cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Longitudinal Analysis on the Effects of Remarriage Following Divorce on the Academic Achievement of Adolescents

Abstract Using the NELS data set from the 1988-1992 period, this study used a longitudinal design to assess the effects of remarriage following divorce on the academic achievement of children. Using data on a sample of 1,064 eighth-grade students who were in single-parent divorced families in 1988, the academic achievement of children whose custodial parent remarried during the time of the study, was compared to the academic achievement of those children remaining in divorced single-parent homes. The results of this study indicate that when SES, race, and sex were controlled for, children of divorce from the reconstituted families scored lower than their counterparts in divorced single-parent homes on two of four of the measures of academic achievement. In addition, children whose custodial parent remarried during the course of the study achieved at about the same level academically as the remainder of the children of divorce from reconstituted families. The significance of these results is discussed.
The effects of aldosterone on sodium and potassium metabolism in larval Ambystoma tigrinum

Abstract Electrolyte depletion resulting from 14 days in distilled water, which was changed daily, lowered plasma Na concentration from 108 to 92 m M . Aminoglutethimide was administered on each of the final 3 days of the depletion period in doses of 3 mg/animal. This further depressed Na to 75 m M . Both aldosterone (25 μg/animal) and corticosterone (200 μg/animal) returned plasma Na to 92 m M . Cortisone (200 μg/animal) was ineffective. There were no consistent patterns in plasma K. Renal clearance experiments showed that the same dose of aminoglutethimide decreased fractional tubular Na reabsorption and increased fractional tubular K reabsorption. Aldosterone reversed these trends suggesting that this hormone may play a role in controlling renal electrolyte excretion.
Kinetic and mechanism of reactions of L-α-Glutamic acid and L-Glutamine with pyridoxal

The kinetics and mechanisms of condensation of pyridoxal with L-α-glutamic acid and L-glutamine were studied by UV spectroscopy and polarimetry. L-α-Glutamic acid reacts with pyridoxal to form a Schiff base whose subsequent hydrolysis gives rise to pyridoxamine and α-ketoglutaric acid. The reaction of Lglutamine with pyridoxal involves the Γ-NH2 group and affords a Schiff base whose subsequent hydrolysis gives rise to pyridoxamine and L-α-glutamic acid.
Unethical and Unwell: Decrements in Well-Being and Unethical Activity at Work

Previous research on unethical business behavior usually has focused on its impact from a financial or philosophical perspective. While such foci are important to our understanding of unethical behavior, we argue that another set of outcomes linked to individual well-being are critical as well. Using data from psychological, criminological, and epidemiological sources, we propose a model of unethical behavior and well-being. This model postulates that decrements in well-being result from stress or trauma stemming from being victimized by, engaging in, or witnessing unethical behavior, or even from being associated with individuals involved in such behavior.
Heart Rate and Behavioral measures of Attention in Six‐, Nine‐, and Twelve‐Month‐Old Infants during Object Exploration

In this study we examined the effect of heart rate and behavioral measures of attention on distractibility of 6-, 9-, and 12-month-old infants. The infants were presented with a toy, and a distractor was presented while they attended to the toy. The distractor was presented during heart rate changes indicating sustained attention or attention termination, or during periods of time when behavioral ratings indicated the infant was in focused or casual attention. There were longer distraction latencies during attentional engagement as defined by heart rate changes or behavioral ratings than for periods of inattention. Infants had the longest distraction latencies when heart rate and behavior measures were congruent with respect to attention engagement (heart rate deceleration and focused attention). Conversely, latencies were shortest for congruent values of inattention (heart rate acceleration and casual attention). Infant information processing may be greatest when a heart rate deceleration occurs simultaneously with an episode of focused attention.
REGULATION OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN DEVELOPING MOUSE BRAIN TISSUE: IN VITRO BINDING OF TEMPLATE RNA TO BRAIN RIBOSOMES

— Ribosomes, isolated from brain tissue of mice of various ages, were tested for their ability to participate in cell-free protein synthesis and to bind polyuridylic acid. Although protein synthesis was markedly reduced by ribosomal preparations obtained from increasingly older animals, no significant differences could be measured with respect to template RNA binding. Similar binding properties were also measured with ribosomal subunits purified from young and mature brain cell ribonucleoprotein particles. In addition, no differences could be detected in the relative firmness of template RNA binding that could explain the maturation-dependent loss in ribosomal activity.
Victim consequences, sentence severity, and decision processes in mock juries.

