cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Betaretrovirus Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus Selectively Excludes Simian APOBEC3G from Virion Particles

The APOBEC3 protein family can constitute a potent barrier to the successful infection of mammalian species by retroviruses. Therefore, any retrovirus that has evolved the ability to replicate in a given animal must have developed mechanisms that allow it to avoid or inhibit the APOBEC3 proteins expressed in that animal. Here, we demonstrate that Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) is resistant to inhibition by the APOBEC3G protein expressed in its normal host, the rhesus macaque, but highly susceptible to inhibition by murine APOBEC3 (mA3). MPMV virion particles fail to package rhesus APOBEC3G (rA3G), and MPMV Gag binds rA3G poorly in coexpressing cells. In contrast, MPMV virions package mA3 efficiently and MPMV Gag-mA3 complexes are readily detected. Moreover, mA3, but not rA3G, partially colocalizes with MPMV Gag in the cytoplasm of coexpressing cells. Previously, we have demonstrated that murine leukemia virus also escapes inhibition by APOBEC3 proteins by avoiding virion incorporation of its cognate APOBEC3 protein, mA3, yet is inhibited by primate APOBEC3G proteins, which it packages effectively (B. P. Doehle, A. Schafer, H. L. Wiegand, H. P. Bogerd, and B. R. Cullen, J. Virol. 79:8201-8207, 2005). The finding that two essentially unrelated beta- and gammaretroviruses use similar mechanisms to escape inhibition by the APOBEC3 proteins found in their normal host species suggests that the selective exclusion of APOBEC3 proteins from virion particles may be a general mechanism used by simple mammalian retroviruses.
Mechanism of pit nucleation by electrical breakdown of the passive film

Abstract Based on the similarity between the electrical breakdown of insulators and the pitting breakdown, the mechanism of the breakdown of passive film of transition metals in a chloride solution is described. It is proposed that nucleation of pits occurs by electrical breakdown, probably by the Zener mechanism. Creation of a very high current locally destroys the passive film and causes the dissolution of the metal forming metastable or stable pits.
On the Ultraviolet Light Theory of Magnetic Storms

The three notable solar flares observed in the western hemisphere in 1936 did not produce magnetic storms. It is inferred from terrestrial effects accompanying them that intense ultraviolet emission occurred at the same time. Study of the effects suggests that, when a flare of ultraviolet light increases the conductivity of the lower regions of the atmosphere, increased diurnal-variation currents flow. The current-systems necessary to produce magnetic storms are of an entirely different type\char22{}hence the observed effects do not support the ultraviolet light theory of magnetic storms.
Dynamic Decision Making for Commercial Fleet Operations Using Real-Time Information

The application of intelligent transportation system technologies to freight mobility requires dynamic decision-making techniques for commercial fleet operations, using real-time information. Recognizing the productivity-enhancing operational changes possible using real-time information about vehicle locations and demands coupled with constant communication between dispatchers and drivers, a general carrier fleet management system is described. The system features dynamic dispatching, load acceptance, and pricing strategies. A simulation framework is developed to evaluate the performance of alternative load acceptance and assignment strategies using real-time information. Real-time decision making for fleet operations involves balancing a complicated set of often conflicting objectives. The simulation framework provides a means for exploring the trade-offs between these objectives. Results suggest that reductions in cost and improvements in service quality should result from the use of dynamic dispatching...
Lacunal allocation and gas transport capacity in the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora.

Lacunal allocation as the fraction of the total cross sectional area of leaves, stem bases, rhizomes, and roots was determined in both tall and short growth forms of Spartina alterniflora collected from natural monospecific stands. The results indicate that in both growth forms lacunal allocation is greater in stem bases and rhizomes than in leaves and roots and that tall form plants allocate more of their stem and rhizome to lacunae than short form plants.
Local Tree-Rings and Teleconnections: Ways to Improve the Reconstruction of Lake Superior Water Supplies

Abstract Hydrological records can be extended back in time using tree-rings. A basic assumption is that tree growth and the reconstructed variable respond in a similar fashion to a given combination of climate variables. It was documented in an earlier study that this assumption poses a problem in reconstructing water supplies to Lake Superior. Low summer temperatures at times of drought reduce the stress on trees induced by a lack of water. The water supplies to Lake Superior, on the other hand, are largely unaffected by air temperature; evaporation is low in summer because of low water temperatures. Tree-rings therefore tend to overpredict water supplies at times of cool summer drought. It was shown in the earlier study that using air temperature as an additional predictor will improve the modeling of Lake Superior water supplies. The observed air temperature record is however too short to be useful. Results of the present study show that the well-known teleconnection between atmospheric circulation patterns over western North America and air temperature over the Great Lakes region can be used to improve the modeling. Including western tree-ring chronologies–as a surrogate for local temperature–in regression models results in an increase in explained variance of 0.14 above that obtained by using only local chronologies, and most of this improvement in explanation occurs in the lower (drier) half of the water supply distribution. There is therefore information in the western tree-ring chronologies that could be useful in reconstructing Great Lakes water supplies. Many of the chronologies were however collected in the 1960s and 1970s. Updated chronologies would lengthen the record available for model calibration and verification by more than 20 years which is about a third of the length of the record presently available.
Eimeria filamentifera sp. n. from the Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina (Linné), in Iowa

