cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of groups 1 and 2 CD1 molecules on human dendritic cells by Leishmania species

SUMMARY Dendritic cells are potent immune-activating cells, which traditionally are thought of as presenters of protein antigen to lymphocytes to initiate an immune response. Recently, another mechanism of immune surveillance, the detection of lipid antigens, has been found to be mediated by the nonpolymorphic family of CD1 molecules. There are two different CD1 families, Group 1 consisting of CD1a, CD1b and CD1c, and Group 2 consisting only of CD1d. Leishmania donovani-infected dendritic cells have previously been demonstrated to exhibit decreased surface levels of Group 1 CD1 molecules and are no longer able to initiate a CD1b-restricted T cell response. In contrast to L. donovani, which disseminates to the visceral organs, L. major remains localized, forming a cutaneous lesion. We investigate here whether L. major, the aetiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, also inhibits CD1 expression. We demonstrate that infection of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells with either L. major or L. donovani results in transcriptional down-regulation of both Groups 1 and 2 CD1 molecules. Furthermore, infection of monocytes during differentiation results in a cell phenotype similar to undifferentiated monocytes. Finally, we demonstrate that this down-regulation is not mediated by lipophosphoglycan or other phosphoglycans.
Upside-down FETS

To address key challenges in transistor scaling [1,2], we have used 3D oxide bonding technology in a new way, to fabricate CMOS devices and circuits in which the gate is on the opposite side of the channel from the contacts between the FET and the first wiring level (Ml).
Rights to advise: Advice as an emergent phenomenon in student-teacher talk

Abstract This paper examines non-instructional conversation in the classroom and illustrates how the giving of advice is contingently arranged in student-teacher conversations about jail at one urban charter school. Drawing on data which was video-recorded during a two-year ethnographic study, I analyze how presupposed norms regarding jail, in combination with the creative use of indexical forms (e.g., you, everybody, people) function within conversation to invoke and create shared norms of behavior. By treating meaning as both emergent across individual turns, and dependent on presupposed cultural knowledge, this paper demonstrates how “rights to advise” are achieved in conversation. Conversations between teachers and students illustrate that certain ways of speaking have the power to create credibility and trustworthiness by displaying alignment, awareness of particular norms, and an orientation to certain local, peer group assumptions. The interactional work involved in these informal conversations suggests that similar collaboration may be necessary for other forms of classroom learning, and emphasizes the importance (and difficulty) of integrating students' own perspectives and experiences with more standardized educational goals.
Polarization effects in the ultraviolet reflection of crystals with wurtzite structure

Abstract A strong dependence of the ultraviolet reflection spectrum of CdS and CdSe on the direction of polarization of the radiation is reported. The reflection spectrum of hexagonal ZnS shows no significant polarization dependence in the wavelength region under study ( λ>2100 A ). These results are discussed in terms of the energy band structure of these materials.
The response of the apical turn of cochlea modeled with a tuned amplifier with negative feedback

In an earlier study [Hear. Res. 149 (2000) 55] velocity amplitudes of the outer Hensen's cell (HC) and basilar membrane (BM) were measured before, and at different times, after, sacrificing the animal. The velocity amplitude changed in a way that was characteristic of a negative feedback amplifier. A simple negative feedback amplifier model was proposed to explain the magnitude of the HC and BM velocity changes at CF. In the experiment tuning changed as well, both at the HC and BM. The model has now been extended to include tuning changes. The model response is compared with the experimental observations. The model is able to account quantitatively for the following experimental observations: (i) At the HC the tuning broadens and velocity decreases slowly after sacrifice. (ii) At the BM tuning sharpens and velocity increases at a faster rate. (iii) The velocity increase at BM is much larger than the decrease at HC.
Delayed gratification habitable zones: when deep outer solar system regions become balmy during post-main sequence stellar evolution.

Like all low- and moderate-mass stars, the Sun will burn as a red giant during its later evolution, generating of solar luminosities for some tens of millions of years. During this post-main sequence phase, the habitable (i.e., liquid water) thermal zone of our Solar System will lie in the region where Triton, Pluto-Charon, and Kuiper Belt objects orbit. Compared with the 1 AU habitable zone where Earth resides, this "delayed gratification habitable zone" (DGHZ) will enjoy a far less biologically hazardous environment - with lower harmful radiation levels from the Sun, and a far less destructive collisional environment. Objects like Triton, Pluto-Charon, and Kuiper Belt objects, which are known to be rich in both water and organics, will then become possible sites for biochemical and perhaps even biological evolution. The Kuiper Belt, with >10(5) objects > or =50 km in radius and more than three times the combined surface area of the four terrestrial planets, provides numerous sites for possible evolution once the Sun's DGHZ reaches it. The Sun's DGHZ might be thought to only be of academic interest owing to its great separation from us in time. However, approximately 10(9) Milky Way stars burn as luminous red giants today. Thus, if icy-organic objects are common in the 20-50 AU zones of these stars, as they are in our Solar System (and as inferred in numerous main sequence stellar disk systems), then DGHZs may form a niche type of habitable zone that is likely to be numerically common in the Galaxy.
Growth and development of pediatric research.

