cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors necessary for restoring an evolutionary change in an anural ascidian embryo

Abstract The ascidian Molgula oculata has a tailed (or urodele) larva, whereas Molgula occulta develops directly via a tailless (or anural) embryo. Interspecific hybrid embryos produced by fertilizing M. occulta eggs with M. oculata sperm (M. occulta × M. oculata hybrids) can develop urodele larval structures, including a brain pigment cell and a short tail containing a small notochord. Development of larval features differs in individual M. occulta clutches: some eggs develop into hybrids with both a brain pigment cell and a tail, some into hybrids with either a brain pigment cell or a tail, and others into hybrids without urodele features. The expression of a 58-kDa protein (p58), which is present in eggs and embryos of urodele ascidians but lacking in those of most anural species, also varies in expression between different clutches of M. occulta eggs. Western blot and immunofluorescence studies show that p58 expression is correlated with the ability of hybrid embryos to express urodele features. For example, clutches of M. occulta eggs containing relatively high levels of p58 produce many hybrids with both a brain pigment cell and a tail. Differential expression of p58 occurs during oogenesis in M. occulta individuals: p58 is found at similar levels in previtellogenic oocytes, but in some animals it disappears during vitellogenesis, while in others it persists throughout oogenesis and is present in mature eggs. When M. occulta eggs are extracted with Triton X-100, p58 remains in the detergent-insoluble fraction, suggesting that it is associated with the cytoskeleton. In most unfertilized M. occulta eggs, p58 is uniformly distributed, but after fertilization it is localized in the uncleaved zygote and then concentrated in embryonic ectoderm, notochord, and muscle lineage cells. Despite containing high levels of p58, gynogenetic hybrid embryos, produced by fertilizing M. occulta eggs with uv-irradiated M. oculata sperm, develop into hybrids without a brain pigment cell or a tail. The results suggest that both a functional paternal genome and p58 are necessary for restoration of larval features in M. occulta × M. oculata hybrids. The cytoskeletal complex containing p58 may mediate the localization of key maternal factors in the egg or may be involved in cellular interactions during embryogenesis which are responsible for development of urodele cell fates.
Democracy and Site-Based Administration: The Impact on Education

The principal who seeks a democratic school in the service-oriented era of school-based administration must lead teachers and others to accommodate and to build upon education's successes.
Electrostatic Properties of Protein-Protein Complexes

Statistical electrostatic analysis of 37 protein-protein complexes extracted from the previously developed database of protein complexes (ProtCom, http://www.ces.clemson.edu/compbio/protcom) is presented. It is shown that small interfaces have a higher content of charged and polar groups compared to large interfaces. In a vast majority of the cases the average pKa shifts for acidic residues induced by the complex formation are negative, indicating that complex formation stabilizes their ionizable states, whereas the histidines are predicted to destabilize the complex. The individual pKa shifts show the same tendency since 80% of the interfacial acidic groups were found to lower their pKas, whereas only 25% of histidines raise their pKa upon the complex formation. The interfacial groups have been divided into three sets according to the mechanism of their pKa shift, and statistical analysis of each set was performed. It was shown that the optimum pH values (pH of maximal stability) of the complex tend to be the same as the optimum pH values of the complex components. This finding can be used in the homology-based prediction of the 3D structures of protein complexes, especially when one needs to evaluate and rank putative models. It is more likely for a model to be correct if both components of the model complex and the entire complex have the same or at least similar values of the optimum pH.
Effects of prednisone on the cellular responses and release of cytokines and mediators after segmental allergen challenge of asthmatic subjects

Abstract Background: Systemic glucocorticoids are a major therapy for the management of allergic inflammation and asthma; however, information about their effects in vivo are limited. Objective: This study was performed to examine the effects of prednisone on inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and cellular responses in the model of segmental allergen challenge (SAC) of allergic asthmatic subjects. Methods: The effects of a 3-day pretreatment with oral prednisone (30 mg twice daily) on the physiologic and inflammatory responses to SAC were studied in 10 allergic asthmatic subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover protocol. Results: Prednisone improved baseline FEV1 by 10% and modestly inhibited the SAC-induced fall in FEV1 at 30 minutes and at 6 to 8 hours. Five minutes after challenge, levels of histamine, PGD2, 9α,11β-PGF2, and thromboxane B2 increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (median increase, 5- to 14-fold); prednisone did not inhibit these responses. Prednisone inhibited (median decrease, 66%-97%) the total influx of inflammatory cells, specifically eosinophils, basophils, and some subsets of T lymphocytes (CD4, CD45RA, and CD45RO cells) assessed 19 hours after SAC, but it did not inhibit the influx of neutrophils. Increases in soluble E-selectin, kinins, and albumin were also inhibited by the glucocorticoid (median decrease, 36%-74%). Prednisone treatment inhibited the appearance of mRNA, protein, or both for TH2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5), as well as for IL-2 and transforming growth factor α, but did not inhibit increases of immunoreactive GM-CSF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Conclusion: These studies indicate that prednisone suppresses multiple components of allergic airway inflammation, including cell recruitment, adhesion molecule expression or release, airway permeability, and production of cytokines potentially involved in airway immunity or remodeling. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:29-38.)
Controlled activity polymers. IV: Copolymers of 2-(1-naphthylacetyl) ethyl acrylate with hydrophilic comonomers: synthesis and characterization

