cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infection control resources in New York State Hospitals, 2007

Background In July 2005, New York State legislation requiring the mandatory reporting of specific hospital-associated infections (HAIs) was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. In an effort to measure the impact of this legislation on infection control resources, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) conducted a baseline survey in March 2007. This report presents an overview of the methods and results of this survey. Methods An electronic survey of infection control resources and responsibilities was conducted by the NYSDOH on their secure data network. The survey contained questions regarding the number and percent time for infection prevention and control professional (ICP) and hospital epidemiologist (HE) staff members, ICP/HE educational background and certification, infection control program support services, activities and responsibilities of infection prevention and control program staff, and estimates of time dedicated to various activities, including surveillance. Results Practitioners in 222 of 224 acute care hospitals (99%) responded. The average number of ICPs per facility depended on the average daily census of acute care beds and ranged from a mean of 0.64 full-time equivalent (FTE) ICP in facilities with an average daily census of ≤100 beds to 6.5 FTE ICPs in facilities with an average daily census of ≥ 900 beds. Averaging the ICP resources over the health care settings for which they were responsible revealed that the “average full-time ICP” was responsible for 151 acute care facility beds, 1.3 intensive care units (ICUs) (average, 16 ICU beds), 21 long-term care facility beds, 0.6 dialysis centers, 0.5 ambulatory surgery centers, 4.8 ambulatory/outpatient clinics, and 1.1 private practice offices. The ICPs reported that 45% of their time is dedicated to surveillance. Other activities for which ICPs reported at least partial responsibility include staff education, quality assurance, occupational health, emergency preparedness, construction, central supply/processing, and risk management. Conclusions This survey was designed to monitor and assess infection prevention and control resources and activities in hospitals as New York State embarks on mandatory public reporting of HAI rates. Monitoring infection control resources and activities will be important as HAI reporting moves forward. The information collected will serve as a baseline, and repeat surveys will be conducted to determine which, if any, of the various indicators correlate with the completeness and accuracy of HAI reporting.
THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE PROPORTION AND TYPE OF DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE ON THE AMYLASE AND PROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS IN RAT SALIVA.

Abstract Amylase activity, total protein concentration and patterns obtained by paper electrophoretic separation of proteins were compared in pilocarpine-stimulated saliva from 80-day-old rats of the Harvard caries-resistant and caries-susceptible strains, fed a 67 per cent sucrose diet from weaning, and from rats of the latter strain fed similar diets except that the sucrose was replaced either by corn starch or an isocaloric mixture of protein and fat. Male rats had higher salivary flow rates than females but the concentrations of amylase and total protein appeared to be independent of sex or flow rate. Total protein concentration tended to be higher in rats fed the high protein diet and differences occurred in electrophoretic patterns among the groups. Since the concentration of salivary amylase was not significantly different among the four groups, the conclusion was drawn that the presence of carbohydrate in the diet was not required to induce the synthesis of salivary amylase.
Hydrogen peroxide mediates FK506-induced cytotoxicity in renal cells.

Hydrogen peroxide mediates FK506-induced cytotoxicity in renal cells. Background The nephrotoxicity induced by immunosuppressant FK506 remains a serious clinical problem, and the underlying mechanism has not been completely understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of hydrogen peroxide in FK506-mediated cytotoxicity in a porcine renal proximal tubular cell line, LLC-PK1 cells, and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Methods Cytotoxicity was estimated by crystal violet and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. The activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by flow cytometry. FK506-induced cell death was examined in the presence of the hydrogen peroxide scavenger, catalase, or a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, sodium benzoate. As a control, FK506-induced cell death was also measured in the presence of superoxide anion inhibitor, 4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-benzene disulfonic acid (Tiron), TEMPO, or overexpressed human manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Catalase was also used in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cell injury to determine whether the enzyme specifically protected cells against FK506-mediated cytotoxicity. Results FK506 induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner and coincided with a dose-dependent increase in ROS activity. Abrogation of FK506-mediated ROS by catalase and N -acetylcysteine blunted FK506-induced cell death. Furthermore, overexpression of catalase, sodium benzoate, and deferoxamine inhibited the cytotoxic effect of FK506. In contrast, Tiron, TEMPO, or overexpression of human MnSOD failed to show cytoprotection. In fact, TEMPO or expression of MnSOD enhanced the effect of FK506. Catalase did not significantly affect TNF-α–induced cell injury. Conclusion Catalase is uniquely required in cellular protection against FK506 cytotoxicity, which suggests an important role for hydrogen peroxide in the cellular actions of FK506.
Social environmental influences on adolescents' smoking progression.

