cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family Teamwork and Psychotherapy

In clinical work as in mining the prospector who has located a rich vein devotes his initial efforts to describing the properties of the find. An increasing number of investigators, for example, have been exploring the connections between certain symptoms and mutual activities in the patients' families. Abundant evidence has been cited to show that families "need" to have the patients retain such pathologies as phobias, schizophrenic symptoms, character traits, and some forms of retarded reading, the topic of this paper. Unlike the miner, who employs the terminology of the minerologist and the instruments developed by the engineer, the clinician lacks shared concepts and standardized instruments for exploiting his new find. Hence, although clinical accounts permit the reader to visualize with ease how the patients' problems help relatives to maintain their relationships and how families work together to resist change, there is little consensus about terms or even about the questions that are being asked. Various writers assert that they are concerned with such diverse issues as role interaction, internal dynamics, barriers to communication, collusion, compatibility, the distribution of power, and conflict between role and identity. If a researcher's findings are inherent in his questions, as many philosophers maintain, he can have little basis for organizing his efforts or interpreting the results until he is clear about his definitions and his original questions. The object of this paper is to outline some of the primary questions and explanations about etiology and treatment that we have been developing in a study of functional retardation in reading (2). The subjects are white boys, between the ages of eleven and fifteen years, retarded at least two years in reading level, but without evidence of neurological or uncorrectable visual pathology, and at least normal in I.Q. on a nonverbal test. These subjects are outpatients at the Children's Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Michigan. Even in our preliminary observations of retarded reading we were struck by two types of cases. In one the functionally retarded reading can be explained by poor teaching or traumatic experiences but not by familial patterns. In the other the difficulty seems to buttress relationships among family members, who have an investment in perpetuating the symptom, and, indeed, engage in activities that reinforce it. Boys in the former category, unlike those in the latter, profit from remedial teaching. In what follows we first summarize some of the highlights of our earlier observations and some of our major concepts. We then use them to explain the roots of the symptom, its contributions to the stability of different kinds of family relationships, its maintenance by the family's teamwork, and its resistance to psychotherapy.
Interactions of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes with Anaerobic Bacteria

The interactions of anaerobic bacteria with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are reviewed. Anaerobes, including species of Propionibacterium, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides, produce serum-independent chemotactic factors capable of attracting PMNs. In addition, these bacteria produce chemoattractants by complement activation and possibly by interaction with host lipids. Bacteroides species are optimally phagocytosed by PMNs when opsonized by both immunoglobulin and complement although the latter appears to provide the critical opsonin. As is the case with several aerobic bacteria, the polysaccharide capsule of Bacteroides fragilis interferes with PMN phagocytosis and antibody to the capsule partially overcomes this virulence property. The presence of Bacteroides species may also inhibit PMN phagocytosis and killing of aerobic gramnegative bacteria either by competing for limited opsonins or by decreasing intracellular killing. Bactericidal activity of PMNs against anaerobes appears to proceed primarily through oxygen-independent mechanisms, although the relevant microbicidal components have not been identified. Some antibiotics with activity against anaerobic bacteria penetrate PMNs, and antibiotic pretreatment of B. fragilis, with levels below the minimal inhibitory concentration, facilitates PMN phagocytosis of these organisms.
Intrinsic pigment cell stimulating activity in the skin of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens

Consistent with the concept that specific pigment patterns of amphibians might result from the highly localized distribution of stimulators and inhibitors of pigment cell expression in the skin, the spot pattern of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, was examined through the use of the Xenopus neural tube explant assay system (Fukuzawa and Ide, 1988). Media conditioned with pieces of skin from dorsal black spotted areas promoted melanization of neural crest cells at a significantly higher level than did media conditioned with dorsal interspot skin in the absence of extra tyrosine. All conditioned media contained exceedingly low concentrations of tyrosine. With the addition of supplemental tyrosine, the melanization capacity of conditioned media from the interspot areas was elevated to that of the spotted skin. Control media conditioned with ventral frog skin inhibited melanization, as usual, because of the presumed presence of melanization inhibiting factor (MIF). It is considered that dorsal skin contains a melanization stimulating factor (MSF) which is present in significantly higher levels in spotted skin than in interspot areas and that expression of the particular pigmentary pattern of this leopard frog is regulated by the relative distribution of MIF, MSF, and possibly other intrinsic substances present in the skin.
Transmission of planar, cylindrical and spherical multiple dielectric layer systems

The transmission of planar, cylindrical and spherical waves has been studied for single dielectric layer, resonant tunnelling and multiple period Bragg reflector systems. Interesting features originating from the geometry are found in the cylindrical and spherical systems and their applications are discussed.
Center for Engineering Education: Colorado School of Mines