Abstract 2-(1-Naphthylacetyl)ethyl acrylate (NAEA) was synthesized by esterification of 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and then polymerized to obtain the polymer-bound auxin NAA. The resulting polymer is potentially useful as a plant growth regulator through hydrolytic release of NAA. Copolymers of NAEA with hydrophilic comonomers were prepared by solution polymerization. The copolymer compositions were determined from elemental analysis, 13C-NMR, and UV spectroscopy. The copolymer microstructure was predicted from the reactivity ratios in order to investigate the influence on the behavior of controlled release. These model structures will be utilized for assessment of structure/hydrolysis relationships in a subsequent paper.
Vaccinations in pneumonia (VIP): pneumococcal and influenza vaccination patterns among patients hospitalized for pneumonia.

Abstract Background. Although the CDC ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommends that appropriate inpatients receive pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, adult vaccination rates for these remain low. We therefore examined perihospitalization vaccination rates for high-risk pneumonia inpatients. Methods. A retrospective chart review of all pneumonia patients admitted to one community hospital from 6/1/95 to 5/31/96. Vaccination history, co-morbidity, mortality, and prior and subsequent pneumonia admissions were recorded. Primary care providers and nursing homes were contacted to complete and verify vaccine histories. Results. For 173 total admissions (160 subjects), vaccine histories were documented in the hospital chart in less than 0.5% of patients. While 97% had indications for both vaccines at the time of admission, no vaccines were given in the hospital and less than 5% had documented vaccinations during the subsequent 3 years. Conclusions. Despite clear indications, few patients had documented vaccination at any time. These data lend urgency to the recommendation that pneumococcal and influenza vaccines should be routinely administered to pneumonia inpatients at discharge. Furthermore, they illustrate the need for an improved method for tracking individual adult vaccinations.
Brain Morphology in Children With Specific Language Impairment

The planum temporale and pars triangularis have been found to be larger in the left hemisphere than the right in individuals with normal language skills. Brain morphology studies of individuals wit...
“Hookups,” dating, and relationship quality: Does the type of sexual involvement matter?

Abstract Are partnerships that begin as “hookups,” “friends with benefits,” or casual dating relationships less satisfying and rewarding than serious sexual involvements? This research tests whether selection, experience, or mediation processes affect associations between types of sexual involvement and relationship quality. Drawing on a sample of 642 urban adults, we estimated ordinary least squares and treatment-effects regressions examining associations among types of sexual involvement, joint investments, and relationship quality. The results indicated that sexual involvements in nonromantic and casual dating contexts were associated with lower relationship quality in comparison to serious contexts, but these effects were completely accounted for by selectivity. Controlling for joint investments did not mediate these selection effects. The findings support the notion that screening processes associated with sexual involvement have important implications for later relationship quality.
Modeling self-efficacy using the computational-Unified Learning Model (C-ULM): Implications for computational psychology and cognitive computing

Self-efficacy is defined as a person's subjective confidence in their capability of executing an action and has been shown to be one of the most powerful motivators of human action predicting performance across a variety of domains. Self-efficacy has been associated with brain level neural processes and efficacy-like confidence mechanisms are incorporated into decision making in many cognitive informatics and cognitive computing models. Current computational implementations, however, do not directly model self-efficacy at either the theoretical or neural level. This paper reports on the computational modeling of self-efficacy based on principles derived from the Unified Learning Model (ULM) as instantiated in the multi-agent Computational ULM (C-ULM). Description of the modeling of self-efficacy within the C-ULM is provided. Results from simulations of self-efficacy evolution due to teaching and learning, task feedback, and knowledge decay are presented. The C-ULM simulation is unique in tying self-efficacy directly to the evolution of knowledge itself, consistent with recent neurological findings, and in dynamically updating self-efficacy at each step during learning and task attempts. Implications for research into human motivation and learning and for cognitive computing are discussed.
Scalable Machine Learning Approaches for Neighborhood Classification Using Very High Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery

Urban neighborhood classification using very high resolution (VHR) remote sensing imagery is a challenging and {\em emerging} application. A semi-supervised learning approach for identifying neighborhoods is presented which employs superpixel tessellation representations of VHR imagery. The image representation utilizes homogeneous and irregularly shaped regions termed superpixels and derives novel features based on intensity histograms, geometry, corner and superpixel density and scale of tessellation. The semi-supervised learning approach uses a support vector machine (SVM) to obtain a preliminary classification which is then subsequently refined using graph Laplacian propagation. Several intermediate stages in the pipeline are presented to showcase the important features of this approach. We evaluated this approach on four different geographic settings with varying neighborhood types and compared it with the recent Gaussian Multiple Learning algorithm. This evaluation shows several advantages, including model building, accuracy, and efficiency which makes it a great choice for deployment in large scale applications like global human settlement mapping and population distribution (e.g., LandScan), and change detection.
It's Not Burnout, It's More: Queer College Activists of Color and Mental Health

A phenomenological study of the experiences of self-identified queer activists of color revealed how they coped with the competing demands of academics, family, and activism. While participants exhibited innumerable strengths, they often contended with external and internal pressures, limited social support, poor boundaries, and lack of self-care. The absence of social support, in conjunction with poor self-care, a heightened sense of responsibility for others, and multiple minority identity explorations, left college student activists experiencing burnout, compassion fatigue, and in some cases suicidal ideation.
Bone remodeling II: small strain adaptive elasticity

The general theory of adaptive elastic materials proposed in [1] as a model for the physiological process of bone remodeling is specialized to the case of small strains in isothermal processes. Boundary value problems in the context of this specialized theory are specified and solved. It is shown that remodeling will not occur in a long bone such as a femur as a result of a pure torsion about the long axis of the bone. Criteria for biologically normal remodeling are established for steady stress and steady strain.
Chemosignals and hormones in the neural control of mammalian sexual behavior.

Males and females of most mammalian species depend on chemosignals to find, attract and evaluate mates and, in most cases, these appetitive sexual behaviors are strongly modulated by activational and organizational effects of sex steroids. The neural circuit underlying chemosensory-mediated pre- and peri-copulatory behavior involves the medial amygdala (MA), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), medial preoptic area (MPOA) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), each area being subdivided into interconnected chemoreceptive and hormone-sensitive zones. For males, MA–BNST connections mediate chemoinvestigation whereas the MA–MPOA pathway regulates copulatory initiation. For females, MA–MPOA/BNST connections also control aspects of precopulatory behavior whereas MA–VMH projections control both precopulatory and copulatory behavior. Significant gaps in understanding remain, including the role of VMH in male behavior and MPOA in female appetitive behavior, the function of cortical amygdala, the underlying chemical architecture of this circuit and sex differences in hormonal and neurochemical regulation of precopulatory behavior.
Formation and characterization of the uranium methylidene complexes CH2 = UHX (X = F, Cl, and Br).

The reactions between uranium atoms and CH 3 X (X = F, Cl, and Br) molecules are investigated in a solid argon matrix. The major products formed on ultraviolet irradiation are the CH 2 =UHX methylidene complexes. DFT calculations predict these triplet ground-state structures to be stable and to have significant agostic interactions. Parallels between the uranium and analogous thorium methylidene complexes are discussed.
Smoking Cravings Are Reduced by Self-Massage

Abstract Background. Attempts at smoking cessation have been correlated with severe withdrawal symptoms, including intense cigarette cravings, anxiety, and depressed mood. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress hormones and improve mood. Method. Twenty adult smokers (Mage = 32.6) were randomly assigned to a self-massage treatment or a control group. The treatment group was taught to conduct a hand or ear self-massage during three cravings a day for 1 month. Results. Self-reports revealed lower anxiety scores, improved mood, and fewer withdrawal symptoms. In addition, the self-massage group smoked fewer cigarettes per day by the last week of the study. Conclusions. The present findings suggest that self-massage may be an effective adjunct treatment for adults attempting smoking cessation to alleviate smoking-related anxiety, reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improve mood, and reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.
The in vitro and in vivo photoreactivity of bilirubin: I. Laser-defined wavelength dependence.

Summary: Monochromatic light was provided by a continuous wave Argon ion laser. We chose to study the in vitro effects of light at 457.9, 465.8, 476.5, 488.0, 501.7, and 514.5 nm as representative of a reasonably evenly spaced sampling across the blue-green spectrum. The in vivo experiments were conducted at 457.9, 476.5, 488.0, and 514.5 nm. In vitro light at 488.0 nm appeared to be more effective than the others studied. After 24 h of irradiance, the in vivo decline in serum bilirubin concentration produced by light at 488.0 nm was one-and-one-half, two, and four times as effective as light at 457.9, 476.5 and 514.5 nm, respectively. By 48 h of exposure, the declines produced by light at 457.9 nm and 488.0 nm are significantly superior to that at 476.5 nm and 514.5 nm, but they do not differ from one another.
Tradition or enlightenment: philosophical choice in accounting academia

