cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The H3K27 demethylase UTX‐1 regulates C. elegans lifespan in a germline‐independent, insulin‐dependent manner

Aging is accompanied by alterations in epigenetic marks that control chromatin states, including histone acetylation and methylation. Enzymes that reversibly affect histone marks associated with active chromatin have recently been found to regulate aging in C. elegans. However, relatively little is known about the importance for aging of histone marks associated with repressed chromatin. Here we use a targeted RNAi screen in C. elegans to identify four histone demethylases that significantly regulate worm lifespan, UTX-1, RBR-2, LSD-1, and T26A5.5. Interestingly, UTX-1 belongs to a conserved family of histone demethylases specific for lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3), a mark associated with repressed chromatin. Both utx-1 knock-down and heterozygous mutation of utx-1 extend lifespan and increase the global levels of the H3K27me3 mark in worms. The H3K27me3 mark significantly drops in somatic cells during the normal aging process. UTX-1 regulates lifespan independently of the presence of the germline, but in a manner that depends on the insulin-FoxO signaling pathway. These findings identify the H3K27me3 histone demethylase UTX-1 as a novel regulator of worm lifespan in somatic cells.
Statistical Modeling for Biomedical Researchers: A Simple Introduction to the Analysis of Complex Data

The second edition of this standard text guides biomedical researchers in the selection and use of advanced statistical methods and the presentation of results to clinical colleagues. It assumes no knowledge of mathematics beyond high school level and is accessible to anyone with an introductory background in statistics. The Stata statistical software package is again used to perform the analyses, this time employing the much improved version 10 with its intuitive point and click as well as character-based commands. Topics covered include linear, logistic and Poisson regression, survival analysis, fixed-effects analysis of variance, and repeated-measure analysis of variance. Restricted cubic splines are used to model non-linear relationships. Each method is introduced in its simplest form and then extended to cover more complex situations. An appendix will help the reader select the most appropriate statistical methods for their data. The text makes extensive use of real data sets available at http://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/dupontwd/wddtext/.
Computerized Detection of Breast Tissue Asymmetry Depicted on Bilateral Mammograms: A Preliminary Study of Breast Risk Stratification

Rationale and Objectives Assessment of the breast tissue pattern asymmetry depicted on bilateral mammograms is routinely used by radiologists when reading and interpreting mammograms. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated scheme to detect breast tissue asymmetry depicted on bilateral mammograms and use the computed asymmetric features to predict the likelihood (or the risk) of women having or developing breast abnormalities or cancer. Materials and Methods A testing dataset was selected from a large and diverse full-field digital mammography image database, which includes 100 randomly selected negative cases (not recalled during the screening) and 100 positive cases for having or developing breast abnormalities or cancer. Among these positive cases 40 were recalled (biopsy) because of suspicious findings in which 8 were determined as high risk with the lesions surgically removed and the remaining were proven to be benign, and 60 cases were acquired from examinations that were interpreted as negative (without dominant masses or microcalcifications) but the cancers were detected 6–18 months later. A computerized scheme was developed to detect asymmetry of mammographic tissue density represented by the related feature differences computed from bilateral images. Initially, each of 20 features was tested to classify between the positive and the negative cases. To further improve the classification performance, a genetic algorithm (GA) was applied to select a set of optimal features and build an artificial neural network (ANN). The leave-one-case-out validation method was used to evaluate the ANN classification performance. Results Using a single feature, the maximum classification performance level measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.681 ± 0.038. Using the GA-optimized ANN, the classification performance level increased to an AUC = 0.754 ± 0.024. At 90% specificity, the ANN classifier yielded 42% sensitivity, in which 42 positive cases were correctly identified. Among them, 30 were the “prior” examinations of the cancer cases and 12 were recalled benign cases, which represent 50% and 30% sensitivity levels in these two subgroups, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrated that using the computerized detected feature differences related to the bilateral mammographic breast tissue asymmetry, an automated scheme is able to classify a set of testing cases into the two groups of positive or negative of having or developing breast abnormalities or cancer. Hence, further development and optimization of this automated method may eventually help radiologists identify a fraction of women at high risk of developing breast cancer and ultimately detect cancer at an early stage.
An empirical examination of individual traits as antecedents to computer anxiety and computer self-efficacy

To better understand how individual differences influence the use of information technology (IT), this study models and tests relationships among dynamic, IT-specific individual differences (i.e., computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety), stable, situation-specific traits (i.e., personal innovativeness in IT) and stable, broad traits (i.e., trait anxiety and negative affectivity). When compared to broad traits, the model suggests that situation-specific traits exert a more pervasive influence on IT situation-specific individual differences. Further, the model suggests that computer anxiety mediates the influence of situation-specific traits (i.e., personal innovativeness) on computer self-efficacy. Results provide support for many of the hypothesized relationships. From a theoretical perspective, the findings help to further our understanding of the nomological network among individual differences that lead to computer self-efficacy. From a practical perspective, the findings may help IT managers design training programs that more effectively increase the computer self-efficacy of users with different dispositional characteristics.
Comparing the Foreign Aid Policies of Presidents Bush and Obama

