cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting self-criticism in the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND The Benefits and Barriers Model proposes both benefits and barriers associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and that a negative association with the self plays a key role in the initial selection of and acute motivation for NSSI. The current investigation builds upon previous findings by assessing the added benefit of targeting self-criticism in the treatment of NSSI. METHODS Sample included 40 participants (30 females; Mage = 14.92) enrolled in dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents within a partial hospitalization program. All study participants received dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents, and those randomized to the experimental condition received an additional brief cognitive intervention developed to decrease self-criticism. RESULTS There was no evidence of an indirect effect of targeting self-criticism upon NSSI at post-treatment via post-treatment self-criticism (b = -0.98, p = .543); however, there was evidence of a significant interaction between treatment condition and self-criticism at pretreatment in the prediction of NSSI at post-treatment (b = 0.33, p = .030). Analyses of simple slopes indicated the conditional direct effect of targeting self-criticism varied as a function of patient's level of self-criticism at the onset of treatment, such that individuals -1 SD below the mean (b = -5.76, p = .037) and at average pretreatment levels of self-criticism (b = -4.09, p = .042), but not + 1 SD above the mean (b = -2.42, p = .056), experienced fewer incidents of NSSI at post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results of this investigation support the added benefit of targeting self-criticism in the treatment of NSSI for adolescents.
3,4-Dimethoxyphenylethylamine and Other Amines in the Urine of Schizophrenic Patients

THE preceding communication confirming the presence of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine in the urine of schizophrenic patients1,2 is of considerable interest. The fact that their procedure differed in some respects from ours adds further support to our identification of this compound.
Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies among patients with advanced cancer.

e24129Background: Few studies have examined the coping mechanisms among patients with advanced cancer seen by palliative care. The objective of the study was to evaluate coping strategies in advanc...
Dynamical Modeling as a Tool for Inferring Causation.

Dynamical models, commonly used in infectious disease epidemiology, are formal mathematical representations of time-changing systems or processes. For many chronic disease epidemiologists, the link between dynamical models and predominant causal inference paradigms is unclear. This commentary explains the use of dynamical models for representing causal systems and the relevance of dynamical models for causal inference. In certain simple settings, dynamical modeling and conventional statistical methods (e.g., regression-based methods) are equivalent, but dynamical modeling has advantages over conventional statistical methods for many causal inference problems. Dynamical models can be used to transparently encode complex biological knowledge, interference and spillover, effect modification, and variables that influence each other in continuous time. As our knowledge of biological and social systems and access to computational resources increases, there will be a growing utility for a variety of mathematical modeling tools in epidemiology.
Systemic stress-induced Th2 shift and its clinical implications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses systemic stress-induced T helper-2 (Th2) shift and its clinical implications. Stress hormones selectively suppress T helper-1 (Th1) responses and cause a Th2 shift rather than generalized immunosuppression. The stress hormone–induced Th2 shift may have both beneficial and detrimental consequences. Although interest in the Th2 response is initially directed at its protective role in helminthic infections and its pathogenic role in allergy, this response may have important regulatory functions in countering the tissue-damaging effects of macrophages and Th1 cells. Thus, an excessive immune response, through activation of the stress system, may trigger a mechanism that inhibits Th1 but potentiates Th2 responses. This important feedback mechanism may protect the organism from overshooting by type 1/pro-inflammatory cytokines and other products of activated macrophages with tissue-damaging potential. The substantial Th2-driving force, however, of endogenous glucocorticoids and catecholamines (CAs) can be amplified to a great extent during certain conditions such as severe acute or chronic stress, excessive exercise, or pregnancy. An abnormal stress-system activity, therefore, in either direction, might contribute to the pathophysiology of common human diseases, where a selection of Th1 (type 1) versus Th2 (type 2) responses plays a significant role. These include several intracellular infections, major injury and its complications, allergic (atopic) reactions, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth.
Characteristics of Isopentanol as a Fuel for HCCI Engines

