cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Friendly Disagreement: Wilson, Morgan, And The Embryological Origins Of The Gene Theory

The foundations of American embryology and genetics were established by four former graduate students of Johns Hopkins University. Edmund Beecher Wilson ('81) and Thomas HuntMorgan ('90) interacted over a thirty year period to provide the foundations of genetics, while Edwin Grant Conklin ('91) and Ross Granville Harrison ('94) focused their studies on embryonic determination. Together, they founded the Journal of Experimental Zoology and were influential in framing the shape of American experimental zoology for decades to come. This essay will attempt to outline the interactions between Wilson and Morgan leading up to the formation of the gene theory, and it will try to place this controversy in the context of a larger conflict among experimental biologists of the first two decades of this century—the conflict over whether biological processes are effected by molecules in solution or by fixed microscopic morphological structures.
Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and paclitaxel for locally advanced/unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Abstract Purpose: To determine prospectively the maximal tolerated dose and potential antitumor activity of weekly paclitaxel with concurrent hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced and/or unresectable pancreatic cancer. Methods and Materials: We embarked on Phase I–II study of hyperfractionated radiotherapy using a concomitant in-field boost to a total dose of 63.80 Gy in 6 weeks at 1.1 Gy/fraction. Paclitaxel was administered weekly on Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 as a 3-h infusion. Paclitaxel doses were escalated from 20 mg/m 2 /wk to 70 mg/m 2 /wk. Twenty patients were studied, 14 women and 6 men (mean age 64 years). Some patients presented with one or more symptoms. Obstructive jaundice was the main presenting symptom in 10 patients and epigastric pain in 14. All patients had unresectable histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (15 head, 4 body, and 1 tail). Reasons for unresectability were involvement of the portal vein, and/or superior mesenteric artery ( n = 14), paraaortic nodes ( n = 8), and medically inoperable ( n = 1). Fourteen patients underwent a biliary bypass procedure before treatment (four endoscopic stenting, five choledochojejunostomy, and five cholecystojejunostomy). The follow-up period ranged from 14 to 66 months (median 44). Results: The dose-limiting toxicity was observed at 70 mg/m 2 /wk. Grade IV Radiation Therapy Oncology Group late GI toxicity was seen in 1 patient in the form of duodenal stricture and hemorrhage. Grade II gastrointestinal adverse effects occurred in 13 patients and Grade 3 in 1 patient. No neurologic morbidity was encountered. Eight patients required cytokine support for Grade 2 and 3 neutropenia. The treatment course was delivered within the planned time in 80% of the patients. Complete relief of pain occurred in 10 of 14 patients. The CA 19-9 level was either stable or decreasing in 12 of 15 patients. Of 17 assessable patients, stable disease was seen in 10, regression in 2, a partial response in 3, and a complete response in 2. Conclusion: The use of hyperfractionated radiotherapy to a dose of 63.80 Gy with concomitant weekly paclitaxel is tolerated. The maximal tolerated dose of paclitaxel for this study was 60 mg/m 2 /wk. The preliminary objective responses denote activity of the regimen. We recommend testing this regimen in larger scale studies.
The KPP system in a periodic flow with a heat loss

We consider a reaction–diffusion–advection system of the KPP type in a periodic flow with heat loss through the boundary. We show that, as in the case of a shear flow, the propagation speed is determined by the linearization ahead of the front and is thus independent of the Lewis number. Moreover, we show that a flame may be blown off or be extinguished by the presence of a periodic flow. We present an explicit procedure for constructing a flow which leads to the blow-off or extinction of the flame. The period cell size has to be sufficiently small for the flow to extinguish a flame if the channel is wider than critical.
Assessing Nonviolent Movements

The philosophy and practice of nonviolence has long been a focus of research and reflection among Peace Studies scholars and practitioners. There is, however, no simple consensus about the definiti...
Dimensions of the average pore, the number of pores, and the surface area of hardened Portland cement paste

In the course of their small angle x-ray scattering work, Winslow and Diamond also calculated that radius of gyration of the pores. Using its value for a paste, Diamond adopted two models for the average pore: a sphere and a cylinder of equal height and diameter. This model leads to absurd values for the surface area of the paste. Using a cylindrical model, and the radius of gyration plus the hydraulic radius, the present authors calculated for a similar paste the dimensions of the average pore and obtained the values: diameter equals 47.2A, length equals 466A. The number of pores per gram of paste was 2.26 x 10 to the 17th power. The paper also discusses the surface area of hardened paste, and points out the extremely important contributions of Winslow and Diamond to the subject. /Author/
Real-life driving outcomes in Parkinson disease

Objective: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for driving outcomes in drivers with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: In a prospective cohort study, we ascertained the time until driving cessation, a crash, or a traffic citation using self-report and state Department of Transportation records in 106 licensed, active drivers with PD and 130 controls. Results: Drivers with PD stopped driving earlier than controls, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 7.09 (3.66–13.75), p Conclusions: Drivers with PD are at a higher risk of driving cessation than elderly control drivers. A battery evaluating motor and nonmotor aspects of PD, driving record, and performance can be useful in assessing future driving outcomes in PD.
Panic attack symptoms in patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries

Abstract It is often difficult to explain anginal chest pain in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and no other obvious heart disease. We reviewed a series of 123 such patients for the characteristics of their chest pain and for other somatic symptoms of panic attacks. Our findings suggest that many of these patients are likely to have panic attacks and should be considered for psychiatric evaluation. A significant number in this group have left-sided, sharp chest pain and palpitations.
Dysregulated BMP Signaling and Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells From Patients With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)

The study of FOP, a disabling genetic disorder of progressive heterotopic ossification, is hampered by the lack of readily available connective tissue progenitor cells. We isolated such cells from discarded primary teeth of patients with FOP and controls and discovered dysregulation of BMP signaling and rapid osteoblast differentiation in FOP cells compared with control cells. Introduction: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), the most disabling condition of progressive heterotopic ossification in humans, is caused by a recurrent heterozygous missense mutation in activin receptor IA (ACVR1), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptor, in all classically affected individuals. A comprehensive understanding of FOP has been limited, in part, by a lack of readily available connective tissue progenitor cells in which to study the molecular pathology of this disorder. Materials and Methods: We derived connective tissue progenitor cells from discarded primary teeth (SHED cells) of patients with FOP and controls and examined BMP signaling and osteogenic differentiation in these cells. Results: SHED cells transmitted BMP signals through both the SMAD and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and responded to BMP4 treatment by inducing BMP responsive genes. FOP cells showed ligand-independent BMP signaling and ligand-dependent hyper-responsiveness to BMP stimulation. Furthermore, FOP cells showed more rapid differentiation to an osteogenic phenotype than control cells. Conclusions: This is the first study of BMP signaling and osteogenic differentiation in connective tissue progenitor cells from patients with FOP. Our data strongly support both basal and ligand-stimulated dysregulation of BMP signaling consistent with in silico studies of the mutant ACVR1 receptor in this condition. This study substantially extends our understanding of dysregulated BMP signaling in a progenitor cell population relevant to the pathogenesis of this catastrophic disorder of progressive ectopic ossification.
Measurement of Interleukin-1 Stimulated Constitutive Prostaglandin G/H Synthase (Cyclooxygenase) mRNA Levels in Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells Using Competitive Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To assess regulation of constitutive prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS-1) by interleukin-1 (IL-1) in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, we compared analysis by competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with Northern blot analysis. Using RT-PCR, IL-1 increased PGHS-1 mRNA levels by 1.84 ± O.10 or 2.07 ± 0.17, depending on the method of calculation. Using Northern blot analysis, the effect of IL-1 on PGHS-1 mRNA levels was more variable, and the variability was increased by normalization of PGHS-1 mRNA levels to the housekeeping genes, β-actin and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), because their mRNA levels were also regulated by IL-1. We conclude that competitive RT-PCR is a reproducible and accurate method for studying small changes in mRNA levels.
Some Reminders Concerning Truth, Satisfaction, and Reference

Tarski’s relation of satisfaction1 has been mentioned or discussed a good deal recently, but not often, it seems, with full understanding. Many misconceptions concerning it abound throughout the literature. The relation, it will be recalled, is one holding between an infinite sequence of objects (of some object language) and a sentential function (of that language) containing an arbitrary number (perhaps even none at all) of free variables. A sentence is then any sentential function containing no free variables, and a true sentence is, by definition, one satisfied by all infinite sequences, a false sentence being satisfied by none.
Moral Confusion and Developmental Essentialism in Part-Human Hybrid Research

We wish to strike a cautionary note in regards to the ethics of research that creates part-human hybrids. Our aim is to highlight a mistaken ontology of ontogeny that underwrites—and ultimately und...
Problem-based Learning in Undergraduate Dental Education: Faculty Development at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry

The University of Southern California School of Dentistry (USCSD) seeks to educate oral health professionals with a balanced curriculum covering health promotion, risk assessment and disease prevention, diagnostics, treatments, and therapeutics. Based on critical analyses of a 5-year educational demonstration project, the USCSD proposed to use problem-based learning (PBL) to achieve its goals. Among the many changes required to convert a traditional dental educational curriculum to PBL, none is more important than that of faculty development. To achieve this, the USCSD Curriculum Subcommittee on Faculty Development, Mentoring, and Evaluation has designed and implemented a series of workshops to train its faculty as facilitators. There are four Core Skills Workshops: PBL Process Workshop, Facilitation of Learning Workshop, Student Assessment and Feedback Workshop, and PBL in the Clinical Environment.
Histone H2AX Phosphorylation as a Predictor of Radiosensitivity and Target for Radiotherapy

