cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ca(2+) entry activated by S-nitrosylation. Relationship to store-operated ca(2+) entry.

Abstract The coupling between Ca2+ pools and store-operated Ca2+ entry channels (SOCs) remains an unresolved question. Recently, we revealed that Ca2+ entry could be activated in response to S-nitrosylation and that this process was stimulated by Ca2+ pool emptying (Favre, C. J., Ufret-Vincenty, C. A., Stone, M. R., Ma, H-T., and Gill, D. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 30855–30858). In DDT1MF-2 smooth muscle cells and DC-3F fibroblasts, Ca2+ entry activated by the lipophilic NO donor, GEA3162 (5-amino-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)1,2,3,4-oxatriazolium), or the alkylator, N-ethylmaleimide, was observed to be strongly activated by transient external Ca2+ removal, closely resembling activation of SOC activity in the same cells. The nonadditivity of SOC and NO donor-activated Ca2+ entry suggested a single entry mechanism. Calyculin A-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton prevented SOC but had no effect on GEA3162-induced Ca2+ entry. However, a single entry mechanism could account for both SOC and NO donor-activated entry if the latter reflected direct modification of the entry channel byS-nitrosylation, bypassing the normal coupling process between channels and pools. Small differences between SOC and GEA3162-activated Ba2+ entry and sensitivity to blockade by La3+ were observed, and in HEK293 cells SOC activity was observed without a response to thiol modification. It is concluded that in some cells, S-nitrosylation modifies an entry mechanism closely related to SOC and/or part of the regulatory machinery for SOC-mediated Ca2+ entry.
Experiments dependent on neutron spin transitions

Abstract Experiments dependent on neutron spin orientation transitions which give fundamental physics information are described. The magnetic moment of the neutron has been measured to be 1.91304275(45) nuclear magnetons by separated oscillatory fields resonant reorientations of the spins of neutrons in a beam passing through a magnetic field. In similar resonance experiments with ultracold neutrons trapped in a bottle, the neutron electric dipole moment has been shown to be less than 9×10 −26 e cm. Neutrons `dressed' with many radiofrequency quanta have been studied. The Berry phases of neutrons that have passed through a helical magnetic field or an oscillatory magnetic field have been observed. In neutron interactions, experiments with condensed matter, small changes in neutron velocities have been measured by changes in the neutron precessions in magnetic fields before and after the interaction. Parity non-conserving spin rotations of neutrons passing through various materials have been observed and measured and new experiments with H 2 and He are in progress.
Therapeutic Effects of Glycine in Isovaleric Acidemia

Extract: The effect of glycine administration on acute leucine loading (125 mg/kg) was tested in a patient with isovaleric acidemia. Serum isovaleric acid at 1 ¾ hr after the leucine loading alone was elevated to 5.60 mg/100 ml and urinary isovalerylglycine excretion was 9.90 mg/mg creatinine/24 hr. When the same amount of leucine was given with glycine (250 mg/kg) serum isovaleric acid was only 0.93 mg/100 ml. Unfortunately, urine was collected for only 12 hr after the leucine-glycine loading. However, the amount of urinary isovalerylglycine was 26.2 mg/mg creatinine in this period. In the following experiments in which a meal containing 80 mg leucine/kg was given, serum isovaleric acid was elevated to 1.14 and 1.01 mg/100 ml at 3 hr and 6 hr after the loading, respectively. How-ever, serum isovaleric acid was only 0.53 and 0.79 mg/100 ml at 3 and 6 hr, respectively, when the identical mean was given with 2 g glycine. The effect of long term glycine administration (250 mg/kg/24hr) was also tested. It did not prevent two ketotic episodes which were caused by infections. However, the duration of clinical symptoms such as vomiting and a large anion gap in the acute episodes were much shorter with rectal glycine administration. The patient's linear growth and weight gain during glycine administration was much belter than that in the pretreatment period. Speculation: In isovaleric acidemia, isovaleryl-CoA is not oxidized because of an inborn deficiency of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity. The leucine loading tests and clinical response to oral glycine in this patient suggest that exogenously administered glycine enhanced the conjugation of glycine with isovaleryl-CoA, thus preventing accumulation of free isovaleric acid, a toxic substance. With glycine administration, mitochondrial glycine concentration seems to be elevated to a level at which faster reaction velocity of glycine-N-acylation of isovaleryl-CoA is attained. Thus, glycine administration appears to be an effective therapeutic method in the management of acute ketoacidotic episodes in this disease. However, chronic administration failed to prevent ketoacidotic episodes which were induced by infections.
Structure of the major single-stranded DNA-binding domain of replication protein A suggests a dynamic mechanism for DNA binding.