Long chain alcohols possess major advantages over the currently used ethanol as bio-components for gasoline, including higher energy content, better engine compatibility, and less water solubility. The rapid developments in biofuel technology have made it possible to produce C{sub 4}-C{sub 5} alcohols cost effectively. These higher alcohols could significantly expand the biofuel content and potentially substitute ethanol in future gasoline mixtures. This study characterizes some fundamental properties of a C{sub 5} alcohol, isopentanol, as a fuel for HCCI engines. Wide ranges of engine speed, intake temperature, intake pressure, and equivalence ratio are investigated. Results are presented in comparison with gasoline or ethanol data previously reported. For a given combustion phasing, isopentanol requires lower intake temperatures than gasoline or ethanol at all tested speeds, indicating a higher HCCI reactivity. Similar to ethanol but unlike gasoline, isopentanol does not show two-stage ignition even at very low engine speed (350 rpm) or with considerable intake pressure boost (200 kPa abs.). However, isopentanol does show considerable intermediate temperature heat release (ITHR) that is comparable to gasoline. Our previous work has found that ITHR is critical for maintaining combustion stability at the retarded combustion phasings required to achieve high loads without knock. The stronger ITHRmore » causes the combustion phasing of isopentanol to be less sensitive to intake temperature variations than ethanol. With the capability to retard combustion phasing, a maximum IMEP{sub g} of 5.4 and 11.6 bar was achieved with isopentanol at 100 and 200 kPa intake pressure, respectively. These loads are even slightly higher than those achieved with gasoline. The ITHR of isopentanol depends on operating conditions and is enhanced by simultaneously increasing pressures and reducing temperatures. However, increasing the temperature seems to have little effect on ITHR at atmospheric pressure, but it does promote hot ignition. Finally, the dependence of ignition timing on equivalence ratio, here called {phi}-sensitivity, is measured at atmospheric intake pressure, showing that the ignition of isopentanol is nearly insensitive to equivalence ratio when thermal effects are removed. This suggests that partial fuel stratification, which has been found effective to control the HRR with two-stage ignition fuels, may not work well with isopentanol at these conditions. Overall, these results indicate that isopentanol has a good potential as a HCCI fuel, either in neat form or in blend with gasoline.« less
Medical History Associated with Adolescent Powerlifting

A questionnaire, designed to elicit information about the training, experience, and medical history of adolescent powerlifters, was administered to 71 contestants entered in the 1981 Michigan Teenage Powerlifting Championship. The average subject had participated in 4.1 workouts per week for 17.1 months. Each workout lasted an average of 99.2 minutes. The population sustained 98 powerlifting injuries which caused a discontinuance of training for a total of 1,126 days. The incidence and severity of pain in 13 regions of the body, as well as the site and type of powerlifting injury, were investigated. The low back region was shown to be the site with the greatest number of injuries (49). This region also had the highest percent of subjects recording an elevated occurrence and level of pain associated with powerlifting.
Rif1 choreographs DNA replication timing

Eukaryotic cells duplicate their genome in a predetermined order that appears to reflect a fundamental property of chromatin. Each chromosomal region replicates at a consistent, developmental- and tissue-specific time during the S phase of the cell cycle, and regions that replicate at the same time form distinct patterns in threedimensional nuclear space. Although orderly progression of DNA replication is important for insuring stable genetic and epigenetic inheritance, the mechanisms underlying replication patterns have yet to be elucidated. Two reports in The EMBO Journal now identify a protein, Rif1, as a novel global determinant of the mammalian DNA replication program, and provide a link between higher order chromatin assembly and proper cell-cycle progression. Shortly after cell division, cells organize their genomes into
Effects of housing conditions on food intake, body weight and spontaneous lesions in mice. A review of the literature and results of an 18-month study.

Abstract Mice were housed in groups of one, two, four or eight/cage for 18 months. The more densely housed groups showed markedly reduced food consumption, slightly decreased mean body weights, and a smaller variance of body weights. Tumour incidence was not affected, but gastritis was more prevalent in the more densely housed groups.
Optical limiting based on liquid-liquid immiscibility

Nonionic surfactants are used to stabilize a dispersed droplet phase in a continuous liquid phase when two immiscible liquids are mixed. As both liquid phases approach the index-matched condition, interfacial scattering is suppressed, and the mixture takes on the characteristics of a Christiansen-Shelyubskii filter. If, in addition, one of the liquids exhibits a substantial nonlinear optical response, then interfacial light scattering can be reversibly turned on when a laser beam incident upon the filter exceeds a critical fluence. To demonstrate this effect, an organic phase (dichloroethane) was dispersed in an aqueous phase containing sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) using an alkyl end-capped polyethylene glycol ether. Optical limiting was observed through this transparent medium under conditions where the focused second-harmonic output of a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser was on the order of about 50 mJ/cm 2 . An open-aperture z-scan technique was used to quantify the limiting behavior. Since the thiocyanate anion is both isostructural and isoelectronic with carbon disulfide which exhibits a large optical nonlinearity, the mechanism of optical limiting is proposed to be associated with a nonlinear shift in the aqueous fluid index of refraction, resulting in an index mismatch between the disparate phases at high laser fluence. Index mismatch between the two phases leads to multiple reflections, loss of coherence, and a significant transmission decrease due to Tyndall scattering. Fundamental studies of such systems are used to verify theoretical predictions of the limiting effect, and aid in the design and development of improved sub nanosecond limiters based upon this optical deflection approach.
The use of probabilistic information in making predictions

Abstract Five subjects were shown sequences of nine items of numerical information. The information sequences varied in mean, standard deviation, skewness, and bimodality. Subjects subsequently predicted unknown events from the same process, using whatever they had learned from the previous information. On the basis of the predictions, measures of central tendency and variability were derived for their inferred subjective probability (SP) distributions. The central tendency of the SP distribution was shown to be closely related to the arithmetic mean of the information, although modified by skewness for some subjects. Variability of the SP distribution was a joint function of the standard deviation and bimodality. Subjects were shown to be responding appropriately to the metric properties of the information. Possible mechanisms by which subjects encode quantitative information of a probabilistic kind were discussed.
The Risk of Early Retirement of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants under Electricity Deregulation and CO2 Emission Reductions

