cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial clonal expansion of germinal center B cells takes place at the perimeter of follicles

Current models of the germinal center (GC) response propose that after stimulation at the edges of T cell zones, pre-GC B cells directly migrate to the center of follicles and proliferate to form GCs. We followed the interrelationship of proliferation, differentiation, and microenvironmental locale in populations of pre-GC B cells responding to antigen. In contrast to the predictions of current models, after accumulation at the T-B interface, these cells appeared at the perimeter of follicles adjacent to the marginal zone. There, they rapidly proliferated for several days but underwent no V gene hypermutation and little heavy-chain class switching. Their chemokine receptor expression pattern indicated that these cells were sessile, yet they had begun to acquire many phenotypic characteristics of GC B cells. The expanded clones were subsequently observed in the center of follicles, suggesting that GCs are created by coalescence of B cells from this follicular perimeter response.
Simulated Amyloid Fibril Nucleation in Reverse Micelles

A recently published FTIR study has shown that the 40-residue amyloid beta (Abeta) protein forms extended beta-strands in reverse micelles, while an analogue with a scrambled sequence does not. This result suggests that the Abeta sequence is inherently amyloidogenic, and that its amyloidogenicity is enhanced in a crowded confined membrane-like environment of a reverse micelle. This result is significant because it suggests that these factors may nucleate or otherwise promote the formation of amyloid fibrils in the human brain in Alzheimer's disease. We have conducted molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type and scrambled-sequence Abeta protein in reverse micelles of the same composition studied experimentally to gain insight into the physicochemical factors that promote beta structure in wild type, but not scrambled sequence protein. Preliminary results show that the wild-type sequence does indeed form extended beta structure, while the scrambled sequence does not. The interactions stabilizing beta structure in the wild type sequence appears to be hydrogen bond formation involving amino acid side chains.
Bone Weathering in the Tropical Rain Forest

Abstract Bones deposited on the rain forest floor exhibit distinctly different surface modifications from those found in savannas. The development of weathering cracks is considerably slower than in more open environments, suggesting that the dearth of rain forest fossil assemblages is not caused by increased weathering in these environments. Ubiquitous surface modifications include green plant growth on the bone's exposed surfaces, termite-caused pitting, and extensive rodent gnawing. If preserved on fossil bone these modifications may serve as palaeoenvironmental indicators.
SULFITOLYSIS OF BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE.

Sulfite cleaves 2 of the 4 disulfide bonds in bovine growth hormone. The product possesses full biological activity. The possibility that this alteration in tertiary structure will impart activity in primates, or facilitate further alterations to an active structure, is discussed. (Endocrinology 76: 522, 1965)
On the Structure of Lost-Sales Inventory Models

We provide a new approach to the structural analysis of the standard lost-sales inventory system. This approach is, we think, easier to work with than the original one. We also derive new bounds on the optimal policy. Then, we show that more variable demand leads to higher cost. Finally, we extend the analysis to several important variations of the basic model.
The reaction of phenylpropylsilsesquioxane in the fiber spinning regime

A potential ceramic precursor, a phenylpropylsilsesquioxane co-oligomer from Petrarch Systems (Petpps), was studied under conditions where fiber spinning is performed. The reaction kinetics of residual silanols of Petpps are studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the temperature range 100–150°C. The activation energy and the reaction order of the silanol condensation reaction in the molten Petpps are determined. A combination of gel permeation chromatography, liquid chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to study the possibility of copolymerization between the phenyl and propyl silane moieties.
The Integrated Southern Pine Beetle Expert System: ISPBEX☆

Abstract The Integrated Southern Pine Beetle Expert System (ISPBEX) was developed to address the fundamental issue of pest management: how to use existing and forthcoming information for the purposes of problem solving and decision making. In this article, we define the problem of southern pine beetle management, recount the history of ISPBEX development, examine the structure and function of the implemented version of ISPBEX, and describe the knowledge system environment approach that is being used in development of the next version of the system. ISPBEX is a task-oriented knowledge-based system. It considers three aspects of integrated pest management : suppression, prevention, and utilization. These subject areas are represented as modules in ISPBEX. Each module contains specific advisors. Major emphasis has been placed on the suppression module which consists of five advisors that deal with treatments, presuppression economic evaluation, postsuppression economic evaluation, infestation forecasting, and project budgeting. The treatment advisor was Beta tested during 1989. A new version of ISPBEX is currently under development. It is an implementation of the Knowledge System Environment (KSE) concept. This new system will provide for knowledge-based interpretation of each of the different types of information and will include a facility for analysis and display of spatially referenced data.
Development of a Germanium Avalanche-Type Semiconductor Nuclear Particle Detector and Discussion of Avalanche Detector Arrays

