cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local anesthetics, chlorpromazine and propranolol inhibit stimulus-activation of phospholipase A2 in human platelets.

Stimulation of platelets by various agents such as thrombin, collagen and A23187 leads to a rapid Ca2+ - dependent, phospholipase A2-mediated mobilization of arachidonic acid from certain phospholipids and the biotransformation of this fatty acid to prostaglandin endoperoxides, thromboxanes A2 and B2, prostaglandins, hydroxyacids and malonyldialdehyde (MDA). Local anesthetics (dibucaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, and QX572), chlorpromazine and propranolol are very effective inhibitors of MDA formation induced by thrombin, collagen and A23187, but they do not block conversion of exogenous arachidonate to MDA. This result indicates that these drugs do not affect the enzyme prostaglandin synthetase responsible for the initial steps in arachidonate conversion to PG endoperoxides and thromboxanes. Utilizing platelets whose phospholipids were prelabeled with 14C-arachidonate and then stimulated with thrombin or A23187 we have found that local anesthetics, chlorpromazine and propranolol block: (a) formation of 14C-thromboxane B2, 14C-prostaglandins and 14C-hydroxyacids (12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid) from endogenous (phospholipid) 14C-archidonate; and (b) block the fall in the 14C-arachidonate content of platelet phospholipids, especially phosphatidyl choline. Local anesthetics, chlorpromazine and propranolol did not inhibit the conversion of 14C-arachidonate to l4C-l2-L-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid by a soluble fraction from platelets containing lipoxygenase activity. These results conclusively demonstrate that local anesthetics, chlorpromazine and propranolol inhibit the activation of PLA2 by stimuli, which is the initial and rate-limiting step in arachidonate metabolism. To some extent the ability of local anesthetics, chlorpromazine and propranolol to inhibit platelet aggregation and the release reaction (secretion of ADP, serotonin, etc.) can undoubtedly be attributed to their effect on PLA2 activation which prevents formation of the aggregating agents PG endoperoxides and thromboxane A2. However, other actions of these drugs, notably their ability to block aggregation induced by thromboxane A2 and by other aggregating agents, under conditions which are independent of PG endoperoxide and thromboxane A2 production, indicates additional mechanisms of action which can prevent cellular adhesion and exocytosis. These other actions may be related to non-arachidonate mediated effects on Ca2+-dependent phospholipases, antagonism of Ca2+-dependent phenomena necessary for membrane adhesion and fusion, or interference with the process of intracellular Ca2+ release by stimuli. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Carol Fraser.
The mendham experience: Transformation and return

This paper focuses on an event that makes us re-think our most important practices: a workshop in a retreat established in Mendham, New Jersey, under the direction of the IAPC (Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children) of Montclair University to facilitate the pedagogical goals of Philosophy for Children (PFC). The aim of this paper is to clarify and reconfigure a personal experience of what happened during those ten days. The sense of the author is that something extremely significant, that touches on the nature of pedagogy, and the fate of philosophy takes place in such a workshop.
An index of lipid phase diagrams.

Abstract There is a growing awareness of the utility of lipid phase behavior data in studies of membrane-related phenomena. Such miscibility information is commonly reported in the form of temperature–composition (T–C) phase diagrams. The current index is a conduit to the relevant literature. It lists lipid phase diagrams, their components and conditions of measurement, and complete bibliographic information. The main focus of the index is on lipids of membrane origin where water is the dispersing medium. However, it also includes records on acylglycerols, fatty acids, cationic lipids, and detergent-containing systems. The miscibility of synthetic and natural lipids with other lipids, with water, and with biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, etc.) and non-biological materials (drugs, anesthetics, organic solvents, etc.) is within the purview of the index. There are 2188 phase diagram records in the index, the bulk (81%) of which refers to binary (two-component) T–C phase diagrams. The remainder is made up of more complex (ternary, quaternary) systems, pressure–T phase diagrams, and other more exotic miscibility studies. The index covers the period from 1965 through to July, 2001.
You Are Your Cell Phone

Learn how your mobile device is becoming a proxy for you and your activities, improving your effectiveness while on the go.
Ventricular tachycardia and psychiatric depression in patients with coronary artery disease.

Abstract purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychiatric depression and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The hypothesis was that depressed patients with CAD would have a higher prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) than nondepressed patients with CAD. patients and methods: One hundred three patients who were found to have significant CAD by elective diagnostic cardiac catheterization were administered a standardized psychiatric interview and underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring. results: Twenty-one patients (20%) met the criteria for either major or minor depression. There were no significant differences between depressed and nondepressed patients with CAD in severity of CAD or in ventricular function. Five (23.8%) of the depressed patients and three (3.7%) of the nondepressed patients exhibited episodes of VT during 24 hours of Holter monitoring (p conclusions: We conclude that there is a higher prevalence of VT among patients with CAD and depression than among those CAD patients without depression. This may help to explain the increased risk for cardiac mortality in depressed patients with CAD.
Efficiency of resonance-enhanced Rayleigh scattering in dilute solutions and its relation to diffraction by volume holograms

