cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diurnal rhythmicity and hypothalamic deficits in glucose utilization in aged ovariectomized rats

Aging is associated with a loss of cyclic gonadotropin release in female animals. This deficit may reflect dampened circadian rhythmicity of neuroendocrine events and/or altered function in hypothalamic nuclei important to regulation of cyclic female reproduction. The purpose of this study was to determine if diurnal periodicity and glucose metabolism in the hypothalamus are altered with age and whether such changes could help to explain the age-related deficits in gonadotropin release. Young (3–4-month-old) and old (18–21-month-old) rats were ovariectomized and subjected to the 2-deoxy-D-1–14C-glucose technique to measure rates of cerebral glucose utilization (GU), an index of neural function (Sokoloff et al., 1977) in various brain areas and in the pineal gland. We measured GU during the light (1400 hours) and the dark (2200 hours) in 17 anatomical regions including the following hypothalamic areas: medial preoptic nucleus, suprachiasmatic preoptic nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, and median eminence. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin were measured in the same rats to determine the effect of age on both of these hormones. Diurnal periodicity of GU was observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the pineal gland in young and old rats. Although there was no age difference in GU of the pineal gland, GU was reduced during the light and dark in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and all other hypothalamic areas examined except the suprachiasmatic preoptic nucleus and the median eminence. Ovariectomy induced an attenuated increase in concentrations of LH in old, compared to young rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Broadening Political Psychology

One hundred years ago, if we proposed that we could make you happy with a pill, we would have been ridiculed and would have entered the realm of science fiction and not science itself. Yet that is precisely where we are today. The genetics and neurobiological revolution is upon us, and we advocate that political psychology not simply join this revolution but take a lead role in it. Here in this review, we explore the various ways in which political psychology can embrace this revolution and incorporate work in neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, endocrinology, and recent advances in genetics. In doing so, we advocate the adoption of an epidemiological approach and discuss the ways in which various methods including physiological experimentation, genetic analysis, and neurological explorations including MRIs and other technical advances provide critical insight into human behavior and present intriguing possibilities for exploring the nature of political attitudes, attachments, and behaviors. In advocating for broadening the approaches used in the field, we reflect critically on how we might improve and strengthen the accuracy of our understanding of the psychological bases of political preferences and behavior in the future.
Weissella confusa: problems with identification of an opportunistic pathogen that has been found in fermented foods and proposed as a probiotic

Weissella confusa is found in fermented foods and has been suggested as a probiotic, but also causes sepsis and other serious infections in humans and animals. The incidence of human infections is underestimated partly due to confusion with viridans streptococci and partly due to difficulty making a definitive identification, even if the organism is recognized to belong to another genus, owing to the inability of commercial organism systems to identify it. We report our experiences identifying W. confusa isolated from two immune-compromised patients, both of whom developed sepsis with this organism. Two gram positive MicroScan gram positive combination panels, could not identify the organism because they did not have W. confusa in their data bases, but did not provide a false identification. W. confusa is in the data base of the RapID™ Str panel (Remel), which gave three incorrect, high probability results (≥ 95%). 16S rDNA sequencing identified the isolates as W. confusa. Maldi-Tof, performed by two of our reference laboratories, also correctly identified both isolates.
Anodic oxidation-induced delamination of the SUMMiT poly 0 to Silicon Nitride Interface

Anodic oxidation can be a catastrophic failure mechanism for MEMS devices that operate in high humidity environments. Shea and coworkers 1 have shown that positively charged polysilicon traces can fail through a progressive silicon oxidation reaction whose rate depends critically on the surface conductivity over the silicon nitride. We have found a related anodic oxidation-based failure mechanism: progressive delamination of Poly 0 electrodes from silicon nitride layers, which then mechanically interfere with device function well before the electrode is fully oxidized. To explain this effect, we propose that the silicon oxide which initially forms at the electrode edge has insufficient strength to hold the local Poly 0 / silicon nitride interface together. This low-density silicon oxide also creates a bilayer system, which curls the edge of the 300 nm thick Poly 0 electrode away from the nitride. As delamination progresses more nitride surface is exposed and more of the interface is then attacked. This process continues cyclically until the electrode edge pushes against other device components, catastrophically and irreversibly interfering with normal operation. Additionally, we observe that the delamination only starts at electrode edges directly under cantilevers, suggesting the oxidation rate also depends on the perpendicular electric field strength.
Design of a D-alpha beam-ion profile diagnostic

