cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thyroid uptake of 125iodine after prostate permanent brachytherapy.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To decrease the seed migration rate after 125 I prostate brachytherapy and improve the quality of implants to our knowledge we report for the first time the detection of thyroid uptake, possibly from a damaged seed, in a patient after 125 I implantation. Materials and Methods: Seed migration detection is routinely offered to our patients at the post-evaluation visit. A seed migration detector and comprehensive investigation procedure have been developed for the task. Chest radiographs are ordered to document the location of the detected seed. A fluoroscopic study may be performed if intracardiac radioactivity is detected. Results: Since November 2001, 246 patients have been studied for seed migration. A total of 23,184 125 I seeds were implanted, of which 75 were lost through the urethra and 25 migrated to the thorax. In the routine survey of a patient on February 13, 2003 radioactivity in the chest-neck region was sensed. Repeat radiographs and fluoroscopic examinations were negative for seed migration. Using a γ camera butterfly-shaped uptake was noted in the thyroid region. The energy peak of the uptake matched the spectrum of the 125 I source. The patient denied any intake of other iodine medication. The results suggested possible 125 I leakage from at least 1 seed implanted in the prostatic region. Conclusions: Improved control of seed migration has been achieved. The detection of thyroid uptake is reported. Detection techniques and subsequent actions are described.
A classification of the probabilistic polynomial time hierarchy under fault tolerant access to oracle classes

We show a simple application of Zuckerman's amplification technique to the classification problem of the probabilistic polynomial time hierarchy formed by interleaving all possible oracle classes from BPP, RP, coRP and ZPP, in any finite number of levels. In the fault tolerant model introduced by Cai, Hemachandra and Vyskoc, we arrive at a complete classification.
The nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome resulting in chronic iron-deficiency anemia.

An unusual case of the nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome with chronic iron-deficiency anemia is described. The patient had numerous large, fungating basal-cell carcinomas and chronic blood loss from these lesions, which resulted in severe anemia. His treatment included transfusion of eight units of packed red blood cells and surgical excision of the carcinomas under general anesthesia.
High Throughput Methods for Discovering Membrane Active Peptides

Rational design and engineering of membrane active peptides remains a largely unsatisfied goal. We have hypothesized that this us due, in part, to the fact that some membrane activities, such as permeabilization, and cell penetrating ability are not dependent on specific amino acid sequences or specific three-dimensional peptide structures. Instead they depend on interfacial activity; the ability of a molecule to partition into in the membrane-water interface and to strain the packing and organization of lipids. We are testing that idea by taking a novel approach to biomolecular engineering and design of membrane-active peptides. Several rational combinatorial peptide libraries containing 10-16,000 members have been screened for water soluble members that either permeabilize phospholipid membranes or translocate without permeabilization. Stringent, two-phase, high-throughput screens were used to identify dozens of unique peptides that had potent membrane permeabilizing activity or cell penetrating activity, but were also highly water soluble. These rare and uniquely active peptides did not always share a particular sequence motif, peptide length or net charge, but always share common compositional features, secondary structure and core hydrophobicity. We suggest that they function by common mechanisms that depends mostly on interfacial activity. We demonstrate here that composition-space peptide libraries coupled with function-based high-throughput screens can lead to the discovery of diverse, soluble, and highly potent interfacially active peptides.
Implementation of Echo-Planar imaging on an unmodified spectrometer at 2.1 Tesla for functional imaging

Abstract The high speed magnetic resonance imaging technique of Echo-Planar imaging (EPI) has been developing since 1977 using specialized imaging systems. Recent experiments in functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) using EPI on specialized MR systems have generated increased interest in the EPI sequence. Presented here is an implementation of the EPI sequence on a large bore, human scale spectrometer using widely available standard hardware. Existing EPI methods and concepts were amalgamated to obtain images without hardware modifications. Spatial distortion of Echo-Planar images by internal field gradients within the brain were minimized by active shimming on each subject. Nonlinear sampling artifacts caused by nonideal gradient switching were addressed by oversampling the signal and simple extraction of data points corresponding to the ideal sampling pattern. Multislice Echo-Planar images with functional contrast have been obtained at 6 × 3 mm resolution using these methods.
Moderators and Mediators in Social Work Research: Toward a More Ecologically Valid Evidence Base for Practice.

• Summary: Evidence-based practice involves the consistent and critical consumption of the social work research literature. As methodologies advance, primers to guide such efforts are often needed. In the present work, common statistical methods for testing moderation and mediation are identified, summarized, and corresponding examples, drawn from the substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health literature, are provided.• Findings: Analyses of these third variable effects can provide an optimal fit for the complexity involved in the provision of evidence-based social work services. While a moderator may identify the trait or state requirement for a causal relationship to occur, a mediator is concerned with the transmission of that relationship. In social work practice, these are questions of ‘under what conditions and for whom?’ and of the ‘how?’ of behavior change.• Implications: Implications include a need for greater attention to these methods among practitioners and evaluation researchers. Wi...
Issues in Teacher Education Reform: Implications for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers.

