cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascaris suum NAD-malic enzyme is activated by L-malate and fumarate binding to separate allosteric sites.

The kinetic mechanism of activation of the mitochondrial NAD-malic enzyme from the parasitic roundworm Ascaris suum has been studied using a steady-state kinetic approach. The following conclusions are suggested. First, malate and fumarate increase the activity of the enzyme in both reaction directions as a result of binding to separate allosteric sites, i.e., sites that exist in addition to the active site. The binding of malate and fumarate is synergistic with the K(act) decreasing by >or=10-fold at saturating concentrations of the other activator. Second, the presence of the activators decreases the K(m) for pyruvate 3-4-fold, and the K(i) (Mn) >or=20-fold in the direction of reductive carboxylation; similar effects are obtained with fumarate in the direction of oxidative decarboxylation. The greatest effect of the activators is thus expressed at low reactant concentrations, i.e., physiologic concentrations of reactant, where activation of >or=15-fold is observed. A recent crystallographic structure of the human mitochondrial NAD malic enzyme [13] shows fumarate bound to an allosteric site. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change R105, homologous to R91 in the fumarate activator site of the human enzyme, to alanine. The R105A mutant enzyme exhibits the same maximum rate and V/K(NAD) as does the wild-type enzyme, but 7-8-fold decrease in both V/K(malate) and V/K(Mg), indicating the importance of this residue in the activator site. In addition, neither fumarate nor malate activates the enzyme in either reaction direction. Finally, a change in K143 (a residue in a positive pocket adjacent to that which contains R105), to alanine results in an increase in the K(act) for malate by about an order of magnitude such that it is now of the same magnitude as the K(m) for malate. The K143A mutant enzyme also exhibits an increase in the K(act) for fumarate (in the absence of malate) from 200 microM to about 25 mM.
Numerical aspects of nonreinforcement: The same-phase nonreinforcement procedure

To test the hypothesis that distinctive internal representations are associated with number of successively presented nonreinforcements, four investigations employed rats in a discrete trial runway task (go/no-go), in which the smaller number of nonreinforcements was a signal for reinforcement (S+ cue), the larger number of nonreinforcements was a signal for nonreinforcement (S− cue). Consistent with the hypothesis under test, discriminative responding increased as the numerical difference between the S+ and S− cues increased. These results are highly similar to those previously obtained employing the conventional extinction procedure. However, unlike extinction data, the present findings cannot be interpreted without reference to numerical representations because better experimental control was employed here than has been in conventional extinction investigations. It was suggested that rats are capable of enumerating, or counting, successive nonreinforcements and that the tendency of rats to enumerate all types of reinforcing events is of importance for understanding not merely extinction, but a wide array of learning phenomena.
Postcranial sex estimation criteria for Mexican Hispanics

Population-specific reference data are necessary for sex estimation in forensic anthropological practice. Currently, there are no population-specific data for Hispanics equivalent to data available for American Blacks and Whites. Individuals of Mexican origin represent the largest group of Hispanics in the United States (Spradley and Jantz. 2011. J Forensic Sci;56:289). This paper presents new population-specific sex estimation criteria for postcranial measurements for Mexican Hispanics. Metric data come from positively identified border-crossing fatalities at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner and documented cemetery collections curated at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. Stepwise variable selection procedures and discriminant function analyses were utilized to generate classification functions for postcrania. Sectioning points were also created for select measurements. Both the cross-validated classification rates and sectioning points achieved accuracy rates as high as 95% and 92%, respectively. These new criteria will improve sex estimation for US Mexico border crossers and Hispanics in the US.
Pleiotropic targets: the problem of shared signaling circuitry in rheumatoid arthritis disease progression and protection

The immune response is replete with feedback control at many levels. These protective circuits are even functional within the arthritic joint, tempering disease to varying extents. An optimal therapy would inhibit autoimmune processes while maintaining protective circuitry. However, many of the cells and proteins that serve as important mediators of disease progression also play an active role in these protective circuits. The hypothesis considered in this review is that the inadvertent inhibition of protective circuitry adversely affects efficacy. Conversely, if therapeutics can be designed, which avoid inhibiting known regulatory circuits, efficacy will be improved. Understanding where these processes share signaling molecules will be crucial to the development of the next generation of therapeutics. This review discusses three well-defined signal transduction cascades; IL-2, IFNγ and TNF-α, and demonstrate within two cell types, T cells and macrophages, how these cytokines may contribute both to protec...
Solvolytische Schliessung von Kohlenstoffringen

