cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Function and Modulation of Type I Interferons during Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory infections in infants and young children, accounting for an estimated 3 million hospitalizations annually worldwide. Despite the major health burden, there is currently no licensed RSV vaccine. RSV is recognized by a range of cellular receptors including both toll-like receptors (TLR) and retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors (RIG-I). This interaction initiates signaling through mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) proteins, resulting in the induction of type I interferons (IFN). Early viral control is mediated by either IFN-α or IFN-β signaling through the IFN receptor (IFNAR), inducing the production of antiviral interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs). Type I IFNs also initiate the early production of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and IFN-γ. Type I IFN levels correlate with age, and inadequate production may be a critical factor in facilitating the increased RSV disease severity observed in infants. Here, we review the current literature on the function of type I IFNs in RSV pathogenesis, as well as their involvement in the differential immune responses observed in infants and adults.
A Bayesian incorporated linear non-Gaussian acyclic model for multiple directed graph estimation to study brain emotion circuit development in adolescence

Emotion perception is essential to affective and cognitive development which involves distributed brain circuits. The ability of emotion identification begins in infancy and continues to develop throughout childhood and adolescence. Understanding the development of brain's emotion circuitry may help us explain the emotional changes observed during adolescence. Our previous study delineated the trajectory of brain functional connectivity (FC) from late childhood to early adulthood during emotion identification tasks. In this work, we endeavour to deepen our understanding from association to causation. We proposed a Bayesian incorporated linear non-Gaussian acyclic model (BiLiNGAM), which incorporated our previous association model into the prior estimation pipeline. In particular, it can jointly estimate multiple directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) for multiple age groups at different developmental stages. Simulation results indicated more stable and accurate performance over various settings, especially when the sample size was small (high-dimensional cases). We then applied to the analysis of real data from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC). This included 855 individuals aged 8-22 years who were divided into five different adolescent stages. Our network analysis revealed the development of emotion-related intra- and inter- modular connectivity and pinpointed several emotion-related hubs. We further categorized the hubs into two types: in-hubs and out-hubs, as the center of receiving and distributing information. Several unique developmental hub structures and group-specific patterns were also discovered. Our findings help provide a causal understanding of emotion development in the human brain.
Culture and family-based intervention for schizophrenia, bipolar, and other psychotic-related spectrum disorders

Abstract This chapter reviews the literature on culture and family-based psychological interventions for schizophrenia, bipolar, and related (SBR) psychotic spectrum disorders. Several studies were examined across cultures and results seem to strongly and robustly indicate that incorporating the family into treatment reduces patient psychiatric symptoms and improves mental health of patients and their caregivers alike. Basic elements of psychotherapy that are likely to be helpful across cultures are discussed, and specific recommendations for working with multicultural populations with SBR are provided. A few examples include: incorporating the family into treatment whenever possible; systematically checking in with patients and their family members about how they understand the patient’s illness and what practices they view as useful (or detrimental); eliciting and discussing cultural differences in beliefs and values and recognizing and respecting those that differ from one’s own; and attempting to make treatments more accessible by offering them within the community and at religious institutions and other community settings, if possible.
Open Source 3-D Filament Diameter Sensor for Recycling, Winding and Additive Manufacturing Machines

To overcome the challenge of upcycling plastic waste into 3-D printing filament in the distributed recycling and additive manufacturing systems, this study designs, builds, tests and validates an open source 3-D filament diameter sensor for recycling and winding machines. The modular system for multi-axis optical control of the diameter of the recycled 3-D-printer filament makes it possible to analyze the surface structure of the processed filament, save the history of measurements along the entire length of the spool, as well as mark defective areas. The sensor is developed as an independent module and integrated into a recyclebot. The diameter sensor was tested on different kinds of polymers (ABS, PLA) different sources of plastic (recycled 3-D prints and virgin plastic waste) and different colors including clear plastic. The results of the diameter measurements using the camera were compared with the manual measurements, and the measurements obtained with a one-dimensional digital light caliper. The results found that the developed open source filament sensing method allows users to obtain significantly more information in comparison with basic one-dimensional light sensors and using the received data not only for more accurate diameter measurements, but also for a detailed analysis of the recycled filament surface. The developed method ensures greater availability of plastics recycling technologies for the manufacturing community and stimulates the growth of composite materials creation. The presented system can greatly enhance the user possibilities and serve as a starting point for a complete recycling control system that will regulate motor parameters to achieve the desired filament diameter with acceptable deviations and even control the extrusion rate on a printer to recover from filament irregularities.
Research handbook on nationalism: edited by Liah Greenfeld and Zeying Wu, Cheltenham, UK, and Northampton, MA, USA, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020, 478 p., eBook £22/$31 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781789903430

