cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac event rate in a lifestyle modification program for patients with chronic coronary artery disease

Background: Several clinical trials have shown that intensive lifestyle modification programs have a significant impact on cardiovascular risk factors. Hypothesis: This paper is a retrospective analysis to determine the effect of participation in a 2-year lifestyle management program on long-term clinical outcome in patients outside the setting of a clinical trial. Methods: Patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD) enrolled in a 2-year program of exercise training, dietary counseling, stress management, and therapeutic education. They were accepted into the program from 1991 through December 2002. Follow-up after completion of the program ranged from 10 to 2 years. Results: In all, 134 patients enrolled in the program; of these, 77 completed the program and 57 failed to do so. Those who completed the program improved their effort tolerance and reached recommended goals for serum lipid and blood pressure levels. The cumulative event rate (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) over 10 years in the patients who completed the program was 1.5%. The corresponding eventrate in patients who dropped out was 18% (p < 0.02). Conclusions: It is suggested that patients who complete a 2-year lifestyle modification program appear to have a favorable prognosis over an extended period of time.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Iron Concentration in Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, Iron Absorption

Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, were fed with three vitamin C levels and two iron levels for 21 d: Diet 1 without vitamin C and with 30 mg of iron/kg; Diet 2 with 100 mg of vitamin C and 30 mg of iron/kg; and Diet 3 with 100 mg of vitamin C and 300 mg of iron/kg. Mortality was not observed during the feeding experiment. There were no changes in hematological parameters in fish that were fed the different diets. Iron contents in liver, muscle, and plasma were significantly different in fish fed with different iron content in the diets; when associated with vitamin C, changes were observed only for plasma iron. Therefore, tambaqui exhibits varied iron absorption in response to different levels of iron with and without vitamin C, a conclusion consistent with findings for other species of fish.
Andragogy, Organization, and Implementation Concerns for Gaming as an Instructional Tool in the Community College.

As this and previous editions of New Directions for Community Colleges have argued, digital skills are necessary. Our future economy will be based on them, but there is no consensus on which skills to teach. Many talk about Web 2.0 skills, familiarity with software, and critical thinking skills, yet few mention the potential of video games in education. This chapter examines the potential for using video games at the community college level, possible arguments against it, and necessary support from administration, information technology departments, and libraries to make the most of this digital technology.
Boasting and Firsthand and Secondhand Impressions: A New Explanation for the Positive Teller-Listener Extremity Effect

This research examined how firsthand impressions of other people differ from those based on secondhand information. Several studies have shown that people who receive secondhand information (listeners) make more extreme impressions (positive and negative) than people (tellers) who learn the information firsthand, directly from the actor. Three studies examined the role of merely hearing personal descriptions presented firsthand (in "I" form) or secondhand (in "She" form) on boasting and liking impressions. Studies 1 and 3 proposed and found that firsthand perceivers saw the actor as more boastful and unlikable than secondhand perceivers who heard the identical information in "She" form. Study 2 showed that these differential perceptions of boasting explained why secondhand perceivers made more extremely favorable judgments of kind actors than did firsthand perceivers. This boasting explanation provided a better explanation of judgment differences than two prior explanations. Perceptions of boasting did no...
Determinants of urban land market outcomes: Evidence from California

Abstract Our understanding of the effects of land use regulations and other aspects of urban form has been hindered by limited aggregate data and gradual temporal changes in policies. More widely available GIS data on land use and land economics presents opportunities to overcome these obstacles. This study was undertaken to explore the potential for land economics research that draws on parcel level spatial data for urban land markets, and uses differences across a sample of cities as the source of variation. Policy obstacles such as protected open spaces and other land use regulations, like the limitations caused by land forms such as water bodies and mountains, can be expected to alter the supply of land in ways that will be reflected in land market outcomes across cities. Based on a sample of data for 46 California cities, this exploratory analysis analyzed land market outcomes as a function of population, income and other factors in a closed-economy model, including a ratio that measures the concentration of developed lands within a city's radius or perimeter. The approach produced robust relationships consistent with other studies, and results consistent with expectations not just in terms of the signs of the estimated coefficients but in terms of their magnitudes as well. Indeed, the elasticity of land development with respect to population has been estimated to be 0.79–0.82 based on open city models. The evidence suggests that both land forms and land use regulations have a positive effect on land prices; however, it was not possible with the current data to distinguish the amenity effects of proximity to oceans and mountains from the supply constraints on radial city expansion. The analysis, nevertheless, provides encouraging evidence for future research of this kind.
A non-iterative method for computing the infimum in H∞ -optimization

