cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exome sequencing in obsessive-compulsive disorder reveals a burden of rare damaging coding variants.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 1–2% of the population, and, as with other complex neuropsychiatric disorders, it is thought that rare variation contributes to its genetic risk. In this study, we performed exome sequencing in the largest OCD cohort to date (1,313 total cases, consisting of 587 trios, 41 quartets and 644 singletons of affected individuals) and describe contributions to disease risk from rare damaging coding variants. In case–control analyses (n = 1,263/11,580), the most significant single-gene result was observed in SLITRK5 (odds ratio (OR) = 8.8, 95% confidence interval 3.4–22.5, P = 2.3 × 10−6). Across the exome, there was an excess of loss of function (LoF) variation specifically within genes that are LoF-intolerant (OR = 1.33, P = 0.01). In an analysis of trios, we observed an excess of de novo missense predicted damaging variants relative to controls (OR = 1.22, P = 0.02), alongside an excess of de novo LoF mutations in LoF-intolerant genes (OR = 2.55, P = 7.33 × 10−3). These data support a contribution of rare coding variants to OCD genetic risk. An analysis of the largest exome sequencing dataset of people with obsessive–compulsive disorder to date (n = 1,313 affected individuals), where both case–control and de novo variant studies support a contribution of rare damaging coding variants to risk.
Smoking Cessation System for Preemptive Smoking Detection

Smoking cessation is a significant challenge for many people addicted to cigarettes and tobacco. Mobile health-related research into smoking cessation is primarily focused on mobile phone data collection either using self-reporting or sensor monitoring techniques. In the past 5 years with the increased popularity of smartwatch devices, research has been conducted to predict smoking movements associated with smoking behaviors based on accelerometer data analyzed from the internal sensors in a user’s smartwatch. Previous smoking detection methods focused on classifying current user smoking behavior. For many users who are trying to quit smoking, this form of detection may be insufficient as the user has already relapsed. In this paper, we present a smoking cessation system utilizing a smartwatch and finger sensor that is capable of detecting pre-smoking activities to discourage users from future smoking behavior. Pre-smoking activities include grabbing a pack of cigarettes or lighting a cigarette and these activities are often immediately succeeded by smoking. Therefore, through accurate detection of pre-smoking activities, we can alert the user before they have relapsed. Our smoking cessation system combines data from a smartwatch for gross accelerometer and gyroscope information and a wearable finger sensor for detailed finger bend-angle information. We compare the results of a smartwatch-only system with a combined smartwatch and finger sensor system to illustrate the accuracy of each system. The combined smartwatch and finger sensor system performed at an 80.6% accuracy for the classification of pre-smoking activities compared to 47.0% accuracy of the smartwatch-only system.
Antiblackness within the assemblages of undetectability

This commentary is concerned with the role of anti-blackness for North American-based Black gender and sexual minorities in Brown's and Di Feliciantonio ‘Reconceptualising of PrEP, TasP and Undetec...
Dietary Glucogenesis by Mucosal α-Glucosidase is Influenced by the Internal Molecular Structure of Starch Hydrolysates

Four small intestinal α-glucosidases, N- and C-terminal subunits of maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM) and sucrase-isomaltase (SI), releases glucose from starch molecules at the final stage of digestion i...
Appendix C. Data Availability

Publisher Summary This appendix summarizes the chronology of the acquisition of all Seasat data currently on archive with descriptions of the different types of data available. The Satellite Data Services Division (SDSD) of the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), part of NOAA's National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS), was closely involved in the planning for the acquisition, archival, and distribution of Seasat data since the early stages of the project. SDSD received its first Seasat data product in late December 1978 with the altimeter IGDR “Starter Set” contained on one 9/800 bpi tape. Identified users were sent a letter in January 1979, informing them of the availability of this data set. Additional IGDR data were received commencing in April 1979 and ending in May 1980. These included ALT, SASS, and SMMR IGDRs. Commencing in May 1979, JPL proceeded to send the entire set of ALT SDRs to SDSD. The entire set of 1124 ALT SDRs are currently on archive. General remarks and content of data archive for nimbus-7 coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) are provided. A summary of how the data have been accessed and utilized by the end users is also given.
Attorneys Fees, Offsets and Priorities

This article discusses the unpredictability of determining whether the rules of offset or the rules of priorities will prevail in a situation, and goes into the question of whether attorneys’ fees will be given priority over other claims when those fees are contractual and do not relate back. The article concerns a California decision which held that a lis pendens did not give purchasers super-priority over competing liens.
The relationship between rheology, morphology and physical properties in heterogeneous blends

