cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in disgust correspond with changes in symptoms of contamination-based OCD: a prospective examination of specificity.

Although several studies have implicated disgust in contamination-based obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there remains a paucity of research examining this relationship prospectively. To address this gap in the literature, undergraduate students (n = 177) participated in a 12-week prospective study for which they completed measures of contamination-based OCD symptoms, disgust, and negative affect. Change in disgust levels over the 12-week period predicted change in symptoms of contamination-based OCD, even when controlling for age, gender, and change in negative affect. However, this association was driven by change in the perceived negative impact of experiencing disgust (disgust sensitivity) rather than change in the intensity that disgust is generally experienced (disgust propensity). Subsequent analyses also revealed that change in disgust sensitivity fully mediated the association between change in disgust propensity and change in symptoms of contamination-based OCD. The implications of these findings for further delineating the causal role of disgust-related vulnerabilities in contamination-based OCD are discussed.
College Learning Disabled Writer Error Patterns and Instructional Alternatives

Research is beginning to investigate the written composition of college learning disabled writers with greater care given to the task required and the measurement tool. Results are indicating that learning disabled college students who have underlying processing deficits may require different instructional objectives from those needed by college basic writers who have limited instruction or difficulty with the composing process. The balance of this article concentrates on two topics important to educators working with college writers. First, a discussion of error patterns of college learning disabled, normal, and basic writers across different tasks is presented. Second, a few instructional approaches successful in improving the written language skills of college learning disabled writers, such as sentence combining and guided compositions, are discussed.
Binary-Flashing Geothermal Power Plants

Binary-flashing units utilize new types of geothermal power cycles, which may be used with resources of relatively low temperatures (less than 150 C) where other cycles result in very low efficiencies. The thermodynamic cycles for the binary-flashing units are combinations of the geothermal binary and flashing cycles. They have most of the advantages of these two conventionally used cycles, but avoid the high irreversibilities associated with some of their processes. Any fluid with suitable thermodynamic properties may be used in the secondary Rankine cycle. At the optimum design conditions binary-flashing geothermal power plants may provide up to 25 percent more power than the conventional geothermal units.
Hybrid fibrin: proof of the intermolecular nature of γ-γ crosslinking units

Summary Proof that the γ-γ bonding system introduced during the enzymatic crosslinking of mammalian fibrin is inter molecular (as opposed to intramolecular) has been obtained by clotting a mixture of bovine and human fibrinogens under conditions which allow crosslinking and the incorporation of a radioactive substitute donor to occur simultaneously. The formation of a hybrid human-bovine γ-γ crosslinking unit was demonstrated electro-phoretically, advantage being taken of the difference in mobilities of the human and bovine tryptic fragments involved.
Low-temperature expansion of a spatially frustrated isotropic lattice model.

A low-temperature expansion of an isotropic, spatially frustrated lattice model with nearest-neighbor, second-, and third-nearest-neighbor interactions is presented. The zero-temperature states of this model are known exactly. For some regions of parameter space there is an infinity of zero-temperature states, although the ground-state entropy per spin is zero at zero temperature. In general one expects fluctuations at finite temperature to break the degeneracy on the zero-temperature-state manifold. When the zero-temperature states are regular or periodic, it is possible to characterize them and to apply the low-temperature expansion to break this degeneracy in a rigorous way. In the present paper we carry out such a calculation. However, we also have examined regions of parameter space where the degenerate states are irregular. A method is proposed that permits one to resolve between degenerate irregular states. It consists of low-temperature expansion in successively larger local clusters or fragments of the allowed zero-temperature states. In principle one need have no a priori knowledge of the symmetry of the zero-temperature state. However, there results a packing problem that involves maximizing the number of clusters with optimal free-energy density. In some cases we have been able to solve this problem, while for other parts of the phase diagram we have made conjectures that have yet to be confirmed by rigorous calculations.
Theoretical framework for the interpretation of STM images of adsorbates

Abstract A theoretical formalism for the interpretation of STM images of adsorbates is developed by approaching the calculation of the observed current as a transport problem in quantum statistical mechanics. The STM configuration is treated as a system of three groups of states — the substrate, the adsorbate and the tip — in contact with a thermal reservoir, with which it exchanges energy. A new definition of current is introduced, and shown to be related to that given in the traditional transfer Hamiltonian approach. The transport instrument used for the description is the stochastic Liouville equation, known to have the advantage of allowing the incorporation of thermal effects as well as arbitrary degree of coherence in the quantum transport. Some preliminary calculations of STM images of simple adsorbate models are presented.
Analysis of the Velocity Field of CMEs Using Optical Flow Methods

Optical flow is a powerful image processing tool for measuring motion in digital images. The optical flow algorithm provides an estimate of the velocity vector at every pixel from a pair of successive images. Here we present an application of this method to images of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The technique is first tested and validated on a simulated CME. It is then applied to several CMEs observed with the LASCO C2 coronagraph to derive their velocity fields. The resulting velocity measurements allow us to visualize the evolution of the CME plasma and to separate the "bulk" velocity from the expansion velocity of a given CME. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such information has been extracted from CME observations. We discuss the limitations and accuracy of our optical flow method and propose further improvements.
On MAC-layer denial of service attacks in IEEE 802.11 ad hoc networks: analysis and counter measures

