cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Ionic Reactions in Clay Minerals and Soils

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the principles of kinetics to clay minerals and soils and reviews present literature dealing with the kinetics of elemental reactions in these systems. Chemical kinetics deal with chemical reaction rates and these rates are explained in the chapter in terms of reaction mechanisms. There are two salient reasons for studying the rates of chemical reactions: first to predict how quickly a reaction mixture moves to its equilibrium state, and to reveal reaction mechanisms. One should realize that the rate law is determined by experimentation and it cannot be inferred by simply examining the overall chemical reaction equation. A number of equations have been employed to describe the kinetics of reactions in clay minerals and soils. These have included the first-order, Elovich, parabolic diffusion, zero–order, second–order, and two–constant rate equations. Data based on the kinetics of ion exchange in pure clay systems is used by soil chemists for many years to model kinetic reactions in heterogeneous soil systems. Vermiculite, montmorillonite, kaolinite, and hydrous mica vary drastically in their preferences, in ion binding affinities, and in types of ion exchange reactions. Soil systems are typically composed of complex mixtures of clay minerals, noncrystalline components, oxides, hydroxides, and organic matter. The inevitable interaction of these various components creates a heterogeneous exchange complex that makes the kinetics of ionic exchange in these systems difficult to study.
Enrichment and purification of sea urchin histone genes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the enrichment and purification of sea urchin histone genes. The purification of specific reiterated genes has contributed much to the understanding of genome organization in higher organisms. Equilibrium density gradient centrifugation has been especially useful in purifying other tandemly repeated genes such as 5 S ribosomal DNA, tRNA genes, and sea urchin histone genes. These procedures, using standard cesium salt gradients along with the binding of actinomycin and heavy metal ions to DNA have been reviewed in Brown and Stern and depend on differences in base composition and sequence for the purification of particular genes. Recent advances in the purification of eukaryotic gene sequences through plasmid and phage vectors and cloning procedures have made it possible to isolate, in a pure state, both reiterated and unique genes. Restriction enzymeproduced fragments of histone genes from the sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , Lytechinus pictus , and Psammechinus miliaris , have been isolated in this manner.
Religion and mental health from the Jewish perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the religion and mental health from the Jewish perspective. Along with the terms Jews and Jewish, Israel has been used to designate Jewish people even long before the establishment of the modern state with that name because Israel connects Jews to a specific group. There are some issues which are related to psychiatric treatment, like Jews frequently may suggest about themselves some variation of “Jews are like everybody else, only more so.” However, the clinician may encounter Jewish persons who subscribe to the possible reality or myth of such distinctiveness. Such persons may evidence a considerable element of denial, guilt, or shame with regard to emotional fragileness on their part. To need a mental health professional and, especially, to be emotionally ill may be viewed as a horrendous embarrassment for the individual, the family network, and, in rare circumstance, the extended community. One additional factor which impacts Jewish persons in treatment is the long history as a minority community. Regarding any preferences for a specific treatment theory or technique, a pharmacological repertoire, family systems theory, and psychotherapeutic models are all potential therapies that may be recommended. Trust between the patient and caregiver is far more essential than a particular prejudice favoring one theory of intervention over another.
Cyclic voltammetric study of tert-nitrobutane reduction in acetonitrile at mercury and platinum electrodes

Abstract The reduction of tert-nitrobutane in acetonitrile has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. By the fit of data to theoretical voltammograms obtained from digital simulations, the electrochemical transfer coefficient, α , was found to be potential dependent at mercury and platinum. This result was confirmed by potential step experiments. The potential dependence of α is discussed according to Marcus theory of electron transfer and compared to the measurements of others. In addition, the electrochemical rate constant, k s , was found to depend on the size of the electrolyte cation. The rate constant decreased as the size of the tetraalkylammonium ion in the electrolyte increased. It is speculated that this effect may be partly a double layer effect resulting from differing planes of closest approach for different electrolyte cations.
Who votes for public environmental goods in California? Evidence from a spatial analysis of voting for environmental ballot measures

Abstract Voting referenda provide direct evidence of the demand for public goods. A number of previous studies have used referenda to analyze the support for public environmental goods. These studies have used aggregate data from large jurisdictional units (usually counties) and summary income measures such as the mean or median, and have usually found that higher income areas offer greater support for environmental propositions. We examine environmental referenda voting in California using census block group data, spatial dependence controls, and detailed income distribution data. We find that household income has a negative marginal effect on environmental referenda voting for most of the income range when using census block data. In addition, controls for spatial dependence significantly reduce the magnitude of most coefficients. This suggests that OLS estimates of referenda determinants are biased. We also show that county level data may be subject to severe aggregation bias and might not be appropriate for referenda studies.
Cardioplegia Alters Porcine Coronary Endothelial Cell Growth and Responses to Aggregating Platelets