ABSTRACT: Pediatric research may be entering a period of failure to thrive. This is despite impressive scientific achievements, significant financial benefits, intriguing unanswered questions and a rewarding life for the pediatric researcher. Many of the difficulties are financial and situational, including small departments and divisions, few pediatric research mentors, impecunious pediatric hospitals and services, ethical constraints on pediatric research and competing responsibilities. Grants to pediatric departments represent about 3% of the total NIH research project support. The two largest federal programs supporting Pediatric Research are the Clinical Research Center (CRC) program (20% of an $28,000,000/yr budget) and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development (17% of a $123,000,000/yr budget). There are 75 CRCs of which 60 admit children; 10 CRCs are in children's hospital and 6 other CRCs have a clear pediatric focus. Pediatric Departments receive 3% of NIH funds; this represents 10% of funds to clinical departments. By contrast medicine departments receive 17% of NIH funds (47% of funds to clinical departments). NIH research support to pediatrics ($82,000,000/yr) is centered in a few large departments; 14 pediatric departments receive 343 of the 572 NIH grants (60%). By contrast, 66 of 120 pediatric departments have no (45) or 1 (21) NIH grants. Obstacles are identified and suggestions are offered for future (students and residents), beginning (fellows and assistant professors), established (associate and full professors) and women pediatric researchers.
Offshore sediments and valleys of the Orange River (South and South West Africa)

Abstract Detailed “sparker” surveys of the inner continental shelf off the Orange River, the major drainage of southern Africa, have defined a large sediment lens and two buried offshore extensions of the bedrock valley. Intermixed river and shelf sediments form a body that is air-foil shaped in plan with trailing edge down-current (northwest). This body extends seaward 16 miles and laterally about 70 miles, has a maximum thickness (6 miles offshore) of more than 200 ft., and a volume of approximately 9 cubic miles. The sediment surface slopes 10 ft./mile out to 100 ft. depths and then steepens to 30–40 ft./mile to the distal edge of the body at about 400 ft. below sea level. Based on geophysical evidence and scattered samples, most sediments appear to be fine sands, silts and clays of probable Late Pleistocene-Holocene age. Two relatively narrow, sediment-filled meandering valleys extend 5 miles offshore across the seaward-sloping bedrock platform underlying the sediment lens. At the coastline, the valley floors are about 150 and 200 ft. below sea level and are cut as much as 150 ft. into the bedrock platform. Since the slope of the valley floors (20 ft./mile measured perpendicular to the coast) is not as steep as that of the bedrock platform (50 ft./mile) the valleys intersect the platform surface at depths of about 250 and 300 ft., suggesting two or more emergences to approximately those levels. Absence of a subaerial delta results from intensive wave attack by the obliquely impinging South Atlantic swells, which cause a highly effective longshore sediment transport system.
On partially blind multihead finite automata

This work is concerned with 1-way multihead finite automata (FA), both deterministic and nondeterministic, in which the symbol under only one head controls its move. We call such a FA a partially blind multihead FA. We show some results regarding the decision problems and closure properties of blind multihead DFA and NFA. We also compare these devices with 1-way NFA augmented by reversal bounded counters. Finally, we also present some results regarding the simulation of a partially blind DFA and NFA by a probabilistic finite automaton.
Modes of Action of Taurine and Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor in Neuroprotection

New therapeutic targets are becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of a wide array of neurodegenerative diseases, the preferred targets being those that prevent neuronal apoptosis at multiple levels or those that can cross the blood-brain barrier in order to replace degenerated cells and promote neuronal regeneration. One such rapidly emerging neuroprotective agents is taurine. Taurine is a ubiquitous amino acid that satisfies most criteria to be classified as a neurotransmitter. Because of a wide spectrum of effects that taurine can induce on intrinsic apoptosis pathways, such as modulating mitochondrial pore permeability, attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress, maintaining calcium homeostasis, and downregulating the activities of a range of pro-apoptotic proteins, including calpain and caspases, while upregulating a variety of anti-apoptotic proteins involved in glutamate and hypoxia-induced toxicity, taurine is being extensively studied and successfully applied for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Another potential molecule being researched for combating neurodegenerative diseases is granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which originates from the cytokine family of growth factors. G-CSF has gained widespread attention because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, the presence of its receptors in the central nervous system, anti-apoptotic functions, and its proliferative role in the restoration of tissue survival via neurogenesis. In this review from the available current literature, the modes of action of taurine and G-CSF are discussed. Further mechanistic studies are warranted in order to fully realize the potential of these two molecules.
Direct measurements of emission rates of some atmospheric biogenic sulfur compounds