Network survivability is fundamental to information security. Adversaries could compromise network functionality by attacking the physical layer, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer or the network layer. Even though security mechanisms for the network layer have been extensively discussed, MAC layer security has not been deeply explored. Leveraging security flaws in the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol and the salient features of a Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET), even an average person with limited knowledge of wireless networks can launch MAC-layer Denial of Service (DOS) attacks. In this paper, we study two types of MAC layer DOS attacks that can be easily employed by an average person: attacks launched from a single adversary by injecting enormous data flows into the network and attacks launched from two colluding adversaries by sending enormous data flows directly to each other. To counter the first attacks, we propose a packet-by-packet authentication scheme so that legitimate nodes can reject data transmission requests from unauthenticated adversaries. To mitigate the second attacks, we propose several counter measures such as a fair MAC protocol, using protecting traffic flows and distance adjustment. The contribution of this paper is that it reveals the attacks that could be launched by an average person, which is a potential threat to MANETs.
Development and validation of a prediction model for the risk of developing febrile neutropenia in the first cycle of chemotherapy among elderly patients with breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer

Purpose Current guidelines recommend prophylactic use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) when febrile neutropenia (FN) risk is greater than 20%. Advanced age is a risk factor for FN; however, little is known about the impact of other factors on the incidence of FN in an older population.
The Soviet strategy debate: Striving for reasonable sufficiency

(1989). The Soviet strategy debate: Striving for reasonable sufficiency. The Journal of Soviet Military Studies: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-16.
Smoking and mental health nurses: a survey of clinical staff in a psychiatric hospital

There is a lack of evidence on the prevalence of smoking among mental health nurses, and the beliefs and attitudes they hold about smoking at work. This paper describes results from a cross-sectional survey of clinical staff working in a UK specialist charitable-status psychiatric hospital and focuses on the responses of registered mental health nurses. Questionnaires specifically developed for this study were sent to all 1371 clinical employees. Completed questionnaires were returned by 167 of 429 (38.9%) registered nurses (RNs), 300 of 842 (35.6%) nursing assistants (NAs), and 123 of 200 (61.5%) other health professionals (OHPs). Twenty-nine (17.4%) RNs, 93 (31%) NAs and eight (6.5%) OHPs reported themselves as current smokers. Differences in response to attitudinal questions between groups could not be attributed to age. RN smokers were significantly more likely than RN non-smokers to state that staff should be allowed to smoke with patients, and to report therapeutic value for patients in this activity. RN smokers were less likely than RN non-smokers to report that patients should be encouraged to stop smoking. RNs were significantly more likely than OHPs to report therapeutic value for patients in smoking with staff, even after controlling for the possible confounding effect of smoking status. Implications of the survey are discussed in the context of the international literature, including the disproportionately high smoking prevalence among patients living in psychiatric institutions and current guidelines to move towards no ‘smoking allowed’ areas for staff working in them.
Serum and plasma stimulate prostaglandin production by alveolar macrophages

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) stimulated rabbit alveolar macrophages to synthesize prostaglandins (PG) and release lysosomal enzymes. This stimulatory action was not entirely due to the effect of foreign protein in FBS, since rabbit serum and plasma, both homologous and autologous, also induced release of PGs and lysosomal enzymes. Rabbit serum and plasma are less effective than FBS as a stimulus for PG release, with rabbit serum being more potent than plasma at the same concentration. Bovine serum albumin elicited a dose-dependent increase of arachidonic acid release by macrophages, but not of PG production. Hence, the fatty acid "trapping" effect of albumin in serum and plasma is not responsible for the PG stimulation. The PG stimulating factors were stable at 56 degrees C for 30 min., but lost half the activity after heating at 100 degrees C for 10 min. Gel permeation chromatography of FBS showed several peaks of PG stimulating and arachidonic acid releasing activity. The molecular weight of the major one (150,000 daltons) is similar to that of immunoglobulin G. Rabbit IgG, when added to the macrophage culture, stimulated release of arachidonic acid and PGs. However, the major stimulatory effect in serum or plasma is not all due to IgG, since removal of IgG by a Protein A-agarose column did not remove the stimulatory effect of FBS and rabbit serum. The possibility of other factors, such as complement fragments, is discussed.
Identification of highly expressed genes in metastasis-suppressed chromosome 6/human malignant melanoma hybrid cells using subtractive hybridization and differential display

