cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Computational Algorithms to Index Lexical Markers of Psychological Distancing and Their Relationship to Emotion Regulation Efficacy Over Time

The degree to which one employs an objective or spatially/temporally distant perspective via language, i.e., linguistic distancing, has previously been shown to be positively associated with well-being. We sought to further elucidate relationships among language and emotion over time as a function of the implementation of sub-tactics of psychological distancing. In Study 1, we developed novel deep machine learning algorithms to identify the degree to which linguistic patterns reflect two types of psychological distancing, namely objective (OBJ) and spatial/temporal (FAR) distancing. In Study 2, in an expressive writing-based longitudinal emotion regulation training task, participants transcribed their thoughts while viewing negative or neutral stimuli over 5 sessions in one of three ways: by implementing objective language (objective group), by implementing spatially/temporally distant language (far group), or by responding naturally. We found that the OBJ and FAR algorithms significantly predicted changes in task-based self-reported negative affect in the objective group and found no significant associations in the far group. The relationship between the algorithm scores and self-reported negative affect was stronger in the objective group compared to the far group. These findings describe sensitive linguistic distancing algorithms that are capable of tracking changes in self-reported negative affect. These results may be useful in developing novel, unobtrusive emotion regulation assessments and interventions that utilize natural language processing.
Context Fear Conditioning in Down Syndrome Mouse Models: Effects of Trisomic Gene Content, Age, Sex and Genetic Background

Down syndrome (DS), trisomy of the long arm of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). Currently, there are no effective pharmacotherapies. The success of clinical trials to improve cognition depends in part on the design of preclinical evaluations in mouse models. To broaden understanding of the common limitations of experiments in learning and memory, we report performance in context fear conditioning (CFC) in three mouse models of DS, the Dp(16)1Yey, Dp(17)1Yey and Dp(10)1Yey (abbreviated Dp16, Dp17 and Dp10), separately trisomic for the human Hsa21 orthologs mapping to mouse chromosomes 16, 17 and 10, respectively. We examined female and male mice of the three lines on the standard C57BL/6J background at 3 months of age and Dp17 and Dp10 at 18 months of age. We also examined female and male mice of Dp17 and Dp10 at 3 months of age as F1 hybrids obtained from a cross with the DBA/2J background. Results indicate that genotype, sex, age and genetic background affect CFC performance. These data support the need to use both female and male mice, trisomy of sets of all Hsa21 orthologs, and additional ages and genetic backgrounds to improve the reliability of preclinical evaluations of drugs for ID in DS.
Predictors of Coronary Artery Calcium and Long-Term Risks of Death, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in Young Adults.

Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is well‐validated for cardiovascular disease risk stratification in middle to older–aged adults; however, the 2019 American College of Cardiology/American H...
Assessment of a three-dimensional (3D) water scanning system for beam commissioning and measurements on a helical tomotherapy unit

Beam scanning data collected on the tomotherapy linear accelerator using the TomoScanner water scanning system is primarily used to verify the golden beam profiles included in all Helical TomoTherapy treatment planning systems (TOMO TPSs). The user is not allowed to modify the beam profiles/parameters for beam modeling within the TOMO TPSs. The authors report the first feasibility study using the Blue Phantom Helix (BPH) as an alternative to the TomoScanner (TS) system. This work establishes a benchmark dataset using BPH for target commissioning and quality assurance (QA), and quantifies systematic uncertainties between TS and BPH. Reproducibility of scanning with BPH was tested by three experienced physicists taking five sets of measurements over a six-month period. BPH provides several enhancements over TS, including a 3D scanning arm, which is able to acquire necessary beam-data with one tank setup, a universal chamber mount, and the OmniPro software, which allows online data collection and analysis. Discrepancies between BPH and TS were estimated by acquiring datasets with each tank. In addition, data measured with BPH and TS was compared to the golden TOMO TPS beam data. The total systematic uncertainty, defined as the combination of scanning system and beam modeling uncertainties, was determined through numerical analysis and tabulated. OmniPro was used for all analysis to eliminate uncertainty due to different data processing algorithms. The setup reproducibility of BPH remained within 0.5 mm/0.5%. Comparing BPH, TS, and Golden TPS for PDDs beyond maximum depth, the total systematic uncertainties were within 1.4mm/2.1%. Between BPH and TPS golden data, maximum differences in the field width and penumbra of in-plane profiles were within 0.8 and 1.1 mm, respectively. Furthermore, in cross-plane profiles, the field width differences increased at depth greater than 10 cm up to 2.5 mm, and maximum penumbra uncertainties were 5.6mm and 4.6 mm from TS scanning system and TPS modeling, respectively. Use of BPH reduced measurement time by 1-2 hrs per session. The BPH has been assessed as an efficient, reproducible, and accurate scanning system capable of providing a reliable benchmark beam data. With this data, a physicist can utilize the BPH in a clinical setting with an understanding of the scan discrepancy that may be encountered while validating the TPS or during routine machine QA. Without the flexibility of modifying the TPS and without a golden beam dataset from the vendor or a TPS model generated from data collected with the BPH, this represents the best solution for current clinical use of the BPH.
Clifford Algebras and the Construction of the Basic Spinor and Semi-Spinor Modules