During the next decade, most states in the USA will deregulate electricity generation. Nuclear power plants that were ordered and built in a regulated environment will continue to be regulated as nuclear facilities. However, under state deregulation the price they receive for their electricity will be set largely in non-regulated markets. This paper examines the competitiveness of the nuclear power industry with a probabilistic model to identify which nuclear power units face the highest risk of early retirement under deregulation. Projected outputs under both average-cost and marginal-cost pricing are compared with expected generation under continued rate-of-return regulation. Nuclear units at risk of early retirement are in regions with the lowest forecast prices or are old plants. But, if CO2 regulation targets an emission reduction to 9 % below projected 2010 levels (projected to be 24% above 1990 levels), there are only a few units at risk of early retirement after 2015.
The Influence of Sea Surface Temperature Gradients on Stratiform Cloudiness along the Equatorial Front in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract Satellite observations of visible cloudiness and sea surface temperature (SST) are used to test the hypothesis that the configuration of cool low-level winds blowing across a sharp SST front in the equatorial eastern Pacific gives rise to stratiform clouds on the warm (downstream) side of the front. The results show that there is a maximum in low clouds over the equatorial front during the cold season of 1988 when the front and cross-isotherm winds were strong. The low-cloud maximum was reduced in the warm El Nino year of 1987, consistent with the weakening of the front. Instability waves along the equatorial front were pronounced during the summer and autumn of 1988. The results show a strong association between visible cloud and the SST waves, with enhanced (reduced) cloudiness in the warm troughs (cold crests) of the waves.
Variability of River Patterns

MODEL studies1 of the dependence of river patterns on sediment load and on the inclination of the surface on which the model river flows—the valley slope—show that at a constant discharge very different channel patterns are formed at different slopes (Fig. 1). Although sediment load is also an important factor affecting the sinuosity of a model river, Fig. 1 shows that an abrupt change in valley slope should lead to a change in river pattern.
Application research base on system engineering for analyzing smart grid standards

This paper introduces a new tool for analyze Smart Grid standards, IEC mapping chart. Using it will for the first time allow standard users to connect the subtleties of all relevant standards and identify overlaps and gaps. Result show significant improvement over previous efforts. The work presented here has profound implications for future studies of Smart Grid deployment and may finally solve the problem of organization and prioritization to achieve an interoperable and secure Smart Grid.
On the Orbit Sizes of Permutation Groups on the Power Set

We study the action of finite permutation groups of odd order on the power set of a set on which they act naturally, and establish a theorem that guarantees the existence of a lot of distinct orbit sizes in this action.
Exploring the cost-efficiency of basic research funding in chemistry

Abstract In this paper I estimate the efficiency of a federal agency's basic research support for chemistry. Efficiency here means output per dollar of agency investment. There are two outputs —citations and apprentices, those being trained by work on a project. I use a random sample of 93 NSF chemistry projects to find determinants of efficiency. The data on each project come from recorded agency-investigator transactions required by NSF's standard operating procedures. Differences in efficiency result from differences in resources available to the projects, the characteristics of researchers, and characteristics of the research environment. Overall, statistical modeling shows that there are strong interactions between inputs. Purely linear, additive models show poorer results than models with interaction terms. Some inputs such as an investigator's scientific experience and the labor intensity of projects affect citation and apprentice efficiency positively, but in an interactive way. For example, the marginal impact of investigator experience on citation efficiency depends on the level of labor intensity. However, some inputs considered highly important by funding agencies and the scientific community do not turn up as consistently significant, e.g., the quality of departments. The results suggest that the input-output structure of research projects is complex. Thus, quantitative analysis needs to be sensitive to the potential importance of interactions and non-linearities.
Iron removal from waterlogged wood: Extraction by electrophoresis and chemical treatments

AbstractThe presence of iron oxides (lepidocrocite, goethite) in archeological wood may result in a degradation of the wood matrix. Extraction of these iron oxides is largely dependent on their solubility. In this study, balsa wood samples were impregnated with iron oxides to test extraction treatments. Additionally, archeological wood samples were also examined to determine treatment efficiency. Electrophoresis and simple immersion treatments were performed using various chemical solutions: a neutral and a conductive substance (potassium nitrate), an acid (acetic acid), three alkaline chelating agents (tri-ammonium and tri-sodium citrate and sodium oxalate), three acidic and slightly acidic chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid, and oxalic acid), and a reductant (sodium dithionite). Potassium nitrate did not extract sufficient amounts of iron, irrespective of whether the treatment was conducted by electrophoresis or simple immersion; any observable dissolution was attribut...
Evaluation of 9-Methylamino-Methylanthracene as a Chemical Label for Total Reactive Isocyanate Group: Application to Isocyanate Oligomers, Polyurethane Precursors, and Phosgene

