cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The timing of worker reproduction and breakdown of policing behaviour in queenless honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) societies

Worker bees eventually begin laying eggs in honey bee colonies that have lost their queen and have failed to rear a replacement. In contrast, workers tend to lack developed ovaries and tend to suppress drone production by worker nestmates in colonies with queens. We measured changes in worker egg-removal behaviour, ovary development, and egg-laying rate in hives following the removal of their queens. We carried out weekly assays of worker removal of experimentally transferred eggs, dissection and inspection of worker bee ovaries, and daily checks of worker oviposition. Following queen removal, the egg-removal rate by workers generally first increased, then decreased or levelled off over the four-week time course of the experiment; this behaviour was closely synchronized with the increase in worker ovary development and egg-laying. We discuss our results in the context of theoretically predicted worker-worker conflict over the onset of reproduction in queenless honey bee societies.
Maternal homozygosity for the common MTHFR mutation as a potential risk factor for offspring with limb defects.

A common mutation, C677T, in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene leads to altered homocysteine metabolism, and has been associated with the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTD). Administration of folic acid decreases this risk. There is also evidence that periconceptional supplementation of mothers with folic acid can decrease the risk of limb defects in the offspring. Here we describe a child with a transverse terminal defect of one hand, whose mother is homozygous for the C677T MTHFR mutation. We suggest that homozygosity for the MTHFR mutation may be a risk factor for transverse terminal limb defect/s by an effect mediated through altered folate and homocysteine metabolism. Further studies of mothers of infants with limb reduction defects for the MTHFR mutation may be of help in establishing this association. A simple intervention in the form of folic acid supplementation would be protective, should an association be established.
23 A multi‐component model can predict gastric emptying in diabetic gastroparesis

Introduction: We have previously reported that a multi-component model of autonomic and enteric factors can help predict gastric emptying in diabetes mellitus. (Aslam N. Abell T. A four component model can quantitatively profile gastric emptying in diabetic gastropathy. Supplement to Gastroenterology Vol 118, April 2000, Number 4, Suppl 2. (Abstract No. 5341). Patients: Eighty-seven patients with Diabetes mellitus presenting with signs and symptoms of Gastroparesis. It included 38 males, 49 females with mean age of 39 ± 10 years. Methods: Autonomic tests included adrenergic tests by VC (vasoconstriction to cold) and PAR (postural ratio), and cholinergic function measured by EKG R to R interval (RRI). The Enteric measure (EGG) was measured by cutaneous electrogastrogram. The data was compared to results of standardized solid gastric emptying T50 in minutes (GE above), by linear regression. Results: The patients were distributed in five groups according to mean T50 of solid gastric emptying: 24 (28%) were very delayed, 13 (15%) delayed, 19 (22%) were normal, 15 (17%) were rapid, and 16 (18%) very rapid. There were statistically significant differences among the five group means for VC, RRI, and EGG, but not for PAR. (See table). Conclusions: In this group of patients with symptoms of Diabetic gastropathy, there is a wide range of gastric emptying values. A multi-component model demonstrates specific autonomic and enteric differences in subgroups of diabetic gastroparesis. Therapies for diabetic gastropathy, including drug and device studies, may need to take into account these physiologic differences when looking at therapeutic outcomes. Autonomic and enteric measure appear useful as part of the evaluation of patients with symptoms of diabetic gastropathy. Means GET (n =) T50 Sol VC RRI EGG PAR Very Delayed (24) 297.9* 44.4 10.8 3.19 25.1 Delayed (13) 201.6 58.9 10.4 3.50 27.5 Normal (19) 152.0 62.6 17.2 3.14 23.1 Rapid (15) 113.3 53.8 11.0 3.48 22.0 Very Rapid (16) 68.0 73.9 22.5 3.45 28.8 R values – 0.99 0.83 0.8 <0.2 P values – 0.0001 <0.001 <0.05 0.84
Aligning the representation and reality of computation with asynchronous logic automata

There are many models of computation, but they all share the same underlying laws of physics. Software can represent physical quantities, but is not itself written with physical units. This division in representations, dating back to the origins of computer science, imposes increasingly heroic measures to maintain the fiction that software is executed in a virtual world. I consider instead an alternative approach, representing computation so that hardware and software are aligned at all levels of description. By abstracting physics with asynchronous logic automata I show that this alignment can not only improve scalability, portability, and performance, but also simplify programming and expand applications.
New criterion of partial asymptotic stability in probability of stochastic differential equations

Autonomous system of stochastic differential equations dX(t)=f(X)dt+@?"i"="1^kg"i(X)dW"i(t) which has a zero solution X=0 is considered. It is assumed that there exists a positive definite with respect to part of the variables function V(X), such that corresponding operator LV is nonpositive. It is proved that if the set M"0={X:LV=0}@?{X:V(X)>0} does not include entire semitrajectories of the system (2.1) almost surely then the zero solution is asymptotically stable in probability with respect to part of the variables.
Survivin, cancer networks and pathway-directed drug discovery.