Tensor powers of the defining module of a complex orthogonal Lie algebra can be used to construct all of the basic modules except for the spinor and semispinor modules. Thus, for the constructive representation theory of these simple Lie algebras, one must supplement the methods of tensor algebra with those of spinor algebra. For the simple complex Lie algebras of type B l there is a single basic spinor module, while for the simple complex Lie algebras of type D l there are two basic semispinor modules. The classical constructions of these spinor and semispinor modules by factoring the second Clifford algebra will be reviewed.
Commercial Television Exposure, Fast Food Toy Collecting, and Family Visits to Fast Food Restaurants among Families Living in Rural Communities.

Objective To assess the associations between children's exposure to television (TV) networks that aired child-directed advertisements for children's fast food meals with the collection of fast food meal toy premiums and frequency of family visits to those restaurants. Study design One hundred parents of children 3-7 years old were recruited from a rural pediatrics clinic during 2011; families receiving Medicaid were oversampled. Parents reported the child's TV viewing habits and family visit frequency to the fast food restaurants participating in child-directed TV marketing at the time, and their child's requests for visits to and the collecting of toy premiums from those restaurants. Logistic regression models assessed adjusted associations between a child's TV viewing with more frequent restaurant visits (≥monthly in this population). Structural equation modeling assessed if child requests or toy collecting mediated that association. Results Thirty-seven percent of parents reported ≥monthly visits to the select fast food restaurants. Among children, 54% requested visits to and 29% collected toys from those restaurants. Greater child commercial TV viewing was significantly associated with more frequent family visits to those fast food restaurants (aOR 2.84 for each 1-unit increase in the child's commercial TV viewing scale, P Conclusions Higher exposure among children to commercial TV networks that aired child-directed ads for children's fast food meals was associated with more frequent family visits to those fast food restaurants. Child desire for toy premiums may be a mediating factor.
Revised CRISM spectral parameters and summary products based on the currently detected mineral diversity on Mars

The investigation of hyperspectral data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) and the Observatoire pour la Mineralogie, L'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activitie (OMEGA) on Mars Express has revealed an increasingly diverse suite of minerals present on the Martian surface. A revised set of 60 spectral parameters derived from corrected spectral reflectance at key wavelengths in CRISM targeted observations and designed to capture the known diversity of surface mineralogy on Mars is presented here as “summary products.” Some of the summary products have strong heritage to OMEGA spectral parameter calculations; this paper also presents newly derived parameters that highlight locations with more recently discovered spectral signatures. Type locations for the diversity of currently identified mineral spectral signatures have been compiled into a library presented in this work. Our analysis indicates that the revised set of summary products captures the known spectral diversity of the surface, and successfully highlights and differentiates between locations with differing spectral signatures. The revised spectral parameter calculations and related products provide a useful tool for scientific interpretation and for future mission landing site selection and operations.
Conservative management of vestibular schwannoma: Predictors of growth and hearing.

Objective To describe the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing serial observation for vestibular schwannoma (VS) and identify factors that may predict tumor growth or hearing loss. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients seen at a tertiary care medical center between 2002 and 2013 with an International Classification of Diseases-9 diagnosis code of 225.1. Patients electing observation as initial management, with at least two documented imaging results, were included. Exclusion criteria comprised bilateral VS, diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 2, and neoplasms other than VS. Decline in serviceable hearing, tumor growth, and changes in management strategy were recorded. Survival analysis to assess median time to outcomes and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 94 patients met inclusion criteria. While undergoing observation, 22.3% of patients underwent a change in management strategy to microsurgical excision or stereotactic radiotherapy. For patients with initial serviceable hearing, 24.3% observed a decline to a nonserviceable level. No significant clinical factors were identified to predict changes in hearing. Survival analysis revealed that an estimated 69.1% of patients electing observation as initial management continued to do so at 5 years. Imbalance or disequilibrium at presentation was found to be associated with an increased adjusted odds ratio (OR) (OR 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–8.50; P = 0.04) for tumor growth. Conclusion Serial observation of VS is a viable treatment strategy for selected patients, with two-thirds of patients electing to continue this management option after 5 years. Disequilibrium as a presenting symptom may be associated with subsequent tumor growth. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 125:2163–2168, 2015
Intra-abdominal pressures during activity in women using an intra-vaginal pressure transducer