Abstract 9-Methylamino-methylanthracene (MAMA) is a secondary amine compound which can be used for derivatization and quantitation of isocyanate compounds by HPLC with detection by fluorescence and ultra-violet light absorbance The compound has potential as a chemical label for determination of airborne total reactive isocyanate group (TRIG) compounds arising from partially polymerized polyurethanes and thermal decomposition products of fully cured polyurethanes Six isocyanate oligomers and polyurethane precursors based on methylene-bis-(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate (HDI), and 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediiosocyanate (TDI) were assayed for isocyanate content using MAMA reagent After reaction of isocyanate with MAMA, the urea derivatives were analyzed by reversed phase HPLC using three detection / quantitation modes: fluorescence with excitation at 245 nm and emission at 414 nm, UV absorbance at 245 nm and UV absorbance at 370 nm. The ratio of absorbance at 245 nm and at 370 nm identifi...
Sensitivity and specificity of univariate MRI analysis of experimentally degraded cartilage.

MRI is increasingly used to evaluate cartilage in tissue constructs, explants, and animal and patient studies. However, while mean values of MR parameters, including T1, T2, magnetization transfer rate km, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and the dGEMRIC-derived fixed charge density, correlate with tissue status, the ability to classify tissue according to these parameters has not been explored. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity with which each of these parameters was able to distinguish between normal and trypsin-degraded, and between normal and collagenase-degraded, cartilage explants were determined. Initial analysis was performed using a training set to determine simple group means to which parameters obtained from a validation set were compared. T1 and apparent diffusion coefficient showed the greatest ability to discriminate between normal and degraded cartilage. Further analysis with k-means clustering, which eliminates the need for a priori identification of sample status, generally performed comparably. Use of fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering to define centroids likewise did not result in improvement in discrimination. Finally, an FCM clustering approach in which validation samples were assigned in a probabilistic fashion to control and degraded groups was implemented, reflecting the range of tissue characteristics seen with cartilage degradation. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The relationship between buoyant mantle flow, melt migration, and gravity bull's eyes at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 33°N and 35°N

Abstract Crustal thickness and mantle Bouguer anomaly (MBA) patterns along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) between the Oceanographer and Hayes transforms (33–35°N) are predicted from a three-dimensional mantle flow model driven by plate spreading and mantle density variations, assuming a two- or three-dimensional model of melt extraction. Our two-dimensional melt extraction model focuses melt to the nearest ridge segment by assuming that melt moves only vertically and parallel to the spreading direction. In contrast, the three-dimensional model assumes melt migrates vertically to the top of the melting region and then up the local slope of this surface. The shape of this surface, which is controlled by enhanced conductive cooling at ridge offsets, directs melt toward the center of segments. Our results suggest that buoyant mantle flow driven by temperature variations and a small retained melt fraction (
Evidence for differential degradation of alkenones under contrasting bottom water oxygen conditions: implication for paleotemperature reconstruction

Abstract The successful reconstruction of sea surface temperatures using alkenone paleothermometry (U37k′) has relied on the premise that there is no significant differential degradation of alkenones with different states of unsaturation during diagenetic processes. To test this assumption, we conducted a comparative study of contemporary sediments in oxic and anoxic bottom waters from the Santa Monica Basin, offshore California. Long-chain alkenones were quantified and sea surface temperature were calculated using the calibrated U37k′–T relationship of Prahl et al. (1988) . Our results show that temperature record from the oxic sediments is higher by as much as 4°C compared to those from time-equivalent anoxic sediments as a result of differential degradation of long-chain unsaturated alkenones and bioturbation mixing in the oxic sediments. The differential degradation of C37:3 vs. C37:2 alone could account for up to 2.5°C difference between these two records. This finding has significant implication in the interpretation of paleo–sea surface temperature data using alkenone paleothermometry.
Effect of Vertebrate Grazing on Plant and Insect Community Structure