Direct measurements of H 2 S + COS and (CH 3 ) 2 S emission rates were made in two salt marshes on the coast of North Carolina during the summer of 1977. An emission flux reactor (chamber) technique was used to determine the emission rates of sulfur compounds into the atmosphere. The sulfur gases were identified and their concentrations in the flux reactor measured with a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame photometric detector specific for S. Flux measurements were made over salt marsh grass ( Spartina alterniflora ) and mud flats. The predominant gaseous sulfur species being emitted over the Spartina zone is (CH 3 ) 2 S (average flux is ?0.66 g S/m 2 /yr), and the predominant species over the mud flat zone is H 2 S + COS (average flux is ?0.2 g S/m 2 /yr). In general, the emission rates of (CH 3 ) 2 S and H 2 S + COS increase with increasing ambient temperature (in accordance with previously reported work over mud flats). Similar experiments were also performed in which the chamber was operated under deaerated (N 2 ) conditions. For deaerated conditions, the emission rates of both H 2 S + COS and (CH 3 ) 2 S were increased. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1979.tb00895.x
Linear beam tube theory

This paper presents the basic theories underlying the principles of operation of linear beam tubes. These theories are more general than the previous ones because they can be applied equally well to all types of tubes using linear electron beams. The tube types will differ only in the rf circuits that are being used. Emphasis of the theories is placed on the fundamental equations involved rather than the analytic solutions of these equations. The concept of electromagnetic and hydrodynamic power flow is emphasized in the treatments. The purpose is to leave the details of the solution to the electronic computer that is now being adapted to this type of problem. To this end, the equations are only developed in such a way as to facilitate programming in the computer. To illustrate the use of the theory, the special cases of the traveling-wave tube in which a waveguide mode is continuously interacting with the beam, and the klystron tube in which the interaction takes place in a limited space, will be developed in more detail. To further avoid mathematical complexities, electron motion, limited to the longitudinal direction, will be emphasized, and only the small-signal case will be treated. However, sufficient fundamental ideas will be presented so that the extension to the cases involving transverse electron motions and the large signal operation can be easily accomplished.
Oxygen isotope constraints on the origin of high-Cr garnets from kimberlites

The association between diamonds and high-Cr, sub-calcic garnets from kimberlites suggests that garnets have experienced high pressure (and presumably, high temperature) conditions in the subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM). The oxygen isotope compositions of these garnets are generally reported to be lower than average values of mantle olivines (~5.2‰)—opposite the sense of oxygen isotope fractionation expected at high-temperature equilibrium, and to correlate negatively with their Cr-contents. These observations were interpreted to indicate the sub-calcic garnets either are derived from melting Cr-enriched but ^(18)O-depleted source in the SCLM, or have experienced cryptic metasomatism by high-Cr, high-Mg#, but ^(18)O-depleted fluids/melts in the SCLM or during their ascent to the surface. We investigate the possibility that oxygen isotope characteristics of these garnets instead reflect an analytical artifact that reduces the measured δ^(18)O of garnets in proportion to its Cr content—a so-called ‘Cr-effect’. Mixtures of garnet standards (UWG-2) plus various amounts of pure Cr-metal were measured for δ^(18)O-values by infrared-laser fluorination technique (ILFT). Our results show that oxygen isotope compositions of sample mixtures vary systematically as a function of Cr-content and O_(2)-yield. Mass-balance analyses indicate that the correlation between the measured δ^(18)O-value and Cr-content is an analytical artifact mostly due to isotopic fractionation between the extracted-O_(2) and chromium oxyfluorides left as residues in the sample chamber during the ILFT analyses, which amounts to a decrease in the measured δ^(18)O values of ~0.064‰ for the increase of every wt.% Cr_(2)O_(3) present in garnets. After applying our experimentally-calibrated correction factor to garnet samples in garnet peridotite xenoliths from South Africa, our study reveals an equilibrium oxygen isotope fractionation between the Cr-poor garnet and coexisting olivine (i.e., garnet≥olivine) with a fractionation factor of ~0.28‰. More importantly, high-Cr garnets (Cr_(2)O_(3)>5%), after correction for the ‘Cr-effect’, are actually enriched, rather than depleted, in 18O compared with low-Cr garnets, suggesting the involvement of ^(18)O-enriched crustal materials during their formation. We hypothesize a fluid-flow model using depthdependent Cr partitioning. This model simultaneously explains relatively high-δ^(18)O-values and Cr and Mg enrichment in garnets, implying that the reduced C\H\O fluids that are responsible for the formation of diamonds in both eclogite and peridotite xenoliths in kimberlites, are also responsible for transporting Cr to oxidized locations where the Cr partition coefficient between garnet and fluids is high.
Palladium catalyzed synthesis of annelated indoles