Neuere kinetische Studien ergaben, das Kohlenstoffdoppelbindungen bei geeigneter Lage in Molekeln, die gleichzeitig einen als Anion abspaltbaren Substituenten enthalten, als intramolekulares Nucleophil wirken konnen. Dies zeigt sich an einer leichteren Ionisierung und fuhrt zum Ringschlus. Die Reaktionsprodukte lassen einen stereospezifischen Reaktionsverlauf erkennen, der nur durch Bildung eines verbruckten Ions mit delokalisierter Ladung deutbar ist (z. B. sind die isomeren Systeme XIX ⇌ XVII und XXIV ⇌ XXIIIa ⇌ XXV vollstandig getrennt). Die Doppelbindung im Hexen-(5)-yl-[p-nitrobenzolsulfonat] ubt in Essigsaure eine schwache nucleophile Beschleunigung unter teilweiser Bildung von Cyclohexylacetat aus. Der von der Doppelbindung ausgehende Einflus hangt erheblich von der Geometrie der Molekel ab; durch eine „breitseitige Annaherung” der Doppelbindung an das ionisierende Zentrum wird er stark erhoht. Diese Untersuchungen sind fur die Rolle der Doppelbindung bei der Biosynthese von Isoprenoiden von Bedeutung.
Stable habitual domains: existence and implications

Abstract Conditions for the number of elements in habitual domains and for the activation propensity of each element in the habitual domains to become stabilized are described. The formation of stable states implies enduring personality and attitudes and conditioned or programmed behavior. Some important implications for decision analysis, high-stake decision problems, optimality, gaming and conflict resolution, and career management are also discussed.
Material culture studies

Miles Richardson, ed. The Human Mirror: Material and Spatial Images of Man. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1974. xxiv + 366 pp. Illustrations, maps, figures, tables, and chapter references. $15.00.
Combining the evidence of multiple query representations for information retrieval

Abstract We report on two studies in the TREC-2 program that investigated the effect on retrieval performance of combination of multiple representations of TREC topics. In one of the projects, five separate Boolean queries for each of the 50 TREC routing topics and 25 of the TREC ad hoc topics were generated by 75 experienced online searchers. Using the INQUERY retrieval system, these queries were both combined into single queries, and used to produce five separate retrieval results for each topic. In the former case, progressive combination of queries led to progressively improving retrieval performance, significantly better than that of single queries, and at least as good as the best individual single-query formulations. In the latter case, data fusion of the ranked lists also led to performance better than that of any single list. In the second project, two automatically produced vector queries and three versions of a manually produced P-norm extended Boolean query for each routing and ad hoc topic were compared and combined. This project investigated six different methods of combination of queries, and the combination of the same queries on different databases. As in the first project, progressive combination led to progressively improving results, with the best results, on average, being achieved by combination through summing of retrieval status values. Both projects found that the best method of combination often led to results that were better than the best performing single query. The combined results from the two projects have also been combined by data fusion. The results of this procedure show that combining evidence from completely different systems also leads to performance improvement.
The coronary collateral circulation in living man

Abstract The coronary arteriograms of 100 patients studied in our laboratory were reviewed and searched for the presence or absence of coronary collaterals. Fiftythree had either normal coronary arteriograms or less than 50 per cent lumen reduction. We found no collaterals in this group. The remaining 47 patients had more than 50 per cent lumen reduction of one or more of the main trunks or major branches. There was collateral circulation in 37 cases. Five had normal electrocardiograms. In 13, the existence of collaterals was inferred by visualization of an artery distal to a complete occlusion or from its opacification after injection of contrast agent into the heterolateral artery. In the remaining 24, continuity could be traced from the feeding artery through the collateral vessel into the recipient vessel. We describe several patterns of anastomotic pathways. The presence of coronary collaterals is a reliable indication of severe coronary artery disease and may account for a normal resting electrocardiogram even in patients with major arterial occlusion.
Carrier recombination dynamics in individual CdSe nanowires

Carrier dynamics in single CdSe nanowires (NWs) have been studied using various techniques. They include measurements of single wire emission intensities as a function of pump fluence, excitation intensity-dependent emission quantum yields, and excited-state lifetimes. Ensemble transient differential absorption studies of induced bleach dynamics have also been conducted. Results of these studies show superlinear growth of the emission intensity as a function of excitation intensity. This is corroborated by single nanowire emission quantum yields that vary as a function of excitation fluence and range from 0.1% to values over 10%. At the same time, measured emission lifetimes are short (100 ps) while the nanowire band-edge bleach persists for over a nanosecond. To explain all of the abovementioned results, a kinetic model that accounts for both the nature of photogenerated carriers within the wires as well as their subsequent recombination dynamics has been developed.
A Three-Dimensional Numerical Model of the Sea Breezes Over South Florida

Abstract An eight-level three-dimensional primitive equation model which includes a detailed boundary layer parameterization scheme has been used to describe the initiation and evolution of sea-breeze convergence patterns over south Florida as a function of the surface heat and momentum fluxes and of the large-scale synoptic forcing. A minimum grid spacing of 11 km was used. Model results are presented for several different initial conditions and the results, when compared against cumulus cloud and shower patterns, demonstrate that the dry sea-breeze circulations are the dominant control on the locations of thunderstorm complexes over south Florida on undisturbed days. It is also shown that, in contrast to the differential roughness, the differential heating between land and water over south Florida is the primary determinant of the magnitudes of convergence. The values of surface roughness, however, indirectly influence convergence patterns by affecting the intensity of the vertical turbulent transport o...
Drug response profiles to experimental pain are opioid and pain modality specific.