OBJECTIVE To determine social environmental factors in relation to adolescent smoking using both longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses. METHODS A national sample of nonsmoking adolescents (N=4,431) who participated in the 1989 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey and who were re-interviewed in 1993 was used for this study. RESULTS The smoking behavior of best friends and smoking beliefs were consistent and significant factors in predicting adolescents' smoking progression from nonsmoking status to regular smokers or experimental smokers. CONCLUSIONS By addressing several limitations of previous studies, this paper contributes additional information regarding the adolescents' smoking acquisition process.
Thermally Induced Genital Appendages on Mosquitoes

Temperatures above those normally present in larval sites of certain mosquitoes (for example, Aedes stimulans) cause larvae of potential males to be feminized in all degrees. Certain combinations of temperatures will affect these larvae so that an abnormal pair of genital appendages consistently appears in addition to the usual pair. These appendages appear to be masculine and are presumed to come from imaginal discs that are latent in present-day Diptera.
Observations on Hemophilus influenzae (type B) meningitis of children

Summary A study on sixty-two cases of H. influenzae meningitis of children was carried out. 1. The bacteriologic and immunologic diagnosis of H. influenzae meningitis of children is discussed. The demonstration of the specific-soluble substance of H. influenzae in the spinal fluid is described. 2. A study of the incidence of bacteremia revealed that H. influenzaewas present in the blood in eleven out of seventeen cases. 3. In regard to the location of foci, it was found that in four casesH. influenzae was recovered from throat and bronchi, respectively. Laryngotracheobronchitis necessitated tracheotomy in two patients with H. influenzae meningitis. In three patients H. influenzae was present in the middle ear. In one case H. influenzae septicemia with purulent arthritis preceded the meningitis by three weeks. 4. The results obtained by means of chemotherapy and serotherapy were as follows: (a) Three patients received sulfamido compounds exclusively. One,treated with sulfathiazole, made a complete recovery. (b) Two out of twelve patients who received anti-H. influenzae horse serum in conjunction with sulfamido compounds recovered. (c) Of seven patients, who received anti-H. influenzae rabbit serumin conjunction with sulfamido compounds, four made a complete recovery. One of these patients had two attacks (relapse?) of H. influenzae meningitis with an interval of six weeks. 5. Following treatment with anti-H. influenzae rabbit serum, antibodieswere demonstrated in the blood of two patients at a time when viable organisms and specific-soluble substance of H. influenzae were present in the spinal fluid. The importance and significance of this finding is discussed. 6. It is suggested to keep these patients desensitized to the therapeuticserum for several weeks until, as far as it is possible to judge, permanent recovery has been established.
Tumor resistance in rats immunized to fetal tissues

Abstract Inbred Fischer 344/N rats were immunized with irradiated cells of either a MCA-induced syngeneic fibrosarcoma (MCA-R), syngeneic second trimester fetal tissue, or allogeneic, Marshall 520 splenic lymphocytes. Animals injected intradermally with soluble antigen extracts (SAE) of MCA-R and normal Fischer 344/N tissues were evaluated for development of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions (DCHR). Fischer rats immune to allogeneic tissue gave no positive DCHR to either SAE. Ten of 11 rats immune to MCA-R and 6 of 9 immune to second trimester fetal tissue gave positive reactions to MCA-R SAE but none to normal tissue SAE. In a second experiment immunized rats were challenged subcutaneously with viable MCA-R tumor cells. Significant resistance to tumor growth was demonstrated by animals immune to MCA-R and by animals immune to second trimester fetal tissue. This resistance was unrelated to sex. Immunological similarity between fetal antigens and tumor associated transplantation antigens is suggested.
Northern Fowl Mite Population Development on Laying Hens Caged at Three Colony Sizes

Beginning 5 weeks after being experimentally infested with known numbers of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), White Leghorn pullets caged alone supported a significantly higher mite population than did pullets housed two and three per cage. During the following 6 weeks, mite populations remained high on the birds caged singly whereas mite populations drastically declined on the birds housed two or three per cage. Eleven weeks after the experiment was initiated, all hens caged alone were infested with northern fowl mites, whereas 22% of the birds housed two per cage and 43% of the birds housed three per cage were free of mites. These data support the hypothesis that social stress in birds influences the development of northern fowl mites (more stress, higher resistance to mites).
A case study of simulating submicron aerosol filtration via lightweight spun-bonded filter media