In the past 10 years, much has been learned about the biology of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin and its expression and roles in cancer. Does survivin function as a nodal protein in cancer networks, and does this make it a promising therapeutic target?
The treatment of an enuretic child in residential care

A study is presented in which conditioning is successfully used by a houseparent as a treatment for chronic nocturnal enuresis for a child in a residential facility. Data are plotted over an extended period and the point is made that, though the effect of the conditioning treatment was rapid and pronounced, persistence on the part of worker and child is needed if such procedures are to be applied properly. The effects of the method on other children in the facility, the results of changes in houseparents and fluctuations in bedtimes, and the cost of the program are discussed.
Living on the edge: Tuning supramolecular interactions to design two-dimensional organic crystals near the boundary of two stable structural phases

One of the benefits of supramolecular assemblies that form at dynamic interfaces is the opportunity to develop condensed phase systems that respond to environmental stimuli. A prerequisite of this responsive behavior is that the supramolecular system be designed to sit very near the stability of two or more crystal structures. We have created such a bi-phasic system with aryl-triazole oligomers by investigating how phase morphology is controlled by the interplay between interactions that involve the oligomer’s dipolar cores (Δμ = 3.5 debye), van der Waals contacts of their pendant alkyl chains (C4–C18), and close-contact hydrogen bonding. Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments conducted at the solution-graphite interface allow sub-molecular resolution of the ordered monolayers to unambiguously determine the packing and structure of two principle phases, α and β. The system is balanced very near the edge of phase stability, evidenced by co-existent phases present over short time frames and by the changes in preference between the two 2D supramolecular assemblies that occur with small modifications to the molecular structure. We demonstrate that the bi-phasic behavior can be understood as a balance between electrostatic interactions and van der Waals contacts, two variables within a larger parameter space, allowing synthetic design to move this solution-surface system across the stability boundary of different condensed-phase structures. These findings are a foundation for the development of environmentally responsive 2D supramolecular arrays.
A tetradecanuclear copper dimeric macrocyclic complex with a body-centred heptanuclear core-structure and magnetism

2,6-Diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane template condense in the presence of Cu(NO3)2 and azide to produce a 3 : 3 macrocyclic ring containing an unprecedented grouping of seven copper(II) ions within the macrocyclic cavity, with the seventh metal completing a body-centred heptanuclear lattice.
SOIL AERATION AS A FACTOR IN WATER ABSORPTION BY THE ROOTS OF TRANSPIRING PLANTS

The relation of soil aeration to water absorption by the roots of intact transpiring plants has been considered by a number of workers whose extensive writings have been the subject of brief reviews (2, 12, 19, 21). While a great variety of results and some conflicting data are reported, there is a general agreement that poor aeration decreases the rate of water absorption by plants and may produce wilting when transpiration is sufficiently rapid. In their reviews, Kramer (12) and Compton (2) suggest that inadequate aeration reduces water absorption as a result either of (1) a decreased permeability of the roots or (2) a decreased absorption surface as a result of the death of rootlets and of the cessation of root growth. Thus aeration may either directly influence the rate of water influx by affecting cellular activities, which control cell permeability, or indirectly affect water absorption as a result of aeration-induced secondary factors. Separation of the direct and indirect effects of aeration is difficult. The introduction of deficient aeration conditions will, among other changes, produce adjustments in the solute status and metabolic activity of the root cells, affect root growth, and result in the death of some, and ultimately all, of the root tissue. Though these secondary factors cannot be entirely avoided in studies using intact plants, their influence can be minimized by short-time experiments. The differences in root anatomy of water-culture and soil-grown roots (17) suggest the desirability of carrying out aeration studies with plants in soil whose moisture content is allowed to vary over the usual field range, i.e., approximately from field capacity to the permanent wilting percentage. However, the use of soil-grown plants in aeration experiments requires that careful attention be given to the effectiveness of aeration control obtained.
POLLINATOR SELECTION, QUANTITATIVE GENETICS, AND PREDICTED EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSES OF FLORAL TRAITS IN PENSTEMON CENTRANTHIFOLIUS (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

Much of the remarkable diversity of angiosperm flowers is thought to have evolved in response to selection by animal pollinators. Selection during pollination can readily be documented, but the extent to which it leads to evolutionary change depends on the genetic basis of floral traits. Here we combine estimates of genetic variance and covariance for several traits of flowers and inflorescences in a wild plant species, with estimates of natural selection by hummingbird pollinators. Analysis of phenotypic selection through two components of pollination success indicates direct selection of plants toward larger size and toward bearing shorter flowers that produce more nectar. Predictions of selection response that account for genetic correlations among traits generally exceed the simple predictions based on apparent selection and heritabilities of single traits. This underscores the importance of genetic correlations and demonstrates that univariate, strictly phenotypic, analyses of natural selection can b...
Gas chromatography of some nitrogen and sulfur heterocycles by means of silicone and bentone-silicone phases.

