cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs

In addition to linear mRNAs, many eukaryotic genes generate circular RNAs. Most circular RNAs are generated by joining a 5' splice site with an upstream 3' splice site within a pre-mRNA, a process called back-splicing. This circularization is likely aided by secondary structures in the pre-mRNA that bring the splice sites into close proximity. In human genes, Alu elements are thought to promote these secondary RNA structures, as Alu elements are abundant and exhibit base complementarities with each other when present in opposite directions in the pre-mRNA. Here, we describe the generation and analysis of large, Alu element containing reporter genes that form circular RNAs. Through optimization of cloning protocols, reporter genes with up to 20 kb insert length can be generated. Their analysis in co-transfection experiments allows the identification of regulatory factors. Thus, this method can identify RNA sequences and cellular components involved in circular RNA formation.
Natural growth stimulants for Sanchezia spp. stem cuttings

Sanchezia spp is an important ornamental plant in Sri Lanka. The species is also grown as a medicinal plant in other countries. This investigation was aimed at evaluating the growth and development of Sanchezia spp stem cuttings with the treatment of Coconut water, moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) leaf extract and Bee honey as natural growth stimulants. Cuttings were planted without dipping in any solution (control: T1), water (T2), coconut water (T3), Bee honey (T4) and moringa leaf extract (T5). The outcome of the study revealed that stem cuttings dipped in Bee honey had higher leaf greenness (SPAD reading), plant height and number of roots. The maximum root length and higher root dry weight were observed when the stem cuttings were dipped in moringa leaf extract. Most of the growth parameters including number of leaves, total plant fresh weight, and root and shoot dry weights were superior when stem cuttings were dipped in coconut water compared to the rest of the treatments. Therefore, coconut water was considered the most suitable natural growth stimulants for treating the stem cuttings of Sanchezia spp.
The Future of Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida Inland and Coastal Waters

Microscopic algae in oceans and inland waters sometimes grow to excessive levels called “blooms.” Warmer water temperatures and increased nutrient levels exacerbate blooms, and when nutrients are high, temperature increases of just a few degrees cause exponential increases of algae and blooms. This 4-page fact sheet written by Karl Havens and published by the Florida Sea Grant College Program and UF/IFAS Extension explains why algal blooms can be harmful and provides advice for communities seeking to reduce nutrient levels in their lakes, streams, and other bodies of water. In a warmer future, harmful algal blooms will be much more challenging to control than they are today. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg153
Comparison of comparable scald and contact burns in a porcine model: A preliminary report

Whether the depth and healing of scalds and contact burns are similar is controversial. Due to water's greater heat capacity, we hypothesized that when exposed to similar temperatures and durations of exposure, burns caused by hot water would be deeper than those caused by contact with hot metal. Forty standardized burns were created in two anesthetized female domestic pigs using a brass bar or circulating heated water. In one pig, the temperature was kept constant (95°C) while the duration of exposure varied (5, 10, 15 seconds) In the second pig, the exposure time was kept constant (10 seconds) while the temperature of exposure varied (70°C, 80°C, 98°C). Periodic punch biopsies were taken to determine burn depth immediately after injury, percentage burns reepithelialized within 21 days, and depth of scar at 28 days. The analysis was performed using analysis of variance. When the temperature was held constant, duration of exposure (5, 10, and 15 seconds) was associated with scar depth (2.1 vs 3.8 vs 5.0 mm, respectively, P = 0.001) but not with burn depth (2.0 vs 2.2 vs 2.3 mm, respectively, P = 0.10). When exposure duration was held constant, temperature (70°C, 80°C, 98°C) was associated with scar depth (0.6 vs 1.7 vs 3.6, P < 0.001) but not with burn depth (1.2 vs 1.5 vs 1.7 mm, respectively, P = 0.21). Burn depths were greater for scald than contact burns although not significantly greater. After controlling for temperature, the difference in scar depth between scalds and contact burns was statistically significant (marginal means 3.0 for contact burns, 4.3 for scalds, P = 0.008). We conclude that burns created in swine with circulating hot water result in deeper scars than those created by contact with a brass bar when controlling for temperature and duration of exposure.
Testing for Stochastic Dominance

It is often useful in economic analysis to formulate and test necessary conditions for optimizing behavior; this obviates the need for complete, and perhaps tenuous, maintained hypotheses on the objective function of the decision-maker. For example, the weak axiom of revealed preference can be tested without assuming a parametric family of preferences. For consumers who choose among uncertain alternatives by maximizing von Neumann-Morgenstern utility, it is also useful to identify necessary conditions and to develop methods that allow them to be tested econometrically. One such necessary condition is that an optimal prospect cannot be inferior to another feasible prospect for all increasing utility functions; this condition can be characterized in terms of stochastic dominance between distributions of payoffs.2 Hadar and Russell (1969, 1971, 1974a,b, 1978) introduced the concept of second-degree stochastic dominance for consumers with increasing, risk-averse utility functions; this has become an important tool in the analysis of choice under uncertainty. This paper develops statistical tests for stochastic dominance. Section 2 reviews the concept of stochastic dominance, and makes a few minor extensions to Hadar and Russell’s thorough characterization. Tests for first-degree and second-degree stochastic dominance are discussed in Sections 3 and 4, respectively. Section 5 discusses computation of the test statistics.
A categorification of quantum sl(n)

