cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can recovery from stuttering be considered a genetically milder subtype of stuttering

Because the utilization of information on genetically milder subtypes may aid in identifying the mode of transmission in disorders which do not show clear inheritance patterns, we are examining whether recovery from stuttering can be considered a genetically milder subtype of stuttering. Data on nearly 400 persistent adult stutterers and 2000 of their first-degree relatives have been analyzed using a logistic regression as well as genetic models which incorporate sex and severity thresholds. Analyses gave no evidence that recovery has any simple relationship to the transmission of stuttering. Our inability to characterize the relationship of recovery to the transmission of stuttering is probably due to the heterogeneous pattern of recovery among relatives of probands—same-sex siblings of persistent probands are less likely than other relatives to recover from stuttering. Thus, the hypothesis that recovery is a genetically milder form of stuttering cannot be rejected since one explanation for the heterogeneous pattern of recovery in relatives is that a bias in the ascertainment of probands, capable of confounding the results, may have been present in data collection.
Recognizing iodine deficiency in iodine-replete environments.

To the Editor: Iodine-deficiency disorders are prevalent in regions with low iodine levels but have generally been eliminated in affluent countries through the widespread use of iodized salt.1–4 We report on two women, both lifelong residents of the United States, in whom iodine-deficiency disorders developed. Patient 1 presented with goiter and symptoms of hypothyroidism. Examination of the neck confirmed a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland (approximately 50 g); hypothyroidism was confirmed biochemically (Table 1). A radioactive iodine study, performed before her referral for endocrine evaluation, was reportedly “consistent with hyperthyroidism.” The latter finding, together with a history of avoidance of . . .
Vector length distributions and polarizabilities of effective polymer chains: a statistical segment approach

Abstract The freely orienting model of a polymer chain is generalized by considering the distribution of vector lengths and polarizabilities of the statistical segments in the chain with a constant number of skeletal bonds in each of the segments The bonds in the segments are assumed to exist in their RIS (Rotational Isomeric States) conformations. The segment is characterized, i.e., its end-to-end length and polarizability distributions are computed. Bond polarizabilities, as determined by Denbigh, have been used for polyethylene and poly( cis -isoprene), and are assumed to be independent of the environment. Two methods are used to compute the chain length distribution from the length distribution of statistical segments: (i) an exact method, using a modified version of Chandrasekhar’s approach, originally formulated for chains of segments having constant length; and (ii) an alternative approach, which considers the series expansion of the Helmholtz Free Energy of an isolated chain, making the analysis computationally more viable without significant loss in accuracy. The averages of the chain end-to-end length distributions have been computed at 373 K for poly( cis -isoprene) and at 403 and 413 K for polyethylene. Also, chain polarizability is determined from the distribution of statistical segment lengths and polarizabilities. The results are in a form that can be used to obtain stress-deformation and optical anisotropy-deformation relationships of assemblies of chains, such as crosslinked networks.
Vaccination and Malaria Prevention among International Travelers Departing from Athens International Airport to African Destinations

Background. International travel to Africa has grown dramatically over the last decade along with an increasing need to understand the health issues for travelers. The current survey aimed to assess vaccination and malaria prevention of travelers visiting Africa. Methods. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted from of November 1, 2011 to of April 30, 2013 at Athens International Airport. Results. A total of 360 travelers were studied; 68% were men. Their mean age was 39.9 years. Previous travel to tropical countries was reported by 71.9% of them. Most frequent destination was sub-Saharan Africa (60%). Most of them traveled for ≥1 month (62%). The main reason for travel was work (39.7%). Only 47% sought pretravel consultation. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and meningococcal vaccines were administered to 49.8%, 28%, and 26.6%, respectively, and malaria chemoprophylaxis to 66.8% of those who visited sub-Saharan Africa. A history of previous travel to a tropical country, elementary level of education, and traveling for visiting friends and relatives, and for short duration were significant determinants for not pursuing pretravel consultation. Conclusions. The current survey revealed important inadequacies in vaccine and malaria prophylaxis of travelers departing to Africa. Educational tools should be developed in order to improve awareness of travelers to risk destinations.
Pattern prediction in collinear atom-diatom trajectories

Abstract The final states of large atom-diatom trajectory ensembles are predicted, usually without integration, by comparing them to a small set of training trajectories Trajectories are numerically integrated only if the stochastic impulse exceeds a minimum value. The technique is applied to three chemical reactions. The accuracy is excellent in all cases.
Oral antidiabetic agents. The emergence of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