Objectives We compare the rhetoric and actual foreign economic aid disbursements of the Bush and Obama Administrations. Methods We use U.S. foreign aid data from 2001 to 2013 (expected) to test our propositions. Results Our analyses suggest strong similarities but also key differences between presidencies. First, both presidents used aid to encourage development and democracy but also ignored the human rights policies of recipient countries. We actually find human rights abuse to be positively correlated with aid receipts, even after controlling for wealth and regime type; changes in rights policies have no effect in data for either administration. Second, overall aid disbursements have not increased under President Obama in real or percentage terms, again despite campaign and inaugural promises to do otherwise. Finally, our analyses confirm the proposition that the Bush Administration favored those countries that supported the war in Iraq—the “Coalition of the Willing”—by providing them with substantially larger aid allocations than would otherwise be predicted. Conclusions The Obama Administration has seemingly reversed the unstated policy of aid payments for U.S. partnership by penalizing Coalition members with aid allocations far below the rates predicted for other, similar countries.
DOA and angular velocity estimation using planar array with subspace based initialization

In this paper a new approach is proposed to estimate simultaneously azimuth, elevation direction-of-arrival angles and respective angular velocities (DOAV) of moving sources using a rectangular array of antennas. In the proposed algorithm, we use decoupling techniques to reduce the complexity of the problem. This is accomplished by using the planar array properties and a subspace based initialization technique to reduce the dimensionality of a search algorithm. We also make use of the forward and backward averaging approach to ensure that the estimated sample covariance matrix obtained from a single snapshot for a sub-array is well conditioned for an initial estimate of the parameters.
Thyroid hormone regulation of transcription factors involved in malic enzyme gene expression.

The mechanisms by which triiodothyronine (T3) regulates gene transcription are inadequately understood. In order to examine the effect of T3 on transcriptional mechanisms, we utilized several techniques to characterize trans-acting factors which interact with cis-regulatory elements of the promoter for the T3-responsive rat malic enzyme gene. Transcription of deletion mutants of the promoter by HeLa extracts revealed the existence of three cis-regulatory elements at −144 to −123, −70 to −50, and −30 to +5 (relative to the cap site at +1). DNase I footprinting disclosed the presence of proteins which bound to each of these regions. Gel mobility shift assays showed that specific binding of liver nuclear proteins to two of these regions (−144/−114 and −76/−47) was diminished in hypothyroid and elevated in hyperthyroid rats. Similar but less marked effects of T3 on the binding of kidney (a T3-responsive tissue) nuclear proteins to the −76/−47 and cap site regions were observed while binding of testis (a T3-nonresponsive tissue) nuclear proteins was unaffected by T3 treatment. Changes in the magnitude and time course of binding of liver proteins to this promoter correlated closely with previously documented T3-induced increases in the hepatic malic enzyme gene transcription rate. These results are consistent with a model in which the regulation of malic enzyme gene transcription by T3 in responsive tissues is mediated in part by hormone-induced increases in the binding of trans-acting factors to cis-regulatory elements.
Which Providers Should Communicate Which Critical Information About a New Medication? Patient, Pharmacist, and Physician Perspectives

OBJECTIVES To investigate older patient, pharmacist, and physician perspectives about what information is essential to impart to patients receiving new medication prescriptions and who should provide the information.
Selective inhibition by adenosine of mGluR IPSPs in dopamine neurons after cocaine treatment

With repeated exposure to psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine, long-lasting changes occur in the mesolimbic dopamine system that are thought to underlie continued drug-seeking and relapse. One consequence of repeated cocaine treatment is an increase in extracellular adenosine in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which results in tonic inhibition of synaptic input to dopamine neurons. The synapse specificity of this increased adenosine tone was examined on glutamate- and GABA-mediated responses using the selective A1 receptor antagonist 1, 3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX). The slow, metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) was enhanced by DPCPX only in slices from psychostimulant-treated animals. Under resting conditions, DPCPX was without effect on fast excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in slices from saline- or cocaine-treated animals. However, in the presence of amphetamine, DPCPX did augment fast EPSCs in slices from cocaine-treated rats. Although DPCPX increased GABA(B) IPSPs, the magnitude of the increase was not altered by cocaine pretreatment, even in the presence of amphetamine. This suggests that the elevated adenosine tone induced by cocaine treatment acts preferentially on glutamate terminals. Furthermore, the inhibition of the mGluR IPSP by endogenous adenosine may result in more effective burst firing mediated by glutamate afferents in cocaine-treated rats, a phenomenon known to enhance dopamine release.
THE EXPERIENCE OF HOME AND THE SPACE OF CITIZENSHIP

