cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lineage Divergence at the First TCR-Dependent Checkpoint: Preferential γδ and Impaired αβ T Cell Development in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

The first TCR-dependent checkpoint in the thymus determines αβ versus γδ T lineage fate and sets the stage for later T cell differentiation decisions. We had previously shown that early T cells in NOD mice that are unable to rearrange a TCR exhibit a defect in checkpoint enforcement at this stage. To determine if T cell progenitors from wild-type NOD mice also exhibit cellautonomous defects in development, we investigated their differentiation in the Notch-ligand–presenting OP9-DL1 coculture system, as well as by analysis of T cell development in vivo. Cultured CD4 and CD8 double-negative cells from NOD mice exhibited major defects in the generation of CD4 and CD8 double-positive αβ T cells, whereas γδ T cell development from bipotent precursors was enhanced. Limiting dilution and single-cell experiments show that the divergent effects on αβ and γδ T cell development did not spring from biased lineage choice but from increased proliferation of γδ T cells and impaired accumulation of αβ T lineage double-positive cells. In vivo, NOD early T cell subsets in the thymus also show characteristics indicative of defective β-selection, and peripheral αβ T cells are poorly established in mixed bone marrow chimeras, contrasting with strong γδ T as well as B cell repopulation. Thus, NOD T cell precursors reveal divergent, lineage-specific differentiation abnormalities in vitro and in vivo from the first TCR-dependent developmental choice point, which may have consequences for subsequent lineage decisions and effector functions.
Damped fourier spectrum and response spectra

This paper describes the physical relationships that exist between the Fourier transform and the response spectrum of a strong-motion accelerogram. By developing the new concept of the “Damped Fourier Spectrum” (D.F.S.), we show that the velocity and displacement of the damped oscillator can be represented by a linear combination of the real and imaginary parts of the D.F.S. and by the initial conditions. The D.F.S. represents a new way of “smoothing” the classical Fourier Transform by using a physically based filter.
GPU-accelerated voxelwise hepatic perfusion quantification.

Voxelwise quantification of hepatic perfusion parameters from dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging greatly contributes to assessment of liver function in response to radiation therapy. However, the efficiency of the estimation of hepatic perfusion parameters voxel-by-voxel in the whole liver using a dual-input single-compartment model requires substantial improvement for routine clinical applications. In this paper, we utilize the parallel computation power of a graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate the computation, while maintaining the same accuracy as the conventional method. Using compute unified device architecture-GPU, the hepatic perfusion computations over multiple voxels are run across the GPU blocks concurrently but independently. At each voxel, nonlinear least-squares fitting the time series of the liver DCE data to the compartmental model is distributed to multiple threads in a block, and the computations of different time points are performed simultaneously and synchronically. An efficient fast Fourier transform in a block is also developed for the convolution computation in the model. The GPU computations of the voxel-by-voxel hepatic perfusion images are compared with ones by the CPU using the simulated DCE data and the experimental DCE MR images from patients. The computation speed is improved by 30 times using a NVIDIA Tesla C2050 GPU compared to a 2.67 GHz Intel Xeon CPU processor. To obtain liver perfusion maps with 626 400 voxels in a patient's liver, it takes 0.9 min with the GPU-accelerated voxelwise computation, compared to 110 min with the CPU, while both methods result in perfusion parameters differences less than 10−6. The method will be useful for generating liver perfusion images in clinical settings.
Experiments in nonperturbative electron beam characterization with the MIT microwiggler at the accelerator test facility at BNL

Abstract We report first measurements of a single-shot method through which the properties of an electron beam at linac energies may be studied using the spontaneous emission of a micro-wiggler. The setup is simple and the measurement efficient. A simple set of scaling laws describe the natural line width, energy spread and divergence broadening of spontaneous emission in a narrow bandwidth radiation cone. A systematic series of experiments were performed with the MIT Microwiggler at the Accelerator Test Facility at BNL which demonstrated the response of the cone to changes in the beam quality. Estimates of divergence were obtained from the measurements of the radiation cone.
Task performance in heat: a review

A wide array of variable conditions, tasks, subject populations, etc., have been included in studies that have produced data on perceptual motor performance in the heat. This paper uses a methodology for comparing these studies, regardless of the inherent differences, which allows determination of whether thermal effects are dominant enough to persist through diverse combinations of variables. Approximately 160 individual studies of perceptual motor performance reported in the literature were summarized based on thermal level, duration of exposure and the type of task performed. Results indicated no dominant effect of duration of exposure to the heat and no dominant effect of thermal level on mental/cognitive tasks. For perceptual motor tasks other than very simple or mental tasks, an onset of performance decrement was noted in the 30-33 degrees C WBGT range of temperature. This temperature level is consistent with the Recommended Exposure Limits for work in the heat at low levels of metabolic heat.
Using the Internet to Access Accounting Journals: Improving Research Efficiency