The Kogelnik theory of diffraction by weak volume holograms is combined with fluctuation theory and the concept of coherence areas to derive an expression for the Rayleigh ratio for normal and resonance-enhanced scattering from dilute solutions. The result is an effective Rayleigh ratio that contains an attenuation factor to account for absorbance. Since the beam diameter is less than the thickness of the hologram, the walk-off effect must be considered at larger scattering angles. The strong dependencies of the scattering efficiencies on excitation frequency and path length in the sample are discussed for Rayleigh and forced Rayleigh scattering applications, and the classical theory for a harmonically bound electron is used to derive an equation for the maximum efficiency.
Thermionic emission of protons across a grain boundary in 5 mol% Y-doped SrZrO3, a hydrogen pump

Abstract Given the fact that polycrystalline SrZrO 3 doped with 5 mol% Y 3+ (p-SZY5), a proton-conducting solid electrolyte with superior chemical stability, has attracted considerable attention over the past years due to its potential for various applications including hydrogen pumps, it is rather unusual that such little information is available in literature regarding the electrical nature of the grain boundary in this material, although the grain boundary may determine its proton conductivity. Here we report the results of our investigation on the conduction mechanism at the grain boundary in p-SZY5. We clearly demonstrate that the current–voltage ( I–V ) characteristic of the grain boundary is consistent with thermionic emission current over a back-to-back Schottky barrier, suggesting that such a potential barrier is present at the grain boundary in p-SZY5 to limit the internal proton current. More importantly, based on the capacitance–voltage relation, we were able to deduce the values of both the potential-barrier height and the dopant concentration in p-SZY5.
Analyzing Recurrent Event Data With Informative Censoring

Recurrent event data are frequently encountered in longitudinal follow-up studies. In statistical literature, noninformative censoring is typically assumed when statistical methods and theory are developed for analyzing recurrent event data. In many applications, however, the observation of recurrent events could be terminated by informative dropouts or failure events, and it is unrealistic to assume that the censoring mechanism is independent of the recurrent event process. In this article we consider recurrent events of the same type and allow the censoring mechanism to be possibly informative. The occurrence of recurrent events is modeled by a subject-specific nonstationary Poisson process via a latent variable. A multiplicative intensity model is used as the underlying model for nonparametric estimation of the cumulative rate function. The multiplicative intensity model is also extended to a regression model by taking the covariate information into account. Statistical methods and theory are developed...
Analyzing the relationship between multinational corporate strategy and financial derivatives in Taiwan

Abstract This article examines the connection/relationship between multinational corporate strategy and the effect of the financial derivatives market in Taiwan. The paper uses a qualitative methodology and an interview research method to determine which types of firms would be most able to benefit from a full-fledged and open derivatives market in Taiwan. Dividing the firms into three types – multinational firms operating with branches in Taiwan; local firms operating as multinationals with branches outside Taiwan; and pure domestic firms, the paper analyzes and compares the determinants and impacts in the adoption of different forms of internationalized strategies. It is hoped that an optimized strategy can be worked out. The significance of the article is that the reaction of Taiwanese industry to derivatives could well determine the country’s economic performance in the 21st century Most commentators agree that derivatives will play a major role in the future with derivatives markets enjoying vast amo...
ACTUATOR FAILURE IN DECENTRALIZED SUPERVISORY CONTROL SYSTEMS

Abstract We consider the problem of actuator failure in supervisory control of decentralized discrete event systems. A subset of events that are disabled by the decentralized supervisor may in actuality be enabled as a result of interference in the signal from the supervisor to the actuator. Extending the method of Thorsley and Teneketzis (2006) to decentralized supervisors, we determine conditions that ensure that a given set of actuator failures can never allow the system to complete an undesirable sequence of events. We use the technique of fictitious play to find a member-by-member optimal control specification.
COX-2 and iNOS in opioid-induced delayed cardioprotection in the intact rat.

Abstract Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) have been previously implicated in the late phase of cardioprotection associated with opioid-induced and ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in conscious rabbits and COX-2 in isolated rat hearts pretreated with an exogenous δ opioid agonist. However, it is not know if both iNOS and COX-2 mediate the late phase of cardioprotection induced by opioids in the intact blood-perfused rat. Therefore, we investigated the role of COX-2 and iNOS in the delayed phase of protection mediated by δ opioid receptor activation. Rats were pretreated 24 hours prior to an occlusion/reperfusion protocol with the selective non-peptide δ opioid agonists, BW373U86 (BW) and SNC-121 (SNC). NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor was administered after the 24-hour recovery period just prior to index ischemia. The selective iNOS inhibitors, S-methylthiourea (SMT) and aminoguanidine (AG), were administered in conjunction with opioid pretreatment or were also given 24 hours after opioid administration just prior to index ischemia. COX-2 inhibition by NS-398 given 24 hours after opioid administration attenuated the protective effects of both BW and SNC (46 ± 6 vs. 13 ± 3 and 51 ± 5 vs. 29 ± 2, p
Imaging orientation selectivity: decoding conscious perception in V1