Research on avalanche or high field types of semiconductor detectors has increased within the past two years, impelled, in part, by the great interest in the photo-detection field. We have concentrated on the surface contoured-deep junction diffusion approach while other investigators generally have pursued the use of a planar-oxide passivated-shallow diffused structures. Reported herein are results of studies of deep (25-50 microns) diffused N + P type germanium avalanche detector structures. A relatively simple closed "box" type process has been developed for diffusion of arsenic and antimony into germanium. Results of detector characteristics and multiplication measurements are presented. A concept for arrays of avalanche detectors (particularly to this time of silicon) is discussed. Results, in terms of uniformity of avalanche breakdown and gain, of a number of arrays fabricated are indicated together with the insight that this work has given to what appears to be the limitation of avalanche devices - resistivity inhomogeneities in the starting semiconductor crystal. These inhomogeneities take the form, at least in crystal produced by the floating zone technique, of micro-striations. Our example of a developed array is shown - a large area quadrature instrument that, it is hoped, will find use in detection of plutonium in wounds by detecting its 17keV X-ray emanation.
Correlation of the N ⇌ α reaction of thyroglobulin with the type of breakdown produced by papain☆

As shown by Lundgren and Williams, hog thyroglobulin undergoes a configurational reaction, known as the N ⇌ α reaction, in solutions of low ionic strength. The reaction is reversed by adding salt. Since complete conversion to the α form is not found even in distilled water, the effects of certain agents on the N ⇌ α reaction was studiedLow concentrations of urea or acid cause irreversible denaturation, but 10% dioxane shifts the equilibrium towards the α form. Sedimentation analysis was used to study the breakdown of thyroglobulin by papain in 10% dioxane. Action of the papain was stopped with iodoacetamide. In the presence of salt, when thyroglobulin is in the N form, degradation is of the one-by-one type defined by the absence of intermediates of large molecular weight. In solutions of very low salt concentration, in which the α form predominates, one finds the interrupted type of breakdown; the native protein disappears rapidly and large fragments are found. The pH, temperature and concentrations of papain and thyroglobulin were the same in these two sets of experiments. Variation of the enzyme concentration showed that the rate-limiting event in the one-by-one breakdown is catalyzed by papain. Characterization of native thyroglobulin by sedimentation and diffusion was complicated by the presence of small amounts of slower and faster sedimenting material.The sedimentation coefficient of the main component could be measured reproducibly and precisely; its dependence on total concentration is given by s25,w = 21.59 (1 − 0.147 c + 0.006 c2) S. This equation fits the results from twenty experiments with an average deviation of 0.22% over the concentration range o<c<0.8 g/100 ml. Studies with the Gouy diffusion method showed that the diffusing boundaries deviated markedly from Gaussian form, and the reproducibility of the experiments was less than usual.
Limitation of excessive myelopoiesis by the intrinsic modulation of macrophage-derived prostaglandin E

The clonal proliferation of the committed granulocyte-macrophage stem cell is controlled by a balance between mutually opposing factors, colony stimulating factor and prostaglandin E, both of monocyte-macrophage derivation. Increases beyond a critical concentration of colony stimulating factor within the local milieu of the mononuclear phagocyte induces the coincident elaboration of prostaglandin E, a self-regulated response which serves to limit the unopposed humoral stimulation of myelopoiesis.
Examining the wake structure in Saturn's rings from microwave observations over varying ring opening angles and wavelengths

Abstract Over the last 15 to 20 years several high quality, high resolution data have been taken with the very large array (VLA). These data exhibit a wide range of ring opening angles ( | B | = 0 to 26°) and wavelengths ( λ = 0.7 to 20 cm). At these wavelengths the primary flux from the rings is scattered saturnian thermal emission, with a small contribution coming from the ring particles' own thermal emission. Much of the data do show signs of asymmetries due to wakes either on the ansae or the portion of the rings which occult the planet. As in previous work, we use our Monte Carlo radiative transfer code including idealized wakes [Dunn, D.E., Molnar, L.A., Fix, J.D., 2002. Icarus 160, 132–160; Dunn, D.E., Molnar, L.A., Niehof, J.T., de Pater, I., Lissauer, J.L., 2004. Icarus 171, 183–198] to model the relative contributions of the scattered and thermal radiation emanating from the rings and compare the results to that seen in the data. Although the models do give satisfactory fits to all of our data, we find that no single model can simulate the data at all different | B | and λ . We find that one model works best for moderate and low | B | and another one at higher | B | . The main difference between these models is the ratio of the wake width to their separation. We similarly find that the 2 cm data require higher density wakes than the longer wavelength data, perhaps caused by a preponderance of somewhat smaller ring material in the wakes. We further find evidence for an increase in the physical temperature of the rings with increasing | B | . Continuous observations are required to determine whether the above results regarding variations in wake parameters with | B | and λ are indeed caused by these parameters, or instead by changes over time.
Astaxanthin protects against MPTP/MPP+-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production in vivo and in vitro