Microcell-mediated transfer of chromosome 6 into human melanoma cell lines C8161 and MelJuSo suppresses metastasis by at least 95% without affecting tumorigenicity. Subtractive hybridization and differential display were used to identify the molecule(s) responsible for suppressing metastasis in neo6/melanoma (neo6/C8161 and neo6/MelJuSo) hybrids. Seven cDNA clones exhibiting quantitatively or qualitatively higher expression in neo6/melanoma hybrids were obtained. These genes fell into 2 categories: 1) transcription-related genes (AP-2A, HMG-I(Y) and a novel isoform of nucleophosmin B23), which have previously been shown to regulate metastasis-associated genes; and 2) novel genes. One of the novel genes, designated KiSS-1, significantly suppressed metastasis of the human malignant melanoma cell lines MelJuSo and a highly metastatic subclone of C8161, C8161cl.9, following transfection and constitutive expression. Our results illustrate the power of subtractive hybridization and differential display to identify functional metastasis-controlling genes in human melanoma.Int. J. Cancer 71: 1035-1044, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.
"Band-gap theory" of strong ferromagnetism: Application to concentrated crystalline and amorphous Fe- and Co-metalloid alloys

We extend the early work of Stoner, Mott, Friedel, and Terakura and Kanamori, which relates alloy magnetization to solute valence. We describe the conditions under which the simple formula ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{av}}={\ensuremath{\mu}}_{A}^{0}\ensuremath{-}x(10+{Z}_{B}\ensuremath{-}{Z}_{A})$ can be expected to apply. In particular, we consider Fe- and Co-metalloid alloys. Here ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{av}}$ is the atom-averaged moment, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{A}^{0}$ is the host moment, $x$ is the metalloid-atom fraction, and ${Z}_{B}$ and ${Z}_{A}$ are the valence of metalloid and transition metal, respectively. We show that the validity of this formula rests on the existence of band gaps in the density of states in the spin-up band. Spin-polarized band-structure calculations do indeed show band gaps in moderately concentrated ($x\ensuremath{\sim}0.25$) compounds and indicate that ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{A}^{0}$ should be somewhat higher for fcc than bcc structures. The theory compares well with data on concentrated amorphous and crystalline alloys of Co with Au, B, Sn, and P, and of Fe with Au, B, Al, Ga, and Si. Our explanation of this large amount of data is far simpler than, and as accurate as, any previous efforts at explanation.
Comparisons of physiological performance in sexual and asexual whiptail lizards (genus Cnemidophorus): implications for the role of heterozygosity.

Many asexual animal species are of hybrid origin, with consequent high levels of het- erozygosity. Data from some studies suggest that increased heterozygosity may be functionally correlated with superior performance in a variety of fitness-related traits. Thus, hybrid asexual species could be expected to exhibit some degree of heterosis. This spontaneous heterosis hy- pothesis is tested in a comparative study of asexual and sexual species of the lizard genus Cnemi- dophorus. Asexual species of the genus are parthenogenetically reproducing hybrids of the sexual species and as a result have high levels of heterozygosity that have persisted since their origins. Five whole-organism physiological traits (burst speed, endurance, maximal exertion, standard metabolic rate, and evaporative water loss rate) were examined in five asexual species and the sexual species that gave rise to them. Trait values for sexual and asexual species were compared using a nonphylogenetic approach and two phylogenetically controlled approaches capable of dealing with reticulate phylogenies. In contrast to the predictions of the heterosis hypothesis, per- formance for four of the traits in asexual Cnemidophorus was not statistically different than that in their sexual parental species, and asexuals had significantly worse endurance. On the whole, the overall trend appeared to be toward worse performance in asexuals. An obvious interpretation of these results is that heterozygosity and ''vigor'' need not be functionally related. However, other factors may be counterbalancing possible beneficial effects of heterozygosity, including det- rimental epistatic effects resulting from the karyotypically mixed genome of these hybrids, and the accumulation of deleterious mutations in the asexual lineages via Muller's ratchet.
A New Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalyst Coordinated with 1,3-Dimesityl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene: Synthesis, X-ray Structure, and Reactivity

The new ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst 4 bearing a 5,5‘-dimethyl-1,3-dimesityl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene ligand was first synthesized from (PCy_3)_2(Cl)_2Ru ═ CHPh (1). The X-ray crystal structure of complex 4 has been determined and shows that the N-mesityl group of the six-membered carbene ligand and the benzylidene moiety are in close proximity (2.9 A). This catalyst demonstrates moderate reactivity for both ring-closing olefin metathesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerization.
Folic acid as second chemotactic substance in the cellular slime moulds.

