cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of choice correspondences in economies with a variable number of agents

Abstract We study correspondences defined over classes of exchange economies and associating with each element in the class a set of allocations at which resources are thought to be divided fairly among the agents. We formulate a series of axioms describing how correspondences could, or should, respond to certain changes in the number of agents. An example is: “If an allocation is optimal for some economy, then the replicated allocation is optimal for the replicated economy.” We identify which of these axioms are satisfied by the correspondences that have been proposed as solutions to the problem of fair division. We use the axioms, in conjunction with traditional axioms (such as efficiency), to characterize the Walrasian correspondence operated from equal division.
Effect of evapotranspiration underprediction on irrigation scheduling and yield of corn: a simulation study

Abstract Underprediction of evapotranspiration ( et ) introduces inaccuracies in water balance-based irrigation scheduling procedures. This may reduce crop yield. A simulation study was performed to evaluate sprinkler irrigated corn yield as affected by irrigation schedules resulting from three levels of et underprediction. Four irrigation uniformity treatments, two soil types, and two weather scenarios in central Washington were also considered. Yield reductions ranging from 1 to 7% and from 8 to 27% were predicted when daily et was underpredicted by 15% and 30%, respectively. Implications of underpredicting et in water balance-based irrigation scheduling techniques are discussed.
Transthoracic real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis and description of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium.

Background: Numerous modalities have been used to diagnose and characterize noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NCVM) including magnetic resonance imaging, two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), contrast-enhanced 2DE, and angiography. The current case series examines the use of real-time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (RT-3DE) in four such cases of NCVM. Methods: From December 2003 to March 2004, we performed RT-3DE using a Philips Sonos 7500 echocardiographic scanner equipped with a 2–4 MHz 3D matrix array transthoracic probe, to evaluate four patients with NCVM. The real-time 3D transthoracic probe allows for dataset acquisition in an ultrasound wedge, which can be manipulated instantaneously. In addition, complete 3D volume rendering is acquired, allowing for volumetric imaging. Results: The age range of the patients was 2 months to 42 years. One patient had the codiagnoses of coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve. In all four patients, RT-3DE enabled diagnosis and provided detailed characterization of the affected myocardium. Entire trabecular projections and intertrabecular recesses were easily visualized simultaneously, and endocardial borders were clearly demarcated. Wall motion abnormalities of the affected myocardium were clearly visualized. The compacted and noncompacted portions of the myocardium could be differentiated well. Conclusions: Our study provides preliminary data highlighting the utility and feasibility of RT-3DE in the clinical characterization of NCVM. The complex 3D nature of this disorder and the endocardial hypertrabeculation were more readily visualized than with 2DE.
Biotransformation of nitrocellulose under methanogenic conditions

Abstract Treatment of wastewater containing nitrocellulose (NC) fines is a significant hazardous waste problem currently facing manufacturers of energetic compounds. Previous studies have ruled out the use of biological treatment, since NC has appeared to be resistant to aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation. The objective of this study was to examine NC biotransformation in a mixed methanogenic enrichment culture. A modified cold-acid digestion technique was used to measure the percentage of oxidized nitrogen (N) remaining on the NC. After 11 days of incubation in cultures amended with NC (10 g/L) and methanol (9.9 mM), the % N (w/w) on the NC decreased from 13.3% to 10.1%. The presence of NC also caused a 16% reduction in methane output Assuming the nitrate ester on NC was reduced to N 2 , the decrease in CH 4 represented almost exactly the amount of reducing equivalents needed for the observed decrease in oxidized N. An increase in the heat of combustion of the transformed NC correlated with the decrease in % N. There was no statistically significant decrease in % N when only NC was added to the culture, or in controls that contained only the sulfide-reduced basal medium. The biotransformed NC has a % N comparable to nonexplosive nitrated celluloses suggesting that anaerobic treatment may be a technically feasible process for rendering NC nonhazard'ous.
SEASONAL TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TRENDS AT FIVE MINNESOTA STATIONS

Abstract Seasonal and annual temperature and precipitation changes at five Minnesota stations considered as climatological reference stations were calculated during several extended time periods. For 1900–58 winter temperatures increased most and a decreasing fall precipitation trend was found. With a longer period, initial date earlier than 1900, fall temperature increases nearly equalled those of winter. A declining, though nonsignificant, seasonal and annual precipitation trend was noted in a majority of the station records.
Role of physical anthropology in intermediate and secondary education