Abstract In this article, the authors sought to assist academicians and students doing research by providing a guide to accounting journals that offer access via the Internet. Researchers can improve the efficiency of their searches for accounting information by using the electronic versions of journals.
Benchmarking procedural times: a quality control approach to court delays

Establishes a method aimed at defining procedural delays. The time delay in the procedural life of a case under any legal system has been considered as one of the main sources of direct costs and uncertainty for businesses once litigation starts. Yet, no methodology exists until now which is able to develop benchmarks that would define expected procedural time under controlled court conditions. Finds the main court and user‐related factors associated to the times disposition in bankruptcy cases within the first instance level and determines an “ideal” time to disposition within a quality control framework. Considers an applied case using data belonging to the commercial first instance courts in Argentina. The results of the analysis conclude that the economic resources devoted to court personnel, not to capital spending, and an active case management style applied by a judge reduce the median procedural times.
An intelligent augmentation of particle swarm optimization with multiple adaptive methods

Over the last two decades, the newly developed optimization technique - Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has attracted great attention. Two common criticisms exist. First, most existing PSOs are designed for a specific search space thus an algorithm performing well on a diverse set of problems is lacking. Secondly, PSO suffers premature convergence. To address the first issue, we propose to augment PSO via the fusion of multiple search methods. An intelligent selection mechanism is developed based on an effectiveness index to trigger appropriate search methods. In this research, two search techniques are studied: a non-uniform mutation-based method and an adaptive sub-gradient method. We further improve the proposed PSO using adaptive Cauchy mutation to prevent premature convergence. As a result, an augmented PSO with multiple adaptive methods (PSO-MAM) is proposed. The performance of PSO-MAM is tested on 43 functions (uni-modal, multi-modal, non-separable, shifted, rotated, noisy and mis-scaled functions). The results are compared in terms of solution quality and convergence speed with 10 published PSO methods. The experimental results demonstrate PSO-MAM outperforms the comparison algorithms on 36 out of 43 functions. We conclude, while promising, there is still room for improving PSO-MAM on complex multi-modal functions (e.g., rotated multi-modal functions).
A modified procedure for rapid labelling of low concentrations of bioactive proteins with indium-111.

Abstract We describe the conjugation of DTPA to 100–500 μg of protein in concentrations of 0.6–1.0 mg/mL utilizing the mixed anhydride method. Free DTPA is removed by minicolumn gel filtration and centrifugation with minimal protein dilution. Radiolabelling at any selected pH can be achieved easily by diluting the protein in the desired buffer. The radiolabelling process can be monitored by instant thin layer chromatography. Any radiochemical impurity detected can be eliminated either by additional minicolumn filtration or further chelation with more conjugated protein. In citrate buffer at pH 6 with minicolumn gel chromatography we prepared 111In-DTPA-D3 ( 3.0 μCi μg ) monoclonal antibody and used it to image hepatocarcinoma in guinea pigs.
Accolades and Recommendations: A Longitudinal Analysis of Monitoring Reports for Two Charter Schools Serving Native American Students

This longitudinal case study examines 10 years' worth of annual monitoring reports for two rural Native American Charter Schools. Using data from multiple sources including interviews, site visits, and document analyses, the authors used provisional coding and constant comparison analysis to categorize the accolades and recommendations embedded in the annual reports. The reports reveal that both schools received the most feedback related to assessment, curriculum, and administration. Monitoring report emphasis on standardization of curriculum and testing conflicts with the espoused values of making connections between the school and the Native American community in which they are situated.
Impact of Histologic Subtyping on Outcome in Lobar vs Sublobar Resections for Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE The 2011 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)/American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) classification of pulmonary adenocarcinomas introduces adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive carcinoma and categorizes adenocarcinoma with more extensive invasion by the predominant subtype. Data have shown that wedge or segmentectomy (W/S) may be appropriate for in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, but whether sublobar resection is appropriate for tumors with more extensive invasion is unclear. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate whether there are any trends regarding the impact of invasion and subtypes of carcinoma regarding survival in lobectomy vs W/S procedures using a comprehensive histologic evaluation. METHODS Eighty-five surgical specimens (59 lobectomies, 26 W/Ss) were reviewed. Histologic type, size, pleural, lymphovascular invasion, and necrosis were recorded. Adenocarcinomas were classified by 2011 IASLC/ATS/ERS guidelines with each histologic pattern recorded as a percentage of the total tumor. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS, version 9.2. Proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate survival according to resection type (lobectomy or W/S) adjusting for tumor size and the predominant histology. RESULTS Multivariate analysis did not show a statistically significant difference in survival between lobectomy and W/S specimens adjusting for tumor size, regardless of histologic subtype or other negative predictors of prognosis ( P = .7704). CONCLUSIONS Our findings corroborate the prognostic significance of the 2011 adenocarcinoma subtyping classification and additionally suggest that lobectomy does not offer an overall survival advantage over W/S regardless of histologic subtype. Therefore, this finding suggests that limited resection may be appropriate for small size tumors, particularly those ≤ 2 cm with invasive histology.
Leukemia in germfree rats.

