cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Location-Specific Effects of Attention During Visual Short-Term Memory Maintenance

Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that early sensory areas such as area V1 are recruited to actively maintain a selected feature of the item held in visual short-term memory (VSTM). These findings raise the possibility that visual attention operates in similar manners across perceptual and memory representations to a certain extent, despite memory-level and perception-level selections are functionally dissociable. If VSTM operates by retaining “reasonable copies” of scenes constructed during sensory processing (Serences et al., 2009, p. 207, the sensory recruitment hypothesis), then it is possible that selective attention can be guided by both exogenous (peripheral) and endogenous (central) cues during VSTM maintenance. Yet, the results from the previous studies that examined this issue are inconsistent. In the present study, we investigated whether attention can be directed to a specific item’s location represented in VSTM with the exogenous cue in a well-controlled setting. The results from the four experiments suggest that, as observed with the endogenous cue, the exogenous cue can efficiently guide selective attention during VSTM maintenance. The finding is not only consistent with the sensory recruitment hypothesis but also validates the legitimacy of the exogenous cue use in past and future studies.
Attenuation of Microglial Activation Protects Hippocampal Synapses in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (P05.112)

Objective: To test whether URMC-099, a novel small molecule inhibitor of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), can attenuate microglial activation and prevent neuronal injury in the hippocampus of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Background Cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) correlates with widespread gray matter atrophy. Loss of hippocampal synapses, associated with microglial activation and demyelination in MS patients and an EAE mouse model, likely contributes to cognitive decline in MS but how this occurs and how to prevent it are unknown. We hypothesized that attenuation of microglial activation by kinase inhibitor URMC-099 would prevent synaptic loss and neuronal injury in the hippocampus of EAE mice. Design/Methods: We induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice via direct immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG35-55, 100 µg) or control (saline) in complete Freund9s adjuvant with pertussis toxin (300 ng, days 0 and 2), and treated with vehicle or URMC-099 (50 mg/kg i.p. daily) beginning with the onset of clinical symptoms on day 10. After 4 weeks mice were perfused with paraformaldehyde, brains were sectioned and immunostained for myelin (MBP), monocyte/microglia (Iba1), presynaptic terminals (synapsin1) and dendrites (MAP2), and imaged by grid confocal fluorescence microscopy. Results: URMC-099 did not affect clinical EAE scores but reduced hippocampal monocyte/microglia activation to control levels (vs. 1.23x controls in vehicle-treated EAE mice, p Conclusions: Pharmacologic inhibition of FLT3 and MLK3 can prevent neuronal injury associated with microglial activation in EAE hippocampus, and may have potential for treatment of neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment in patients with MS. Supported by: NIH grants T32 NS 007338 and PO1 MH064570-10. Disclosure: Dr. Bellizzi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gelbard has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.
Syncope during a pharmacologic nuclear stress test.

A dangerous interaction can arise if the culprit drug is overlooked because it is part of a combination product.
Phased Array Models of Shock-cell Noise Sources

Shock cell noise is generated by the interaction of the turbulence in a supersonic jet flow with the shock-cell structure. Harper-Bourne & Fisher (1974) introduced a phased-array model of simple sources to interpret their experimental data. This model was successful in explaining many features of the observed data. They also proposed a semi-empirical formula to predict the noise spectra of the broadband shock-associated noise. Tam & Tanna (1982) pointed out some limitations of Harper-Bourne & Fisher’s simple source array model and proposed an alternate physical mechanism for shock-cell noise radiation. They modeled the sound generation to occur because of the non-linear interaction between the organized large-scale instability waves in the jet and the shock cell structure. This interaction occurred over an extended region of the jet and gave rise to the directionallydependent radiation and was interpreted as upstream directed Mach wave radiation. This physical model was given a mathematical basis by Tam (1987) who proposed a simple semi-empirical shock-cell noise prediction formula based on this model. This formula was further refined by Tam (1990) and represents the current state of the art in shock cell noise prediction. In the present work a sequence of phased array models of sound sources are considered. These range from extensions of the Harper-Bourne & Fisher (HB-F) class of phased arrays of localized sources, to the spatially-extensive phased-array model inherent in Tam’s theory. The focus is on the radiation properties of these source arrays. It is shown that Tam’s Mach wave radiation model can be interpreted as a distributed phased-array of noise sources. This interpretation allows a rationalization of some modeling assumptions in Tam’s semiempirical formula for predicting broadband shock-cell noise. It also offers new insights into the scaling properties of the radiated noise and suggests ways in which Tam’s model can be extended. An extended version of the distributed phased array model is proposed. It uses a more general wave-packet to represent the large-scales of jet turbulence. The consequences of the extended model are assessed for the scaling of the peak noise frequency, and the spectral shape of the radiated noise. Also included is a comparison of noise predictions from HB-F type model, and Tam’s model with experimental data.
Immunodeficiency syndromes and gastrointestinal disease.

