cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and analysis of worm interactions (war of the worms)

’War of the worms’ is a war between opposing computer worms, creating complex worm interactions as well as detrimental impact on infrastructure. For example, in September 2003 the Welchia worms were launched to terminate the Blaster worms and patch the vulnerable hosts. In this paper, we try to answer the following questions: How can we explain the dynamic of such phenomena with a simple mathematical model? How can one worm win this war? How do other factors such as locality preference, bandwidth, worm replication size and reaction time affect the number of infected hosts? We propose a new Worm Interaction Model (based upon and extending beyond the epidemic model) focusing on random-scan worm interactions. We also propose a new set of metrics to quantify effectiveness of one worm terminating other worm. We validate our worm interaction model using extensive ns-2 simulations. This study provides the first work to characterize and investigate worm interactions of random-scan worms in multi-hop networks.
Abbreviation definition identification based on automatic precision estimates.

Background The rapid growth of biomedical literature presents challenges for automatic text processing, and one of the challenges is abbreviation identification. The presence of unrecognized abbreviations in text hinders indexing algorithms and adversely affects information retrieval and extraction. Automatic abbreviation definition identification can help resolve these issues. However, abbreviations and their definitions identified by an automatic process are of uncertain validity. Due to the size of databases such as MEDLINE only a small fraction of abbreviation-definition pairs can be examined manually. An automatic way to estimate the accuracy of abbreviation-definition pairs extracted from text is needed. In this paper we propose an abbreviation definition identification algorithm that employs a variety of strategies to identify the most probable abbreviation definition. In addition our algorithm produces an accuracy estimate, pseudo-precision, for each strategy without using a human-judged gold standard. The pseudo-precisions determine the order in which the algorithm applies the strategies in seeking to identify the definition of an abbreviation.
The electroencephalographic changes after hemispherectomy in man.

Abstract The electroencephalographic findings in four cases of right hemispherectomy are presented. In three cases the voltage of the activity on the unoperated side was markedly diminished; in one case unchanged. In all four cases a rhythm in the alpha range was present on the hemispherectomized side. In one case photic stimulation induced a better response on the operated than on the unoperated side; in another case the reverse was true.
General health, health care utilization, and medical comorbidity in dysthymia.

Objective:This article reviews the literature on the general health, health care utilization, prevalence, medical comorbidity, and treatment of dysthymia in medical settings.Method:The literature was searched by using MEDLINE and by reviewing the bibliographies of recent publications. Studies were selected that included health data on patients with dysthymia or chronic depression according to DSM-III, DSM-III-R, ICD-9, or RDC criteria, or patients who were described as having persistent depressive symptoms.Results:This review shows that dysthymic patients are at increased risk for poor general health and frequently use medical services. Compared to the general population, dysthymia is more prevalent in primary care and among patients with various medical and neurological conditions, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, and somatoform disorders. Pharmacotherapy is effective, but has not been well studied. Non-tricyclic antidepressants might be especially useful. Psychotherapy studies are virtu...
The Cost of Convenience: An Experiment Showing E-Mail Outreach Decreases Voter Registration

Lower transaction costs have shifted voter registration activities online and away from traditional modes of outreach. Downloading forms may impose higher transaction costs than traditional outreac...
An analysis of responsiveness between nations

Abstract : In their analysis of the conditions which lead to the integration of nations into larger political communities, Karl Deutsch, et al0 (3 ) lay great stress on the concept responsiveness. As they define it, responsiveness is "the ability (of one political unit) to give messages from other political units adequate weight in the making of their own decisions, to perceive the needs of the populations and elites of these other units, and to respond to them quickly and adequately in terms of political or economic action (p.4O). According to these authors, before political units will ally or amalgamate, each must have shown considerable responsiveness to the other. Concomitantly, the failure of responsiveness. The data reported in this manuscript were gathered while the author was a Public Health Service Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Program of Graduate Training and Research in International Relations at Northwestern University. The author wishes to thank the cc directors of that program, Richard C. Snyder and Harold Guetzkow, for their assistance in this project. Preparation of this manuscript was supported by funds from Contract Nonr-2285 (02), Office of Naval Research.
Listening Comprehension in Middle-Aged Adults

Purpose The purpose of this summary is to examine changes in listening comprehension across the adult lifespan and to identify factors associated with individual differences in listening comprehension. Method In this article, the author reports on both cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in listening comprehension. Conclusions Despite significant declines in both sensory and cognitive abilities, listening comprehension remains relatively unchanged in middle-aged listeners (between the ages of 40 and 60 years) compared with young listeners. These results are discussed with respect to possible compensatory factors that maintain listening comprehension despite impaired hearing and reduced cognitive capacities.
Prescribing of β-blockers after myocardial infarction: A preliminary study of physician motivations and barriers

