cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encephalization and longevity evolved in a correlated fashion in Euarchontoglires but not in other mammals

Across mammals, encephalization and longevity show a strong correlation. It is not clear, however, whether these traits evolved in a correlated fashion within mammalian orders, or when they do, whether one trait drives changes in the other. Here, we compared independent and correlated evolutionary models to identify instances of correlated evolution within six mammalian orders. In cases of correlated evolution, we subsequently examined transition patterns between small/large relative brain size and short/long lifespan. In four mammalian orders, these traits evolved independently. This may reflect constraints related to energy allocation, predation avoidance tactics, and reproductive strategies. Within both primates and rodents, and their parent clade Euarchontoglires, we found evidence for correlated evolution. In primates, transition patterns suggest relatively larger brains likely facilitated the evolution of long lifespans. Because larger brains prolong development and reduce fertility rates, they may be compensated for with longer lifespans. Furthermore, encephalization may enable cognitively-complex strategies that reduce extrinsic mortality. Rodents show an inverse pattern of correlated evolution, whereby long lifespans appear to have facilitated the evolution of relatively larger brains. This may be because longer lived organisms have more to gain from investment in encephalization. Together, our results provide evidence for the correlated evolution of encephalization and longevity, but only in some mammalian orders.
§3.13 “Presumptions” in Criminal Cases

This article addresses the constitutionality of “presumptions” in criminal cases. It discusses the leading case of Sandstrom v Montana and its holding that a presumption cannot be mandatory in a criminal case.
Phasic Electrodermal Activity During the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC).

Context: The long-term effects of concussion on brain function during cognitive tasks are not fully understood and neuroimaging findings are equivocal. Some images show hyperactivation of prefrontal brain regions in previously concussed individuals relative to controls, suggesting increased cognitive resource allocation. Others show prefrontal hypoactivation and hyperactivation in other regions as a presumed compensatory mechanism. Given the relationship between sympathetic arousal and neural activation, physiologic measures of arousal, such as electrodermal activity, may provide additional insight into the brain's functional changes in those with a history of concussion. Objective: To quantify differences in electrodermal activity during a commonly used standardized neurocognitive assessment between individuals with or without a history of concussion. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Seven asymptomatic individuals with a self-reported his...
Etiology of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Cotton in Southern New Mexico.

Alternaria leaf spot (caused by Alternaria spp.) is one of the most common foliar diseases of cotton (Gossypium spp.) and occurs in most cotton-growing regions of the world. In surveys of commercia...
Measuring the muon's anomalous magnetic moment to 0.14 ppm

The anomalous magnetic moment (g-2) of the muon was measured with a precision of 0.54 ppm in Experiment 821 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. A difference of 3.2 standard deviations between this experimental value and the prediction of the Standard Model has persisted since 2004; in spite of considerable experimental and theoretical effort, there is no consistent explanation for this difference. This comparison hints at physics beyond the Standard Model, but it also imposes strong constraints on those possibilities, which include supersymmetry and extra dimensions. The collaboration is preparing to relocate the experiment to Fermilab to continue towards a proposed precision of 0.14 ppm. This will require 20 times more recorded decays than in the previous measurement, with corresponding improvements in the systematic uncertainties. We describe the theoretical developments and the experimental upgrades that provide a compelling motivation for the new measurement.
Suction Stress of Clay Over a Wide Range of Saturation

Quantifying the relationship between water retention and internal stress state of unsaturated soils has long been a challenge. Current effective stress formulations can effectively capture the relationship for coarse-grained soils, where capillary mechanisms dominate internal stress state over a wide range of saturation, but fail for fine-grained soils, particularly at low to intermediate saturation, where surface adsorption mechanisms dominate water retention and corresponding stress state. Internal stress state of compacted kaolinite specimens spanning saturation (S) from 0 to 0.73 is measured through Brazilian tensile strength tests. Changes observed in strength, strain, and stiffness are analyzed to calculate evolution of internal stress with saturation. A model is proposed to quantify the relationship between water retention and internal stress for fine-grained and coarse-grained soils at saturations over the full range (0 ≤ S ≤ 1). Performance of the model is evaluated by comparison with experimental results from the literature.
MCPA: Program Analysis as Machine Learning.

