cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group preprogrammed systematic desensitization without the simultaneous presentation of aversive scenes with relaxation training.

Abstract This study investigated the assumption that it is necessary to simultaneously present muscle relaxation and aversive scenes in order for decrements in anxiety to occur. Utilizing 70 high test anxious students, the following treatment groups were delineated: (a) preprogrammed systematic desensitization, (b) non-simultaneous (scenes presented prior to muscle relaxation), (c) relaxation, and (d) no-treatment control. Self-report measures of test and general anxiety as well as college grades constituted the dependent measures. The results indicated that there tended to be no significant differences between the preprogrammed systematic desensitization and non-simultaneous groups on the dependent measures and that the latter group tended to show significant decrements in anxiety and obtain better grades than the relaxation and no-treatment control groups. These findings question the necessity of simultaneously pairing muscle relaxation and aversive scenes in treating anxiety by this method.
A comparison of meiofaunal settlement onto the sediment surface and recolonization of defaunated sandy sediment

Abstract Meiofaunal drift (above-sediment transport) and recolonization of disturbed sediments have been examined separately in numerous studies. No studies have attempted to follow both events simultaneously. This issue is important because many recolonizing meiofauna arrive via above-sediment pathways and recolonization rates may depend largely on the number of available recolonizers settling onto the sediment surface. In this study, estimates of the densities of meiofauna settling onto the sediment surface at different stages of a tide were made using cylindrical, settlement traps buried flush to the sediment surface. At the same location and over the same tide, cores were taken of previously defaunated sediment to quantify meiofaunal recolonization. Significantly greater numbers of meiofauna were found in settlement traps at flood tide, which corresponded to the time by which most individuals had recolonized the defaunated sediment. Relative proportions of the more abundant taxa were more similar between recolonized and ambient sediments than with either of these two versus the settlement traps. Only one taxon, ostracods, approached ambient densities in the recolonized sediment by the end of the sampling period: recolonization densities of all other taxa were significantly lower than ambient densities. Harpacticoid copepods generally displayed patterns of abundance in both settlement traps and recolonized sediment that were different than other taxa. The estimated density of settling meiofauna greatly exceeded the observed density of recolonizing meiofauna at each of four tidal periods (flood, high, ebb, and low tides). The large surplus of potential over actual recolonizers indicates that, on the sandflat examined, other factors, perhaps meiofaunal behavior or microbial dynamics, are more important in determining recolonization rates than the magnitude of meiofaunal drift.
Storage and delivery constrained unit commitment

A general formulation and the development of a dynamic programming algorithm to solve a fuel-constrained unit commitment problem is presented. The system under consideration has oil units with storage constraints, gas units with delivery constraints, and unconstrained coal units. An optimal approach to transfer the fuel delivery constraints into unit capacity limits using a closed-form dual dispatch is introduced. As a result, the gas units can be viewed as fuel-unconstrained, thus greatly reducing complexity. It is shown that the optimization problem, which requires that storage levels be parameterized, leads to two different dispatch rules. The oil units are dispatched to maximize the power they generate for a binding fuel amount or cost, whereas the gas and coal units are economically dispatched to provide for the remaining power. In addition to the standard constraints, the system is required to meet a minimum system spinning reserve. Test results are provided to illustrate the merits of the proposed method.
Effects of proactive population-based nephrologist oversight on progression of chronic kidney disease: a retrospective control analysis

Benefits of early nephrology care are well-established, but as many as 40% of U.S. patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) do not see a nephrologist before its onset. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of proactive, population-based nephrologist oversight (PPNO) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Retrospective control analysis of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii members with CKD using propensity score matching methods. We matched 2,938 control and case pairs of individuals with stage 3a CKD for the pre-PPNO period (2001–2004) and post-PPNO period (2005–2008) that were similar in other characteristics: age, gender, and the presence of diabetes and hypertension. After three years, we classified the stage outcomes for all individuals. We assessed the PPNO effect across all stages of progression with a χ 2- test. We used the z-score test to assess the proportional differences in progression within a stage. The progression within the post-PPNO period was less severe and significantly different from the pre-PPNO period (p = 0.027). Within the stages, there were 2.6% more individuals remaining in 3a in the post-period (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5% to 3.8%; P value < 0.00001). Progression from 3a to 3b was 2.2% less in the post-period (95% [CI], 0.7% to 3.6%; P value = 0.0017), 3a to 4/5 was 0.2% less (95% CI, 0.0% to 0.87%; P value = 0.26), and 3a to ESRD was 0.24% less (95% CI, 0.0% to 0.66%, P value = 0.10). Proactive, population-based nephrologist oversight was associated with a statistically significant decrease in progression. With enabling health information technology, risk stratification and targeted intervention by collaborative primary and specialty care achieves population-level care improvements. This model may be applicable to other chronic conditions.
Reductionism: Its Prodigal Encores