The relationship of immunodeficiency syndromes to gastrointestinal disease is explored with emphasis on small intestinal structure and function, and gastrointestinal abnormalities associated with B-cell and T-cell defects.
Decreasing medication use in a nursing-home patient-care unit.

The effect of a computerized drug regimen review and expanded clinical pharmacy services on medication use in a nursing-home care unit was studied. A full-time pharmacist assigned to the 120-bed nursing-home care unit of a Veterans Affairs medical center initiated a program to reduce medication use to an average of 6.1 medications per patient. The pharmacist used a monthly, computer-generated drug regimen review report to document the number of medications per patient and recommend decreases in medication use to physicians. Initiation of a standing-order policy, whereby nurses can initiate the use of specific medications, helped to reduce the number of as-needed (p.r.n.) orders and also decreased use of these medications. Within one year, the number of p.r.n. and scheduled medications used per patient was reduced from 7.20 to 5.34. Use of routinely scheduled medications was reduced by about 30%. Based on an average cost of medications administered ($0.24/dose), we calculated a cost savings of about $27,400. By reviewing patients' drug regimens, establishing a standing-order policy, and targeting scheduled medications for discontinuation, a pharmacist reduced medication use in a nursing home.
Arterial and Venous Stroke Associated with Pregnancy

Pregnancy increases the risk of both arterial and venous strokes. The diverse causes of these strokes warrants a thorough investigation including angiography if needed to secure a diagnosis in order to give the patient the best advice and treatment. The section on arterial stroke reviews the differential diagnosis and highlights how pregnancy influences some conditions causing stroke. The section on cerebral venous thrombosis reviews the clinical scenarios of this unusual condition, the evolving techniques for its diagnosis, and its treatment with anticoagulants.
Physician, Heal Thyself: Suggestions for Medical Service Quality Improvement

This paper examines the challenge that independent physicians and small group practices face in today’s competitive health care environment. The perspective is that of enhancing the marketing effectiveness of the medical practice. It is argued that practice activities and resources will need to be refocused to improve the practice’s ability to consistently protect and enhance the quality of the patient’s experience at each service encounter opportunity. Doing so results in repeat visits and positive patient referrals and, in the case of specialty practices dependent on referrals from primary care physicians, it also provides positive reinforcement to referring physicians.
Cross-validation and cross-study validation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with exome sequences and machine learning

The era of genomics brings the potential of better DNA-based risk prediction and treatment. We explore this problem for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia that is one of the largest whole exome data set available from the NIH dbGaP database. We perform a standard next-generation sequence procedure to obtain Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism SNP variants and obtain a peak mean accuracy of 82% in our cross-validation study. We also cross-validate an Affymetrix 6.0 genome-wide association study of the same samples where we find a peak accuracy of 57%. We then perform a cross-study validation with exome samples from other studies in the NIH dbGaP database serving as the external data set. There we obtain an accuracy of 70% with top Pearson ranked SNPs obtained from the original exome data set. Our study shows that even with a small sample size we can obtain moderate to high accuracy with exome sequences, which is encouraging for future work.
On the Arbitrariness Objection to the Threshold View

Proponents of the ‘Threshold View’ have held that to believe a proposition is to be sufficiently confident of the proposition’s truth, but that there is no sharp cutoff between degrees of confidence that constitute belief and degrees of confidence that do not. Brian Weatherson has objected that no plausible account of vagueness can support this view. In this paper, I reply to Weatherson’s objection. Along the way, I identify a way in which one might hope to maintain the Threshold View without a fuzzy threshold, and I reformulate the Threshold View to accommodate fuzzy thresholds without begging substantive questions about vagueness.
Conflict in Public Sociology

As Hartmann illuminates, it is important for sociologists to engage in public sociology. Yet, public audiences do not always receive research results in a passive and positive manner. Instead, as w...
Newborn Screening: Beyond the Spot

The newborn screening paradigm of testing all newborns in the United States for treatable conditions within the first few hours of birth has proven to be a remarkable success story in the realm of public health by reducing neonatal and childhood morbidity and mortality. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007 and its successor, the Reauthorization Act of 2014, legislated the establishment of a Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee to make recommendations around newborn screening and a methodology to establish and add new conditions to a Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) which currently includes 34 core conditions. In spite of the absence of a federal mandate that requires each of the states in the U.S. to screen for the disorders on the RUSP, most state public health laboratories have adopted the conditions on this panel. Moreover, the evolution of the evidence-based review process for adding new conditions to the RUSP has led to improvements in incorporating the public health impact and feasibility and implementation considerations. The cooperation between the federal partners who support implementation and rollout of state-based screening programs, develop technical standards and proficiency materials for laboratories, review and approve new technology platforms, and promote research to develop new assays and treatments for screenable disorders, points to the success of the newborn screening enterprise nationwide. As new technologic advances are made in the realm of genomic sequencing, the potential for incorporating these technologies holds great promise for newborn screening, but the ethical ramifications must be carefully considered to avoid harming the existing trust in the program.
Holidays Financial Anomalies