The role of physical anthropology in precollegiate education has been limited, but has the potential to play a vital and integral role in promoting students' understanding of themselves and others. This study describes the development, implementation, and results of a program constructed on an inquiry-based learning model that introduces middle and high school students to the content of physical anthropology. Demonstrated student learning indicates that intermediate and secondary students are capable of acquiring and applying complex content about human evolution and diversity. Program findings indicate that students frequently had previous knowledge about the hominid fossil record but little information about the significance of human biological diversity. Teaching intermediate and high school students about our common evolutionary heritage and the fact that humans exhibit clinal variation were found to be both powerful and effective content material. The fact that program participants lacked previous knowledge about the relationship between human biological diversity (illustrated in this program by light and dark skin color) and the erroneous sociocultural construction of this diversity confirmed the suspicion that this content is not being addressed in precollegiate education. Traditionally, intermediate and secondary students are taught about human variation within the context of social studies, reading, communication, and fine-arts classes. This program identifies a new paradigm for teaching about human variation. Providing students with scientific knowledge about human origins and diversity provides a constructive starting point, creating a common platform and knowledge base on which to then frame discussions about cultural variation.
Ferritin Upregulates Hepatic Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 and Hepcidin in Mice

Hepcidin is a hepatocellular hormone that inhibits the release of iron from certain cell populations, including enterocytes and reticuloendothelial cells. The regulation of hepcidin (HAMP) gene expression by iron status is mediated in part by the signaling molecule bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6). We took advantage of the low iron status of juvenile mice to characterize the regulation of Bmp6 and Hamp1 expression by iron administered in three forms: 1) ferri-transferrin (Fe-Tf), 2) ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), and 3) liver ferritin. Each of these forms of iron enters cells by distinct mechanisms and chemical forms. Iron was parenterally administered to 10-day-old mice, and hepatic expression of Bmp6 and Hamp1 mRNAs was measured 6 h later. We observed that hepatic Bmp6 expression increased in response to ferritin but was unchanged by Fe-Tf or FAC. Hepatic Hamp1 expression likewise increased in response to ferritin and Fe-Tf but was decreased by FAC. Exogenous ferritin increased Bmp6 and Hamp1 expression in older mice as well. Removing iron from ferritin markedly decreased its effect on Bmp6 expression. Exogenously administered ferritin and the derived iron localized in the liver primarily to sinusoidal lining cells. Moreover, expression of Bmp6 mRNA in isolated adult rodent liver cells was much higher in sinusoidal lining cells than hepatocytes (endothelial >> stellate > Kupffer). We conclude that exogenous iron-containing ferritin upregulates hepatic Bmp6 expression, and we speculate that liver ferritin contributes to regulation of Bmp6 and, thus, Hamp1 genes.
Energy-efficient control of an air handling unit for a single-zone VAV system

A large fraction of energy consumed by the HVAC (heating ventilation and air-conditioning) system in a commercial building is consumed at the AHUs (air handling units) that condition a mixture of outside and return air to specific temperature and humidity levels. Traditionally, the return air ratio and temperature of the air leaving the cooling coils in the AHU (conditioned air temperature) are maintained at pre-determined set points instead of being based on real-time measurements of occupancy, zone humidity, and outside weather. In this paper, we investigate the potential of energy savings as a function of the complexity of control algorithm. The inputs that can be commanded by the controllers are: air flow rate, return air ratio, conditioned air temperature, and the temperature of air leaving the heating coils in the AHU. Simulation results show that the controllers that use the measurements of occupancy, zone humidity, and outside weather result in significant savings over conventional controllers that do not use such measurements, without sacrificing thermal comfort or indoor air quality (IAQ). Surprisingly, a simple feedback control scheme is found to perform almost as well as a much more complex MPC (model predictive control) controller.
243: Survival in Men and Women with Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Lower Than 30% Referred for Orthotopic Heart Transplantation

RVsP). All patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 WITH PH, according to ISHLT criteria to indicate RHC and vasodilator challenge, and Group 2 WITHOUT PH. The ISHLT criteria are: PsAP 50mmHg (mTPG 15 and/or PVR 5 Wood units. The sensitivity of RVsP in the diagnosis of patients WITH PH was determined by a ROC curve. Results: A great correlation between sPAP and RVsP was obtained by a Pearson Correlation analysis (r 0,64, CI 95% 0,50 to 0,75, p 0,001). The analysis of ROC curve determined that the cutoff value of RVsP 45mmHg showed a sensitivity of 100% (specificity 37,2, CI 95%, p 0,0001) on the exclusion of Severe PH. Conclusions: The study determined and validated a non – invasive echo – Doppler parameter as a useful and efficacy tool during pulmonary hypertension evaluation in heart transplant candidates. The cutoff value RVsP 45mmHg exclude patients WITH pulmonary hypertension according to ISHLT data and allow us to proceed safety heart transplantation without invasive assessment of pulmonary hypertension degrees. These findings avoid risk rates secondary to invasive proceedings in about 33% of heart transplant candidates and allow them to be safety submitted to heart transplant.
Liver aldehyde oxidase: the nature of hematin component.