Abstract The synthesis of polycyclic indoles is shown to be accomplished readily by the palladium catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of bromoaryl bearing indales.
Segmental Analysis of Color Kinesis Images New Method for Quantification of the Magnitude and Timing of Endocardial Motion During Left Ventricular Systole and Diastole

Background We describe a method for objective assessment of left ventricular (LV) endocardial wall motion based on Color Kinesis, a new echocardiographic technique that color-encodes pixel transitions between blood and myocardial tissue. Methods and Results We developed a software that analyzes Color Kinesis images and provides quantitative indices of magnitude and timing of regional endocardial motion. Images obtained in 12 normal subjects were used to evaluate the variability in each index. Esmolol, dobutamine, and atropine were used to track variations in LV function in 14 subjects. Objective evaluation of wall motion was tested in 20 patients undergoing dobutamine stress testing. Regional fractional area change, displacement, and radial shortening were displayed as histograms and time curves. Global function was assessed by calculating magnitude and timing of peak ejection or filling rates and mean time of ejection or filling. Patterns of endocardial motion were consistent between normal subjects. Fra...
Boundary networks and Rochester's "smart" lead law: the use of multidisciplinary information in a collaborative policy process.

The Rochester, New York, Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning formed in 2001 with the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning by 2010. The Coalition recruited diverse community stakeholders int...
Expression patterns of mouse and human CYP orthologs (families 1-4) during development and in different adult tissues.

Abstract The present study compared the relative expression pattern of 10 orthologous CYP forms from families 1–4 in cDNA panels of human and mouse fetal and adult tissues. Except for CYP1A2, all of these CYPs exhibited specific patterns of expression during mouse ontogeny, suggesting possible involvement in development. Cyp1a1 and Cyp2r1 were the only two of the orthologs to be expressed only in the E7 mouse; Cyp2s1 was expressed in all stages, including E7, while Cyp2e1 appeared only at E17. Highest expression of the individual CYPs in the different late term human fetal tissues was: thymus, CYP1B1 and CYP2U1; liver, CYP2E1; brain, CYP2R1, CYP1A1 and CYP4X1; and lung, CYP4B1 and CYP2W1. In general, the level of individual human CYP transcripts was lower in the fetal than the corresponding adult tissues. The pattern of expression in adult mouse and human tissues was fairly similar for CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2S1, and CYP2U1 orthologs.
Inhibition of the Multiplication of Mycobacterium leprae by Vaccination with a Recombinant M. bovis BCG Strain That Secretes Major Membrane Protein II in Mice

The ability of a recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain that secretes major membrane protein II (MMP-II) of Mycobacterium leprae (BCG-SM) to confer protection against leprosy was evaluated by use of a mouse footpad model. C57BL/6J mice intradermally inoculated with BCG-SM produced splenic T cells which secreted significant amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in response to either the recombinant MMP-II, the M. leprae-derived membrane fraction, or the BCG-derived cytosolic fraction in vitro more efficiently than those from the mice infected with the vector control BCG strain (BCG-pMV, a BCG strain containing pMV-261). A higher percentage of CD8+ T cells obtained from BCG-SM-inoculated mice than those obtained from BCG-pMV-inoculated mice produced intracellular IFN-γ on restimulation with the M. leprae antigens. BCG-SM inhibited the multiplication of M. leprae in the footpads of C57BL/6J mice more efficiently than BCG-pMV. These results indicate that a BCG strain that secretes MMP-II could be a better vaccine candidate for leprosy.
On stochastic dominance and decreasing absolute risk averse option pricing bounds

Merton, Perrakis and Ryan, Levy, and Ritchken have established option pricing bounds under first and second stochastic dominance preferences. These bounds are particularly important for valuing contingent claims when continuous trading in the claim and/or underlying security does not exist. This article provides option bounds under higher orders of dominance. Specifically, option bounds are obtained by solving mathematical programs where preference structures on prices are represented by constraints. For first, second, third and higher orders of stochastic dominance preferences, the special linear structure of the mathematical programs allow analytical solutions to be obtained for the bounds. For DARA preferences, third order stochastic dominance, while being necessary, is not sufficient and additional constraints must be imposed. Unfortunately these additional constraints are nonlinear. While in this case closed form analytical solutions for the option bounds are not obtained, numerical examples are presented to illustrate their strength.
ASSESSING SIMILARITY AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS' SELF-PERCEIVED ACADEMIC COMPETENCE '

