cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
alphaII-spectrin is essential for assembly of the nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons

Saltatory conduction in myelinated axons requires organization of the nodes of Ranvier, where voltage-gated sodium channels are prominently localized [1]. Previous results indicate that alphaII-spectrin, a component of the cortical cytoskeleton [2], is enriched at the paranodes [3, 4], which flank the node of Ranvier, but alphaII-spectrin's function has not been investigated. Starting with a genetic screen in zebrafish, we discovered in alphaII-spectrin (alphaII-spn) a mutation that disrupts nodal sodium-channel clusters in myelinated axons of the PNS and CNS. In alphaII-spn mutants, the nodal sodium-channel clusters are reduced in number and disrupted at early stages. Analysis of chimeric animals indicated that alphaII-spn functions autonomously in neurons. Ultrastructural studies show that myelin forms in the posterior lateral line nerve and in the ventral spinal cord in alphaII-spn mutants and that the node is abnormally long; these findings indicate that alphaII-spn is required for the assembly of a mature node of the correct length. We find that alphaII-spectrin is enriched in nodes and paranodes at early stages and that the nodal expression diminishes as nodes mature. Our results provide functional evidence that alphaII-spectrin in the axonal cytoskeleton is essential for stabilizing nascent sodium-channel clusters and assembling the mature node of Ranvier.
Effects of x-irradiation on the antigenic character of Agkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouth moccasin) venom.

Abstract Cottonmouth moccasin venom with its necrotizing toxin inactivated 50 to 75 per cent by X-irradiation was studied to determine the alteration of its antigenic character. Immune globulin of rabbits immunized with both normal and X-irradiated venom were compared. The globulin of rabbits immunized with X-irradiated venom showed little difference in its neutralizing titer from the globulin of rabbits immunized with normal venom. A group of animals immunized with normal venom suffered 20 per cent mortality, sloughing of tissue, and severe local reactions around the area of injection. The group of rabbits immunized with X-irradiated venom suffered no mortality or sloughing of tissue. Local reactions around the site of injection were less severe.
Quantitative assessment of seminal vesicle and prostate drug concentrations by use of a noninvasive method

Background The male genital tract is a complex collection of anatomically and biochemically distinct compartments that contribute to the ejaculate. Understanding the pharmacokinetics in these compartments should inform rational therapeutics involving these glands. Methods Nineteen men were administered a single dose of 600 mg chloroquine (base) and 975 mg aspirin before providing a semen sample by masturbation with fractionation into a 5-compartment collection device. Fractions were assayed for fructose (unique seminal vesicle marker), prostate-specific antigen (unique prostate marker), salicylate, and chloroquine. Seminal vesicle and prostate concentrations of salicylate and chloroquine were estimated via a novel analytic method involving a multilevel latent-variable model implemented by use of Bayesian methods. Results The geometric mean chloroquine semen/blood ratio was 4.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.36–6.86); for salicylate, the primary metabolite of aspirin, the semen/blood ratio was 0.10 (95% CI, 0.08–0.14). The estimated mean prostate/seminal vesicle ratio for salicylate, 0.38 (95% CI by Bayesian methods, 0.12–0.73), was consistent with our hypothesis that salicylate would achieve higher concentrations in the seminal vesicle than in the prostate. Chloroquine, however, did not demonstrate a statistically significant seminal vesicle/prostate difference (4.41; 95% CI by Bayesian methods, 0.14–30.52). Conclusions We successfully demonstrated the quantitative, noninvasive estimation of drug concentrations in the prostate gland fluid distinct from the seminal vesicle fluid using our optimized method of split-ejaculate collection and a novel mixed-effects model with Bayesian estimation. Our methods can be applied to gland-specific quantitation of drugs and other substances of interest, thus enabling pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pathophysiologic studies to inform rational therapeutics within different glands of the male genital tract. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2006) 80, 146–158; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2006.04.013
Evidence for direct action of alloxan to induce insulin resistance at the cellular level