In her introduction, well-known nationalism scholar Liah Greenfeld acknowledges that her lengthy, at times eccentric research handbook may be met with skepticism: “we have decided to present what t...
“The relationship was a big success – the bond”: Exploring coaching strategies to foster life skills development in Eswatini

Coaches are uniquely positioned to foster both the implicit and explicit pathways of life skills development for youth sport participants. This study explored the coaching strategies that promote l...
The use of dexmedetomidine during pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty in dogs

BACKGROUND Information regarding the anaesthetic management for pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty (PBV) in dogs is scarce. We present data from dogs receiving dexmedetomidine combined with inhalational anaesthesia during PBV. METHODS Anaesthetic records from dogs receiving dexmedetomidine (n = 11) and a control group (n = 29) anaesthetised for PBV between 2012 and 2020 were analysed. Intraoperative variables potentially affected by dexmedetomidine administration were compared between groups. RESULTS Demographic characteristic and anaesthetic agents administered were similar between groups. The incidence of hypotension (mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60 mm Hg) was 25% for dexmedetomidine and 29% for control (p = 0.8); however, dexmedetomidine group received vasopressors for a shorter time (p = 0.02). The incidence of bradycardia was 100% and 96% for dexmedetomidine and control (p = 0.5), but antimuscarinic agents were administered more frequently to the latter (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine may be a useful adjuvant to general anaesthesia during PBV in dogs and reduced the use of vasopressors and antimuscarinics.
In a Manner of Speaking: Communication Between Nurse Aides and Older Adults in Long-Term Care Settings

Older adults in long-term care facilities have few opportunities for emotionally meaningful social interactions with noninstitutional social ties; yet having such relationships is a basic human need that affects well-being. Among institutional social ties, affective communication can enhance relationships between residents and nurse aides, who provide most of their care. This naturalistic study identifies types and examples of nurse aide-initiated communication with long-term care residents during mealtime assistance in the context of residents' responses. Verbal and nonverbal communication from videos of nurse aides and residents in two skilled nursing facilities (n = 17) and an assisted living facility (n = 6) were transcribed. The transcripts were coded and the data were organized into categories using grounded theory methods. Although substantial content emphasized instrumental communication (i.e., prompts to eat and/or drink), 4 types of affective communication initiated by nurse aides emerged: “pers...
Incorporating Resource Dynamics to Determine Generation Adequacy Levels in Restructured Bulk Power Systems

Installed capacity markets in the northeast of the United States ensure that adequate generation exists to satisfy regional loss of load probability (LOLP) criterion. LOLP studies are conducted to determine the amount of capacity that is needed, but they do not consider several factors that substantially affect the calculated distribution of available capacity. These studies do not account for the fact that generation availability increases during periods of high demand and therefore prices, common-cause failures that result in multiple generation units being unavailable at the same time, and the negative correlation between load and available capacity due to temperature and humidity. We propose a categorization of incidents in an existing bulk power reliability database to analyze the existence and frequency of independent failures and those associated with resource dynamics. We augment our findings with other empirical findings. We propose using Monte Carlo methods to model these resource dynamics. Using the IEEE Reliability Test System as a single-bus case study, we find that the LOLP results change substantially when these factors are considered. We find that better data collection is necessary to support the more comprehensive modeling of resource adequacy that we propose. In addition, we use a parallel processing method to offset the increase in computational times required to model these dynamics.
Modeling an Inflammation-Related Depressive Phenotype in Mice Using Bacille Calmette-Guérin.

The relationship between inflammation and neuropsychiatric symptoms is of interest to the scientific community for several reasons. A substantial subset of patients suffering from major depressive disorder also exhibit evidence of chronic inflammation including elevated levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and immunotherapy can result in depressive symptoms in some patients. Recent evidence suggests that the chronic inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiology of the depressive state, although the specific biological mechanisms are not clear. Herein we describe a model of an inflammation-related depressive phenotype in mice using the tuberculosis vaccine, bacille Calmette-Guerin, to induce chronic inflammation and a subsequent depressive phenotype which is assessed using the tail-suspension test. The model provides an avenue to study not only the molecular and biochemical changes that may be associated with the development of the depressive phenotype, but also pharmacological manipulations of the phenotype.
A Virtual Explosion or SNAFU is Always Better Than a Real One: Exploring the Use of Virtual Worlds for Simulation and Training…and Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow

This paper explores the growing use of virtual world simulations for training and education, both in the private and public sectors. We examine the rise of the importance of the rise of the “digital native” generation and the context of their growing comfort operating in online gaming and increasingly, in virtual worlds. We look at the growth of the video game and virtual world marketplaces and the demographics of players in these environments, which are largely populated by members of the digital native generation. We then examine how leading-edge organizations, from the U.S. Army to IBM to public agencies and universities training emergency responders are making use of virtual worlds for not just conducting simulations and training in cost and time-effective – not to mention safer – manners. We also look at emerging research that demonstrates how virtual worlds can be used to not develop field leadership and teamwork skills key to success in today’s organizations. We conclude with a discussion on the importance to fit the needs for today’s digital natives and the desires for improved training and education.
Long-Term Behavioral Outcomes after a Randomized, Clinical Trial of Counselor-Assisted Problem Solving for Adolescents with Complicated Mild-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Family problem-solving therapy (FPST) has been shown to reduce behavior problems after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is unclear whether treatment gains are maintained. We sought to evaluate the maintenance of improvements in behavior problems after a Web-based counselor-assisted FPST (CAPS) intervention compared to an Internet resource comparison (IRC) intervention provided to adolescents within the initial year post-TBI. We hypothesized that family socioeconomic status, child educational status, and baseline levels of symptoms would moderate the efficacy of the treatment over time. Participants included 132 adolescents ages 12–17 years who sustained a complicated mild-to-severe TBI 1–6 months before study enrollment. Primary outcomes were the Child Behavior Checklist Internalizing and Externalizing Totals. Mixed-models analyses, using random intercepts and slopes, were conducted to examine group differences over time. There was a significant group×time×grade interaction (F(1,304)=4....
Gender Differences in Information Search and Comparison Shopping

Abstract In entering the market of Central and Eastern Europe, it is important for marketers to understand how certain aspects of consumer behavior differs across consumer segments so that they can appropriately segment, target and position their products. A study was conducted to evaluate differences between males and females across the countries of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania in terms of their information search and comparison-shopping behavior. The study also advanced a conceptual model that explains the effect of nationality and gender differences on information search and comparison shopping.
Erythroid cell fusion in the early phase of Friend virus leukemogenesis

Infection of susceptible strain mice with the oncogenic Friend erythroleukemia virus initially results in fulminant erythroid hyperplasia. Several weeks later a frank erythroid leukemia develops. At the earliest stages of Friend disease there is extensive cell fusion involving erythroid cells but not platelets and granulocytes. Fusion was detected in experiments with allophenic (chimeric) mice whose component strains express electrophoretically distinct forms of the dimeric enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI). Infection of such animals with the polycythemic strain of Friend virus resulted in the rapid development of Friend disease. Concomitant with the appearance of early disease symptoms was the appearance in the red cells of the heterodimeric form of GPI, an unequivocal consequence of cell fusion. Platelet and granulocyte samples from the same infected animals failed to exhibit the hybrid GPI form. Furthermore, no hybrid dimer was evident in red cells from chimeric mice in which blood formation had been stimulated by phenylhydrazine treatment. These observations suggest that the occurrence of cell fusion early after infection by Friend virus is a significant aspect in the rapid development of neoplastic disease.
Strong copper-binding behavior of terrestrial humic substances in seawater.

In coastal areas, strong complexation of copper generally reduces its toxicity; our ability to monitor and regulate copper as a toxin therefore depends on our understanding of the sources and sinks of the copper-binding ligands. Terrestrial humic substances (HS) are well-recognized contributors to weak ligand concentrations in aquatic systems. In this work, we show that HS are likely contributors to both stronger and weaker ligand classes controlling copper speciation in coastal areas receiving typical inputs of terrestrial organic matter. We used competitive ligand exchange adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-ACSV), with the added ligands benzoylacetone and salicylaldoxime, to examine copper binding by terrestrial HS in a seawater matrix, at HS and copper concentrations typical of coastal waters. Copper titration data of 1 mg/L Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) in seawater could be modeled using conditional stability constants of 1012.0 and 1010.0 and total ligand concentrations of 10.4 and 199...
Organic–inorganic hybrid oxides: Structure and magnetic properties of [{Cu(terpy)}2Mo6O17(H2O)(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2] · H2O, a bimetallic oxide constructed from novel {Mo6O17(H2O)(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2}4− clusters