AbstractStrenuous physical activity has been linked to pelvic floor disorders in women. Using a novel wireless intra-vaginal pressure transducer, intra-abdominal pressure was measured during diverse activities in a laboratory. Fifty-seven women performed a prescribed protocol using the intra-vaginal pressure transducer. We calculated maximal, area under the curve and first moment of the area intra-abdominal pressure for each activity. Planned comparisons of pressure were made between levels of walking and cycling and between activities with reported high pressure in the literature. Findings indicate variability in intra-abdominal pressure amongst individuals doing the same activity, especially in activities that required regulation of effort. There were statistically significant differences in maximal pressure between levels of walking, cycling and high pressure activities. Results for area under the curve and first moment of the area were not always consistent with maximal pressure. Coughing had the high...
Monetary targets, real exchange rates and macroeconomic stability

Abstract In this paper, I develop a model to determine the optimal degree of flexibility in attaining monetary targets in an economy that is affected by shocks in the labor and financial markets. I then simulate the model to assess the optimal degree of monetary policy flexibility in Spain, a country that has adopted monetary targets rigidly since 1978. I show that the model supports the policy choice of that country. I also show that the monetary authorities should attribute more importance to real exchange rate movements in choosing their policies if the Spanish economy becomes more open to international trade, or if the labor market becomes more flexible.
The effect of injected insulin on the amino acid incorporating system of rat liver.

Abstract The effect of insulin on the incorporation of leucine into the protein of rat liver microsomes was tested. When insulin was added to the 15,000 × g supernatant from rat liver in the presence of [ 14 C]leucine, no effect was observed in the final specific activity of the microsomal protein, as compared with the control value. However, when insulin was injected into the animal 12 or 18 h prior to sacrifice, there was an increase of approximately 40% in the specific activity of the microsomal protein following incubation. Part of the stimulation was shown to reside in the supernatant fraction and part in the microsomes.
Minor nucleotide composition of ribosomal precursor, and ribosomal, ribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli

Abstract 1. The minor nucleotide composition of the “ribosomal precursor” RNA of Escherichia coli has been compared with that of mature ribosomal RNA. When cells were treated with chloramphenicol, or with streptomycin, or when a “relaxed” auxotroph was starved of a required amino acid, the newly synthesized, “ribosomal precursor”, 16-S RNA (centrifugally purified) was found to be undermethylated by 70–80 %, and 23-S RNA by 40–45 %. Nucleotide analyses showed that the 23S precursor component was about equally deficient in all normal methylated nucleotides, except for an O′- ribose-methylated nucleotide, whose accumulation was more drastically affected. The 16S precursor component had virtually no methylated nucleotides, except for approximately one 5-methylcytidylic acid residue per molecule. These results are in accord with the idea that undermethylation causes previously observed centrifugal and chromatographic abnormalities of ribosomal precursor RNA. 2. Chloramphenicol treatment was also found to inhibit the formation of pseudouridylic acid in newly synthesized ribosomal RNA. 3. No differences in ribosomal RNA methylation patterns were noted among strains B, W, or K12, or between streptomycin-sensitive and streptomycin-resistant strains. 4. A model is presented whereby certain “structural” ribosomal proteins also function as ribosomal RNA-modifying enzymes during ribosome assembly.
Capturing and Analyzing the Excited-State Structure of a Cu(I) Phenanthroline Complex by Time-Resolved Diffraction and Theoretical Calculations

Time-resolved crystallography and density functional theory calculations are used to analyze the geometric and electronic changes that occur upon photoexcitation of [Cu(I)(dmp)(dppe)]+ in crystalline [Cu(I)(dmp)(dppe)][PF6] [dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]. In the pump−probe experiment, laser and X-ray pulses are synchronized to capture an image of the instantaneous molecular distortions in the transient triplet state. Parallel theoretical calculations, with the phenyl groups replaced by methyl groups, yield information on the distortion of the isolated cation and the change in electron density upon excitation. The experimental distortions are significantly less than the calculated values and are different for the two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit; these findings are attributed to the constraining influence of the crystal matrix. The calculations indicate that the electron transfer upon excitation is mostly from the dmpe ligand to the dmp lig...
The Fallen Woman Archetype: Media Representations of Lynndie England, Gender, and the (Ab)uses of U.S. Female Soldiers

In April 2004 revelations of the torture and abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib detention center in Iraq created a strategic and media crisis for the U.S. military. Media coverage focused on Private Lynndie England and framed her personal and professional behaviors via the fallen woman and warrior hero archetypes. We argue that England's media construction obfuscates military culpability for the events at Abu Ghraib, preserves patriarchal militarism, and subordinates women in the U.S. military.
Cache operations by MRU change

The performance of set associative caches is analyzed. The method used is to group the cache lines into regions according to their positions in the replacement stacks of a cache, and then to observe how the memory access of a CPU is distributed over these regions. Results from the preserved CPU traces show that the memory accesses are heavily concentrated on the most recently used (MRU) region in the cache. The concept of MRU change is introduced; the idea is to use the event that the CPU accesses a non-MRU line to approximate the time the CPU is changing its working set. The concept is shown to be useful in many aspects of cache design and performance evaluation, such as comparison of various replacement algorithms, improvement of prefetch algorithms, and speedup of cache simulation. >
Correlational analysis of ordinal data: from Pearson’s r to Bayesian polychoric correlation