Based on the role of phosphorylation of the histone H2A variant H2AX in recruitment of DNA repair and checkpoint proteins to the sites of DNA damage, we have investigated gammaH2AX as a reporter of tumor radiosensitivity and a potential target to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Clinically relevant ionizing radiation (IR) doses induced similar patterns of gammaH2AX focus formation or immunoreactivity in radiosensitive and radioresistant human tumor cell lines and xenografted tumors. However, radiosensitive tumor cells and xenografts retained gammaH2AX for a greater duration than radioresistant cells and tumors. These results suggest that persistence of gammaH2AX after IR may predict tumor response to radiotherapy. We synthesized peptide mimics of the H2AX carboxyl-terminal tail to test whether antagonizing H2AX function affects tumor cell survival following IR. The peptides did not alter the viability of unirradiated tumor cells, but both blocked induction of gammaH2AX foci by IR and enhanced cell death in irradiated radioresistant tumor cells. These results suggest that H2AX is a potential molecular target to enhance the effects of radiotherapy.
Characterization of Gasoline and E85 Direct Injection Sprays in a Constant Volume Vessel Under Late Cycle Engine Conditions

Spray characteristics of a high pressure gasoline direct injector were studied in a constant volume optical combustion vessel over a range of charge gas composition, pressure and temperature conditions for gasoline and E85. The fuel injector was a Bosch GDI injector, with fuel delivery provided through a high pressure accumulator supply system. The conditions were selected to match those for late injection timing during the compression stroke. To simulate the in-cylinder conditions, the combustion chamber temperatures and pressures were varied from 30°C to 305°C and from 1.8 bar to 9.2 bar respectively. Injection pressure was held constant at 30 bar. Injector and thus initial fuel temperature was controlled independently of the ambient conditions at 50°C. Simultaneous images were taken using Schlieren, laser luminescence and Mie scattering diagnostics. It was found that penetration and spray angle are primarily dependent on charge density, and vaporization is dependent on both charge density and charge temperature. The gasoline sprays are shown to have increased vaporization and higher penetration in comparison to E85.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
CD4+ T lymphocytes infiltrating human breast cancer recognise autologous tumor in an MHC-class-II restricted fashion

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were derived from primary breast tumors, metastatic lymph nodes and malignant pleural effusions from 34 patients with breast cancer. TIL were cultured for approximately 30 days and studied for phenotype, cytotoxicity, and the ability to secrete cytokines in response to autologous tumor stimulation. Tumor specimens were obtained from two different sites in 7 patients, resulting in 41 samples from which 38 TIL cultures were established. In addition to screening 38 bulk TIL cultures, TIL from 21 patients were separated into CD4+ and CD8+ subsets and extensively studied. Three CD4+ TIL were found specifically to secrete granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor α when stimulated by autologous tumor and not by a large panel of stimulators (24–34) consisting of autologous normal cells, allogeneic breast or melanoma tumors and EBV-B cells. This cytokine release was found to be MHC-class-II-restricted, as it was inhibited by the anti-HLA-DR antibody L243. These 3 patients' EBV-B cells, when pulsed with tumor lysates, were unable to act as antigen-presenting cells and induce cytokine secretion by their respective CD4+ TIL. These findings demonstrate that MHC-class-II-restricted CD4+ T cells recognising tumor-associated antigens can be detected in some breast cancer patients.
Longitudinal data analysis for linear Gaussian models with random disturbed-highest-derivative-polynomial subject effects.

For linear regression analysis of longitudinal data with Gaussian response, I propose a new model to generalize the traditional class of random effects models in which the random effects are deterministic polynomials with coefficients randomly distributed over subjects with mean zero. The generalization is accomplished by adding zero mean Gaussian ‘disturbances’ to the highest derivative of each random coefficient subject polynomial, independently at each observation time. The resulting random effects, which have mean zero at each observation time, are called disturbed highest derivative polynomials (DHDPs). The disturbances induce serial correlation and also allow the subject-specific DHDP time trends to be non-linear. I do not estimate the subject-specific DHDP time trends. Analysis is based on the marginal model, that is, the fixed effects or population model obtained by integrating the random polynomial coefficients and all disturbances out of the joint distribution of themselves and the response vector. This allows a ‘population averaged’ interpretation. One can select the DHDP order by an information criterion. When the population time trend is not correctly modelled, the optimal DHDP order will be larger than when it is correctly modelled. One can make the covariance matrix of the regression coefficients robust to errors in modelling the within-subject dependence. I describe the relationship of a DHDP to a smoothing polynomial spline, and show how to replace the DHDP model with a smoothing polynomial spline model for the within-subject dependence in the marginal model.
Characteristics of Women-Only and Mixed-Gender Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