The persistent goal of the social studies curriculum is the preparation of citizens. In particular, democracy requires citizens who are knowledgeable, reflective, and active participants committed to democratic values. Such citizens do not just vote; rather, their vote is both informed and thoughtful. They not only know about persistent social issues (such as pollution and poverty), but they also join community groups that address these issues. They not only consume the mass media, but they are also critics who recognize the deficiencies as well as the strengths in the materials they view and read. It is important, too, that these citizens are concerned about how their individual actions (such as buying furs or gasguzzling cars) affect the public good. If these are the kinds of citizens that represent democracy at its best, the schools need teachers who mirror these characteristics as well. Such teachers need to be leaders, not followers. They need to be open and accepting professionals who thrive on intellectual stimulation, who encourage controversy, and who probe for evidence. Such teachers will gain their professional satisfactions from hearing their students share the depths of their thinking, rather than from hearing their students merely recite the facts. Preparing citizens is both complex and challenging; the preparation of teachers for citizenship is equally so. Recent reports (see note) and discussions give renewed attention to teacher education. In general, these reports discuss teacher education as an undifferentiated mono-
Experiments on a fluidic loading mechanism for beam-steering reflectarrays

The design and experiment of a phase reconfigurable RA unit cell enabled by a COSMIX was proposed. A phase shift of 200° was demonstrated at 3 GHz with only 1.2 dB of loss. Deviations were observed between the measured and simulated results but the trends are in agreement. The 0.4 dB baseline loss shown in Fig. 4 is a measurement of the waveguide with no patch or other materials present. Additional losses may be due to the actual dielectric properties of the oil and colloidal material. Discrepancies in the phase behavior are attributed to fabrication challenges as well as the more dominant and observed effect of particle settling within capacitive gap of the COSMIX. Ongoing work includes the automation of a fluid delivery system, mixing mechanisms for control of colloidal material in the dispersion, and further stabilization of the dispersion to prevent aggregation within the gap.
Spatial analysis of annual runoff ratios and their variability across the contiguous U.S.

Summary This study examines the spatial patterns of annual runoff ratios and their variability and identifies the determinants of runoff indices for 238 reference basins with low levels of anthropogenic influence and 1352 non-reference basins with substantial levels of anthropogenic influence. Runoff ratios are high and runoff ratio coefficients of variation (CV) are low in coastal Pacific Northwest and Northeast basins, both humid temperate climates. The most significant variable that influences annual runoff ratio for both basin types is the average annual days of measurable precipitation. Snow percent of total precipitation and minimum watershed elevation are common predictors of runoff ratio for both types of basins. Slope percent and Horton overland flow are significant predictors for reference basin runoff ratio, while average annual precipitation, basin compactness, and dam storage are significant predictors for non-reference basin runoff ratio. The variables most significantly influencing runoff ratio CV in both types of basins are the average annual days of measurable precipitation, the precipitation seasonality index, and the base flow index. Horton overland flow is a significant predictor for reference basins, while minimum watershed elevation is a significant predictor for non-reference basins. Spatial autocorrelation of ordinary least squares estimated residuals are reduced by geographically weighted regression (GWR) for all models in both basin types. This study shows that GWR modeling, which takes into account spatial non-stationarity, can create more accurate representations of runoff ratio variability in both basin types. The spatially-varying coefficient values in GWR models also show local specific relationships between runoff indices and various climatic and landscape factors.
A multigeneration analysis of cytochrome b(562) redox variants: evolutionary strategies for modulating redox potential revealed using a library approach.

The redox potential of cytochromes sets the energy yield possible in metabolism and is also a key determinant of the rate at which redox reactions proceed. Here, the heme protein, cytochrome b 5 6 2 , is used to study the in vitro evolution of redox potential within a library of variants containing the same structural archetype, the four-helix bundle. Multisite variations in the active site of cytochrome b 5 6 2 were introduced. A library of variants containing random mutations in place of R98 and R106 was created, and the redox potentials of a statistical sampling of this library were measured. This procedure was carried out for both the low- and high-potential variants of a previously studied F61X/F65X, first-generation library [Springs, S. L., Bass, S. E., and McLendon, G. L. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 6075]. The second-generation library reported here has a range of redox potentials which is greater than 40% (160 mV) of the known accessible potential among cytochromes with identical axial ligands (but different folds) and exceeds the range exhibited phylogenetically by the cytochrome c' family which internally maintains the same axial ligation and fold. A statistical analysis of the libraries examined reveals that the redox potential of WT cyt b 5 6 2 is found at the high-potential extremum of the distribution, indicating that this protein apparently evolved to differentially stabilize the reduced protein. The 2.7 A crystal structure of F61I/ F65Y/R106L (low-potential variant of the second-generation library) was solved and is compared to the wild-type structure and the 2.2 A resolution structure of the F61I/F65Y variant (low-potential variant of the first-generation library). The structures indicate that charge-dipole effects are responsible for shifting the redox equilibrium toward the oxidized state in both the F61I/F65Y and F61I/F65Y/R106L variants. Specifically, a new protein dipole is introduced into the heme microenvironment as a result of the F65Y mutation, two new internal water molecules (one in hydrogen-bonding distance of Y65) are found, and in the case of F61I/F65Y/R106L (ΔE m = 158 mV vs NHE), increased solvent exposure of the heme as a result of the R106L substitution is identified.
Soluble CD4 and CD4-mimetic compounds inhibit HIV-1 infection by induction of a short-lived activated state.