Abstract Gas chromatographic retention ratios are reported for 49 compounds in the thiophene, benzo( b )thiophene, pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, and thienopyridine ring systems, variously substituted with alkyl and halo groups. Stationary phases of Silicone DC 710 and of Bentone 34-Silicone DC 710 on Chromosorb were used at 128° and 180°. Retention ratio data for silicone are interpreted in terms of volatility of the substrate. Changes in retention ratios on going to Bentone-silicone are ascribed to adsorption to Lewis acidic sites (on the Bentone aluminosilicate sheets) by coordination of the heterocyclic nitrogen atom of the substrate molecule, particularly in the pyridine, quinoline, and thieno(2,3- b )-pyridine systems (studied most extensively).
Effects of source of macronutrients and plant growth regulator concentrations on shoot proliferation of Cornus florida

Nodal stem segments of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) were cultured on media containing seven different sources of macronutrients including full- and half-strength Murashige & Skoog (MS) macrosalts, N6, Anderson's (AND), Quoirin & Lepoivre's (LP), Nitsch & Nitsch (NIT), and Woody Plant Medium (WPM). All media contained MS micronutrients, Staba vitamins, 20 g l-1 sucrose, and 6.5 g l-1 Difco Bacto-agar, and were supplemented with 2.2 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.49 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Following three subcultures, the best shoot proliferation was supported on media containing WPM macronutrients. To optimize the proliferation rate, shoots were cultured on WPM macronutrients supplemented with eight combinations of BA and IBA, and 3.3 μM BA without IBA was determined to be the best.
The realistic costs and benefits of translational research.

The provocative essay by Maienschein and colleagues (2008) tends to an often overlooked area within the ethics of medical research—the ethics of the epistemic. They discuss the potentially distorti...
Ocean margin drilling—The current plan

The latest proposal for the Ocean Margin Drilling (OMD) Program calls for drilling 15 holes between 1984 and 1989, according to a draft of a report of a planning meeting held in Houston, March 3–7. Roughly two thirds of the program would be devoted to exploration of the passive margins, with the remaining third split about equally between active margins, paleoenvironment studies, and ocean crust studies (see list below). The program is thus fleshed out beyond the 6-hole schedule envisioned when budget cuts early this year eliminated riserless drilling in the Pacific and southern oceans.
Managing distributed ups energy for effective power capping in data centers

Power over-subscription can reduce costs for modern data centers. However, designing the power infrastructure for a lower operating power point than the aggregated peak power of all servers requires dynamic techniques to avoid high peak power costs and, even worse, tripping circuit breakers. This work presents an architecture for distributed per-server UPSs that stores energy during low activity periods and uses this energy during power spikes. This work leverages the distributed nature of the UPS batteries and develops policies that prolong the duration of their usage. The specific approach shaves 19.4% of the peak power for modern servers, at no cost in performance, allowing the installation of 24% more servers within the same power budget. More servers amortize infrastructure costs better and, hence, reduce total cost of ownership per server by 6.3%.
A subgroup of ankylosing spondylitis associated with hla-b7 in american blacks

In a study of 34 American black patients with primary ankylosing spondylitis, 18 were found to be HLA-B27-negative. Of these, 10 possessed HLA-B7 (55.6%) compared to 23.7% of 59 B27-negative black controls (P less than 0.025, relative risk = 4). On comparing these 10 B7-positive patients (group I) with 16 B27-positive black patients (group II), a difference in mean age at onset of disease was found: 33.6 years in group I and 22.2 years in group II (P less than 0.005). In addition, a family history of ankylosing spondylitis was absent in group I patients but present in 6 patients in group II (P = 0.034). These findings indicate an association between HLA-B7 and ankylosing spondylitis in American blacks and suggest that these patients who lack B27 but possess B7 represent a subgroup of patients with this disease.
Recruitment and retention of rural nursing students: a retrospective study.