To determine whether long-term insulin deficiency alters insulin movement across the endothelium, plasma and lymph dynamics were assessed in dogs after alloxan (50 mg/kg; n = 8) or saline injection (n = 6). Glucose tolerance (KG) and acute insulin response were assessed by glucose injection before and 18 days after treatment. Two days later, hyperglycaemic (16.7 mmol/l) hyperinsulinaemic (60 pmol · min−1· kg−1) glucose clamps were carried out in a subset of dogs (n = 5 for each group), with simultaneous sampling of arterial blood and hindlimb lymph. Alloxan induced fasting hyperglycaemia (12.9 ± 2.3 vs 5.7 ± 0.2 mmol/l; p = 0.018 vs pre-treatment) and variable insulinopenia (62 ± 14 vs 107 ± 19 pmol/l; p = 0.079). The acute insulin response, however, was suppressed by alloxan (integrated insulin from 0–10 min: 155 ± 113 vs 2745 ± 541 pmol · l−1· 10 min−1; p = 0.0027), resulting in pronounced glucose intolerance (KG: 0.99 ± 0.19 vs 3.14 ± 0.38 min−1; p = 0.0002 vs dogs treated with saline). During clamps, steady state arterial insulin was higher in dogs treated with alloxan (688 ± 60 vs 502 ± 38 pmol/l; p = 0.023) due to a 25 % reduction in insulin clearance (p = 0.045). Lymph insulin concentrations were also raised (361 ± 15 vs 266 ± 27 pmol/l; p = 0.023), such that the lymph to arterial ratio was unchanged by alloxan (0.539 ± 0.022 vs 0.533 ± 0.033; p = 0.87). Despite higher lymph insulin, glucose uptake (Rd) was significantly diminished after injection of alloxan (45.4 ± 2.5 vs 64.3 ± 6.5 μmol · min−1· kg−1; p = 0.042). This was reflected in resistance of target tissues to the lymph insulin signal (ΔRd/Δlymph insulin: 3.389 ± 1.093 vs 11.635 ± 2.057 · 10−6· l · min−1· kg–1· pmol−1· l−1; p = 0.012) which correlated strongly with the KG (r = 0.86; p = 0.0001). In conclusion, alloxan induces insulinopenic diabetes, with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance at the target tissue level. Alloxan treatment, however, does not alter lymph insulin kinetics, indicating that insulin resistance of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus reflects direct impairment at the cellular level. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 1327–1336]
Effects of viscous dissipation on the stability of a liquid film flowing down a heated inclined plane

Abstract The effects of viscous dissipation on the linear stability of a liquid film flowing down a heated inclined plane are examined. It is shown that for the thermal mode of instability viscous dissipation has both stabilizing and destabilizing influences. The overall effect on the stability of the flow depends on the value of the Prandtl number.
Solid-phase synthesis of polynucleotides. II. Synthesis of polythymidylic acids by the block coupling phosphotriester method

Abstract Synthesis of two oligothymidylic acids, tridecamer and nonadecamer, is described by a rapid and simple solid-phase method on two kinds of polyacrylamide supports derivatized from commercially available Enzacryl Gel K-2. The syntheses were performed by the phosphotriester method using di- and tri-thymidylic acid blocks as the incoming 3'-phosphodiester component. High coupling yields were consistently obtained and the final product was isolated very easily by high performance liquid chromatography on Permaphase AAX.
Lösungen zur Einhaltung der Grenzwerte für Nutzfahrzeugemissionen der nächsten Dekade basierend auf EPA 2007 und EUV

Wahrend der letzten Jahre wurden die gesetzlich erlaubten Emissionen von Diesel-Partikeln („PM“) und Stickoxiden („NOx“) weltweit signifikant reduziert. Die regional unterschiedlichen Emissionsgrenzwerte haben zu verschiedenen Losungen zur Dieselabgasnachbehandlung in Europa (uberwiegend SCR-Systeme), Japan und USA (uberwiegend DPF-Systeme) gefuhrt. Innerhalb Europas haben einige Hersteller auch Systeme mit Dieseloxidationskatalysatoren (DOC) und offenen oder sogenannten Teilstromfiltern zur Emissionsreduzierung eingesetzt. Ein Ubersichtsbeitrag von Corning Incorporated.
The genomics of symbiosis: Hosts keep the baby and the bath water

Life as we know it is the result of symbiosis. Mitochondria, the energy generators of our own bodies, are the end result of the symbiosis of a bacterium with a host eukaryote. Visible around us are the land plants that we eat to fuel our mitochondria. Land plants are the beneficiaries of a second symbiosis, that of a cyanobacterium with a mitochondriate host, a relationship that subsequently developed into the light-harvesting chloroplast. Perhaps because of the ubiquitousness of these two symbioses and their smooth functioning, research has focused on the process by which the bacterial symbiont was reduced and tamed. The chloroplast can no longer grow without its host, and the chloroplast's genetic material is reduced dramatically from that of the original cyanobacterium. Amazingly some of the chloroplast's own genes were not simply lost from its genome but moved to the host nuclear genome. The evolutionary introduction of a transit peptide sequence into these genes resulted originally in cyanobacterial gene products ending up back in the chloroplast, carrying out their original function but under host control. In this issue of PNAS, Martin et al. (1) argue forcefully, however, that this focus on the reduction of the land-plant chloroplast genome has ignored the other bonanza from this symbiosis: the large number of genes from the original cyanobacterium that have ended up in the host nuclear genome without a role in chloroplast maintenance. These genes provided the raw genetic material for plant diversification and competition, possibly against the original cyanobacterium itself. Some early but largely ignored insights into …
Allele-specific associations of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.