Abstract The hydrothermal reaction of MoO3, CuSO4 · 5H2O, 2,2′:6′:2″-terpyridine (terpy) and bis-N,N-(methylphosphonic acid) amine (H2O3PCH2NHCH2PO3H2) provided blue crystals of the bimetallic oxide [{Cu(terpy)}2Mo6O17(H2O)(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2] · H2O (1 · H2O). The three-dimensional structure of 1 is constructed from {Mo6O17(H2O)(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2}4− clusters linked through {Cu(terpy)}2+ subunits. The cluster consists of three pairs of edge-sharing {MoO6} octahedra linked through corner-sharing interactions into a {Mo6O6} ring. One phosphonate ligand spans the diameter of the ring, bridging four molybdenum sites and leaving at a pendant {P O} group at each terminus. The second diphosphonate ligand exploits one {–PO3} unit to cap the hexamolybdate ring and bridge all six molybdenum sites while the second {–PO3} terminus bridges two molybdenum sites, leaving a pendant {P O} unit. Crystal data: C34H45Cu2Mo6N8O35P4: monoclinic, P21/n, a = 11.9431(7) A, b = 17.382(1) A, c = 27.524(2) A, β = 90.429(1)°, V = 5713.7(6) A3, Z = 4, Dcalc = 2.270 g cm−3, R1 = 0.0466.
Predation, seed size partitioning and the evolution of body size in seed-eating finches

I compare the relationship between bill size (depth) and body size among different taxa of seed-eating finches to test the hypothesis (Schluter, 1988a) that in habitats where seed-eating finches are vulnerable to predators, finches have larger bodies relative to their bill size. In support of this hypothesis, ground-foraging finches on continents (Emberizidae, Passeridae, Fringillidae), where predators are more common, have larger bodies relative to their bill sizes than do ground-foraging finches on islands (Emberizidae, Fringillidae). Ground-feeding finches on continents may also be more vulnerable to predators than tree- and shrub-foraging finches. As predicted, in North America, ground-feeding finches (Emberizinae) have larger bodies relative to their bill size than do tree- and shrub-foraging finches (Carduelinae). As a consequence of increased body size relative to bill size, both the range of possible bill sizes and potential seed sizes that can be eaten are reduced. Moreover, increased metabolic demands caused by larger body size may lessen the ability to specialize on a few seed types. These two factors reduce the potential for seed size partitioning. Consequently, vulnerability to predators may limit, and is inversely correlated with, seed size partitioning in seed-eating finch communities. The extent to which predation has influenced other bird communities may be considerable, and the patterns found by Schluter (1988a) and in this study indicate that future ecomorphological studies, especially on species that spend much of the day foraging, might profit by considering predator vulnerability as well as foraging behaviour.
Masturbation mimicking paroxysmal dystonia or dyskinesia in a young girl

We present the case of a young girl with periodic posturing during masturbation. The child had been evaluated by several physicians and underwent numerous diagnostic tests before the spells were seen by a physician and determined to be self-stimulatory and not paroxysmal dystonia. Masturbation is a normal and common behavior in young children and should be recognized as such. Failure to recognize this behavior can lead to unnecessary and invasive testing.
Bill Dock and the location of pulmonary tuberculosis: how bed rest might have helped consumption.

The idea that sick lungs would benefit from a period of enforced rest is very old and sounds compelling, even though during the 100 or so years that physicians did their best to impose it, there was a total lack of clinical and physiologic evidence to support the practice. The belief that broken and sore lungs required rest was one of the first things the writer Betty MacDonald (1), newly ill with tuberculosis, discovered when she was sequestered in a sanatorium called The Pines: “If you had a broken leg you wouldn’t dance on it nor walk on it but would have a plaster cast or splints on it so that you couldn’t use it even if you were foolish enough to try. If you had a sore on a joint or a knuckle, you would know that constant bending would break the sore open and prevent its healing quickly. When you have tuberculosis you have broken lungs with sores on them and the less you use them the quicker they will heal. How can you rest your lungs? By breathing less often and less deeply. A person resting quietly in bed, breathes two times less each minute than a person sitting up and of course much less than a person walking. . . . Rest is the answer. Rest, rest and more rest.” Lying in bed, as Betty MacDonald and hundreds of thousands of other tuberculars did for months on end, is an easy way of resting the lungs, but slowing breathing a couple of breaths each minute is not nearly as efficient as putting lungs completely to sleep. That goal was aggressively sought after by phthisiologists and surgeons who came up with pneumothorax, pneumoperitonium, and thoracoplasty, which were mainstays of the treatment of tuberculosis for over half a century. The rationale for immobilization was advanced by Carlo Forlanini (2) in 1882, the same year that Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Forlanini wrote that the cure of pulmonary tuberculosis was impossible because the lungs were “in an unceasing motion of expansion and reduction. When this peculiarity is removed, the [static] lung becomes similar to other viscera and from that moment [healing begins].” This sounds good, but in spite of pronouncements of this sort, perhaps even because of them, the purported clinical benefits of bed rest and collapse therapy were never properly evaluated. The purpose of this review is to re-examine the physiologic evidence pertaining to these treatments and to emphasize why we should have listened to one man, William (Bill) Dock, who told us all long ago how bed rest should be performed and why certain types of collapse might be helpful.
A thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production by steam reforming of glycerol