Introduction : The shortage of registered nurses is an issue globally, but particularly in rural and remote areas. Previous research in medicine suggests that recruiting students from rural backgrounds is an effective strategy to enhance the supply of rural healthcare providers. This strategy has not been widely adopted or evaluated in nursing. The purpose of this study was to compare rural and urban nursing students in relation to application, admission, and retention/graduation trends at a metropolitan state university in the Pacific Northwest area of the USA. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal descriptive design was used, analyzing existing data from 2005 to 2010. The sample included 1283 applicants, accepted students, and graduates. Rural-urban classification was made using rural urban commuting area (RUCA) codes based on high school zip codes, identifying 356 (28%) rural and 927 (72%) urban individuals. The data were analyzed quantitatively, assessing demographic characteristics along with application, admission and retention/graduation rates. Results: The analysis indicated no significant differences between the rural and urban samples in relation to age, gender, parents’ level of education, income, or retention rates. The acceptance rate for rural students (66.3%) was significantly lower than for urban students (73.1%) ( p=0.015). When rural subgroups (isolated, small rural and large rural) were examined, the isolated group (n=61) had the highest acceptance rate of any rural or urban group (75%). This group was the least ethnically diverse (95% Caucasian), was the least likely to be first-generation college (22%), had the highest percentage of females (85%) and had the highest entering grade point average (3.65 on a four-point scale). In contrast, the subgroup including individuals from large rural communities ( n=182) had the lowest acceptance rate (64%), the lowest retention rate 85%, the lowest entering grade point average (3.42), and the highest percentage of first-generation college individuals (50.9%). Conclusions : The findings suggest that students from rural backgrounds achieve similar levels of success in nursing education, despite lower acceptance rates, when compared with urban students. Addressing issues related to lower acceptance rates for rural
Nomograms of the axial transverse diameter of the fetal foramen magnum between 14 and 40 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to create reference range nomograms of the axial transverse diameter of the fetal foramen magnum (TDFM) between 14 and 40 weeks' gestation. METHODS This cross-sectional study included pregnant patients between 14 and 41 weeks' gestation. Inclusion criteria consisted of well-established dates (confirmed by early sonography) and nonanomalous singleton fetuses with intact amniotic membranes. Sonographic measurements included biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, humerus length, transcerebellar diameter, and sonographically estimated fetal weight. Values of the TDFM were each calculated as the mean of 3 separate measurements. The 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles were estimated at each week of gestational age (GA) by least squares regression for the mean and SD of the TDFM as functions of GA. R(2) and associated P values for the relationships between the TDFM and other biometric measurements were calculated. RESULTS The study included 602 consecutive patients meeting the inclusion criteria. The mean maternal age +/- SD was 27.5 +/- 6.4 years; median gravidity, 3 (range, 1-12); and median parity, 1 (range, 0-7). The mean TDFM was 13.5 +/- 3.7 mm. The reference curve formulas for the mean and SD of the TDFM (mm) were TDFM = -12.58 + GA/0.5616 - GA(2)/24.9 + GA(3)/2430.7, and SD(TDFM) = 1.05 - GA/19.4 + GA(2)/588.8. The TDFM correlated significantly and strongly with biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, humerus length, femur length, transcerebellar diameter, and estimated fetal weight (all R(2) >or= 0.90; all P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS We present reference range nomograms of the TDFM between 14 and 40 weeks' gestation.
Sphincterlike Thoracoabdominal High Pressure Zone After Esophagogastrectomy

Abstract Background: The contribution of the crural diaphragm to the gastroesophageal high pressure zone (HPZ) may be important in prevention of gastroesophageal reflux. The purpose of this study was to investigate the manometric characteristics of the thoracoabdominal junction in patients after surgical removal of the lower esophageal sphincter. Methods: Ten patients with prior esophagogastrectomy were studied manometrically. Results: Esophageal manometry showed a HPZ and pressure inversion point distal to the anastomosis in 9 of 10 patients. Midrespiratory and end expiratory pressures were 14 ± 7 and 6 ± 4 mm Hg above Intra-abdominal pressure, respectively. Breath holding caused inhibition of the phasic pressure component. This HPZ relaxed partially in response to deglutition (60% ± 22%) and contracted in response to increased intraabdominal pressure induced by either leg lifts or abdominal compression (Δ HPZ/Δ intra-abdominal pressure=1.87 ± 0.64 and 1.96 ± 0.40, respectively). Conclusions: This study shows an HPZ at the thoracoabdominal junction after surgical removal of the lower esophageal sphincter. We suggest that this sphincterlike HPZ is due to the crural diaphragm.
Telemental Health in the Middle East: Overcoming the Barriers

The Middle East (ME) is a heterogeneous part of the world with variations in mental health services. The spectrum includes countries that have well (e.g., Israel), fair (e.g., Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia), or poor (e.g., Iraq, Syria) services according to the data provided by Jacob et al. (1) (number of psychiatrists per 100,000 population: Israel, 13.7; Bahrain, 5; Qatar, 3.4; Kuwait, 3.1; Lebanon, 2; UAE, 2; Iran, 1.9; Oman, 1.4; Saudi Arabia, 1.1; Turkey, 1; Jordan, 1; Iraq, 0.7; Syrian, 0.5; Yemen, 0.5; compared to USA, 13.7; Canada, 12; UK, 11). Given the disparities in mental health services there is a need to implement telemental health (TMH) in the ME. This article will discuss barriers of TMH in the ME and propose recommendations for implementation based on published studies and the author’s experience.
Equation of state of gluon plasma and renormalization of local action

We consider a local, renormalizable, BRST-invariant action for QCD in Coulomb gauge that contains auxiliary bose and fermi ghost fields. It possess a non-perturbative vacuum that spontaneously breaks BRST-invariance. The vacuum condition leads to a gap equation that introduces a mass scale. Calculations are done to one-loop order in a perturbative expansion about this vacuum. They are free of the finite-T infrared divergences found by Linde and which occur in the order g6 corrections to the Stefan-Boltzmann equation of state. We obtain a finite result for these corrections. Renormalization and renormalization-group flow are described. We calculate the ghost propagator and color-Coulomb potential to one-loop and find that they are long range, whereas the 3-dimensionally transverse would-be physical gluon propagator is suppressed like k2 at small |k|. These one-loop results accord with the Gribov scenario in Coulomb gauge and with recent numerical determinations of these quantities. When the auxiliary fields are integrated out, one obtains the standard Coulomb gauge action with a cut-off at the Gribov horizon.
Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in peritoneal fluid of women with minimal and mild endometriosis*

