cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mood and Insomnia in Persons With Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Background Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented intervention that aims to improve detrimental emotional or behavioral distress by modifying individuals' thought processes. This review evaluates the efficacy and specific adaptations of CBT in persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Methods A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO was conducted up to March 2020. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias criteria. Results Twelve publications were identified. Seven of the studies demonstrated CBT efficacy to improve depression, anxiety, and/or quality of life. One study's positive postintervention outcome became insignificant with longer term follow up. Two of the studies improved sleep outcomes. Four studies integrated caregivers into intervention delivery. Three studies utilized content, memory, and adherence adaptations aimed to improve intervention efficacy. Two studies included adaptations to address caregiver burden and depression. Conclusion There is strong evidence to suggest that CBT is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and quality of life in persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. CBT showed a reduction in insomnia and improvements in sleep quality. However, there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on the effects of CBT on insomnia. These results suggest that further investigation into insomnia outcomes is needed.
Barriers to Leading Small Groups among Generation Z and Younger Millennials: An Exploratory Factor Analysis and Implications for Recruitment and Training:

Small groups are an essential aspect of contemporary churches, playing an important role in community building, support, spiritual formation, and accountability. However, their number and impact ar...
An Illusion of Self-Sufficiency for Learning About Artifacts in Scaffolded Learners, But Not Observers.

Two studies ask whether scaffolded children (n = 243, 5-6 years and 9-10 years) recognize that assistance is needed to learn to use complex artifacts. In Study 1, children were asked to learn to use a toy pantograph. While children recognized the need for assistance for indirect knowledge, 70% of scaffolded children claimed that they would have learned to use the artifact without assistance, even though 0% of children actually succeeded without assistance. In Study 2, this illusion of self-sufficiency was significantly attenuated when observing another learner being scaffolded. Learners may fail to appreciate artifacts' opacity because self-directed exploration can be partially informative, such that learning to use artifacts is typically scaffolded instead of taught explicitly.
Dynamic Ratcheting in SDOF hysteretic damping systems induced by earthquake excitations

Abstract Dynamic Ratcheting (DR) is a phenomenon in which plastic deformation in a hysteretic damping system increases asymmetrically in successive cycles. In the present paper, DR in single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems under earthquake excitation is investigated based on strong motion data collected in California between 2002 and 2012. The characteristics of earthquakes in the time–frequency domain are studied on spectrograms; furthermore, linkages between the spectrogram, displacement time history, and the Fourier Transform are identified to locate intervals during which DR is expected to occur. It is observed that DR occurs for 10 out of 160 studied earthquakes according to the proposed DR investigation procedure. The likelihood of DR seems to mainly depend on local site conditions; however, the likelihood significantly increases as the magnitude of earthquakes increases.
Effects of maternal vitamin B-6 deficiency on specific regions of developing rat brain: the extrapyramidal motor system

Progeny of rats deficient in vitamin B-6 exhibit gross neurological symptoms during a critical period of brain development, which may be related to abnormalities of the extrapyramidal motor system. In this study concentrations of the neurotransmitters, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine (DA) and certain amino acids were determined in substantia nigra (SN) and caudate/putamen (C/P) in progeny of dams fed diets containing either deficient (D), 0.6 or control (C), 7.0 mg pyridoxine x HCl (PN x HCl) per kilogram diet throughout growth, gestation and lactation. These measurements in C/P were correlated with the number of synapses. Analysis of brains of pups at 15 days of age, which gross neurological symptoms were evident in group D, showed that concentrations of GABA were decreased in C/P, whereas aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu) and DA were not affected compared to C values. One hour postinjection of PN x HCl, D pups showed decreased Glu in C/P and increased Asp in SN and at 3 hours postinjection, GABA was increased in SN. Since some synapses in C/P were postulated to be from GABAergic striatal interneurons, fewer of these synapses in conjunction with decreased GABA in C/P may result in ineffective inhibition of the circuitry of C/P in vitamin B-6 deficiency.
A policy-oriented review of strategies for improving the outcomes of services for substance use disorder patients.

Aims To inform policy makers on available options for improving the effectiveness of treatments for substance use disorders and to stimulate debate about treatment improvement strategies among public officials, clinical providers, care managers, service users, families and researchers. Methods We draw on the scientific literature and our public policy experiences in two countries (the United Kingdom and the United States) to give an overview of policies which may improve care for individuals with substance use disorders. We divide such policies into ‘process-focused quality improvement strategies’ that attempt to change some aspect of treatment (e.g. increased retention, greater use of evidence-based practices) and ‘patient-focused strategies’ that attempt to reward outcomes directly (e.g. contingency management for patients, payment by results for providers). Findings Many policies of both types are poorly developed, have shown poor results, or both. The evidence is clear that process-focused quality improvement strategies can change what providers do and how treatment programs work, but such changes have thus far demonstrated only minimal impact on patient outcomes. Patient-focused strategies face challenges including treatment providers avoiding hard-to-treat patients or spending inordinate time relocating patients after treatment to assess outcome. However, policies that reward in-treatment outcomes and policies that allow the patient to purchase desired recovery support services show more promise. As policy makers go forward in this endeavor, they can do an enormous service to their countries and the field by embedding careful evaluation studies alongside new treatment outcome improvement initiatives.
The new military medical ethics: legacies of the Gulf Wars and the War on Terror.

