cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuum effects in pion-nucleus inelastic scattering

Abstract An enhancement of the π− nuclear response over the π+ is found for both the T = 0 and T = 1 “stretched” states of light even-even nuclei when continuum single-particle wave functions are used. Isospin-mixing between these states is discussed.
The protective effect of marriage for survival: a review and update.

The theory that marriage has protective effects for survival has itself lived for more than 100 years since Durkheim’s groundbreaking study of suicide (Durkheim 1951 [1897]). Investigations of differences in this protective effect by gender, by age, and in contrast to different unmarried statuses, however, have yielded inconsistent conclusions. These investigations typically either use data in which marital status and other covariates are observed in cross-sectional surveys up to 10 years before mortality exposure, or use data from panel surveys with much smaller sample sizes. Their conclusions are usually not based on formal statistical tests of contrasts between men and women or between never-married, divorced/separated, and widowed statuses. Using large-scale pooled panel survey data linked to death registrations and earnings histories for U.S. men and women aged 25 and older, and with appropriate contrast tests, we find a consistent survival advantage for married over unmarried men and women, and an additional survival “premium” for married men. We find little evidence of mortality differences between never-married, divorced/separated, and widowed statuses.
The Status Attainment Model and Income

Predicated on their earlier work, the authors expand their consideration of the status attainment model to note variations in total income. In the analysis of data provided by the 1973-1988 NORC General Social Surveys it was noted that for all respondents, with minor exceptions, race/ethnic and gender categories show deficits in income compared to white males. Further, consistent effects were registered for age, marital status, family, and education variables. For married respondents, the previously noted negative impact among white females for the three youngest age groups proves to be insignificant, while the effects for black males and black females remain essentially unchanged.
Developing stylized trees and landscapes inspired by Eyvind Earle

This work uses Houdini to explore methods of generating and rendering landscapes stylized to mimic the artwork of artist Eyvind Earle (1916-2000). I present general guidelines and procedural characterizations of various trees, a forest, cliffs, mountains, an ocean, and waves. I developed methods for matching the shapes of the objects, relying on noise, L-systems, and other constraints. The graphic style places importance on the shape of the geometry, as it is rendered with simple toon-based shading techniques. Additionally, any intricate details are portrayed with point or line geometry instead of a traditional shader to mimic fine illustrative brushwork. Carefully chosen color palettes, separate shadow geometry, and level-of-detail rules also add to the likeness of Earle's style.
Os compromissos do médico: reflexões sobre a oração de Maimônides

Ciencia/Arte milenar, a Medicina envolve, pela sua natureza, compromissos firmes com principios basicos da Bioetica e que se resumem na busca da saude e bem-estar das pessoas e comunidades em seu mais amplo sentido. Tais compromissos podem ser mais formais, como os de obediencia aos Codigos de Deontologia e Etica; publicos, como os Juramentos; ou de consciencia, que sao as Oracoes. O modelo destes ultimos e a Oracao de Maimonides, apresentada neste artigo.
A prospective study of aspirin use and the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in men

Background and Aims Data regarding the influence of dose and duration of aspirin use on risk of gastrointestinal bleeding are conflicting. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of 32,989 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) in 1994 who provided biennial aspirin data. We estimated relative risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding requiring hospitalization or a blood transfusion. Results During 14 years of follow-up, 707 men reported an episode of major gastrointestinal bleeding over 377,231 person-years. After adjusting for risk factors, regular aspirin use (≥2 times/week) had a multivariate relative risk (RR) of gastrointestinal bleeding of 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.55) compared to non-regular use. The association was particularly evident for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (multivariate RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.16–1.92). Compared to men who denied any aspirin use, multivariate RRs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were 1.05 (95% CI 0.71–1.52) for men who used 0.5–1.5 standard tablets/week, 1.31 (95% CI 0.88–1.95) for 2–5 aspirin/week, 1.63 (95% CI, 1.15–2.32) for 6–14 aspirin/week and 2.40 (95% CI, 1.10–5.22) for >14 aspirin/week (Ptrend<0.001). The relative risk also appeared to be dose-dependent among short-term users <5 years; Ptrend<.001) and long-term users (≥5 years; Ptrend = 0.015). In contrast, after controlling for dose, increasing duration of use did not appear to be associated with risk (Ptrend = 0.749). Conclusions Regular aspirin use increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially from the upper tract. However, risk of bleeding appears to be more strongly related to dose than to duration of use. Risk of bleeding should be minimized by using the lowest effective dose among short-term and long-term aspirin users.
CHOP gene expression in response to endoplasmic-reticular stress requires NFY interaction with different domains of a conserved DNA-binding element