Abstract : Germfree rats of 3 strains (Wistar, Fischer and Sprague-Dawley) were examined for leukemogenic potential. Particles of indefinite nature were observed only in 2 of 10 Wistar rats. Leukemia could not be induced in the rats by whole-body administered X-rays, and germfree Sprague-Dawley rats were as susceptible to Gross passage A leukemia virus as conventional rats. (Author)
To Be or Not to Be an Academic: South African Graduate Students' Vocational Choices.

Abstract In the post-apartheid era, South African universities are striving to attract and retain diverse faculty, as mandated by the 1998 Employment Equity Act (EEA). While the focus on faculty is critical to the transformation agenda, it is informative to step back and consider the factors that influence graduate students’ decisions regarding joining the academy. This qualitative study explores the educational experiences and vocational decisions of 50 masters and doctoral students from the EEA's “designated groups,” who are poised to become academics. Factors influencing graduate students’ vocational choices should be taken into consideration as universities strive to attract more diverse faculty.
USES OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS IN MONETARY ANALYSIS

Developments in economic theory have in many ways enhanced the opportunity for using financial accounts data in monetary analysis. This is true in such areas as the role of assets, the development of portfolio choice theory, the demand for money, and the behavior of intermediaries. At the same time, theory has increasingly emphasized behavioral relationships. These developments give rise to new data needs. An inquiry was addressed to some 25 specialists, whose responses illustrate these needs. Some of the desired data are “more of the same,” such as more sectoring, more detail on financial instruments, data on stocks as well as flows. Some data needs, reflecting behavioral theorizing, point beyond traditional financial accounts data and call for maturity distributions, interest rates, rates of return on equities and real assets, and the parameters of their frequency distributions. The degree of economic development and the degree of openness are found to be important determinants of the kind of data to be sought and employed in particular countries. Public policy is finding increasing use for financial accounts data in coordinating the flow of financial resources with the planning of physical investment. Nevertheless, many policy purposes call for more detailed data than can be provided by an integrated system. This has led to a selective use of data sources outside the financial accounts. Builders of financial models, likewise, have found it preferable to work with more flexible data selected ad hoc than with integrated financial accounts. Hope of applying the techniques of modern model building to financial accounts data, such as econometric estimation of a flow of funds table, or its conversion into an input-output matrix, seems tenuous for the time being. Thus, financial accountants, competing with financial model builders for the attention of theorists and policy makers, must broaden the scope of their data in the hope that there is room for the growth of both disciplines.
A serum factor after intestinal resection stimulates epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and proliferation in intestinal epithelial cells

Background. In vivo, intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection (SBR) requires a functional epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). In vitro studies have shown that serum from mice after SBR induces rat intestinal epithelial cells to proliferate. This study tested the hypothesis that the proliferative response to SBR serum is mediated by EGFR signaling. Methods. Serum was collected from male Sprague-Dawley rats 7 days after 75% SBR or sham operation. Rat intestinal epithelial cells were incubated in the presence of sham or SBR serum. Total EGFR expression and phosphorylation of several EGFR downstream pathways were determined by Western blotting. In other experiments, a specific EGFR inhibitor (ZD1839) was added and cell growth determined over 5 days. Results. SBR serum significantly increased total EGFR expression (3-fold) over sham operation and consistently activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. Furthermore, SBR serum markedly augmented rat intestinal epithelial cell growth, an effect that was abolished by EGFR inhibition. Conclusions. SBR serum contains a factor or factors that stimulates proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells by an EGFR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling mechanism. These data recapitulate in vivo studies supporting the hypothesis that EGFR is a central mediator of postresection intestinal adaptation. This in vitro model may provide a novel means to gain insight into the pathophysiology of intestinal adaptation. (Surgery 2002;132:377-83.)
Measuring Bias and Uncertainty in Ideal PointEstimates Via the Parametric Bootstrap

Over the last 15 years a large amount of scholarship in legislative politics has used NOMINATE or other similar methods to construct measures of legislators' ideolog-ical locations. These measures are then used in subsequent analyses. Recent work in political methodology has focused on the pitfalls of using such estimates as vari-ables in subsequent analysis without explicitly accounting for their uncertainty and possible bias (Herron and Shotts, 2003). This presents a problem for those employing NOMINATE scores because estimates of their unconditional sampling uncertainty or bias have until now been unavailable. In this paper, we present a method of form-ing unconditional standard error estimates and bias estimates for NOMINATE scores using the parametric bootstrap. Standard errors are estimated for the 90th Senate in two dimensions. Standard errors of ýrst dimension placements are in the 0.03 to 0.08 range. The results are compared to those obtained using the MCMC estimator of Clinton, Jackman, and Rivers (2002). We also show how the bootstrap can be used to construct standard errors and conýdence intervals for auxiliary quantities of interest such as ranks and the location of the median Senator.
Comparison of nutrient intake determined by four dietary intake instruments