Correlational analyses are one of the most popular quantitative methods, yet also one of the mostly frequently misused methods in social and behavioral research, especially when analyzing ordinal data from Likert or other rating scales. Although several correlational analysis options have been developed for ordinal data, there seems to be a lack of didactically written literature illustrating the appropriate use and differences among them. The purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis of correlational analysis options when analyzing ordinal data. These options span from the traditional methods, such as Pearson’s r, to more recent developments, such as Bayesian estimation of polychoric correlations. An illustration of these methods utilizing a contemporary dataset is provided.
Influence of nonlinear blade damping on helicopter ground resonance instability

The lagging motion of each helicopter blade is assumed to be of equal amplitude and equally apportioned phase, thus allowing a simplified analytical method to be used to calculate the ground resonance instability of a helicopter model with nonlinear dampers in both the landing gear and blades. The geometrical nonlinearities of the blade lag motion and the influence of initial disturbances on ground resonance instability are also discussed. Finally an experiment is carried out using a helicopter scale model. The experimental data agree well with analysis.
The auto makers and their related party transactions in indonesia

This paper provides a profile of three major automobile manufacturers in Indonesia: the Astra group, the Suzuki group and the Matsubishi Krama Yudha group. Together, they control more than 85 percent of the automobile market in Indonesia. Various types of related party transactions in the auto industry and their transfer prices are also discussed. It appears that Japanese multinational companies are playing a dominant role in the development of the auto industry in Indonesia.
Paying the piper for pharmacoeconomic studies.

In their landmark article that introduced the medical community to methods of cost-effectiveness analysis, Weinstein and Stason did not mention who they thought would pay for the studies.’ In retrospect, perhaps they should have. Two decades later, debates about funding arrangements and the independence of investigators seem to occupy almost as much time among policymakers as the results of cost-effectiveness analyses themselves. This phenomenon is at once curious, unsettling, and, at least at some level, unanticipated: after all, results from clinical trials, which are routinely funded by pharmaceutical manufacturers, have long been accepted in the same community. Despite years of serious scholarship and vast improvements in the field, cost-effectiveness analysis-and its younger, more well-heeled cousin, 'pharmacoeconomics" -remain hampered by a lingering perception that study results reflect the hidden biases of industry sponsors, and that the field owes more to marketers than to scientists.’ This essay reviews key issues on the topic and outlines some policy options for the future. While the remarks focus on the experience in the United States, they should also apply in a variety of international contexts.
Transplacental murine cytomegalovirus infection in the brain of SCID mice.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital viral infection in humans and the major nonhereditary cause of central nervous system (CNS) developmental disorders. Previous attempts to develop a murine CMV (MCMV) model of natural congenital human CMV (HCMV) infection have failed because MCMV does not cross the placenta in immunocompetent mice. In marked contrast with immunocompetent mice, C.B-17 SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice were found to be highly susceptible to natural MCMV transplacental transmission and congenital infection. Timed-pregnant SCID mice were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with MCMV at embryonic (E) stages E0-E7, and vertical MCMV transmission was evaluated using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. SCID mouse dams IP injected at E0 with 102 PFU of MCMV died or resorbed their fetuses by E18. Viable fetuses collected at E18 from SCID mice IP injected with 102–104 PFU of MCMV at E7 did not demonstrate vertical MCMV transmission. Notably, transplacental MCMV transmission was confirmed in E18 fetuses from SCID mice IP injected with 103 PFU of MCMV at stages E3-E5. The maximum rate of transplacental MCMV transmission (53%) at E18 occurred when SCID mouse dams were IP injected with 103 PFU of MCMV at E4. Congenital infection was confirmed by IHC immunostaining of MCMV antigens in 26% of the MCMV nPCR positive E18 fetuses. Transplacental MCMV transmission was associated with intrauterine growth retardation and microcephaly. Additionally, E18 fetuses with MCMV nPCR positive brains had cerebral interleukin-1α (IL-1α) expression significantly upregulated and cerebral IL-1 receptor II (IL-1RII) transcription significantly downregulated. However, MCMV-induced changes in cerebral cytokine expression were not associated with any histological signs of MCMV infection or inflammation in the brain. Severe T- and B-cell immunodeficiencies in SCID mice significantly enhance the rate of natural MCMV transplacental transmission and congenital infection. During gestation MCMV exhibits a tissue tropism for the developing brain, and vertical MCMV transmission is correlated with fetal growth retardation and abnormal cerebral proinflammatory cytokine expression. These data confirm that natural vertical MCMV infection in SCID mice constitutes a useful new experimental rodent model of congenital HCMV infection.
Angiogenesis and the skin: A primer