Abstract The most common method of filtration is via fibrous nonwoven media. Fibrous filters are generally characterized by their collection efficiency and pressure drop. Traditional computational studies in this area are typically based on unrealistic 2-D geometries with the fibers simply placed in a lattice (regular array) perpendicular to the flow. The traditional approaches however, do not permit studying the relation between the 3-D structure of a filter media and its performance. In this study, for the first time, a virtual 3-D web is generated based on the fiber orientation information obtained from analyzing microscopic images of lightweight spun-bonded filter media. Pressure drop and collection efficiency of our virtual filter are simulated and compared with the previous 2-D analytical and numerical models as well as experiment. Our pressure drop calculation, unlike the previous models, showed a perfect agreement with the predictions of the Davies’ empirical equation. The collection efficiencies obtained from simulating a thin spun-bonded filter media challenged with submicron particles having diameters ranging from 50 to 500 nm showed a similar trend as that of the previous 2-D models. For the solid volume fraction (SVF), filter thickness, and the fiber and particle diameters considered in this study, we found collection efficiencies higher than that of the above mentioned 2-D models with a relatively good agreement with experimental data obtained from a TSI 8130 filter tester.
Solar System: Focus on ancient bombardment

The latest studies of asteroid impacts on Earth and the Moon beginning about 450 million years after the formation of the Solar System provide insight into the duration, number and size of these events. The Late Heavy Bombardment was a period of time, generally put at about 4.1 billion to 3.8 billion years ago, when the inner planets of the Solar System were subjected to a high-frequency barrage of asteroids. This left its mark on the Moon, but on Earth the craters quickly disappeared owing to tectonic processes and erosion. In the first of two papers on the bombardment, Brandon Johnson and Jay Melosh determine the properties of the asteroids by looking at spherule beds: layers of debris ejected during the impacts. The thickness of spherule layers is expected to vary according to the size of the impactor and the speed at which it hit Earth. This historical record of impacts indicates that the number of projectiles colliding with Earth was substantially higher 3.5 billion years ago than it is today, with a gradual decline in the number of strikes after the Late Heavy Bombardment. Bottke et al. modelled the evolution of an asteroid belt that extended farther towards Mars than the present one. They find that most of the impactors traced by the spherule beds probably originated in this 'E-belt', which was disrupted during migrations of some of the giant planets.
Simulation of collisionally excited atomic states

A Mathematica application for the production of QuickTime movies and GIF animations (angle to time conversion) to represent collisionally excited target states is presented. These states are described by scattering amplitudes (input) for the excitation of individual magnetic sublevels as a function of the projectile scattering angle or the ejected electron angle in ionization processes. Examples for electron-impact excitation and ionization processes are presented, but the program can also be used, for example, to visualize the results of ion-atom collisions, including charge transfer processes.
A novel transactivating factor that regulates interferon-γ-dependent gene expression

We have previously identified a novel interferon (IFN)-stimulated cis-acting enhancer element, γ-IFN-activated transcriptional element (GATE). GATE differs from the known IFN-stimulated elements in its primary sequence. Preliminary analysis has indicated that the GATE-dependent transcriptional response requires the binding of novel transacting factors. A cDNA expression library derived from an IFN-γ-stimulated murine macrophage cell line was screened with a32P-labeled GATE probe to identify the potential GATE-binding factors. A cDNA coding for a novel transcription-activating factor was identified. Based on its discovery, we named it as GATE-binding factor-1 (GBF-1). GBF-1 homologs are present in mouse, human, monkey, and Drosophila. It activates transcription from reporter genes carrying GATE. It possesses a strong transactivating activity but has a weak DNA binding property. GBF-1 is expressed in most tissues with relatively higher steady-state levels in heart, liver, kidney, and brain. Its expression is induced by IFN-γ treatment. GBF-1 is present in both cytosolic and nuclear compartments. These studies thus identify a novel transactivating factor in IFN signaling pathways.
A robust fault tolerant control approach for LTI systems with actuator and sensor faults

In this paper, we study a robust fault-tolerant control (FTC) problem for linear systems with time varying actuator and sensor faults and propose an parameter-dependent solution by using L 2 gain optimization techniques. Using estimated faults from a fault detection and isolation (FDI) scheme, parameter-dependent robust FTC gain will be scheduled by fault magnitude to stabilize and optimize the faulty system under all possible fault scenarios. The synthesis condition of such a FTC control law will be formulated as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and can be solved efficiently by semi-definite programming techniques. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the proposed fault-tolerant control approach for a simple faulty systems with different fault levels and fault estimation error bounds.
Pathways to adult diagnosis of CF: the impact of pre-diagnosis experience on post-diagnosis responses and needs