Specialized substance abuse treatment programs have been developed for women within the past two decades. This article presents the results of a secondary analysis of a regional database of drug abuse treatment programs that compared the characteristics of women-only (WO) and mixed-gender (MG) programs across three treatment modalities. In general, WO programs differed from MG programs in their policies regarding fees, sources of payment, special populations served, services offered, and treatment capacity, process, and duration. The differences in program characteristics reflect broader societal gender differences, including women's generally lower economic status and primary responsibility for child-rearing.
Firo-B's Dissociation from Two Central Dimensions of Interpersonal Behavior:

Each addressing interpersonal behavior's central features, three questionnaires were administered to 64 participants in 11 small personal development groups. Individuals rated their own and each ot...
Changes in Functional Status During Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Changes in self-reported functional Status during pregnancy were studied in 100 women. The baseline interview at 20 weeks was used for assessing subsequent change in maximal physical, mental, and emotional function as well as in global function and global sense of health. Although the transition instruments were only tested at three points during pregnancy (30, 35, and 40 weeks), they succeeded in detecting changes. In particular, both maximal physical function and global function tended to deteriorate as pregnancy progressed toward term, although few women considered themselves to be sick. The authors suggest that changes in functional Status should be considered an important “outcome” of pregnancy. Patient-specific measures of change in self-reported maximal function might be used in future trials to help assess the impact of interventions on individual patient’s maximal function. The timing of the baseline interview and frequency of the transition assessments should depend on the specific clinical problem under study.
Effective algorithm for random mask generation used in secured optical data encryption and communication

An efficient and secure algorithm for random phase mask generation used in optical data encryption and transmission system is proposed, based on Diffie-Hellman public key distribution. Thus-generated random mask has higher security due to the fact that it is never exposed to the vulnerable transmitting channels. The effectiveness to retrieve the original image and its robustness against blind manipulation have been demonstrated by our numerical results. In addition, this algorithm can be easily extended to multicast networking system and refresh of this shared random key is also very simple to implement.
POST-ADRENALECTOMY DIURESIS

In the untreated adrenalectomized dog there is an initial period of diuresis, associated with changes in electrolyte excretion, sometimes entailing a negative water balance which subsides as adrenal insufficiency becomes pronounced (1, 2, 3). This loss of water by the kidney is not adequate to explain the severe contraction of extracellular fluid characterizing adrenal insufficiency, and the development of adrenal insufficient symptoms is not entirely or necessarily dependent on it (3, 4, 5). On the other hand, Winter and Hartman (6) found in the cat that there was no diuresis following adrenalectomy, but rather a reduced urine volume, although the water intake dropped relatively more than the urine. They observed the same effects in normal cats by reducing the amount of food to equal that consumed after adrenalectomy. The results of similar studies on adrenalectomized rats vary widely. Beaird and Swann (7), for instance, found that on a life-prolonging high salt diet, adrenalectomy increased the urine vo...
Steering of westerly storms over western North America at the Last Glacial Maximum

The Last Glacial Maximum hydroclimate over western North America differed from the modern climate. A proxy-model comparison suggests that the glacial storm track was squeezed and steered by atmospheric high-pressure systems.
Cavity flow in a porous medium driven by differential heating

Abstract This paper describes flow through a porous medium in a two-dimensional cavity driven by differential heating of the upper surface. The lower surface and sidewalls of the cavity are thermally insulated and the main emphasis is on the case where the temperature distribution at the upper surface is monotonic, resulting in a single-cell circulation. Numerical results for general values of the Darcy–Rayleigh number R and the cavity aspect ratio L are compared with theoretical predictions for the small Darcy–Rayleigh number limit ( R →0) where the temperature field is conduction-dominated, and an approximate theory for the large Darcy–Rayleigh number limit ( R →∞) where convection is significant. In the latter case a horizontal boundary-layer structure is identified near the upper surface. This conveys fluid to the cold end of the cavity where it descends in a narrow vertical jet in the corner. The temperature is almost constant throughout the remainder of the cavity, and heat transfer arguments and boundary-layer theory are used to predict its value.
Tumor immunity to murine plasma‐cell tumors. VIII. Immunosuppression of the generation of cytotoxic T cells by murine plasma‐cell tumor lines

Previous studies have clearly established that murine plasmacytomas suppress B-cell responses, but no effects on T-cell responses have been noted by most investigators. However, in our investigation of the tumor-associated antigens of plasmacytomas, we have found that immunosuppression plays an important role in the complex interaction between host immune T cells and tumor cells. In these investigations, varying the number of plas-macytoma cells added to in vitro induction systems separated two different effects which these cells had on the generation of cytotoxic T cells. On the one hand, when appropriate numbers were present, tumor cells acted as immunogens and stimulated the generation of specific killer cells against tumor-associated antigen or alloantigen which they expressed. In contrast, greater numbers of tumor cells exerted a profound inhibitory effect on the generation of cytotoxic activity when cells inactivated with irradiation were used. Mitomycin-C inactivation of plasmacytoma cells abrogated this inhibitory activity. In further experiments, MPC-11 cells that had been inactivated with Mitomycin C were able to prime T cells in vivo, whereas priming by live tumor cells could not be detected in the same situation. It is suggested that immunosuppression by the live tumor cells may account for their inability to prime T cells in vivo. These results indicate that immunosuppression by plasmacytomas may be one of the important variables which influence the generation of cytotoxic T cells against tumor-associated antigens both in vivo and in vitro.
The corrosion behavior of copper alloys, stainless steels and titanium in seawater

