cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Maternal Depression in the First Year Postpartum: Marital Status and Mediating Role of Relationship Quality

Existing literature has documented the associations between marital status and maternal depression within the first year postpartum. Using data that is representative of urban non-marital births in the United States with a large over-sample of non-marital births, we investigate the association of maternal depression with not only marital status but also relationship quality with the father of the baby. Quality is independently associated with maternal depression after controlling for marital status and other variables that have been documented as risk factors for maternal depression. In addition, relationship quality explains away the associations between marital status and maternal depression. After controlling for relationship quality, single women were no more likely to be depressed compared to married or cohabiting women.
On handling arbitrary rectilinear shape constraint

Nonrectangular (rectilinear) shape occurs very often in deep submicron floorplanning. Most previous algorithms are designed to handle only convex rectilinear blocks. However, handling concave rectilinear shape is necessary since a simple "U" shape is concave. A few works could address concave rectilinear block explicitly. In (K. Fujiyoshi, et al., (1999)), a necessary and sufficient condition of feasible sequence pair is proposed for arbitrary rectilinear shape in terms of constraint graph. However, no constraint is imposed on sequence pair representation itself. The search for feasible sequence pair mainly depends on the simulated annealing, which implies unnecessary inefficiency. In many cases, it takes very long time or even is unable to find the feasible placement. Furthermore, it takes O(n/sup 3/) runtime to evaluate each sequence pair, which leaves much space for improvement. We propose a new method to handle arbitrary rectilinear shape constraint based on sequence pair representation. We explore the topological property of feasible sequence pair, and use it to eliminate lots of infeasible sequence pairs, which implies speeding up the convergence of simulated annealing process. The evaluation of a sequence pair is based on longest common subsequence computation, and achieves significantly faster runtime (O(mnloglogn) time where m is the number of rectilinear-shape constraints, n is the number of rectangular blocks/subblocks). The algorithm can handle fixed-frame floorplanning and min-area floorplanning as well.
Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears

Pacing is a commonly investigated behavior in zoo animals, however, little data have been published to support a precise definition of pacing. High speed video of pacing behavior in 11 zoo-housed polar bears (Ursus maritimus) was compared with goal-oriented locomotion in the same bears. Specifically, step cycle duration and head height ratio were measured, as was the variability of these two dimensions. The median step cycle duration while pacing was found to be 17.0% (±26.7%) shorter than step cycle duration while locomoting (P < 0.01). Step cycle duration while pacing also displayed a significantly lower coefficient of variation than step cycle duration while locomoting (9.4 ± 3.5% versus 22.7 ± 10.0%; P < 0.01). Median head height was found to be 15.3% (±10.5%) higher while pacing than while locomoting (P < 0.05) and was also found to have a significantly reduced coefficient of variation as compared to locomoting (5.6 ± 2.6% versus 16.6 ± 8.7%; P < 0.05). The results of this study confirm that pacing is quantifiably different than non-repetitive locomotion and may reflect a state in which animals are disengaged with their environments.
Number of meanings and concreteness: Consequences of ambiguity within and across languages

We examined the effects of concreteness and ambiguity on language processing. In Experiment 1, English–Spanish bilinguals translated words with a single translation. Contrary to past findings, we observed no concrete-word advantage in translation latency. In Experiment 2, English–Spanish bilinguals translated words with one and more than one translation. Words with multiple translations were translated more slowly and showed the typical concrete-word advantage. Words with one translation showed a reversal of the typical concrete-word advantage in latency. Further, concrete words were uninfluenced by ambiguity. In Experiment 3, we explored whether the interaction between concreteness and ambiguity was a general property of the language processing system. Supporting this idea, in a monolingual lexical decision task, we found an interaction between concreteness and number of meanings analogous to the interaction in translation. We discuss the common mechanism that may lead to this interaction in both within ...
Magnetic flux penetration and destruction of pion condensates

Abstract We show that an external magnetic field can destroy a pion condensate or lead to a vortex ground state stimilar to the mixed phase of a type II superconductor. Critical magnetic fields, determined for the ground state phases of the sigma model, are comparable to those which may be present in neutron stars.
Minimum average distance subsets in the hamming cube

In 1977, Ahlswede and Katona proposed the following isoperimetric problem: find a set S of n points in {0,1}k whose average Hamming distance is minimal--or equivalently find an n-vertex subgraph of the hypercube Qk whose average distance is minimal.We report on some recent results and conjecture that S can be chosen to be the set of all points in {0,1}k that are distance at most r from some point c ∈ Rk. We show that these "discrete balls" include all known good constructions and we provide additional evidence supporting the conjecture.
Strategies for adaptive smoothing and rebuffering via dynamic network calculus

This paper proposes an adaptive video smoothing and rebuffering algorithm for video transmission in best-effort, low-bandwidth networks. Our algorithm, which is derived from a ''dynamic'' extension of the network calculus, (1) detects whether playback disruptions are inevitable and, if so, schedules a rebuffering action with minimal rebuffering delay and (2) computes a conservative transmission schedule that ensures continuous playback while minimizing consumption of network available bandwidth. NS-2 simulation results show that, compared to an aggressive transmission strategy, our method can greatly reduce bandwidth consumption and, compared to a simple rebuffering strategy with the same bandwidth consumption, our method can effectively reduce total playback delay while also reducing the number of rebuffering events.
Patterns of tonic luteinizing hormone release and ovulation frequency in suckled anestrous beef cows following varying intervals of temporary weaning.