Faculty at the Colorado School of Mines have become increasing interested in engineering education research. In response to this interest, the Center for Engineering Education (CEE) was created in January 2000. CEE’s activities are organized around Ernest Boyer’s model of four types of scholarship: the scholarships of discovery, integration, application, and teaching. In addition to conducting research in engineering education, CEE also disseminates the results of that research through courses and seminars for faculty, graduate students, and the K-12 community.
Conditional specifications with inequational assumptions

Equational-Inequational Conditional Term Rewriting Systems (EI-CTRS) are a natural formalism for expressing data type and function specifications. EI-CTRS are sets of oriented conditional equations (rules) (eg.a=b Λ c ≠ d ::lhs → rhs), whose antecedents are conjunctions of equations and inequations. The EI-CTRS formalism extends existing equational languages such as OBJ2, by allowing within the rules the direct use of the = (or ≠) relation being defined. Using = and ≠ in rules clearly enhances the expressive power of the formalism, but it poses termination and semantic problems in executing a specification. We define a conditional rewriting mechanism, called EI-rewriting, which assumes two terms to be equal if they can be rewritten to a common term and inequal otherwise. We show that ground EI-rewriting is sound and complete, and can hence be used to correctly execute specifications expressed as EI-CTRS which satisfy a sufficient completeness-like property We give syntactic conditions and procedures to check that a specification in the formalism denotes a well-defined total function. We illustrate that useful and meaningful specifications can be constructed using EI-CTRS.
Modulation by neurotransmitters of catecholamine secretion from sympathetic ganglion neurons detected by amperometry

Many neuromodulators inhibit N-type Ca2+ currents via G protein-coupled pathways in acutely isolated superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons. Less is known about which neuromodulators affect release of norepinephrine (NE) at varicosities and terminals of these neurons. To address this question, we used carbon fiber amperometry to measure catecholamine secretion evoked by electrical stimulation at presumed sites of high terminal density in cultures of SCG neurons. The pharmacological properties of action potential-evoked NE release paralleled those of N-type Ca2+ channels: Release was completely blocked by Cd2+ or omega-conotoxin GVIA, reduced 50% by 10 microM NE or 62% by 2 microM UK-14,304, an alpha2-adrenergic agonist, and reduced 63% by 10 microM oxotremorine M (Oxo-M), a muscarinic agonist. Consistent with action at M2 or M4 receptor subtypes, Oxo-M could be antagonized by 10 microM muscarinic antagonists methoctramine and tropicamide but not by pirenzepine. After overnight incubation with pertussis toxin, inhibition by UK-14,304 and Oxo-M was much reduced. Other neuromodulators known to inhibit Ca2+ channels in these cells, including adenosine, prostaglandin E2, somatostatin, and secretin, also depressed secretion by 34-44%. In cultures treated with omega-conotoxin GVIA, secretion dependent on L-type Ca2+ channels was evoked with long exposure to high K+ Ringer's solution. This secretion was not sensitive to UK-14,304 or Oxo-M. Evidently, many neuromodulators act on the secretory terminals of SCG neurons, and the depression of NE release at terminals closely parallels the membrane-delimited inhibition of N-type Ca2+ currents in the soma.
Long-range interactions between local moments in metals: Application to spin-glass systems.

We have calculated the pair interaction in CuMn by using the Friedel-Anderson model of local moments in metals. Over distances alRl15a the decay of the interaction is considerably slower than 1/${R}^{3}$. With this coupling we are able to account for the magnitude of the spin interaction constant ${V}_{0}$ found for CuMn alloys in the ppm range; as well as the dependence on concentration of the glass temperature of more concentrated alloys after this temperature has been corrected for mean-free-path effects.
High ionic conductivity in some lithium halide systems

Solids consisting of mixed alkali metal halides exhibit high ionic conductivity around 65 °C.
Analog Integrated 2-D Optical Flow Sensor

I present a new focal-plane analog very-large-scale-integrated (aVLSI) sensor that estimates optical flow in two visual dimensions. Its computational architecture consists of a two-layer network of locally connected motion units that collectively estimate the optimal optical flow field. The applied gradient-based optical flow model assumes visual motion to be translational and smooth, and is formulated as a convex optimization problem. The model also guarantees that the estimation problem is well-posed regardless of the visual input by imposing a bias towards a preferred motion under ambiguous or noisy visual conditions. Model parameters can be globally adjusted, leading to a rich output behavior. Varying the smoothness strength, for example, can provide a continuous spectrum of motion estimates, ranging from normal to global optical flow. The non-linear network conductances improve the resulting optical flow estimate because they reduce spatial smoothing across large velocity differences and minimize the bias for reliable stimuli. Extended characterization and recorded optical flow fields from a 30 × 30 array prototype sensor demonstrate the validity of the optical flow model and the robustness and functionality of the computational architecture and its implementation.
Communications and information processing as a critical success factor in the effective knowledge organisation