The transcription factor CHOP/GADD153 gene is induced by cellular stress and is involved in mediating apoptosis. We report the identification of a conserved region in the promoter of the CHOP gene responsible for its inducibility by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Deletion mutants of the human CHOP promoter identify a region comprising nucleotides –75 to –104 required for both constitutive and ER-stress-inducible expression. This region of the promoter, the ER-stress element (ERSE) is sufficient to confer both increased basal activity and ER-stress inducibility to an otherwise inactive heterologous promoter. The CHOP ERSE is a novel variant of the ERSE as it contains two different functional domains, and a GA- instead of GC-rich intervening sequence. The CCAAT-box domain occupied by the constitutive transcriptional activator nuclear factor Y (NFY) is required for constitutive activation whereas the variant GCACG ‘inducible’ domain uniquely mediates ER-stress inducibility. By UV-crosslinking analysis NFY makes contact not only with the constitutive activator CCAAT box but also with the inducible GCACG domain. Deletions and nucleotide substitutions in the CCAAT box as well as its replacement by an SP1 site failed to support ER inducibility. These findings support the notion that NFY is not only required for constitutive activation of CHOP gene transcription, but is also an active and essential element for the assembly of an ER-stress-inducible enhanceosome that activates CHOP gene expression in response to cellular stress.
Perfect Equilibrators for Rigid Body Spatial Rotations About a Hooke’s Joint

Perfect spring equilibrator designs are identified which eliminate the effects of gravity on spatial rotations of a rigid body. The rigid body is connected to ground via a Hooke’s joint and all possible one and two zero-free-length spring equilibrator designs are identified. A general design procedure for n-spring equilibrators is also discussed.
A call for "negative" outcome studies.

Human nature, being what it is, leads to the pernicious phenomenon in the scientific literature of publication bias. We are much more excited and motivated to report our successes than our failures. This is a particularly troublesome tendency when it comes to clinical trials. Studies that fail to reject the null hypothesis are more likely to languish on in draft form and never get published.
Immunosuppression after renal allograft failure: a survey of US practices.

Background Little data exist to guide the management of immunosuppression after renal graft failure. More aggressive tapering of immunosuppressive medications may reduce the risk of infection, but may increase the risk of rejection and sensitization. Methods To document current practices in the US, we emailed a questionnaire to medical and surgical transplant directors as identified by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Results Emails were sent to 221 programs, of which 93 (42.1%) responded. About 24.7% of respondents reported adjusting immunosuppression according to a standard protocol; 75.3% said practices are physician dependent. The majority said that 80 or 100% of patients are off all immunosuppression one yr after returning to dialysis. The most important factors cited in deciding whether to stop immunosuppression were plans to retransplant (40.2%) and signs and symptoms of rejection (37.0%). When asked which immunosuppressive medications are continued indefinitely, 21.5% responded prednisone and 71.0% said none. Respondents most commonly said they performed graft nephrectomy only if there are signs and symptoms of rejection (47.3%) or if signs and symptoms of rejection fail to respond to steroids (34.4%). Conclusions In the absence of good data to guide decisions on immunosuppression in patients with failed allografts, practices in the US vary greatly. More data are needed to determine which policies lead to the best outcomes.
Trends in sexual experience, contraceptive use, and teenage childbearing: 1992-2002.

Abstract Purpose To examine how cohort trends in family, individual, and relationship characteristics are linked to trends in adolescent reproductive health outcomes to provide a better understanding of factors behind recent declines in teenage birth rates. Methods We examine a sample of three cohorts of females and males aged 15–19 in 1992, 1997, and 2002, based on retrospective information from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. We identify how family, individual, and relationship characteristics are associated with the transition to sexual intercourse, contraceptive use at first sex, and the transition to a teen birth. Results Cohort trends and multivariate analyses indicate changes in family and relationship characteristics among American teens have been associated with positive trends in reproductive health since the early 1990s. Factors associated with improvement in adolescent reproductive health include positive changes in family environments (including increases in parental education and a reduced likelihood of being born to a teen mother) and positive trends in sexual relationships (including an increasing age at first sex and reductions in older partners). These positive trends may be offset, in part, by negative changes in family environments (including an increased likelihood of being born to unmarried parents) and the changing racial/ethnic composition of the teen population. Conclusions Recent increases in the U.S. teen birth rate highlight the continued importance of improving reproductive health outcomes. Our research suggests that it is important for programs to take into consideration how family, individual, and relationship environments influence decision-making about sex, contraception, and childbearing.
Biphasic effects of chronic nicotine treatment on hypothalamic immunoreactive β-endorphin in the mouse

Abstract Hypothalamic but not pituitary immunoreactive β-endorphin (β-E) was significantly reduced (37%) in mice 24 hr following 30 daily doses of nicotine (1200 μg/kg, SC). Hypothalamic β-E returned towards normal levels within 7 days and was observed to rise 50% above normal 14 days after the cessation of nicotine treatment. None of the other neuropeptides measure, substance P, neurotensin, or [met5]-enkephalin was altered by nicotine treatment. The data suggest that the hypothalamic β-E containing neurons were unable to adapt to nicotine's repeated effects on this system.
Increased nuclear apoptosis-inducing factor after transient focal ischemia: a 12/15-lipoxygenase- dependent organelle damage pathway