In V1, neurons preferring similar orientations are grouped in columns too small to be resolved by conventional fMRI. Two studies circumvent this limitation by using algorithms to recognize patterns of activation across a large area. This new trick allows the authors to distinguish responses to different orientations in human V1 and to study its contribution to conscious perception.
Experimental investigation of spatial concentration spectra of a solid in a slurry in horizontal pipeline flow

Abstract Slurry flow problems confront a broad range of industries, including those involved in power generation, mining, petroleum and gas production, chemical and petrochemical manufacture, metals manufacture, environmental issues, hydrology and fossil energy conversion. The present understanding of two-phase liquid-solid mixtures, and even their simplest fully developed flows in pipes and channels, is not completely satisfactory. Progress in understanding the results of laboratory experiments must take into account the complicated flow pattern phenomena that exist and which are directly associated with spatial and temporal distribution of the component concentration. Any two-phase measurement techniques and instrumentation developments are particularly important, and in this aspect, especially, development of the concentration measurements in liquid-solid two-phase flows is essential in order to develop experimental research. Such a measurement system is related to a description of mixture turbulence and flow pattern, and may be a significant step towards the building of a tool for the quantitative study of the phenomena. This paper presents the experimental data for sand-water flow in a pipe. The goal is to measure in situ concentration with a developed capacitive system; that is, a system of measuring capacitors placed tangential to the mixture flow and on the surface of the channel walls in a non-obstructive manner. The experiments were conducted using the capacitive technique for measurements of spatial concentration, its time fluctuations and its space distribution. The measurement system was developed, built, calibrated, and used successfully in this investigation. Using this system, responding to changes of capacitance with spatial concentration of slurry, time spectra of spatial concentration fluctuations in turbulent slurry flows in horizontal pipe have been measured. This paper demonstrates the applicability of the technique for spatial concentration distribution in time and space measurements as well as the reverse model for correlation between the spatial concentration and its distribution. A fast response, linearized capacitive concentration measurement system has been used to obtain statistical measurements in naturally fluctuating sand-water flow in a horizontal pipe. It is demonstrated that the concentration fluctuation frequency may be used as an objective and quantitative flow pattern discriminator for two-phase flow.
LRIG1 negatively regulates the oncogenic EGF receptor mutant EGFRvIII

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is frequently observed in human cancer and contributes to the growth, survival and therapeutic resistance of tumors. EGFRvIII is an oncogenic EGFR mutant resulting from the deletion of exons 2–7 and is the most common EGFR mutant observed in glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumor. EGFRvIII is constitutively active but poorly ubiquitinated, leading to inefficient receptor trafficking to lysosomes and unattenuated oncogenic signaling. The mechanism by which EGFRvIII evades downregulation is not fully understood although recent studies suggest that its interaction with the ubiquitin ligase Cbl may be compromised. In this study, we examine the regulation of EGFRvIII by the recently identified negative regulator, LRIG1, which targets EGFR through recognition of its extracellular domain. Here, we determine whether the extracellular domain deletion in EGFRvIII renders it refractory to LRIG1 regulation. We find that EGFRvIII retains interaction with LRIG1 and is in fact more sensitive to LRIG1 action than wild-type receptor. We demonstrate that LRIG1 regulation of EGFRvIII is distinct from the only other known mechanism of EGFR regulation, Cbl-mediated degradation. Ectopic expression of LRIG1 in EGFRvIII(+) glioblastoma cells opposes EGFRvIII-driven tumor cell proliferation, survival, motility and invasion. Finally, RNAi-mediated silencing of LRIG1 alters EGFRvIII intracellular trafficking and leads to enhanced EGFRvIII expression, suggesting that loss of LRIG1 in tumors may contribute to a permissive environment for EGFRvIII overexpression, contributing to EGFRvIII oncogenesis.
Influence of microwaves on certain enzyme systems in the lens of the eye.

Microwaves have been shown to cause cataracts according to reports by Daily and co-workers' and by Richardson and as­ sociates. This is probably one of the sim­ plest methods yet devised for the experi­ mental production of cataracts. Cataracts formed by exposure of the eyes of rabbits to microwaves are of two types. In one type the cataract is present immedi­ ately after exposure to microwaves, when the region of the lens under the capsule is diffusely involved. The cataract progresses rapidly until the entire lens becomes opaque. This type is seen only when grossly visible
Using Critical Praxis to Understand and Teach Teamwork

The authors pursue three aims in this article. The first is to underscore critical praxis as an especially valuable approach to understanding and enabling teamwork. The second is to offer four dime...
Pivotal Role of Endogenous TNF-α in the IL-2-Driven Activation and Proliferation of the Functionally Immature NK Free Subset