This paper presents a simple and non-iterative procedure for the computation of the exact value of the infimum in the singular H ",,-optimization problem, and is an extension of our earlier work. The problem formulation is general and does not place any restriction on the direct feedthrough terms between the control input and the controlled output variables, and between the disturbance input and the measurement output variables. Our method is applicable to a class of singular H ",,-optimization problems for which the transfer functions from the control input to the controlled output and from the disturbance input to the measurement output have no invariant zeros on the jw axis and also satisfy certain geometric conditions. The computation of the infimum in our method involves solving two well-defined Riccati and two Lyapunov equations.
Dynorphin Immunocytochemistry in the Rat Central Nervous System

Abstract The distribution of dynorphin in the central nervous system was investigated in rats pretreated with relatively high doses (300–400 μg) of colchicine administered intracerebroventricularly. To circumvent the problems of antibody cross-reactivity, antisera were generated against different portions as well as the full dynorphin molecule (i.e., residues 1–13, 7–17, or 1–17). For comparison, antisera to [Leu]enkephalin (residues 1–5) were also utilized. Dynorphin was found to be widely distributed throughout the neuraxis. Immunoreactive neuronal perikarya exist in hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei, periaqueductal gray, scattered reticular formation sites, and other brain stem nuclei, as well as in spinal cord. Additionally, dynorphin-positive fibers or terminals occur in the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb, nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, periaqueductal gray, many brain stem sties, and the spinal cord. In many areas studied, dynorphin and enkephalin appeared to form parallel but probably separate anatomical systems. The results suggest that dynorphin occurs in neuronal systems that are immunocytochemically distinct from those containing other opioid peptides.
A new single-wire readout system for spark chambers

Abstract A new, conceptually very simple, single-wire readout system for spark chambers in strong magnetic fields is described.
Cobalt(III)-promoted hydrolysis of atp

Abstract The rate of phosphate hydrolysis of ATP in the substitution-inert complex Co(NH3)4ATP-has been examined in the presence and absence of [Co(cyclen)(H2O)2]3+. The rate of hydrolysis of Co(NH3)4ATP- in the absence of [Co(cyclen)(H2O)2]3+ is essentially independent of pH in the range 6.0 to 9.0, and the rate constant is 2.6 × 10−5 sec −1 at pH 9.0, 40°C, and 1.0 M ionic strength Rate constants for the hydrolysis of Co(NH3)4ATP- in the presence of [Co(cyclen)(H2O)2]3+ are sharply dependent upon pH in the same range. The rate constants at pH 8.0, 8.6, and 9.0 are 8, 63, and 95 times larger than the rate constant at pH 7.0. At pH 9 the rate constant is 1.2 × 10−3 sec−1 for 16 mM Co(NH3)4ATP- in the presence of 10 mM [Co(cyclen)(H2O)2]3+. The proposed mechanism for hydrolysis involves the coordination of a phosphate group of Co(NH3)4ATP- by [Co(cyclen)(H2O)2]3+ to form a dinuclear species, followed by internal attack of coordinated hydroxide on the phosphate chain.
Gain limits of phase compensated conformal antenna arrays on non-conducting spherical surfaces using the projection method

Previously, it has been shown that the projection method can be used as an effective tool to compute the appropriate phase compensation of a conformal antenna array on a spherical surface. In this paper, the projection method is used to study the gain limitations of a phase-compensated six-element conformal microstrip antenna array on non-conducting spherical surfaces. As a metric for comparison, the computed gain of the phase-compensated conformal array is compared to the gain of a six-element reference antenna on a flat surface with the same inter-element spacing and operating frequency. To validate these computations, a conformal phased-array antenna consisting of six individual microstrip patches, voltage controlled phase shifters and a power divider was assembled and tested at 2.22 GHz. Overall, it is shown how much less the gain of the phase-compensated antenna is than the reference antenna for various radius values of the sphere.
Transcription of the human hepatic lipase gene is modulated by multiple negative elements in HepG2 cells

Abstract The expression of the hepatic lipase (HL) gene is highly tissue specific. In order to identify cis-acting elements which regulate the expression of this gene in the liver, multiple deletion mutants of the 5′-flanking region of the HL gene fused to the human growth hormone gene were transfected in HepG2 cells, which normally produce HL. Transient expression assays indicated the presence of negative (at nucleotides (nt) −1576 −1342 and −623 −407 ) and positive (at nt −1862 −1576 and −50 −9 ) regulatory elements. Transfection of HeLa cells, which do not produce HL, with the same deletion constructs resulted in a similar pattern of promoter activities. However, additional negative (nt −138 −50 ) and positive (nt −407 −138 ) elements were found. DNase I footprint analysis of the proximal and distal HLpromoter sequences with HepG2 and HeLa cell nuclear extracts identified seven protected regions: A, nt −1540 −1527 ; B, −1505 −1473 ; C, −1467 −1460 ; D, −592 −577 ; E, −565 −545 ; F, −234 −220 ; and G, −70 −48 . Sites A, B, C, D and E were located within regions containing negative regulatory elements. In order to determine which nuclear factor interacts with the negative elements, sites B, D and E were mutated and the effects of mutation on competition in a gel retardation assay and on promoter activity were studied. When the binding motif for API in sites B, D and E was mutated, the specific DNA-protein complexes were not competed with the mutant oligonucleotides and promoter activity increased twofold. The magnitude of the increase is less than expected from the deletion analysis, and simultaneous mutations did not cause further increase in promoter activity, which suggests that other sites are involved in this negative modulation. These results suggest that the transcription of the HLgene in HepG2 cells is negatively modulated by multiple cis-acting negative elements and AP1-like nuclear factor may play some role in this modulation
Fragile X gene premutation in multiple system atrophy