Abstract We compared nutrient intake estimates among four commonly used food intake instruments: 24-hour recall, a 2-day diet diary, a modified diet history, and a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The four instruments were administered to each of fifty people selected by systematic sampling from Washington County, Maryland. Using an analysis of variance for a complete block design, we analyzed data by mean differences across all instruments, and by simple correlations and Kappa statistics between instrument pairs. The food-frequency questionnaire gave the highest mean estimates, and the modified diet history estimate means fell between the food-frequency questionnaire and the other two instruments. However, when adjusted for calories (nutrients/1000 kcal), the food-frequency questionnaire estimates for nutrients were no longer consistently higher than those of the other instruments. Total fat, oleic acid, cholesterol, protein, sodium, iron, thiamin, and niacin were most consistently estimated by two or more instruments as measured by correlation coefficients. Crude fiber, calcium, and vitamins A and C gave the least consistent estimates among all four instruments. The correlation coefficients and Kappa scores were modest for all instrument pair comparisons, but the majority were statistically significant at p ≤ 0.005. All data showed greater consistency between instruments that measured either long-term intake (modified diet history and food-frequency questionnaire) or short-term intake (diet diary and twenty-four hour recall). In addition, demographic variables (age, sex, and marital status), as well as differences in caloric intake, affected instrument estimates of some nutrients.
The toxicity of DDE to a marine dinoflagellate

Abstract DDE, the nearly ubiquitous metabolite of DDT, has been found to be highly toxic to Exuviella baltica , a widely distributed marine dinoflagellate. Concentrations as low as 0·1 part per thousand million (10 9 ; ptm) significantly inhibited growth for at least 24 h, as measured by cell numbers and growth rate. Thereafter, growth rate in 0·1 ptm-treated cultures slightly exceeded control values but cell numbers remained lower than controls for three to four additional days. Exposure to higher concentrations of DDE (1 to 10 ptm) resulted in greater inhibition, the extent and duration depending upon dose. At 10 ptm, cell numbers doubled only once in seven days compared with six times in control cultures. DDE was more toxic than DDT or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Inhibition caused by DDE and PCBs in combination was approximately additive. Estimated lowest cellular concentrations of DDE in this study were two to 13 times higher than concentrations of total chlorinated hydrocarbons found in samples from natural marine phytoplankton communities.
Predictors of Ductus Arteriosus In-Stent Stenosis in the Hybrid Approach to Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

The hybrid approach to palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome using pulmonary artery bands, a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stent, and atrial septostomy has been well described. One potential complication of hybrid stage 1 palliation is the development of neointimal formation and in-stent stenosis (ISS). This study aimed to identify predictors of ISS development. Patients who underwent hybrid stage 1 palliation between 2002 and 2010 were included in the study. The clinical information included oxygen saturation, weight, vital signs, and medications. Echocardiographic data included ventricular function, degree of tricuspid regurgitation, and velocity through the PDA stent and pulmonary artery bands. Hemodynamic data from interstage catheterizations were similarly noted. Patients who developed clinically significant ISS requiring either transcatheter intervention or early stage 2 repair were compared with those who did not. Of the 66 patients included in the study, 40 were boys (61 %). The median age at hybrid palliation was 7 days (range, 1-93 days), and the median initial weight was 3.2 kg (range, 1.4-5 kg). In 13 patients (20 %), ISS developed. The mean initial weight was significantly greater in the ISS group (3.5 ± 0.5 vs. 3.0 ± 0.6 kg) (p = 0.03). The mean oxygen saturations did not differ significantly between the no-ISS group (82.2 % ± 5.7 %) and the ISS group (81.4 % ± 2.0 %) (p = 0.31). The mean PDA velocities were higher in the ISS group (2.7 ± 0.4 m/s) and increased at a faster rate than in the no-ISS group at (2.4 ± 0.4 m/s) (p = 0.01). The degree of tricuspid regurgitation, ventricular function, and pulmonary artery band gradients shown by echocardiography were similar in the two groups. The development of ISS after hybrid stage 1 palliation can lead to interstage interventions or earlier comprehensive stage 2 repair. Patients with greater initial weight and a lower stent-to-weight ratio are more likely to develop ISS. The cause of ISS is complex, and additional investigation of its etiology currently is ongoing.
A Blinding Brilliance: Pío Baroja’s Story of the Eye