Abstract Highly purified peripheral blood-derived NK cells can be separated into three functionally defined subpopulations, namely, non-target binding free cells, binders, and killers. The free cell subset is the least mature and was examined for its response to IL-2-mediated activation and the role of endogenous secretion of TNF-α in its maturation and differentiation. The findings demonstrate that endogenous TNF-α secretion is prerequisite for the initiation of IL-2-mediated activation of free cells into killer cells. The addition of IL-2 to free cells upregulated the surface expression of IL-2R (TAC), TNF-R (p75), CD69, and ICAM-1 antigens and also stimulated cell proliferation. Furthermore, the addition of IL-2 to free cells resulted in the induction of cytotoxic activity and stimulation of free cells to become binder and killer cells. All of these IL-2-mediated manifestations are shown to be downregulated by the addition of anti-TNF-α antibody. However, IL-2-mediated TNF-α secretion was not affected by the addition of anti-TNF-α antibody. The specificity of the anti-TNF-α antibody-mediated inhibition was corroborated by the failure of the antibody to inhibit interferon-α-mediated activation of free cells into killer cells. Most of the events associated with the inhibitory activity of anti-TNF-α antibody were mimicked by the addition of IL-4 to IL-2-treated free cells. These findings suggest that the IL-2-mediated maturation and differentiation of the immature free cells to become cytotoxic and proliferate are the result of a sequence of events that are initiated by the secretion of endogenous TNF-α.
Efficacy and Safety of Catheter-Based Radiofrequency Renal Denervation in Stented Renal Arteries

Background—In selected patients with hypertension, renal artery (RA) stenting is used to treat significant atherosclerotic stenoses. However, blood pressure often remains uncontrolled after the procedure. Although catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) can reduce blood pressure in certain patients with resistant hypertension, there are no data on the feasibility and safety of RDN in stented RA. Methods and Results—We report marked blood pressure reduction after RDN in a patient with resistant hypertension who underwent previous stenting. Subsequently, radiofrequency ablation was investigated within the stented segment of porcine RA, distal to the stented segment, and in nonstented RA and compared with stent only and untreated controls. There were neither observations of thrombus nor gross or histological changes in the kidneys. After radiofrequency ablation of the nonstented RA, sympathetic nerves innervating the kidney were significantly reduced, as indicated by significant decreases in sympathetic termi...
On the problem of “kinetically hidden” reaction steps

There are some reaction systems in which all intermediates in a reaction sequence can only be investigated by combining rapid mixing with chemical relaxation. One such system is the reaction of horseradish peroxidase with hydrogen peroxide. This is essentially an irreversible reaction with some of the intermediate steps proceeding faster than adjoining steps. To illustrate this point clearly, the experimental details of rapid mixing plus chemical relaxation are simulated for the reaction of horseradish peroxide with hydrogen peroxide. Under these conditions, perturbation by a temperature jump of
Effects of aerobic exercise on sexual functioning in depressed adults

Abstract Objective Exercise appears to be generally comparable to antidepressant medication in reducing depressive symptoms. The current study examines the effects of aerobic exercise, compared to antidepressant medication and placebo pill, on sexual function among depressed adults. Methods Two hundred clinically depressed adults, aged 40 years and over, who were sedentary and generally overweight, were randomized to 4 months of Aerobic Exercise, Sertraline (Zoloft), or Placebo pill, for the treatment of depression. Exercise condition participants engaged in walking, running, or biking, 30 min/day, 3 days/week, to 70–85% of their heart rate reserve, in either a supervised group setting or independently at home. Before and following treatment, participants completed the Arizona Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (ASEX) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). An ANCOVA was performed to test the effects of treatment on post-treatment sexual function, controlling for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, pretreatment HAM-D scores, and pretreatment ASEX scores. Results The treatment group main effect was significant (p = .02); exercisers had better post-treatment ASEX scores (adjusted ASEX M = 16.6) compared to the placebo group (adjusted ASEX M = 18.3; p = .01). Exercisers had post-treatment ASEX scores that were marginally better compared to the sertraline group, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (adjusted ASEX M = 17.9; p = .05). Conclusion Aerobic exercise, which has been associated with reduced symptoms of depression comparable to antidepressant medication, appears to result in greater improvement in sexual function compared to placebo pill. A nonsignificant trend towards better sexual function among exercisers compared to antidepressant medication may be attributable to medication-related sexual side effects.
The development of the ability to process information

Abstract The development of the ability to process information was studied in a series of three experiments involving fourth- and sixth-grade children. Experiment I examined the ability of children to process information as a function of the amount and rate of information reduction required by the task. Amount, not rate, of information reduction was found to be a significant determinant of task difficulty. Older children were better able to process information than younger children. There was an interaction between age and task difficulty such that processing of greater amounts of information was differentially more difficult for younger children. Experiment II studied the effect of redundancy on these tasks. Redundancy was found to result in a significant improvement in performance only when the stimuli were presented at a 5-second rate. Experiment III examined the effects of practice with filtering tasks on performance of the information-reduction tasks. The data indicated that practice with a filtering task improved performance. However, no differences were found between different types of filtering tasks.
Nuclear bunker buster bombs.