Astaxanthin (AST) is a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. We have investigated the role of AST in preventing 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced apoptosis of the substantia nigra (SN) neurons in the mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced cytotoxicity of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. In in vitro study, AST inhibits MPP+-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Preincubation of AST (50 μM) significantly attenuates MPP+-induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, AST is able to enhance the expression of Bcl-2 protein but reduce the expression of α-synuclein and Bax, and suppress the cleavage of caspase-3. Our results suggest that the protective effects of AST on MPP+-induced apoptosis may be due to its anti-oxidative properties and anti-apoptotic activity via induction of expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. Pretreatment with AST (30 mg/kg) markedly increases tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons and decreases the argyrophilic neurons compared with the MPTP model group. In summary, AST shows protection from MPP+/MPTP-induced apoptosis in the SH-SY5Y cells and PD model mouse SN neurons, and this effect may be attributable to upregulation of the expression of Bcl-2 protein, downregulation of the expression of Bax and α-synuclein, and inhibition of the activation of caspase-3. These data indicate that AST may provide a valuable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of progressive neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease.
Mono-, Di-, Tri-, and Tetracarbonyls of Copper(I), Including the Structures of Cu(CO)2(1-Bn-CB11F11) and [Cu(CO)4][1-Et-CB11F11]

A bent dicarbonyl complex and a tetrahedral tetracarbonyl complex of copper(I), isolated using polyfluorocarborane superweak anions, have been structurally and spectroscopically characterized.
Induced sensitization of tumor stroma leads to eradication of established cancer by T cells

Targeting cancer cells, as well as the nonmalignant stromal cells cross-presenting the tumor antigen (Ag), can lead to the complete destruction of well-established solid tumors by adoptively transferred Ag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). If, however, cancer cells express only low levels of the Ag, then stromal cells are not destroyed, and the tumor escapes as Ag loss variants. We show that treating well-established tumors expressing low levels of Ag with local irradiation or a chemotherapeutic drug causes sufficient release of Ag to sensitize stromal cells for destruction by CTLs. This was shown directly using high affinity T cell receptor tetramers for visualizing the transient appearance of tumor-specific peptide–MHC complexes on stromal cells. Maximum loading of tumor stroma with cancer Ag occurred 2 d after treatment and coincided with the optimal time for T cell transfer. Under these conditions, tumor rejection was complete. These findings may set the stage for developing rational clinical protocols for combining irradiation or chemotherapy with CTL therapy.
Scaling variables and dimensions

The concept of scaling dimensions is important in the physics of large systems, in particular, in the statistical mechanics of critical phenomena. The main purpose of this article is to explain and formulate this important concept in a more transparent and precise fashion. Discussion is in the framework of the $n$-component classical spin model and the renormalization group. It is emphasized that not every quantity, but only special ones, called scaling variables, have well-defined scaling dimensions. In general these variables can be derived by making use of certain parameters which are the scaling fields of Wegner. The dimensions are simply related to the exponents associated with the renormalization group. We hope to extract a fairly concrete picture by a general formulation followed by explicit determination of the scaling variables in the large-$n$ limit. Dimensions are obtained to $O(\frac{1}{n})$.
Standardization of the Channel Catfish Karyotype with Localization of Constitutive Heterochromatin and Restriction Enzyme Banding

Abstract Genetic research of fishes is hampered by lack of standardized karyotypes and reliable techniques of chromosome banding. The goal of this study was to develop a standardized karyotype of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus by a variety of banding techniques and computer-assisted analysis. Metaphase chromosomes were prepared from cultured leukocytes and kidney cells of adult and juvenile fish. Silver staining and alkali treatment methods were used to reveal nucleolus organizer regions (NOR) and the location of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands). Chromosomes were treated with 10 different restriction enzymes, stained with Giemsa, and examined for banding patterns. The chromosomal data were analyzed with two computer software packages. The 29 chromosomes were classified into eight distinct groups based on morphology and size. The NOR were located on a pair of medium-sized submetacentric chromosomes (designated as D-11); this was consistent among cells from different specimens. The C-bands were s...
Periodic solutions of a class of functional differential equations