Injected neutral beams ionize to create a population of beam ions. As they orbit around the tokamak and pass through the heating beams, some beam ions re-neutralize and emit D-alpha light. The intensity of this emission is weak compared to the signals from the injected neutrals, the warm (halo) neutrals, and the edge recombination neutrals but, for a favorable viewing geometry, the emission is Doppler shifted away from these bright interfering signals. Preliminary data from the DIII-D tokamak show that signals from re-neutralized beam ions have already been detected. A three-channel prototype instrument consisting of a spectrometer, mask, camera lenses, and frame-transfer charge coupled device is under development for measurements of the spatial profile of the beam ions.
Mechanism of norepinephrine-mediated inhibition of human NK cytotoxic functions: inhibition of cytokine secretion, target binding, and programming for cytotoxicity.

Norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to inhibit human peripheral blood-derived natural-killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) in vitro. We demonstrate in this study that NE not only inhibits IL-2-activated NKCC but antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as well. NK cytotoxicity by purified NK cells against K562 (NKCC) and against Raji cells (ADCC) were inhibited by NE (1-100 microM) by more than 50% in a 4-h (51)Cr release assay. The mechanism underlying the inhibition has been examined. NK cytotoxicity is dependent on target recognition and formation of NK-target conjugates, and activation by IL-2 is dependent on the secretion of cytokines (such as TNF-alpha) by NK cells. We hypothesized that the inhibition of NK functions by NE may be due to disruption of NK-target conjugation, blocking programming for lysis, and/or inhibition of cytokine secretion. Pretreatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with NE for 15 min significantly reduced the binding to K562 cells by CD16(+) NK lymphocytes. In the presence of K562 cells, NE down-regulated the expression of CD16 (FcgammaRIII) by human PBMC, an NK cell receptor responsible and necessary for ADCC and cytokine secretion. We also demonstrate that NE inhibited the IL-2-mediated up-regulation of the activation marker CD69. At concentrations of 10(-6) to 10(-5) M, NE inhibited TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF secretion by NK cells, which are essential for IL-2-driven NK maturation and functions. In addition, using single-cell analysis, NE pretreatment of lymphocytes reduced the frequency of killer cells in the NK-K562 conjugate population in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating an inhibition of the programming for lysis by NK cells. In summary, these data demonstrate that NE-induced inhibition of NK cytotoxicity is manifested at multiple levels, including a modification of NK cell receptor ligation to target cells, blockade of NK cytokine secretion necessary for NK maturation and differentiation, and inhibition of the target-induced activation of the cytotoxic mechanism(s) in NK cells. Thus, sympathetic activation, as often induced experimentally, may profoundly impair natural cellular immunity through varied measurable pathways.
Analysis of heavy-duty diesel truck activity and emissions data