This article examines motifs of blindness and corporeal decomposition in Pio Baroja’s best-known novel, Camino de perfeccion. Through grotesque images of decay and an aggressive sun which blinds, Baroja’s text undermines ocularcentric values and challenges notions of propriety in artistic expression. In essence, the constant recurrence to blindness and the violent nature of the sun contest privileged hierarchies concerning the primacy of vision and subjectivity in literature and art. Considering the persistent fluctuation of narratological voices and viewpoints in Baroja’s 1902 text, both form and content engage in a treatise on multi-perspectivism and difference. Through its unique ethics and aesthetics, Camino de perfeccion anticipates the transgressive considerations of vision discussed by later European thinkers of the avant-garde, including the French intellectual Georges Bataille. The present study investigates the importance of blindness in Baroja’s volume and demonstrates that through the annihilation of vision, along with the interrogation of the novelistic genre, Baroja’s story of the eye is ahead of its times, surrealist and postmodern avant la lettre.
Lack of Sex Specificity for Growth Hormone Pseudogene in Fall-Run Chinook Salmon from the Columbia River

Abstract Two qualitative male-specific genetic markers are currently known for Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and have been used to identify sex in this species. Here we compare the relative specificity of these markers—growth hormone pseudogene (GHp) and OtY1—with phenotypic sex in fall-run Chinook salmon from three different naturally spawning populations and one hatchery population on the Columbia River, Washington. In comparison with OtY1, GHp demonstrated a reduced specificity for the male sex in all populations examined and overall was present in just 81% of males sampled. Conversely, some females from all but the Yakima River population tested positive for the GHp marker. Therefore, GHp is determined to be a relatively poor indicator of phenotypic sex for fall-run Chinook salmon from the Columbia River due primarily to underrepresentation among males and also to some overrepresentation among females. The potential for GHp to be an accurate genetic marker for phenotypic sex in Chinook salmo...
Anatomical connections of the primate pretectal nucleus of the optic tract

The pretectal nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) plays an essential role in optokinetic nystagmus, the reflexive movements of the eyes to motion of the entire visual scene. To determine how the NOT can influence structures that move the eyes, we injected it with lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase and characterized its afferent and efferent connections. The NOT sent its heaviest projection to the caudal half of the ipsilateral dorsal cap of Kooy in the inferior olive. The rostral dorsal cap was free of labeling. The NOT sent lighter, but consistent, projections to other visual and oculomotor-related areas including, from rostral to caudal, the ipsilateral pregeniculate nucleus, the contralateral NOT, the lateral and medial terminal nuclei of the accessory optic system bilaterally, the ipsilateral dorsolateral pontine nucleus, the ipsilateral nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, and the ipsilateral medial vestibular nucleus. The NOT received input from the contralateral NOT, the lateral terminal nuclei bilaterally, and the ipsilateral pregeniculate nucleus. Although our injections involved the pretectal olivary nucleus (PON), there was neither orthograde nor retrograde labeling in the contralateral PON. Our results indicate that the NOT can influence brainstem preoculomotor pathways both directly through the medial vestibular nucleus and nucleus prepositus hypoglossi and indirectly through both climbing and mossy fiber pathways to the cerebellar flocculus. In addition, the NOT communicates strongly with other retino-recipient zones, whose neurons are driven by either horizontal (contralateral NOT) or vertical (medial and lateral terminal nuclei) fullfield image motion.
Phenomenal concepts as bare recognitional concepts: harder to debunk than you thought, …but still possible

A popular defense of physicalist theories of consciousness against anti-physicalist arguments invokes the existence of ‘phenomenal concepts’. These are concepts that designate conscious experiences from a first person perspective, and hence differ from physicalistic concepts; but not in a way that precludes co-referentiality with them. On one version of this strategy phenomenal concepts are seen as (1) type demonstratives that have (2) no mode of presentation. However, 2 is possible without 1-call this the ‘bare recognitional concept’ view-and I will argue that this avoids certain recent criticisms while retaining the virtue of finessing the ‘mode of presentation’ problem for phenomenal concepts. But construing phenomenal concepts this way seems to not do justice to the phenomenology of conscious experience. In this paper I examine whether or not this impression can be borne out by a good argument. As it turns out, it is harder to do so than one might think. It can be done, but it involves somewhat more convoluted reasoning than one might have supposed necessary. Having shown that, I will end with a few brief remarks on what my argument means for attempts to preserve a physicalist account of consciousness.
The migratory property of epidermis in vitro.