The morphology of heterogeneous blends of polybutadiene (PBD) and EPDM was selectively varied by a change of either the rheology of the blend components during mixing or of the blend composition. Under a given set of mixing conditions, the blend system approaches a “steady state morphology”, which was found to be relatively independent of sample history. However, during subsequent compression molding, the morphology of the sample may be altered substantially with phase inversion occurring in some cases. A mechanism is proposed for the observed rheology-morphology behavior. The strain moduli of the vulcanizates prepared by irradiation of the elastomer blends were similar to those predicted using the parallel Takayanagi models. A positive synergism with respect to energy to break and stress at break was noted particularly in cases where the blend components showed a significantly different mechanical response. The sensitivity of the stress-strain response of these blends to changes in morphology was less than anticipated. This is attributed to restrictions imposed on the movement of the softer phase by the hard phase component of the blend. Die Morphologie heterogener Polymermischungen aus Polybutadien (PBD) und Athylen-Propylen-Dien-Terpolymeren (EPDM) wurde selektiv variiert, indem entweder die Rheologie der Mischungskomponenten wahrend der Mischung oder die Zusammensetzung der Mischung geandert wurden. Bei gegebenen Mischungsbedingungen nahert sich das Mischungssystem einer „Steady-State-Morphologie”, die sich als relativ unabhangig von der Vorgeschichte der Probe erwies. Bei nachfolgender Formgebung kann sich jedoch die Morphologie wesentlich andern, wobei in einigen Fallen Phasenumwandlung eintritt. Fur das rheologisch-morphologische Verhalten wird ein Mechanismus vorgeschlagen. Die Dehnungsmoduln der durch Bestrahlung der Elastomermischungen hergestellten Vulkanisate glichen denjenigen, die durch die Takayanagi-Modelle vorausgesagt wurden. Ein positiver Synergismus hinsichtlich der Bruchenergie und der Zugspannung beim Bruch wurde speziell in den Fallen beobachtet, in denen die Mischungskoponenten ein ausgesprochen unterschiedliches mechanisches Verhalten zeigten. Die Empfindlichkeit des Zug-Dehnungsverhaltens dieser Mischungen bezuglich der anderungen in der Morphologie erwies sich geringer als vorher angenommen. Dies wird auf Einschrankungen in der Bewegungsmoglichkeit der weicheren durch die harte Phase in der Mischung zuruckgefuhrt.
Delay of Poliovirus Plaque Formation with Use of Fresh Bovine Serum in the Growth Medium of Host Cellsd

The plaque formation of poliovirus in HeLa cell monolayers was decreased upto 95% when the host cells were subcultured several times in a growth medium containing fresh bovine serum prior to their inoculation with virus. Extended incubation of infected cell monolayers indicated that the inhibition was in the form of a delay in plaque formation rather than a permanent inhibition of it. The inhibitory factor, which was found in most bovine sera, was very unstable and disappeared after storage of the serum at -20 C for a few weeks or at 36 C within a few days. In HeLa-cell monolayers, the fresh serum brought about a decrease in the plaque formation of all three poliovirus types as well as that of poliovirus ribonucleic acid. The plaque formation of poliovirus in monkey heart and HEp-2-cell monolayers was decreased irregularly by the use of fresh serum in the growth medium of these cells. Speculations were made as to the possible mode of action of the bovine serum inhibitor.
The artificial granuloma. III. Collagen synthesis during the cell-mediated granulomatous response as determined in explanted granulomas.

Abstract Pulmonary granulomatous inflammations form in response to persistent live or inanimate irritants. The chronic inflammatory reactions cause tissue damage and terminate in fibroses which aggravate the pathology of granulomatous diseases. Fibroblast activity within pulmonary granulomas has not yet been examined. Presently, foreign body, artificial hypersensitivity, and “infectious” granulomas were generated around beads or schistosome eggs in the murine lung. At weekly intervals granulomas were removed from homogenized lungs, the explants were pulsed in vitro with [14C]proline, and the incorporation of label into collagen and noncollagenous protein was measured. Collagen synthesis was verified by collagenase digestion and amino acid analysis of labeled proline and hydroxyproline in hydrolyzates. Collagen synthesis was strongest in the hypersensitivity, weakest in the foreign body explants (schistosome > hypersensitivity bead > foreign body lesions). Peak synthesis occurred in the 1-week-old lesions when 20–40% of the label was incorporated into collagen. Systemic antigen injections given to hypersensitive granuloma-bearing mice significantly elevated collagen synthesis in the explants. Lymphokine-active supernatants from cultured hypersensitivity granulomas given ip to mice bearing nonimmune lesions caused a similar enhancement. Significantly less enhancement was obtained after administration of supernatants from foreign body granulomas. It is concluded that the state of delayed hypersensitivity which maintains the granulomatous inflammation also plays a role in fibroblast activation.
Alexitimia y depresión: evidencia, controversias e implicancias