Thirty postpartum Brahman crossbred cows were utilized to determine the effects of varying intervals of temporary weaning on tonic LH secretion and ovulation. Cows were assigned randomly on day 17-21 postpartum to one of five groups: 1) Suckled Ad libitum, 2) 48-hr weaned, 3) 72-hr weaned, 4) 96-hr weaned, or 5) 144-hr weaned. The mean maximal rise in LH pulse frequency due to weaning occurred within 2 days and averaged 221 percent of time 0 values. The frequency of LH pulses was greater (P less than .06) in weaned than in suckled controls. This temporal increase was self-limiting, displaying an acute rise followed by a variable rate of decline in all groups. However, pulse frequency remained elevated relative to suckled controls for the longest period of time for weaning durations of 96 and 144 hr (P less than .10). In 48-hr and 72-hr weaned cows, a rapid reversal of the initial increase in LH pulse frequency was observed following calf return. A significant linear regression (y = 1.9 +/- .64x; P less than .03) described the increase in LH pulse frequency that occurred in cows which ovulated following weaning. Nonovulators were sensitive to calf return and responded by exhibiting a linear decline (y = 2.87 - .43x; P less than .04) in LH pulse frequency following this event. The amplitude of LH pulses increased (P less than .02) during the period after calf return in ovulators, but did not change in nonovulators. Percentage ovulating by day 10 increased (P less than .05) with increased weaning duration past 72 hr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Precise dating of biotite in distal volcanic ash: Isolating subtle alteration using 40Ar/39Ar laser incremental heating and electron microprobe techniques

Precise dating of K-rich minerals in volcanic rocks via the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronometer has become crucial to resolving many geological problems. In some cases, ash beds containing biotite phenocrysts but lacking sanidine are the only datable horizons at key stratigraphic intervals, necessitating comparison of sanidine and biotite ages within the same chronostratigraphic framework. To assess the integrity of biotite and evaluate the accuracy of ages obtained from this often problematic mineral, incremental heating 40 Ar/ 39 Ar experiments were performed on large, millimeter-sized, euhedral biotite crystals from four key Eocene tuffs in the Green River and Wind River Basins and are compared with sanidine 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages. Unaltered biotite crystals with homogenous K-compositions from two tuff beds yielded concordant plateau ages that are indistinguishable from cogenetic sanidine ages. In contrast, biotite crystals from two other tuffs yielded discordant spectra, with relatively young initial steps followed by older, down-stepping apparent ages. Plateau ages from the discordant experiments are older than the sanidine ages by 1 to 14%. Integrated (total fusion) ages from these experiments exhibit scatter toward both younger and older ages that correlate with the degree of spectral discordance. Electron microprobe transects reveal that biotite crystals yielding discordant age spectra contain 1-10 μm thick K-depleted (<8% K 2 O) alteration zones along internal cleavage planes that are absent in biotite crystals yielding concordant age spectra. We propose that these altered zones promote open-system behavior. Phenomena such as loss of K or 40 Ar*, 39 Ar K recoil into internal K-depleted phases, and 39 Ar K recoil entirely out of internally corroded biotite crystals are all potential mechanisms that can be related to this alteration. Due to the presence of these multiple potential pathways that promote the gain or loss of isotopes, such altered biotite crystals are unsuitable for high-resolution 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating, comparisons with sanidine ages, or calibration of the geomagnetic polarity timescale.
Love and Revolution

Critical sociologists have long recognized the intersections between love and revolution. For the most part, however, our understanding of love and its relevance for revolution remains vague. My ar...
Synaptic organization of the cabbage looper moth ocellus.

Chemical and electronic synapses are present in the ocellar synaptic region of the moth, Trichoplusia ni. The chemical synapses all appear to be of the “conventional” type. Four different chemical synaptic contacts were observed: Receptor cell axons presynaptic to receptor cell axons, receptor cell axons presynaptic to 1st order interneurons, 1st order interneurons presynaptic to receptor cell axons, and 1st order interneurons presynaptic to 1st order interneurons. Two different types of contact made by electronic synapes were observed: Contacts between receptor cell axons and 1st order interneurons, and contacts between 1st order interneurons. The significance of this synaptic arrangement for the generation of “on” and “off” responses in the 1st order interneurons is discussed.
Perception of Air Pollution in a Developing Country.