Abstract Steam reforming of glycerol for hydrogen production involves complex reactions. As a result, several intermediate byproducts are formed and end up in the product stream affecting final purity of the hydrogen produced. Furthermore, the yield of the hydrogen depends on several process variables, such as system pressure, temperature, and ratio of reactants. The first step to understanding the effects of the aforementioned variables is a complete thermodynamic analysis. In this study, a thermodynamic equilibrium analysis has been performed for the steam reforming process of glycerol over the following variable ranges: pressure 1–5 atm, temperature 600–1000 K, and water-to-glycerol feed ratio 1:1–9:1. The equilibrium concentrations of different compounds were calculated by the method of direct minimization of the Gibbs free energy. The study revealed that the best conditions for producing hydrogen is at a temperature > 900 K , atmospheric pressure, and a molar ratio of water to glycerol of 9:1. Under these conditions methane production is minimized, and the carbon formation is thermodynamically inhibited.
Plasmodium falciparum: release of circumsporozoite protein by sporozoites in the mosquito vector.

Abstract The release of Circumsporozoite (CS) protein by Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites was investigated to identify factors regulating this process within infected Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The potential for sporozoites to release CS protein in vitro was not dependent upon their site-specific developmental stage (i.e., mature oocysts, hemolymph, salivary glands), their duration in the vector, or their exposure to mosquito-derived components such as salivary glands or hemolymph. The capacity of sporozoites to release CS protein was depressed by mosquito blood feeding during periods of sporozoite migration to the salivary glands, but the effect was only temporary and those sporozoites already in the glands were not affected. Free CS protein in the salivary glands was present in 93.3% of 45 infective mosquitoes. Sporozoites from these same, individual mosquitoes were also tested in vitro for CS protein release. In both cases, the amount of soluble CS protein increased as a function of sporozoite density but the total amount of CS protein per sporozoite became progressively less with increasing numbers of sporozoites. Further experiments showed that sporozoite contact with increasing amounts of soluble CS protein caused a down-regulation of CS protein release. Thus, a primary factor regulating the production and release of CS protein by sporozoites is their contact with soluble CS protein within the mosquito.
Deposition of Brownian particles in packed beds

Abstract An analysis is presented to describe the deposition of Brownian particles from suspensions flowing through granular media. The constricted tube porous media model recently proposed by Payatakes et al .[8] was used to characterize the media and the deposition process was assumed to be controlled by convective diffusion as well as the nature of the surface interaction between the media grains and the Brownian particles. Three different tube configurations were considered and the differences among the results were found to be relatively unimportant. Agreement between the analysis and available experimental data was found to be reasonably good for the limiting case when the surface effect is favorable.
Cardiovascular Morbidity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, a relatively common disorder in adults, is characterized by sleep-related periodic breathing, upper-airway obstruction and asphyxia, sleep disruption, and acute autonomic, arterial, and hemodynamic perturbations. Epidemiologic data show a strong association between untreated obstructive sleep apnea and incident cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.1,2 It is implicit that obstructive sleep apnea causes or propagates adverse cardiovascular outcomes and that its treatment may have a mitigating effect, and there are numerous instances in which explicit data have documented the efficacy of the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in preventing or attenuating such outcomes. However, obstructive sleep apnea is typically . . .
Proton alleviation of growth inhibition by toxic metals (Al, La, Cu) in rhizobia

Abstract Free-living rhizobia are sensitive to soils and artificial media that are acidic. Both excessive H+ and Al released from acid-soluble minerals appear to be toxic. The complex, heterotrophic nutrient requirements of rhizobia and the joint occurrence of Al3+ and hydroxo-, sulphato-, phosphato-, fluoro-, and other Al species have prevented a precise attribution of toxicity to the Al species. In the present study, a medium composed of 0.3 mM MgSO4, 2 mM CaCl2, and 10 mM sucrose (the basal medium) enabled a 1000-fold cell increase at pH 4.6 or above. Additions of 1 μM AlCl3 to the basal medium were highly intoxicating, especially at higher pH: below pH 5.0 cell numbers increased slightly; at pH 5.0 cell numbers did not change from the inoculum; at higher pH values the cell numbers declined. Similar trends were observed for La3+ and Cu2+ intoxication. Uptake of methylene blue, a positively charged dye useful as a probe of cell-surface electrical potential, was inhibited by pH reductions between pH 3.5 and 6.0. Factors that decrease cell-surface negativity (such as lower pH) reduce the intoxication by cations in plant roots, but the pH responsiveness of the rhizobia in our system was much greater than the pH responsiveness of plants. Although plant-root intoxication by mononuclear hydroxo-Al species has been discounted, rhizobia may be sensitive to those species. These results have implications for the management of rhizobia in acidic soils and for the development of resistant strains.
Structure of the human allelic glutathione S-transferase-π gene variant, hGSTP1*C, cloned from a glioblastoma multiforme cell line