Hyperglycaemia in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) results from impaired insulin action and/or deficient insulin secretion. These abnormalities lead to increased hepatic glucose production, the primary cause of fasting hyperglycaemia, and decreased peripheral glucose uptake, the major mechanism responsible for postprandial hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia in patients with NIDDM can be decreased by several different mechanisms: (1) a decrease in nutrient ingestion; (2) an increase in insulin secretion; (3) a decrease in hepatic glucose production; (4) an increase in peripheral glucose uptake. Oral agents used to treat NIDDM operate through 1 or more of the above mechanisms. α-Glucosidase inhibitors, a new class of drugs that delay carbohydrate digestion and absorption, reduce postprandial glycaemic rises by about 3 mmol/L. Metformin decreases fasting and postprandial hyperglycaemia through increasing glucose uptake and perhaps decreasing appetite. Sulphonylureas lower hyperglycaemia by increasing insulin secretion and to a lesser degree potentiating insulin action on the liver and peripheral tissues. α-Glucosidase inhibitors are particularly useful as primary therapy for patients with mild to moderate hyperglycaemia and in those patients who may be at risk for hypoglycaemia or lactic acidosis. Sulphonylureas are indicated for the more severely hyperglycaemic NIDDM patients who are not yet candidates for insulin therapy. Metformin is useful in obese moderately hyperglycaemic NIDDM patients. These oral agents can be used in combination to give better glycaemic control than is possible with each alone.
GPS Antijam via Subspace Projection: A Performance Analysis for FM Interference in the C/A Code

Abstract Zhao, L., Amin, M. G., and Lindsey, A. R., GPS Antijam via Subspace Projection: A Performance Analysis for FM Interference in the C/A Code, Digital Signal Processing 12 (2002) 175–192 This paper is concerned with frequency modulated (FM) interference cancelation in GPS receivers. FM signals are instantaneously narrowband and have clear time–frequency signatures that are distinct from the GPS C/A spreading codes. Interference cancelation is performed by first constructing the interference subspace and then projecting the data onto the orthogonal subspace. Interference subspace estimation can be provided by the time–frequency distribution (TFD) or any other instantaneous frequency (IF) estimator. The GPS receiver signal-to-interference and noise ratio in the presence of IF or phase estimation errors is derived. The errors are assumed Gaussian and independent. From both analysis and simulations, it is shown that phase estimation errors can substantially impede interference rejection in GPS using subspace projection techniques.
Beyond liking or following: Understanding public engagement on social networking sites in China

Abstract Corporate pages on social networking sites (SNSs) have become the key platform where publics interact with companies and organizations around the world. Focusing on one of the most important world economies, China, this study explored the types of public engagement with corporate pages on leading Chinese SNSs as well as the motivations and antecedents that drive such engagement. Given the participatory and communal nature of SNSs, this study proposed a conceptual model incorporating social media dependency and several social relationship factors, including parasocial interaction, perceived source credibility, and community identification, that influenced Chinese publics’ engagement with companies on SNSs. We conducted a web survey with a random sample of 245 Chinese SNS users to test the proposed model. The results confirm that with the exception of perceived credibility, social media usage and relationship-oriented factors played a significant role in inducing public engagement in China.
Gain of Function of p53 Cancer Mutants in Disrupting Critical DNA Damage Response Pathways

Loss of the tumor suppression activity of p53 is required for the progression of most human cancers. In this context, p53 gene is somatically mutated in about half of all human cancers; in the rest human cancers, p53 is mostly inactivated due to the disruption of pathways important for its activation. Most p53 cancer mutations are missense mutations within the core domain, leading to the expression of full-length mutant p53 protein. The expression of p53 mutants is usually correlated with the poor prognosis of the cancer patients. Accumulating evidence has indicated that p53 cancer mutants not only lose the tumor suppression activity of WT p53, but also gain novel oncogenic activities to promote tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Therefore, to improve current cancer therapy, it is critical to elucidate the gain-of-functions of p53 cancer mutants. By analyzing the humanized p53 mutant knock-in mouse models, we have identified a new gain of function of the common p53 cancer mutants in inducing genetic instability by disrupting ATM-mediated cellular responses to DNA double-stranded break (DSB) damage. Considering that some current cancer therapies such as radiotherapy kills the cancer cells by inducing DSBs in their genome DNA, our findings will have important implications on the treatment of human cancers that express common p53 mutants.
Electrophysiologic evaluation of spinal cord motor conduction

Spinal cord motor conduction was determined by stimulating with a monopolar needle at the C5 cord level and recording evoked motor potentials from the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle. Minimal F wave and direct motor latencies from the peroneal nerve were used to calculate peripheral conduction time. Mean velocity index (defined as the distance from C5 to L4 divided by central conduction time) of 15 normal subjects was 64.9 m/sec (SD 7.5). In 5 patients with multiple sclerosis the mean velocity index was 40.6 m/sec (SD 6.5), whereas in 3 patients with cervical myelopathies, due to extradural compression, the mean velocity index was 32.8 m/sec. A repeat study in one of the latter patients, 4 days after removal of a C5 disc, documented a marked improvement in cord conduction. In a patient with a thoracic and cervical syrinx, cervical cord stimulation on the clinically affected side failed to evoke a motor potential, whereas the unaffected side was normal. This method provides a simple and effective way to evaluate spinal cord motor conduction using routine electrodiagnostic equipment.
Neutral hetero-β-galactosidase from rabbit small intestine

