cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin action in the brain contributes to glucose lowering during insulin treatment of diabetes

To investigate the role of brain insulin action in the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes, we asked whether neuronal insulin signaling is required for glucose-lowering during insulin treatment of diabetes. Hypothalamic signaling via the insulin receptor substrate-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (IRS-PI3K) pathway, a key intracellular mediator of insulin action, was reduced in rats with uncontrolled diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ-DM). Further, infusion of a PI3K inhibitor into the third cerebral ventricle of STZ-DM rats prior to peripheral insulin injection attenuated insulin-induced glucose lowering by approximately 35%-40% in both acute and chronic insulin treatment paradigms. Conversely, increased PI3K signaling induced by hypothalamic overexpression of either IRS-2 or protein kinase B (PKB, a key downstream mediator of PI3K action) enhanced the glycemic response to insulin by approximately 2-fold in STZ-DM rats. We conclude that hypothalamic insulin signaling via the IRS-PI3K pathway is a key determinant of the response to insulin in the management of uncontrolled diabetes.
Ablation effects on the Apollo afterbody heat transfer.

Apollo afterbody heat transfer, studying ablation effects for various reentry angles of attack
Atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and ammonium at an agricultural site in the southeast United States

Abstract In this study, we present ∼1 yr (October 1998–September 1999) of 12-hour mean ammonia (NH 3 ), ammonium (NH 4 + ), hydrochloric acid (HCl), chloride (Cl − ), nitrate (NO 3 − ), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), nitrous acid (HONO), sulfate (SO 4 2− ), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) concentrations measured at an agricultural site in North Carolina's Coastal Plain region. Mean gas concentrations were 0.46, 1.21, 0.54, 5.55, and 4.15 μg m −3 for HCl, HNO 3 , HONO, NH 3 , and SO 2 , respectively. Mean aerosol concentrations were 1.44, 1.23, 0.08, and 3.37 μg m −3 for NH 4 + , NO 3 − , Cl − , and SO 4 2− , respectively. Ammonia, NH 4 + , HNO 3 , and SO 4 2− exhibit higher concentrations during the summer, while higher SO 2 concentrations occur during winter. A meteorology-based multivariate regression model using temperature, wind speed, and wind direction explains 76% of the variation in 12-hour mean NH 3 concentrations ( n =601). Ammonia concentration increases exponentially with temperature, which explains the majority of variation (54%) in 12-hour mean NH 3 concentrations. Dependence of NH 3 concentration on wind direction suggests a local source influence. Ammonia accounts for >70% of NH x (NH x =NH 3 +NH 4 + ) during all seasons. Ammonium nitrate and sulfate aerosol formation does not appear to be NH 3 limited. Sulfate is primarily associated ammonium sulfate, rather than bisulfate, except during the winter when the ratio of NO 3 − –NH 4 + is ∼0.66. The annual average NO 3 − –NH 4 + ratio is ∼0.25.
Social Anxiety and Bulimic Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Perfectionism

Despite the high rates of co-occurrence between social anxiety and bulimic behaviors, research investigating the mechanisms underlying these associations is lacking. Given that perfectionism is strongly related to both social anxiety and bulimic behaviors, we tested whether individuals with elevated social anxiety and higher perfectionism would evince greater bulimic behaviors in a non-referred sample. Participants with clinically significant social anxiety (n = 89) were compared to a matched control group (n = 89). We also examined specificity by investigating whether perfectionism moderated the relations between social anxiety and drive for thinness or body dissatisfaction. Participants in the high social anxiety group evinced higher bulimic behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness. Yet, perfectionism only moderated the relationship between social anxiety group and bulimic behaviors, such that individuals scoring high on both social anxiety and perfectionism demonstrated the greatest number of bulimic behaviors. Clinical implications are discussed.
Development Research of a Teachers' Educational Performance Support System: The Practices of Design, Development, and Evaluation.

This study adopted design and development research methodology (Richey & Klein, Design and development research: Methods, strategies, and issues, 2007) to sys- tematically investigate the process of applying instructional design principles, human- computer interaction, and software engineering to a performance support system (PSS) for behavior management in a classroom. The purpose was to examine how a proposed instructional design framework based on Ausubel's (The psychology of meaningful verbal learning, 1963) advance organizer theoretical approach could be used to address inherent problems of technically driven PSSs. Development data were collected from a six-phase participatory rapid prototyping process using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings indicated that (a) the advance organizer concept combined with a matrix design metaphor provided an effective way to illustrate conceptual connections and relations among PSS modules and their elaborated information, (b) the system served as a reference to support participants for exchanging ideas with other teachers as well as with parents of students, and (c) the rapid prototyping process established parameters that helped the project team maintain a focus on users and collect data useful for advancing to a higher phase of system development. Potential drawbacks pertaining to the proposed design strategies and their possible corrective actions are also reported and discussed.
A novel myosin I from bovine adrenal gland