Abstract Preparations of highly purified pig liver aldehyde oxidate contain a heniatin compound which by spectrophotometric and enzymic analysis appears to be catalase. Though the amount of catalase present varies from preparation to preparation of aldehyde oxidase. the amount in any given preparation remains constant during purification and cannot be removed from aldehyde oxidase by the steps used in the purification of aldehyde oxidase.
Charging, transport and heating of particles in radiofrequency and electron cyclotron resonance plasmas

Once particles are formed or injected into plasmas used for materials processing, such as in plasma etching, plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition or sputtering plasma systems, the nature of particle transport will largely determine whether a processing surface will be contaminated. We investigate the situation in which the particle density is low enough to ignore particle-particle and particle-plasma interactions. Emphasis is placed on obtaining expressions for the forces experienced by particles. These expressions depend on the local plasma condition: plasma density, electron temperature, positive ion directed and random kinetic energies, electric field and ion mass. We apply a model of an electron cyclotron resonance discharge to prediction of the existence and nature of particle trapping. Model predictions indicate that a high-density source such as an electron cyclotron resonance discharge is unlikely to trap particles mainly because of the large ion drag force sweeping particles out of the discharge. Finally, we present a model of particle heating in discharges. Under typical radiofrequency discharge conditions, particles are generally predicted to be near the neutral gas temperature in the discharge. We have conducted experiments and found results in agreement with these predictions. However, under conditions typically encountered in high-density plasma sources such as an electron cyclotron resonance source, the model predicts that particles may be heated to temperatures of two to three times room temperature.
On-chip S 11 signal detection circuit

As the RF era is ubiquitous nowadays, scattering parameters play an essential role in the modeling and verification of a variety of devices, chips, packages and transmission lines. To reduce the excessive cost in production chip testing with vector network analyzers (VNA), this paper proposes a simple system, utilizing only two lumped directional couplers (DC) and one power divider (DIV), that enables the measurement of the S 11 of the device-under-test (DUT) using power and phase detectors. The proposed system is fabricated in the 0.18-um IBM 7RF process with 1.60 mm width and 1.40 mm length die dimensions including the pads. Power and phase detectors can be cascaded in the system to increase the level of integration. The three-port system has a targeted operating frequency of about 10 GHz when all the devices are correctly tuned. The measurement results show the expected behavior at the targeted frequency but inaccuracy occurs away from this frequency. To extend the working frequency band, three types of calibration methods are proposed and verified through simulation. In addition, ad-hoc production testing can still work with this device by using the simple mapping, derived from comparing a measured golden DUT behavior to its pre-characterized behavior.
Structure of the vinyldiazomethyl anion and energetic comparison to the cyclic isomers

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of the vinyldiazomethyl anion has been measured. The ion is generated through the reaction of the allyl anion with N2O in helium buffer gas in a flowing afterglow source. The spectrum exhibits the vibronic structure of the vinyldiazomethyl radical in its electronic ground state as well as in the first excited state. Electronic structure calculations have been performed for these molecules at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. A Franck−Condon simulation of the X 2A‘‘ state portion of the spectrum has been carried out using the geometries and normal modes of the anion and radical obtained from these calculations. The simulation unambiguously shows that the ions predominantly have an E conformation. The electron affinity (EA) of the radical has been determined to be 1.864 ± 0.007 eV. Vibrational frequencies of 185 ± 10 and 415 ± 20 cm-1 observed in the spectrum have been identified as in-plane CCN bending and CCC bending modes, respectively, for the X 2A‘‘ state. T...
Spin resonance of tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane: a comparison with tetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane

Abstract Electron spin resonance spectra and linewidth studies of two different phases of tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene (TMTTF) tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNO) are presented. The linewidth of the solution grown 1:1 phase (TMTTF)(TCNQ), which is the structural analog to tetrathiafulvalene- tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF) (TCNQ), is shown to have a similar temperature dependence to that of (TTF) (TCNQ) in contrast with earlier reports. The vapor grown phase, identified by X-ray studies as (TMTTF) 1.66 (TCNQ) 2 , is shown to have different magnetic and electronic properties. These results are discussed and compared with earlier spin resonance reports on (TMTTF) (TCNQ).
Inhibition of carboxylesterase activity of THP1 monocytes/macrophages and recombinant human carboxylesterase 1 by oxysterols and fatty acids