Abstract Background The aims of the present study were to examine the association between a common serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphism 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with severity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. Methods Mothers and teachers completed a validated DSM-IV-referenced rating scale for ADHD and ASD symptoms in 118 children with ASD. Results Analyses indicated that children with at least one copy of the S or LG allele obtained significantly more severe maternal ratings of hyperactivity (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.097) and impulsivity (p = 0.027; ηp2 = 0.044) but not inattention (p = 0.061; ηp2 = 0.032), controlling for ASD severity, than children homozygous for the LA allele. Conversely, mothers' ratings indicated that children with LA/LA genotype had more severe ASD social deficits than S or LG allele carriers (p = 0.003; ηp2 = 0.081), controlling for ADHD symptom severity. Teachers' ratings though consistent with mothers' ratings of hyperactivity and social deficits were marginally significant (p = 0.07/p = 0.09). There was some evidence that the magnitude of parent–teacher agreement regarding symptom severity varied as a function of the child's genotype. Conclusion The 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 polymorphism or its correlates may modulate severity of ADHD and ASD symptoms in children with ASD, but in different ways. These tentative, hypothesis-generating findings require replication with larger independent samples.
Experimental Investigation of Base-Drag Reduction via Boundary-Layer Modification

This investigation identifies and characterizes the changes in the near wake of a bluff body produced by boundary-layer thickening, which, in turn, result in an overall reduction in the base drag. For this study, wedge and flat-plate models with both smooth and rough forebody surfaces were used. The forebody surface roughness on both models was increased to modify/thicken the forebody boundary layer. Hot-wire surveys were carried out to characterize the boundary-layer state ahead of the separation point, and base-pressure measurements were used to quantify base-drag reduction associated with boundary-layer modification. In addition, particle image velocimetry measurements in the near wake were performed for both models, and proper orthogonal decomposition analysis was used to analyze the velocity data. Low-order near-wake velocity reconstructions obtained from proper orthogonal decomposition analysis accurately represented the near-wake behavior for the studied cases. It was observed from these low-order ...
Investigating the Nanoparticle Transition from Bulk Behavior to Discrete Atom/Finite Size Behavior Using Laser Induced Pressure Generation

Detailed investigations have been carried out [1,2] on the response of microparticles and nanoparticles to lasers of various pulse durations and energies. A first principles model has been developed that allows the prediction of all thermo-mechanical effects that will be generated from any laser pulse, such as pressure generation and phase changes. This theoretical work also predicts the thermo-mechanical effects transmitted to the surrounding transparent medium that the nanoparticles are immersed in, such as water or a solid polymer. The use of short enough pulses produces shock fronts in the surrounding medium. We calculate how short the laser pulse must be as a function of nanoparticles properties. We also show that measurements of pressure peaks in the medium can be used to determine the thermo-mechanical properties of the absorbing nanoparticles, such as bulk modulus and thermal expansion coefficient. Because the measurements can be made in the surrounding medium, they are easier to perform experimentally. Using this approach on particles of decreasing size, measurements of the pressure in the medium allow the determination of the size at which a nanoparticle is small enough to deviate from its bulk behavior and manifest discrete atom, finite size effects. This allows the prediction of how the thermo-mechanical properties of nanoparticles will change as their size decreases.
Conductivity coherence factors in the conventional superconductors Nb and Pb.

We have performed microwave measurements at 60 GHz of the surface impedance (${\mathit{Z}}_{\mathit{s}}$=${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{s}}$-${\mathit{iX}}_{\mathit{s}}$) on superconducting Nb and Pb. The temperature dependence of the complex conductivity (\ensuremath{\sigma}^=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$+i${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$) is inferred from the data down to T/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\sim}0.25 for both materials. The imaginary part, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$(T), gives the temperature dependence of the superconducting gap and the real part, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$(T), exhibits the predicted conductivity coherence peak below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. The findings are compared with the expressions calculated by Mattis and Bardeen to describe the electrodynamics of weak-coupling BCS superconductors. Furthermore, we calculate the complex conductivity within the framework of the standard Eliashberg electron-phonon theory of superconductivity. The experimental results obtained on Nb are in good agreement with the BCS weak-coupling theory while the data on Pb are analyzed in the anomalous (Pippard) limit and show deviations from BCS laws, accounted for only by the Eliashberg strong-coupling description of the electrodynamics of the superconducting state.
Epidemiologic and Historical Relationships among 87 Rabies Virus Isolates as Determined by Limited Sequence Analysis

Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 200-bp region of the nucleoprotein (N) gene of rabies virus differentiated unique genetic groups of rabies virus from samples collected in areas where dog rabies is enzootic in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Patterns of nucleotide sequence identified for an outbreak area were conserved in samples collected over three decades. Epidemiologic relationships among isolates were determined by patterns of conserved nucleotide sequence, and the degree of sequence divergence between samples from separate outbreak areas were measured. This approach suggested that a historical reconstruction of events leading to the introduction of rabies into an area would be possible. In this broader view of rabies epidemiology, the cultural legacy of European exploration and colonization may have also included zoonotic disease.
Morphology of Creep Fracture of a Phase‐Separated Borosilicate Glass

A phase-separated borosilicate glass with interconnected microstructure was stretched in the viscoelastic temperature range. When elongated, significant necking and subsequent fracture occurred. SEM study of the fractured samples revealed an enormous amount of crazing on the surface and void formation in the bulk of the samples near the fractured edges.
A comparison of the effects of flurazepam 30 mg and triazolam 0.5 mg on the sleep of insomniacs.