: We compared species diversity of plants and insects among grazed and ungrazed areas of Ponderosa pine–grassland communities in Arizona. Plant species richness was higher in two of three grassland communities that were grazed by native elk and deer and domestic cattle than in ungrazed areas inside a series of three large (approximately 40-ha) grazing exclosures. Similarly, plant species richness was higher in grazed areas relative to ungrazed areas at one of two series of smaller (approximately 25-m2) and short-term exclosure sites. Evenness of plant distribution, however, was greater inside ungrazed long-term exclosures but was reduced inside ungrazed short-term exclosures relative to grazed areas. Relative abundances of forbs, grasses, trees, and shrubs, and native and introduced plants did not differ between the long- and short-term grazing exclosures and their grazed counterparts. Relative abundances of some plant species changed when grazers were excluded, however. In contrast, insect species richness was not different between grazed and ungrazed habitats, although insect abundance increased 4- to 10-fold in ungrazed vegetation. Our results suggest that vertebrate grazing may increase plant richness, even in nutrient-poor, semi-arid grasslands, but may decrease insect abundances. Resumen: Comparamos la diversidad de especies de plantas e insectos entre areas pastoreadas y no pastoreadas en communidades de pino-pastizal en Arizona. La riqueza de especies de plantas fue mayor en dos de tres comunidades de pastizales que fueron ramoneadas por alces y venados nativos y ganado vacuno, en comparacion con areas sin ramoneo dentro de una serie de tres encierros grandes para pastoreo (∼40 ha). Similarmente, la riqueza de especies de plantas fue mayor en areas ramoneadas en relacion con areas no ramoneadas en una de dos series de encierros pequenos (∼25m2) y de corta duracion. Sin embargo la distribucion homogenea de plantas fue mayor dentro de encierros de largo plaza sin ramoneo, pero fue reducida en encierros de corto plazo sin ramoneo en relacion con areas ramoneadas. La abundancia relativa de hierbas, pastos, arboles y arbustos y plantas nativas e introducidas no difirio entre encierros para pastoreo de corto y largo plazo y su contraparte ramoneada. Sin embargo, las abundancias relativas de algunas especies de plantas cambiaron cuando los ramoneadores fueron introducidos. En contraste, la riqueza de especies de insectos no fue diferente entre habitats ramoneados y no ramoneados, aunque la aboundancia de insectos aumento 4-10 veces en la vegetacion sin ramonear. Nuestros resultados sugieren que el ramoneo por vertebrados puede incrementar la riqueza de las plantas, aun en pastizales pobres en nutrientes y semiaridos, pero puede disminuir las abundancias de insectos.
On the use of linearized yield conditions for combined stresses in beams

Abstract Yield criteria expressed in terms of stress resultants are obtained for typical engineering structures, using the first fundamental theorem of limit analysis. These yield criteria, which are often non-linear, are then replaced by inscribed piecewise linear approximations. The complete solutions based on these approximate yield criteria provide lower bounds ; the corresponding values for the upper bound can be obtained by multiplying the lower bound values by a suitable factor. A few examples are worked out to illustrate the simplicity achieved in determining the collapse load.
Effects of Freeze-Thawing, Storage Medium, and Incubation on the Streaming Potentials of Bone in Vitro

Streaming potentials were determined as an index to electrokinetic change since they are more easily obtained than their electrokinetic inverse (electroosmosis). Results of earlier studies concerning electroosmosis of bone in vitro had suggested that storage of bone at -80 C and subsequent thawing changed the electrokinetic characteristics of bone. the present study determined the streaming potential of bone with 0.9% NaCl before and after storage of bone at -80 C for 1 week in 0.9% NaCl and found that freeze-thawing resulted in a significant reduction in streaming potential (P <0.001). When bones were stored in Waymouth's medium 752/1, pH 7.09 for 2 weeks, instead of in 0.9% NaCl, there was a significant increase in the streaming potential of bone (P <0.005). Bones incubated at 56°C for 45 minutes in 0.01 M HEPES, pH 7.25, 5.2% glucose showed a significant decrease in streaming potential (P <0.001). these results show that changes in temperature and storage medium markedly affect the streaming potential ...
Money and prices in thirteenth-century Venice

Prices and salaries rose in Venice between 1173 and 1282. The supply of money also probably increased. Wine, grain, and commodity prices, as well as magistrates' salaries, are here collected from documentary sources to illustrate this rise in prices. Evidence from silver mining, foreign trade, banking, and diplomacy seems to demonstrate an increase in the supply of money, but price inflation (the Fisher equation, MV = PT) cannot be definitely illustrated because velocity and transaction costs cannot yet be established for medieval Venice. To clarify these prices, this study also briefly describes the coins and moneys of account used in Venice in this century.
On the Complexity of Wireless Multicast Optimization

This letter considers a class of utility optimization problems in wireless networks. Under a set of physical layer assumptions, we show that the impact of physical and data-link layer configurations to the upper layers in a wireless network can be characterized using a configuration graph, which is similar to a wireline network topology graph. Network layer utility optimization can consequently be carried out via iterations that optimize network layer algorithms over the configuration graph and incrementally revise physical, data-link layer configurations to improve the configuration graph. For a class of wireless multicast networks with network coding, we show that the number of point-to-multipoint links involved in network utility optimization is only polynomial, as opposed to exponential, in the number of nodes.
Polyadenylation at a cryptic site in the pBR322 portion of pSV2-neo: prevention of its utilization by the SV40 late poly(A) signal

Transcripts originating from the SV40 late promoter of pSV2-neo or pSV2-cat contain pBR322 sequences and are polyadenylated at the SV40 late poly(A) site, resulting in an RNA of 3500 nt. If the SV40(L) poly(A) signal is destroyed, late orientation transcripts are polyadenylated at a site within pBR322 sequences, yielding in an RNA of 2500 nt. This cryptic poly(A) site is located 42-46 nucleotides downstream from an AAUAAA. Utilization of the pBR322 poly(A) signal is undetectable in late orientation transcripts from pSV2-neo or pSV2-cat, although it is located 966 nucleotides upstream from the SV40(L) poly(A) signal. The pBR322 site is not utilized when the spacing between the two poly(A) signals is varied from 209 to 1913 nucleotides. The pBR322 poly(A) site was utilized only in constructs in which all or portions of the SV40(L) poly(A) signal were deleted, such as in a construct with a 7 bp deletion into the SV40(L) AATAAA and adjacent sequences.
Small weak acids reactivate proton transfer in reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutated at AspL210 and AspM17.