Abstract Effects of mass transport, corrosion products and biofilm formation on corrosion kinetics of five copper alloys, four stainless steels and titanium grade 2 exposed to natural and artificial seawater were determined. Corrosion current density (icorr), anodic (ba) and cathodic (bc) Tafel slopes were determined from analysis of polarization curves recorded in the vicinity of the corrosion potential (Ecorr) under controlled mass transport conditions as a function of exposure time. Rotating cylinder electrode experiments demonstrated that Ecorr and corrosion rate for stainless steels and titanium were independent of mass transport. For copper alloys icorr depended linearly on rotation speed r0.7, while Ecorr was independent of mass transport. These results indicate that both cathodic and anodic reactions for stainless steels and titanium are under charge transfer control, whereas these reactions are under mass transport control for copper alloys. Corrosion rates of copper alloys were also obtained using linear polarization and weight loss. Corrosion rates obtained with the two methods agreed for exposures in artificial seawater. In natural seawater, corrosion rates determined with linear polarization underestimated corrosion rates from weight loss data by a factor of two or more. Environmental and traditional scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analyses were used to document surface topography, bacterial colonization and form of corrosion after removal of corrosion products. De-alloying of all copper alloys occurred in natural seawater. Intergranular corrosion was observed for 70Cu-30Ni alloy under elliptical deposits of embedded diatoms. De-alloying and intergranular corrosion did not occur in artificial seawater. Sulfides produced by bacteria may have accelerated attack of nickel in grain boundaries of 70Cu-30Ni alloy.
Dynamic network kriging

Path delays in IP networks are important metrics, required by network operators for assessment, planning, and fault diagnosis. Monitoring delays of all source-destination pairs in a large network is however challenging and wasteful of resources. The present paper develops a spatio-temporal prediction approach to track and predict network-wide path delays using measurements on only a few paths. The proposed algorithm uses a space-time Kalman filter that exploits both topological as well as historical data. The resulting predictor is optimal in the class of linear predictors, and outperforms competing alternatives on real-world datasets.
Increased chondrocyte adhesion on nanotubular anodized titanium.

Previous studies have demonstrated increased osteoblast (bone-forming cells) functions (including adhesion, synthesis of intracellular collagen, alkaline phosphatase activity, and deposition of calcium-containing minerals) on titanium anodized to possess nanometer features compared with their unanodized counterparts. Such titanium materials were anodized to possess novel nanotubes also capable of drug delivery. Since titanium has not only experienced wide spread commercial use in orthopedic but also in cartilage applications, the objective of the present in vitro study was for the first time to investigate chondrocyte (cartilage synthesizing cells) functions on titanium anodized to possess nanotubes. For this purpose, titanium was anodized in dilute hydrofluoric acid at 20 V for 20 min. Results showed increased chondrocyte adhesion on anodized titanium with nanotube structures compared with unanodized titanium. Importantly, the present study also provided evidence why. Since material characterization studies revealed significantly greater nanometer roughness and similar chemistry as well as crystallinity between nanotubular anodized and unanodized titanium, the results of the present study highlight the importance of the nanometer roughness provided by anodized nanotubes on titanium for enhancing chondrocyte adhesion. In this manner, the results of the present in vitro study indicated that anodization might be a promising quick and inexpensive method to modify the surface of titanium-based implants to induce better chondrocyte adhesion for cartilage applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Right Cerebral Hemisphere Dominance for a Sense of Corporeal and Emotional Self

Abstract Several lines of evidence suggest that the right cerebral hemisphere is dominant for sense of physical and emotional self, specifically, for an individual's awareness of his or her own corporeal being and its relation to the environment and affective state. Right parietal lesions impair body image. Left-sided neglect, anosognosia, and anosodiaphoria can arise from destruction of the hemispheric module controlling body image and the physical relation of self to the environment. Right parietotemporal lesions impair topographic orientation, the relation of the body to environmental location. Right frontotemporal lesions impair impulse control. Right temporal disorders affect the sense of the familiar and unfamiliar, evoke fear and mania, and evoke experiential phenomena. Right frontal lesions impair social behavior, impairing the relation of self to others, the social self. Whereas linguistic consciousness is a function of the left hemisphere, consciousness of the corporeal and emotional self and aspects of the social self may be a right hemisphere-dominant function.
Development and Validation of a Measure of Interpersonal Strengths: The Inventory of Interpersonal Strengths