Static program analysis today takes an analytical approach which is quite suitable for a well-scoped system. Data- and control-flow is taken into account. Special cases such as pointers, procedures, and undefined behavior must be handled. A program is analyzed precisely on the statement level. However, the analytical approach is ill-equiped to handle implementations of complex, large-scale, heterogeneous software systems we see in the real world. Existing static analysis techniques that scale, trade correctness (i.e., soundness or completeness) for scalability and build on strong assumptions (e.g., language-specificity). Scalable static analysis are well-known to report errors that do *not* exist (false positives) or fail to report errors that *do* exist (false negatives). Then, how do we know the degree to which the analysis outcome is correct? In this paper, we propose an approach to scale-oblivious greybox program analysis with bounded error which applies efficient approximation schemes (FPRAS) from the foundations of machine learning: PAC learnability. Given two parameters $\delta$ and $\epsilon$, with probability at least $(1-\delta)$, our Monte Carlo Program Analysis (MCPA) approach produces an outcome that has an average error at most $\epsilon$. The parameters $\delta>0$ and $\epsilon>0$ can be chosen arbitrarily close to zero (0) such that the program analysis outcome is said to be probably-approximately correct (PAC). We demonstrate the pertinent concepts of MCPA using three applications: $(\epsilon,\delta)$-approximate quantitative analysis, $(\epsilon,\delta)$-approximate software verification, and $(\epsilon,\delta)$-approximate patch verification.
Quantitative Analysis of Microstructural Refinement in Simulated Carburized Microstructures

Microstructure refinement strategies in simulated carburized microstructures were evaluated because of their potential for improving the fatigue performance of case-carburized components. Commercial 52100 steel was used to simulate the high-carbon content in the case. Specimens were subjected to various thermal treatments in a quenching dilatometer. Reheating cycles to austenitizing temperatures were evaluated with respect to both prior austenite grain size (PAGS) and associated martensite and retained austenite (RA) refinement. Quantitative stereological measurements were performed to evaluate the microgeometry of plate martensite and the size distribution of RA regions. Decreasing the reheating temperature resulted in finer PAGS, and multiple reheating cycles resulted in a narrower PAGS distribution. Refinement in PAGS led to a reduction in martensite plate size and finer distribution of RA. Additionally, interrupted quenching below martensite start (MS) temperature was evaluated. This processing route results in a refinement of martensite plates and more stable RA. The stabilization of austenite may be mechanical or chemical in nature, owing to the deformation of austenite during primary transformation, or due to partitioning of carbon into austenite similar to quenching and partitioning steels.
Globe Axial Length Growth at Age 10.5 Years in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study.

Purpose To report the change in globe axial length (AL) from the time of unilateral cataract surgery at age 1-7 months to age 10.5 years for infants enrolled in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study, and to compare AL growth of operated eyes with that of fellow unoperated eyes. Design Comparative case series. Methods AL growth was analyzed relative to treated vs fellow eye, contact lens (CL) vs intraocular lens (IOL), visual acuity (VA) outcome, and the need for surgery for visual axis opacification. Eyes with glaucoma or glaucoma suspect were excluded from the primary analysis but reported separately. Results Fifty-seven patients have reliable AL data available at both visits. AL was shorter in treated eyes preoperatively (P Conclusions Eyes with glaucoma or poor VA often grew longer than the fellow eye. Overall, treated eyes grew similarly in the IOL and CL groups and also kept pace with the growth of the fellow eyes.
Relational Responding as a Psychological Event

Research and scholarship in the area of relational responding has had a large impact on the field of behavior analysis. While theoretical disagreement remains, all can agree that issues which have historically received relatively less attention in behavior analysis are now topics of frequent discussion. Through the lens of interbehavioral psychology this paper conceptualizes relational responding as a psychological event. In doing so it will be argued that workers in the area of relational responding might find the interbehavioral perspective to be relevant; and further, to be a thoroughly consistent and parsimonious foundation. The value of the interbehavioral position for workers in this area, particularly in their interpretive efforts, will be emphasized.
Relative risk of HTN and major cardiovascular events associated with use of androgen receptor antagonists for nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer.

e17605Background: Metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a lethal disease, often preceded by nonmetastatic, castration-resistant phase. Recently, three androgen receptor (AR) a...
Myeloid Pannexin-1 mediates acute leukocyte infiltration and leads to worse outcomes after brain trauma.

Neuroinflammation is a major component of secondary damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We recently reported that pharmacological inhibition of Pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels markedly reduced the inflammatory response after TBI. Panx1 channels have been shown to be important conduits for adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) release and are associated with leukocyte infiltration and pyroptosis. Because Panx1 blockers significantly decrease ATP release and migration of activated microglia and other myeloid cells (such as monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells) in vitro, we hypothesized that myeloid Panx1 channels play a specific role in immune cell infiltration promoting tissue damage following TBI. The murine-controlled cortical impact (CCI) model was used on myeloid-specific Panx1 conditional knockout (Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl) mice to determine whether myeloid Panx1 mediates neuroinflammation and brain damage. Immune cell infiltration was measured using flow cytometry. Locomotor and memory functions were measured using the rotarod and Barnes maze test, respectively. The levels of biomarkers for tissue damage and blood–brain barrier leakage were measured using western blot and magnetic resonance imaging. Panx1 channel activity was measured with ex vivo dye uptake assays, using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. CCI-injured Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl mice showed markedly reduced immune cell infiltration to the brain parenchyma compared with Panx1fl/fl mice. As expected, Panx1 dependent activity, assessed by dye uptake, was markedly reduced only in myeloid cells from Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl mice. The expression of biomarkers of tissue damage was significantly reduced in the CCI-injured Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl mice compared with Panx1fl/fl mice. In line with this, magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced blood–brain barrier leakage in CCI-injured Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl mice. There was also a significant improvement in motor and memory function in Cx3cr1-Cre::Panx1fl/fl mice when compared with Panx1fl/fl mice within a week post-CCI injury. Our data demonstrate that CCI-related outcomes correlate with Panx1 channel function in myeloid cells, indicating that activation of Panx1 channels in myeloid cells is a major contributor to acute brain inflammation following TBI. Importantly, our data indicate myeloid Panx1 channels could serve as an effective therapeutic target to improve outcome after TBI.
“You Have to Look at Finances as a Joint Venture, Whether or Not You Have a Joint Account”: Exploring Strategies Couples Use to Successfully Communicate About Money