United States military medical ethics evolved during its involvement in two recent wars, Gulf War I (1990-1991) and the War on Terror (2001-). Norms of conduct for military clinicians with regard to the treatment of prisoners of war and the administration of non-therapeutic bioactive agents to soldiers were set aside because of the sense of being in a 'new kind of war'. Concurrently, the use of radioactive metal in weaponry and the ability to measure the health consequences of trade embargos on vulnerable civilians occasioned new concerns about the health effects of war on soldiers, their offspring, and civilians living on battlefields. Civilian medical societies and medical ethicists fitfully engaged the evolving nature of the medical ethics issues and policy changes during these wars. Medical codes of professionalism have not been substantively updated and procedures for accountability for new kinds of abuses of medical ethics are not established. Looking to the future, medicine and medical ethics have not articulated a vision for an ongoing military-civilian dialogue to ensure that standards of medical ethics do not evolve simply in accord with military exigency. Language: en
A cell proliferation-dependent multiprotein complex NC-3A positively regulates the CD34 promoter via a TCATTT-containing element

The CD34 cell surface antigen is a glycoprotein expressed by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and also by certain nonhematopoietic cell-types. Because CD34 expression is regulated both at the transcriptional and the posttranscriptional level, we attempted to identify factors that, by interacting with the 5' flanking region of the human CD34 gene, may regulate its promoter activity in proliferating hematopoietic cells. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay, UV cross-linking and DNase I footprinting analyses, we identified a multiprotein complex, designated NC-3A, that specifically interacts with the CD34 promoter region from nucleotides -375 to -351. Sequence analysis of this region revealed the presence of a distinct motif, TCATTT. Chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase assays used to assess promoter activity in transiently transfected cells showed that this TCA-TTT-containing element, which is conserved in both the human and the murine CD34 genes, mediates positive regulatory activity in hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, and acts as an enhancer when placed upstream of a heterologous promoter. Moreover, loss of CD34 promoter activity was caused by mutation of the TCATTT motif. In addition, the interaction of the nuclear multiprotein complex NC-3A with this enhancer element is proliferation-dependent. These data indicate that, although not cell-type specific, the formation of a multiprotein complex NC-3A interacting with the region from nucleotides -375 to -351 plays an important role in controlling CD34 promoter activity in proliferating hematopoietic cells.
The treatment of central pain syndrome in spinal cord injury with a combination of a tricyclic antidepressant and carbamazepine: A case series

Central pain syndrome (CPS) is a common and disabling sequela in many patients with spinal cord injury. Such pain frequently impedes functional recovery and leads to significant physical and psychological disability. While the treatment of CPS with antidepressant or anticonvulsant medication has been investigated, the treatment with a combination of these two classes of medications has not been studied. We report four separate cases of patients with paralysis and associated burning dysesthesias who had substantial improvement following a short course of treatment with a combination of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and carbamazepine. Each patient suffered significant discomfort resulting in loss of sleep or interference with functional abilities. These patients were treated with a therapeutic dose of a TCA alone without subjective improvement in pain. Subsequently, carbamazepine was added without changing the TCA dose. Each patient responded favorably to this combination of medications and reported a minimum of 50% reduction in pain within two to three days of adding the carbamazepine. Two patients had complete resolution of pain. When the antidepressant was later discontinued in two patients, the dysesthesias significantly increased in both patients. The combination of a TCA and carbamazepine may improve the functional status and quality of life for patients with CPS unresponsive to either medication alone.
Effects of metals and organic compounds on survival and bioaccumulation in two species of marine gammaridean amphipod, together with a summary of toxicological research on this group

The toxicity and bioaccumulation of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, zinc, DDT, PCB and the water-soluble fraction of diesel fuel to the gammaridean amphipods Corophium insidiosum and Elasmopus bampo were measured. At 96 h exposure C. insidiosum was more sensitive to arsenic, zinc, DDT, PCB and the water-soluble fraction of diesel fuel than E. bampo, whereas E. bampo was more sensitive to cadmium, chromium and copper than C. insidiosum. Over a 20-day period C. insidiosum accumulated greater amounts of chromium, copper, lead and zinc than E. bampo, whereas E. bampo accumulated more cadmium, DDT and PCB than C. insidiosum. The toxicity and bioaccumulation of toxicants to other species of marine gammaridean amphipods are tabulated.
Calibration of CCD-based redox imaging for biological tissues