This prospective cohort study was carried out in a university-based infertility clinic to determine the profile of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in patients with mild endometriosis and no obvious mechanical factor contributing to infertility. A total of 26 patients with minimal and mild endometriosis and 10 controls contributed peritoneal fluid at surgery. The variety, expression and levels of IGFBPs were determined by radioimmunoassay and Western ligand blots (WLBs) with quantitation by laser densitometer. A 27 kDa species was significantly lower and a 31 kDa species tended to be lower in patients with endometriosis as determined by quantitative laser densitometer. The levels of IGFBP-3 detected by radioimmunoassay and by WLB were correlated in the control group and in the patients with endometriosis in the follicular phase but not in patients with endometriosis in the luteal phase. The level of 27 kDa species seen on WLBs did not appear to correspond to IGFBP-1 determined by radioimmunoassay and IGFBP-3 levels in luteal phase endometriosis patients also departed from values determined by radioimmunoassay. These discrepancies suggest a complex system to control levels of IGF in the peritoneum involving multiple binding proteins and proteases. The IGFBPs of patients with endometriosis may contribute to reproductive dysfunction and be able to serve as markers.
An Improved Model for Predicting Presidential Election Outcomes

There is probably no subject which has been studied more thoroughly by political scientists than American presidential elections. A vast literature has developed examining the effects of attitudes toward the parties, candidates, and issues on voter decision-making in these quadrennial contests (for a comprehensive review of this literature see Asher, 1988). Despite the proliferation of literature on this topic, however, relatively little research has addressed what is perhaps the most basic question about presidential elections: who wins and who loses?A few scholars have developed models for predicting the national outcomes of presidential elections. Brody and Sigelman (1983) proposed a model based on the incumbent president's approval rating in the final Gallup Poll before the election. This extremely simple model yielded an unadjusted R2 of .71. Hibbs (1982) proposed a different bivariate model based entirely on the trend in real per capita disposable income since the last presidential election. This model yielded an unadjusted R2 of .63. Thus, neither of these bivariate models proved to be highly accurate.Lewis-Beck and Rice (1984) have developed a forecasting model which combines economic conditions and presidential popularity, Their model, which uses the president's approval rating in May and the change in real per capita GNP during the second quarter of the election year to predict the popular vote for president, yields an unadjusted R2 of .82.
Identification of genomic regions contributing to etoposide-induced cytotoxicity.

Etoposide is routinely used in combination-based chemotherapy for testicular cancer and small-cell lung cancer; however, myelosuppression, therapy-related leukemia and neurotoxicity limit its utility. To determine the genetic contribution to cellular sensitivity to etoposide, we evaluated cell growth inhibition in Centre d’ Etude du Polymorphisme Humain lymphoblastoid cell lines from 24 multi-generational pedigrees (321 samples) following treatment with 0.02–2.5 μM etoposide for 72 h. Heritability analysis showed that genetic variation contributes significantly to the cytotoxic phenotypes (h 2 = 0.17–0.25, P = 4.9 × 10−5–7.3 × 10−3). Whole genome linkage scans uncovered 8 regions with peak LOD scores ranging from 1.57 to 2.55, with the most significant signals being found on chromosome 5 (LOD = 2.55) and chromosome 6 (LOD = 2.52). Linkage-directed association was performed on a subset of HapMap samples within the pedigrees to find 22 SNPs significantly associated with etoposide cytotoxicity at one or more treatment concentrations. UVRAG, a DNA repair gene, SEMA5A, SLC7A6 and PRMT7 are implicated from these unbiased studies. Our findings suggest that susceptibility to etoposide-induced cytotoxicity is heritable and using an integrated genomics approach we identified both genomic regions and SNPs associated with the cytotoxic phenotypes.
Adenovirus-mediated Tissue-targeted Expression of a Caspase-9-based Artificial Death Switch for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Clinical experience with suicide gene therapy for prostate cancer using first-generation approaches has provided a basis for developing improved strategies. Given the low proliferation rate exhibited by prostate cancer, one improvement would be to develop suicide genes that effectively kill both dividing and nondividing cells. A second improvement would be to restrict cytotoxicity to prostate cancer cells, limiting injury of nondiseased tissue. Here we describe a novel approach to achieving both goals based on: ( a ) the use of a small, but potent, prostate-specific composite promoter, ARR 2 PB, based on the rat probasin gene; and ( b ) the use of a powerful artificial death switch, called inducible caspase-9 (iCaspase-9). ARR 2 PB includes two copies of the androgen response region (ARR), each containing two androgen receptor (AR)-binding sites, placed upstream of the probasin promoter elements necessary for basal transcription. Because iCaspase-9 contains two binding sites for the dimeric ligand, AP20187, administration of chemical inducers of dimerization leads to aggregation and caspase activation, followed by rapid apoptosis in both dividing and nondividing cells. Using both reagents, we constructed two novel adenoviruses (ADVs), ADV.ARR 2 PB-iCasp9 expressing iCaspase-9 and control ADV.ARR 2 PB-EGFP expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We demonstrate that tissue specificity is not sacrificed in an ADV backbone because the marker protein, EGFP, is expressed in R1881-stimulated ADV.ARR 2 PB-EGFP-transduced LNCaP cells but not in AR − PC-3, 293, HuH-7, U-87, and MCF-7 cells. Similarly, Pro-iCaspase-9 is expressed in ADV.ARR 2 PB-iCasp9-infected LNCaP cells after R1881 administration and is activated after AP20187 administration. In vitro experiments revealed rapid and efficient iCaspase-9-induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells in both an R1881- and AP20187-dependent manner. Only 28, 8, and 0.5% survival of LNCaP cells was seen at multiplicities of infection of 2, 10, and 25, respectively. Furthermore, at a multiplicity of infection of 10, extraordinary sensitivity to AP20187 was seen (IC 50 , ∼3 pm). In vivo experiments showed that ADV.ARR 2 PB-iCasp9 induced apoptosis in LNCaP but not in HuH-7 xenograft tumors in an AP20187-dependent manner. Furthermore, a simple i.p. injection of AP20187 dramatically suppressed LNCaP tumor growth in nude mice and led to a significantly increased host survival. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using tissue-specific expression of cell cycle-independent iCaspases as a nonmutagenic alternative modality for prostate cancer suicide gene therapy.
A Grounded Theory of Relational Competencies and Creativity in Counseling: Beginning the Dialogue