Abstract Despite their relatively small population, heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) are (in 2005) disproportionate contributors to the emissions inventory for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) due to their high individual vehicle emissions rates, lack of engine aftertreatment, and high vehicle miles traveled. Beginning in the early 1990s, heavy-duty engine manufacturers began equipping their engines with electronic sensors and controls and on-board electronic computer modules (ECMs) to manage these systems. These ECMs can collect and store both periodic and lifetime engine operation data for a variety of engine and vehicle parameters including engine speed and load, time at idle, average vehicle speed, etc. The University of California, Riverside (UCR), under a contract with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), performed data analysis of 270 ECM data sets obtained from the CARB. The results from this analysis have provided insights into engine/vehicle operation that have not been obtained from previous on-board datalogger studies since those previous studies focused on vehicle operation and did not collect engine operating data. Results indicate that HDDVs spend a considerable amount of time at high-speed cruise and at idle and that a smaller percentage of time is spent under transient engine/vehicle operation. These results are consistent with other HDDV activity studies, and provide further proof of the validity of assumptions in CARB's emission factor (EMFAC2002) model. An additional important contribution of this paper is that the evaluation of vehicle ECM data provides several advantages over traditional global positioning system (GPS) and datalogger studies: (1) ECM data is significantly cheaper than the traditional method ($50 record–1 vs. ∼$2000 record–1) and (2) ECM data covers vehicle operation over the entire life of the vehicle, whereas traditional surveys cover only short periods of surveillance (days, weeks, or months). It is worthwhile to note that this work was not intended to compare the various methods of data collection but to provide additional empirical support for the EMFAC2002 model and to explore the utility of this unique low-cost form of data collection and analysis.
{2,2'-[N,N'-Bis(pyridin-2-ylmeth-yl)propane-1,3-diyldi(nitrilo)]di-acetato}-cobalt(III) hexa-fluoridophosphate aceto-nitrile 0.064-solvate.

In the title compound, [Co(C19H22N4O4)]PF6·0.064CH3CN, commonly known as [Co(bppd)]PF6·0.064CH3CN, where bppd represents the historical ligand name N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N′-diacetate, the CoIII atom is coordinated in a distorted octa­hedral geometry with an N4O2 donor atom set. The acetate O atoms, which exhibit monodentate coordination, are oriented in a trans configuration with respect to each other, whereas the pyridyl N atoms are coordinated in a cis configuration. The compound crystallizes with two crystallographically unique cations and two anions per asymmetric unit along with a disordered, partially occupied (occupancy = 0.128) aceto­nitrile solvent mol­ecule. Crystals of the title complex were found to be twinned by pseudomerohedry with a 180° rotation around [10-1] and a refined contribution of 90.5 (3)% of the major twin component.
Study protocol: Couples Partnering for Lipid Enhancing Strategies (CouPLES) - a randomized, controlled trial.

Almost 50% of Americans have elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The behaviors required to lower LDL-C levels may be difficult to adhere to if they are inconsistent with spouses' health practices, and, alternatively, may be enhanced by enlisting support from the spouse. This trial extends previous trials by requiring spouse enrollment, teaching spouses how to provide emotional and instrumental support, allowing patients to decide which component of the intervention they would like to receive, and having patients determine their own goals and action plans. Veteran outpatients with above-goal LDL-C (N = 250) and their spouses are randomized, as a couple, to receive printed education materials only or the materials plus an 11-month, nurse-delivered, telephone-based intervention. The intervention contains four modules: medication adherence, diet, exercise, and patient-physician communication. Patients decide which modules they complete and in which order; modules may be repeated or omitted. Telephone calls are to patients and spouses separately and occur monthly. During each patient telephone call, patients' progress is reviewed, and patients create goals and action plans for the upcoming month. During spouse telephone calls, which occur within one week of patient calls, spouses are informed of patients' goals and action plans and devise strategies to increase emotional and instrumental support. The primary outcome is patients' LDL-C, measured at baseline, 6 months, and 11 months. Linear mixed models will be used to test the primary hypothesis that an 11-month, telephone-based patient-spouse intervention will result in a greater reduction in LDL-C as compared to printed education materials. Various process measures, including social support, self-efficacy, medication adherence, dietary behavior, and exercise, are also assessed to explain any change, or lack thereof, in LDL-C. Given the social context in which self-management occurs, interventions that teach spouses to provide instrumental and emotional support may help patients initiate and adhere to behaviors that lower their LDL-C levels. Moreover, allowing patients to retain autonomy by deciding which behaviors they would like to change and how may improve adherence and clinical outcomes. The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT00321789.
Comment on the Breakdown of Van Vleck's Propagator and Its Implications for the Energy Domain Green's Function