Previous reports have suggested that expansion of the CGG repeat located in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene might be responsible for a significant number of patients with the multiple system atrophy (MSA) phenotype. Analysis of 65 MSA patients found only 4.6% displayed CGG expansions in the suspected range. This is similar to the frequency reported in the normal population, suggesting that this expansion does not play a major role in the MSA phenotype.
The gene-protein database of Escherichia coli: Edition 5

The gene-protein database of Escherichia coli is both an index relating a gene to its protein product on two-dimensional gels, and a catalog of information about the function, regulation, and genetics of individual proteins obtained from two-dimensional gel analysis or collated from the literature. Edition 5 has 102 new entries--a 15% increase in the number of annotated two-dimensional gel spots. The large increase in this edition was accomplished in part by the use of a new method for expression analysis of ordered segments of the E. coli genome, which has resulted in linking 50 gel spots to their genes (or open reading frames) and another 45 to specific regions of the chromosome awaiting the availability of DNA sequence information. Communication of information from the scientific community resulted in additional identifications and regulatory information. To increase accessibility of the database it has been placed in the repository at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine under the name ECO2DBASE. It will be updated twice yearly. This edition of the gene-protein database is estimated to contain entries for one-sixth of the protein-encoding genes of E. coli.
The Selection of Committee Leaders in the House of Representatives

This paper examines the procedure for selecting committee leaders in the House of Representatives. Since this procedure provides for the election of committee leaders each Congress, membership evaluations of committee chairpersons have become critical in determining committee leadership. Leadership evaluation involves performance and personal appraisal. Performance appraisal reflects membership concern with the func tioning of the committees, whereas personal appraisal entails the application of a more personal set of criteria to the evaluation of committee leaders. The analysis uses two independent data sources: interviews with a random sample of 40 congressional Demo crats during the second session of the Ninety-Fourth Congress, and aggregate data relating to the characteristics of the incumbent committee leaders and the performance of their committees. These data sources complement one another and provide the opportunity for multiple confirmation of the conclusions reached in the analysis. Both the int...
Vanadium ion stimulation of chloride secretion by rabbit colonic epithelium.

Abstract Ionized forms of vanadium are known to exert diverse biological activities. Of particular interest is the inhibitory action of the vanadium ion on (Na + + K + )-ATPase. This report describes another action of the vanadium ion on the rabbit colonic epithelium. Micromolar quantities of vanadate, applied to the serosal side of the isolated rabbit colonic epithelium, result in a stimulation of electrogenic chloride secretion by this epithelium. Sodium transport is unaffected by the vanadium ion in the concentrations used in this study. It is proposed that the vanadyl ion activates adenylate cyclase and thereby initiates subsequent secretory events.
Clinical Adoption of Prognostic Biomarkers: The Case for Heart Failure

The recent explosion of scientific knowledge and technological progress has led to the discovery of a large array of circulating molecules commonly referred to as biomarkers. Biomarkers in heart failure (HF) research have been used to provide pathophysiologic insights, aid in establishing the diagnosis, refine prognosis, guide management, and target treatment. However, beyond diagnostic applications of natriuretic peptides, there are currently few widely recognized applications for biomarkers in HF. This represents a remarkable discordance considering the number of molecules that have been shown to correlate with outcomes, refine risk prediction, or track disease severity in HF in the past decade. In this article, we use a broad framework proposed for cardiovascular risk markers to summarize the current state of biomarker development for patients with HF. We use this framework to identify the challenges of biomarker adoption for risk prediction, disease management, and treatment selection for HF and suggest considerations for future research.
Pseudo-Three-Dimensional, Isodensity, And Density Profiles From Fiber Optic Output Of A MACH-130 Air Shock

