in the surgical literature. We sought to implement and describe a simple method for monitoring internal medicine resident duty hours by using time-cards. DESIGN In 2002, internal medicine residents on a 3-site academic programme were asked to track their duty hours using time-cards prior to the implementation of system changes according to duty hours reform. SETTING An academic internal medicine residency programme in the USA. RESULTS Of participating residents (n = 41), 93% worked at least 1 shift longer than 30 hours, 29% worked an average of more than 80 hours per week, and 56% had less than 1 day off per week. No residents were on call more than once every third day. CONCLUSIONS This study describes the findings and challenges of using time-cards to track duty hours, and shows that many internal medicine residents on this programme were, before implementation of duty hours reforms, in violation of duty hours regulations.
KM moves beyond the organization: The opportunity for librarians

KM is no ordinary management fad -- first, it has legs, it is not fading away, and second it clearly is relevant to and overlaps greatly with librarianship. Despite the obvious overlap with librarianship, our field has done comparatively poorly in capitalizing on that overlap. The KM movement has gone through a number of stages, and it is now moving into a stage of recognizing the importance of and incorporating information and knowledge external to the parent organization. Such information and knowledge has always been the province of the librarian and the information professional, and this development presents obvious and important opportunities for the field of librarianship, particularly in the area of the organization's KM system design.
Clinical evaluation of high-frequency (ultrasonic) mechanical débridement in the surgical treatment of calcific aortic stenosis.

Abstract Repair of aortic valve stenosis due to calcific degeneration may lead to hemodynamic and clinical improvement without the problems inherent with prosthetic valves. We have evaluated the use of a device capable of debriding calcium, the Cavitron ultrasonic aspirator (CUSA), as an adjunct to mechanical debridement in the repair of calcific aortic stenosis. Ten patients (five women), ages 63 to 83 years, were studied by M-mode, two-dimenslonal, and Doppler echocardiography before and an average of 26 (range 3 to 124) days after this procedure. The degree of calcification of the valve cusps was clearly reduced. The maximal cusp excursion increased from 0.7 ± 0.1 cm preoperatively to 1.5 ± 0.4 cm postoperatively ( p = 0.006). The peak aortic gradient fell from 80 ± 36 mm Hg to 28 ± 10 mm Hg ( p = 0.0007). The mean aortic gradient fell from 53 ± 20 mm Hg to 16 ± 5 mm Hg ( p 2 to 1.6 ± 0.6 cm 2 ( p = 0.0009). No patient had more than mild aortic insufficiency preoperatively. Postoperatively, color Doppler flow mapping revealed severe aortic insufficiency in two patients. Seven patients had further echocardiographic evaluation 99 (range 33 to 196) days after the procedure. These studies revealed the development of severe aortic insufficiency in an additional four patients. Four patients with severe symptomatic aortic insufficiency eventually underwent aortic valve repiacement. Pathology revealed scarring and retraction of the aortic cusps. Widening of the commissures was responsible for the severe aortic insufficiency. In conclusion, this proceduce results in a significant increase in the mobility of the valve cusps, with a decrease in the amount of calcium. There is a marked increase of the aortic valve area with a concomitant reduction of the aortic valve gradient. However, progressive, symptomatic aortic insufficiency frequentiy develops after the procedure due to scarring and retraction of the aortic cusps. We do not recommend this procedure for the treatment of calcific aortic stenosis.
Angiosarcoma successfully treated with liver transplantation and sirolimus

Malignant liver tumors represent approximately 1% of malignancies in children. HA is a high-grade tumor of endothelial cells that is even more rare in the pediatric population. HA has a limited response to chemotherapy, radiation and resection with universal tumor recurrence with LT and nearly 100% mortality by 18 months. This is the first reported successful case of hepatic angiosarcoma in a child who was treated by LT in combination with sirolimus. Sirolimus antagonizes the mTOR pathway, which regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration, and is being studied as an anti-neoplastic agent for solid tumors.
Anchoring Nascent RNA to the DNA Template Could Interfere with Transcription