I argue that, although we are inherently intersubjective beings, we are not first or most originally "public" beings. Rather, to become a public being, that is, a citizen-in other words, to act as an independent and self-controlled agent in a community of similarly independent and self-controlled agents and, specifically, to do so in a shared space in the public arena-is something that we can successfully do only by emerging from our familiar, personal territories-our homes. Finding support in texts from philosophy, psychology, and the social sciences, I construe the claim that citizenship is a developed stance as a spatial issue. I conclude that a state (or, for that matter, a philosophy) that takes the human being to begin as an isolated individual agent fails to recognize the essential spatial relationships on which we depend— namely, those arising through our way of being-at-home in the world; and, as a result, such a stance not only misconstrues the parameters on which citizenship is itself possible but also risks developing a social situation that encourages behaviors we see in the agoraphobic-namely, the behaviors of alienated and fundamentally homeless human beings.
Sotomayor's Supreme Court Race Jurisprudence: "Fidelity to the Law"

During the Senate confirmation hearings for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, concerns were persistently raised about her ability to be impartial. In this Essay, Professor Hernandez argues that the Supreme Court’s race-related jurisprudence illuminates Justice Sotomayor’s continued commitment to her stated judicial philosophy of “fidelity to the law.” The record suggests that Justice Sotomayor has not sought to unilaterally impose her own personal racial policy preferences, but has instead worked as a team player to scrupulously apply legal precedents, rules of standing, and congressional intent. During the Senate confirmation hearings for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, concerns were persistently raised about her ability to be impartial given her statement, in a 2001 speech entitled “A Latina Judge’s Voice,” that she “would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” 1 In response, conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh and many others railed against her nomination, “proclaiming on talk radio broadcasts from coast-to-coast that she is a ‘reverse-racist’ and nothing less than ‘antiwhite.’” 2 Yet, when asked at the Senate confirmation hearings about her judicial philosophy, Justice Sotomayor succinctly stated that it is “[s]imple: fidelity to the law.” 3 The occasion of Justice Sotomayor’s fifth anniversary on the Court provides us with an opportune moment to assess the early concern that she would be an inappropriate judicial activist, particularly with respect to
Application of query-based learning to power system static security assessment

A query-based learning and inverted neural network methods are developed for static security assessment of power system. By the proposed method, the demand for huge amounts of data to evaluate the security of the power system can be considerably reduced. The inversion algorithm to generate input patterns at the boundaries of the security region is introduced. The query algorithm is used to enhance the accuracy of the boundaries in the areas where more training data are needed. The IEEE-30 bus system is used to test the proposed method. >
Analysis of SO2 Concentration in Air by Microwave Spectroscopy

Abstract Low concentrations of SO2 in air were measured using a Stark modulated microwave spectrometer. Measurement of the intensity of absorption lines for rotational transitions gives a quantitative measure of the concentration of specific small molecules. Concentrations of 20 ppm of SO2 In air were easily detected with a signal-to-noise ratio of over 20/1 with a 5 sec time constant using a straightforward sample concentration technique.
Photocatalytic decontamination of wastewater with porous material HNb3O8

Abstract This study describes the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic ability of a new niobium oxide nanocomposite under UV light irradiation for destruction of organic contaminants in water. The surface area, pore size, crystal structure, and morphology of the synthesized catalyst were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectrophotometry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM & TEM). Porous photocatalytic materials can have the combined qualities of high surface area and relatively large particle sizes, as compared with nanoparticulate catalyst powders. The new materials have very large open pore structures that facilitate the diffusion, the surface contact of contaminants, and solvent flow through the catalyst. These qualities enhance surface reactions important to the process. The new catalysts have shown robust physical and chemical properties that make them candidates for real applications in polluted water decontamination. They exhibited excellent catalytic activity, but with a strong pH dependence on the photo efficiency. These results suggest that elimination of the ion exchange character of the catalyst may improve its performance at various pHs. To address this issue this research studied the effects of a topotactic dehydration reaction on this new porous material catalyst and comparing their photocatalytic activity.
The building blocks of somatic information delivery

With each technological breakthrough, our visual and auditory modalities are becoming increasingly overloaded with information. In this work, we explore the sense of touch as an alternative channel for communication for multimedia applications. We propose a novel theoretical framework, inspired by natural language, for the design of somatic information delivery systems, and validate this framework in applications of motor learning and accessible movies for individuals who are blind.
The path matrix of a graph, its construction and its use in evaluating certain products

Abstract It is shown how to generate the path matrix or corresponding lists which arise in various applications involving graphs and their spanning trees. Information obtained while generating the spanning tree is used directly to evaluate certain products arising in dynamic simulation without doing the explicit multiplication by the path matrix that is shown in analytical formalisms. For definiteness of illustration, a depth-first search for the spanning tree is used, but the principles can be adapted to other search methods as well.
An economically optimum PWR reload core for a 36-month cycle