Binding to the CD4 receptor induces conformational changes in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein. These changes allow gp120 to bind the coreceptor, either CCR5 or CXCR4, and prime the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein to mediate virus–cell membrane fusion and virus entry. Soluble forms of CD4 (sCD4) and small-molecule CD4 mimics (here exemplified by JRC-II-191) also induce these conformational changes in the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, but typically inhibit HIV-1 entry into CD4-expressing cells. To investigate the mechanism of inhibition, we monitored at high temporal resolution inhibitor-induced changes in the conformation and functional competence of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins that immediately follow engagement of the soluble CD4 mimics. Both sCD4 and JRC-II-191 efficiently activated the envelope glycoproteins to mediate infection of cells lacking CD4, in a manner dependent on coreceptor affinity and density. This activated state, however, was transient and was followed by spontaneous and apparently irreversible changes of conformation and by loss of functional competence. The longevity of the activated intermediate depended on temperature and the particular HIV-1 strain, but was indistinguishable for sCD4 and JRC-II-191; by contrast, the activated intermediate induced by cell-surface CD4 was relatively long-lived. The inactivating effects of these activation-based inhibitors predominantly affected cell-free virus, whereas virus that was prebound to the target cell surface was mainly activated, infecting the cells even at high concentrations of the CD4 analogue. These results demonstrate the ability of soluble CD4 mimics to inactivate HIV-1 by prematurely triggering active but transient intermediate states of the envelope glycoproteins. This novel strategy for inhibition may be generally applicable to high–potential-energy viral entry machines that are normally activated by receptor binding.
Determination of absolute photoionization cross sections of the phenyl radical.

Photoionization cross sections of the phenyl radical to form the phenyl cation were measured using tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation coupled with photofragment translational spectroscopy. The phenyl radical was produced via 193- or 248-nm dissociation of chlorobenzene. At 10.0 eV, the photoionization cross sections for the phenyl radical averaged over product channels were found to be 13.4 ± 2.0 and 13.2 ± 2.0 Mb, respectively, with very little effect seen from the range of internal excitation produced at the two photolysis wavelengths. Using the photoionization cross section values for each channel, photoionization efficiency curves for the phenyl radical were placed on an absolute scale from 7.8 to 10.8 eV.
Potential application of essential amino Acid supplementation to treat sarcopenia in elderly people.

Aging is universally associated with a progressive decline in both physical and metabolic function across a diverse rangeofspeciesfromnematodestohumans.Moreover,progressive reductions in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and quality (referred to as sarcopenia) are often observed with aging. An associated problem is decline in maximal aerobic capacity, and all of these factors together contribute to the physical frailty of older people. In light of the rapidly expanding aging population, sarcopenia and related disorders are emerging as a major public health problem of the 21st century. This is particularly pertinent considering the loss of independence that is associated with frailty and falls that increase the risk of fractures. Another consequence of the sarcopenia of aging is a deleterious change in body composition resulting in many metabolic alterations leading on to metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Indeed, sarcopenia has received considerable attention by both researchers and clinicians over the last two decades. Muscle changes with age include reduction in fiber numbers, motor units, and a relative loss of type II fibers with a preservation of type I fibers (1) that may result from reductions in transcript levels of myosin heavy chain isoforms IIa and IIx without any decline of isoform I as reported in older people (2). Thus, a relative increase of type I fibers occurs with age, but these fibers are lower in abundance of mitochondria (3) than those in longdistance runners who also have a relatively high proportion of type I fibers but with high abundance of mitochondria. Reductionsinskeletalmuscleproteinabundances(thebalancebetween protein synthesis and degradation) are a key contributing factor to the development of sarcopenia. Mechanistically, it has been extensively reported that skeletal muscle protein synthesis is reduced in aging adults (2, 4, 5). The reduction in skeletal muscle mitochondrial protein synthesis (6) occurs in conjunction with reducedmitochondrialcapacityforATPproduction(3).Thank
Streamlining and integration of Miami three-tier outcomes assessment for sustainability