Abstract A hetero-β-galactosidase activity has been identified, characterized and partially purified from the small intestinal mucosa of the rabbit. This enzyme is localized in the cytosol fraction, has a neutral pH optimum, is low molecular weight and has activity towards various synthetic β-galactosides and β-glucosides, but minimal activity towards lactose. Its activity is greater in jejunum than ileum and greater in villus than crypt cells. It is not inhibited by 70–85 mM lactose, butis markedly inhibited by 10 −4 M p- chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB). Colchicine administration results in a parallel depression of the activities of this hetero-β-galactosidase and neutral lactase. The developmental patterns of activity of this hetero-β-galactosidase and neutral lactase diverge significantly. Immunologic studies do not reveal any cross-reaction between cytosol hetero-β-galactosidase and lactase. Although the hetero-β-galactosidase activity described in this report has many properties in common with similar enzyme activities in the monkey and human, and also with neutral lactase activity, no definite precursor-product relationship between this enzyme and neutral lactase can be established by this study.
Selected Statistical Properties in the Inner Region of a Transpired Turbulent Boundary Layer

ISTORICALLY, the study of turbulence phenomena has developed along two quite independent paths. The study of boundary-layer phenomena proceeded from a need to understand surface shear stress and hence the basic analysis was cast in the form that had been successful in laminar flow, resulting in the introduction of an empirical eddy viscosity. Simultaneously, the study of uniform, iso tropic turbulence proceeded from a statistical basis yielding significant results concerning the spectral transfer of energy across the wave numbers. It has recently become apparent that solutions are imperative for problems in which the fluctuating characteristics of turbulence in addition to the mean profiles of the variables of interest are of paramount importance in an evaluation of the problem. It has, thus, become necessary for progress in the engineering solution of many problems in turbulent flow to involve more of the statistical description of the turbulence in the analysis of the problem. New methods for computing turbulent mixing and shear flows are being developed which attempt to overcome the limitations of the phenomenological approaches and which also attempt to incorporate more of the physics of turbulence into the solution. These new techniques have been largely based upon incorporating in one fashion or another the turbulent kinetic energy equation into the set of equations requiring solution. Usually this is accomplished by modeling the various terms in the turbulent kinetic energy equation in terms of the basic properties of turbulence and local flow conditions. This Note presents the results of a study directed toward the experimental evaluation of the turbulent modeling parameters utilized in the turbulent kinetic energy equation and their application in correlating the mean velocity distribution across the inner region of a turbulent boundary layer with surface mass addition. The case considered is that of a uniform two-dimensional incompressible turbulent boundary layer developed initially over an impermeable surface with mass injected uniformly over the surface into the boundary layer from a downstream station. The axial pressure gradient is considered zero. For this case, the turbulent kinetic energy equation may be written as
Good outcomes from cardiac surgery in the over 70s

Editor,—We read with interest the manuscript by Zaidi and coworkers who reported their experience on 575 patients aged 70 years and older, in whom various cardiac surgical procedures were performed.1 Their study, along with many others published in the literature in recent years,2-4 shows that the role of cardiac surgery in the elderly, and particularly coronary artery revascularisation, is still evolving. Despite refinements in the perioperative management of cardiac surgical patients, valve surgery as well as coronary artery revascularisation in the elderly continue to be associated with operative risks considerably greater than those observed in the younger population.2-4 In addition, older patients are at higher risk for developing devastating complications such as stroke, …
Frequency and severity of "incidentalomas" encountered during electron beam computed tomography for coronary calcium in middle-aged army personnel.

Incidentalomas on EBCT screening for CAC are relatively common, and encompass a wide variety of radiographic findings in the thorax and upper abdomen. A small proportion of incidental findings are potentially serious, and thus possibly carry risks and/or benefits that have importance for the patient. The average cost of incidental EBCT findings appears to be limited, but their full implications must be defined in formal cost-effectiveness analyses.
Untethered hovering flapping flight of a 3D-printed mechanical insect

This project focnses on developing a flapping-wing hovering insect using 3D-printed wings and mechanical parts. The use of 3D printing technology has greatly expanded the possibilities for wing design, allowing wing shapes to replicate those of real insects or virtually any other shape. It has also reduced the time of a wing design cycle to a matter of minutes. An ornithopter with a mass of 3.89 g has been constructed using the 3D printing technique and has demonstrated an 85-s passively stable untethered hovering flight. This flight exhibits the functional utility of printed materials for flapping-wing experimentation and ornithopter construction and for understanding the mechanical principles underlying insect flight and control.
Fatigue and relatedness experiences of inordinately tired women.

