cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The susceptibility of farmland loans to default under falling farmland and commodity prices

Periods of high commodity prices and rising farmland debt loads are typically accompanied with speculation that there will eventually be declines in commodity and farmland prices that may lead to a farm credit crisis. We evaluate the likelihood of such a crisis using a simulation model of heterogeneous farmers during periods of volatile commodity and farmland prices. This model simulates a period of increasing commodity and farmland prices with a subsequent drop in prices of farmland and commodities. We find default rates are less sensitive to commodity prices than farmland prices, that the length of time prices remain low matters significantly, and that when both farmland and commodity prices fall together defaults rise more than the sum of the responses to separate price shocks.
When Liquid Rays Become Gas Rays: Can Evaporation Ever Be Non-Maxwellian?

A rare mistake by Otto Stern led to a confusion between density and flux in his first measurement of a Maxwellian speed distribution. This error reveals the key role of speed itself in Stern’s development of “the method of molecular rays”. What if the gas-phase speed distributions are not Maxwellian to begin with? The molecular beam technique so beautifully advanced by Stern can also be used to explore the speed distribution of gases evaporating from liquid microjets, a tool developed by Manfred Faubel. We employ liquid water and alkane microjets containing dissolved helium atoms to monitor the speed of evaporating He atoms into vacuum. While most dissolved gases evaporate in Maxwellian speed distributions, the He evaporation flux is super-Maxwellian, with energies up to 70% higher than the flux-weighted average energy of 2 RTliq. The explanation of this high-energy evaporation involves two beautiful concepts in physical chemistry: detailed balancing between He atom evaporation and condensation (starting with gas-surface collisions) and the potential of mean force on the He atom (starting with He atoms just below the surface). We hope that these measurements continue to fulfill Stern’s dream of the “directness and simplicity of the molecular ray method.”
Effects of Pavement Surface Conditions on Traffic Crash Severity

AbstractImproving road safety through proper pavement maintenance is one of the goals of pavement management. Many studies have found that pavement conditions significantly influence traffic safety. Although several studies have explored the relationship between pavement conditions and crash occurrence, the effect of poor pavement conditions on crash severity levels has not been investigated, especially by using a discrete model that can handle ordered data. This paper focuses on the development of the relationship between poor pavement conditions and crash severity levels using a series of Bayesian ordered logistic models for low/medium/high speed roads and single/multiple collision cases. The Bayesian ordered logistic regression models indicated that the poor pavement condition decreases the severity of single-vehicle collisions on low-speed roads whereas it increases their severity on high-speed roads. On the other hand, the poor pavement condition increases the severity of multiple-vehicle crashes on ...
Central adiposity influences the relationship between 25(OH)D and indices of plasma insulin (37.7)

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D) is inversely associated and central adiposity is positively associated with plasma insulin (INS) concentrations. We assessed whether the relationship between 25(OH)D and INS is confounded by central adiposity. 336 overweight and obese adults (age: 48 ± 8 y, BMI: 30 ± 3 kg/m2) from West Lafayette, IN (40.4°N) were studied. Among all subjects, vitamin D status was as follows: 2% deficient (8-10 ng/ml); 26% insufficient (10-20 ng/ml); 53% adequate (20-30 ng/ml); and 19% proposed optimal (>30 ng/ml). After controlling for age, race, and sex, 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with indices of INS (fasting INS, r= -0.12; oral glucose challenge INS area under the curve (AUC), r= -0.12; HOMA-IR, r= -0.12; all p<0.05). Android fat mass index was also correlated with indices of INS (fasting INS, r= 0.32; INS AUC, r= 0.32; HOMA IR, r= 0.31; p<0.001) and 25(OH)D (r= -0.11, p<0.05). Similar correlations were observed for trunk fat mass and trunk body fat percent. These correlatio...
Identification of optimal ranges in ribeye area for portion cutting of beef steaks.

Restaurant-ready (21-d aged, needle tenderized) loin steaks (strip, S; and T-bone, TB) repre- senting three portion sizes (227, 284, and 340 g for S; 397, 454, and 510 g for TB) were portioned from 71 low- Choice beef carcasses representing seven ribeye size groups (70.9 cm 2 and less to 103.2 cm 2 and greater, in 6.3-cm 2 increments). Steaks (n = 568) were cooked on a grooved grill to temperatures of either 67 or 77°C and evaluated for cooking characteristics, sensory attri- butes (n = 284), and shear force (n = 284) to identify optimal ribeye areas for portioned steaks. As expected, thickness of all portioned steaks decreased (P < .05) as ribeye size increased, whereas thickness of steaks increased (P < .05) as portion size increased. The S were significantly thicker than TB. The TB cooked faster (P < .05) than did S for ribeye areas 77.4 to 83.8 cm 2 in the average portion sizes and for ribeye areas 71.0 to
Stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 stimulates vasculogenesis and enhances Ewing's sarcoma tumor growth in the absence of vascular endothelial growth factor