Disagreements surrounding finances often impact relationships and may even lead to divorce. Financial conversations, then, emerge as the strongest “tug-of-war” opponent to the successful partnershi...
Perspectives of US General Surgery Program Directors on Cultural and Fiscal Barriers to Maternity Leave and Postpartum Support During Surgical Training.

Importance Although pregnancy during surgical residency is increasingly common, studies of surgical residents have identified challenges associated with pregnancy and motherhood. These include perceptions of different maternity leave policies among institutions, lack of mentorship, stigma, and desire for greater lactation support. Objective To describe the perspective and experience of US surgical program directors regarding maternity leave and postpartum support for surgical residents. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study included surgical program directors of US general surgery residency programs who were selected using purposive-stratified, criterion-based sampling. Transcripts were collected from semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, from October 21, 2018, to June 1, 2019. Exposures Maternity leave and postpartum support. Main Outcomes and Measures Perspectives of program directors regarding maternity leave and postpartum support were categorized into common themes identified using content analysis. Results A total of 40 US general surgical programs directors (28 [70.0%] male; mean [SD] age, 49.7 [6.8] years) were interviewed, of whom 36 (90.0%) were from university-based programs. All reported having maternity leave policies allowing a duration of leave of 6 weeks or longer. Analysis of program director interviews identified 5 themes: (1) residents are reluctant to extend training despite being offered multiple leave options; (2) childbearing negatively impacts the quality of work of certain residents; (3) lack of formal lactation policies creates practical challenges in supporting residents who are nursing; (4) resentment from coresidents who are asked to provide maternity leave coverage varies based on the prepregnancy reputation of the resident on leave; and (5) lack of salary support limits the practicality of extended leave options. Complex interpersonal issues affected residents differently, including stigma, reluctance to change established surgical training patterns, and challenges with work-life balance. Conclusions and Relevance This qualitative study found that sociopolitical issues within surgical training culture and fiscal constraints created obstacles against program directors supporting pregnant residents. These findings suggest that a multidimensional approach to supporting residents through written maternity and lactation policies, structured mentorship and coaching programs, and efforts by leadership to enforce family priorities is needed to promote a surgical culture that normalizes pregnancy and motherhood during training.
Stable School Integration

As public school districts across the country are released from their mandatory school desegregation orders, there has been increasing examination of the re-segregation of public schools. By contrast, little attention has been paid to schools that are becoming more integrated and whether stable racial integration exists in public schools. Using National Center for Education Statistics Data on school demographic composition of all schools across the country, we identify racially integrated schools, examine the stability of the integrated composition of these schools across a twenty-year period (1995–2015), and then describe the characteristics of these integrated schools. We find that an increasing share of schools are integrated, but that this is driven by an increase in Asian/White and Hispanic/White integrated schools, while the number of Black/White integrated schools declines.
Why the US Can't Have Its (Layered) Cake and Eat It Too

The layered cake debuted in the 1870s and reached its height of popularity between 1900 and 1930. Its popularity declined in the 1960s and by the 1990s it was transformed into the genoise (Clark 1999). While changes in cake form may reflect culinary trends or social structural factors, Bergesen's (1996) theory of cultural forms and global cycles suggests that these changes correspond with hegemony-rivalry cycles in the international arena. Analysis of a sample of winning cakes from an American bake-off contest spanning over five decades, in light of Bergesen's theory and Wolfflin's (1929) principles of art history, reveals distinct historical patterns. The paper explores these patterns and their cultural significance. In short, the layered cake's failure to rematerialize corresponds with a lost era of unchallenged American hegemony.
The concept of causality in image reconstruction

Causal images in emission tomography are defined as those which could have generated the data by the statistical process that governs the physics of the measurement. The concept of causality was previously applied to deciding when to stop the MLE iterative procedure in PET. The present paper further explores the concept, indicates the difficulty of carrying out a correct hypothesis testing for causality, discusses the assumption needed to justify the tests proposed and discusses a possible methodology for a justification of that assumption. The paper also describes several methods that we have found to generate causal images and it shows that the set of causal images is rather large. This set includes images judged to be superior to the best maximum likelihood images, but is also includes unacceptable and noisy images. The paper concludes by proposing to use causality as a constraint in optimization problems.
Blind signal separation of similar pitches and instruments in a noisy polyphonic domain