Purpose: To examine the association of fatigue and interpersonal relatedness of fatigued women. Design: Hermeneutics. Methods: Seventeen fatigued American women, recruited through purposive sampling, were interviewed. Questions were based on data from previous research of women's fatigue and on characteristics of the theory of relatedness. Findings: Relatedness was significantly linked to fatigue. Participants moved toward disconnectedness, parallelism, comfortable noninvolvement, or through enmeshment and then toward parallelism. A spiral of intrapersonal and interpersonal changes, sense of emotional absence, lack of energy and motivation, and depression-like symptoms were reported by fatigued participants, particularly those whose state of relatedness shifted toward disconnectedness. Depression-like symptoms were associated with fatigue, but were differentiated from diagnosed depression. Participants noted that physical movement was helpful to them in mediating their fatigue. Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate the need for a database to describe the interplay among biological, psychosocial, and behavioral components of fatigue and to clarify its association with medical diagnoses, particularly depression.
Small-Scale Magnetic Fluctuations Inside the Macrotor Tokamak.

Magnetic pickup loops inserted into the Macrotor tokamak have shown a broad spectrum of oscillation in ${B}_{r}$ and ${B}_{p}$ up to $f\ensuremath{\approx}100$ kHz. The high-frequency ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{B}}_{r}$ have short radial and poloidal correlation lengths $Ll5$ cm, in contrast with the usual Mirnov oscillations with $f\ensuremath{\approx}7$ kHz and $L\ensuremath{\gg}5$ cm. The observed magnitude $\frac{\ensuremath{\Sigma}|{\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{B}}_{r}|}{{B}_{T}}g{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, where the summation extends over all $fg30$ kHz, is in the range in which such radial magnetic perturbations may be contributing to anomalous electron energy transport.
Joint Economically Optimal Design of X and R Control Charts

In this paper, we develop an expected cost model for a process whose mean is controlled by an XI chart and whose variance is controlled by an R chart. The expected cost comprises the fixed and variable costs of sampling, the cost of investigating and correcting the process when at least one control chart indicates that the process parameters have shifted, and the cost of producing defective units. We use a search procedure to determine the sample size, interval between samples and control limits for both charts that minimize the expected cost. Optimal solutions to numerical examples are presented. A sensitivity analysis of the model is performed. In addition, we find the optimal interval between samples and the expected cost for several examples with large shifts in the mean and variance where Shewhart's heuristic design is used in place of the optimal design. Comparison of the expected cost of the optimal design to the expected cost of Shewhart's design shows an increase in expected cost of only 0.4 to 8.2 percent for the latter design. But other situations are discussed and examples presented which indicate that the optimal design is preferred.
An Air-Sea Interaction Model of Intraseasonal Oscillations in the Tropics

Abstract We present a linear model of intraseasonal oscillations produced by the interaction of an atmosphere on an equatorial Beta-plane with a fixed ocean. Convection is treated as a means of rapidly redistributing in the vertical heat acquired from the sea surface, rather than as a heat source in and of itself. The model produces a spectrum of equatorially trapped oscillating instabilities, among which is an eastward-propagating wavenumber 1 disturbance with an intrinsic phase speed in the range of 4–20 m s−1, depending on the mean zonal wind, the surface exchange coefficients, the air-sea equivalent potential temperature difference, and the difference of absolute temperature across the depth of the lower troposphere. The three-dimensional structure of this mode is in excellent agreement with observations and recent numerical experiments concerning the 30–60 day oscillation. The phase speed and growth rate of the disturbances depend only on conditions at the equator, while their meridional structure va...
Reduced gain of excitation–contraction coupling in triadin-null myotubes is mediated by the disruption of FKBP12/RyR1 interaction

Several studies have suggested that triadin (Tdn) may be a critical component of skeletal EC-coupling. However, using Tdn-null mice we have shown that triadin ablation results in no significant disruption of skeletal EC-coupling. To analyze the role of triadin in EC-coupling signaling here we used whole-cell voltage clamp and simultaneous recording of intracellular Ca2+ release to characterize the retrograde and orthograde signaling between RyR1 and DHPR in cultured myotubes. DHPR Ca2+ currents elicited by depolarization of Wt and Tdn-null myotubes displayed similar current densities and voltage dependence. However, kinetic analysis of the Ca2+ current shows that activation time constant of the slow component was slightly decreased in Tdn-null cells. Voltage-evoked Ca2+ transient of Tdn-null myotubes showed small but significant reduction in peak fluorescence amplitude but no differences in voltage dependence. This difference in Ca2+ amplitude was averted by over-expression of FKBP12.6. Our results show that bi-directional signaling between DHPR and RyR1 is preserved nearly intact in Tdn-null myotubes and that the effect of triadin ablation on Ca2+ transients appears to be secondary to the reduced FKBP12 binding capacity of RyR1 in Tdn-null myotubes. These data suggest that skeletal triadins do not play a direct role in skeletal EC-coupling.
Preserving biodiversity under current and future climates: a case study