(1976). Perception of Air Pollution in a Developing Country. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 139-141.
Responses of pulmonary platelet-derived growth factor peptides and receptors to hyperoxia and nitric oxide in piglet lungs

The peptides platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) and especially -B have important roles in lung development. The effect of hyperoxic exposure with and without inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on lung expression of PDGF and its receptors is unknown. We hypothesized that hyperoxia exposure would suppress mRNA expression and protein production of these ligands and their receptors. The addition of iNO to hyperoxia may further aggravate the effects of hyperoxia. Thirteen-day-old piglets were randomized to breathe 1) room air (RA); 2) 0.96 fraction of inspired oxygen (O2), or 3) 0.96 fraction of inspired oxygen plus 50 ppm of NO (O2 + NO), for 5 d. Lungs were preserved for mRNA, Western immunoblot, and immunohistochemical analyses for PDGF-A and -B and their receptors PDGFR-α and -β. PDGF-B mRNA expression was greater than that of PDGF-A or PDGFR-α and -β in RA piglet lungs (p < 0.05). Hyperoxia with or without iNO reduced lung PDGF-B mRNA and protein expression relative to the RA group lungs (p < 0.01). PDGF-B immunostain intensity was significantly increased in the alveolar macrophages, which were present in greater numbers in the hyperoxia-exposed piglet lungs, with or without NO (p < 0.01). PDGFR-β immunostaining was significantly increased in airway epithelial cells in O2- and O2 + NO–exposed piglets. PDGF-A and PDGFR-α immunostain intensity and distribution pattern were unchanged relative to the RA group. Sublethal hyperoxia decreases PDGF-B mRNA and protein expression but not PDGF-A or their receptors in piglet lungs. iNO neither aggravates nor ameliorates this effect.
The limited role of expert guidelines in teaching psychopharmacology.

Objective To consider the limited usefulness of expert guidelines for teaching psychopharmacology.
Ultrafast Dynamics in Helium Nanodroplets Studied by Femtosecond EUV Photoelectron and Ion Imaging

Femtosecond time resolved EUV photoelectron and ion imaging studies of pure helium nanodroplets (~2x106) reveal rich electronic and nuclear dynamics. Inter-band relaxation in the superfluid clusters and emission of Rydberg atoms are monitored in real-time.
Gravitational vacuum polarization. IV. Energy conditions in the Unruh vacuum

Building on a series of earlier papers, I investigate the various pointwise and averaged energy conditions in the Unruh vacuum. I consider the quantum stress-energy tensor corresponding to a conformally coupled massless scalar field, work in the test-field limit, restrict attention to the Schwarzschild geometry, and invoke a mixture of analytical and numerical techniques. I construct a semianalytic model for the stress-energy tensor that globally reproduces all known numerical results to within $0.8%$, and satisfies all known analytic features of the stress-energy tensor. I show that in the Unruh vacuum (1) all standard pointwise energy conditions are violated throughout the exterior region, all the way from spatial infinity down to the event horizon, and (2) the averaged null energy condition is violated on all outgoing radial null geodesics. In a pair of appendices I indicate a general strategy for constructing semianalytic models for the stress-energy tensor in the Hartle-Hawking and Boulware states, and show that the Page approximation is in a certain sense the minimal Ansatz compatible with general properties of the stress energy in the Hartle-Hawking state.
Nanotrains and self-assembled two-dimensional arrays built from carboranes linked by hydrogen bonding of dipyridones

The strong hydrogen bonding ability of 2-pyridones were exploited to build nanotrains on surfaces. Carborane wheels on axles difunctionalized with 2-pyridone hydrogen bonding units were synthesized and displayed spontaneous formation of linear nanotrains by self-assembly on SiO2 or mica surfaces. Imaging using atomic force microscopy confirmed linear formations with lengths up to 5 µm and heights within the range of the molecular height of the carborance-tipped axles.
On the Growth of Layers of Nonprecipitating Cumulus Convection

Abstract A prototype problem of a nonprecipitating convective layer growing into a layer of uniform stratification and exponentially decreasing humidity is introduced to study the mechanism by which the cumulus-topped boundary layer grows. The problem naturally admits the surface buoyancy flux, outer layer stratification, and moisture scale as governing parameters. Large-eddy simulations show that many of the well-known properties of the cumulus-topped boundary layer (including a well-mixed subcloud layer, a cloud-base transition layer, a conditionally unstable cloud layer, and an inversion layer) emerge naturally in the simulations. The simulations also quantify the differences between nonprecipitating moist convection and its dry counterpart. Whereas dry penetrative convective layers grow proportionally to the square root of time (diffusively) the cumulus layers grow proportionally to time (ballistically). The associated downward transport of warm, dry air results in a significant decrease in the surfac...
A phosphorus-containing pyrimidine analog as a potent inhibitor of cytidine deaminase.