Abstract Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommend β-blocker medications in the management of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients to prevent subsequent MI; evidence suggests that this therapy continues to be underutilized. The decision-making process that physicians use for treating post-MI patients should be explored; behavior-change interventions have been proposed among researchers in this field. Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to develop measures for examining this issue using the transtheoretical model (TTM) of change, including physician stage of readiness for change and physician salience (ie, decisional balance) for the pros (ie, facilitators) and cons (ie, barriers) of prescribing β-blockers to post-MI patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a TTM-based questionnaire was developed from the literature and from interviews with a convenience sample of physicians practicing in cardiology; the questionnaire was subjected to expert panels for revision and was pretested. It was then mailed to all physicians practicing family medicine, internal medicine, or cardiology during the autumn of 2003 in northern West Virginia, a state with a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and MI-related mortality. Results: Among the 309 physicians who received the questionnaire, 103 responded; 55 responses were complete and eligible for inclusion in the analysis. Most (92.7%) responded to the TTM measures in the action and maintenance stages of change for prescribing β-blockers for post-MI patients. Results also suggested they had significant salience ( P Conclusions: Results of this preliminary study suggest that it would be relevant to increase physician knowledge of the updated CPGs regarding use of β-blockers in the presence of conditions previously deemed relative contraindications.
Programming generalization of treatment effects: A stimulus control procedure

Abstract A visual signalling apparatus was established as a discriminative stimulus during training sessions with a 28-yr-old, severely retarded male. Following the training phase, the effect of the trainer's presence was assessed in the training setting and in a novel setting. The results indicated that stimulus control established during training generalized to the same setting in the trainer's absence and to a novel setting in the trainer's absence. Furthermore, the trainer's absence failed to affect the subject's rate of performance during either SD or S-delta conditions. The lack of adult presence-absence effect is discussed in the light of recent research in the area of stimulus overselectivity.
Intubated pediatric patients requiring transport: a review of patients, indications, and standards.

Abstract Introduction : We could not find any studies of nontertiary care facilities performing intubation for patients requiring transport to definitive pediatric care. The purpose of our study was to determine the current practices of pediatric airway management in the prehospital and transport environments. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients youner than 16 years transported by our flight program during a 2-year period served as the population of interest. The flight records (RN and MD documentation) for intubated patients were analyzed for medications, methods, outcomes, and other descriptive endpoints. As a matter of program policy, all pediatric transports are subjected to peer review in the performance improvement committee. Results: During the review period, 732 patients younger than 16 years (range: 30 days to 15 years) were transported by our flight program. Of the 148 (20%) patients intubated for airway control, 81 were boys (55%), and 67 were girls (45%). Sixteen percent were younger than 1 year, 24% were 1 to 2 years old, 18% were 3 to 5, 20% were 6 to 11, and 22% were 12 to 15. Indicators for intubation included unresponsiveness or arrest, 42 (28%); seizures, 38 (26%); respiratory failure, 28 (19%); decreased level of consciousness (LOC), 14 (9%); airway protection, 13 (9%); combativeness, 11 (7%); and other, 2 (1%). Children were intubated most frequently by the referring physician (92 children, 62% of patients). The flight crew performed 49 (33%) intubations, and EMS staff performed seven (5%). Three children were nasally intubated. Significant variation occurred in medications used, endotracheal tube size and position, and nasogratric decompression. No single group performed better or worse than the others in our review. Conclusion: Variability exists in the application of pediatric airway management techniques, including pharmacologic modes and intubation indications.
Hemispheric processing of mental representations during text comprehension: Evidence for inhibition of inconsistent shape information

To successfully understand a text, readers often mentally represent the shape of an object described in a text (e.g., creating a mental image of a sliced tomato when reading about a tomato on a pizza). However, it is currently unclear how the cerebral hemispheres contribute to these mental images during reading. In the current study, participants were presented with sentences consistent with the shape of an object (i.e., the match condition), sentences inconsistent with the shape of an object (i.e., the mismatch condition), or sentences that did not specify the shape of an object (i.e., the neutral condition). Participants read each sentence and then viewed an image of an object that was quickly presented to either the right visual field-left hemisphere (rvf-LH) or the left visual field-right hemisphere (lvf-RH). Results indicate that when the shape of an object was implicitly described in the text (in Experiment 1), response times for images presented to the rvf-LH were longer in the mismatch condition than in the neutral or match conditions. However, no response time differences were evident in the lvf-RH. When the shape of an object was explicitly described in the text (in Experiment 2), response times were longer in the mismatch condition than in the neutral and match conditions in both hemispheres. Thus, hemispheric involvement in mental representation depends on how explicit information is described in a text. Furthermore, these findings suggest that readers inhibit information that does not match an object׳s shape described in a text.
Induction of Cell Death by Magnetic Actuation of Nickel Nanowires Internalized by Fibroblasts