Six-person juries and parallel individuals watched a mock trial (prerecorded on video tape) under conditions where the victim of an alleged rape had purportedly suffered either mild or severe consequences, and the defendant could receive either a moderate or harsh sentence if convicted. The primary finding was that a version of a majority (2/3) social decision scheme model accurately predicted verdict distributions similar to previous research (Davis, Kerr, Atkin, Holt & Meek, 1975) that had used a case more heavily slanted than the present one toward not guilty. However, the particular version (subscheme for addressing nonmajorities) differed from earlier findings. Neither victim consequences nor sentence severity significantly influenced the over-all proportion of guilty verdicts, but interacted to significantly influence mean deliberation time. When victim consequences and potential sentence did not “fit”, longer average deliberation times resulted.
Studies in Large Plastic Flow and Fracture: With Special Emphasis on the Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure. P. W. Bridgman. New York-London: McGraw-Hill, 1952. 362 pp. $8.00

Drought and war have crippled agriculture in Afghanistan, but an international plant-breeding network is trying to improve a desperate situation. A few months ago, researchers at an international plant center in Syria reached into their freezer to retrieve about 200 samples of chickpeas, barley, lentils, and fava beans collected decades ago in the marketplaces and mountainsides of Afghanistan. The seedlings from these botanical remnants of Afghanistan9s past are being returned to their native land this month as a first step in restoring the country9s agricultural diversity.
Adapter protein for site-specific conjugation of payloads for targeted drug delivery.

High-affinity interactions of two fragments of human RNase I (1−15-aa Hu-tag and 21−125-aa HuS adapter protein) can be used for assembly of targeting drug delivery complexes. In this approach, a targeting protein is expressed as a fusion protein with a 15-aa Hu-tag, while HuS is conjugated to a drug (or a drug carrier) creating a “payload” module, which is then bound noncovalently to the Hu-tag of the targeting protein. Although this approach eliminates chemical modifications of targeting proteins, the payload modules are still constructed by random cross-linking of drugs or drug carriers to an adapter protein that might lead to functional heterogeneity of the complexes. To avoid this problem, we engineered an adapter protein HuS(N88C) with an unpaired cysteine in position 88 that can be directly modified without interference with activity of assembled targeting complexes. HuS(N88C) binds Hu-tagged annexin V with KD of 50 ± 6 nM, which is comparable to that of wild-type HuS. To demonstrate the utility of ...
Comparison of mitral valve dimensions and motion in mitral valve prolapse with severe mitral regurgitation to uncomplicated mitral valve prolapse and to mitral regurgitation without mitral valve prolapse

Abstract To determine the mitral valve abnormalities associated with hemodynamically important mitral regurgitation (MR) among patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), computerized 2-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of mitral leaflet and anular dimensions and motion in 26 patients with MVP and MR were compared to those in 48 subjects with uncomplicated MVP, 16 patients with MR due to etiologies other than MVP (rheumatic in 8) and 35 normal adults. Compared to both uncomplicated MVP and normal subjects, patients with MVP plus MR were older (p
Role of vasopressin in the impaired water excretion of glucocorticoid deficiency

Role of vasopressin in the impaired water excretion of glucocorticoid deficiency. The mechanism whereby glucocorticoid deficiency impairs renal water excretion was studied in the conscious mineralocorticoid-replaced, adrenalectomized rat. Control animals received physiologic replacement with prednisolone, and experimental animals were deprived of glucocorticoid hormone for either 1 or 14 days. The control animals excreted 95 ± 1.9% of an acute water load (30 ml/kg) in 3 hours, a value significantly higher than the volume excreted by animals deprived of glucocorticoid hormone for 1 day (70.0 ± 3.6%, P Role de la vasopressin dans le deficit d'excretion de l'eau au cours du deficit en glucocorticoides. Le mecanisme par lequel le deficit en glucocorticoides altere l'excretion renale de l'eau a ete etudie chez le rat conscient, surrenalectomise, recevant des mineralocorticoides. Les animaux controles recevaient des doses physiologiques de prednisolone alors que les animaux experimentaux etaient prives de glucocorticoides pendant 1 ou 14 jours. Les animaux controles excretent 95 ± 1,9% d'une charge en eau (30 ml/kg) en 3 heures, valeur significativement superieure a celle observee chez les animaux prives de glucocorticoides depuis 1 jour (70,0 ± 3,6%, P
Mapping with words: A new approach to automated digital soil survey

Soil survey (soil mapping) is based on soil-landscape knowledge of soil scientists. Current automated approaches to soil survey cannot take such knowledge as direct input, because the knowledge is descriptive in nature. This paper presents a "mapping with words" solution by using fuzzy logic. Environmental variables used to describe landscape conditions are treated as linguistic variables. Each descriptive term used to characterize an environmental variable is treated as a fuzzy granule and is represented with a fuzzy membership function. Fuzzy membership functions are defined through gathering samples of expert perception on the landscape. Using the granulefuzzy membership functions pairs as a dictionary, an inference can decode input descriptive knowledge accordingly and conduct soil inference. The proposed approach has been tested in a case study in Dane County, Wisconsin, USA via a soil inference approach (soilland inference model, SoLIM). The mapping result shows that the mapping with word version of SoLIM has an 85% accuracy based on collected field points, better than a comparable earlier version (about 78%). Traditional soil survey maps usually have a mapping accuracy about 60%. The proposed methodology can be adapted to other knowledge-based natural resource mapping with slight modifications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An improvement of the Griffiths-Hurst-Sherman inequality for the Ising ferromagnet