Although structures of single‐stranded (ss)DNA‐binding proteins (SSBs) have been reported with and without ssDNA, the mechanism of ssDNA binding in eukarya remains speculative. Here we report a 2.5 A structure of the ssDNA‐binding domain of human replication protein A (RPA) (eukaryotic SSB), for which we previously reported a structure in complex with ssDNA. A comparison of free and bound forms of RPA revealed that ssDNA binding is associated with a major reorientation between, and significant conformational changes within, the structural modules—OB‐folds—which comprise the DNA‐binding domain. Two OB‐folds, whose tandem orientation was stabilized by the presence of DNA, adopted multiple orientations in its absence. Within the OB‐folds, extended loops implicated in DNA binding significantly changed conformation in the absence of DNA. Analysis of intermolecular contacts suggested the possibility that other RPA molecules and/or other proteins could compete with DNA for the same binding site. Using this mechanism, protein–protein interactions can regulate, and/or be regulated by DNA binding. Combined with available biochemical data, this structure also suggested a dynamic model for the DNA‐binding mechanism.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus

The aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldehyde:NAD(P) oxidoreductase E.C. 1.2.1.3. and 1.2.1.5) phenotype in several tissues of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, has been established. The tissue distribution of gerbil aldehyde dehydrogenase is similar to that of the rat, with liver possessing the majority of the aldehyde dehydrognease activity. Male kidney and testis possess significantly more activity than female kidney and ovary. The substrate and co-enzyme specificity of gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase is also similar to that of rat and mouse liver. Gel isoelectric focusing resolves one major gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme at pI 5.3. Mouse liver is resolved into two major isozymes at pIs 5.3 and 5.6 and rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase into one major isozyme at pI 5.4. Gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase is functional over a broad pH range with an optima at pH 9.0. Rat and mouse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase possess sharp pH optima at pH 8.5.
Reviving systems programming

This paper describes how a systems programming course, which was losing popularity with students and which no longer fit into the curriculum, was revised so that it made a contribution to the overall program. The principal changes were to replace a large, well-worn project with a collection of small challenges and to alter radically the content, presentation, support, and grading of these challenges (in comparison to typical assignments). The resulting course amalgamates traditional systems programming and systems programming as it is done on the job.
Three-dimensional initial data for the collision of two black holes. II. Quasicircular orbits for equal-mass black holes.

The construction of initial-data sets representing binary black-hole configurations in quasicircular orbits is studied in the context of the conformal-imaging formalism. An effective-potential approach for locating quasicircular orbits is outlined for the general case of two holes of arbitrary size and with arbitrary spins. Such orbits are explicitly determined for the case of two equal-sized nonrotating holes, and the innermost stable quasicircular orbit is located. The characteristics of this innermost orbit are compared to previous estimates for it, and the entire sequence of quasicircular orbits is compared to results from the post-Newtonian approximation. Some aspects of the numerical evolution of such data sets are explored.
Cochrane in context: Linezolid versus vancomycin for skin and soft tissue infections.

Cochrane Review: Linezolid versus vancomycin for skin and soft tissue infections. Yue J, Dong BR, Yang M, Chen X, Wu T, Liu GJ. Linezolid versus vancomycin for skin and soft tissue infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD008056. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008056.pub2. This companion piece to the review, “Linezolid versus vancomycin for skin and soft tissue infections,” contains the following pieces: The abstract of the review A commentary from Mike Steiner, one of the editors of Evidence-Based Child Health, discussing the importance of this review Some other recently published references on this topic
Emotionally reactive television

When is an interface simple? Is it when it is invisible or very obvious, even intrusive? From the time TV was created, watching TV is considered as a static activity. TV audiences have very limited choices to interact with TV, such as turning on/off, increasing/decreasing volume, and traversing among different channels. This paper suggests that TV program should have social responses to people, such as affording and accepting audience's emotional feeling with the growth of technologies. This paper presents HiTV, an Emotionally-Reactive TV system using a digitally augmented soft ball as affect-input interfaces that can amplify TV program's video/audio signals. HiTV transforms the original video and audio into effects that intrigue and fulfill people's emotional expectation.
An FPGA-based Space-time coded telemetry receiver

The significant problem of data dropouts in aeronautical telemetry due to multiple transmit antennas has escalated as transmit data rates have increased. A proposed solution of using a space-time coded signal can resolve these data dropouts at the expense of increased receiver complexity. This paper describes an implementation overview of an FPGA-based space-time coded telemetry receiver and the various challenges associated with its realization. In addition, we discuss the productivity of the high-level design tool used in constructing the receiver, Xilinx system generator for DSP. With some overhead in terms of FPGA fabric usage and clock speed, our estimates show a 2 - 3x productivity improvement over standard HDLs.
Multipolarity, Perceptions, and the Tragedy of 1914

