cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial finance, credit cards, and race☆

This paper examines the impact of financial deregulation on entrepreneurship. We assess the impact of credit card deregulation on transitions into self-employment using state-level removal of credit card interest rate ceilings following the US Supreme Court’s 1978 Marquette decision as a quasi-natural experiment. We find that credit card deregulation increases the probability of entrepreneurial entry, with a particularly strong effect for black entrepreneurs. We demonstrate that these effects are magnified in states with a history of racial discrimination and link the results to discriminationbased barriers to entry. & 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Direct broadcast satellites: Parallel policy patterns in Europe and the United States

The ability of telecommunications technology to again dictate policy positions in both the United States and Western Europe suggests inherent weaknesses in traditional culturally oriented communication service principles that must be strengthened if the values they define are to be protected.
Current status of percutaneous coronary intervention in China

Since the introduction of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) into China in 1985 with a first report in 1986,1 there has been exponential growth in annual numbers of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI, figure 1), and the expansion and technical evolution of interventional cardiology in China can be roughly divided into three phases. During the first phase, spanning 1985 to 1996, PCI could only be performed in a few centres by a few cardiologists. According to a national survey organised by the Chinese Society of Cardiology,2–4 a total of only 6213 PCI cases had been performed by the end of 1996 in 51 hospitals nationwide with a success rate of 91.9%.2 The most common procedure was balloon angioplasty, while rotational atherectomy cases numbered only in the hundreds and rare cases of directional coronary atherectomy and excimer laser angioplasty were performed in a few centres. Also during this first phase, coronary stenting was introduced in 1992 and first reported in 19945; by 1996, coronary stents had been implanted in 51.3% of patients undergoing PCI in China.2 The second phase from 1997 to 2001 witnessed a rapid growth of PCI in China with a 40% yearly increment in the number of cases. For instance, in 2001, 16 345 PCI cases were performed in 112 hospitals with a success rate of 97%4; this number of cases was larger than the combined figures for the previous 15 years. During this time, stents were implanted in more than 80% of PCI patients, while there were only 115 cases of intracoronary brachytherapy for the treatment of in-stent restenosis from its introduction in 19996 to the end of 2001.4 During the third phase, from 2002 until now, case numbers continued to increase. In 2007, a total of 144 673 cases were …
The high current experiment: First results

The High Current Experiment (HCX) is being assembled at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as part of the US program to explore heavy-ion beam transport at a scale representative of the low-energy end of an induction linac driver for fusion energy production. The primary mission of this experiment is to investigate aperture fill factors acceptable for the transport of space-charge dominated heavy-ion beams at high spacecharge intensity (line-charge density {approx} 0.2 {micro}C/m) over long pulse durations (>4 {micro}s). This machine will test transport issues at a driver-relevant scale resulting from nonlinear space-charge effects and collective modes, beam centroid alignment and beam steering, matching, image charges, halo, lost-particle induced electron effects, and longitudinal bunch control. We present the first experimental results carried out with the coasting K{sup +} ion beam transported through the first 10 electrostatic transport quadrupoles and associated diagnostics. Later phases of the experiment will include more electrostatic lattice periods to allow more sensitive tests of emittance growth, and also magnetic quadrupoles to explore similar issues in magnetic channels with a full driver scale beam.
Social improvement after the Wilke procedure for excessive drooling.

Abstract The child with an excessive drooling problem often faces similar social deprivation to those with severe craniofacial malformations. Many of these children have other “strikes against them” (such as cerebral palsy) that, when coupled with drooling, isolate them from social interaction. Many methods have been employed to control drooling but surgery has been most consistently successful. The moat popular of these has been the Wilke procedure or a modification of it. Several series have been reported, but a detailed correlation of mechanical success with the effects on social activity has not been reported. We reviewed a series of 23 cases of Wilke-type surgery. Analysis of the results showed a convincing improvement in social activity after successful surgery. The Wilke procedure enjoys a relatively high rate of success in preventing excessive drooling, which seems to offer a dramatic improvement in social contact enjoyment.
Tuning the compressive mechanical properties of carbon nanotube foam

Abstract A post-growth chemical vapor deposition (CVD) treatment was used to tune the compressive mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays. Millimeter tall CNT arrays with low compressive resilience were changed to a foam-like material with high compressive strength and almost complete recovery upon unloading. The foam was tuned to provide a range of compressive properties for various applications. The treated arrays demonstrated compressive strength up to 35× greater than the as-grown CNT array. Unlike polymeric foams, the CNT foam did not decompose after exposure to high temperatures. Investigation of the foam structure revealed that the CVD treatment increased CNT diameter through radial growth, while increasing the CNT surface roughness. The morphological changes help to explain the increase in CNT array compressive strength and the transition from permanent array deformation to foam-like recovery after compressive loading.
Articulatory, developmental, and gender effects on measures of fundamental frequency and jitter