Abstract Cycle length extension in currently operating PWRs may be economically interesting if the benefits stemming from capacity factor improvement offset the higher fuel costs of the longer cycle. A PWR reload core is presented that meets current physics and fuel performance design limits for a cycle of 33.9 EFPM or 36 calendar months when operating at a capacity factor of 94.1%. Fuel is enriched to 6.5% U-235 and selected pins use gadolinia as burnable absorber mixed with UO 2 . The power is evenly distributed over a broad region of the core by including pins with two different concentrations of gadolinia in the assemblies. The core periphery is loaded with reused assemblies. The rest of the assemblies are discharged after one cycle in the core. The fuel performance is acceptable, although the parameters analyzed are closer to the limits than in a contemporary reference 18-month cycle multibatch loading strategy. The 36-month core is economically competitive with an 18-month reference core under certain operational conditions. Potential reductions in fuel enrichment costs would make the 36-month cycle cost competitive with the 18-month reference cycle under a wide range of conditions.
Electrophysiological evidence for a functional interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in the rat medial prefrontal cortex: an iontophoretic study.

In this study, we examined the interaction of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFc) using the techniques of extracellular single unit recording and microiontophoresis. The iontophoresis of the selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist (+-)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OHDPAT) produced a current-dependent suppression (2.5-20 nA) of the basal firing rate of spontaneously active mPFc cells. The iontophoretic (5-10 nA) and systemic administration (0.1-0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) of the 5-HT2A/5-HT2C receptor antagonist ritanserin and the selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL 28727 significantly potentiated and prolonged 8-OHDPAT's suppressant action. In addition, the systemic administration of another selective 5-HT2A antagonist MDL 100907, but not its less active enantiomer MDL 100009, also potentiated and prolonged 8-OHDPAT's action. The potentiating effect of the 5-HT2A receptor antagonists on the action of 8-OHDPAT is specific in that neither the iontophoresis of ritanserin nor MDL 28727 altered the suppressant action produced by the iontophoresis of the 5-HT3 receptor agonist 2-methylserotonin onto mPFc cells. Moreover, the suppressant action of 8-OHDPAT was not altered by the systemic administration of the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist granisetron (0.1-0.5 mg/kg, i.v.). On the other hand, the iontophoresis of a low current (0.5 nA) of the 5-HT2A,2C receptor agonist (+-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) potentiated the excitation induced by the iontophoresis of l-glutamate on quiescent mPFc cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hardiness, self-care practices and perceived health status in older adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among hardiness, self-care practices and perceived health status in older adults A random sample of older adults (n= 72) was selected from the population of a small north-eastern town in the United States Self-report data were obtained on the Health-Related Hardiness Scale as a measure of hardness, the Personal Lifestyle Questionnaire as a measure of self-care practices and the Visual Analogue Scale as a measure of perceived health status It was hypothesized that older adults who had higher levels of hardness and self-care practices would have a higher perceived health status and that hardness and self-care practices combined would explain more of the variance in perceived health status than either variable taken individually Statistical analyses supported the three hypotheses The obtained significant correlation between hardness and perceived health status was –068(P<0 001) (hardiness negatively scored) For self-care practices and perceived health status, the correlation was 0 46 (P< 0 001) The illness index, income and living circumstance accounted for 46% of the variance in perceived health status scores Hardness and self-care practices accounted for an additional 10% of the variance in perceived health status once these demographic and illness variables were controlled Implications for nursing practice, education and research are discussed Recommendations included replication of the study with a larger, more heterogeneous population Suggestions for further investigation of the relationship between resistance resources such as hardness and self-care practices and health status are presented
Procedural results and long-term clinical outcomes following coronary stenting in perimyocardial infarction syndromes

Abstract Initial experiences with coronary stents in acute coronary syndromes have suggested higher risk of ischemic complications and stent thrombosis. We evaluated inhospital and 1-year clinical outcomes of coronary stent implantation in perimyocardial infarction (MI) syndromes. We studied 334 consecutive patients undergoing stent interventions in the first week after acute MI. Stenting was performed within 24 hours (n = 31), within 1 to 3 days (n = 95), and within 4 to 7 days (n = 208). Stents were used to improve angioplasty results and to treat dissections and abrupt/threatened closure. Post-procedure anticoagulation regimens were aspirin, ticlopidine, and low molecular weight heparin. Overall procedural success was achieved in 93% of patients. Major in-hospital complications included death (1.0%), recurrent Q-wave MI (0.6%), and emergent bypass surgery (3.0%). Stent thrombosis occurred in 0.6% of patients. At follow-up, cardiac event-free survival was 80%, mortality 2.2%, recurrent MI 3.5%, and target lesion revascularization 11%. We conclude that coronary stenting in periinfarction syndromes was effective in achieving sustained clinical benefit up to 1 year with low morbidity and mortality. Thus, stents seem to be a viable therapeutic strategy in patients sustaining perimyocardial infarction syndromes.
Tetragonal Phase Transformation in Gold Nanowires