A 3.5 kb cDNA clone was isolated from bovine adrenal gland cDNA library. The clone contained a full-length 3.1 kb open reading frame, encoding a novel myosin I. The deduced amino acid sequence was highly homologous to other known myosin Is in the N-terminal 2 kb region which corresponds to the myosin head domain, while no strong homology was detected in the tail region. The headtail junction contained the Ca2+-independent calmodulin binding consensus sequence, suggesting that the novel myosin I binds calmodulin. This was confirmed by calmodulin overlay which showed the binding of 125I-calmodulin to the recombinant myosin I expressed in E. coli. Northern blots with probes from head and tail regions of this myosin I revealed that this novel myosin I is widely distributed among various tissues.
FEATURE SELECTION FOR OPTIMIZATION OF WAVELET PACKET DECOMPOSITION IN RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMS

One of the most important types of signal found in the area of machine condition monitoring/prognostic health monitoring (MCM/PHM) is the vibration signal, a type of waveform. Many time-frequency domain techniques have been proposed to interpret such signals, including wavelet packet decomposition (WPD). Previous work has shown how to extend the WPD algorithm to operate on streaming signals, but the number of output variables becomes exponential in the number of levels of decomposition, hindering data mining in limited-memory environments. Feature selection techniques, well understood in other areas of data mining, can be used to greatly reduce the number of output variables and speed up the machine learning algorithms. This paper presents a case study comparing two versions of WPD both with and without feature selection, demonstrating that removing most of the features produced by the WPD does not impair its performance within the context of MCM/PHM.
Ultraviolet inactivation of polyploid Saccharomyces

Abstract 1. 1. Under the conditions of these experiments, the ultraviolet curves for haploid, diploid, triploid, and tetraploid yeasts are all sigmoid. 2. 2. The average rate of logarithmic inactivation for each ploidy class is greater the greater the degree of polyploidy. 3. 3. The response of Saccharomyces to ultraviolet irradiation is not determined primarily by the number of chromosome sets present. Individual strains within any ploidy class show characteristic rates of logarithmic inactivation. Some strains exhibit rates which diverge so widely from their class mean as to overlap the mean values for other classes. 4. 4. The length of the induction phase prior to the onset of logarithmic inactivation is not directly dependent upon ploidy. However, the rate at which the induction phase passes into the phase of logarithmic inactivation increases with increasing polyploidy.
Identification of the quinone cofactor in a lysyl oxidase from Pichia pastoris

Abstract A copper amine oxidase from Pichia pastoris is the only known non-mammalian lysyl oxidase [Tur, S.S. and Lerch, K. (1988) FEBS Lett. 238, 74–76]. Recently, the cofactor in mammalian lysyl oxidase has been identified as a novel lysine tyrosylquinone moiety [Wang, S.X., Mure, M., Medzihradszky, K.F., Burlingame, A.L., Brown, D.E., Dooley, D.M., Smith, A.J., Kagan, H.M. and Klinman, J.P. (1996) Science 273, 1078–1082]. In order to identify the cofactor in P. pastoris lysyl oxidase, we have isolated the phenylhydrazone-derivative of the active-site peptide. This peptide has the active-site sequence conserved among topa quinone containing amine oxidases. The resonance Raman spectra of the phenylhydrazone derivatives of the enzyme, active-site peptide, and a topa quinone model compound are essentially identical. Collectively, these results establish that P. pastoris lysyl oxidase is a topa quinone enzyme.
Expression and secretion of outer surface protein (OSP-A) of Borrelia burgdorferi from Escherichia coli

Outer surface protein A (OspA) is encoded by the ospA gene from Borrelia burgdorferi. This protein induces immunity against infection in mice. The cloning and expression of OspA in Escherichia coli have been previously described, but the secretion of OspA into culture media in E. coli has not yet been reported. In this report we demonstrate that a chimeric OspA protein was secreted into culture media by E. coli when it also harbors the hemolysin secretion genes hlyBD. The OspA fusion protein was also overexpressed from a T7 promoter and purified by immobilized metal ion chromatography. This was possible because the fusion protein contains six histidyl residues in its N-terminus.
How do university students value economics courses? A hedonic approach

This paper adopts a hedonic approach and uses a multinomial logit model to assess students' valuation of courses based on their characteristics, e.g. presentation, organization, knowledge, accessibility, responsiveness, enthusiasm of the instructor (i.e. instructor), student's amount and type of thinking (i.e. intellectual stimulation), and how demanding a course is (i.e. demand level). Students applied the same quality standards consistently across courses regardless of the class size and the title, degree and position of the instructor. However, elective courses valued more favourably. The most important course attribute is the instructor, intellectual stimulation is the close second, and demand level has a negative impact on the value of a course. Yet, having found that intellectual stimulation's positive contribution is much bigger than the negative impact of demand level, the following emerges as an important yard stick for increasing the value of a course: as long as intellectual stimulation level g...
High temperature QCD with three flavors of improved staggered quarks