Abstract In reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, site-directed mutagenesis has implicated several acidic residues in the delivery of protons to the secondary quinone (QB) during reduction to quinol. In a double mutant (AspL210 → Asn + AspM17 → Asn) that is severely impaired in proton transfer capability over a wide pH range, proton transfer was “rescued” by added weak acids. For low pKa acids the total concentration of salt required near neutral pH was high. The ionic strength effect of added salts stimulated the rate of proton-coupled electron transfer at pH 7.5, indicating an effective isoelectric point between these limits. In this region, a substantial rate enhancement by weak acids was clearly evident. A Bronsted plot of activity versus pKa of the rescuing acids was linear, with a slope of -1, and extrapolated to a diffusion-limited rate at pKaapp ≈ 1. However, the maximum rate at saturating concentrations of acid did not correlate with pKa, indicating that the acid and anion species compete for binding, both with weak affinity. This model predicts that pKaapp corresponds to a true pKa = 4-5, similar to that for a carboxylic acid or QB-, itself. Only rather small, neutral acids were active, indicating a need to access a small internal volume, suggested to be a proton channel to the QB domain. However, the on-rates were near the diffusion limit. The implications for intraprotein proton transfer pathway design are discussed.
Modified release of hydrophilic, hydrophobic and peptide agents from ionized amphiphilic gel networks

Abstract Controlled release of hydrophilic and hydrophobic small molecules (vitamin B12 and progesterone) as well as insulin and interferon was investigated for a terpolymer hydrogel network containing the thermosensitive monomer, N-isopropyl acrylamide (NiPAAM), sodium acrylate and the hydrophobic co-monomer, n-N-alkylacrylamide. A new, micellar-based polymerization method was used to fabricate mechanically robust NiPAAm hydrogels containing small amounts of the other two co-monomers. Drugs and proteins were entrapped directly from aqueous dispersions containing all of the network components stabilized in micelles. Hydrophobic alkyl chain incorporation in these networks influenced NiPAAm gel swelling, gel critical behavior with temperature and drug release kinetics. Increasing gel hydrophobicity imparted by longer alkyl acrylamide chain length and/or increasing alkyl acrylamide content shifted the gel thermal phase transition to lower temperatures and decreased gel swelling. Acrylamide chain-length dependent drug release was also modified over that for gels containing no alkyl co-monomer. Release of insulin and interferon was prolonged over weeks, displaying a zero-order release profile when entrapped (loaded) by in situ network polymerization compared to identical gel rapid release when loaded by usual sorption methods. Hydrophobic micro-structures resulting from micellar stabilized n-alkyl acrylamide monomer clusters in the swelling gels are implicated in creating this release profile.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) melt spinning via controlled threadline dynamics

Fiber melt spinning of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was studied via modification of threadline dynamics. Several techniques were implemented in the high-speed spinning process for the judicious control of threadline dynamics. This included a thermal conditioning zone (TCZ) for controlling the threadline temperature profile and a dydraulic drag bath (HDB) for controlling the threadline spinning stress. Through controlled threadline dynamics, key factors affecting the structure development—namely, temperature, tensile stress, and crystallization time—were manipulated to favor formation of a highly oriented and transversely uniform structure in the spun fibers. This carries the implication that optimum or near-optimum processing conditions are being applied during the structure development period. More specifically, tensile stress in the threadline, independent of temperature, is substantially increased to many orders higher than that ordinarily attained in the normal high-speed spinning process. Concurrently, the temperature crucial to the structure development is being independently optimized and its duration extended to attain a highly oriented structural order. Properties of the spun fibers were found to be correlated with the threadline parameters including cooling profile, tension profile, and strain rate. PET fibers spun via the one-step process with the introduction of the TCZ and HDB possess superior mechanical performance. Structural characterization suggests that the spun fibers have a high amorphous orientation factor and a uniform radial structure distribution. Further on-line studies indicate that structure development in the threadline is completely different from that of the traditional high-speed spinning process. The attenuation profile of the threadline is observed to be dependent of TCZ temperature, residence time in the HDB, temperature of the HDB, and take-up speed. It is believed that for the melt spinning process with the TCZ and the HDB, the threadline dynamics is changed from one controlled by inertia and air drag forces to one controlled by the imposed hydraulic drag.
Boundary layer evolution within a canyonland basin. Part II: Numerical simulations of nocturnal flows and heat budgets