Stromal cell-derived Factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) stimulates the migration of bone marrow (BM) cells, similar to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We previously demonstrated that inhibition of VEGF(165) by small interfering RNA inhibited Ewing's sarcoma tumor growth, tumor vessel formation and recruitment of BM cells to the tumor. To determine the importance of BM cells in tumor vessel development, we investigated the effects of SDF-1alpha on VEGF-inhibited TC/siVEGF(7-1) Ewing's tumor neovasculature formation and growth. The effect of SDF-1alpha on CD34(+) progenitor cell chemotaxis was determined in vivo. Using a BM transplantation model with GFP(+) transgenic mice as BM donors and nude mice as recipients, we evaluated the effect of SDF-1alpha on the recruitment of BM-derived cells to VEGF(165)-inhibited TC/siVEGF(7-1) tumors, as well as its effect on neovasculature development, vessel morphology and tumor growth. SDF-1alpha stimulated the migration of CD34(+) progenitor cells to Matrigel plugs in vivo and promoted the retainment of BM-derived pericytes in close association with perfused, functional tumor vessels. Intratumor inoculation of Ad-SDF-1alpha into TC/siVEGF(7-1) tumors resulted in increased SDF-1 and PDGF-BB expression, augmented tumor growth, an increase in the number of large, lumen-bearing vascular structures, and enhanced vessel pericyte coverage, with no change in VEGF(165). SDF-1alpha stimulates BM cell chemotaxis and the association of these cells with functional tumor vessels. Furthermore, SDF-1alpha enhances tumor neovascularization and growth with no alteration in VEGF(165). Our work suggests that SDF-1-mediated vasculogenesis may represent an alternate pathway that could potentially be utilized by tumors to sustain growth and neovasculature expansion after anti-VEGF therapy.
Sensitivity analysis of tolerance limits for dose escalation

The potential tradeoff between small relaxations in a dose volume limit and large increases in minimum tumor dose is unavailable in current planning programs. This study shows how the sensitivities to individual limits can be discovered using an optimization program based on combinatorial mathematics. Treatment for a prostate tumor was planned from a set of 36 beams with intensities chosen using a previously described integer program. Tumor dose was maximized for a range of rectal dose volume limits. Changing the volume of rectum that must meet a threshold level of dose produced a more severe effect than changing the threshold dose level for any given volume to protect. A 5% reduction, from 80% to 75%, in the rectal volume that must receive a dose <75 Gy allowed the minimum tumor dose to rise from 76 Gy to 89 Gy, a 17% gain. Making the dose threshold higher or lower than 75 Gy produced only gradual changes in the tumor dose. The sensitive limits were discovered from a three dimensional plot of dose and volume bounds against tumor dose. A large gain in tumor dose can be obtained by changing some limits a small amount. Those limits that affect tumor dose by the greatest amount should be identified, and tolerance studies designed to reduce their uncertainties. By understanding the tradeoffs between tighter limits and lower doses, physicians and patients can choose constraints that best the serve the needs of improving tumor control at an acceptable level of risk.
Effect of extrusion processing on in vivo allergenicity of hazelnut in an adjuvant-free mouse model (HYP7P.313)

Life-threatening nut allergy is a growing public health problem in many countries including the USA. Causes underlying this alarming trend are incompletely understood and methods are urgently needed to prevent such immune reactions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that extrusion processing of hazelnuts will reduce in vivo allergenicity using an adjuvant-free mouse model of hazelnut allergy established in our lab. Groups of mice received transdermal exposure (TDE) to extrusion processed hazelnut protein (EHNP) versus raw hazelnut protein (RHNP) extract preparations. Mice were evaluated for systemic IgE antibody responses (sIgER), hypothermia shock response (HSR), and mucosal mast cell responses by measuring plasma mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) levels. Results showed that EHNP elicited a reduced sIgER compared to RHNP after 4 TDE but similar responses after 5 TDE. However, EHNP induced less HSR compared to RHNP upon oral challenge. Both protein preparations induced similar HSR upon i.p., challenge. Finally, we measured plasma mMCP-1 levels after oral and i.p., injection challenges. We found that EHNP elicited reduced mMCP-1 response compared to RHNP upon both oral as well as i.p., challenges. This is the first study demonstrating the utility of a mouse model to evaluate the effect of food processing on in vivo food allergenicity in general and hazelnut in particular.
Development of a delivery vehicle for intracellular transport of botulinum neurotoxin antagonists1