Antecedentes: Numerosas investigaciones han demostrado la relacion entre alexitimia y depresion. Algunos autores apoyan la hipotesis de que la alexitimia, evaluada por la TAS-20 y el BVAQ, puede ser un rasgo de personalidad y otros senalan que seria un mecanismo de afrontamiento ante eventos vitales estresantes. Objetivo: Describir el concepto de alexitimia y la evidencia de su relacion con la depresion y su correlacion con diversos aspectos biopsicosociales. Metodo: Se realizo una busqueda bibliografica de evidencia sobre alexitimia y depresion mediante las bases de datos Medline/PubMed, SciELO y textos especializados. Resultados: A mayor nivel de alexitimia, mayor severidad de sintomas ansiosos y depresivos y peor respuesta a antidepresivos. La alexitimia es un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de trastornos psicopatologicos (panico, conducta alimentaria, abuso de sustancias). En la fase aguda de un trastorno depresivo mayor, la tasa de alexitimia alcanzo un 46%, siendo su prevalencia ocho veces superior entre depresivos que en la poblacion general. Los rasgos obsesivos de personalidad fueron predictores significativos de alexitimia, siendo esta ademas un factor desencadenante y/o perpetuante e indice pronostico de enfermedades psicosomaticas, favoreciendo el desarrollo y mantencion del dolor, principalmente en el contexto de un afecto negativo como la depresion. Conclusiones: La alexitimia se encuentra significativamente asociada a la depresion. Se requieren futuros estudios longitudinales para determinar si ambas condiciones corresponden a fenomenos distintos o a variantes afectivas y cognitivas de un mismo desorden psicopatologico.
Reducing the Blood Pressure–Related Burden of Cardiovascular Disease: Impact of Achievable Improvements in Blood Pressure Prevention and Control

Background US blood pressure reduction policies are largely restricted to hypertensive populations and associated benefits are often estimated based on unrealistic interventions. Methods and Results We used multivariable linear regression to estimate incidence rate differences contrasting the impact of 2 pragmatic hypothetical interventions to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure (HF) incidence: (1) a population‐wide intervention that reduced systolic blood pressure by 1 mm Hg and (2) targeted interventions that reduced the prevalence of unaware, untreated, or uncontrolled blood pressure above goal (per Eighth Joint National Committee treatment thresholds) by 10%. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (n=15 744; 45 to 64 years at baseline, 1987–1989), incident coronary heart disease and stroke were adjudicated by physician panels. Incident HF was defined as the first hospitalization with discharge diagnosis code of “428.” A 10% proportional reduction in unaware, untreated, or uncontrolled blood pressure above goal resulted in ≈4.61, 3.55, and 11.01 fewer HF events per 100 000 person‐years in African Americans, and 3.77, 1.63, and 4.44 fewer HF events per 100 000 person‐years, respectively, in whites. In contrast, a 1 mm Hg population‐wide systolic blood pressure reduction was associated with 20.3 and 13.3 fewer HF events per 100 000 person‐years in African Americans and whites, respectively. Estimated event reductions for coronary heart disease and stroke were smaller than for HF, but followed a similar pattern for both population‐wide and targeted interventions. Conclusions Modest population‐wide shifts in systolic blood pressure could have a substantial impact on cardiovascular disease incidence and should be developed in parallel with interventions targeting populations with blood pressure above goal.
Mechanical Properties and Active Remodeling of Blood Vessels

Blood vessels belong to the class of soft tissues discussed in Chapter 7. They do not obey Hooke’s law. Figure 7.5:1 in Chapter 7, Sec. 7.5 demonstrates the nonlinearity of the stress—strain relationship and the existence of hysteresis. They also creep under constant stress and relax under constant strain. These mechanical properties have a structural basis. In Sec. 8.2 we consider the structure of the blood vessel wall. From Sec. 8.3 on, however, our attention will be concentrated on the mathematical description of the mechanical properties. In seeking simplification whenever it is justifiable, we take advantage of the fact that most blood vessels are thin-walled tubes deforming axisymmetrically (including inflation, longitudinal stretching, and torsion), and that as far as hemodynamics is concerned, we need to know only the relationship between the blood pressure and the inner diameter of the tube. In this situation we may treat the vessel wall as a membrane. The stresses of concern are circumferential and longitudinal, the principal strains are also circumferential and longitudinal. The vessel wall may be treated as a two-dimensional body, the constitutive equation is biaxial. In Secs. 8.3–8.5, we formulate a two-dimensional quasi-linear viscoelastic constitutive equation for blood vessels, using the pseudo-elasticity concept introduced in Chapter 7. In Secs. 8.7 and 8.8, we treat the blood vessel wall as a three-dimensional body, and study the differences between the mechanical properties of the intima-media layer and those of the adventitia. The results can then be applied to general three-dimensional problems such as bifurcation, aneurysm, surgery, etc. In Secs. 8.9–8.11, we consider the mechanical properties of arterioles, capillary blood vessels, and veins.
Joint leader and link weight selection for fast convergence in multi-agent systems

Multi-agent system protocols, such as consensus and formation control, require agents to converge rapidly to their desired states. Smooth convergence is achieved through selection of leader nodes (in leader-follower systems) or choosing optimal link weights (in leader-less systems). In this paper, we introduce a framework for minimizing convergence time through optimization of joint leader and link weight selection for a class of systems that include leader-follower and leader-less systems as special cases. We present a semidefinite programming approach for two problems: first, the problem of selecting a fixed number of leaders and the corresponding link weights in order to minimize the convergence time, and second, the problem of selecting the minimum number of leaders and corresponding link weights to achieve a bound on the convergence time. We prove that our approach is equivalent to classical results in discrete location theory, with provable optimality gaps, under special cases. Our results are illustrated through numerical simulations.
Immunological aspects of some vitamin K-dependent factors and preparation of depleted plasmas