Experiments were designed to determine the viability of endothelial cells and their responses to products released by aggregating platelets following single flush perfusion of the coronary arteries with cardioplegic solutions used for cardiac transplantation. Porcine coronary arteries were perfused with crystalloid (Plegisol) or blood cardioplegic solutions; nonperfused hearts placed in 0.9% saline were used as controls. Immediately following perfusion and after 5-hour storage of the hearts in the same cardioplegic solution, rings were cut from the right coronary arteries and suspended in organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. In some rings the endothelium was removed deliberately. The left circumflex coronary arteries were flushed with collagenase and the harvested endothelial cells were plated for cell culture. Left anterior descending coronary arteries were perfusion fixed with glutaraldehyde for scanning electron microscopy. In the organ chamber experiments, aggregating platelets and adenosine diphosphate caused relaxations in rings with endothelium. These relaxations were reduced immediately following crystalloid cardioplegia and were restored following 5-hour storage. Serotonin caused contractions in all rings. Rings without endothelium were more sensitive than rings with endothelium to the amine; this difference was augmented following 5-hour storage of the heart. Significantly fewer foci of endothelial cells grew in culture following 5-hour storage of the hearts in crystalloid cardioplegic solution compared to control (p < 0.05). There were no anatomical differences identified among groups by scanning electron microscopy. These results suggest that crystalloid cardioplegia alters the responses of coronary arteries to substances released by aggregating platelets and reduces the ability of endothelial cells to replicate. Such changes may contribute to altered vascular resistance following reperfusion of transplanted hearts and potentially to later structural changes in the coronary arteries.
Architectural Concepts for Large Knowledge Bases

We describe experience in structuring knowledge gained in two parallel projects. Earlier KBMS projects focused on simplifying access and improving the performance of databases using concepts from artificial intelligence. The Rx project developed methods to extract knowledge from databases. Current research (KSYS) exploits this experience to develop and demonstrate new concepts and techniques for managing large collections of knowledge and data.
Selection for a large genetic duplication in Salmonella typhimurium.

Salmonella typhimurium strains containing a duplication of nearly a third of the genome have been isolated by a simple procedure involving selection for improved utilization of L-malate as sole carbon source. The duplication occurs at a very high spontaneous frequency. Strains containing the duplication can be isolated selectively on malate medium, or by a non-selective procedure involving Hfr conjugation. When strains containing the duplication are maintained on non-selective medium, the duplication is readily lost. Genetic evidence suggests that the duplication is chromosomal and tandem. The fact that the recA gene is included in the duplication has been used to obtain evidence that the recA1 marker is recessive to its wild-type allele. Unlike tandem duplications previously described in E. coli, the duplication described in this report appears to have unique endpoints.
Energy and American Society: A Reference Handbook

Review: Energy and American Society: A Reference Handbook By E. Willard Miller and Ruby M. Miller Reviewed by Haipeng Li Oberlin College Miller, E. Willard and Ruby M. Miller. ENERGY AND AMERICAN SOCIETY: A REFERENCE HANDBOOK (Contemporary World Issues Series) Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc. 1993. 418 pp. US $39.50 hardcover ISBN: 0-87436- 689-5. Recycled, acid-free paper. No one can deny the importance energy has played in shaping modern American culture and America's position in the industrial world. Yet only in recent years has it become evident that the nation's energy resources are not inexhaustible and must be used with greater efficiency. As part of ABC-CLIO's award-winning Contemporary World Issues series, ENERGY AND AMERICAN SOCIETY discusses energy issues in American society. Authors Miller and Miller have compiled a listing of various energy resources, such as petroleum and bituminous coal, and described each in detail in regards to their major production areas and current production trends. The book also contains current information on statistical data and hard- to-obtain information on organizations. This is helpful to the lay person and the professional alike. Typically, the authors provide general as well as detailed information and data on specific resources. For example, one might be surprised to find out that in 1990, United States energy production was 67,600 trillion Btu, while energy consumption was 81,500 Btu. The authors also supply a list of energy laws and regulations, including descriptions and complete citations. For additional information, the bibliography details a wide range of sources (some nicely annotated) including books, articles, films and videocassettes . A descriptive directory of organizations dealing with energy issues, both domestic and international, is also provided. A single index grants easy access to the book's contents. ENERGY AND AMERICAN SOCIETY: A REFERENCE HANDBOOK is an important reference work that provides solid and useful information on the current status of energy resources in the United States. It is a invaluable tool for both the general public and researchers in the area of
Impact of sub-wavelength electromagnetic diffraction in optical lithography for semiconductor chip manufacturing

Despite many challenges, optical lithography continues to enable an exponential decrease in the dimensions of circuit patterns that are printed in high volume in advanced microelectronics. The laser wavelength used to power the lithographic system has not scaled as fast, constraining these systems to operate with 193nm wavelength while printing features less than one-fourth that size. In this paper we explore the mechanism in which sub-resolution diffraction at the lithographic photo-mask translates into severe shifts in focus of the patterns transferred to the wafer in a pattern-dependent manner and their dependency on several parameters of the lithography process.
God and the Covenant in the South African Wilderness