It seems that psychologists must continually revisit the endless debate on reductionism between sciences. This periodic compulsion to establish the locus (or is it status) of psychology in a hierarchy of sciences appeared under a new guise in a recent article by Jessor (4). He argues that the principles of the various sciences are not logically derivdble from each other; in particular, that there are certain logical "barriers" to the derivation of psychological from physiological explanation. There is an admission that the future development of these sciences may result in one encompassing the other, but this is called an empiricul consideration. The stipulation of connecting laws between the concepts of different sciences is also considered a fzctare empirical question. Yet the lack of such connecting laws is considered a present logical impediment to the derivation of one science from another. Jessor states that " . . . the absence in contemporary physiology of any system for describing the functional environment or context of behavior would seem to preclude, on bogicul grozcnds alone, any complete reduction of psychology to physiology" (4, p. 173), but he says that connecting laws between the sciences " . . . have the character of empiricul laws" (4, p. 173 ) . Apparently, what is a logical question today is said to be a factual one tomorrow. Logically derivable is properly a time independent notion that refers to potential syntactical priority. It is felt that such an incongruity results at least in part from Jessor's ambiguity in the use of the term "logic." Although as Carnap states, it may be an acceptable convention to include in the term logic, " . . . the semantical analysis of the designata of expressions . . . ," as well as the formal or syntactical investigation (2, p. 410), to ignore this distinction may result in confusion of formal and empirical questions. The present authors hope that a fictional development of a pair of hypothetical sciences may serve to clarify the necessity of recognizing this distinction. Once upon a time in a not so fictional universe there existed two sciences. These thoroughly fictional sciences were known as whoozitry and widgitology. Whoozitry was a very old and well established scientific discipline with refined and standardized techniques of investigation, whereas widgitology was a relatively recent upstart. As the young in heart are often wont to be, widgitology was impulsive and very critical of the rest of the scientific community, particularly with regard to their rigid tradition of scientific investigatory techniques. Whoozitists were very secure in their long tradition whereas widgitologists were very conscious of their lack of such status. Mhoozitists tended to ignore widgitology, brushing it off as a passing fad.
Analysis of the serum antibody responses to type 1 and type 2 fimbriae in mice immunized with Actinomyces viscosus T14V

The antibody responses of inbred mice immunized with Actinomyces viscosus T14V cells were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISAs) for measuring serum antibodies reactive with A. viscosus T14V cells and type 1 and type 2 fimbriae. In A/J mice immunized intraperitoneally on days 0 and 14, the serum antibody responses approached peak levels during d 19-35, and a dose of 10(8) cells/injection elicited optimal responses. Analysis of the responses of three genetically diverse strains of inbred mice indicated striking variations in the amounts of anti-type 1 (6.5-fold) and anti-type 2 (14.3-fold) antibodies elicited. The observed variations in the magnitude of the anti-fimbrial antibody responses are theoretically of sufficient magnitude to account for significant differences between mouse strains in their ability to inhibit adherence of A. viscosus T14V to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and other bacteria. These studies provide a model with which the effects of variations in anti-fimbrial antibody responses on bacterial adherence may be analyzed.
Influence of market orientation and strategy on travel industry performance: an empirical study of e-commerce in Taiwan

Abstract The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of strategy and market orientation on the performance of the travel industry. Using the Taiwanese travel industry’s electronic commerce as a primary research target, this paper will use the “contingency–structure–result” framework. Employing factor analysis and the Linear Structural Relations method for verification, the results indicate that the marketing departments still possess influence, and that strategy and market orientation affect performance through “customization” and “marketing influence”.
Assessment of small fatigue crack growth driving forces in single crystals with and without slip bands

Strain localization under low amplitude cyclic loading is a manifestation of plastic irreversible deformation associated with early crack growth. However, traditional constitutive models cannot usually reproduce strain localization in smooth single crystals, which can affect crack growth predictions for crystallographic fatigue cracks. This work analyzes the influence of bands of localized plastic shear strain on the cyclic crack tip displacement and on a fatigue indicator parameter by making special provision of a crack along the interface of a deformation band. Furthermore, the quality of local and volume-averaged fatigue indicator parameters are assessed using finite element models of a Cu single crystal cycled to induce plastic deformation under multiple loading conditions.
Clinical results and in vivo valve function after implantation of a bicer valve prosthesis in the aortic position