In our continuing work on ”Blind Signal Separation” this paper focuses on extending our previous work [1] by creating a data set that can successfully perform blind separation of polyphonic signals containing similar instruments playing similar notes in a noisy environment. Upon isolating and subtracting the dominant signal from a base signal containing varying types and amounts of noise, even though we purposefully excluded any identical matches in the dataset, the signal separation system successfully built a resulting foreign set of synthesized sounds that the classifier correctly recognized. Herein, this paper presents a system that classifies and separates two harmonic signals with added noise. This novel methodology incorporates Knowledge Discovery, MPEG7-based segmentation and Inverse Fourier Transforms.
La organización social en los barrios bajos

Por mucho tiempo, los sociologos han estudiado los barrios bajos en terminos de desorganizacion social. El interes en los mismos parece provenir de dos fuentes: una urgencia por promover reformas sociales y un esfuerzo para comprender el proceso de urbanizacion. Observando el quiebre de los controles del grupo primario en la vida de ciudad, algunos sociologos han considerado analizar la situacion resultante en terminos del concepto de desorganizacion social. Los barrios bajos han sido caracterizados por ciertos sociologos, como areas de almas perdidas y misiones, areas donde individuos y familias viven en intimidad forzada con personas a las cuales normalmente rechazan y evitan; areas donde no se aprecian estandares de decencia o buena conducta excepto los impuestos por una autoridad externa. Segun la opinion de otros sociologos, los barrios bajos son un area de libertad e individualismo. Harvey Zorbaugh dice que la politica en el distrito bajo no es como la politica en el distrito de clase media. Como no se ajusta a los estandares de la clase media, no es mas que un juego. Mas aun, la preocupacion con el estudio de la desorganizacion familiar ha conducido a algunos sociologos a subestimar cualquier grado de organizacion que se pueda encontrar en los barrios bajos.
Experimental Infection of Rhesus and Pig-Tailed Macaques with Macaque Rhadinoviruses

The recognition of naturally occurring rhadinoviruses in macaque monkeys has spurred interest in their use as models for human infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8). Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were inoculated intravenously with rhadinovirus isolates derived from these species (rhesus rhadinovirus [RRV] and pig-tailed rhadinovirus [PRV]). Nine rhadinovirus antibody-negative and two rhadinovirus antibody-positive monkeys were used for these experimental inoculations. Antibody-negative animals clearly became infected following virus inoculation since they developed persisting antibody responses to virus and virus was isolated from peripheral blood on repeated occasions following inoculation. Viral sequences were also detected by PCR in lymph node, oral mucosa, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells following inoculation. Experimentally infected animals developed peripheral lymphadenopathy which resolved by 12 weeks following inoculation, and these animals have subsequently remained free of disease. No increased pathogenicity was apparent from cross-species infection, i.e., inoculation of rhesus macaques with PRV or of pig-tailed macaques with RRV, whether the animals were antibody positive or negative at the time of virus inoculation. Coinoculation of additional rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolate SIVmac251 and macaque-derived rhadinovirus resulted in an attenuated antibody response to both agents and shorter mean survival compared to SIVmac251-inoculated controls (155.5 days versus 560.1 days; P < 0.019). Coinfected and immunodeficient macaques died of a variety of opportunistic infections characteristic of simian AIDS. PCR analysis of sorted peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated a preferential tropism of RRV for CD20+ B lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate persistent infection of macaque monkeys with RRV and PRV following experimental inoculation, but no specific disease was readily apparent from these infections even in the context of concurrent SIV infection.
Cloning ADT modules to increase parallelism: rationale and techniques

This paper presents efficient techniques for identifying opportunities to increase parallelism when the asynchronous remote procedure call model of parallel execution is applied to programs constructed from abstract data type (ADT) modules. Frequently, an ADT module is needed simultaneously by multiple clients, thus causing contention. To decrease queueing delays to execute module operations, cloning of modules is often useful. The main contribution of this work is a heuristic to efficiently determine, for each module used in a program, an upper bound on the number of clones of that module that can be used concurrently. The results include transformation rules for conditionals, so that the clone analysis algorithm avoids considering an exponential number of paths through the program. Additionally, a technique is presented to determine the number of clones required each time a loop is unrolled. Furthermore, analysis is given to consider the effects of intermodule dependence relationships on the sharing of clones. >
A Longitudinal Analysis of Interest Group Influence in Retirement Policy