First principle, tight binding, and semi-empirical embedded atom calculations are used to investigate a tetragonal phase transformation in gold nanowires. As wire diameter is decreased, tight binding and modified embedded atom simulations predict a surface-stress-induced phase transformation from a face-centered-cubic (fcc) nanowire into a body-centered-tetragonal (bet) nanowire. In bulk gold, all theoretical approaches predict a local energy minimum at the bet phase, but tight binding and first principle calculations predict elastic instability of the bulk bct phase. The predicted existence of the stable bet phase in the nanowires is thus attributed to constraint from surface stresses. The results demonstrate that surface stresses are theoretically capable of inducing phase transformation and subsequent phase stability in nanometer scale metallic wires under appropriate conditions.
An Analytical Study of Nonlinear Responses of Rising Balloons to Horizontal Winds

Abstract Solutions of the nonlinear, coupled equations of horizontal and vertical balloon motions are obtained using standard expansion methods. Comparison of the results of these solutions with those from numerical integration and from solutions of the approximate, linear versions of the equations of motion shows that 1) the linear solutions provide reliable estimates of the transfer function for horizontal air motions, and 2) the nonlinear solution provides the salient features of coupling between horizontal and vertical motions. For example, a balloon's mean ascent rate will diminish slightly if the horizontal winds are fluctuating rapidly, while in no case do the nonlinear effects lead to significant frequency mixing of horizontal balloon motions.
Neighborhood hypergraphs of digraphs and some matrix permutation problems

Given a digraph D, the set of all pairs (N^-(v),N^+(v)) constitutes the neighborhood dihypergraph N(D) of D. The Digraph Realization Problem asks whether a given dihypergraph H coincides with N(D) for some digraph D. This problem was introduced by Aigner and Triesch [M. Aigner, E. Triesch, Reconstructing a graph from its neighborhood lists, Combin. Probab. Comput. 2 (2) (1993) 103-113] as a natural generalization of the Open Neighborhood Realization Problem for undirected graphs, which is known to be NP-complete. We show that the Digraph Realization Problem remains NP-complete for orgraphs (orientations of undirected graphs). As a corollary, we show that the Matrix Skew-Symmetrization Problem for square {0,1,-1} matrices (a"i"j=-a"j"i) is NP-complete. This result can be compared with the known fact that the Matrix Symmetrization Problem for square 0-1 matrices (a"i"j=a"j"i) is NP-complete. Extending a negative result of Fomin, Kratochvil, Lokshtanov, Mancini, and Telle [F.V. Fomin, J. Kratochvil, D. Lokshtanov, F. Mancini, J.A. Telle, On the complexity of reconstructing H-free graphs from their star systems, Manuscript (2007) 11 pp] we show that the Digraph Realization Problem remains NP-complete for almost all hereditary classes of digraphs defined by a unique minimal forbidden subdigraph. Finally, we consider the Matrix Complementation Problem for rectangular 0-1 matrices, and prove that it is polynomial-time equivalent to graph isomorphism. A related known result is that the Matrix Transposability Problem is polynomial-time equivalent to graph isomorphism.
A large-volume 4π liquid scintillation detector

Abstract This detector has a scintillator volume of 1 ft. 3 and a sample chamber 4 1 4 in. in diameter and 8 in. long. Four 5 in. photomultiplier tubes give a photocathode coverage of about 10 per cent of the detector's wall area. Good light collection efficiency results in the counter being relatively insensitive to source position in the sample chamber. The detector is housed in an iron shield providing 5 in. of shielding. Such detectors as the one described should find wide application, particularly in biological studies and clinical diagnosis.
Stability assessment of gas mixtures containing terpenes at nominal 5 nmol/mol contained in treated aluminum gas cylinders

Studies of climate change increasingly recognize the diverse influences exerted by terpenes in the atmosphere, including roles in particulates, ozone formation, and their oxidizing potential. Measurements of key terpenes suggest atmospheric concentrations ranging from low pmol/mol (parts per trillion) to nmol/mol (parts per billion), depending on location and compound. To accurately establish concentration trends, assess the role of terpenes in atmospheric chemistry, and relate measurement records from many laboratories and researchers, it is essential to have good calibration standards. The feasibility of preparing well-characterized, stable gas cylinder standards for terpenes at the nmol/mol level is not yet well established. Several of the world’s National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) are researching the feasibility of developing primary and secondary reference gas standards at the nmol/mol level for terpenes. The US NMI, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has prepared several nmol/mol mixtures, in treated aluminum gas cylinders, containing terpenes in dry nitrogen at nominal 5 nmol/mol for stability studies. Overall, 11 terpenes were studied for stability. An initial gas mixture containing nine terpenes, one oxygenate, and six aromatic compounds, including benzene as an internal standard, was prepared. Results for four of the nine terpenes in this initial mixture indicate stability in these treated aluminum gas cylinders for over 6 months and project long term (years) stability. Interesting results were seen for β-pinene, which when using a linear equation rate decline predicts that it will reach a zero concentration level at day 416. At the same time, increases in α-pinene, d-limonene (R-(+)-limonene), and p-cymene were observed, including camphene, a terpene not prepared in the gas mixture, indicating a chemical transformation of β-pinene to these species. Additional mixtures containing combination of either α-pinene, camphor, α-terpinene, and benzene indicate a second-order quadratic rate decline for the α-pinene and α-terpinene, a linear rate decline for camphor, and a second-order quadratic rate increase of camphene.
List Processing Software for the LeCroy 1821 Segment Manager Interface