Clinically-translatable redox imaging methods developed in the Chance laboratory have been used for imaging mitochondrial metabolic states in tissues. The fluorescence of reduced pyridine nucleotide (PN or NADH) and oxidized flavoproteins (Fp) in the respiratory chain is sensitive to intracellular redox states. The redox ratios, i.e., Fp/(Fp+NADH) and NADH/(Fp+NADH) provide important metabolic information in living tissues. Usually the higher the metabolic flux, the less NADH, the more oxidized Fp, and the higher Fp redox ratio. Snap-freezing tissue samples under the liquid nitrogen condition preserves the tissue metabolic state in vivo. Here we report our work on the calibration of a homebuilt Charged Coupled Device (CCD) cryogenic redox imager using a series of snap-frozen solution standards of NADH and Fp. The NADH concentration ranged from 0-1318 μM and Fp from 0-719 μM. The sensitivity ratio of NADH and Fp channels was determined from the slope ratio of the two calibration curves and was used to correct the redox ratio of a human melanoma mouse xenograft. The NADH and Fp reference standards were placed adjacent to the tissue samples and their emission intensities were used to quantitatively determine the concentrations of NADH and Fp in a mouse xenograft of a human breast cancer line. Our method of imaging tissue samples along with reference NADH and Fp standards should facilitate the comparison of redox images obtained at different times or with different instrument parameters.
A new twist to the topoisomerase I problem.

Depuis qu'on decouvre de nouvelles topo-isomerases de type I, il devient important de determiner si les proteines regroupees sous ce titre forment une famille phylogenetique, dans laquelle des residus amino-acides cles sont conserves, ou si les topo-isomerases de type I forment un groupe heterogene. Cette revue bibliographique fait le point sur la question
Electronic control of ventricular tachyarrhythmias: overview and future directions.

Bien que des techniques de stimulation dans les tachycardies ventricuJaires aient 6t6 cpuronn6s de succes chez certains patients, leur utilisation courante n’etait pas possible avant l'introduction du defibrillateur automatique implantable a haute energie (25j). Le defibrillateur implantable servira a la fois comme traitement principal et aussi comme traitement secondaire dans les tachycardies ventriculaires induites par la stimulation. La mortalite des malades atteints de fibrillation et tachycardie ventriculaires devrait diminuer considerablement. Although pacing techniques for the termination of ventricular tachycardia are successful in some patients, the widespread use of these devices has not been possible until the recent availability of high energy (25 J) automatic defibrillators. The implantable defibrillator will serve both as a primary means of arrhythmia termination and as backup device to treat pacer mediated acceleration of ventricular tachycardia. The subsequent mortality of patients with ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation should diminish considerably.
Dissection of the vectorcardiogram; differential vectorcardiography.

Abstract A practical selective dissector apparatus has been constructed and has been used with commericially available equipment to separate and record the component loops of the vectorcardiogram (P, QRS, ST-T loops).
Evaluation of Eye Shields Made of Tungsten and Aluminum in High-Energy Electron Beams

Abstract Purpose: To protect the lens and cornea of the eye when treating the eyelid with electrons, we designed a tungsten and aluminum eye shield that protected both the lens and cornea, and also limited the amount of backscatter to the overlying eyelid when using electron beam therapy. Methods and Materials: Custom curved tungsten eye shields, 2 mm and 3 mm thick, were placed on Kodak XV film on 8 cm polystyrene and irradiated to evaluate the transmission through the shields. To simulate the thickness of the eyelid and to hold the micro-TLDs, an aquaplast mold was made to match the curvature of the eye shields. Backscatter was measured by placing the micro-TLDs on the beam entrance side to check the dose to the underside of the eyelid. Measurements were done with no aluminum, 0.5, and 1.0 mm of aluminum on top of the tungsten eye shields. The measurements were repeated with 2- and 3-mm flat pieces of lead to determine both the transmission and the backscatter dose for this material. Results: Tungsten proved to be superior to lead for shielding the underlying structures and for reducing backscatter. At 6 MeV, a 3-mm flat slab of tungsten plus 0.5 mm of aluminum, resulted in .042 Gy under the shield when 1.00 Gy is delivered to dmax. At 6 MeV for a 3-mm lead plus 0.5-mm aluminum, .046 Gy was measured beneath the shield, a 9.5% decrease with the tungsten. Backscatter was also decreased from 1.17 to 1.13 Gy, a 4% decrease, when using tungsten plus 0.5 mm of aluminum vs. the same thickness of lead. Measurements using 9 MeV were performed in the same manner. With 3 mm tungsten and 0.5 mm of aluminum, at 3 mm depth the dose was .048 Gy compared to .079 Gy with lead and aluminum (39% decrease). Additionally, the backscatter dose was 3% less using tungsten. Simulating the lens dose 3 mm beyond the shield for the 2-mm and 3-mm custom curved tungsten eye shields plus 0.5 mm of aluminum was .030 and .024 Gy, respectively, using 6 MeV (20% decrease). Using 9-MeV electrons, the dose 3 mm beyond the shield was .048 Gy for the 2-mm shield and .029 Gy for the 3-mm shield (40% decrease). Backscatter was not further decreased using thicker tungsten. With a 6-MeV beam, using the 2-mm or 3-mm custom tungsten eye shields plus 0.5 mm of aluminum, the backscattered doses were 1.03 and 1.02 Gy, respectively. The backscatter dose with 9 MeV was 1.06 Gy using the 2-mm custom shield plus 0.5 mm aluminum and 1.05 Gy with a 3-mm custom shield plus 0.5 mm aluminum. There was very little difference in backscatter dosage under the eyelid using 0.5 vs. 1.0 mm of aluminum. Therefore, for patient comfort, we recommend using 0.5 mm of aluminum. Conclusions: Tungsten is superior to lead as a material for eye shields due to its higher density and lower atomic number (Z). Using 6- and 9-MeV electrons, tungsten provides the necessary protection for the lens and cornea of the eye and decreases the amount of backscatter to the eyelid above the shield.
Automorphisms of complexes of curves on punctured spheres and on punctured tori