The effects of oral, bedtime triazolam 0.5 mg and flurazepam 30 mg, on the laboratory sleep of 12 insomniacs were compared in a double blind, crossover study. A 22 consecutive night schedule was used: Nts. 1–2 placebo; 3–6 first drug; 7–8 placebo; 9–14 no drugs; 15–16 placebo; 17–20 second drug; 21–22 placebo. In 6 Ss first drug was triazolam and second drug was flurazepam. In the other 6 Ss the drug order was reversed. Effects on sleep were assessed objectively by conventional EEG/EOG/EMG sleep recordings and subjectively by questionnaires administered each morning. Side or toxic effects were assessed by physical exams, clinical lab tests, and twice daily questionnaires. During their administration the two drugs were practically indistinguishable in their effects. Both significantly reduced objective and subjective measures of insomnia, such as total wake time and sleep latency. On discontinuation the drugs differentially affected sleep, e.g., on the first post flurazepam night total sleep time was significantly more than baseline whereas on first post triazolam night, total sleep time was significantly less than baseline. There were no remarkable side or toxic effects with either drug.
Health locus of control, depression, and anxiety as predictors of adherence in back injury

Physical disability may contribute to psychological distress, which, in turn, may hinder the rehabilitation process. This study examined the effects of psychological, demographic, and injury variables on medical regimen adherence (MRA) in back-injured persons. We predicted that there would be an association between greater adherence and internal health locus of control (IHLC), low levels of depression, and low trait anxiety, with IHLC accounting for the most variance. Eighty back-injured adults completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Rehabilitation Compliance Scale (RCS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Elevated levels of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety were present. Regression analyses failed to support the hypothesis. In the discussion, we address problems related to using the RCS and an alternative adherence measure constructed by the first author, and we address clinical and research implications of the findings.
Exponential decay near resonance, without analyticity

We consider a quantum mechanical model which displays the behaviour associated with having a resonance or metastable state. The Hamiltonian depends on a parameter β. When β=0, there is an eigenstate ψ0; when β ≠ 0, ψ0 ‘dissolves’ into the continuous spectrum, showing approximate exponential decay. We prove this result without using dilatation analyticity. The model describes a two-state atom coupled to the quantized radiation field. The state space of the field is truncated, so that only the vacuum and one-photon states are included.
Histopathology of an opecoelid trematode infection in mayfly naiads

Abstract Naiads of the mayfly, Litobrancha recurvata , were experimentally infected with an opecoelid trematode resembling Allopodocotyle lepomis . Cercariae entered the naiads in relatively large numbers through intersegmental articulations or distal gill filaments and encysted. The host response involved repair of entry wounds and hemocyte accumulation and encapsulation, occasionally with melanin deposition. However, parasite mortality was usually low, and many worms grew and developed. Damage to the insect was slight and usually limited to tissue displacement.
Comparison of four-step reduced mechanism and starting mechanism for methane diffusion flames

Abstract An adaptive mesh refinement scheme is used for calculation of the flame blowout of a methane diffusion flame. Two chemical mechanisms for C1 chemistry are considered: a four-step reduced mechanism and its starting mechanism of 65 elementary reactions and 18 species. Both chemistry models predicted essentially the same blowout velocity, similar flame structures and reaction rates of major species for locations downstream of the flame leading edge, which is not the case for the locations near the flame leading edge. The computational time required by the starting mechanism was about 3–4× that required by the reduced mechanism for the conditions examined.
Effects of abutment size and luting cement type on the uniaxial retention force of implant-supported crowns.

Abstract Statement of problem. The assumption that increasing the diameter of the abutment/crown components will provide greater resistance to crown loosening forces than standard-sized components has not been reported either with clinical trials or in the laboratory. Purpose. This study attempted to determine what effect abutment dimension and type of luting agent have on the retention of the prosthetic crown. Methods and material. Test specimens consisted of standard, wide, and "experimental" CeraOne titanium abutments and matching CeraOne gold cylinders cemented with a zinc phosphate permanent or a zinc oxide eugenol provisional cement. The mean uniaxial force (Newtons) and the load (MPa) required to dislodge the cylinder from the abutment was determined. Statistical analysis of the sample data was performed using a 2-way analysis of variance test (α=.05). Results. Mean uniaxial resistance force (Newtons) was significantly greater for zinc phosphate cement than for zinc oxide cement ( P P Conclusion. Permanent luting cement produced uniaxial retention forces approximately 3 times greater than provisional cement. The increase in surface area provided by a wide abutment did not result in an improvement in retention strength over the standard abutment. (J Prosthet Dent 2000;83:344-8.)
Some Comments on Götestam's (1990) “Lefthandedness among Students of Architecture and Music”:

After pointing out some potential author's biases, the populations from which the samples are drawn, handedness in music, and the criteria for handedness are discussed.
Differential effects of male and female managers' non‐verbal emotional skills on employees' ratings