Abstract The specificity of the immune response elicited in rabbits to purified bovine prothrombin, autoprothrombin III (Factor X), Factor IX, and Protein C was studied. The immunizing proteins were homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By immunodiffusion analysis antigenic similarities were not detected between them in spite of known stretches of amino acid sequence homology. Immunoelectrophoresis of bovine plasma and each purified protein gave identical single precipitin lines with the homologous antisera. This experiment established that the antibodies prepared against each one of the purified vitamin K-dependent factors studied reacted with a single component in bovine plasma. Immunologic crossreactions were found between human, bovine, dog, rat and chicken prothrombin, Protein C, Factor X, and Factor IX. They were not species specific. Purified bovine prothrombin has at least four antigenic determinant sites. Incubation of the purified proteins with suitable proteolytic enzymes yielded fragments and intermediate products which were purified and tested for their potential capacity to react with antibodies in the native antisera. In immunoelectrophoresis tests both prothrombin fragments 1 and 2 and the intermediate product prethrombin 1 gave immunoprecipitates which were separately identified by their differing mobilities, while the enzyme portion, thrombin, did not react with antithrombin serum. In addition to prothrombin, bovine plasma contained prethrombin 1, prothrombin fragments 1 and 2, as well as prethrombin 2 and/or thrombin. Autoprothrombin III m (Factor Xβ) and autoprothrombin C (Factor Xa) crossreacted with anti-autoprothrombin III and the active form of Protein C. Gamma globulins of antisera to prothrombin, to autoprothrombin III, to Factor IX, and to Protein C were fractionated by using saturation ammonium sulfate solution and coupled to activated Agarose A-15m beads. The insolubilized antibodies were used to absorb the antigen from the plasma. Each depleted plasma served as test material for a specific clotting factor. The prolonged prothrombin time of the prothrombin depleted plasma was normalized by additions of purified prothrombin, but not by purified prethrombin 1. The prothrombin time of autoprothrombin III depleted plasma was shortened by fresh plasma, purified autoprothrombin III, and by purified autoprothrombin III m (Factor Xβ). In the case of Factor IX depleted plasma, the partial thromboplastin time was used. The depleted bovine plasmas are suitable for assay purposes. They serve the same role as the corresponding deficient plasma in bioassay coagulation tests.
On the “phosphoryl-enzyme” of phosphoglycerate kinase

The ‘phosphoryl-enzyme’ prepared from phosphoglycerate kinase and ATP in the presence of an ADP trap, is shown to be a complex between the enzyme and 1,3-diphosphoglycerate. The capricious variation in the extent of phosphorylation is due to varying amounts of contaminating 3-phosphoglycerate. Each of the partial exchange reactions may be artefactual due to the presence of very small amounts of contaminating cosubstrate. The balance of evidence favours a sequential pathway in which the phosphoryl group is transferred between substrates in a ternary complex.
Optical clearing in transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy of murine cortical bone tissue

The effect of optical clearing with glycerol on the Raman spectra of bone tissue acquired transcutaneously on right and left tibiae from four mice is studied. Multiple transcutaneous measurements are obtained from each limb; glycerol is then applied as an optical clearing agent, and additional transcutaneous measurements are taken. Glycerol reduces the noise in the raw spectra (p=0.0037) and significantly improves the cross-correlation between the recovered bone factor and the exposed bone measurement in a low signal-to-noise region of the bone spectra (p=0.0245).
Trend of Symptoms in Children Diagnosed with Autistic Disorder as Measured by the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC)

Researchers have examined the progression of core symptoms in AD; however, the primary focus of lifespan research for children with ASD has been based on retrospective reports and the stability of diagnoses. The purpose of this study, then, was to conduct a cross sectional investigation of symptom expression of AD throughout the childhood years. Participants consisted of children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old who were diagnosed with AD. The participants were partitioned into three age cohorts, with symptom endorsements of AD assessed through the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC). Results indicated that symptoms of AD were no more pronounced at any one of the three age cohorts when compared to each other. Additionally, a non-significant linear trend was found, indicating that symptoms of AD in childhood remain stable and chronic. Implications of these findings and future directions for research in this area are discussed.
Regulatory mechanisms of viral hepatitis B and C.