When South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated on September 6, 1966, a writer in the Cape Town Afrikaans newspaper, Die Burger , included an instructive comment. He said, “May the God in whom we believe make clear to us in His own good time what this terrible event is to signify to our country and her people.” This statement reminds us of a dimension in South African nationalism which goes beyond the normal interests of a nation. A theological motif is introduced which remains dominant in the South African mind. In the eyes of Afrikaners this theological concern lifts their problems out of the area of purely political and economic discussion for their whole cultural effort involves fulfilling a divine mission. 2 Therefore, the death of Hendrik Verwoerd was more than a tragedy for the nation—it was a tragedy with divine implications.
Calculation of magnetic transitions in RRh4B4 due to the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction.

The magnetic transition temperatures for Sm${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ and Er${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ are calculated for the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction as a function of Fermi wave vector ${k}_{F}$ and electron mean free path $l$. The results are consistent with the experimental $l$ dependence and the antiferromagnetism (ferromagnetism) in Sm${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ (Er${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$) for values of ${k}_{F}$ approximately equal to 1.84 ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ (1.95 ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$). This result cannot, however, assess whether or not direct dipole-dipole interactions are significant for ${T}_{M}$ in Er${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$.
DNA lattices: A method for molecular-scale patterning and computation

DNA lattice research can provide unprecedented capabilities for molecular-scale computation and programmable pattern formation. The field has applications to many other emerging technologies in molecular nanotechnology. This article outlines some of the steps being taken to develop these applications.
Pluggable authentication modules for Windows NT

To meet the challenge of integrating new methods and technologies into the Internet security framework, it is useful to hide low-level authentication mechanisms from application programmers, system administrators, and users, replacing them with abstractions at a higher level. The Pluggable Authentication Method approach popular in Linux, Solaris, and CDE offers one such abstraction. To implement PAM in NT, we replaced the standard Graphical Identification and Authentication module with one that processes PAM tables. This provides security administrators with a flexible tool to plan and implement authentication policy across a wide range of computing platforms. GINA is woven into the NT logon procedure, making it a difficult module to test and debug. Our PAM-based GINA eases this problem by allowing new authentication mechanisms to be replaced and tested without forcing a reboot.
Spines and topology of thin Riemannian manifolds

Consider Riemannian manifolds M for which the sectional curvature of M and second fundamental form of the boundary B are bounded above by one in absolute value. Previously we proved that if M has sufficiently small inradius (i.e. all points are sufficiently close to the boundary), then the cut locus of B exhibits canonical branching behavior of arbitrarily low branching number. In particular, if M is thin in the sense that its inradius is less than a certain universal constant (known to lie between.108 and.203), then M collapses to a triply branched simple polyhedral spine. We use a graphical representation of the stratification structure of such a collapse, and relate numerical invariants of the graph to topological invariants of M when B is simply connected. In particular, the number of connected strata of the cut locus is a topological invariant. When M is 3-dimensional and compact, M has complexity 0 in the sense of Matveev, and is a connected sum of p copies of the real projective space P 3 , t copies chosen from the lens spaces L(3,±1), and l handles chosen from S 2 x S 1 or S 2 XS 1 , with β 3-balls removed, where p + t + l + β > 2. Moreover, we construct a thin metric for every graph, and hence for every homeomorphism type on the list.
Validated assays for the determination of gemcitabine in human plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Procedures are described for the determination of gemcitabine, a new anti-tumor agent, and its uridine metabolite in human plasma and in human urine. The sample preparation for the plasma assay involves precipitation of plasma proteins with isopropanol and ethyl acetate. Following this, the solids are discarded and the supernatant is evaporated to dryness. For the urine assay, the sample is diluted with methanol and evaporated to dryness. For both procedures, the residue is reconstituted in mobile phase prior to injection into a normal-phase (amino column) liquid chromatographic system followed by UV detection at 272 nm. The limits of quantitation for both compounds are 50 ng/ml in plasma and 20 μg/ml in urine. The procedures were used to provide pharmacokinetic data for both compounds in man following the intravenous administration of a 1000 mg/m2 dose of gemcitabine.
Splenectomy and Impaired Resistance to Pneumococcal Infection