During normal transcription, the nascent RNA product is released from the DNA template. However, in some cases, the RNA remains bound or can become reattached to the template DNA duplex (for example, through R-loop formation). We have analyzed the effect on transcription elongation of nascent RNA anchoring to the template DNA duplex. Because the RNA polymerase follows a helical path along DNA duplex during transcription, the anchoring would result in wrapping the nascent RNA around the DNA in the region between the anchoring point and the translocating polymerase. This wrapping would cause an unfavorable loss of conformation entropy of the nascent RNA. It consequently would create an apparent force to unwrap the RNA by disrupting either the transcription complex or the anchoring structure. We have estimated that this force would be comparable to those required to melt nucleic acid duplexes or to arrest transcription elongation in single-molecule experiments. We predict that this force would create negative supercoiling in the DNA duplex region between the anchoring point and the transcribing RNA polymerase: this can promote the formation of unusual DNA structures and facilitate RNA invasion into the DNA duplex. Potential biological consequences of these effects are discussed.
Minimal-Parameter Attitude Matrix Estimation from Vector Observations

A computationall y efficient, sequential method is presented for attitude matrix estimation using gyro and vector measurements. The method is based on a recently introduced, minimal-parameter third-order method for solving the orthogonal matrix differential equation. A nonlinear algorithm is developed, which uses a minimal set of three parameters to estimate the nine-parameter direction-cosine matrix. An orthogonali/a tion procedure, incorporated into the measurement processing stage, enhances the accuracy and stability of the resulting algorithm, yet retains reasonable simplicity. The performance of the estimator is demonstrated via a numerical simulation study.
Junction degradation in bipolar transistors and the reliability imposed constraints to scaling and design

The stress-induced leakage current is predominantly a Shockley-Read-Hall-like generation-recombination current. As the stress progresses, the leakage current increases, eventually reaches a maximum and then decays. The leakage current lowers the current gain at low biases. It affects the narrow-emitter transistors more since it is proportional to the emitter edge length. But, its impact is less significant if the transistor is operated at a high V/sub be/, as required by constant-current scaling. The loss of the current gain does not affect the circuit speed directly. Instead, it reduces the logic swing and thus the noise margin of the circuit. The design to absorb the degradation with a larger initial logic swing results in a speed penalty. The reverse-stress-induced junction degradation can be eliminated by properly designing the circuit There is no concern for emitter-coupled logic (ECL) circuits when the logic swing is less than the V/sub be/ of the transistors. >
Advertiser Attitudes Regarding the Substitutability of English-Language Television to Reach Foreign Language Target Audiences

Scholars have examined media substitutability from many angles, but few, if any, studies have examined substitutability of advertising on the basis of language. Using a price sensitivity test, this...
Synthetic studies on the bryostatins: preparation of a truncated BC-ring intermediate by pyran annulation.

A synthesis of a potential BC-ring subunit (C9−C27) for bryostatin 1, a remarkably potent anticancer agent, has been developed in 16 steps and 18% overall yield. The key features of this route include a BITIP-catalyzed asymmetric allylation reaction, chelation-controlled allylations, a hydroformylation reaction, and a pyran annulation reaction.
Log Concavity of a Sequence in a Conjecture of Simion

Simion presented a conjecture involving the unimodality of a sequence whose elements are the number of lattice paths in a rectangular grid with the Ferrers diagram of a partition removed. In this paper, the author uses ideas from an earlier paper where special cases of this conjecture were proved to prove log concavity and unimodality of the sequence.
Variation of the magnetic properties of AISI 4140 steels with plastic strain

The magnetic properties of five different microstructures of AISI 4140 steel are measured as a function of compressive plastic deformation. Coercivity, hysteresis loss, remanence, permeability, differential permeability, and anhysteretic magnetisation are determined for strains of up to 10%. Coercivity, hysteresis loss, and initial permeability are found to be dependent on residual plastic strain and hardness. Remanence is only weakly dependent on plastic strain, while maximum differential permeability is insensitive to plastic strain over the range 2 to 10%. The results are interpreted in terms of changes in the number density of dislocations caused by straining beyond the yield point. Correlations are found between coercivity and hysteresis loss and between initial anhysteretic permeability and maximum differential permeability.
SPEECH PERCEPTION IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: A SUGGESTED MODEL