A phosphorus-containing pyrimidine nucleoside analog has been synthesized as a potential transition state analog of cytidine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.5). This nucleoside is a potent, competitive inhibitor of the E. coli enzyme and shows slow binding behavior. The rate of release from inhibition is dependent on pH and shows a significant solvent kinetic isotope effect, suggesting that a hydrolytic step is involved in the dissociation of the inhibitor from the enzyme.
Recognizing Objects by Rules of Inference on Sequentially Thresholded Gray-Level Pictures

In this paper, a new technique for recognizing objects in digitized gray-level pictures is presented. It may be interpreted as a simplified and thus more restricted version of a previously presented "semantic" paradigm. Its simplicity and power, however, warrant its being treated as an interesting technique on its own. The new technique is based on (1) the use of preprocessing procedures for determining the existence of "primitive" properties and relations which hold for or between objects in a picture; (2) the succinct and explicit representation, in the form of "rules of inference", of the relational structure of the objects or scenes to be analyzed; and (3) the unique application of the rules to a sequence of thresholded versions of the input picture. The power of the technique is illustrated in the successful recognition of facial features in pictures of faces of people.
Modeling water adsorption in carbon micropores: study of water in carbon molecular sieves.

Measurements of water adsorption equilibrium in a carbon molecular sieve are undertaken in order to gain insight into the nature of water adsorption in carbon micropores. The measurements are taken at low concentrations to emphasize the role of oxygen-containing functional groups in the adsorption of water. Comparisons are made with previously published water adsorption data at higher concentrations to provide a data set spanning a wide range of loading. The assembled data set provides an opportunity for comparison of various theories for prediction of water adsorption in carbon micropores. Shortcomings of current theories are outlined, and an analytical theory that is free of these deficiencies is proposed in this investigation. With the consideration of micropore volume and pore size distribution, the experimental data and proposed isotherm model are consistent with previous studies of Takeda carbon molecular sieves. Also investigated is the uptake kinetics of water, which is characterized by a Fickian ...
Absolute Values of the Electron Mobility in Hydrogen

A new method is described for the measurement of electron mobilities in gases. An electrical shutter method is employed in which the shutters take the form of two fine wire grids, alternate wires of which are connected to a high frequency alternating potential. Electrons pass through the grids only when the potential between adjacent grid wires is zero, and only electrons which cross the gas space in one half-cycle are received at the collecting electrode. A sharp maximum is thus observed in the electrometer current when the drift velocity of the electron multiplied by the time of one half-cycle is equal to the distance between the grids. The theoretical shape of the current curve is compared with experiment and good agreement observed. Measurements have been made between $\frac{X}{p}$ of 0.03 and 20, and the values obtained are compared with the Compton mobility equation.
VIRUS‐LIKE PARTICLES AND NUCLEAR INCLUSIONS IN THE RED ALGA PORPHYRIDIUM PURPUREUM (BORY) DREW ET ROSS1

SUMMARY Ultrastructural examination of the unicellular red alga Porphyridium purpureum has revealed cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions termed concentrosomes. These bodies are morphologically distinct from the irregular membranous inclusions previously reported by others as concentric bodies. In thin section, the morphology of concentrosomes varies from a simple set of 3 or 4 (or rarely 5) concentrically arranged, electron-opaque, circular profiles to elongate, sinuous forms and particulate aggregations, the majority clearly within the nucleus but separated front the nucleoplasm by what appears to be the nuclear envelope. Although simple concentrosomes may be observed in either the cytoplasm or the nuclei, the more elaborate forms occur only in nuclei. In addition to the concentrosomes, subspherical to polygonal virus-like particles of approximately 40 nm diameter have been observed in P. purpureum. These particles are characterized by an electron-opaque perimeter that, in approximately equal numbers, surrounds an “empty” or an opaque core. Dense arrays of the virus-like particles appear in the cytoplasm but not in the nuclei. Similarities between certain forms of the concentrosomes and the virus-like particles are suggestive of an ontogenetic relationship. The infrequency with which either the concentrosomes or the virus-like particles are observed has hampered attempts to verify a developmental sequence or to establish unequivocally the infectious nature of the virus-like particles.
Temperature-dependent spin crossover in neuronal nitric oxide synthase bound with the heme-coordinating thioether inhibitors.

A series of L-arginine analogue nitric oxide synthase inhibitors with a thioether tail have been shown to form an Fe-S thioether interaction as evidenced by continuous electron density between the Fe and S atoms. Even so, the Fe-S thioether interaction was found to be far less important for inhibitor binding than the hydrophobic interactions between the alkyl group in the thioether tail and surrounding protein (Martell et al., (2010) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 798). However, among the few thioether inhibitors that showed Fe-S thioether interaction in crystal structures, variations in spin state (high-spin or low-spin) were observed dependent upon the heme iron oxidation state and temperature. Since modern synchrotron X-ray data collection is typically carried out at cryogenic temperatures, we reasoned that some of the discrepancies between cryo-crystal structures and room temperature UV-visible spectroscopy could be the result of temperature dependent spin-state changes. We, therefore, have characterized some of these nNOS-thioether inhibitor complexes in both crystal and solution using EPR and UV-visible absorption spectrometry as a function of temperature and the heme iron redox state. We found that some thioether inhibitors switch from high- to low-spin at lower temperatures similar to the “spin crossover” phenomenon observed in many transition metal complexes.
DF3/MUC1 signaling in multiple myeloma cells is regulated by interleukin-7.