We prove the following inequality for the truncated correlation in the Ising model in zero external field: $$\begin{gathered} \langle \sigma _i \sigma _j \sigma _k \sigma _l \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _j \rangle \langle \sigma _k \sigma _l \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _k \rangle \langle \sigma _j \sigma _l \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _l \rangle \langle \sigma _j \sigma _k \rangle \hfill \\ \leqslant - 2\langle \sigma _i \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _j \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _k \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _l \sigma _m \rangle \hfill \\ - 2 \left( {\langle \sigma _i \sigma _k \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _m \sigma _k \rangle } \right) \left( {\langle \sigma _j \sigma _k \rangle - \langle \sigma _j \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _m \sigma _k \rangle } \right)\langle \sigma _k \sigma _l \rangle \hfill \\ - 2 \langle \sigma _i \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _j \sigma _m \rangle \left( {\langle \sigma _i \sigma _k \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _m \sigma _k \rangle } \right)\left( {\langle \sigma _i \sigma _l \rangle - \langle \sigma _i \sigma _m \rangle \langle \sigma _m \sigma _l \rangle } \right) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ This inequality is a strengthening of the Lebowitz inequality for the four-point function and implies the following improvement of the GHS inequality: $$\langle \sigma _i ;\sigma ;_j \sigma _k \rangle ^T \leqslant - 2\langle \sigma _i ;\sigma _k \rangle ^T \langle \sigma _j ;\sigma _k \rangle ^T \langle \sigma _k \rangle $$ This in turn implies the critical exponent inequality $$\Delta '_3 \geqslant \gamma ' - \beta $$
Increased survival of a cohort of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and cytomegalovirus retinitis who received sodium phosphonoformate (Foscarnet)

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the impact of foacarnet on the longevity of persons with human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HTV-1) infection and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Patients and methods: A cohort of 24 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and CMV retinitis received sodium phosphonoformate (foscarnet) as part of a controlled efficacy trial at the National Institutes of Health. Foscarnet was continued for as long as it was tolerated. Antiretroviral therapy was given to the patients as tolerated. Long-term follow-up was available on all patients. Results: Seventeen patients received zidovudine during or after receiving foscarnet, 2 patients received dideoxyinosme, 2 patients ridovudine and dideoxyinosine, and 3 patients received no specific antiretroviral agent. Patients received foscarnet for a mean of 6.2 months (median, 4 months; range, 10 days to 22 months). Ten patients required a change to ganciclovir therapy at some time after receiving foscarnet. The median time from the diagnosis of CMV retinitis until death was 13.5 months (range, 3 to 34 months). Patients lived longer than untreated or ganciclovir-treated historical controls with AIDS and CMV retinitis. There was no difference in the survival of patients treated with foscarnet al the time of diagnosis and those patients treated with foscarnet only after progression of their CMV retinitis. Conclusion: These data suggest that foscarnet may prolong the survival of persons with AIDS and CMV retinitis and should be the initial treatment of choice in these patients.
Suppression of tissue factor expression, cofactor activity, and metastatic potential of murine melanoma cells by the N-terminal domain of adenovirus E1A 12S protein.

Tissue factor, the cellular initiator of blood coagulation, has been implicated as a determinant of metastatic potential in human melanoma cells. Here, we report that differential expression of tissue factor in murine melanoma cell lines of known metastatic behavior is mediated by AP-1-dependent and 12S E1A oncoprotein-repressible gene transcription. When compared to weakly metastatic C10 cells, highly metastatic M4 cells possessed elevated levels of tissue factor cofactor activity, transfected promoter activity, and heterodimeric AP-1 DNA-binding complexes containing Fra-1. Transient co-expression of the adenovirus E1A 12S oncoprotein strongly repressed transcription of an AP-1-driven tissue factor reporter gene indicating the additional requirement of N-terminal E1A-interacting coactivators. Stable expression of E1A mutants defective in CBP/p300-binding failed to suppress tissue factor expression and experimental metastasis by M4 cells while clones expressing wild type E1A exhibited greatly reduced tissue factor cofactor activity and metastatic potential in vivo. Overexpression of functional tissue factor in cells containing wild type E1A failed to restore the highly metastatic M4 phenotype suggesting that additional E1A-responsive and CBP/p300-dependent genes are required to facilitate metastasis of murine melanoma cells demonstrating high tissue factor expression and cofactor activity. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 54–71, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Distance-Dependent Fluorescence Quenching and Binding of CdSe Quantum Dots by Functionalized Nitroxide Radicals

Quantum dot (QD) fluorescence is effectively quenched at low concentration by nitroxides bearing amine or carboxylic acid ligands. The association constants and fluorescence quenching of CdSe QDs with these derivatized nitroxides have been examined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The EPR spectra in the nonprotic solvent toluene are extremely sensitive to intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the functionalized nitroxides. Fluorescence measurements show that quenching of QD luminescence is nonlinear, with a strong dependence on the distance between the radical and the QD. The quenched fluorescence is restored when the surface-bound nitroxides are converted to hydroxylamines by mild reducing agents or trapped by carbon radicals to form alkoxyamines. EPR studies indicate that photoreduction of the nitroxide occurs in toluene solution upon photoexcitation at 365 nm. However, photolysis in benzene solution gives no photoreduction, suggesting that photo...
Combined Effect of Flaw Distribution and Diameter Variation on the Statistics of Glass Fiber Strength