In “Does Chain-Ganging Cause the Outbreak of War,” Dominic Tierney critiques our work on alliance politics in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. Tierney incorrectly ascribes to us a theory about the outbreak of conflict based on a “chain-ganging theory” in which war occurs because states become so tightly tied to their allies that they lose volition and find themselves in conflicts not of their own choosing. In fact, we do not try to explain the origins of war, but instead explain why wars in Europe escalated to a continent-wide scale. Here we briefly restate our argument and demonstrate how Tierney misconstrues it. We also show how some of the factors that we discuss in our original work are useful for assessing Tierney's claim that the causes of conflict and alliance dynamics hinge on whether states are hawks or doves.
Evaluation of Energy Sources with and without Carnitine in Newborn Pig Heart and Liver

The oxidation rate of five energy sub strates with and without exogenous addition of carnit- ine in the heart and liver of 15-h-old nonsuckled piglets was evaluated. Oxygen consumption (nmol A›2mg protein"1min"1) in heart and liver for five substrates were: pyruvate, 0.248, 0.191; palmitoyl-CoA, 0.042, 0.034; palmitoyl-carnitine, 0.249, 0.111; isovalerate, 0.084, 0.059; acetoacetate, 0.166, 0.068, respec tively. The addition of free carnitine doubled the rate of palmitoyl-CoA utilization in both heart and liver, but palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was always much lower than that of palmitoyl-carnitine. In livers of piglets from sows fed 8% fat, palmitoyl-carnitine oxidation was slower (P < 0.03) than in piglets from sows fed 0% fat. Heart tissue metabolized isovalerate faster (P < 0.02) when piglets were from sows fed fat compared with those from the nonfat group. A lysine x fat interaction was observed for piglet liver metabolism of isovalerate and acetoacetate, suggesting that a more metaboli- cally developed pig results when sows are fed 0.48% lysine without supplemental fat during gestation. Car nitine did not seem to be the limiting factor for the oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA, and gestational dietary fat and lysine seemed to influence substrate metabolism in the newborn pig. J. Nutr. 121: 1117-1122, 1991.
Detection of Murine Cytomegalovirus Immediate Early 1 Transcripts in the Spleens of Latently Infected Mice

The spleens of mice latently infected with murine cytomegalovirus were examined by reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction to assay for transcriptional activity of the viral immediate early 1 gene. Transcripts were detected in 6 of 8 animals at a level between 50 and 500 copies in 200 ng of total cellular RNA. This level appears to be roughly 10-fold higher than that of viral genome even though viral DNA is more readily detectable. These data suggest that a significant fraction of latent murine cytomegalovirus is transcriptionally active in the spleen, which may be indicative of an abortive infection or possibly low-level persistence or a transient reactivation.
Arginine de novo and nitric oxide production in disease states

Arginine is derived from dietary protein intake, body protein breakdown, or endogenous de novo arginine production. The latter may be linked to the availability of citrulline, which is the immediate precursor of arginine and limiting factor for de novo arginine production. Arginine metabolism is highly compartmentalized due to the expression of the enzymes involved in arginine metabolism in various organs. A small fraction of arginine enters the NO synthase (NOS) pathway. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential and rate-limiting cofactor for the production of NO. Depletion of BH4 in oxidative-stressed endothelial cells can result in so-called NOS3 “uncoupling,” resulting in production of superoxide instead of NO. Moreover, distribution of arginine between intracellular transporters and arginine-converting enzymes, as well as between the arginine-converting and arginine-synthesizing enzymes, determines the metabolic fate of arginine. Alternatively, NO can be derived from conversion of nitrite. Reduced arginine availability stemming from reduced de novo production and elevated arginase activity have been reported in various conditions of acute and chronic stress, which are often characterized by increased NOS2 and reduced NOS3 activity. Cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension are characterized by NOS3 uncoupling. Therapeutic applications to influence (de novo) arginine and NO metabolism aim at increasing substrate availability or at influencing the metabolic fate of specific pathways related to NO bioavailability and prevention of NOS3 uncoupling. These include supplementation of arginine or citrulline, provision of NO donors including inhaled NO and nitrite (sources), NOS3 modulating agents, or the targeting of endogenous NOS inhibitors like asymmetric dimethylarginine.
Vitamin D treatment modulates organic dust-induced cellular and airway inflammatory consequences.

Exposure to organic dusts elicits airway inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D recently has been associated with various airway inflammatory diseases, but its role in agricultural organic dust exposures is unknown. This study investigated whether vitamin D reduces organic dust-induced inflammatory outcomes in cell culture and animal models. Organic dust extracts obtained from swine confinement facilities induced neutrophil chemokine production (human IL-8, murine CXCL1/CXCL2). Neutrophil chemokine induction was reduced in human blood monocytes, human bronchial epithelial cells, and murine lung slices pretreated with 1,25-(OH)(2) D(3) . Intranasal inhalation of organic dust extract induced neutrophil influx, and CXCL1/CXCL2 release was also decreased in mice fed a relatively high vitamin D diet as compared to mice fed a low vitamin D diet. These findings were associated with reduced tracheal epithelial cell PKCα and PKCe activity and whole lung TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression. Collectively, vitamin D plays a role in modulating organic dust-induced airway inflammatory outcomes.
Stakeholder Theory and Managerial Decision-Making: Constraints and Implications of Balancing Stakeholder Interests