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria filamentifera sp. n. were isolated from 2 of 2 snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina (Linne), in Iowa. The ovoid to ellipsoid oocysts of this species averaged 23.2 × 18.6 μm and had a length/width ratio ranging from 1.1 to 1.6. The ellipsoid sporocysts averaged 14.0 × 7.7 μm and had papillose, filament-bearing Stieda bodies. Oocyst and sporocyst residua were present, but micropyle and polar granule were not. This appears to be the 2nd species of Eimeria reported from snapping turtles, with E. chelydrae being the first.
Case-control and cohort studies of moderate alcohol consumption and stroke.

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that alcohol consumption has distinctive associations with risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes; these differences help explain apparent inconsistencies in the alcohol-stroke literature (Camargo CA Jr. Stroke 1989;20:1611-1626). To better define the impact of "moderate drinking" per se (i.e. usual consumption of < or = 2 drinks daily for men, and < or = 1 drink daily for women), the present author reviewed 26 case-control and cohort studies on this subject. There is substantial evidence that moderate drinking does not increase risk of ischemic stroke; studies remain divided, however, on the question of a "protective" association. Furthermore, although the evidence is not unanimous, two major cohort studies have found that even moderate drinking may increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Because ischemic strokes are 3-4 times more common than hemorrhagic strokes, the net impact of moderate drinking on stroke risk depends greatly on the relation between moderate drinking and ischemic stroke. It is most likely, however, that moderate drinking does not increase risk of all strokes combined.
Suppression behavior increased by telencephalic lesions in the teleost, Macropodus opercularis.

Previous experiments in several teleost species suggested that defensive reactions are increased following extensive bilateral ablation of the telencephalon. We investigated the effects of varied telencephalic lesions on the reaction of fish to handling and placement in an unfamiliar tank. When intact or sham-operated males were handled, they showed increased rates of surfacing for air. Males which were previously administered bilateral (TLX) or unilateral (UTLX) telencephalon ablation suppressed activity following handling. TLX lesions resulted in the greatest suppression reactions; in addition, the TLX males showed slightly decreased rates of activity prior to handling. Extensive, bilateral lesions of the dorsal telencephalon did not induce the suppression reaction in most males. Based on the results, we propose that one of the functions of the teleost telencephalon is to modulate defensive behavior. The structures which influence defensive behavior appear to be located in the ventral and possibly the rostrodorsal area of the telencephalon.
Photoconductivity of ambipolar long-channel carbon-nanotube field-effect transistors

The photocurrents of carbon-nanotube field-effect transistors are small due to the small exciton ionization rate and large exciton nonradiative-decay rate, and the photocurrent gain is small for the long-channel devices.
Selective inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 attenuates secondary damage resulting from severe traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Following the initial insult, severe TBI progresses to a secondary injury phase associated with biochemical and cellular changes. The secondary injury is thought to be responsible for the development of many of the neurological deficits observed after TBI and also provides a window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9 or gelatinase B) expression is elevated in neurological diseases and its activation is an important factor in detrimental outcomes including excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and increases in inflammatory responses and astrogliosis. In this study, we used an experimental mouse model of TBI to examine the role of MMP-9 and the therapeutic potential of SB-3CT, a mechanism-based gelatinase selective inhibitor, in ameliorating the secondary injury. We observed that activation of MMP-9 occurred within one day following TBI, and remained elevated for 7 days after the initial insult. SB-3CT effectively attenuated MMP-9 activity, reduced brain lesion volumes and prevented neuronal loss and dendritic degeneration. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that SB-3CT and its active metabolite, p-OH SB-3CT, were rapidly absorbed and distributed to the brain. Moreover, SB-3CT treatment mitigated microglial activation and astrogliosis after TBI. Importantly, SB-3CT treatment improved long-term neurobehavioral outcomes, including sensorimotor function, and hippocampus-associated spatial learning and memory. These results demonstrate that MMP-9 is a key target for therapy to attenuate secondary injury cascades and that this class of mechanism-based gelatinase inhibitor–with such desirable pharmacokinetic properties–holds considerable promise as a potential pharmacological treatment of TBI.
The Flux Creep Automaton