This paper examines the combined effects of flaw-severity distribution and fiber diameter distribution on the fracture statistics of glass fibers. The approach adopted is to assume specific forms (Gaussian and Weibull) for the diameter distribution, a Weibull distribution for the true strength, and then to calculate the measured strength distributions. Exact analytical results are obtained in the cases of flawless fibers, uniform size flaws, and when true strength and fiber diameter are Weibull distributed. Approximate analytical expressions have been derived for the general case. A procedure is described to obtain the parameters of the true strength distribution from the knowledge of measured strength distribution and the coefficient of variation of fiber diameters. Implications of these results for the fracture statistics of high-strength glass fibers are discussed.
Wants and needs in mitigation policy

Disagreements about morally appropriate mitigation policies arise in part from implicit disagreements about the nature and moral significance of needs. One key question is what, if anything, distinguishes “needs” from “mere wants.” One approach, prominent in economics and implemented in existing integrated assessment models of climate change, rejects a hard distinction between needs and wants. An alternative approach, prominent in the philosophical literature on needs, identifies needs with the requirements for autonomous agency, which is the capacity to set and pursue one’s own goals. A second key question is in what sense, if any, the satisfaction of needs should take precedence over the satisfaction of wants. Those who reject the distinction between wants and needs can say only that some desires should be weighted more heavily than others. Those who endorse the distinction can say that, given certain ethical assumptions, it is wrong to frustrate one person’s needs in order to satisfy others’ mere wants. Thus, rejecting the distinction between wants and needs tends to justify less aggressive mitigation policies, in which satisfying the so-called “wants” of present generations compensates for frustrating the so-called “needs” of future generations. Endorsing the distinction between wants and needs, along with certain ethical assumptions, tends to justify more aggressive mitigation policies. Both positions are intellectually defensible; understanding them helps illuminate disagreements over mitigation policy.
The challenges of universal connectivity: keynote

Over the past two decades, mobile technology has evolved from simple mobile phones to smartphones with location-sensing and multiple forms of Internet connectivity. In the past few years, these have been joined by various Internet-connected, location-aware devices that make it possible to track the real-time location and behavior of millions of people. This paper summarizes major advantages and risks associated with the universal connectivity that is available with this technology.
Interaction of complement factor h and fibulin3 in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss. It is associated with development of characteristic plaque-like deposits (soft drusen) in Bruch’s membrane basal to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). A sequence variant (Y402H) in short consensus repeat domain 7 (SCR7) of complement factor H (CFH) is associated with risk for “dry” AMD. We asked whether the eye-targeting of this disease might be related to specific interactions of CFH SCR7 with proteins expressed in the aging human RPE/choroid that could contribute to protein deposition in drusen. Yeast 2-hybrid (Y2H) screens of a retinal pigment epithelium/choroid library derived from aged donors using CFH SCR7 baits detected an interaction with EFEMP1/Fibulin 3 (Fib3), which is the locus for an inherited macular degeneration and also accumulates basal to macular RPE in AMD. The CFH/Fib3 interaction was validated by co-immunoprecipitation of native proteins. Quantitative Y2H and ELISA assays with different recombinant protein constructs both demonstrated higher affinity for Fib3 for the disease-related CFH 402H variant. Immuno-labeling revealed colocalization of CFH and Fib3 in globular deposits within cholesterol-rich domains in soft drusen in two AMD donors homozygous for CFH 402H (H/H). This pattern of labeling was quite distinct from those seen in examples of eyes with Y/Y and H/Y genotypes. The CFH 402H/Fib3 interaction could contribute to the development of pathological aggregates in soft drusen in some patients and as such might provide a target for therapeutic intervention in some forms of AMD.
THE CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE TRANS-AZIDOBIS (DIMETHYLGLYOXIMATO) PYRIDINECOBALT(III)

Abstract Crystals of trans-azido bis(dimethylglyoximato)pyridinecobalt(III) are monoclinic, space group P21/c. The unit cell constants are a = 8.731(3), b = 13.982(3), c = 17.961(5) A,β = 126.80(1), V = 1755.7 A3, and Z = 4. The structure was determined from three dimensional X-ray data (2152 independent reflections) obtained by the θ-2θ scan method using a CAD–4 automated four-circle diffractometer. Structure solution was effected by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by block diagonal least squares method to a conventional R value of 0.041. The two dimethyl glyoximato monoanions occupy the equatorial plane with pyridine and azide groups in the axial positions. Azide N–N bond distances were found to be 1.155(6) and 1.126(7) A with the longer bond adjacent to the cobalt atom. Cobalt–nitrogen bonds in the axial positions are significantly longer than those in the equatorial plane. Although the O–O interatomic distances between the separate oxime anions are close to 2.5 A the hydrogen bonding is deci...
THE GUIDE OF THE PERPLEXED