Abstract Accountancy, in both its professional and academic domains, is experiencing an internal character crisis and an external credibility crisis in the community. Within the profession, allegations between academics and practitioners have generally failed to identify specific problems or provide beneficial solutions. This article focuses predominately on problems evident within accounting academia. Emphasis is given to detrimental philosophical underpinnings, particularly with regards to research methodology and the philosophical perceptions and resulting leadership attitudes which sustain this orientation. Educational leadership principles and practices are examined, and changes in leadership philosophy and focus are suggested.
Quantitative Estimates of Debugging Requirements

A major portion of the problems associated with software development might be blamed on the lack of appropriate tools to aid in the planning and testing phases of software projects. As one step towards solving this problem, this paper presents a model to estimate the number of bugs remaining in a system at the beginning of the testing and integration phases of development. The model, based on software science metrics, was tested using data currently available in the literature. Extensions to the model are also presented which can be used to obtain such estimates as the expected amount of personnel and computer time required for project validation.
Protective effect of T cell depletion in murine renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the main cause of acute renal failure in both allograft and native kidney. Studies using T cell knockout mice have established an important role for T cells in renal IRI. T cell depletion strategies are effective in human allograft rejection. However, it is not known whether those are effective in renal IRI. Therefore, the effect of T cell depletion in a murine model of renal IRI using well-characterized antibodies (Abs) that have been effective in preventing experimental allograft rejection was studied. Methods. T cell depleting Abs to CD4 (GK1.5), CDS (2.43) or pan-T cells (30.H12) were purified from hybridoma culture supernatant. Thymectomized C57BIJ6 mice, treated with different combinations of T cell depleting Abs, underwent 30 min of bilateral renal IRI, followed by assessment of renal function, structure, and degree of T cell depletion in spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Results. Mice given both GK1.5 and 2.43 had considerable CD4 and CDS cell depletion but no protection of renal function after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) as measured by the rise in serum creatinine. However, when GK1.5 and 2.43 was administered combined with 30.H12, which more effectively depleted CD4 T cell numbers, a significant protection of renal function and structure was observed after I/R. Antibody combinations did not significantly alter other leukocyte populations. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that T cell depletion can improve the course of experimental renal IRI. However, more aggressive T cell depletion strategies were required compared with that needed to prevent experimental allograft rejection.
Flight test of a pure‐tone acoustic source

Static and flight testing of a pure-tone acoustic source were conducted in order to: (1) determine if a 4-KHz tone radiated by a source in flight and mixed with broadband aircraft flyover noise could be measured on the ground with a high degree of statistical confidence; (2) determine how well a comparison could be made of flight-to-static tone radiation pattern and a static radiation pattern; and (3) determine if there were any installation effects on the radiation pattern due to the flight vehicle. Narrow-band acoustic data were measured and averaged over eight microphones to obtain a high statistical confidence. The flight data were adjusted to an equivalent static condition by applying corrections for retarded time, spherical spreading, atmospheric absorption, ground impedance, instrumentation constraints, convective amplification, and the Doppler shift. The flight-to-static results are in excellent agreement with the measured static data. No installation effects were observed on the radiation pattern.
Mutational analysis of H3 and H4 N termini reveals distinct roles in nuclear import

Core histones H3 and H4 are rapidly imported into the nucleus by members of the karyopherin (Kap)/importin family. We showed that H3 and H4 interact with Kap123p, histone acetyltransferase-B complex (HAT-B), and Asf1p in cytosol. In vivo analysis indicated that Kap123p is required for H3-mediated import, whereas H4 utilizes multiple Kaps including Kap123p. The evolutionary conservation of H3 and H4 cytoplasmic acetylation led us to analyze the role of acetylation in nuclear transport. We determined that lysine 14 is critical for H3 NLS function in vivo and demonstrated that mutation of H3 lysine 14 to the acetylation-mimic glutamine decreased association with Kap123p in vitro. Several lysines in the H4 NLS are important for its function. We showed that mutation of key lysines to glutamine resulted in a greater import defect than mutation to arginine, suggesting that positive charge promotes NLS function. Lastly we determined that six of ten N-terminal acetylation sites in H3 and H4 can be mutated to arginine, indicating that deposition acetylation is not absolutely necessary in vivo. However, the growth defect of these mutants suggests that acetylation does play an important role in import. These findings suggest a model where cytosolic histones bind import karyopherins prior to acetylation. Other factors are recruited to this complex such as HAT-B and Asf1p; these factors in turn promote acetylation. Acetylation may be important for modulating the interaction with transport factors and may play a role in the release of histones from karyopherins in the nucleus.
Issues in preventing alcohol problems.