Abstract Given our limited ability to predict analgesic efficacy, further research is needed to understand factors influencing analgesic response patterns. The aim of this study was to better understand the relationship between morphine and butorphanol analgesic efficacy tested against multiple pain modalities within the same individuals. Participants included healthy men (n = 72) and women (n = 67) who underwent thermal, pressure, and ischemic experimental pain testing before and after the double-blind administration of morphine and butorphanol during separate testing sessions. Factor analysis revealed 6 factors with analgesic effects grouped primarily by pain modality and specific to either morphine or butorphanol. Hierarchical cluster analysis of individual factor scores led to 4 distinct drug response profiles. Three groups displayed exceptional analgesic efficacy produced by 1 type of opioid on 1 pain stimulus modality, whereas the fourth drug response profile was characterized by average analgesic efficacy across all pain modalities for both opioids. These findings suggest that opioids with varying efficacy at the μ and κ receptors produce independent effects on unique pain mechanisms and that individual responsiveness for some is dependent on pain mechanism and opioid type, although a subset of the population is moderately responsive to opioids regardless of efficacy of receptor binding or predominant pain mechanism being activated. Perspective This investigation provides a foundation for understanding patterns of opioid efficacy in varying types of pain. Our findings suggest that opioid response patterns are more complex than originally thought with about half of individuals exhibiting opioid and pain modality specific analgesic response profiles.
Fast-track cardiac surgery in a Department of Veterans Affairs patient population.

Abstract Background. "Fast-track" (FT) cardiac surgery is popular in the private and university sectors. This study was designed to examine its safety and efficacy in the Department of Veterans Affairs elderly, male patient population, a population with multiple comorbid risk factors, often decreased social functioning, and impaired support systems. Methods. Time to extubation, hospital length of stay, perioperative morbidity, and mortality were studied in two consecutive cohorts undergoing cardiac operations requiring cardiopulmonary bypass before (pre-FT: n=255, January 1992 to September 1993) and after (FT: n=304, October 1993 to October 1995) institution of an FT protocol at a university-affiliated teaching Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. Preoperative risk factors, including a Department of Veterans Affairs risk-adjusted estimate of operative mortality, and perioperative surgical and anesthetic processes of care were evaluated. Results. The mean Department of Veterans Affairs risk estimate of perioperative mortality was not different between the pre-FT and FT cohorts (3.5% versus 3.7%, p = 0.13). In the FT cohort, median time to extubation decreased significantly (19.2 versus 10.2 hours; p p p p p = 0.48). Postoperative morbidity was similar between groups except for nosocomial pneumonia, the rate of which decreased significantly in the FT cohort (14.7% versus 7.3%; p p = 0.69) and 6-month mortality (6.7% versus 6.9%; p = 0.91) were unchanged. Conclusions. An FT cardiac surgery protocol has been instituted in a university-affiliated teaching Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, with decreased length of stay and no significant increase in postoperative morbidity, 30-day mortality, or 6-month mortality. It was associated with a lower rate of nosocomial pneumonia, a finding that must be validated in a prospective study.
Serologic survey of Eptesicus fuscus from Georgia, U.S.A. for Rickettsia and Borrelia and laboratory transmission of a Rickettsia by bat ticks

Bats and their ectoparasites are associated with bacterial agents of unknown pathogenicity. We tested sera from 56 Eptesicus fuscus from Georgia against Borrelia hermsii, Orientia tsutsugamushi, Rickettsia conorii, and Rickettsia rickettsii. We detected antibodies reactive against a relapsing fever Borrelia and spotted fever group Rickettsia in 3/56 and 1/56 bats, respectively. We attempted to culture Bartonella from the blood of these bats but were unsuccessful. In addition, we fed bat ticks, Carios kelleyi, infected with Rickettsia on a specific pathogen-free guinea pig. The guinea pig had a weak seroconversion to R. rickettsii with a peak titer of 1:32 starting on day 14. Rickettsia was not detected in any of the tissue samples from the guinea pig by molecular means. Our results indicate that E. fuscus is naturally exposed to both a spotted fever group Rickettsia and a relapsing fever group Borrelia. If these agents are transmitted by bat ticks, then people living in close proximity to bat ticks might be exposed.
AFM, SEM and in situ RHEED study of Cu texture evolution on amorphous carbon by oblique angle vapor deposition