Abstract Between December 1981 and June 1987, 71 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with a Bicer monostrut tilting disc prosthesis. Clinical results and in vivo function of the artificial valve were assessed. The average age of the 71 patients at the time of operation was 51.3 ± 11.5 years. The hospital mortality rate was 2.8% (two patients) and there were no further deaths during a mean (±SD) follow-up period of 2.4 ± 1.6 years (range 1 month to 5.5 years) after surgery. There was also no occurrence of thromboembolism or valve dysfunction. Function of the Bicer valve prosthesis was assessed in 17 patients: 5 with a 21 mm valve, 7 with a 23 mm valve and 5 with a 25 mm valve. Examination was performed on average 10.3 ± 8.1 months after surgery. Valve function was examined at rest and during exercise performed with a bicycle ergometer. Pressure gradients at rest were low: 21 mm valve = 8 mm Hg, 23 mm valve = 3 mm Hg and 25 mm valve = 2 mm Hg; the gradients during exercise were 11, 8 and 8 mm Hg, respectively. The valves had the following effective orifice area at rest: 21 mm valve = 1.54 cm', 23 mm valve = 4.20 cm2 and 25 mm valve = 3.76 cm2; during exercise, the respective areas were 1.57, 3.48 and 3.01 cm2. These valves are deemed to be sufficiently wide for effective valve function. Aortographic observation indicated mild regurgitation that was within reasonable limits and posed no problem. On the basis of these results, particularly in light of its low resistance, the Bicer valve prosthesis is considered an excellent prosthesis for use in the aortic position.
Diurnal variation of common behaviors of pigtail monkeys (Macaca nemestrina)

Diurnal variation of eight common behaviors was studied in a social group of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina). In agreement with previous work, all behaviors showed marked variation throughout the day, and differences between day and night levels were significant for most behaviors. Several significant inter-behavior correlations were found which suggested that common factors were major determinants of groups of behaviors. Significant correlations between separate diurnal cycles of sleep, grooming, and general activity demonstrated that these behaviors were among the most consistent with respect to diurnal cycles. The results point to the usefulness of diurnal studies in planning primate research designs, e.g., in controlling for variables associated with diurnal cycles.
Temperature-jump studies of Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin: kinetics of FMN binding and of reduction of semiquinone by methyl viologen.

Abstract Temperature-jump relaxation spectrometry has been used with the flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris to investigate the kinetics of FMN binding to apoprotein and of reduction of half-reduced to fully-reduced protein by methyl viologen. FMN binding was characterized by a single, concentration dependent, exponential relaxation which corresponded to a diminution of flavin fluorescence intensity. This implies the absence of detectable intermediates during coenzyme binding and a positive enthalpy of binding. The latter was confirmed by microcalorimetry and fluorometric titration studies at two temperatures. The reduction of the half-reduced holoprotein also displayed simple exponential kinetics, again implying the absence of intermediates. The results of these studies are compared with earlier work with other flavodoxins.
Effect of increasing dialyzer mass transfer area coefficient and dialysate flow on clearance of protein-bound solutes: a pilot crossover trial.

Background Protein-bound solutes are poorly cleared by means of conventional hemodialysis because protein binding limits the "free" solute concentration driving diffusion. This study tested the modeled prediction that clearances of bound solutes could be increased by increasing the dialyzer mass transfer area coefficient (K o A) and dialysate flow (Q d ) to greater than the levels used in conventional practice. Study Design Pilot crossover trial. Setting & Participants 6 stable long-term hemodialysis patients. Intervention Study participants underwent an experimental dialysis treatment in which K o A and Q d were increased by using 2 dialyzers in series and supplying each dialyzer with a Q d of 800 mL/min by using 2 dialysis machines. Experimental clearances were compared with those during a conventional treatment with a single dialyzer and Q d of 800 mL/min supplied by 1 machine. Outcomes Measured clearances of uremic solutes. Measurements Clearances were measured for urea nitrogen and the bound solutes p -cresol sulfate, indoxyl sulfate, kynurenic acid, and hippurate. Results Clearances for the bound solutes during conventional treatment were lower than for urea nitrogen (clearance values: urea nitrogen, 255 ± 16 mL/min; p -cresol sulfate, 23 ± 4 mL/min; indoxyl sulfate, 30 ± 7 mL/min; kynurenic acid, 43 ± 4 mL/min; and hippurate, 115 ± 11 mL/min). Experimental treatment increased clearances of all solutes (clearance values: urea nitrogen, 318 ± 19 mL/min; p -cresol sulfate, 37 ± 6 mL/min; indoxyl sulfate, 46 ± 8 mL/min; kynurenic acid, 73 ± 7 mL/min; and hippurate, 165 ± 17 mL/min). The magnitude of the increases in clearance was greater for bound solutes than for urea nitrogen (increase in clearance: urea nitrogen, 25% ± 6%; p -cresol sulfate, 66% ± 19%; indoxyl sulfate, 57% ± 27%; kynurenic acid, 69% ± 5%; and hippurate, 44% ± 15%). Limitations A longer term study would be required to determine whether increased dialytic clearance of bound solutes leads to a decrease in plasma solute levels. Conclusions Dialytic clearance of protein-bound solutes can be increased by increasing K o A and Q d to greater than conventional levels.
A new era for ab initio molecular crystal lattice energy prediction.