Stakeholder theory is widely recognized as a management theory, yet very little research has considered its implications for individual managerial decision-making. In the two studies reported here, we used stakeholder theory to examine managerial decisions about balancing stakeholder interests. Results of Study 1 suggest that indivisible resources and unequal levels of stakeholder saliency constrain managers’ efforts to balance stakeholder interests. Resource divisibility also influenced whether managers used a within-decision or an across-decision approach to balance stakeholder interests. In Study 2 we examined instrumental and normative implications of these two approaches. We conclude by considering the contributions of this research.
Knowledge-driven geospatial location resolution for phylogeographic models of virus migration

Summary: Diseases caused by zoonotic viruses (viruses transmittable between humans and animals) are a major threat to public health throughout the world. By studying virus migration and mutation patterns, the field of phylogeography provides a valuable tool for improving their surveillance. A key component in phylogeographic analysis of zoonotic viruses involves identifying the specific locations of relevant viral sequences. This is usually accomplished by querying public databases such as GenBank and examining the geospatial metadata in the record. When sufficient detail is not available, a logical next step is for the researcher to conduct a manual survey of the corresponding published articles. Motivation: In this article, we present a system for detection and disambiguation of locations (toponym resolution) in full-text articles to automate the retrieval of sufficient metadata. Our system has been tested on a manually annotated corpus of journal articles related to phylogeography using integrated heuristics for location disambiguation including a distance heuristic, a population heuristic and a novel heuristic utilizing knowledge obtained from GenBank metadata (i.e. a ‘metadata heuristic’). Results: For detecting and disambiguating locations, our system performed best using the metadata heuristic (0.54 Precision, 0.89 Recall and 0.68 F-score). Precision reaches 0.88 when examining only the disambiguation of location names. Our error analysis showed that a noticeable increase in the accuracy of toponym resolution is possible by improving the geospatial location detection. By improving these fundamental automated tasks, our system can be a useful resource to phylogeographers that rely on geospatial metadata of GenBank sequences. Contact: ude.usa@rehcabnessiew.yvad
The Early and Late Phases of Ischemic Preconditioning: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effects on Infarct Size, Myocardial Stunning, and Arrhythmias in Conscious Pigs Undergoing a 40-Minute Coronary Occlusion

The effectiveness of the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC) in protecting against myocardial infarction and the concomitant contractile dysfunction after sustained ischemia remains unclear. The early and late phases of PC have not been compared using the same protocol in the same experimental model; furthermore, the late phase of PC has not been assessed in the conscious state in a large animal preparation. The goal of this study was to directly compare the effects of early and late PC on myocardial infarct size and postischemic dysfunction in chronically instrumented, conscious pigs. Four groups of pigs were subjected to a 40-minute coronary occlusion followed by 3 days of reperfusion. Group 1 (n=7) served as control. Group 2 (n=6) was subjected to ten 2-minute occlusion/2-minute reperfusion cycles 25 minutes before the 40-minute occlusion (early PC). Groups 3 (n=7) and 4 (n=4) were subjected to 10 and 25 cycles, respectively, of 2-minute occlusion/2-minute reperfusion 24 hours before the 40-minute occlusion (late PC). Infarct size averaged 45.1+/-5.9% of the region at risk in control pigs, was reduced by 79% (to 9.4+/-3.2%) in group 2, but did not differ in groups 3 (33.3+/-4.8%) and 4 (38.8+/-8.2%) versus group 1. Power analysis demonstrated that there was an 80% probability of detecting a 40% decrease in infarct size in groups 3 and 4 versus group 1. The recovery of systolic wall thickening (measured with ultrasonic crystals) after the 40-minute occlusion was poor in groups 1, 3, and 4 but markedly enhanced in group 2 throughout the 3 days of reperfusion; this beneficial effect could have been due to limitation of infarct size, alleviation of stunning, or both. Thus, a series of ten 2-minute coronary occlusions had a profound (approximately 80%) early infarct-limiting effect, which was associated with a marked functional benefit. This protection, however, disappeared 24 hours later and could not be reinstituted by increasing the number of PC coronary occlusions to 25. The incidence and duration of ventricular tachycardia after reperfusion was not changed by either early or late PC; no conclusions could be drawn regarding ventricular fibrillation or ischemia-induced ventricular tachycardia, since these arrhythmias did not occur in control animals. Taken together, the present results demonstrate striking differences between the early and late effects of PC: In conscious swine subjected to a sustained coronary occlusion, a PC protocol that induces powerful protection during the early phase of PC fails to induce any protection during the late phase, indicating either that a late protective effect of PC does not exist or that, if it exists, it must be weaker than the early protective effect.
Abstract monomorphisms between big subgroups of some groups of type B2 in characteristic 2