where x(t) is a real n-vector, n > 1, and x, is an element of the Banach Space C = C([ -7, 01, R”), z b 0 fixed, defined through the relation x@) = x(t + @, -z G 8 < 0. The norm of an element cpofCis)cpJ, = _,qlt o ljcp(B)/ where II .I) is a norm in R”. .-. We assume that 9: C -+ R” is linear and continuous, g is periodic in t, ‘higher order’ in the second variable and g(t, 0,O) = 0. Our objective is to derive computable sufficient conditions for the existence of periodic solutions of (0.1) with E # 0 and 1.~1 small, which are ‘close’ to the 0 solution of (0.1) with E = 0. The treatment is done for the resonance case. The nonresonant case was considered by Halanay [l]. The motivation for looking at this problem comes from an earlier paper of Perello [2], in which he reduces the problem of finding periodic solutions of (0.1) to that of solving a finite dimensional nonlinear equation, known as the determining equation or bifurcation equation. However, since the determining equation is not given explicitly, Perello’s method is very difficult to apply at least without some further analysis. Our approach is to carry out a finite dimensional Lyapunov Schmidt reduction and to apply techniques of topological degree to the finite dimensional problem. This approach has been used by Cronin [3] and [4] for the case of o.d.e. In Section 1 we summarize parts of the theory of linear systems of f.d.e. due to Hale [5], which are relevant to our study. Refer to Hale [5] and [6] for all the results stated in this section. In Section 2 we present an abstract formulation of the bifurcation problem as a nonlinear equation in a Banach Space. In Section 3 we apply the techniques of Section 2 to equation (0.1). In Section 4 we illustrate the applicability of the method with an example.
Corner-edge structure detection and reconstruction using virtual line scanning

When the xy-coordinates of any point in a binary image are compared with a standard VIRTUAL line of y=(n/wid)x, we can program a computer to find all the continuous points in the image which have equal vertical distance yd to the line. The starting and ending points of all these continuous points are then the corner points of a potential STRAIGHT EDGE detected from the image. The (n/wid) in the virtual line is the "slope constant" of the line. wid is the width of the image frame. n is an integer running from -hgt to hgt, and hgt is the height of the image frame. If we scan the standard line by running n from -hgt to +hgt in a loop and repeat the above process for each n, we can find all potential corner points and all potential straight edges in one half of the image with slopes running from -hgt/wid to +hgt/wid. Similarly, if we do a similar loop on the standard line of x=(m/hgt)y, where m runs from -wid to +wid on equal horizontal distance xd, we will get all the potential corner points and potential straight edges in the other half of the image frame. By these means, we can get all the potential corner points and the potential straight lines in the binary picture. Then the program will refine the findings by many sub-programs to find the true geometrical lines and true corner points. The result can be saved in a very compact file and recalled very efficiently to reconstruct the "skeleton" of the original object.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Measuring conference quality by mining program committee characteristics

Bibliometrics are important measures for venue quality in digital libraries. Impacts of venues are usually the major consideration for subscription decision-making, and for ranking and recommending high-quality venues and documents. For digital libraries in the Computer Science literature domain, conferences play a major role as an important publication and dissemination outlet. However, with a recent profusion of conferences and rapidly expanding fields, it is increasingly challenging for researchers and librarians to assess the quality of conferences. We propose a set of novel heuristics to automatically discover prestigious (and low-quality) conferences by mining the characteristics of Program Committee members. We examine the proposed cues both in isolation and combination under a classification scheme. Evaluation on a collection of 2,979 conferences and 16,147 PC members shows that our heuristics, when combined, correctly classify about 92% of the conferences, with a low false positive rate of 0.035 and a recall of more than 73% for identifying reputable conferences. Furthermore, we demonstrate empirically that our heuristics can also effectively detect a set of low-quality conferences, with a false positive rate of merely 0.002. We also report our experience of detecting two previously unknown low-quality conferences. Finally, we apply the proposed techniques to the entire quality spectrum by ranking conferences in the collection.
Beginnings: An Educational Foundation for Perinatal Nurses

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program With the 2006 opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies (WPH), a large tertiary care hospital, an influx of graduate nurses were hired. To provide optimum patient care for this specialty population, it was identified that standardized education was needed. Proposed Change Information received from hospital administration, clinical managers, and educators served as the basis for the new course, Beginnings, which started in January 2008. The format was developed to provide novice nurses with an all‐inclusive women and newborn educational experience. Course presentations utilized the 2008 Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Newborn Nurses (AWHONN) Perinatal and Education Program (POEP). Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The course began as a 7‐day class and soon evolved into a 2‐week comprehensive program. Format and presentations blended didactics with case studies, simulations, and clinical opportunities. Additionally, the focus on student guidance and support was emphasized. Requirements for successful course completion included daily assessments and a post test with a minimum score of 84%. The Beginnings class was recognized as “core” specialty‐education in women and newborn care for novice nurses, as well as for all nurses entering all areas of women's services at WPH. Course evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. After the fact, it was noted that the retention rate was greater than 90% for those that attended the Beginnings course from January 2008 through December 2011. Implications for Nursing Practice Development of the Beginnings class continues to serve as the foundation of nursing knowledge for the graduate nurse by incorporating the Nursing Professional Practice Model and Magnet components, which utilize evidence‐based practice, provide standardization, and support nursing practice for optimum patient‐first care.
Potassium ions as vasodilators: role of inward rectifier potassium channels.