Summary.-An index of sirmlarity can measure absolute agreement between pairs (e.g., student-teacher, student-parent, student-peer) on corresponding self-report items related to perceived academic competence. Differing similarity between pairs may a£fect middle-school students' self-perception of actual scholastic competence and achievement. Recently, Sink, Barnett, and Pool (3) concluded that to build middle-school students' positive self-perception of scholastic competence researchers should consider the social context, especially perceptions of support ~erceived from parents, teachers, and peers as well as students' self-evaluations. One method that provides data on self-perceptions of students, teachers, and parents is a measure of similarity. Unlike correlations of separate self-reports by students and others, information may be prnered relevant to the effects similarity between these pairs (e.g., teacher-student, parent-student, peer-scudent) may have on students' perceptions of their scholastic competence and achievement. An index of similarity (1) is defined as the percent of agreement between students' and others' (e.g., reachers') self-reports. The higher this score, the more a teacher's perception agreed with a student's, and the reverse, chat is, the more a student's perception agreed with the teacher's perception of the student. This item agreement is the inverse of summed absolute values of differences between a pair's corresponding self-report items. The scores indicate the absolute of pair agreement, expressed as percentage sirmlarity. Absolute mean differences provide measures of agreement which can be used in testing hypotheses about groups of pairs. In fact, difference scores are often appropriately used to rank or classify subgroups of pairs relative to each other for use as independent variables in subsequent pair analyses. An item agreement score indicates only the percentage agreement between members of a pair on each self-report item but not the quality of the pair's relationship. For example, a teacher-student pair may show absolute agreement on the item, "This child has trouble figuring out the answers in school" (2). From chis one cannot infer a positive or negative relationship. However, such self-report scores may provide information pertinent to the role of pair similarity in middle-school students' self-perceived academic competence.
CBT for anxiety and associated somatic complaints in pediatric medical settings: an open pilot study.

Objective To examine the initial feasibility and potential efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for youth with anxiety disorders and non-medical somatic symptoms. Background Based on a strong relationship between somatic complaints and anxiety disorders, screening youngsters seeking medical care due to physical symptoms with no organic basis may enhance the recognition of anxiety disorders and facilitate access to appropriate services. Method Seven boys and girls, ages 8 through 15, with medically unexplained gastrointestinal complaints and anxiety disorders received a 12-session cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting anxiety and physical symptoms. Assessments were conducted at baseline and following treatment. Results All participants were classified as treatment responders. Three of the seven participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for their principal anxiety disorder. Children’s physical discomfort decreased from a moderate to minimal level based on self- and parent-reports. Conclusions Our modified cognitive-behavioral approach has promise for reducing anxiety and somatic symptoms in children seeking medical care.
Central lactate metabolism suppresses food intake via the hypothalamic AMP kinase/malonyl-CoA signaling pathway

Abstract Previous studies showed that centrally administered glucose and fructose exert different effects on food intake – glucose decreasing and fructose increasing food intake. Because of the uncertainty of whether fructose can cross the blood–brain-barrier, the question is raised; can dietary fructose directly enter the CNS? Evidence is presented that fructose administered by intraperitoneal (ip) injection to mice is rapidly (
Permeability of tympanotomy tubes to ototopical preparations.

Abstract Myringotomy with tube placement is the most frequently performed otolaryngologic procedure in the United States, and purulent otorrhea after this procedure is not uncommon. Believing that ototopical preparations have proved useful in treating this malady, our group was compelled to examine whether and in what quantities these preparations are able to penetrate tympanotomy tubes. To this end, models were constructed and in vitro testing carried out with several popular formulations. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;121:35-7.)
SU-E-T-595: Comparison of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and Static Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in Patients with Intact Lungs/Post Pleurectomy