An Inventory of Interpersonal Strengths (IIS) was developed and validated in a series of large college student samples. Based on interpersonal theory and associated methods, the IIS was designed to assess positive characteristics representing the full range of interpersonal domains, including those generally thought to have negative qualities (e.g., introversion, coldness, submissiveness). The 8 subscales (octants) of the 64-item IIS demonstrated good circumplex features and reliability. Tests comparing Big 5 interpersonal factors, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP), Battery of Interpersonal Capabilities (BIC), and other interpersonal measures demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity and shared interpersonal structure. The IIS accounted for significant additional variance in life satisfaction and quality of personal relationships beyond the IIP and the BIC.
Consumption habits in an overlapping-generations model

Abstract This paper introduces consumption habits in the Blanchard (1985) overlapping-generations model. It shows that steady-state capital and consumption are higher if individuals have habits than otherwise. Moreover, “inward habits” lead to higher steady-state capital and consumption compared to “outward habits.”
Large-Strain Bauschinger Effects in Fcc Metals and Alloys

We have performed Bauschinger experiments on a variety of fcc metals and alloys, after large amounts of prestrain, using torsion and a short thin-walled tube geometry. The materials we studied were 99.99 pct Al, OFE copper, 70:30 brass, Al-1 pct Mg, Al-2 pct Mg, Al-0.17 pct Fe-0.07 pct Si, Al-0.8 pct Mn, and two Al-Cu alloys (Al-2.6 pct Cu and Al-4 pct Cu) given different heat treatments. For the material systems other than the Al-Cu alloys, the stress reversal was after a prestrain in shear of ≈3.0. Two stress reversals were performed on the Al-Cu alloys. The first was at γ = 0.3 and the second at γ = 1.2. Thus, for the Al-Cu, the prestrain and the final increment of deformation were in the same direction. The Bauschinger yield stress in these experiments was characterized by a very large offset shear strain of 0.05. This definition of reverse yield minimizes the effects of heterogeneous deformation and long-range internal elastic stresses that arise mainly from second-phase particles. We attributed the effects we observed to “isotropic hardening” associated with the dislocation substructures that developed in the different materials. We found that the behavior of these materials could be divided into two categories: those which deform by planar slip and those that form a “cell” structure and are characterized as having wavy slip. When the deformation was wavy in nature, we attributed the observed Bauschinger effects to be a result of the untangling of the “cells” formed during the prestrain. Different morphologies of cells had different behaviors when the stress was reversed. The behavior of the planar slip alloys depended on whether or not the barriers to dislocation activity were rigid or shearable. The θ′ precipitates in the Al-Cu alloys and the twin boundaries in the 70:30 brass constituted rigid barriers to dislocation motion, and a very large Bauschinger effect was observed. The solid solution Al-Cu material and that containing Guinier-Preston (GP) zones and θ″ had almost no Bauschinger effect when the yield stress in reverse deformation was considered. After yield, these materials hardened very rapidly and the flow stress in the reverse direction exceeded that for the equivalent amount of monotonie deformation.
Differential expression of oxidative phosphorylation genes in patients with Alzheimer's disease: implications for early mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage.

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, increasing evidence implicates mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from molecular defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The objective of the present study was to determine the role of mRNA expression of mitochondrial genes responsible for OXPHOS in brain specimens from early AD and definite AD patients. In the present article, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, we studied mRNA expression of 11 mitochondrial-encoded genes in early AD patients (n=6), definite AD patients (n=6), and control subjects (n=6). Using immunofluorescence techniques, we determined differentially expressed mitochondrial genes—NADH 15-kDa subunit (complex I), cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (complex IV), and ATPase δ-subunit (complex V)—in the brain sections of AD patients and control subjects. Our quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis revealed a downregulation of mitochondrial genes in complex I of OXPHOS in both early and definite AD brain specimens. Further, the decrease of mRNA fold changes was higher for subunit 1 compared to all other subunits studied, suggesting that subunit 1 is critical for OXPHOS. Contrary to the downregulation of genes in complex I, complexes III and IV showed increased mRNA expressions in the brain specimens of both early and definite AD patients, suggesting a great demand on energy production. Further, mitochondrial gene expression varied greatly across AD patients, suggesting that mitochondrial DNA defects may be responsible for the heterogeneity of the phenotype in AD patients. Our immunofluorescence analyses of cytochrome oxidase and of the ATPase δ-subunit suggest that only subpopulations of neurons are differentially expressed in AD brains. Our double-labeling immunofluorescence analyses of 8-hydroxyguanosine and of cytochrome oxidase suggest that only selective, over-expressed neurons with cytochrome oxidase undergo oxidative damage in AD brains. Based on these results, we propose that an increase in cytochrome oxidase gene expression might be the result of functional compensation by the surviving neurons or an early mitochondrial alteration related to increased oxidative damage.
Richard G. Condon Prize What's Not to Know? A Durkheimian Critique of Boyer's Theory of Religion