12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) contributes to acute neuronal injury and edema formation in mouse models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is implicated in caspase-independent forms of apoptosis, and has been linked to ischemic neuronal cell death. We show here that increased AIF in the peri-ischemic cortex of mouse colocalizes with 12/15-LOX after 2 h of MCAO. The 12/15-LOX inhibitor baicalein prevents the increase and nuclear localization of AIF, suggesting this pathway may be partially responsible for the neuroprotective qualities of baicalein. Using an established cell line model of neuronal oxidative stress, we show that 12/15-LOX activated after glutathione depletion leads to AIF translocation to the nucleus, which is abrogated by the 12/15-LOX inhibitor baicalein (control: 19.3%±6.8% versus Glutamate: 64.0%±8.2% versus glutamate plus baicalein: 11.4%±2.2%). Concomitantly, resident proteins of the ER are dispersed throughout the cell (control: 31.0%±8.4% versus glutamate: 70.0%±5.5% versus glutamate plus baicalein: 8.0%±2.7%), suggesting cell death through organelle damage. Taken together, these findings show that 12/15-LOX and AIF are sequential actors in a common cell death pathway that may contribute to stroke-induced brain damage.
Comparison of Orbicularis Oculi Muscle Activity during Computer Work with Single and Dual Monitors.

[Purpose] This study compared the orbicularis oculi muscle activity during computer work with single and dual monitors. [Subjects] Ten computer workers 22–27 years of age were included in this study. [Methods] Subjects performed computer work with single or dual monitors, and the activity of the right orbicularis oculi muscle was measured with a MP150 system. [Results] The muscle activity of the orbicularis oculi under condition 1 was significantly decreased compared with that under conditions 2 or 3. The muscle activity of the orbicularis oculi under condition 3 was significantly increased compared with that under condition 2. [Conclusion] The present study found that the use of dual monitors increased orbicularis oculi activity; therefore, to decrease eye fatigue in computer users, computer workstations that use either a single monitor, or identical monitors from the same manufacturer in a dual setup, are recommended.
Impaired Kidney Function and Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Subjects

Background Impaired kidney function is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether kidney function is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) risk in elderly persons.
Index-Free Multi-agent Systems: An Eulerian Approach

Abstract Since the properties of systems comprising many homogeneous agents may be expected to be independent of how the agents happen to be indexed, it should be possible to formulate and solve multi-agent control problems in an index-free way. In this paper we provide such an approach, based on an indicator distribution representation, which results in integro-differential dynamics that parallel and extend those obtained within the traditional indexed formulations. Conservation and stability properties are proven; a compatible geometric structure is constructed for the indexed representation; and a discrete analogue is presented which illustrates that for certain problems the Eulerian viewpoint results in very simple controllers.
Browsing and placement of multi-resolution images on parallel disks

Abstract. With rapid advances in computer and communication technologies, there is an increasing demand to build and maintain large image repositories. To reduce the demands on I/O and network resources, multi-resolution representations are being proposed for the storage organization of images. Image decomposition techniques such as wavelets can be used to provide these multi-resolution images. The original image is represented by several coefficients, one of them with visual similarity to the original image, but at a lower resolution. These visually similar coefficients can be thought of as thumbnails or icons of the original image. This paper addresses the problem of storing these multi-resolution coefficients on disks so that thumbnail browsing as well as image reconstruction can be performed efficiently. Several strategies are evaluated to store the image coefficients on parallel disks. These strategies can be classified into two broad classes, depending on whether the access pattern of the images is used in the placement. Disk simulation is used to evaluate the performance of these strategies. Simulation results are validated with results from experiments with real Disks, and are found to be in good qualitative agreement. The results indicate that significant performance improvements can be achieved with as few as four disks by placing image coefficients based upon browsing access patterns.
Effects of Reducing Rennet and Adding Calcium Chloride on the Manufacture and Curing of Cheddar Cheese

Summary This study showed the lack of real benefits derived from using low levels of rennet with added calcium chloride in the manufacture of Cheddar cheese. Cheese was made from raw and pasteurized milk during four seasons. Each lot of cheese consisted of three vats to which 90, 45, and 45ml. rennet per 1,000lb. of milk was added, respectively. The third vat of milk was further treated with 0.02% calcium chloride. The cheese was cured at 50° F. for 36 wk. Using subnormal amounts of rennet delayed curd formation in both raw and pasteurized milk. Adding 0.02% calcium chloride with one-half normal amounts of rennet gave normal curd formation and yield, but protein breakdown was slow, and curdiness persisted longer in the finished cheese. The quality of the cured cheese was not influenced by variations in the rennet and calcium chloride used, but persistence of curdiness was undesirable in young cheese made with reduced levels of rennet, especially when supplemented with calcium chloride.
Detection of DNA damage and repair by alkaline elution using human lymphocytes.