"THE GUIDE OF THE PERPLEXED"* PROFESSOR JOHN W. FrIGHT, Haverford College March 30, 1935, marks the eight-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Moses Maimonides (b. Cordova, Mar. 30, 1135; d. Cairo, Dec. 13, 1204), the greatest of the medieval Jewish philosophers. The Jews have a popular saying: "From Moses unto Moses there has been none like Moses," which attests the amply deserved distinction which Maimonides enjoys between the ancient Lawgiver of Israel and the great 18th century German-Jewish philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn. It is needless here to give the outline of his life, which may be found in any encyclopedia. Our purpose is to express appreciation of a *In celebration of the 800th anniversary of Maimonides' birth. 31
Comparing a quasi-3D to a full 3D nearshore circulation model: SHORECIRC and ROMS

Abstract Predictions of nearshore and surf zone processes are important for determining coastal circulation, impacts of storms, navigation, and recreational safety. Numerical modeling of these systems facilitates advancements in our understanding of coastal changes and can provide predictive capabilities for resource managers. There exists many nearshore coastal circulation models, however they are mostly limited or typically only applied as depth integrated models. SHORECIRC is an established surf zone circulation model that is quasi-3D to allow the effect of the variability in the vertical structure of the currents while maintaining the computational advantage of a 2DH model. Here we compare SHORECIRC to ROMS, a fully 3D ocean circulation model which now includes a three dimensional formulation for the wave-driven flows. We compare the models with three different test applications for: (i) spectral waves approaching a plane beach with an oblique angle of incidence; (ii) monochromatic waves driving longshore currents in a laboratory basin; and (iii) monochromatic waves on a barred beach with rip channels in a laboratory basin. Results identify that the models are very similar for the depth integrated flows and qualitatively consistent for the vertically varying components. The differences are primarily the result of the vertically varying radiation stress utilized by ROMS and the utilization of long wave theory for the radiation stress formulation in vertical varying momentum balance by SHORECIRC. The quasi-3D model is faster, however the applicability of the fully 3D model allows it to extend over a broader range of processes, temporal, and spatial scales.
Control of Ultrasound Contrast Agent Microbubbles: PID and Sliding Mode Control

Linear PID and nonlinear sliding mode controllers are developed and applied to a spherical model of a contrast agent microbubble that describes its radial response to ultrasound input. The plant model is a compressible form of the Rayleigh-Plesset equation combined with a thin-shell model. A nonlinear control law for the second-order plant model is developed and used to design and simulate the sliding mode controller and is compared to the performance of a fixed-gain PID controller. The performance of the nonlinear controller on the contrast agent response is evaluated for various control scenarios. This work shows the feasibility of using a nonlinear control system to modulate the dynamic response of ultrasound contrast agents, and highlights the need for improved feedback mechanisms and control input methods. Applications of the nonlinear control system in this work include bubble radius stabilization in the presence of an acoustic wave, radial bubble growth and subsequent collapse, and periodic radial oscillation response while a bubble is within an acoustic forcing regime known to cause a chaotic response.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
State event location in differential-algebraic models

An efficient discontinuity handling algorithm for initial value problems in differential-algebraic equations is presented. The algorithm supports flexible representation of state conditions in propositional logic, and guarantees the location of all state events in strict time order. The algorithm consists of two phases:(1) event detection and(2) consistent event location. In the event detection phase, the entire integration step is searched for the state event by solving the interpolation polynomials for the discontinuity functions generated by the BDF method. An efficient hierarchical polynomial root-finding procedure based upon interval arithmetic guarantees detection of the state event even if multiple state condition transitions exist in an integration step, in which case many existing algorithms may fail. As a second phase of the algorithm, a consistent even location calculation is developed that accurately locates the state event detected earlier while completely eliminating incorrect reactivation of the same state event immediately after the consistent initialization calculation that may follow. This numerical phenomenon has not been explained before and is termed discontinuity sticking. Results from various test problems are presented to demonstrate the correctness and efficiency of the algorithm.
Sonographic templates of newborn perforator stroke

Many paediatric strokes occur in the perinatal period. Improvement in neuroimaging has increased detection in newborns with neurological symptoms. To define sonographic templates of neonatal stroke in the territory of perforators of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) and the anterior (ACA), middle (MCA) and posterior (PCA) cerebral arteries. In 24 neonates with perforator stroke, we retrospectively studied antenatal and perinatal events. Brain sonography was performed with an 8.5-MHz probe. Only hyperechoic lesions in the thalamus and/or striatum and/or centrum semiovale were included. MRI was obtained using a 1.5-T machine. We detected 28 perforator strokes in 24 infants (6 preterm): 5 MCA medial striate, 8 MCA lateral striate, 3 MCA centrum semiovale, 4 ACA Heubner’s, 5 PCA thalamic arteries, 1 AChA, and 2 hypothalamic perforators. We attributed clinical seizures to stroke in two infants only. Catheter-related embolism (certain in three, possible in six others) and birth trauma (two) were probable causes. Specific conditions were found in six others. Only one infant (in nine evaluated) had an increased prothrombotic risk (fII mutation). In describing the lesions, we focused on the templates of infarction as seen in a parasagittal US sweep. Infarcts were confirmed by MRI in 21 patients. Our study showed that infarct topography can be evaluated reliably with brain sonography. This is important given the asymptomatic character of most lesions.
A test of maternal programming of offspring stress response to predation risk in threespine sticklebacks.