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine whether employees are more satisfied with female, as compared to male, managers who accurately perceive non‐verbal emotion expressions, and how male and female managers' non‐verbal emotional skill differentially affects their employees' ratings.Design/methodology/approach – Students, nearly all of whom had work experience, were randomly assigned a vignette and asked to respond to the situation in the role of the employee. The situation described male or female managers either perceiving or not attending to the employees' emotional expression, and using or not using emotional information to be supportive or persuasive. Differences between the various situations were examined.Findings – Participants indicated that they were more satisfied with female, but not male, managers, who accurately perceived their emotion. Similarly, failing to attend to emotion resulted in lower satisfaction ratings for female, but not male, managers. In ways consistent with gende...
Serum Pro Prostate Specific Antigen Improves Cancer Detection Compared to Free and Complexed Prostate Specific Antigen in Men With Prostate Specific Antigen 2 to 4 Ng/Ml

ABSTRACTPurpose: Pro prostate specific antigen (pPSA) is a precursor form of PSA enriched in tumor compared to benign prostate tissues that may be a more specific serum marker for prostate cancer. Serum pPSA was measured in the clinically relevant early detection PSA range of 2 to 10 ng/ml.Materials and Methods: Research use immunoassays were used to measure native and truncated forms of pPSA. The subject cohort contained 1,091 serum specimens from men enrolled in prostate cancer screening studies at 2 sites who had undergone prostate biopsy and were divided into PSA ranges of 2 to 4 ng/ml (benign 320, cancer 235) and 4 to 10 ng/ml (benign 315, cancer 221).Results: In PSA ranges 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 4 to 10 and 2 to 10 ng/ml, pPSA in a ratio with free PSA (%pPSA) gave the highest cancer specificity. At 2 to 4 ng/ml and 90% sensitivity, %pPSA spared 19% of unnecessary biopsies compared to 10% for free PSA and 11% for complexed PSA(p <0.001). Similar results were obtained at PSA 2 to 6 ng/ml. At 90% sensitivity ...
Toward power optimization for communication failure recovery in Body Sensor Networks

Body Sensor Networks (BSNs) have proven effective in improving quality of medical services by providing continuous and ambulatory healthcare monitoring. Realistic system often employ collaborative sensor models. Due to the data interdependencies, brief unavailability of a small portion of data can invalidate a whole period of observation. To address this issue we present our ongoing research on minimum energy cost recovery from link failures.
Influence of defects on the absorption edge of InN thin films: The band gap value

We investigate the optical-absorption spectra of InN thin films whose electron density varies from $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{17}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{21}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The low-density films are grown by molecular-beam-epitaxy deposition while highly degenerate films are grown by plasma-source molecular-beam epitaxy. The optical-absorption edge is found to increase from $0.61\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}1.90\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ as the carrier density of the films is increased from low to high density. Since films are polycrystalline and contain various types of defects, we discuss the band gap values by studying the influence of electron degeneracy, electron-electron, electron-ionized impurities, and electron-LO-phonon interaction self-energies on the spectral absorption coefficients of these films. The quasiparticle self-energies of the valence and conduction bands are calculated using dielectric screening within the random-phase approximation. Using one-particle Green's function analysis, we self-consistently determine the chemical potential for films by coupling equations for the chemical potential and the single-particle scattering rate calculated within the effective-mass approximation for the electron scatterings from ionized impurities and LO phonons. By subtracting the influence of self-energies and chemical potential from the optical-absorption edge energy, we estimate the intrinsic band gap values for the films. We also determine the variations in the calculated band gap values due to the variations in the electron effective mass and static dielectric constant. For the lowest-density film, the estimated band gap energy is $\ensuremath{\sim}0.59\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$, while for the highest-density film, it varies from $\ensuremath{\sim}0.60\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\sim}0.68\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ depending on the values of electron effective mass and dielectric constant.
Local preoptic/anterior hypothalamic warming alters spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity in the magno-cellular basal forebrain.

Local warming of the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamus (POAH) promotes sleep, enhances EEG slow-wave activity during sleep, and suppresses arousal-related discharge in neurons of the midbrain reticular formation (MRF) and the posterior lateral hypothalamic area (PLHa). Another important site of sleep and arousal regulation, and a potential site of POAH thermal modulation, is the magnocellular basal forebrain (BF). We examined the ability of local POAH warming during wakefulness to influence the spontaneous and evoked discharge of neurons recorded in the BF of unanesthetized, unrestrained cats. Seventy of 174 BF neurons responded to 60-90 s periods of POAH warming with either increases or decreases in discharge rate. Forty-one of the 70 responsive cells displayed suppression of waking discharge during warming. Discharge rate in these cells declined by an average of 26.04 +/- 2.76%/degrees C of POAH temperature increase. The majority of warming-suppressed BF cells (73%) displayed higher rates of discharge during periods of wakefulness compared to periods of sleep. Twenty-nine of 70 responsive cells responded to POAH warming with an average increase in discharge rate of 43.81 +/- 6.26%/degrees C. A majority of these neurons (62%) exhibited higher spontaneous discharge rates during sleep compared to waking. Orthodromic excitatory responses were evoked in 29 BF cells by electrical stimulation of the MRF or PLHa. Thirteen of 29 cells displayed a waking-related discharge pattern, and responded to POAH warming with a significant suppression of evoked excitation. For a group of 15 behavioral state-indifferent cells (i.e., cells displaying no modulation of spontaneous discharge rate across the sleep-waking cycle), POAH warming had no effect on evoked excitatory responses. These results support the hypothesis that thermosensitive neurons of the POAH exert control of sleep-waking state, in part, via modulation of arousal- and sleep-regulating cell types within the magnocellular BF.
Distress and professional impairment due to mental health problems among psychotherapists