Abstract We present an update of our study of high temperature QCD with three flavors of quarks, using a Symanzik improved gauge action and the Asqtad staggered quark action. Simulations are being carried out on lattices with N t = 4, 6and8 for the case of three degenerate quarks with masses less than or equal to the strange quark mass, m s and on lattices with N t = 6and8 for degenerate up and down quarks with masses in the range0.2m s ≤ m u,d ≤ 0.6m s and the strange quark fixed near its physical value. We also report on first computations of quark number susceptibilities with the Asqtad action. These susceptibilities are of interest because they can be related to event-by-event fluctuations in heavy ion collision experiments. Use of the improved quark action leads to a substantial reduction in lattice artifacts. This can be seen already for free fermions and carries over into our results for QCD.
Perceptual decision making for baseball pitch recognition: using P300 latency and amplitude to index attentional processing.

Abstract This study was designed to examine the perceptual and attentional processes associated with the effects of administering a cost-benefit precuing paradigm to intermediate and advance-level baseball batters. Psychophysiological and performance data obtained from 10 advanced and 10 intermediate-level players were compared. A total of 400 pitches (200 fastballs, 200 curveballs) was randomly presented via a large projection screen, and participants pressed one of two buttons to indicate the type of pitch thrown. Verbal precues were given for 300 of the pitches. Of those, 75% were valid, and 25% were invalid. Electroencephalographic data collected from the Pz location was used to assess the latency and amplitude of P300. Analysis of variance (Skill Level x Precue x Pitch) for P300 and reaction time (RT) indicated that intermediate batters produced shorter P300 latencies, larger P300 amplitudes, longer RTs, and less correct responses than the advanced batters; the effects were more pronounced for the cu...
The relationship between preoperative prostate-specific antigen and biopsy Gleason sum in men undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy: a novel assessment of traditional predictors of outcome.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and Gleason sum, and its impact on biochemical failure (persistent PSA level of >0.2 ng/mL) after radical prostatectomy (RP), as the PSA, Gleason sum and clinical stage are commonly used preoperative predictors of outcome in men with localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Columbia Urologic Oncology Database was reviewed (1988–2006); 3460 had undergone RP. Patients who received neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy or had incomplete data were excluded, yielding 1932 in the analysed sample. Analysis of variance (anova) methods were used to assess differences in PSA level (on a log scale) among three different groups of patients, categorized by their Gleason sum scores, as 7. To account for full penetrance of PSA screening, surgery before 1998 was considered as a potential confounder. anova was used to determine whether the association of Gleason score and PSA levels differed before and after 1998. The effect of PSA level on biochemical failure was examined for variance among the three Gleason score groups using a Cox proportional hazards model with time to biochemical failure as the outcome, logPSA, Gleason sum ( 7), their interaction, and clinical stage as the predictors. Concordance indices (c-index) were calculated for the model with and without the interaction term between PSA and Gleason sum to determine its significance. RESULTS Of 1932 patients, 1190 (61.6%) had a Gleason sum of 7. The median PSA level was 5.9, 6.1 and 7.8 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for clinical stage, there was no significant interaction effect (P = 0.34) between Gleason sum and time of surgery on PSA level, implying that the relationship between Gleason sum and PSA levels has not changed over these two periods, despite changes in PSA screening. Results from the Cox model showed that PSA level, Gleason sum, their interaction term and clinical stage were significant predictors of biochemical failure. The c-index for the model without the interaction term was 0.70 and increased to 0.72 when including it, indicating an increase in the predictive ability of the model when including the interaction term. CONCLUSION PSA level and Gleason sum are highly interrelated variables, although they each carry additional information that significantly contributes to the prediction of biochemical failure. This study shows that, for an individual patient, the higher the initial PSA level the higher the risk of having poorly differentiated prostate cancer. Also, predictive models of biochemical failure can be improved by considering the interaction between PSA and Gleason sum.
Numerical simulation of the spatiotemporal evolution of a nanoparticle–plasma system

A one-dimensional nanodusty plasma was modeled by self-consistently coupling a plasma model with nanoparticle growth, charging, and transport models. As nanoparticles grow from subnanometer to tens of nm in diameter, the numerical results predict a rich spatiotemporal structure, including four distinct temporal phases: a charge-limited phase, a charge accumulation phase, an early ion drag phase, and a sheath interaction phase.
Wreath products and enlargements of groups

To take care of the fact that a normal subgroup of a normal subgroup need not be normal in the original group, the concept of group extensions is generalized to the concept of group enlargements. This is related to wreath products. Applications are made to the calculation of algebraic fundamental groups.
Reducing central line-related bloodstream infections.