This phenomenological study explored the pre-diagnosis experiences of 36 men and women who learned during their adult years that they had cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease usually diagnosed in children. Four mutually-exclusive pathways to diagnosis emerged during data analysis, each determined by the extent to which participants experienced symptoms growing up and the extent to which they suspected they had a serious disease. Themes describing the pathways were developed. Pre-diagnosis experiences were found to impact post-diagnosis experiences, as well as individuals' readiness for education, treatment, and support. Recommendations for CF caregivers, consistent with the expressed wishes of participants, also emerged. Findings revealed that, at least for CF, not all arrive at diagnosis having had similar experiences, suggesting individualized approaches to initiating treatment, education, and support. Although the literature largely conceptualizes chronic illness experience as beginning with diagnosis, this study highlights the pre-diagnosis period as an important focus for additional study.
Sodium time course using 23Na MRI in reversible focal brain ischemia in the monkey.

Purpose To demonstrate the use of sodium MRI for measuring the time course of tissue sodium concentration (TSC) in a nonhuman primate model of reversible focal brain ischemia. Materials and Methods Reversible endovascular focal brain ischemia was induced in nonhuman primates (n = 4), and sodium MRI was performed on a 3 Tesla scanner for monitoring changes in TSC during both the middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and MCA reperfusion portions of the experiment. Results The TSC increased linearly in the ischemic tissue during MCA occlusion (ranging from a mean TSC increase of 5.44%/h to 7.15%/h across the four subjects), and then there was a statistically significant change from a positive TSC slope during MCA occlusion to a TSC slope after MCA reperfusion that was not statistically different from zero. The linear increase in sodium MRI during brain ischemia was used to estimate the stroke onset time to within 0.45 h in each of the four subjects (with a maximum 95% confidence interval of ± 1.147 h). Conclusion The data indicate that sodium MRI increases linearly during brain ischemia, and that this increase is stopped by tissue reperfusion within 5.4 h after stroke onset. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:219–223. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hardware complexity for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer sensor processing

A number of Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer processing techniques have been demonstrated for use to extract gaugelength measurements from optical detector output signals. These include: (1) an artificial Neural Network method, (2) a direct phase synthesid method, and (3) an iterative search method. For applications where the processing is to be performed with low-power hardware, co-located with the sensor, the hardware implementation architecture and complexity become critical for a practical solution. In this paper, implementation complexity tradeoffs and comparisons are given for various implementation architectures for each method with respect to each gauge-length estimate. Our research considers complexity as measured in terms of the number of hardware-resident arithmetic operators, the total number of arithmetic operations performed, and the data memory size. It is shown that accurate gauge-length estimates are achievable with implementation architectures suitable for applications including low-power implementations and scalable implementations.
Fuel treatment impacts on estimated wildfire carbon loss from forests in Montana, Oregon, California, and Arizona

Using forests to sequester carbon in response to anthropogenically induced climate change is being considered across the globe. A recent U.S. executive order mandated that all federal agencies account for sequestration and emissions of greenhouse gases, highlighting the importance of understanding how forest carbon stocks are influenced by wildfire. This paper reports the effects of the most common forest fuel reduction treatments on carbon pools composed of live and dead biomass as well as potential wildfire emissions from six different sites in four western U.S. states. Additionally, we predict the median forest product life spans and uses of materials removed during mechanical treatments. Carbon loss from modeled wildfire-induced tree mortality was lowest in the mechanical plus prescribed fire treatments, followed by the prescribed fire-only treatments. Wildfire emissions varied from 10–80 Mg/ha and were lowest in the prescribed fire and mechanical followed by prescribed fire treatments at most sites. Mean biomass removals per site ranged from approximately 30–60 dry Mg/ha; the median lives of products in first use varied considerably (from 50 years). Our research suggests most of the benefits of increased fire resistance can be achieved with relatively small reductions in current carbon stocks. Retaining or growing larger trees also reduced the vulnerability of carbon loss from wildfire. In addition, modeled vulnerabilities to carbon losses and median forest product life spans varied considerably across our study sites, which could be used to help prioritize treatment implementation.
INVERSION OF INDUCTION LOGGING MEASUREMENTS

Model problems of induction logging are considered. Some new inversion algorithms are given.
Occupational status in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

(1982). Occupational status in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History: Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 111-126.
Impression Management in Police Officer Candidacy on the MMPI-2