Abstract Abstract monomorphisms of sufficiently “full” subgroups of some groups of type B2 in characteristic 2 into other groups of type B2 (over any characteristic) are considered and described. The result is that they are induced by a semi-algebraic special isogeny. The proof uses the method of O. T. O'Meara as well as some other technique.
GeneTox manager for bacterial mutagenicity assays: a personal computer and minicomputer system

Abstract GeneTox Manager (GTM) is a data capture, data management, and statistical analysis program used for microbial mutagenicity data. Its main purpose is to provide a homogeneous environment for the collection. organization, and analysis of data generated in the laboratory while also supporting a quality assurance program. The complete system consists of both personal computer (PC) system and a minicomputer (VAX) system. The joint PC/VAX version of the system is designed to function with both the PC and VAX FOCUS databases so that the VAX can be used for long-term storage, archiving of files, and the analysis of large groups of data. Because of the highly specialized use and nature of the PC/VAX version, this discussion is focused upon the PC stand-alone version. The user-friendly system uses a structured menu system, screen entry helps, and other help screens. GTM provides tabular and graphical summaries of the data and performs specialized statistical analyses. This public domain software was written primarily using Clipper®. The manuals and programs are now available through the government's National Technical Information Service.
Twin study methodology and variability in xenobiotic placental metabolism.

The present study assesses the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variability in placental aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione transferase activities using twin study methodology. Twin placentas were collected at the time of delivery. The placenta, except for a single layer of maternal decidua, consists of fetal tissue exhibiting fetal genotype. Microsomal and cytosolic fractions were prepared under stringent protocols to prevent enzyme activity loss. There were two monozygotic-monochorionic pairs, five monozygotic-dichorionic pairs, and 21 dizygotic-dichorionic pairs that showed measurable aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity using the direct fluorometric assay. Most of the mothers were smokers. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was measured with two different substrates, benzo(a)pyrene and 7-ethoxyresorufin. Glutathione transferase activity was measured using glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrates for a spectrophotometric assay that follows the conversion of the aromatic substrate. Twin pair similarity was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficients. There is a high correlation between the activities of the two aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase substrates (r = .814), but no correlation between aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione transferase activity levels. There is little evidence of genetic variability underlying the variation in the enzyme activities because monozygotic-dichorionic twins are no more similar to each other for the three substrate activities than are the dizygotic twins. To delineate the prenatal environmental influences on placental enzyme variability, dichorionic placentation was subdivided further into contiguous and noncontiguous placental position. Lower intraclass correlation coefficients are obtained for the dizygotic twins whose placentas were noncontiguous compared with dizygotic twins with contiguous placentas. The results suggest that most of the variability seen in these placental enzyme systems is due to environmental differences within uteri, rather than genetic variability in the population. This does not negate the possibility that between-pair, or population, variability may have a genetic component, because even dizygotic twins share a large proportion of their genes. This study points out that a significantly variable environment exists within the human uterus.
Training and Education in Clinical Psychology in the Context of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) is revamping the access, quality, and financing of the health and mental health systems. However, its impact on training and education in clinical psychology is unclear. This article aims to identify specific components of the ACA, in particular the Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants, that are expected to affect training and education in the field. The article further connects the ACA with four paradigm shifts in clinical psychology that have broad implications for training and education—evidence-based practices, research methodology, interprofessionalism, and the quality indicator movement. The overarching goal of this article is to begin timely discussions on the future directions of the field under the current healthcare reform.
Childhood Status Asthmaticus Recent Clinical and Laboratory Observations and Their Application in Treatment

The complications of bronchial asthma are increasing. This paper presents clini cal and laboratory data obtained from a group of children admitted in status asthmaticus to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and describes in detail the program of management which emerged from study of these data. Speculations are also made regarding the pathophysi ology of this illness.
The profitability of vertical integration

This paper examines the profitability of vertical integration using alternate indices of vertical integration Our results suggest that the profitability-vertical integration relation is highly sensitive to the specification of the vertical integration measure used.
Impact of duty hour limits on resident training in otolaryngology.