Abstract Let S be either a sphere with ≥5 punctures or a torus with ≥3 punctures. We prove that the automorphism group of the complex of curves of S is isomorphic to the extended mapping class group M ∗ S . As applications we prove that surfaces of genus ≤1 are determined by their complexes of curves, and any isomorphism between two subgroups of M ∗ S of finite index is the restriction of an inner automorphism of M ∗ S . We conclude that the outer automorphism group of a finite index subgroup of M ∗ S is finite, extending the fact that the outer automorphism group of M ∗ S is finite. For surfaces of genus ≥2 , corresponding results were proved by Ivanov (IHES/M/89/60, Preprint).
Resolution of the fluorescence equilibrium unfolding profile of trp aporepressor using single tryptophan mutants

Single tryptophan mutants of the trp aporepressor, tryptophan 19-->phenylalanine (W19F) and tryptophan 99-->phenylalanine (W99F), were used in this study to resolve the individual steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence urea unfolding profiles of the two tryptophan residues in this highly intertwined, dimeric protein. The wild-type protein exhibits a large increase in fluorescence intensity and lifetime, as well as a large red shift in the steady-state fluorescence emission spectrum, upon unfolding by urea (Lane, A.N. & Jardetsky, O., 1987, Eur. J. Biochem. 164, 389-396; Gittelman, M.S. & Matthews, C.R., 1990, Biochemistry 29, 7011-7020; Fernando, T. & Royer, C.A., 1992, Biochemistry 31, 6683-6691). Unfolding of the W19F mutant demonstrated that Trp 99 undergoes a large increase in intensity and a red shift upon exposure to solvent. Lifetime studies revealed that the contribution of the dominant 0.5-ns component of this tryptophan tends toward zero with increasing urea, whereas the longer lifetime components increase in importance. This lifting of the quenching of Trp 99 may be due to disruption of the interaction between the two subunits upon denaturation, which abolishes the interaction of Trp 99 on one subunit with the amide quenching group of Asn 32 on the other subunit (Royer, C.A., 1992, Biophys. J. 63, 741-750). On the other hand, Trp 19 is quenched in response to unfolding in the W99F mutant. Exposure to solvent of Trp 19, which is buried at the hydrophobic dimer interface in the native protein, results in a large red shift of the average steady-state emission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sisterly conduct: Do feminists need guidelines for ethical behavior with one another?

Abstract Feminists who actively participate in the contemporary women's movement find a plethora of dilemmas that cause great pain and conflict. One of these involves the negative ways in which we reportedly interact and behave with one another. Accounts of unsisterly conduct are recounted by feminists who themselves have felt under attack by other feminists, by feminists who have observed seemingly brutal interaction, or by feminists who have defended themselves after a perceived hostile confrontation by other feminists. Both written and oral reports of unsisterly conduct led me to ask questions about the need for ethics in the women's movement. This paper reports on how the idea evolved and on responses by participants at two feminist conferences held in California in 1982.
Interview with a Quality Leader: Kate Goonan on Performance Excellence

Abstract: Kathleen Jennison Goonan, MD, is Executive Director of the Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Center for Performance Excellence (CPE) at Massachusetts General Hospital. CPE guides transformational change in healthcare management and helps leaders, administrators, and practitioners in the healthcare workforce nationwide achieve and sustain performance excellence (http://www.mghcpe.org). An internist trained at the Massachusetts General Hospital, she has more than two decades' experience leading healthcare quality assessment and improvement initiatives. Before joining the CPE in 2002, she held a number of senior executive positions, including Senior Vice President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Dr. Goonan has served as a judge for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the Joint Commission's Codman Award, and for the American Hospital Association's McKesson Quest for Quality Award. She teaches extensively about achieving organizational performance excellence. Dr. Goonan co-authored Journey to Excellence: How the Baldrige Health Care Leaders Succeed, authored The Juran Prescription: Clinical Quality Management, and has written numerous articles and book chapters on performance improvement in healthcare. Dr. Goonan was faculty for the Harvard School of Public Health Leadership Development Program for Physicians from Academic Health Centers (1995–2007) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (1999–2005).
Sterility testing of hematopoietic progenitor cell products: a single-institution series of culture-positive rates and successful infusion of culture-positive products.