The human DF3/MUC1 transmembrane protein is aberrantly expressed in multiple myeloma cells and other B cell malignancies. The regulation of MUC1 in B cells and its potential function as a signaling molecule are unknown. The present results demonstrate that interleukin-7 (IL-7) stimulates MUC1 expression in multiple myeloma cells. The results also demonstrate the IL-7 induces binding of MUC1 to the Lyn tyrosine kinase. The MUC1 C-terminal subunit binds directly to Lyn through interactions with the Lyn SH3 and SH2 domains. Activation of Lyn in response to IL-7 stimulation results in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the MUC1 C-terminal subunit. In vitro and in vivo studies show that Lyn phosphorylates MUC1, at least in large part, on a YEKV site in the MUC1 cytoplasmic tail. The functional significance of the MUC1-Lyn interaction is supported by the demonstration that Lynmediated phosphorylation of MUC1 on YEKV induces binding of MUC1 and the βcatenin signaling protein. In concert with these results, IL...
A microcomputer-interfaced continuous flow toxicity test system

Abstract While continuous-flow tests for toxicity evaluation are preferable over static tests, their use has been limited due to problems associated with their operation. Fluctuations in toxicant concentrations during exposure periods requires frequent analyses and represent a drawback in conventional diluter systems. To reduce toxicant fluctuations and to maintain suitable water quality during long-term test periods, a low cost microcomputer-interfaced monitoring system (MIMS) was installed on a Benoit type serial diluter. The system monitored flow rates of test solutions and measured a number of water quality parameters. The MIMS system provided up-to-date information on whether the test was progressing well and indicated when diluter maintenance was needed. The MIMS interfaced diluter system performed well in long-term continuous-flow tests with minimal disruption and eliminated experimental failure.
Generalized versus performance-focused social phobia: Patterns of comorbidity among youth

The goal of this study was to examine patterns of comorbidity associated with generalized and performance-focused social phobia (SOP) among a community-based sample of youth while also examining whether gender and age influenced the associations found. Participants from the Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (MECA) Study, aged 9-17 (N=1295), were used. Diagnoses were based on structured clinical interviews with youth and their caregivers. Results indicated that both subtypes of SOP were associated with a range of other anxiety disorders. Contrary to the expectations, performance-focused SOP was somewhat more strongly associated with depressive disorders than was generalized SOP; this difference was driven primarily by higher rates of dysthymia (DYS) among those with performance-focused SOP than generalized SOP. Although attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was associated with generalized SOP, more severe externalizing behavior (oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD)) was only associated with performance-focused SOP. Limited gender and age differences in these relationships were found.
A study of dynamic memory management in C++ programs

Recently, the importance of dynamic memory management has been increased significantly as there is a growing number of development in object-oriented programs. Many studies show that dynamic memory management is one of the most expensive components in many software systems. It can consume up to 30% of the program execution time. Especially, in C++ programs, it tends to have object creation and deletion prolifically. These objects tend to have short life-spans. This paper describes an integrated study of the C++'s memory allocation behavior, a memory tracing tool and memory managements based on the empirical study of C++ programs. First, this paper summarizes the hypothesis of situations that invoke the dynamic memory management explicitly and implicitly. They are: constructors, copy constructors, overloading assignment operator=, type conversions and application specific member functions. Second, a dynamic memory tracing tool, called mtrace++, is introduced to study the dynamic memory allocation behavior in C++ programs. Third, a dynamic memory allocation strategy, called O-Reuse, to reuse the allocated objects to speed up the object management. At the later part of this paper, an automatic dynamic memory management, called GC++, is discussed. GC++ collects unreferenced objects automatically with high speed of allocation/deallocation processes. The performance gains of O-Reuse and GC++ are come from the utilization of memory allocation/deallocation behavior.
New softnose skate genus Brochiraja from New Zealand (Rajidae: Arhynchobatinae) with description of four new species

Abstract Brochiraja, a new rajid genus, is defined for a group of softnose skates from the deep sea adjacent New Zealand. The group presently contains six species: Brochiraja asperula (Garrick & Paul), B. spinifera (Garrick & Paul), and four new taxa, B albilabiata sp. nov., B. aenigma sp. nov., B. leviveneta sp. nov., and B. microspinifera sp. nov. These species are closely related to members of the Indo‐Pacific genus Notoraja but three of them differ from all other softnose skates (arhynchobatins) in at least one presumed synaphomorphy—the presence of a bifurcated thorn on the mid‐distal rostral cartilage that is strongly evident in juveniles and variably reduced in adults. Placement of B. aenigma, known only from the post‐juvenile holotype, lacks these thorns so its placement in the genus is provisional. The new species differ from B. asperula, B. spinifera, and each other, in coloration, morphometrics, squamation, and vertebral and pectoral‐fin counts. The existence of multiple morphotypes of the two ...
Alterations in phospholipid metabolism induced by ethanol administration.