Magnetic nanomaterials with multimodal functionalities have emerged as a versatile platform for biomedical applications that range from basic cellular interrogation to clinical nanomedicine. In this work, we have prepared electrodeposited ferromagnetic nickel nanowires for efficient internalization into 3T3 fibroblasts. Agitation of the nanowires by a low external field induced cell death, as assessed by MTT viability assays. The response of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression of the fibroblasts to nanowire-mediated cellular manipulation was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). These nanowires exhibited significant potential as therapeutic and interrogative platforms for biomedicine.
CROSS SECTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE WITH A PHASED ARRAY 80° SECTOR SCANNER

We have evaluated a new 80° cross sectional scanner in 110 children with heart disease. The transducer is applied to the chest at the lower left sternal edge and is oriented in the major diameter of the left ventricle (View I). A transverse view in the plane of the minor diameter of the left ventricle may be used to demonstrate relationships of cardiac structures from the apex to the great arteries (View II). With the transducer applied over the apex beat the beam transects the interventricular and interatrial septa and atrioventricular valves so that all four chambers are seen (View III). View I defines mitral valve disease, left ventricular outflow abnormalities, the presence of aortic override of the interventricular septum, and mitral-aortic continuity. View II defines mitral and tricuspid valves, relative ventricular sizes, and the relative size and position of the great arteries. View III allows study of ventricular size and function, ventricular and atrial septal defects, differentiation between partial and complete forms of atrioventricular canal defect, and deformities of the atrioventricular valves (such as Ebstein's anomaly and mitral stenosis). The presence of cor triatriatum and the interatrial baffle of Mustard's operation can be shown. The 80° sector scan provides a new dimension in ultrasonic investigation of congenital heart disease.
Promoter and nonspecific DNA binding by the T7 RNA polymerase

T7 RNA polymerase plays an important role in both the transcription and replication of bacteriophage T7. In this study we have used a nitrocellulose filter binding assay to examine the binding properties of the T7 RNA polymerase with T7 promoters cloned into plasmid DNAs. Promoter-specific binding was shown to be relatively insensitive to variations in the ionic strength of the incubation solution but dependent on the helical structure of the DNA. On the other hand, nonpromoter interior-site binding was independent of the superhelicity of the DNA but extremely sensitive to changes in the ionic strength. These results suggest that nonspecific binding results from ionic interactions between positively charged residues of the polymerase and the polyanionic backbone of the DNA, whereas promoter-specific binding is dependent upon base-specific contacts within the promoter sequence. A comparison between the transcriptional activity and binding strengths of the RNA polymerase to specific promoters indicates little correlation between these two properties. This suggests that differential promoter binding does not represent a major mechanism for regulating transcription in bacteriophage T7. Instead, factors which influence the efficiency or rate of formation of the polymerase-promoter open complex are found to have the major role in determining transcriptional levels in this system.
The contribution of platelet dysfunction to postbypass bleeding

Disruption of the vascular endothelium exposes blood to a subendothelial matrix, which includes collagen and the large adhesive glycoproteins von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibronectin, and others. These proteins contain domains, tripeptide sequences, recognized by specific cell surface receptors, allowing interaction of cells with the matrix. Platelets contain many receptors for adhesive proteins and are well adapted to adhere and spread on exposed subendo- thelium. Adhesion of platelets to the matrix involves receptors that can interact with more than one subendothe- lial protein, as well as adhesive proteins that can bind to more than one receptor.
Determinants of Cue-Elicited Craving and Physiologic Reactivity in Methamphetamine-Dependent Subjects in the Laboratory

Objective: Craving for methamphetamine is commonly reported by heavy users of the drug and may increase the risk of relapse in newly abstinent individuals. Exposure to methamphetamine-associated cues in the laboratory can elicit measureable craving and autonomic reactivity in some individuals with methamphetamine dependence. In this study, clinical and demographic correlates of methamphetamine craving and the optimal conditions for its measurement in the laboratory are explored. Methods: Subjective (craving) and physiologic (heart rate and skin conductance) reactivity to presentation of methamphetamine-associated photo, video, and paraphernalia cues were evaluated in 43 subjects with methamphetamine dependence. Association of cue reactivity with demographic and clinical characteristics including duration, frequency, amount, and recency of methamphetamine use were assessed. Results: Craving was reported by fewer than half of subjects at baseline and by approximately 70% of subjects after methamphetamine cu...
Insights into how protein dynamics affects arylamine N-acetyltransferase catalysis

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) detoxify arylamines and hydrazine xenobiotics by catalyzing their N-acetylation, which prevents their bioactivation. Here, we reveal how structural dynamics impact NAT protein function. Our data suggest that there are multiple conformations in the catalytic cavity of hamster NAT2 that exchange on the millisecond time scale and enable NATs to accommodate substrates of varying size. The regions spanning N177–L180 and D285–F288, which form unique structures in mammalian NATs, possess inherent motions on the nanosecond time scale. The latter segment becomes more restricted in its motions upon substrate binding according to our NMR XNOE data. This greater rigidity appears to stem from interactions with the substrate. Finally, NAT acetylation has been suggested to protect these enzymes from ubiquitination. Our NMR data on a catalytically active state of hamster NAT2 suggest that structural rearrangements caused by its acetylation might contribute to this protection.
SOS: too many irons in the fire!