Aim The conservation of biological and genetic diversity is a major goal of reserve systems at local, regional, and national levels. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources suggests a 12% threshold (area basis) for adequate protection of biological and genetic diversity of a plant community. However, thresholds based on area may protect only a small portion of the total diversity if the locations are chosen without regard to the variation within the community. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate methods to apply a coarse-filter approach for identifying gaps in the current reserve system of the Psuedotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) forest type group based on current climatic conditions and a global climate change scenario. Location Western United States. Method We used an ecological envelope approach that was based on seven bioclimatic factors, two topographic factors, and two edaphic factors. Multivariate factor analysis was then used to reduce the envelope to two dimensions. The relative density of habitat and protected areas were identified in each part of the envelope based on the current climate and potential future climate. We used this information to identify gaps in the reserve system. Results Although the protected areas occurred in all parts of the envelope, most existed in colder and drier areas. This was true for both the current climate and potential future climate. Main conclusion To protect more of the ecological envelope, future conservation efforts would be most effective in western Oregon, north-western Washington, and north-western California.
Quantifying Variable Rainfall Intensity Events on Seasonal Runoff and Sediment Losses from Strip and Conventionally Tilled Peanuts

Abstract The majority of peanut production in Georgia is in the Coastal Plain region where sandy soils and relatively high rainfall (∼1250 mm/yr) provide a favorable environment for the crop. Coastal Plain soils have traditionally been cropped under conventional tillage practices; and are susceptible to runoff, sediment, and chemical losses from short duration-high intensity, runoff producing storms. We quantified infiltration, runoff, and sediment losses from a Tifton loamy sand managed under conventional- (CT) and strip- (ST) tillage systems and planted to peanut at three times during a growing season with simulated rainfall that utilized variable rainfall intensities representative of each time period (spring, summer, fall). In 2008, a field study was established with CT and ST systems each planted to single-row peanut. Simulated rainfall was applied at planting, 30 days after planting, and after peanut harvest with rainfall events comprised of variable intensity (Iv) patterns representative of each ti...
Kinetic Analysis of Correct Nucleotide Insertion by a Y-family DNA Polymerase Reveals Conformational Changes Both Prior to and following Phosphodiester Bond Formation as Detected by Tryptophan Fluorescence

The Sulfolobus solfataricus Y-family DNA polymerase Dpo4 is a model for translesion replication and has been used in the analysis of individual steps involved in catalysis. The role of conformational changes has not been clear. Introduction of Trp residues into the Trp-devoid wild-type protein provided fluorescence probes of these events, particularly in the case of mutants T239W and N188W. With both mutants, a rapid increase in Trp fluorescence was observed only in the case of normal base pairing (G:C), was saturable with respect to dCTP concentration, and occurred in the absence of phosphodiester bond formation. A subsequent decrease in the Trp fluorescence occurred when phosphodiester bond formation was permitted, and these rates were independent of the dCTP concentration. This step is relatively slow and is attributed to a conformational relaxation step occurring after pyrophosphate release, which was measured and shown to be fast in a separate experiment. The measured rate of release of DNA from Dpo4 was rapid and is not rate-limiting. Overall, the measurements provide a kinetic scheme for Dpo4 different than generally accepted for replicative polymerases or proposed for Dpo4 and other Y-family polymerases: the initial enzyme·DNA·dNTP complex undergoes a rapid (18 s-1), reversible (21 s-1) conformational change, followed by relatively rapid phosphodiester bond formation (11 s-1) and then fast release of pyrophosphate, followed by a rate-limiting relaxation of the active conformation (2 s-1) and then rapid DNA release, yielding an overall steady-state kcat of <1 s-1.
Media Review: Pedagogy, Not Policing: Positive Approaches to Academic Integrity at the University

(2010). Media Review: Pedagogy, Not Policing: Positive Approaches to Academic Integrity at the University. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice: Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 521-525.
Introduction to 2nd Issue on Special Topic: Selenium and Mercury as Interactive Environmental Indicators

This is the second issue of Environmental Bioindicators presenting invited articles describing interactions between methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se). The findings described in these articles confirm the importance of using Se as a bioindicator of environmental and physiological susceptibility to Hg exposure, since these and similar studies indicate the relationship between Hg toxicology and the Se-physiology pathways are important aspects of the environmental Hg issue. The results of these multi-disciplinary studies of Hg-Se interactions coincide and complement one another, and the status of the science on this issue appears to be making the transition from “converging research” to “confirmatory studies”. It is gratifying to note that progress in this research area is improving both understanding of both MeHg toxicity and Se physiology. Although sulfur (S) and Se are chemically similar, Hg’s affinity for Se is ∼10 6 greater than Hg’s affinity for sulfur; ([HgSe]/[Hg 2+ ][Se]=10 45 M) vs. ([HgS]/[Hg 2+ ][S]=10 39 M) (Dyrssen and Wedborg 1991). Although the affinities between the organic forms of Hg, S, and Se are known to be lower than those of the inorganic forms, the relative affinities remain similar. Therefore, it is increasingly clear that most if not all of the adverse impacts of high MeHg exposures occur as a result of pathological effects secondary to impaired
Premature termination from psychotherapy and internalizing psychopathology: the role of demoralization.