1. 1. Previous investigations have shown that ethanol administration increases the requirements for choline in rats, and in large quantities may cause infiltration of the liver with lipids. The present study measures the incorporation of isotopically labeled methyl groups into the choline-containing phospholipids by liver slices obtained from normal rats and rats receiving 15% ethanol in drinking water. 2. 2. An increase in the incorporation of radioactive methyl groups into lecithin was noted in animals receiving ethanol for 7 days. This occurred when either [Me-14C]-methionine or [14C]formate was the precursor but not when [3-14C]serine was employed. The incorporation of isotope into the various phospholipid fractions was determined by thin-layer chromatography. 3. 3. The data exclude an ethanol-induced block in the synthesis de novo of lecithin by the sequential methylation pathway as a cause of the previously observed findings and suggest that a decrease in the intrahepatic pool of methyl groups may occur during ethanol metabolism.
A Stack Effluent Radioisotope Monitor

A system for simultaneously measuring and indicating each of several different radioisotopes in the stack effluent of an atomic energy facility is described. Analog computer techniques are employed for the solution of simultaneous equations and for the counting and scaling. Two types of presentations are included for the output. The total amounts of the radioisotopes emitted to the atmosphere are indicated on registers, and marks are recorded on a moving chart each time specific quantities are emitted. The emission quantity of each isotope is indicated by a register and by a single channel on the chart recorder.
Polysomal changes in rats treated with lethal doses of carbon tetrachloride

Abstract Male Holtzman rats were given lethal doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) and cellular changes were monitored histologically and by periodically recording serum ornithine carbamyltransferase and microsomal ethylmorphine N -demethylase. In both microsome-bound and free populations polysome size was observed to decrease. By 4 hr both populations were dominated by monosomes and disomes. Bound polysomes accounted for nearly 75% of total polysomes in control rats, but after CCl 4 the bound populations represented a progressively smaller percentage of total polysomes until by 12 hr only 30% were in the bound fraction. The possibility that polysomes were degraded by an increase in endogenous ribonuclease activity seems unlikely since total liver RNA was not significantly different from that of controls even 18 hr after CCl 4 administration. Nor was there any indication that rRNA synthesis or processing was stopped after this same interval. On the other hand, radioactive mRNA isolated from both bound and free ribosome populations contained a greatly reduced specific activity in CCl 4 -poisoned animals compared to control animals. These observations are consistent with the notion that CCl 4 poisoning effects the reassembly of “runoff” ribosomes by reducing the availability of mRNA to cytoplasmic ribosomes.
Kinetics of suicide substrate:enzyme inactivation. Methylenecyclopropaneacetyl-CoA and general acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.

Abstract Kinetics of inactivation of general acyl-CoA dehydrogenase from pig kidney by methylenecyclopropaneacetyl-CoA have been analyzed using the theoretical treatment and exact steady-state kinetic solutions reported by Tatsunami (Tatsunami, S., Yago, N., and Hosoe, M. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 662 , 226–235). Thus practical application of these analytical solutions for an important class of enzyme: substrate reactions has been demonstrated for the first time.
Outcomes of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

1. Dawson LA, Normolle D, Balter JM, et al. Analysis of radiationinduced liver disease using the Lyman NTCP model. Int J RadiatOncol Biol Phys 2002;53:810-821. 2. Dawson LA, Eccles C, Craig T. Individualized image guided iso-NTCP based liver cancer SBRT. Acta Oncol. 2006; 45:856–864. 3. Cardenes HR, Price TR, Perkins SM, et al. Phase I feasibility trial of stereotactic body radiation therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2010;12:218-225. 4. Tse RV, Hawkins M, Lockwood G, et al. Phase I study of individualized stereotactic body radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol 2008;26:657-664. 5. Zeng ZC, Tang ZY, Fan J, et al. A comparison of chemoembolization combination with and without radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer J 2004;10:307-316. The specific aims were to: 1) evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SBRT for primary liver HCC as adjuvant therapy following resection and/or catheter based therapy in pts with Child-Pugh A-C (BCLC A-D) and 2) to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent liver transplantation following SBRT. References •SBRT, either in combination with arterially directed therapy or as a single modality treatment for HCC resulted in encouraging survival, even in patients with more advanced baseline liver disease (CTP C/BCLC D) and patients who had multiple prior liver directed therapies (TACE, RFA, resection).
Altered hepatic triglyceride content after partial hepatectomy without impaired liver regeneration in multiple murine genetic models.

Liver regeneration is impaired following partial hepatectomy (PH) in mice with genetic obesity and hepatic steatosis and also in wild-type mice fed a high-fat diet. These findings contrast with other data showing that liver regeneration is impaired in mice in which hepatic lipid accumulation is suppressed by either pharmacologic leptin administration or by disrupted glucocorticoid signaling. These latter findings suggest that hepatic steatosis may actually be required for normal liver regeneration. We have reexamined this relationship using several murine models of altered hepatic lipid metabolism. Liver fatty acid (FA) binding protein knockout mice manifested reduced hepatic triglyceride (TG) content compared to controls, with no effect on liver regeneration or hepatocyte proliferation. Examination of early adipogenic messenger RNAs revealed comparable induction in liver from both genotypes despite reduced hepatic steatosis. Following PH, hepatic TG was reduced in intestine-specific microsomal TG transfer protein deleter mice, which fail to absorb dietary fat, increased in peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha knockout mice, which exhibit defective FA oxidation, and unchanged (from wild-type mice) in liver-specific FA synthase knockout mice in which endogenous hepatic FA synthesis is impaired. Hepatic TG increased in the regenerating liver in all models, even in animals in which lipid accumulation is genetically constrained. However, in no model—and over a >90-fold range of hepatic TG content—was liver regeneration significantly impaired following PH. Conclusion: Although hepatic TG content is widely variable and increases during liver regeneration, alterations in neither exogenous or endogenous lipid metabolic pathways, demonstrated to promote or diminish hepatic steatosis, influence hepatocyte proliferation. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Mapping the Mahāyāna: Some Historical and Doctrinal Issues