Efforts to devise an animal model in which splenectomy decreases the effectiveness ofhost defences against acute bacterial infection have been infrequently successful. It has been difficult to provide a challenge which sharply differentiates controls from the operated animals. A model is described in which all splenectomized rats died after intravenous (i.v.) challenge with an LD50 dose of pneumococcus Type 25. Normal rats immunized with pneumococcus Type 25 formalized bacteria and then challenged i.v. 3 to 6 days afterwards, all survived, while previously splenectomized rats, similarly immunized, all died. As the interval between immunizations and subsequent splenectomy was lenghtened in a stepwise fashion, the mortality following i.v. challenge fell from 80% to zero. Clearance of pneumococci from the blood stream reflected these results, more prompt disappearance of bacteria becoming evident at 1 to 3 hours after i.v. challenge in those most likely to survive. During this period of increasing antibacterial resistance both early antibody and the unique ability of the spleen to clear minimally opsonized bacteria were critical for effectiv antibacterial host defence. Early but delayed antibody could be detected in the immunized splenectomized rat, but was not adequate for protection in the absence of the spleen.
Intermittent Oviposition and Remating in Ceraeochrysa cincta (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider) exhibited a cyclic pattern of reproduction that appears distinct among the Chrysopidae: (1) Females that were continuously paired with males for 60 d produced an average of 711 eggs in ≈4 regular, conspicuous bouts of oviposition that persisted ≈9 d each. The end of each oviposition bout was marked by a drastic decline in oviposition, followed by mating and an interbout period of 1-3 d with no oviposition. (2) During mating, males transferred a visible spermatophore that remained at the tip of the female's abdomen for ≈1 d; after the external spermatophore disappeared, the interbout period terminated and oviposition resumed. (3) Male presence significantly influenced the oviposition pattern. Females that were separated from males after 1 mating had only 1 oviposition bout of ≈11 d and laid relatively few eggs (mean = 203 eggs). Females, whose mates were removed and then returned at intervals of 8 d, remated and oviposited after each male reintroduction. (4) Interruptions in oviposition were characterized by depletion of sperm from the spermatheca, whereas resumption of oviposition was associated with remating and sperm replenishment. Our results indicate that C. cincta females require frequent, periodic remating to sustain fertile oviposition; it is highly probable that females in nature experience multiple matings (i.e., with different males). The above findings have direct implications for mass-rearing, field colonization, as well as conservation and manipulation of these predators for biological control.
In Defense of the ‘Human Prejudice’

Those who favor genetic enhancement of human beings (â€˜trans-humanistsâ€™) tend to hold that there is nothing special about being human, if by â€˜humanâ€™ people mean â€˜being member of the species homo sapiensâ€™. They reject the arguments of bio-conservatives as prejudicial toward the concept of humanity, and they argue that species-membership in general is morally irrelevant. In â€˜The Human Prejudiceâ€™, Bernard Williams defends what he calls â€˜humanismâ€™ (and what others call â€˜speciesismâ€™) and argues that species-membership is a morally relevant fact about us. Williamsâ€™s argument has been criticized by many, and in this paper, the author, focuses on the most thorough attack by Julian Savulescu. They provide a diagnosis of why accounts such as his seem to be so misguided to trans-humanists (like Savulescu) and the author then defend Williamsâ€™s account. In short, the paper argues that there is nothing obviously wrong with being a speciesist.
Affect labeling enhances exposure effectiveness for public speaking anxiety

Exposure is an effective treatment for anxiety but many patients do not respond fully. Affect labeling (labeling emotional experience) attenuates emotional responding. The current project examined whether affect labeling enhances exposure effectiveness in participants with public speaking anxiety. Participants were randomized to exposure with or without affect labeling. Physiological arousal and self-reported fear were assessed before and after exposure and compared between groups. Consistent with hypotheses, participants assigned to Affect Labeling, especially those who used more labels during exposure, showed greater reduction in physiological activation than Control participants. No effect was found for self-report measures. Also, greater emotion regulation deficits at baseline predicted more benefit in physiological arousal from exposure combined with affect labeling than exposure alone. The current research provides evidence that behavioral strategies that target prefrontal-amygdala circuitry can improve treatment effectiveness for anxiety and these effects are particularly pronounced for patients with the greatest deficits in emotion regulation.
Selective chemical dissolution of sulfides: An evaluation of six methods applicable to assaying sulfide-bound nickel

Abstract Six analytical techniques for the selective chemical dissolution of sulfides are compared with the purpose of defining the best method for accurately determining the concentration of sulfide-bound nickel. Synthesized sulfide phases of known elemental content, mixed with well-analyzed silicates, were used to determine the relative and absolute efficiency, based on Ni and Mg recovery, of the techniques. Tested leach-methods purported to dissolve sulfide from silicate phases include: brominated water, brominated water—carbon tetrachloride, nitric—hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide—ammonium citrate, bromine—methanol and hydrogen peroxide—ascorbic acid. Only the hydrogen peroxide—ammonium citrate method did not prove adequate in dissolving the sulfide phases. The remaining five methods dissolved the sulfide phases, but the indicated amount of attack on the silicate portion ranged from 3% to 100%. The bromine—methanol method is recommended for assaying sulfide-Ni deposits when Ni is also present in silicate phases.
Microbial aspects of wastewater reuse for irrigation