To an arbitrary root datum we associate a2-category. For root datum corresponding to sl.n/ we show that this 2-category categorifies the idempotented form of the quantum enveloping algebra.
Potential regional declines in species richness of tomato pollinators in North America under climate change

About 70% of the world's main crops depend on insect pollination. Climate change is already affecting the abundance and distribution of insects, which could cause geographical mismatches between crops and their pollinators. Crops that rely primarily on wild pollinators (e.g., crops that cannot be effectively pollinated by commercial colonies of honey bees) could be particularly in jeopardy. However, limited information on plant-pollinator associations and pollinator distributions complicate the assessment of climate change impacts on specific crops. To study the potential impacts of climate change on pollination of a specific crop in North America, we use the case of open-field tomato crops, which rely on buzz pollinators (species that use vibration to release pollen, such as bumble bees) to increase their production. We aimed to (1) assess potential changes in buzz pollinator distribution and richness, and (2) evaluate the overlap between areas with high densities of tomato crops and high potential decrease in richness. We used baseline (1961-1990) climate and future (2050s and 2080s) climatic projections in ecological niche models fitted with occurrences of wild bees, documented in the literature as pollinators of tomatoes, to estimate the baseline and future potential distribution of suitable climatic conditions of targeted species and to create maps of richness change across North America. We obtained reliable models for 15 species and found important potential decreases in the distribution of some pollinators (e.g., Lasioglossum pectorale and Augochlorella aurata). We observed geographical discrepancies in the projected change in species richness across North America, detecting important declines in the eastern United States (up to 11 species decrease for 2050s). After overlapping the maps of species richness change with a tomato crop map for the United States, we found spatial correspondence between richness declines and areas with high concentration of tomato crops. Disparities in the effects of climate change on the potential future distribution of different wild pollinators and geographical variation in richness highlight the importance of crop-specific studies. Our study also emphasizes the challenges of compiling and modeling crop-specific pollinator data and the need to improve our understanding of current distribution of pollinators and their community dynamics under climate change.
Client Data Files and Auditor Skepticism: How Do 'Dirty' Files Influence Auditors’ Skeptical Judgments and Actions?

Auditors receive an abundance of client-prepared data files when performing audit work. With today’s increasingly data-rich environment, these files are likely becoming even more challenging for auditors to cognitively process. Specifically, these data files may have characteristics (e.g., contain errors or irrelevant information; aka “dirty” files) that could challenge their ease of use and interpretation (i.e., processing fluency). Depending on this ease, auditors may view these files as relatively less reliable and trustworthy, resulting in skeptical judgments and actions that are sometimes excessive. This paper reports two experiments examining whether two features of the data files, the presence of minor errors (absent or present) and information load (low or high), influence auditors’ processing fluency, skeptical judgments, and actions. While minor errors should raise auditors’ concerns, greater information load should not. However, we find the lowest processing fluency and highest skeptical judgments and actions when minor errors are present and information load is higher. Our study contributes to the literature by presenting an alternative issue to those raised by regulators (i.e., too much skepticism rather than too little) that can occur when auditors struggle to interpret large amounts of data. From a practical perspective, while access to increased amounts of client data may have benefits, audit firms and clients need to be wary of the potential for wasted time that could create inefficiencies that may affect audit quality.
Electrostatic Dust Transport in Laboratory and Space

The charging and subsequent transport of dust particles resting on a surface exposed to plasma is an important physical phenomenon of plasma interactions with surfaces. It can play a critical role in the semiconductor processing, the performance of fusion reactors, and especially the resurfacing processes on airless bodies in space. A number of unresolved space observations have been related to this phenomenon, such as lunar horizon glow, dust ponds on asteroid Eros and radial spokes in Saturn's rings. However, the estimated charges on dust particles resting on a surface using Gauss's law are way too small to create an electrostatic force that can overcome gravity alone. Laboratory experiments and theoretical work have been conducted in the past years but still could not fully explain the fundamental mechanisms of dust charging and transport.
Preoperative Management of Paget’s Disease