Abstract We recently reported the cloning of full-length cDNAs corresponding to mRNAs of three GST-π genes, hGSTP1*A, hGSTP1*B and hGSTP1*C, as well as, the isolation of the full-length hGSTP1*C, of the human glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) gene that is characterized by a A→G transition at +1404 in exon 5 and a C→T transition at +2294 in exon 6. Although the promoter of the isolated gene was identical to that of the previously described GST-π gene isolated from the MCF 7 and the HPB-ALL cell lines, both of which were hGSTP1*A, a number of structural differences were observed, including, nucleotide transitions, transversions, deletions and insertions, some of which created new restriction enzyme cleavage sites. A guanine insertion in the insulin response element, IRE, in intron 1 created an additional site for 5'-cytosine methylation. Seven repeat retinoic acid response element (RARE) consensus half sites, A(G)GG(T)TC(G)A at +1521 to +1644 were identified in the cloned hGSTP1*C. Five of the RARE half-sites had the minimal spacer nucleotide requirement for functionality and DNA mobility shift analysis with different pairs of the RARE half-sites and supershift studies using antibodies against RAR-β showed significant binding of nuclear protein complexes from RA-treated cells to these RAREs. GST-π gene expression was increased significantly in cells transfected with the GST-π gene and treated with all-trans RA. These results contrast with those in a previous report in which RA was shown to suppress the GST-π promoter, and indicate a complex mechanism of RA-mediated GST-π gene regulation in tumor cells.
The effects of Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) on parent substance use and the association between parent and adolescent substance use.

Background The effects of family therapy for adolescent substance use on parent substance use have not been explored.
The interaction of formaldehyde, isothiazolone and copper.

Abstract Evidence has been presented for the synergism between copper (Cu) and formaldehyde (FA) and isothiazolone (IT) and also for the equivalence of many FA adducts with FA. A distinction as well as a dual site for Cu-IT interaction has been made with both protection from environmental nucleophiles as well as enhancement of antimicrobial activity. Since the major FA dehydrogenase associated with FA resistance is glutathione dependent, the prospect of Cu-glutathione interaction is a probable cause of Cu-FA synergism. Although there is no clear explanation for the IT-FA synergism, the combination offers many avenues for future exploration.
Prime-mover response and system dynamic performance

Prime-mover response characteristics are influenced by the dynamics of turbines, boilers, and hydraulic systems, as well as by such control devices as speed governors and boiler-turbine controls. Some of the common types of prime-mover systems considered are the conventional single and double reheat systems, once-through units, and hydraulic turbine units. The pertinent phenomena are discussed, as are the implications of prime-mover response in the light of normal and emergency load-change duty.
Emotions, language, and Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Conceptual and emotional mechanisms of language are considered along with their role in intelligence and cultural evolution. The paper discusses mechanisms of evolution of language from primordial undifferentiated animal cries to contemporary conceptual contents, while emotional contents are diminished. The paper suggests neural brain mechanisms involved in these processes. Experimental evidence and theoretical arguments are discussed, including mathematical approaches to cognition and language, including modeling fields theory, the knowledge instinct, and the dual model connecting language and cognition. Mathematical results are related to cognitive science, linguistics, and psychology. The paper gives an initial mathematical formulation and mean-field equations for the hierarchical dynamics. The knowledge instinct operating in the mind heterarchy leads to mechanisms of differentiation and synthesis determining ontological development and cultural evolution. Emotional contents of language are related to language grammar. The conclusion is an emotional version of Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Cultural advantages of “conceptual” pragmatic cultures, in which emotionality of language is diminished and differentiation overtakes synthesis resulting in fast evolution at the price of self doubts and internal crises, are compared to those of traditional cultures where differentiation lags behind synthesis, resulting in cultural stability at the price of stagnation. Unsolved problems and future theoretical and experimental directions are discussed.
Flexural-Torsional Buckling of Misaligned Axially Moving Beams: Vibration and Stability Analysis