Fundamental frequency (Fo) and jitter were measured in digitized live-voice productions of sustained vowels [a], [i], and [u] from women, men, and 6- through 9-year-old children. Results showed (a) significant developmental differences for mean Fo and for the pattern of jitter by vowel type, (b) significant gender differences in Fo and jitter only for adults, (c) significant differences in Fo and jitter according to vowel type for all subjects, and (d) similar amounts of mean absolute jitter for children and women for all vowels with nonsignificantly different values of jitter for boys and men on [i] and [u] productions. Results are related to Honda's theory of intrinsic Fo for vowels and to Titze's neurologic model of jitter.
The Anthocyanin Pigments of Black Raspberries

SUMMARY The chemical structure of the major red pigments of the black raspberries, Monger variety, was elucidated. These components were cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglu-coside, cyanidin-3-diglucoside, and cyanidin-3-rhamnoglucoside-5-glucoside. The pigments were isolated, purified, concentrated, and then separated into individual anthocyanins by column and paper chromatography. The separated anthocyanins were identified by paper chromatographic and spectrophotometric analysis of the individual pigments and their products after specific chemical degradations.
Timberline fluctuations and late Quaternary paleoclimates in the Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Pollen and plant macrofossils from eight sedimentary basins on the west slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains document fluctuations in upper and lower timberline since the latest Pleistocene. By tracking climatically sensitive forest boundaries, the moisture-controlled lower timberline and the temperature-controlled upper timberline, paleoclimatic estimates can be derived from modern temperature and precipitation lapse rates. Pollen data suggest that prior to 11 000 yr B.P., a subalpine forest dominated by Picea (spruce) and Pinus (pine) grew 300–700 m below its modern limit. The inferred climate was 2–5 °C cooler and had 7–16 cm greater precipitation than today. Abies (fir) increased in abundance in the subalpine forest around 11 000 yr B.P., probably in response to cooler conditions with increased winter snow. Pollen and plant macrofossil data demonstrate that from 9000 to 4000 yr B.P. the subalpine forest occupied a greater elevational range than it does today. Upper timberline was 270 m above its modern limit, suggesting that mean annual and mean July temperatures were 1–2 °C warmer than today. Intensification of the summer monsoon, coupled with increased summer radiation between 9000 and 6000 yr B.P., raised mean annual precipitation by 8–11 cm and allowed the lower limit of the subalpine and montane forests to descend to lower elevations. The lower forest border began to retreat upslope between 6000 and 4000 yr B.P. in response to drier conditions, and the upper timberline descended after 4000 yr B.P., when temperatures cooled to about 1 °C warmer than today. The modern climatic regime was established about 2000 yr B.P., when the summer precipitation maxima of the early and middle Holocene were balanced by increased winter precipitation.
Log filtering using gyrators

A general realisation for gyrators applicable to log filters, and ESS filters in general, is proposed. An implementation based on the ‘E-cells’ presented in is given. Its large signal behaviour is shown to be linear by embedding the proposed topology into a first order log filter circuit used to produce a first order highpass filter function in an equivalent way to an R-L filter.
Change in chirality of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes can overcome anionic surfactant stabilisation: a systematic study of aggregation kinetics

Environmental context Chirally enriched semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are some of the most utilised nanomaterials. Although chirality of SWNTs is known to influence their electronic properties and interfacial interaction, the interplay between chirality and surfactant structure in SWNT stability is not well understood. This study investigates these interactions, providing data to better assess the environmental fate of SWNTs. Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes’ (SWNT) effectiveness in applications is enhanced by debundling or stabilisation. Anionic surfactants are known to effectively stabilise SWNTs. However, the role of specific chirality on surfactant-stabilised SWNT aggregation has not been studied to date. The aggregation behaviour of chirally enriched (6,5) and (7,6) semiconducting SWNTs, functionalised with three anionic surfactants – sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and sodium deoxycholate – was evaluated with time-resolved dynamic light scattering. A wide range of mono- (NaCl) and divalent (CaCl2) electrolytes as well as a 2.5mg total organic carbon (TOC) L–1 Suwannee River humic acid were used as background chemistry. Overall, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate showed the most effectiveness in stabilising SWNTs, followed by sodium deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, the larger diameter (7,6) chirality tubes (compared to (6,5) diameter), compromised the surfactant stability due to enhanced van der Waals interaction. The presence of divalent electrolytes overshadowed the chirality effects and resulted in similar aggregation behaviour for both the SWNT samples. Molecular modelling results elucidated key differences in surfactant conformation on SWNT surfaces and identified interaction energy changes between the two chiralities to delineate aggregation mechanisms. The stability of SWNTs increased in the presence of Suwannee River humic acid under 10mM monovalent and mixed-electrolyte conditions. The results suggest that change in chirality can overcome surfactant stabilisation of semiconducting SWNTs. SWNT stability can also be strongly influenced by the anionic surfactant structure.
Diversity and Inclusion in Social Media A Case Study of Student Behavior