From first principles: In recent studies the lattice energy of crystalline benzene was predicted with sub-kilojoule per mole accuracy. Fundamental to this success was the combination of a fragment approach with state-of-the-art electronic structure methods.
Loss of the pigmentation phenotype in Yersinia pestis is due to the spontaneous deletion of 102 kb of chromosomal DNA which is flanked by a repetitive element

The pigmentation (Pgm+) phenotype of Yersinia pestis encompasses a variety of different physiological traits, all of which are missing in Pgm- mutants. We have previously shown that loss of the Pgm+ phenotype is accompanied by the spontaneous deletion of at least 45 kb of chromosomal DNA, referred to as the pgm locus. Using chromosomal walking, we have now mapped the full extent of the pgm locus in Y. pestis strain KIM6+. Our results indicate that the locus spans 102 kb of DNA which is absent in the spontaneous Pgm- mutant, KIM6. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis PB1/0 contains sequences homologous to the entire pgm locus while only part of this region hybridized to Yersinia enterocolitica WA-LOX DNA. Restriction enzyme mapping and hybridization studies revealed the presence of a repetitive element at both ends of the pgm locus and in multiple copies elsewhere in the Y. pestis genome. This element may be responsible for generating the deletion.
The Effect of Copper on the Growth of Bacteria Isolated from Marine Environments

The use of copper may prove feasible for the control of catastrophic fish mortalities associated with blooms of Gymnodinium brevis. Prerequisite is knowledge of the effect that relatively high concentrations of copper may have on the marine community as a whole. In this study the effect of copper on the growth of 145 marine bacteria was measured. All of the bacteria grew in a medium containing copper in concentrations up to 0.25 mg/L. This concentration was compared to the in vivo (0.2 mg/L) and in vitro (0.1 mg/L) lethal dose of copper for G. brevis. In addition, the growth of approximately 4 per cent of the bacteria was stimulated by this concentration of copper.
Mitral valve repair with the MitraClip device after prior surgical mitral annuloplasty.

While mitral valve repair using the MitraClip device is currently being evaluated in the EVEREST trials, surgical approaches to mitral regurgitation remain the standard of care, at least for operative candidates. Two patients in whom previous surgical annuloplasty failed to maintain MR reduction and who were treated with the MitraClip device after mitral valve repair surgery are described. Imaging and hemodynamic considerations associated with this approach are discussed. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The relationship of salt and diet to diastolic hypertension.

I NDIC.~TIONS that a relationship existed between the amount of salt and the nature of the diet ingested and hypertension date from the earliest )-ears of the present century. The earliest observations were based on the usually low blood pressure noted in tuberculous patients and the elevation in blood pressure which followed the administration of salt to such patients. It was also noted that the use of diets limited to a single item, usually a fruit, resulted in improvement in severely ill hypertensive patients. This gave rise to the so-called “Obst digit” as a treatment for hypertension. More convincing evidence of the effectiveness of salt restriction in hypertension was presented by Allen and Sherrill’ in 1917, and by Martini2 in 1938. The reluctance to acknowledge a relationship between salt intake and diastolic hypertension until relatively recently was a consequence of several factors. In the first place, there was no apparent rationale for the existence of such a relationship, and dietotherapy, in general, was not considered to be of scientific significance. Moreover, the difficulty of analyzing sodium until the advent of the flame photometer discouraged investigation in this field. Finally, the role of sodium in the animal economy was little appreciated and hence there was no theoretical basis or rationale for the concept that sodium restriction might lower the blood pressure in hypertension. The dietary management of hypertension received a new impetus following the demonstration in 1944 of the effectiveness of a rice diet by Kempner3 who attributed the effects of this diet to its low and unique protein content. Grollman and Harrison4 demonstrated the capacity of drastic sodium restriction to lower the blood pressure and prolong the survival of hypertensive rats. They demonstrated that this effect of a monotonous diet was not limited to rice but could be obtained by other salt-free foods or simply by the restriction of sodium, and that it was the sodium rather than the chloride ion which was responsil)le for the hypotensive effects of such diets. By the use of dialyzed milk and other foods low in sodium content, it was possible to prepare nutritionally adequate diets extremely low in sodium content for clinical use.5s6 During the subsequent decade, little attention was paid to the use of sodium restriction in the treatment of hypertension. However, the recognition of the importance of electrolyte and water metabolism in the animal economy, of the role of the adrenal glands in regulating this metabolic function, and the effects of electrolytes and the adrenal glands on blood pressure renewed interest in the field and suggested a possible role for sodium in the pathogenesis and treatment of hypertension.7-g
Calibration Method for Open-Ended Coaxial Probe/Nector Network Analyzer System

The vector network analyzer readily lends itself to a variety of techniques for measuring material properties. The open-ended coaxial probe is one technique that allows swept frequency measurements of permittivity. The open-ended coaxial probe technique requires little or no sample preparation and can make non-destructive measurements on a variety of materials. It is especially suited for materials in liquid or semi-solid form. An understanding of network analyzer calibration and the coaxial probe model provides insight into calibration techniques that minimize systematic errors. This understanding also.facilitates the extension of measurement conditions beyond normal measurement constraints leading to a simple procedure which provides a first order correction of perturbations to the systematic errors.
The NP-hardness of finding a directed acyclic graph for regular resolution