Counselors and counselor educators are ethically bound to lifelong development of knowledge and skills that promote personal growth and relational development. The Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC) was established on the principles of relational-cultural theory (RCT), which addresses the role of relational competency in growth-fostering relationships. One of the association's principal goals is to identify and define specific relational competencies that support creative, innovative, inclusive, and relational practice. This article describes the initial research findings of a grounded theory study designed to explore the views and experiences of active ACC members concerning creativity and growth-fostering relational experiences, connections, and disconnections. The role of power is also discussed.
Differences in feedforward trunk muscle activity in subgroups of patients with mechanical low back pain.

Abstract Silfies SP, Mehta R, Smith SS, Karduna AR. Differences in feedforward trunk muscle activity in subgroups of patients with mechanical low back pain. Objective To investigate alterations in trunk muscle timing patterns in subgroups of patients with mechanical low back pain (MLBP). Our hypothesis was that subjects with MLBP would demonstrate delayed muscle onset and have fewer muscles functioning in a feedforward manner than the control group. We further hypothesized that we would find differences between subgroups of our patients with MLBP, grouped according to diagnosis (segmental instability and noninstability). Design Case-control. Setting Laboratory. Participants Forty-three patients with chronic MLBP (25 instability, 18 noninstability) and 39 asymptomatic controls. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Surface electromyography was used to measure onset time of 10 trunk muscles during a self-perturbation task. Trunk muscle onset latency relative to the anterior deltoid was calculated and the number of muscles functioning in feedforward determined. Results Activation timing patterns ( P P =.02; η=.30; 1-β=.83) were statistically different between patients with MLBP and controls. The control group activated the external oblique, lumbar multifidus, and erector spinae muscles in a feedforward manner. The heterogeneous MLBP group did not activate the trunk musculature in feedforward, but responded with significantly delayed activations. MLBP subgroups demonstrated significantly different timing patterns. The noninstability MLBP subgroup activated trunk extensors in a feedforward manner, similar to the control group, but significantly earlier than the instability subgroup. Conclusions Lack of feedforward activation of selected trunk musculature in patients with MLBP may result in a period of inefficient muscular stabilization. Activation timing was more impaired in the instability than the noninstability MLBP subgroup. Training specifically for recruitment timing may be an important component of the rehabilitation program.
Bioenergy Harvest, Climate Change, and Forest Carbon in the Oregon Coast Range