IT has been known for some time that in certain species of cellular slime moulds acrasin, the substance which attracts the amoebae to central collection points during the aggregation phase, is cyclic AMP1–4. We were also able to show that E. coli gave off another substance besides cyclic AMP (henceforth referred to as bacterial factor, or BF) which attracted the vegetative amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum5. Here we demonstrate that this second attractant has the properties of folic acid or one of its derivatives. We also show that folic acid and related compounds not only attract the vegetative amoebae of D. discoideum (No. NC-4H) but also the amoebae of six other species (Dictyostelium rosarium No. CC-7; D. mucoroides No. 11; D. purpureum No. 2; D. minutum No. V-3; Polysphondylium violaceum No. 1; P. pallidum No. 2). For the latter three species cyclic AMP is not the aggregative attractant (ref. 6 and J. T. B., E. M. H., S. Noller, F. B. Oleson and A. B. Roberts, in preparation) which raises the interesting question of whether their acrasin might be related to the folates.
Single-tone pseudorandom-based modems

A new technique for modulation and demodulation of serial data bits employing modified pseudorandom (PN) codes is presented in this paper. In this type of modem, the data bits are serially fetched into a maximum length PN generator, K-bits at a time. These K-bits are then used as the seeds of the PN generator to generate L-chips (n-bits/chip) frame. At the receiver side, each incoming frame is correlated with a reference PN sequence. An index to the lag at which the correlation has a maximum value is used to retrieve the transmitted data.
Histone IV binding of 3,4-benzpyrene, pyrene, anthracene, and 9-methylanthracene.

Ultraviolet absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission, and fluorescence anisotropy demonstrate that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbone 3,4-benzpyrene, Pyrene, anthracene, and 9-methylanthracene bind to histone IV after the sow conformational change in the presence of divalent phosphate anion. These hydrocarbons do not bind, within our limits of detection, to histone IV in the diosorderde form at low pH or to the form produced by the fast conformational change when the slow change is prevented. High anisotropy values for the bound hydrocarbon indicate a high degree of aggregation for the histone IV.
An approach for successful Capstone projects

Capstone design courses provide students with the opportunity to use their problem solving skills and the technical knowledge they gain throughout their college experience to develop a device or system that meets some specific requirements. While the process for conducting such courses varies between programs and disciplines, such projects normally take two or three semesters to complete and in the majority of cases, students are organized in teams of two or more. This paper describes the changes describes an approach that has resulted in successful projects
Urbanization effects on stream fish assemblages in Maryland, USA

AbstractWe examined patterns in Maryland fish assemblages in 1st- through 3rd-order nontidal streams along an urbanization gradient in the Eastern Piedmont (EP) and Coastal Plain (CP) physiographic ecoregions of Maryland, USA, using 1995 to 1997 and 2000 to 2002 data from the Maryland Biological Site Survey (MBSS). Major urbanization and other historical stressors occur in both ecoregions, and there is potential for further stress over the next 25 y as urbanization increases. We assigned each MBSS site (n = 544 streams) to a class of urbanization based on land cover within its upsite catchment. We compared observed fish abundance and species richness to the probable (expected) assemblages within each ecoregion, and also assessed the accuracy of the Maryland fish index of biotic integrity (FIBI) to indicate catchment urbanization. Relationships between urbanization and fish assemblages and FIBI varied between the 2 ecoregions. Assemblages in EP streams exhibited stronger relationships with urbanization tha...
Phyllotactic Patterns: A Biophysical Mechanism for their Origin

Abstract The patterns seen in plant shoots and flowers, ‘phyllotaxis’, originate in an annular region. They are typically propagated inward from this ring-like area. We show here that an initial undulating periodic pattern (a ‘whorl’ of hump-like organs) can arise in a flat unstructured annulus. The pattern arises not from pre-localized pushes from below, but rather as a spontaneous physical response of the expanding surface to lateral constraint. Physical properties of a uniform formative layer (tunica) and a uniform substratum (corpus) provide the wavelength of the undulation and hence the number of organs. Establishment of the parameters for this buckling, as well as the follow-through of organ development, is biological. We propose, however, that at the moment of periodic pattern initiation the plant tissue simply manifests the spontaneous but complex properties of a two-layered inanimate sheet.
A distributed agent-based surveillance system

This paper presents an evolutionary technique for an agent-based surveillance and target tracking system. The proposed system is composed of two stages. The first stage is the optimization of a network of ultrasonic sensors within a pre-specified coverage area. In phase two, the target tracking phase, sensors corporate with one another according to the tracking requirement of the moving object. Unneeded sensors are kept in a low-power stand-by state to optimize power usage and hence minimize human intervention for maintenance purpose. The sensors operate in a distributed manner amongst each other to power-up those needed for proper tracking of the moving object. The system is designed and simulated using MATLAB.
Azithromycin in Early Infancy and Pyloric Stenosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Use of oral erythromycin in infants is associated with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). The risk with azithromycin remains unknown. We evaluated the association between exposure to oral azithromycin and erythromycin and subsequent development of IHPS. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of children born between 2001 and 2012 was performed utilizing the military health system database. Infants prescribed either oral erythromycin or azithromycin as outpatients in the first 90 days of life were evaluated for development of IHPS. Specific diagnostic and procedural codes were used to identify cases of IHPS. RESULTS: A total of 2466 of 1 074 236 children in the study period developed IHPS. Azithromycin exposure in the first 14 days of life demonstrated an increased risk of IHPS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.62–26.0); exposure between 15 and 42 days had an aOR of 2.98 (95% CI, 1.24–7.20). An association between erythromycin and IHPS was also confirmed. Exposure to erythromycin in the first 14 days of life had an aOR of 13.3 (95% CI, 6.80–25.9), and 15 to 42 days of life, aOR 4.10 (95% CI, 1.69–9.91). There was no association with either macrolide between 43 and 90 days of life. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of oral azithromycin and erythromycin places young infants at increased risk of developing IHPS. This association is strongest if the exposure occurred in the first 2 weeks of life, but persists although to a lesser degree in children between 2 and 6 weeks of age.
Fail-awareness: an approach to construct fail-safe applications