Let R be a resolution refutation, given as a sequence of clauses without explicit description of the underlying dag. Then, it is NP-complete to decide whether R is a regular resolution refutation.
on the uses of relativism: fact, conjecture, and black and white histories at Colonial Williamsburg

At Colonial Williamsburg, the idea that histories are interpretations that change in relation to changing social circumstances competes with a notion of history as “just the facts.” The first approach, historical relativism, is more frequently enunciated in presentations of African-American history than in presentations of the history of the founding fathers. The museum thus asserts that black history is “conjectural,” but it continues to present mainstream history as factual. Ironically, then, multiculturalism (the inclusion of a previously excluded group) and relativism work to shore up the legitimacy of mainstream history by making it seem more real and truthful than the history of other groups. [museums, African-American history, public history, cultural relativism, multiculturalism, Colonial Williamsburg]
Sunspot cycle 23 descent to an unusual minimum and forecasts for cycle 24 activity

Abstract The decay phase of the sunspot cycle 23 exhibited two unusual features. First, it lasted too long. Second, the interplanetary magnetic field intensity at earth orbit reached the lowest value since in situ measurements in space began in October 1963. These physical anomalies significantly altered the early forecasts for the sunspot activity parameters for cycle 24, made by several colleagues. We note that there was a significant change in the solar behavior during cycle 22. We discuss the observed trends and their effect on our empirical solar activity forecast technique, leading to our prediction for cycle 24 parameters; cycle 24 will be only half as active as cycle 23, reaching its peak in May 2013. We speculate on the possible implications of this outcome on future earth climate change and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.
Validation of a model of a resonant optothermoacoustic trace gas sensor

A model for a resonant optothermoacoustic sensor is validated by comparison with experiments performed with 0.5% acetylene in nitrogen. At low concentrations, the molecular dynamics of the trace gas do not influence the signal.
Human mesenchymal stem cells suppress chronic airway inflammation in the murine ovalbumin asthma model

Allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) introduced intravenously can have profound anti-inflammatory activity resulting in suppression of graft vs. host disease as well as regenerative events in the case of stroke, infarct, spinal cord injury, meniscus regeneration, tendinitis, acute renal failure, and heart disease in human and animal models of these diseases. hMSCs produce bioactive factors that provide molecular cuing for: 1) immunosuppression of T cells; 2) antiscarring; 3) angiogenesis; 4) antiapoptosis; and 5) regeneration (i.e., mitotic for host-derived progenitor cells). Studies have shown that hMSCs have profound effects on the immune system and are well-tolerated and therapeutically active in immunocompetent rodent models of multiple sclerosis and stroke. Furthermore, intravenous administration of MSCs results in pulmonary localization. Asthma is a major debilitating pulmonary disease that impacts in excess of 150 million people in the world with uncontrolled asthma potentially leading to death. In addition, the socioeconomic impact of asthma-associated illnesses at the pediatric and adult level are in the millions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost days of work. hMSCs may provide a viable multiaction therapeutic for this inflammatory lung disease by secreting bioactive factors or directing cellular activity. Our studies show the effectiveness and specificity of the hMSCs on decreasing chronic airway inflammation associated with the murine ovalbumin model of asthma. In addition, the results from these studies verify the in vivo immunoeffectiveness of hMSCs in rodents and support the potential therapeutic use of hMSCs for the treatment of airway inflammation associated with chronic asthma.
Transcriptional robustness complements nonsense-mediated decay in humans.

by a single transcription error. Cusack et al. refer to these codons as fragile. The remaining 43 sense codons are robust. Amino acids can similarly be classified as fragile, robust ,o rfacultative: amino acids that can only be encoded by fragile codons are fragile, amino acids that can only be encoded by robust codons are robust, and amino acids that can be encoded by either fragile or robust codons are facultative. There are six fragile amino acids, ten robust amino acids, and four facultative amino acids. Since the facultative amino acids can be encoded with either fragile or robust codons, one way to reduce the risk of premature termination is to encode facultative amino acids preferentially with robust codons. A second level of protection comes from aminoacid choice. Proteins can be quite tolerant to amino-acid substitutions, and thus decreasing the number of fragile amino acids in favor of either more robust amino acids or facultative amino acids encoded by robust codons will also reduce the risk of premature termination. What Cusack et al. have shown is that the frequency of
Dielectric Properties of Piezoelectric Polyimides

Molecular modeling and dielectric measurements are used to identify mechanisms governing piezoelectric behavior in polyimides such as dipole orientation during poling and degree of piezoelectricity achievable. Molecular modeling on polyimides containing pendant, polar nitrile (CN) groups has been completed to determine their remanent polarization. Experimental investigation of dielectric properties evaluated as a function of temperature and frequency has substantiated numerical predictions. With this information, we are able to suggest changes in the molecular structures which will improve the piezoelectric response.
Cytotoxic Cells Kill Intracellular Bacteria through Granulysin-Mediated Delivery of Granzymes