Orthopedic surgery may be necessary for the management of complications due to Paget’s disease such as treatment refractory hip pain due to secondary osteoarthritis, pathologic or impending fracture of the femur, and progressive femoral deformity and malalignment. Potential complications during and following surgery on pagetic bone include pathologic fracture, excessive bleeding peri- and postoperatively due to increased vascularity of pagetic bone, delayed union or nonunion, and heterotopic ossification. A thorough preoperative medical evaluation in patients with Paget’s disease particularly in those with polyostotic disease is necessary prior to an orthopedic procedure on pagetic bone. Prior to antipagetic therapy, vitamin D and calcium status should be assessed and managed to prevent bisphosphonate induced hypocalcemia and to optimize the response to orthopedic surgery. Antipagetic therapy with a bisphosphonate and/or calcitonin will decrease pagetic activity, prevent or diminish excess peri- and postoperative blood loss, and post-immobilization hypercalcemia.
Delayed grafting of fetal CNS tissue into chronic compression lesions of the adult cat spinal cord

This review summarizes a series of experiments involving transplants of embryonic feline CNS tissue into chronic compression lesions of the adult cat spinal cord. Fetal spinal cord (FSC), caudal brainstem (BSt), neocortex (NCx) or a combination of either FSC/NCx or FSC/BSt was transplanted as solid pieces or as a suspension of dissociated cells into the developed cystic cavities produced by static-load compression trauma 2-10 weeks prior to grafting. All cats were immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A and their locomotor function was assessed for 6-30 weeks. Following the period of evaluation, all recipients were perfused with fixative and tissue specimens, taken at the transplantation site, were processed for general histological and/or immunocytochemical analysis. Viable graft tissue was found in all animals with the exception of two cats which showed active rejection of their transplants. All of the viable intraspinal grafts were extensively vascularized and did not show any signs of imminent or on-going tissue rejection. Fetal cat CNS grafts showed an extended maturational phase in that features of immature neural tissue (e.g. a paucity of myelination) were still seen even 6-9 weeks after transplantation. By 20-30 weeks, FSC and BSt grafts had attained a more advanced stage of maturation. Transplants in these chronic lesions were extensively blended with both the gray and white matter of the host spinal cord and could be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI could also detect regions of cavitation at the graft-host interface, as well as within some transplants. While preliminary evidence from behavioral studies suggest that the FSC and BSt grafts may improve or spare locomotor function in some recipients, a more rigorous analysis of post-grafting locomotor function is required to determine conclusively the functionality of these transplants.
Managing Business and Engineering Projects: Concepts and Implementation

1. Introduction. I. PHILOSOPHY AND CONCEPTS. 2. What Is Project Management? 3. Systems and Organizations. 4. Systems Methodologies. II. SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CYCLE. 5. Systems Development Cycle: Early Stages. 6. Systems Development Cycle: Middle and Later Stages. III. ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR. 7. Project Organization Structure. 8. Project Roles, Responsibility, and Authority. 9. Managing Conflict and Stress in Projects. IV. SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES. 10. Work Definition and Scheduling. 11. Network Scheduling and PERT. 12. CPM, Network Resource Allocation and Extensions. 13. Cost Estimating and Budgeting. 14. Project Control. 15. Project Management Information Systems. 16. Project Evaluation, Reporting, and Termination. 17. Project Failure, Success, and Lessons Learned. Appendices.
Chemical Facility Security

The security of chemical and petroleum facilities has been an important topic since the chemical industry has been in existence. Security measures are necessary to prevent theft of valuable equipment, products, and intellectual property; prevent theft or diversion of materials for nefarious purposes; to prevent contamination or spoilage of product; and prevent catastrophic fires, explosions and toxic releases whether committed intentionally or as an accident or in the pursuit of another aim. There is no standard set of security measures to protect a facility. Instead it is necessary to follow a multistep Security Vulnerability Analysis (SVA). This article details these steps which include the following considerations: motivation of the attacker (terrorist or nonterrorist); attacker goals and strategies; attacker tactics; exploitable consequences, security vulnerability and countermeasures; and review and continual improvement. Once the possible threats have been analyzed, security countermeasures are implemented in a four-tier approach; deterrence; detection; delay; and response. Long-term security management is discussed. Keywords: chemical facilities; security; attacker strategies; attacker tactics; motivation; security vulnerability analysis (SVA); portfolio screening method; countermeasures; potential consequences
First, Do No Harm: QT Interval Screening in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

In this edition of the Journal, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) publishes the recommendations of its expert panel regarding QT interval screening in methadone maintenance treatment ...
Die Messung von Hochfrequenzleistungen

Leistungsmesser der gewohnlichen Wechselstromtechnik konnen wegen den ausgepragten induktiven und kapazitiven Storungen im Bereich der schnellen Schwingungen nicht mit gutem Erfolg benutzt werden. Man bestimmt deshalb die Hochfrequenzenergie entweder mittels eines Hitzdrahtstrommessers und des wirksamen Widerstandes oder mittels Anordnungen, wie sie im nachfolgenden beschrieben sind.
The Problem of Colliding Networks and its Relation to Cell Fusion and Cancer