External potassium ions have long been known as mediators of vasodilation of several vascular beds, including the coronary and cerebral circulations.1 2 3 4 5 6 Indeed, potassium ions have been viewed as communicators of the metabolic state of the cells that surround blood vessels. For example, release of potassium ions from neurons is communicated through glial cells to regulate cerebral artery diameter.7 Recently, it has been suggested that the potassium ions from endothelial cells may signal smooth muscle to relax and, as such, may constitute an endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor.8 Two targets of external potassium ions have been proposed: the Na+/K+ ATPase and the inward rectifier potassium channel.1 5 9 An elevation of external potassium causes very different responses of these two molecular targets. The electrogenic Na+/K+ ATPase is activated by external potassium with a half-activation constant of about 1 to 2 …
China and Vietnam: The Politics of Asymmetry

1. General overview Part I. Basic Structure: 2. The parameters of China's external posture 3. Vietnam's basic parameters 4. The politics of asymmetry Part II. The Relational Dynamic: 5. From the beginnings to Vietnamese independence 6. Unequal empires 7. The brotherhood of oppression 8. Lips and teeth: 1949-75 9. Illusions of victory: 1975-90 10. From normalization to normalcy 11. Change and structure in asymmetry.
Complete In Situ Laser Monitoring of HgCdTe/CdTe/ZnTe Growth onto GaAs Substrates

Abstract Specular HeNe laser reflectance has been used as a continuous in situ monitor of growth rate, thickness and composition during the growth of multilayer films of Hg 1- x Cd x Te(MCT)/CdTe/ZnTe onto GaAs (100)10° → (110) substrates. Accurate in situ monitoring has enabled thickness measurement of the thin ZnTe nucleation layer which has been shown to critically influence the X-ray rocking curve widths in the CdTe buffer layer. Monitoring of the alternate layers of HgTe and CdTe in the interdiffused multilayer process (IMP) has identified growth rate instabilities and subsequent improvement in uniformity. This, the first complete in situ monitoring of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth, has resulted in new insights into the growth process.
Involvement of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in nicotine-induced relaxation of the rat gastric fundus.

Nicotine-induced relaxation and release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI)-like immunoreactivity (LI) were measured in longitudinal muscle strips from the rat gastric fundus. Under non-cholinergic conditions (0.3μm atropine), nicotine (3–300 μm) produced concentration-dependent relaxations of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (3μm)-precontracted strips. Under non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) conditions (0.3μm atropine+1μm phentolamine+1μm nadolol), relaxations induced by sub-maximal nicotine concentrations (10 and 30μm) were significantly smaller, while that produced by the highest concentration used (300μm) was similar to that seen under non-cholinergic conditions. Re-exposure to the same nicotine concentration 1h later induced smaller relaxations, indicating desensitization. The reductions seen in the second responses were proportional to the concentration used. Under non-cholinergic conditions, the relaxant response to 30μm nicotine was abolished by hexamethonium (100μm) and significantly reduced by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 3μm). The TTX-resistant component was not observed under NANC conditions. NANC relaxation induced by 30μm nicotine was significantly reduced by a specific anti-VIP serum (approximately 35% less than that seen with normal rabbit serum). Nicotine (30–300μm) caused significant, concentration-dependent increases in the outflow of VIP- and PHI-LI from the strips; these effects were also diminished with re-exposure. The increases in both types of immunoreactivity evoked by nicotine (300μm) were abolished by hexamethonium (300μm), TTX (3μm) and a calcium-free medium. These findings indicate that VIP and possibly PHI are involved in NANC relaxation of the rat gastric fundus induced by nicotine.
Exploring the Moderating Effect of Trust and Privacy in the Adoption of Application Service Providers in the Healthcare Industry

Understanding the antecedents to the adoption of information technology is important to both technology firms and policy analysts that study the effects of technology adoption on healthcare. This paper uses a transactional cost approach to investigate the role of trust and privacy as moderators in the adoption of Application Service Providers (ASPs) as a new form of information technology outsourcing in the healthcare industry within the current regulatory climate created by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The analysis utilized a seven-stage measure to capture adoption. Our analysis showed that Transactions costs and the antecedents of transaction costs were highly significant in the ASP adoption process. The direct and moderated effects of Trust and Privacy were not significant.
Errors in Skin Temperature Measurements

Numerical simulation is used to investigate the accuracy of a direct-contact device for measuring skin-surface temperature. A variation of thermal conductivity of the foam has greater effect on the error rather than a variation of the blood perfusion rate. For a thermal conductivity of zero, an error of 1.5 oC in temperature was identified. For foam pad conductivities of 0.03 and 0.06 W/m-oC, the errors are 0.5 and 0.15 oC. For the transient study, with k=0 W/m-oC, it takes 4,900 seconds for the temperature to reach steady state compared with k=0.03 W/m-oC and k=0.06 W/m-oC where it takes 3,000 seconds. The configuration without the foam and in presence of an air gap between the skin surface and the sensor gives the most uniform temperature profile.
Relationship between psychotherapy skills and level of training in a psychiatric residency program