Two major isoforms of human carboxylesterases (CEs) are found in metabolically active tissues, CES1 and CES2. These hydrolytic enzymes are involved in xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism. CES1 is abundantly expressed in human liver and monocytes/macrophages, including the THP1 cell line; CES2 is expressed in liver but not in monocytes/macrophages. The cholesteryl ester hydrolysis activity in human macrophages has been attributed to CES1. Here, we report the direct inhibitory effects of several endogenous oxysterols and fatty acids on the CE activity of THP1 monocytes/macrophages and recombinant human CES1 and CES2. Using THP1 whole-cell lysates we found: (1) 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) is a potent inhibitor of carboxylesterase activity (IC50=33 nM); (2) 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol had moderate inhibitory activity (IC(50)=8.1 microM); and (3) cholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, and 25-hydroxycholesterol each had little inhibitory activity. 27-HC was a partially noncompetitive inhibitor of recombinant CES1 (K(iapp)=10 nM) and impaired intracellular CES1 activity following treatment of intact THP1 cells. In contrast, recombinant CES2 activity was not inhibited by 27-HC, suggesting isoform-selective inhibition by 27-HC. Furthermore, unsaturated fatty acids were better inhibitors of CES1 activity than saturated fatty acids, while CES2 activity was unaffected by any fatty acid. Arachidonic acid (AA) was the most potent fatty acid inhibitor of recombinant CES1 and acted by a noncompetitive mechanism (K(iapp)=1.7 microM); when not complexed to albumin, exogenous AA penetrated intact THP1 cells and inhibited CES1. Inhibition results are discussed in light of recent structural models for CES1 that describe ligand binding sites separate from the active site. In addition, oxysterol-mediated inhibition of CES1 activity was demonstrated by pretreatment of human liver homogenates or intact THP1 cells with exogenous 27-HC, which resulted in significantly reduced hydrolysis of the pyrethroid insecticide bioresmethrin, a CES1-specific xenobiotic substrate. Collectively, these findings suggest that CE activity of recombinant CES1, cell lysates, and intact cells can be impaired by naturally occurring lipids, which may compromise the ability of CES1 to both detoxify environmental pollutants and metabolize endogenous compounds in vivo.
Fullerene-Based Catalysts for Methane Activation

We investigated fullerene based catalysts for the conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons. Fullerene soot, CO2 activated soot, and extracted soot as well as a Norit-A carbon were examined as catalysts for methane activation. The soot was found to easily activate the C-H bond of methane, allowing methane conversion at lower temperatures (lower by 250°C) than found under purely thermal conditions. Furthermore, soot catalysis appears to produce a minimal amount of aromatic hydrocarbons. Extracted soot was found to have a lower selectivity for C2 hydrocarbons than the non-extracted soot, and the CO2 activation of the soot did not appear to dramatically alter the catalytic activity.
Simultaneous monitoring of glutathione and major proteins in single erythrocytes

To gain more information from single-cell analysis, multiple detection schemes can be implemented in capillary electrophoresis. Red blood cells pre-treated with monobromobimane allow fluorescent tags to be attached to various thiol-containing compounds. Both derivatized glutathione and derivatized hemoglobin-A0 can be detected by observing emission at 495 nm when 275 nm excitation is used. At the same time, a second emission channel at 350 nm can be used to monitor the native fluorescence from carbonic anhydrase and from hemoglobin. Cross-correlation of the intracellular amounts of these provides additional insight into the cell-aging process.
Crafting glass vessels: current research on the ancient glass collections in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Our knowledge of glass production in ancient Egypt has been well augmented by the publication of recently excavated materials and glass workshops, but also by more recent materials analysis, and experiments of modern glass-makers attempting to reconstruct the production process of thin-walled coreformed glass vessels. From the mounting of a prefabricated core to the final glass product our understanding of this profession has much improved. The small but well preserved glass collection of the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is a valid tool for examining and studying the technology and production of ancient Egyptian core formed glass vessels. Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919) acquired most of the material from Giovanni Dattari in Cairo in 1909. Previously the glass had received only limited discussion, suggesting that most of these vessels were produced in the 18th Dynasty in the 15th and 14th centuries BCE, while others date from the Hellenistic period and later. In an ongoing project we conducted computed radiography in conjunction with qualitative x-ray fluorescence analysis on a selected group of vessels to understand further aspects of the ancient production process. This paper will provide an overview of our recent research and present our data-gathering process and preliminary results. How can the examinations of core formed glass vessels in the Freer Gallery contribute to our understanding of ancient glass production and technology? By focusing on new ways of looking at old assumptions using the Freer Gallery glass collections, we hope to increase understanding of the challenges of the production process of core-vessel technology as represented by these vessels.
Vasodilator effects of a substance present in normal human urine in comparison with the effect of methacholine and sodium nitrite; a statistical analysis of reliability of the method of assay.