Hypothesis: Implementation of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour standards has had limited effects on resident training in otolaryngology. Study Design: Retrospective survey of residents and residency program directors (PDs). Methods: Surveys were mailed to residents and PDs in otolaryngology asking about compliance with ACGME duty hour standards and perceptions of changes brought on by the new regulations. Results: Surveys were returned by 53.5% of PDs and 29.9% of residents. A majority of PDs described changes made to achieve compliance as minor; this consisted most commonly of altering call structure, although some programs hired new support staff or faculty. Mean estimated costs for changes were $14,211. Residents reported working a mean of 67.5 hours per week. Among PDs and residents, only 60% to 70% reported always being in compliance with the main components of the duty hour standards. Residents were largely divided in their opinions as to whether the duty hour limits had led to improvements in patient care, resident education, fatigue, or errors, although most felt that improvement in resident morale had occurred. PDs were more negative because almost half disagreed that improvement had occurred in any of these areas. Conclusions: Compliance with ACGME duty hour standards remains challenging in otolaryngology. Neither residents nor PDs agree that implementation of the duty hour standards has led to the intended improvements in patient care or resident education, although most agree that resident morale has improved. Further study of objective patient care and educational outcome measures is indicated to validate the need for this change in residency training.
Adaptive Blocks: A High Performance Data Structure

We examine a data structure which uses flexible "adaptivity" to obtain high performance for both serial and parallel computers. The data structure is an adaptive grid which partitions a given region into regular cells. Its closest relatives are cell-based tree decompositions, but there are several important differences which lead to significant performance advantages. Using this block data structure to support adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), we were able to sustain 17 GFLOPS in ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar wind emanating from the base of the solar corona, using a 512 processor Cray T3D at NASA Goddard.
Pregnenolone sulfate potentiation of NMDA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium in cultured chick cortical neurons

Abstract Pregnenolone sulfate (PS) has been reported to selectively augment glutamate-induced depolarizations mediated by the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor. The present study examines the ability of this neuroactive steroid to potentiate NMDA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium in cultured chick cortical neurons using the fluorescent dye Fura2. PS, in the absence of NMDA and glycine, significantly elevated intracellular calcium at 250 and 500 μM. This increase in free calcium was significantly attenuated at 250 μM PS by the prior addition of 50 μM CNQX, 10 μM dizocilpine or 1 μM nimodipine. NMDA and glycine, when added to the cells in saturating concentrations of 500 and 50 μM, respectively, consistently increased intracellular free calcium over baseline levels. In the presence of NMDA and glycine, both 50 and 100 μM PS produced a further significant rise in intracellular free calcium. The prior addition of CNQX, dizocilpine or both compounds together significantly inhibited this elevation in free calcium. The application of the endogenous polyamine spermine (250 μM) significantly potentiated the response of chick cortical neuronal cells to NMDA and glycine. PS, in the presence of NMDA, glycine and spermine, produced a further increase in intracellular free calcium at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM. The prior application of CNQX, dizocilpine or both compounds together significantly attenuated this rise in free calcium. These data confirm that PS is a positive allosteric modulator of the NMDA receptor and provide evidence that this neurosteroid does not interact with the polyamine modulatory site.
Overland Shortcuts for the Transmission of Buddhism

Buddhist discourses on paths of practice and doctrine leading beyond worldly attachments to the “far shore” of Nirvā . na are grounded in everyday experiences of travel on actual roads.1 The symbolism of the “Eightfold Path” as the road to the cessation of suffering and the “Middle Way” between extremes of excessive indulgence and ascetic mortification is closely related to the characterization of the historical Buddha Śākyamuni as the re-discoverer of an ancient road. Texts such as Buddhaghosa’s Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) and Atiśa’s Lamp for the Path to Awakening (Bodhipathapradi pa) demonstrate that Buddhist scholars from various traditions framed methods of reaching religious goals in terms of “paths.” Based on the various “mārga schemes” for applying meditation techniques and understanding doctrinal positions, Robert Buswell and Robert Gimello argue that “the concept of ‘path’ has been given an explication more sustained, comprehensive, critical, and sophisticated than that provided by any other single religious tradition” (1992, 2). The project of finding pathways to escape from suffering in the mundane realm of cyclical existences (sam. sāra) is not exclusively Buddhist, but abundant Buddhist tropes drawn from physical journeys reflect an institutional history of dynamic movement. For example, the ideal of Buddhist renunciants who have “gone forth” 1
Polycations. Part X. LIPs, a new category of room temperature ionic liquid based on polyammonium salts

A series of polyammonium halide salts have been converted to the phosphate ion form. The resultant salts constitute a new category of non-aqueous ionic liquid (NAIL); these new ionic liquids (Liquid Ionic Phosphates) have been characterized by standard methods and have been investigated for their electrical conducting characteristics.
Tomography finds waste sites

Geophysical diffraction tomography (GDT), a remote sensing method, is being developed for hazardous waste site characterization by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn., with the support of the U.S. Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials Agency, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. More accurate assessment of hazardous sites translates into more efficient and less costly cleanup efforts by defining parameters such as waste site boundaries, geophysical site characteristics, buried container leakage, and hazardous material migration. Remote sensing devices eliminate the potential for environmental damage, safety hazards, or high costs associated with intrusive site characterization techniques.
Nonparametric comparison of two survival functions with dependent censoring via nonparametric multiple imputation