Abstract Five 1st-year, six 2nd-year, and six 3rd-year residents in psychiatry wrote responses to the Carkhuff (1969) communication scale. These were scored according to level of facilitative communication, shown in previous research to relate to patient progress in psychotherapy. The study failed to find expected superior skills in the advanced residents as compared to the novices. Consideration of providing specific training in facilitative communication is urged.
Ulex europeus type I agglutinin detects carcinoembryonic antigen in extracts of human colorectal carcinoma.

Recent interest has focused on fucosylated epitopes expressed on human neoplasms. The plant lectin Ulex europus agglutinin, Type I (UEA) binds fucosylated oligosac-charides, while UEA-reactive substances have a tissue distribution similar to carci-noembryonic antigen (CEA). We sought to determine if UEA reacted with CEA in extracts of fresh primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas and paired normal tissues. The extracts were electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose membranes after the proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE in 10% polyacrylamide gels. The transfer membranes were then stained with peroxidase-conjugated UEA (UEA-P) or antibody to CEA (CEA-P). UEA-P reacted with a 170-190-kDa band in extracts of 22 of 30 primary tumors, 10 of 12 metastases, but only 1 of 5 villous adenomas. UEA-P generally did not react with normal colon or liver extracts. UEA-P also did not bind to 170–190-kDa molecules in Western transfers of a breast carcinoma metastatic to bowel and a focal nodular hyperplasia of liver. CEA-P displayed similar reactivity and detected CEA in a tumor extract negative for UEA. Fucose blocked binding of UEA-P to Western transfers of tumor extracts. CEA-P reacted with a 170–190-kDa substance in tumor extracts eluted with fucose from a column of immobilized UEA. Thus, UEA reacts with fucosylated oligosaccharides on most, but not all, species of CEA and may be a useful adjunct to anti-CEA immunohis-tochemistry.
Endoscopic ultrasound: it's accuracy in evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy? A meta-analysis and systematic review.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA) in evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy. METHODS: Only EUS and EUS-FNA studies confirmed by surgery or with appropriate follow-up were selected. Articles were searched in Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane control trial registry. Only studies from which a 2 × 2 table could be constructed for true positive, false negative, false positive and true negative values were included. Two reviewers independently searched and extracted data. The differences were resolved by mutual agreement. Meta-analysis for the accuracy of EUS was analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios. Pooling was conducted by both Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity of studies was tested using Cochran’s Q test based upon inverse variance weights. RESULTS: Data was extracted from 76 studies (n = 9310) which met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 44 studies used EUS alone and 32 studies used EUS-FNA. FNA improved the sensitivity of EUS from 84.7% (95% CI: 82.9-86.4) to 88.0% (95% CI: 85.8-90.0). With FNA, the specificity of EUS improved from 84.6% (95% CI: 83.2-85.9) to 96.4% (95% CI: 95.3-97.4). The P for chi-squared heterogeneity for all the pooled accuracy estimates was > 0.10. CONCLUSION: EUS is highly sensitive and specific for the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and FNA substantially improves this. EUS with FNA should be the diagnostic test of choice for evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Medical Management of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Although anal cancer is a rare disease in the general population, its incidence is growing in both men and women by about 2 % per year. However, the incidence is substantially higher among certain populations, most notably men who have sex with men and immunosuppressed individuals, including those with human immunodeficiency virus. High-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN; anal intraepithelial neoplasia [AIN] grades 2/3) is the precursor of anal cancer, and treatment of HGAIN has the potential to reduce the overall incidence of anal cancer. This is an emerging area, with efforts being made in many locations to establish screening programs targeted to at-risk individuals, followed by high-­resolution anoscopy and biopsy to establish the grade of AIN and to exclude anal cancer. The proctologist, general surgeon, and colorectal surgeon are key members of the AIN management team. Initial treatment for HGAIN should be mostly office-based and may be performed by surgeons or nonsurgeons. However, surgeons play a key role by performing operating theater–based procedures, including examination under anesthesia of lesions too large to be adequately assessed in the office and wide local excision or ablation of lesions not amenable to office-based procedures. Surgical back-up also is necessary to handle complications of office-based procedures, such as bleeding or abscess formation.
The definition of stability in models with perfect foresight

Abstract Frequently the stationary states of decentralized models with perfect foresight and more than one asset are saddlepoints. In this note we develop a distinction between “historical” and “nonhistorical” variables. Then we use the distinction to define economic concepts of “weak” and “strong” local asymptotic stability—which apply even for some saddlepoints. We conclude with three examples.
Aged Garlic Extract, a Modulator of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Dose-Finding Study on the Effects of AGE on Platelet Functions

Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been shown previously to have moderate cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-reducing effects. We have now investigated whether platelet function, a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can be inhibited by AGE administration. In a randomized, double-blind study of normal healthy individuals (n = 34), both men and women, the effect of AGE was evaluated in doses between 2.4 and 7.2 g/d vs. equal amounts of placebo. Platelet aggregation and adhesion were measured at 2-wk intervals throughout the study. Threshold concentrations for epinephrine and collagen increased moderately during AGE administration compared with the placebo and baseline periods. Only at the highest supplementation level did AGE show a slight increase in the threshold level of ADP-induced aggregation. Platelet adhesion to collagen, fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor was investigated by perfusing whole blood through a laminar flow chamber under controlled flow conditions. Adherence of platelets was inhibited by AGE in a dose-dependent manner when collagen was the adhesive surface perfused at low shear rates ( approximately 30 s(-1)). At high shear rates (1200 s(-1)), AGE also inhibited platelet adhesion to collagen but only at higher intake levels. Adhesion to von Willebrand factor was reduced only at 7.2 g/d AGE, but adherence to fibrinogen was potently inhibited at all levels of supplementation. Thus, AGE exerts selective inhibition on platelet aggregation and adhesion, platelet functions that may be important for the development of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. We briefly review the effect of garlic preparations in general on cardiovascular risk factors and point out differences between AGE and other garlic preparations that we feel are important to explain the efficacy of AGE.
Teaching Decoding With an Emphasis on Phoneme Analysis and Phoneme Blending

This article describes a project that integrated basic educational research, the development of an instructional program, and its evaluation in a classroom setting. The program, called The ABDs of Reading, provided explicit training in phoneme analysis and phoneme blending, letter-sound correspondences, and decoding. Recent research indicating the importance of phoneme skills in beginning reading provided a rationale for the program. The results of 2 years of program evaluation in New York City classrooms for learning-disabled children indicated that the program successfully teaches general decoding strategies. That is, instructed children were able to decode novel combinations of letters that were not presented in training. No extensive teachertraining, teacher-aides, or other unusual classroom support was required. The purpose of this article is to describe an instructional program that teaches basic decoding skills to learning-disabled children, to present the rationale for its development, and to present results of field trials designed to evaluate its effectiveness. The project was undertaken primarily to develop and evaluate curriculum materials. The work that was done addresses questions of current research interest and describes a process whereby basic educational research can be translated into usable school materials. The program was developed to serve as a supplement to whatever reading program is being used in the classroom. In the work to be reported here, it was used in remedial instruction. The program's instructional
Correlation functions of geometric sequences

This paper considers the cross-correlation function values of a family of binary sequences obtained born finite geometries. These values are shown to depend on the intersection of hyperplanes in a projective space and the cross-correlation function values of the nonlinear feedforward functions used in the construction of the geometric sequences.
Early experiences in developing and managing the neuroscience gateway

The last few decades have seen the emergence of computational neuroscience as a mature field where researchers are interested in modeling complex and large neuronal systems and require access to high performance computing machines and associated cyber infrastructure to manage computational workflow and data. The neuronal simulation tools, used in this research field, are also implemented for parallel computers and suitable for high performance computing machines. But using these tools on complex high performance computing machines remains a challenge because of issues with acquiring computer time on these machines located at national supercomputer centers, dealing with complex user interface of these machines, dealing with data management and retrieval. The Neuroscience Gateway is being developed to alleviate and/or hide these barriers to entry for computational neuroscientists. It hides or eliminates, from the point of view of the users, all the administrative and technical barriers and makes parallel neuronal simulation tools easily available and accessible on complex high performance computing machines. It handles the running of jobs and data management and retrieval. This paper shares the early experiences in bringing up this gateway and describes the software architecture it is based on, how it is implemented, and how users can use this for computational neuroscience research using high performance computing at the back end. We also look at parallel scaling of some publicly available neuronal models and analyze the recent usage data of the neuroscience gateway.
Cell Invasion and Matricide during Photorhabdus luminescens Transmission by Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Nematodes