It is well documented that candidates in employment situations attempt to present overly positive pictures of themselves that may be inaccurate. Police officer candidacy situations are not an exception. They are more critical to the public welfare, however, because of the sensitive nature of police officers as an interface between government and the community. For this reason, the study of impression management using devices that are employed in police selection is of great importance. This study used 36 college students to whom the MMPI-2 was administered, first under standard conditions (control condition) in which the students responded as they ordinarily would and second, under a set of special instructions (experimental condition) which instructed them to respond as if they were police officer candidates. The two profiles were compared. As hypothesized, the Lie (L) and Correction (K) scales were elevated in the experimental condition. An inspection of the clinical scales revealed that all tended to be lower in the experimental condition than in the control condition, with the exception of Masculinity-Femininity (Mf), Psychopathic Deviate (Pd), Paranoia (Pa), and Hypomania (Ma). Implications of these findings for officer candidate selection are discussed.
Lbx1 Specifies Somatosensory Association Interneurons in the Dorsal Spinal Cord

Association and relay neurons that are generated in the dorsal spinal cord play essential roles in transducing somatosensory information. During development, these two major neuronal classes are delineated by the expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Lbx1. Lbx1 is expressed in and required for the correct specification of three early dorsal interneuron populations and late-born neurons that form the substantia gelatinosa. In mice lacking Lbx1, cells types that arise in the ventral alar plate acquire more dorsal identities. This results in the loss of dorsal horn association interneurons, excess production of commissural neurons, and disrupted sensory afferent innervation of the dorsal horn. Lbx1, therefore, plays a critical role in the development of sensory pathways in the spinal cord that relay pain and touch.
Emerging treatments in lung cancer – targeting the RLIP76 molecular transporter

Multidrug resistance in lung cancer cells is a significant obstacle in the treatment of lung cancer. Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is often the result of efflux of the drugs from cancer cells, mediated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent drug transport across the plasma membrane. Thus, identifying molecular targets in the cancer cell transport machinery could be a key factor in successful combinatorial therapy, along with chemotherapeutic drugs. The transport protein Ral-interacting protein of 76 kDa (RLIP76), also known as Ral-binding protein 1 (RalBP1), is a highly promising target for lung cancer treatment. RLIP76 is an ATP-dependent non-ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, responsible for the major transport function in many cells, including many cancer cell lines, causing efflux of glutathione-electrophile conjugates of both endogenous metabolites and environmental toxins. RLIP76 is expressed in most human tissues, and is overexpressed in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines and in many tumor types. The blockade of RLIP76 by various approaches has been shown to increase the sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs, and leads to apoptosis in cells. In xenograft tumor models in mice, RLIP76 blockade or depletion results in complete and sustained regression across many cancer cell types, including lung cancer cells. In addition to its transport function, RLIP76 has many other cellular and physiological functions based on its domain structure, which includes a unique Ral-binding domain and a Rho GTPase activating protein (RhoGAP)-catalytic domain as well as docking sites for multiple signaling proteins. As a Ral effector, RhoGAP, and adapter protein, RLIP76 has been shown to play important roles in endocytosis, mitochondrial fission, cell spreading and migration, actin dynamics during gastrulation, and Ras-induced tumorigenesis. Additionally, RLIP76 is also important for stromal cell function in tumors, as it was recently shown to be required for efficient endothelial cell function and angiogenesis in solid tumors. However, RLIP76 knockout mice are viable, and blockade effects appear to be selective for implanted tumors in mice, suggesting the possibility that RLIP76-targeting drugs may be successful in clinical trials. In this review, we outline the many cellular and physiological functions of RLIP76 in normal and cancer cells, and discuss the potential for RLIP76-based therapeutics in lung cancer treatment.
The sequential generation of multiresponse D-optimal designs when the variance-covariance matrix is not known

Abstract : The construction of D-optimal designs for multiresponse experiments was previously considered. This algorithm required that the variance covariance matrix, Sigma, of the responses be known. This is rarely the case in practice. The primary objective of this paper is to develop a sequential procedure for the construction of multirespone designs when Sigma is not known. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate this procedure. Keywords: Multiresponse design; D optimality; Sequential generation.
K-conservation in the dissociation of singlet ketene

The effect of K-conservation on the photodissociation of ketene has been investigated. Rate constants and photofragment excitation (PHOFEX) spectra have been calculated using phase space theory (PST) in a helicity basis. While the effect of K-conservation on rate constants is relatively subtle, PHOFEX spectra with state-selected reactant molecules appear to provide a feasible way to experimentally resolve the question of K-conservation.
On the stability of a compressible axisymmetric rotating flow in a pipe