Abstract The social science model for reducing alcohol problems stresses changing norms about drinking, integrating drinking into other meaningful activities, and gradual socialization of drinking behavior by means of mass persuasion, consciousness raising, youth education, legal measures, and voluntary efforts. Although the traditional public health model based on epidemiological method, agent-host-environment relationships, and a levels conception of prevention underlies most approaches to reducing alcohol problems, the transfer of methods effective for control of infectious diseases to social-behavioral problems is subject to question. The distribution of consumption model , arguing that alcoholism rates vary directly with consumption levels, proposes to lower consumption and therefore alcoholism by raising the relative price of absolute alcohol. The proscriptive model , historically abjuring the use of beverage alcohol in any form, has recently shown tendencies toward accepting moderation. Against this background, analysis of relationships among vested alcohol interests—the alcoholism movement and helping professions, the alcohol industry, and the alcoholic beverage control system—indicates that consistent policy about alcohol is not possible without a mechanism for their coordination and participation. Further, assumption by the helping professions of primary responsibility for reducing alcohol problems would likely increase rather than decrease problems. Separate, autonomous, and co-equal institutional status for prevention, shifting it from an exclusive emphasis on a problems perspective, is necessary to reduce alcohol problems effectively.
Compact and Low Loss Phase Shifter With Low Bias Field Using Partially Magnetized Ferrite

In this paper, a compact and low loss tunable phase shifter with low magnetic fields using partially magnetized ferrites was designed, fabricated and characterized. The new magnetic field tunable phase shifter was designed based on partially magnetized yttrium iron garnet (YIG) operating at C-band, which showed low insertion loss and a large phase shift of 350 at 6 GHz under a low bias field of 100 Oe. The tunable phase shifter also exhibited an insertion loss of 3.6 dB. The low tuning field requirement provides a unique opportunity for realizing compact tunable ferrite/piezoelectric multiferroic devices controlled by an electric field. Tunable phase shifters using partially magnetized ferrites with low magnetic fields lead to compact tunable phase shifters with low power consumption.
Tribute to Richard E. Zody

Public budgeting is multifaceted. It draws from areas of study and practice ranging from management to administration to planning. Guided by analysis—enhanced by computational and technical advances—and political systems, it overlays the public sector at every level of government, including local, state, national, and international. It is also the domain of both academics and practitioners. This tribute honors Richard E. Zody by focusing on the multifaceted nature of public budgeting to reflect the career of a man committed to many of these dimensions. The central focus of his career was on improving public budgetary and management systems, and in doing so, he deftly drew from the many dimensions of budgeting. Dick demonstrated in his study, writing, teaching, and application an intellectual interest in two particular themes: the relationship between academics and practitioners; and budgeting and management, which includes the use of analytical skill and strategic planning. Through these interests, Dick impacted many lives.
Prenatal Glucocorticoid Induced Fetal and Postnatal Growth Restriction is Mediated by Obese Gene (OB) or Leptin Receptors † 1559

Prenatal glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is an accepted practice in the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in the neonate. Concerns regarding its use in early gestation and its side effects upon fetal and postnatal growth and metabolism persist. The recent cloning of the obese gene and obese gene receptors (OB-R) has shed some light upon mechanisms by which altered metabolism (anorexic/catabolic) and diminution in growth occurs. To determine if the ob gene (leptin) receptors mediate the growth reducing effects of GC, we intraperitoneally administered 2 doses of 0.3 mg/kg/day dexamethasone (GC) or vehicle (V) beginning d7, d9, d11, d13, d15, d17, and d19 (term ≈21d; n=7/age/group), and examined the binding of125 I-leptin (10-9M), in the presence and absence of 0.6 X 10-6M unlabeled leptin, to the d9, d11, d13, d15, d17, d19, and d21 frozen saggital embryonic liver sections. In addition, postnatal livers were studied on d15 and d30 (n=7/age/group) subsequent to GC or V administration on d19 gestation. Specific 125I-leptin binding was assessed by quantitation of the autoradiographs and phoshoimages by microdensitometry(Molecular Analyst Microdensitometry Program-1.4.1, NIH). GC reduced body weight at all ages (p < 0.001), and increased hepatic 125I-leptin binding at all ages with a maximal 3-fold increase noted at postnatal d15 (p< 0.005). This is in contrast to a 2-fold decline in hepatic125 I-insulin binding (p < 0.01) at postnatal d15, which served as a known control. We conclude that prenatal GC 1] increases hepatic leptin receptors from mid- to late gestation, 2] has a persistent enhancing effect upon postnatal hepatic leptin receptors. We speculate that prenatal GC increases the biological action of leptin peripherally, thereby affecting the metabolic mileu and the growth potential of the fetus and the newborn.
Analyzing information technology investments in state government