A modified Voitenko compressor generated a Mach-l30 air shock in an outlet pipe open to the atmosphere. Fiber optics transmitted luminosity associated with propagation of the air shock to an external display board, which was scanned with a high-speed streaking camera. We describe the computerized microdensitometer scanning technique for converting the film records to pseudo-3D, isodensity, and density profiles. The isodensity contours can be displayed using different colors to facilitate analysis. This technique can achieve resolutions of 1 ns and 2 pm. We give examples of the pseudo-3D, isodensity, and density profile plots for the experiment. The microdensitometer output was digitized for input to data display programs run on a CDC 7600. These results were used to provide submicrosecond accuracy for shock propagation over 5 m of the outlet pipes. In addition, we obtained information about gas flow behind the shock front. Other current or possible applications for the technique are measurement of: target implosion in laser fusion, flash x-ray data in hydrodynamic and ballistic experiments, temperature profiles for high energy (>105 K) gas dynamics, and dynamic events in weapons testing.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Transient gallbladder distention in sick premature infants: the value of ultrasonography and radionuclide scintigraphy

Transient gallbladder distention in sick premature infants has been reported with increasing frequency over the last few years. It is important to be aware of this entity of gallbladder disease which resolves spontaneously and to be able to differentiate it from other problems that require surgical correction. We believe that ultrasonography is most helpful in confirming the diagnosis, excluding stone formation, and documenting any changes in size or appearance. However, there are no reliable ultrasonic criteria for distinguishing inflamed or pathologically distended gallbladders from noninflamed or temporarily enlarged gallbladders. Radioisotope imaging, though useful in demonstrating malfunction of the hepatobiliary system, should be interpreted with caution. In the final analysis, the dilemma as to whether gallbladder distention is a transient or persistent malfunction can be settled best by thoughtful clinical judgement.
5 The Surgical Approach to Class II Division 1 Malocclusion

For adult patients with anterior maxillary disharmony, a proper diagnosis is mandatory before the planning of surgical treatment. A decision must be made as to whether the particular problem is one of basal:alvedlar bone disharmony or of dentoalveolar malalignment. Maxillary osteotomy, executed properly, entails little hazard and is successful. Preoperative or postoperative orthodontic care is often helpful for patients requiring surgery as the primary method of treatment.
Polyribosome depletion and blockage of the ribosome cycle by streptomycin in Escherichia coli

Abstract In a sensitive strain of Escherichia coli, lethal concentrations of streptomycin lead to the accumulation of 70 s ribosomes (str-monosomes) that are incapable of protein synthesis either in vivo or in vitro. The accumulation of the str-monosomes takes place at the expense of polyribosomes as well as 50 s and 30 s ribosomes, and its rate is dose-dependent. At a streptomycin concentration of 75 μg/ml., the rate is 1.3% of all ribosomes per minute. Newly synthesized and pre-existing mRNA (measured by DNA-RNA hybridization) binds irreversibly to the accumulating str-monosomes. The amount of mRNA that is bound to the str-monosomes increases with time in proportion to the rate of monosome accumulation. The mRNA extracted from the monosomes is comparable in size to mRNA extracted from untreated cells, suggesting that it is stabilized from degradation on the str-monosomes. Monosomes can be formed in vitro from 30 s and 50 s ribosomal particles in the presence of streptomycin; and, as in the absence of the drug, their formation is dependent on K+, Mg2+, mRNA and tRNA. Cells starved for their carbon source are neither killed by streptomycin, nor do they accumulate monosomes, showing that continued metabolism is required for monosome formation. We suggest that the binding of streptomycin in the aberrant monosomes is irreversible under physiological conditions, and that this binding accounts for the bactericidal action of the drug.
Odd Crossing Number and Crossing Number Are Not the Same

The crossing number of a graph is the minimum number of edge intersections in a plane drawing of a graph, where each intersection is counted separately. If instead we count the number of pairs of edges that intersect an odd number of times, we obtain the odd crossing number. We show that there is a graph for which these two concepts differ, answering a well-known open question on crossing numbers. To derive the result we study drawings of maps (graphs with rotation systems).
Language Policies and (Dis)Citizenship: Who Belongs? Who Is a Guest? Who Is Deported?

This Forum brings together some scholars writing in areas relating to language policies, language ideologies, and citizenship. While each of these domains is well researched, only recently has scho...
Experimental Characterization and Application of Circuit Architecture Level Single Event Transient Mitigation

In this work experimental characterization of process single event transient (SET) performance as a function of circuit node capacitance and drive strength is described. A test structure fabricated on a 130 nm bulk CMOS process is described. Experimental results from ion beam measurements on the structure are also presented. The results can be used early in the design cycle to limit reliability impact due to SETs. An SRAM design example demonstrates how measured SET data can be used to trade off dynamic power dissipation for improved soft error performance without increasing circuit area.
A market structure for an environment with heterogeneous job-matches, indivisible labor and persistent unemployment

Abstract The Mortensen-Pissarides model with heterogeneous job-matches and persistent unemployment has become a popular workhorse for studying aggregate phenomena in the labor market. This paper develops a microeconomic structure decentralizing a generalized social planner's version of this model. It is shown in the presence of the indivisibility of labor, heterogeneous job-matches, and persistent unemployment, that different households can fully insure themselves against variations in wealth, if they have access to a complete insurance market. Also factor prices and matching rates are derived.
A Temporally Interleaved Technique for Simultaneously Measuring Diagnostic Spectral Parameters and Link Performance in Active Optically Amplified Systems