tions are common and, too often, deadly. They also are preventable. Central venous catheters, commonly known as central lines, are breeding grounds for infection. These tubes, placed into a large vein in a patient’s neck, chest, or groin to administer medications or fluids or to collect blood samples, result in an estimated 250,000 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in US hospitals each year. Such infections account for an estimated 30,000 to 62,000 patient deaths. The average additional hospital cost for each infection is more than $36,000, which totals $9 billion in excess costs annually. In the intensive care unit (ICU), pro vi ders traditionally viewed the baseline rate of occurrence of such infections— about five per 1,000 catheter days—as the price of doing business when a central line is involved. This mindset, thankfully, is changing. The solution to lowering infection rates is not a pricey monitoring device but a simple, low-cost intervention. It entails five basic steps, all of which are backed by scientific evidence. When these steps are performed consistently in ICUs, the rate of CLABSIs drops quickly and can be sustained over time. Performance improvement has been achieved by employing what patient safety leaders refer to as a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) within the ICU. The CUSP is composed of a collection of changes—including helping to improve clinician-to-clinician communication; improving teamwork; engaging the organization’s leadership; focusing on surveillance, monitoring, and feedback; and using a patient safety culture assessment—all of which are key elements in helping an organization to improve care related to central lines. At the heart of the CUSP is a checklist that includes basic infection control practices such as hand washing. Researchers have found that among the nearly 200 actions taken each day in caring for the typical ICU patient, five infection control steps rise to the top in terms of preventing CLABSI. The steps in the checklist include: • washing hands; • using full barrier precautions, including gloves and gowns and paper drapes during the insertion of central venous catheters; • cleaning the skin with chlorhexidine gluconate; • avoiding the femoral site; and • removing catheters when no longer needed. Regrettably, clinicians too often miss the basic steps amid the highly complex and sometimes chaotic routines of postoperative and critical care.
Frequency of infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with controls: a population-based study.

Objective A high frequency of infections complicating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been described in reports of case series. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was undertaken to compare the frequency of infections in a population-based incidence cohort of RA patients with that in a group of individuals without RA from the same population. Methods RA patients included all members of an incidence cohort of Rochester, Minnesota residents ages ≥18 years who were first diagnosed as having RA between 1955 and 1994. One age- and sex-matched subject without RA was selected for each patient with RA. Study subjects were followed up by review of their entire medical record until death, migration from the area, or study end (January 1, 2000), and details of all documented infections, along with information on potential risk factors for infection, were recorded. Hazard ratios for infections were estimated using stratified Andersen-Gill proportional hazards models, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results The 609 RA patients and 609 non-RA study subjects (mean age 58.0 years; 73.1% female) were followed up for a mean of 12.7 years and 15.0 years, respectively, reflecting higher mortality among the group with RA. Hazards ratios for objectively confirmed infections, infections requiring hospitalization, and any documented infection in patients with RA were 1.70 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.42–2.03), 1.83 (95% CI 1.52–2.21), and 1.45 (95% CI 1.29–1.64), respectively, after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, leukopenia, corticosteroid use, and diabetes mellitus. Sites of infection with the highest risk ratios were bone, joints, skin, soft tissues, and the respiratory tract. Conclusion In this study, patients with RA were at increased risk of developing infections compared with non-RA subjects. This may be due to immunomodulatory effects of RA, or to agents with immunosuppressive effects used in its treatment.
Gauge theory on a random lattice

Abstract A general formulation of gauge theory on a random lattice is developed and the strong coupling limit of the Wilson string tension worked out. The confining force found in this strong coupling limit is identical to that predicted by the relativistic string model. In particular, the force between two color-triplet charges is a constant for large separation and the tube of electric flux joining the charges fluctuates, giving it a net thickness proportional to the logarithm of its length.
A SOFTWARE TOOL FOR RAPIDLY PROTOTYPING NEW FORMS OF COMPUTER‐BASED ASSESSMENTS

This report describes the Free-Response Authoring, Delivery, and Scoring System (FRADSS). FRADSS allows test developers, who might have no programming experience, to put their ideas for computer-based test items directly onto computer. The system was used for the GRE Mathematical Reasoning pre-pilot and is currently being used for the GRE Engineering New Testing Initiative. The report begins with a description of the “niche” in the test development process that FRADSS is intended to fill, then presents several items authored using FRADSS. After describing the various components of the system (authoring, delivery, and scoring), the report discusses benefits of using FRADSS in the early stages of test development. These benefits were gleaned from interviews with item writers who have used FRADSS in their work.
Response to Surti et al.: 'Pregnancy and liver transplantation'.