A targeted delivery vehicle (DV) was developed for intracellular transport of emerging botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) antagonists. The DV consisted of the isolated heavy chain (HC) of BoNT/A coupled to a 10-kDa amino dextran via the heterobifunctional linker 3-(2-pyridylthio)-propionyl hydrazide. The HC served to target BoNT-sensitive cells and promote internalization of the complex, while the dextran served as a platform to deliver model therapeutic molecules to the targeted cells. To determine the ability of this chimeric glycoprotein to enter neurons, dextran and HC were labeled independently with the fluorescent dyes Oregon green 488 and Cy3, respectively. Internalization of DV was monitored in primary cortical cells using laser confocal microscopy. Incubation of cells for 24 h with DV resulted in discrete punctate labeling of both soma and processes. The Cy3 and Oregon green 488 signals were generally co-localized, suggesting that the complex remained in the same intracellular compartment during the initial 24 h. The DV-associated fluorescence was reduced progressively by co-application of increasing concentrations of unlabeled BoNT/A holotoxin. The results suggest that the BoNT/A HC is able to mediate internalization of a coupled dextran, even though the latter bears no resemblance to the BoNT/A light chain (LC). The HC of BoNT/A thus offers promise as a selective carrier to deliver BoNT antagonists to the nerve terminal cytoplasm for inhibiting the proteolytic activity of internalized BoNT/A LC.
Aortic Valve Disease

Calcific disease is the major cause of aortic stenosis. Bicuspid aortic valves lead to aortic stenosis in approximately one half of patients who are born with them. The classic symptoms of valvular aortic stenosis, angina, syncope, and dyspnea represent a major inflection in the natural history of the disease and indicate the need for surgical correction, and in the absence of surgical therapy an increased risk of sudden death. The mainstay of diagnosis of valvular aortic stenosis is the echocardiogram, which, together with Doppler, provide an excellent estimate of the severity of valvular aortic stenosis. Patients with low cardiac outputs and some valvular aortic stenosis and those with severe valvular stenosis and reduced left ventricle (LV) function can often be distinguished by a dobutamine infusion test with echocardiography. Aortic regurgitation is caused by pathology of the aortic valve leaflets or of the aortic root. An Austin Flint murmur (apical diastolic rumble) indicates severe aortic insufficiency. Vasodilators may reduce LV volume or delay the development of symptoms in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). Surgical correction of AR is needed when the amount of regurgitation is severe and either symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) or angina develop or with evidence of decline in LV function, for example, a fall in the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) below 0.55 or the LV is unable to contract down to 50 to 55 mm Hg at the end of systole. Acute AR, such as occurs following perforation of an aortic leaflet by infective endocarditis, is a potentially life-threatening emergency that often requires very early surgical correction. Appetite-suppressant drugs may cause pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular valvular lesions, including aortic and mitral valve insufficiency.
Measuring the Effectiveness of STEM Book Purchasing: A Print-Focused Cost-Per-Use Analysis of Five Publishers

This study considers the cost-per-use of recently purchased print books on STEM subjects. The aim was to find out whether books published by certain STEM publishers were more or less likely to circulate than their subject areas would lead one to expect. This would indicate the presence of a “publisher effect,” related to content, format, or other non-subject criteria, that influences how often a book will be used. The findings indicate that there may be a positive publisher effect in the case of Wiley; however, the other publishers in the study did not seem to vary significantly in this regard.
Foreign Policy Crises: Case Studies and Theory Building

Roosevelt and the Munich Crisis: A Study of Political Decision-Making by Barbara Rearden Farnham Organizing for Foreign Policy Crises: Presidents, Advisers, and the Management of Decision Making by Patrick J. Haney
INVITING AUDIENCES IN

If content‐driven niche marketing gave rise to the industrial cultivation of fans, contemporary multiplatforming strategies accelerate encounters between audiences, television texts and spheres of production. Audiences are no longer merely cultivated as fans, but also invited in, asked to participate in both the world of the television text and the processes of its production. This paper first examines the economic exigencies served by these strategies. Why invite audiences in? Explored second are the means by which audiences are encouraged to enter both narrative space and the spaces of industrial production. How are audiences invited in? How do these strategies alter the spatial relationships of audiences, narrative and labor? Lastly, attention shifts toward the consequences of these new spatial arrangements between audiences, content and production. How does the proximity of audiences create new challenges for the industry? Ultimately, I argue that multiplatforming reconfigures and enables closer proxi...
A tale of two similarities: comparison and integration in conceptual combination

The perception of semantic similarity derives from distinct processes of comparison and integration. A dual process model of conceptual combination claims that attributive combination (e.g., umbrella tree) entails comparison, while relational combination (e.g., pancake spatula) requires integration. The present research uses similarity as a test of this dual process model. Participants ( N = 168) were presented attributive and relational conceptual combinations. Half of the participants interpreted the combinations before rating the similarity of their constituent concepts, while the other half provided similarity ratings without interpreting the concepts together. The experiment revealed that attributive combination decreased the perceived similarity of the constituent concepts, whereas relational combination increased the similarity of the constituents. This result indicates that attributive and relational combination occur via distinct processes. Results of a post-test ( N = 60) suggested that these effects were specific to the particular concepts compared or integrated, and do not generalize to other concepts not compared or integrated. The present research thus supported a dual process model of conceptual combination by demonstrating differential effects of comparison and integration on the perception of semantic similarity. © 2003 Cognitive Science Society, Inc. All rights reserved.
Development of Integrated Intelligent Transportation Systems