Of all the hepatitis viruses, only the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause chronic hepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we discuss how these two biologically diverse viruses use common pathways to induce oxidative stress and activation of key transcription factors, known to be involved in inflammatory processes in cells. Activation of NF-κB and STAT-3 most likely contribute to the progression of viral infections to chronic hepatitis and liver oncogenesis associated with HBV and HCV infections. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of action of HBx and HCV NS5A proteins in inducing intracellular events associated with the viral infections.
A mathematical programming model for optimal service selection in the airline industry

Abstract Airlines, offering tour plans, have to select a few gateways (airports) to which the air tickets for tour plans are issued. A number of alternate gateways are available for different tour plans, and the selection of gateways is influenced by the perceived preferences of tourists for these and competing plans. In this paper, using the ordinal preferences of tourists, we formulate the problem of gateway selection as an integer program. The solution procedure presented for this integer program is computationally attractive as we exploit the special structure of our formulation. The model proposed is general, and can be applied to the simultaneous positioning of several new products or services.
DREI FUNKTIONEN EINES FRACHTGRUNDLAGENSYSTEMS IN ARTIKEL 60 DES MONTANVERTRAGES

SUMMARY Basing-point pricing is not forbidden in the European Coal and Steel Community and, more important, the provisions of Article 60 of the ECSC-Treaty require a pricing behavior which is analogous to the behavior of oligopolists who have established a multiple basing-point system. This can be most clearly shown by distinguishing three functions of a privately organized basing-point system: 1. The control function results from the nondiscrimination principle and the open-price system as required by Articles 60 and 70 and as organized by the High Authority. 2. The vent function of a basing-point system is granted in the ECSC by the right to align prices on the lower quotations of competitors who establish their price schedules on the basis of a different location. 3. The defense function can also be fulfilled by alignment (punitive bases). As far as the enforcement of the ECSC pricing rules is concerned, non-conforming firms are disciplined by the High Authority. Competitive pressures from the outside and an enduring rivalry between national groups prevented a smooth functioning of the system. Increasingly private enterprise has substituted for the Treaty rules by reviving cartels and other forms of cooperation.
Effects of race and sex on field dependence-independence in children

Field dependence-independence is a possible social-psychological variable which contributes to inter-ethnic group differences. 40 Grade 6 children equally divided by race (Negro and white) and by sex were administered the Embedded-figures Test. High scores, indicating field dependence, of the black girls accounted for most of the significant differences due to race and sex.
Experimental Implementation of an Ensemble Adjustment Filter for an Intermediate ENSO Model

Abstract The assimilation of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies into a coupled ocean–atmosphere model of the tropical Pacific is investigated using an ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF). The intermediate coupled model used here is the operational version of the Zebiak–Cane model, called LDEO5. The assimilation is applied as a means of estimating the true state of the system in the presence of incomplete observations of the state. In the first part of this study assimilation is performed under the “perfect model” assumption, where SST observations are synthetically derived from a trajectory of the model. The focus is on how and why changes in the filter parameters (ensemble size, covariance localization, and covariance inflation) affect the quality of the analysis. It is shown that isotropic covariance localization does not benefit the analysis even when a small number of ensemble members are used. These results suggest that destruction of the “balance” between variables caused by localization i...
Pain hypervigilance is associated with greater clinical pain severity and enhanced experimental pain sensitivity among adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Background Pain hypervigilance is an important aspect of the fear-avoidance model of pain that may help explain individual differences in pain sensitivity among persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Physical properties of the ferromagnetic heavy-fermion compound UIr2Zn20

Measurements of magnetization, specific heat, neutron diffraction, and electrical resistivity at ambient and applied pressure have been carried out on the cubic compound $\mathrm{U}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{Zn}}_{20}$. A first-order-like ferromagnetic transition occurs at ${T}_{C}=2.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ with a saturation magnetization ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{sat}}\ensuremath{\sim}0.4{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$, indicating itinerant ferromagnetism. In this ordered state, the electronic specific heat coefficient remains large, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\sim}450\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mJ}∕\mathrm{mol}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{2}$, classifying $\mathrm{U}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{Zn}}_{20}$ as one of the very few heavy-fermion ferromagnets.
Do Merit-Aid Programs Help States Build Skilled Workforces?

One of the major developments in financing undergraduate education in the United States in the past 20 years has been the introduction of broad-based merit-aid programs by state governments. The ty...
THE HUDSON BAY AIR MASS TYPE–SOME CLIMATOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

A substantial percentage of days with below normal temperatures in central Illinois during May and June (1956-1965) appear to be associated with polar air masses which traverse the Hudson Bay area before entering the Midwest. January departures, in contrast, are related to polar air masses that enter the United States near the Mackenzie River in western Canada. The general influences of the Hudson Bay area on climate are discussed.
Mapping of Sequence-Tagged Sites in Rice by Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism

The conditions for efficient single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) detection were examined for its application to mapping of DNA regions in the rice genome. Temperature for electrophoresis and glycerol concentrations in gel affected SSCP patterns significantly. The optimal detection conditions for SSCP also depends on the nucleotide sequences of fragments analyzed. Fragments over 300 bp show complicated patterns depending on their nucleotide sequences and were not suitable for SSCP analysis. Seventy primer pairs were designed from the sequence data available to amplify DNA regions as sequence tagged sites (STSs), and 39 of these STSs were found to generate SSCP between japonica rice (Nipponbare) and indica rice (Kasalath) in at least one of the experimental conditions. The maps of DNA fragments amplified from 186 F2-plant DNAs with 17 primer pairs were successfully determined. This direct mapping method of the amplified DNA fragments with PCR is simple and quite sensitive, and can be used to set markers in the gap regions of a genetic linkage map.
Competitive Metal Ion Binding to a Silicate-Immobilized Datura innoxia Biomaterial