Many animals and plants have symbiotic relationships with beneficial bacteria. Experimentally tractable models are necessary to understand the processes involved in the selective transmission of symbiotic bacteria. One such model is the transmission of the insect-pathogenic bacterial symbionts Photorhabdus spp. by Heterorhabditis bacteriophora infective juvenile (IJ)-stage nematodes. By observing egg-laying behavior and IJ development, it was determined that IJs develop exclusively via intrauterine hatching and matricide (i.e., endotokia matricida). By transiently exposing nematodes to fluorescently labeled symbionts, it was determined that symbionts infect the maternal intestine as a biofilm and then invade and breach the rectal gland epithelium, becoming available to the IJ offspring developing in the pseudocoelom. Cell- and stage-specific infection occurs again in the pre-IJ pharyngeal intestinal valve cells, which helps symbionts to persist as IJs develop and move to a new host. Synchronous with nematode development are changes in symbiont and host behavior (e.g., adherence versus invasion). Thus, Photorhabdus symbionts are maternally transmitted by an elaborate infectious process involving multiple selective steps in order to achieve symbiont-specific transmission.
Efficacy and safety of cefovecin (Convenia) for the treatment of urinary tract infections in dogs.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of cefovecin (ConveniaTM; Pfizer Animal Health) in the treatment of urinary tract infections in dogs. Methods: A multi-centre, blinded, randomised study was conducted in 129 dogs with urinary tract infections. Cephalexin (RilexineTM) administered twice daily at 15 mg/kg bodyweight orally for 14 days was compared with a single, subcutaneous injection of cefovecin (ConveniaTM) in dogs. The primary efficacy parameter assessed was bacterial elimination of the pretreatment uropathogen. Results: One hundred and twenty-nine dogs were included in efficacy assessments. Escherichia coli was eliminated in 90·5 per cent of cefovecin-treated dogs compared with 52·9 per cent of cephalexin-treated dogs (P=0·0004). Overall cure rates for dogs with Escherichia coli infections were 79·1 per cent for cefovecin and 36·4 per cent for cephalexin-treated dogs (P=0·0003). There were no suspected adverse drug reactions attributed to treatment with cefovecin or cephalexin. Clinical Significance: Cefovecin was shown to be an effective and safe treatment for urinary tract infections.
CAPITAL BUDGETING DECISIONS WHEN CASH FLOWS AND PROJECT LIVES ARE STOCHASTIC AND DEPENDENT

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to develop an operational economic state and simulation capital budgeting procedure for allowing cash flows and project lives to be dependent and (2) to provide empirical evidence of the impact of stochastic project lives on mean-variance and mean-semivariance capital budgeting decisions. The required number of input estimates for the proposed model is small. For individual projects, incorrectly assuming deterministic project lives when project lives are stochastic often results in large overestimates of expected net present values and large underestimates of the variance of the net present value. Similar results occur for the mean-variance and mean-semivariance portfolio models. The primary managerial implication of this study is that the inclusion of stochastic project lives in capital budgeting decisions is critical to obtain appropriate risk-return estimates.
Hydroclimatological impact of century-long drainage in midwestern United States: CCSM sensitivity experiments

[1] Community Climate System Model (CCSM3) sensitivity experiments are performed to investigate the impact of past wetland drainage on the hydroclimatology of midwestern United States (MW USA). Coupled land surface and atmospheric components of CCSM3 are used at T85 (∼140 km) horizontal grid mesh size to create four control model experiments. These include: (1) 355 ppm CO2 for year 1990 excluding wetland (present condition), (2) 355 ppm CO2 for 1990 including wetland, (3) 289 ppm CO2 for year 1870 excluding wetland, and (4) 289 ppm CO2 for year 1870 including wetland. The CCSM3 control run for the present condition is validated with high-resolution North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) data for the Midwest region. Validation results show that CCSM3 is reasonable in simulating at-surface incoming solar radiation, net short-wave radiation, and 2 m air temperature. However, partitioning of net radiation into sensible and latent heat fluxes is imprecise, and summer precipitation is largely underestimated in CCSM3. To remove any biases in CCSM3 output, results from sensitivity experiments are analyzed in terms of difference in monthly climatology. Sensitivity experiment results show significant changes in summer sensible and latent heat fluxes due to wetland drainage. Near-surface (2 m) air temperature has significantly increased, and convective precipitation has decreased by a small amount (∼50 mm) during the summer. Except for 2 m air temperature which is affected by both greenhouse gas emission–based climate change and wetland drainage over the last century, all other climatic variables are primarily affected by wetland drainage in the region.
Sex Differences in Prognosis for Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

PURPOSE: Whether recent improvements in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have nullified the adverse prognosis associated with male sex remains unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the survival experience and presenting clinical and laboratory features of boys and girls with newly diagnosed ALL who were treated at our institution over the past three decades. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One thousand one hundred fifty-one boys and 904 girls were treated in 13 consecutive Total Therapy studies between 1962 and 1994. An overview analysis was used to investigate the impact of sex on overall and event-free survival, both for the entire cohort and for subgroups defined by treatment era and blast-cell immunophenotype. Stratified analyses were performed to adjust for treatment protocol and known risk factors, and in the modern treatment era, for protocol, immunophenotype, and the DNA content of leukemic cells (ie, DNA index). The pharmacokinetics of methotrexate, teniposide, and cytarabine, as wel...