In this paper, I explore some of the political outcomes of networked relationships within a policy domain. Specifically, the outcomes for this paper are an organization’s propensity to testify before a congressional committee, the number of times an organization is mentioned in a major U.S. newspaper or wire service story, and the selection of proposed legislation for lobbying. These outcomes I have collectively labeled as ‘influence’. The broad research question of this paper is whether relationships matter for influence in interest group politics. This paper looks at influence from a network perspective using two different applications. In the first, influence consists of being selected to provide information, which is both a tool of influence and an indicator of influential status, and I use congressional testimony and being quoted in the news media as case studies. Does working with others or being highly connected to others lead to being selected? The second application involves influencing the agenda of other lobbying organizations. Do the choices of one lobbying organization affect the choices of another organization? While in both cases I use longitudinal data and network analysis methods, I rely on traditional statistical regression for the first approach but use a relatively new dynamic model of network change for the second application.The discussion in this paper will begin with a review of prior work on influence, which work shows the difficulty of defining and operationalizing influence. I then discuss the main argument of this paper as well as hypotheses that follow from the broad argument regarding networked relations and influence. I next discuss how I operationalized the idea of influence and review the applicable methodology. This paper uses longitudinal data from a single policy domain, which is federal retirement policy. The policy domain is reviewed in terms of the characteristics of the participating organizations, and I then present and discuss the main empirical results. The paper concludes with some thoughts about the nature of influence in the context of the prior paper’s empirical findings.
Transgenic Hypersecretion of des(1–3) Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Mouse Milk Has Limited Effects on the Gastrointestinal Tract in Suckling Pups

We tested the hypothesis that chronic ingestion of increased concentrations of milk-borne des(1-3) human insulin-like growth factor-1 (hlGF-I) stimulates gastrointestinal growth and development in suckling mice. We used a transgenic mouse with targeted, lactation-dependent, overexpression of des(1-3) hlGF-I in the mammary gland (IGF). Pups were suckled (7 pups per litter) from birth by either IGF (n = 3-6 litters) or control (n = 3-5 litters) dams. In IGF and control pups, we measured the growth (protein and DNA content) and protein synthesis rate ( 3 H-phenylalanine incorporation) of gastrointestinal and visceral organs in 4-, 8-, 12-, 16- and 29-d-old pups. Des(1-3) hlGF-I in milk from IGF dams was 40-200-fold higher than mouse IGF in either IGF or control dams, but was not detected in the plasma of pups suckling IGF dams. Small intestinal weight, protein and DNA content at 8 and 16 d were greater in pups suckling IGF dams than control dams; protein synthesis was also greater in IGF pups at 8 d. Total intestinal lactase activity at 8 and 12 d of age tended to be higher (P < 0.10) in IGF than in control pups. Hypersecretion of des(1-3) hlGF-I in milk ingested by suckling mice pups had limited effects on the growth and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, there was little evidence that milk-borne IGF-I is absorbed into the circulation and stimulates visceral organ growth. This study also demonstrates the feasibility of using mammary-specific transgenes to increase the concentration of milk-borne growth factors to examine whether they affect the growth and development of the suckling neonate.
High-frequency audiometry above 8,000 Hz.

Human auditory sensitivity for the frequencies 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, and 20 kHz was examined in a group of 41 female university students ranging in age from 19 to 22 years. The purpose of this study was twofold: to determine the feasibility of high-frequency testing using procedures routinely employed in clinical audiometry and to collect normative data using this procedure on a young adult population. A modified Hughson-Westlake procedure was employed and thresholds were obtained for both ears of each subject. It was noted that for the 20-kHz tone only 52% of the subjects tested were able to respond. Statistical analysis revealed no significant threshold differences between right or left ears for all subjects at any frequency. The approach described in the present study provided reliable thresholds and was found to be clinically feasible. Comparisons were made with similar previous studies and the results of the present study were found to be in general, overall agreement
Argentine ant foraging activity and interspecific competition in complete vs. queenless and broodless colonies

Introduction experiments may prove useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying the successful establishment of invasive ant species into new areas. These manipulative introductions could be particularly helpful in exploring the interactions between invasive species and the local fauna and flora. However, the inherent risk of accidental establishment in such experiments poses unacceptable ethical concerns. Some of the worst invasive species are tramp ant species, which can adversely affect biodiversity and community structure after establishment. We conducted laboratory and field experiments investigating a safe methodology for carrying out introduction experiments using the sterile workers of the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, as a model. We found no difference in foraging rate between worker-only colonies of L. humile and complete colonies, containing queens, workers and brood. Worker-only L. humile colonies showed the same exploitative and interference ability as complete colonies in bait dominance trials with the odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile, in both laboratory and field trials. We suggest that for those invasive ant species with sterile workers, worker-only colonies may be substituted for complete colonies in short-term field experiments in new areas.
Sexual differences in the magnocellular vasopressinergic system in golden hamsters