We study a cellular automaton derived from the phenomenon of magnetic flux creep in two-dimensional granular superconductors. We model the superconductor as an array of Josephson junctions evolving according to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations. In the limit of slowly increasing magnetic field, we reduce these equations to a simple cellular automaton. The resulting discrete dynamics, a stylized version of the continuous dynamics of the differential equations, is equivalent to the dynamics of a gradient sand pile automaton. We study the dynamics as we vary the symmetry of the underlying lattice and the shape of its boundary. We find that the "simplest" realization of the automaton, on a square lattice with commensurate boundaries, results in especially simple dynamics, while "generic" realizations exhibit more complicated dynamics characterized by statistics with broad distributions, even in the absence of noise or disorder.
NFATc1 Regulation of TRAIL Expression in Human Intestinal Cells

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; Apo2) has been shown to promote intestinal cell differentiation. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) participates in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes, including differentiation. Here, we examined the role of NFAT in the regulation of TRAIL in human intestinal cells. Treatment with a combination of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187 (Io) increased NFAT activation and TRAIL expression; pretreatment with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA), an antagonist of NFAT signaling, diminished NFAT activation and TRAIL induction. In addition, knockdown of NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3, and NFATc4 blocked PMA/Io increased TRAIL protein expression. Expression of NFATc1 activated TRAIL promoter activity and increased TRAIL mRNA and protein expression. Deletion of NFAT binding sites from the TRAIL promoter did not significantly abrogate NFATc1-increased TRAIL promoter activity, suggesting an indirect regulation of TRAIL expression by NFAT activation. Knockdown of NFATc1 increased Sp1 transcription factor binding to the TRAIL promoter and, importantly, inhibition of Sp1, by chemical inhibition or RNA interference, increased TRAIL expression. These studies identify a novel mechanism for TRAIL regulation by which activation of NFATc1 increases TRAIL expression through negative regulation of Sp1 binding to the TRAIL promoter.
Investigating the effects of grid equivalent circuit at a point of common coupling on bus voltage variations due to variable distributed generation

Increased amounts of distributed generation (DG) in the form of renewable energy resources have presented distribution system operators with unique challenges. A common problem with these types of DGs is that they have a varying output power, which may cause bus voltages to greatly vary. A grid Thevenin equivalent circuit seen from a reference bus can be used to predict changes in bus voltages resulting from DG output changes. A change in the topology of the distribution system would cause a change in its Thevenin equivalent parameters. In this paper, an analytical expression relating bus voltage variations caused by a varying-output DG and the grid Thevenin equivalent circuit is derived. The expression can be used for example to optimally reconfigure the distribution system to minimize the voltage variation impacts from a DG. Simulation results of a 9-bus test system under various system topologies are verify the derived expression.
An efficient neural network algorithm for reflector surface error compensation

A neural network algorithm for electromagnetic compensation of reflector surface error effects is formulated. Sets of trained neural networks are used to compute the compensation excitations for array feeds. The networks were trained using data generated with the constrained least squares (CLS) compensation method. Once trained, the calculation of the excitations is accomplished in significantly less time than required by the original constrained least squares algorithm. The surface error profile for a distorted reflector antenna is expanded using bivariate surface basis functions. Each of the trained networks corresponds to one of the expansion functions. Excitations computed using the neural networks are superposed to produce composite compensation excitations for the distorted reflector. The compensation results for a distorted reflector are presented, and the neural network algorithm performance is compared to the original CLS technique.
Graduate nursing student self-assessment: Fundamental technology skills

A gap exists in technology demands in the nursing field as well as appropriate educational strategies to assist students in developing skills to meet these demands. This study assesses graduate nursing students’ perceived skills regarding specific technology related to health care. The results of a brief researcher-developed survey indicated that students’ perceived that technology skills were not critical to entering the nursing field, however, they were critical for their present position and essential for promotion. Respondents indicated they had limited opportunities to utilize these technologies and increase their skill sets and the nurses viewed training and barrier reduction as important to adopting new technology skills. Implications for nursing education and practice are presented.
Dynamics of an electron in an RF gap

An attempt is made to understand the limitation on the energy transfer efficiency of an electron beam to the RF output cavity of a klystron or a lasertron. An output cavity with drift tubes is modeled by a region of constant amplitude RF field with exponentially decreasing entrance and exit fringing fields. The exit velocity of an electron traversing such a gap is examined as a function of entrance phase for various values of the ratio of the peak RF cavity voltage to the electron entrance voltage. Depending on the ratio, the dynamics of the electron motion can become quite complex. For a gap with fringe fields it is found that, even if the gap voltage and phase are optimized, the maximum energy that can be extracted from a short bunch is always significantly less than 100%. The case in which the electron is created with zero velocity in the gap, and subsequently leaves the gap having extracted energy from the RF field, is also treated. >
Parents of Children with Mental Illness: Exploring the Caregiver Experience and Caregiver-Focused Interventions:

Serious mental illness in children can significantly impact the parents who care for these children in both positive and negative ways. Caregiver strain and enrichment manifests in all areas of par...
Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging of molecular oxygen in flames.