We present a framework for building fail-safe hard real-time applications on top of an asynchronous distributed system subject to communication partitions, i.e. using processors and communication facilities whose real-time delays cannot be guaranteed. The basic assumption behind our approach is that each processor has a local hardware clock that proceeds within a linear envelope of real-time. This allows to compute an upper bound on the actual delays incurred by a particular processing sequence or message transmission. Services and applications can use these computed bounds to detect when they cannot guarantee all their properties because of excessive delays. This allows an application to detect when to switch to a fail-safe mode.
SpoT governs Legionella pneumophila differentiation in host macrophages

Summary During its life cycle, Legionella pneumophila alternates between a replicative and a transmissive state. To determine their contributions to L. pneumophila differentiation, the two ppGpp synthetases, RelA and SpoT, were disrupted. Synthesis of ppGpp was required for transmission, as relA spoT mutants were killed during entry to and exit from macrophages. RelA, which senses amino acid starvation induced by serine hydroxamate, is dispensable in macrophages, as relA mutants spread efficiently. SpoT monitors fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB), since following cerulenin treatment, wild-type and relA strains expressed the flaA transmissive gene, but relA spoT mutants did not. As in Escherichia coli, the SpoT response to FAB perturbation likely required an interaction with acyl-carrier protein (ACP), as judged by the failure of the spoT-A413E allele to rescue transmissive trait expression of relA spoT bacteria. Furthermore, SpoT was essential for transmission between macrophages, since secondary infections by relA spoT mutants were restored by induction of spoT, but not relA. To resume replication, ppGpp must be degraded, as mutants lacking spoT hydrolase activity failed to convert from the transmissive to the replicative phase in either bacteriological medium or macrophages. Thus, L. pneumophila requires SpoT to monitor FAB and to alternate between replication and transmission in macrophages.
Breast Cancer When Proteomics Challenges Biological Complexity

Proteomics is now entering into the field of biomedicine with declared hopes for the identification of new pathological markers and therapeutic targets. Current proteomic tools allow large-scale, high-throughput analyses for the detection, identification, and functional investigation of low-abundant proteins. However, the major limitation of proteomic investigations remains the complexity of biological structures and physiological processes, rendering the path of exploration of related pathologies paved with various difficulties and pitfalls. The case of breast cancer illustrates the major challenge facing modern proteomics and more generally post-genomics: to tackle the complexity of life.
Fixing the program my computer learned: barriers for end users, challenges for the machine

The results of a machine learning from user behavior can be thought of as a program, and like all programs, it may need to be debugged. Providing ways for the user to debug it matters, because without the ability to fix errors users may find that the learned program's errors are too damaging for them to be able to trust such programs. We present a new approach to enable end users to debug a learned program. We then use an early prototype of our new approach to conduct a formative study to determine where and when debugging issues arise, both in general and also separately for males and females. The results suggest opportunities to make machine-learned programs more effective tools.
Thermoascus aurantiacus is a promising source of enzymes for biomass deconstruction under thermophilic conditions

Background Thermophilic fungi have attracted increased interest for their ability to secrete enzymes that deconstruct biomass at high temperatures. However, development of thermophilic fungi as enzyme producers for biomass deconstruction has not been thoroughly investigated. Comparing the enzymatic activities of thermophilic fungal strains that grow on targeted biomass feedstocks has the potential to identify promising candidates for strain development. Thielavia terrestris and Thermoascus aurantiacus were chosen for characterization based on literature precedents.
Transition Radiation and Its Application to the Detection of Super-High Energy Particles

When a charged particle moving with uniform velocity v crosses the boundary between any two media with different dielectric constants, it will emit electromagnetic radiation, called transition radiation. The emitted frequency spectrum of the transition radiation covers from the optical spectrum up into the x-ray spectrum, the extent of which depends on the Lorentz factor, ? (= l/? 1 - s2) of the moving particle. Theory predicts 1) that the intensity of the transition radiation emitted in the optical region is proportional to log ? and 2) that the intensity of the x-ray radiation is linearly proportional to ?. Experimental verification of both these theoretical predictions will be presented and possible application of the transition radiation for the measurement of the ? of super-high energy particles will be discussed.
HLA-DQ8-Associated T Cell Responses to the Diabetes Autoantigen Phogrin (IA-2β) in Human Prediabetes