In recent work on second language acquisition, reference has been made to the learner's second language “production grammar” and “perception grammar,” since decoding skills seem to be acquired before encoding skills. However, the postulation of two basically separate grammars for any language can pose problems. A model of speech perception and production is suggested here which attempts to account for different rates of acquisition of perceptual and productive skill in the second language, without assuming the existence of two separate second language grammars. In Neisser's model of speech perception, Stage One could correspond to a “perception grammar”; however, it cannot be strictly called a “grammar.” In Stage Two the second language grammar used in decoding the utterance is the same as that used in production of the second language utterance. The discrepancy between perception and production in second language acquisition can be accounted for by assuming the existence of a preliminary stage of speech perception, in which decoding is not based upon syntactic rules, but upon a feature analysis and hypothesis formation. Some principles which may be used in analyzing the utterance in this preliminary stage are discussed and related to some research findings in second language acquisition.
Candidates' perceived height and voters' preference in the 1992 presidential election

In 1960 a significant tendency was reported for prospective voters to judge the US presidential candidate they favored as significantly taller than the candidate they did not favor. The present stu...
Chloramphenicol-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction Is Associated With Decreased Transferrin Receptor Expression and Ferritin Synthesis in K562 Cells and Is Unrelated to IRE-IRP Interactions

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic that consistently suppresses the bone marrow and induces sideroblastic anemia. It is also a rare cause of aplastic anemia. These toxicities are thought to be related to mitochondrial dysfunction, since chloramphenicol inhibits mitochondrial protein synthesis. We hypothesized that chloramphenicol-induced mitochondrial impairment alters the synthesis of ferritin and the transferrin receptor. After treating K562 erythroleukemia cells with a therapeutic dose of chloramphenicol (10 microg/ml) for 4 days, there was a marked decrease in cell surface transferrin receptor expression and de novo ferritin synthesis associated with significant decreases in cytochrome c oxidase activity, ATP levels, respiratory activity, and cell growth. Decreases in the transferrin receptor and ferritin were associated with reduced and unchanged message levels, respectively. The mechanism by which mitochondrial dysfunction alters these important proteins in iron homeostasis is not clear. A global decrease in synthetic processes seems unlikely, since the expression of the cellular adhesion proteins VLA4 and CD58 was not significantly decreased by chloramphenicol, nor were the message levels of beta-actin or ferritin. The alterations were not accompanied by changes in binding of the iron response protein (IRP) to the iron-responsive element (IRE), although cytosolic aconitase activity was reduced by 27% in chloramphenicol-treated cells. A disturbance in iron homeostasis due to alterations in the transferrin receptor and ferritin may explain the hypochromic-microcytic anemia and the accumulation of nonferritin iron in the mitochondria in some individuals after chloramphenicol therapy. Also, these studies provide evidence of a link between mitochondrial impairment and iron metabolism in K562 cells.
Can geosynchronous imaging Fourier transform spectrometer capture vertical and temporal variability of a convective atmosphere

Insufficient high vertical and temporal resolution data have limited the precipitation forecast skill of convective initiation. The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS), a new hyperspectral geostationary satellite measurement system, could provide top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances across two broad spectral regions with high-resolutions in spectral, horizontal and temporal spaces within a fixed domain. A set of modeled and observed vertical profiles of atmospheric moisture and temperature during a convective initiation (CI) event within the observing period of the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) are used to assess the potential values of GIFTS measurements to convective precipitation forecast. First, it is shown that the model simulation captures reasonably well the movement of the precipitation bands and the gradient structures of temperature and water vapor of the convectively initiated storm. Second, the observed vertical and temporal variability of water vapor during the CI period is shown to be quite significant in the lower troposphere. The differences between observations and model simulation are also noticed. Using both the observed and the model-predicted profiles as input to GIFTS radiative transfer model (RTM), it is finally shown that the simulated GIFTS radiance could capture the high vertical and temporal variability of the real and modeled atmosphere prior to the CI, as well as the differences between observations and model forecasts. The study suggests the potential for GIFTS to make important contributions to the improvement of the forecast skill of convective precipitation.
Windowed, Wired, and Webbed—Now What?