Angiogenesis is the development of a blood supply to a given area of tissue. This area of tissue may be part of normal embryonic development, revascularization of a wound bed, or the stimulation of vessel growth by inflammatory or malignant cells. Angiogenesis is of crucial importance to the dermatologist, as it is of key importance in pathologic processes such as psoriasis, warts, and cutaneous malignancy, and it is required for optimal wound healing. Other dermatologic processes wherein angiogenesis is defective or uncontrolled are decubitus ulcers, stasis ulcers, pyogenic granulomas, hemangiomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and possibly Spitz nevus, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. Recent advances in the understanding of growth factors will likely lead to advances in the treatment of skin cancer and psoriasis, and more rapid healing of wounds. In this review, I hope to summarize the most important growth factors, inhibitors of angiogenesis, and future directions in research and therapeutics involving angiogenesis.
Teams in Teleland: working effectively in geographically dispersed teams in the Asia Pacific

In the Asia Pacific, along with the rest of the world, there has been a rapid expansion in the use of geographically dispersed teams playing pivotal organizational and interorganizational roles. Yet our understanding of the conditions nurturing the task effectiveness of those teams is still embryonic. This article examines conceptual issues associated with the impact of culture, geography and technology in those teams in the Asia Pacific. It identifies the pivotal role played by “a sense of presence” (the feeling of “being there” with team members in different places and often different times) in both the effectiveness of, and satisfaction in, the use of such teams. Current research designed to explore these issues in teams in business and education in the region is described.
Transient induction of ENC-1, a Kelch-related actin-binding protein, is required for adipocyte differentiation.

In an attempt to study molecules that play a regulatory role early in adipocyte differentiation, we identified by differential display ENC-1, a Drosophila kelch-related protein. ENC-1 colocalizes with actin filaments. ENC-1 is expressed in adipose tissue, specifically in the adipose-derived stroma-vascular fraction. ENC-1 mRNA levels are transiently increased 8–12-fold early in in vitro adipocyte differentiation of primary cells of the adipose-derived stroma-vascular fraction and of 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment with the adipogenic inducers dexamethasone and methylisobutylxanthine causes an increase in ENC-1 mRNA levels specifically in preadipocytes, and methylisobutylxanthine is the main effector of ENC-1 expression. The induction of ENC-1 precedes expression of the transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPα), and other adipocyte markers including adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein. The ENC-1 induction correlates with the subsequent differentiation of primary stroma-vascular cells into adipocytes. Furthermore, decreasing the endogenous ENC-1 levels by stable antisense transfection, thereby preventing the transient induction, effectively inhibits 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Overall, these studies indicate that ENC-1, an actin-binding protein, plays a regulatory role early in adipocyte differentiation when cytoskeletal reorganization and cell shape change from fibroblastic preadipocytes to spherical adipocytes occur.
Reinforcing effects of caffeine, ephedrine, and their binary combination in rats.

Abstract The reinforcing effects of caffeine, ephedrine, and caffeine + ephedrine combinations were tested in rats maintained to self-administer 0.5 mg/kg/injection of cocaine in daily 4 h limited access periods. The dose–response relationship for cocaine demonstrated a a typical inverted U-shaped function. The dose-dependent administration of cocaine was stable over the 3-day substitution epochs. Similar to earlier reports, neither caffeine nor ephedrine engendered stable patterns of self-injections. Combinations of caffeine + ephedrine produced biphasic patterns of administration only on the first day of substitution. Days 2 and 3 of the caffeine–ephedrine substitution periods engendered variable and inconsistent reinforcer deliveries that did not significantly differ from saline substitution tests. These reduced patterns of self-administered caffeine–ephedrine combinations were not attributed to behavioral toxicity. Progressive-ratio tests demonstrated rank ordered break points of: food > cocaine > caffeine–ephedrine combination = caffeine = ephedrine = saline. Caffeine–ephedrine pretreatments failed to show any significant change in the administration of the maintenance dose of cocaine except at the highest combination dose tested. Although previous data from this laboratory demonstrated symmetrical crossgeneralization between the discriminative effects of caffeine–ephedrine combinations and cocaine 5 , 6 , the present data suggest limited reinforcing effects of these combinations in rats.
Characterization of 5B12.1, a monoclonal antibody specific for IL-6.

AbstractA monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for interleukin-6 (IL-6) was generated by fusing SP2/0 cells with spleen cells from a mouse immunized with rat spleen cell derived plasmacytoma growth factor (rat PCT-GF). This MAb inhibited the growth of an IL-6-sensitive murine plasmacytoma clone, MD90, in the presence of the immunogen, rat PCT-GF. More interesting, however, this MAb demonstrated species cross-reactivity by neutralizing murine (recombinant and P388D1, cell line-derived) and human (recombinant) IL-6. IL-6 neutralization activity was also established in other IL-6 bioassays, such as the proliferation of spleen cells, plasmacytoma T1165, and a B-cell hybridoma 7TD1. IL-6 neutralization was overcome partially by increasing the concentration of PCT-GF. The MAb had no effect on PCT-GF-independent plasmacytoma KI81 proliferation. Plastic petri dish-bound MAb removed rmIL-6 activity. These results suggest that this MAb specifically binds IL-6 and neutralizes bioactivity of various PCT-GF, rmIL-6, and...
Autophagy and pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the exocrine pancreas that carries considerable morbidity and mortality; its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Recent findings from experimental models and genetically altered mice summarized in this review reveal that autophagy, the principal cellular degradative pathway, is impaired in pancreatitis and that one cause of autophagy impairment is defective function of lysosomes. We propose that the lysosomal/autophagic dysfunction is a key initiating event in pancreatitis and a converging point of multiple deranged pathways. There is strong evidence supporting this hypothesis. Investigation of autophagy in pancreatitis has just started, and many questions about the “upstream” mechanisms mediating the lysosomal/autophagic dysfunction and the “downstream” links to pancreatitis pathologies need to be explored. Answers to these questions should provide insight into novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies for treatment of pancreatitis.
Experimental Study of Flexural Waves In a Fractured Or Cased Borehole Model