To the Editor: Surti and colleagues note in their comprehensive review of pregnancy following liver transplantation that the timing of pregnancy is linked to its success: the longer after transplantation, the lower the rate of obstetrical and graft-related complications (1–3). In order to achieve this goal, women must have access to reliable and effective contraception. While the AST consensus statement (4) recommends against the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs), the evidence cited for this is thin. It is based solely upon two cases reported in a single article in 1981 (5). Moreover, the risk of IUD-related pelvic infection in other immune-compromised individuals in not significantly increased compared with women with an intact immune system (6). Given these facts, when counselling women with a transplant, IUDs should be routinely offered as a first line method of contraception. Intrauterine devices are used successfully and safely by women with many different types of transplants in my practice (and those of other experienced family planning providers). This letter is a call to the research community in the fields of organ transplantation and family planning to collaborate in an effort to investigate this important issue in more detail. Following this, appropriate, evidence-based recommendations could be made to aid clinicians and patients in selecting the best method of contraception. This will ensure that women with transplants remain healthy and are given the best opportunity to experience a healthy pregnancy.
Career perspectives of male prison inmates in college courses

Abstract The article presents a profile of college-attending prison inmates' personality and vocational interests based on Holland's theory of careers and an assessment of their attitudes that are critical in realistic career decision-making.
Fermi acceleration revisited

Abstract Mappings that have been used to describe the Fermi acceleration mechanism are examined. It is shown that results which appear to be contradictory are due to differences in the mapping equations. For those mappings that can be locally approximated by the standard mapping, the value of the nonlinear parameter of the standard mapping, for which the last isolating KAM surface exists, can be used to predict the loss of KAM stability with action for the more general mappings. Previous results of the variation in the density distribution in the stochastic region of the phase space, averaged over phases, is shown to be consistent with the ergodic hypothesis. Fine scale structure of the mappings is found to be model dependent. The standard mapping is a member of a class of mappings which retains some KAM trajectories at arbitrarily large nonlinearity. This feature is not generic to a wider class of mappings discussed in this paper. The stability of two-iteration fixed points are discussed in detail, including the bifurcation sequence for one type of mapping.
Simulation of the northern Adriatic circulation during winter 2003

[1] Numerical simulations of the Adriatic Sea were conducted with the Navy Coastal Ocean Model during the Adriatic Circulation Experiment in the fall and winter of 2002/2003, and results were compared with observations. The ocean model used a 1-km resolution grid over the entire Adriatic Sea. Model forcing included atmospheric fluxes from the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS), tides, boundary conditions from a global model, and freshwater river and runoff inflows. Model tidal elevation showed good agreement with International Hydrographic Organization station data, and model tidal currents showed good agreement with tidal currents determined from acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements. Detided model currents showed good agreement with ADCP currents with rms errors along the principal variance axes ranging from 6 to 12.9 cm/s and correlations ranging from 0.16 to 0.81. Correlations between model and ADCP currents along the minor variance axes were generally low. Comparison of the model-simulated temperature and salinity profiles during January and February with conductivity-temperature-depth measurements indicated that the model captured some of the spatial structure of the observed fields. The model response to several bora wind events in January and February showed a recurring pattern of cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres that generally agreed with observations and reflected the pattern of wind stress curl from the COAMPS wind stress forcing. During strong bora forcing, two large cyclonic circulation gyres form in the northern Adriatic with a smaller anticyclonic circulation between them near the Istrian Peninsula. Additionally, a couple of large meanders frequently occur within the Eastern Adriatic Current southeast of Kvarner Bay, and these meanders sometimes close to form small gyres.
CMR in inflammatory vasculitis.

Vasculitis, the inflammation of blood vessels, can produce devastating complications such as blindness, renal failure, aortic rupture and heart failure through a variety of end-organ effects. Noninvasive imaging with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has contributed to improved and earlier diagnosis. CMR may also be used in serial evaluation of such patients as a marker of treatment response and as an indicator of subsequent complications. Unique strengths of CMR favoring its use in such conditions are its abilities to noninvasively visualize both lumen and vessel wall with high resolution. This case-based review focuses on the large- and medium-vessel vasculitides where MR angiography has the greatest utility. Because of increasing recognition of cardiac involvement in small-vessel vasculitides, this review also presents evidence supporting greater consideration of CMR to detect and quantify myocardial microvascular disease. CMR’s complementary role amidst traditional clinical, serological and other diagnostic techniques in personalized care for patients with vasculitis is emphasized. Specifically, the CMR laboratory can address questions related to extent and severity of vascular involvement. As ongoing basic and translational studies better elucidate poorly-defined underlying molecular mechanisms, this review concludes with a discussion of potential directions for the development of more targeted imaging approaches.
Lower extremity arterial reconstruction in obese patients.

Abstract Background Previous reports have noted that obese patients undergoing lower extremity arterial reconstruction have higher complication rates compared with nonobese patients. We evaluated the effect of obesity on outcomes following open infrainguinal arterial reconstruction on a national level. Methods A query of the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was conducted to identify all adult patients who underwent open infrainguinal lower extremity arterial reconstruction from 2005 to 2009. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed in different body mass index groups. Results Obese and morbidly obese patients had a higher risk of wound infection when compared with normal weight patients (odds ratios 2.1 and 2.7, P P Conclusions Obesity was associated with an increase in wound infection after open lower extremity arterial reconstruction. Obesity, but not morbid obesity, was associated with decreased mortality.
Effects of time of insemination relative to ovulation on pregnancy rate and embryonic‐loss rate in mares