A freshman student posts on her social media account remarks that reflect intolerance and bigotry. Fellow students and faculty are upset, and disciplinary action follows. Was the student’s right to free speech ignored or were the rights of others to a welcoming and inclusive environment infringed upon? This case guides the reader through some of the issues associated with the currently confusing world of social media as it intersects with diversity issues. Discussion prompts and activities will prepare faculty and administrators to consider institutional culture, professionalism, and equity issues in an educational setting.
Synthetic Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Images for Use in Perceptual Studies

To better understand fundamental issues, perception studies of the fusion display would best be performed with a panel of lesions of variable location, size, intensity, and background. There are compelling reasons to use synthetic images that contain artificial lesions for perception research. A consideration of how to obtain this panel of lesions is the nucleus of the present review. This article is a conjoint effort of 3 groups that have joined together to review results from work that they and others have performed. The techniques we review include (1) substitution of lesions into a preexisting image matrix (either using actual prior patient-derived lesions or mathematically modeled artificial lesions), (2) addition of images (either in the attenuation-corrected image space or at an earlier stage before image reconstruction), and (3) simulation of the entire patient image. A judicious combination of the techniques discussed in this review may represent the most efficient pathway of simulating statistically varied but realistic appearing lesions.
High-dose atorvastatin is associated with impaired myocardial angiogenesis in response to vascular endothelial growth factor in hypercholesterolemic swine.

Objectives The disappointing results of myocardial angiogenic therapy have been attributed, in part, to endothelial dysfunction present in patients with coronary disease. Statins have established proendothelial properties but seem to have dose-dependent effects on angiogenesis. We investigated the functional and molecular effects of high-dose atorvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor–induced myocardial angiogenesis in hypercholesterolemic swine. Methods Yucatan miniswine (20-30 kg) were fed either a normal (ND group, n=8) or high-cholesterol diet, with (HC-ATOR group, n=8) or without (HC group, n=8) atorvastatin (3 mg·kg −1 ·d −1 ), for 13 weeks. Chronic ischemia was induced by ameroid constrictor placement around the circumflex artery, followed 3 weeks later by perivascular vascular endothelial growth factor administration (2 μg over 4 weeks) with a sustained release osmotic pump. Microvessel relaxation responses, myocardial perfusion, and myocardial expression of angiogenic mediators were assessed 4 weeks later. Results Hypercholesterolemic swine demonstrated impaired microvessel relaxation to vascular endothelial growth factor ( P P P Conclusions Atorvastatin treatment reverses hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial dysfunction without appreciable improvements in collateral-dependent myocardial perfusion in response to vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Increased myocardial endostatin expression and chronic Akt activation, associated with atorvastatin therapy, might account for the lack of improvement in the angiogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.
X- and W-band mobile Doppler radar observations from VORTEX2 and current developments

Over the past several years, UMass has developed and deployed two mobile Doppler radars for severe storm research. One is a W-band (95 GHz) Doppler radar that is used for fine-scale observations of tornadic features. It features a very narrow (0.18°) beamwidth. The other is a dual-polarized X-band Doppler radar used for coarser scale observations and polarimetric measurements for scatterer identification, and precipitation estimation. We show sample observations by these systems obtained during the 2009 and 2010 VORTEX2 experiments. UMass is presently developing a dual-polarized, solid-state, phased-array radar.
Relating Sub-Surface Ice Features to Physiological Stress in a Climate Sensitive Mammal, the American Pika (Ochotona princeps)

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is considered a sentinel species for detecting ecological effects of climate change. Pikas are declining within a large portion of their range, and ongoing research suggests loss of sub-surface ice as a mechanism. However, no studies have demonstrated physiological responses of pikas to sub-surface ice features. Here we present the first analysis of physiological stress in pikas living in and adjacent to habitats underlain by ice. Fresh fecal samples were collected non-invasively from two adjacent sites in the Rocky Mountains (one with sub-surface ice and one without) and analyzed for glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM). We also measured sub-surface microclimates in each habitat. Results indicate lower GCM concentration in sites with sub-surface ice, suggesting that pikas are less stressed in favorable microclimates resulting from sub-surface ice features. GCM response was well predicted by habitat characteristics associated with sub-surface ice features, such as lower mean summer temperatures. These results suggest that pikas inhabiting areas without sub-surface ice features are experiencing higher levels of physiological stress and may be more susceptible to changing climates. Although post-deposition environmental effects can confound analyses based on fecal GCM, we found no evidence for such effects in this study. Sub-surface ice features are key to water cycling and storage and will likely represent an increasingly important component of water resources in a warming climate. Fecal samples collected from additional watersheds as part of current pika monitoring programs could be used to further characterize relationships between pika stress and sub-surface ice features.
Kinetics of extracellular solute movement in the isolated midgut of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)