We report high-resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the Schumann–Runge bands of molecular oxygen in flames, excited in the region 202–228 nm by a tunable-laser system. A one-dimensional diode array was used for one of the first demonstrations of imaging of oxygen fluorescence, and near coincidences of atomic- (two-photon) and molecular- (single-photon) oxygen transitions were observed that may have important implications for measuring atomic oxygen in flames.
The Revised APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant: Theory, Purpose, Process, and Significance

Introduction In June 2009, the House of Delegates (HOD) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) passed a major revision of the APTA Code of Ethics for physical therapists and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant . The revised documents will be effective July 1, 2010. Purpose The purposes of this article are: (1) to provide a historical, professional, and theoretical context for this important revision; (2) to describe the 4-year revision process; (3) to examine major features of the documents; and (4) to discuss the significance of the revisions from the perspective of the maturation of physical therapy as a doctoring profession. Process of Revision The process for revision is delineated within the context of history and the Bylaws of APTA. Format, Structure, and Content of Revised Core Ethics Documents The revised documents represent a significant change in format, level of detail, and scope of application. Previous APTA Codes of Ethics and Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant have delineated very broad general principles, with specific obligations spelled out in the Ethics and Judicial Committee's Guide for Professional Conduct and Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant. In contrast to the current documents, the revised documents address all 5 roles of the physical therapist, delineate ethical obligations in organizational and business contexts, and align with the tenets of Vision 2020. Significance The significance of this revision is discussed within historical parameters, the implications for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, the maturation of the profession, societal accountability and moral community, potential regulatory implications, and the inclusive and deliberative process of moral dialogue by which changes were developed, revised, and approved.
Fostering a capacity for compromise: business, government, and the stages of innovation in American computing

Surveys firms' behaviors and competitive structures in American computing during the past 50 years and places the industry within the context of American political economy. It argues that leading firms such as IBM, Apple and Microsoft have exhibited a capacity to strike compromises between innovation and stability. Through selective enforcement of the antitrust laws, government has tolerated and even encouraged such behavior. The computer industry has thus followed patterns established in other endeavors such as electric power and telephony.
Integration and reliability of copper magnesium alloys for multilevel interconnects

This paper discusses the deposition, integration, performance, and reliability of copper-magnesium alloys in interconnect structures for state of the art integrated circuits. A detailed discussion of process-related characteristics will be presented. Special emphasis is given here on the adhesion and diffusion properties of copper-magnesium. Furthermore, electrical performance of test structures using copper-magnesium and results from electromigration testing are being presented.
Iterated belief revision, reliability, and inductive amnesia

Belief revision theory concerns methods for reformulating an agent's epistemic state when the agent's beliefs are refuted by new information. The usual guiding principle in the design of such methods is to preserve as much of the agent's epistemic state as possible when the state is revised. Learning theoretic research focuses, instead, on a learning method's reliability or ability to converge to true, informative beliefs over a wide range of possible environments. This paper bridges the two perspectives by assessing the reliability of several proposed belief revision operators. Stringent conceptions of “minimal change” are shown to occasion a limitation called inductive amnesia: they can predict the future only if they cannot remember the past. Avoidance of inductive amnesia can therefore function as a plausible and hitherto unrecognized constraint on the design of belief revision operators.
Neglected tropical disease control and elimination: is human displacement an Achilles heel?

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has estimated that over 40 million people [1] are currently displaced and have variable access to health care in the country in which they reside. Populations displaced by conflict are largely disenfranchised, and high prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has been documented [2]. NTDs generally affect the least advantaged people in poor societies—populations with little voice or representation. These already susceptible people become even more vulnerable when forced from their communities as internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, or forced migrants. To further complicate matters, many of these people of concern are under 18 years old. Children experience the greatest risk and suffer the most consequences of NTDs. As marginalized populations flee from conflict or environmental catastrophe, they are often burdened with insidious NTDs ranging from asymptomatic to overt and debilitating disease. Many suffer from chronic consequences such as malnutrition, growth stunting and developmental delays, inhibiting chances for sustainable livelihoods and making it less likely that they will successfully overcome the adversity of displacement. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined 17 key neglected diseases, but several others exist [3]. These diseases are highlighted in Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6, which aims to combat HIV/AIDS and “other diseases,” of which the NTDs are discussed at length [4,5]. It is the intent of these authors to raise the awareness of readers, and argue that inclusion of these displaced populations in preventive chemotherapy (PCT) programs and multi-model community-based interventions is not only necessary for sustained success of NTD control but is also a moral imperative.
How is the angular signature of SMOS brightness temperature different in the morning and evening