We introduce new financial calendar anomalies on post holidays as well as best and worst day of the year. We find that the excess return in the stock market abnormal returns post major holidays: Thanksgiving (Black Friday), Christmas and New Year. Furthermore, we analyze the best and worst day of the year to invest and find that December 30th and October 19th are the best and worst days in a calendar year to invest, respectively. Our results are robust as we account for time fixed effect. Collectively, our results suggests that stock market has abnormal return on post holidays.
Religious Experiencing: A Phenomenological Analysis of a Unique Behavioral Event

This article proposes a paradigm for understanding religious experience which is based on the S-O-R model of stimulus-response psychology. Religious experience is similar to other higher order expe...
Spatial and temporal organization of cadherin in punctate adherens junctions

Adherens junctions (AJs) play a fundamental role in tissue integrity; however, the organization and dynamics of the key AJ transmembrane protein, E-cadherin, both inside and outside of AJs, remain controversial. Here we have studied the distribution and motility of E-cadherin in punctate AJs (pAJs) of A431 cells. Using single-molecule localization microscopy, we show that pAJs in these cells reach more than 1 μm in length and consist of several cadherin clusters with crystal-like density interspersed within sparser cadherin regions. Notably, extrajunctional cadherin appears to be monomeric, and its density is almost four orders of magnitude less than observed in the pAJ regions. Two alternative strategies of tracking cadherin motion within individual junctions show that pAJs undergo actin-dependent rapid—on the order of seconds—internal reorganizations, during which dense clusters disassemble and their cadherins are immediately reused for new clusters. Our results thus modify the classical view of AJs by depicting them as mosaics of cadherin clusters, the short lifetimes of which enable stable overall morphology combined with rapid internal rearrangements.
Preparation of Cross Sections of Difficult Materials for SEM Imaging

Preparing cross sections of particulates and wires for scanning electron microscopy study without inducing mechanical damage is difficult. Embedding materials in commercially available epoxy before polishing with a broad unfocused ion beam is a simple and inexpensive way to produce a cross section with minimal preparation artifacts. A stepwise procedure is provided for embedding and polishing powders, larger particles, and wires.
The Idea of “Industry 4.0” in Car Production Factories

This article is covering the topic of Industry 4.0 which is a name for the new trend of production automation and data exchange in manufacturing systems. The history of industrial revolutions is shortly sketched in the beginning. Then the term “Industry 4.0” and its area of influence is presented. The different solutions used in Industry 4.0 factory are described focusing on the methods important for car production; these methods are then shortly explained and illustrated. The idea of smart factory for a car producing sector is presented. Finally the most important disadvantage of Industry 4.0 is discussed; which is the wide open access to Internet requirement that may be dangerous for the company.
1-, 3-, and 5-year survival among early-stage lung cancer patients treated with lobectomy vs SBRT

Background Lobectomy has traditionally been recommended for fit patients diagnosed with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, however, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been introduced as an alternative treatment option. The purpose of this investigation is to compare survival outcomes for individuals with stage I/II NSCLC treated with lobectomy vs SBRT. Methods This retrospective study included 191 patients (100 surgery, 91 SBRT) identified through the Lung Cancer Evaluation Center, Stony Brook, NY, between 2008 and 2012. Survival and recurrence rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard models to adjust for possible confounders. A subset of cases was propensity-matched to address potential differences in health status between groups. Results 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival outcomes were significantly better among patients undergoing lobectomy vs SBRT. Survival rates at 3 years were 92.8% and 59.0% (p<0.001) in the 2 groups, respectively. Propensity-matched analyses indicated similar findings. Recurrence rates were likewise lower among patients undergoing surgery (7.1% vs 21.0%, p<0.01 at 3 years); however, statistical significance was not maintained in the propensity-matched analysis. Conclusion These findings add to a growing evidence base supporting the use of lobectomy vs SBRT in the treatment of lung cancer among healthy, early-stage NSCLC patients.
The Special Issue on the Education of Behavior Analysts: Common Themes.

The goal of Behavior Analysis in Practice’s special issue on the education of behavior analysts is to highlight a variety of works on the topic of teaching and mentoring students in behavior analysis. The special issue is composed of empirical studies that evaluated teaching procedures aimed at the effective training of behavior analysts; surveys focusing on the content of training programs, including common readings and other components; and commentaries on topics pertaining to teaching and mentoring behavior analysts. Several themes emerged across the issue, including (a) a focus on knowledge of basic principles of behavior analysis, (b) the direct application of operant-based principles in the teaching and mentorship of behavior analysis students, and (c) a significant emphasis on the meaningful application of behavior analysis.
Tissue hypoxia, inflammation, and loss of glomerular filtration rate in human atherosclerotic renovascular disease.