BACKGROUND: Administration of culture-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) causing adverse events has been a hypothesized yet largely unmeasured risk of the clinical practice of HPC transplantation. To enhance patient safety, the FDA has issued regulations prohibiting the use of culture-positive HPCs. Numerous studies have reported the infusion of culture-positive HPCs; however, the low frequency of adverse events prevents accurate determination of this risk. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Product culture results and clinical outcomes from January 1998 through March 2006 representing 7233 HPC collections for 2118 transplants at a single institution were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 119 units of HPCs (1.6%) intended for 95 patients were culture-positive. Of the 69 patients transplanted with culture-positive HPCs, 5 received products with cultures pending, and 64 received products with the positive culture results known. One of 69 patients had a new positive blood culture 5 days after infusion with the same species as the product. There was not a clinically relevant difference in the rate of infusion-related symptoms reported for patients who received culture-positive products compared to all infusions. The survival of patients who received culture-positive products (n = 69) was not different from all HPC recipients (n = 2046; p = 0.419). CONCLUSION: No infusion-related risks of culture-positive HPCs to patient safety were identified. Our data suggest that the decision to use culture-positive HPCs must be made in the context of the global risks associated with transplants such as remobilization, replacement product availability, and the nature of the organism.
Modeling of ion heating from viscous damping of reconnection flows in the reversed field pinch

Strong self-heating of ions is observed in the reversed field pinch (RFP). During a sawtooth crash in the Madison Symmetric Torus RFP, the ion temperature can spontaneously double in ∼100μs. It is also observed that high Z impurities are heated more strongly than bulk ions. The possibility of ion heating due to tearing instabilities at sawtooth crash is examined. Heating scenarios due to viscous damping of strongly localized perpendicular and parallel flows driven in the vicinity of resonant surface in tearing mode are considered. Flow amplitudes and spatial scales are estimated from linear and nonlinear resistive magnetohydrodynamic modeling. The heating rates are found from kinetic models with different levels of approximation, up to solving kinetic equation with a Landau collision operator. Results show reasonable agreement of the modeled impurity heating rate with the experiment, while the estimated bulk ions heating is somewhat weaker than in the experiment. Further theoretical and experimental study...
Modification of several proteins by using Ca2+-independent microbial transglutaminase with high-pressure treatment.

Abstract It was revealed that Ca 2+ -independent microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) of a variant of Streptoverticillium mobaraense could catalyze the acyl transfer reaction between monodansyl cadaverin (MDC) and dimethyl casein (DMC) even after a period (30 min) of high-pressure treatments at 200, 400 and 600 MPa. In the next step, simultaneous application of MTGase and the high-pressure treatments was found to be effective at accelerating the above acyl transfer reaction. Subsequently, it was found that MDC incorporation into several food proteins, e.g. bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, γ-globulin and lysozyme, occurred when MTGase and a certain high-pressure treatment were applied to the reaction mixture simultaneously. Self-polymerization of BS A was also caused in the same procedure. Meanwhile, severalpre-treatments with high pressure changed BSA and ovalbumin to being the substrate in MDC incorporation catalyzed by MTGase.
Elevated luteinizing hormone in prepubertal transgenic mice causes hyperandrogenemia, precocious puberty, and substantial ovarian pathology.

In women, chronically elevated androgens have been associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility. Recently, we described transgenic mice with elevated serum LH secondary to targeted expression of a transgene encoding a chimeric LH β-subunit. Mature transgenic females exhibit elevated androgens, anovulation, and a range of ovarian phenotypes including cysts, widespread luteinization, and tumors. In the present study we have examined serum levels of LH and testosterone and the concurrent development of the reproductive system in prepubertal mice. Serum LH in prepubertal females was elevated despite increased serum testosterone and estradiol, indicating a relative insensitivity to steroid negative feedback. Elevated serum LH and hyperandrogenemia resulted in accelerated vaginal opening and ovarian follicular development in transgenic females. Precocious antral follicle formation and conspicuous hypertrophy of the theca-interstitium preceded the development of large cysts with marked hemorrhage....
Synthesis of cellulose in ethanol extracts of Acetobacter xylinum.

FORMATION of bacterial cellulose in cell-free fractions of homogenates of Acetobacter xylinum, supplemented by either adenosine triphosphate1,2 or uridine diphosphoglucose3, has recently been reported. Such homogenate fractions are necessarily complex, and unequivocal identification of the immediate precursor of cellulose might be easier if a cell-free extract of cultures of this bacterium, which retains the capacity to form cellulose, could be prepared. This communication describes the preparation of such an extract.
Sodium channel inactivation in heart: a novel role of the carboxy-terminal domain.