The development of individual intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that operate well independently is not sufficient to meet the growing transportation needs of urban areas. To realize the true potential of ITS, systems such as freeway management systems, transit scheduling and dispatch systems, signal control systems, emergency computer-aided dispatch systems, and even construction scheduling systems must be integrated to allow for coordinated regional decision making. The formidable task of realizing integrated ITS (IITS) must often be accomplished by various municipal systems, most with little or no automation, and several organizational bodies that attempt to coordinate these efforts into a comprehensive regional network. Each of these organizations and systems has its own set of objectives, and these objectives may be noncommensurate and conflicting. Regional integration allows the systems to share information, allowing transportation officials to manage the entire regional transportation system....
The meaning of social support for the critically ill patient.

Abstract Social support has been shown to be important for the critically ill patient. However, what constitutes adequate support for these patients has not been investigated. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate patients’ perceptions of their need for and adequacy of the social support received while they were critically ill. Thirty adult patients who were critical during some point of their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) stay were interviewed, once stable. Interviews were tape-recorded and began with an open-ended question regarding the ICU experience. This was followed by open-ended focused questions regarding social support, such as ‘Who were your greatest sources of social support while you were critically ill?’ ‘What did they do that was supportive or unsupportive?’ Data were analyzed according to Miles and Huberman (1994). The categories that emerged were need for social support based on patient perceptions (not number of visitors), quality of support (based on perceptions of positive and negative behaviors of supporters) and lack of support. This study found that quality of support was more important than the actual number of visitors. Patients with few visitors may have felt supported, while those with numerous visitors felt unsupported. Patients who felt unsupported also were more critical of the staff and the care they received. Nurses need to individually assess patients regarding their need for support, and assist family/friends to meet these needs.
Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome: presentation of clinical and cytogenetic data on 22 new cases and review of the literature

The main features of Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) include macroglossia, abdominal wall defects, visceromegaly, gigantism, hypoglycemia, ear creases, nevus flammeus, and mid-face hypoplasia. Twenty-two cases of WBS were examined clinically and cytogenetically, and compared to 226 previously reported cases. Aspects of the clinical evaluations are discussed. All individuals examined were chromosomally normal with no evidence of 11p abnormality as has been reported recently. The relevance of a possible relationship between clinical findings, chromosome abnormalities, and genes present on 11p is discussed. Transmission of this condition is most consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance.
Ab initio modeling of the behavior of helium and xenon in actinide dioxide nuclear fuels

By means of an ab initio plane wave pseudopotential method, the behavior of helium in UO2, PuO2, AmO2 and (Am0.5Pu0.5)O2 and of xenon in UO2 is studied. We first show that a pseudopotential approach in the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) can satisfactorily describe the cohesive properties of these actinide dioxides. We then calculate the formation energies of point defects (vacancies and interstitials), as well as the incorporation and solution energies of helium in UO2, PuO2, AmO2 and (Am0.5Pu0.5)O2, and of xenon in UO2. The results are discussed according to the incorporation site of the gas atom in the fluorite lattice and according to the dioxide stoichiometry.
A Profile of Today's SBML-Compatible Software

Computational systems biologists today have a healthy selection of software resources to help them do research. Many software packages, especially those concerned with computational modeling, have adopted SBML (the Systems Biology Markup Language) as a machine-readable format to permit users to exchange models. Our group has a keen interest in understanding the landscape of SBML support. To help us ascertain the state of modern SBML-compatible software, in mid-2011 we initiated a survey of software packages that support SBML. Here we report the preliminary survey results. Based on 81 packages for which we have data so far, we summarize the trends in six areas: (1) What are the major types of functionality offered by the software systems? (2) What mathematical frameworks do they support? (3) What are their SBML-specific capabilities? (4) What other standards do they support besides SBML? (5) What are their characteristics with respect to run-time environments? And finally, (6) what are the availability and licensing terms?
THE STERILIZATION OF LIPOVACCINES.