Measurements were made of the uptake of 14 C-labelled sucrose in the short-circuited isolated midgut of fifth instar larvae of the tobacco hornworm. The longterm volume of distribution after bilateral exposure indicates that the extracellular space is about 0.26 ml g − wet tissue, much less than has been previously suggested. The results of unilateral exposure yield a value of about 0.04 ml g −1 for luminal goblet cell cavities and 0.22 ml g −1 for interstitial space. The kinetics of uptake suggest that the interstitial space is best modelled as a distributed volume rather than as a single compartment. This mathematical result fits the physical picture of an interstitial fluid in long, narrow channels which communicate freely with the haemolymph but are nearly impermeable to sucrose at the luminal end; that is, they are sealed by septate junctions. The electrical conductance of the epithelium is high, but the transepithelial permeability to sucrose is very much lower than to K + . Thus, the tissue is a physically tight epithelium.
Unsteady Turbulent Skin Friction and Separation Location Measurements on a Maneuvering Undersea Vehicle

Steady and unsteady ow over a generic Subo model is studied. The skin friction magnitudes are measured by using hot-lm sensors each connected to a constant temperature anemometer. The local minima in the skin friction magnitudes are used to obtain the separation locations. Steady results are presented for two model congurations: barebody and sail-on-side case. Unsteady results are given for the barebody case. The dynamic plunge-pitch-roll model mount (DyPPiR) is used to simulate the pitchup maneuvers. The pitchup maneuver is a linear ramp from 1 to 27 in 0.33 seconds. Steady results show that the ow structure on the leeward side of the barebody can be characterized by the crossow separation. In the sail-on-side case, the separation pattern of the non-sail region follow the barebody separation trend closely. The ow on the sail side is strongly aected by the presence of the sail and the separation pattern is different from the crossow separation. Unsteady results
Chromatin meets RNA polymerase II

A report on the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting 'Mechanisms of eukaryotic transcription', Cold Spring Harbor, USA, 2 August-2 September 2007.
Normal flora: diversity and functions

Recent research into the therapeutic use of living organisms has focused attention on the impact of various disruptive factors (antibiotics, surgery, immunosuppression) and their impact on the host...
A phase II "window" study of topotecan in untreated patients with high risk adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

To further evaluate the activity of topotecan (TPT) in acute leukemia, TPT was administered (2.1 mg/m2/day for 5 days by continuous i.v. infusion) to adult patients with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with high-risk features (13 patients) or relapsed ALL (1 patient). Patients achieving a partial response or significant hematological improvement received a second course. All patients subsequently received standard treatment for ALL. Because complete response was achieved in only 1 of 14 patients, the study was terminated prematurely. An additional patient achieved minimal response, and a third patient normalized her hemogram despite ongoing leukemia in the marrow. Overall, six patients had significant hematological improvement (normalization of platelet and/or absolute neutrophil count). Two patients expired due to infections during induction chemotherapy. The primary nonhematological toxicities were mucositis and diarrhea. Exposure to TPT did not appear to influence the response to subsequent standard chemotherapy. The mean steady-state TPT plasma concentration, 16.1+/-1 nM, overlapped the range of LD90 values of primary human leukemia specimens. Cellular topo I content varied over a 3-fold range, encompassing levels found previously in relapsed patients. No relationship was found between topo I expression and markers of cellular proliferation or response to therapy. In contrast, low expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 was associated with response to TPT therapy. TPT has significant, albeit modest, single-agent activity against high-risk adult ALL. This study demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating promising new therapeutic agents in untreated patients with acute leukemia at high risk for failure with conventional therapy.
The Theory of the Synchrotron

In accelerators of the type discussed by Veksler and McMillan (e.g., the synchrotron and synchro-cyclotron) the motion of particles can be described in terms of stable oscillations about a synchronous orbit. Expressions are worked out for the frequencies of these oscillations, and for the way in which their amplitudes are damped as the energy is increased. The effect of radiation losses on the damping is discussed. It is shown that the synchrotron can advantageously be operated as a betatron until the electron velocity is close to that of light; the dee voltage is then turned on and the machine works as a synchrotron for the remainder of the acceleration. The transition from betatron to synchrotron operation proved to be quite efficient. Formulae are given for the distortions of the orbits by azimuthal asymmetries of the magnetic field. The results are illustrated in terms of the California synchrotron.
Diagnostic Concepts in the Context of Clinical High Risk/Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome

There are several overlapping definitions of clinical high risk (CHR) that evolved from the application of schizophrenia prodrome concepts to early detection with the goal of secondary prevention of a psychotic disorder. The definitions vary in meaningful ways,1 but each presumes that individuals so identified merit clinical care for current symptoms and impaired function. When the psychopathology progresses to full psychosis, the diagnosis may be clarified—usually in the schizophrenia spectrum in the studies to date.2 For many people, however, the diagnostic picture is less clear at the outset. Individuals with CHR symptoms have a range of mental health concerns that extend beyond psychosis and warrant mental health services.3–5 Given the range of potential outcomes, what is the appropriate clinical categorization for people who have not yet and may never progress to full psychosis? How is the range of psychopathology observed in these individuals to be conceptualized and classified?
Abstract 1905: Arterial Spin-Labeled MRI of Leptomeningeal Collateral Perfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Leptomeningeal collaterals and associated cortical perfusion downstream from a proximal arterial occlusion or stenosis are potent predictors of outcome in acute stroke. Arterial spin-labeled (ASL) MRI may depict delayed arterial transit effects (DATE) of these collaterals and cerebral blood flow (CBF), utilizing noninvasive techniques without the use of contrast. We conducted a prospective validation study of ASL DATE and CBF as biomarkers of leptomeningeal collateral perfusion compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI in acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Consecutive anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke patients admitted during a 1-year period were evaluated with pseudo-continuous ASL, DSA and DSC perfusion MRI within 12 hours of symptom onset. ASL DATE extent was scored using a 3-point scale and angiographic collaterals on the DSA graded using the ASITN/SIR collateral score. ASL CBF and DSC CBF maps were co-registered to derive comparative ROI statistics on perfusion in the symptomatic territory. ASL CBF lesions < 15 mL/100 g/min were used to measure DSC CBF values within coregistered ROIs. Results: Among 39 patients meeting entry criteria, mean age was 66±19 years and 51% were male. All 39 patients were imaged with ASL and DSA, with DSC perfusion MRI in a subset of 27. Sites of vascular occlusion or stenosis were: terminal ICA - 10, M1 MCA - 20, M2 MCA - 5 and more distal MCA - 4. ASL DATE scores ranged from 0-2, with a median of 1. DSA collateral grade ranged from 0-4, with a median of 2. Overall, there was strong correlation (r=0.702, p<0.001) between the ASL and DSA measures of leptomeningeal collateral supply. In the downstream territory from these leptomeningeal collaterals, ASL CBF and DSC CBF maps both revealed hypoperfusion in regions that closely matched. Only limited correlation, however, was noted between exact ASL CBF and DSC CBF values within the co-registered ROIs. Conclusions: ASL MRI provides an accurate, noninvasive measure of leptomeningeal collateral perfusion in acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation stenosis or occlusion. ASL CBF measures of collateral perfusion likely are arterially weighted, like DSA collateral grades, and unlike conventional DSC perfusion MRI CBF values.
Modular Advanced Oxidation Process Enabled by Cathodic Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is frequently used in combination with ultraviolet (UV) light to treat trace organic contaminants in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In small-scale applications, such as wellhead and point-of-entry water treatment systems, the need to maintain a stock solution of concentrated H2O2 increases the operational cost and complicates the operation of AOPs. To avoid the need for replenishing a stock solution of H2O2, a gas diffusion electrode was used to generate low concentrations of H2O2 directly in the water prior to its exposure to UV light. Following the AOP, the solution was passed through an anodic chamber to lower the solution pH and remove the residual H2O2. The effectiveness of the technology was evaluated using a suite of trace contaminants that spanned a range of reactivity with UV light and hydroxyl radical (HO•) in three different types of source waters (i.e., simulated groundwater, simulated surface water, and municipal wastewater effluent) as well as a sodium chloride...
The Communicative and Physiological Manifestations of Relational Turbulence During the Empty-Nest Phase of Marital Relationships

The relational turbulence model argues that periods of transition in romantic relationships are ripe for upheaval due to heightened relational uncertainty and interference from partners (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004). This research explores communicative and physiological manifestations of relational turbulence during the transition to the empty-nest phase of marriage. Participants completed surveys about their marriage, engaged in a videotaped conflict interaction, and provided saliva samples that were tested for cortisol levels. Multi-level modeling results indicated that relational uncertainty predicts avoidant conflict behaviors but not approach conflict behaviors, and interference from partners predicts indirectness, topic avoidance, withdrawal, and criticism in conflict interaction between empty-nest spouses. Results also revealed that indirectness and withdrawal were positively associated with increased cortisol following conflict. In addition, indirectness, topic avoidance, and withdrawal during confl...
Intraoperative laryngeal electromyographic assessment of patients with immobile vocal fold.