This paper addresses the stability and vibration characteristics of three-dimensional steady motions (equilibrium configurations) of translating beams undergoing boundary misalignment. System modeling and equilibrium solutions for bending in two planes, torsion, and extension were presented in a previous work [1]. Stability is determined by linearizing the equations of motion about a steady motion and calculating the eigenvalues using a finite-difference discretization. For the case of no misalignment, the calculated eigenvalues are compared to known values. When the beam is misaligned, the system initially enters a planar configuration and the results indicate that the planar equilibria lose stability after the first bifurcation point. Eigenvalue behavior of the planar equilibria after the first bifurcation point is shown to be strongly influenced by translation speed. Eigenvalue behavior about non-planar equilibria and vibration modes about selected equilibria are also presented.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Participatory technology assessment: Institution and methods

Abstract The subordination of technology to finalities outside it must be built into technology assessments. In order to do so, developing countries need: • technological “gatekeepers” to monitor outside development; • “focal points” to receive, screen, and distribute relevant knowledge needed for technology assessment; and • institutional arrangements to assure ongoing information exchange, concerted planning, and collaborative implementation among government, producers, and researchers. Three rationalities vie for supremacy in decisional arenas: technical, political, and ethical. Interaction among the three should be circular, not vertical. Technology assessment's (TA) qualitative dimensions can be managed by using evaluative tools such as the “development flower.”
Fundamentals and Principles of Tissue Transfer

The advancements in tissue transfer techniques made recent years allow the reconstructive surgeon to view the whole body as a potential donor site. Now functional results, along with cosmetic results, can be considered as paramount in the thinking of the reconstructive surgeon. In the past, techniques of tissue transfer tended to be considered in ladder fashion with the surgeon applying techniques of transfer from simplest to “exotic” as opposed to considering optimal functional/cosmetic results. Now reconstructive surgeons routinely consider the “exotic” when it yields the best functional/cosmetic results. The basic that will be discussed in this chapter are designed to provide a platform from which GU reconstructive surgeon launches into more complex and imaginative procedures.
Socio-technical defense against voice spamming

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a key enabling technology for migration of circuit-switched PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) architectures to packet-based networks. One problem of the present VoIP networks is filtering spam calls referred to as SPIT (Spam over Internet Telephony). Unlike spam in e-mail systems, VoIP spam calls have to be identified in real time. Many of the techniques devised for e-mail spam detection rely upon content analysis, and in the case of VoIP, it is too late to analyze the content (voice) as the user would have already attended the call. Therefore, the real challenge is to block a spam call before the telephone rings. In addition, we believe it is imperative that spam filters integrate human behavioral aspects to gauge the legitimacy of voice calls. We know that, when it comes to receiving or rejecting a voice call, people use the social meaning of trust, reputation, friendship of the calling party and their own mood. In this article, we describe a multi-stage, adaptive spam filter based on presence (location, mood, time), trust, and reputation to detect spam in voice calls. In particular, we describe a closed-loop feedback control between different stages to decide whether an incoming call is spam. We further propose formalism for voice-specific trust and reputation analysis. We base this formal model on a human intuitive behavior for detecting spam based on the called party's direct and indirect relationships with the calling party. No VoIP corpus is available for testing the detection mechanism. Therefore, for verifying the detection accuracy, we used a laboratory setup of several soft-phones, real IP phones and a commercial-grade proxy server that receives and processes incoming calls. We experimentally validated the proposed filtering mechanisms by simulating spam calls and measured the filter's accuracy by applying the trust and reputation formalism. We observed that, while the filter blocks a second spam call from a spammer calling from the same end IP host and domain, the filter needs only a maximum of three calls---even in the case when spammer moves to a new host and domain. Finally, we present a detailed sensitivity analysis for examining the influence of parameters such as spam volume and network size on the filter's accuracy.
Theoretical Predictions of the Electronic and Optical Properties of Single and Coupled (In,GA)As/GaAs Quantum Dots

We show how an atomistic pseudopotential plus many-body configuration interaction theory can address the main spectroscopic features of self-assembled dots including, excitons, trions, biexcitons, fine-structure, charging spectra as well as electric-field dependence of entanglement in dot molecules.
Human pulmonary dirofilariasis

We have recently observed the 35th case of pulmonary dirofilariasis, the dog heartworm, in a human being. The clinical course was similar to that in other patients and included hemoptysis without other systemic complaints. The initial chest x-ray film was interpreted as suggestive of neoplasm, with definitive diagnosis made only following thoracotomy. The patient remains well one year after resection of the involved lobe. The clinical and pathologic features of human dirofilariasis are reviewed with some comparison to the dog, as well as a review of the literature.
Modeling success in FLOSS project groups

A significant challenge in software engineering is accurately modeling projects in order to correctly forecast success or failure. The primary difficulty is that software development efforts are complex in terms of both the technical and social aspects of the engineering environment. This is compounded by the lack of real data that captures both the measures of success in performing a process, and the measures that reflect a group's social dynamics. This research focuses on the development of a model for predicting software project success that leverages the wealth of available open source project data in order to accurately forecast the behavior of those software engineering groups. The model accounts for both the technical elements of software engineering and the social elements that drive the decisions of individual developers. Agent-based simulations are used to represent the complexity of the group interactions, and the behavior of each agent is based on the acquired open source software engineering data. For four of the five project success measures, the results indicate that the developed model represents the underlying data well and provides accurate predictions of open source project success indicators.
Enzymatic characterization of Babesia bovis.

. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to identify metabolic enzymes in Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. Glutamate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose phosphate isomerase, and hexokinase were identified in B. bovis- and B. bigemina-infected erythrocytes and B. bovis merozoite preparations. A specific electrophoretic mobility was observed for each enzyme. Malate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and adenylate kinase were only detected in normal erythrocyte preparations. Inter-species, but not intra-species, variation was noted when comparing electrophoretograms of both species. Kinin-activating activity was not detected in B. bovis-infected erythrocyte or merozoite preparations at pH 4.2 or 7.6.
Oscillatory Conductance of Carbon-Atom Wires

The conductance of carbon-atom chains is found from first-principles calculations to vary in an oscillatory manner as the number of carbon atoms is increased, with odd-numbered chains having a lower resistance than even-numbered chains. This finding is explained in terms of the electronic structure of the free chains and its modification by interaction with the metal electrodes: the critical factor is the density of states at the Fermi level of the combined electrode\char21{}atomic-wire system. Stronger electrode\char21{}atomic-wire coupling, i.e., shorter metal-carbon distance, does not necessarily imply a higher conductance.
Influence of herbicides and felling, fertilization, and prescribed fire on longleaf pine establishment and growth through six growing seasons

Recovery of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Mill.) is necessary to arrest the decline of many associated plants and animals, and the establishment of longleaf pine on much of its original range requires artificial regeneration and diligence. In central Louisiana, USA, two fertilization levels (No [NF] or Yes [F-36 kg/ha N and 40 kg/ha P]) in combination with three vegetation treatments (check, two prescribed fires [PF], or multi-year vegetation control by herbicidal and mechanical means [IVM]) were applied to container-grown longleaf pine plantings in two studies. In Study 1 (grass dominated), 6-year-old longleaf pine survival was 52% on the F–checks, 78% on the F–PF plots, and averaged 93% on the other four treatment combinations. Longleaf pine trees on the IVM plots (3.4 m) were significantly taller than on the other two vegetation treatments, and trees on the PF plots (1.8 m) were taller than trees on the check plots (1.2 m). In Study 2 (brush dominated), survival averaged 65% across the six-treatment combinations after 6 years. The longleaf pine trees were 4.7 m tall on the IVM plots and averaged 3.9 m tall on the check and PF plots. Fertilization increased P concentrations in the soil and longleaf pine foliage, while fertilization did not significantly affect longleaf pine height growth. Native fertility was not apparently limiting longleaf pine development contrary to prior research recommendations for these soils. In both studies, the IVM treatment reduced early herbaceous competition and the number and height of arborescent plants. The PF treatment reduced arborescent plant height on the grassy site where fires were more intense than on the brushy site.
Materials and methods for transcatheter vascular occlusion: some personal, practical views.

In his paper, Greenfield reviews in detail the materials, devices, methods, and appropriate uses of transcatheter therapeutic vascular occlusion. In another report, White and coworkers focus on a specific and promising approach to selective vascular occlusion, the detachable balloon. Over 150 publications in the 1979 scientific literature emphasize the importance and diversity of methods now available for transcatheter vascular occlusion. The following comments reflect our personal views, based on a decade of experience in this field.
PIPIDA scintigraphy for cholecystitis: false positives in alcoholism and total parenteral nutrition

A review of gallbladder scintigraphy in patients with potentially compromised hepatobiliary function revealed two groups in whom cholecystitis might be mistakenly diagnosed. In 200 consecutive hospitalized patients studied with technetium-99m-PIPIDA for acute cholecystitis or cholestasis, there were 41 alcoholics and 17 patients on total parenteral nutrition. In 60% of the alcoholics and 92% of those on parenteral nutrition, absent or delayed visualization of the gallbladder occurred without physical or clinical evidence of cholecystitis. A cholecystagogue, sincalide, did not prevent the false-positive features which presumably are due to altered bile flow kinetics related to alcoholism and parenteral nutrition. Four patients on parenteral nutrition undergoing cholecystectomy for suspected cholecystitis had normal gallbladders filled with jellylike viscous thick bile. A positive (nonvisualized or delayed visualized) gallbladder PIPIDA scintigram in these two populations should not be interpreted as indicating a need for cholecystectomy.