Abstract The repair of DNA alkyalation damage in human cells is poorly understood. We have adapted the alkaline elution technique for use with human peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture. We have also established conditions necessary for short-term culture of human lymphocytes. Lymphocyte growth which can be maintained for up to 30 days is dependent upon irradiated TK6 feeder cells and T-cell growth factor (crude TCGF). The amount of damage induced by a given concentration of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) is dependent upon cell number per cent ml of growth medium. The DNA damage measured, in lymphocytes, by alkaline elution is a composite of single breaks and alkali-labile lesions. Repair of this damage after appropriate recovery periods is also detectable. The irradiated feeder TK6 cells do not contribute to the number of strand breaks detected or the amount of recovery after treatment. This method offers a quick and reproducible means of detecting DNA damage and repair in human T-lymphocytes.
Estimation of DNA Sequence Context-dependent Mutation Rates Using Primate Genomic Sequences: Application to Estimation of Selection Bias in Protein (Human TP53) Evolution

Understanding of the mechanism of DNA mutation process is critical for studying the functional consequences of genetic variation in clinical medicine (eg. drug response) as well as other complex traits (eg. gene expression and cause of common diseases). During the last several decades, many probabilistic models of DNA nucleotide substitution have been proposed for studying this process. A common feature of these mutation models is that they assume the nucleotides evolve independently at each site. In other words, they are sequence context-independent models. However, based on various biochemical studies, it is now recognized that the DNA mutation process resulting in substitutions in both coding and non-coding regions may depend on sequence context. We proposed here a more realistic sequence context-dependent mutation model, which could contribute to the better understanding of the DNA mutation spectrum in genomes.We also showed its application to protein evolution by separating the mutation bias and selection bias in amino acid substitutions.
Breast Cancer: Blocking both driver and escape pathways improves outcomes.

The BOLERO-2 and CLEOPATRA trials evaluated everolimus for estrogen receptor-positive and pertuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Both agents enhanced the efficacy of standard therapy, were relatively well tolerated and should be approved for therapeutic use. These data confirm that targeting both major driver and escape pathways improves treatment outcomes.
IEEE IRI 2014 tutorial: Big data management and mining

To handle emerging complex data at massive scale from web, social network, and sensor network etc., “big data analytics” and “big data management” areas are emerging. Many traditional assumptions are not working, instead, new query and programming interfaces are required, and new computing models are emerging. The tutorial will focus on data mining and machine learning algorithms for analyzing very large amounts of data or Big data. Map Reduce and No SQL system will be used as tools/standards for creating parallel algorithms that can process very large amounts of data. The following concepts will be covered: Hadoop, Mapreduce, NoSQL systems (Cassandra, Pig, Hive, BigTable, HBASE), Storm, Spark, Large scale supervised machine learning, Data streams, Clustering, and Applications including recommendation systems, Web and security.
Blind-Channel Estimation for MIMO Systems With Structured Transmit Delay Scheme

This paper considers blind-channel estimation for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with structured transmitter design. First, a structured transmit delay (STD) scheme is proposed for MIMO systems. Unlike existing transmit diversity approaches, in which different antennas transmit delayed, zero padded, or time-reversed versions of the same signal, in the proposed scheme, each antenna transmits an independent data stream, therefore promises higher data rate and more flexibility to transmitter design. Second, second-order statistics based blind-channel estimation algorithms are developed for MIMO systems with STD scheme. Channel identifiability is addressed for both correlation-based and subspace-based approaches. The proposed approaches involve no pre-equalization, have no limitations on channel zero locations, and do not rely on nonconstant modulus precoding. Third, when channel coding is employed, estimation accuracy can be further enhanced through ldquopostprocessingrdquo, in which channel estimation is refined by taking the tentative decisions from the channel decoder as pseudo-training symbols. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Growth of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and smooth flounder (Liopsetta putnami) in heated and unheated water

Abstract 0-group and I-group winter ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus ) and smooth ( Liopsetta putnami ) flounder were reared at the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, Durham, NH, U.S.A., between November 1975 and June 1976. Both species gained weight approximately three times more rapidly in heated than in unheated water. In unheated water the smallest winter flounder gained, on average, 116% of their body weight per month. Larger 0-group winter flounder increased body weight by 55% per month, while comparably sized female and male smooth flounder gained 52% and 28% per month, respectively. I-group female smooth flounder gained 9.5% and male smooth flounder 8.5% per month in heated water. In unheated water increases were 13%, 22%, and 14% per month for 0-group winter, female smooth, and male smooth flounder, respectively. I-group winter flounder in unheated water gained weight twice as rapidly (9.5% per month) as I-group female and male smooth flounder (4.0% and 4.5% per month, respectively). Fish were fed a moist diet at a level of 10% of their body weight per day. Conversions (dry weight of food/wet weight of fish) ranged from 1:1 for 0-group winter flounder in heated water to 27:1 for I-group smooth flounder in unheated water. Disease was a major cause of mortality. Vibrio anguillarum was confirmed as a pathogen; myxobacteria, and the protozoan parasites Kudoa sp. and Nosema sp. were associated with losses.
Crystal Structures, Phase Transitions and Energy Calculations of Poly(p-phenylene) Oligomers