Abstract Background Some research suggests that higher levels of depression and anxiety-related symptoms at intake are associated with premature termination from psychotherapy, but findings are mixed. However, theoretical and measurement considerations – introduced by a common mood factor – might complicate literature synthesis. Tellegen (1985) demonstrated that demoralization causes multicollinearity between measures of depression and anxiety, and other lines of research have converged to indicate that this construct is an important non-specific factor to consider when assessing mood pathology. Methods We utilized a sample of 557 community mental health center outpatients (188 males, 265 females; 80% Caucasian) with an average age of 32.2 years (SD=10.2). We used self-report indicators to model latent low positive emotionality and negative emotionality constructs, which are temperament markers of core depressive and anxiety symptoms. We further specified a latent demoralization bifactor from these indicators. Results As hypothesized, the bifactor model yielded significantly better fit than competing one-factor and two-factor models. Furthermore, the bifactor was substantially correlated with a demoralization measure (r=.96). As expected, low positive emotionality and negative emotionality were significant predictors of therapist ratings of premature termination. Though demoralization was a non-significant predictor, the structural paths from the other two internalizing constructs markedly increased in the bifactor model relative to the two-factor model. Limitations Replications with other, more diverse clinical populations using multi-method indicators of premature termination are needed. Conclusions This research indicates that after accounting for demoralization patients presenting with core mood disorder symptoms are at substantially increased risk for premature termination.
Bottom-Up Activism: A Local Political Strategy for Higher Policy Change

In recent decades, local governments in the United States have repeatedly turned to activism to protest higher government policies, or to generate policy movement in an expanding array of domestic and foreign policy areas. There has been little scholarly effort, however, to categorize the behaviors of local activism or to understand why it occurs. This conceptual article introduces local activism as a political strategy comprised of several progressively aggressive behaviors. A typology for these activist behaviors is suggested and the potential goals and motivations of local activists explored, along with recent changes to the intergovernmental environment that may have provided both cause and political incentive for local activism.
Linking variability in species composition and MODIS NDVI based on beta diversity measurements

Finding an effective method to quantify species compositional changes in time and space has been an important task for ecologists and biogeographers. Recently, exploring regional floristic patterns using data derived from satellite imagery, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has drawn considerable research interests among ecologists. Studies have shown that NDVI could be a fairly good surrogate for primary productivities. In this study, we used plant distribution data in the North and the South Carolina states to investigate the correlations between species composition and NDVI within defined ecoregions using Mantel test and multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP). Our analytical approach involved generating compositional dissimilarity matrices by computing pairwise beta diversities of the 145 counties in the two states for species distribution data and by computing Euclidian distances for NDVI time series data. We argue that beta diversity measurements take the pairwise dissimilarities into consideration explicitly and could provide more spatial correlation information compared with uni- or multi-dimensional regressions. Our results showed a significant positive correlation between species compositional dissimilarity matrices and NDVI distance matrices. We also found for the first time that the strength of correlation increased at a lower taxonomic rank. Same trends were discovered when incorporating variability in phenological patterns in NDVI. Our findings suggest that remotely sensed NDVI can be viable for monitoring species compositional changes at regional scales.
Disruption of NPI Licensing: the Case of Presuppositions

The main goal of this paper is to establish empirically that, contrary to the view best represented by von Fintel (1999), the licensing of NPIs can be disrupted by presuppositions. We provide original data in English and Romance, and make the novel observation that weak NPIs are sensitive to some but not all presuppositions, while strong NPIs are sensitive to all of them. Section 1 presents evidence in support of our claim; section 2 argues that presuppositions should be included in the meaning relevant for NPI licensing and draws a parallel with implicatures; section 3 exposes the flaws of Strawson-entailment, which ensures licensing in the presence of presuppositions; in section 4, we offer reasons to prefer our theory of licensing based on strict downward entailingness. As a preliminary clarification, we state the licensing condition we adopt in the paper:
Suicide by jumping in Singapore as a function of high-rise apartment availability.