State agencies often find themselves caught between the need for technological innovation and the reality of large-scale technology failures, increasing the importance of supporting an information technology (IT) investment with a systematic and repeatable approach of analysis. This research explores the application of business metrics in state government for selecting and evaluating IT initiatives. The purpose is to identify benchmark states for their creation and implementation of specific metrics to enhance the decision-making processes found within the core phases of business case analysis, expanding the research of Fletcher on strategic planning. The states of Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee, and Iowa were identified as benchmark states based on the criteria of quantitative measurement, guidelines for calculation, and developed for utility. The authors conclude that business metrics derived from economic returns are only one component in managing an IT portfolio given the specific differences between public and private organizations.
THE MEDIAN VOTER, VOTING, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT*

This paper provides an explanation for the level of local government employment by developing a median voter model that allows for migration into and out of the city, a local government balanced-budget constraint, and voting behavior by public employees that reflects their role as both demanders and suppliers of local government goods. Unlike previous research, the model developed here explicitly considers voting (for the incumbent) probability density functions which furthermore need not be stationary. The main conclusions of the model are that, ceteris paribus, it is plausible that the level of local government employment varies inversely with the public employee wage demand and with the elasticity of the privately employed voting population with respect to the local tax rate but directly with the voter participation rate of public employees. Contrary to previous theoretical research, there is no determinate relationship between the level of local government employment and the voter participation rate of privately employed citizens. Inferences concerning the structure of local government are also discussed.
Assessing Environments in Alzheimer Special Care Units Nursing Unit Rating Scale

The Nursing Unit Rating Scale (NURS) was developed to compare dementia special care units (SCUs) in nursing facilities to their non-SCU counterparts across six environmental dimensions: (1) separat...
Convergent evolution of head crests in two domesticated columbids is associated with different missense mutations in EphB2

Head crests are important display structures in wild bird sp ecies and are also common in domesticated lineages. Many breeds of domestic rock pigeon (Columba livia) have crests of reversed occipital feathers, and this recessive trait is associated with a nonsynonymous coding mutation in the intracellular kinase domain of EphB2 (Ephrin receptor B2). The domestic ringneck dove (Streptopelia risoria) also has a recessive crested morph with reversed occipital feathers, and interspecific crosses between crested doves and pigeons produce crested offspring, suggesting a similar genetic basis for this trait in both species. We therefore investigated EphB2 as a candidate for the head crest phenotype of ringneck doves and identified a nonsynonymous coding mutation in the intracellular kinase domain that is significantly associated with the crested morph. This mutation is over 100 amino acid positions away from the crest mutation found in rock pigeons, yet both mutations are predicted to negatively affect the function of ATP-binding pocket. Furthermore, bacterial toxicity assays suggest that “crest” mutations in both species severely impact kinase activity. We conclude that head crests are associated with different mutations in the same functional domain of the same gene in two different columbid species, thereby representing striking evolutionary convergence in morphology and molecules.
Order Submission Strategy and the Curious Case of Marketable Limit Orders

We provide empirical evidence on order submission strategy of investors with similar commitments to trade by comparing the execution costs of market orders and marketable limit orders (i.e., limit orders with the same trading priority as market orders). The results indicate the unconditional trading costs of marketable limit orders are significantly greater than market orders. We attribute the difference in costs to a selection bias and provide evidence suggesting the order submission strategy decision is based on prevailing market conditions and stock characteristics. After correcting for the selection bias, the results show the average trader chooses the order type with lower conditional trading costs.
Clinical Pharmacology of Antibiotics and Other Drugs in Cystic Fibrosis

The disposition of many drugs in cystic fibrosis is abnormal. In general, changes in pharmacokinetics include: increased volume of distribution, decreased plasma concentration, and enhanced renal and sometimes non-renal elimination of drugs. Pathophysiology of the disease important for drug disposition includes: (a) hypersecretion of gastric acid and duodenal secretions which are of small volume, viscous and low in bicarbonate; (b) increased intestinal permeability to some sugars and probe substances; (c) hypergammaglobulinaemia and sometimes hypoalbuminaemia; (d) significant elevation of free fatty palmitoleic acid level and decreased low-density and high-density serum lipoproteins; (e) an average increase by 30 to 45% in plasma volume in patients with cystic fibrosis who have moderately severe pulmonary disease, right ventricle hypertrophy and dilatation, which occurs in 15 to 35% of patients with a Shwachman score of 81 to 100; (f) abnormal bile acid metabolism and enterohepatic recirculation; and (g) enlarged kidneys and glomerulomegaly with increased glomerular filtration rate, tubular clearance and urine flow rate in some patients with cystic fibrosis. Delayed absorption from the gastrointestinal tract has been reported in patients with cystic fibrosis for cloxacillin, epicillin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin and probably for cephalexin, para-aminobenzoic acid and chloramphenicol. A possible increased absorption was reported for cimetidine. Of 7 drugs studied only theophylline had significantly decreased plasma protein binding. An increased volume of distribution and increased renal clearance reported for several drugs is caused mainly by increases in plasma volume and urine flow rate in many of these patients. Possible increased elimination of some drugs in bile (which probably results from bile acid malabsorption) and in bronchial secretions (which are abundant in some cystic fibrosis patients with acute pulmonary infection) may explain enhanced non-renal elimination of these drugs. The metabolism of cimetidine in cystic fibrosis was reported not to be changed significantly compared to control subjects.
Organizational approaches to integrated health care delivery: a taxonomic analysis of physician-organization arrangements