Among the challenges associated with implementing an outcomes assessment approach is the institutionalization of a data collection scheme. An assessment methodology that lacks scalability makes it difficult to reasonably collect data on a regular basis. In addition, if the methodology is not integrated with familiar processes, adoption and “faculty buy-in” becomes difficult. Each of these properties (e.g., scalability and integration) addresses a larger concern, namely sustainability. This paper describes a streamlined process for outcomes assessment that is integrated into a course management system. The process involves the use of a three-tier assessment model currently in place at Miami University and supports both indirect and direct assessment through instruments such as surveys, rubrics, and blogging journals.
Safe and targeted anticancer therapy for ovarian cancer using a novel class of curcumin analogs

A diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer is the beginning of a long and arduous journey for a patient. Worldwide, approximately half of the individuals undergoing therapy for advanced cancer will succumb to the disease, or consequences of treatment. Well-known and widely-used chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin are toxic to both cancer and non-cancerous cells, and have debilitating side effects Therefore, development of new targeted anticancer therapies that can selectively kill cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues is essential to develop more effective therapies. We have developed a new class of synthetic curcumin analogs, diarylidenyl-piperidones (DAPs), which have higher anticancer activity and enhanced bio-absorption than curcumin. The DAP backbone structure exhibits cytotoxic (anticancer) activity, whereas the N-hydroxypyrroline (-NOH) moiety found on some variants functions as a cellular- or tissue-specific modulator (antioxidant) of cytotoxicity. The anticancer activity of the DAPs has been evaluated using a number of ovarian cancer cell lines, and the safety has been evaluated in a number of non-cancerous cell lines. Both variations of the DAP compounds showed similar levels of cell death in ovarian cancer cells, however the compounds with the -NOH modification were less toxic to non-cancerous cells. The selective cytotoxicity of the DAP–NOH compounds suggests that they will be useful as safe and effective anticancer agents. This article reviews some of the key findings of our work with the DAP compounds, and compares this to some of the targeted therapies currently used in ovarian cancer therapy.
The structure and organization of lanceolate mechanosensory complexes at mouse hair follicles

In mouse hairy skin, lanceolate complexes associated with three types of hair follicles, guard, awl/auchene and zigzag, serve as mechanosensory end organs. These structures are formed by unique combinations of low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), Aβ RA-LTMRs, Aδ-LTMRs, and C-LTMRs, and their associated terminal Schwann cells (TSCs). In this study, we investigated the organization, ultrastructure, and maintenance of longitudinal lanceolate complexes at each hair follicle subtype. We found that TSC processes at hair follicles are tiled and that individual TSCs host axonal endings of more than one LTMR subtype. Electron microscopic analyses revealed unique ultrastructural features of lanceolate complexes that are proposed to underlie mechanotransduction. Moreover, Schwann cell ablation leads to loss of LTMR terminals at hair follicles while, in contrast, TSCs remain associated with hair follicles following skin denervation in adult mice and, remarkably, become re-associated with newly formed axons, indicating a TSC-dependence of lanceolate complex maintenance and regeneration in adults. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01901.001.
Bcl-xL and caspase inhibition increase the survival of rat oxytocin and vasopressin magnocellular neurons in organotypic culture.

Hypothalamic magnocellular neurons (MCNs) are highly vulnerable to axotomy-induced cell death in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we determined whether the anti-apoptotic agent Bcl-xL, a member of the Bcl-2 family which prevents programmed cell death in the central nervous system, can rescue oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) MCNs in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) in organotypic culture. We found that the novel, membrane permeant form of Bcl-xL that we employed in these studies protected both OT and VP MCNs from degeneration as long as the Bcl-xL was present in the medium. In contrast, z-VAD-fmk, an inhibitor of caspases that are involved in apoptosis, was less effective in that it significantly rescued OT MCNs (P 0.09). Unlike the Bcl-xL, Z-VAD-fmk's effectiveness in reducing MCN cell death was not sustained for the full 15 days in vitro.
Modified method for external attachment of transmitters to birds using two subcutaneous anchors