The differential diagnosis of laryngeal ankylosis versus paralysis is occasionally difficult in patients with immobile vocal folds. Eight patients with acute and chronic evidence of vocal fold immobility were investigated by intraoperative electromyography (IEMG) during planned microlaryngoscopy. Bipolar hook wire electrodes were inserted into the thyroarytenoid muscle, of which the electrical activity was monitored during neuromotor blockade and emergence from anesthesia. The normal side and the side with ankylosis or stenosis showed normal IEMG activity. There was progressive recruitment of larger motor units during recovery from muscle relaxation. Patients with laryngeal paralysis failed to show such recruitment patterns. Thus, IEMG can be used as a diagnostic tool during operative laryngoscopy to differentiate neuromotor injury from anatomic causes of vocal fold immobility. The advantages of IEMG are its ease of application and certainty of electrode position. It can also be used to monitor recurrent ...
Solvent Polarity Effects on Carbene/Ether–O-Ylide Equilibria

p-Nitrophenylchlorocarbene (PNPCC) reacted reversibly with tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran (THP), 1,3-dioxane (1,3-D), and 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D) to form O-ylides 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively. The O-ylides were visualized by their characteristic UV–vis spectroscopic signatures. Equilibrium constants (K) were determined spectroscopically, and studies of K as a function of pentane/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) solvent blends illustrated the dependence of K on solvent polarity. Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory provided carbene/ether O-ylide structures and energetics, as well as electronic spectroscopic parameters for use in the determination of K. Comparisons of the computed and experimental data were generally satisfactory.
Emphasis Added: Plots and Plausibilities in Women’s Fiction

Feminist literary criticism over the past decade has raised the important issue of woman's relationship to the production of prose fiction. Central to the inquiry have been both the desire to identify the specificity of such a “corpus” and the reluctance to define it by inherited notions of sexual difference. Reading Mme de Lafayette's La Princesse de Cleves with George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss in the context of this double agenda suggests the possibility of deciphering a female erotics that structures the plots of women's fiction, plots that reject the narrative logic of the dominant discourse. Traditionally, the critical establishment has condemned these plots as implausible and generally assigned women's novels a marginal position in literary history. Perhaps the grounds of that judgment are less aesthetic than ideological.
Calcium-dependent regulation of cholecystokinin secretion and potassium currents in STC-1 cells

Secretory and electrophysiological properties of STC-1 cells, a cholecystokinin-secreting cell line, were examined with a radioimmunoassay and patch-clamp recording techniques. Stimulation of cholecystokinin secretion was seen after exposure to agents anticipated to increase the level of intracellular calcium, including thapsigargin (8 microM), bombesin (50 nM), potassium-induced depolarization (50 mM), or after blockade of potassium channels with barium chloride (2 mM). The secretory effects of these agents were blocked by pretreatment with the calcium channel blocker diltiazem (1 microM). Whole cell patch-clamp recordings showed a hyperpolarizing shift in reversal potential after exposure to either thapsigargin (8 microM) or bombesin (50 nM) from a control value of -27 +/- 3 to -57 +/- 7 or -48 +/- 6 mV, respectively. This shift was in the direction of the reversal potential for potassium and was blocked by barium chloride (5 mM). Single-channel recordings from cell-attached membrane patches showed an inwardly rectifying potassium channel with channel open probability modulated by bombesin. These results indicate that in STC-1 cells a potassium current is increased by agents that stimulate CCK secretion, presumably by increasing the level of cytosolic calcium. STC-1 cells may serve as a model system to study the electrophysiological and secretory mechanisms involved in the release of cholecystokinin.
Introducing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) and Gender Identity Issues in a Medical Humanities Module

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) are ways of referring to someone's sexual orientation/preferences; gaining a better understanding as to how best serve the needs of the LGBT community are becoming increasingly important in medical education. While nations (especially developing ones) are making efforts to become more pluralistic societies that uphold and honor the rights of all their citizenry, members of the LGBT community continue to face hostility and violence. These factors cause many members of the LGBT community to be wary about identifying their sexual orientation. Curricular interventions to address LGBT issues are becoming increasingly common. The LGBT community faces a number of challenges and disparities in accessing healthcare. The authors facilitate a medical humanities (MH) module at the Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba.. Small group, activity-based learning strategies are widely used during the module. Literature, case scenarios, paintings and role-plays are used to explore different aspects of MH. In this manuscript role-plays serve as vehicles to introduce LGBT issues to medical students during the module. The process of debriefing the role-play including students' comments are briefly discussed. One scenario deals with a young girl forced to become a worker in the sex trade, another contends with a night club owner who is diagnosed as HIV positive, a third situation portrays a young woman with a same gender life partner suffering from terminal cancer, the fourth situation explores the difficulties a female student faces when she reveals a sexual attraction for a same sex classmate. The role-plays serve to introduce students to an initial understanding of some of the issues faced by members of the LGBT community and an opportunity to put themselves in the position of a LGBT individual.
Upper Extremity Dynamics During Lofstrand Crutch-Assisted Gait in Children With Myelomeningocele

Background/Objective: We present a 3-dimensional biomechanical model of the upper extremities to characterize joint dynamics during 2 patterns of Lofstrand crutch-assisted gait in children with myelomeningocele. The upper extremity model incorporates recommendations by the International Society of Biomechanics.
Abstract 4362: Screening of investigational antimalarials for anticancer activity in high risk N-MYC amplified neuroblastoma (NB)