Susceptibility to type 1A autoimmune diabetes is linked to expression of particular MHC class II molecules, notably HLA-DQ8 in man and the orthologous I-A g7 in the nonobese diabetic mouse. In the present study, we analyzed two peptide epitopes (peptides 2 and 7) from the diabetes autoantigen phogrin (IA-2β), in the context of their presentation by the I-A g7 and HLA-DQ8 molecules and their role as potential T cell antigenic epitopes in human diabetes. Both of these peptides are targets of diabetogenic CD4 + T cell clones in the nonobese diabetic mouse. Transgenic mice expressing HLA-DQ8 as the sole class II molecule generated a robust T cell-proliferative response when primed with peptide 2 or peptide 7 in CFA. Analysis of the IL-2 secretion from peptide 2-reactive T cell hybridomas stimulated with alanine-substituted peptides identified three residues that were crucial to the response. Among 41 islet cell Ag-positive prediabetic human subjects, 36.5% showed PBMC-proliferative responses to peptide 7, 17.1% to peptide 2, and 17.1% to both peptides; no response was seen among 20 matched healthy controls. Stratification of the data based upon HLA haplotype suggested that peptide 7 could be presented by at least one HLA-DR molecule in addition to HLA-DQ8, a finding that was supported by blocking studies with monomorphic mAbs. The results indicate that common phogrin peptides are targeted by autoreactive T cells in human and murine type 1A diabetes, and that the responses may in part be associated with the similar peptide-binding specificities of I-A g7 and HLA-DQ8.
Microphysiography and Possible Iceberg Grooves on the Floor of Western Lake Superior

The floor of Lake Superior northwest of the Keweenaw Peninsula has three zones of small-scale relief based on echogram character. The zones are roughly depth dependent. Zone A, located between the shore to about a 54-m depth, is generally smooth on the echogram and consists mainly of sand and boulder gravel deposits. Zone B, between about 54 and 165 m, has microroughness features with a 2- to 5-m relief and a 90- to 300-m spacing; the bottom consists of glacial till and lacustrine clay. Zone C, below depths of about 165 m, has narrow troughs with depths to 12 m and separation of 60 to 600 m; the bottom consists of lacustrine clay. The microrelief of Zone B consists of an intersecting network of grooves having widths of 5 to 75 m and lengths of as much as 1,950 m. Regular parallel features 15 to 30 m apart are also found in scattered areas of Zone B and the deepest parts of Zone A. Sand and boulder gravel deposits of Zone A may be beach and dune material of lower glacial-lake stages, and the border with Zone B may mark the lowest shoreline during the sequence of glacial lakes in the Superior basin. The grooves of Zone B were probably formed by scouring by icebergs during an earlier lake stage. Relief in Zone C probably was formed by a lacustrine process.
Flufenamic acid modulates multiple currents in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons.

Reproduction in mammals is dependent upon the appropriate neurosecretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), yet the endogenous generation of activity underlying GnRH secretion remains poorly understood. We have demonstrated that the depolarizing afterpotential (DAP), which modulates bursting activity, is reduced in isolated GnRH neurons from aged animals. Calcium-activated non-specific cation (CAN) channels contribute to the DAP in other vertebrate neurosecretory cells. We used the CAN channel blocker flufenamic acid (FFA) to examine the contribution of CAN channels to the DAP in GnRH neurons during aging. Recordings were performed on isolated fluorescent GnRH neurons from young, middle-aged and aged female mice. Flufenamic acid inhibited spontaneous activity, but significantly increased the DAP in neurons from young and middle-aged animals. Apamin did not significantly potentiate the DAP, but did reduce the effects of FFA, suggesting that the increased DAP is partially due to blockade of apamin-sensitive SK channels. Flufenamic acid increased the current underlying the DAP (IADP) and decreased the preceding fast outward current (IOUT) at all ages. These current responses were not affected by apamin, but TEA evoked similar changes. Thus, a potassium current, likely mediated through BK channels, contributes to the fast AHP and appears to offset the DAP; this current is sensitive to FFA, but insensitive to age. The effect of FFA on the DAP, but not IADP, is diminished in aged animals, possibly reflecting an age-related modulation of the apamin-sensitive SK channel. Future studies will examine the expression of SK channels during the aging process in GnRH neurons.
Bacterial Community Structure During Yard Trimmings Composting