In many arid environments an alternative source of water is needed to meet the growing demands of the community, agriculture, and industry, thus wastewater reuse has become a viable option. Although the use of wastewater for agricultural irrigation has been practiced for centuries, recently a conservative approach in fully utilizing this source of water has been taken. The uncertainty of the health risks to an exposed population through wastewater irrigation practices due to the possible presence of enteric pathogenic organisms is one of the major disadvantages. Pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and viruses are all found in sewage and may survive treatment processes. Once in the environment, many are able to exist for prolonged periods of time and outbreaks associated with wastewater irrigation have been documented. Epidemiological evidence is scarce, however, much has been done to determine the fate of the pathogens in the environment. The incidence, survival, and inactivation of pathogens in environments ...
Managerial incentive contracts with a production externality

Abstract A multi-agent model is extended to examine the optimal incentive contract when a production externality is significant in team production. A situation is described where relative performance evaluation is ineffective.
The long-term impact of university budget cuts: A mathematical model

Policymakers acknowledge the regional benefits of the university, yet cut higher education budgets. Incorporating the theory of diffusion of innovation, we develop a mathematical model to explore the long-term effects of university budget cuts. Simulations indicate that the full impact of budget modifications may not be realized for several decades.
An antigen in normal avian cells which confuses virological and serological tests.

Summary A cytoplasmic antigen was detected by fluorescent antibody tests in normal lymphoid and fibroblastic cells from chickens and other avian species when explanted and grown in culture. Cells of the bursa of Fabricius were consistently positive but cells of a proportion of thymus, spleen, bone marrow, buffy coat and embryo fibroblast cultures also were positive. Eight of 19 fluorescein‐conjugated chicken sera prepared for other studies on a variety of avian pathogens had antibody against the antigen. Uncultured tissues or cultured but unfixed tissues were always negative, and selective blocking and absorption tests confirmed that the fluorescence was due to an antigen‐antibody reaction. The antigen was associated with cells transformed by any of 8 strains of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) but not with cells infected by other avian pathogens, including avian leukosis virus. Tests showed that the antigen was not coded for by RSV or by endogenous (subgroup E) avian leukosis virus genome. It may be coded for by...
Definition of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Attention Experienced

A sample of American women holding full-time jobs (n = 101) provided definitions of sexual harassment which were considerably varied and somewhat narrower than those used in previous studies. Sexua...
Inching towards a vaccine for AIDS.

Abstract Tests in animal models are confirming suspicions that an effective, prophylactic vaccine against AIDS will be difficult to develop.
Outcome and management of patients with large rectoanal intussusception

OBJECTIVES: Rectoanal intussusception is the funnel-shaped infolding of the rectum, which occurs during evacuation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the risk of full thickness rectal prolapse during follow-up of patients with large rectoanal intussusception, and whether therapy improved functional outcome. METHODS: Between September 1988 and July 1997, patients diagnosed with a large rectoanal intussusception by cinedefecography (intussusception $ 10 mm, extending into the anal canal) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with full thickness rectal prolapse on physical examination or cinedefecography were excluded, as were patients with colonic inertia or a history of surgery for rectal prolapse. The patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment received: group I, conservative dietary therapy; group II, biofeedback; and group III, surgery. Outcomes were obtained by postal questionnaires or telephone interviews. Parameters included age, gender, past medical and surgical history, change of bowel habits, fecal incontinence score, and development of full thickness rectal prolapse. RESULTS: Of the 63 patients, 18 were excluded (seven patients had confirmed full thickness rectal prolapse, four had previous surgery for rectal prolapse, three had colonic inertia, and four died). Follow-up data were obtained in 36 (80%) of the remaining 45 patients. The mean follow-up of this group was 45 months (range, 12‐118 months). There were 34 women and two men, with a mean age of 72.4 yr (range, 37‐91 yr). The mean size of the intussusception was 2.2 cm (range, 1.0 ‐5.0 cm). The patients were classified as follows: group I, 13 patients (36.1%); group II, 13 patients (36.1%); and group III, 10 patients (27.8%). Subjectively, symptoms improved in five (38.5%), four (30.8%), and six (60.0%) patients in the three groups (p . 0.05). Among the patients with constipation, the decrease in numbers of assisted bowel movements per week (time of diagnosis to present) was significantly greater in group II compared to group I (8.1 6 2.8 vs 0.8 6 0.5, respectively, p 5 0.004). Among the patients with incontinence, incontinence scores improved more in group II as compared to either group I or group III (time of diagnosis to present, 3.7 6 4.2 to 1.1 6 5.4 vs 1.4 6 2.2, respectively, p . 0.05). Six patients (two in group I, three in group II, and one in group III) had the sensation of rectal prolapse on evacuation; however, only one patient in group I developed full thickness rectal prolapse. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the risk of full thickness rectal prolapse developing in patients medically treated for large intussusception is very small (1/26, 3.8%). Moreover, biofeedback is beneficial to improve the symptoms of both constipation and incontinence in these patients. Therefore, biofeedback should be considered as the initial therapy of choice for large rectoanal intussusception. (Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96:740 ‐744. © 2001 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology)
Intracellular activation of human adamalysin 19/disintegrin and metalloproteinase 19 by furin occurs via one of the two consecutive recognition sites