Purpose: This planning study compares VMAT and static gantry, sliding window IMRT for malignant pleural mesothelioma for post pleurectomy. Methods: We compared plans for a left sided (L) and a right sided case (R). Plans used clinically approved planning target volumes (PTVs) and critical organ contours. IMRT plans employed 7–8 6 MV photon beam directions over a 215° range centered on the ipsilateral lung. VMAT plans used 4 partial arcs within the same range and energy. Prescription dose per fraction was 1.8 Gy; case L went to 50.4 Gy, case R to 46.8 Gy. Planning objectives were: Lyman model NTCP for both lungs < 25%; contralateral lung, mean dose < 8 Gy; heart, V30 Gy < 50%, mean < 30 Gy; Each Kidney, V18 Gy < 33%; liver_not_GTV, mean < 30 Gy, V30 Gy < 50%; stomach not PTV, mean < 30 Gy; cord maximum < 45 Gy; bowel maximum < 55 Gy, D05 < 45 Gy; PTV D95 = 94%, V95 = 94%, D05 = 115%. Dose calculation was done with the AAA algorithm. Results: VMAT and IMRT both met the dosimetric constraints. The VMAT MU were 887 (L)_and 896 (R) and for IMRT were 1691 (L) and 2409 (R). IMRT required 14–16 fields (wide‐field splitting). The delivery times were 8 minutes (VMAT) and 20 minutes (IMRT). For coverage and plan homogeneity parameters within 1.5% ‐ 2%, VMAT better spared organs at risk. Conclusions: Both VMAT and IMRT are feasible techniques for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with intact lungs, with less MU and a shorter delivery time for VMAT. Additional cases must be planned to test generality of our preliminary results.
Stuttering and assertion training.

Abstract This study was undertaken with the aim of determining whether specific assertation training as advocated by Wolpe and other behavior therapists would provide a useful addition to current therapy methods. Twenty-four adult stutterers, matched for severity of stuttering and initial degree of assertiveness, were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions. The first group received behavioral assertion training along lines advocated by Wolpe. The second group received an insight-oriented, feeling-clarification approach. The third group received parallel sessions reinforcing Avoidance-Reduction Therapy already in use at UCLA clinic. Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences during the course of the experiment in severity of stuttering as measured by self-ratings, clinician ratings, or frequency of stuttering during readings of standard passages. Factor analysis of a battery of tests designed to tap assertiveness and other personality dimensions revealed no differences pre and post. Our conclusion was that for stutterers already receiving an action-oriented Avoidance-Reduction Therapy, specific “assertion training” along lines advocated by behavior therapists did not add anything of distinctive value.
The computational metaphor and quantum physics

Concurrent computational systems, viewed as sets of cooperating processes, are shown to have close analogies in the world of quantum physics. In particular, analogies exist between processes and particles, between a process' state and a particle's mass, between a process'state changes and a particle's velocity, and between interprocess communications and particle interactions. This view allows the application in the computational world of special relativity theory, the uncertainty principle, the law of conservation of momentum, and many of particle physics' fundamental results. This paper describes the basic analogy and some fundamental results. It is the authors' belief that new insights into a computational processes will be gained as the analogy is developed and vice versa. It is conceivable that established results of the computational sciences may contribute to a new understanding of some of the problems of physics. Other process-oriented sciences, such as biology, economics, and psychology, could also benefit from such development.
Springboard to Discussion: A Timely Narrative Play

Conflict of interest versus teamwork in the labor room is the focal point of “Springboard to Discussion: A Timely Narrative Play.” Alice and Pete, the idealistic young couple who have searched diligently for a physician and hospital with the right “climate” for prepared childbirth, Mrs. Nice Nurse who is coping with the “hospital situation,” and the Doctor who struggles with a busy practice and demands on his private life are hurled together on a collision course. The goal of this article is to crystalize some areas of conflict which plague the modern obstetric unit. Challenges to traditional roles held in the highly emotionally charged labor and delivery suite need to be examined for insight and healthy progress in maternal‐child health care.
Decade of Disillusionment: The Kennedy Johnson Years

The sixties began optimistically, with Americans full of hope and expectation, voting to support a new, young, charismatic leader who promised to "move America forward." Tragically, something went wrong. Instead of finding its Utopia, America became a country struggling desperately to escape its Armageddon. President Kennedy's New Frontier fell far short of its promise in tangible domestic legislation and his foreign policy decisions pushed the world to the brink of a nuclear holocaust, while President Johnson's dream of a Great Society foundered in the quicksand of the Vietnam war. This revealing history of the Kennedy-Johnson years begins with the presidential primaries of 1960 and concludes with Johnson's final weeks as a lame duck President. An expert and objective history of an exciting period-its social, cultural, and economic facets as well as its political developments.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Referral of Hypertension in an Emergency Department

The authors prospectively audited 500 randomly selected charts of patients seen during a 6-month period ending in October 2008, in the emergency department of a university medical center for the prevalence of hypertension and how it was managed. Of the 187 patients with hypertension, 14 (8%) were treated for hypertension in the emergency department and 99 (53%) were hospitalized or referred to a physician or clinic for follow-up of their hypertension. Much improvement is needed, especially since many of the patients seen in the emergency department do not have a primary care physician.
Variation in modulus of elasticity (E) along Acer platanoides L. (Aceraceae) branches.