Buddhism is often characterized as divided into two forms: Mahāyāna and H?nayāna. But how should this distinction be understood? In this article, I offer the reader a sense of how the contours of the Mahāyāna have been drawn from a historical and doctrinal perspective. I discuss three theories regarding the origins of the Mahāyāna, and elucidate an account of the Mahāyāna from a significant Mahāyāna treatise. I also comment on the use of the terms ‘Mahāyāna’ and ‘H?nayāna’, and conclude with some thoughts on a conundrum regarding the Mahāyāna's own self-understanding.
An optical reflectance technique for soil moisture measurement. I. Theory, description, and application

Numerous techniques have been recently developed or modified for improved, in-situ soil moisture content determination. Examples of the devices used in these techniques include the time domain reflectometer, the soil moisture gauge, and the heat-pulse probe. This paper discusses the theory, description, and application of an optical reflectance technique for the in-situ measurement of soil moisture content. An encased, simple light source is proposed which produces a reflectance from a coated, porous membrane whose moisture content is a result of being in close contact with a moist section of soil. A photodiode and a photocell detector capable of sensing the 1.4 mm wavelength of light that is reflected by the moist porous membrane surface are used to quantify the moisture content. The device is approximately 125 cm/sup 3/ and can be pushed into the soil to desired depths. Reflectance measurement techniques such as this have been able to obtain soil moisture content measurements to an accuracy of better than 1%. The optical reflectance methodology presented uses a simple technique that will allow the determination of soil moisture content by using a simple equation which is based on the fraction of reflected light power incident on the detector with a dry and moist porous membrane.
A Review of “Threads of Labour: Garment Industry Supply Chains from the Workers' Perspective”: Angela Hale and Jane Wills, eds. Oxford, UK: Blackwell, 2005. 288 pp. $41.95 paper (ISBN 978-1-4051-2638-0)

Threads of Labour offers an accessible and clear view of action research in the service of garment workers worldwide. By having the research defined and at least partly conducted by people involved...
How Deregulating Derivatives Led to Disaster, and Why Re-Regulating Them Can Prevent Another

When credit markets froze up in the fall of 2008, many economists pronounced the crisis both inexplicable and unforeseeable. That’s because they were economists, not lawyers. Lawyers who specialize in financial regulation, and especially the small cadre who specialize in derivatives regulation, understood what went wrong. (Some even predicted it.) That’s because the roots of the catastrophe lay not in changes in the markets, but changes in the law. Perhaps the most important of those changes was the U.S. Congress’s decision to deregulate financial derivatives with the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (CFMA) of 2000. Prior to 2000, off-exchange derivatives contracts were subject to a common-law rule called the “rule against difference contracts” that treated derivative contracts that could not be proven to hedge against a real position in the underlying asset as legally unenforceable wagering contracts. Speculative wagers on prices could only be safely made on regulated exchanges. Congress overturned this centuries-old rule in 2000, making it legal for hedge funds, banks and insurance companies to use derivatives for speculative gambling, not just for true hedging. This led to the collapse of AIG and the 2008 credit crisis.
Bioinformatic identification of connective tissue growth factor as an osteogenic protein within skeletal muscle

Aging is associated with increasing incidence of osteoporosis; a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength that may predispose patients to an increased risk of fracture. It is imperative to identify novel ways in which to attenuate such declines in the functional properties of bone. The purpose of this study was to identify, through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, a protein secreted from skeletal muscle that is putatively involved in bone formation. We performed a functional annotation bioinformatic analysis of human skeletal muscle-derived secretomes (n = 319) using DAVID software. Cross-referencing was conducted using OMIM, Unigene, UniProt, GEO, and CGAP databases. Signal peptides and transmembrane residues were analyzed using SignalP and TMHMM software. To further investigate functionality of the identified protein, L6 and C2C12 myotubes were grown for in vitro analysis. C2C12 myotubes were subjected to 16 h of glucose deprivation (GD) prior to analysis. In vivo experiments included analysis of 6-week calorie restricted (CR) rat muscle samples. Bioinformatic analysis yielded 15 genes of interest. GEO dataset analysis identified BMP5, COL1A2, CTGF, MGP, MMP2, and SPARC as potential targets for further processing. Following TMHMM and SignalP processing, CTGF was chosen as a candidate gene. CTGF expression level was increased during L6 myoblast differentiation (P < 0.01). C2C12 myotubes showed no change in response to GD. Rat soleus muscle samples exhibited an increase in CTGF expression (n = 16) in response to CR (35%) (P < 0.05). CTGF was identified as a skeletal muscle expressed protein through bioinformatic analysis of skeletal muscle-derived secretomes and in vitro/in vivo analysis. Future study is needed to determine the role of muscle-derived CTGF in bone formation and remodeling processes.
Preparation of barium titanate films at 55 C by an electrochemical method