Sodium Channel Inactivation in Heart. Electrical activity in the heart depends critically on the interactions of multiple ion channels to coordinate the timing of excitation and contraction of the ventricles. Voltage-gated sodium channels underlie the rapid spread of impulses through the atria and ventricles, but the importance of sodium (Na + ) channels to the control of the ventricular action potential has only most recently become apparent through the investigation of the relationship between mutation-induced clinical phenotypes and the altered function of mutant Na + channels linked to inherited arrhythmias. Investigation into the structural basis of disease-associated mutations of the cardiac Na + channel has led to the discovery of novel role of the Na + channel carboxy-terminal (CT) domain in controlling channel inactivation. Intramolecular interactions between the carboxy-terminal domain and an intracellular peptide loop that forms the inactivation gate are required to minimize channel reopening during prolonged depolarization. Disruption of this interaction leads to persistent sodium channel current, action potential prolongation, and elevated risk of cardiac arrhythmia.
Activities to infuse sustainability and renewable energy concepts in electrical and computer engineering

Several engineering programs have introduced courses related to sustainability following the Brundtland Commission report in 1987. Available literature suggests that environmental engineering programs have initiated most of such activity, but only a few activities are reported in electrical and computer engineering programs. To fill this gap, a project to infuse sustainability into the electrical and computer engineering curriculum was initiated in 2009 in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Kansas State University with support from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to prepare engineers, who are equipped to meet the growing needs of society, as well as to bolster enrollment by aligning the curriculum with needs of the current generation of students, who wish to involve themselves in work that benefits society. The paper describes activities related to sustainability including hands-on experiments in renewable energy, development of a rooftop solar and wind generation system, and associated outreach activities. Finally, results of assessments conducted in freshman classes provide a view of student knowledge related to sustainability and renewable energy as they enter their college experience.
On Freezing of Supercooled Droplets Shattered by Shock Waves

Abstract Supercooled water droplets in free fall were shattered by shock waves in a laboratory shock tube, and the fragments thus produced were examined for the presence of ice crystals. The experimental results show that the probability of formation of ice crystals by the shattering process is very small. It thus appears improbable that shock waves from lightning strokes or explosive charges can substantially increase the concentrations of ice crystals in a supercooled cloud by this mechanism.
FACTOR MARKET INCIDENCE OF AGRICULTURAL TRADE LIBERALIZATION: SOME ADDITIONAL RESULTS

Liberalization of trade implies changes in producer prices, which has consequences for farm income, agricultural employment and asset values. The relative incidence of the effect of changes in prices on fixed factors depends on the rclative magnitude of the Morishima elasticities of substitution in agricultural production.
TSPad: a Tablet-PC based application for annotation and collaboration on time series data

This paper describes a Tablet-PC based software tool that is designed to allow researchers to effectively and naturally collaborate on time series data that arises in their research. The application is a distributed application that allows the users to browse, annotate, and search their time series data while also allowing them to view the annotations of others. The software is written to be totally flexible about the kind of time series data loaded into it. This could be a valuable training tool for those trying to learn how to interpret certain kinds of time series data, or a great asset to a group trying to build a repository of annotated datasets for research purposes. This paper presents this new software tool, called TSPad, describes its functionality, and describes how it implements some of its functionality.
Pharmacotherapy of pediatric and adolescent HIV infection

Significant advances have been made in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection over the past two decades. Improved therapy has prolonged survival and improved clinical outcome for HIV-infected children and adults. Sixteen antiretroviral (ART) medications have been approved for use in pediatric HIV infection. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued “Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection”, which provide detailed information on currently recommended antiretroviral therapies (ART). However, consultation with an HIV specialist is recommended as the current therapy of pediatric HIV therapy is complex and rapidly evolving.
Flow‐induced crystallization in the injection molding of polymers: A thermodynamic approach

The prediction of the crystallinity and microstructure that develop in injection molding is very important for satisfying the required specifications of molded products. A novel approach to the numerical simulation of the skin-layer thickness and crystallinity in moldings of semicrystalline polymers is proposed. The approach is based on the calculation of the entropy reduction in the oriented melt and the elevated equilibrium melting temperature by means of a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive equation. The elevation of the equilibrium melting temperature that results from the entropy reduction between the oriented and unoriented melts is used to determine the occurrence of flow-induced crystallization. The crystallization rate enhanced by the flow effect is obtained by the inclusion of the elevated equilibrium melting temperature in the modified Hoffman–Lauritzen equation. Injection-molding experiments at various processing conditions were carried out on polypropylenes of various molecular weights. The thickness of the highly oriented skin layer and the crystallinity in the moldings were measured. The measured data for the microstructures in the moldings agree well with the simulated results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 502–523, 2005
Murine retroviral vector that induces long-term expression of HIV-1 envelope protein