We present a novel measurement technique for spectral measurements of optically amplified systems that enables simultaneous measurement and therefore correlation of a diagnostic parameter and the performance of the link.
A Grave Case of Myopia

Political scientists like to talk about the “median” voter—the representative voter in the middle. Suppose, analogously, we were to speak of the median scholar of international political economy (IPE) in the United States—the representative scholar in the middle of what elsewhere I have called the American school of IPE (Cohen 2008). This individual can be assumed to browse periodically through the standard literature, following current fashions in research. He or she may subscribe to mainstream U.S. journals like International Organization (IO) or International Studies Quarterly (ISQ) or buy books published by the country’s better known university presses, such as Princeton or Cornell. He or she might also sit in on a few IPE panels at the annual meetings of the American Political Science Association and International Studies Association or perhaps even the new International Political Economy Society. Would this median scholar, reasonably well informed and au courant, have been given any reason in recent years to anticipate that we all would soon be engulfed in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? The answer is No. The question is: Why? Much the same question was asked about international relations (IR) theory two decades ago after the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union. IR scholars too were caught short by a major structural shock. “The abrupt end of the Cold War,” wrote the eminent historian John Lewis Gaddis (1992/ 93:5–6), “astonished almost everyone. . . . [We] failed to see it coming.” Why was that? The consensus among IR theorists today is that the problem lay not in the quality of mainstream scholarship but in a signal failure of imagination: an inability or unwillingness to consider even the possibility of such a radical systemic change. In the words of Ted Hopf (1993: 202): “American social scientists did not look at the problem and then attack it with inappropriate theories and methods; they simply failed to look at the problem at all.” Summarized Richard Ned Lebow and Thomas Risse-Kappen (1995:2) in a comprehensive retrospective: “The profession’s performance was embarrassing. There was little or no debate about the underlying causes of systemic change. . . None of the existing theories of international relations recognized the possibility that the kind of change that did occur could
Dietary intake and plasma metabolomic analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in bipolar subjects reveal dysregulation of linoleic acid metabolism

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) profiles associate with risk for mood disorders. This poses the hypothesis of metabolic differences between patients and unaffected healthy controls that relate to the primary illness or are secondary to medication use or dietary intake. However, dietary manipulation or supplementation studies show equivocal results improving mental health outcomes. This study investigates dietary patterns and metabolic profiles relevant to PUFA metabolism, in bipolar I individuals compared to non-psychiatric controls. We collected seven-day diet records and performed metabolomic analysis of fasted plasma collected immediately after diet recording. Regression analyses adjusted for age, gender and energy intake found that bipolar individuals had significantly lower intake of selenium and PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (n-3), arachidonic acid (AA) (n-6) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) (n-3/n-6 mix); and significantly increased intake of the saturated fats, eicosanoic and docosanoic acid. Regression analysis of metabolomic data derived from plasma samples, correcting for age, gender, BMI, psychiatric medication use and dietary PUFA intake, revealed that bipolar individuals had reduced 13S-HpODE, a major peroxidation product of the n-6, linoleic acid (LA), reduced eicosadienoic acid (EDA), an elongation product of LA; reduced prostaglandins G2, F2 alpha and E1, synthesized from n-6 PUFA; and reduced EPA. These observations remained significant or near significant after Bonferroni correction and are consistent with metabolic variances between bipolar and control individuals with regard to PUFA metabolism. These findings suggest that specific dietary interventions aimed towards correcting these metabolic disparities may impact health outcomes for individuals with bipolar disorder.
Honey Bee-Infecting Plant Virus with Implications on Honey Bee Colony Health

Honey bees are eusocial insects that are commercially managed to provide pollination services for agricultural crops. Recent increased losses of honey bee colonies (averaging 32% annually since 2006) are associated with the incidence and abundance of pathogens. In their study in mBio, J. L. Li et al. [mBio 5(1):e00898-13, 2014, doi:10.1128/mBio.00898-13] share their discovery that a plant virus, tobacco ring spot virus (TRSV), replicates in honey bees and that the prevalence of this virus was high in weak colonies. Their findings increase our understanding of the role of viruses in honey bee colony losses and underscore the importance of surveying for new and/or emerging viruses in honey bees. Furthermore, their findings will pique the interest of virologists and biologists across all disciplines. The discovery that a plant virus (TRSV) replicates, spreads, and negatively affects the health of an insect host will lead to additional studies on the mechanisms of host-specific adaptation and the role of cross-kingdom infections in the transmission of this virus.
Cross-borehole observation of mode conversion from borehole stoneley waves to channel waves at a coal layer