This paper presents a method for bioassay of vasotropic substances. Data on the accuracy of the method are presented in terms of the response to repeated injections of methacholine. Some of the factors affecting the response to methacholine are analyzed. The peripheral vasodilator effect of a nondialyzable substance present in human urine is demonstrated and the effectiveness of this substance is related to that of methacholine.
Longitudinal Associations between Objective Sleep and Lipids: The CARDIA Study

Study objective To investigate the longitudinal relationships between actigraph-derived sleep duration, fragmentation, and lipid levels. Design and setting Longitudinal data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Sleep Study (2003-05), an observational cohort at the Chicago site. Participants There were 503 black and white adults, ages 32-51 years, with no prior history of cardiovascular disease. Interventions N/A. Measurement and results Sleep duration and fragmentation were measured using 6 days of wrist actigraphy. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The outcome variables, measured at 3 examinations over 10 years (Baseline [2000-01], 5-year [2005-06], and 10-year follow-up [2010-11]), were total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and TC/HDL ratio. The associations between each sleep parameter and 10-year change in lipids were analyzed with generalized estimating equation models adjusting for relevant confounders. After adjustment, each hour increase in sleep duration was significantly associated with higher TC (5.2 mg/dL, 95%CI: 1.7, 8.6) and LDL (3.4 mg/dL, 95%CI: 0.2, 6.6) in the total sample, a 1.1 mg/dL increase in TG (95%CI: 1.0, 1.1) among men, and a borderline significant greater odds for a TC/HDL ratio ≥ 5 among men (OR: 1.37, 95%CI: 0.99, 1.90). Overall, sleep fragmentation and sleep quality scores were not associated with change in lipids. Conclusions Beyond relevant covariates, over a 10-year follow-up, longer objective sleep duration was longitudinally and significantly associated with a poorer lipid profile. Greater objective sleep fragmentation and self-reported poor sleep quality were not related to a poorer lipid profile.
The Rise of Market Culture: The Textile Trade and French Society, 1750-1900

List of figures and maps List of abbreviations Preface Introduction Part I. A World Without Entrepreneurs, 1750-1815: 1. Commerce as conflict 2. The design of the spinning jenny 3. New terms and old practices Part II. Uses of the Market Idea, 1816-1851: 4. The first crisis of management 5. Spinners on guard 6. Visions of subsistence 7. A search for identity Part III. Unquestioned Assumptions, 1852-1904: 8. The clock time of the Second Empire 9. The moral sense of farce 10. Little insurrections Conclusion Notes Bibliographical note Index.
Urease and urea amidolyase: Determination of activity in liverworts

Abstract Using highly sensitive techniques, we have investigated urea degradation in the liverworts and found that they have high urease but no detectable urea amidolyase activity.
Isotope composition and anion chemistry of soil profiles along the Kalahari Transect

Savannas cover about 20% of the Earth's land area across a wide range of climatic conditions. As an important and distinct biome, savannas produce approximately 29% of global terrestrial net primary productivity. In these ecosystems the distribution of belowground resources remains poorly investigated and the relationship to the climatic conditions remains unclear. In the present study, vertical profiles of soil nutrients (chloride, nitrate, phosphate and sulfate) and nitrogen stable isotopes were analyzed at four sites along the Kalahari mega-transect, where a distinct rainfall gradient exists on a homogeneous soil substrate. The results show clear differences in nutrients and δ15N vertical distributions between wet and dry seasons. The results also show how the formation of “fertility islands” (i.e., the concentration of soil nutrients in the soils beneath tree canopies) is not necessarily coupled with belowground processes in that the distribution of soil nutrients at the surface does not match belowground patterns. The results also indicate that phosphorus may be a limiting nutrient in these savanna ecosystems with seasonal dynamics in its cycling.
Rostral ventral medulla cholinergic mechanism in pain-induced analgesia

The ascending nociceptive control (ANC), a novel spinostriatal pain modulation pathway, mediates a form of pain-induced analgesia referred to as noxious stimulus-induced antinociception (NSIA). ANC includes specific spinal cord mechanisms as well as circuitry in nucleus accumbens, a major component of the ventral striatum. Here, using the trigeminal jaw-opening reflex (JOR) in the rat as a nociceptive assay, we show that microinjection of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine into the rostral ventral medulla (RVM) blocks NSIA, implicating RVM as a potentially important link between ANC and the PAG-RVM-spinal descending pain modulation system. A circuit connecting nucleus accumbens to the RVM is proposed as a novel striato-RVM pathway.
Incidence of Moraxella and other gram-negative, oxidase-positive bacteria in fresh and spoiled ground beef

Abstract A total of 1535 bacterial isolates were examined from 29 retail samples of ground beef when fresh and after aerobic spoilage at 5–7°C. Of these, 1354 (88%) were gram-negative and oxidase-positive, but only 34 were identified by API 20E as Moraxella -26 from fresh and eight from spoiled samples. Ninety-five percent of the oxidase-positive isolates were Pseudomonas spp. and 66% of these were recovered from the meats after spoilage. The findings bring into question the widely-held view that moraxellae along with Acinetobacter are rather abundant in ground beef.
Diffuse spasm of the lower half of the esophagus

It is the purpose of this paper to call attention to a group of cases of esophageal occlusion in the distal portion due to diffuse spasm. A brief review of the facts and controversial points concerning the anatomic and physiologic characteristics of the esophagus is presented. It is of interest to note that spasm of the distal portion of the esophagus can be produced experimentally by the stimulation of various nerves. Spasm has been observed clinically secondary to organic lesions of the esophagus, stomach, gall bladder and biliary tract and in cases of organic heart disease. Spasm of the distal part of the esophagus occurs among certain nervous individuals when they are placed under emotional strain.
In vitro hematopoietic differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells requires the tumor suppressor menin and is mediated by Hoxa9.