Summary.-In Singapore from 1960 to 1976, che suicide race by leaping From highrise apartment buildings increased as their availability increased and appeared to create new suicides in addition to leading some people to switch methods for suicide. Clarke and Lester (1989) argued that the availability of a method for suicide would affect its use for suicide. In Singapore, the percentage of the population living in high-rise apartments rose almost linearly from 1960 (9.1%) to 1976 (5 1.0%) (Chia, 1981). To explore the effect of this on suicide by leaping from high-rise apartments, the trends in suicide rates from 1960 to 1976 were examined. Suicide rates by leaping from high-rise apartments rose from 1.43 per 100,000 per year in 1960 to 5.71 in 1976, and the percentage of suicides by leaping rose from 16.6% in 1960 to 51.0% in 1976. Suicide rates by all other methods dropped from 7.17 per 100,000 in 1960 to 5.49 in 1976. The total suicide rate rose from 8.6 in 1960 to 11.2 in 1976. Thus, while individuals seemed to have switched from other methods to leaping as the availability of high-rise apartments increased, the increase in suicide by leaping (4.28 per 100,000 per year) was much greater than the drop in the suicide rate by all other methods (1.68), suggesting that the availability of high-rise apartments created new suicides in addl tion to leading potential suicides to switch methods.
Process-Based Approach in Sustainable Impact Analysis of Rebar Supply System

Although attempts to assess sustainable impacts have been made for specific building components in construction domain, the study of material supply systems has been neglected due to the difficulty of analysis. The research intends to apply a process-based approach in which the analysis is based on processes instead of resources to investigate sustainable assessment of material supply systems in the construction domain. As part of the pilot study, the researchers did a case study where a process-based approach is applied to investigate financial and environmental impacts of rebar supply systems in building construction. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a process-based approach can be applied and address the difference of process design of alternative supply systems while traditional product-based approach does not.
Understanding and Treating Insomnia

Sleep disturbance is intricately entwined with our sense of well-being, health, emotion regulation, performance and productivity, memory and cognitive functioning, and social interaction. A longitudinal perspective underscores the conclusion that persistent sleep disturbance, insomnia, at any time during the life span from infancy to old age has a lasting impact. We examine how insomnia develops, the evidence for competing explanations for understanding insomnia, and the evidence about psychological and behavioral treatments that are used to reduce insomnia and change daytime consequences. There are new directions to expand access to treatment for those who have insomnia, and thus a critical analysis of pathways for dissemination is becoming increasingly important.
Review of the Inhibition of Biological Activities of Food-Related Selected Toxins by Natural Compounds

There is a need to develop food-compatible conditions to alter the structures of fungal, bacterial, and plant toxins, thus transforming toxins to nontoxic molecules. The term ‘chemical genetics’ has been used to describe this approach. This overview attempts to survey and consolidate the widely scattered literature on the inhibition by natural compounds and plant extracts of the biological (toxicological) activity of the following food-related toxins: aflatoxin B1, fumonisins, and ochratoxin A produced by fungi; cholera toxin produced by Vibrio cholerae bacteria; Shiga toxins produced by E. coli bacteria; staphylococcal enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria; ricin produced by seeds of the castor plant Ricinus communis; and the glycoalkaloid α-chaconine synthesized in potato tubers and leaves. The reduction of biological activity has been achieved by one or more of the following approaches: inhibition of the release of the toxin into the environment, especially food; an alteration of the structural integrity of the toxin molecules; changes in the optimum microenvironment, especially pH, for toxin activity; and protection against adverse effects of the toxins in cells, animals, and humans (chemoprevention). The results show that food-compatible and safe compounds with anti-toxin properties can be used to reduce the toxic potential of these toxins. Practical applications and research needs are suggested that may further facilitate reducing the toxic burden of the diet. Researchers are challenged to (a) apply the available methods without adversely affecting the nutritional quality, safety, and sensory attributes of animal feed and human food and (b) educate food producers and processors and the public about available approaches to mitigating the undesirable effects of natural toxins that may present in the diet.
Evolution of Promoter Sequences: Elements of a Canonical Promoter for Prespore Genes of Dictyostelium

An attempt is made to define a minimal prespore promoter which contains all elements essential for correct regulation of expression of a prespore gene. The prespore genes ofDictyostelium are coregulated during development. Most begin transcription at the same early stage, and activity of all is restricted to prespore tissue during the later slug stage. Sequences 5′ to the coding sequences of eight prespore genes were searched for all elements proposed to control transcription and for new elements. The meaningfulness of occurrences of elements and pairs of elements in prespore promoters was evaluated by comparison with frequencies of occurrences in promoters of other, nonprespore genes. These comparisons resulted in definition of a canonical prespore promoter, a stretch of about 200 nucleotides containing at least one of each of three elements. Certain limitations were found on the spacing of elements. Orientation of elements with respect to each other appeared unrestricted. All elements often occurred in multiple copies. This structure suggests that individual copies of each element are not conserved during evolution, but instead continually appear and disappear.
A molecular cytogenetic analysis of the tribe Bovini (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Bovinae) with an emphasis on sex chromosome morphology and NOR distribution.