Abstract Adamalysin 19 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 19, ADAM19, or meltrin β) is a plasma membrane metalloproteinase. Human ADAM19 zymogen contains two potential furin recognition sites (RX(K/R)R),196KRPR 200 Rand199RRMK 203 R, between its pro- and catalytic domains. Protein N-terminal sequencing revealed that the cellular mature forms of hADAM19 started at204EDLNSMK, demonstrating that the preferred furin cleavage site was the200 RMK 203 R↓204EDLN. Those mature forms were catalytically active. Both Pittsburgh mutant of α1-proteinase inhibitor and dec-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethyl ketone, two specific furin inhibitors, blocked the activation of hADAM19. Activation of hADAM19 was also blocked by brefeldin A, which inhibits protein trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi, or A23187, a calcium ionophore known to inhibit the autoactivation of furin. When 202KR were mutated to AA, the proenzyme was also activated, suggesting that197 RPRR is an alternative activation site. Furthermore, only pro-forms of hADAM19 were detected in the 199RR to AA mutant, which abolished both furin recognition sites. Moreover, the zymogens were not converted into their active forms in two furin-deficient mammalian cell lines; co-expression of hADAM19 and furin in these two cell lines restored zymogen activation. Finally, co-localization between furin and hADAM19 was identified in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi complex and/or the trans-Golgi network. This report is the first thorough investigation of the intracellular activation of adamalysin 19, demonstrating that furin activated pro-hADAM19 in the secretory pathway via one of the two consecutive furin recognition sites.
Rapid training of higher-order neural networks for invariant pattern recognition

The authors demonstrate a second-order neural network that has learned to distinguish between two objects, regardless of their size or translational position, after being trained on only one view of each object. Using an image size of 16*16 pixels, the training took less than 1 min of run time on a Sun 3 workstation. A recognition accuracy of 100% was achieved by the resulting network for several test-object pairs, including the standard T-C problem, for any translational position and over a scale factor of five. The second-order network takes advantage of known relationships between input pixels to build invariance into the network architecture. The use of a third-order neural network to achieve simultaneous rotation, scale, and position invariance is described. Because of the high level of invariance and rapid, efficient training, initial results show higher order neural networks to be vastly superior to multilevel first-order networks trained by backpropagation for applications where invariant pattern recognition is required. >
Bacillus subtilis CodY Operators Contain Overlapping CodY Binding Sites

CodY is a global transcriptional regulator that is activated by branched-chain amino acids. A palindromic 15-bp sequence motif, AATTTTCNGAAAATT, is associated with CodY DNA binding. A gel mobility shift assay was used to examine the effect of pH on the binding of Bacillus subtilis CodY to the hutPp and ureAp(3) promoters. CodY at pH 6.0 has higher affinity for DNA, more enhanced activation by isoleucine, and a lower propensity for nonspecific DNA binding than CodY at pH 8.0. DNase I footprinting was used to identify the CodY-protected regions in the hutPp and ureAp(3) promoters. The CodY-protected sequences for both promoters were found to contain multiple copies of the 15-bp motif with 6-bp overlaps. Mutational analysis of the hutPp regulatory region revealed that two overlapping sequence motifs were required for CodY-mediated regulation. The presence of overlapping sequence motifs in the regulatory regions of many B. subtilis CodY-regulated genes suggests that CodY binds to native operators that contain overlapping binding sites.
Bone mineral content of infants fed soy-based formula.

We compared the results of two studies that measured the bone mineral content (BMC) of 57 infants fed soy-based formula and 27 infants fed human milk or cow milk-based formula at various ages from 2 weeks to 1 year. In a study by Chan et al., the BMC of 40 white infants fed soy-based formula and 10 infants (of unstated race) fed human milk was measured at 2 weeks and at 2 and 4 months of age. The infants fed soy-based formula also had BMC measured at 6 and 12 months; the BMC of these infants was compared to the BMC of human milk-fed historical control subjects. The BMC was similar at 2 weeks in both groups but was lower in infants fed soy-based formula than in human milk-fed infants at 2 and 4 months. The BMC was similar in historical control subjects fed human milk and in soy formula-fed infants at 6 and 12 months. In the Steichen-Tsang study, the BMC of 17 soy formula-fed infants and of 17 white infants fed cow milk-based formula was measured at 6 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. The BMC was similar at 6 weeks in both groups but was lower in infants fed soy-based formula than in those fed cow milk-based formula at 3, 6 and 12 months. The BMC of the historical control group fed human milk and of the soy formula-fed infants was also similar. In the first year of life, the BMC of infants fed soy formula and those fed human milk appears to be similar, especially after 6 months of age. However, the BMC of infants so fed may be lower than that of infants fed cow milk-based formula
Literature as an introduction to psychiatric ethics.