The room temperature crystal structures, unit cell dimensions at 110K and phase transitions of three poly(p-phenylene) oligomers are reported. The structures of p-quinquephenyl (PQP), C30H22,p-sexiphenyl (PSP), C36H26, and p-septiphenyl (PSeptiP), C42H30, each belonging to space group P21/c, are similar to those of shorter oligomers. The unit cell dimensions are a = 22.056 A, b = 5.581 A, c = 8.070 A and β = 97.91° for PQP, a = 26.241 A, b = 5.568 A, c = 8.091 A and β = 98.17 ° for PSP, and a = 30.577 A, b = 5.547 A, c = 8.034 A and β = 100.52 ° for PSeptiP. The a axis increases with molecular length. The molecules are linear and planar in all three structures. The herringbone nature of the packing is similar for PQP and PSeptiP, while a considerably greater tilt occurs in PSP. At 110K, the unit cell parameters b and c are approximately doubled while a remains nearly the same as in the room temperature cell. A time-dependent solid state transition is observed for PQP, PSP and PSeptiP when crystals are cooled to 110K. At elevated temperatures, thermal measurements indicate the oligomers to be thermotropic liquid crystals. The crystal-smectic transition temperatures are reported for PQP, PSP, PSeptiP and p-octiphenyl (POP), C48H34. The results of a molecular mechanics study on the conformation and packing of PSP are also presented. The competition between intramolecular forces (such as ortho hydrogen repulsions) and intermolecular crystal packing forces was examined in particular. Molecular mechanics calculations predict non-planar conformations in isolated polyphenyls, implying that conjugation between phenyl rings is insufficient to overcome ortho hydrogen repulsions. In a crystalline environment, however, intermolecular forces tend to force a planar conformation. Calculations on arrays of PSP molecules show that changing the phenyl-phenyl torsion angles from the coplanar value increases the total energy of the structure. The most favourable intermolecular interactions between oligomers are achieved for conformations having the phenyl rings coplanar.
Heritage Language Learners in First-Year Foreign Language Courses: A Report of General Data Across Learner Subtypes

Abstract: This article reports on a survey of language study motivations for first-year language learners at two large private East Coast American universities. Surveys were completed by 401 students in courses for 19 different foreign languages. Forty percent of respondents were designated as heritage language learners (HLLs), and they were divided into two subclasses: narrowly defined HLLs, who indicated that the target language was regularly spoken in their home and who constituted 34% of all HLLs (55/162); and broadly defined HLLs, who indicated familial or heritage connections to the language without regular prior exposure to the target language and who constituted 66% (107/162) of all HLLs. This article reports students' prior exposure to the language, reasons for studying it, and goals and attitudes among these subclasses, and outlines avenues for further investigation.
Second harmonic a.c. voltammetry of surface-bonded pyrazolines

Abstract Second harmonic a.c. voltammetry is shown to have high promise as an electroanalytical tool for the study of reactive species chemically bonded to an electrode surface. Even with a low density of surface sites, the strong discrimination against nonfaradaic currents permits useful data to be obtained. Results from studies using 2-pyrazoline structures surface bonded to SnO2 are given and discussed.
Severe Preservation Injury Induces Il‐6/STAT3 Activation with Lack of Cell Cycle Progression After Partial Liver Graft Transplantation

Partial liver graft transplantation is a surgical advance developed to overcome severe donor shortage. Survival of these grafts involves recovery from cold ischemia and reperfusion (CIR) injury, immediate regeneration and maintenance of function. Here we examined the outcome of partial liver grafts in comparison to whole grafts following CIR injury. Lewis rats subjected to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with whole grafts preserved in Viaspan® were compared to rats receiving 50% and 30% grafts. Outcome was analyzed by survival and regeneration. Transplantation was associated with 100% survival for all grafts, whereas 16 h preservation resulted in 100%, 20% and 0% survival in animals receiving whole, 50% and 30% grafts, respectively. CIR induced increased IL-6 levels in 50% and 30% grafts, and activation of STAT3. Cell cycle progression (cyclin D1) and regeneration (BrdU) was initiated in all livers preserved for 1 or 8 h, but not in partial grafts preserved for 16 h. In conclusion, partial grafts recover from CIR injury through similar molecular pathways to whole grafts. Partial grafts with severe injury fail to achieve cellular proliferation despite the early initiating signals. This failure could be attributed to the impaired ability of the parenchyma to respond to initiating signals for regeneration.
Hippocampal dendritic abnormalities in a rat model of phenylketonuria