The evolution of the crystal orientation of a Cu film grown on an amorphous carbon substrate without intentional heating under 75±6° oblique angle vapor deposition was investigated ex-situ by atomic force microscopy AFM and scanning electron microscopy SEM, and in-situ by reflection high-energy electron diffraction RHEED. At the initial stage of growth 12 nm thick the diffraction patterns showed uniform rings indicating random nucleations of crystals. With more Cu depositions 100 nm thick the diffraction pattern started to break symmetrically from the middle of the 111 and 200 rings representing the absence of 111 and 200 planes parallel to the substrate. However, after this transition stage, at the thickness of 410 nm, the intensity distribution of diffraction patterns appeared asymmetric about the middle of the rings, which is interpreted as the appearance of a tilted 111 texture. Finally the diffraction patterns developed into separated short arcs and showed only a 1111 ¯10 II-O two-orientation texture. By comparing RHEED patterns with the SEM and AFM images of the final film, we argue that the tilted columns having tilted 111 top faces dominate in the later stage of growth. Furthermore, considering the geometry of crystals and shadowing effects, we argue that the vertices of columns having the highest growth velocity normal to the substrate and therefore receiving the maximum flux will dominate the film growth and determine the tilt angle of the texture and the preference of the azimuthal angle orientation.
Microdosimetric characterisation of radiation fields for modelling tissue response in radiotherapy

Purpose: Our overall goal is the development of an approach to model tissue response to radiotherapy in which a tissue is viewed as a statistical ensemble of interacting cells. This involves characterisation of radiation fields on the spatial scale of subcellular structures. On this scale, the spatial distribution of radiation energy imparted to tissue is highly non-uniform and should be characterised in statistical terms. Microdosimetry provides a formalism developed for that purpose. This study addresses limitations of the standard microdosimetric approach to modelling tissue response by introducing two new characteristics that include additional information in a form convenient for this application. Methods : The standard microdosimetric approach is based on the concept of a sensitive volume (SV) representing a target volume in the cell. It is considered in isolation from other SVs, implying that energy depositions in different SVs are statistically independent and that individual cells respond to radiation independent of each other. In this study, we examined the latter approximation through analysis of correlation functions. All calculations were performed with Geant4-DNA Monte Carlo code. Results: We found that for some realistic scenarios, spatial correlations of deposited energy can be significant. Two new characteristics of radiation fields are proposed. The first is the specific energy-volume histogram (zVH), which is a microscopic analogue of the dose-volume histogram. The second describes the probability distribution of deposited energies in two SVs without assuming statistical independence between the SVs. Numerical examples for protons and carbon ions of therapeutic energies are presented and discussed. Conclusion: We extended the microdosimetric approach to modelling tissue response by including additional important characteristics and presented them in a more conventional radiotherapy format. --------------------------------------------- Cite this article as : Wang H, Vassiliev ON. Microdosimetric characterisation of radiation fields for modelling tissue response in radiotherapy. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2 (1):020116. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14319/ijcto.0201.16
Yogi Berra, Forrest Gump, and the discovery of Listeria actin comet tails.

In 1988, eminent cell biologist Lew Tilney and newly appointed Assistant Professor of Microbiology Dan Portnoy met at a picnic and initiated a collaboration that led to a groundbreaking paper published in Journal of Cell Biology entitled “Actin filaments and the growth, movement, and spread of the intracellular bacterial parasite, Listeria monocytogenes.” The paper has been cited more than 800 times, the most of any publication in the careers of both investigators. Using an electron microscope from the Sputnik era, they assembled a stunning collection of micrographs that illustrated how L. monocytogenes enters the host cell and exploits a host system of actin-based motility to move within cells and into neighboring cells without leaving the host cell cytosol. This research captured the imagination of cell biologists and microbiologists alike and led to novel insights into cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, Portnoy provides a retrospective that shares text from the original submission that was deleted at the time of publication, along with reviewers' comments ranging from “It is really just a show and tell paper and doesn';t have any meat” to “the finding will have major impact in cell biology and in medicine. Potentially, the paper will be a classic.”
Muscle cell attachment in Caenorhabditis elegans

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the body wall muscles exert their force on the cuticle to generate locomotion. Interposed between the muscle cells and the cuticle are a basement membrane and a thin hypodermal cell. The latter contains bundles of filaments attached to dense plaques in the hypodermal cell membranes, which together we have called a fibrous organelle. In an effort to define the chain of molecules that anchor the muscle cells to the cuticle we have isolated five mAbs using preparations enriched in these components. Two antibodies define a 200-kD muscle antigen likely to be part of the basement membrane at the muscle/hypodermal interface. Three other antibodies probably identify elements of the fibrous organelles in the adjacent hypodermis. The mAb IFA, which reacts with mammalian intermediate filaments, also recognizes these structures. We suggest that the components recognized by these antibodies are likely to be involved in the transmission of tension from the muscle cell to the cuticle.
Safety of 6-Hz primed low-frequency rTMS in stroke.