Van Vleck's propagator is perhaps one of the most fundamental objects of semiclassical theory. Its Laplace transform gives the energy Green's function G(x, x', E), which is the starting point for the derivation of Gutzwiller trace formula. The validity of Van Vleck's formula for chaotic and mixed systems is therefore of crucial importance, especially since during the derivation of the trace formula it is assumed to be valid for infinite time. In the last two years there has been numerical evidence for the time-scale validity of the semiclas­ sical propagator when the underlying dynamics is chaotic. The time-scales were longer that previously predicted by Tabor et a!. An explanation for this long time validity based on the multidimensional stationary phase approximation was recently proposed by Sepiilveda­ Tomsovic-Heller. In this contribution we would like to review these recent results and comment on their implications in the energy domain and particularly in the validity of the trace formula.
Susceptibility to Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, and Health Locus of Control as Correlates of Adolescent Substance Abuse

As part of a school-based alcohol misuse prevention study, questionnaires were administered to 2,589 fifth and sixth grade students to determine levels of use of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes, intentions to use these substances, and problems resulting from alcohol misuse. The questionnaire also included 45 items concerning susceptibility to peer pressure, self-esteem, and health locus of control. These 45 items were factor analyzed separately for two groups formed by random assignment. Six factors were identified which were both internally consistent and replicable, and indices were constructed. The indices measuring susceptibility to peer pressure, self-esteem, and internal health locus of control were significantly and negatively correlated with most of the substance use, misuse, and intention items, and an external health locus of control index was not significantly related to most of the substance use, misuse, and intention items. The "Susceptibility to Peer Pressure" index correlated more highly with the adolescent substance use, misuse, and intention items than the self-esteem or the health locus of control indices, and it had the highest alpha coefficient. Implications for the design of school-based substance abuse prevention programs are discussed.
Delivery performance in vendor selection decisions

Abstract Increased reliance upon outsourcing has made the issue of vendor selection even more critical to the success of the modern manufacturing organization. The usual performance measure on which selection is based has been the distribution of the vendor’s delivery lead-time (LT), often as characterized by the mean and variance. In this paper, we show that the distribution of demand per unit time (DPUT) must also be considered if an optimal decision is to be made. We consider a standard fixed quantity-reorder point ( Q , r ) inventory policy. We first show that the optimal policy and the resulting costs remain invariant to changes in the mean lead-time demand (LTD) when the variance of LTD is fixed. A change in the mean LTD is completely (linearly) absorbed by the reorder point r , while the safety stock is unaffected. Intuitively, we would expect that the vendor with the shortest expected lead-time would represent the best choice. However, this expectation is not always correct and we then provide a simple rule for vendor selection based upon the coefficient of variation (CV) for the distribution of DPUT. In particular, when the CV is small (large), it pays to choose a vendor whose lead-time variance (mean) is small. A series of numerical examples illustrates the main theoretical points.
On the Hopf ring for ER(n)

Abstract Kriz and Hu construct a real Johnson–Wilson spectrum, ER ( n ) , which is 2 n + 2 ( 2 n − 1 ) periodic. ER ( 1 ) is just KO ( 2 ) . We do two things in this paper. First, we compute the homology of the 2 n − 1 spaces ER ( n ) 2 n + 2 k in the Omega spectrum for ER ( n ) . It turns out the double of these Hopf algebras gives the homology Hopf algebras for the even spaces for E ( n ) . As a byproduct of this we get the homology of the zeroth spaces for the Omega spectrum for real complex cobordism and real Brown–Peterson cohomology. The second result is to compute the homology Hopf ring for all 48 spaces in the Omega spectrum for ER ( 2 ) . This turns out to be generated by very few elements.
(Relatively) Smooth Sailing: How a Large State University Successfully Adopted the PACT Teaching Event