Abstract Metal ion binding with a flowing system to a biosorbent comprised of cultured cell-wall fragment within a polysilicate matrix has been investigated. Solutions containing 0.10 mM Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ were exposed to the material in combinations of two, three, and five metals while simultaneously monitoring the concentration of all metals in the effluent stream. A relative affinity order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ >> Zn2+ ≈ Cd2+ > Ni2+ was determined when all five metal ions were exposed to the material. Lower-affinity metal ions were exposed to the material sequentially. Both metal-specific and common binding sites were observed for each metal ion. The presence of both binding sites that are common to all metal ions investigated and sites that appear to be unique for each metal ion could significantly impact the utility of single-metal ion studies on the application of such biosorbents for the selective removal of metal ions from natural water.
Glucose metabolic rate and progression of illness in Alzheimer's disease

Thirty-eight patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) underwent a neuropsychological test battery and 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) before beginning and at the end of a randomized double-blind study of an experimental treatment. Twelve of the patients took placebo. In the placebo patients, Mini-Mental State (MMS) score decreased and cortical metabolism increased significantly over the 6-month course of the study. Correlations of metabolism with neuropsychological performance were stable over time in the placebo group. Cortical metabolism correlated significantly with performance on the Blessed Information Subtest and the MMS and showed trend correlations with performance on the WAIS Digit Symbol and Word Fluency. Patients with high relative occipital metabolism tended to do poorly on word fluency. Low baseline relative metabolism in right frontal cortex and high baseline relative metabolism in left parietal and temporal cortices and in right occipital cortex predicted more 6-month deterioration on the World Fluency Test, suggesting that frontal metabolic deficits may precede neuropsychological deficits. Correlations of 6-month change in MMS, Blessed and Digit Symbol performance with initial glucose metabolism were not significant.
Growth of adult rat superior cervical ganglion explants in serum-free media

Abstract Neurite outgrowth from explants of superior cervical ganglion from adult rats can be achieved in a serum-free medium Extensive neurite outgrowth occurred from ganglion explants maintained in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with either 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum or 1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin and nerve growth factor. After one week in culture, the ATP content of explants maintained in the serum-free medium was slightly higher than that noted in explants cultured in the presence of fetal calf serum and amounts of phosphocreatine were significantly lower. Despite these differences in high energy phosphate content, the abundance and morphology of neuritic outgrowth were essentially the same from explants cultured in the two types of media. Comparable activities of a number of NADP + -dependent dehydrogenases were noted in explants maintained in the two types of media. Increases in the activities of the oxidative enzymes of the pentose pathway, which occur in axotomized ganglia in vivo, were observed in the cultured ganglion explants. NADP + -dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity remained constant in ganglion explants in vitro, and measurements of this activity were employed in a new method to quantitate neurite outgrowth. The activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase in lyophilized neuritic processes that had grown out onto a Millipore filter substrate correlated well with visual estimates of neuritic outgrowth. Substitution of delipidated for normal bovine serum albumin in the growth medium resulted in a significant decrease in neuritic outgrowth from ganglion explants from both adult and weanling rats. Addition of fatty acids to media containing delipidated bovine serum albumin enhanced neuritic outgrowth in explants of weanling rats. Thus, lipophilic substances bound to bovine serum albumin including fatty acids appear necessary for optimal growth of neurites from explants of the rat superior cervical ganglion.
An empirically driven mathematical modelling analysis for play calling strategy in American football

This manuscript presents an empirically based mathematical model to assist in the determination of optimal American football play selection for first down and goal situations. The analysis utilises a game‐theoretic approach embedded within a stochastic dynamic programming formulation, resulting in a mixed strategy satisfying the ex‐ante declared objective of maximising the probability of scoring a touchdown. The results of this manuscript illustrate how a quantitative framework may be applied to a problem that impacts on team performance, and addresses a gap in the literature concerning the application of quantitative methods to sports. Empirical results are generated from the collection of data representing over 1700 football plays run by the Monmouth University football team during the past three seasons.
Relationship between iron concentration and hepatitis C virus RNA level in liver tissue.