Of the transmitter attachment techniques for birds, the subcutaneous anchor provides a secure attachment that yields relatively few secondary effects. However, the use of subcutaneous anchors has been limited by transmitter size and retention time. Using a modified method of attachment that utilized two subcutaneous anchors, we deployed 69 GPS transmitters, plus 13 VHF transmitters that were similar in size and weight to GPS models, on Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). Prior to our study, only harnesses were used for attaching GPS transmitters on birds, mainly because GPS transmitters are too large for other external attachment techniques and implantation in the body cavity attenuates the GPS signal. Thus, to increase the size capacity of anchor attachment and to avoid the well-documented negative effects of harnesses on behavior and survival, we added a second anchor at the transmitter's posterior end. The double-anchor attachment technique was quickly and easily accomplished in the field, requiring bird handling times of <10 min. Incidental recoveries of tagged Brant indicate a high degree of transmitter retention. Five recaptured birds (4–6 weeks after deployment) and eight killed by hunters (3–6 mo after deployment) retained their GPS transmitters. For studies involving the use of relatively large transmitters, the double-anchor method appears to provide a viable alternative for external attachment. SINOPSIS Entre las tecnicas para montar radiotransmisores a aves, el anclaje subcutaneo provee una forma segura de montaje que presenta muy pocos efectos secundarios. Sin embargo, la utilidad del anclaje subcutaneo ha sido limitada por el tamano del transmisor y el tiempo de retencion en el ave. Utilizando un metodo modificado que utiliza dos puntos subcutaneos de anclaje, desarrollamos 69 transmisores GPS y 13 transmisores VHF que replicaban el tamano y peso de modelos GPS, y que fueron montados en individuos del ganso, Branta bernicla nigricans. Previo a este estudio, solo se habian utilizado arneses para colocar radiotransmisores en los gansos. Esto fue asi porque los tipo GPS son demasiado grandes para ser colocados de otra manera y cuando se implantan en la cavidad celomica, queda atenuada la senal del transmisor. Por tal razon, y para incrementar la capacidad de anclaje del transmisor y evitar el impacto negativo documentado en los arneses (en conducta y sobrevivencia), anadimos un segundo punto de anclaje en la parte posterior del transmisor. La tecnica desarrollada fue facil de aplicar en el campo y se hizo de forma rapida (<10 minutos). Recobros incidentales de gansos (4 recapturas, 4–6 semanas despues) y ocho individuos cazados (3–6 meses despues) indicaron un 100% de retencion de los transmisores. Para estudios que conlleven transmisores de gran tamano, el metodo de doble anclaje parece proveer una alternativa adecuada.
Effects of Daily and Acute Restraint Stress During Lactation on Maternal Aggression and Behavior in Mice

A decreased reactivity to stressors during lactation might heighten the expression of maternal care (including defense of offspring) by minimizing the extent to which stress can impact maternal care. Although stressors applied during pregnancy have variable effects on maternal aggression (or defense of offspring), to date no study has examined the effects of stress applied during the postpartum period on maternal aggression. In this study, we examined the effects of both daily and acute restraint stress (30 min) applied postpartum on maternal aggression and other maternal behaviors. Daily restraint (ending 2 h before testing) did not alter any measure of maternal behavior, including nursing, licking and grooming of pups and pup retrieval, or any measure of maternal aggression. In contrast, acute stress significantly impaired total time aggressive and number of attacks, but pup retrieval was normal. c-Fos levels were significantly elevated in a number of brain regions in association with acute stress, including lateral septum (LS), caudal periaqueductal gray and medial amygdala (MeA), suggesting possible sites where stress reactivity could alter aggression. Together, the results indicate that acute restraint stress impairs maternal aggression and provide a starting point for future studies examining how stress reactivity pathways may intersect with maternal aggression pathways.
Threshold voltage tuning and printed complementary transistors and inverters based on thin films of carbon nanotubes and indium zinc oxide

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as an important material for printed macroelectronics. However, achieving printed complementary macroelectronics solely based on CNTs is difficult because it is still challenging to make reliable n-type CNT transistors. In this study, we report threshold voltage (V th) tuning and printing of complementary transistors and inverters composed of thin films of CNTs and indium zinc oxide (IZO) as p-type and n-type transistors, respectively. We have optimized the V th of p-type transistors by comparing Ti/Au and Ti/Pd as source/drain electrodes, and observed that CNT transistors with Ti/Au electrodes exhibited enhancement mode operation (V th < 0). In addition, the optimized In:Zn ratio offers good n-type transistors with high on-state current (I on) and enhancement mode operation (V th > 0). For example, an In:Zn ratio of 2:1 yielded an enhancement mode n-type transistor with V th ∼ 1 V and I on of 5.2 μA. Furthermore, by printing a CNT thin film and an IZO thin film on the same substrate, we have fabricated a complementary inverter with an output swing of 99.6% of the supply voltage and a voltage gain of 16.9. This work shows the promise of the hybrid integration of p-type CNT and n-type IZO for complementary transistors and circuits.
Class vs. Special Interest: Labor, Power, and Politics in the United States and Canada in the Twentieth Century