Integrating technology into teaching and learning is increasing exponentially; however, nonanecdotal evidence of its effectiveness is lacking. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, the impact of implementing a technology-rich learning environment in a marketing curriculum is investigated. A quasi-experimental approach used (1) a pre-laptop program assessment based on perceptual mapping and concept studies, (2) a treatment (laptops and pedagogy changes) assessment based on social cognitive theory, and (3) a post-laptop assessment of perceptual mapping and enrollment data. Faculty and student responses to the new laptop-based environment are provided along with a discussion based on this experience.
The head-twitch response in the least shrew (Cryptotis parva) is a 5-HT2− and not a 5-HT1C-mediated phenomenon

Abstract Our initial studies suggested that the 5-HT2/1C agonist (±)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane[(±)-DOI] produces both the head-twitch response (HTR) and the ear-scratch response (ESR) in mice via stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors. However, challenge studies revealed that these behaviors are produced via two different receptors (possibly 5-HT2 and 5-HT1C). Due to a lack of selective agents one cannot designate a particular response for the activation of a specific receptor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate such behaviors in the least shrew, which is more sensitive to (±)-DOI than rodents. IP injection of (±)-DOI in shrews produced a dose-dependent (bell-shaped) and time-dependent increase in the HTR frequency. The (±)-DOI-induced HTR was equipotently and completely attenuated by the 5-HT2/1C antagonists ketanserin and spiperone. The 5-HT1C antagonists with 5-HT2 agonist action, lisuride, also produced the HTR in a bell-shaped dose- and time-dependent fashion. Central injections of both (±)-DOI (0.2 μg) and lisuride (0.5 μg) also induced the behavior. Both peripheral and central administration of lisuride failed to produce the ESR. (±)-DOI significantly induced the ESR only at the highest dose tested (2.5 mg/kg, IP). Centrally administered (±)-DOI (0.2 μg) produced more ESRs relative to vehicle controls; however, the difference did not attain significance. At low doses (0.31 and 0.63 mg/kg), (±)-DOI had no effect on locomotor activity, but it significantly attenuated the behavior at larger doses. Both low and high doses of lisuride increased the motor activity. Spiperone dose-dependently suppressed locomotion, whereas ketanserin had no effect. The present results suggest that the HTR is a 5-HT2 receptor-mediated event and changes in locomotor activity do not affect the induced HTR.
Temporal order vs. variability in activation of lymphocytes from aging mice

Abstract Changes in patterns of circannual rhythms in the in vitro activation of splenic lymphocytes from aging C57BL/6 mice may account both for reports of conflicting results in tests of immune function and for the assumed increase in variability in data obtained using cells from older mice. Single cell suspensions from 4–6, 15 and 24–28 month-old mice living in presumably constant environments were cultured in vitro with mitogens, and the incorporation of tritiated thymidine by dividing cells was determined. Free-running periods of T and B lymphocyte rhythms of blastogenic responses increased in cells from both older groups; amplitudes of the T but not B cell rhythms were reduced in senescent mice. This results in continuously changing phase relationships of both T and B cell rhythms, without consistently higher levels of activation of cells from young animals, thus obscuring at intervals the age-related declines in function. Because data were collected for several years, it was clear from the patterns of the rhythms and also the combined data that the greatest ranges in levels of activation (“variability”) characterized T and B cells from the youngest mice rather than older animals.
Marriage (In)equality: The Perspectives of Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Parents

The debate over whether same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into civil marriages continues in the United States. Forty-nine adolescents and emerging adults (ages 14 – 29) with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents were interviewed for the current exploratory study, which examined how individuals perceived themselves and their families as being affected by marriage (in)equality, as well as the factors that shaped their perspectives. More than two thirds of participants voiced unequivocal support for marriage equality, citing numerous legal and symbolic beneﬁts that their families were denied. One quarter of participants articulated critical perspectives of marriage or the ﬁght for marriage equality, while also acknowledging the beneﬁts associated with marriage. As the ﬁrst study to examine the perspectives of individuals with lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents with regard to marriage (in)equality, this research has important implications for the marriage equality debate and provides a springboard for future studies on this topic.
Fabrication and electrochemical characterization of planar Pt-CGO microstructures