When the event time of interest depends on the censoring time, conventional two-sample test methods, such as the log-rank and Wilcoxon tests, can produce an invalid test result. We extend our previous work on estimation using auxiliary variables to adjust for dependent censoring via multiple imputation, to the comparison of two survival distributions. To conduct the imputation, we use two working models to define a set of similar observations called the imputing risk set. One model is for the event times and the other for the censoring times. Based on the imputing risk set, a nonparametric multiple imputation method, Kaplan-Meier imputation, is used to impute a future event or censoring time for each censored observation. After imputation, the conventional nonparametric two-sample tests can be easily implemented on the augmented data sets. Simulation studies show that the sizes of the log-rank and Wilcoxon tests constructed on the imputed data sets are comparable to the nominal level and the powers are much higher compared with the tests based on the unimputed data in the presence of dependent censoring if either one of the two working models is correctly specified. The method is illustrated using AIDS clinical trial data comparing ZDV and placebo, in which CD4 count is the time-dependent auxiliary variable.
A neural model for conditioned taste aversions.

A partir du moment ou les parametres definissant l'aversion conditionnee ont ete determines, cette situation n'a plus ete conceptualisee dans l'optique de l'apprentissage instrumental ou classique. Article montrant l'originalite et l'interet de cette situation dans la mesure ou un delai important separe le stimulus alimentaire et la maladie resultant de son ingestion
Effect of concomitant fasting and cold exposure on sympathoadrenal activity in rats.

Fasting decreases and cold exposure increases sympathetic nervous system activity. The present studies examine the effect of fasting and cold together on sympathoadrenal function. At 4 degrees C an...
Social construction of intimate partner violence: a brief report on quantitative grammatical analysis

This pilot study uses a quantitative linguistic analysis to assess evidence of agency and control, as well as treatment engagement, in letters written by men (N = 46, 37% Latino) participating in a batterer intervention program. At the program’s conclusion, men were asked to imagine their situation in 5 years and write a letter from their “future self” to their “present self.” Letters were scored for grammatical representations of agency and objectification, and temporal complexity. Results showed that the men tended to grant themselves the subject position (conferring agency) and to grant others the object position (deferring or denying agency) by almost equal margins, both rhetorical maneuvers suggesting an objectifying stance toward others. Moreover, they employed several strategies to address temporality, with more complex strategies suggesting greater treatment engagement. Findings suggest that quantitative linguistic analysis is a promising tool for assessing participants’ progress in and engagement...
OpenCL accelerated deep learning for visual understanding

Visual understanding is a broad term used to describe efforts to extract meaning and knowledge from images computationally. Much effort has been spent by researchers to develop methods to allow for information to be gained from images the way humans do. However, it has proven to be a very difficult problem. Since the 1950s researchers have been attempting to come up with better methods of understanding images. The results however were generally very limited in application and far worse than what an average person was capable of.
Highly sensitive magneto-motive photoacoustic and ultrasound (PAUS) imaging with cyclic excitations

Highly specific molecular imaging with photoacoustics (PA) must suppress background endogenous signals while maintaining signals from target nanoagents. Magneto-motive PA was introduced to perform motion-based background suppression using a low frequency magnetic field. Previous studies show suppression based on displacement magnitude can suffer if significant physiological motion is present. This limitation can be overcome using cyclic magneto-motive PA (cmmPA), where multiple cycles of an ac magnetic field are used and the coherence of detected displacements is the retrieved information. In this paper, we show a method to enhance the magnetic response of an electromagnet specifically for cmmPA. Several magnetic frequencies were tested and a simple model is proposed to describe displacement frequency dependence. By choosing optimal parameters based on this model, we show that the technique can detect a low number of tagged cells using either US-based or PA-based displacement estimation. In addition, robustness to physiological motion is demonstrated in a moving phantom.
A Dynamic Model for a Closed-Loop Continuous Energy System Using Solar Power

One key advantage of solar power over more traditional power sources is its modular nature, allowing it to be used in remote locations or as a supplementary source of power. Recent studies show fuel cell technology as a good means of providing a continuous supply of electricity from a solar array, eliminating drawbacks caused by solar energy's cyclical nature. The high power density of such a system makes it ideal for use in areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles and space exploration. Due to the complexity and relatively high initial cost of current fuel cells, however, optimization of such a system is critical. This paper examines a dynamic model of a solar regenerative fuel cell system built in MATLAB Simulink. The system uses a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, running on stored hydrogen and oxygen, to produce power when solar energy is insufficient. It uses a PEM based electrolyzer to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water when solar energy exceeds demand. The mathematical model includes modules for each component, including solar cells, fuel cell, electrolyzer, and auxiliary systems. Models were built based on fundamental physics to the extent practical. The individual modules were first tested for their performances and then were integrated to form an integrated solar powered regenerative fuel cell system. The simulations were carried out for a day and night cycle and the results show that the closed loop system can be operated providing continuous supply of electric power.© 2006 ASME
Purification and electron microscopy of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