Why are US labor unions so weak? Union decline has had important consequences for politics, inequality, and social policy. Common explanations cite employment shifts, public opinion, labor laws, and differences in working class culture and organization. But comparing the United States with Canada challenges those explanations. After following US unionization rates for decades, Canadian rates diverged in the 1960s, and are now nearly three times higher. This divergence was due to different processes of working class political incorporation. In the United States, labor was incorporated as an interest group into a labor regime governed by a pluralist idea. In Canada, labor was incorporated as a class representative into a labor regime governed by a class idea. This led to a relatively stronger Canadian labor regime that better held employers in check and protected workers’ collective bargaining rights. As a result, union density stabilized in Canada while plummeting in the United States.
Potentially Harmful Therapy and Multicultural Counseling Extending the Conversation

In this rejoinder, we address three responses to our major contribution in this issue, “Potentially Harmful Therapy and Multicultural Counseling: Bridging Two Disciplinary Discourses.” These responses support our contention that not only are the potentially harmful therapy and multicultural counseling and psychotherapy literatures quite disparate, but that this compartmentalization is a symptom of broad and serious problems in the discipline. We explore further some of the underlying complexities the responding authors have raised, including (a) systemic ways that the current landscape of psychotherapy research maintains the status quo, thereby limiting a desirable integration of the two literatures; (b) complexities associated with multiple aspects of diversity, including the inadequacy of current professional ethical codes and practitioner training for addressing potential harm for disparate and vulnerable populations; and (c) the need for the discipline to articulate collective “goods” (against which c...
A Case Formulation Approach to Resolve Treatment Complications

There is a tendency to think of case formulation as an activity that occurs at the outset of therapy to guide initial clinical decision-making, but which plays little role once therapy is underway. However, we believe that case formulation is most useful when viewed as a dynamic, iterative process that invites frequent revisiting of hypotheses as new client data become available. As Eells describes in her influential handbook, “A psychotherapy case formulation is a hypothesis about the causes, precipitants, and maintaining influences of a person’s psychological, interpersonal, and behavioral problems. A case formulation helps organize information about a person, particularly when that information contains contradictions or inconsistencies in behavior, emotion, and thought content.
A study of 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine–2′-deoxycytidine base pairing in DNA

The incorporation of 7-deazaguanine modifications into DNA is frequently used to probe protein recognition of H-bonding information in the major groove of DNA. While it is generally assumed that 7-deazaguanine forms a normal Watson-Crick base pair with cytosine, detailed thermodynamic and structural analyses of this modification have not been reported. The replacement of the 7-N atom on guanine with a C-H, alters the electronic properties of the heterocycle and eliminates a major groove cation-binding site that could affect the organization of salts and water in the major groove. We report herein the characterization of synthetic DNA oligomers containing 7-deazaguanine using a variety of complementary approaches: UV thermal melting, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), circular dichroism (CD), chemical probing and NMR. The results indicate that the incorporation of a 7-deazaguanine modification has a significant effect on the dynamic structure of the DNA at the flanking residue. This appears to be mediated by changes in hydration and cation organization.
Cultural Encounters: Representing "Otherness."

Cultural Encounters: Representing "Otherness." Elizabeth Hallam and Brian V. Street. eds. New York: Routledge, 2000. 292 pp.
A method for determination of upper extremity kinematics

Kinematic analysis of the upper extremity has been conducted using a wide variety of techniques, philosophies, and analytic methods. We describe a simple, marker-based three-dimensional video analytic technique that borrows concepts from lower extremity kinematic analysis. A sequential rotation order about orthogonal axes is described, although alternate methods are examined as well. The method has been verified by application to a mechanical model. In certain positions, gimbal lock may occur, and a different sequence of rotational decomposition may be required. Agreement on standardization of technique would assist in the dissemination of upper extremity scientific data.
Relocation of gateway for enhanced timeliness in wireless sensor networks

In recent years, due to increasing interest in applications of wireless sensor networks that demand certain quality of service (QoS) guarantees, new routing protocols have been proposed for providing energy-efficient real-time relaying of data. However, none of these protocols considered any possible movement of the sink node for performance purposes. In this paper, we propose possible relocation of sink (gateway) for improving the timeliness of real-time packets. Our approach searches for a location close to the most loaded node. The gateway is then relocated to the new location so that the load of that node is alleviated and the real-time traffic can be split. As long as the gateway stays within the transmission range of all last hop nodes, it can be moved to that location without affecting the current route setup. Otherwise routes are adjusted by introducing new forwarders. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Acute left ventricular dysfunction complicating pregnancy on ECMO: Tri-iodothyronine to the rescue with real time transesophageal echocardiography.