In this issue of Blood , Maradei and colleagues investigate the role of prehematopoietic stem cell transplantation hyperferritinemia as a risk factor for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.[1][1] They show that increased levels of ferritin (presumptively reflecting increased iron stores) increases the
Globalization: Curse or Cure? Policies to Harness Global Economic Integration to Solve Our Economic Challenge

Globalization holds tremendous promise to improve human welfare but can also cause conflicts and crises as witnessed during 2007–09. How will competition for resources, employment, and growth shape economic policies among developed nations as they attempt to maintain productivity growth, social protections, and extensive political and cultural freedoms? The processes associated with economic globalization — such as free trade, business outsourcing, capital mobility, and so on — generate considerable public apprehension because of the economic uncertainty they portend. But crossnational production supply chains have now become so extensive that the recession-induced decline in global trade is causing considerable economic distress in developed countries. In contrast, emerging countries — especially Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Korea — have experienced only modest declines in economic growth. As those nations continue to advance economically and output growth in developed nations recovers, the process of globalization will resume. But with the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations stalled, bilateral and regional trade agreements may come to dominate that process. Regardless of how globalization progresses, policymakers in developed nations remain concerned about whether domestic output and employment growth can recover as rapidly as after recessions past. Those concerns are magnified by prospective population aging in developed countries. Intensifying foreign competition and employment uncertainty could provoke calls by industry lobbyists and displaced workers for additional government protections. And worker migration toward developed nations will continue, spurred by wage differentials between developed and developing countries. Younger immigrants may eventually help developed nations to ease the economic challenge posed by population aging, but immigrants are often viewed as competing for jobs, adding to public welfare costs, and reducing social cohesion. This paper offers policy recommendations for developed nations to reduce globalization's negative effects and, indeed, harness it for solving aging-related economic challenges.
Seismicity Associated with the Sumatra–Andaman Islands Earthquake of 26 December 2004

The U.S. Geological Survey/National Earthquake Information Center (usgs/neic) had computed origins for 5000 earthquakes in the Sumatra–Andaman Islands region in the first 36 weeks after the Sumatra–Andaman Islands mainshock of 26 December 2004. The cataloging of earthquakes of m b (usgs) 5.1 and larger is essentially complete for the time period except for the first half-day following the 26 December mainshock, a period of about two hours following the Nias earthquake of 28 March 2005, and occasionally during the Andaman Sea swarm of 26–30 January 2005. Moderate and larger ( m b ≥5.5) aftershocks are absent from most of the deep interplate thrust faults of the segments of the Sumatra–Andaman Islands subduction zone on which the 26 December mainshock occurred, which probably reflects nearly complete release of elastic strain on the seismogenic interplate-thrust during the mainshock. An exceptional thrust-fault source offshore of Banda Aceh may represent a segment of the interplate thrust that was bypassed during the mainshock. The 26 December mainshock triggered a high level of aftershock activity near the axis of the Sunda trench and the leading edge of the overthrust Burma plate. Much near-trench activity is intraplate activity within the subducting plate, but some shallow-focus, near-trench, reverse-fault earthquakes may represent an unusual seismogenic release of interplate compressional stress near the tip of the overriding plate. The interplate-thrust Nias earthquake of 28 March 2005, in contrast to the 26 December aftershock sequence, was followed by many interplate-thrust aftershocks along the length of its inferred rupture zone.
A 1660s Promptbook of Shirley's Loves Crueltie

The number of late seventeenth-century promptbooks known to scholars has increased astonishingly in the last thirty years, but further discoveries are always welcome. We are pleased to be able to report a new find: a very full prompt copy for what is clearly a 1660s production of James Shirley's Loves Crueltie by the King's Company at Bridges Street. The prompt notes are written in a copy of the 1640 edition held in the Brotherton Collection (University of Leeds). Cropping has cut away significant portions of the markings, but fortunately enough remains that we can reconstruct the original annotation in almost all instances.
Byrd's dead reckoning on his 1926 North Pole flight