>> Background. Suppression of activity in the contralesional motor cortex may promote recovery of function after stroke. Furthermore, the known depressant effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can be increased and prolonged by preceding it with 6-Hz priming stimulation. Objective. The authors explored the safety of 6-Hz primed low-frequency rTMS in 10 patients with ischemic stroke. Methods. Priming consisted of 10 minutes of 6-Hz rTMS applied to the contralesional hemisphere at 90% of resting motor threshold delivered in 2 trains/min with 5 s/train and 25second intervals between trains. Low-frequency rTMS consisted of an additional 10 minutes of 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of resting motor threshold without interruption. Possible adverse effects were assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS-III), the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised (HVLT-R), the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition (BDI-II), a finger movement tracking test, and individual self-assessments. Pretest, treatment, and posttest occurred on the first day with follow-up tests on the next 5 weekdays. Results. There were no seizures and no impairment of NIHSS, WAIS-III, or BDI-II scores. Transient impairment occurred on the HVLT-R. Transient tiredness was common. Occasional reports of headache, neck pain, increased sleep, reduced sleep, nausea, and anxiety occurred. Conclusion. Because there were no major adverse effects, the authors concluded that the treatment was safe for the individuals in this study and that further investigation is now warranted to examine efficacy and safety of serial treatments of 6-Hz primed low-frequency rTMS.
Violent Entertainment Pitched to Adolescents: An Analysis of PG-13 Films

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the violence content of the top-grossing PG-13 films of 1999 and 2000 to determine what percentage of it had potential for negative effects on young viewers and what percentage of it had potential for prosocial or beneficial effects. METHODS: A large, multidimensional analytic instrument was designed for systematic coding of each act of violence and its contextualization by features that have been shown either to enhance or to protect against harmful effects that are associated with violent media exposure: perpetrators and victims of violence, motivation for violence, presence of weapons, degree of realism, and consequences of violence. Descriptive statistics by genre were performed for each film. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the association between the seriousness of violence and weapons, motive, and genre. RESULTS: In the sample of 77 PG-13 films, a total of 2251 violent actions were observed with roughly half (47%) of lethal magnitude. A total of 118 acts contained justified violence that were initiated by major characters and were extremely serious, and approximately two thirds of the films (49 [64%]) were rated PG-13 for reasons other than violence. CONCLUSIONS: Violence permeated nearly 90% of the films in our study. Although only a small subset of this content contained violence that was associated with negative effects, only 1 film contained violence that was associated with protective or beneficial effects. Language: en
3-GeV Protons on Pb Neutrons Streaming through a Labyrinth

Measurements were made of neutron fluxes along a labyrinth with four bends using activation detectors. The neutrons were created by a 3-GeV proton beam striking an eight-inch thick Pb target located either upstream, opposite, or downstream from the first leg of the labyrinth. Results of the activities and flux measurements are given, normalized to 1010 protons/second.
Narrowing sputtered nanoparticle size distributions

By adjusting the sputtering rate and gas pressure, it is possible to form nanoparticles of different sizes, phases, and materials. We have investigated the spatial distribution of sputtered particle formation using a vertical, linear arrangement of substrates. Collecting the particles soon after they are formed, before they have time to grow and agglomerate, allows one to obtain a narrow size distribution. In the case of molybdenum, a narrow distribution of cubic particles is formed at relatively large distances (8 cm) from the source. These cubic particles collide and self-assemble in the vapor into arrays of larger cubic particles. The particle size histograms are fitted to lognormal distribution functions. How supersaturation occurs is discussed qualitatively as a function of the distance from the substrate, sputtering rate, and the mean free path in the vapor. This method of nanocrystalline particle formation has potential use in magnetic and opto-electronic (quantum dot) applications, where a narrow size distribution is required.
Activism through Self-Help Group Membership Reported Life Changes of Parents of Children with Cancer

This article explores some of the dynamics of a special andfast-growingform of small group phenomenon-the self-help group. Specifically, the article analyzes the role of self-help group membership as a majorfacilitator of activismforparents of children with cancer Few studies of self-help groups have compared members with nonmembers, let alone related membership to reported life change. Using datafrom 93 parents of children with cancer, this article assesses the relationships between parents' demographics, coping styles, self-help group membership status, and reports ofpositive changes in parents'activism-their active involvement in improving the medical system caring for their children. Findings indicate that although individual parents' active coping styles are linked to increased activism, self-help group membership clearly plays the most important role in explaining the variance in this aspect ofparents ' life change. In contrast to much of the existing literature, discussion and implications focus no...
Personality traits among currently eating disordered, recovered and never ill first-degree female relatives of bulimic and control women.