Abstract Dense, nanocrystalline gadolinia doped ceria (CGO) thin films were prepared by sputtering on a variety of substrates. The CGO films were electrochemically characterized with the aid of interdigitated Pt electrodes by impedance spectroscopy as a function of operating temperature (175–340 °C), CGO film thickness (157, 233, 315 nm), deposition temperature (room temperature, 300, 500 °C), and Pt electrode pattern geometry (line pattern spacing 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 μm). The different parameter variations enabled the identification of five contributions to the impedance spectra attributed, respectively, to wiring and contacts, grain, grain boundary, current constriction at the triple phase boundary, and electrode effects. The ionic conductivity of the CGO films were characterized by the expression σ = (A/T)exp(−EA/kT), with A = 108.66±0.72 S cm−1 K and EA = 0.97 ± 0.07 eV with magnitude higher than values reported for both bulk and thin film CGO previously reported in the literature. The electrochemical impedance of the Pt electrodes was found to decrease markedly for CGO films grown at reduced temperatures. Explanations for these observations are presented.
The open past

L'A. formule la seule defense plausible, sans petition de principe, de la reponse du futur ouvert aux arguments fatalistes. Cette defense implique: 1) l'indeterminisme des lois de la nature 2) une certaine version de la theorie de la verite-correspondance. L'A. conclut au fait que le passe est parfois egalement ouvert
The effects of match uncertainty and bargaining on labor market outcomes: evidence from firm and worker specific estimates

In this paper we examine wage dispersion in labor markets across currently employed workers. We argue that differences in the potential productivity of a match (typically assumed to be known in the previous literature) generates a surplus between the minimum wage the worker is willing to accept and the maximum wage the firm is willing to offer for the job. Existence of this surplus leads to wage dispersion due to negotiating over the amounts extracted by each agent. Our objective is to estimate the surplus extracted by each firm-worker pair and the effect of the net extracted surplus on the wage, for each firm-worker pair using the two-tier stochastic frontier model. An empirical application finds that, on average, firms paid workers less than their expected productivity. More specifically, at the mean, the net effect of productivity uncertainty leads to equilibrium wages which are 3.33% below the expected productivity of matches.
Inclusive Discourse? Local Media Coverage of the Terri Schiavo Case

This article contributes to a more systematic understanding of the role of mainstream media in deliberative processes by analyzing how inclusive local newspapers are of diverse perspectives on the Terri Schiavo case. Using both Pearson's chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression, we assess how ownership, state political ideology, geographic location, and news format affect what ideas are included in the debate over whether Terri Schiavo's hydration and nutrition tubes should be removed as well as the tone with which these ideas are discussed. We find that mainstream newspapers are relatively inclusive of diverse ideas and perspectives-regardless of whether the newspaper is independently or corporately owned, the political leanings of the target audience, and the geographic location of the outlet. However, we also find that local newspapers do significantly differ from one another in terms of the frequency and tone with which they include diverse viewpoints. Our research suggests that local outlets downplay ideas that are likely to be regarded as controversial by their target audiences. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of this research for understanding the role of media in deliberative democratic processes in the United States.
Evaluation of Functional Outcome After BFX® Total Hip Replacement Using a Pressure Sensitive Walkway

Objective— To evaluate stance phase limb use after cementless (BFX®) total hip replacement (THR) in dogs and to relate postoperative radiographic variables to static bodyweight distribution after surgery. Study Design— Prospective clinical study. Animals— Dogs (n=35) that had THR. Methods— THR was performed using the BFX® THR technique. Postoperative pain management regimens were similar for all dogs. Standing bodyweight distribution (%BWdistrib) was measured using a pressure sensitive walkway and radiographs made before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Repeated measures models (with backwards-stepping to obtain the final model) were used for statistical analysis. Results— Temporally, %BWdistrib to the operated limb increased (P<.0001; normal by 3 months) and decreased to the unoperated limb (P=.0001) and also increased to the pelvic limbs and decreased to the thoracic limbs. %BWdistrib to the unoperated limb was significantly less than the operated limb at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Postoperative canal fill and femur flare were significantly negatively correlated with change in %BWdistrib (estimate=−0.24, P=.0413). Conclusion— BFX® THR results in normal %BWdistrib to the operated limb by 3 months after surgery. A greater fill of the proximal femur may be associated with a suboptimal outcome. Clinical Relevance— BFX® THR normalizes standing bodyweight distribution dogs with hip osteoarthritis. Objective evaluation of THR outcome and radiographic features may reveal factors that could be improved through changes in prosthesis design or surgical technique.
Forecasting fisheries collapse