Abstract Distress and professional impairment among psychotherapists are important to address for a number of reasons, including the impact of impairment on therapeutic effectiveness and on the reputation of the field of psychology. The focus of this review is on one type of impairment, namely the mental health difficulties of applied psychologists. Following a brief discussion of the history of impairment, definitional issues are examined. A review and critique of the prevalence data on distress and impairment among psychologists are presented. Relevant research supporting the three causal factors of impairment outlined by Guy (1987) are discussed, followed by an examination of the various factors that allow for the continuation of impairment. Finally, prevention efforts are reviewed, with suggestions for additional preventive endeavors that could be beneficial.
The Production of Nitrogen Atoms on Mars and their Escape

Abstract Quantitative calculations of the escape rate of nitrogen by photodissociation and photoionization, by photoelectron impact processes, by chemical reactions and by dissociative recombination are reported. It is shown that the predicted present escape rate of 2.0 × 10 5 atoms cm −2 S −1 is consistent with the measured 15 N/ 14 N isotope ratio. A minimum of 4.0 × 10 22 cm −2 S −1 is obtained for the initial reservoir of N 2 . The production rates of N( 4 S) and N( 2 D) atoms in the atmosphere are obtained and the altitude profile of N( 2 D) is calculated.
2-D Inductor-Capacitor Lattice Synthesis

We consider a general class of 2-D passive propagation media, represented as a planar graph where nodes are capacitors connected to a common ground and edges are inductors. Capacitances and inductances are fixed in time but vary in space. Kirchhoff's laws give the time dynamics of voltage and current in the system. By harmonically forcing input nodes and collecting the resulting steady-state signal at output nodes, we obtain a linear, analog device that transforms the inputs to outputs. We pose the lattice synthesis problem: given a linear transformation, find the inductances and capacitances for an inductor-capacitor circuit that can perform this transformation. Formulating this as an optimization problem, we numerically demonstrate its solvability using gradient-based methods. By solving the lattice synthesis problem for various desired transformations, we design several devices that can be used for signal processing and filtering.
Determination of ocean environmental parameters from a Ka-band scatterometer

A 3-beam Ka-band radar was used as a vector slope gauge with scale like that of a pitch-and-roll buoy. The direction of dominant wave travel, the variance in wave slopes, and the directional spectra of waves are discussed. The slope distribution of ocean waves at this scale is nearly normal, and thus the authors used the moments of a bivariate normal distribution to fit an ellipse to the wave slopes. The orientation of the major axis of the ellipse indicates the direction of dominant wave travel, with 180/spl deg/ ambiguity. In addition, statistics of the slope distribution are readily obtainable from the fitted ellipse. The wave-direction ambiguity is then resolved by fitting an ellipse to the directional histogram of the slope distribution using the least-square method. Due to the asymmetry of the waves, the center of the ellipse is shifted from the origin in the direction from which the dominant waves are traveling. The authors' method of calculating wave slopes and determining the direction of waves is then compared with the standard method used with pitch-and-roll buoys. The authors then compare these with those obtained by F. Ziemer of GKSS, Geesthacht, Germany. >
The commodified self in consumer culture: a cross-cultural perspective.

The author examined the premise that the pervasive consumer ideology in today's society has implications for the conceptions of self and others. She used structured interviews to assess conceptions of self and other and G. P. Moschis's (1978) questionnaire to measure consumer orientation among 76 U.S. and 62 Finnish college students. The principal hypotheses were (a) that the U.S. students would be more commodified than the Finnish students and (b) that the participants who were high in consumer orientation would be more likely than those lower in consumer orientation to see themselves and others in material terms and also to consider personal characteristics to have market values. The results supported both hypotheses.
Modeling Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering with Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory: Vacuum and Surface Enhancement