The article debates the strategic and tactical utility of burrowing nuclear weapons. In the years following Operation Desert Storm and the first Persian Gulf War, U.S. military strategists debated the best way to destroy deeply buried targets and subterranean military facilities. One solution that defense strategists discussed would be to deploy earth-penetrating nuclear warheads with reduced explosive yields. Under the auspices of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, $6.1 million was spent in 2003 for research on a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) bomb, followed by another $7.5 million in 2004. To many observers, these substantial spending allocations and this breadth of research suggest that the President George W. Bush administration has already tacitly committed to building RNEPs and is actively considering developing other types of nuclear bombs. The new programs dismay arms control advocates, who argue that the U.S. will squander its leadership in preventing nuclear proliferation and might also provoke other states to pursue similar technologies. Lost in the frenzied debate over RNEPs has been adequate discussion of whether the military advantages of these weapons can offset their political and diplomatic liabilities. The complications from atomic fallout naturally raise the question of whether any nonnuclear alternative could destroy deeply buried bunkers. INSETS: THE PHYSICS OF BOMB PLACEMENT;GROUND-PENETRATING WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY;DEBATING THE BAN ON SMALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Short-range potential scattering and its effect on graphene mobility

Over the past few years, the amazing properties of graphene have led to predictions for its use in a variety of areas, not the least of which is in semiconductor devices. However, it appears that graphene is dominated by short-range potential scattering which can arise from intrinsic defects which limit the mobility to relatively low values, well below those predicted based upon its intrinsic band structure. Here, we examine the mobility in graphene on BN, SiC, and SiO2 when it is dominated by these defects.
Time-dependent optical phase and imaginary collision kernels.

Abstract New techniques are demonstrated which measure collision induced phase in macroscopic optical coherence. The shape of the experimental phase versus time delay curves yields the first information on imaginary velocity changing collision kernels for optical radiators. The measured velocity changes are much larger than the diffractive values obtained previously for the corresponding real kernels.
Ecdysteroid titers and Y-organ activity during late anecdysis and proecdysis in the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

The titer of ecdysone in hemolymph and the ratio of ecdysone to other radioimmunoassay(RIA)-active hemolymph ecdysteroids were compared to in vitro secretion of ecdysone in Y-organs removed from eyestalkless fiddler crabs at various times following eyestalk ablation. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and RIA it was established that ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and RIA-active metabolites are present in the hemolymph at the end of anecdysis and throughout proecdysis. There was little correlation between in vitro secretory activity and total ecdysone in circulation. Ratios of ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone changed during proecdysis as did the percentage of total RIA activity attributable to both. Positive correlations were observed between in vitro Y-organ secretion rates and amounts of ecdysteroids extracted from hemolymph and added to incubation media.
Measuring Microtubule Polarity in Spindles with Second-Harmonic-Generation Microscopy

Microtubule polarity, the fraction of microtubules that point in one direction versus the other, varies throughout spindles. Near the poles, most microtubules point with their plus ends away from the pole, while in the middle of the spindle, equal number of microtubules point in either direction. Antiparallel microtubules in the spindle midzone are thought to be important for determining the localization of proteins that drive spindle elongation in anaphase. While in vitro experiments have suggested mechanisms connecting antiparallel microtubules, protein localization, and spindle elongation, it has been difficult to establish the validity of these models in vivo. A major challenge is that current methods for measuring microtubule polarity, based on electron microscopy, are extremely labor intensive, challenging to combine with protein localization studies, and only provide static snapshots.Building off of approaches that have been pioneered in neuroscience by Watt Webb's group, we have developed a method using non-linear optical microscopy - second harmonic generation and two-photon fluorescence - to map microtubule polarity throughout spindles. This new technique allows us to quantitatively and nondestructively measure the polarity of microtubules in spindles at high resolution, and study how the distribution of polarity changes over the course of anaphase. We will present a detailed description of the methodology and preliminary results on the temporal evolution of microtubule polarity in the first mitotic spindle of C. elegans.
Perceived Corporate Ethical Values and Individual Cynicism of Working Students

This study explored a proposed relationship between the corporate ethical values and cynicism of 195 working students. Analysis indicated students' perceived ethical values were negatively related to individual cynicism after accounting for several variables.
Childhood behavior problems and bipolar disorder — relationship or coincidence?