The way in which the epidermis migrates around the dermal aspect of fragments of skin in vitro has been investigated. Altogether 137 samples of adult human skin cultured for periods of 2–72 h have been examined. Migration was first detected at 22 h. The presence of serum in the medium promoted epidermal migration and this property was independent of any activity the serum might have had in maintaining tissue integrity. The epidermis of the migrating portion showed increased metabolic activity compared to the parent epidermis as evidenced by increased reactivity for the mitochondrial enzymes using histochemical methods. Migrant cells were shown electron microscopically to possess an increased number of ribosomes and polyribosomes. Intercellular contacts in the epibolic epidermis were only partially desmosomes. There were, in addition, villous structures that seemed to replace the usual desmosomal structures in places.
1H, 13C, and 15N Backbone Resonance Assignments of the Carboxyl Terminal Domain of Connexin40

Connexin40 is a gap junction protein involved in cell communication in the heart and other tissues. The assignments of an important Connexin40 regulatory domain, the carboxyl terminus, will aid in identifying the types of inter- and intramolecular interactions that affect channel activity.
Plasma adenosine deaminase2 is a marker for human immunodeficiency virus-1 seroconversion.

Plasma adenosine deaminase2, (ADA2) has recently been proposed to be a marker for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection. We measured ADA2, levels in plasma from two groups of white homosexual males at 6-month intervals for a total of 2.5 years. One group consisted of 6 subjects who seroconverted for HIV, and the other consisted of 8 HIV seropositive patients who progressed from asymptomatic (CDC Groups II/III) to symptomatic (CDC Group IV) disease. Seroconversion was associated with a significant increase in plasma ADA2 which persisted throughout follow-up of 1.5 years. However, disease progression in HIV seropositive patients was not associated with any significant change in plasma ADA2 In conclusion, ADA2, may represent a unique marker for HIV seroconversion which does not change with later progression to symptomatic disease.
Treponematosis in regional and chronological perspective from central Gulf Coast Florida.

Examination of five central Gulf Coast Florida archaeological skeletal series (n = 547) from the late prehistoric and early historic periods reveals the presence of pathological lesions characteristic of treponemal infection. These skeletal remains of native American populations represent a crucial time regarding hypotheses about the exchange of syphilis between the Old and New World or the mutation of one treponemal infection into another. Comparison of the lesions with those observed in modern studies of treponemal infection does not support an interpretation of veneral syphilis. The data from this study and from other archaeological skeletal series indicate the presence of a treponemal disease prior to European contact. The skeletal elements from Florida do not suggest that the disease changed dramatically following contact with Europeans. It is possible that cases of nonspecific postcranial pathology can be explained by the presence of this disease in the Florida populations. This study indicates that a treponemal disease was endemic throughout the region by at least A. D. 1000. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Politics of the Willow Creek Association Pastors

The Willow Creek Association (WCA), a loose association of some 8,000 churches with a common interest in evangelizing using the "seeker" model pioneered by the Willow Creek Community Church, is a good example of a postmodern religious association. A survey of clergy whose churches belong to WCA reveals the membership of the WCA to be diverse, with a large membership from mainline and evangelical denominations. However, the clergy are orthodox in theology, conservative in social theology and on political issues, and generally Republican in partisanship. These pastors are also very active in politics and their churches are deeply involved in the provision of social services. Differences among WCA pastors, especially between the mainline and evangelical Protestants, suggest that the WCA will not evolve into a denomination in the near future. However, the communalities among these clergy reveal the potential of postmodern associations to serve as a forum for cross-denominational coalition building on key issues.
The pH and the rH of the sap of Valonia and the rH of its protoplasm

1. The pH of the sap ofValonia ventricosa as determined electrometrically by means of the glass electrode is between 6.02 and 6.07. 2. The penetration of thionine in its oxidized form makes it possible to set a new lower limit for the Eh of the sap. 3. The rH of the sap ofV. ventricosa has been recalculated on the basis of these findings and shown to lie between 17.9 and 18.4. 4. The rH of the sap may be assumed to be approximately that of the protoplasm.
Activation of G protein by opioid receptors: role of receptor number and G-protein concentration.

The collision-coupling model for receptor-G-protein interaction predicts that the rate of G-protein activation is dependent on receptor density, but not G-protein levels. C6 cells expressing mu- or delta-opioid receptors, or SH-SY5Y cells, were treated with beta-funaltrexamine (mu) or naltrindole-5'-isothiocyanate (delta) to decrease receptor number. The time course of full or partial agonist-stimulated ?35SGTPgammaS binding did not vary in C6 cell membranes containing <1-25 pmol/mg mu-opioid receptor, or 1. 4-4.3 pmol/mg delta-opioid receptor, or in SHSY5Y cells containing 0. 16-0.39 pmol/mg receptor. The association of ?35SGTPgammaS binding was faster in membranes from C6mu cells than from C6delta cells. A 10-fold reduction in functional G-protein, following pertussis toxin treatment, lowered the maximal level of ?35SGTPgammaS binding but not the association rate. These data indicate a compartmentalization of opioid receptors and G protein at the cell membrane.
Concept development of respect and disrespect in American kindergarten and first‐ and second‐grade children