The effects of pre-ovulatory and post ovulatory insemination on pregnancy rate and embryonic-loss rate were studied in 268 mares in two experiments. Within each experiment mares were randomised within replicates as follows: to be inseminated on the day the pre-ovulatory follicle reached 35 mm (pre-ovulatory group), to be inseminated on the day of ovulation (Day 0 group), and to be inseminated on the day after ovulation (Day 1 group). Ultrasonic pregnancy diagnoses were performed on Days 11, 12, 13 and 14 (Experiment 1) and Days 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 40 (Experiment 2). Combined for the two experiments, pregnancy rates were different (P less than 0.01) among the three groups. For Experiment 2, pregnancy rate within the pre-ovulatory group was lower (P less than 0.05) for insemination 4 days or more before ovulation than for up to 3 days before ovulation. Pregnancy rate was lower (P less than 0.05) for the Day 0 group than for the pre-ovulatory group inseminated up to 3 days before ovulation. In Experiment 2, ovulation was detected by examinations every 6 h; pregnancy rate was greater (P less than 0.05) for mares inseminated 0 to 6 h after ovulation than for mares inseminated at 18 to 24 h. No pregnancies occurred when mares were inseminated 30 h or more after ovulation. The mean day of first detection of the embryonic vesicle was different (P less than 0.0001) among the three groups. Diameter of embryonic vesicle averaged over Days 11 to 15 also differed (P less than 0.0001) among groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mannitol Metabolism in Celery Stressed by Excess Macronutrients.

The effect of excess macronutrients in the root environment on mannitol and sucrose metabolism was investigated in celery (Apium graveolens L. var dulce [Mill.] Pers.). Plant growth was inhibited progressively as macronutrient concentration in the media, as measured by electrical conductivity (E.C.), increased from 1.0 to 11.9 decisiemens m-1. Plants grown for 35 d at higher E.C. had a lower water content but similar dry weight in their roots, leaves, and petioles compared to plants grown at lower E.C. Macronutrient concentrations of leaves, roots, and petioles were not affected by the imposed stress, indicating that the macronutrient stress resulted in a water-deficit stress response rather than a salt-specific response. Mannitol accumulated in sink tissues and was accompanied by a drastic decrease in activity of mannitol-1-oxidoreductase. Sucrose concentration and activities of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in sink tissues were not affected by the macronutrient stress. Mature leaves exhibited increased concentrations of both mannitol and sucrose, together with increased activity of mannose-6-phosphate reductase and sucrose phosphate synthase, in response to macronutrient stress. Thus, mannitol accumulation in osmotically stressed celery is regulated by diminished catabolism in sink tissues and increased capacity for mannitol biosynthesis in source leaves.
Characterization of MIPs Using Heterogeneous Binding Models

New methods are presented for characterizing MIPs. These methods address the problems of quantitatively comparing the binding properties of different MIPs. Heterogeneous binding models were applied to MIPs based on an exponentially decaying distribution known as the Freundlich isotherm. The Freundlich isotherm was found to accurately model the binding isotherm of the majority of non-covalently imprinted MIPs. Using this model the experimental binding isotherm can be fit in log-log form to a linear equation from which the fitting parameters can be used to plot a quantitative affinity distribution which is a plot of the number of sites with respect to the binding constant of those sites. Comparison of MIPs using this methodology allowed for simpler and more accurate assessment of the binding properties than by previous methods such as the limiting slopes analysese of curved Scatchard plots.
The Association Between Panic Disorder and Coronary Artery Disease Among Primary Care Patients Presenting With Chest Pain: An Updated Literature Review

Context: Although panic disorder is linked to hypertension and smoking, the relationship between panic disorder and coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Objective: To extend our understanding about the strength of the association between panic disorder and coronary artery disease and known cardiovascular risk factors. Data sources: Potential studies were identified via a computerized search of MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases and review of bibliographies. MeSH headings used included panic disorder with chest pain, panic disorder with coronary disease or cardiovascular disorders or heart disorders, and panic disorder with cholesterol or essential hypertension or tobacco smoking. Study selection: The diagnosis of panic disorder in eligible studies was based on DSM-IV criteria, and studies must have used objective criteria for CAD and risk factors. Only case-control and cohort studies were included. Data Synthesis: Concerning the relationship between panic disorder and CAD, studies conducted in emergency departments found a relative risk [RR] of 1.25 (95% CI = 0.87 to 1.80), while those conducted in cardiology settings found an inverse relationship (RR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.37). However, there is an inverse relationship between the prevalence of CAD in the study and the RR (r = –.554, p = .097), suggesting that, in primary care settings in which the prevalence of CAD is low, there may be a significant association between panic disorder and CAD. Conclusion: The association between panic disorder and CAD has several implications for primary care physicians managing patients with chest pain. When comorbid, the panic attacks may cause the patient with coronary disease to seek care but could also provoke a cardiac event. If one condition is recognized, a search for the other may be warranted because of the potential consequences if left undetected. The treatment approach to the panic disorder should be adjusted in the presence of comorbid CAD.
Does parental divorce moderate the heritability of body dissatisfaction? An extension of previous gene-environment interaction effects.