Conversion of borehole Stoneley waves to channel waves was observed in data from a seismic cross-borehole experiment conducted between wellbores penetrating a thin coal layer at 2022 m depth, near Rifle, Colorado. Traveltime moveout observations show that borehole Stoneley waves underwent partial conversion to channel waves at the coal layer. The channel waves were detected directly in an adjacent borehole 35 m away at receiver positions within the coal. Stoneley waves, subsequently produced by partial conversion of channel waves, were also detected at receiver positions located up to 50 m above and below the coal layer in the adjacent borehole. We infer the channel wave to be the first-higher Rayleigh mode by comparing the observed group velocity with theoretically derived dispersion curves. Identifying the conversion between borehole and stratigraphically guided waves is significant because coal penetrated by multiple wells may be detected without placing a transmitter or receiver in the coal itself.
Effect of nitrogen addition on the comparative productivity of corn and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti )

Abstract Weeds that respond more to nitrogen fertilizer than crops may be more competitive under high nitrogen (N) conditions. Therefore, understanding the effects of nitrogen on crop and weed growth and competition is critical. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 1999 and 2000 to determine the influence of varying levels of N addition on corn and velvetleaf height, leaf area, biomass accumulation, and yield. Nitrogen addition increased corn and velvetleaf height by a maximum of 15 and 68%, respectively. N addition increased corn and velvetleaf maximum leaf area index (LAI) by up to 51 and 90%. Corn and velvetleaf maximum biomass increased by up to 68 and 89% with N addition. Competition from corn had the greatest effect on velvetleaf growth, reducing its biomass by up to 90% compared with monoculture velvetleaf. Corn response to N addition was less than that of velvetleaf, indicating that velvetleaf may be most competitive at high levels of nitrogen and least competitive when nitrogen le...
Auditory Midbrain Implant: A Review

The auditory midbrain implant (AMI) is a new hearing prosthesis designed for stimulation of the inferior colliculus in deaf patients who cannot sufficiently benefit from cochlear implants. The authors have begun clinical trials in which five patients have been implanted with a single shank AMI array (20 electrodes). The goal of this review is to summarize the development and research that has led to the translation of the AMI from a concept into the first patients. This study presents the rationale and design concept for the AMI as well a summary of the animal safety and feasibility studies that were required for clinical approval. The authors also present the initial surgical, psychophysical, and speech results from the first three implanted patients. Overall, the results have been encouraging in terms of the safety and functionality of the implant. All patients obtain improvements in hearing capabilities on a daily basis. However, performance varies dramatically across patients depending on the implant location within the midbrain with the best performer still not able to achieve open set speech perception without lip-reading cues. Stimulation of the auditory midbrain provides a wide range of level, spectral, and temporal cues, all of which are important for speech understanding, but they do not appear to sufficiently fuse together to enable open set speech perception with the currently used stimulation strategies. Finally, several issues and hypotheses for why current patients obtain limited speech perception along with several feasible solutions for improving AMI implementation are presented.
Characterizing the Allosteric Effect of Nucleotide and Inhibitor Binding to the Kinesin Motor Domain

Kinesin motor domains couple cycles of ATP hydrolysis to cycles of microtubule binding and conformational changes that result in directional force and movement on microtubules. General principles of this mechanochemical coupling have now been established. However, fundamental atomistic details of the underlying allosteric mechanisms remain unknown. This lack of knowledge hampers the development of new inhibitors and limits our understanding of how disease-associated mutations in distal sites can interfere with the fidelity of motor domain function. Here we combine unbiased molecular dynamics simulations, bioinformatics analysis and in-silico mutational studies to elucidate the structural dynamic effects of nucleotide turnover and allosteric inhibition. Multiple replica simulations of kinesin-1 and kinesin-5 bound to ATP-, ADP- and kinesin-5 specific inhibitors were used to create residue-based networks that characterize the internal dynamic coordination of functional regions. This analysis predicts the intervening residues involved in the dynamic coupling of nucleotide, microtubule, neck-linker and inhibitor binding sites. Regions identified include the nucleotide binding switch regions, loop5, loop7, α4-α5-loop13, α1 and β4-β6-β7. Also evident were nucleotide and inhibitor dependent shifts in the dynamic coupling paths linking functional sites. In particular, inhibitor binding to the loop5 region affects β-sheet residues and α1 leading to a dynamic decoupling of nucleotide, microtubule and neck-linker binding sites. Additional analysis of point mutations in kinesin-5, including P131 (loop5), Q78/I79 (α1), E166 (loop7), K272/I273 (β7) G325/G326 (loop13), support their predicted role in mediating the dynamic coupling of distal functional surfaces. Collectively, our results and approach provide a framework for explaining how binding events and point mutations can alter dynamic couplings critical for kinesin motor domain function.
Aeromonas hydrophila B‐haemolysin: purification and examination of its role in virulence in 0‐group channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