Many fixed target experiments at Fermilab now include some FASTBUS electronics in their data readout. The software reported in this paper, provides general support for the LeCroy 1821 interface. The list processing device drivers allow FASTBUS data to be read out efficiently into the Fermilab Computing Department supported data acquisition systems.
Effects of neutron damage on the performance of large volume segmented germanium detectors

Fast neutrons damage the lattice structure of germanium γ-radiation detectors and introduce hole traps. This results in a reduction of charge collection efficiency and a degradation of the energy resolution of the detector. For tracking detectors that use pulse shapes to determine the position of γ-ray interactions, it is important to study the effect of neutron damage on pulse shapes and to quantify the achievable position resolution. In this work, the effect of neutron damage on energy, position and time resolution has been calculated for both an n-type and a p-type detector, and a method for correcting the energy loss using the information on the position of the interaction has been tested. Calculations indicate that the energy resolution of a neutron-damaged n-type detector is superior to that of a similarly damaged p-type detector, while the position resolution does not depend on the detector type. For both n- and p-type coaxial detectors the detectable degradation of energy resolution occurs at a much lower neutron flux than the degradation of position resolution: in practice, a measurable effect of neutron damage on position resolution is never reached before annealing is required for recovering energy resolution.
Emotional Appeals in Environmental Group Communications

Although emotional appeals are commonplace in political rhetoric, they are often viewed as manipulative and therefore threatening to democratic governance. Interest groups, in particular, have been blamed for relying on emotionally charged rhetoric to achieve fundraising objectives. Through a focus on 210 national-level environmental organizations, the author reevaluates this critique, postulating that groups vary the emotive content of their communications in response to different audiences and purposes of communication. Using evidence from a content analysis of group communications across several media, the author shows that groups rely much more on positive rhetoric than previous studies have indicated, especially in communications designed to encourage participation. Furthermore, negative appeals are most prevalent in groups’ efforts to encourage learning through information provision.The results suggest that emotive rhetoric can be used in ways that complement reasoning processes.
Modulation of biogenesis of the Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida-containing phagosome in quiescent human macrophages and its maturation into a phagolysosome upon activation by IFN-gamma.

Summary Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent facultative intracellular pathogen that has been categorized as a class A bioterrorism agent, and is classified into four subsp, tularensis, holarctica , mediasiatica and novicida . Although the ability of F. tularensis subsp. novicida to cause tularemia in mice is similar to the virulent subsp. tularensis and holarctica, it is attenuated in humans. It is not known whether attenuation of F. tularensis subsp. novicida in humans is resulting from a different route of trafficking within human macrophages, compared with the tularensis or holarctica subsp. Here we show that in quiescent human monocytes-derived macrophages (hMDMs), the F. tularensis subsp. novicida containing phagosome (FCP) matures into a late endosome-like stage that acquires the late endosomal marker LAMP-2 but does not fuse to lysosomes. This modulation of phagosome biogenesis by F. tularensis is followed by disruption of the phagosome at 4‐12 h and subsequent bacterial escape into cytoplasm where the organism replicates. In IFN- g -activated hMDMs, intracellular replication of F. tularensis is completely inhibited, and is associated with failure of the organism to escape from the phagosome into the cytoplasm for up to 24 h after infection. In IFN- g -activated hMDMs, the FCPs acquire the lysosomal enzymes Cathepsin D, which is excluded in quiescent hMDMs. When the lysosomes of IFN- g g g activated hMDMs are preload with Texas Red Ovalbumin or BSA-gold, the FCPs acquire both lysosomal tracers. In contrast, both lysosomal tracers are excluded from the FCPs within quiescent hMDMs. We conclude that although F. tularensis subsp. novicida is attenuated in humans, it modulates biogenesis of its phagosome into a late endosome-like compartment followed by bacterial escape into the cytoplasm within quiescent hMDMs, similar to the virulent subsp. tularensis . In IFN- g -activated hMDMs, the organism fails to escape into the cytoplasm and its phagosome fuses to lysosomes, similar to inert particles.
The report of the Group of Twenty-Four: A comment

The Group of Twenty-Four. reprcscnting developing countries, published in August lYS5 a report on “The Functionin g and Improvement of the International Monetary System.” It contains considerably more substance than the Group of Ten report. released in June IYS5. on “The Functioning of the International Monetary System.” Both reports xc scheduled to be considered at the April IYSh meeting of the Interim Committee of the International Monetary Fund. We shall discuss the G-74 report under the folloiving headings: ( I) the functioning of the present cxchangc-rate system. (2) IMF surveilIancc. (3) management of international liquidity and the SDR, and (4) the clcbt problem and transfer of resources.
Bioheat Transfer With Ken Diller: Cellular and Tissue Transport Events Influencing Life and Death at Extreme Temperatures