Cell fusion, a process that merges two or more cells into one, is required for normal development and has been explored as a tool for stem cell therapy. It has also been proposed that cell fusion causes cancer and contributes to its progression. These functions rely on a poorly understood ability of cell fusion to create new cell types. We suggest that this ability can be understood by considering cells as attractor networks whose basic property is to adopt a set of distinct, stable, self-maintaining states called attractors. According to this view, fusion of two cell types is a collision of two networks that have adopted distinct attractors. To learn how these networks reach a consensus, we model cell fusion computationally. To do so, we simulate patterns of gene activities using a formalism developed to simulate patterns of memory in neural networks. We find that the hybrid networks can assume attractors that are unrelated to parental attractors, implying that cell fusion can create new cell types by nearly instantaneously moving cells between attractors. We also show that hybrid networks are prone to assume spurious attractors, which are emergent and sporadic network states. This finding means that cell fusion can produce abnormal cell types, including cancerous types, by placing cells into normally inaccessible spurious states. Finally, we suggest that the problem of colliding networks has general significance in many processes represented by attractor networks, including biological, social, and political phenomena.
High prevalence of abnormal glucose homeostasis secondary to decreased insulin secretion in individuals with hereditary haemochromatosis

Aims/hypothesis The prevalence and mechanisms of diabetes in hereditary haemochromatosis are not known. We therefore measured glucose tolerance, insulin secretory capacity and insulin sensitivity in adults with haemochromatosis.
What dental patients don't know about preventive care.

Dr. Linn reports data from his survey which indicate that the task of teaching patients to prevent oral disease may be enormous.
On the electromagnetic detection of gravitational waves.

Braginsky and Mensky have described a novel gravitational wave detector based on a special “gravitational-electromagnetic resonance” in an annular waveguide. Their analysis is based on geometrical optics. If the configuration is analyzed as a perturbed boundary-value problem, however, no special resonance is evident. Nor does a more general cavity exhibit such a resonance. This paper concludes with a moral: When investigating the interaction of gravity and electromagnetism, one must be circumspect in applying the eikonal approximation.
Timing of Hepatic Artery Reperfusion and Biliary Strictures in Liver Transplantation

During orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), biliary tract perfusion occurs with hepatic artery reperfusion (HARP), commonly performed after the portal vein reperfusion (PVRP). We examined whether the average time interval between PVRP and HARP impacted on postoperative biliary strictures occurrence. Patients undergoing OLT from 2007 to 2009 were included if they were ≥18 years old, had survived 3 months postoperatively, and had data for PVRP and HARP. Patients receiving allografts from DCD donors were excluded. Patients were followed for 6 months post-OLT. Seventy-five patients met the study inclusion criteria. Of these, 10 patients had a biliary stricture. There was no statistical difference between those with and without biliary stricture in age, gender, etiology, MELD score, graft survival, and time interval between PVRP and HARP. Ninety percent of patients with biliary stricture had a PVRP-HARP time interval >30 minutes, as opposed to 77% of patients without biliary stricture. However, this was not statistically significant. The cold ischemia time was significantly different between the two groups. Time interval for HARP after PVRP did not appear to affect the development of biliary strictures. However, 30 minutes may be suggested as a critical time after which there is an increase in biliary stricture occurrence.
Modeling microbial processes in porous media

The incorporation of microbial processes into reactive transport models has generally proceeded along two separate lines of investigation: (1) transport of bacteria as inert colloids in porous media, and (2) the biodegradation of dissolved contaminants by a stationary phase of bacteria. Research over the last decade has indicated that these processes are closely linked. This linkage may occur when a change in metabolic activity alters the attachment/detachment rates of bacteria to surfaces, either promoting or retarding bacterial transport in a groundwater-contaminant plume. Changes in metabolic activity, in turn, are controlled by the time of exposure of the microbes to electron acceptors/donor and other components affecting activity. Similarly, metabolic activity can affect the reversibility of attachment, depending on the residence time of active microbes. Thus, improvements in quantitative analysis of active subsurface biota necessitate direct linkages between substrate availability, metabolic activity, growth, and attachment/detachment rates. This linkage requires both a detailed understanding of the biological processes and robust quantitative representations of these processes that can be tested experimentally. This paper presents an overview of current approaches used to represent physicochemical and biological processes in porous media, along with new conceptual approaches that link metabolic activity with partitioning of the microorganism between the aqueous and solid phases.
The role of reliability graph models in assuring dependable operation of complex hardware/software systems

The complexity of computer systems currently being designed for critical applications in the scientific, commercial, and military arenas requires the development of new techniques for utilizing models of system behavior in order to assure 'ultra-dependability'. The complexity of these systems, such as Space Station Freedom and the Air Traffic Control System, stems from their highly integrated designs containing both hardware and software as critical components. Reliability graph models, such as fault trees and digraphs, are used frequently to model hardware systems. Their applicability for software systems has also been demonstrated for software safety analysis and the analysis of software fault tolerance. This paper discusses further uses of graph models in the design and implementation of fault management systems for safety critical applications.
Role of 14-3-3 proteins in early Xenopus development.