Evening (6pm) and morning (6am) SMOS observations are different. The greatest difference is for incidence angles less than approximately 30°, but this difference can not be explained with physical models. There is a smaller but significant difference in evening and morning SMOS observations for incidence angles greater than approximately 50°. Evening values of the polarization index are higher than morning values. This difference does have two plausible explanations: either soil moisture has decreased overnight; or vegetation water content has increased overnight.
Discretionary carotid patch angioplasty leads to good results.

Abstract Background This study evaluated the type and need for angioplasty in 253 consecutive carotid endarterectomies. Methods Polyester knitted gelatin sealed patch (DP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patches were used in, respectively, 159 and 29 patients, with 65 vessels closed primarily (no patch [NP]). Results Surgical results, estimated blood loss, and surgical time were similar in each group. Postoperative hematomas occurred in 6 DP and 3 NP patients. There were 3 strokes in the DP group. Long-term duplex evaluation was possible in 201 patients. The number of patients who had less than 15%, 15% to 50%, 50% to 79%, 80% to 99%, 100%, or an ungraded degree of narrowing were as follows for each group: DP, 117, 2, 5, 0, 1, and 2; PTFE, 18, 1, 1, 0, 0; and NP, 53, 0, 0, 0, 1. Statistical analysis failed to show any difference between groups postoperatively or in long-term follow-up evaluation. Conclusions It appears that selective patching is safe and effective in male patients who undergo carotid endarterectomy. The type of patch material also is inconsequential. Patch type and its use should be at the surgeon’s discretion.
Fusing shape information in lung segmentation in chest radiographs

This paper presents an algorithm for the segmentation of lung fields by fusing shape information priors into intensity-based thresholding in an iterative framework. The main contribution is to maximize information utilization by effectively combining intensity information with shape priors. Experimental results performed on publicly available database demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm in comparison with other algorithms.
Dispersion of Perfluorocarbon Tracers within the Salt Lake Valley during VTMX 2000

Abstract Six perfluorocarbon tracer experiments were conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah, during October 2000 as part of the Vertical Transport and Mixing (VTMX) field campaign. Four tracers were released at different sites to obtain information on dispersion during stable conditions within down-valley flow, canyon outflow, and interacting circulations in the downtown area. Some of the extensive tracer data that were collected are presented in the context of the meteorological field campaign measurements. Tracer measurements at building-top sites in the downtown area and along the lower slopes of the Wasatch Front indicated that vertical mixing processes transported material up to at least 180 m above the valley floor, although model simulations suggest that tracers were transported upward to much higher elevations. Tracer data provided evidence of downward mixing of canyon outflow, upward mixing within down-valley flow, horizontal transport above the surface stable layer, and transport within horizontal ed...
Vapor-liquid equilibrium. Part VI. Standard state fugacities for supercritical components

A general treatment of fugacities of liquid mixtures yields the proper thermodynamic functions for dealing with nonidealities of liquid phases in equilibrium with vapor mixtures for systems containing supercritical components. The activity coefficients of the supercritical components may be based on standard state fugacities for the hypothetical pure liquids or on Henry's constants. A comparison of the rigorous thermodynamic equations which apply to the liquid phase for the two alternatives shows that they are equivalent.
Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Great Plains Landscapes

The settlement and domestication of the Great Plains is essentially complete. The most spectacular large mammal concentrations on the continent have been almost entirely destroyed. In the span of about four human generations, the Plains’s former inhabitants have been conquered and the landscape greatly changed. Relative to the western mountains and deserts, the Great Plains has almost no large wilderness areas and relatively little publicly owned land exists. Of these, the largest tracts are in designated national grasslands that are managed chiefly for livestock grazing. The tallgrass prairie has been largely replaced with row crop agriculture, transportation corridors, and urban development. Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region have been drained and put into agricultural production. Much of the shortgrass prairie in the western half of the region is still intact, but the native mammals have been replaced with cattle and other livestock. But, even on the High Plains where rainfall is low, irrigation has allowed large areas of grassland to be plowed and converted to grain crop production.
Role of the Toxicology Laboratory in Suspected Ingestions

The toxicology laboratory can fill an important role in improving patient care. Whether the service provided by the laboratory is specifically in support of a pediatric population or devoted more to the entire hospital population, the considerations involved in its configuration are the same. These considerations involve establishment of an open dialogue between the laboratory and clinical staff, an integrated and comprehensive analytic approach, and provision of reliable laboratory data in a timely fashion.
More accurate ways to measure tumor cellularity.