The relationships between renal blood flow (RBF), tissue oxygenation, and inflammatory injury in atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD) are poorly understood. We sought to correlate RBF and tissue hypoxia with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 48 kidneys from patients with ARVD stratified by single kidney iothalamate GFR (sGFR). Oxygenation was assessed by blood oxygenation level dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD MRI), which provides an index for the levels of deoxyhemoglobin within a defined volume of tissue (R2*). sGFR correlated with RBF and with the severity of vascular stenosis as estimated by duplex velocities. Higher cortical R2* and fractional hypoxia and higher levels of renal vein neutrophil-gelatinase-associated-lipocalin (NGAL) and monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were observed at lower GFR, with an abrupt inflection below 20 ml/min. Renal vein MCP-1 levels correlated with cortical R2* and with fractional hypoxia. Correlations between cortical R2* and RBF in the highest sGFR stratum (mean sGFR 51 ± 12 ml/min; R = –0.8) were degraded in the lowest sGFR stratum (mean sGFR 8 ± 3 ml/min; R = –0.1). Changes in fractional hypoxia after furosemide were also absent in the lowest sGFR stratum. These data demonstrate relative stability of renal oxygenation with moderate reductions in RBF and GFR but identify a transition to overt hypoxia and inflammatory cytokine release with severely reduced GFR. Tissue oxygenation and RBF were less correlated in the setting of reduced sGFR, consistent with variable oxygen consumption or a shift to alternative mechanisms of tissue injury. Identifying transitions in tissue oxygenation may facilitate targeted therapy in ARVD.
Intersectionality-As-Metaphor and Theories of Flesh

Much has changed in the thirty years since Kimberle Crenshaw first coined the term “intersectionality” in her now-famous analysis of Black women’s legal disadvantages (140). Identity theory is now ...
Effects of Diluents on Physical and Chemical Stability of Phenytoin and Phenytoin Sodium

The focus of the present work was to investigate compatibility between commonly used diluents and the drug (salt and acid form of the phenytoin). Lactose monohydrate (LMH), lactitol hydrate (LCT), and mannitol (MNT) were selected based on commercial products information of phenytoin sodium (PS) and phenytoin acid (PHT). Binary mixtures of the drug-diluent were stored at 60°C and 40°C/75% RH. Similarly, two commercial products, namely Product-A and Product-B, were also investigated in in-use stability. Color of PS-LMH changed from white to yellowish-brown and pH dropped by 3.4 units after 4 weeks exposure. FTIR, XRPD, and NIR chemical images indicated disproportionation in PS-LMH and PS-LCT mixtures stored at 40°C/75% RH. Furthermore, PS-LMH also indicated chemical interactions as indicated by distortion of LMH peaks. PHT-diluent mixture did not exhibit any physical and chemical modifications. Product-A changed color, increased weight, dropped pH value, and exhibited disproportionation and chemical reactions. The dissolution of Product-A decreased from 83.3 ± 1.4 to 7.1 ± 4.4% on 8 weeks exposure to 30°C/75% RH. On the other hand, Product-B did not change; however, dissolution decreased by 15%. In conclusion, PS showed disproportionation and chemical reactions with LMH. Therefore, LMH should be avoided in PS formulations.
PtrWRKY75 overexpression reduces stomatal aperture and improves drought tolerance by salicylic acid-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation in poplar

Abstract Drought is a severe environmental stress that limits plant growth and productivity. Plant hormones play a key role in response to biological and abiotic stresses. And phytohormones can regulate stomatal opening and transpiration for improving water-use efficiency under water stress conditions. In this study, PtrWRKY75, a member of the WRKY transcription factor family, which is involved in many abiotic stress responses, was cloned from Populus trichocarpa (clone ‘Nisqually-1′). PtrWRKY75 was mainly expressed in senescent leaves and could be induced by both dehydration and treatment with salicylic acid (SA). PtrWRKY75 was localized to the nucleus and bound specifically to the PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE 1 (PAL1) promoter. To investigate the biological functions of PtrWRKY75, it was overexpressed in triploid white poplar (Populus tomentosa). Compared with wild-type plants, PtrWRKY75-overexpressing poplar lines (OE) maintained a higher photosynthetic rate and growth under drought stress. Under drought stress, PtrWRKY75 acted upstream of PAL1 and directly regulated PAL1 expression by binding to its promoter. Under drought stress, activated PAL1 increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by promoting SA biosynthesis, ultimately leading to smaller stomatal aperture. Under drought conditions, the OE lines showed improved water-use efficiency by reducing their stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, and thus drought tolerance was enhanced. In conclusion, PtrWRKY75 is a promising gene target for improving the drought tolerance of Populus by SA.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis: A Comprehensive Review.