SUMMARY When killer lymphocytes recognize infected cells, perforin delivers cytotoxic proteases (granzymes) into the target cell to trigger apoptosis. What happens to intracellular bacteria during this process is unclear. Human, but not rodent, cytotoxic granules also contain granulysin, an antimicrobial peptide. Here, we show that granulysin delivers granzymes into bacteria to kill diverse bacterial strains. In Escherichia coli, granzymes cleave electron transport chain complex I and oxidative stress defense proteins, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that rapidly kill bacteria. ROS scavengers and bacterial antioxidant protein overexpression inhibit bacterial death. Bacteria overexpressing a GzmBuncleavable mutant of the complex I subunit nuoF or strains that lack complex I still die, but more slowly, suggesting that granzymes disrupt multiple vital bacterial pathways. Mice expressing transgenic granulysin are better able to clear Listeria monocytogenes. Thus killer cells play an unexpected role in bacterial defense.
Glutamine in the Fetus and Critically Ill Low Birth Weight Neonate: Metabolism and Mechanism of Action

Of all the amino acids, glutamine is the most versatile. Studies in the maternal-fetal-placental unit demonstrate that both glutamine and glutamate play an important role in fetal and placental metabolism. If an infant is born very prematurely, the supply of glutamine from the mother is suddenly interrupted. The infant is dependent on endogenous synthesis or an exogenous supply of glutamine to meet the challenges of the external environment and a tripling of body weight in the first 3-4 mo of life. Studies of glutamine supplementation in low birth weight infants and critically ill adults suggest benefits, especially in terms of decreased nosocomial infections. Two large multicenter trials are currently underway that are designed to address these potential benefits in very low birth weight infants. These trials will not explain the mechanism of action. This review raises hypotheses about the role of the amide nitrogen of glutamine for nucleotide and glucosamine synthesis in the small intestine and how this might relate to greater integrity of the intestinal mucosa, hence preventing bacterial translocation and/or the subsequent proinflammatory response that might lead to multiorgan failure.
Design and experimental tests of control strategies for active hybrid fuel cell/battery power sources

Twenty-first century handheld electronic devices and new generations of electric vehicles or electric airplanes have fueled a need for new high-energy, high-power, small-volume, and lightweight power sources. Current battery technology by itself is insufficient to provide the mandatory long-term power these systems require. Fuel cells are also unable to provide the essentially high peak power demanded by these systems. Hybrid systems composed of fuel cells and secondary batteries could combine the high power density of clean fuel cells and the high energy density of convenient batteries. This paper presents an experimental study on control strategies for active power sharing in such a hybrid fuel cell/battery power source. These control strategies limited the fuel cell current to safe values while also regulating the charging current or voltage of the battery. The several tested control strategies were implemented in MATLAB/Simulink and then tested under the pulsed-current load condition through experiments. Experimental tests were conducted with three control objectives: maximum fuel cell power, maximum fuel cell efficiency, and adaptive.
The genus of the complete multipartite graph and the complete multi-layered graph

The complete multipartite graph and the complete multi-layered graph are both generalizations of the complete bipartite graph. These two kinds of graphs have recursive structure and offer a very flexible choice of network size with respect to a fixed network order. This paper addresses the genus of the complete multipartite graph and the complete multi-layered graph which measures how efficiently we can set up a computer network using these graph layouts.
Endogenous ABA maintains shoot growth in tomato independently of effects on plant water balance: evidence for an interaction with ethylene

To examine whether the reduced shoot growth of abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutants of tomato is independent of effects on plant water balance, flacca and notabilis were grown under controlled-humidity conditions so that their leaf water potentials were equal to or higher than those of well-watered wild-type plants throughout development. Most parameters of shoot growth remained markedly impaired and root growth was also greatly reduced. Additional experiments with flacca showed that shoot growth substantially recovered when wild-type levels of ABA were restored by treatment with exogenous ABA, even though improvement in leaf water potential was prevented. The ability of applied ABA to increase growth was greatest for leaf expansion, which was restored by 75%. The ethylene evolution rate of growing leaves was doubled in flacca compared to the wild type and treatment with silver thiosulphate to inhibit ethylene action partially restored shoot growth. The results demonstrate that normal levels of endogenous ABA are required to maintain shoot development, particularly leaf expansion, in well-watered tomato plants, independently of effects on plant water balance. The impairment of shoot growth caused by ABA deficiency is at least partly attributable to ethylene.
Solution viscosity effects on the heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics of ferrocenemethanol in dimethyl sulfoxide-water mixtures