Pneumococcus lipovacdne confers a definite protection against pneumococcus infection in mice. The protective quality is not destroyed, and apparently is not greatly diminished, by heating to 130°C. for 3 hours or 120°C. for 12 hours. Typhoid lipovaccine gives rise to the formation of agglutinins in rabbits but to a lesser degree than saline suspensions. The antigenic qualities of the typhoid lipovaccine are greatly injured by heating to 130°C. for 3 hours.
Neutral Cascade Hyperon Event

ln an attempt to establish the existence of a neutral cascade hyperon /sup 0/, the 15-inch hydrogen bubble chamber was operated in a separated beam of 1.15 sintering time 0.02-Bev/c K- mesons produccd by the Bevatron. Of seven double V/sup 0/ events one was interpreted as a /sup 0/ cascade. A photograph and diagrams are presented. (W.D.M.)
Regenerative structure of Markov chains simulated via common random numbers

A standard strategy in simulation, for comparing two stochastic systems, is to use a common sequence of random numbers to drive both systems. Since regenerative output analysis of the steady-state of a system requires that the process be regenerative, it is of interest to derive conditions under which the method of common random numbers yields a regenerative process. It is shown here that if the stochastic systems are positive recurrent Markov chains with countable state space, then the coupled system is necessarily regenerative; in fact, we allow couplings more general than those induced by common random numbers. An example is given which shows that the regenerative property can fail to hold in general state space, even if the individual systems are regenerative.
Recovery of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, by coprecipitation with lactose.

Abstract Polyhedral inclusion bodies of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, were precipitated from concentrated suspensions in 4–6% solutions of lactose by adding acetone. In this procedure, the lactose precipitates along with the polyhedra and helps to obtain a dry product with minimum clumping that is easily resuspended in water. The polyhedra may be precipitated directly from crude suspensions of larvae that have been macerated in water and coarse-filtered to remove body parts. In this case, lactose is dissolved in the suspension to the desired concentration. Greater purity can be obtained by first centrifuging the polyhedra and then resuspending them in the lactose solution. Yields of 80% were obtained. The product has proved to be a useful replacement for the usual lyophilized preparation.
Copyright, open access and library instruction

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a general review of the concepts of copyright and open access as they relate to library instruction. The authors provide instructional advice to librarians on these topics. Design/methodology/approach – The authors approach the topic from a descriptive and instructional stance. General research on the topics listed above was conducted and is presented as an overview. Findings – The authors discuss the basics of copyright law, Creative Commons licenses, open access resources and copyright considerations specific to using music in instruction. Originality/value – This article includes useful tips and resources for instructional librarians, such as where to find open access or Creative Commons content. It is of value to any librarian that utilizes other entities’ content in the course of instruction.
Job-Search Persistence During Unemployment: A 10-Wave Longitudinal Study

Dynamic predictors of job-search intensity over time are examined in a large 10-wave longitudinal study of unemployed individuals. Two sets of variables relevant to the examination of job search from a dynamic, self-regulatory perspective—core self-evaluations (T. A. Judge, A. Erez, & J. E. Bono, 1998) and the theory of planned behavior (I. Ajzen, 1991)—were used to guide our examination. Results suggest core self-evaluation is related to average levels of job-search intensity over time. Job-search intentions mediated the relationship between subjective norms and job-search self-efficacy in the prediction of job-search intensity in the following 2 weeks. Both Time 1 and cumulative job-search intensity predict reemployment. This repeated-measures study contributes to research on job search that has been primarily cross-sectional or included few time waves. The understanding of job-search behavior among individuals looking for work has increased during the last 20 years. For example, studies have demonstrated the importance of job-search intensity (how hard individuals look for work; Barron & Mellow, 1981) and job-search methods (the strategies used in the job search; Granovetter, 1995) to job attainment. Other studies have shed light on the characteristics of individuals likely to report higher levels of job-search intensity or to use certain job-search methods (see, e.g., Saks & Ashforth, 1999; Vinokur & Caplan, 1987; Wanberg, Kanfer, & Banas, 2000). Despite the substantial progress made in this literature in the last 20 years, very little is known about job-search persistence (the extent to which job-search intensity continues over time) or how and why individual job searches vary in intensity over time (Barber, Daly, Giannantonio, & Phillips, 1994; Kanfer, Wanberg, & Kantrowitz, 2001; Saks & Ashforth, 2000). Studies on job search have tended to include only one or two time waves of data, prohibiting a strong understanding of changes that occur during the job search and how these changes relate to reemployment. Developing a better understanding of how and why job-search intensity changes over the course of an individual’s unemployment is critical if we are to advance our academic knowledge in this area, as well as if we are to make suggestions about interventions for individuals looking for work. This study used repeatedmeasures methodology to assess the job-search experiences of unemployed job seekers every 2 weeks for a total of 10 time waves (or until reemployment). In doing so, we present the most extensive longitudinal investigation of this topic to date, examining (a) predictors of individual job-search levels over time and (b) the extent to which dynamic data on job search enhance our prediction of reemployment.
Anxiolytic activity of an endogenous adrenal steroid.