Q-band comparisons were made among representative species of the four genera of the tribe Bovini (Bos, Bison, Bubalus, Syncerus) as well as to selected outgroup taxa representing the remaining two tribes of the subfamily Bovinae (nilgai, Boselaphini; eland, Tragelphini), the Bovidae subfamily Caprinae (domestic sheep) and the family Cervidae (sika deer and white- tailed deer). Extensive autosomal arm homologies were noted, but relatively few derivative character states were shared. Focus was then made on variation of the sex chromosomes and the chromosomal distribution of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). Bovine BAC clones were used in molecular cytogenetic analyses to decipher rearrangements of the sex chromosomes, and a pocket gopher 28s ribosomal probe was used to map the chromosomal locations of nucleolar organizing regions (NORs). Some of the more noteworthy conclusions drawn from the comparative analysis were that: 1. The Bovidae ancestral X chromosome was probably acrocentric and similar to acrocentric X chromosomes of the Bovinae; 2. The domestic sheep acrocentric X is probably a deriative character state that unites non-Bovinae subfamilies; 3. Bos and Bison are united within the tribe Bovini by the presence of shared derivative submetacentric X chromosomes; 4. Sika and white- tailed deer X chromosomes differ by inversion from X chromosomes of the Bovinae; 5. The Bovini ancestral Y chromosome was probably a small acrocentric; 6. Bos taurus, B. gaurus and B. banteng share derivative metacentric Y chromosomes; 7. Syncerus and Bubalus are united by the acquisition of X-specific repetitive DNA sequence on their Y chromosomes; 8. Bovinae and Cervidae X chromosome centromere position varies without concomitant change in locus order. Preliminary data indicate that a knowledge of the chromosomal distribution of NORs among the Bovidae will prove to be phylogenetically informative.
Immunosuppressive therapy in inflammatory cardiomyopathy

The role of immunosuppressive treatment in inflammatory cardiomyopathy is still controversial. Nevertheless, it is recommended in patients with eosinophilic myocarditis, granulomatous myocarditis, giant-cell myocarditis and lymphocytic myocarditis associated with connective tissue diseases or with rejection of a transplanted heart. There is growing evidence that some patients with idiopathic active myocarditis and cardiac dysfunction may benefit from immunosuppression. In the present review we define, through analysis of recent reports and the results of our own studies, the biological markers of candidates for immunosuppression.
Role of Expansin in Cell Enlargement of Oat Coleoptiles (Analysis of Developmental Gradients and Photocontrol).

Expansins are wall proteins that mediate a type of acid-induced extension in isolated plant cell walls (S. McQueen-Mason, D.M. Durachko, D.J. Cosgrove [1992] Plant Cell 4: 1425-1433). To assess the role of these proteins in the process of cell enlargement in living tissues, we compared the spatial and temporal growth patterns of oat (Avena sativa L.) coleoptiles with four wall properties related to expansin action. These properties were (a) the ability of isolated walls and living segments to extend in acidic buffer, (b) the ability of heat-inactivated walls to extend upon application of expansins, (c) the amount of immunologically detectable expansin in wall protein extracts, and (d) the extractable expansin activity of walls. Growth rate was maximal in the apical half of dark-grown coleoptiles and negligible in the basal region. This growth pattern correlated with properties a and b; in contrast, the amount and activity of extractable expansin (properties c and d) were reduced only in the most basal region. Upon exposure to white light, coleoptiles abruptly ceased elongation at 8 to 10 h after start of irradiation, and this cessation correlated with reductions in properties a to c. The growth cessation at 8 to 10 h also coincided with the loss of growth response to exogenous auxin and fusicoccin in excised coleoptile segments. These results lend correlative support to the hypothesis that expansin action is important for growth responses of living oat coleoptiles (e.g. responses to acidic buffers, auxin, fusicoccin, aging, and light). Our results suggest that changes in the susceptibility of the wall to expansin action, rather than changes in expansin activity, may be a key determinant of the growth patterns in oat coleoptiles.
First Report of a Defect of Processing Potatoes in Texas and Nebraska Associated with a New Phytoplasma.

An outbreak of a new potato disease occurred in Texas and Nebraska causing a serious defect in potato chips produced from commercial processing potatoes. The defect consists of patchy brown discoloration of chips and can be a cause for rejection of contracted potatoes by the processor. Infected potato plants exhibit symptoms of the purple top wilt syndrome similar to those of the purple top disease in processing potatoes caused by clover proliferation phytoplasma recently found in Washington and Oregon (3). Foliar symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, slight purple coloration of new growth, swollen nodes, proliferated axillary buds, and aerial tubers. Tuber symptoms include mild vascular discoloration and brown flecking of medullary rays. Seed potatoes from affected plants produce hair sprouts. Total nucleic acid was extracted from leaf and stolon tissue of symptomatic plants in the field and from tuber samples exhibiting the defect from commercial storages. Nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were pe...