14-3-3 proteins are intracellular dimeric phosphoserine/threonine-binding molecules that participate in signal transduction and checkpoint control pathways. 14-3-3 proteins are required for normal eye development, brain function, and terminal patterning in Drosophila melanogaster, but the role of 14-3-3 proteins in vertebrate development is undefined. In this work an unphosphorylated peptide inhibitor of 14-3-3, R18, was used to determine the role of 14-3-3 proteins in Xenopus embryonic development. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that R18 was specific and efficient at attenuating global 14-3-3 activities in Xenopus embryos. Microinjection experiments showed a requirement for 14-3-3 function in mesodermal specification. Inhibition of 14-3-3 resulted in embryos with axial patterning defects and reduced expression of mesodermal marker genes. These phenotypic defects were caused by impaired fibroblast growth factor signaling in R18-injected embryos. These results establish the importance of 14-3-3 proteins in vertebrate embryonic development.
OPHTHALMOMYIASIS INTERNA POSTERIOR: Report of a Case With Optic Atrophy

Purpose:The prognosis for patients with ophthalmomyiasis interna posterior is variable. In many patients the larva remains in the eye for years without inducing inflammation or loss of vision. Sometimes, however, the migrating larva involves the macula and optic nerve and results in permanent visual
The evolution of strategies for multiagent environments

SAMUEL is an experimental learning system that uses genetic algorithms and other learning methods to evolve reactive decision rules from simulations of multiagent environments. The basic approach is to explore a range of behavior within a simulation model, using feedback to adapt its decision strategies over time. One of the main themes in this research is that the learning system should be able to take advantage of existing knowledge where available. This has led to the adoption of rule representations that ease the expression of existing knowledge. A second theme is that adaptation can be driven by competition among knowledge structures. Competition is applied at two levels in SAMUEL. Within a strategy composed of decision rules, rules compete with one another to influence the behavior of the system. At a higher level of granularity, entire strategies compete with one another, driven by a genetic algorithm. This article focuses on recent elaborations of the agent model of SAMUEL that are specifically de...
An efficient method for solving stiff transient field problems arising from FEM formulations

Abstract We consider the nonlinear differential equation ( ∂u / ∂t ) = L ( u ) + f ( t ). Use of Galerkin FEM with u(x,t)≈v(x,t)= ∑ j=1 n γ j (t)N j (x) , where the N j (x) are specified basis functions, results in the implicit system of ordinary differential equations, ( ∗ ) ∑ j=1 n A ij γ j −B i (γ 1 ,…,γ n ,f) = 0 , i =1,…, n where A ij = 〈 N i , N j 〉, B i = 〈 N i , L ( v ) + f 〉. The method chosen for solution of stiff systems ( ∗ ), is a version of Gear's method which solves the system in its implicit form. This leads to the necessity of being able to solve (repeatedly) linear algebraic equations whose coefficient matrix has the same sparse and banded nature as ( A ij ). Storage requirements for various orders of polynomial trangular elements under compact storage mode, profile storage mode, and banded symmetric storage mode are given and compared. For large systems ( ∗ ), compact storage mode leads to significantly reduced requirements. Consideration of the linear algebraic systems which arise in Gear's method reveals that iteration should be computationally efficient. A comparison between various solutions methods is given for a nonlinear reactor dynamics problem. Associated with each solution method is a different storage mode.
Diversity effects in modulating retro-reflector links

Optical modulating retro-reflectors (MRRs) can allow free space optical (FSO) links to platforms too small to carry a conventional FSO terminals. However, retro-reflectors suffer from very high optical scintillation due to the double-pass nature of the link. For links near the ground, scintillation indices greater than 10 are often observed during daytime hours. This strong scintillation causes deep and frequent fades. Spatial and temporal diversity can be powerful tools to reduce the effects of scintillation on MRR links. Experiments were conducted in which several retro-reflectors were simultaneously illuminated to measure the fade statistics of retroreflector links. The dependence of scintillation on the number and spacing of these retro-reflectors was measured. Under optimal conditions the scintillation index was shown to decrease approximately linearly with the number of retroreflectors. The recorded intensity waveforms were analyzed to determine the frequency, duration and depth of fades. The effects of using temporal diversity, in which duplicate data packets are sent multiple times, was analyzed to determine the reduction in required margin as a function of the number of times a packet was resent, and the spacing in time between packets. The analysis showed that spatial and temporal diversity, used in combination, can reduce the required margin for MRR links in strong turbulence by more than 20 dB.
Robustness measures for integrated structural/control systems