Abstract Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) mainly affects people in developing, low-income countries. However, due to globalization and migration, developed countries are now seeing more cases of RHD. In RHD patients who develop severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, surgical aortic valve replacement remains the treatment of choice. In the past decade, there has been an extension of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to intermediate-risk and lower-risk patients with aortic stenosis. This review suggests the possible utility of TAVR for the treatment of rheumatic aortic stenosis. Rheumatic aortic stenosis has been excluded from major TAVR studies due to the predominantly noncalcific pathology of the rheumatic aortic valve. However, there have been case reports and case series showing successful implantation of the valve even in patients with and without significant leaflet calcification. In this review article, we summarize the latest evidence of severe rheumatic aortic stenosis treated with TAVR and discuss the procedure's impact on patient care, safety, and efficacy.
The Role of the New Zealand Police in Police Reform and International Peacekeeping in Afghanistan

This chapter examines in detail the role that the New Zealand Police has played in peacekeeping and police reform in Afghanistan. It will specifically analyze efforts at police reform in Afghanistan; the specifics of the New Zealand Police mission in Afghanistan; the related reconnaissance mission; the goals of “Operation Highland”; security challenges during the first deployment of New Zealand Police personnel; lessons learned and proposed modifications to New Zealand Police deployments; the September 2005 review of the New Zealand Police deployment to Afghanistan; early training and other key accomplishments; the evolving mission goals and priorities; the end of “Operation Highland”; and the final assessment of the New Zealand Police mission in Afghanistan.
Supervising with a Feminist Lens: Improving Transgender Competency

Although the AAMFT Code of Ethics encourages therapists to become competent in working with gender identity, transgender care is an area that often receives little attention in traditional therapy education and training programs. Consequently, it is essential that supervisors are competent and skilled in helping supervisees navigate, process, and increase their own competencies in working with transgender populations. A framework would help supervisors to navigate transgender competency development with supervisees. Feminist models of supervision have been shown to provide frameworks, guidance, and language for facilitating the exploration of critical issues for marginalized and diverse populations. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a feminist approach to supervision can empower supervisors to help marriage and family therapy trainees develop competency in transgender care. Domains of intersectionality, power, gender, diversity, emotion, and socialization are discussed, along with a vignette that demonstrates the application of the proposed model to transgender care.
Computational investigation of deformation mechanisms at the atomistic scale of metallic glass-graphene composites (MGGCs)

While metallic glasses exhibit exceptionally high strength, their relatively low ductility, accompanied by catastrophic failure caused by the formation of shear bands, is the major obstacle to using these materials in practical applications. Despite discovering some methodologies for improving the near-zero ductility of metallic glasses, overcoming this deficiency is still the most active field of research in designing and fabricating bulk metallic glasses. This work utilizes computational studies at the atomistic scale to demonstrate that adding graphene to metallic glasses is a superior method to improve their ductility. Our results show that the graphene layers in metallic glass-graphene composites will enhance the ductility by activation of three deformation mechanisms, including (i) confining the space for shear band formation, (ii) retarding the propagation of embryonic shear bands, and (iii) increasing the resistance of the metallic glass matrix against shearing during the nucleation and propagation of shear bands.
Comparison of home, clinic, and catheterization oxygen saturations during the interstage period

Abstract Background Home monitoring decreases mortality during the interstage period in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Oxygen saturations are used in medical decision making including hospitalization and timing of 2nd stage palliation. We examined if home, clinic, and catheterization saturations could be used interchangeably in making these decisions. Methods Single center retrospective study of interstage patients from 2014 to 2018. Saturation data was compared between mean home and clinic saturations, catheterization pre-anesthesia saturation, and intra-catheterization saturations. Invasive saturations were obtained via co-oximetry. All other saturations were obtained via pulse oximetry. Home saturations were averaged over seven days centered around clinic dates or before catheterization date for comparison. Invasive saturations from the descending aorta were also compared to same day pre-anesthesia and intra-catheterization saturations. Results 209 clinic saturations and a median of 11 home saturations per clinic visit were collected. Home saturations were 2% lower than clinic saturations (p Conclusions Mean home saturations are lower than clinic saturations during the interstage period, but are within 2% and are correlative. Invasive catheterization saturations were significantly lower than home, clinic, and same day pre-anesthesia saturations.
Is the Fluorometric Method for Blood Bilirubin Accurate

The recent article by Mandell et at "Major Coagulopathy and ‘Nonpoisonous’Snake Bites" (Pediatrics 65: 314, 1980), brings to light several problems in regard to the treatment of snake bites. While it can be said that bites of venomous snakes are of major concern, the bites of so-called nonvenomous snakes also likewise are of some concern. The authors raised the point concerning the colubrids and venomous members of their family. It must be stated that approximately 78% of the species of snakes of the entire world belong to this family. Here in the United States this figure rises to approximately 84% of the species found.
"Black Gal Swing": Color, Class, and Category in Globalized Culture

Scattered Belongings: Cultural Paradoxes of "Race," Nation and Gender. Jayne O. Ifekwunigwe. New York: Routledge, 1999. 221 pp. Race and Ideology: Language, Symbolism, and Popular Culture. Arthur K. Spears. ed. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 1999. 242 pp. Spurious Issues: Race and Multiracial Identity Politics in the United States. Rainier Spencer. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1999. 222 pp.
Gaps in procedural experience and competency in medical school graduates.