A conceptual framework and an architecture for an Effective Knowledge Organisation (EKO) is developed that emphasises the important role of Communications and Information Processing (CIP) in enabling the EKO and in facilitating the creation of a dynamic knowledge capability. The architecture links "core" knowledge management, intellectual property management, individual learning, organisational learning and innovation modules with CIP as the linchpin. The organisation's need to distinguish among these components of an EKO is argued by comparing and contrasting the different conceptual bases, objectives, processes, systems, performance measures and culture of each module. This viewpoint integrates many concepts and applications from various literatures, but it is somewhat contrary to the conventional wisdom which has tended to de-emphasise the significance of communications and information technology in knowledge management. Instead, according to this view, CIP is a critical success factor for the EKO.
Biotic and abiotic predictors of ecosystem engineering traits of the dune building grass, Ammophila breviligulata

Ecosystem engineers are species that fundamentally influence their community and ecosystem by creating or altering the physical structure of habitats. However, the function of ecosystem engineers is variable and can depend on abiotic and biotic factors. In this study, we characterized the ecosystem engineering traits of plant size and tiller density for the dune grass, Ammophila breviligulata, in 37 sites across a broad geographic gradient in the western Great Lakes region. We also measured 20 biotic and abiotic factors related to climate, soil chemistry, and fungal symbionts associated with these survey sites and assessed their relationships with A. breviligulata population traits and dune plant species richness. Climate factors, especially temperature and precipitation, were positively associated with A. breviligulata tiller size, while soil organic matter was the only factor associated with tiller density. Several factors, including temperature, soil nitrogen, and mycorrhizal colonization, were associated with plant richness across our sites. Our results suggest that climate can influence at least some ecosystem engineering traits (i.e., plant size) of an important dune building species, although general conclusions from our work indicate that the population trait tied most closely with dune building ability—population density—is not strongly influenced by climate at the regional scale. This offers insight for conservationists interested in preserving intact dune ecosystems in a changing climate, but further work is needed to reconcile conflicting lab and field studies.
Pain is Associated with Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Overweight and Obese Children

This study examined associations between pain, physical activity, physical fitness, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in overweight and obese children. Participants were 270 overweight and obese children 8-12 years of age and their parents. Children were separated into No Pain Frequency, Low Pain Frequency, and High Pain Frequency groups. Children in the Low Pain Frequency group spent less time in moderately intense physical activities compared to the No Pain Frequency group. Children in the High Pain Frequency group reported significantly lower HRQOL in most domains of functioning compared to children in the No Pain and Low Pain Frequency groups. Pain in overweight and obese children may negatively impact physical activity and HRQOL and should be assessed and treated in research and clinical work.
Solitary plasmacytoma of the sternum: Diagnosis by computed tomography

We report a large solitary plasmacytoma arising in the sternum of a 62-year-old man. On computed tomography the tumor demonstrated a multilobular appearance associated with bone destruction and expansion and absence of intrinsic calcification. Computed tomography was helpful in determining the size and extent of the tumor and in suggesting the correct diagnosis.
COUNSELOR'S RECOGNITION OF FACTORS IN LETHALITY OF SUICIDE

Counselors' recognition of factors in lethality of suicide was studied using the same scale of factors as was used in Holmes and Howard's study of other professional groups. 15 professors of counselor education, 12 post-secondary counselors, 47 secondary-level counselors, and 20 elementary-level counselors completed an examination of signs of suicide. The data for each of these groups are presented and analyzed and show counselors' recognition to be equal to those of social workers and ministers.
Search for τ-lepton decays to seven or more pions with BABAR

We report the results of searches for several decay modes of the {tau}-lepton with {ge} 7 pions in the final state using 207 x 10{sup 6} {tau}-pairs collected with the BaBar detector. For the decays with 7 charged pions in the final state we find the following 90% CL upper limits: B({tau}{sup -} {yields} 4{pi}{sup -}3{pi}{sup +}({pi}{sup 0}){nu}{sub {tau}}) < 3.0 x 10{sup -7}, B({tau}{sup -} {yields} 4{pi}{sup -}3{pi}{sup +}{nu}{sub {tau}}) < 4.3 x 10{sup -7} and B({tau}{sup -} {yields}) B({tau}{sup -} {yields} 4{pi}{sup -}3{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0}{nu}{sub {tau}}) < 2.5 x 10{sup -7}. We also search for the decay {tau}{sup -} {yields} 3{pi}{sup -}2{pi}{sup +}2{pi}{sup 0}{nu}{sub {tau}} and report a 90% CL upper limit of < 3.4 x 10{sup -6} for its branching fraction. Finally, we search for the exclusive final state {tau}{sup -} {yields} 2{sigma}{pi}{sup -}{nu}{sub {tau}} and find a 90% CL upper limit for its branching fraction of < 5.4 x 10{sup -7}.
Early recognition of children with autism: A study of first birthday home videotapes