Work by previous investigators has shown that BaTiO[sub 3] films can be synthesized from solution over temperature ranges from 80 C to greater than 200 C. In the present work, electrically insulating crystalline films of BaTiO[sub 3] have been electrochemically deposited on titanium substrates at temperatures as low as 55 C. Auger spectroscopic analyses with depth profiling indicate that a titanium oxide layer whose thickness is governed by current density acts as a precursor to BaTiO[sub 3]. Formation of BaTiO[sub 3] is found to be favored only in highly alkaline solutions. This is consistent with the phase stability reported for the Ba-Ti-CO[sub 2]-H[sub 2]O system at 25 C. Lower processing temperatures (55 C) favor the formation of thick, electrically resistive, and well-crystallized BaTiO[sub 3] films, apparently due to increased oxygen solubility in the electrolyte solution. Films produced at 100 C are much thinner and are electrically conductive due to fissures and pores in their microstructure. Initial studies on the effect of current density indicate the formation of thinner and porous films with thicker titanium oxide intermediate layers.
Use of recordable compact discs to fabricate electrodes for microchip-based analysis systems

This work demonstrates that recordable compact discs (CDs) that contain gold as a reflective layer can be used as an electrode substrate for microchip-based analysis systems. A fabrication procedure that enables the reproducible patterning of multiple electrodes has been developed. It is shown that the microelectrodes can be integrated within a PDMS-based fluidic network and used for amperometric detection of electroactive analytes at both single and dual microelectrodes. A detailed comparison is made between the CD-based patterned electrodes and electrodes made by the traditional method of sputtering gold and titanium adhesion layers onto a glass substrate. It is also shown that mercury can be electrodeposited onto a CD-based microelectrode and the amalgam electrode used to selectively detect thiols. Finally, it is demonstrated that a decoupler for microchip-based electrophoresis can be made by electrodepositing palladium onto a gold electrode and a separate downstream gold working electrode can be used for amperometric detection. These CD-based patterned electrodes are attractive alternatives for situations where device cost is of a concern or sputtering facilities are unavailable.
A Gigantic Shark from the Lower Cretaceous Duck Creek Formation of Texas

Three large lamniform shark vertebrae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Texas. We interpret these fossils as belonging to a single individual with a calculated total body length of 6.3 m. This large individual compares favorably to another shark specimen from the roughly contemporaneous Kiowa Shale of Kansas. Neither specimen was recovered with associated teeth, making confident identification of the species impossible. However, both formations share a similar shark fauna, with Leptostyrax macrorhiza being the largest of the common lamniform sharks. Regardless of its actual identification, this new specimen provides further evidence that large-bodied lamniform sharks had evolved prior to the Late Cretaceous.
Reversible Stress‐Induced Martensitic Transformation in ZrO2

Optical observations and X-ray measurements were used to detect the martensitic transformation of tetragonal ZrO/sub 2/ to the monoclinic structure during room-temperature stressing of Mg-PSZ. The transformation occurs at stresses as low as approx. =200 MPa and is reversible. Additional observations of transformation around Vickers identations and cracks suggest that application of much higher stresses prevents the reverse transformation on unloading.
Coordinated Changes in AHRR Methylation in Lymphoblasts and Pulmonary Macrophages from Smokers

Smoking is associated with a wide variety of adverse health outcomes including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, depression and heart disease. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms through which these effects are conveyed are not clearly understood. To examine the potential role of epigenetic factors in these processes, we examined the relationship of smoking to genome wide methylation and gene expression using biomaterial from two independent samples, lymphoblast DNA and RNA (n=119) and lung alveolar macrophage DNA (n=19). We found that in both samples current smoking status was associated with significant changes in DNA methylation, in particular at the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR), a known tumor suppressor. Both baseline DNA methylation and smoker associated DNA methylation signatures at AHRR were highly correlated (r=0.94 and 0.45, respectively). DNA methylation at the most differentially methylated AHRR CpG residue in both samples, cg0557592, was significantly associated with AHRR gene expression. Pathway analysis of lymphoblast data (genes with most significant methylation changes) demonstrated enrichment in protein kinase C pathways and in TGF beta signaling pathways. For alveolar macrophages, pathway analysis demonstrated alterations in inflammation-related processes. We conclude that smoking is associated with functionally significant genome wide changes in DNA methylation in both lymphoblasts and pulmonary macrophages and that further integrated investigations of these epigenetic effects of smoking on carcinogenesis and other related co-morbidities are indicated.