This short review focuses on the contributions of Dr. Ken Diller to the field of biotransport with special focus on fundamental and applied work that has influenced other labs in the field including my own. The web of science and pubmed lists more than 260 contributions and I know of many more texts and monographs that he has contributed to this area. Specific contributions in cell biophysics, physicochemical property measurements and intravital tissue response will be highlighted as these areas have been of continuing interest to my lab.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Scaling behavior of ground-state energy cluster expansion for linear polyenes

Ground-state energies for linear-chain polyenes are additively expanded in a sequence of terms for chemically relevant conjugated substructures of increasing size. The asymptotic behavior of the large-substructure limit (i.e., high-polymer limit) is investigated as a means of characterizing the rapidity of convergence and consequent utility of this energy cluster expansion. Consideration is directed to computations via: simple Huckel theory, a refined Huckel scheme with geometry optimization, restricted Hartree–Fock self-consistent field (RHF-SCF) solutions of fixed bond-length Parisier–Parr–Pople (PPP)/Hubbard models, and ab initio SCF approaches with and without geometry optimization. The cluster expansion in what might be described as the more “refined” approaches appears to lead to qualitatively more rapid convergence: exponentially fast as opposed to an inverse power at the simple Huckel or SCF–Hubbard levels. The substructural energy cluster expansion then seems to merit special attention. Its possible utility in making accurate extrapolations from finite systems to extended polymers is noted. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Brief report: Haloperidol treatment of trichotillomania in a boy with autism and mental retardation

The DSM-III-R (American Psychological Association [APA], 1987) defines trichotillomania as an impulse control disorder characterized by the recurrent failure to resist impulses to pull out one's own hair. The diagnosis is not made if hair pulling is associated with inflammation or is in response to a delusion or hallucination. While its exact prevalence is not known (Krishnan, Davidson, & Gujardo, 1985), it may be more common than generally believed. It is said to occur more frequently in women (DSM-III-R, APA, 1987) and in children (Muller & Winkelmann, 1972). It is usually seen on the scalp, but can also involve the eyebrows, eyelashes (Mannino & Delgado, 1969), and pubic hair (Fenichel, 1945). The hair loss is often characterized by short, broken strands appearing together with long, normal hairs in the affected area. Head banging, nail biting, scratching, and other forms of self-multilation may occur. Its etiology is not clear. Psychoanalysts have claimed that hair pulling may be perceived as a type of masturbation (Buxbaum, 1960), that it may occur when sexual conflicts are displaced on to hair, and that it may symbolize castration (Barahal, 1940). In up to a quarter of the cases, the onset may be associated with a history of stressful life events. No biological etiology has been proposed for this disorder due to lack of any systematic studies.
Occupational low back pain

Chronic occupational low back pain frequently evades solution by the classic medical model of pathophysiologic diagnosis and cure. In this context, pain complaints, impairment measurements, and disability reports can be discordant before and after treatment. Multiple psychologic and socioeconomic variables contribute to this disparity and warrant identification and attention. A successful therapeutic alliance between patient and practitioner depends on their setting mutually acceptable goals in each outcome category: pain relief, improved functional capacity, and socioeconomic recovery.
Length polymorphism in the Period 3 gene is associated with sleepiness and maladaptive circadian phase in night-shift workers

The objective of the current study was to determine if night-shift workers carrying the five-repeat variant of the Period 3 gene show elevated levels of nocturnal sleepiness and earlier circadian phase compared with homozygotes for the four-repeat allele. Twenty-four permanent night-shift workers were randomly selected from a larger study. Participants took part in an observational laboratory protocol including an overnight multiple sleep latency test and half-hourly saliva collection for calculation of dim-light melatonin onset. Period 3(-/5) shift workers had significantly lower multiple sleep latency test during overnight work hours compared with Period 3(4/4) workers (3.52 ± 23.44 min versus 10.39 ± 6.41 min, P = 0.003). We observed no significant difference in sleepiness during early morning hours following acute sleep deprivation. Long-allele carriers indicated significantly higher sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale administered at 17:00 hours (12.08 ± 2.55 versus 8.00 ± 1.94, P < 0.001). We observed a significantly earlier melatonin onset in Period 3(-/5) individuals compared with Period 3(4/4) shift workers (20:44 ± 6:37 versus 02:46 ± 4:58, P = 0.021). Regression analysis suggests that Period 3 genotype independently predicts sleepiness even after controlling for variations in circadian phase, but we were unable to link Period 3 to circadian phase when controlling for sleepiness. Period 3(-/5) shift workers showed both subjective and objective sleepiness in the pathological range, while their Period 3(4/4) counterparts showed sleepiness within normal limits. Period 3(-/5) night workers also show a mean circadian phase 6 h earlier (i.e. less adapted) than Period 3(4/4) workers. Because Period 3(-/5) workers have maladaptive circadian phase as well as pathological levels of sleepiness, they may be at greater risk for occupational and automotive accidents. We interpret these findings as a call for future research on the role of Period 3 in sleepiness and circadian phase, especially as they relate to night work.
Use of a kinetic energy orifice as a probe of metastable dissociation in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Although Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is a powerful tool in the qualitative observation of gas phase reactions, ion detection is on the millisecond time scale, orders of magnitude longer than typically found when using a sector instrument. Observations of short-lived species such as chemically activated adduct ions can be accomplished using selective ion excitation as a probe of intermediate lifetime. Whereas ion elimination has been shown to be effective in monitoring ion lifetimes on the microsecond time scale, problems associated with detecting ions produced with high kinetic energies limits the technique. Use of a kinetic energy orifice as an ion skimmer effectively eliminates ions near the center of the ion cell at relatively low kinetic energies. By modifying a single section cell to include a kinetic energy orifice, the lifetimes of chemically activated adduct ions have been investigated.
Codeine disposition in human hair after single and multiple doses.