The A-ring reduced metabolite of deoxycorticosterone, 3α,5α-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) was recently shown to act at the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-chloride ion channel complex in rat brain. The behavioral profile of THDOC was investigated using two animal models of anxiety, the two-chambered mouse exploration test and the lick suppression conflict test. THDOC showed anxiolytic activity in both animal models, with an anxiolytic dose range, 5–15 mg/kg i.p., separable from the sedative dose range, above 20–30 mg/kg i.p.
Knowledge-based systems in the AD/cycle environment

Knowledge-based systems technology is a branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the processing of knowledge, as distinct from other branches of artificial intelligence that deal with topics such as robotics, vision systems, and speech recognition. This paper describes how, over the last decade, knowledge-based systems have evolved into a viable technology for building commercial data processing applications, and how increasing attention has been paid to incorporating these applications into commercial data processing environments. A logical conclusion of this direction is the capability to build knowledge-based applications that are full Systems Application Architecture™ (SAA™) applications. As this conclusion is approached, a requirement emerges that the knowledge-based development process be integrated with the application development environment provided by the other SAA language and service components. The integrated environment must provide high customer productivity in the development of applications that use knowledge-based technology, and must support a spectrum of development scenarios, ranging from the most basic to those involving complex applications and large development teams. This paper explores how knowledge-based products can address these requirements by integrating their development facilities with AD/Cycle™.
American Indian treaties in the Courts of Claims: A guide to treaty citations from opinions of the United States Courts of Claims

Abstract Since 1855, the federal Courts of Claims have provided relief for citizens in cases against the United States. President Abraham Lincoln, in his first annual message in 1861, declared his support for such a process: “It is as much the duty of government to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals” [Message of the President. (1862). Appendix to The Congressional Globe, 37th Congress, 2d session, 3 December 1861, p. 2]. Among the Courts' cases, 240 of 375 recognized American Indian treaties have been cited 992 times in 342 opinions between the years 1884 and 2004. The reliance upon so many of these instruments – more than the number referenced before the United States Supreme Court – demonstrates their importance within the federal courts.
eBrands: Building an Internet Business at Breakneck Speed

The article reviews the book “eBrands: Building an Internet Business at Breakneck Speed,” by Phil Carpenter.
Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Severe Acute Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Hemorrhagic Complications

The catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare life-threatening form of the antiphospholipid syndrome characterized by disseminated vascular thrombosis resulting in multiorgan failure. On an exceedingly rare occasion, CAPS can be associated with severe hemorrhagic manifestations. We report a young woman with a history of several spontaneous miscarriages who presented with menorrhagia and hemoptysis. The patient developed respiratory failure due to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Laboratory tests demonstrated severe hemolytic anemia, profound thrombocytopenia, markedly elevated fibrin degradation products, and renal failure. Blood films revealed numerous schistocytes. Serologic tests disclosed hypocomplementemia and autoantibodies directed against several nuclear antigens. Coagulation studies revealed lupus anticoagulant. Echocardiography demonstrated reduced ejection fraction and moderate to severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. The patient was diagnosed with CAPS with hemorrhagic manifestations in the setting of new-onset SLE. The patient was treated with hemodialysis, high-dose glucocorticoids, plasma exchange, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. Over the ensuing four weeks, the combination therapy led to hematological, cardiopulmonary, and renal recovery. This exceedingly rare case emphasizes that hemorrhagic manifestations, severe microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and profound thrombocytopenia can dominate the clinical picture in CAPS.
Zaleplon and triazolam in humans: acute behavioral effects and abuse potential

Zaleplon, a pyrazolopyrimidine that is under development as a hypnotic, produces its pharmacological effects at the benzodiazepine-recognition site on the GABAA benzodiazepine-receptor complex. Unlike most benzodiazepines, zaleplon binds selectively to the BZ1 (ω1) subtype of the benzodiazepine receptor. The present study compared the acute subject-rated effects, performance-impairing effects, and abuse potential of zaleplon and triazolam, a triazolobenzodiazepine hypnotic, in 14 healthy volunteers with histories of drug abuse. Zaleplon (25, 50, and 75 mg), triazolam (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg) and placebo were administered orally in this double-blind, crossover study. Zaleplon and triazolam produced comparable dose-related effects on several subject-rated drug-effect questionnaires. Zaleplon and triazolam also produced comparable dose-dependent decrements on several performance tasks including balance, circular lights, digit-enter and recall, DSST, picture recall/recognition and repeated acquisition. Same-day and next-day subject-rated measures reflecting abuse potential (e.g., drug liking, good effects, and monetary street value) also suggest that zaleplon and triazolam were comparable. The only notable between-drug difference observed in the present study was that the time-action function of zaleplon differed from that of triazolam. The onset time, time to maximum drug effect, and duration of action were shorter with zaleplon than triazolam. Thus, despite its non-benzodiazepine structure and unique benzodiazepine-receptor binding profile, the behavioral pharmacological profile of zaleplon is similar to that of triazolam.
Interpretation of associations in pharmacoepidemiology.