Arborists and managers of amenity trees could benefit from an improved understanding of how tree canopies withstand loading events such as wind, snow or ice. Knowledge of how material properties change along tree branches is important in understanding how a branch tips can bend in the wind yet resist displacement at the base which could lead to branch failure. Limited knowledge of modulus of elasticity (E or stiffness) in branch wood is available in the literature and is typically measured at only one location on a branch. This study investigated variation of E and density-specific E (E/ρ) at five locations along the axis of 20 branches from seven trees. E and E/ρ were found to be 70% lower at the branch tips than in the proximal locations. The variation in E was negatively correlated with the percentage of tissue area composed of vessels and positively correlated with mean fiber cell wall size, suggesting a balance between the two principle functions of hydraulics and mechanics. Reaction wood was observed in the form of gelatinous layers in fibers along the branch tops, but did not result in a difference in E between the top and bottoms at each branch location. It is proposed that differences in material properties are probably related to wood development type, as juvenile wood is considered to have lower stiffness than mature wood.
Phospholipase C activation by anesthetics decreases membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion.

Many different amphiphilic compounds cause an increase in the fluid-phase endocytosis rates of cells in parallel with a decrease in membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion. These compounds, however, do not share a common chemical structure, which leaves the mechanism and even site of action unknown. One possible mechanism of action is through an alteration of inositol lipid metabolism by modifying the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane bilayer. By comparing permeable amphiphilic amines used as local anesthetics with their impermeable analogs, we find that access to the cytoplasmic surface is necessary to increase endocytosis rate and decrease membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion. In parallel, we find that the level of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) in the plasma membrane is decreased and cytoplasmic Ca 2+ is increased only by permeable amines. The time course of both the decrease in plasma membrane PIP 2 and the rise in Ca 2+ parallels the decrease in cytoskeleton-membrane adhesion. Inositol labeling shows that phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate levels are increased by the permeable anesthetics, indicating that lipid turnover is increased. Consistent with previous observations, phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors block anesthetic effects on the PIP 2 and cytoplasmic Ca 2+ levels, as well as the drop in adhesion. Therefore, we suggest that PLC activity is increased by amine anesthetics at the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, which results in a decrease in membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion.
Postoperative myocardial ischemia: Etiology of cardiac morbidity or manifestation of underlying disease?

Abstract Study Objective: To determine the relationship between postoperative ST segment changes and clinically apparent cardiac morbidity in noncardiac surgery patients. Design: Prospective, cohort study. Setting: General inpatient and intensive care units at a tertiary care hospital. Patients: 145 high-risk noncardiac surgery patients. Measurements and Main Results: Patients were monitored for ST segment changes using ambulatory electrocardiographs (ECG) recorders from the end of the surgical period for up to the third postoperative day. Patients were evaluated for a clinically apparent cardiac event (cardiac death or myocardial infarction) by daily 12-lead ECGs, and CK-MB isoenzymes, as clinically indicated. Nine patients sustained a clinically apparent cardiac event, 7 of whom had a cardiac event during the period in which they were monitored by ambulatory ECG. All 7 patients who sustained a cardiac event during the monitoring period had at least one episode of myocardial ischemia, which persisted for a minimum of 30 minutes either prior to or at the same time of the event, with no morbidity occurring in the group of patients who had only short durations of myocardial ischemia. Three of the patients with events had continuous ST segment changes, while the other patients had transient ST segment changes. Conclusions: These observations suggest that clinically apparent cardiac events are associated with prolonged ST segment changes detected on ambulatory ECG recorders. The cardiac ischemia leading to prolonged postoperative ST segment changes may itself result in cardiac morbidity, or it may be a reflection of underlying pathophysiology.
Probing equilibrium by nonequilibrium dynamics: Aging in Co/Cr superlattices

Magnetization relaxation is investigated in a structurally ordered magnetic Co/Cr superlattice. Tailored nanoscale periodicity creates mesoscopic spatial magnetic correlations with slow relaxation dynamics when quenching the system into a nonequilibrium state. Magnetization transients are measured after exposing the heterostructure to a magnetic set field for various waiting times. Scaling analysis reveals an asymptotic power-law behavior in accordance with a full aging scenario. The temperature dependence of the relaxation exponent shows pronounced anomalies at the equilibrium phase transitions of the antiferromagnetic superstructure and the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition of the Co layers. The latter leaves only weak fingerprints in the equilibrium magnetic behavior but gives rise to a prominent change in nonequilibrium properties. Our findings suggest scaling analysis of nonequilibrium data as a probe for weak equilibrium phase transitions.
The lowdown on lower layer security protocols

Rapid advances in communication technology have accentuated the need for security in distributed processing systems. The broad interconnectivity provided by these technologies amplify both the capabilities of a computer network and the security risks. New developments in communication protocols promise to alleviate security problems by the application of standard security mechanisms. The author examines significant work in the recent development of lower layer security protocols. Protocols for link, network, and transport layer security are examined and the architectural tradeoffs inherent in these mechanisms are contrasted. >
Rational behavior design using multi-selective generation