In this article, the PACT Coordinator and former Department Chair of the Department of Secondary Education at a large state university describe how the PACT Teaching Event was introduced, piloted and implemented in their department. Despite the size and complexity of this department, PACT implementation went relatively smoothly, with widespread and positive participation by full-time and part-time faculty. The authors explain the successful implementation, drawing on data from faculty focus groups and campus leaders. The authors give recommendations for large-scale credential programs that are considering implementing a high-stakes teacher-performance assessment.
Schizophrenia and folate pharmacogenetics: Review of the literature regarding folic acid and its pharmacogenetically regulated metabolism in relation to schizophrenia treatments

Folic acid and its metabolism and utilization has become of increasing importance within the field of schizophrenia. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the enzyme responsible for the formation of methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methyl THF) from dietary folate. Multiple studies have demonstrated relationships between MTHFR gene variants and schizophrenia. This review discusses these studies, and their findings regarding the relationship between different variants of the MTHFR gene and risk of antipsychotic-related metabolic syndrome, and the relationship between the pharmacogenetics of folate and the negative/cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Brazil's Foreign Policy under Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva: An Early Assessment of a Leftist President

An analysis of Brazil's foreign policy after Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva's honeymoon period is long overdue. During the pre-election period there was much speculation regarding Brazil's new foreign policy orientation under an administration traditionally identified as left-of-center in Brazilian politics. What will be Brazil's foreign policy priorities? What region(s) will be of concern to Brazil's foreign policy? Will Brazil pursue a foreign policy of closer realignment with the Third World and antagonistic toward the United States? Given Brazil's status as a “monster country” due to its geography, economy, and political potential, it is important to assess this nation's foreign policy in light of the significant changes taking place within the new post-Cold War international system of the twenty-first century, an iniernational system still in its evolutionary process and impacted by the centripetal and centrifugal forces of globalization.
A Case for Including Religious Organizations in Management Research

This article clarifies and extends my 2002 Strategic Management Journal article on the competitive strategies of religious organizations. I respond to some concerns raised by Gomez and Moore and offer arguments supporting management theorists' involvement in research on religious organizations. Management does not offer a comprehensive theory of religious organizations, only a distinct and potentially insightful vantage point. We need to evaluate the appropriateness of management theory assumptions and arguments in this novel context. It is neither appropriate nor desirable that management theory remain unchanged as a result of its encounter with religious organizations. The dialogue between management and religion has the potential to be a generative process changing both management theory and practices within religious organizations.
Measurement and wireless transmission of embedded capacitive microsensor's output using ΣΔ conversion and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology

This article concerns the design and post-fabrication testing of a CMOS integrated circuit (IC) for the Remote- Queried Embedded Microsensor (RQEM) system. The IC may be coupled to capacitive microsensors to measure the output of the sensors, to digitize this measured output, and to condition and encode the digital data. Wireless transmission of the code to a commercial Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system reader is implemented using Differential Phase Shift Keying of a low-frequency signal, which inductively couples the RQEM antenna coil to the receiving antenna of the RFID reader. The IC extracts its own operating power and digital clock signal from the interrogating signal, which is transmitted by the RFID reader. The IC uses switched- capacitor techniques for acquisition and for A/D conversion of data. A first-order Sigma-Delta ((Sigma) (Delta) ) A/D converter is used with an output transconductance amplifier (OTA) in the balancing integrator and the comparator. The same OTA is also used in the acquisition circuit, which is a sample-and-hold offset-free circuit. Several fabricated chips were tested with on-chip test capacitors, used to calibrate the IC's output.
The atmosphere of Neptune: Results of radio occultation measurements with the Voyager 2 spacecraft