Abstract Non-genetic maternal effects are widespread across taxa and challenge our traditional understanding of inheritance. Maternal experience with predators, for example, can have lifelong consequences for offspring traits, including fitness. Previous work in threespine sticklebacks showed that females exposed to simulated predation risk produced eggs with higher cortisol content and offspring with altered anti-predator behavior. However, it is unknown whether this maternal effect is mediated via the offspring glucocorticoid stress response and if it is retained over the entire lifetime of offspring. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to simulated predation risk has long-lasting effects on the cortisol response to simulated predation risk in stickleback offspring. We measured circulating concentrations of cortisol before (baseline), 15 min after, and 60 min after exposure to a simulated predation risk. We compared adult offspring of predator-exposed mothers and control mothers in two different social environments (alone or in a group). Relative to baseline, offspring plasma cortisol was highest 15 min after exposure to simulated predation risk and decreased after 60 min. Offspring of predator-exposed mothers differed in the cortisol response to simulated predation risk compared to offspring of control mothers. In general, females had higher cortisol than males, and fish in a group had lower cortisol than fish that were by themselves. The buffering effect of the social environment did not differ between maternal treatments or between males and females. Altogether the results show that while a mother's experience with simulated predation risk might affect the physiological response of her adult offspring to a predator, sex and social isolation have much larger effects on the stress response to predation risk in sticklebacks.
Interethnic differences in muscle, liver and abdominal fat partitioning in obese adolescents.

The prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in obese youth is rapidly increasing, especially in Hispanics and African Americans compared to Caucasians. Insulin resistance is known to be associated with increases in intramyocellular (IMCL) and hepatic fat content. We determined if there are ethnic differences in IMCL and hepatic fat content in a multiethnic cohort of 55 obese adolescents. We used 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify IMCL levels in the soleus muscle, oral glucose tolerance testing to estimate insulin sensitivity, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure abdominal fat distribution. Liver fat content was measured by fast–MRI. Despite similar age and % total body fat among the groups, IMCL was significantly higher in the Hispanics (1.71% [1.43%, 2.0%]) than in the African-Americans (1.04% [0.75%, 1.34%], p = 0.013) and the Caucasians (1.2% [0.94%, 1.5%], p = 0.04). Liver fat content was undetectable in the African Americans whereas it was two fold higher than normal in both Caucasians and Hispanics. Visceral fat was significantly lower in African Americans (41.5 cm2 [34.6, 49.6]) and was similar in Caucasians (65.2 cm2 [55.9, 76.0]) and Hispanics (70.5 cm2 [59.9, 83.1]). In a multiple regression analysis, we found that ethnicity independent of age, gender and % body fat accounts for 10% of the difference in IMCL. Our study indicates that obese Hispanic adolescents have a greater IMCL lipid content than both Caucasians and African Americans, of comparable weight, age and gender. Excessive accumulation of fat in the liver was found in both Caucasian and Hispanic groups as opposed to virtually undetectable levels in the African Americans. Thus, irrespective of obesity, there seem to be some clear ethnic differences in the amount of lipid accumulated in skeletal muscle, liver and abdominal cavity.
Postharvest disinfestation heat treatments: response of fruit and fruit fly larvae to different heating media.

Abstract The surface heat transfer efficiency of three heating media (water, and forced air with and without a water vapor-pressure deficit) was compared using four commodities: mango, papaya, grapefruit, and orange. Forced vapor-saturated-air (VFA), and water (HW) transferred heat most efficiently to the fruit surface. Thermal stress to the fruit was greatest during heating in VFA. Thermal diffusivity of fruit corresponded to fruit density, and was highest for papaya and mango. Differences in the oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration inside grapefruit were apparent among those exposed to an identical heat dose in HW, forced water vapor-pressure deficit air (MFA), or a forced, vapor-pressure deficit atmosphere of 1 kPa O 2 with 20 kPa CO 2 (MFCA). The altered atmosphere that developed inside fruit during heating in HW or MFCA was shown to enhance efficacy of heat as a disinfestation treatment. Results from this research suggest that heating in an atmosphere that inhibits fruit respiration does not in itself predispose a fruit to injury. The water vapor pressure of the atmosphere used to heat a commodity influences the thermal stress delivered to that commodity during heating. Forced, water vapor-pressure-deficit atmospheres with altered levels of O 2 and or CO 2 have commercial potential for providing quicker, less severe heat disinfestation treatments.
Illusion of Community in the Community College.