Objectives: The goal of undergraduate medical education is to prepare medical students for residency training. Active learning approaches remain important elements of the curriculum. Active learning of technical procedures in medical schools is particularly important, because residency training time is increasingly at a premium because of changes in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty hour rules. Better preparation in medical school could result in higher levels of confidence in conducting procedures earlier in graduate medical education training. The hypothesis of this study was that more procedural training opportunities in medical school are associated with higher first-year resident self-reported competency with common medical procedures at the beginning of residency training. Methods: A survey was developed to assess self-reported experience and competency with common medical procedures. The survey was administered to incoming first-year residents at three U.S. training sites. Data regarding experience, competency, and methods of medical school procedure training were collected. Overall satisfaction and confidence with procedural education were also assessed. Results: There were 256 respondents to the procedures survey. Forty-four percent self-reported that they were marginally or not adequately prepared to perform common procedures. Incoming first-year residents reported the most procedural experience with suturing, Foley catheter placement, venipuncture, and vaginal delivery. The least experience was reported with thoracentesis, central venous access, and splinting. Most first-year residents had not provided basic life support, and more than one-third had not performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Participation in a targeted procedures course during medical school and increasing the number of procedures performed as a medical student were significantly associated with self-assessed competency at the beginning of residency training. Conclusions: Recent medical school graduates report lack of self-confidence in their ability to perform common procedures upon entering residency training. Implementation of a medical school procedure course to increase exposure to procedures may address this challenge.
Regulating independent power producers : lessons of the PURPA approach

Abstract The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) enabled private, unregulated power generators to sell electricity to electric utilities. PURPA required states to adopt somewhat flexible implementation policies with the uniform objective of facilitating sales between private producers and utilities. In contrast to many published anecdotal accounts of PURPA's impact, this research constructs a model of cogeneration investment as a function of state prices and state PURPA regulations. Tests of the model using data from around 1985 indicate that interstate regulatory differences have significant and sometimes counterintuitive impacts on private generation. Electricity and fuel prices significantly affect the amount of private capacity installed, but regulatory effects dominate the decision to invest or not to invest.
Manual query modification and data fusion for medical image retrieval

Image retrieval has great potential for a variety of tasks in medicine but is currently underdeveloped. For the ImageCLEF 2005 medical task, we used a text retrieval system as the foundation of our experiments to assess retrieval of images from the test collection. We conducted experiments using automatic queries, manual queries, and manual queries augmented with results from visual queries. The best performance was obtained from manual modification of queries. The combination of manual and visual retrieval results resulted in lower performance based on mean average precision but higher precision within the top 30 results. Further research is needed not only to sort out the relative benefit of textual and visual methods in image retrieval but also to determine which performance measures are most relevant to the operational setting.
REP-2, a Rab escort protein encoded by the choroideremia-like gene

Rab escort proteins (REPs) bind to newly synthesized Rab proteins and remain bound during and after the attachment of a geranylgeranyl (GG) group by the catalytic component of the Rab GG transferase. Transfer of the GG group is absolutely dependent on the participation of a REP. REP-1, the first characterized REP, is produced by a gene on the X chromosome that is defective in patients with choroideremia, a form of retinal degeneration. Cremers et al. (Cremers, F.P.M., Molloy, C. M., van de Pol, D. J. R., van den Hurk, J. A. J. M., Bach, I., Geurts van Kessel, A. H. M., and Ropers, H.-H. (1992) Hum. Mol. Genet. 1, 71-75) isolated a related gene, designated choroideremia-like, which encodes a protein that closely resembles REP-1. In the current studies, we produced REP-1 and REP-2 by recombinant DNA methods and showed that both proteins were approximately equal in facilitating the attachment of GG groups to several Rab proteins, including Rab1A, Rab5A, and Rab6. However, REP-2 was only 25% as active as REP-1 in supporting GG attachment to Rab3A and Rab3D. The low activity toward Rab3A was increased to that of Rab1A when the COOH-terminal 12 amino acids of Rab3A were replaced with the corresponding residues of Rab1A. We suggest that REP-2 substitutes for the absent function of REP-1 in nonretinal cells of patients with choroideremia, thus preventing cellular dysfunction throughout the body. In the retina, REP-2 may be only partially effective, leading eventually to retinal degeneration and blindness.
Ethnography, History, and Imagination

John and Jean Comaroff. Ethnography and the Historical Imagination. Westview Studies in the Ethnographic Imagination. Boulder: Westview Press, 1992.337 pp. $55 (cloth); $18.95 (paper).
Abstract 622: Inflammation and Arterial Compliance: A Paradox? The Bogalusa Heart Study