When sustainably managed, wild harvests from the sea provide livelihoods and a vital source of protein for hundreds of millions of people (1, 2). If managed well, these benefits are perpetually renewable. However, numerous challenges can compromise the sustainability of this natural bounty. Ironically, a significant challenge arises because of the diversity of species caught in nearly all fisheries. Although healthy diverse ecosystems can provide resilience against some perturbations, fishing pressure in these ecosystems is almost always geared to the strongest, most economically valuable stocks. In the process of fishing, many other species are incidentally caught including both (i) species that nobody wants to catch but are costly to avoid, commonly called bycatch, and (ii) species with substantially lower economic value than targeted, highline stocks. Even when the target stock is perfectly managed, these incidentally caught stocks can collapse if their life history traits make them more susceptible to a given level of fishing effort than target species. Without regular monitoring and strong management of all species, these weak stocks may force the closure of otherwise highly profitable fisheries. One solution is to expand scientific assessments to all species affected by each fishery, but this is prohibitively expensive. Fish are expensive to monitor, and as a result, even the majority of target species are currently not adequately assessed worldwide (3). Solving the weak stock problem requires new innovation. In PNAS, Burgess et al. (4) offer a unique forecasting tool to innovatively address this global challenge.
Biophysical Characterization of the TRPM8 Voltage-Sensing Domain

Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) is an outwardly rectifying, nonselective cation channel and has been shown to be activated (gated) in a polymodal manner by voltage, chemical ligands, cold temperatures, lipids, and modulatory membrane proteins. Channel expression is most closely associated with sensory neurons, though it is expressed in many types of tissues. Since its discovery, much attention has been paid to TRPM8 because of its role in human health and disease. The most well-known function of the channel is in cold sensation and related cold-induced pain. However, the initial discovery of TRPM8 came about through its identification as an oncogene that is up-regulated in prostate, breast, colon, lung, and skin cancers. TRPM8 is also significant as a pain receptor and is considered a hopeful target for analgesic development. At the heart of unlocking the widespread therapeutic potential of TRPM8 rests on understanding how to open and close, or gate the channel. The voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of TRPM8 is key to gating and has been shown to form a nexus where at least chemical ligands and voltage are integrated to cause channel gating. Here we present the conditions used to express and purify the folded TRPM8 VSD, show initial solution NMR-based structural characterization, as well as far UV circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry biophysical studies.
Unrestrictive identification of post-translational modifications through peptide mass spectrometry

Proteins are post-translationally modified in vivo as part of cellular regulation and signaling, and undergo further chemical modifications during laboratory processing. Even relatively simple protein samples may carry a wide range of modifications. Peptide tandem mass spectrometry provides a way to study these events. We present a protocol for computational identification of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and the sites where they occur. The protocol performs an unrestrictive search, and requires no prior knowledge of what modifications are present in the sample. We present a largely automated procedure for PTM discovery, and provide a guide for analysis of PTM annotations. This protocol requires you to type out several commands, so you may wish to enlist the help of a colleague familiar with the computer's command-line interface. A typical MS run of up to 25,000 scans can be searched and analyzed in 3 h.
796-2 Application of Lessons Learned from Cardiac Interventional Techniques to Carotid Angioplasty (PTA)

PTA of the carotid and vertebral arteries remains a challenging area of vascular intervention and optimal techniques have yet to be determined. We describe our initial experience with a novel approach to carotid PTA utilizing: 1) “active” perfusion, as is done during coronary angioplasty, which allows prolonged balloon inflations without cerebral ischemia; 2) transcranial doppler (TCD) monitoring, when anatomically feasible, during PTA to assess antegrade flow and detect cerebral emboli; 3) temporary pacing for bradycardia during intra-Carotid balloon inflation; and 4) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for screening and follow-up. We have also used the previously described “protected” carotid PTA technique using an additional occluding balloon to prevent cerebral emboli. Six symptomatic patients had 7 PTAs (6 carotids, 1 vertebral). Pt. # Angioplasty Technique Transcrania Doppler StenosisPre→Post Complications Stenosis 3m. F/U 1 Protected 73 emboli 90%→20% none 10% 2 Protected 40 emboli 90%→0% none 0% 3 Active Perf. no window 95%→0% none 0% 4 Active Perf. 10 emboli 99%→0% none 0% 5 Active Perf. no window 99%→0% hemorrh→death 6 Standard no window 100%→30%→ none pending (vertebral) stent→0% Active Perf. 70%→dissec, none pending (carotid) 20%→stent→0% Maintenance of cerebral perfusion during PTA by “active” perfusion and cardiac pacing allows prolonged balloon inflations which minimize residual stenosis; when feasible, TCD monitoring is a valuable adjunct. Ongoing studies with more patients will elucidate the value of this approach for carotid angioplasty.
Reduction of clutter contamination in radar cross section measurements using independent components analysis