Coded home videotapes of 11 autistic and 11 normally developing children's first year birthday parties for social, affective, joint attention, and communicative behaviors and for specific autistic symptoms. Autistic children displayed significantly fewer social and joint attention behaviors and significantly more autistic symptoms. In combination, four behaviors correctly classified 10 of 11 autistic children and 10 of 11 normal children. These behaviors consisted of pointing, showing objects, looking at others, and orienting to name.
Geldanamycin decreases Raf-1 and Akt levels and induces apoptosis in neuroblastomas

Neuroblastomas are the most common extracranial solid tumors of childhood. These tumors are associated with an overall poor prognosis, particularly for advanced stage disease. The benzoquinone ansamycin antibiotic, geldanamycin (GA), exhibits potent antitumor activity in certain cancer cell lines by destabilizing important signal transduction proteins (e.g., Raf-1 and Akt). The purpose of our study was to determine whether GA can alter the expression of Raf-1 and Akt, which have been shown to be critical for neuronal cell survival, and induce apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells. Human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y, SK-N-SH and LAN-1) were treated with GA for a variable period of time. Cell viability was assessed with MTT assays. Apoptosis was assessed with DNA fragmentation ELISA, TUNEL-flow cytometric assay, Western blot and caspase activities. We found that GA decreases cell viability and induces apoptosis in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. These effects were mediated through activation of caspase-9 and -3, mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and subsequent PARP cleavage. GA-induced apoptosis was associated with a reduction in the level and activity of Raf-1 and Akt. The importance of these proteins was further demonstrated by induction of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by a combination of U0126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) and LY294002 (an inhibitor of PI3K). Similar to SH-SY5Y cells, other human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH and LAN-1) were sensitive to the effects of GA-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that GA may be a novel therapeutic agent, which may be effective in the treatment of neuroblastomas.
Preoperative Pulmonary Hypertension Is Associated with Postoperative Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Chronic Organic Mitral Regurgitation: An Echocardiographic and Hemodynamic Study

Background Some degree of pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) is common in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation. The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative PHTN is associated with postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Methods The study included 79 patients with chronic organic mitral regurgitation. Preoperative and postoperative LV function was assessed by echocardiography. Preoperative and postoperative hemodynamics were evaluated by a pulmonary artery catheter. Results Pulmonary artery systolic pressure decreased postoperatively (pre 49 ± 14 vs. post 36 ± 11 mm Hg, P P r = −0.53, P r = −0.34, P Conclusion Preoperative PHTN is associated with postoperative LV dysfunction in patients with chronic organic mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve operation.
Novel cationic pentablock copolymers as non-viral vectors for gene therapy.

Abstract New cationic pentablock copolymers of poly(diethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDEAEM), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)—PDEAEM-b-PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO-b-PDEAEM—synthesized in our laboratory were investigated for their potential as non-viral vectors for gene therapy. Agarose gel studies showed that the copolymers effectively condensed plasmid DNA to form polyplexes, and also protected plasmids against nuclease degradation. Light scattering and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the apparent size, molecular weight and morphology of these polyplexes. Lactate dehydrogenase assay was employed to find the cytotoxicity limits of the polymers and polyplexes on a human ovarian cancer cell line. The polymers showed much less cytotoxicity than commercially available ExGen 500 (linear polyethyleneimine). By changing the relative lengths of the blocks in the copolymers, it was found that the cytotoxicity of these copolymers could be tailored. The micellar structures of these copolymers in aqueous solutions and their pH-sensitive protonation were added advantages. In vitro transfection efficiencies of the polymers using green fluorescent protein (pEGFP-N1) and luciferase (pRL-CMV) reporter genes were found comparable to ExGen 500. Besides, aqueous solutions of these pentablock copolymers have been shown to exhibit thermodynamic phase transitions and thermoreversible gelation, a quality that could allow subcutaneous/intramuscular injections of these polymers for controlled gene delivery over time.
A Reconfigurable $\Delta\Sigma$ ADC With Up to 100 MHz Bandwidth Using Flash Reference Shuffling

A reconfigurable 65-nm continuous-time low-pass delta-sigma modulator operates with a sampling frequency from 491 MHz to 1536 MHz, a signal bandwidth from 10 MHz to 100 MHz, and a dynamic range of 75.4 dB to 62.8 dB, respectively. Flash ADC calibration and reference shuffling with zipper rotation are used to improve the linearity of the flash, while also increasing the highest sampling rate and bandwidth of the modulator. Dynamic element matching using a randomized incremented pointer improves the linearity of the DAC.
Defining the DNA Substrate Binding Sites on HIV-1 Integrase