This paper extends a technique that solves a generalization of the standard global optimization problem: instead of generating the optimizer, the technique produces, on the search space, a probability density function referred to as the behavior. The generalized solution depends on a parameter, the level of selectivity, such that as this parameter tends to infinity, the behavior becomes a delta function at the location of the optimizer. The motivation for this generalization is that traditional off-line global optimization is unresponsive to perturbations of the objective function. Although the original technique achieves responsive optimization, a large number of iterations may be required. In most instances, the extended technique of this paper, which is known as multi-selective generation, averages fewer iterations to achieve responsive optimization. Multi-selective generation is formulated here to generalize the canonical genetic algorithm with fitness proportional selection. Necessary and sufficient conditions that are required by multi-selective generation to achieve so-called rational behavior are specified. Rational behavior is desirable because it can lead to both efficient search and responsive optimization. However, the conditions for the extended technique to behave rationally are highly restrictive. The implication is that the original technique, which behaves rationally, is preferable for efficient search and responsive optimization.
Beyond Glycemic Control: Treating the Entire Type 2 Diabetes Disorder

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is directly associated with overweight/obesity and increased cardiovascular disease risk, is projected to continue to increase during the next few decades. Traditionally, treatment has focused primarily on glycemic control, but accumulating evidence suggests that the clinical management of patients with type 2 diabetes requires a more comprehensive approach to minimize associated morbidity and mortality. Because the majority (80%-90%) of patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, effective glucose control and weight loss are the cornerstones of initial management. Both effective glucose control and therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, including overweight/obesity, are needed to prevent the complications of type 2 diabetes. Most conventional antidiabetes agents, including sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, and insulin, improve glycemic control but are associated with weight gain or, as with metformin, are weight-neutral or weight-sparing. The incretin-based therapies, such as the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, have been shown to be safe and effective in lowering glucose while eliciting favorable effects on weight (ie, weight-reducing and weight-neutral, respectively). The effects of these agents on other parameters of cardiovascular risk are also being studied. Advances in GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy include development of agents with longer durations of activity allowing for more convenient dosing of therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes, which should lead to better patient compliance, adherence, and overall clinical outcomes.
A parallel integer programming approach to global routing

We propose a parallel global routing algorithm that concurrently processes routing subproblems corresponding to rectangular subregions covering the chip area. The algorithm uses at it core an existing integer programming (IP) formulation---both for routing each subproblem and for connecting them. Concurrent processing of the routing subproblems is desirable for effective parallelization. However, achieving no (or low) overflow global routing solutions without strong, coordinated algorithmic control is difficult. Our algorithm addresses this challenge via a patching phase that uses IP to connect partial routing solutions. Patching provides feedback to each routing subproblem in order to avoid overflow, later when attempting to connect them. The end result is a flexible and highly scalable distributed algorithm for global routing. The method is able to accept as input target runtimes for its various phases and produce high-quality solution within these limits. Computational results show that for a target runtime of 75 minutes, running on a computational grid of few hundred CPUs with 2GB memory, the algorithm generates higher quality solutions than competing methods in the open literature.
Cutting Edge: Yin-Yang: Balancing Act of Prostaglandins with Opposing Functions to Regulate Inflammation

For many years, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a critical enzyme for PG production, has been the favorite target for anti-inflammatory drug development. However, recent revelations regarding the adverse effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors have stimulated intense debate. Interestingly, in the early phase of inflammation, COX-2 facilitates inflammatory PG production while in the late phase it has anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, although some PGs are proinflammatory, others have anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it is likely that PGs with opposing effects maintain homeostasis, although the molecular mechanism(s) remains unclear. We report here that an inflammatory PG, PGD2, via its receptor, mediates the activation of NF-kappaB stimulating COX-2 gene expression. Most interestingly, an anti-inflammatory PG (PGA1) suppresses NF-kappaB activation and inhibits COX-2 gene expression. We propose that while pro- and anti-inflammatory PGs counteract each other to maintain homeostasis, selective COX-2 inhibitors may disrupt this balance, thereby resulting in reported adverse effects.
One-pot synthesis of high-performance Co/graphene electrocatalysts for glucose fuel cells free of enzymes and precious metals

A facile recipe has been developed to prepare three-dimensional nanoarchitectures of nitrogen-doped graphene loading Co nanoparticle hybrids (Co/NG). The hybrids show an outstanding electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and thus can be used as electrode materials of a nonenzymatic and precious-metal-free glucose fuel cell (GFC).