Forests provide important ecological, economic, and social services, and recent interest has emerged in the potential for using residue from timber harvest as a source of renewable woody bioenergy. The long-term consequences of such intensive harvest are unclear, particularly as forests face novel climatic conditions over the next century. We used a simulation model to project the long-term effects of management and climate change on above- and belowground forest carbon storage in a watershed in northwestern Oregon. The multi-ownership watershed has a diverse range of current management practices, including little-to-no harvesting on federal lands, short-rotation clear-cutting on industrial land, and a mix of practices on private nonindustrial land. We simulated multiple management scenarios, varying the rate and intensity of harvest, combined with projections of climate change. Our simulations project a wide range of total ecosystem carbon storage with varying harvest rate, ranging from a 45% increase to a 16% decrease in carbon compared to current levels. Increasing the intensity of harvest for bioenergy caused a 2–3% decrease in ecosystem carbon relative to conventional harvest practices. Soil carbon was relatively insensitive to harvest rotation and intensity, and accumulated slowly regardless of harvest regime. Climate change reduced carbon accumulation in soil and detrital pools due to increasing heterotrophic respiration, and had small but variable effects on aboveground live carbon and total ecosystem carbon. Overall, we conclude that current levels of ecosystem carbon storage are maintained in part due to substantial portions of the landscape (federal and some private lands) remaining unharvested or lightly managed. Increasing the intensity of harvest for bioenergy on currently harvested land, however, led to a relatively small reduction in the ability of forests to store carbon. Climate change is unlikely to substantially alter carbon storage in these forests, absent shifts in disturbance regimes.
Dietary Modulation of Cytokine Production and Biologic Functions

Cytokines play a key role as communication signals during both normal immunologic responses and pathologic conditions leading to infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases. Production and biologic function of cytokines are affected by changes in macro- and micronutrients. On the other hand, metabolic and catabolic consequences of the action of cytokines change nutrient status and the distribution of nutrients in tissues. The effect of some nutrients on cytokine production as well as some of the biologic effects of cytokines are mediated through metabolites of arachidonic acid (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, etc.). Other mechanisms involved in nutrient-induced changes of cytokines needs to be determined. Understanding the role of nutrients in cytokine production and biologic function during normal homeostasis, as well as under pathologic conditions, can help in designing proper dietary modification for the prevention and therapy of diseases.
Planes Of Reference In Roentgenographic Cephalometry

Abstract No Abstract Available. This investigation was supported by research Grant 1901FR0547-01 from the National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health.
Lingüística y filosofía de la ciência Linguistics and philosophy of science

El articulo pretende mostrar una vision historica del desarrollo de la Filosofia de la Ciencia y del metodo cientifico, asi como su aporte e influjo al desarrollo de la Linguistica, evidenciando, en su devenir, los cambios epistemologicos en las formas de hacer “ciencia del lenguaje”. Desde un trascendentalismo decimononico, al inmanentismo Saussureano y al advenimiento del modelo hipotetico deductivo, denominado: “Gramatica Generativo Transformacional”, visualizando en ella, la aplicacion estricta de los principios del racionalismo critico, dando paso al trabajo interdisciplinario y al posterior advenimiento de las disciplinas nuevas. En esta heterogeneidad surge una potencial ampliacion del objeto de estudio de la linguistica, para volver a otorgarle un sentido unitario.
The Political Determinants of Protest in Argentina

Recent events in Argentina represent an intriguing puzzle for students of contentious politics. Argentina ranks among Latin Americaﾒs most developed countries, boasting relatively high per capita income, impressive levels of education and human capital, and widespread support for democracy. Yet the contemporary political climate in this large South American nation is one of heated conflict between citizens and government, including widespread, and oftentimes violent, mass protest. These incidents thus raise an exceedingly important question: Why has Argentina experienced such high levels of protest in recent years? Utilizing data from the AmericasBarometer 2008 round of surveys, I propose and test a political institutional explanation of protest participation in Argentina. I argue that protest has become an integral component of the countryﾒs everyday political life, as Argentines have taken to the streets in response to inefficacious representative institutions. Thus, contrary to the common notion that Latin American protest movements are motivated by relative deprivation or the mobilization of resources, I find that protest can become part of the repertoire of conventional responses to an ineffective political system.
Approximating low-stretch spanners

Despite significant recent progress on approximating graph spanners (subgraphs which approximately preserve distances), there are still several large gaps in our understanding. We give new results for two of them: approximating basic k-spanner (particularly for small k), and the dependence on f when approximating f-fault tolerant spanners.We first design an O(n1/3)-approximation for 4-spanner (both basic and directed). This was the last value of k for which only an O([EQUATION])-approximation was known for basic k-spanner, and thus implies that for any k the approximation ratio is at most O(n1/3). For basic k-spanner, we also show an integrality gap for the natural flow-based LP (the main tool in almost all nontrivial spanner approximations) which nearly matches the trivial approximation of n [EQUATION].For f-fault tolerant spanners, we show that in the small-stretch setting (k ∈ {3, 4}) it is possible to entirely remove the dependence on f from the approximation ratio, at the cost of moving to bicriteria guarantees. The previous best dependence on f was either almost-linear (in the undirected setting) or exponential (in the directed setting for stretch 4).
Gramicidin A Mutants with Antibiotic Activity against Both Gram‐Positive and Gram‐Negative Bacteria