A tetramer model for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) with DNA representing long terminal repeat (LTR) termini was previously assembled to predict the IN residues that interact with the LTR termini; these predictions were experimentally verified for nine amino acid residues [Chen, A., Weber, I. T., Harrison, R. W. & Leis, J. (2006). Identification of amino acids in HIV-1 and avian sarcoma virus integrase subsites required for specific recognition of the long terminal repeat ends. J. Biol. Chem., 281, 4173–4182]. In a similar strategy, the unique amino acids found in avian sarcoma virus IN, rather than HIV-1 or Mason–Pfizer monkey virus IN, were substituted into the structurally related positions of HIV-1 IN. Substitutions of six additional residues (Q44, L68, E69, D229, S230, and D253) showed changes in the 3′ processing specificity of the enzyme, verifying their predicted interaction with the LTR DNA. The newly identified residues extend interactions along a 16-bp length of the LTR termini and are consistent with known LTR DNA/HIV-1 IN cross-links. The tetramer model for HIV-1 IN with LTR termini was modified to include two IN binding domains for lens-epithelium-derived growth factor/p75. The target DNA was predicted to bind in a surface trench perpendicular to the plane of the LTR DNA binding sites of HIV-1 IN and extending alongside lens-epithelium-derived growth factor. This hypothesis is supported by the in vitro activity phenotype of HIV-1 IN mutant, with a K219S substitution showing loss in strand transfer activity while maintaining 3′ processing on an HIV-1 substrate. Mutations at seven other residues reported in the literature have the same phenotype, and all eight residues align along the length of the putative target DNA binding trench.
Predictors of Distant Brain Recurrence for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone

Purpose To ascertain predictors of distant brain failure (DBF) in patients treated initially with stereotactic radiosurgery alone for newly diagnosed brain metastases. We hypothesize that these factors may be used to group patients according to risk of DBF. Methods and Materials We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases treated from 2003 to 2005 at our Gamma Knife radiosurgery facility. The primary endpoint was DBF. Potential predictors included number of metastases, tumor volume, histologic characteristics, extracranial disease, and use of temozolomide. Results One-year actuarial risk of DBF was 61% for all patients. Significant predictors of DBF included more than three metastases (hazard ratio, 3.30; p = 0.004), stable or poorly controlled extracranial disease (hazard ratio, 2.16; p = 0.04), and melanoma histologic characteristics (hazard ratio, 2.14; p = 0.02). These were confirmed in multivariate analysis. Those with three or fewer metastases, no extracranial disease, and nonmelanoma histologic characteristics ( N = 18) had a median time to DBF of 89 weeks vs. 33 weeks for all others. One-year actuarial freedom from DBF for this group was 83% vs. 26% for all others. Conclusions Independent significant predictors of DBF in our series included number of metastases (more than three), present or uncontrolled extracranial disease, and melanoma histologic characteristics. These factors were combined to identify a lower risk subgroup with significantly longer time to DBF. These patients may be candidates for initial localized treatment, reserving whole-brain radiation therapy for salvage. Patients in the higher risk group may be candidates for initial whole-brain radiation therapy or should be considered for clinical trials.
Occupational level and mental health: A note

Abstract Investigation of mental health and job satisfaction by means of Kornhauser's (1965) questionnaire appears to demonstrate the existence of at least six factors concerned with personal life adjustment. There was a failure to find any substantial relationship between mental health and job satisfaction over a fairly wide occupational distribution which confirms a finding by the previously cited Survey Research Center study 1970. It is hypothesized that the mental health-job satisfaction relationship exists only on the lower skill, routine work level. It is further suggested that these research results offer certain directions that might be pursued in the further understanding of the exact bases for both job and general life adjustment.
A 350014C yr High-Resolution Record of Water-Level Changes in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia/Peru

Sediment cores collected from the southern basin of Lake Titicaca (Bolivia/Peru) on a transect from 4.6 m above overflow level to 15.1 m below overflow level are used to identify a new century-scale chronology of Holocene lake-level variations. The results indicate that lithologic and geochemical analyses on a transect of cores can be used to identify and date century-scale lake-level changes. Detailed sedimentary analyses of subfacies and radiocarbon dating were conducted on four representative cores. A chronology based on 60 accelerator mass spectrometer radiocarbon measurements constrains the timing of water-level fluctuations. Two methods were used to estimate the14C reservoir age. Both indicate that it has remained nearly constant at ∼25014C yr during the late Holocene. Core studies based on lithology and geochemistry establish the timing and magnitude of five periods of low lake level, implying negative moisture balance for the northern Andean altiplano over the last 3500 cal yr. Between 3500 and 3350 cal yr B.P., a transition from massive, inorganic-clay facies to laminated organic-matter-rich silts in each of the four cores signals a water-level rise after a prolonged mid-Holocene dry phase. Evidence of other significant low lake levels occurs 2900–2800, 2400–2200, 2000–1700, and 900–500 cal yr B.P. Several of the low lake levels coincided with cultural changes in the region, including the collapse of the Tiwanaku civilization.
Mutation of a conserved fifth transmembrane domain lysine residue (Lys215) attenuates ligand binding in the angiotensin II type 2 receptor

A fifth transmembrane domain lysine residue is conserved in both the type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) angiotensin II (AngII) receptors. This lysine (Lys199) is believed to play a critical role in peptide binding for the AT1 receptor. To evaluate its possible role in the AT2 receptor, the analogous AT2 residue (Lys199) was changed to glutamine. This mutation greatly reduced the affinity for both 125I-AngII and 125I-Sar1,Ile8-AngII and abolished binding to the non-peptide 125I-PD122979. These data indicate that despite a relatively low homology of 34%, some commonalities in the binding mechanism for AngII may exist between the two subtypes.
Vibrational equilibration in absorption difference spectra of chlorophyll a.