The developmental origins of respect and disrespect among American children are seen in early childhood and in the transition to the school years. This chapter presents the first published research to focus on the development of both respect and disrespect as distinct concepts. The findings are examined in the context of both sociocultural and Piagetian theories.
An examination of the substitutability of founders human and financial capital in emerging business ventures

Abstract Undoubtedly, access to financial capital and other resources is an important antecedent of new venture performance. Indeed, inadequate financial resources often are cited as a primary reason why emerging businesses fail (Barren 1989; McQueen 1989; Otterbourg 1989; Rujoub, Cook, and Hay 1995). Yet, there is some feeling among scholars that competent founders will find a way of coming up with necessary resources and capital Chandler and Hanks 1994 , Timmons 1990 , Thorne 1989 . In this study, we seek to better understand and provide insight into the factors that determine the amount of money needed to start a business, and the factors that drive the decisions of whether such funding should come from founder savings or from outside sources. We explore two questions: (1) What factors are associated with the amount of initial capital raised? and (2) What factors determine the mix of founder savings versus financial capital from outside sources that create the initial capital structure? We seek to answer these questions using a sample of 102 manufacturing and service firms between 3 and 7 years of age. These firms were categorized as manufacturing, retail, wholesale, and business services. In general, the evidence supports our hypotheses. The amount of financial capital at start-up varies by industry. Of key importance in this study, human and financial capital appear to be substitutable. The analysis shows that, on average, firms with high levels of founder human capital and low levels of initial financial capital perform similarly to firms that have low levels of founder human capital and high levels of financial capital. Subgroup analysis provides insights into the degree of substitutability. This finding suggests that founders with strong background experience may be able to start businesses that survive and thrive with less financial capital than their less experienced counterparts. The proportion of initial capital provided by the founder differs significantly across industry types. In more capital intensive industries, founders provide a smaller proportion of the start-up capital. Interestingly, the amount of initial capital provided by the founder does not vary significantly across industry types. This suggests that the amount of initial capital provided by the founder may result from contributing all they can give to the business, which appears to be similar across business types. Finally, founders’ perceptions of their ability to recognize and take advantage of opportunity are positively related to the proportion of initial capital provided by the founder. This research provides insights into the factors that appear to drive the initial capital intensity and structure. To provide better understanding of this phenomenon, future research could investigate such practices as bootstrapping, asset sharing, or other techniques that allow founders to control resources without requiring ownership.
The use of medical logic modules at LDS Hospital

Abstract The development of medical knowledge bases for use in a clinical information system (HELP) has been an ongoing goal at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the past 25 years. In building our medical knowledge base we felt the need to implement a decision support syntax which could capture the logice of our experts in a way that was not only executable, but also easily read and shared by others. During these 25 years we defined several simple syntaxes to express this medical logic. Our current approach is to cooperate with international standards groups (ASTM) and use the Arden Syntax for medical logic modules. We are working with the 3M Corporation in the joint development of an Arden Compiler for HELP. We plan to use the Arden Syntax initially to support our alert/reminder system and computerized management protocols.
Catalytic hydrogenation of soybean oil methyl esters and some related compounds

Mixtures of platinum complexes and tin(II) chloride are effective homogeneous catalysts for the hydrogenation of soybean oil methyl ester, reducing it to the monoene stage only. Hydrogenation and isomerization reactions have been examined under various conditions, using a solvent consisting of 60% benzene and 40% methanol.
The Tentative Pregnancy: Then and Now

This paper examines the ways in which prenatal diagnosis changes women’s experiences of pregnancy. The paper explores the role of patriarchal ideology in the development and use of prenatal diagnostic
Dermatology in primary care: Prevalence and patient disposition

Abstract Background: Cutaneous disease is commonly encountered in primary care. The frequency of patients presenting to primary care physicians with skin disease and their eventual disposition is not well studied. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of patients seen with skin disease in a primary care setting and the likelihood of their referral to a dermatologist. The impact the primary care provider had on the quality of skin care was also examined. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients seen during a 2-year period at a general medicine clinic within the University of Miami and upon referral to a University of Miami dermatology office. Data were obtained on the prevalence of skin disease, dispositions of referral, diagnoses made, and procedures performed. Results: During a 2-year period, 36.5% of patients who presented to their primary care physician had at least one skin problem. Of 208 patients with skin disease, in 58.7% (122/208) it was their chief complaint. A wide range of diagnoses were made by the primary care physician, with a limited number of diagnostic procedures performed. Of the 37.5% of patients referred to a dermatologist, 68% were referred on initial evaluation. Diagnoses made by the primary care physician were concordant with that made by the dermatologists 57% of the time. Conclusion: Patients frequently see their primary care physician for skin disease. A large percentage are referred to dermatologists, often for a biopsy of a suspect lesion, to confirm a suspected diagnosis, or to establish a diagnosis of lesions of unknown origin. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:250-5.)
Vibrocreep and Cyclic Damage of Polymers