The linear stability of a compressible inviscid axisymmetric and rotating columnar flow of a prefect gas in a finite-length straight circular pipe is investigated. This work extends a previous analysis to include the influence of Mach number on the flow dynamics. A well-posed model of the unsteady motion of a swirling flow, with inlet and outlet conditions that may reflect the physical situation, is formulated. The linearized equations of motion for the evolution of infinitesimal axially symmetric disturbances are derived. A general mode of disturbance, that is not limited to the axial-Fourier mode, is introduced and an eigenvalue problem is developed. It is found that a neutral mode of disturbance exists at ‘the critical swirl ratio for a compressible vortex flow’. The flow changes its stability characteristics as the swirl ratio increases across this critical level. When the swirl ratio is below the critical level (supercritical flow), an asymptotically stable mode is found and, when it is above the critical level (subcritical flow), an unstable mode of disturbance develops. This result cannot be predicted by any of the previous stability criteria. When the characteristic Mach number of the base flow tends to zero, the results are the same as found for incompressible swirling flows in pipes. The growth rate ratio is positive for all Mach numbers, but decreases as Mach number is increased. This ratio vanishes at the limit Mach number at which the critical swirl tends to infinity. The present results also demonstrate that the axisymmetric breakdown of high-Reynolds-number compressible vortex flows may be delayed to higher swirl ratios with the increase of the incoming flow Mach number.
Thrombin Induces the Preproendothelin-1 Gene in Endothelial Cells by a Protein Tyrosine Kinase–Linked Mechanism

Thrombin stimulates synthesis and secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoactive peptide that triggers responses in the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. We investigated the signal transduction pathways by which thrombin stimulates preproET-1 gene expression and ET-1 peptide secretion in macrovascular cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells [HUVECs] and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells [BPAECs]) and microvascular cells (human microvascular endothelial cell line [HMEC-1]). Thrombin (4 U/mL) stimulated maximal induction of ET-1 peptide secretion and preproET-1 mRNA after 2 hours in HUVECs and BPAECs and after 1 hour in HMEC-1. A synthetic thrombin receptor activator peptide confirmed ligand-specific receptor actions to induce preproET-1 mRNA. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation by phorbol ester transiently induced preproET-1 mRNA but had no effect on ET-1 peptide synthesis. PKC inhibitors sangivamycin and calphostin C and PKC depletion failed to suppress thrombin-stimulated preproET-1 mRNA. Adenylate cyclase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not participate in thrombin-induced preproET-1 gene activation. Thrombin stimulated a rapid increase in phosphotyrosine-containing proteins, suggesting a role for tyrosine phosphorylation in thrombin signaling. These data demonstrate that thrombin induces the preproET-1 gene and ET-1 peptide synthesis by a PKC-independent PTK-dependent pathway in macrovascular and microvascular endothelial cells. Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and genistein blocked thrombin-stimulated preproET-1 mRNA and peptide secretion, whereas daidzein, which lacks inhibitory activity, did not suppress thrombin-induced ET-1.
Time-dependent oscillations in a cw chemical laser unstable resonator.

The amplitude, frequency, and Fresnel number dependence of the time-dependent oscillations which were predicted to occur on lines whose saturated gain does not fill the unstable resonator were measured. The time-dependent oscillations had a period of ~40 nsec independent of flow rates, do not occur for Fresnel numbers less than a demarcation Fresnel number which lies between 1.5 and 3.0, and their amplitudes increased as the fraction of the resonator filled by the saturated gain of the oscillating line decreased. The period of the time-dependent oscillations was determined by the resonator magnification. There was a strong cascade coupling between the oscillating 2 → 1 and 1 → 0 lines. The a priori prediction of these characteristics of the time-dependent oscillations by the MNORO3UR computer model was in agreement with the data. A 7-nsec oscillation, which was probably a mode beat of the laser, was superimposed on top of the 40-nsec oscillation. The time-dependent oscillations occurred in both 2-D and 3-D unstable resonators.
Human Capital Growth in a Cross Section of US Metropolitan Areas

Human capital is typically viewed as generating a number of desirable outcomes, including economic growth. Yet, in spite of its importance, few empirical studies have explored why some economies accumulate more human capital than others. This paper attempts to do so using a sample of more than 200 metropolitan areas in the United States over the years 1980, 1990, and 2000. The results reveal two consistently significant correlates of human capital growth, defined as the change in a city's rate of college completion: population and the existing stock of college-educated labor. Given that population growth and human capital accumulation are both positively associated with education, these results suggest that the geographic distributions of population and human capital should have become more concentrated in recent decades. That is, larger, more educated metropolitan areas should have exhibited the fastest rates of increase in both population and education and thus 'pulled away' from smaller, less-educated metropolitan areas. The evidence largely supports this conclusion.
The natural history of cerebrovascular disease: a closer look at paraclinoid aneurysms and epileptogenic AVMs