The ultrasonic logging is performed with dipole transducers in aluminum and lucite borehole models to study the propagation of flexural waves in a fractured or cased borehole. The experimental results show that the flexural wave is much more sensitive to a horizontal fracture than to a vertical one. The propagation of flexural waves in a borehole with an inclined fracture is related to both the polarization of the flexural wave and the direction of the fracture. The experimental results show that a very strong low-frequency flexural wave can be generated by a dipole source in a cased borehole and that it propagates with the shear wave velocity of the formation. High-frequency waves generated by a dipole source propagate with the compressional wave and flexural wave velocities of the casing. Dipole acoustic well logging could be an effective means for determining horizontal and declined fractures and measuring the formation shear wave velocity in a cased borehole.
Particle Velocity Measurements to Improve Erosion Prediction

Previous work on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based erosion modeling indicated a strong influence of particle impact velocity on erosion. Equations to predict erosion are based on particle impacting velocity, material properties and particle characteristics such as particle shape and size. Previous studies did not measure particle velocity directly but used rotating disks or simplified computer models to determine the particle velocity. In the present work, a series of experiments have been conducted to measure the velocity of small particles (sand and aluminum) as they approach a target. A laser Doppler velocimetry system was used to measure particle velocities in a jet of air as the jet impinges a target. The angle between the target and the incoming jet is varied. Particle concentration is also controlled, allowing the effects of particle to particle interaction on average particle impact velocity to be observed. These findings are expected to improve the results of erosion testing and provide new data for improving erosion models.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
STRICHARTZ ESTIMATES FOR A SCHRÖDINGER OPERATOR WITH NONSMOOTH COEFFICIENTS

ABSTRACT We prove Strichartz type estimates for the Schrodinger equation corresponding to a second order elliptic operator with variable coefficients. We assume that the coefficients are a C 2 compactly supported perturbation of the identity, satisfying a nontrapping condition.
Embodying Identity: A Qualitative Case Study of Dance Movement Therapy for People Transitioning Genders

The purpose of this study was to describe the subjective experience and expression of body image for 6 transgender adults while they participated in a series of dance/movement therapy (DMT) sessions. Participants included 4 transgender women and 2 transgender men, ranging in age from 39 to 63 years old, all of whom identified as in the process of transitioning to living as their desired gender. Data were collected through the observations of the researcher during 4 DMT sessions that she led for participants, movement phrases created by participants during the sessions, and exit interviews with each participant. Data were reported in a written narrative, which integrates major themes and variant themes of body image as they emerged from the data. The study found 6 group themes: (a) the importance of expressing one‟s true and unique self, (b) supporting one another‟s efforts to express the true self, (c) the body‟s experience of violence and discrimination, (d) studying and practicing gendered movements, (e) actively working to shape the body as a vehicle of self expression, and (f) joy, relief and celebration in the gender transition. The study found 4 variant themes: (a) active engagement in the transgender community, (b) physical limitations caused by medical conditions, (c) struggling with the decision whether to transition, and (d) controlling the body‟s expression of sexuality. These findings may be applicable tohealth care providers serving transgender clients by increasing their awareness of the subjective experience of transitioning to living full-time as a man or a woman.%%%%M.A., Creative Arts in Therapy – Drexel University, 2010
Production Costing for Long-Range Geneartion Expansion Planning Studies

Generation expansion modeling relies upon a complex network of engineering and economic models. The core of the engineering analysis has been the loss-of-load probability techniques and the probabilistic simulation production-costing techniques. The core of the economic modeling influence has been associAted with load forecasts and market penetrations of customer alternatives. The linkage of these models within an expansion-planning framework has been, at best, strained. This paper discusses the traditional. production-costing techniques and examines a new modeling method which simplifies current procedures and extends the purview of probabilistic simulation to scoping studies. The strength of the method comes from the information developed for scoping studies. This procedure provides estimates which are completely consistent with reliability and expected generation calculations from detailed studies. Examples are developed for a synthetic utility system.
Prevalence and selected correlates of eating disorder symptoms among a multiethnic community sample of midlife women