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently have increased hepatic iron stores. The role of hepatitis C in hepatic iron deposition is unknown. The authors examined whether there is a relation between hepatitis C virus level in liver tissue and hepatic iron concentration. Forty-two paired samples obtained from the liver explants of five patients who underwent transplantation for liver disease due to hepatitis C were studied. Hepatitis C virus levels were measured at multiple sites within each liver by a branched deoxyribonucleic assay. Measurements of hepatic iron concentration were made at adjacent sites by a colorimetric assay. Random effects modeling showed wide intrahepatic variation in hepatic HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) concentration (variance = 1.2 × 10 4 [mEq/ g] 2 ) and hepatic iron concentration (variance = 1.3 × 10 6 [μg/g] 2 ). There was, however, a trend toward an association between the mean HCV level and the mean hepatic iron concentration for each liver (r = 0.30, p = 0.05). In conclusion, HCV level and iron concentration varied within and between cirrhotic livers. Variability in intrahepatic iron concentration was not related to variability in intrahepatic HCV RNA concentration. More studies are needed to determine the cause of variability in hepatic iron and HCV RNA concentration within and between livers in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Many-body theory of confined quarks and excluded pions: A perturbative study of the chiral bag

Abstract Relativistic many-body theory is developed for quarks confined to and pions excluded from a spherical cavity. Green functions for confined quarks and excluded pions are constructed to study the chiral bag perturbatively. Explicit expressions are obtained for the pion field of a general multiquark state and g A of an arbitrary nucleon configuration. The second-order energy is derived with the consistent inclusion of the self-energy and is evaluated for the case of closed shell quark configurations. The self-energy is shown numerically to be linearly divergent and its associated difficulties are discussed.
Reduction of populations of apple maggots with bait sprays.

In a preliminary field experiment in 1967 there were indications that technical malathion in a corn protein hydrolysate bait spray reduced a population of Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) when it was applied twice with a hand sprayer to foliage in an apple orchard. During the period of adult activity in 1968 the bait spray was applied weekly to the trunk and scaffold limbs. The number of adult flies trapped in 1968 in the treated orchard was reduced 99.4% compared with the number trapped in the same orchard in 1967 when it was untreated. Larval infestation in the apple fruit was reduced 93% by the treatment.
Computer Interface Design between a Master Computer and a Slave Computer for Simulation Control and Instrumentation Monitoring of the Brookhaven 200 MeV Linac Accelerator

An interface design is proposed for tie-in between a master computer and a slave computer for transferring of data and control signals between the 200 MeV Linear Accelerator and a master computer station. Report discusses device control, device selection and control for a party line I/O bus, sensing techniques, and graphic display simulation.
Synthesis and reactivity of nanophase ferrites in reverse micellar solutions

Abstract Self assembly preparative techniques in confined media that lead to magnetic materials with nanometer dimensions are described. Synthesis of nanoparticles using the restricted environments offered by surfactant systems such as water-in-oil microemulsions (reverse micelles) provide excellent control over particle size, inter-particle spacing, and particle shape. These environments have been used in the synthesis of γ-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, MnFe2O4, and CoFe2O4 with particle sizes ranging from 10–20 nm. The controlled environment of the reverse micelle also allows sequential synthesis which can produce a core-shell type structure, for example Fe3O4 nanoparticles with MnO coatings. Lyotropic liquid crystal media also offer template effects for the synthesis of magnetic nanostructures. The nanoscale ordering of magnetic particles when synthesized in lyotropic liquid crystal gels is characterized. The structures, theory and modeling concepts, and novel physical properties of these materials are discussed with emphasis given to the differences between course and fine grained magnetic materials.
Sex difference in nitric oxide synthase-dependent dilatation of cerebral arterioles during long-term alcohol consumption.

Background: Although long-term alcohol consumption impairs both endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (eNOS)–dependent and neuronal NOS (nNOS)–dependent reactivity of cerebral arterioles in male rats, the influence of sex on alcohol consumption–induced impairment of NOS–dependent cerebral vasodilation has not been examined. Therefore, the authors’ first goal was to determine whether long-term alcohol consumption alters eNOS-dependent and nNOS-dependent reactivity of pial arterioles in female rats. Their second goal was to examine potential mechanisms for impaired responses of pial arterioles during long-term alcohol consumption. Methods: Male and female rats were fed liquid diets with or without alcohol for 2–3 months. The authors measured the in vivo diameter of pial arterioles in response to eNOS-dependent agonists (acetylcholine and ADP), nNOS-dependent agonists (kainate and NMDA), and NOS–independent agonists (nitroglycerin and diethylaminodiazen (NONOate)) in the absence and presence of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Results: Topical application of acetylcholine (1.0 and 10 μM), ADP (10 and 100 μM), kainate (100 and 300 μM), and NMDA (100 and 300 μM) produced dose-related dilatation of pial arterioles. However, the magnitude of vasodilation in response to acetylcholine and ADP was significantly less in alcohol-fed male and female rats, and the magnitude of vasodilation in response to kainate and NMDA was significantly less in alcohol-fed male rats. Nitroglycerin and NONOate produced similar vasodilation in non–alcohol-fed and alcohol-fed male and female rats. Application of BH4 did not alter vasodilation in non–alcohol-fed rats but improved impaired eNOS-dependent vasodilation in alcohol-fed male and female rats. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that long-term alcohol consumption impairs eNOS-dependent but not nNOS-dependent dilatation of cerebral arterioles in female rats and that impaired eNOS-dependent vasodilation may be related to a deficiency or alteration in the utilization of BH4.
Control of the Northern Fowl Mite on Inanimate Objects by Fumigation: Field Studies

Abstract Field studies were conducted to determine the efficacies of methyl bromide and sulfur dioxide as fumigants for northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), on egg flats and egg cases. Both fumigants killed the mites within 24 hr; however, sulfur dioxide had a repulsive irritating odor, which was retained in the cardboard egg flats and egg crates and persisted for several days after exposure to the gas. When used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations for fumigating enclosed trailers and vans to control insects that attack food products, methyl bromide gave excellent control of northern fowl mites infesting inanimate materials.
Isolation and characterization of two distinct growth hormone cDNAs from the tetraploid smallmouth buffalofish (Ictiobus bubalus).