Residual clutter contamination can limit the accuracy of low-level target scattering measurements. The idea of separating the desired target measurement from the clutter, on the assumption that the target and clutter have different statistical properties over the observed data, is considered. Specifically, the independent component analysis (ICA) technique is applied to the measurement problem. The ICA approach does have limitations due to underlying model assumptions and solution ambiguities that must be considered in the measurement context. However, simulations suggest that the technique can potentially improve measurements in certain challenging scenarios.
IV. Sex and Gender: Same or Different?:

Along the primrose path of childhood children learn something fundamental. At a most basic level they incorporate that Dads and Moms are designations with very different implications. Up front, it is accepted that Dads are men and Moms are women; that Dads and Moms do different things at home and elsewhere. Simultaneously children learn that boys play rough and girls play nice and they usually like to do different things. Then kids learn that boys grow up to be Dads and girls grow up to be Moms.
The Cross Section of Stock Returns before World War I

We examine the cross section of stock returns using an original dataset consisting of annual observations on price, dividends, and shares outstanding for nearly all stocks listed on U.K. exchanges between 1870 and 1913, supplemented with additional information about attrition. The only clear pattern in the historical U.K. data is the high returns of extremely small stocks. Among the largest 99.8% of stocks, the historical U.K. data do not display the pattern found in modern U.S. (CRSP) data of excess returns for small stocks or stocks with poor past performance. Unlike CRSP data, stocks that do not pay dividends do not outperform stocks that pay small dividends during this period. However, as in the modern data, there is a weak relation between dividend yield and performance for stocks that pay dividends.
The juxtamembrane region of the EGF receptor functions as an activation domain.

Summary In several growth factor receptors, the intracellular juxtamembrane (JM) region participates in autoinhibitory interactions that must be disrupted for tyrosine kinase activation. Using alanine scanning mutagenesis and crystallographic approaches, we define a domain within the JM region of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that instead plays an activating—rather than autoinhibitory—role. Mutations in the C-terminal 19 residues of the EGFR JM region abolish EGFR activation. In a crystal structure of an asymmetric dimer of the tyrosine kinase domain, the JM region of an acceptor monomer makes extensive contacts with the C lobe of a donor monomer, thus stabilizing the dimer. We describe how an uncharacterized lung cancer mutation in this JM activation domain (V665M) constitutively activates EGFR by augmenting its capacity to act as an acceptor in the asymmetric dimer. This JM mutant promotes cellular transformation by EGFR in vitro and is tumorigenic in a xenograft assay.
Comparison of PI and MPC for control of a gas recovery unit

Abstract This study compares PI and MPC controls via a computer simulation for a gas recovery unit (GRU), which consists of three distillation columns operated in series: a de-ethanizer, a depropanizer and a debutanizer. In addition, the de-ethanizer feed is preheated by the bottoms product from the de-ethanizer, which causes additional process coupling. Rigorous models are developed for the columns including column pressure dynamics and heat transfer dynamics. The process is a highly coupled system and has interactive constraints that determine the feasible operating regions. A decentralized PI control system with override controls for the constraints was designed and implemented on the GRU simulator and was compared with an industrial MPC controller. The MPC controller was observed to outperform the decentralized control system due to its multivariable constraint control capability. Since the simulator is available to other university researchers, it can serve as a challenge problem for multivariable control and identification. Three MPC controllers with different strategies for controlling the bottom level of the first column were implemented on the GRU process. The first MPC controller does not directly control the level, the second one moves the setpoint to the PI level controller, and the third one controls the level directly by manipulating the flow. The results show that including level into the MPC controller improves composition control for cases in which the manipulated variable for the level control has a significant impact on compositions.
Fine root biomass estimates from minirhizotron imagery in a shrub ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2.