A long-term objective of our group is to understand how various composting parameters affect microbial community structure in composts. In this study, we used terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T-RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes to analyze bacterial community structure during the composting of yard trimmings. Community DNA was isolated from samples collected on days 0, 8, 29, 64, and 136 from a compost windrow (consisting of leaves, grass, and brush in a 4:2:1 ratio) at a large-scale municipal facility. The DNA was PCR-amplified using fluorescently labeled primers targeted to bacterial domain 16S rRNA genes. The products were restriction-digested with Hhal, Mspl,and Rsal to give fingerprints of the bacterial communities. Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) sizes obtained with the three digestions were compared to the three fragments determined by computer-simulated amplification and restriction digestions of complete 16S rRNA gene sequences. T-RFLP patterns indicated extensive bacterial diversity in all of the composts. A large percentage of the observed TRFs corresponded to sizes predicted for bacteria by computer-simulated digestion. Comparison of fragment sizes from three digestions to those predicted by computer-simulated digestions indicated a substantial shift from a bacterial community containing primarily Gram-negative α, β, and γ Proteobacteria (day 0) to communities containing many members of the Gram-positive Bacillus-Clostridium group (days 8, 29, and 64) and members of the CFB and Actinobacteria (days 29 and 64). Bacterial species identified on days 8, 29, and 64 included those previously isolated from thermophilic composts by cultivation such as Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. as well as many not previously described in composts. Abundant TRFs corresponding to E. coli and other Gram-negative γ Proteobacteria, decreased dramatically after the first 8 days of composting. The day-136 composts contained a diverse group of bacteria including many fragment sizes consistent with known Pantoea and Pseudomonas biocontrol agents as well as Xanthomonas and Bacillus species. The greatest diversity of bacteria was observed in the stabilized day 64 and 136 composts where 115 and 111 TRFs corresponding to members of 7 and 6 different phylogenetic groups, respectively, were observed.
Effects of Starch Fermentation on the Shelf-Life of Cassava Starch Based Adhesive

The effects of natural fermentation on the stability or shelf life of adhesives produced from starch of two cassava varieties ( Manihot utilissimaand Manihotpalmate) were studied. It was observed that the HCNcontent of theManihot utilissimareduced from 35.74±0.11 mg/kg for unfermented starch sample to 6.93±0.25 mg/kg after 5 days of fermentation ( p = 0.037), while the samples pH increased from 4.60±0.05 to 6.89±00 respectively. However, the reduction in HCN concentration and corresponding increase in pH for manihot palmate were only marginal, as the concentration of HCN in the starch reduced from 2.49±0.12 to 0.89±0.26 while the pH increased from 6.02±0.04 to 6.35±0.05 after five days of fermentation. The v iscosity test conducted at room temperature for a period of 30 days to determine the stability or shelf of the produced adhesives show that adhesives produced from unfermentedManihot utilissimastarch sample as well as samples of that cassava variety fermented for only 1 day have longer shelf -life as exemplified by the relative stable low viscosity of the adhesive over the 30 days test period with a highly significant effect, ( p = 0.018). The drying time ofManihot utilissimawas significantly high at 7.1±0.01 minutes(p = 0.041) and remained relatively stable for the 30 days storage time. The results therefore show that the higher the cassava starch acidity the lower its viscosity, the higher it s drying time and the longer its shelf-life.
Gender and living arrangements of the elderly in Iran

ABSTRACTIn 2006, the aging population in Iran had increased to about four million, representing about 7 per cent of the total population. We examined marital status and the living arrangements of this growing population based on a public use sample of the 2006 census and published data from the 1976 census. We observed a gender-based transition in living arrangements of the elderly; men continued to live with a spouse, perhaps through remarriage, continuing to be the head of household. The living pattern for women was noticeably different: about 20 per cent were unmarried and living alone but otherwise living with married children, predominantly sons. This analysis revealed a decline from the traditional pattern of co-residence with married children between 1976 and 2006 and an increase in solitary living among women. However, it raised several questions that need extensive research concerning the social, economic, and health status of the elderly in relation to their living arrangement.
Neurologic effects of water and sodium disturbances. 2. Hyponatremic syndromes and changes in blood volume.

Hyponatremia is caused by extracellular sodium depletion or water excess. The former may occur with salt-losing nephritis, excessive use of diuretics, Addison's disease, profuse sweating (especially with continuous water intake), burns, etc. Surgery, trauma, chronic debilitating illnesses, etc., predispose to water intoxication by sustained ADH release. Although water load during normal renal function is rare, it can produce water intoxication in unusual situations, e.g., in psychotic patients who consume large amounts of water, sodium-depleted patients whose extracellular fluid is already hypotonic and patients having excessive urethral irrigation with water during prostatic surgery and large water enemas. The neurologic symptoms arise from cerebral cellular swelling and also from reduced circulating blood volume in the case of sodium loss.
The Feeling of Personal Ownership of One's Mental States: A Conceptual Argument and Empirical Evidence for an Essential, but Underappreciated, Mechanism of Mind

In her paper “Memory and Mineness in Personal Identity,” Rebecca Roache (this issue) makes a number of claims about the nature of memory, the nature of self, and the relation between the two. In pa...
Reversal of persistently stimulated steroidogenesis by GTP and an inhibitory adrenocorticotropin analogue in adrenal cells pretreated with adrenocorticotropin.