To the Editor Portier et al1 compared the accuracy of two molecular assays of allele frequency as metrics of tumor cellularity of cancer tissue specimens. They reported that both assays were imprecise, correlating poorly with their “standard” of tumor cellularity, which was based on the consensus visual estimates by two pathologists of the percentage of nuclei that were tumor nuclei. Their approach raises questions and concerns. Visual estimates are not accurate estimates of cellularity. Interobserver variability in estimating cellularity has been shown to be too high to be reliable. Smits et al2 reported markedly high differences in estimates of lung cancer cellularity …
Current Status of and Recent Results on Group 2 Source Compounds for Vapor Phase Epitaxy of Ferroelectric Thin Films

Much interest in the area of ferroelectric thin films has been generated by the recent developments in unique property observation for these materials. As deposition methods move toward potential commercialization, the importance of chemically and thermally stable at use temperature, high vapor pressure and purity, readily available and economically competitive sources for the requisite group 2 elements will emerge. This presentation entails an initial overview of the presently utilized compounds, their advantages and disadvantages. New group 2 CVD precursors have been developed based both on inter- and intramolecular stabilization of cyclopentadienides, alkoxides and β-diketonates. Recent results on the coordination environment around the central metal atom have offered insight into the next generation of polydentate, monoanionic ligand design. Specific details are discussed for the metal complexes of “scorpion-tail” β-diketoethers. Results of comparison studies between these new precursors and earlier compounds are presented as a model for designing future sources.
Decreased leukocyte alkaline phosphatase in monocytic leukemia.

In a review of the diagnosis associated with the finding of a decreased leukocyte alkaline phosphatase value, two previously unreported observations were made. (1) Four of seven patients with monocytic leukemia showed a marked diminution in leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity. The findings indicate that the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity in monocytic or myelomonocytic leukemia may be diminished to levels comparable to those seen in chronic myelocytic leukemia; the alteration in enzyme level was not associated with a chromosomal abnormality in this type of leukemia. It was noted in the preleukemic phase of the disease in two patients. (2) A moderate to marked diminution in leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity was found in eight patients with hemolytic anemia of varied etiologies.
Treatment Choice for Diabetic Macular Edema

Macular edema is a common cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. Chronic elevation of serum glucose levels leads to capillary damage that results in microaneurysm formation in the retina. Leakage from these microaneurysms leads to vision loss if the fluid involves the center of the fovea. The mainstay of therapy for more than 25 years was focal laser photocoagulation applied to or near the microaneurysms.1 However, results from clinical trials of drugs that block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema have led to a dramatic shift away from laser therapy to primary . . .
Divine Necessity and The Cosmological Argument

That the conclusion of the cosmological argument involves the notion of necessity is hardly disputable. What is disputed, however, is the kind of necessity which is thought to be involved therein. For many contemporary philosophers, the necessity involved is of one and only one kind, namely, logical necessity. That is, the conclu sion of the cosmological argument, "God exists," is a logically necessary proposition. J.J.C. Smart's analysis of the existence claim is a case in point.
Effects of Caffeine on Spatial Recognition Memory and Expression of CREB in Brain in Mice

Aim:To investigate the effects of caffeine on spatial learning and memory in mice and to explore the molecular mechanism with the expression levels of cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) in hippocampus and striatum. Methods: 45 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: caffeine(10 mg·kg-1), caffeine(50 mg·kg-1), and saline groups, each group n=15, and were administrated caffeine or saline by intraperitoneal injection right after the completion of the behavioral training:Morris water maze(MWM)performance was used to measure spatial memory in rats. Twenty-four h after behav- ioral testing, the mice were killed and brain are dissected for determining the expression levels of CREBprotein in hippocampus and striatum tissues by Western blotting. Results: The mice treated with caffeine at the low dose (10 mg·kg-1) significantly decreased the escape latencies and increased the times of crossing the exact position of the former platform in MWM, compared to the mice treated with saline. In contrast, treatment with high doses of caffeine (50 mg·kg-1) was not effective in improving behavioral performance in MWM test. The levels of CREB in hippocampus tissues of mice were significantly increased in the mice treated with the low dose (but not high dose) of caffeine compared to the saline-treated mice, however there was no significant difference in striatum CREB levels between the caffeine (low or high dose) treated mice and saline-treated mice. Conclusion: The non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine at the low dose (but not high dose) enhanced spatial memory of mice in MWM. The molecular mechanisms of caffeine improving the spatial memory may be related to increasing the levels of CREB in hippocampus tissues of mice.
Effects of adhesives on adsorbent capacity of medicinal charcoal