Background. A combined family study and recovered study design was utilized to examine several hypothesized relationships between personality and bulimia nervosa (BN). Methods. We studied 47 women with a lifetime history of DSM-III-R BN (31 currently ill and 16 recovered), 44 matched control women (CW) with no history of an eating disorder (ED), and their first-degree female relatives (N fl 89 and N fl 100, respectively), some of whom had current or previous EDs. Results. BN probands’ relatives with no ED history had significantly elevated levels of perfectionism, ineectiveness, and interpersonal distrust compared to CW probands’ relatives with no ED history. In contrast, diminished interoceptive awareness, heightened stress reactivity and perfectionistic doubting of actions were found among the previously eating disordered relatives of bulimic probands compared to their never ill relatives. Finally, a sense of alienation and emotional responsivity to the environment were elevated among currently ill compared to recovered bulimic probands. Conclusions. The fact that perfectionism, ineectiveness and interpersonal distrust are transmitted independently of an ED in relatives suggests that they may be of potential aetiological relevance for BN. In contrast, diminished interoceptive awareness, heightened stress reactivity and perfectionistic doubting of actions are more likely consequent to, or exacerbated by, previously having experienced the illness. Finally, a sense of alienation and emotional responsivity to the environment are more likely to be associated with currently having BN.
Satisfaction With Health Care for Young Children

Objectives. The aims of this study are to 1) assess parent satisfaction with well-child care for their young child and 2) identify how global satisfaction ratings and parent reports on the processes of care vary with child and family characteristics, health care received, and health system factors. Methods. The National Survey of Early Childhood Health is a telephone survey that used a stratified random-digit-dial sampling design to achieve a nationally representative sample of 2068 children and 4 to 35 months. Parents provided global ratings of satisfaction with their child’s well-child visits (range 0–100) and reported their satisfaction with information provided and the time spent with the provider. A subsample of parents whose child has a particular provider for well-child care ( n = 930) also reported their likelihood of recommending their provider. Results. The mean global satisfaction rating is 86.9 (standard error: 6.1). Approximately 94% of parents of young children reported information satisfaction, 88% reported time satisfaction, and 79% would recommend their child’s provider. Bivariate analysis shows lower satisfaction for uninsured children but few differences associated with insurance type or health care setting. In multivariate analyses including child and family factors and health system factors, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking mothers of young children have lower odds than non-Hispanic white mothers of reporting information (odds ratio [OR]: 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13–0.79) and time satisfaction (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21–0.90). Parents of children who experienced missed or delayed care have lower odds of time satisfaction (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.16–0.46) and have lower global satisfaction. Greater length of well-child visits is consistently associated with greater satisfaction on all 4 measures. Conclusion. Although most parents reported relatively high levels of satisfaction with well-child care, shorter length of well-child visits and experiencing missed or delayed care are the 2 factors consistently associated with lower satisfaction using each of the measures. Efforts to improve satisfaction ratings might focus on improving the delivery of well-child care and ensuring that parents get the time they need.
PI3K activation is associated with intracellular sodium/iodide symporter protein expression in breast cancer

The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) is a membrane glycoprotein mediating active iodide uptake in the thyroid gland and is the molecular basis for radioiodide imaging and therapeutic ablation of thyroid carcinomas. NIS is expressed in the lactating mammary gland and in many human breast tumors, raising interest in similar use for diagnosis and treatment. However, few human breast tumors have clinically evident iodide uptake ability. We previously identified PI3K signaling as important in NIS upregulation in transgenic mouse models of breast cancer, and the PI3K pathway is commonly activated in human breast cancer. NIS expression, subcellular localization, and function were analyzed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and MCF-7 cells stably or transiently expressing PI3K p110alpha subunit using Western blot of whole cell lysate, cell surface biotinylation Western blot and immunofluorescence, and radioiodide uptake assay, respectively. NIS localization was determined in a human breast cancer tissue microarray using immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and was correlated with pre-existing pAkt IHC data. Statistical analysis consisted of Student's t-test (in vitro studies) or Fisher's Exact Test (in vivo correlational studies). In this study, we demonstrate that PI3K activation in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells leads to expression of underglycosylated NIS lacking cell surface trafficking necessary for iodide uptake ability. PI3K activation also appears to interfere with cell surface trafficking of exogenous NIS as well as all-trans retinoic acid-induced endogenous NIS. A correlation between NIS expression and upregulation of PI3K signaling was found in a human breast cancer tissue microarray. Thus, the PI3K pathway likely plays a major role in the discordance between NIS expression and iodide uptake in breast cancer patients. Further study is warranted to realize the application of NIS-mediated radioiodide ablation in breast cancer.
Men Are Grass: Bateson, Erickson, Utilization and Metaphor