The paper concerns the time-dependent response of polymer systems subjected to superimposed static and cyclic loads. An overview of recent experimental results regarding the cyclic creep response of two polymers, Nylon 6/6 and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is presented. It is shown that both materials have demonstrated accelerated creep rates due to cyclic loading effects. This phenomenon, defined as “vibrocreep”, is essentially nonlinear, since the material response under combined static and cyclic loads does not represent a simple superposition of the responses to static and fully reversed cyclic loads applied separately. Further, a nonlinear constitutive model, describing the interaction between creep and cyclic damage evolution in polymers is formulated. This constitutive model combines the concepts of linear viscoelastic theory of hereditary type with damage characterization using a damage function. It is shown that the damage function depends on the number of loading cycles and can be determined experimentally. In the paper, experimental results validating the developed constitutive model are presented.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
BoxScript: a component-oriented language for teaching

As component-oriented approaches become increasingly pervasive in the development of complex software systems, it becomes increasingly important to introduce computing science students to appropriate programming concepts, languages and techniques. This paper describes the design of the component-oriented language BoxScript, which seeks to address the needs of teachers and students for a clean, simple language. This paper first enumerates the principles applied in the language design and then presents the key concepts and features of BoxScript. The paper illustrates the language features by using an example and by comparing it with several other component-oriented programming languages.
Existing Biomass Infrastructure and Theoretical Potential Biomass Production in the U.S.

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. The recent and projected status of energy production and consumption in the U.S., resulting in substantial dependencies upon foreign oil, has continued to provide pressure on domestic energy security. All told, bio-energy systems, and biomass crop production in particular, will be important elements of national security, economic vitality, and public policy. Using biomass crop estimates based upon models developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we identify potential biomass crop production zones within the contiguous 48 states of the United States using spatially centered analytic methods. The Midwest and the South regions of the United States are, by far, the largest regions of potential production. However, the Midwest region holds a number of advantageous positions over the South in relation to social and economic competition, which is likely to hinder the development of a bio-economy in the region. Furthermore, we incl...
Identity of the Synthetic Carbocylic Analog of Adenosine and Aristeromycin

Comparisons of aristeromycin and the synthetic carbocyclic analog (C-Ado) of adenosine by several methods have been made because of anomalous results relating to aristeromycin that have appeared in the literature. Aristeromycin and C-Ado demonstrated the same behavior in four thin-layer chromatography and three high-pressure liquid chromatography solvent systems. Proton (100 MHz) and carbon-13 (25 MHz) nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the two substances, determined under the same experimental conditions, are identical. Previously, comparisons of certain data had supported the identity of aristeromycin and C-Ado ; the data presented here show unequivocally that the synthetic and natural forms of the carbocyclic analog of adenosine are identical.
Are there racial differences in breast cancer treatments and clinical outcomes for women treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Purpose To determine the influence of race on breast cancer treatment and on recurrence and breast cancer specific death.
Toward a more efficient and effective neurologic examination for the 21st century

Practice pressures and quality improvement require greater efficiency and effectiveness in the neurologic examination. I hypothesized that certain ‘marginal’ elements of the examination rarely add value and that ‘core’ elements, exemplified by the plantar response (Babinski), are too often poorly performed or interpreted. I analyzed 100 published, neurologic clinicopathologic conferences (CPCs) and 180 ambulatory neurologic consultations regarding 13 hypothetically ‘marginal’ examination components (including ‘frontal’ reflexes, olfaction, jaw strength, corneal reflex, etc.); also, 120 exams on medical inpatients with neurologic problems, recording definitive errors. I surveyed the recalled practices of 24 non-neurologists and reviewed the literature for relevant data or guidance. In the CPCs the ‘marginal’ elements of the examination were rarely provided, requested, or used diagnostically, nor did they contribute in the 180 ambulatory consultations. In the chart review errors and omissions dominated testing of plantar responses, with missed Babinski signs in 14% of all cases and 77% of patients with Babinski signs. House officers harbored unrealistic expectations for performance of ‘marginal’ examination elements. Most textbooks omit detailed guidance (and none cite evidence) on achieving greater efficiency. Exams should be streamlined, while improving ‘core’ skills. Neurologists should apply evidence to update the exam taught to students and non-neurologists.
Analysis of RNA secondary structure by photochemical reversal of psoralen crosslinks

Abstract Aminomethyltrioxsalen (AMT), a psoralen, is known to cause interstrand crosslinks in double stranded nucleic acids. We have demonstrated the photochemical reversal of this reaction, and have used this result to develop a method for identification of specific sequences which are adjacent because of RNA secondary structure formation. E. coli 5S rRNA is used as a model system. We isolated and characterized a product that is derived from the stem region of 5S RNA.