A group of offspring at risk for Bipolar Disorder is compared to a Normal Control group whose parents had no psychiatric disorder and a group of offspring at risk for other, non-bipolar psychiatric disorder. Variables examined include childhood attention and behavior problems and psychopathology in young adulthood. Rates of childhood behavior and attention problems, and psychopathology and social/occupational impairment in young adulthood, were higher in the Bipolar Risk group than the Normal Control group, but no higher than in the non-bipolar (Combined Risk) group. Although childhood behavior and attention problems were significantly associated with other psychopathology in all three offspring groups, a unique relationship between childhood problems and young adult mood disorder was found only in the Bipolar Risk group.
Imaging Lignin-Downregulated Alfalfa Using Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Microscopy

Targeted lignin modification in bioenergy crops could potentially improve conversion efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels. To better assess the impact of lignin modification on overall cell wall structure, wild-type and lignin-downregulated alfalfa lines were imaged using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. The 1,600-cm−1 Raman mode was used in CARS imaging to specifically represent the lignin signal in the plant cell walls. The intensities of the CARS signal follow the general trend of lignin contents in cell walls from both wild-type and lignin-downregulated plants. In the downregulated lines, the overall reduction of lignin content agreed with the previously reported chemical composition. However, greater reduction of lignin content in cell corners was observed by CARS imaging, which could account for the enhanced susceptibility to chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis observed previously.
In situ measurement of rovibrational populations of H2 ground electronic state in a plasma by VUV laser absorption

Abstract Absorption spectroscopy employing laser-generated VUV has been employed to measure the populations and temperatures of H2 in individual rovibrational levels of the ground electronic state in a low-pressure plasma discharge. Vibrational states up to ν=5 and rotational states up to J=8 were observed. This is the first quantitative in situ measurement of vibrational levels with ν ⪢ 3 of the X1Σg+ state of H2 in a plasma.
Crystal Structure of Modulated n-Paraffin Binary Solids

The solid formed after a metastable solid solution, composed of n-C30H62 and n-C36H74, demixes, after being held within a miscibility gap, is a commensurately modulated superstructure. For a specific molar concentration, electron diffraction measurements on epitaxially oriented specimens indicate that, from the standpoint of both superlattice spacings and intensities, the same average chain packing is maintained for all microcrystalline areas. Direct crystallographic phasing methods were used to determine the structures of nearly 0.6/0.4 and 0.4/0.6 molar ratio combinations. Molecular packing models suggested from the crystal structure analyses lead to predicted 0kl intensities that are in reasonable agreement with the observed data (R = 0.25). It is clear that, as described earlier, a longitudinal sequence of essentially pure components exists. In addition, there must be a lateral association of different chain length domains within a given layer, in agreement with earlier vibrational spectroscopic measu...
Dibenzocycloalkenimine (MK-801) stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat cerebral cortical slices

Dibenzocycloalkenimine (MK-801), a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, induced a concentration-dependent accumulation of inositol monophosphate in rat cerebral cortical slices. This effect appears unrelated to antagonism of NMDA receptors as AP-7 and PCP did not cause comparable effects. In addition, the MK-801-induced response was unaffected by NMDA or glycine, alone or in combination, Zn2+, or the removal of Mg2+ from the buffer. These results indicate a novel site of action for MK-801 associated with activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
The Role of Sodium Current in the Radial Spread of Contraction in Frog Muscle Fibers

The membrane potential of isolated muscle fibers was controlled with a two-electrode voltage clamp, and the radial extent of contraction elicited by depolarizing pulses of increasing magnitude was observed microscopically. Depolarizations of the fiber surface only 1–2 mv greater than the contraction threshold produced shortening throughout the entire cross-section of the muscle fiber. The radial spread of contraction was less effective in fibers exposed to tetrodotoxin or to a bathing medium with a greatly reduced sodium concentration. The results provide evidence that depolarization of a muscle fiber produces an increase in sodium conductance in the T tubule membrane and that the resultant sodium current contributes to the spread of depolarization along the T system.
Private information in healthcare utilization: specification of a copula‐based hurdle model

Summary We study whether individuals' private information on health risk affects their medical care utilization. The presence of such information asymmetry is critical to the optimal payment design in healthcare systems. To do so, we examine the relationship between self-perceived health status and healthcare expenditures. Because of simultaneity, we employ a copula regression to model jointly the mixed outcomes, with the association parameter capturing the residual dependence conditional on covariates. The semicontinuous nature of healthcare expenditures leads to a two-part interpretation of private health information: the hurdle component assesses its effect on the likelihood of using medical care services, and the conditional component quantifies its effect on the expenditures given consumption of care. The methodology proposed is applied to a survey data set of a sample of the US civilian non-institutionalized population to test and quantify the effects of private health information. We find evidence of adverse selection in the utilization of various types of medical care services.
Minification affects verbal- and action-based distance judgments differently in head-mounted displays

Numerous studies report that people underestimate egocentric distances in Head-Mounted Display (HMD) virtual environments compared to real environments as measured by direct blind walking. Geometric minification, or rendering graphics with a larger field of view than the display's field of view, has been shown to eliminate this underestimation in a virtual hallway environment [Kuhl et al. 2006, 2009]. This study demonstrates that minification affects blind walking in a sparse classroom and does not influence verbal reports of distance. Since verbal reports of distance have been reported to be compressed in real environments, we speculate that minification in an HMD replicates peoples' real-world blind walking and verbal report distance judgments. We also demonstrate a new method for quantifying any unintentional miscalibration in our experiments. This process involves using the HMD in an augmented reality configuration and having each participant indicate where the targets and horizon appeared after each experiment. More work is necessary to understand how and why minification changes verbal- and walking-based egocentric distance judgments differently.
Crystal structure of the PH-BEACH domains of human LRBA/BGL.