. A single step procedure for purification of B-haemolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila is described which recovered 94% of the haemolytic activity with a sixfold increase in specific activity. Toxicity of haemolysin in 0-group channel catfish was 0–6 mg of purified protein per gram offish. Of six strains of A. hydrophila evaluated for differential toxin production and virulence in 0-group channel catfish, three B-haemolysin-deficient strains were virulent while three B-haemolysin-producing strains were avirulent.
Aggression, peer victimisation, and social relationships among Indian youth

The purpose of the present study was to examine peer aggression, victimisation, and social relationships in children and adolescents in semi-rural India. Aggression and victimisation were expected to be related to concurrent social problems such as peer rejection, perceived lack of social support, and perceived conflict in significant relationships. These findings were expected to be qualified by gender and developmental differences. Data were collected from 229 fourth-, sixth-, eighth-, and tenth-graders in a small semi-rural northwestern town in India. Aggressors and victims were more likely to be rejected than their nonaggressive nonvictimised peers. Victims and aggressors were more likely to report lack of social support but not more conflict from significant others than nonvictims. Gender differences were observed in that males were more likely to be aggressors or victims than females. No significant developmental differences emerged with regard to peer aggression and victimisation. Theoretical impli...
Clinical Profile and Outcome of Idiopathic Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Background—Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is a poorly recognized entity of unknown cause characterized by nondilated, nonhypertrophied ventricles with diastolic dysfunction resulting in dilated atria and variable systolic function. Methods and Results—Between 1979 and 1996, 94 patients (61% women) 10 to 90 years old (mean, 64 years) met strict morphological echocardiographic criteria for idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy, mainly dilated atria with nonhypertrophied, nondilated ventricles. None had known infiltrative disease, hypertension of >5 years’ duration, or cardiac or systemic conditions associated with restrictive filling. Nineteen percent were in NYHA class I, 53% in class II, and 28% in class III or IV. Atrial fibrillation was noted in 74% of patients and systolic dysfunction in 16%. Follow-up (mean, 68 months) was complete for 93 patients (99%). At follow-up, 47 patients (50%) had died, 32 (68%) of cardiovascular causes. Four had heart transplantation. The death rate compared with actu...
Transverse patterns for all-optical switching

Transverse optical patterns, generated by nonlinear interactions, rotate in the presence of a weak switch beam. Using an experimental system with increased symmetry, we observe that the switch can be actuated by ~2100 photons.
Parametric thermal modeling of 3D stacked chip electronics with interleaved solid heat spreaders

Effective methods must be devised to transfer the heat from the core of 3D stacked chip electronics to the exterior of the device. The use of solid heat spreaders of high thermal conductivity interleaved between the chips was investigated parametrically through computational modeling. The effect of the power dissipated, the applied heat transfer coefficient, the spreader thickness, spreader thermal conductivity, and the shape of via holes in the spreader were modeled. Results show that for moderate power dissipations, 5 W in each 27 times 38 mm layer, a 250 mum thick copper heat spreader would conduct heat adequately
Spectrum of FDG uptake in large (>10 cm) esophageal leiomyomas

Esophageal leiomyomas are rare benign tumors that can be treated successfully with limited surgical resection. It is occasionally important to distinguish leiomyomas from more aggressive submucosal esophageal tumors, most notably gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). GISTs have a worse prognosis, particularly when they are large (>10 cm). Increased uptake of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography (PET) scans is common in GISTs, potentially allowing PET scanning to differentiate between GIST and benign esophageal tumors. Three patients presented with large (>10 cm) esophageal masses of ranging PET avidity [maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 1.3-10.1]. All were treated surgically and histologically confirmed to be esophageal leiomyomas. Unfortunately, the wide range of PET uptake precludes PET scanning from differentiating large leiomyomas from more aggressive lesions.
International Experiences with Transactions Taxes

This paper studies the international experience with securities transaction taxes (STTs), using the Swedish and British systems as case studies. We argue that STTs are best thought of as taxes on different resources used in transactions: domestic brokerage services in the case of Sweden, and registration services in the British case. STTs give investors incentives to economize on the taxed resources by shifting trading to foreign markets or untaxed assets, or by reducing the volume of trade. We show that these effects can be important. Estimated revenues from an STT will be correspondingly overstated if they ignore such behavioral effects.
Hold 'em? Using Financial Statement Information to Pick Winners and Losers when Consensus Analysts' Recommendations are Neutral