The electrochemical kinetics for the oxidation of ferrocenemethanol (FcCH2OH) over the whole composition range of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-water solutions of different viscosities ( ) containing 50.0 mM (CH3)4NClO4 (TMAP) at a Pt microelectrode was studied using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The measured diffusion coefficient, DFcCH2OH, as well as the standard rate constant of the heterogeneous electron transfer, k 0 , as a function of solution composition, showed a minimum at about a DMSO molar fraction (xDMSO) of 0.33, corresponding to the mixture with the maximum solution viscosity. The largest k 0 value found, 2.06 ( 0.31 cm s -1 in pure water (electrolyte) medium, was about 15 times larger than that obtained in the solution of xDMSO ) 0.33 (0.14 ( 0.02 cm s -1 ). A good linear correlation between ln k 0 and ln was observed within the solution composition range of 0.10 e xDMSO e 0.60. An excellent linear correlation between ln k 0 and ln UL, the longitudinal relaxation time, was also obtained with a slope equal to 1.0 when xDMSO ) 0-0.60. Unusually small rate constants found in the solutions of xDMSO g 0.70 were attributed to adsorption effects at the tip and the substrate electrode. The k 0 obtained for the present system was generally found to be inversely proportional to the viscosity of the solution and directly proportional to the diffusion coefficient of the electroactive species.
Visual fixations and the computation and comparison of value in simple choice

Most organisms facing a choice between multiple stimuli will look repeatedly at them, presumably implementing a comparison process between the items' values. Little is known about the nature of the comparison process in value-based decision-making or about the role of visual fixations in this process. We created a computational model of value-based binary choice in which fixations guide the comparison process and tested it on humans using eye-tracking. We found that the model can quantitatively explain complex relationships between fixation patterns and choices, as well as several fixation-driven decision biases.
Assembly of the RAG1/RAG2 Synaptic Complex

Assembly of antigen receptor genes by V(D)J recombination requires the site-specific recognition of two distinct DNA elements differing in the length of the spacer DNA that separates two conserved recognition motifs. Under appropriate conditions, V(D)J cleavage by the purified RAG1/RAG2 recombinase is similarly restricted. Double-strand breakage occurs only when these proteins are bound to a pair of complementary signals in a synaptic complex. We examine here the binding of the RAG proteins to signal sequences and find that the full complement of proteins required for synapsis of two signals and coupled cleavage can assemble on a single signal. This complex, composed of a dimer of RAG2 and at least a trimer of RAG1, remains inactive for double-strand break formation until a second complementary signal is provided. Thus, binding of the second signal activates the complex, possibly by inducing a conformational change. If synaptic complexes are formed similarly in vivo, one signal of a recombining pair may be the preferred site for RAG1/RAG2 assembly.
Influence of grain size, solute atoms and second-phase particles on creep behavior of polycrystalline solids

Abstract Diffusion-controlled-creep processes are used to assess the creep behavior of dispersion and solute hardened materials at coarse and fine grain sizes. It is shown that the creep behavior of a dispersion strengthened (DS) Al–Mg alloy is similar to the creep behavior of pure Al–Mg alloys. Both materials show dislocation climb and dislocation solute-drag contributions to creep. It is shown that the threshold stress for creep for these materials is a function of the mobile dislocation density, of the dislocation velocity and of the concentration of solute atoms in the dislocation core. It is, therefore, appropriate to describe the threshold stress as the threshold strain rate. It is shown that the same value of the diffusion-compensated strain rate for the threshold stress is obtained for slip in DS Al–Mg material as in a fine-grained Al–Mg alloy, where grain-boundary sliding is the principal deformation process. This is evidence that grain boundary sliding is accommodated by dislocation creep.
Differences in gait parameters between healthy subjects and persons with moderate and severe knee osteoarthritis: a result of altered walking speed?

Background While knee osteoarthritis has been shown to affect a multitude of kinematic, kinetic and temporo-spatial gait parameters, few investigations have examined the effect of increasing levels of radiographic osteoarthritis severity on these gait parameters. Fewer still have investigated the effect of walking speed on gait variables in persons with knee osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of walking speed on biomechanical variables associated with joint loading in persons with varying severities of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.
Effect of gravity modulation on the stability of a horizontal double-diffusive layer

The instability characteristics of a horizontal stably stratified fluid layer being heated from below, including its subsequent nonlinear evolution under steady and modulated gravity, have been investigated by experiments and two-dimensional numerical simulations. The critical condition at instability onset is also checked using linear stability analysis. The fluid is contained in a horizontal test tank with an initial stable solute gradient and a constant-temperature gradient imposed by heating from below. Because of the non-diffusive boundaries, the vertical solute gradient slowly decreases and, eventually, the layer becomes unstable. From the time of the onset of instability, the critical solute Rayleigh number is determined. For the experiments with modulated gravity, the tank is fixed onto a platform that oscillates vertically at 1 Hz with an amplitude of 10cm. The experiment is designed such that no internal wave mode of instability can be excited. The experimental results show that gravity modulation destabilizes the system slightly by increasing the solute Rayleigh number at onset by 8.4 % and causes the oscillation frequency at onset to increase by 32.6 %. Linear stability analysis and two-dimensional numerical simulations for the steady gravity case yield results that are in good agreement with the experiment. For the gravity modulation case, linear stability results do not show any effect of gravity modulation at the frequency of 1 Hz. Numerical simulation results do show increases in both the onset solute Rayleigh number and the oscillation frequency; however, their values are smaller than those obtained in the experiment. The characteristics of the internal wave mode of instability are explored by numerical simulations of a stably stratified solute fluid layer under gravity modulation. The interference effects between the internal wave mode and double-diffusive mode of instabilities are studied by imposing an adverse temperature gradient on the stratified layer.
Myoglobin Oxidative State Affects Internal Cooked Color Development in Ground Beef Patties