Richard Byrd claimed to have reached the North Pole in his 1926 flight, based mostly on his dead reckoning navigation. His technique of finding distance traveled from observations with a drift indicator can ideally be quite accurate, as shown by simulations of his dead reckoning with a navigation log. But under real-world conditions, especially those of Byrd's flight, significant errors can easily occur. Since we do not have a copy of Byrd's navigation log from the flight, we cannot assess such errors, and there is some evidence that Byrd did not keep a navigation log. However, that would not necessarily lead to less accurate dead reckoning.
Characterization of heterologous and native enzyme activity profiles in metabolically engineered Zymomonas mobilis strains during batch fermentation of glucose and xylose mixtures

Zymomonas mobilis has been metabolically engineered to broaden its substrate utilization range to include D-xylose and L-arabinose. Both genomically integrated and plasmid-bearing Z. mobilis strains that are capable of fermenting the pentose D-xylose have been created by incorporating four genes: two genes encoding xylose utilization metabolic enzymes (xylA/xylB) and two genes encoding pentose phosphate pathway enzymes (talB/tktA). We have characterized the activities of the four newly introduced enzymes for xylose metabolism, along with those of three native glycolytic enzymes, in two different xylose-fermenting Z. mobilis strains. These strains were grown on glucose-xylose mixtures in computer-controlled fermentors. Samples were collected and analyzed to determine extracellular metabolite concentrations as well as the activities of several intracellular enzymes in the xylose and glucose uptake and catabolism pathways. These measurements provide new insights on the possible bottlenecks in the engineered metabolic pathways and suggest methods for further improving the efficiency of xylose fermentation.
Isolated Endarterectomy and Patch Angioplasty for Common Femoral Artery Occlusive Lesions

Eleven patients underwent isolated common femoral artery endarterectomy and vein patch angioplasty over a five-year period. All patients had claudication. In addition 7 had rest pain and 2 had ischemic ulcerations. Mean age was 67.8 ± 11.2 years. The mean preoperative ankle/arm (a/a) index was 0.48 ±0.14. The operations were performed under local or regional anesthesia. There was no perioperative mortality or morbidity. The mean postoperative a/a index increased to 0.76 ±0.19 at 30.75 months. One reconstruction thrombosed at sixteen months. Two patients died of unrelated causes with patent grafts at six months. The increase in a/a index was the same irre spective of whether the presenting symptoms were claudication alone (0.29), rest pain (0.21), or ischemic ulceration (0.35). This study indicates that femoral endarterec tomy and patch angioplasty is a safe and durable procedure for focal common femoral artery stenosis or occlusion.
Seismologists and Educational Outreach

Seismologists and Educational Outreach Most seismologists have received a request from a schoolteacher to make a classroom visit to talk about earthquakes. These calls can bring mixed emotions—from excitement at the opportunity to share one's fascination with earthquakes and plate tectonics to anxiety about the time commitment and unfamiliarity with the audience. A friend once received a call from a teacher who was discussing the interior of the earth with her fifth grade students. After telling the students that the outer core was liquid one student asked, "How do you know that?" The student and teacher knew that no one had ever been to the interior of the earth or even drilled to that depth, but no one knew how we know what is in the interior of the earth. A friend of the teacher told her that a seismologist could answer that question, and that is how our friend...
Immunochemotherapy in indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) comprise a diverse group of lymphatic malignancies of primarily B-cell origin, which are steadily increasing in prevalence worldwide. Of these, the indolent NHLs, although initially responsive to a variety of therapeutic regimens, have a continuous relapsing nature and are essentially incurable. Consequently, novel and innovative treatments are urgently required to prolong overall survival in patients with this disease. Rituximab, a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that mobilizes host effector mechanisms to destroy B cells expressing the CD20 antigen, has proven single-agent efficacy in NHL. There is a powerful rationale for combining rituximab with conventional chemotherapeutic agents to improve the outcome in NHL. A study evaluating the efficacy of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone (CHOP) immunochemotherapy has been conducted in 40 patients diagnosed with indolent NHL. The overall response rate was 95% (38 of 40 patients) and 22 patients (55%) experienced a complete response. No unexpected toxicity was observed with the combination therapy. Median time to progression is not reached after 50 months of follow-up. Using a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction technique, it was also shown that rituximab plus CHOP resulted in the elimination of bcl-2–positive lymphoma cells. A further study assessing whether or not similar efficacy can be achieved using rituximab combined with fludarabine chemotherapy has provided very encouraging early results to date, with an initial overall response rate of 93% in 30 treated patients and a complete response rate of 80%. Clearance of bcl-2–positive cells, as observed in the CHOP study, has also been achieved in these patients. The combination of rituximab with conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as CHOP appears to be a viable treatment option for indolent NHL. Ongoing and planned studies will lead to the optimal use of rituximab for the treatment of NHL. Semin Oncol 29 (suppl 6):11-17. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Genotype-phenotype correlation in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome (OMIM 193300) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by deletions or mutations in a tumor suppressor gene on human chromosome 3p25. It is characterized clinically by vascular tumors including benign hemangioblastomas of the cerebellum, spine, brain stem and retina. Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma is a frequent cause of death, occurring in up to 70% of patients with VHL. Pheochromocytomas occur in association with specific alleles (usually mutations as opposed to deletions), therefore a family history of pheochromocytoma in association with VHL is an indication for thorough surveillance for pheochromocytoma in affected family members. The VHL gene coding sequence contains three exons. Two isoforms of mRNA exist, reflecting the presence or absence of exon 2. Tumors arise following the loss or inactivation of the wild-type allele in a cell. In initial studies approximately 20% of patients had large germline mutations detectable by Southern blot analysis, 27% had missense mutations and 27% had nonsense or frameshift mutations. Advances in mutation analysis now allow for a 100% mutation detection rate in families with definite VHL. Families may be characterized by the presence [type 2 (7-20% of families)] or absence (type 1) of pheochromocytomas. Most type 2 families are affected by missense mutations, whereas most type 1 families have deletions or premature termination mutations. The prognosis for the lifetime risk of pheochromocytoma can be estimated by determination of the underlying mutation even if there is no family history of VHL.
A New Species of Lissorchis (Trematoda: Lissorchiidae) from Creek Chubsuckers (Erimyzon oblongus) in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas, U.S.A.