Fine root biomass and C content are critical components in ecosystem C models, but they cannot be directly determined by minirhizotron techniques, and indirect methods involve estimating 3-dimensional values (biomass/ soil volume) from 2-dimensional measurements. To estimate biomass from minirhizotron data, a conversion factor for length to biomass must be developed, and assumptions regarding depth of view must be made. In a scrub-oak ecosystem in central Florida, USA, root length density (RLD) was monitored for 10 years in a CO2 manipulation experiment using minirhizotron tubes. In the seventh year of the study, soil cores were removed from both ambient and elevated CO2 chambers. Roots from those cores were used to determine specific root length values (m/g) that were applied to the long-term RLD data for an estimation of root biomass over 10 years of CO2 manipulation. Root length and biomass estimated from minirhizotron data were comparable to determinations from soil cores, suggesting that the minirhizotron biomass model is valid. Biomass estimates from minirhizotrons indicate the <0.25 mm diameter roots accounted for nearly 95% of the total root length in 2002. The long-term trends for this smallest size class (<0.25 mm diameter) mirrored the RLD trends closely, particularly in relation to suspected root closure in this system. Elevated CO2 did not significantly affect specific root length as determined by the soil cores. A significant treatment effect indicated smallest diameter fine roots (<0.25 mm) were greater under elevated CO2 during the early years of the study and the largest (2–10 mm) had greater biomass under elevated CO2 during the later years of the study. Overall, this method permits long-term analysis of the effects of elevated CO2 on fine root biomass accumulation and provides essential information for carbon models.
Acoustically-driven cantilever for gas sensing

Abstract A thin cantilever blade attached to a ceramic piezoelectric bimorph is excited acoustically at resonance by a nearby piezoelectric driver. The amplitude of the induced vibration is electrically detected by the flexure induced in the bimorph. The amplitude falls monotonically toward zero as the pressure is reduced, allowing for pressure sensing over six orders of magnitude. Alternatively, at higher pressures, the acoustic pressure and corresponding induced amplitude depend strongly on the average molecular mass of the gas, allowing a measure of the latter parameter if the pressure is known. Applications are suggested, including the measurement of small concentrations of a heavy species in a lighter ambient (e.g., gasoline vapor in air).
Metamorphosis is inhibited in transgenic Xenopus laevis tadpoles that overexpress type III deiodinase

One of the genes that is up-regulated by thyroid hormone (TH) during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis encodes a type III deiodinase (D3) that inactivates TH. Transgenic X. laevis tadpoles overexpressing a GFP-D3 fusion protein were produced. These transgenic tadpoles had high levels of deiodinase activity and were resistant to exogenous TH added 1 week after fertilization. They developed normally throughout embryogenesis and premetamorphic stages but became retarded in their development late in prometamorphosis when endogenous TH reaches its highest level. Gill and tail resorption were delayed and most of the animals arrested and died. One tadpole completed its metamorphosis without resorbing its tail. These results demonstrate that D3 can modulate the action of TH in vivo, and document the value of the new transgenic method for functional analysis of genes involved in metamorphosis.
The interrelationship between sex skin swelling and the urinary excretion of LH, estrone, and pregnanediol by the cycling female chimpanzee.

The interrelationship between sex skin swelling and the urinary excretion of luteinizing hormone and sex steroids was investigated during ovulatory menstrual cycles in adult female chimpanzees. Estrone was excreted in two peaks, one during the preovulatory and the other during the midluteal phase. Maximum swelling of the sex skin was attained several days before the preovulatory estrone peak. The LH surge preceded or accompanied beginning detumescence of the sex skin which, in turn, was closely correlated with a rising excretion of pregnanediol. Urinary measurements provide integrated estimates of the concentration of fluctuating hormones and, in addition, are safer and easier to make than blood measurements in this species.
The coming monetary crisis

What's ahead for the US economy, and what cash and treasury strategies will best help your business survive and prosper despite hard times? © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.