Abstract This article examines Pascal Boyer's theory of religion, in which he argues that religious beliefs are an inessential by-product of theory of mind functioning. I suggest that Boyer is emblematic of a new wave of thinking about religion that oversimplifies religion and theory of mind processes and in so doing misses something profound about human cognition. Through a reexamination of Emile Durkheim's Elementary Forms of Religious Life, one of the classic (and classically misunderstood) works on religion, the present work elucidates what the recent theories are missing. Specifically, where Boyer's arguments suggest that “mentally building a “god” requires first building a “thinking agent,”“Durkheim suggests that mentally building a “thinking agent” may first require building a “god.” [religion, theory of mind, counterintuitive beliefs, society, sacred, profane]
Prevalence of CYP2C8, 2C9, 2J2, and soluble epoxide hydolase (SEH) polymorphims in African‐Americans with hypertension (HTN)

Background CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2J2 and sEH have been shown to be involved in the formation and metabolism of vasoactive epoxides of the epoxygenase pathway which have been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Methods We studied the frequency of CYP2C8*2,*3, CYP2C9*2,*3, *4, *5,*8 and *11, sEH R287Q and anR403insertion, and CYP2J2*2-*7 and the newly identified CYP2J2 polymorphisms R49S, L50L, V113M, N124S in 105 AA HTN patients with normal kidney function and 101 healthy AA to determine whether there is a significant difference in prevalence rates of these polymorphisms. The mean age of the HTN patients was 49.3± 12.1 years (mean± sd) and the healthy AA was 38.6± 9.1years. The HTN patients and healthy subjects were 50.4 % and 38.6 % female, respectively. The DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and then genotyped for the variant alleles using TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assays. Results The prevalence of the CYP2J2 variant alleles with the exception of CYP2J2*7 (table) ranged from 0 to 1.1% in the healthy and HTN populations. Additional results are shown in the table below. Conclusions There was no significant difference in prevalence rates of the CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2J2, and sEH alleles in AA with HTN compared with the healthy AA population. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P58–P58; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.110 Table 1. Epoxygenase Variant Allele Frequencies in AA with HTN Variant Allele N Healthy % N HTN P chi-square CYP2C8*2 101 15.3 105 12.3 NS 2C8*3 2.5 2.5 NS CYP2C9*2 101 2.5 105 2.9 NS 2C9*3 2.0 3.3 NS 2C9*8 3.0 1.9 NS 2C9*11 1.0 1.0 NS 2J2*7 95 11.1 90 10.6 NS sEH R287Q 100 8.0 105 7.1 NS sEH R403ins 2.0 1.9 NS
Thymosinα1 stimulates cell proliferation by activating ERK1/2, JNK, and increasing cytokine secretion in human pancreatic cancer cells

In this study, we investigated the expression and function of thymosinalpha1 (Thyalpha1) in human pancreatic cancer. We found that human pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1, Panc03.27, ASPC-1, and PL45 cells significantly over-expressed the mRNA of Thyalpha1 as compared to the normal human pancreatic ductal epithelium (HPDE) cells.. Thyalpha1 mRNA and protein levels were also over-expressed in clinical pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens. In addition, synthetic Thyalpha1 significantly promoted Panc-1 cell proliferation and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK. Furthermore, Thyalpha1 increased the secretion of multiple cytokines including IL-10, IL-13, and IL-17 in Panc-1 cells. Thus, Thyalpha1 may have a new role in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.
The anatomy of the adult uropodid Fuscouropoda agitans (Arachnida; Acari), with comparative observations on other Acari.

A thin, compressible, lateral suture and ventral plate overlap permit limited movement of the thick and rigid dorsal and ventral plates of Fuscouropoda agitans. Seven pairs of large dermal glands debouch onto the surface. Trochanteral rotation permits defensive leg adpresion and an insectan type of ambulation. The complex hypopharynx-pedipalpal-coxae has a buccal and cheliceral cavity separated by an atriculated epipharynx. The pharynx is Y-shaped in cross section. Extensive paired salivary glands lie above the very long and dexterous 3-segmented chelicerae, and a large pair of coxal glands debouch on coxae 1. From four blunt-ended tracheae, bundles of unbranching tracheoles extend in specific tracts to all organs. The ventriculus is small with three pairs of large caeca; a tightly packed single layer of digestive cells individually enlarged to absorb-phagocytize and digest the food. A typical mesostigmatid excretory tube is present. A typical acarine synganglion is present; mixed nerves have a basal swelling. A postulated neurosecretory organ arises from the pedipalpal nerve. The oocytes enlarge within funicular stalks from the walls of the small median ovary. A large spermatophore is stored in the seminal vesicle; fertilization occurs during oviposition. A tension hinge partially opens both male and female genital plates; closure effected by muscles acting on very long genital plate apodemes. Within sequentially produced spermatogonial cysts of the testes, meiosis is completely synchronous. A large, multilobed male accessory gland produces a large volume of seminal fluid; a mixture of at least four secretions. The origins and msertions of the body wall, genital organ, digestive tract, mouthpart and leg muscles are listed and illustrated. A comparison of anactinotrichid and actinotrichid mites indicates fundamental and consistent morphological differences in aspects of the cuticle, leg articulations, digestive system, excretory system, reproductive system and coxal glands.
A Commentary on David Scheffer's Concepts of Genocide and Atrocity Crimes