Two reports are published that represent important contributions to our understanding of the natural history of cerebrovascular disease, one addressing the haemorrhage and growth risk of small paraclinoid aneurysms and the other addressing arteriovenous malformation (AVM) features associated with seizure presentation. Jeon and colleagues1 evaluated a cohort of 524 patients possessing very small, unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, revealing an exceedingly low rate of rupture (2 cases) and growth (17 cases) over 1675.5 aneurysm-years. Large natural history studies often group internal carotid artery (ICA) or internal carotid artery aneurysms except posterior communicating artery aneurysms (non-PCcomm). This can obscure the haemorrhage risk of paraclinoid aneurysms as a result of mixing them with ICA bifurcation and anterior choroidal artery aneurysms,1 ,2 the latter more akin to posterior communicating artery aneurysms. This more selective study allows for a direct analysis of very small paraclinoid aneurysms and reinforces their generally very low risk …
Do Governors Matter? Budgeting Rules and the Politics of State Policymaking:

Whether and how governors influence public policies in the U.S. is open to question. This research tests a model of gubernatorial influence on public policymaking in which gubernatorial power is conceived of the governor’s power over the budgetary process relative to that of the state legislature. We argue that governors with greater control over the budget process will use those powers to deliver a higher proportion of policies that confer benefits to statewide versus more localized constituencies. As governors’ electoral security increases, their willingness to support legislatively desired localized spending increases. Empirical results derived from pooled cross-sectional models largely support the models tested.
Justice in Times of Transition: Lessons from the Iberian Experience

A key contention of the transitional justice movement is that the more comprehensive and vigorous the effort to bring justice to a departed authoritarian regime the better the democratizing outcome will be. This essay challenges this view with empirical evidence from the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, a sweeping policy of purges intended to cleanse the state and society of the authoritarian past nearly derailed the transition to democracy by descending into a veritable witch-hunt. In Spain, by contrast, letting bygones be bygones, became a foundation for democratic consolidation. These counter-intuitive examples suggest that there is no pre-ordained outcome to transitional justice, and that confronting an evil past is neither a requirement nor a pre-condition for democratization. This is primarily because the principal factors driving the impulse toward justice against the old regime are political rather than ethical or moral. In Portugal, the rise of transitional justice mirrored the anarchic politics of the revolution that lunched the transition to democracy. In Spain, the absence of transitional justice reflected the pragmatism of a democratic transition anchored on compromise and consensus.
A General Purpose Computer Program for the Dynamic Simulation of Vehicle-Guideway Interactions

A general purpose computer program for calculating the dynamic response of vehicles traveling over surface or evaluated guideways is described. The program has application to a broad class of transportatio n systems and hence eliminates the need for numerous specialized programs. The program is modular in design and is based on the finite element or building block method in which a complex dynamic system is made up of a number of components. The equations of motion for each of these components is known, and the program automatically combines the component equations to form equations of motion for the complete system. The equations of motion are then integrated numerically to give the response of the system to variables such as guideway roughness, span length, etc. Several output options are available and on-line printer plots or off-line CalComp plots of the response can be obtained. Addition building blocks can be easily added to.the program whenever desired. The program is written in PL/I language and has been used on the IBM 360/91 computer. The program has been used on a limited number of problems, several of which are included in this paper. GENERAL purpose computer program (APLDYN)1 has been written for the simulation of the dynamics associated with vehicles traveling over surface or elevated guideways with prescribed irregularities. The program has application to a broad class of transportation systems and hence eliminates the need for numerous specialized programs. It is based on the finite element method in which a complex system is made up of a number of discrete components. This technique is not new to the structural engineer, but it has seen limited application to dynamic problems associated with discrete moving masses. The APLDYN application of this finite element technique to moving vehicle problems is similar to, but more general than that used by Hunt 2 to determine the dynamic response of a flexible vehicle moving along a flexible supporting structure. Other simulations3 ~~ 5 although useful for studying the dynamic behavior of specific systems, have been limited in scope and versatility. Kaplan et al. 3 have developed a simulation for the vertical response of a single car or a two-car train traveling across an elevated guideway with no irregularities. The guideway flexibility provides the dynamic ex citation. McHenry and Deleys4 have written a simulation for the response of automobiles when encountering obstacles such as guard rails, railroad crossings and abutments. The simulation does not handle the more general class of vehicles, elevated guideways, and roadbed irregularities encountered in new transportation systems. Melpar has also developed a comprehensive computer program5 but this program is written specifically for a conventional railcar on a surface track. The Melpar program handles a multidegree-of -freedom system but is limited in the number of mass elements that can be simulated.
Distributed behavior collaboration for self-reconfigurable robots

This paper describes a distributed and decentralized approach for modules in a self-reconfigurable robot to select appropriate behaviors based on four factors: the current global task, the local topological location in the current configuration, the local state/sensor information, and the received messages from their neighbors. This approach does not assume any unique global identifiers for the modules, and is robust for reconfigurations of modules. The approach is enabled by the extended neighbor topology built upon a previous local topology representation and a hormone-inspired communication and control protocols. Experimental results on the CONRO robot have shown some unique features of this approach for the control of self-reconfigurable robots in general.
Characterization of kinectin, a kinesin-binding protein: primary sequence and N-terminal topogenic signal analysis.