Inactivating mutations in the tumor suppressor gene MEN1 cause the inherited cancer syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). The ubiquitously expressed MEN1 encoded protein, menin, interacts with MLL (mixed-lineage leukemia protein), and together they are essential components of a multiprotein complex with histone methyl transferase activity. MLL is also essential for hematopoiesis, and plays a critical role in leukemogenesis via epigenetic regulation of Hoxa9 expression that also requires menin. Therefore we chose to explore the role of menin in hematopoiesis. We generated Men1 −/− embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, and induced them to differentiate in vitro. While these cells were able to form embryoid bodies (EBs) expressing the early markers Flk-1 and c-Kit, their ability to further differentiate into hematopoietic colonies was compromised. The Men1 −/− ES cells show reduced expression of Hoxa9 that can be recovered by reexpression of Menin. We demonstrate that the block in differentiation of Men1 −/− ES cell lines can be rescued not only by the expression of menin but also that of Hoxa9. These results suggest that, similar to MLL, menin is required for hematopoiesis, and this requirement may be mediated through regulation of Hoxa9 expression.
Compromising coalitions and duplicitous diplomacy: US support for Tajikistan after 9/11 and its security implications

This article investigates the development of democracy in Tajikistan and analyzes what has earned it the most international acclaim: its secular-Islamic governing coalition. The investigation reveals a compromised and illegitimate coalition that, with American collusion in local regime repression, poses great dangers to international security. The article argues that government repression, leading to increasing radicalization, combines with foreign aid to damage long-term democracy potential in Tajikistan but also works against global security interests by creating doubt about American intentions and possibly allowing a concomitant rise in Islamic radicalism.
Negotiable Instruments and the Federal Courts in Antebellum American Business

That human needs and social realities are the roots of all systems of jurisprudence is nowhere more demonstrable than in the evolution of the law of business. Professor Freyer shows that neither the English common law of negotiable instruments nor the modifications made in it in the colonial era were adequate in the lusty, far-flung, and rapidly growing young nation that the Constitution of the United States created. Innovation, he reveals, promptly followed.
Effects of intelligent notification management on users and their tasks

We present a novel system for notification management and report results from two studies testing its performance and impact. The system uses statistical models to realize defer-to-breakpoint policies for managing notifications. The first study tested how well the models detect three types of breakpoints within novel task sequences. Results show that the models detect breakpoints reasonably well, but struggle to differentiate their type. Our second study explored effects of managing notifications with our system on users and their tasks. Results showed that scheduling notifications at breakpoints reduces frustration and reaction time relative to delivering them immediately. We also found that the relevance of notification content determines the type of breakpoint at which it should be delivered. The core concept of scheduling notifications at breakpoints fits well with how users prefer notifications to be managed. This indicates that users would likely adopt the use of notification management systems in practice.
Pathophysiology of otosclerosis.

ObjectiveTo review current knowledge of the pathophysiology of otosclerosis and to review hypotheses for the amelioration of this disease.Data SourcesReview of the literature and experimental observations by the authors.ConclusionsOtosclerosis is a localized disease of bone remodeling within the oti
Corrigendum to “Determining group structure from sets of irreducible character degrees” [J. Algebra 206 (1) (1998) 235–260]

We would like to thank Kamal Aziziheris for pointing out an omission in the published version of the above cited paper. In particular, in the proof of Theorem 7.3 induction is applied to the subgroup SR (this occurs in the third paragraph of page 257), but it is not immediately clear that SR satisfies the inductive hypothesis. Specifically, it is not clear that p ∈ cd(SR). We now correct this omission by giving a proof of this fact. Recall Theorem 7.3:
The Use of Force-Field Analysis to Prevent the Intrusion of a Fast-Food Chain on Campus Food Service Options

Abstract Change, whether in an individual's health behavior or in an institutional food service operation, does not have to be haphazard. Kurt Lewin's method of force-field analysis is designed to facilitate change by providing a systematic problem-solving model that can be widely generalized. This model was applied to a campaign opposing the intrusion of a fast-food chain on San Diego State University's campus food services. By using a four-step process of analyzing the situation, determining the changes required, making the changes indicated and stabilizing the new situation, students were successful in reversing the Student Council's decision to permit McDonald's Corporation to operate a food service facility on campus. The outcome resulted in significant progress toward improved food services for students on campus. This experience suggests that changes in food service options can be directed and controlled if appropriate analysis of factors contributing to improvement is conducted. These changes are ...
Lack of Ligand-Selective Binding of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor to Putative DNA Binding Sites Regulating Expression of Bax and Paraoxonase 1 Genes