Background: There is little information about the symptoms of disordered eating or their association with psychological and physical parameters in midlife women.Purpose: The aim is to examine (a) the prevalence of binge eating, inappropriate weight control behaviors, and weight and body image concerns among middle-aged community women; (b) whether rates of eating disorder symptoms vary among ethnic groups and are associated with socioeconomic status, weight-related variables, current depressive symptoms or history of major depression, substance abuse or dependence, or childhood abuse; and (c) whether the association between ethnicity and eating disorder symptoms persists after adjustment for covariates.Methods: The sample of 589 pre- and early perimenopausal African American, Hispanic, and White women were participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a U.S. multisite longitudinal study of menopause and aging. Women reported information on sociodemographic, symptom, health, psychosocial and lifestyle variables. DSM-IV disorders were determined, physical measures were obtained, and a questionnaire to assess symptoms of eating disorders was completed.Results: Rates of regular binge eating, dissatisfaction with eating patterns, and marked fear of weight gain were 11, 29.3, and 9.2%, respectively. African Americans were more likely than were Whites to report fasting. In multivariable analyses, high body mass index (or waist circumference), depressive symptoms, past depression, and history of childhood/adolescence abuse were significantly associated with the Binge Eating and Preoccupation with Eating, Shape and Weight subscale scores.Conclusions: These data suggest that further examination of the relationship between eating problems and well being in older women is warranted.
Formation and interconversion of sugar nucleotides by plant extracts.

Abstract Extracts from mung bean seedlings and from a number of other plants contain a pyrophosphorylase (or pyrophosphorylases) capable of catalyzing the reversible formation of sugar nucleotides from UTP and a number of sugar 1-phosphates, according to the following reaction: UTP + S-1-P UDPS + PP. UDPG, UDPGal, UDPXy, and UDPAr are formed in this reaction from α- d -G-1-P, α- d -Gal-1-P, α- d -Xy-1-P, and α- and β- l -Ar-1-P, respectively. The reaction requires a bivalent metal ion (Mg ++ , Mn ++ , or CO ++ ). Sugar nucleotides are not formed from β- d -G-1-P, β- d -Gal-1-P, β- d -Xy-1-P, α- d -Ar-1-P, α-, β- l -Ar(F)-1-P, or α- d -Ar(F)-1-P. No exchange between PP and UTP 32 can be demonstrated except in the presence of one of the reactive sugar 1-phosphates. Mung bean seedling extracts also catalyze the interconversion of UDPG and UDPGal and of UDPXy and UDPAr.
Teamwork Training Improves the Clinical Care of Trauma Patients

Objectives We investigated these questions: Does formal team training improve team behaviors in the trauma resuscitation bay? If yes, then does improved teamwork lead to more efficiency in the trauma bay and/or improved clinical outcomes? Design This intervention study used a pretraining/posttraining design. The intervention was TeamSTEPPS augmented by simulation. The evaluation instrument, which was the Trauma Team Performance Observation Tool (TPOT), was used by trained evaluators to assess teams' performance during trauma resuscitations. From November 2008 to February 2009, a convenience sample (n = 33) of trauma resuscitations was evaluated. From February to April 2009, team training was conducted. From May to July 2009, another sample (n = 40) of resuscitations were evaluated. Clinical data were gathered from our trauma registry. The clinical parameters included time from arrival to computed tomography (CT) scanner, arrival to intubation, arrival to operating room, arrival to Focused Assessment Sonography in Trauma (FAST) examination, time in emergency department (ED), hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, complications, and mortality. Comparing pretraining and posttraining resuscitations, we calculated means, standard deviations, and p values for teamwork ratings and clinical parameters, and we determined significance using the independent samples t-test. Setting Level I Trauma Center. Participants The trauma team included surgery residents, faculty, and nurses. Results Our trauma team showed significant improvement in all teamwork domain ratings and overall ratings from pretraining to posttraining—leadership (2.87-3.46, p = 0.003), situation monitoring (3.30-3.91, p = 0.009), mutual support (3.40-3.96, p = 0.004), communication (2.90-3.46, p = 0.001), and overall (3.12-3.70, p Conclusions Structured trauma resuscitation team training augmented by simulation improves team performance, resulting in improved efficiency of patient care in the trauma bay. We propose that formal teamwork training augmented by simulation be included in surgery residency training as well as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS).
Differentiation of legume carlaviruses based on their biochemical properties

Abstract Nucleic acids of alfalfa latent virus (ALV), pea streak virus (PSV), and red clover vein mosaic virus (RCVMV) were hydrolyzed by pancreatic RNase but not by DNase. ALV and PSV each had one single-stranded RNA of 38.0 and 37.6 S, respectively, whereas two single-stranded RNAs of 39.1 and 12–15 S were found in the RCVMV preparations. The average apparent molecular weights obtained by sedimentation and electrophoresis of formalinized ALV-RNA, PSV-RNA, and the large RNA of RCVMV were 2.45, 2.55, and 2.59 × 106, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of the protein subunit of ALV was 27,000, whereas those of PSV and RCVMV were each 33,500, indicating that ALV is a distinct member of the carlavirus group. RCVMV and PSV are considered distinct viruses, since formalinized RCVMV-RNA, but not PSV-RNA, was resolved from formalinized tobacco mosaic virus RNA on gradients and since the capsid protein subunit of RCVMV resisted degradation on storage but that of PSV did not.
Simplifying transformation of software architecture constraints