Integrated health care organizations depend fundamentally on bringing organizations and physicians into closer alignment. Little empirical research has been conducted on the organizational mechanisms by which such alignment is attempted. This study employed primary data from 79 hospitals and health care systems to identify current approaches to aligning the strategic and economic interests of organizations and physicians. An empirical classification of both unbundled and structured physician-organization arrangements (POAs) resulted in 5 distinct strategic configurations. These configurations were differentiated by key contextual factors that shape patterns of development and operation of POAs. Particularly salient among these were managed care penetration, organization size, locus of control, and organization strategy. Results of the taxonomic analysis underscore the facts that most delivery organizations employ multifaceted rather than single approaches to physician integration and that these approaches...
Primordial Magnetic Field Generated in Natural Infation

We study the simple gauge invariant model ${f^2}FF$ as a way to generate primordial magnetic fields (PMF) in Natural Inflation (NI). We compute both magnetic and electric spectra generated by the ${f^2}FF$ model in NI for different values of model parameters and find that both de Sitter and power law expansion lead to the same results at sufficiently large number of e-foldings. We also find that the necessary scale invariance property of the PMF cannot be obtained in NI in first order of slow roll limits under the constraint of inflationary potential, $V\left( 0 \right) \simeq 0$. Furthermore, if this constraint is relaxed to achieve scale invariance, then the model suffers from the backreaction problem for the co-moving wave number, $k \lesssim 8.0\times 10^{-7} \rm{Mpc^{-1}}$ and Hubble parameter, $H_i \gtrsim 1.25\times 10^{-3} \rm{M_{\rm{Pl}}}$. The former can be considered as a lower bound of $k$ and the later as an upper bound of $H_i$ for a model which is free from the backreaction problem. Further, we show that there is a narrow range of the height of the potential $\Lambda $ around ${\Lambda _{\min }} \approx 0.00874{M_{\rm{Pl}}}$ and of $k$ around ${k_{\min }} \sim 0.0173{\rm{Mp}}{\rm{c}^{ - 1}}$, at which the energy of the electric field can fall below the energy of the magnetic field. The range of $k$ lies within some observable scales. However, the relatively short range of $k$ presents a challenge to the viability of this model.
System-level max power (SYMPO): a systematic approach for escalating system-level power consumption using synthetic benchmarks

To effectively design a computer system for the worst case power consumption scenario, system architects often use hand-crafted maximum power consuming benchmarks at the assembly language level. These stressmarks, also called power viruses, are very tedious to generate and require significant domain knowledge. In this paper, we propose SYMPO, an automatic SYstem level Max POwer virus generation framework, which maximizes the power consumption of the CPU and the memory system using genetic algorithm and an abstract workload generation framework. For a set of three ISAs, we show the efficacy of the power viruses generated using SYMPO by comparing the power consumption with that of MPrime torture test, which is widely used by industry to test system stability. Our results show that the usage of SYMPO results in the generation of power viruses that consume 14-41% more power compared to MPrime on SPARC ISA. The genetic algorithm achieved this result in about 70 to 90 generations in 11 to 15 hours when using a full system simulator. We also show that the power viruses generated in the Alpha ISA consume 9-24% more power compared to the previous approach of stressmark generation. We measure and provide the power consumption of these benchmarks on hardware by instrumenting a quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 system. The SYMPO power virus consumes more power compared to various industry grade power viruses on x86 hardware. We also provide a microarchitecture independent characterization of various industry standard power viruses.
Does Experience Play a Role in the Development of Insect Neuronal Circuitry