We describe Franck-Condon simulations of vibrational cooling effects on absorption difference spectra in chlorophyll a (Chl a). The relative contributions of vibrational equilibration in the electronic ground and excited states depend on the pump and probe wavelengths. For Franck-Condon-active vibrational modes exhibiting small Huang-Rhys factors (S
Transcription factors in pituitary gland development and their clinical impact on phenotype.

Objective: Several genes encoding homeobox transcription factors are important for normal pituitary gland development and eventually for hormone production. Methods and Res
Experimental Demonstration of Active Flow Control to Reduce Unsteady Stator-Rotor Interaction

An experimental investigation is conducted to reduce the unsteady stator-rotor interaction in a turbofan simulator using active flow control. The fan rotor of a 1/14-scale turbofan propulsion simulator is subjected to circumferentially periodic inlet flow distortions, generated by four stators that support a centerbody in the inlet mounted onto the simulator. These wakes are reenergized by injecting air from the trailing edge of each stator through discrete blowing holes. The flow rate through each blowing hole is controlled by an individual microelectro-mechanical system based microvalve. The microvalve actuation signal voltage is generated by a proportional-integral-derivative controller and is a function of the wake velocity defect. To determine the successful reenergizing of the wakes, far-field sound pressure level at the blade passing frequency without and with blowing is measured in an anechoic chamber. The active control experiments are performed for two simulator speeds of 29,500 and 40,000 rpm. In addition, the feasibility and advantage of active control is demonstrated by the ability of the system to respond to changes in the inlet flow velocity.
Phosphorylation Determines the Calmodulin-mediated Ca2+ Response and Water Permeability of AQP0

In Xenopus oocytes, the water permeability of AQP0 (Pf) increases with removal of external calcium, an effect that is mediated by cytoplasmic calmodulin (CaM) bound to the C terminus of AQP0. To investigate the effects of serine phosphorylation on CaM-mediated Ca2+ regulation of Pf, we tested the effects of kinase activation, CaM inhibition, and a series of mutations in the C terminus CaM binding site. Calcium regulation of AQP0 Pf manifests four distinct phenotypes: Group 1, with high Pf upon removal of external Ca2+ (wild-type, S229N, R233A, S235A, S235K, K238A, and R241E); Group 2, with high Pf in elevated (5 mm) external Ca2+ (S235D and R241A); Group 3, with high Pf and no Ca2+ regulation (S229D, S231N, S231D, S235N, and S235N/I236S); and Group 4, with low Pf and no Ca2+ regulation (protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, S229D/S235D and S235N/I236S). Within each group, we tested whether CaM binding mediates the phenotype, as shown previously for wild-type AQP0. In the presence of calmidazolium, a CaM inhibitor, S235D showed high Pf and no Ca2+ regulation, suggesting that S235D still binds CaM. Contrarily, S229D showed a decrease in recruitment of CaM, suggesting that S229D is unable to bind CaM. Taken together, our results suggest a model in which CaM acts as an inhibitor of AQP0 Pf. CaM binding is associated with a low Pf state, and a lack of CaM binding is associated with a high Pf state. Pathological conditions of inappropriate phosphorylation or calcium/CaM regulation could induce Pf changes contributing to the development of a cataract.
Responses of grain sorghum to variable water supply under two irrigation frequencies

Two experiments were conducted with Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Cv. “Pioneer 846” in a deep loam soil in the 1977 season. Experiment I consisted of two line-source sprinkler plots, one irrigated at two-day intervals (HF) and the other every 10 to 14 days (NF). In comparable treatments of both regimes, the seasonal amount of water applied was the same. Since the subsoil was very dry at planting, the different amounts of water applied led to the development of a range of water stresses from none to severe. Experiment II was conducted in an adjacent area with a fully wetted soil profile. The treatments were irrigated every week (I) and nonirrigated (NI). Applied water was measured after each irrigation. Soil water content, leaf water potential, leaf-area index, ground cover and dry-matter accumulation were measured at frequent intervals, and yields were taken at the end of the growing season. Linear relations were found between both total dry-matter production and grain yield and seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) in both HF and NF regimes. With seasonal values of ET near the potential, grain yield and dry-matter production did not differ between irrigation frequencies. At low seasonal ET values, however, the NF regime gave greater yields of dry-matter and grain than did the HF regime.
Going viral: chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy for hematological malignancies