We present the first density functional simulations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and an analysis of the chemical effects upon binding to a metal surface. Spectra are obtained from first-principles electronic structure calculations and are compared with available experiments and previously available theoretical results following from Hartree–Fock polarizability derivatives. A first approximation to the nonresonant portion of the CARS signal is also explored. We examine the silver pyridine cluster models of the surface chemical signal enhancement, previously introduced for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Chemical resonant intensity enhancements of roughly 102 are found for several model clusters. The prospects of realizing further enhancement of CARS signal with metal surfaces is discussed in light of the predicted chemical enhancements.
Attenuation of LPS-induced neutrophil thromboxane b2 release and chemiluminescence.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) may play a key role in acute lung injury and ARDS. The mechanisms of PMN-mediated lung injury include the release of inflammatory mediators, such as oxygen free radicals which cause direct tissue injury, and arachidonic acid metabolites which cause pulmonary vasoconstriction and increased vascular permeability. The goals of this in vitro study were (1) to assess the effects of PMN-activating agents (lipopolysaccharide, LPS; phorbol myristate acetate, PMA; tumor necrosis factor, TNF) on PMN thromboxane B2 (TXB2) release and oxygen free radical production and (2) to determine the effects of agents purported to suppress PMN activity (pentoxifylline, PTX; adenosine; dibutyryl cyclic AMP, DBcAMP; and terbutaline, TBN) on activator-induced PMN TXB2 release and oxygen free radical production. PMN TXB2 release was determined by radioimmunoassay and oxygen free radical production was monitored by Chemiluminescence. Our results show that (1) LPS and PMA significantly increase PMN TXB2 release, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has no effect; (2) LPS and PMA significantly increase PMN Chemiluminescence; (3) DBcAMP and TBN significantly reduce LPS-induced PMN TXB2 release whereas PTX and adenosine do not; (4) TBN significantly reduces PMA-induced PMN TXB2 release whereas other agents do not; (5)All agents(PTX, adenosine, DBcAMP, and TBN) significantly reduce LPS-induced PMN Chemiluminescence but none attenuate PMA-induced PMN Chemiluminescence. We conclude that:LPS and PMA activate PMN manifested by TXB2 release and Chemiluminescence. Additionally, all the PMN suppressing agents do attenuate some PMN functions. Of interest, PTX, adenosine, DBcAMP, and TBN have different effects depending upon functional assay and activating agent. It will be important to investigate the mechanisms by which PMN suppressing agents alter signal transduction resulting in differential effects on PMN function.
Response to anticoagulant drug withdrawal

This study evaluated 44 separate medication withdrawal periods in 17 subjects who were attending a hospital anticoagulation clinic for management of anticoagulation medication. The data suggest that when anticoagulant withdrawal is needed for particular dental procedures, a 2-day hold is an effective period of medication withdrawal. No thromboembolic events were observed after any of the withdrawal periods. Further, no post-treatment hemorrhagic episodes were observed when the anticoagulant medication was reinstituted after dental treatment. Prothrombin time blood levels should be determined in the immediate pretreatment period, however, because the prothrombin time can fluctuate even in the best maintained patients.
Is it time to revise the asthma guidelines

In the United States, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) was formed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and released the first set of United States Expert Panel Report Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma in 1991. Since that time, there have been periodic revisions of the asthma guidelines, most recently in 2007 (1, 2). On average, the NAEPP asthma guidelines are revised every 5 years, so it is about that time to consider an update. In last month's issue of the Journal, we introduced a series of articles to review the current status of asthma and future directions. The first article in this series is an article entitled “Advancing asthma care: the glass is half full!!!” (3). The major point of that review was to highlight significant accomplishments in reducing asthma mortality and asthma morbidity based on hospitalizations and also to indicate ways to further reduce the burden of asthma. The key figure for this article (3) is included on the cover of this month's Journal. Usually the guidelines are revised when there is a major new direction or a new concept that results in a paradigm shift of asthma management along with a significant body of knowledge that impacts asthma care. For example, the most recent NAEPP Expert Panel Report-3 (EPR-3) emphasized the importance of asthma control, a stepwise approach to asthma management, and early diagnosis and intervention (1, 2). This version of the asthma guidelines introduced several new terms that apply to asthma management, specifically assessment of severity, control, responsiveness, impairment and risk (1, 2). Severity is defined as the intrinsic intensity of the disease process. Control is the degree to which the manifestations of asthma are minimized and the goals of therapy are achieved. Responsiveness is the ease with which control is achieved by therapy.
New Method of Calculation of the Partition Coefficients of Selected Alkoxyphenols Investigated by RPTLC

Selected meta -and para -alkoxyphenols have been separated by RPTLC on cellulose impregnated with ethyl oleate, with ethanol-water, 40 + 60 (%, v/v ), as mobile phase. New methods of calculation of partition coefficients on the basis of the topological index ° B and experimental R F values have been proposed. These methods enable differentiation between the values of log P for the meta and para isomers of the alkoxyphenols.
Genetic Transfer of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide Antigens to Escherichia coli K-12