Introduction: Systemic inflammation -as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)- is adversely associated with arterial compliance. However, information is scant on whether this association in consistent throughout the different non-invasive measurements of arterial compliance. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that divergences exist in the association between hs-CRP and measurements of arterial compliance, and that this association differs among race (white/black) groups in relatively young adults. Methods: Measurements of hsCRP and non-invasive arterial compliance --large-artery elasticity index (C1), small-artery elasticity index (C2), brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (ba-PWV) and augmentation index (AI@75)-- were assessed in 702 non-institutionalized participants with a mean age of 43.5 years (29.4-51.1 years); 70.8% whites and 43.7% males, as a part of the Bogalusa Heart Study. Race-specific independent associations were tested through multivariable-adjusted linear regression a...
Consensus Paper on Venous Leg Ulcer

This is a condensed consensus report, summarizing the present status of various aspects of epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of venous ulcers. There are conflicting results regarding the prevalence of venous ulcers ranging from 0.18 to 1.3%, depending on the types of ulcers reported. With regard to macrovascular changes preceding venous leg ulceration, ambulatory venous hypertension is the common pathway, usually related to incompetent perforating veins and the deep venous system. Obstruction of the deep venous system seems to be less frequently related to venous ulcers. Microvascular changes have been recently studied in more detail; morphologic as well as functional changes are summarized and considered from the viewpoint of various hypotheses, including fibrin cuff, leukocyte adhesion, etc. Various investigational approaches are summarized and recommendations for the most cost-effective diagnostic tests are given. Finally, conservative medical as well as surgical treatment avenues are evaluated. Emphasis is given to the normalization of ambulatory venous pressure by sclerotherapy, ligation, or other surgical procedures, in addition to compression. The consensus report is concluded by detailed recommendations for future clinical trials.
The promotion of academic pediatric otolaryngology by journal peer review

The professional journal promotes and sustains academic departments through several mechanisms that include peer review, editing, timing, and solicitation of works. The ways in which peer review strengthens and augments academic pediatric otolaryngology are through: the creation of new knowledge; knowledge transfer-teaching; the establishment and development of quality medical/surgical standards; scholarship; and the fostering of the development of the next generation of academic physicians is detailed.
Heterogeneity of rat rib chondroitin sulfate and susceptibility to rat gastric chondrosulfatase

Abstract Cartilage chondroitin sulfate isolated directly from rat rib or from in vitro culture of rat rib constitutes a population of glycosaminoglycans which is heterogeneous with respect to size, degree of sulfation and content of N -acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate. Fractions elute from Dowex-1 in order of increasing molecular size and degree of sulfation up to a certain limit. Unsulfated disaccharides and disulfated disaccharides are present in both the undersulfated chondroitin sulfate fractions and in the average or more representative chondroitin sulfate. A small content of disaccharide 6-sulfate is present in all fractions and appears to be an integral part of the chondroitin 4-sulfate molecules. Rat gastric chondrosulfatase hydrolyzes sulfate preferentially from the larger chondroitin 4-sulfate molecules, and the sulfate is removed primarily from the disaccharide 4-sulfate units.
Strategies for Inhibition of MDR1 Gene Expression

Several distinct strategies have been used to modulate the expression of cancer-associated genes, including antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and artificial transcriptional factors. One major cause for chemotherapeutic treatment failure in cancer is the overexpression of P-glycoprotein, the product of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1. In this study, we tested the ability of siRNAs to inhibit MDR1 gene expression. We evaluated the efficiency of chemically synthesized dsRNAs as well as vector-based hairpin siRNAs and investigated the behavior of clones of multidrug-resistant NCI/ADR-RES breast carcinoma cells stably transfected with hairpin siRNA vectors. The effects of siRNA on the MDR phenotype were compared with those elicited by antisense oligonucleotides or by designed transcription factors targeting the MDR1 promoter. These studies suggest that there are several comparably effective strategies for inhibiting MDR1 expression.
Hemodynamic effects of quinapril, a novel angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

The hemodynamic effects of quinapril, a novel nonsulfhydryl-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were assessed in 10 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Compared with placebo, quinapril (20 mg) administered twice daily for 4 weeks significantly lowered blood pressure by decreasing total peripheral resistance without producing tachycardia, an increase in cardiac output, or a rise in plasma catecholamines. Quinapril significantly reduced renal, but not forearm, vascular resistance. Renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and filtration fraction remained unchanged. Left ventricular wall stress was markedly reduced by quinapril, but during the relatively short treatment period, only a nonsignificant trend toward reduction in left ventricular mass was observed. These findings suggest that quinapril is an effective antihypertensive agent that lowers peripheral resistance without increasing cardiac output or disturbing autoregulation of renal hemodynamics. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1990) 48, 41–49; doi:10.1038/clpt.1990.116
On stellar activity cycles