Objective To study the effects of different kinds of adhesives on adsorbent capacity of medicinal charcoal granules. Methods Starch, dextrin, gelatin and sodium carboxymethylcellulose(CMC -Na) were used as adhesives. Medicinal charcoal granules were prepared. The adsorbent capacity was acquired according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2000 . Results The adsorbent capacity of medicinal charcoal granules was decreased when starch, dextrin or gelatin in different quantity were used as adhesives and was enhanced when 8% -10% CMC - Na was used. Conclusion Adhesives had apparently influence on the adsorbent capacity of medicinal charcoal. It is suitable that CMC - Na was used as adhesives of medicinal charcoal granules.
Effects of static stretching on the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and electromyographic amplitude in men.

Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of pos- terior thigh and leg stretching on leg flexion peak torque (PT), leg extension PT, the hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the hamstrings and quadriceps in recreationally-active men. Methods. Fifteen men (mean age±SD=22.0±4.4 years; body mass=82.7±16.1 kg; height=173.1±6.8 cm) performed three maximal voluntary concentric isokinetic leg extension and flex- ion muscle actions at three randomly ordered angular veloci- ties (60, 180, and 300°.s -1) before and after hamstring and calf static stretching. The stretching protocol consisted of 1 unas- sisted and 3 assisted static stretching exercises designed to stretch the posterior muscles of the thigh and leg. Four repeti- tions of each stretch were held for 30 s with 20-s rest between repetitions. Results. These findings indicated no significant (P>0.05) stretch- ing-induced changes in leg flexion PT, leg extension PT, or EMG amplitude at 60, 180, or 300°.s -1. However, the non-sig- nificant (P>0.05) 2-4% increases in leg extension PT combined with the non-significant (P>0.05) 1-2% decreases in leg flexion PT resulted in the significant (P≤0.05) 2-9% decreases in the H:Q ratio from pre- to post-stretching for all three velocities. Conclusion. These findings suggested that static stretching of the hamstrings and calf muscles may decrease the H:Q ratio. These results may be useful for athletic trainers, physical ther- apists, and other allied health professionals who may use the H:Q ratio as a clinical assessment. K EY WORDS: Injury risk - Isokinetic - Peak torque - Leg extension - Muscle.
Transferability of Computer-Based Learning Materials: Guidelines and Limitations

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has only recently been accepted as a viable method for instruction in the health professions. Its acceptance is based on a number of successful programs developed at a few institutions and, for the most part, available only at those institutions or remotely though some network. Only limited experience has been accumulated thus far on the appropriate mechanisms for transfer of those learning materials to other systems.
Psychotherapy Case Formulation

Series Preface How to Use This Book With APA Psychotherapy Videos Acknowledgments Introduction I. Understanding Psychotherapy Case Formulation in Context Defining Formulation: Benefits, Goals, History, and Influences Sound Decision Making in Case Formulation Developing a Culturally Responsive Formulation Formulation in the Context of Psychotherapy Integration II. An Integrative Evidence-Based Case Formulation Model Step 1: Create a Problem List Step 2: Diagnose Step 3: Develop an Explanatory Hypothesis Step 4: Plan Treatment Evaluating Case Formulation Quality Coda References Index About the Author About the Series Editors
Libet-Style Experiments and Volitions

In 1983 Benjamin Libet, Curtis Gleason, Elwood Wright, and Dennis Pearl implemented a new experimental approach to addressing what was hitherto regarded as primarily a philosophical problem: whether we are, in fact, voluntary agents.1 Since then numerous variations of their initial experiment—what I will call Libet-style experiments—have been performed, all of which are often thought to add considerable weight to the conclusion that subpersonal automatic processes—those controlling that which is not consciously directed—bring about everything we naively, and wrongly, think a person consciously, and voluntarily, brings about. In this vein, there have been a number of works devoted to examining how our sense of morality, and our legal practices, should change given Libet-style experiments show we do not exercise voluntary agency (at least not in the way we have typically and naively thought).2 This illustrates how seriously the conclusion that Libet-style experiments provide evidence against the idea we are voluntary agents has been taken.
Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Complications of the Use of Bowel Segments in the Lower Urinary Tract