David Scheffer’s article is extremely rich and provides cause for thought concerning the concepts of genocide and atrocity crimes. His two proposals—liberating the use of the term ‘‘genocide’’ from manipulation by governments and international organizations and, more generally, substituting the new concepts of ‘‘atrocity crimes’’ and ‘‘atrocity law’’ for the actual legal, political, and public terminology used regarding the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes—call for some observations. In his first proposal, Scheffer means to distinguish between the legal and the political application of the concept of genocide in order to enable a better prevention of the crime through faster action. If the legal application of the concept of genocide is indeed constrained by specific and rigorous requirements, 1 the political application should be, according to Scheffer, larger and more flexible, thus permitting intervention as soon as precursors of genocide are identified. This idea of separating the criminal character of genocide from its political reality is appealing, and the focus on the need for a more effective international action to intervene is definitely important.
Emotional Responses of Mothers of Late-Preterm and Term Infants

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the emotional responses of mothers of late‐preterm infants (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks gestation) with those of mothers of full‐term infants. Design A mixed method comparative study. Setting A southeastern tertiary academic medical center postpartum unit. Participants Sixty mothers: 29 mothers of late‐preterm infants and 31 mothers of full‐term infants. Methods Measures of maternal emotional distress (four standardized measures of anxiety, postpartum depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and worry about infant health) and open‐ended semistructured maternal interviews were conducted in the hospital following birth and by phone at one month postpartum. Results Mothers of late‐preterm infants experienced significantly greater emotional distress immediately following delivery, and their distress levels continued to be higher at one month postpartum on each of the standardized measures. Mothers of late‐preterm infants also discussed the altered trajectories in their birth and postpartum experiences and feeling unprepared for these unexpected events as a source of ongoing emotional distress. Conclusion Mothers of late‐preterm infants have greater emotional distress than mothers of term infants for at least one month after delivery. Our findings suggest that it may not be a single event that leads to different distress levels in mothers of late‐preterm and full‐term infants but rather the interaction of multiple alterations in the labor and delivery process and the poorer‐than‐expected infant health outcomes. In the future, researchers need to examine how and when mothers' emotional responses change over time and how their responses relate to parenting and infant health and development.
Biocontrol of Soilborne Plant Pathogens.

Biocontrol involves harnessing disease-suppressive microor? ganisms to improve plant health. Disease suppression by biocontrol agents is the sustained manifestation of interactions among the plant, the pathogen, the biocontrol agent, the microbial community on and around the plant, and the physi? cal environment. Even in model laboratory systems, the study of biocontrol involves interactions among a minimum of three organisms. Therefore, despite its potential in agricultural ap? plications, biocontrol is one of the most poorly understood areas of plant-microbe interactions. The complexity of these systems has influenced the accep? tance of biocontrol as a means of controlling plant diseases in two ways. First, practical results with biocontrol have been variable. Thus, despite some stunning successes with biocon? trol agents in agriculture, there remains a general skepticism born of past failures (Cook and Baker, 1983; Weiler, 1988). Second, progress in understanding an entire system has been slow. Recently, however, substantial progress has been made in a number of biocontrol systems through the application of genetic and mathematical approaches that accommodate the complexity. Biocontrol of soilborne diseases is particularly complex be? cause these diseases occur in the dynamic environment at the interface of root and soil known as the rhizosphere, which is defined as the region surrounding a root that is affected by it. The rhizosphere is typified by rapid change, intense microbial activity, and high populations of bacteria compared with nonrhizosphere soil. Plants release metabolically active cells from their roots and deposit as much as 20% of the carbon allocated to roots in the rhizosphere, suggesting a highly evolved relationship between the plant and rhizosphere microorgan? isms. The rhizosphere is subject to dramatic changes on a short temporal scale?rain events and daytime drought can result in fluctuations in salt concentration, pH, osmotic poten? tial, water potential, and soil particle structure. Over longer temporal scales, the rhizosphere can change due to root growth, interactions with other soil biota, and weathering processes. It is the dynamic nature of the rhizosphere that makes it an interesting setting for the interactions that lead to disease and biocontrol of disease (Rovira, 1965,1969,1991; Hawes, 1991; Waisel et al., 1991).
Introduction to osteoporosis: From pathogenesis to prevention and treatment strategies

Many women rely on obstetrician/gynecologists as theirprimary care physicians. This choice confers to thesephysicians a responsibility to oversee areas of health andwell-being not speciﬁcally related to their area ofspecialty. One of these areas is the issue of osteoporosis.The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is amajor public health issue involving more than half thepeople aged 50 years and older in the United States.