Pharmacoepidemiology is an important tool for understanding and documenting the relationships between the use of drugs and adverse events. Side effects are an important consideration for clinicians making treatment decisions, and they also figure prominently in action by regulatory agencies. Unlike the results of randomized trials, epidemiologic findings are based on observational data subject to various types of bias; on the other hand, epidemiology has the advantage of monitoring “real world” situations. This chapter is intended to provide readers with a practical treatment of the issues that are encountered in the pharmacoepidemiology literature so that they can arrive at their own interpretation of the findings. The discussion is focused on issues that are of particular relevance to the epidemiologic study of drug associations with hematologic outcomes, including validity of exposure information, appropriate definition of exposure, confounding by indication and from concomitant use of multiple drugs, sample size considerations, and the relationship between size of an association and rarity of the outcome.
Effect of type i and type ii interferons on murine thymocyte surface antigen expression: induction or selection?

Abstract The effect of interferon administration on the expression of murine lymphocyte antigen was examined by means of an indirect fluorescence assay monitored on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Type I viral induced interferon was found to enrich or increase the number of high H-2D and H-2K antigen thymocytes both in vivo and in vitro , as previously reported by others. Type II immune induced interferon had similar effects, even at doses 100 to 10,000 times lower than were required with Type I. The activity of Type II interferon capable of altering the ratio of high to normal H-2 bearing cells was associated with the antiviral activity, since both activities were relatively pH 2 labile and 56 °C stable and cochromatographed on Sephadex G-100 columns. When the range of lymphocyte surface antigens affected by Type II interferon was examined, it was also found to cause an increase of or enrich for the number of thymocytes bearing high levels of Ia, Ly-1, and Ly-2,3 antigens. The observations reported herein strongly suggest that, at the present time, a choice is not possible between induction and selection as the mechanism for the effects of Type I or Type II interferons observed by us and others on cell surface antigen expression. In addition, data as presented herein differentiate the interferon-mediated effects on thymocyte surface antigen expression from the induction of synthesis and expression of some cell surface markers by certain oncornaviruses like radiation leukemia virus.
DOPAMINE AND PROLACTIN CONTENT OF THE HUMAN MILK

Metoclopramide has been shown to increase milk production in humans. We investigated the daily milk production, the prolactin (PRL) and dopamine (DA) concentrations of the milk in mothers with (treated) or without (control) metoclopramide treatment (5 days, 30 mg/ day). Both groups consisted of 11 mothers and their full-term newborn infants. The daily milk production was significantly higher in the treated group (276.4±36.6 vs 150.9±25.3 ml/day, p<0.01). The PRL measured by RIA was similar in the milk samples of the metoclopramide treated and control groups (80.5±17.7 vs 90.7±27.3 ng/ml). The DA concentration in milk samples of treated mothers was significantly lower compared to the value of the control group (0.23±0.04 vs 0.41±0.07 pg/l, p<0.05). On the 5th postnatal day the level of serum PRL and DA of the newborns of mothers treated with metoclopramide did not differ from the values of the control babies, indicating that the amount of metoclopramide transferred into the milk has no apparent influence on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis of the neonate. Since the concentration of DA decreased in the milk of mothers treated with the DA receptor blocking agent metoclopramide|we suppose that the DA secretion into the milk is a receptor mediated process.
Gnawing at Metchnikoff's paradigm.

In this issue of Blood , Rossi et al provide convincing evidence that extends and generalizes the importance of trogocytosis, a process in which effector cells use Fcγ receptors to remove Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-chelated antigens from donor cells. Their work suggests that the process may be
The epidermal growth factor receptor family: Biology driving targeted therapeutics

The epidermal growth factor family of receptor tyrosine kinases (ErbBs) plays essential roles in regulating cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration. The ErbB receptors carry out both redundant and restricted functions in mammalian development and in the maintenance of tissues in the adult mammal. Loss of regulation of the ErbB receptors underlies many human diseases, most notably cancer. Our understanding of the function and complex regulation of these receptors has fueled the development of targeted therapeutic agents for human malignancies in the last 15 years. Here we review the biology of ErbB receptors, including their structure, signaling, regulation, and roles in development and disease, then briefly touch on their increasing roles as targets for cancer therapy.
A variational approach to non-steady non-Newtonian flow in a circular pipe

Abstract The transient response of a non-Newtonian power-law fluid to several assumed forms of pressure pulse in a circular tube is analysed by the semi-direct variational method of Kanntovorich. Velocity profiles are shown for several power-law indices, and by comparing the results for the Newtonian case with the exact solution given by Szymanski, it is observed that the results are good to 5%. More accurate solutions have been found for the case involving Newtonian fluid flow. New results are reported concerning the effect of a triangular pressure pulse on the development and transient response of the flow field of a non-Newtonian fluid.
A drug information system on a microcomputer

Abstract A microcomputer based drug information system was developed using a database management system for processing information concerning prescription drugs. The system was designed primarily for retrieving the names of all the drugs that could possibly be prescribed for a particular illness and for obtaining a drug profile on any given drug. A notebook feature was also incorporated in the system for entering and retrieving notes about each drug. This paper gives an outline of a simplified design for the drug information system. Based on this outline, the system could effectively be developed and implemented on a microcomputer such as the IBM PS 2 using a database management system like dBASE III or dBASE IV.
Impact of growth hormone (GH) therapy on quality of life along the lifespan of GH-treated patients.