An increased concentration of dendritic spines was present in one region of the hippocampus in rats made hyperphenylalaninemic (phenylketonuria model). It is uncertain whether this finding resulted from an actual hyperplasia or a failure of maturational spine reduction. The result is unusual in that Golgi studies of most mental retardation syndromes and relevant animal models have shown loss of dendritic spines.
Thought, objectivism, and opinion extremity: Individual differences in attitude polarization and attenuation

Abstract It was predicted that as the opportunity for thought increased, both the evaluative consistency of attitude-related beliefs and the intensity of attitudes (i.e. affect) would (1) increase for persons high in objectivism and (2) decrease for persons low in objectivism. Participants were classified as either high or low in objectivism. They were given either a brief or ample opportunity to think about descriptions of individuals toward whom they had previously expressed moderately strong attitudes. The results supported all predictions. Additional analyses indicated that attitude change was contingent upon belief change. Alternative explanations for the results are discussed.
Amphetamine, but not methylphenidate, predicts antidepressant efficacy.

Several researchers have explored the possibility that acute stimulant response may predict eventual improvement after specific antidepressants. This review analyzes the relationship between stimulant response and nonspecific antidepressant response. In five studies, amphetamine responders were foun
Medium pH and nitrate concentration effects on accumulation of triacylglycerol in two members of the chlorophyta

Algal-derived biodiesel is of particular interest because of several factors including: the potential for a near-carbon-neutral life cycle, the prospective ability for algae to capture carbon dioxide generated from coal, and algae’s high per acre yield potential. Our group and others have shown that in nitrogen limitation, and for a single species of Chlorella, a rise in culture medium pH yields triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation. To solidify and expand on these triggers, the influence and interaction of pH and nitrogen concentration on lipid production was further investigated on Chlorophyceae Scenedesmus sp. and Coelastrella sp. Growth was monitored optically and TAG accumulation was monitored by Nile red fluorescence and confirmed by gas chromatography. Both organisms grew in all treatments and TAG accumulation was observed by two distinct conditions: high pH and nitrogen limitation. The Scenedesmus sp. was shown to grow and produce lipids to a larger degree in alkaliphilic conditions (pH >9) and was used to further investigate the interplay between TAG accumulation from high pH and/or nitrate depletion. Results given here indicate that TAG accumulation per cell, monitored by Nile red fluorescence, correlates with pH at the time of nitrate depletion.
JUDGING IN A THERAPEUTIC KEY: THERAPEUTIC JURISPRUDENCE AND THE COURTS

“Therapeutic jurisprudence” represents a shift in perspective on the role of law and courts in our society. Judging in a Therapeutic Key is a collection of thought-provoking essays that illustrates...
The effects of age and various fat/carbohydrate caloric ratios on nitrogen retention and wound healing in rats

Abstract Recent reports have indicated a possible age-related component to the ability of various species to utilize either fat or carbohydrate as their preferential energy source. These studies have demonstrated that infant rats given a high-fat diet (50% fat, 35% carbohydrate, 15% protein) retain a significantly higher amount of nitrogen than do infant rats on a high-carbohydrate diet (82% carbohydrate, 3% fat, 15% protein). Conversely, adult rats maintain a higher positive nitrogen balance when given the high-carbohydrate diet. In light of these studies, and our interest in factors that contribute to wound healing in the surgical patient, we investigated the effects of low-, medium-, and high-fat enteral diets on wound healing and nitrogen balance in surgically stressed rats of various ages. Weanling (45 g) and young adult (175 g) male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 16 per age group) were housed individually in metabolic cages. All animals had Impravascular-graft wound cylinders placed subcutaneously in the dorsal midline and were placed in four dietary groups: high fat (50% kcal), medium fat (30% kcal), low fat (2.5% kcal), and chow (Purina Standard Laboratory Rodent Chow, 17% kcal as fat). All test diets were isonitrogenous (3.1 g nitrogen/1,000 kcal) and isocaloric for each age group. Animals in each age group were pair-fed (35 kcal/d, weanlings; 60 kcal/d, young adults) for 10 days and then euthanized. Wound cylinders were removed and analyzed for collagen content. Weanling animals fed the high-fat diet retained significantly more daily nitrogen (89% ± 5% v 18% ± 8% of daily enteral nitrogen, P P P
Anuran mating calling circuits: Inhibition by prostaglandin

Abstract Male American toads ( Bufo americanus ) were induced to mating call in response to electronically simulated, conspecific mating calls. The injection of prostaglandin (PG) F 2α caused suppression of mating call answering. Neural correlates of mating calling were triggered by electrical stimulation of the anterior preoptic nucleus in the isolated brainstem of male, Northern leopard frogs ( Rana p. pipiens ). The addition of PGF 2α to the bath completely abolished the correlates of mating calling without changing the correlates of pulmonary respiration. The suppression of mating calling shown here, along with the suppression of release signalling described by Diakow and Nemiroff (1981) , supports the hypothesis of a close interrelation between the neural circuits of these two calls. The suppression of the neural correlates of mating calling in an isolated preparation shows a central site of action of the PG. The retention of normal correlates of pulmonary respiration, even after suppression of mating calling correlates, suggests that the generation of mating calling patterns involves the extension and pulsing of the expiratory phase of breathing.
Phospholipase A2 and Cyclooxygenase Gene Expression in Human Preimplantation Embryos

Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and cyclooxygenase (COX) are two key enzymes in PG synthesis; the latter has two forms, COX-1 and COX-2. mRNA was extracted from single preimplantation embryos and examined for PLA(2), COX-1, and COX-2 gene expression by RT-PCR to investigate whether PLA(2) and COX genes are expressed in human preimplantation conceptuses from zygote to blastocyst stage and to compare COX-1 and COX-2 gene expression within the same stage of embryonic development. Expression of PLA(2), COX-1, and COX-2 was detected in 48, 37, and 45%, respectively, of total embryos examined. COX-1 was expressed in approximately 66% of early human preimplantation embryos from zygote to two-cell stage, whereas COX-2 was expressed in about 58% of later stage embryos from eight-cell to blastocyst stage (P < 0.05). Furthermore, COX-2 mRNA and protein were localized to trophectoderm in blastocyst stage embryos. In conclusion, PLA(2), COX-1, and COX-2 are expressed during early human embryonic development and may contribute to the production of PGs such as PGE(2) in human embryogenesis. COX-1 and COX-2 are differentially expressed, with COX-2 being primarily expressed by trophectoderm in late-stage human preimplantation embryos, which may promote embryonic differentiation and implantation.
The effects of cadmium exposure on ethanol pharmacokinetics

Twenty-four adult male rats were exposed in the home cage to water containing 100 ppm added cadmium chloride. An additional 24 animals were pair-watered with water containing no added cadmium. Following 60 days of exposure to their respective watering regimens, one third of the animals in each exposure group (N = 8/condition) received IP injections of 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 g/kg ethanol (20% v/v). Serum alcohol concentrations were measured at 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 360 min postinjection. Although serum alcohol concentrations increased with dose for both cadmium-exposed and control animals, there was no indication at any dose of group differences. The lack of differences in ethanol pharmacokinetics reported here is instructive with respect to improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cadmium/ethanol interactions.
Wind Patterns and the Heat Island in Phoenix, Arizona: 1993–2008

ABSTRACT Urban effects on wind patterns will become increasingly important as cities and the world's urban population continue to grow. Previous research has shown urban areas themselves can affect wind patterns both through their aerodynamic and thermal properties. This article examines wind speed changes in Phoenix, Arizona, and their relationship to temperature. I hypothesized that urban wind speeds increased over the study period of 1993–2008 and that wind speeds in the surrounding areas are also increasing, perhaps as part of an urban-rural thermal circulation. Correlation coefficients were used to measure the association between wind speed and temperature as well as the temporal trend in each variable over the study period for 24 meteorological stations in and around Phoenix. Significant changes in temperature over the study period were found for all stations and these tended to vary by month. Wind speed was found to have increased over the study period for most stations for most month/hour combinat...
Modification of pH gradients in isolelectric focusing by the pH of the anolyte

In isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel, pH gradients exhibited a systematic shift along the pH-axis in proportion to the pH of the anolyte. Thus, more acidic anolytes produced more acidic pH gradients, and more basic ones gave rise to more basic pH gradients. In all cases the pH's of the anolyte and catholyte were kept outside the pI-range of the carrier ampholytes used. Increasing the pH of the anolyte stabilized pH gradients, while the pH of the catholyte, within the range tested, had no systematic effect on pH gradient stabilization. From a practical viewpoint, modification of pH gradients by the anolyte provides increased flexibility in pH gradient design for electrofocusing. From a theoretical viewpoint, the selective anolyte effect on pH gradients in isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels supports the hypothesis previously advanced by Murel et al., which relates pH gradient decay in electrofocusing to progressive protonation from the anodic pH gradient terminus.
Oxidation of olefins by palladium(II)

Abstract Previous studies showed that oxidation of α-olefins with monometallic catalysts containing chiral diphosphines and diamines gave chlorohydrins with poor to good enantioselectivites (28–82% ee). The present studies demonstrate that bimetallic catalysts containing a β-triketone and bridging chiral diphosphine and diamines are excellent catalysts for this reaction giving enantioselectivites considerably higher than the monometallic catalysts. Enantioselectivities were more than 50% for most olefins tested. The highest optical purities were 94% ee for propene and 93% ee for allylphenyl ether. A useful feature of this asymmetric synthesis is the fact it is a net air oxidation.
Protein structure by solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