On July 1, 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted 'breakthrough therapy' designation to CTL019, the anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania. This is the first personalized cellular therapy for cancer to be so designated and occurred 25 years after the first publication describing genetic redirection of T cells to a surface antigen of choice. The peer-reviewed literature currently contains the outcomes of more than 100 patients treated on clinical trials of anti-CD19 redirected T cells, and preliminary results on many more patients have been presented. At last count almost 30 clinical trials targeting CD19 were actively recruiting patients in North America, Europe, and Asia. Patients with high-risk B-cell malignancies therefore represent the first beneficiaries of an exciting and potent new treatment modality that harnesses the power of the immune system as never before. A handful of trials are targeting non-CD19 hematological and solid malignancies and represent the vanguard of enormous preclinical efforts to develop CAR T-cell therapy beyond B-cell malignancies. In this review, we explain the concept of chimeric antigen receptor gene-modified T cells, describe the extant results in hematologic malignancies, and share our outlook on where this modality is likely to head in the near future.
Factors associated with acceptance and full publication of GI endoscopic research originally published in abstract form.

Abstract Background: Many abstracts submitted to annual scientific meetings never come to full publication in peer-reviewed journals. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with the fate of endoscopic research abstracts submitted to the annual scientific meeting of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Methods: All abstracts (n = 461) submitted to the annual meeting of the ASGE in May of 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. The following databases were searched for evidence of publication of abstracts in full-manuscript form: Medline, HealthSTAR, Current Contents, CINHAL, and Cancerlit. All abstracts were reviewed between May 4, 1998 and June 30, 1998. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the association between abstract characteristics and acceptance for presentation at the meeting and for publication. Results: Fifty-five percent (247/451) of submitted abstracts were accepted for presentation. In univariate analysis, pediatric studies, prospective studies, randomized studies, and studies from university-affiliated medical centers (UAMC), were more likely to be accepted for presentation ( p p = 0.01), prospective studies ( p = 0.005), randomized studies ( p = 0.06), and studies from UAMC ( p = 0.01) predicted acceptance of abstracts for presentation at the meeting. The overall publication rate was 25.1%. The publication rates 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after the meeting were 6.7%, 16.2%, 22.8%, and 25.1%, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that accepted abstracts ( p = 0.0003) studies reporting positive results ( p = 0.0015), and studies from outside the United States ( p = 0.036) were more likely to be published in manuscript form. Conclusions: The overall publication rate of abstracts reporting endoscopic research is 25%, lower than that in any published report from other medical societies. Abstracts from the United States were less likely to be published in full-manuscript form. Although there was no positive outcome bias for acceptance of abstracts for presentation at the meeting, there was bias toward publication of statistically significant results. Further investigations are warranted to determine the variation in the publication of research results according to country of origin and to determine factors that hinder publication of GI endoscopic research in manuscript form. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;53:275-82.)
Optic Nerve Involvement in Retinoblastoma

This retrospective review of 814 retinoblastoma patients discloses 240 cases of tumor extension into the optic nerve. Optic nerve involvement was classified according to the degree of invasion; grade I is superficial invasion of the optic nerve head only, grade II is involvement up to and including the lamina cribrosa, grade III is involvement beyond the lamina cribrosa, and grade IV is involvement up to and including the surgical margin. The incidence of optic nerve involvement was 29.5% (240/814). The mortality rate of patients with optic nerve involvement with grade I was 10%; grade II, 29%; grade III, 42%; and grade IV, 78%. Actuarial life-table analysis shows an increased mortality rate with increasing grade of optic nerve involvement. Multivariate statistical analysis shows that the grade of optic nerve involvement and the age at diagnosis of optic nerve involvement are the factors most significantly associated with survival.
Clinical economics education in the international clinical epidemiology network

The application of rigorous epidemiologic methods to clinical questions has broadened the scope of research in epidemiology and enhanced the quality of clinical research. The International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) has enabled physicians from developing countries to obtain training in epidemiologic methods and to provide leadership in clinical epidemiology in their home schools of medicine. The INCLEN program has recently incorporated another major theme of research training, clinical economics, which introduces research related to the effective use of limited resources. This article describes the rationale for the development of the INCLEN Clinical Economics program, outlines its organization and curriculum, and explores the challenges to its successful implementation.
What God Could Have Made

Atheists have argued that if there is a God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, then God would have made a better world than the one in which we live. Many different possible worlds are better than this one. Some have less natural or moral evil than this world, and some even have no natural or moral evils at all. Consequently, there is no God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent because such a God would have made one of those worlds that is better than this one.1 Philosophical theists typically reply to the problem of evil by focusing on one aspect of it, namely, on the claim that there are better worlds without moral evil. There are possible worlds with no moral evil, the theist responds, but these are worlds without freedom, and freedom is a moral good that outweighs the moral evil that necessarily attends freedom. Worlds with freedom are better than worlds without freedom, and the existence of freedom entails the existence of moral evil. So perhaps this is the best of all possible worlds or at least a better world than What God Could Have Made
Composite estimates of physiological stress, age, and diabetes in American Samoans