Escherichia coli K-12 ϰ971 was crossed with a smooth Salmonella typhimurium donor, HfrK6, which transfers early the ilv-linked rfa region determining lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core structure. Two ilv+ hybrids differing in their response to the LPS-specific phages FO and C21 were then crossed with S. typhimurium HfrK9, which transfers early the rfb gene cluster determining O repeat unit structure. Most recombinants selected for his+ (near rfb) were agglutinated by Salmonella factor 4 antiserum. Transfer of an F′ factor (FS400) carrying the rfb–his region of S. typhimurium to the same two ilv+ hybrids gave similar results. LPS extracted from two ilv+,his+, factor 4-positive hybrids contained abequose, the immunodominant sugar for factor 4 specificity. By contrast, his+ hybrids obtained from ϰ971 itself by similar HfrK9 and F′FS400 crosses were not agglutinated by factor 4 antiserum, indicating that the parental E. coli ϰ971 does not have the capacity to attach Salmonella O repeat units to its LPS core. It is concluded that the Salmonella rfb genes are expressed only in E. coli ϰ971 hybrids which have also acquired ilv-linked genes (presumably rfa genes affecting core structure or O-translocase ability, or both) from a S. typhimurium donor. When E. coli ϰ971 was crossed with a smooth E. coli donor, Hfr59, of serotype O8, which transfers his early, most his+ recombinants were agglutinated by E. coli O8 antiserum and lysed by the O8-specific phage, Ω8. This suggests that, although the parental E. coli K-12 strain ϰ971 cannot attach Salmonella-specific repeat units to its LPS core, it does have the capacity to attach E. coli O8-specific repeat units.
Localization of light harvesting complex ii to the occluded surfaces of photosynthetic membranes

The photosynthetic membranes of green plants are organized into stacked regions interconnected by nonstacked regions that have been shown to be biochemically and structurally distinct. Because the stacking process occludes the surfaces of appressed membranes, it has been impossible to conduct structural or biochemical studies of the outer surfaces of the photosynthetic membrane in regions of membrane stacking. Although stacking is mediated at this surface, it has not been possible to determine whether membrane components implicated in the stacking process, including a major light-harvesting complex (LHC-II), are in fact exposed at the membrane surface. We have been able to expose this surface for study in the electron microscope and directly label it with antibodies to determine protein exposure. The appearance of the newly exposed outer stacked surface highlights the extreme lateral heterogeneity of the photosynthetic membrane. The surface is smooth in contrast to the neighboring nonstacked surface that is covered with distinct particles. Although some investigators have suggested the existence of a cytochrome b6/f-rich boundary region between stacked and nonstacked membranes, our results provide no structural support for this concept. To explore the biochemical nature of the occluded membrane surface, we have used an mAb against the amino terminal region of the LHC-II. This mAb clearly labels the newly exposed outer stacked surface but does not label the inner surface or the outer nonstacked surface. These experimental results confirm the presence of the amino terminal region of this complex at the outer surface of the membrane in stacked regions, and also show that this complex is largely absent from nonstacked membranes.
Network traffic anomaly detection based on packet bytes

Hostile network traffic is often "different" from benign traffic in ways that can be distinguished without knowing the nature of the attack. We describe a two stage anomaly detection system for identifying suspicious traffic. First, we filter traffic to pass only the packets of most interest, e.g. the first few packets of incoming server requests. Second, we model the most common protocols (IP, TCP, telnet, FTP, SMTP, HTTP) at the packet byte level to flag events (byte values) that have not been observed for a long time. This simple system detects 132 of 185 attacks in the 1999 DARPA IDS evaluation data set [5] with 100 false alarms, after training on one week of attack-free traffic.
Peptide antigen production by the proteasome: complexity provides efficiency

Abstract Proteasomes have recently been shown to be central to the production of antigenic peptides that can bind to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Here, Marcus Groettrup and colleagues discuss the structural architecture of the proteasome and its proteolytic mechanisms with respect to the generation of antigenic peptides. They suggest that exchanges of proteolytic proteasome subunits and proteasome activators cooperate to optimize the production of antigens for cytotoxic T cells.
OBSERVATIONS ON SUPRALETHAL WHOLE‐BODY IRRADIATION AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION IN MAN AND DOG

Observations in patients and dogs given whole-body irradiation followed by transplants of isogenic or allogenic bone marrow are discussed: the ability of the individual's bone marrow to demonstrate autogenous recovery provided life can be maintained by supportive measures for a sufficiently long period of time; the efficacy of isogenlc marrow irfusion in allowing survival after otherwise supralethaI doses of whole-body irradiation; and the inefficacy of homologous marrow transplants in man. (H.M.G.)
Before Restriction Became Exclusion: America’s Experiment in Diplomatic Immigration Control

The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) marked a turning point in the history of U.S. immigration control, but it was not as definitive a move toward gatekeeping as historians have suggested. Contemporaries called the 1882 law the “Chinese Restriction Act,” reserving the term “exclusion” for its successor in 1888. The rhetorical change paralleled an important shift in policy. During Chinese Restriction (1882–1888), the United States so valued its relationship with China that it made immigration restriction subject to diplomatic negotiation. Only after the Restriction Act failed and China signaled capitulation did the United States enact Chinese Exclusion (1888), which prohibited Chinese workers, asserted America’s sovereign power to exclude, and developed modern systems of enforcement. The transition from diplomatic Restriction to unilateral Exclusion represents a powerful aggrandizement of American power.