Golden hamsters, as compared to rats, lack several parvicellular vasopressinergic cell groups, particularly sexually dimorphic populations. We decided to test the possibility that magnocellular vasopressinergic neurons are subjected to sexual differences in hamsters, as they are known to display vasopressin (AVP)-dependent sexually dimorphic behaviors. The distribution of magnocellular vasopressinergic neurons was mapped and compared between males and females. Approximately 50% more vasopressin-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) neurons were counted in males within the medial and lateral divisions of the supraoptic nucleus. Furthermore, levels of AVP extracted from the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland were three to four times higher in males than in females. Finally, hypothalamic extracts from a male and a female hypothalamus were fractionated by HPLC and assayed for AVP immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity from each extract had the same retention time as synthetic AVP standards; and the levels were twice as high in the male. These results support the existence of sexual differences in the magnocellular vasopressinergic system in golden hamsters. These differences appear to be related to previously reported sexual differences in AVP secretion from the neurohypophysis.
Left Atrial Strain Is Reduced in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke or TIA, and Low Risk CHADS2 Scores

Background Left atrial (LA) strain as a marker for discrimination of risk for stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with atrial fibrillation and low-risk CHADS 2 scores (≤1) has yet to be examined. Methods Patients with atrial fibrillation, stroke or TIA, and CHADS 2 scores ≤ 1 before their events were identified retrospectively from a large single-center stroke registry and compared with age-matched and gender-matched controls. Antihypertensive use and echocardiographic parameters including chamber volumes and left ventricular mass and LA peak negative and positive strain and strain rate were compared between groups. Results Fifty-seven patients meeting entry criteria were identified. Patients demonstrated significantly lower left ventricular ejection fractions, larger LA dimensions, and larger LA volume indexes (24.4 ± 11.9 vs 32.3 ± 13.3 mL/m 2 , P = .012) compared with controls. Both peak negative LA strain (−3.2 ± 1.2% vs −6.9 ± 4.2%, P P P Conclusions In patients with low-risk CHADS 2 scores, atrial fibrillation, and stroke or TIA, reduced LA strain is a potentially sensitive maker for increased risk for stroke or TIA. These results suggest that LA strain may have potential as a tool for helping guide the decision for or against oral anticoagulation in this group of patients.
Origin and significance of the discharge vesicle in Phytophthora

During zoospore release from sporangia, all Phytophthora species studied developed a discharge (germination) vesicle into which 30 to 70% of the total number of zoospores were released before the vesicle burst. Vesicles of P. cactorum, P. Palmivora, and P. cinnamomi reached maximal diameters of 26, 40, and 46 μm, respectively, when sporangia were placed in double-distilled water for zoospore release. The mean velocities of surface area enlargement of the vesicles represent ratios of 1:1.7:4.6, comparing P. cactorum with P. palmivora and with P. cinnamomi. For sporangia of P. cactorum, the surface area of the vesicle enlarged at a constant rate, whereas the increase in vesicle volume proceeded with an acceleration of about 79 μm3/second2. When sporangia produced by P. cactorum grown in either bean meal broth or a chloride mineral solution were transferred to double-distilled water they developed discharge vesicles that enlarged in surface area at velocities of 224 and 145 μm2/second, respectively, and had turgor pressures of about −8.0 and −4.8 bar, respectively. During zoospore release in P. palmivora, the outer sporangial wall and an amorphous cover layer were ruptured, and the papillar material (vesiculogen) was forced through the exit pore to form a continuous and plastic vesicle wall consisting of thin fibrillar elements of undetermined lengths (EM). The opening of the sporangium of P. palmivora, the enlargement of the vesicle, and subsequent zoospore release could be retarded or stopped in any stage by transferring germinating sporangia to CaCl2 or PEG solutions with osmotic potentials between −2.5 and −3.5 bar. During plasmolytic treatments, the papillae of sporangia of P. cactorum and P. palmivora kept their original shape, whereas the apices of P. cinnamoni sporangia collapsed.
Physical Illness, Psychiatric Illness, and the Acceptability of Suicide

The present study assessed whether attitudes toward suicide vary as a function of the type of illness that precipitates the suicide. The participants in the study were 455 college students who were administered a questionnaire consisting of one of seven scenarios describing a fictitious man who has decided to kill himself, as well as a series of evaluative questions about the man and his decision. The man was portrayed as suffering from chronic, severe depression in five of the scenarios (the scenarios differed in their descriptions of the depression); from chronic, severe physical pain in the sixth scenario; and from terminal bone cancer in the seventh. Evaluations of the suicide were most favorable when it occurred in response to terminal physical illness, less favorable in response to chronic, non-terminal physical illness, and least favorable in response to chronic psychiatric illness.
Diabetes mellitus alters the mechanical properties of the native tendon in an experimental rat model