Abstract Cardiac dysfunction is a common accompaniment to severe sepsis. Clinical management of the same complicating pregnancy presents unique challenges balancing maternal and fetal well-being. Can short-term intravenous (IV) tri-iodothyronine (T3) be used in the management of these patients? T3 has been reported in varied clinical settings to favorably affect cardiac lusitropy, inotropy, and chronotropy without significant side effects. We report a case of acute severe left ventricular dysfunction in a pregnant woman with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation managed with short-term IV T3. Hemodynamic stability was rapidly achieved and the improvement in contractility imaged in real time by transesophageal echocardiography. Learning objective: Tri-iodothyronine (T3) rapidly affects cardiac inotropy, lusitropy, chronotropy, and systemic vascular resistance. Widespread application of intravenous T3 for treatment of heart failure is currently limited by a paucity of scientific literature. Selective short-term intravenous T3 use is an underutilized adjunct in the management of acute left ventricular dysfunction.>
Applications of low intensity pulsed ultrasound for functional bone tissue engineering using adult stem cells

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been used extensively for fracture healing. Many LIPUS parameters have been studied in depth except for pulse repetition frequency (PRF). However, to examine this parameter, a custom LIPUS system needed to be designed since commercial systems have very little control over parameter modification. Specifically, the PRF of commercial systems is typically set to either 100 Hz or 1 kHz and cannot be changed. A custom system was used to explore the effects of PRF on human adipose derived adult stem cells (hASCs) and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The PRF was found to significantly affect cellular response to LIPUS stimulation for both cell types. Additionally, LIPUS was shown to strongly accelerate osteogenic differentiation of hASCs based on amount of calcium accretion normalized by total DNA.
An Evaluation of the Role of Properdin in Alternative Pathway Activation on Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Properdin, a positive regulator of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement is important in innate immune defenses against invasive neisserial infections. Recently, commercially available unfractionated properdin was shown to bind to certain biological surfaces, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which facilitated C3 deposition. Unfractionated properdin contains aggregates or high-order oligomers, in addition to its physiological "native" (dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric) forms. We examined the role of properdin in AP activation on diverse strains of Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae specifically using native versus unfractionated properdin. C3 deposition on Neisseria decreased markedly when properdin function was blocked using an anti-properdin mAb or when properdin was depleted from serum. Maximal AP-mediated C3 deposition on Neisseriae even at high (80%) serum concentrations required properdin. Consistent with prior observations, preincubation of bacteria with unfractionated properdin, followed by the addition of properdin-depleted serum resulted in higher C3 deposition than when bacteria were incubated with properdin-depleted serum alone. Unexpectedly, none of 10 Neisserial strains tested bound native properdin. Consistent with its inability to bind to Neisseriae, preincubating bacteria with native properdin followed by the addition of properdin-depleted serum did not cause detectable increases in C3 deposition. However, reconstituting properdin-depleted serum with native properdin a priori enhanced C3 deposition on all strains of Neisseria tested. In conclusion, the physiological forms of properdin do not bind directly to either N. meningitidis or N. gonorrhoeae but play a crucial role in augmenting AP-dependent C3 deposition on the bacteria through the "conventional" mechanism of stabilizing AP C3 convertases.
Effect of dilution during fractionation and extraction of serum and lymph insulin.

SummaryAn increase in ILA has been shown after gel nitration of rat serum and lymph and after acid-alcohol extraction of guinea pig serum. This effect was reproduced simply by a dilution-reconcentration step, common to both procedures. It is conceivable that a similar step is responsible for the increment of ILA observed by other investigators using many different techniques. The mechanism by which the dilution-reconcentration procedure enhances ILA is not clear; its physiological role, if any, is dubious, and theories on the state of insulin should be formulated with caution.
Pharmacists' beliefs about abortion and RU-486.

Abstract The author conducted a survey of pharmacists' beliefs regarding abortion and mifepristone (RU-486) to determine pharmacists' perceptions of the ethical dilemmas posed by the use of abortifacients in the United States and to determine whether and how these ethical dilemmas affect practice. The sample was nonrandom and included religiously oriented pharmacists from a variety of practice settings, approximately two-thirds of whom were women. The results indicated a plurality of beliefs about abortion rarely evident in the public debate. Although the sample supported pharmacists' right to refuse to dispense abortifacients, slightly more than half (51 %) of the respondents stated that they themselves would not refuse to dispense abortifacients. Most respondents (560/0) believed that abortion should remain a legal option, with slightly fewer respondents (50%) supporting the position that RU-486 should be made available in the United States. Support for abortion was proportionate to the gravity of the reason underlying the decision to abort, with the sample tending to avoid absolutistic posit ions. These findings tend to dispel the stereotypes and myths regarding abortion beliefs in that two-thirds of the sample were Catholic and 96% of the sample rated religion as extremely or somewhat significant in their life.
The halo in spinal abnormalities: practical factors and avoidance of complications.