A retroviral vector was constructed that induces long-term expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) rev, vpu and env genes. The vector contains the neo gene and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter followed by HIV-1 sequence. When HeLa cells were infected with viral stocks derived from this vector, about 25% of the resulting G418-resistant clones expressed HIV-1 envelope protein (Env), easily detectable by Western blot analysis, metabolic labelling, and syncytium formation after co-cultivation with HeLa-CD4 cells. In most cases the level of Env expression was higher than in a T cell line (H9) chronically infected with HIV-1. Env-expressing HeLa cell lines also expressed Rev, detected by transfection with a Rev-dependent CAT gene construct, and Vpu, detected by immunoprecipitation with a Vpu-specific antiserum. The 75% of G418-resistant HeLa cell lines that did not express Env were found to contain proviruses that had undergone deletion of env sequences corresponding to a known intron; presumably these cell lines arose as a result of infection with virions derived from spliced RNAs. This vector should be useful for studying non-transient effects of HIV Env, Rev and Vpu in tissue culture, and for the production of Env- and/or Rev-expressing cell lines.
Accuracy of heartbeat perception in panic disorder, social phobia, and nonanxious subjects

Recent research on psychosocial models of panic disorder has demonstrated that panic patients become anxious about, and tend to focus on, the physical sensations of panic (e.g., palpitations, dizziness, and breathlessness). To assess whether patients' hypervigilance for panic sensations is associated with heightened awareness of internal sensations, subjects with panic disorder, social phobia, and no mental disorder were asked to count heartbeats at rest and following a period of exercise, while actual heartbeats were recorded using a polygraph. The groups did not differ in heartbeat awareness at rest. Following exercise, all groups became more aware of cardiac sensations, again with no between-group differences. Despite a lack of group differences, several variables were positively related to accuracy of heartbeat perception, including self-reported anxiety over relevant sensations and subjects' confidence in their estimations. In addition, actual heart rate was negatively related to accuracy of heartbeat tracking. The implications of these results are discussed.
UV-mutagenesis at a cloned target sequence: converted suppressor mutation is insensitive to mutation frequency decline regardless of the gene orientation.

Abstract Premutational lesions produced by ultraviolet radiation in the Gln2 tRNA genes of E. coli B/r show differing sensitivities to a mutation avoidance phenomenon known as mutation frequency decline (MFD). A mutation event that changes the wild-type gene to an amber (UAG) suppressor is normally sensitive to MFD. Mutation of this amber suppressor to an ochre (UAA) suppressor is not sensitive to MFD. These two mutation events occur in the same anticodon region of the DNA. The dissimilarity of MFD sensitivity between these two mutations may result because of the respective premutational photoproducts for the two are located in opposite strands of duplex DNA. To examine the effect of strand position of the premutational lesions of MFD, recombinant lambda phage were constructed that contained the amber suppressor as a mutation target in the two possible orientations. Comparison of MFD in bacterial lysogens containing either of the two types of recombinant prophage indicated that reversing the orientation of the target sequence relative to adjacent bacterial DNA had no effect on MFD. Since rotational inversion of the target sequence did not alter the sensitivity to MFD of mutation occurring at the cloned target gene, the antimutation process inherent to FMD can not be attributed to an asymmetrical interaction between the template strands and the DNA-replication complex.
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of kinetic metamorphism in snow

Abstract Entropy production rates derived from nonequilibrium thermodynamics are used to show that depth hoar develops from the natural progression of snow toward thermal equilibrium. Laboratory experiments were undertaken to examine the evolution of snow microstructure under nonequilibrium thermal conditions. Snow samples with similar initial microstructure were subjected to either a fixed temperature gradient or fixed heat input. The metamorphism for both sets of boundary conditions produced similar depth hoar chains with comparable increases in effective thermal conductivity. Examination of the entropy production rates showed that the microstructural changes resulted from the snow or the surroundings moving toward a stationary state under the given non-equilibrium constraints imposed by the boundary conditions. This behavior is dictated by the second law of thermodynamics. A numerical model applied nonequilibrium thermodynamics to depth hoar formation at the grain scale. Entropy production rate relations were developed for an open system of ice and water vapor subjected to heat and mass flow. Heat conduction in the bonds had the highest specific entropy production rate, indicating it was the most inefficient part of the snow system at transferring heat. As the metamorphism advanced, the bond sizes grew to enhance the conduction pathways through the snow and increase the heat transfer. This spontaneous microstructural evolution moved the system and the surroundings toward equilibrium by reducing the local temperature gradients across the bonds and increasing the entropy production rate density.
Dual role of oestrogens as hormones and pro-carcinogens: tumour initiation by metabolic activation of oestrogens