A single addition of ACTH1-24 at concentrations of 0.1 to 10 nM to an in vitro suspension of isolated rat adrenal cells elicits a dose related steroidogenic response lasting from 150 to 240 min. The addition of fresh ACTH can initiate a new response after the spontaneous termination of the first, but persistent steroidogenesis does not require the continued presence of active hormone in the incubation medium. Biologically active hormone disappears from the extracellular medium within the first 90 min of incubation, while steroidogenesis can continue at an undiminished rate for an additional 120 min or more. Cells treated for 1 min with 100 nM ACTH, then rinsed and resuspended in hormone-free medium, produce as much cyclic AMP and corticosterone as do cells continually exposed to the same concentration of hormone. The persistent steroidogenesis seen in the ACTH-pretreated cells may be rapidly terminated by exposure of the cells to GTP or to the ACTH antagonist, ACTH6-39. These agents can also greatly accelerate the slow dissociation of bound 125I-ACTH1-24 from the cells. These findings suggest that the persistence of steroidogenesis depends upon the presence of persistently bound biologically active hormone on the exterior surface of the adrenocortical cell. The rapid displacement of bound hormone by the competitive antagonist, ACTH6-39, supports the hypothesis that there is negative cooperativity among ACTH receptors. The mechanism by which GTP increases the dissociation of bound hormone is unclear. Under the experimental conditions used, the addition of GTP to the medium does not appear to stimulate the production of cyclic AMP. GTP enhances the dissociation of the radiolabeled antagonist, 125I-ACTH6-39, as well as the dissociation of labeled agonist hormone. Thus it appears that GTP increases the dissociation of bound ACTH independently of adenylate cyclase activity, probably by interacting with sites on the cell surface and altering the ability of the receptors to bind and retain hormone.
Staying the course.

Much has been written about public hospitals relative to their mission to care for the underserved, their role in medical education, and the continuous financial challenges that they encounter. But...
Calcium-channel blocking agents

The role of calcium in the cardiovascular system, and the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and studies evaluating the clinical use of three calcium-channel blocking agents--verapamil hydrochloride, nifedipine, and diltiazem hydrochloride--are reviewed. Inhibition of calcium conductance and alteration of calcium availability cause profound changes in: slow inward current of the cardiac action potential, myocardial contractility and metabolism, blood pressure regulation, and smooth-muscle activity. Calcium-channel blocking agents affect the movement of calcium through these channels in smooth and cardiac muscle; the specific agents in this class differ markedly in their inhibitory effects. Verapamil hydrochloride is useful intravenously for treating supraventricular rhythm disturbances. It is absorbed well when taken orally, but there is an extensive first-pass effect, so that about 20% enters the systemic circulation. The incidence of side effects in patients receiving verapamil is 9-10%; about 1% require discontinuation of therapy. Verapamil is contraindicated in patients with sinus-node disease, unstable atrioventricular block, and shock. Nifedipine has proven useful for hypertension, coronary-artery spasm, and exertional angina; it has little negative inotropic effect. Approximately 90% of an oral dose is absorbed, and 65-70% reaches the systemic circulation after first-pass metabolism. Protein binding of nifedipine ranges from 92 to 98%. Side effects of nifedipine, usually associated with the peripheral vasodilatory action, occur in approximately 15% of patients, requiring discontinuance in 2-5%. Diltiazem hydrochloride has been shown effective in the treatment of coronary-artery spasm; limited studies indicate it may be useful in treating exertional angina, hypertension, and possibly arrhythmias. Diltiazem's oral bioavailability is good (90% reaches systemic circulation), but there is significant interindividual variability between administered dose and resulting plasma concentration. Geriatric patients have delayed absorption and reduced clearance of diltiazem given in sustained-release tablets. Studies of diltiazem are limited at this time. The exact role of calcium-channel blocking agents has not yet been elucidated. However, their ability to influence the calcium channel greatly expands the therapeutic armamentarium for cardiovascular disease and other disorders.
Can medical transcription be taught in the classroom

The results of the concentrated transcription program provided objective information that gives credibility to both sides of the transcriptionist training debate. In addition, the results provided the objective data needed to support changes in the curriculum. Students who are exposed to solid classroom teaching, coupled with enough opportunities to develop and practice transcription skills, have a better chance for success than those who rely solely on classroom instruction or solely on experience or on-the-job training. It is clear that increasing the number of hours of actual transcription results in an increase in the productivity and accuracy of the student's medical transcription.
Venture Creation: A Course Overview

The course requires students to identify a market opportunity and develop a business model. The components of the business model are the key deliverables expected in this course. The business model design is key to the development of the business plan.The business model creates, delivers, monetizes, and sustains the customer value. The more efficient and sustainable the business model, the lower is the uncertainty of the cash flow. A business model should tell potential investors and others concerned why your business would succeed. Investors want to know about your "unfair advantage." Investors find your marketing strategy of particular importance; they will want to know how your business is going to make money and how you will make it happen.In designing the business model and its components such as the customer value, the marketing strategy, the operations strategy, the revenue model, the cost structure, you will make several assumptions. The business modeling process will help you identify the key assumptions you have made and state the hypotheses that need to be tested to mitigate the deal-killer risks and to reformulate the market opportunity in order to improve the odds of success of the venture. The business model is then reconfigured before proceeding to launch a venture or raise money from investors. The business model creation requires several iterations and refinements.