Summary Through the combination of the halo and any of several types of counterfixation the surgeon now has the opportunity to effectively manage many spinal problems at all levels, problems that are not amenable to more standard techniques of correction or immobilization. As the result of varied experiences the present indications for use of the halo are as follows: cervical instability or deformity, high thoracic deformities, respiratory limitations that contraindicate the use of a chest compressing apparatus such as a localizer cast, severe deformity in which a greater than average force is required for correction, and in situations requiring precise fixation, as when relying on delayed correction following vertebral osteotomy. The increased demands on the patient dictate that this system should be used only for the more severe problems. Hence, this technique represents one method of several to provide more effective correction of severe spinal deformity. It must be emphasized, however, that the prime effort should be directed toward preventing spinal curves from becoming so severe that these techniques are required.
Influence of free water availability on a desert carnivore and herbivore

Anthropogenic manipulation of finite resources on the landscape to benefit individual species or communities is commonly employed by conservation and management agencies. One such action in arid regions is the construction and maintenance of water developments (i.e., wildlife guzzlers) adding free water on the landscape to buttress local populations, influence animal movements, or affect distributions of certain species of interest. Despite their prevalence, the utility of wildlife guzzlers remains largely untested. We employed a before-after control-impact (BACI) design over a 4-year period on the US Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, USA, to determine whether water availability at wildlife guzzlers influenced relative abundance of black-tailed jackrabbits Lepus californicus and relative use of areas near that resource by coyotes Canis latrans, and whether coyote visitations to guzzlers would decrease following elimination of water. Eliminating water availability at guzzlers did not influence jackrabbit relative abundance. Coyote relative use was impacted by water availability, with elimination of water reducing use in areas associated with our treatment, but not with areas associated with our control. Visitations of radio-collared coyotes to guzzlers declined nearly 3-fold following elimination of water. Our study provides the first evidence of a potential direct effect of water sources on a mammalian carnivore in an arid environment, but the ecological relevance of our finding is debatable. Future investigations aimed at determining water effects on terrestrial mammals could expand on our findings by incorporating manipulations of water availability, obtaining absolute estimates of population parameters and vital rates and incorporating fine-scale spatiotemporal data.
Modeling and Simulation of Sectarian Tensions in Split Communities

We present a simple agent-based model for the evolution of between-group attitudes (measured on a linear scale) in a community that is divided between two distinct social groups (which may be distinguished by religion, ethnicity, etc.). We derive approximate analytical equations to predict the change in mean attitudes over time given certain assumptions. The model predicts that social pressures cause each group to tend towards extremes of hostility or acceptance towards the other group. Under some conditions, groups can have stable extremist and moderate factions, but very small changes in system parameters can upset the stability. Interpersonal cohesion (the degree to which individuals influence each other’s opinions) plays a significant role in controlling within-group polarization. We show that strategies to improve intergroup relations that target subsets of each group are much less effective when cohesion is low.
Lateralized motor control processes determine asymmetry of interlimb transfer

This experiment tested the hypothesis that interlimb transfer of motor performance depends on recruitment of motor control processes that are specialized to the hemisphere contralateral to the arm that is initially trained. Right-handed participants performed a single-joint task, in which reaches were targeted to 4 different distances. While the speed and accuracy was similar for both hands, the underlying control mechanisms used to vary movement speed with distance were systematically different between the arms: the amplitude of the initial acceleration profiles scaled greater with movement speed for the right-dominant arm, while the duration of the initial acceleration profile scaled greater with movement speed for the left-non-dominant arm. These two processes were previously shown to be differentially disrupted by left and right hemisphere damage, respectively. We now hypothesize that task practice with the right arm might reinforce left-hemisphere mechanisms that vary acceleration amplitude with distance, while practice with the left arm might reinforce right-hemisphere mechanisms that vary acceleration duration with distance. We thus predict that following right arm practice, the left arm should show increased contributions of acceleration amplitude to peak velocities, and following left arm practice, the right arm should show increased contributions of acceleration duration to peak velocities. Our findings support these predictions, indicating that asymmetry in interlimb transfer of motor performance, at least in the task used here, depends on recruitment of lateralized motor control processes.
Electrical properties of certain high polymer materials

In the course of an investigation of the electrical properties of pure high polymer materials, measurements of the dielectric constant and loss factor of Poly-vinybutyral (Butvar), Polystyrene, Methyl methacrylate, and a copolymer of the latter two materials were made over a frequency range from 60 c/s to 1000 Mc/s. An effort was made to improve the accuracy of these determinations to facilitate the analysis of the data and its correlation with other factors. In the frequency range from 60 c/s to 200 kc/s, where three-terminal bridge measurements may be made, the accuracy of the determination of the dielectric constant is usually limited by the accuracy with which the thickness of the sample and the area of the measuring electrode can be measured∗ In order to permit the highest possible precision in the determination of the average thickness, a precision molding technique was developed in the Plastics Section of the National Bureau of Standards for producing disk specimens with improved uniformity of thickness and diameter and with square edges. This permitted the use of a travelling microscope in measuring the diameter. The volume of the disk was determined by hydrostatic weighings. The thickness was computed from these determinations.