The relationship between metaphor and the practice of utilization in therapy and hypnosis can be seen as dependent on metaphor's role in structuring experience. The work of Gregory Bateson and others is used to illustrate how metaphor functions. Bateson's comparison of two forms of syllogistic logic provides a background for distinguishing between the experiential effects of metaphor in contrast to the categorical thinking inherent in simile and analogy. Clinical examples are given to demonstrate how utilization is structured by metaphor, particularly as Bateson has described it in his analysis of the Syllogism in Grass.
New Species and New Combinations of Grammitidaceae from Peru

We describe two new species from Peru, Ceradenia tryonorum and Terpsichore youngii (Grammitidaceae). Ceradenia tryonorum is a member of subg. Ceradenia and is unusual in having hydathodes. Terpsichore youngii belongs to the T. taxifolia group. Three new combinations are made: Melpomene youngii, Terpsichore anfractuosa, and T. subscabra. We provide a key for the nine species of the T. taxifolia group in Peru.
A comparison of syringe disposal practices among injection drug users in a city with versus a city without needle and syringe programs

Background The United States (U.S.) approved use of federal funds for needle and syringe programs (NSPs) in December 2009. This study compares syringe disposal practices in a U.S. city with NSPs to a U.S. city without NSPs by examining the prevalence of improperly discarded syringes in public places and the self-reported syringe disposal practices of injection drug users (IDUs) in the two cities.
Improving the noise performance of communication systems: 1930s to early 1940s

This work came directly out of work done during the War on radar and control systems. Yet the radar work itself was an outgrowth of work beginning circa 1920 on improving the performance of communication systems in the presence of noise. We have previously reported on work carried out in this area during the 1920s in both radio (wireless) communications and wired telephony [1]. In this paper we focus on work done in the 1930s and early 1940s, which both enlarged on, and saw considerable strides ahead in, these earlier studies involving noise in communication systems. We do this by presenting developments during this period of time in three inter-related, and roughly chronological, areas: 1. Work by Armstrong on FM and Reeves on PCM showing, for the first time, that noise could be reduced by purposefully increasing the bandwidth (now known as the noise-bandwidth tradeoff). This work is discussed in the next section covering the period of the 1930s. 2. Studies attempting to understand the statistical properties of noise, leading to its now-well-known Gaussian amplitude characteristic. This work is described in the section covering the late 1930s to early 1940s. 3. The recognition that ldquomatched filteringrdquo provided optimum signal detection in noise. This work, described in the last section of this paper, arose out of the need during World War II to detect small, pulsed, radar signals in the presence of noise.
Teaching Systems Biology: An Active-learning Approach

With genomics well established in modern molecular biology, recent studies have sought to further the discipline by integrating complementary methodologies into a holistic depiction of the molecular mechanisms underpinning cell function. This genomic subdiscipline, loosely termed “systems biology,” presents the biology educator with both opportunities and obstacles: The benefit of exposing students to this cutting-edge scientific methodology is manifest, yet how does one convey the breadth and advantage of systems biology while still engaging the student? Here, I describe an active-learning approach to the presentation of systems biology. In graduate classes at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, I divided students into small groups and asked each group to interpret a sample data set (e.g., microarray data, two-hybrid data, homology-search results) describing a hypothetical signaling pathway. Mimicking realistic experimental results, each data set revealed a portion of this pathway; however, students were only able to reconstruct the full pathway by integrating all data sets, thereby exemplifying the utility in a systems biology approach. Student response to this cooperative exercise was extremely positive. In total, this approach provides an effective introduction to systems biology appropriate for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Measuring the effectiveness of conservation programs for shrubland birds

Abstract Disturbance-dependent habitats such as grasslands and shrublands are declining in many regions. To mitigate these declines, government agencies are using anthropogenic disturbances like logging and mowing to mimic natural ones. Because these programs can be costly or controversial, measuring their effectiveness is important. Here, we evaluate the conservation effectiveness of shrubland management for 15 bird species in Massachusetts, USA. Because shrublands are constantly changing in extent and location, we suggest that the key measure of conservation effectiveness should be how managed areas contribute to habitat availability. We used remotely-sensed data to assess the total area of shrublands in Massachusetts and consulted managers and a timber-harvest database to determine contributions of management by government agencies and non-governmental conservation organizations. We calculated species-specific habitat availability based on the habitat relationships of individual bird species. The area of potential habitat for shrubland birds in Massachusetts averaged 35,000 ± SD of 11,300 ha. Of this total, an average of 20% ± 15% exists because of management by government and NGOs. Management was most important for birds that nest primarily in uplands and avoid wetlands. We conclude that active management by government agencies and NGOs provides a substantial proportion of shrubland habitat in Massachusetts. With habitat on private property being lost to development or succession, active management will be even more important in the future.
Improving Natural Language Processing by Linguistic Document Annotation