Composite estimates of physiological stress such as allostatic load (AL) were developed to help assess cumulative impacts of psychosocial and physical stressors on the body. Physiological responses to stress generally accelerate somatic wear-and-tear and chronic degenerative conditions (CDCs). Following McEwen (Neuropsychopharmacology 22 (1999) 108–124) and others, primary physiological mediators of somatic stress responses include glucocorticoids (cortisol), catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), and serum dihydroepiandosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S). Conversely, blood pressure (BP), serum HDL and total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and waist/hip (w/h) ratio are modulated by such hormones, thereby acting as secondary mediators of stress response. When these risk factors are aggregated into a composite score, higher stress loads are associated with increased risks for days of school/work missed, functional losses, morbidity, and mortality in US samples. To examine stress loads in American Samoans, data on all 6 secondary mediators along with estimates of body habitus (i.e. height, weight, circumferences, skinfolds) and physiology (i.e. fasting insulin, LDLc, triglycerides, fasting glucose) were measured on 273 individuals residing on Tutuila Island in 1992. Four combinations of these physiological factors were used to determine composite estimates of stress. These were then assessed by sex for associations with age and the presence of diabetes. Composite estimates of stress load were higher in Samoan women than men. Associations with age tended to be low and negative in men, but positive in women, appearing to reflect cultural circumstances and population history. Stress load scores also were higher among those with diabetes than those without among both men and women. These results suggest that composite estimates of stress may be useful for assessing future risks of CDC's and the senescent processes that may underlie them in cross-cultural research. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Deposition of magnetite films by reactive sputtering of iron

Iron is sputtered reactively in an argon-oxygen glow discharge to form deposits of magnetite. Cycling the oxygen partial pressure between a low and a high value during sputtering causes deposition of alternating layers of Fe-metal and Fe 2 O 3 -oxide. Depending on the cycle length, a layered structure results or homogeneous films form. For all films pronounced magnetite peaks were found by X-ray analysis. In the case of homogeneous films only magnetite was found. The films were hard-magnetic with coercivities between 250 Oe and 550 Oe and squarenesses between 0.6 and 0.8. Magnetic recording of these films on 14-in disks yielded bit-densities of up to 6.5 kT/cm.
Modeling Meaningful Use as Utility in Emergency Medical Services

This paper describes a case study focused on identifying and modeling opportunities to support emergency medical services (EMS) with next-generation interactive technologies. The method used is a novel integration of different approaches including scenario-based design, task analysis, and utility-based interaction modeling. The goal of the project is to develop a structured model of EMS activity and to identify where and how this activity can be supported with current and emerging information technologies. Of particular importance is identifying tasks with the highest potential for meaningful use of these technologies. The SUMMIT method and tool set is being used to model meaningful use as a function of the overall utility (benefits, costs, and risks) potentially derived from technology support. The paper provides a description and rationale for the approach and gives lessons learned from the early phases of the project. The SUMMIT approach may be generally useful for organizations that need to understand how new interactive technologies might provide meaningful support for healthcare operations. These models may also be an effective resource for promoting continuous learning and reflection on EMS skills.
Time-optimal control of time-lag systems with time-lag controls

Abstract This paper considers the time-optimal control problem for a class of time-lag systems in which the time-lag is the control variable. It is shown that under certain conditions, the attainable set at any time t is convex, compact, and varies continuously with t. Using this result, a necessary condition for the time-optimal controls in the form of a maximum principle is derived. A simple example and other related problems are also discussed.
Components of Specific Combining Ability Estimated from Strain and Breed Crosses in Chickens

Abstract INTRODUCTION HETEROSIS, the increase in performance of crosses over parental strains, has generally been found in fowl for chick livability, early growth rate, age at sexual maturity, egg production and at times for adult livability. Degree of heterosis seems to be positively associated with genetic diversity of the parental strains. A full diallel crossing experiment involving 3 White Leghorn (WL) and 3 Rhode Island Red (RIR) “closed flock” strains has been analyzed and reported by Wearden et al. (1965) with particular emphasis on estimating the relative importance of general and specific combining ability and maternal effects. This follow-up study attempts to elucidate the components of specific combining ability. EXPERIMENTAL Samples of 3 WL and 3 RIR “closed flock” strains were obtained from leading commercial breeders in 1956. They were crossed in a full diallel pattern during the following two years. Two “shifts” of males and approximately 90 females per strain . . .
5-Pyrimidyl phosphonic acid as a building block for the synthesis of coordination polymers

Using a specifically designed functionalized organophosphonic acid, 5-pyrimidyl phosphonic acid (pyrimidyl = C4H4N2), the synthesis and characterization of six coordination polymers, including a two-dimensional bimetallic, Cu/Ag, polymer are reported.