Lissorchis amniculensis n. sp. is described from the small intestine of creek chubsuckers collected from a small tributary stream of Big Sandy Creek in the Big Sandy Creek Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve, Polk County, Texas, U.S.A. Members of the new species possess a distinct trilobed ovary, a feature found in individuals of 9 other species of Lissorchis. The new species is distinguished from these species by possessing a bipartite seminal vesicle with the distal portion larger than the proximal portion, vitelline follicles that extend beyond the posterior extent of the testes, a small posttesticular space, and a single dextral uterine loop that originates from the posttesticular space.
Processing factors influencing the free carbon contents in boron carbide powder by rapid carbothermal reduction

Abstract High quality boron carbide powder without free carbon is desired for many applications. In this study, the factors that influence free carbon content in boron carbide powders synthesized by rapid carbothermal reduction reaction were evaluated. The dominant factors affecting free carbon contents in boron carbide powder were reaction temperature, precursor homogeneity, the particle size of reactants, and excess boron reactant amount. The reaction temperature at 1850 °C was sufficient to synthesize boron carbide with low free carbon content. Depending on process conditions, precursor homogeneity was also affected by the calcination temperature and time. Smaller particle size of reactants contributed to less carbon content and more uniformity in synthesized boron carbide. Excess boric acid effectively compensated for B2O3 volatilization. In the optimal sample, using 80 mol% excess nano boric acid and calcined at 500 °C, the free carbon in the synthesized boron carbide was negligible (0.048 wt.%).
2009 CLAH Luncheon Address: Recuerdos/Remembrances

There is a special relationship between historians and remembering as an act of the will. Forgetting is not what we are supposed to do or want to do. As people, historians love to remember and act deliberately to achieve the reconstruction of the past, which is itself the product of as many forms of remembrance and memory-keeping as there are people who want to remember—about themselves, their actions, their sentiments, and their understanding of the world in which they lived. Pursuing that objective I would like to share with my audience at this luncheon and later with my readers some memories of my life as a historian. Through sharing them I know we will come closer together as friends and colleagues.
Effects of receiving diets based on wet corn gluten feed on performance and morbidity of newly received beef heifers and in vitro fermentation

VFA proportions. Total gas produced was greater (P = 0.013) for the control than for the average of RAMP and Test Starter substrates. In contrast to gasproduction results, IVDMD was greater (P ≤ 0.013) for the 2 Sweet Bran–based substrates than for the control at most incubation times. Total VFA and the acetate:propionate ratio did not differ (P > 0.052) between control and average of the RAMP and Test Starter substrates, but proportion of butyrate was increased (P = 0.002) with the 2 complete starter substrates compared with the control. Results indicate that heifers fed the 2 complete starter diets used in this experiment did not perform as well as control heifers, but dietary treatments did not affect bovine respiratory disease morbidity during the receiving period. Contrasting results for IVDMD and gas production presumably reflect differences in major ingredients of the substrates and perhaps the proportion of soluble components in Sweet Bran.
Coming or Going? What Is Cirrhosis?

cirrhosis is decidedly not a strictly morphologic condition. It is, instead, a clinicopathologic disorder demonstrating considerable variation in any given histologic section. For this, and other reasons, the conclusions reached by Wanless and his colleagues must await further confirmation before they can be embraced. Two conclusions can be reached from the morphologic features that are characteristic of cirrhosis, features that have been intensely studied by many generations of pathologists. In the traditional view, cirrhosis is a dynamic and progressive disorder, modified both by its stage of development and by variation caused by the progressive and irregular growth of regenerative nodules that can mold the developing and developed septa, as well as by many other factors, including ongoing effects reflecting the etiopathogenesis of the cirrhosis as well as the direct and indirect host responses.
Injuries and Fatalities on Sailboats in the United States 2000-2011: An Analysis of US Coast Guard Data.