Objective: We studied the dose-proportion and time-course relationships for the incorporation of codeine into human hair after the administration of three different doses. Subjects: Male volunteers, with dark hair, were given oral codeine either as a single dose of 60 mg (n = 7) or 120 mg (n = 12), or as multiple doses of 30 mg 3 times daily for 5 days (n = 7) (450 mg total dose). Methods: Blood and urine were collected for various times for up to 72 h after dosing. Scalp hair was collected initially by plucking (up to 4 weeks) and later by cutting for up to 10 weeks. Plasma, urine, proximal 1 cm of hair and distal hair were each analyzed for codeine and its metabolites by positive-ion chemical ionization ion trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results: Codeine was detected in the proximal 1 cm of hair within 30 min of an oral 120-mg dose. Codeine was not detected in the distal hair segment until 3 weeks after receiving a dose of codeine. Codeine was detected in distal hair segments for at least 10 weeks at 30 pg mg−1 hair following a single 120 mg codeine dose and at 90 pg mg−1 hair following 30 mg codeine 3 times a day for 5 days. Morphine or the glucuronides of codeine or morphine were not detected in the hair specimens of these subjects. Conclusion: Codeine is rapidly distributed into the germanitive elements of hair in a dose-proportional manner. A portion of the codeine remains bound as the hair grows and can be detected in distal hair for up to 10 weeks after a single dose.
Magnetic superexchange involving tetrahedral anions: One-dimensional antiferromagnetic interactions via sulfate anions in M(2,9-di-CH3-1,10-phenanthroline)SO4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)

The magnetic susceptibilities of powder samples of the polymeric compounds M(dmp)SO4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu; dmp = 2,9-di-CH3-1,10-phenanthroline) have now been studied at temperatures between 1.5 and 305 K. There is clear evidence of one-dimensional, antiferromagnetic interactions in the Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni compounds: from T ⋍ 300 to 1.7 K, the magnetic moment decreases steadily from a value that is approximately the spin-only moment of the high-spin configuration to a value that is ∼20% of the spin-only moment, and the susceptibility-vs-temperature curve contains a broad maximum at T ≤ 30 K. Cu(dmp)SO4, however, exhibits almost perfect Curie-Weiss paramagnetism. These results when combined with the results of various spectroscopic studies lead to proposed molecular structures (chainlike polymers of cis-MN2O4 chromophores and bridging-chelating sulfates) and estimated energies of intrachain antiferromagnetic exchange (−0.5 K ≥ JkB ≥ −10 K).
How well does family history predict who will get colorectal cancer? Implications for cancer screening and counseling.

Purpose: Using a large, retrospective cohort from the Utah Population Database, we assess how well family history predicts who will acquire colorectal cancer during a 20-year period. Methods: Individuals were selected between ages 35 and 80 with no prior record of colorectal cancer diagnosis, as of the year 1985. Numbers of colorectal cancer-affected relatives and diagnosis ages were collected. Familial relative risk and absolute risk estimates were calculated. Colorectal cancer diagnoses in the cohort were counted between years 1986 and 2005. Cox regression and Harrell's C were used to measure the discriminatory power of resulting models. Results: A total of 431,153 individuals were included with 5,334 colorectal cancer diagnoses. Familial relative risk ranged from 0.83 to 12.39 and 20-year absolute risk from 0.002 to 0.21. With familial relative risk as the only predictor, Harrell's C = 0.53 and with age only, Harrell's C = 0.66. Familial relative risk combined with age produced a Harrell's C = 0.67. Conclusion: Family history by itself is not a strong predictor of exactly who will acquire colorectal cancer within 20 years. However, stratification of risk using absolute risk probabilities may be more helpful in focusing screening on individuals who are more likely to develop the disease.