Responding to requests for an earlier introduction to psychiatric ethics, the authors added “An Introduction to Psychiatric Ethics Through Literature” seminar to their institution’s first-year curriculum. The authors’ primary objective was to increase the sensitivity of beginning psychiatric residents to ethical dilemmas. The 11-session seminar was co-led by a psychiatrist and a literary scholar. At each session, the group discussed a short story selected by the seminar leaders, with the discussion centering on ethical considerations raised by the story and their relevance to the practice of psychiatry. The residents gave the seminar high ratings for its increasing their ethical sensitivity and the stimulating content of the stories.
Laparoscopic surgery: an excellent approach in elderly patients.

Hypothesis A review of the literature will show that laparoscopy is safe and effective for the treatment of surgical diseases in elderly patients. Data Sources An electronic search using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was performed using the term laparoscopy in elderly patients . Literature published in the English language in the past decade was reviewed. Pertinent references from articles and books not identified by the search engines were also retrieved. Relevant surgical textbooks were also reviewed. Study Selection All relevant studies that could be obtained regardless of the study design were included. Data Extraction All studies that contained material applicable to the topic were considered. Data on patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were abstracted. Data Synthesis Sixteen studies evaluated laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly. Compared with open cholecystectomy, elderly patients undergoing the laparoscopic procedure had a lower incidence of complications and a shorter hospitalization. In the 4 studies reporting the results of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in the elderly, the morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay were similar to those of younger patients. The elderly had equally good postoperative symptom relief. Ten reports of laparoscopic colon resection in the elderly demonstrated earlier return of bowel function, shorter hospitalization, and less cardiopulmonary morbidity. Conclusions Despite underlying comorbidities, individuals older than 65 years tolerate laparoscopic procedures extremely well. Complications and hospitalization are lower than in open procedures. Surgeons need to inform primary care physicians of the excellent result of laparoscopic procedures in the elderly to encourage earlier referrals.
Producing hydrogen using nuclear energy

The earliest means of separating hydrogen from water was by electrolysis using electrical energy that usually had been produced by low-efficiency thermodynamic processes. Substitution of thermal energy for electrical energy in high-temperature electrolysis gives a somewhat higher overall efficiency, but significantly complicates the process. Today, the vast majority of hydrogen is produced by steam methane reforming (SMR) followed by a water-shift reaction. A well-designed SMR plant will yield hydrogen having 75?80% of the energy of the methane used. Recent work in Japan has demonstrated the feasibility of substituting high-temperature heat from a gas-cooled nuclear reactor to replace the heat supplied in SMR by the combustion of methane. Using high-temperature heat from nuclear plants to drive thermochemical processes for producing hydrogen has been studied extensively. Bench-scale tests have been carried out in Japan demonstrating the sulphur-iodine (SI) process to produce hydrogen.
A Low Emittance High Duty Factor Injector Linac

The design and construction phases for all the components of the 20 MeV injector linac, for the MIT 400 MeV high duty factor machine, have been completed. The electron gun and its associated drift space components have been successfully operated up to the full voltage rating of 550 kV and at duty factors in excess of 10%; the high power RF transmitter has been installed and has passed acceptance tests; 1 and installation of the injector linac accelerator waveguides and test spectrometer is now in progress.
Unscheduled DNA synthesis detection and metaphase analysis in a common test system in vivo — in vitro

The induction of clastogenic events in vivo is easily detected by using bone marrow metaphase analysis. We have previously shown that it is possible to detect unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by culturing the lymphocytes of animals treated in vivo in the presence of 3H-thymidine ([3H]dThd). Rats were treated orally with cyclophosphamide (25, 50 and 75 mg kg−1) or 2-acetamidofluorene (10, 20 and 30 mg kg−1) suspended in Methocel® K4M Premium or with vehicle (10 ml kg−1). Five rats per group received a single dose, and peripheral blood obtained from each rat was maintained in culture with [3H]dThd. Radioautography was used as the indicator system for UDS, and bone marrow cells arrested at metaphase were examined for clastogenic events. The slides were coded and read blind to eliminate bias. A minimum of 500 cells and 50 cells were scored per rat for UDS and clastogenicity, respectively. A significant, dose-related increase in UDS was observed in animals from both test groups and there was a significant increase in clastogenicity in the cyclophosphamide-treated animals. The utility of one test animal for several mutagenicity tests to incorporate in situ metabolic biotransformation and yield more comparable data is supported by this work. We feel the combination of UDS and metaphase analysis in a common test animal will enable investigators to measure more closely several types of genotoxic activity induced by a single compound.
Modeling clinical outcome using multiple correlated functional biomarkers: A Bayesian approach.