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the diabetic phenotype on the mechanical properties of the native patellar tendon and its enthesis. Diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in Lewis rats. Control (n = 18) and diabetic animals (n = 20) were killed at 12 and 19 days for analysis. Statistical comparisons were performed using Student's t-tests and a two-tailed Fisher test with significance set at p < 0.05. Pre- and post-injection intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests demonstrated significant impairment of glycemic control in the diabetic compared to control animals (p = 0.001). Mean serum hemoglobin A1c levels at 19 days was 10.6 ± 2.7% and 6.0 ± 1.0% for the diabetic and control groups, respectively (p = 0.0001). Fifteen of sixteen diabetic animals demonstrated intrasubstance failure of the patellar tendon, while only 7 of 14 control specimens failed within the tendon substance. The Young's modulus of the diabetic tendon was significantly lower than control specimens by 19 days post-induction (161 ± 10 N m−2 compared to 200 ± 46 N m−2, respectively) (p = 0.02). The metabolic condition of poorly controlled diabetes negatively affects the mechanical properties of the native patellar tendon. These altered structural properties may predispose diabetic patients to a greater risk of tendinopathy and/or traumatic rupture. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:880–885
Effect of gums on viability and β-galactosidase activity of Lactobacillus spp. in milk drink during refrigerated storage

Summary The viability and β-galactosidase activity of four Lactobacillus strains in milk drink containing gums during 28 days of refrigerated storage at 4 °C were assessed. The population of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GGB101 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GGB103 were maintained, whereas the population of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM20016 and Lactobacillus reuteri SD2112 significantly decreased. The recommended level of 6 log CFU g−1 was exceeded for all tested trains throughout storage. The highest viable number of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GGB103 (8.76 ± 0.03 log CFU mL−1) was obtained in the product containing carrageenan–maltodextrin. The addition of guar–locust bean–carrageenan led to 20-fold increase in the level of β-galactosidase activity for L. rhamnosus GGB101 (1208 ± 2.12 Miller units mL−1) compared to the control (61 ± 2.83 Miller units mL−1). Our results suggested that gums could be added to milk to improve viability and enhance β-galactosidase activity of Lactobacillus.
Emission topography of a stable spark discharge train

Abstract Time and space resolved spectroscopy are used to photograph the emission from a stable spark discharge train attacking a rotating copper beveled disk in flowing argon. The spark is generated at 60 Hz with a Bardocz type adjustable waveform source. Photographic density over background of sets of lines in the Cu I and Cu II term system is plotted as a function of lateral displacement from the vertical interelectrode axis and time at discrete horizontal distances away from the copper cathode surface to form spatially connected sets of lateral emission profiles. Data from secondary cathodes of silver and gold are presented, along with spectral evidence for radial compression of the cathode jets accompanying their charge transfer ionization and excitation. Spectrochemical applications utilizing time-space structural details are discussed.
Stabilisation of dairy wastewater using limited-aeration treatments in batch reactors

This research was conducted to study the treatment of dairy wastewater using limited-aeration treatments. The following process parameters were examined during the treatment process: (1) oxidation–reduction status; (2) organic matter degradation; (3) kinetics of bio-stabilisation; and (4) loss of ammonia. Results showed that during the first 3–4 days of limited-aeration treatments at 0.034 and 0.067 l [air] l−1[manure] min−1, dissolved oxygen (DO) remained close to the detection limit but, based on oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) levels (−30 to 100 mV), the wastewater oxidation–reduction status remained anoxic; the environment remained aerobic after this phase. The 70% maximum removal of both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total volatile solids (TVS) observed by day 8 of treatment at either aeration rate indicated that the two-fold decrease in the aeration rate did not alter the ultimate reduction of the organic strength. Linear regressions performed on the COD against the TVS data obtained during this treatment indicate excellent linear relationships between the two parameters manifested in significantly high correlation coefficients ranging between 0.96 and 0.97. Either of the two parameters can thus be used to monitor the stabilisation of the wastewater and to determine the kinetics of bio-stabilisation. The kinetic studies established bio-stabilisation constants of 0.168 and 0.144 day−1 at the aeration rates of 0.067 and 0.034 l [air] l−1 [manure] min−1, respectively. Accordingly, 50% bio-stabilisation (also referred to as half-life decay period) was achieved in approximately 4 and 5 days of treatment, respectively; meaning that reducing the aeration rate by 50% increased the half-life decay period by 25%, while reducing the decay rate by only approximately 14%. Effectively therefore, it is more economically prudent to aerate at the lower than at the higher airflow rate. In addition, a significantly higher ammonia loss was unaccounted for at the higher aeration rate (34% net loss) than at the lower aeration rate (23% net loss).
Direct Transactivator-Transcription Factor IID (TFIID) Contacts Drive Yeast Ribosomal Protein Gene Transcription