Kinectin is a kinesin-binding protein (Toyoshima et al., 1992) that is required for kinesin-based motility (Kumar et al., 1995). A kinectin cDNA clone containing a 4.7-kilobase insert was isolated ...
SOCIAL BIOLOGY OF RODENTS: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Papers in this Special Feature were presented at a symposium on the social biology of rodents that was held in June 2001 at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Our decision to host a symposium on this topic resulted from our realization that although rodents have played a vital role in research on social behavior, no recent summaries of the social biology of these animals were available. Given the number of biological disciplines, research strategies, and species that are relevant to this topic, a comprehensive review of rodent social biology was not possible. Instead, in structuring the symposium, we chose to focus on a subset of behavioral issues for which studies of rodents currently are providing exciting new insights. Topics selected for inclusion—communication, kin recognition, philopatry, and sociality—are timely and are of considerable interest to biologists studying a wide array of animal taxa. Thus, papers presented in the symposium reflect recent advances not only in our knowledge of rodent social biology but also in our conceptual understanding of animal social behavior.
Latin Americas Racial Caste System: Salient Marketing Implications

Latin American societies are structured in a fuzzy racial caste system. Whites are at the top. Next are individuals of mixed European and Indian or mixed European and African ancestry, the Mestizos and the Mulattos, respectively. At the bottom are the Indians and the blacks. Integral to this system is an overt preference for European appearance and, among many whites, the firm conviction that the dark-skinned are racially inferior. This results in exclusive use of models of European appearance in publicity channels, higher prices of luxury goods, and the perception that Latin American products are of poor quality.
Characterization of management practices used on Kentucky dairy farms with low somatic cell counts

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to summarize management practices used by Kentucky dairy herds with low SCC. Herds with an annual mean SCC
Pesticide Susceptibility of Cybocephalus nipponicus and Rhyzobius lophanthae (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae, Coccinellidae)

Abstract The susceptibility of the predatory beetles Cybocephalus nipponicus Endrody-Younga and Rhyzobius lophanthae Blaisdell to 6 pesticides commonly used for treating cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, was tested. Three concentrations (half field rate, field rate, and twice field rate) of each pesticide were tested against both beetle species with a coated glass vial bioassay. Nearly 100% mortality in both beetle species occurred at all concentrations when treated with methidathion, dimethoate, and malathion. Insecticidal soap, fish oils, and imidacloprid were much less toxic. At one-half the field rate, C. nipponicus had 66% mortality with insecticidal soap, 76% mortality with imidacloprid, and 83% mortality with fish oil. At one-half the field rate, R. lophanthae had 43% mortality with insecticidal soap, 63% mortality with imidacloprid, and 46% mortality with fish oil. Mortality rate for each beetle species rose with increasing concentration of each pesticide and the soap and oil w...
A Survey of Architectural Techniques for Near-Threshold Computing

Energy efficiency has now become the primary obstacle in scaling the performance of all classes of computing systems. Low-voltage computing, specifically, near-threshold voltage computing (NTC), which involves operating the transistor very close to and yet above its threshold voltage, holds the promise of providing many-fold improvement in energy efficiency. However, use of NTC also presents several challenges such as increased parametric variation, failure rate, and performance loss. This article surveys several recent techniques that aim to offset these challenges for fully leveraging the potential of NTC. By classifying these techniques along several dimensions, we also highlight their similarities and differences. It is hoped that this article will provide insights into state-of-the-art NTC techniques to researchers and system designers and inspire further research in this field.
Reproduction of Togaviruses

The togaviruses may be more familiar to some readers under the old term “arboviruses.” Arboviruses (arthropod-borne), as originally defined, generally are transmitted to their vertebrate hosts by the bite of an infected arthropod, usually a mosquito or a tick. In this natural cycle, the arthropod does not play a passive role; instead, active multiplication of virus in the arthropod host is essential. As Casals (1971) has pointed out, this essentially ecological classification no longer suffices to define a morphologically and biochemically related group of viruses and hence should be abandoned.