SummaryFoot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), type A, from bovine-kidney tissue cultures has been purified successively by methanol precipitation, extraction with organic solvents, and differential centrifugation. The FMDV particle in the resulting purified virus concentrates has been identified by analytical electron microscopy in air-dried specimens as a uniform-sized 22-mμ particle. This identification was made through correlative experiments relating particle counts to infectivity and to aggregation of the particles with antiviral bovine serum. While an average of 690 virus particles was present in one plaque-forming unit for bovine-kidney monolayer cultures, a value as low as 33 was obtained.
Autothermal Reforming of Biodiesel–Ethanol–Diesel Blends for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Applications

The autothermal reforming (ATR) performance of diesel, biodiesel, diesel blended with 25% biodiesel, and diesel blended with both 25% biodiesel and 10% ethanol was investigated under different operating environments in a single-tube reformer with rhodium/zirconia wash-coated ceramic monoliths. A customized nozzle integrated with a microsize porous device was designed to finely atomize the input heavy hydrocarbon fuels and enhance the homogeneous mixtures of hydrocarbon fuel with steam and air. The optimum operating conditions with high syngas yields and carbon-free content for ATR of each studied fuel were identified, from both thermodynamic analysis and experimental measurements. After establishing the test points for the reformation of the studied fuels under the same initial operating environment [total O/C = 1.47, S/C = 0.6, and gas hourly space velocity at standard temperature and pressure (GHSV) = 34 120 h–1, at 950 °C reformer temperature] with the goal of achieving the same rate of syngas producti...
Lack of direct biological conversion of glycine to ethanolamine.

SummaryEthanolamine isolated following administration of C14-carboxyl-labeled glycine contained no radioactivity. This indicates that glycine is not directly reduced to ethanolamine in the body and that this occurs through the intermediate formation of serine.
Considerations for the Planning of Continuing Education Programs

While there are a number of organizations currently offering continuing education programs for laboratory professionals, there can be advantages for professional associations, hospitals, and purveyors of equipment and supplies to enter the pool of providers. Not knowing what considerations need to be taken into account, however, for the planning of such programs may be a roadblock for organizations contemplating whether they should become providers. This article presents a discussion of these considerations, which include administration, needs assessment, objectives, educational strategy, faculty, program approval, site and facilities, scheduling, marketing, implementation planning, evaluation, and financing. Useful guidelines for the planning and production of continuing education programs are given for each of the above categories.
Development times of Male and Female Eggs of the Honey Bee

The development times of female eggs of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., were significantly shorter (P < 0.01) than development times of male eggs. Throughout their developmental period, the eggs were kept in an incubator (34.8°C, 60 to 80% RH) without adult bees. Haploid and diploid male eggs required about 3 h longer than female (always diploid) eggs. It is not known whether the development times of haploid and diploid male eggs are significantly different. Female eggs from 20 unrelated queens had mean development times that ranged from 68.8 to 74.2 h at 34.8°C; the 20 means averaged 71.4 ± 1.2 h (SD). The development times were altered by very slight changes in temperature. Female eggs kept at 34.8°C hatched about 1.4 h sooner than those kept at 34.3°C. Only 1% of the eggs hatched when kept at 29.8°C.
TIDAL STREAM FLOW SOLVED BY GALERKIN TECHNIQUE

The total discharges in a tidally influenced stream reach are known to be related to the stages (water levels) at the ends of the reach. The discharge-stage relationships can be derived from the conservation principles of mass and momentum under a few simplifying assumptions. Solutions of the governing equations with appropriate boundary and initial conditions give spatial and temporal variations of the flow in the reach. Practically, the most needed information are the instantaneous discharges, which, in many instances, provide guidance for water resources management decision making. Unfortunately, measuring the instantaneous discharge in a tidal reach is often difficult, tedious and costly. However, measuring the stages of a tidal reach is relatively simple, inexpensive and is done routinely. To determine discharges from measured water levels has been the subject of the present study.
From Cooperative Learning to Collaborative Writing in the Legal Writing Classroom

Hundreds of studies document the benefits that accrue from using cooperative and collaborative learning and trace that use back several centuries. At Northwestern University School of Law, the faculty who teach legal writing, research, and reasoning have intergrated both cooperative and collaborative learning (often jointly termed “group” work) into our curriculum. This Article traces the theory and practice behind our use of collaborative work at Northwestern Law. Section I summarizes the academic theory underlying the use of collaborative work, including the pedagogical and other benefits for students and faculty. Section II addresses our use of graded and ungraded cooperative and collaborative work -- both inside and outside of the classroom -- and how this work provides students with a context for the graded collaborative writing they perform later in the semester. Section III focuses on our methods with respect to the collaboratively written graded assignments. In Section IV, we report the results of our survey of the students' collaborative writing experience. Finally, in Section V, we look to the future and discuss our planned changes. We conclude that collaborative work serves a useful and important purpose in our law school curriculum and should continue to play a role in the future.