The beige and Chediak−Higashi syndrome (BEACH) domain defines a large family of eukaryotic proteins that have diverse cellular functions in vesicle trafficking, membrane dynamics, and receptor sign...
The consequences of septal and neocortical ablations upon learning a two-way conditioned avoidance response

Summary Septal lesions facilitate acquisition of a CAR habit even in the absence of the anterior, posterior or entire neocortex. Small, but insignificant, deficits are found with anterior or posterior removals alone, but aspiration of all the neocortex severely impairs performance.
Esophageal speakers' perceptions of the belch and esophageal voice

Abstract Twenty-three male laryngectomized persons were surveyed to determine whether they perceived differences, in their own productions, between the belch and esophageal voice from an auditory and tactile-kinesthetic standpoint. Twenty-one of the subjects did not perceive the belch and esophageal voice as being auditorily similar. All of the subjects perceived tectile-kinesthetic differences.
Ergodicity at large couplings with the determinant Monte Carlo algorithm.

It is known that ergodicity problems are encountered in simulating the Hubbard model at large ratios of the Coulomb interaction strength U to the hopping matrix element t using the ``determinant Monte Carlo'' algorithm with single-spin-flip moves. We discuss the potential barriers that cause this difficulty in sampling, and introduce global moves of a line of Hubbard-Stratonovich variables on a single site and all time slices to equilibrate the system. We show that at half filling these moves allow the system to explore fully the singly occupied subspace without having to move out of it, in contrast to the single-spin-flip moves of the Hubbard-Stratonovich variables where the system must pass through configurations with appreciable weight for doubly occupied or empty sites in order to go from one state in the singly occupied sector to another. We use these global moves to obtain the antiferromagnetic structure factor at large U/t.
Cynics and Skeptics: Evaluating the Credibility of Mainstream and Citizen Journalism

With the increase in citizen-generated news, the need to understand how individual predispositions interact with news sources to influence perceptions of news credibility becomes increasingly impor...
Isobutanol production as an alternative metabolic sink to rescue the growth deficiency of the glycogen mutant of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

Glycogen synthesis initiated by glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase (glgC) represents a major carbon storage route in cyanobacteria which could divert a significant portion of assimilated carbon. Significant growth retardation in cyanobacteria with glgC knocked out (ΔglgC) has been reported in high light conditions. Here, we knocked out the glgC gene and analyzed its effects on carbon distribution in an isobutanol-producing strain of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and its parental wild-type strain. We showed that isobutanol production was able to partially rescue the growth of ΔglgC mutant where the growth rescue effect positively correlated with the rate of isobutanol production. Using NaH14CO3 incorporation analysis, we observed a 28 % loss of total carbon fixation rate in the ΔglgC mutant compared to the wild-type. Upon expression of the isobutanol production pathway in ΔglgC mutant, the total carbon fixation rate was restored to the wild-type level. Furthermore, we showed that 52 % of the total carbon fixed was redirected into isobutanol biosynthesis in the ΔglgC mutant expressing enzymes for isobutanol production, which is 2.5 times higher than that of the wild-type expressing the same enzymes. These results suggest that biosynthesis of non-native product such as isobutanol can serve as a metabolic sink for replacing glycogen to rescue growth and restore carbon fixation rate. The rescue effect may further serve as a platform for cyanobacteria energy and carbon metabolism study.
Significant association of the calpastatin gene with fertility and longevity in dairy cattle.

4 Milan D. et al. (2000) Bioinformatics 6, 558–9. 5 Archibald A. L. et al. (1995) Mamm Genome 6, 157–75. 6 Kapke P. et al. (1996) Anim Genet 27, 187–90. 7 Tosser-Klopp G. et al. (1998) Anim Genet 29, 23–6. 8 Karnuah A. B. (2001) Mamm Genome 12, 518–23. 9 Wintero A. K. et al. (1998) Mamm Genome 9, 366–72. 10 Johansson M. et al. (1994) Mamm Genome 5, 785–90. 11 Cirera S. et al. (2003) Mamm Genome 14, 405–26. 12 Looft C. et al. (2000) Genet Sel Evol 3, 321–9. 13 Robic A. et al. (1999) Mamm Genome 10, 565–8. 14 Lahbib-Mansais Y. et al. (2000) Mamm Genome 11, 1098– 106. 15 Davoli R. et al. (2002) Anim Genet 33, 3–18. 16 Farber C. R. et al. (2003) Cytogenet Genome Res 102, 139– 44. 17 Fontanesi L. et al. (2003) Cytogenet Genome Res 102, 145– 51. 18 Davoli R. et al. (2000) Anim Genet 6, 400–3. 19 Zambonelli P. et al. (2000) Cytogenet Cell Genet 89, 162–3. 20 Bertani G. R. et al. (1999) J Anim Sci 77, 2857–8. 21 Robic A. et al. (1996) Mamm Genome 7, 438–45. 22 Yerle M. et al. (1996) Cytogenet Cell Genet 73, 194–202.
Movement arrest and the hippocampus