Community colleges have always been touted as comprehensive, open‐door, flexible institutions—characteristics that have regularly been viewed as strengths. Yet the group of functions, usually referred to as community education or community services, that has most characterized these institutions as truly community oriented has recently come under scrutiny. This scrutiny has called into question the mission of community colleges, as well as the fact that there are simply not enough funds available to service the total mission. The area that has received the most negative attention is community services, because of an inadequate definition for the area. The area also includes many functions that are activity and culturally enriching in nature and only casually approximate what one usually associates with educational programs. Should community services be limited to educational services? Should the educational services to be provided be broken up between those to be supported by funding agencies and those th...
A study of damage accumulation in unidirectional glass reinforced composites via acoustic emission monitoring

Damage accumulation in continuous unidirectional glass reinforced composites was studied by acoustic emission (AE) monitoring during three-point-bend loading. Results are presented for four composites monitored during quasi-static break loading, and one composite also monitored during cyclic fatigue and static creep loading. AE response was correlated with the mechanical (stress-strain) response and with visual observation of damage events to study the details of the damage accumulation process. Results show that the failure process is characterized by the sequential occurrence of three distinct damage mechanisms. Specifically, the failure process initiated with cohesive matrix damage, propagated with interfacial debonding, and ended with fiber breakage very near catastrophic failure. The same sequential damage process occurred in all four composites and all three test procedures examined. Results also demonstrate that AE analysis, in combination with mechanical testing and microscopic observation, is a valuable tool in understanding damage accumulation in composites.
Evolving understanding of translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO)

The translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) has been the focus of intense research by the biomedical community and the pharmaceutical industry because of its apparent involvement in many disease-related processes. These include steroidogenesis, apoptosis, inflammation, neurological disease and cancer, resulting in the use of TSPO as a biomarker and its potential as a drug target. Despite more than 30 years of study, the precise function of TSPO remains elusive. A recent breakthrough in determining the high-resolution crystal structures of bacterial homologs of mitochondrial TSPO provides new insight into the structural and functional properties at a molecular level and new opportunities for investigating the significance of this ancient and highly conserved protein family. The availability of atomic level structural information from different species also provides a platform for structure-based drug development. Here we briefly review current knowledge regarding TSPO and the implications of the new structures with respect to hypotheses and controversies in the field.
A parametric study of linear and non-linear passively damped seismic isolation systems for buildings

The effects of near-field ground motions with large velocity pulses have motivated passive damping requirements for the protection of seismically isolated structures. Structures in which the first mode damping exceeds 20% or 30% typically do not exhibit classical modes, and simulation via a simple superposition of uncoupled second order equations is not possible. When the damping is produced by viscous or linear visco-elastic devices, we can, however, gain insight into the dynamic behavior of these structures using a convenient first-order formulation and frequency domain methods. When the damping effects are created by non-linear mechanisms such as yielding or friction, the behavior of the structure is amplitude dependent and analyses are commonly carried out in the time domain. In this paper, frequency domain analysis and earthquake time history analysis are applied to study the influence of isolation damping on higher-mode effects and inter-story drift ratios. Because higher mode effects, plan irregularities, and bi-directional ground motions are all important attributes of the dynamic behavior of these structural systems, a simple comparison of isolation damping mechanisms can not be carried out via simple single or two degree of freedom realizations. In order to incorporate these important details in the study of the dynamic behavior of these structures, a set of 8-story proto-type building models with L-shaped floor plans, different isolation periods, isolation damping characteristics, and levels of isolation stiffnesses are examined.
Maternal Cadmium Levels during Pregnancy Associated with Lower Birth Weight in Infants in a North Carolina Cohort

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, a known carcinogen, and understudied as a developmental toxicant. In the present study, we examined the relationships between Cd levels during pregnancy and infant birth outcomes in a prospective pregnancy cohort in Durham, North Carolina. The study participants (n = 1027) had a mean Cd level of 0.46 µg/L with a range of <0.08 to 2.52 µg/L. Multivariable models were used to establish relationships between blood Cd tertiles and fetal growth parameters, namely birth weight, low birth weight, birth weight percentile by gestational age, small for gestational age, pre-term birth, length, and head circumference. In multivariable models, high maternal blood Cd levels (≥0.50 µg/L) during pregnancy were inversely associated with birth weight percentile by gestational age (p = 0.007) and associated with increased odds of infants being born small for gestational age (p<0.001). These observed effects were independent of cotinine-defined smoking status. The results from this study provide further evidence of health risks associated with early life exposure to Cd among a large pregnancy cohort.
The vomeronasal system, aggression, activity, and passive-avoidance learning in hooded rats