Introduction: NB is a pediatric tumor of neural crest origin. Patients who have N-MYC amplified metastatic tumors have poor outcomes. The importance of autophagy in protecting NB cells from chemotherapy has been postulated. In the following study we screened bisquinoline (BQ) and ozonide (OZ) antimalarials (potential autophagy inhibitors) in a highly N-MYC amplified NB cell line (BE-2) and a moderately amplified N-MYC NB cell line (IMR-32). A combination of monolayer cell culture and neurospheres were used to screen activity. Methods: Using a 96 well MMT based assay and 16 hour treatment with compounds dissolved in DMSO, cytotoxicity was calculated as a percent decline in absorbance compared to DMSO controls. 32 BQ and 13 OZ antimalarials were tested. All compounds were tested at a concentration of 1 mcg/ml; an achievable concentration in patients. Selected compounds that were cytotoxic in monolayer culture will be tested in neurosphere culture and then in a mouse xenograft model alone and combined with chemotherapy. Results: The bisquinolone antimalarials were consistently active in both BE-2 and IMR cell culture. Among the bisquinolones, Q1-9, Q2-5, Q2-61, and Q3-75 had the greatest cytotoxicity. There was no clear structure-activity-relationship for this small bisquinoline library. Among the ozonides, OZ465, OZ513, and OZ521 were the most active. From these data, we could infer that the presence of a weak base functional group was required, but was insufficient for cytotoxicity. Initial studies in BE-2 and IMR neurosphere culture using an LDH assay for cytotoxicity suggests similar activity. Monolayer results are shown in the Table below: *Percent decline in absorbance compared to DMSO control Conclusion: The above data indicates that two classes of antimalarials had moderate cytotoxicity in both 96-well monolayer assays as well as in a neurosphere assay (data not shown). The results suggest cytotoxic activity in high and moderately amplified N-MYC NB in both monolayers and neurospheres. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Don W. Coulter, Jonathan Vennerstrom, John G. Sharp, Yuxiang Dong, Xiaofang Wang, Erin McIntyre, Tim McGuire. Screening of investigational antimalarials for anticancer activity in high risk N-MYC amplified neuroblastoma (NB). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4362. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4362
Inter-node distance estimation from ambient acoustic noise in mobile underwater sensor arrays

As the number of units in underwater sensor arrays grow, low-cost localization becomes increasingly important to maintain network scalability. Methods using ambient ocean noise are promising solutions because they do not require external infrastructure, nor expensive on-board sensors. Here we extend past work in stationary array element localization from correlations of ambient noise to a mobile sensor array [1]. After obtaining inter-node distance estimates using ambient noise correlations, these distances can be used to determine a relative localization of an array of mobile underwater sensor platforms without introducing any external infrastructure or on-board localization sensors. In this work we explore the effects of receiver mobility on inter-node distance estimation via correlations of ambient acoustic noise. Through analysis and simulation, we develop an exact solution along with a more tractable approximation to the peak amplitude of the Time-Domain Green's Function between the two mobile receivers, which provides an estimate of their spatial separation. Here we demonstrate that the mobile noise correlation amplitude at the time delay for a sound wave traveling from one receiver to the other can be modeled with the wideband ambiguity function of a single sound source. We then use this approximation to discuss selection of design parameters and their effects on the noise correlation function.
98. Bortezomib Enhances AAV Vector Mediated Transduction But Inhibits the Secretion of Transgene Product

Adeno-associated virus (rAAV) mediated gene therapy has shown promise for the treatment of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). Sustained alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT) expression has been achieved in clinical trails, but the serum AAT concentrations do not reach therapeutic levels. Enhancing transduction efficiency is critical to developing a successful treatment. Since rAAV transduction may be limited by the proteasome, which degrade AAV capsids, we tested the effect of proteasome inhibitors on rAAV mediated AAT production. We treated HeLa and 293 cells with proteasome inhibitors including bortezomib and infected HeLa cells with rAAV2-GFP, rAAV2-AAT or AAV1-AAT and we Infected 293 cells with rAAV2-AAT. We measured AAT in the medium and the lysates of cells. Consistent with previous reports, bortezomib significantly enhanced AAV2 mediated GFP transduction in Hela cells. In rAAV-AAT infected cells, bortezomib treatment resulted in 9.7-13.1 fold increase in of intracellular AAT, while only modest (1.16-1.6 fold) increases of secreted AAT compared to that in cells without bortezomib. Similarly, intramuscular injection of rAAV1-AAT to C57BL6 mice treated with bortezomib also resulted in a small (~1 fold) increases in serum AAT compared with no treatment. These results indicate that bortezomib inhibited AAT protein secretion. To test the role unfolded protein response (UPR) in AAT accumulation, we measured UPR-related genes and showed that bortezomib treatment increased the mRNA levels of the protein chaperone and UPR sensor GRP78 (BiP) indicating an activation of ER stress pathways. Together, our results indicate that bortezomib can enhance rAAV transduction, but it can also inhibit the secretion of transgene product, which will limit the application of this drug for enhancing the efficiency of certain gene therapy, such as alpha 1 antitrypsin gene therapy.
Information efficiency of communications for networked control in cyber physical systems: When carnot meets shannon