Abstract Several stability robustness methods are compared in an effort to employ an appropriate approach in the integrated design of space structures and control systems. The motivation of this work is to identify a method which gives a realistic stability bound on the parameter uncertainties of the physical model in designing a control system for aerospace structures. Four different methods are compared for structured and unstructured perturbation matrices. A suitable method is suggested based on the results obtained for a two-bar truss, a five-bar truss, and ACOSS-four structures.
Violence risk: Re-defining variables from the first-person perspective

Over the past 25 years, there have been notable advances in violence risk assessment of mentally ill individuals using actuarial methods to define high versus low risk groups. A focus on readily observable risk factors, however, has led to a relative neglect of how the offender's subjective states may be valuable to consider in research on the ongoing assessment and prevention of violence. We argue for the relevance of considering idiographic features of subjective experience in the development of structured assessment methods. We then identify three heuristic groups of existing constructs related to aggressive and illegal behavior that may capture modifiable, time-varying aspects of mental functioning leading up to involvement in an act of violence. These hypothesized domains are: (i) construal of intent and cause; (ii) normative reference points; and (iii) emotion recognition and regulation. We suggest that risk state for violence can be studied in a parsimonious and direct manner through systematic research on coded speech samples. The coding method for such an assessment procedure would be almost identical to existing structured clinical judgment instruments with the difference that variables be defined from a first-person point of view. Some implications of this approach for the tertiary prevention of violence in high-risk individuals are described.
Length Changes in Electron-Irradiated n - and p -Type Germanium

Simultaneous length-change and conductivity measurements of $n$-type and $p$-type germanium single crystals have been made as a function of irradiation by 4.5-MeV electrons at liquid-helium and liquid-nitrogen temperatures and subsequent isochronal annealing. Changes in length of the samples produced changes in the spacing of a system of parallel-plate capacitors, and these capacitors were compared with a standard capacitor by means of an ac ratio bridge. The sensitivity and long-term stability of the system were such that changes in length on the order of 0.1 \AA{} were detectable. Degenerate $n$-type material was found to contract during irradiation at both liquid-helium and liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Length and conductivity annealing stages were observed at both 35 and 65\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K during isochronal annealing. Length changes in degenerate $p$-type material were at least an order of magnitude smaller than in $n$-type. The $p$-type sample expanded slightly during irradiation at liquid-nitrogen temperature. These length-change results are interpreted in terms of an electronic-volume effect in addition to the usual atomic-volume effect. The measurements helped to confirm the model deduced from the results of electrical measurements which predicts that the effect of electron irradiation on germanium is strongly dependent upon the doping of the material.
Fostering Self-Awareness in Novice Therapists Using Internal Family Systems Therapy

This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to understand: (a) whether and how the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model helps beginning therapists gain awareness of their internal processes and (b) whether and how such awareness influences their clinical work. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven beginning therapists and data were analyzed using thematic coding. Findings suggest that IFS helped therapists identify, understand, and manage their internal processes, which seemed to benefit the therapeutic relationship, identify therapists’ personal agendas, model work with the internal system, and foster a better understanding of the client's internal system. Clinical training implications are discussed.
Rapid Response Predicts Treatment Outcomes in Binge Eating Disorder: Implications for Stepped Care.

The authors examined rapid response in 75 overweight patients with binge eating disorder (BED) who participated in a randomized clinical trial of guided self-help treatments (cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBTgsh] and behavioral weight loss [BWLgsh]). Rapid response, defined as a 65% or greater reduction in binge eating by the 4th treatment week, occurred in 62% of CBTgsh and 47% of BWLgsh participants. Rapid response was unrelated to most patient characteristics except for eating psychopathology and depressive symptoms. Participants with rapid response were more likely to achieve binge remission and had greater improvements in overall eating pathology and depressive symptomatology than participants without rapid response. Rapid response had different prognostic significance for the 2 treatments. In terms of binge eating, participants receiving CBTgsh, but not BWLgsh, did equally well regardless of whether they experienced rapid response. In terms of increasing restraint and weight loss, participants with rapid response receiving BWLgsh had greater restraint and weight loss than participants receiving CBTgsh. Rapid response has utility for predicting outcomes, provides evidence for specificity of treatment effects, and has implications for stepped care treatment models of BED.
Remote Mutations and Active Site Dynamics Correlate with Catalytic Properties of Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase

It has been found that with mutation of two surface residues (Lys(22) --> Glu and His(104) --> Arg) in human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (hPNP), there is an enhancement of catalytic activity in the chemical step. This is true although the mutations are quite remote from the active site, and there are no significant changes in crystallographic structure between the wild-type and mutant active sites. We propose that dynamic coupling from the remote residues to the catalytic site may play a role in catalysis, and it is this alteration in dynamics that causes an increase in the chemical step rate. Computational results indicate that the mutant exhibits stronger coupling between promotion of vibrations and the reaction coordinate than that found in native hPNP. Power spectra comparing native and mutant proteins show a correlation between the vibrations of Immucillin-G (ImmG):O5'...ImmG:N4' and H257:Ndelta...ImmG:O5' consistent with a coupling of these motions. These modes are linked to the protein promoting vibrations. Stronger coupling of motions to the reaction coordinate increases the probability of reaching the transition state and thus lowers the activation free energy. This motion has been shown to contribute to catalysis. Coincident with the approach to the transition state, the sum of the distances of ImmG:O4'...ImmG:O5'...H257:Ndelta became smaller, stabilizing the oxacarbenium ion formed at the transition state. Combined results from crystallography, mutational analysis, chemical kinetics, and computational analysis are consistent with dynamic compression playing a significant role in forming the transition state. Stronger coupling of these pairs is observed in the catalytically enhanced mutant enzyme. That motion and catalysis are enhanced by mutations remote from the catalytic site implicates dynamic coupling through the protein architecture as a component of catalysis in hPNP.
Cosmological consequences of permanent quark confinement

The Hagedorn model of hadronic matter was originally developed as an application of the bootstrap principle, but it is also a model which describes permanent quark confinement. Our remarkable prediction of the model is that hadronic matter cannot be heated beyond a finite maximum temperature (=T q). In a cosmic context,T q is the maximum temperature of the early universe; its existence follows simply by imposing the principle of permanent quark confinement. In the limitT →T q, the Hagedorn model is ambiguous about the size of the early universe and about the numerical value of the hadronic energy density. However, once the temperature constraint is accepted, the uncertainty principle and the principle of permanent quark confinement require the absence of the essential singularity at cosmic timet = 0. This initial condition for the early universe may be interpreted as due to a strong, short-range repulsive core in the interaction between quark pairs (evident at the hadron level, for example, as a nucleon-nucleon hard core). The parameters of the (qq) hard core are calculated from known characteristics of the universe. The results are: for the range,R qq≲0.07 fm; for the height, V0 ≈ 4.6·1014 GeV. It then follows that the « big bang » was soft and started at t = 0 with temperatureT q ≈ 1.6·1012K, radiusR min ≈1/2·1013 cm and hadronic mass density ϱmax ≈ 6·1016 gr/cm3.
The acute toxicity of penta-, hexa-, and heptachlorohydroxydiphenyl ethers in mice.

The acute intraperitoneal LD50 values of various hydroxychlorodiphenyl ethers (HO‐ClxDPEs; x = 5–7) in mice have been determined. The acute toxicities observed were on the order of, or slightly less than, that observed previously for 2‐hydroxy‐2’,4,4'‐trichlorodiphenyl ether (2‐HO‐CI 3 ‐DPE; irgasan DP‐300; Triclosan), a commonly used bactericide. However, the acute toxicities determined for these compounds were substantially less than have been observed for HO‐CI,‐DPEs and pentachlorophenol. The HO‐CIxDPEs had a marked hypothermic effect, similar to that produced by 2‐HO‐Cl 3 ‐DPE. Symptomatology following exposure to the HO‐CIx DPEs (x = 5–7) suggested a nonspecific depressant effect on the central nervous system.
The relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and mood disorders in the third National Health and Nutrition Survey.

Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a neurotropic protozoan parasite that causes persistent infection in humans. A substantial literature suggests that schizophrenia is associated with increased seroprevalence of T. gondii , but a possible link of the parasite with mood disorders has not been as thoroughly investigated. Methods We examined the association of Toxoplasma -specific immunoglobulin G results with mood disorder outcomes in 7440 respondents from the third National Health and Nutrition Survey, which is a nationally representative sample of the United States noninstitutionalized civilian population. Regression models were adjusted for numerous potential confounders, including tobacco smoking and C-reactive protein levels. Results No statistically significant associations were found between T. gondii seroprevalence and a history of major depression ( n = 574; adjusted odds ratio [OR]: .8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .5–1.2), severe major depression ( n = 515; adjusted OR: .8; 95% CI: .6–1.2), dysthymia ( n = 548; adjusted OR: 1.1; 95% CI: .7–1.8), or dysthymia with comorbid major depression ( n = 242, adjusted OR: 1.2; 95% CI: .6–2.4), all p values were > .05, including analysis stratified by gender. However, there was a significant relationship between T. gondii seroprevalence and bipolar disorder type I for respondents in which both manic and major depression symptoms were reported ( n = 41; adjusted OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2–4.8; p Conclusions In a population-based sample, T. gondii seroprevalence is not elevated in unipolar mood disorders but is higher in a subset of respondents with a history of bipolar disorder type 1.
Non-coding transcripts far upstream of the ε-globin gene are distinctly expressed in human primary tissues and erythroleukemia cell lines