Abstract A mesoscale model is used to simulate the nocturnal evolution of the wind and temperature fields within a small, elliptical basin located in western Colorado that has a drainage area of about 84 km2. The numerical results are compared to observed profiles of wind and potential temperature. The thermal forcing of the basin wind system and the sources of air that support the local circulations are determined. Individual terms of the basin atmospheric heat budget are also calculated from the model results. The model is able to reproduce key features of the observed potential temperature profiles over the basin floor and winds exiting the basin through the narrow canyon that drains the basin. Complex circulations are produced within the basin atmosphere as a result of the convergence of drainage flows from the basin sidewalls. The strength of the sidewall drainage flow varies around the basin and is a function of the source area above the basin, the local topography, and the ambient winds. Flows on t...
Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of Organometallic Lanthanide–Dizirconium Nonaisopropoxide Complexes

Enhanced solubility of the dizirconiumnonaisopropoxide (dzni) complexes [(dzni)Ln(C5H5)] and [{(dzni)Ln}2(C8H8)] (shown here for Ln=Sm; R=iPr), compared with their cyclopentadienyl analogues, was revealed by examining the reactions of [{(dzni)LnI}2] with NaC5H5 and K2C8H8 to probe the compatibility of the dzni ligand with organometallic reagents.
Positivity properties of linear differential operators

In this paper we continue the study [6, 81 of the phenomenon that the signs of the iterates f(x), (Lf) (x), (L’f) (x),... h ave an influence on the analytic character of a real function f E Cm(l). Specifically, we impose on f the “uniform positivity” condition (Lkf) (x) > 0, x E 1, K = 0, 1, 2,..., together with the “pointwise positivity” condition (Lkf )’ (x,,) >, 0, for a fixed x,, E 1, and deduce that f (x) is necessarily analytic in a complex neighborhood of x0 .
The computational and confirmational differences between the social and the physical sciences

L'A. se demande si les problemes de projection et d'explication en economie se retrouvent en physique. Il montre de quelle maniere nous tentons de les resoudre grâce a l'informatique. Plus generalement, il analyse la nature informatisable des theories scientifiques et le role des approximations et des idealisations
Improved NOx reduction over the staged Ag/Al2O3 catalyst system

Abstract The reaction mechanism of reducing NOx with hydrocarbons over Ag/Al 2 O 3 has been examined to improve its NOx reduction performance at lower temperatures, using ethanol and n -octane as representative hydrocarbon reductants. Based on the results obtained at the early stages of the hydrocarbon oxidation and NO reduction, it is proposed that the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons and the oxidation of NO are the first reaction steps over Ag/Al 2 O 3 . n -Octane is broken up into smaller hydrocarbon molecules, which are then subsequently oxidized to form various aldehydes, while ethanol is also rapidly converted to acetaldehyde. At the same time, NO is oxidized effectively to NO 2 in the presence of reductants. These observations and additional experiments with variable amounts of Al 2 O 3 placed downstream of the Ag/Al 2 O 3 catalyst suggest that the NO reduction by hydrocarbons over Ag/Al 2 O 3 may occur via a bifunctional reaction mechanism; NO and hydrocarbons are converted into NO 2 and more reactive hydrocarbon species (i.e., smaller alkenes, oxygenated hydrocarbons), respectively, over the Ag sites, while N 2 is produced from the subsequent reactions between these intermediate species over different sites including Al 2 O 3 . The proposed bifunctional reaction mechanism offers an opportunity to improve the overall NOx reduction performance of Ag/Al 2 O 3 by optimizing individual reaction steps separately. Thus, the concept of a staged catalyst system has been examined using Ag/Al 2 O 3 for the formation of reaction intermediates, and a secondary catalyst (e.g., Al 2 O 3 or BaY) for the subsequent N 2 production reaction. Significant improvement in NOx reduction to N 2 was obtained at lower temperatures, when BaY was used as the second catalyst and ethanol was used as reductant.
Nanoscience of an Ancient Pigment

We describe monolayer nanosheets of calcium copper tetrasilicate, CaCuSi4O10, which have strong near-IR luminescence and are amenable to solution processing methods. The facile exfoliation of bulk CaCuSi4O10 into nanosheets is especially surprising in view of the long history of this material as the colored component of Egyptian blue, a well-known pigment from ancient times.
Transient hydrogeologic models for submarine flow in volcanic seamounts: 1. The Hawaiian Islands