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown potential as alternatives to traditional antibiotics for fighting infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One promising example of this is gramicidin A (gA). In its wild-type sequence, gA is active by permeating the plasma membrane of Gram-positive bacteria. However, gA is toxic to human red blood cells at similar concentrations to those required for it to exert its antimicrobial effects. Installing cationic side chains into gA has been shown to lower its hemolytic activity while maintaining the antimicrobial potency. In this study, we present the synthesis and the antibiotic activity of a new series of gA mutants that display cationic side chains. Specifically, by synthesizing alkylated lysine derivatives through reductive amination, we were able to create a broad selection of structures with varied activities towards Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Importantly, some of the new mutants were observed to have an unprecedented activity towards important Gram-negative pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Psuedomonas aeruginosa.
Structural properties of random graph models

Many different random graph constructions are used to model large real life graphs. Often it is not clear, however, how the strength of the different models compare to each other, e.g., when does it hold that a certain model class contains another. We are particularly interested in random graph models that arise via abstract geometric constructions, motivated by the fact that these graphs can model certain wireless communication networks. We set up a general framework to compare the strength of random graph models, and present some results about the equality, inequality and proper containment of certain model classes, as well as some open problems.
Determinants of polydipsia: VI. Taste of the drinking solution on DRL

Three rats on DRL 30 for food developed polydipsia. One drank about the same amount of tap water, saccharine and quinine solutions, but more of saline. One drank about the same amount of water and quinine, but more of saccharine and saline. One drank more saccharine and saline, and less quinine, than water. Drinking in the first two Ss appears to have been controlled by factors additional to taste and thirst, but these appear adequate to explain the third S’s drinking.
Koch's Postulates — Then and Now

This story begins in the early 1880s. The germ theory of disease was fairly well established, although some experts continued to challenge it. For example, Theodor Billroth (1829–1894) of Vienna, often called the founding father of abdominal surgery, did not immediately accept the germ theory, but later embraced the concept and became very successful in many pioneering surgeries. Another critic was Max von Pettenkofer (1818–1901) of Bavaria, a noted experimental hygienist. In 1892, Pettenkofer openly challenged Robert Koch (1843– 1910) on his theories about Vibrio cholerae by drinking the contents of a flask containing the cholera bacillus. The flask had been given to Pettenkofer by Koch himself, but Pettenkofer did not contract cholera! Perhaps the biggest critic was the famous physician Rudolph Virchow (1821–1902) of Berlin. Virchow believed that diseased cells arose only from other diseased cells, and strongly opposed the germ theory of disease. Other skeptics could be cited, but the important point is that Koch was working in a controversial area of medicine and experimental research in the late 1800s.
Mixed convolved action variational principles in heat diffusion

Abstract A true variational formulation is developed for dissipative processes based upon the concept of mixed convolved action. Here the focus is on continuum problems associated with heat diffusion, as well as related second sound phenomena. The convolved action can overcome the shortcomings of typical action principles, such as Hamilton’s principle, to address dissipative processes without the need for separate dissipation functionals and ad hoc variational operations. In addition, the mixed convolved action is compatible with the initial and boundary conditions of a well-posed heat problem. In fact, the stationarity of the mixed convolved action is shown to provide the governing partial differential equations, the initial conditions and the boundary conditions as its Euler–Lagrange equations. Thus, the mixed convolved action encapsulates the entire description of the initial/boundary value heat problem. In addition to the theoretical significance, this new formulation can establish the basis for effective numerical methods, for example, involving finite element representations over both space and time. One particular two-dimensional formulation is developed here and then applied to two example problems to illustrate the viability of the proposed approach.
Using Eye-Tracking to Determine the Impact of Prior Knowledge on Self-Regulated Learning with an Adaptive Hypermedia-Learning Environment

Recent research on self-regulated learning SRL includes multi-channel data, such as eye-tracking, to measure the deployment of key cognitive and metacognitive SRL processes during learning with adaptive hypermedia systems. In this study we investigated how 147 college students' proportional learning gains PLGs, proportion of time spent on areas of interest AOIs, and frequency of fixations on AOI-pairs, differed based on their prior knowledge of the overall science content, and of specific content related to sub-goals, as they learned with MetaTutor. Results indicated that students with low prior sub-goal knowledge had significantly higher PLGs, and spent a significantly larger proportion of time fixating on diagrams compared to students with high prior sub-goal knowledge. In addition, students with low prior knowledge had significantly higher frequencies of fixations on some AOI-pairs, compared to students with high prior knowledge. The results have implications for using eye-tracking and other process data to understand the behavioral patterns associated with underlying cognitive and metacognitive SRL processes and provide real-time adaptive instruction, to ensure effective learning.
Adenovirus Gene Products that Affect Host Immune Mechanisms

The clinical and pathological manifestations of viral diseases are the net result of virus destruction or transformation of cells and the host immune responses to these infections. The role of specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, as well as nonspecific immune responses, in viral pathogenesis is not well understood (Sissons and Oldstone, 1985). Viruses present unique challenges to the immune system because all are intracellular pathogens; some directly infect cells of the immune system and some can establish persistent and/or latent infections. Viral infections may be unusually severe or persistent in immunocompromised hosts, especially those with T cell defects. In contrast, in the attempt to eradicate virus, the normal immune response in itself may cause pathology.