Background Prior sailing injury studies have been small, focused investigations. This large, population-based study examined the mechanisms and factors contributing to sailboat-related injuries and deaths. Methods A retrospective data analysis of the Boating Accident Report Database compiled by the US Coast Guard between 2000 and 2011 was performed. The database was analyzed looking at frequency of events. For each subgroup, proportions were determined and 95% CIs were calculated. These data, used in conjunction with the 2011 US Coast Guard National Recreational Boating Survey, were used to estimate a fatality rate. Results Two hundred seventy-one sailing-related fatalities and 841 injuries were reported. A fatality rate was calculated at 1.19 deaths per million sailing person-days. Weather or hazardous waters were listed as primary contributing factors in 28.0% (95% CI, 22.7–33.4) of deaths; 70.1% (95% CI, 64.7–75.6) of deaths occurred after falling overboard or capsizing. Drowning was the most common cause of death (73.1%; 95% CI, 67.8–78.4), and 81.6% of victims were not wearing a life jacket. Alcohol intoxication contributed to 12.2% (95% CI, 8.3–16.1) of deaths. Operator- or passenger-preventable factors contributed to 52.7% (95% CI, 49.3–56.1) of all injuries; 51.6% (95% CI, 46.1–57.1) of injuries on nonmotorized sailboats were the result of capsizing, and 46.4% (95% CI, 42.1–50.7) of all injuries on motorized sailboats were the result of collisions or grounding. Conclusions The calculated fatality rate is similar to that of alpine skiing. Falls overboard and capsizing were the most common fatal accidents. Operator inattention, inexperience, and alcohol use were common preventable factors contributing to fatal and nonfatal injury.
Distinct dynamics of ramping activity in the frontal cortex and caudate nucleus in monkeys

The prefronto-striatal network is involved in many cognitive functions, including perceptual decision making and reward-modulated behaviors. For well-trained subjects, neural responses frequently show similar patterns in the prefrontal cortex and striatum, making it difficult to tease apart distinct regional contributions. Here I show that, despite similar mean firing rate patterns, prefrontal and striatal responses differ in other temporal dynamics for both perceptual and reward-based tasks. Compared with simulation results, the temporal dynamics of prefrontal activity are consistent with an accumulation of sensory evidence used to solve a perceptual task but not with an accumulation of reward context-related information used for the development of a reward bias. In contrast, the dynamics of striatal activity is consistent with an accumulation of reward context-related information and with an accumulation of sensory evidence during early stimulus viewing. These results suggest that prefrontal and striatal neurons may have specialized functions for different tasks even with similar average activity.
Interaction of endogenous nitric oxide and CGRP in sensory neuron-induced gastric vasodilation

Stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves induces gastric mucosal hyperemia, which is mediated in part by both calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitric oxide (NO). In the present study, we used in vivo microscopy in anesthetized rats to determine 1) whether these agents were released locally at the submucosal level and, if so, 2) whether CGRP dilates arterioles via release of endothelium-derived NO. Intragastric capsaicin (160 microM) dilated submucosal arterioles from 25 +/- 3 to 67 +/- 8 microns. The intragastric capsaicin-induced vasodilation was markedly reversed not only by intravenous administration of the NO synthesis inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) but also by submucosal suffusion of either L-NAME or the CGRP receptor antagonist human CGRP-(8-37). The latter findings indicate that both NO and CGRP are released locally at the submucosal level. Submucosal application of CGRP induced dose-dependent dilation of gastric submucosal arterioles, which was significantly attenuated by L-NAME. However, at the same degree of vasodilation (42 microns), the dilation induced with submucosal CGRP was much less attenuated by NO synthesis inhibition (-28%) compared with that induced with intragastric capsaicin (-79%). This indicates that endothelium-derived NO released by CGRP was not the only source of submucosal NO in the latter response. There must be another as yet undetermined source of submucosal NO, e.g., possibly nitroxidergic nerves.
PROTON DECAY OF THE ISOBARIC ANALOGS OF THE GROUND STATES OF $sup 206$Pb, $sup 207$Pb, $sup 208$Pb, AND $sup 209$Bi.