[1] Seamounts and volcanic islands are regions of the seafloor where pressure gradients, caused by temperature variations, are large enough to drive fluid flow. Compaction in surrounding sedimentary aprons, formed during mass wasting of these features, drives fluid flow as well. In seamount environments a complex flow pattern evolves as effects of compaction and free convection interact. We use transient finite element modeling to explore fluid flow and pore pressure in a volcanic edifice and its surrounding sedimentary apron to determine the hydrogeologic and pore pressure regime. Models are based on geophysical cross sections of the Hawaiian Islands and include the volcanic edifice, sedimentary apron, and underlying oceanic crust. Models simulate growth of the volcanic island, flexure of the oceanic crust due to loading, and formation of the sedimentary apron. High sedimentation rates of up to 1 mm/yr during volcanic building cause compaction in the sedimentary apron, and the weight of the edifice compacts the pelagic sediment beneath it; compaction-driven flow dominates flow patterns. Excess pore pressures are highest during the beginning of volcanic construction and decline through the remainder of the simulation. As sedimentation decreases, compaction-driven and buoyancy-driven flow both control flow patterns. When sedimentation stops, pore pressure dissipates, and buoyancy-driven flow dominates the flow regime. Pore pressure ratios indicate that under certain parameter conditions, pore pressure may exceed lithostatic, leading to unstable edifice conditions. Although fluid velocities are small (q < 0.5 cm/yr), the hydrologic regime has important implications for slope stability, volcanic spreading, sedimentation processes, and geochemical transport.
Phospholipase activity plays no role in the action of colicin K

Abstract 1. 1. A mutant lacking both detergent-resistant and detergent-sensitive phospholipase A activities is fully sensitive to colicin K. 2. 2. In the absence of cellular phospholipases A, colicin K does not promote hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine. 3. 3. Cells of the colicin-treated mutant lacking lysophosphatidylethanolamine are as abnormally permeable to Co 2+ as the wild type is. 4. 4. Increased levels of lysophosphatidylethanolamine in colicin-treated cells are not necessary for the increased sensitivity to sodium dodecylsulfate.
Linking theory with qualitative research through study of stroke caregiving families.

Purpose This theoretical article outlines the deliberate process of applying a qualitative data analysis method rooted in Friedemann's Framework of Systemic Organization through the study of a web-based education and support intervention for stroke caregiving families. Methods Directed by Friedemann's framework, the analytic method involved developing, refining, and using a coding rubric to explore interactive patterns between caregivers and care recipients from this 3-month feasibility study using this education and support intervention. Specifically, data were gathered from the intervention's web-based discussion component between caregivers and the nurse specialist, as well as from telephone caregiver interviews. Findings and Conclusions A theoretical framework guided the process of developing and refining this coding rubric for the purpose of organizing data; but, more importantly, guided the investigators' thought processes, allowing them to extract rich information from the data set, as well as synthesize this information to generate a broad understanding of the caring situation.
What Else Is Back There

t e p t m a n p p m s t m c PRESENTATION Chronic back pain is a condition often seen by the internist and rarely requires further testing. When pain is intractable, however, other rare potential causes may need to be evaluated. A 47-year-old Caucasian man with history of chronic back pain presented to our facility for evaluation of suddenonset, severe, mid-thoracic back pain that radiated around to his chest and was worsened by any movement. No trauma was associated with the pain, which had started the previous day. He had experienced a similar pain episode 3 months previously and had been evaluated by a chiropractor, who determined the cause to be musculoskeletal. The pain had resolved with physical therapy. The patient denied any constitutional symptoms, chest pain, shortness of breath, limb weakness, paresthesias, numbness, or bowel or bladder dysfunction. No other significant past medical or family history was noted. He denied any alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use.
On the existence of solutions to the Monge-Ampère equation with infinite boundary values

Given a positive and an increasing nonlinearity f that satisfies an appropriate growth condition at infinity, we provide a condition on g ∈ C ∞ (Ω) for which the Monge-Ampere equation det D 2 u = g f(u) admits a solution with infinite boundary value on a strictly convex domain Ω. Sufficient conditions for the nonexistence of such solutions will also be given.
Altered Ligands Reveal Limited Plasticity in the T Cell Response to a Pathogenic Epitope

Experimental leishmaniasis offers a well characterized model of T helper type 1 cell (Th1)-mediated control of infection by an intracellular organism. Susceptible BALB/c mice aberrantly develop Th2 cells in response to infection and are unable to control parasite dissemination. The early CD4+ T cell response in these mice is oligoclonal and reflects the expansion of Vβ4/ Vα8-bearing T cells in response to a single epitope from the parasite Leishmania homologue of mammalian RACK1 (LACK) antigen. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) generated by these cells is believed to direct the subsequent Th2 response. We used T cells from T cell receptor–transgenic mice expressing such a Vβ4/Vα8 receptor to characterize altered peptide ligands with similar affinity for I-Ad. Such altered ligands failed to activate IL-4 production from transgenic LACK-specific T cells or following injection into BALB/c mice. Pretreatment of susceptible mice with altered peptide ligands substantially altered the course of subsequent infection. The ability to confer a healer phenotype on otherwise susceptible mice using altered peptides that differed by a single amino acid suggests limited diversity in the endogenous T cell repertoire recognizing this antigen.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID GALACTORRHEA AFTER VENTRICULOPLEURAL SHUNTING : CASE REPORT

A complication of ventriculopleural shunting in which the pleural end of the catheter retracted out of the pleural cavity is described. Continued drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid into the subcutaneous and breast tissue led to the development of breast enlargement and drainage via the nipple. The mechanism of production and guidelines to avoid this complication are discussed, and a brief review of ventriculopleural shunting complications is presented.