The relation between the average magnetic fieldB, the angular velocity Ω, and the periodP of stellar activity cycles is studied. For the calculations we have used Leighton's (1969) model for the solar cycle with the additional assumption that the differential rotation and the cyclonic turbulence (Parker, 1955) (that is the ‘sunspot tilt’ or the ‘α-effect’) are both proportional to Ω. We then find thatB is roughly proportional to Ω and thatP decreases with increasing Ω. The period of the solar cycle increases therefore with the age of the Sun.
Monothermal differential caloric testing in patients with Meniere's disease†

The monothermal differential caloric test allows determination of vestibular recruitment and decruitment, variables which may help discriminate peripheral from central vestibular lesions. Previous reports indicated a strong association between vestibular recruitment and Meniere's disease. This study examined patients having unilateral Meniere's disease. Nystagmus beat frequency (NBF) and slow-component velocity (SCV) responses were recorded by electronystagmography (ENG). Electronystagmographic findings showing unilateral dysfunction were present in 54% of patients by slow-component velocity and in 31% by nystagmus beat frequency. Unilateral hypofunction was the most frequent lateralizing ENG finding. Absolute vestibular recruitment occurred in less than 10% of patients but relative recruitment was found in nearly 20% of patients. Slow-component velocity had higher sensitivity than nystagmus beat frequency, with excellent clinical concordance. Monothermal caloric testing as described in this study best detects peripheral vestibular disease in Meniere's patients using slow-component velocity to determine unilateral hypofunction and relative vestibular recruitment.
Sphingomyelinase Treatment Induces ATP-independent Endocytosis

ATP hydrolysis has been regarded as a general requirement for internalization processes in mammalian cells. We found, however, that treatment of ATP-depleted macrophages and fibroblasts with exogenous sphingomyelinase (SMase) rapidly induces formation of numerous vesicles that pinch off from the plasma membrane; the process is complete within 10 min after adding SMase. By electron microscopy, the SMase-induced vesicles are ∼400 nm in diameter and lack discernible coats. 15–30% of plasma membrane is internalized by SMase treatment, and there is no detectable enrichment of either clathrin or caveolin in these vesicles. When ATP is restored to the cells, the SMase-induced vesicles are able to deliver fluid-phase markers to late endosomes/lysosomes and return recycling receptors, such as transferrin receptors, back to the plasma membrane. We speculate that hydrolysis of sphingomyelin on the plasma membrane causes inward curvature and subsequent fusion to form sealed vesicles. Many cell types express a SMase that can be secreted or delivered to endosomes and lysosomes. The hydrolysis of sphingomyelin by these enzymes is activated by several signaling pathways, and this may lead to formation of vesicles by the process described here.
Alcohol action on membrane ion channels gated by extracellular ATP (P2X receptors).

Abstract Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) has been reported to produce excitatory actions in the nervous system, such as excitatory postsynaptic potentials or currents in both central and peripheral neurons, via activation of a class of ATP-gated membrane ion channels designated P2X receptors. This article reviews studies of alcohol effects on these receptor-channels. Ethanol has been found to inhibit ATP-gated ion channel function by shifting the agonist concentration–response curve to the right in a parallel manner, increasing the EC 50 without affecting E max of this curve. To distinguish whether this inhibition involves competitive antagonism of agonist action or a decrease in the affinity of the agonist binding site, the kinetics of activation and deactivation of agonist-activated current were studied. Ethanol was found to decrease the time-constant of deactivation of ATP-gated ion channels without affecting the time-constant of activation, indicating that ethanol inhibits the function of these receptors by an allosteric decrease in the affinity of the agonist binding site. The inhibition of ATP-gated ion channel function by a number of alcohols was found to exhibit a distinct cutoff effect that appeared to be related to the molecular volume of the alcohols. For alcohols with a molecular volume of ≤42.2 ml/mol, potency for inhibiting ATP-activated current was correlated with lipid solubility (order of potency: 1-propanol = trifluoroethanol > monochloroethanol > ethanol > methanol). However, despite increased lipid solubility, alcohols with a molecular volume of ≥46.1 ml/mol (1-butanol, 1-pentanol, trichloroethanol, and dichloroethanol) were without effect on the ATP-activated current. This cutoff effect has been interpreted as evidence that alcohols inhibit the function of ATP-gated ion channels by interacting with a hydrophobic pocket of circumscribed dimensions on the receptor protein. To evaluate the localization of this presumed alcohol binding site, the effect of the intracellular application of ethanol was studied on the inhibition of ATP-activated current by extracellularly applied ethanol. The intracellular application of 100 mM ethanol did not affect the inhibition of current by 100 mM extracellular ethanol, suggesting that the alcohol inhibition of ATP-gated ion channel function involves the extracellular domain of the receptor. Finally, recent studies suggest that the alcohol sensitivity of ATP-gated channels may be regulated by physiological mechanisms.