Rats with hippocampal damage show a marked deficit in a variety of experiments requiring prolonged movement arrest. It is suggested that this inability of the hippocampal rat to “hold still” may be central in our understanding of the hippocampal syndrome.
Gaseous and particulate air pollution in the san gabriel mountains of southern california

In order to assess concentrations and daily patterns of air pollutants at a mountainous site in the South Coast Air Basin, a study was undertaken in the San Dimas Experimental Forest of the San Gabriel Mountains between April 1985 and October 1985. Continuous monitoring of O3, NO, NO2, SO2, total S compounds and light scattering coefficient was conducted. Particulate aerosols were collected twice a week and concentrations of nitrate, ammonium and sulfate in fine ( 2.5 μm diameter) modes were determined. For the June–August period, when the levels of photochemical smog were the highest, monthly 24-h average concentrations of the pollutants were: O3, about 200 μg m−3; NO2, 40–75 μg m−3; NO, 1–5 μg m −3; and SO2, 0.5–5 μgm−3. The concentrations of O3 were about two times higher than in the neighboring stations of the South Coast Air Basin. O3, SO2 and total S concentrations peaked in the early afternoon, generally between 1500 and 1600 PST. Peak concentrations of NO occurred in the morning, generally between 1000 and 1100 PST. NO2 concentrations typically peaked in the late afternoon between 1500 and 1800 PST, but occasionally (in 9 % of days) maximum NO2 occurred in the morning, concurrently with the NO peaks. Daytime concentrations of the nitrate in fine aerosol fraction were generally between 100 and 600 nEq m −3, those of ammonium between 50 and 300 nEq m −3, and concentrations of sulfate between 60 and 250 nEq m−3. A 3-day denuder study showed that HNO3can make up to 73 % of the total amount of total nitrate in the air. NO2 was the most abundant N compound at Tan bark Flat (69–86% of the total amount of the monitored N compounds). Nitrate amounted to 9–15 %, HNO3 to 4–11 %, ammonium to 3–9%, and NO to 1–2% of the total amount of the measured nitrogen compounds.
Perceptual Congruence About Communication as Related to Satisfaction: Moderating Effects of Individual Characteristics

In a study of the relationship between perceptual congruence about communication and subordinate satisfaction, congruence about communication between supervisor and subordinate was found to be sign...
Predicting motor vehicle crash involvement from a personality measure and a driving knowledge test

Summary Typically, safety‐related driver education programs are aimed at changing knowledge of vehicle operation rules and regulations. However, vehicle crashes are as likely to be related to driver personality variables as they are to the knowledge of vehicle operation and rules and regulations. In a study with 48 licensed drivers, crashes were found to be significantly correlated with conscientiousness, a five‐factor model personality dimension, but not with scores on a driving knowledge test. It would appear that prevention efforts should also be directed at changing conscientiousness‐related behaviors, including an emphasis on goal‐setting, and following rules and regulations.
The Effects of Co60 Gamma Radiation on MOS Diodes

MOS diodes were fabricated on silicon substrates and exposed to Co60 gamma radiation. A change in both surface state density and oxide charge density was noted. Non-irradiation annealing studies were carried out to determine the nature of the oxide charge. It was deduced on the basis of annealing data that the oxide charge was due to mobile alkali ions. The radiation was seen to cause a decrease in the oxide charge density. A model attempting to explain this change was fabricated assuming Compton scattering in the oxide. The change in semiconductor surface charge density caused by the gamma irradiation was found producable or reversible by means of elevated temperature, applied bias annealing.
A Novel 9.4 Tesla FTICR Mass Spectrometer with Improved Sensitivity, Mass Resolution, and Mass Range

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry provides unparalleled mass measurement accuracy and resolving power. However, propagation of the technique into new analytical fields requires continued advances in instrument speed and sensitivity. Here, we describe a substantial redesign of our custom-built 9.4 tesla FTICR mass spectrometer that improves sensitivity, acquisition speed, and provides an optimized platform for future instrumentation development. The instrument was designed around custom vacuum chambers for improved ion optical alignment, minimized distance from the external ion trap to magnetic field center, and high conductance for effective differential pumping. The length of the transfer optics is 30% shorter than the prior system, for reduced time-of-flight mass discrimination and increased ion transmission and trapping efficiency at the ICR cell. The ICR cell, electrical vacuum feedthroughs, and cabling have been improved to reduce the detection circuit capacitance (and improve detection sensitivity) 2-fold. The design simplifies access to the ICR cell, and the modular vacuum flange accommodates new ICR cell technology, including linearized excitation, high surface area detection, and tunable electrostatic trapping potential.