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that mediates the biological and toxicological effects of structurally diverse chemicals through its ability to bind specific DNA recognition sites (dioxin responsive elements (DREs)), and activate transcription of adjacent genes. While the DRE has a highly conserved consensus sequence, it has been suggested that the nucleotide specificity of AhR DNA binding may be ligand-dependent. The upstream regulatory regions of the murine Bax and human paraoxonase 1 (PON1) genes reportedly contain unique DRE-like sequences that respond to AhRs activated by some ligands but not others. Given the significant implications of this observation to understanding the diversity in AhR responses and that of other ligand-dependent nuclear receptors, a combination of DNA binding, nuclear translocation and gene expression analysis was used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these ligand-selective responses. Although known AhR agonists stimulated AhR nuclear translocation, DRE binding and gene expression, the ligand-selective DRE-like DNA elements identified in the Bax and PON1 upstream regulatory regions failed to bind ligand-activated AhR or confer AhR-responsiveness upon a reporter gene. These results argue against the reported ligand-selectivity of AhR DNA binding and suggest DNA binding by ligand activated AhR involves DRE-containing DNA.
Aging in America: essential considerations in shaping senior care policy

A rapidly aging US population will transform our society. The economic system will be challenged by the growing number of retirees. It is unlikely that families will be able to maintain their role as the primary instrument of care for disabled older people. Formal long-term care for the disabled is more costly and the formal long-term care system will have increasing difficulty recruiting workers. For reasons of preference and cost–effectiveness, aging in place has merit, but several issues related to housing and transportation need to be addressed in order to encourage that trend. While technology is being developed to impact on most other aspects of modern life, its use to promote safe independent living for older people lags significantly behind. The healthcare system is not prepared for the nature and volume of care related to this demographic shift. Many of these issues could be ameliorated by delaying retirement and better accommodating older workers.
Further Development of a High-Speed 3-D Density Measurement Technique for Aero- Optics

acquired of the turbulent wake of a wall-mounted hemisphere at transonic conditions of approximately Mach 0.78 (ReD≈9.16x10 5 ). The quality of these images was much better than any previous acetone PLIF images acquired of this flow field. An established acetone fluorescence signal model was implemented to convert the images to density field data. Low density cores were visible in many of the images and the density was found to decrease up to 40-50% of the freestream density value in these cores. Acetone PLIF was also attempted with a MHz rate pulse burst laser and high speed camera to acquire time-resolved PLIF images; however, the signal to noise ratio of these images was low and no conclusive information could be obtained. Upgrades to the pulse burst laser system and a new high speed camera will be used in the future to overcome this limitation. These 2-D image studies are critical for development of the 3-D measurement, which is based on the scanning of a laser sheet across the flow. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was also performed to characterize the flow field and it was found that vorticity fluctuations occur in the turbulent wake and the velocity magnitude ranges from approximately 0-290 m/s. Overall, this work proved that acetone PLIF is a viable technique to calculate density fields in high-velocity, compressible flows (in this case the wake of a hemisphere which closely resembles the flow over a turret mounted to an aircraft). In addition, the results from the experiments better characterized this flow field and provided valuable information in regard to the extent of the density fluctuations and what needs to be modified in order to achieve 3-D acetone LIF. This is valuable information as progress is made toward 3-D acetone LIF density measurements which will enable calculation of aero-optic distortion.
Development and evaluation of an ergonomic software package for predicting multiple-task human performance and mental workload in human-machine interface design and evaluation

Predicting human performance and mental workload in multiple task situations at an early stage of system design can save a significant amount of time and cost. However, existing modeling tools either can only predict human performance or require users of tools to learn a new programming language. Queueing Network-Model Human Processor (QN-MHP) is a new cognitive architecture for modeling both human performance and mental workload in multiple tasks. This paper describes the development of a Visual Basic Application in Excel (VBA) software package and an illustrative case study to evaluate its effectiveness. The software package has an easy-to-use user interface for QN-MHP that assists users of the modeling tool to simulate a dual task including definition of the tasks and interfaces by clicking buttons to select options and filling texts in a table, with no need to learn a simulation language. It allows the model user to intuitively observe the information processing state of the model during simulation, and conveniently compare the simulated human performance and mental workload for different designs. The illustrative case study showed that naive users without prior simulation language programming experience can model human performance and mental workload in a complex multitask situation within 3min; and this software package can save 71% of modeling time and reduce 30% of modeling errors. Further developments of the VBA software package of QN-MHP are also discussed on how to make it a comprehensive proactive ergonomic design and analysis tool.
Symbolic Computations in Volterra System Identification