In some biomedical studies, biomarkers are measured repeatedly along some spatial structure or over time and are subject to measurement error. In these studies, it is often of interest to evaluate ...
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cimetidine in humans

Cimetidine given orally without food after an overnight fast produces a blood concentration curve with a pronounced second peak that does not appear after parenteral administration or when the drug is taken with food. The following interpretation of this kinetic phenomenon is proposed: 1. The drug cumulates in a tissue or organ that is well perfused in the first-pass transfer. 2. The hepatic parenchymal tissue and the bile phase are the most likely storage areas. 3. The high capacity of the cumulation may be due to the formation of conjugates or other modifications of the drug with a pronounced affinity for the hepaticbiliary system. 4. The rate of cumulation is much higher in the first-pass transfer than from the systemic circulation, possibly due to the difference in the drug concentrations and the conjugation rate. 5. The cumulation appears to occur by a competitive process. 6. Absorbed elements of food seem to compete in this process. 7. The second peak apparently is the result of a rapid release of drug and bioreversible drug compounds from the hepatic-biliary system with subsequent reabsorption. 8. This release may occur spontaneously but appears to be triggered by food intake. A pharmacokinetic model constructed according to this interpretation showed good agreement with data from oral, intravenous, and intramuscular administration. The special problems associated with the evaluation of bioavailability in the presence of reabsorption are discussed.
Availability of State-Based Obesity Surveillance Data on High School Students with Disabilities in the United States

The aim of this study was to assess the availability of public health surveillance data on obesity among American children with disabilities in state-based surveillance programs. We reviewed annual cross-sectional datasets in state-level surveillance programs for high school students, implemented 2001-2011, for the inclusion of weight and height and disability screening questions. When datasets included a disability screen, its content and consistency of use across years were examined. We identified 54 surveillance programs with 261 annual datasets containing obesity data. Twelve surveillance programs in 11 states included a disability screening question that could be used to extract obesity data for high school students with disabilities, leaving the other 39 states with no state-level obesity data for students with disabilities. A total of 43 annual datasets, 16.5 % of the available datasets, could be used to estimate the obesity status of students with disabilities. The frequency of use of disability questions varied across states, and the content of the questions often changed across years and within a state. We concluded that state surveillance programs rarely contained questions that could be used to identify high school students with disabilities. This limits the availability of data that can be used to monitor obesity and related health statuses among this population in the majority of states.
Changes in DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in sporulating yeast

Diploid yeast cells can be made to undergo sporulation and meiosis in a relatively synchronous fashion. Earlier studies on this process showed that the rate of RNA synthesis reaches a maximum at 6 hr and has declined drastically by 10 hr [5]. Starting at about 6 hr a new peak of RNA polymerase activity appears between polymerases Ib and II upon DEAE Sephadex chromatography. This peak appears to reach a maximum at 8.5 hr and to have decreased by 10 hr. The new peak is intermediate between polymerases Ib and II in its sensitivity to α-amanitin. It does not appear in a non-sporulating (αα) diploid grown under sporulating conditions.
Maltreatment of Children With Disabilities The Breaking Point

The maltreatment of children with disabilities is a serious public health issue. Children with disabilities are 3 to 4 times more likely to be abused or neglected than are their typically developing peers. When maltreated, they are more likely to be seriously injured or harmed. As alarming as these numbers are, they likely underestimate the problem. Children with disabilities encounter all 4 types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect, and emotional. Here, the author discusses risk factors associated with the maltreatment of children with disabilities, which, as expected, include both child and family factors.
Clinical, hemodynamic, and neuroendocrine effects of chronic prazosin therapy for congestive heart failure.

Abstract We report our hemodynamic, clinical, and neuroendocrine observations during long-term (8 weeks) prazosin (PZN) administration to assess the efficacy of this agent in the long-term therapy of congestive heart fallure (CHF) and to emphasize the potential role of neuroendocrine mechanisms in the determination of overall drug effect. During long-term PZN therapy there is improvement in functional status, exercise tolerance, and left and right ventricular ejection fractions. However, we also observed an increase in fluid retention and attenuation of the initial hemodynamic and clinical responses to the drug. Plasma renin activity and plasma norepinephrine concentration are increased during long-term PZN therapy despite clinical and hemodynamic improvement and potentially may be involved in the pathogenesis of the increased fluid retention and hemodynamic attenuation. Three pharmacologic considerations appear relevant to the use of an alpha-adrenergic antagonist such as PZN in CHF therapy: (1) The drug response may be related to the baseline level of sympathetic tone. (2) The dose-response pattern exhibits a plateau phase, beyond which higher doses cause little further effect. (3) The overall drug effect is the sum of its direct actions and the secondary actions of the neuroendocrine response it elicits.