The heterogeneity of the architectural constraint languages makes difficult the transformation of constraints throughout the development process. Indeed they have significantly different metamodels, which make the definition of mapping rules complex. In this paper, we present an approach that aims at simplifying transformations of architectural constraints. It is based on an architectural constraint language (ACL), which includes one core constraint expression language and different profiles. Each profile is defined upon a metamodel, which represents the architectural abstractions manipulated at each stage in the development process.
Synthesis of homodinuclear macrocyclic complexes of lanthanides and phenolic schiff bases

Abstract Successful syntheses of the first examples of homodinuclear macrocyclic lanthanide complexes are reported. The complexes were obtained as compounds of the 2:2 Schiff base formed by condensing 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol and triethylenetetramine (L7) by a template procedure using lanthanide nitrates and perchlorates. When reactant methanolic solutions were concentrated the complexes were deposited as yellow or orange microcrystalline precipitates, Ln2L7(NO3)4sigma; nH2O or Ln2L7(NO3)4tau; x(OH)x, x = 1 or 2, whereas solutions diluted three times deposited complexes as flaky off-white crystalline precipitates of light lanthanides. The orange Ln2L7(NO3)2(OH)2 complexes can be converted in quantitative yield to the off-white flaky form of Ln2L7(NO3)4sigma; nH2O by refluxing them in methanolic solution containing triethylenetetramine and a three-fold excess of Ln(NO3)3. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Interesting and mostly new polyatomic oxo clusters, e.g. Ln2O3+, Ln3O4+, Ln4O6+, Ln5O7+, were dominant in the mass spectra but are treated in detail elsewhere.
Extracellular Iodophilic Polysaccharide Synthesized by Neisseria in Human Dental Plaque

Dental plaque collected from the labial aspect of the anterior dentition of children harbored Neisseria that synthesized an extracellular iodophilic polysaccharide (EIP) from sucrose. Gas chromatograms of fully-acetylated EIP derivatives indicated that glucose (97%) and galactose (3%) were the only monosaccharide constituents present. The characterization of the partially-methylated alditol acetate (PMAA) derivatives of EIP indicated that it was primarily a linear 1,4 glucan (75.5%), with some 1,6 glucan (8.4%). The relative linearity of EIP (96.6%) as compared to that of amylose and glycogen was confirmed by spectrophotometric absorption studies.
Stability Characteristics of Positive Feedback in a Neural Population

Glomerular neurons were driven by single shock stimulation of the primary olfactory nerve (PON). The poststimulus time (PST) histograms showed a rapid increase in pulse probability to a crest, followed by an exponential decay to background level P 0 . The crest magnitude and decay rate both increased with increasing stimulus intensity. The decay rate was extrapolated to zero at threshold. This implies that loop gain is unity at and below threshold.
Eri1: a conserved enzyme at the crossroads of multiple RNA-processing pathways

Eri1 is an evolutionarily conserved 3′–5′ exoribonuclease that participates in 5.8S rRNA 3′ end processing and turnover of replication-dependent histone mRNAs. Over the course of evolution, Eri1 has also been recruited into a variety of conserved and species-specific regulatory small RNA pathways that include endogenous small interfering (si)RNAs and miRNAs. Recent advances in Eri1 biology illustrate the importance of RNA metabolism in epigenetic gene regulation and illuminate common principles and players in RNA biogenesis and turnover. In this review, we highlight Eri1 as a member of a growing class of ribosome- and histone mRNA-associated proteins that have been recruited into divergent RNA metabolic pathways. We summarize recent advances in the understanding of Eri1 function in these pathways and discuss how Eri1 impacts gene expression and physiology in a variety of eukaryotic species. This emerging view highlights the possibility for crosstalk and coregulation of diverse cellular processes regulated by RNA.
Block designs and graph imbeddings

Heffter first observed that certain imbeddings of complete graphs give rise to BIBD's with k = 3 and λ = 2 (and sometimes λ = 1); Alpert established a one-to-one correspondence between BIBD's with k = 3 and λ = 2 and triangulation systems for complete graphs. In this paper we extend this correspondence to PBIBD's on two association classes with k = 3, λ1 = 0 and λ2 = 2, and triangulation systems for strongly regular graphs. The group divisible designs of Hanani are used to construct triangulations for the graphs Kn(m), in each case permitted by the euler formula. Conversely, triangular imbeddings of Kn(m) are constructed which lead to new group divisible designs. A process is developed for “doubling” a given PBIBD of an appropriate form. Various extensions of these ideas are discussed, as is an application to the construction of quasigroups.