This paper is concerned with symbolic computations in Volterra system identification using higher order cumulants. An efficient method that implements the Leonov-Shiryaev theorem is introduced. The proposed method relies on the exploitation of recursive relations between cumulants. The method is applied on the problem of blind identification of Volterra-Hammerstein systems excited by stationary higher order white noise. It solves previously intractable instances.
Fibrillary/Immunotactoid Glomerulopathy With Cardiac Involvement

A 44-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease due to fibrillary/immunotactoid glomerulopathy presented with progressive symptoms of heart failure. An echocardiogram showed a dilated left ventricle with diffuse hypokinesis. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed patchy fibrosis. Immunofluorescence demonstrated interstitial staining with immunoglobulin G and complement component C3. Electron microscopy (Figure 1) revealed deposition of fibrils with diameters ranging from 8.0 to 12.4 nm that were negative on Congo red staining and …
Joint estimation of data and timing in the presence of inter-symbol interference

A channel with inter-symbol interference and random perturbations to timing is approximated using a finite-state Markov model. The inter-symbol interference is approximated by a finite-impulse response and the timing perturbations are approximated by a first-order random walk. A Viterbi algorithm is then applied to find the maximum-likelihood sequence of states on this model. The resulting state sequence defines the data sequence and timing trajectory which jointly maximize a likelihood function on the observed signal. This approach provides a means of detecting data with rapidly fluctuating timing perturbations at low signal-to-noise ratio. This is particularly relevant to data storage applications where mechanical fluctuations are translated into timing perturbations. Codes can be incorporated into the detector. The coding gain improves the reliability of both data detection and timing recovery. Codes which can be represented using a reasonably small state machine, such as trellis codes and high rate block parity codes, can be incorporated directly into the finite state model. For iterative decoders a BCJR algorithm can also be applied to this state machine to yield a posteriori probabilities on the data bits.
Mumps resurgence in the United States

The recent mumps epidemic in the central United States has generated a large amount of public concern. A total of 2597 mumps cases have been reported in the United States in 11 states since January 1, 2006, representing a marked resurgence of mumps in a single year. The majority of these recent cases have occurred in college students age 18 to 25 years. Most were vaccinated with 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella-containing vaccines. Such outbreaks provide an opportunity for clinicians to review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and morbidity of vaccine-preventable infections and also to review immunologic mechanisms and practice guidelines that might contribute to poor vaccine responses. A review of mumps is provided with discussion of potential mechanisms for vaccine failure.
Further studies with antifoaming agents in experimental pulmonary edema.

The effect of several antifoaming agents by inhalation in preventing paroxysmal pulmonary edema was tested in a series of rabbits. Three single agents (silicone aerosol, freon, and ethyl alcohol vapor) proved beneficial; their combination did not enhance the beneficial effect. A new agent (silicone aerosol) and a new combination (10 per cent ether in alcohol by aerosol) are now ready for clinical trial.
A Political Consequence of Contracting: Organized Interests and State Agency Decision Making

We argue that contracting opens a pathway for organized interests to lobby public managers. Using multilevel modeling techniques, we test this proposition with data from administrative agencies in the American states. We find that interactions between organized interests and managers increase in the presence of contracting. We then demonstrate that the influence of organized interests over key state agency decision making is driven, in part, by whether an agency contracts out for public service delivery. The findings suggest the presence of an alternate pathway for organized interests to access and influence government decision makers. Moreover, these results complement previous studies, which primarily highlight the potential economic benefits of contracting and hold important normative implications for our understanding of government responsiveness in an era of decentralized governance.
Overweight in urban, low-income, African American and Hispanic children attending Los Angeles elementary schools: research stimulating action.

Objective: This study was undertaken to establish the prevalence and severity of nutritional problems among low-income children of elementary school age in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in order to collect baseline data to inform policy-makers. Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey of children in 14 elementary schools was conducted from January to June, 1998. Nine hundred and nineteen children were measured and interviewed. The planning, design and data analysis were carried out in collaboration with key LAUSD policy-makers. Results: More than 35% of the sample was classified as being at risk for overweight or overweight according to body mass index. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of children who are at risk for overweight or who are overweight in Los Angeles. This finding has triggered the development of multiple school-based intervention programmes.
Testing an explanatory model of the development of depressive symptoms in young women during a life transition.

Abstract Factors to explain the rising incidence of depressive symptoms among young women making the transition from home to university life were investigated. A path analysis of data from 213 18- and 19-year-old women entering a large university indicated that negative life events, interpersonally derived social support, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were significantly related. Negative life events that affected the women's self-esteem (drawn from the women's performance in interpersonal relationships) were most strongly associated with depressive symptoms, and self-esteem derived through efficacy (ie, taking control and acting assertively) was not associated with negative events. The women in the sample appeared to derive efficacy self-esteem from relationships. An analysis of the data supported developing interventions to improve interpersonal relationships rather than focusing on competence in gaining access to resources.