The relationship between growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) and quality of life (QOL) is coming into sharper focus. Psychological studies of short GHD children referred for GH treatment sometimes show that they have a poor QOL, often due to their feelings of anxiety, depression, social isolation and difficulties maintaining attention. These difficulties may lead to low academic achievement and impoverished interpersonal skills, both of which impact on life satisfaction and productivity. Recent observations suggest that short children who are not referred for medical diagnosis do not experience the same problems. We have observed that after patients are started on GH therapy the incidence of behavioral problems declines to within normal limits on standardized psychometric tests. Pediatric GHD patients are not generally followed closely after growth targets are achieved. Over the past 25 years, several observers have noted that many patients treated with GH in childhood report poor QOL during young adulthood despite achievement of acceptable height and replacement of necessary hormones. They appear, as a group, to be underemployed, often unmarried, and sometimes unhappy. Some have suggested that this may be due to their overprotected early childhood. We have examined a cohort of young adults treated with GH during childhood and found they exhibit symptoms of previously undetected psychiatric disorder. Anxiety, depression, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder were found. Strikingly, the incidence of a particularly disabling anxiety disorder, social phobia, was detected in 38% of one of our groups. This disorder occurs in approximately 13% of the general population. Similar QOL outcomes have been reported in adults who became GHD in later life. We conclude that the spectrum of potential disabilities tied to GHD is broader than previously thought. Management of these patients should include consideration of QOL issues throughout their lifespan. Potential treatment strategies may include continuation of GH therapy as indicated, psychotropic medication, or psychosocial support and rehabilitation.
BDNF synthesis in spiral ganglion neurons is constitutive and CREB-dependent.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) survival in vivo and in vitro, is synthesized by SGNs. The BDNF gene generates multiple different transcripts, each from its own promoter region. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we find that SGNs express only the downstream transcripts III and IV in vivo and in vitro. Using RT-PCR assays of BDNF transcripts and transfection of BDNF promoter–reporter constructs, we tested the hypothesis, originally derived from studies of cortical neurons, that depolarization induces BDNF expression via a signaling pathway that includes Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinases (CaMKs) and the transcription factor, Ca2+/cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB). In contrast, we found that in SGNs in vivo BDNF expression is constitutive and is not increased by electrical activation. Similarly, BDNF expression in vitro is not increased by stimuli that activate CREB, including depolarization, cAMP, or transfection of activated CaMK mutants. However, transfection of dominant-negative CREB mutants did abrogate gene expression driven by BDNF promoters III and IV, indicating that CREB is necessary for constitutive BDNF expression. Thus, BDNF synthesis within SGNs makes possible an autocrine or paracrine mechanism that can contribute to support SGN survival but SGNs are distinctive in that this mechanism is constitutive and not activity-regulated.
Yield, water use, and nutrient uptake of corn hybrids under varied irrigation and nitrogen regimes

Defined relationships among grain yields, water-use efficiencies (WUE) and nutrient uptake of different genotypes under varied irrigation and nitrogen (N) regimes would be invaluable for optimizing production of corn (Zea mays L.). Our objective was to evaluate these factors for six popular corn hybrids grown in Nebraska. The procedure involved measuring the effects of three supplemental irrigation rates and two N rates on yields, consumptive water use (ET), water-use efficiency, and nutrient uptake of these hybrids in one field experiment. A second field experiment evaluated effects of irrigation timing on the same characteristics of the six hybrids. Soils employed for the field experiments were Sharpsburg sicl, a typic Argiudoll, and Zook sicl, a cumulic Haplaquoll. In addition, two greenhouse experiments measured above-ground and root yields, water use, and nutrient uptake of the six hybrids under limited and high soil moisture levels.
Establishing a Multidisciplinary Academic Group to Address Health Disparities

Health disparities are common and a major focus of attention among health care researchers. The reasons for these disparities are several in number and broad in scope. Therefore, it will require a broad-based, multidisciplinary approach to fully understand and significantly reduce health disparities. Researchers with expertise in business and economics, public policy, education, language and communication, and social work will have to team with more traditional health researchers to achieve the desired goal. Our approach to this challenge was to develop a Health Disparities Research Group, a multidisciplinary group of university faculty with an interest in health disparities. University faculty from the disciplines mentioned above, plus others with varying amounts of research experience, have come together to form the group. In this article, we describe how this group was formed and some of its activities to assist in development of other such research teams across the nation.