Transcription factor IID (TFIID) plays a key role in regulating eukaryotic gene expression by directly binding promoters and enhancer-bound transactivator proteins. However, the precise mechanisms and outcomes of transactivator-TFIID interaction remain unclear. Transcription of yeast ribosomal protein genes requires TFIID and the DNA-binding transactivator Rap1. We have previously shown that Rap1 directly binds to the TFIID complex through interaction with its TATA-binding protein-associated factor (Taf) subunits Taf4, -5, and -12. Here, we identify and characterize the Rap1 binding domains (RBDs) of Taf4 and Taf5. These RBDs are essential for viability but dispensable for Taf-Taf interactions and TFIID stability. Cells expressing altered Rap1 binding domains exhibit conditional growth, synthetic phenotypes when expressed in combination or with altered Rap1, and are selectively defective in ribosomal protein gene transcription. Taf4 and Taf5 proteins with altered RBDs bind Rap1 with reduced affinity. We propose that collectively the Taf4, Taf5, and Taf12 subunits of TFIID represent the physical and functional targets for Rap1 interaction and, furthermore, that these interactions drive ribosomal protein gene transcription.
Vapor-liquid equilibria for methanol + hexafluorobenzene

Abstract The isothermal total vapor pressure of methanol + hexafluorobenzene was measured at 308.15, 318.15, and 328.15 K for several known liquid compositions. Vapor compositions were obtained from these results by integration of the coexistence equation derived from the Gibbs-Duhem equation for the vapor phase. The T, x, y diagram at 760 Torr was obtained from a vapor recirculating equilibrium still. Methanol + hexafluorobenzene forms a minimum-boiling azeotrope similar to that of methanol + benzene. Pa rameters in Wilson's equation for the liquid-phase activity coefficients reproduce the results within experimental error.
Reversed cerebral asymmetry in women with breast cancer.

Abstract Altered intrauterine hormonal environment might predispose to both atypical cerebral asymmetry and breast cancer. We therefore investigated computed tomographic scans of 79 right-handed, white patients with breast cancer and 97 controls to assess the pattern of cerebral asymmetry. Women with breast cancer had a reversed pattern of cerebral asymmetry significantly more often than did controls (p
Letter by Desai et al Regarding Article, “Role of Balloon-Expandable Stents in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in a Series of 182 Patients”

We read the experience of Alurkar et al1 with balloon-expandable stents for treatment of intracranial atherosclerosis with interest. They have demonstrated a 30-day stroke rate of 5.64% (11/195 lesions) and total complication rate of 9.74% (19/195 lesions). We congratulate the authors’ success in accruing a large series with relatively low procedural morbidity. Nonetheless, we disagree that optimal medical therapy for patients with symptomatic …
Application of the paraboloidal model to assess mucosal changes following segmental intestinal transplantation in children.

Segmental living related small intestinal transplantation (LRSITx) is a therapeutic option for conditions that present with short gut syndromes. Recovery of small intestinal mucosa after transplantation is critical to function. We examined the posttransplant mucosal changes to understand the absorptive capabilities of transplanted small intestine. The study of human subjects is constrained by limited biopsy material; therefore, we developed a technique of villus area measurement by extrapolation from two-dimensional surgical biopsy images. Using a detailed model of the villus as the gold standard, two simpler models (cylindrical and paraboloid) were tested. Comparisons with the accurate measurement revealed that the cylinder model does not compare well in early posttransplant biopsies. The paraboloid function developed in this article worked very well under all conditions. The simplicity of the paraboloid model and its robustness made high-quality estimates of the absorptive surface area from abundant data relatively easy. The remodeling expected in the initial stages of growth was also captured by this model. Time-dependent villus growth curves were obtained for transplanted bowel. Serial biopsies showed an initial “reconstruction” dip around 2 weeks after transplant, followed by continuous growth of villus surface area. An eventual plateau resulted at an average of 6 months after transplant. This growth of villi was shown to parallel the improved absorption of electrolytes, amino acids, and water.
G Protein-coupled receptors and the modification of FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation

Abstract By releasing multiple pro-inflammatory mediators upon activation, mast cells are critical effector cells in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. The traditional viewpoint of antigen-dependent mast cell activation is that of a Th 2 -driven process whereby antigen-specific IgE molecules are produced by B cells followed by binding of the IgE to high affinity IgE receptors (FcɛRI) expressed on mast cells. Subsequent antigen-dependent aggregation of the FcɛRI initiates an intracellular signalling cascade that culminates in mediator release. Mast cell responses, including cell growth, survival, chemotaxis, and cell adhesion, however, can also be regulated by other receptors expressed on mast cells. Furthermore, FcɛRI-mediated mast cell mediator release can be significantly modified by ligation of specific classes of these receptors. One such class of receptors is the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In this review, we describe how sub-populations of GPCRs can either enhance or inhibit FcɛRI-mediated mast cell activation depending on the particular G protein utilized for relaying signalling. Furthermore, we discuss the potential mechanisms whereby the signalling responses utilized by the FcɛRI for mast cell activation are influenced by those initiated by GPCRs to produce these diverse responses.