Objective Previous research suggests that parental divorce moderates genetic influences on body dissatisfaction. Specifically, the heritability of body dissatisfaction is higher in children of divorced versus intact families, suggesting possible gene–environment interaction effects. However, prior research is limited to a single, self-reported measure of body dissatisfaction. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether these findings extend to a different dimension of body dissatisfaction: body image perceptions. Method Participants were 1,534 female twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study, aged 16–20 years. The Body Rating Scale (BRS) was used to assess body image perceptions. Results Although BRS scores were heritable in twins from divorced and intact families, the heritability estimates in the divorced group were not significantly greater than estimates in the intact group. However, there were differences in nonshared environmental effects, where the magnitude of these environmental influences was larger in the divorced as compared with the intact families. Discussion Different dimensions of body dissatisfaction (i.e., negative self-evaluation versus body image perceptions) may interact with environmental risk, such as parental divorce, in discrete ways. Future research should examine this possibility and explore differential gene–environment interactions using diverse measures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015;).
Asymptotic Solutions of Second-Order Linear Differential Equations having Almost Coalescent Turning Points, with an Application to the Incomplete Gamma Function

Uniform asymptotic expansions are derived for solutions of the differential equation d 2 W/dζ 2 = ( u 2 ζ 2 + βu + ψ( u , ζ))W, which are uniformly valid for u real and large, β bounded (real or complex), and £ lying in a well-defined bounded or unbounded complex domain, which contains the origin. The function ψ(u, ζ) is assumed to be holomorphic in this domain, and is o ( u / ln( u )) uniformly as u —> oo. The approximations involve parabolic cylinder functions, and include explicit and realistic error bounds. The new theory is then applied to the complementary incomplete gamma function Γ( α , α x ), furnishing an asymptotic approximation which is uniformly valid for x lying in a complex domain which properly contains all x satisfying |arg(x)| oo.
Grain‐Boundary Migration in LiF BicrystaIs

Large -scale grain-boundary movements, apparently due to temperature- gradient zone melting, were observed in macroscopic LiF bicrystals. Bicrystals containing boundaries of varying orientations were prepared by sintering LiF single crystals at temperatures 20 to 30 deg C below their melting point in air and in argon. Although no appreciable amount of sintering was observed during prolonged heating periods at very slightly lower temperatures, at these temperatures a boundary capable of large-scale movement formed rapidly. Subsequent heating at the same temperature resulted in boundary movements of 5 mm or more with 12 hours, frequentiy in a direction opposed to the radius of curvature. In some specimens boundary sliding and rotation, strongly suggestive of the presence of an interfacial liquid layer, were observed. (auth)
Speeches and Declarations: A War of Words

The use of language is always manipulated to convey a goal of the speaker in order to have an effect on the hearer. Symbolic power is always present in speech. Politicians understand and harness the power of words to explain or justify acts in order to encourage, perhaps even force, people to support them, even if this support implies a risk to their lives. Following Bourdieu's (2001), Elster's (1986, 1994) and van Dijk's (1993, 1997a, 1997b, 2005) ideas, in particular, amongst others', this paper analyzes the speeches and declarations of George W. Bush, President of the United States, from September 11,2001 leading up to the 2003 attack on Iraq, in an attempt to decode the underlying intentions of the messages and strategies which he has used to justify military action, in what he and his administration call "the war on terrorism". This paper focuses on the linguistic representations of war and their implications (van Dijk, 2005), on the way in which war is linguistically and rhetorically constructed, particularly in the period of build-up to action. This study will propose a theoretical model of the chronological discursive phases of development of a rhetoric of war, culminating in military action with general public support domestically. Finally, I would like to introduce the term "ideologically suggestive co- placement" as a linguistic power tactic to link factually unrelated objects (persons, nations, events, concepts) by presenting them within a simple clause or sentence, to intentionally create a link between these objects, between their connotations in the listener's mind, simply by their simultaneous mention. This term is presented as a new tool for future discourse analysis studies.
Assessing the quality of human research protection programs to improve protection of human subjects participating in clinical trials

Introduction:Institutions conducting research involving human subjects establish human research protection programs to ensure the rights and welfare of research participants as well as to meet ethical and regulatory requirements. It is important to determine whether human research protection programs have achieved these objectives.Methods:The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed quality indicators and annually collected human research protection program quality indicator data from its 108 research facilities since 2010.Results:Analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs human research protection program quality indicator data revealed that facilities using affiliated university institutional review boards performed as well as those using their own Department of Veterans Affairs institutional review boards and that facilities with small research programs, that is, less than 50 human research protocols, performed at least as well as those with larger research programs. These quality indicator data al...
Late Glacial and Holocene vegetation history and paleoclimate of the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona

Sediment cores spanning the last 13,500 calendar years (cal yr) were obtained from two lakes (Fracas Lake, 2518 m; Bear Lake, 2778 m) on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Pollen and plant macrofossil records indicate that before 12,900 cal yr B.P., high elevation landscapes of the Kaibab Plateau near Bear Lake were covered by alpine tundra, while lower elevations near Fracas Lake were occupied by Picea woodland. At12,900 cal yr B.P., Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa forest expanded upward to occupy the top of the plateau. Pinus ponderosa arrived near Fracas Lake 11,000 cal yr B.P., replacing Picea forests. Since then, Pinus ponderosa forest has dominated the Fracas Lake area. Pinus ponderosa did not appear at Bear Lake until9730 cal yr B.P. Mixed forests of Picea (mainly Picea pungens), Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus ponderosa ,a ndPseudotsuga (after8000 cal yr B.P.) grew near Bear Lake for the remainder of the Holocene. Picea engelmannii populations reexpanded near Bear Lake after 4000 cal yr B.P. Charcoal records indicate that fire probably helpedPinus ponderosa to become established near Bear Lake. Climate changes on the Kaibab Plateau since the Late Glacial were inferred from lake levels and vegetation patterns. The Late Glacial (>11,000 cal yr B.P.) was cold and probably wet. The early Holocene (11,000 to8000 cal yr B.P.) was cooler than today and may have been the wettest period. Fracas Lake and Bear Lake were probably deepest then. During this period, a strengthened summer monsoon brought in more moisture from the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. During the dry and warm mid-Holocene, Fracas Lake and Bear Lake experienced water-level declines. The late Holocene was relatively wet and cool again, and aquatic plants were abundant in the two lakes. Increasing effective moisture in the late Holocene was related to decreasing summer insolation. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Limitations of SLLVY-AMC in calpain and proteasome measurements

Succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (SLLVY-AMC) is a fluorogenic substrate used to measure calpain activity and the "chymotrypsin-like" activity of the 20s proteasome. The goal of this study was to determine the relative role of calpains and the proteasome on SLLVY-AMC cleavage in attached and suspended renal epithelial cells (NRK-52E). The proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin did not inhibit purified calpain 1 or calpain 10 cleavage of SLLVY-AMC. Epoxomicin inhibited 11% of total SLLVY-AMC cleavage in attached cells and increasing concentrations of the calpain inhibitor calpeptin were additive. In contrast, cell suspensions had a 3.5-fold higher rate of SLLVY-AMC cleavage, epoxomicin inhibited cleavage 65% and calpeptin inhibited cleavage an additional 26%. Calpeptin alone also inhibited proteasomal activity. In conclusion, (1) SLLVY-AMC is cleaved in cells by calpain and the proteasome, (2) proteasome activity can be measured with epoxomicin, and (3) calpeptin can inhibit proteasome activity in some cases; thus limiting the use of SLLVY-AMC and calpeptin.
Lineage Relationship of Direct-Developing Melanocytes and Melanocyte Stem Cells in the Zebrafish

Previous research in zebrafish has demonstrated that embryonic and larval regeneration melanocytes are derived from separate lineages. The embryonic melanocytes that establish the larval pigment pattern do not require regulative melanocyte stem cell (MSC) precursors, and are termed direct-developing melanocytes. In contrast, the larval regeneration melanocytes that restore the pigment pattern after ablation develop from MSC precursors. Here, we explore whether embryonic melanocytes and MSCs share bipotent progenitors. Furthermore, we explore when fate segregation of embryonic melanocytes and MSCs occurs in zebrafish development. In order to achieve this, we develop and apply a novel lineage tracing method. We first demonstrate that Tol2-mediated genomic integration of reporter constructs from plasmids injected at the 1-2 cell stage occurs most frequently after the midblastula transition but prior to shield stage, between 3 and 6 hours post-fertilization. This previously uncharacterized timing of Tol2-mediated genomic integration establishes Tol2-mediated transposition as a means for conducting lineage tracing in zebrafish. Combining the Tol2-mediated lineage tracing strategy with a melanocyte regeneration assay previously developed in our lab, we find that embryonic melanocytes and larval regeneration melanocytes are derived from progenitors that contribute to both lineages. We estimate 50-60 such bipotent melanogenic progenitors to be present in the shield-stage embryo. Furthermore, our examination of direct-developing and MSC-restricted lineages suggests that these are segregated from bipotent precursors after the shield stage, but prior to the end of convergence and extension. Following this early fate segregation, we estimate approximately 100 embryonic melanocyte and 90 MSC-restricted lineages are generated to establish or regenerate the zebrafish larval pigment pattern, respectively. Thus, the dual strategies of direct-development and MSC-derived development are established in the early gastrula, via fate segregation of the two lineages.
Naloxone Ameliorates Presyncopal Sensations in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

(1987). Naloxone Ameliorates Presyncopal Sensations in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. International Journal of Neuroscience: Vol. 35, No. 1-2, pp. 89-90.