Muricidal behavior, irritability to handling, open-field activity, passive-avoidance learning, and weight change were measured in Long-Evans hooded rats after they had been subjected to olfactory bulb removal, cuts of the vomeronasal nerves, lateral olfactory bulb damage, or control operations. Bulbectomized animals displayed increases in irritability to handling, enhanced horizontal activity in the open field, and a deficit in passive-avoidance learning. Animals with lateral olfactory bulb lesions showed an increase in muricidal behavior. Although there were significant intragroup postoperative weight losses, there were no significant differences between groups. Damage to the vomeronasal system alone was not involved in any of the measured behaviors.
Use of an infrared scanner and a nuclear meter to find wet insulation in a ballasted roof

An IR scanner and a nuclear moisture meter were used to survey a ballasted roof suffering chronic leaks. Infrared surveys, conducted with the ballast in place, uncovered five small wet areas. The thermal anomalies were faint and may have been missed during a routine IR roof moisture survey. Nuclear readings were taken on a 1.5-m (5-ft) grid. HIgh nuclear readings were obtained at the one grid point that fell within one of the five wet areas detected during the IR survey. The other four wet areas were missed. However, the nuclear meter found an additional nine small wet areas that the IR scanner missed. All but one of these areas contained wet urethane insulation directly below the membrane. In three other areas of the roof, nuclear readings were higher than those over the rest of the roof. Core samples verified that the perlite insulation at the base of the roof was wet in these areas, two of which were small but one was 12 X 12 m (40 X 40 ft) when squared off. This `deep' moisture was not detected thermographically. On this roof IR and nuclear surveys both provided valuable information but each missed a portion of the problem. When used in combination, their strengths were complementary.
Income Inequality in Sweden and the United Kingdom: a Longitudinal Analysis:

This article compares the reduction of income inequality in Sweden and the United Kingdom over the periods of 1920-1969 and 1880-1969 respectively. The independent variables used by Cutright were r...
CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T-cell infiltration and heme oxygenase-1 expression correlate with tumor grade in human gliomas

Regulatory T-cells play an important role in the regulation of the immune response and the mediation of dominant immunologic tolerance. We have previously shown that these cells are elevated in tumors and blood of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Heme oxygenase-1, a rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, has also been shown to accumulate during glioma progression and to play a critical role in FoxP3 mediated immune suppression. In this study, we investigated the correlation between FoxP3 and HO-1 expression in patients with various grades of astrocytoma (WHO grade II–IV). Using qualitative and quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction and quantitative flow cytometry analyses, we analyzed FoxP3 and HO-1 expression in 19 patients with different grades of astrocytoma. We observed the highest level of FoxP3 expression in patients with grade IV tumors (11.54 ± 1.95%) vs. grade III (6.74 ± 0.19%) or grade II (2.53 ± 0.11%) (P < 0.05). Moreover, in grade IV tumors, the frequency of HO-1 mRNA expression in CD4+CD25+ cells was 11.8 ± 2.45% vs. 7.42 ± 0.31% in grade III and 2.33 ± 0.12% in grade II. Tumor infiltrating Treg stained positively with anti-HO-1 antibody. The expression of HO-1 correlated with CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ infiltration (r = 0.966). Our results confirm that HO-1 expressing Treg accumulate during glioma progression. This study also suggests that HO-1 mRNA expression is linked to the induction of Foxp3 in CD4+CD25+ glioma infiltrating Treg. These findings support the suppressive role played by regulatory T-cells in the growth of malignant brain tumors.
Nitrogen-15 Fractionation by Countercurrent Exchange between Liquid N2O3-N2O4 Mixtures and Their Vapor Phases under Pressured Conditions

Abstract The nitrogen isotope exchange system for 15N-fractionation consisting of liquid mixtures of N2O3 and N2O4 and the vapor phase in equilibrium with the liquid (NO/N2O3 system) has been studied at temperatures between −9 and 20°C under various pressures below 4 atm. A countercurrent isotope exchange apparatus and an associated product refluxer system are described. At 15°C the effective separation factor, αeff, increases from 1.006 at 1 atm to 1.030 at 2.7 atm and levels off thereafter. The observed αeff values are in good agreement with recent spectroscopic data. The height equivalent of theoretical plate (HETP) correlates well with the linear flow rate of gas phase, showing a dominant diffusion-control of the overall exchange rate. At 15°C the HETP of the NO/N2O3 system under 3∼4 atm can be smaller by factors of 7 to 10 than that of the Nitrox (NO/HNO3 exchange) system having the same product rate, rendering the former system a possibility for significantly smaller plant volume.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: the female factor

Comment on Warkentin et al, page [2937][1] HIT, which may be one of the most common and potentially devastating of the immune-mediated drug reactions, is induced when antibodies that are directed against a complex of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin bind to FcγRII receptors on platelets,
Strong CP problem in unified models

A general idea is proposed according to which the gauge symmetries of grand unified models can restrict the Yukawa couplings in such a way as to make arg det M/sub Q/ naturally small (where M/sub Q/ is the quark mass matrix). A specific example model based on SU(6) is discussed in detail. It has q< or approx. =10/sup -9/, is economical of fields, and involves no discrete symmetries or new horizontal gauge symmetries. It suffers from the gauge hierarchy problem. However, the smallness of q is natural.