The three-dimensional structures of proteins are among the most valuable contributions of biophysics to the understanding of biological systems (Dickerson & Geis, 1969; Creighton, 1983). Protein structures are utilized in the description and interpretation of a wide variety of biological phenomena, including genetic regulation, enzyme mechanisms, antibody recognition, cellular energetics, and macroscopic mechanical and structural properties of molecular assemblies. Virtually all of the information currently available about the structures of proteins at atomic resolution has been obtained from diffraction studies of single crystals of proteins (Wyckoff et al, 1985). However, recently developed NMR methods are capable of determining the structures of proteins and are now being applied to a variety of systems, including proteins in solution and other non-crystalline environments that are not amenable for X-ray diffraction studies. Solid-state NMR methods are useful for proteins that undergo limited overall reorientation by virtue of their being in the crystalline solid state or integral parts of supramolecular structures that do not reorient rapidly in solution. For reviews of applications of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to biological systems see Torchia and VanderHart (1979), Griffin (1981), Oldfield et al. (1982), Opella (1982), Torchia (1982), Gauesh (1984), Torchia (1984) and Opella (1986). This review describes how solid-state NMR can be used to obtain structural information about proteins. Methods applicable to samples with macroscopic orientation are emphasized.
Systematic Design of a First‐Year Mechanical Engineering Course at Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University offers a first-year course titled Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering to introduce undergraduate students to the discipline of mechanical engineering. The goals of the course are to excite students about the field of mechanical engineering early in their careers, introduce basic mechanical engineering concepts in an integrated way, provide a link to the basic physics and mathematics courses, and present design and problem-solving skills as central engineering activities. These goals are met through a combination of real-world engineering examples, classroom demonstrations, and hands-on experience in assignments and laboratories. Over the eleven semesters that this course has been taught, teams of first-year students have designed and assembled energy conversion mechanisms using miniature steam engines and Meccano sets to drive a mobile vehicle or to generate electricity for lighting a bulb. This paper describes the systematic process used to design this course and emphasizes this process of carefully integrating lectures with classroom demonstrations, laboratory experiments and hands-on projects to encourage students' active learning.
On multipopulation queuing systems with first‐come first‐served discipline

Steady-state probabilities for a multipopulation single channel multiserver queuing system with first-come first-served queue discipline are established. Special cases lead to simplified formulas which sometimes can be evaluated using existing statistical and/or queuing tables. Optimization aspects are considered involving control of service rates. Several applications are presented.
Abstracts of the 8th Meeting of the Italian Peripheral Nerve Study Group: 11

Nerve injuries associated with surgical operations are well recognized and described in literature. Ulnar neuropathy, brachial plexus, and lumbosacral roots injuries are the most frequent as shown by two large reviews on anesthesia-related nerve damage from the American Society of Anesthesiologists closed claims study (Kroll DA 1990, Cheney FW 1999). Several factors such as section, compression, traction, and ischemia, contribute to the nerve injuries but the exact mechanism(s) in an individual case often is unclear. We describe a case of perioperative bilateral median neuropathy at the distal forearm, an uncommon site of nerve injury, which we ascribe to demyelinative conduction block secondary to nerve compression. Nerve conduction studies precisely localized the area of abnormality. There is a limited understanding of the relationships between conventional perioperative care and the genesis of peripheral nerve lesions. As a result, there is a lack of agreement in literature on the correct standards for positioning the patient during anesthesia. In selected cases nerve conduction studies at the onset of symptoms may provide insights into localization, mechanism and prognosis of nerve lesions. We believe that a timely and proper electrophysiological study may be helpful for understanding the perioperative nerve injuries as well as for determining the best preventive strategies.
Mammalian Orthoreovirus Particles Induce and Are Recruited into Stress Granules at Early Times Postinfection

Infection with many mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) strains results in shutoff of host, but not viral, protein synthesis via protein kinase R (PKR) activation and phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α. Following inhibition of protein synthesis, cellular mRNAs localize to discrete structures in the cytoplasm called stress granules (SGs), where they are held in a translationally inactive state. We examined MRV-infected cells to characterize SG formation in response to MRV infection. We found that SGs formed at early times following infection (2 to 6 h postinfection) in a manner dependent on phosphorylation of eIF2α. MRV induced SG formation in all four eIF2α kinase knockout cell lines, suggesting that at least two kinases are involved in induction of SGs. Inhibitors of MRV disassembly prevented MRV-induced SG formation, indicating that viral uncoating is a required step for SG formation. Neither inactivation of MRV virions by UV light nor treatment of MRV-infected cells with the translational inhibitor puromycin prevented SG formation, suggesting that viral transcription and translation are not required for SG formation. Viral cores were found to colocalize with SGs; however, cores from UV-inactivated virions did not associate with SGs, suggesting that viral core particles are recruited into SGs in a process that requires the synthesis of viral mRNA. These results demonstrate that MRV particles induce SGs in a step following viral disassembly but preceding viral mRNA transcription and that core particles are themselves recruited to SGs, suggesting that the cellular stress response may play a role in the MRV replication cycle.