Sell-side financial analysts commonly issue recommendations to buy, sell, or hold particular firms' shares. Hold recommendations do not provide investors with directional recommendations to change their investment positions. We develop and test predictions about whether users of analysts' recommendations can exploit financial statement information to identify hold-recommendation firms that will generate abnormal returns in the coming year. Our approach summarizes financial statement ratios into a predictor of the likelihood a firm will generate an earnings increase in the coming year. We find that hold-recommendation firms with the greatest likelihood of future earnings increases generate average abnormal returns that significantly exceed those of hold-recommendation firms with the lowest likelihood of future earnings increases. We find that a trading strategy that utilizes our approach to pick stocks from among the set of hold recommendations generates average annual abnormal returns of 16.4 percent over our 12-year sample period, after controlling for previously identified predictors of expected returns. Our results provide insights for accounting and finance academics, as well as for institutional investors and other users of sell-side analyst recommendations.
A Prophage-Encoded Small RNA Controls Metabolism and Cell Division in Escherichia coli

Hundreds of small RNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in diverse bacterial species, and while the functions of most remain unknown, some regulate key processes, particularly stress responses. The sRNA DicF was identified over 25 years ago as an inhibitor of cell division but since then has remained uncharacterized. DicF consists of 53 nucleotides and is encoded by a gene carried on a prophage (Qin) in the genomes of many Escherichia coli strains. We demonstrated that DicF inhibits cell division via direct base pairing with ftsZ mRNA to repress translation and prevent new synthesis of the bacterial tubulin homolog FtsZ. Systems analysis using computational and experimental methods identified additional mRNA targets of DicF: xylR and pykA mRNAs, encoding the xylose uptake and catabolism regulator and pyruvate kinase, respectively. Genetic analyses showed that DicF directly base pairs with and represses translation of these targets. Phenotypes of cells expressing DicF variants demonstrated that DicF-associated growth inhibition is not solely due to repression of ftsZ, indicating that the physiological consequences of DicF-mediated regulation extend beyond effects on cell division caused by reduced FtsZ synthesis. IMPORTANCE sRNAs are ubiquitous and versatile regulators of bacterial gene expression. A number of well-characterized examples in E. coli are highly conserved and present in the E. coli core genome. In contrast, the sRNA DicF (identified over 20 years ago but remaining poorly characterized) is encoded by a gene carried on a defective prophage element in many E. coli genomes. Here, we characterize DicF in order to better understand how horizontally acquired sRNA regulators impact bacterial gene expression and physiology. Our data confirm the long-hypothesized DicF-mediated regulation of ftsZ, encoding the bacterial tubulin homolog required for cell division. We further uncover DicF-mediated posttranscriptional control of metabolic gene expression. Ectopic production of DicF is highly toxic to E. coli cells, but the toxicity is not attributable to DicF regulation of ftsZ. Further work is needed to reveal the biological roles of and benefits for the host conferred by DicF and other products encoded by defective prophages.
Genetic prothrombotic factors in children with otogenic lateral sinus thrombosis: Five case reports

Lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) is an uncommon, but life-threatening complication of both acute and chronic otitis media. There is some evidence that acquired or hereditary prothrombotic disorders are risk factors for LST. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of thrombotic screening, anticoagulant therapy or prophylaxis in patients with either acute or chronic otitis media and LST. The medical records of five children hospitalized at Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu of Rome because of acute or chronic otitis media complicated by mastoiditis and LST were reviewed. All children underwent laboratory workup for hypercoagulability. All the five children were found to be heterozygote for the C677T MTHFR mutation and a child presented also heterozygosity for factor V Leiden mutation. They have been successfully treated with anticoagulant therapy without sequels. Children with acute or chronic otitis media may have a prothrombotic tendency that becomes clinically evident because of the inflammatory state. Patients with a family and/or personal history of thrombosis and/or thrombophilic conditions need anticoagulant prophylaxis also in the absence of clear signs of LST. Treatment with low molecular weight is successful in patients with LST.
Changing Trends in Antiepileptic Drug Usage in Girls

Concerns about potential effects on offspring have prompted a gradual change in antiepileptic drug usage in girls of child-bearing age in the last decade, according to a study at the School of Pharmacy and Institute of Child Health, University of London, UK.
Research of Reconstruction Plan for Large-scale Structural Spraying-line Shot Blasting Chamber

The actual working process of shot blast machine was analysed based on design problem existing in spraying-line of shot blasting room.The research of shot blasting machine,material hoisting system,dust-removal system and sealing system was conducted.The reconstruction plan of shot blasting chamber was also proposed.Providing a reference for design of large-scale construction machinery structural parts in spraying-line shot blasting chamber.
Urological Manifestations of Isolated Iliac Artery Aneurysms

AbstractThree patients with iliac artery aneurysms were seen at our institution with the chief complaints owing to urological manifestations. Iliac artery aneurysms may present with a transrectally palpable mass, hematuria, bladder outlet obstruction, ureteral obstruction, retroperitoneal fibrosis or renal failure. Any such manifestations may bring the aneurysm to the attention of a urologist before diagnosis.