Communication is of key importance for networked control in cyber physical systems (CPSs). Motivated by the second law of thermodynamics, Shannon entropy is used to characterize the disorderliness of the physical dynamics in CPSs; thus communication provides negative entropy, namely information, to compensate the generation of entropy. Under mild conditions, it is shown that the entropy reduction in the physical dynamics is upper bounded by the information provided by the communication system. Hence, similarly to the Carnot heat engine efficiency, the information efficiency in CPS is defined to characterize the information utilization. Both upper and lower bounds are obtained for the information efficiency under various scenarios. The discussion on generic CPSs is then applied in concrete examples of Szilard engine and scalar linear dynamics. Numerical results for the maximal information efficiency, obtained from numerical optimizations, are provided.
Kings of the Hill? An Examination of Centrist Behavior in the U.S. Senate*

Objectives Spatial voting literature on Congress indicates that the most powerful members are the ones who sit in the ideological center. This study examines how pivotal voters use that power in their participation in Congress. Methods This study examines two modes of congressional participation on two highly salient health-care bills—the filing of amendments and the delivery of floor speeches. Results This study finds that pivotal voters shy away from the legislative limelight. Pivotal voters choose to avoid the public eye by rarely proposing amendments or delivering floor speeches on these bills. Conclusions While theoretically pivotal, centrists who play the role of pivotal voters are more concerned about their electoral prospects than their legislative prowess and, as a result, defer congressional participation to party and committee leaders so as to avoid the ire of constituents.
Haemophilus parainfluenzae Strain ATCC 33392 Forms Biofilms In Vitro and during Experimental Otitis Media Infections

Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a nutritionally fastidious, Gram-negative bacterium with an oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal carriage niche that is associated with a range of opportunistic infections, including infectious endocarditis and otitis media (OM). These infections are often chronic/recurrent in nature and typically involve bacterial persistence within biofilm communities that are highly resistant to host clearance. This study addresses the primary hypothesis that H. parainfluenzae forms biofilm communities that are important determinants of persistence in vivo The results from in vitro biofilm studies confirmed that H. parainfluenzae formed biofilm communities within which the polymeric matrix was mainly composed of extracellular DNA and proteins. Using a chinchilla OM infection model, we demonstrated that H. parainfluenzae formed surface-associated biofilm communities containing bacterial and host components that included neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) structures and that the bacteria mainly persisted in these biofilm communities. We also used this model to examine the possible interaction between H. parainfluenzae and its close relative Haemophilus influenzae, which is also commonly carried within the same host environments and can cause OM. The results showed that coinfection with H. influenzae promoted clearance of H. parainfluenzae from biofilm communities during OM infection. The underlying mechanisms for bacterial persistence and biofilm formation by H. parainfluenzae and knowledge about the survival defects of H. parainfluenzae during coinfection with H. influenzae are topics for future work.
Phylogenetics of heterogeneous samples

Phylogenetics, or the inference of evolutionary trees, is one of the oldest and most intensively studied topics in computational biology. Yet it remains a vibrant area of research, in part because advances in our ability to gather data for phylogenetic inference continue to create novel and more challenging variants of the phylogeny problem. In this talk, I will discuss a particular challenge underlying some important phylogenetic problems in the genomic era: reconstructing evolutionary histories from samples of heterogeneous populations, each of which may contain contributions from multiple evolutionary stages or pathways.
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus of the Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): Potency and Effects of Selected Adjuvants on Insect Feeding Behavior

The potency of two formulations of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the gypsy moth (LdMNPV) was evaluated in the laboratory. Both formulations were prepared with the same batch of LdMNPV produced in live insects by the USDA Forest Service. A Forest Service-recommended tank-mix preparation (LdMNPV, molasses, ultraviolet light screen, and sticker in water) was found to be about 20 times more potent than an experimental wettable powder preparation. The wettable powder also deterred feeding; the 20-fold difference in potency, though, is based on actual doses consumed. The addition of a stilbenedisulfonic acid derivative, Blankophor BBH, to the tank-mix and wettable powder preparations at a concentration of 1% (wt./vol.) reduced the LD50s by 42- and 214-fold, respectively. Blankophor BBH was also a moderate feeding deterrent to gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), larvae which could limit its efficacy as an enhancer of the virus. However, the addition of molasses to Blankophor BBH at least partially overcame th...
Publisher Correction: Predicting unpredictability

In this News & Views article originally published, the wrong graph was used for panel b of Fig. 1, and the numbers on the y axes of panels a and c were incorrect; the original and corrected Fig. 1 is shown below. This has now been corrected in all versions of the News & Views.