Almost all segments of the gastrointestinal tract have been used as urinary tract substitutes. The specific nutritional and gastrointestinal complications depend on the particular portion of bowel that is removed from the alimentary tract. The use of stomach theoretically may predispose the patient to hypergastrinemia and peptic ulcer disease, hypocalcemia, and iron deficiency or megaloblastic anemia. Resection of a large amount of jejunum causes malabsorption. Limited use of colon segments usually is well tolerated, but loss of large parts of the colon directly decreases available absorptive area, resulting in diarrhea. Resection of the ileum and ileocecal valve can lead to several disease states. One is mixed secretory-osmotic diarrhea. Decreased ileal reabsorption of bile salts results in fat malabsorption and steatorrhea. The presentation of increased amounts of bile salts and fatty acids to the colon decreases water absorption and stimulates active chloride and water secretion, producing a cholera-like high-volume secretory diarrhea. The loss of the ileocecal valve and ileum segment accelerates intestinal transit time, which does not allow for complete digestion and absorption of food. Water and electrolytes remain associated with undigested food particles and may overwhelm the absorptive capacity of the colon, resulting in an osmotic diarrhea. A second problem is vitamin B12 deficiency. Surgical reduction of sites in the terminal ileum for active and exclusive uptake of vitamin B12 might lead to hypovitaminosis. If this is unrecognized, patients may develop irreversible neurologic injury. A third problem is cholelithiasis. Derangements in bile salt metabolism can occur when as little as 10 cm of ileum is resected, and the propensity to form gallstones is increased. Pigment gallstones appear to be the predominant stone associated with ileal resections. The fourth possible problem is urolithiasis, the etiology of which is multifactorial in patients with ileal resections. With decreased availability of bile salts, fat malabsorption occurs. Fatty acids bind with calcium and magnesium to form soaps, resulting in increased levels of free oxalate available for absorption. Moreover, fatty acids directly increase colonic permeability to oxalate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Gene regulatory effects of disease-associated variation in the NRF2 network

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are both a natural byproduct of oxidative metabolism and an undesirable byproduct of many environmental stressors, can damage all classes of cellular macromolecules and promote diseases from cancer to neurodegeneration. The actions of ROS are mitigated by the transcription factor NRF2, which regulates expression of antioxidant genes via its interaction with cis-regulatory antioxidant response elements (AREs). However, despite the seemingly straightforward relationship between the opposing forces of ROS and NRF2, regulatory precision in the NRF2 network is essential. Genetic variants that alter NRF2 stability or alter ARE sequences have been linked to a range of diseases. NRF2 hyperactivating mutations are associated with tumorigenesis. On the subtler end of the spectrum, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) that alter individual ARE sequences have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders including progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease, as well as other diseases. Although the human health implications of NRF2 dysregulation have been recognized for some time, a systems level view of this regulatory network is beginning to highlight key NRF2-targeted AREs consistently associated with disease.
Contract Responsiveness or Program Effectiveness: Do Contractors Faithfully Implement Public Values?

In nearly every policy arena, government funded services are implemented by networks of contractors. In these arrangements, contractors are afforded discretion akin to public agency street level bu...
Amyloid beta40/42 clearance across the blood-brain barrier following intra-ventricular injections in wild-type, apoE knock-out and human apoE3 or E4 expressing transgenic mice.

An important event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the deposition of the amyloid beta (Abeta)1-40 and 1-42 peptides in a fibrillar form, with Abeta42 typically having a greater propensity to undergo this conformational change. A major risk factor for late-onset AD is the inheritance of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) 4 allele [3,14,31]. We previously proposed that apoE may function as a "pathological chaperone" in the pathogenesis of AD (i.e. modulate the structure of Abeta, promoting or stabilizing a beta-sheet conformation), prior to the discovery of this linkage [7,40,41,42]. Data from apoE knockout / AbetaPP^(V717F) mice, has shown that the presence of apoE is necessary for cerebral amyloid formation [1,2], consistent with our hypothesis. However, in betaPP^(V717F) mice expressing human apoE3 or E4 early Abeta deposition at 9 months is suppressed, but by 15 months both human apoE expressing mice had significant fibrillar Abeta deposits with the apoE4 expressing mice having a 10 fold greater amyloid burden [8,9]. This and other data has suggested that apoE, in addition to having a facilitating role in fibril formation, may also influence clearance of Abeta peptides. In order to address if apoE affects the clearance of Abeta peptides across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and whether there are differences in the clearance of Abeta40 versus Abeta42, we performed stereotactic, intra-ventricular micro-injections of Abeta40, Abeta42 or control peptides in wild-type, apoE knock-out (KO) or human apoE3 or apoE4 expressing transgenic mice. We found that consistent with other studies [5], Abeta40 is rapidly cleared from the brain across the BBB; however, Abeta42 is cleared much less effectively. This clearance of exogenous Abeta peptides across the BBB does not appear to be affected by apoE expression. This data suggests that Abeta42 production may favor amyloid deposition due to a reduced clearance across the BBB, compared to Abeta40. In addition, our experiments support a role of apoE as a pathological chaperone, and do not suggest an isotype specific role of apoE in exogenous Abeta peptide clearance from the CSF across the BBB.