Abstract Non-coding exons of e-globin mRNA originating within the 236 kb upstream region of the e-globin gene were identified in human primary tissues and K562 cells. One predominant type of upstream e mRNA, which originated in the −76 kb region 5′ to the e gene, was present in human primary tissues, whereas 11 other isoforms were identified in K562 cells. Fragment from the −76 kb region possessed promoter activity and a prominent DNase I hypersensitive site was formed in the region ∼2 kb 5′ to the −76 kb promoter in human fetal liver, but not in K562 cells. The promoter activity in the −236 kb region resided in a retrotransposon in K562 cells. A DNase I hypersensitive site was formed at the −236 kb promoter in K562 cells, but not in human fetal liver. We discussed these results in the context of intergenic transcription and chromatin opening in the β-globin gene cluster.
Comparison of two models used to estimate in situ nitrogen disappearance

Abstract Inclusion of lag time into a model describing in situ N disappearance influenced the parameter estimates describing N degradability and improved the goodness-of-fit of the model to data describing aeschynomene hay and alfalfa meal digestion. Ruminal N disappearance (%) was described using two models that assumed: 1) digestion of the potentially digestible but insoluble N fraction was initiated immediately upon exposure to ruminal contents, or 2) digestion of this fraction was preceded by a lag period during which hydration and microbial attachment is presumed to occur prior to the initiation of digestion. Digestion was assumed to occur from a homogeneous potentially digestible but insoluble N fraction by a first order process described by a rate constant, k. Incorporating a lag term resulted in an increase in the rapidly soluble N fraction, a decrease in the potentially digestible but insoluble N fraction, and a decrease in the total digestible N fraction. The two forages had different k values when fit to the nonlagged model but not when fit to the lagged model. The residual standard deviation was smaller for the lagged model, and the fit of predicted values to observed values was improved.
The relationship between neuropsychological functioning and psychopathology in temporal lobe epileptic patients.

Summary: With the use of Goldberg's method of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) analysis, evidence has been recently provided of a positive relationship between psychopathology and deficits in neuropsychological functioning in epileptic patients. The present study attempted to replicate this finding using more precise and appropriate criteria for grouping patients according to severity of neuropsychological impairment. Application of Goldberg's MMPI Rules to 34 temporal lobe epileptic patients grouped according to their neuropsychological status (nonimpaired or impaired) failed to support these findings. Possible reasons for the discrepant results, including differing methodologies and seizure patient characteristics across studies, are discussed. RESUME Hermann (1981), en utilisant la methode de Goldberg d'analyse du MMPI, a recemment mis en evidence une correlation positive entre la psychopathologie et les deficits neuropsychologiques chez les patients epileptiques. Dans cette etude les auteurs ont essaye de reproduire les resultats de Hermann en utilisant des criteres plus precis et plus appropries pour grouper les sujets en fonction de la severite de l'atteinte neuropsychologique. L'application des regles de Goldberg sur le MMPI a 34 sujets avec epilepsie du lobe remporal groupes selon leur etat neuropsychologique (deficitaire ou non deficitaire) n'a pas permis de confirmer les donnees de Hermann. Les auteurs discutent les raisons possibles de cette discordance, en particulier la difference des methodologies et des caracteristiques des crises des malades.
Characterization of Microporous Carbons Using Adsorption at Near Ambient Temperatures

The adsorption isotherms of CF4 and SF6 measured at various temperatures near ambient are used to obtain information about micropore structure of two commercial carbons. This information is extracted from the comprehensive analysis of the data on three levels of assumptions. First from the temperature dependence of adsorption the isosteric heats of adsorption are calculated using nonparametric regression. Heats of adsorption allow for qualitative comparison of adsorption energetics between different carbons. The more detailed description of this energetics is given in terms of the adsorption energy distributions. Finally the micropore size distributions are calculated from the adsorption energy distributions assuming that the adsorption energy of molecules confined in micropores is determined by their sizes and geometry. No assumptions are made about the analytical form of the distribution. Effects of model assumptions, such as gas−solid interaction parameters or the pore wall thickness, on the calculated...
Antimicrobial therapy of pediatric patients with sinusitis

Abstract The mainstay of medical therapy for acute and subacute sinusitis is the selection of an antimicrobial agent based on an appreciation of the usual bacterial pathogens that include Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae , and Moraxella catarrhalis . Amoxicillin is appropriate therapy for patients with uncomplicated sinusitis in geographic areas in which the prevalence of β-lactamase-producing pathogens is less than 20%. If a patient does not respond to amoxicillin or in areas in which there is a high prevalence of β-lactamase-producing bacterial species, alternative antimicrobials include amoxicillin-clavulanate, erythromycin-sulfisoxazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefaclor, cefuroxime axetil, and cefixime. Cefixime, which is less active against S. pneumoniae than most of these antimicrobials, should be reserved for patients who do not improve with amoxicillin. Amoxicillin-potassium clavulanate, cefuroxime axetil, and erythromycin-sulfisoxazole have the most comprehensive antibacterial spectra.