The ($p, n\overline{p}$) reaction has been measured on the lead isotopes $^{206}\mathrm{Pb}$, $^{207}\mathrm{Pb}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ and on $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$. Coulomb-energy differences are extracted from the positions of the $\overline{p}$ peaks. Proton decay widths are also obtained and compared with values from resonance experiments and with a previous value from $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}(p, n\overline{p})$.
Microelectrothermometry for Psychrometric Determinations of Insect Leaf Microhabitats

The relative humidity of both the macroclimate near plants, and the insect microenvironment at 2–3 mm above and below the surface of a leaf, were measured with pairs of thermocouples, one of which was dry and the other surrounded by cotton webbing to which capillary water was conveyed by siphon tubes. The wet and dry temperatures were electrically imprinted on the strip chart of a 24-point potentiometer operating on a 12-second cycle, and when psychrometrically converted, gave nearly continuous measurements of relative humidity. These measurements were compared graphically with the relative humidity recorded in the macroenvironment of the host plant.
Therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer's disease

Les auteurs passent en revue les differents traitements medicamenteux de la maladie d'Alzheimer actuellement utilises ou en experimentation en rappelant leur mode d'action et leurs effets secondaires
Nanoallergens: A multivalent platform for studying and evaluating potency of allergen epitopes in cellular degranulation

Degranulation caused by type I hypersensitivity (allergies) is a complex biophysical process, and available experimental models for studying relevant immunoglobulin E binding epitopes on allergen proteins lack the ability to adequately evaluate, rank, and associate these epitopes individually and with each other. In this study, we propose a new allergy model system for studying potential allergen epitopes using nanoallergens, liposomes modified to effectively display IgE binding epitopes/haptens. By utilizing the covalently conjugated lipid tails on two hapten molecules (dinitrophenol and dansyl), hapten molecules were successfully incorporated into liposomes with high precision to form nanoallergens. Nanoallergens, with precisely controlled high-particle valency, can trigger degranulation with much greater sensitivity than commonly used bovine serum albumin conjugates. In rat basophil leukemia cell experiments, nanoallergens with only 2% hapten loading were able to trigger degranulation in vitro at concentrations as low as 10 pM. Additionally, unlike bovine serum albumin-hapten conjugates, nanoallergens allow exact control over particle size and valency. By varying the nanoallergen parameters such as size, valency, monovalent affinity of hapten, and specific IgE ratios, we exposed the importance of these variables on degranulation intensity while demonstrating nanoallergens’ potential for evaluating both high- and low-affinity epitopes. The data presented in this article establish nanoallergen platform as a reliable and versatile allergy model to study and evaluate allergen epitopes in mast cell degranulation.
Poor Adherence to Preventive Health Care and Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Food Pantry Clients

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to identify barriers related to poor adherence to preventative health behaviors in a disparate population. In-depth interviews were conducted with food pantry clients to gain an understanding of food pantry client demographics, health status, concordance to health care and screening guidelines, barriers to food and health care, and food security status. Disparities in health and adherence to preventive health recommendations exist for food pantry clients. Significant barriers contribute to poor adherence to cancer screenings and preventive health guidelines. These data highlight the need to design and implement targeted and multifaceted interventions to improve the health practices of food pantry clients.
Indoor Formaldehyde Pollution in Recent Residential Decoration

[Objective]To understand indoor air pollution situation in recent decorated residential apartments in Baoshan District and to provide scientific evidences for the control of indoor formaldehyde pollution.[Methods]Twenty recent decorated residential apartments were selected to monitor indoor formaldehyde from April 2008 to December 2009.The data were analyzed with SPSS 11.0.[Results]The indoor pollution of formaldehyde was significant and only 40%of the 20 apartments met the nationalof formaldehyde.The result of multinomial logistic analysis indicated that natural ventilation duration,air temperature and furniture layout were significandy related to the concentration of formaldehyde(P0.05).There were negative correlation between natural ventilation duration and indoor formaldehyde concentration and positive correlation between temperature and indoor formaldehyde concentration.Furniture in house related to higher indoor formaldehyde concentration.[Conclusion]The results of current study suggest that indoor air pollution in recent decorated apartments should be considered.Enhancing ventilation after decoration is recommended ot reduce indoor air pollution.
Resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to common used insecticides in Xianyang city

Objective To learn the resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to insecticides in Xianyang City.Methods Media lethal dose method was used to detect the resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to eight insecticides.Results The LC50 to DDT,DDVP,permethrin,cypermethrin,β-cypermethrin,deltamethrin,biothion,propoxur were 0.227,51.682,0.056,0.033,0.015,0.004,19.550,18.906 mg/L respectively.Compared with minimum value in previous data,resistant ratio was from 1.16 to 11.73.Conclusion The resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus in Xianyang city has developed in varying degrees.Breeding place should be administered first in controlling Culex tritaeniorhynchus.Mixed insecticide should be used in chemical control.