The growth hormone (GH) gene has been characterized for a number of fishes and used to establish phylogenetic relationships and population structures. Analysis of tetraploid fishes, such as salmon and some Asian cyprinids, has shown the presence of two GH genes. Fishes in the sucker family (Catostomidae, Cypriniformes) are also tetraploid, and the present study reports the isolation and characterization of two GH cDNAs from a representative species, the smallmouth buffalofish (Ictiobus bubalus). The GH cDNAs of smallmouth buffalofish are 1272 and 1273 nt in length, and each codes for a polypeptide of 210 amino acids, predicted to be cleaved to a final product of 188 aa. The GH cDNAs of smallmouth buffalofish are 6% divergent in nt sequence in the coding region, and there are 16 differences in predicted aa sequence. Because the cDNAs have distinct sequences in coding regions and in UTRs, which differed by more than 10%, they were identified as GHI and GHII. The predicted GHI protein contains 4 Cys residues, homologous to other vertebrate GH sequences. On the other hand, GHII has 5 Cys residues, homologous to other ostariophysan sequences. GHI and GHII are most similar to other cypriniform fishes for both nt and protein sequences. Phylogenetically, the sequences of smallmouth buffalofish GH consistently grouped with Asian cyprinids, but not loaches, consistent with morphological evidence suggesting that suckers are most closely related to minnows.
On the structure of CH5+; A study of hydron transfer reactions from CH4H+ and CD4H+ tandem-ICR

Abstract Relative rates of proton and deuteron transfer from CH4D+ and CD4H+ to a number of molecules were examined in a tandem-ion cyclotron resonance instrument. The results were in conflict with the recent work of Sefcik et al. and support a randomized model.
No shrinking violet: Rose Kushner and the rise of American breast cancer activism.

When 45-year-old Maryland journalist Rose Kushner felt an “elevation” in her left breast in 1974, she immediately began to research the topic of breast cancer. What most surprised her was that physicians continued to use a dramatic operation, the radical mastectomy, to treat most cases of the disease. Even worse, Kushner believed, was the routine use of the “1-step” procedure in which surgeons, having obtained a biopsy specimen mid-operation that proved positive for cancer, then performed immediate radical breast removal on the anesthetized woman. By 1975, 1 year after being diagnosed, Kushner had become America's most prominent breast cancer activist. Modern breast cancer organizations have achieved remarkable success in publicizing the disease and raising funds. Revisiting Kushner's history illuminates the choices these groups have made and underscores the ongoing challenges they face.
Risks Associated with Under‐Transfusion

SUMMARY Cardiovascular disease accounts for a majority of the deaths each year in westernized countries. Anemia, with its obligatory increase in cardiac output, may present a special risk in these patients. A review of the physiology of acute and chronic anemia as well as the physiology of myocardial ischemia is presented. A review of the literature regarding the risks and recommendations for therapy in this group of high-risk patients is presented.
Alterations in the subcellular distribution of p21ras-GTPase activating protein in proliferating rat acinar cells.

Abstract Rat parotid acinar cells undergo transient proliferation in response to chronic administration of the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol or epidermal growth factor (EGF). Treatment with these agents caused an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of p21 ras -GTPase activating protein (GAP). This phosphorylation event was accompanied by a redistribution of the protein from the plasma membrane to internal membrane compartments. Separation of subcellular membranes revealed increased GAP associated with a low density population of vesicles concomitant with growth stimulation as well as to the nuclear membrane, but not the nucleoplasm. Upon cessation of hyperplasia induced by isoproterenol, phosphorylated GAP present in the plasma membrane returned to control cell levels.
Gaining insight into long‐term effects of inviting speculation: Does recantation help?

The effects of speculation on delayed recall and on source monitoring (SM) as a recantation device were examined in first and fourth graders. Two weeks after a clown show, the speculation group recalled all actions and speculated on half. The control group recalled all actions without speculating. One month and 6 months later, all children recalled all actions. Half the children were given the opportunity to recant at I month and all children at 6 months. Even after 6 months, speculation negatively impacted recall. Only first-graders' script-consistent false responses increased with time. In the speculation group, 19% of previously given script-consistent speculations were recanted after I month and 20% after 6 months. Older children were better at recanting than younger children. Although recantation via SM immediately after 6-month recall had a positive effect, SM at 1 month had no prospective effect on 6-month recall. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.