Historically, the invertebrate nervous system has been thought of as a machine (Fabre, see Teale, 1949), a machine whose invariant design and function are determined by genetic factors alone and are therefore relatively inflexible. Modern-day invertebrate neurobiologists refer to this aspect of their specimens’ nervous systems as “hard-wired” or lacking in plasticity. A major thrust of invertebrate neurobiology has been the elucidation of the “wiring diagrams” of a wide range of nervous systems as a first step toward determining how nervous systems control behavior. As other chapters in this volume demonstrate, this approach to the invertebrate, particularly the arthropod, nervous system has led to insights into the organization of locomotory behaviors in all animals. In general, it has been assumed that the uncontrolled experience of an individual does not affect the wiring diagram of the nervous system in any significant way. This view, that the invertebrate nervous system is relatively inflexible, has received support from experiments which show that “experience” plays no role in the development of motor functioning. For example, rearing crickets in isolation does not affect the development of the songs they sing as adults (Bentley and Hoy, 1974). Similarly, rearing lobsters without swimmerets does not alter the motor program controlling swimmeret beating (Davis, 1973a).
Modeling and design of a sensor for two dimensional linear motors

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of an inductive position sensor for a two dimensional linear motor. The working principle and basic components of the sensor are described. A description of the model used to simulate the dynamics and investigate the effects of various design parameters is also presented. The result is a prototype sensor with a resolution of 4 microns.
Motor neuron disease in methamphetamine abusers

Dear Sir,Environmental factors, including exposure to toxins, may play a causal role in the development of motor neuron disease (MND). The relationship between abuse of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐te...
2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose and alternative radiotracers for positron emission tomography imaging using the human brain as a model.

Abstract 2-Deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-d-glucose ( 18 FDG) is now routinely available in many hospitals and other institutions either via on-site production or from one of the dozens of regional radiopharmacies worldwide. Its reliable production has opened the possibility for use in both basic and clinical investigations and also in pairing it with other more biologically specific positron emission tomography tracers to provide an important functional perspective to the measurement. In this article, we highlight examples in which 18 FDG is paired with another carbon-11- or fluorine-18-labeled radiotracer in the same subject to correlate neurotransmitter-specific effects with regional metabolic effects using the human brain as a model. We describe studies that fall into three major areas: normal aging, neuropsychiatric disorders, and drug action.
Sea ice polarimetric backscatter signatures at C band

Presents C-band polarimetric backscatter signatures of sea ice measured during CRRELEX (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Experiment) from 1993 to 1995. Observed radar backscatter of sea ice is related to sea ice physical characteristics. Complex scattering models for sea ice are developed and used to interpret measured radar data with sea ice physical parameters. These results for sea ice at C-band are important for applications to remote sensing data acquired with many airborne and spaceborne C-band synthetic aperture radars.
Genomic Profiling in Nuclear Receptor-Mediated Toxicity

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are attractive drug targets due to their role in regulation of a wide range of physiologic responses. In addition to providing therapeutic value, many pharmaceutical agents along with environmental chemicals are ligands for NRs and can cause adverse health effects that are directly related to activation of NRs. Identifying the molecular events that produce a toxic response may be confounded by the fact that there is a significant overlap in the biological processes that NRs regulate. Microarrays and other methods for gene expression profiling have served as useful, sensitive tools for discerning the mechanisms by which therapeutics and environmental chemicals invoke toxic effects. The capability to probe thousands of genes simultaneously has made genomics a prime technology for identifying drug targets, biomarkers of exposure/toxicity and key players in the mechanisms of disease. The complex intertwining networks regulated by NRs are hard to probe comprehensively without global app...
Bidirectional Regulation of Protein Kinase Mζ in the Maintenance of Long-Term Potentiation and Long-Term Depression

Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are persistent modifications of synaptic efficacy that may contribute to information storage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Persistently enhanced phosphorylation has been implicated in the maintenance phase of LTP. This hypothesis is supported by our previous observation that protein kinase M zeta (PKM zeta), the constitutively active catalytic fragment of a single protein kinase C isoform (PKC zeta), increases in LTP maintenance. In contrast, dephosphorylation may be important in LTD maintenance, because phosphatase inhibitors reverse established LTD, in addition to blocking its induction. Because phosphorylation is determined by a balance of phosphatases and kinases, both increases in phosphatase activity and decreases in kinase activity could contribute to LTD. We now report that the reduction of protein kinase activity by H7, as well as selective inhibition of PKC by chelerythrine, mimics and occludes the maintenance phase of homosynaptic LTD in rat hippocampal slices. Conversely, saturated LTD occludes the synaptic depression caused by chelerythrine. Biochemical analysis demonstrates a decrease of PKM zeta, as well as PKCs gamma and epsilon, in LTD maintenance and a concomitant loss of constitutive PKC activity. LTD and the downregulation of PKM zeta are prevented by NMDA receptor antagonists and Ca(2+)-dependent protease inhibitors. Both LTD and the downregulation of PKM zeta are reversible by high-frequency afferent stimulation. Our findings indicate that the molecular mechanisms of LTP and LTD maintenance are inversely related through the bidirectional regulation of PKC.