Natural language processing (NLP) programs are confronted with various difficulties in processing HTML and XML documents, and have the potential to produce better results if linguistic information is annotated in source texts. We have therefore developed the Linguistic Annotation Language (or LAL), which is an XML-compliant tag set for assisting natural language processing programs. It consists of linguistic information tags such as tags specifying word/phrasal boundaries, and task-dependent instruction tags such as tags defining the scope of translation for machine translation programs. We have also developed an LAL-annotation editor to facilitate users to annotate documents without seeing tags.
From deterministic curvature driven grain growth to stochastic models

Publisher Summary Many problems in science and engineering call for multiscale modeling. These models can be divided into four major groups: molecular dynamics (MD), Monte Carlo (MC), partial differential equations (PDE), and kinetic models. Simulation becomes an indispensable tool as most of the models in real world problems are too complex for complete analysis. In some applications, the main issues are related to efficient computation, in others it may be related gaining further insight into the problem. Multiscale methodologies serve for both. This chapter focuses on a stochastic coarse grained model that is valid on large time scales, starting from a deterministic model of curvature driven grain growth in 2D.
Anomaly detection

Computer are finite discrete machines, the set of real numbers is an infinite continuum. So real numbers in computers are approximation. Rough set theory is the underlying mathematics. A 'computer' version of Weistrass theorem states that every sequence, within the radius of error, repeats certain terms infinitely many times. In terms of applications, the theorem guarantees that the audit trail has repeating patterns. Examining further, based on fuzzy-rough set theory, hidden fuzzy relationships (rules) in audit data are uncovered. The information about the repeating data and fuzzy relationships reflect "unconscious patterns" of users' habits. They are some deeper "signatures" of computer users, which provide a foundation to detect abuses and misuses of computer systems, A "sliding window information system" is used to illustrate the detection of a 'simple' virus attack. The complexity problem is believed to be controllable via rough set representation of data.
Prevention of Acute Inducible Atrial Flutter in Dogs by Using an Ibutilide-Polymer-Coated Pacing Electrode.

Atrial arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery are difficult to prevent or treat and often result in significant morbidity. Prior experimental studies by our group showed improved therapeutic efficacy for antiarrhythmic drugs delivered via controlled-release polymeric matrices implanted on the epicardial surface. These experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that direct atrial epicardial administration of ibutilide from a controlled-release system (compared with intravenous administration) can reduce the inducibility of atrial flutter in the acute postoperative atrial myocardium. Polymeric sustained-release preparations were formulated by solvent casting of an ibutilide and polyurethane (Pellathane) solution in tetrahydrofurane. Multilayer solvent-casted coatings on pacing electrode wires were carried out to fabricate a sustained-release electrode system. In animal model studies, each dog underwent a thoracotomy, followed by a right atriotomy that was repaired. Induction of atrial flutter was attempted by burst pacing with the bipolar pacing catheter. Sinus rhythm was restored with overdrive pacing. After determining the induction rate (percentage) of atrial flutter in the baseline state, a stainless-steel wire coated with the drug-delivery system, 10% ibutilide/90% polyurethane (n = 7), or without drug (polyurethane coating without ibutilide, n = 5; control) was sewn onto the right atrium. Systemic intravenous administration of ibutilide (1.2 microg/kg/h) also was carried out in a separate group of animals after atriotomy (n = 5). For ibutilide (at an estimated dose of 1.2 microg/kg/h), the atrial-flutter results were 41.85 +/- 2.21% induction for baseline compared with 12.42 +/- 5.26% (p = 0.02) after the ibutilide wire implant. In the control dogs, atrial flutter was induced 29.4 +/- 4.7% at baseline and 25.2 +/- 5.1% after implantation of the control wire (p = 0.4). Ibutilide coronary venous serum concentrations at the end of the ibutilide-polyurethane electrode experiments were 2.25 +/- 0.2 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) versus systemic levels that were below the limits of detection. Systemic intravenous ibutilide infusions had no effect on the inducibility of atrial flutter. In conclusion, an epicardial implantable electrode coating with an ibutilide controlled drug-release system significantly reduced the inducibility of atrial flutter in an experimental atriotomy model. These results suggest that atrial arrhythmias occurring after coronary bypass surgery may be prevented by local atrial administration of ibutilide from a controlled-release pacing electrode.
A Contribution to the Biology of the Subfamily Cyminae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae)

The subfamily Cyminae is recognized as being divisible into two tribes, the Kleidocerini and the Cymini. This paper presents information on the habits and immature stages of members of five genera of the subfamily.
Computational Tools for Re-entry Aerothermodynamics: Part II. Surface Ablation

An extension of the recently developed numerical model for surface ab lation is reported here. In order to capture the chemical processes happening insid e the char and the pyrolyzing zone, equilibrium chemistry and finite-rate chemi stry modules have been incorporated into the numerical model. The developed numerical model is then validated using standard benchmark test cases available from the lit erature. A detailed discussion about the results is given, followed by a brief note on th e ongoing future work.