Ground beef patties known to develop a normal (NRM) or premature brown (PMB) color when cooked to 55°C received no treatment or were reduced or oxidized before cooking. Internal raw appearances were red/ purplish-red for NRM, purplish-red/red for reduced, and brown for PMB and oxidized groups. Cooked colors of NRM-no treatment and reduced, and PMB-reduced were more red (P 0.05), and those of NRM-oxidized and PMB-no treatment were similar (P>0.05). Oxidized pigment produced a PMB color, whereas reducing conditions produced NRM cooked color.
Variations in children's assertiveness due to trainer asertion level

The influence of the trainer's personal assertiveness on the outcome of an assertiveness training program for children was evaluated. Nine paraprofessional trainers were rated either high or low in assertiveness using behavioral, self-report, and supervisors'ratings of assertiveness. A twelve-week assertion training intervention program was conducted for 74 fourth and fifth grade children. Results indicated that training by highly assertive trainers significantly increased the child subject's trust and liking of the group and perceptions of his/her behavioral changes. The assertiveness of subjects trained by highly assertive trainers was significantly higher immediately following treatment and at one year. However, subjects trained by trainers judged less assertive showed significantly higher scores on the interpersonal problem-solving test and the Group Decision Task immediately following treatment. The results are discussed in terms of advantages and disadvantages of directly modeling assertive behaviors and the importance of distinguishing the quality of alternatives generated on the interpersonal problem-solving tasks involving assertiveness.
English Language Teachers on the Discursive Faultlines: Identities, Ideologies and Pedagogies, by Katherine Espinoza and Idalia Nuñez

English Language Teachers on the Discursive Faultlines by Menard-Warwick is situated in the ongoing debate of “native” and “nonnative” teachers of English serving immigrant student populations. The...
Compilers, hands-off my hands-on optimizations

Achieving high performance for compute bounded numerical kernels typically requires an expert to hand select an appropriate set of Single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) instructions, then statically scheduling them in order to hide their latency while avoiding register spilling in the process. Unfortunately, this level of control over the code forces the expert to trade programming abstraction for performance which is why many performance critical kernels are written in assembly language. An alternative is to either resort to auto-vectorization (see Figure 1) or to use intrinsic functions, both features offered by compilers. However, in both scenarios the expert loses control over which instructions are selected, which optimizations are applied to the code and moreover how the instructions are scheduled for a target architecture. Ideally, the expert would need assembly-like control over their SIMD instructions beyond what intrinsics provide while maintaining a C-level abstraction for the non-performance critical parts.In this paper, we bridge the gap between performance and abstraction for SIMD instructions through the use of custom macro intrinsics that provide the programmer control over the instruction selection, and scheduling, while leveraging the compiler to manage the registers. This provides the best of both assembly and vector intrinsics programming so that a programmer can obtain high performance implementations within the C programming language.
Investigations of the Face Fly in Missouri

The face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer, was first reported from northeastern Missouri in, June, 1960. Studies of large hibernating populations in 1960-61 showed that the hibernating females Were unfertilized, with no ovarian development. Hibernation in some cases occurred with large numbers of Pollenia rudis (F), the cluster fly, and small numbers of other Calliphorid flies. Observations of spring dispersal from hibernation sites indicated that the females are fertilized and disperse to the field leaving the males behind. Winds above 10 m.p.h. were found to reduce face fly activity on cattle. Low relative humidity was found to increase activity. Grazing cattle were found to have fewer face flies than cattle at rest. A phaerta pallipes (Say), a hymenopterous parasite of Orthellia caesarion (Meigen) and Sarcophaga derelicta Walker, was found to parasitize as high as 84% of face fly puparia in central Missouri during September of 1961. Baits, sprays, and backrubber applications of insecticides were used throughout the season under variable conditions of infestation. Best control by baits was that of 1% dimethoate in honey applied twice in a 3-day period. Tests with 50% methoxychlor wettable powder and Sevin® (1-naphthyl N -methycarbamate) dusted on the face gave erratic and unsatisfactory results. Backrubbers using toxaphene, DDT, methoxychlor and Delnav®(a mixture of 2,8- p -dioxane-dithiol S, S -bis( O, O -diethyl phosphorodithioate) (70%) and related compounds) as toxicants failed to give satisfactory control. A mixture of DDT and lindane as a conventional spray application gave more than 50% reduction of face fly on beef cattle for 12 days.