Epidemiological evidence increasingly points to exogenous or endogenous oestrogens as a risk factor for breast cancer. However, it is unlikely that induction of oestrogen-dependent tumour growth is the sole contribution of oestrogens to tumour development in the mammary gland, because oestrogen receptors are barely detectable in normal mammary epithelial cells. In this review, I examine a mechanism for mammary carcinogenesis, which emphasizes tumour initiation by metabolic activation of oestrogens in combination with cell transformation and growth stimulation by oestrogen receptor-mediated processes. Catecholestrogen metabolites are capable of metabolic redox cycling between quinone and hydroquinone forms, a mechanism of free radical generation. Several types of direct and indirect free radical-mediated DNA damage are induced by oestrogens in vitro and in vivo, such as DNA single strand breaks, 8-hydroxylation of guanine bases, and DNA adduct formation by malondialdehyde, a decomposition product of free radical-induced lipid peroxides. The substrate for redox cycling and free radical generation may be 4-hydroxoestradiol, because this metabolite is formed from oestradiol by a specific oestrogen 4-hydroxylase detected in several human organs including mammary tissue. It has also been formed in organs of rodents where oestrogens induce tumours, with the exception of the liver. 4-Hydroxyoestradiol is a potent, long-acting oestrogen and may complete the carcinogenic process by stimulating receptor-mediated proliferation. An understanding of a possible mechanism of mammary carcinogenesis as a result of oestrogen-mediated initiation means that several prevention strategies, based on inhibiting metabolic activation of oestrogens or free radical action, can be developed.
The use of curare (intocostrin) in electric shock therapy

1. The use of intocostrin as an adjunct to electric convulsive therapy is a safe procedure if proper precautionary measures are taken. 2. A new method of dosage determination, which takes into consideration individual sensitivity, is explained. 3. It is frequently possible to predict by certain objective signs whether a patient will be over-sensitive to the drug.
Cyclic AMP mediated GSTP1 gene activation in tumor cells involves the interaction of activated CREB-1 with the GSTP1 CRE: a novel mechanism of cellular GSTP1 gene regulation.

The human GSTP1 gene is frequently over-expressed in many human cancers and the expression increases with tumor progression and is associated with a more aggressive biology, poor patient survival, and resistance to therapy. The molecular regulation of the human GSTP1 gene during malignancy is, however, still not well understood. Recently, we reported the presence of a cAMP response element (CRE) in the 5′-region of the human GSTP1 gene, raising the possibility that the cAMP signaling pathway, frequently aberrant in human cancers, may play an important role in the transcriptional activation of the GSTP1 gene in human tumors. In this study, we report that the GSTP1 gene is an early cAMP response gene. Treatment of cells of the human lung carcinoma cell line, Calu-6, with 25 μM forskolin to activate the cAMP pathway resulted in a rapid and significant (sevenfold after 30 min) increase in GSTP1 gene transcripts, which peaked at 12-fold after 4 h. The forskolin-activated GSTP1 transcription in Calu-6 cells was suppressed dose-dependently by a 2-h pre-treatment with 0.1, 1.0, and 10 μ of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 2′, 5′-dideoxyadenosine. Western blot analysis showed a rapid, fivefold increase, in GSTP1 protein levels after treatment with 25 μM forskolin, with a peak at 2 h post-treatment. The levels of phosphorylated CRE (Ser133) binding protein-1 (CREB-1) increased rapidly, sevenfold at 30 min, and reached 10-fold at 4 h following forskolin treatment. Intracellular cAMP levels also increased rapidly reaching 12-fold at 30 min. Gel mobility shift and supershift assays and DNase I footprinting analyses demonstrated that CREB-1 bZIP and CREB-containing nuclear extracts recognized the GSTP1 CRE with high affinity and specificity. Binding of CREB-1 bZIP to the GSTP1 CRE was abolished when the GSTP1 CRE sequence, 5′-CGTCA-3′, was mutated at the core nucleotides. Finally, transfection studies using luciferase plasmid constructs showed the GSTP1 CRE to be required for the cAMP-activated gene expression. Together, these findings describe a novel cAMP- and CREB-1-mediated mechanism of transcriptional regulation of the GSTP1 gene and suggest that this may be an important mechanism underlying the increased GSTP1 expression observed in tumors with an aberrant cAMP signaling pathway and in normal cells under conditions of stress, associated with increased intracellular cAMP. J. Cell. Biochem. 87: 103–116, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impact of RFID and information sharing on JIT, TQM and operational performance

Purpose – This aim of this paper, from a systems perspective, is to focus on the effects of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology adoption and information sharing within a manufacturing facility on the just-in-time (JIT) and total quality management (TQM) practices and the subsequent impact on operational performance of manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 104 manufacturing managers, supervisors and quality professionals and analyzed using a path analysis methodology. Findings – RFID technology utilization and supply chain information sharing combine to enhance a manufacturing organization’s JIT and TQM capabilities which lead to improve operational performance. Research limitations/implications – Although the sample size is large enough to support path analysis, it is not of sufficient size to support structural equation modeling. This limitation precludes assessing the model as a whole. Direct and indirect effects are assessed, however. Practical implica...
New metal-rich germanide and carbide non-crystalline solids

Noncrystalline metal-rich (Au, Pt, W, Ta, Fe, Ni, and Sn) germanide and (Au, Pt, Ir, Fe, Sn, and Cd) carbide films were prcpared by rf sputtering. Compositions as high as 60 at.% metal could be made without any special techniques for substrate cooling. A number of these films crystallized above 400 deg C. No phase separation was detected by either electron microscopy or heattreatment studies. (auth)