This paper presents the vertical temperature and composition profiles of Neptune's troposphere and stratosphere, covering an altitude of 250 km, obtained from radio tracking data that were acquired during Voyager-2's occultation by Neptune, which began near 62 deg N planetographic latitude and ended near 45 deg S latitude. In the computations, the He/H2 abundance ratio 15/85 was adapted, which is consistent with solar abundance estimates and with recent results from Uranus. It was assumed that aerosols and heavier gases such as CH4, NH3, H2S, and H2O have a negligible effect on the microwave refractivity above the 0.5 bar pressure level.
Phase relations and thermodynamics of refractory metal pnictides: The antimony decomposition pressures of Mo3Sb7 and its enthalpy of formation

Abstract Arsenic pressures over Ta3As have been measured using the mass-effusion method in the temperature range 1569 to 2091 K. The least-squares fitted equation for the monatomic arsenic partial pressure is log 10 {p( As )/ Pa } = − 23662(K/T) + 1205775 The second-law ΔHo(1829 K) and the estimated ΔHo(298.15 K) for the decomposition reaction of Ta3As are (453.4 ± 8.0) and (466 ± 14) kJ mol−1 respectively, the errors shown being estimates of total error.
Recovery of Kolmogorov statistics in the troposphere

We study tropospheric aerothermal probe data by using the orthogonal Haar wavelet averages of the dissipation to segment the data. Segmenting the data in this way allows us to isolate regions of distinct mean dissipation. We then use the Haar wavelet transform to derive spectra and structure functions for the segmented regions, thereby recovering Kolmogorov statistics. We also comment on wavelet derived structure functions and point out data anomalies only visible in the wavelet domain.
Cerebral ischemia associated with PercuSurge balloon occlusion balloon during carotid stenting: Incidence and possible mechanisms.

Background Interruption of antegrade cerebral perfusion results in transient neurologic intolerance in some patients undergoing carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). This study sought to evaluate factors that contributed to the development of cerebral ischemia during PercuSurge balloon occlusion and techniques used to allow successful completion of the CAS procedure. Methods The PercuSurge occlusion balloon was used in 43 of 165 patients treated with CAS for high-grade stenosis (mean stenosis, 90%). All 43 patients were at increased risk for endarterectomy (7 restenosis, 3 irradiation, 3 contralateral occlusion, and 30 Goldman class II-III); 20% were symptomatic. Symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion during temporary occlusion of the internal carotid artery occurred in 10 of 43 and included dysarthria (7/10), agitation (6/10), decreased level of consciousness (5/10), and focal hemispheric deficit (3/10). An incomplete circle of Willis or contralateral carotid artery occlusion, or both, was present in 8 of 10 patients. Symptoms resulting from PercuSurge balloon occlusion were managed by balloon deflation with or without evacuation of blood from the internal carotid artery using the Export catheter. All symptoms resolved completely without deficit after deflation of the occlusion balloon. Results The development of neurologic symptoms after initial PercuSurge balloon inflation and occluded internal carotid artery flow was associated with a decrease in the mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) from 15 to 10 (range, 9 to 14); the GCS returned to normal after occlusion balloon deflation and remained normal during subsequent reinflation. The mean time to spontaneous recovery of full neurologic function was 8 minutes (range, 4 to 15 minutes). No thrombotic or embolic events were present on cerebral angiography or computed tomography scan. Balloon reinflation was performed after a mean reperfusion interval of 10 minutes after full neurologic recovery (range, 4 to 20 minutes). The mean subsequent procedure duration was 11.9 minutes (range, 6 to 21 minutes). No recurrence of neurologic symptoms occurred when the occlusion balloon was reinflated. All 10 patients underwent successful CAS without occlusion, dissection, cerebrovascular accident, or death. Conclusion Several factors may contribute to the development of neurologic intolerance during CAS with balloon occlusion. Elucidation of the protective cellular mechanisms that invoke ischemic tolerance after the initial transient ischemic event may enable CAS with embolic protection in patients who cannot tolerate initial interruption of antegrade cerebral perfusion.
A biosynthesis of dimethylpyruvic acid.

Abstract 1. 1. Out of nine strains of Aspergillus niger which were tested, eight proved capable of forming pyruvic and dimethylpyruvic acids when their pre-formed mycelial felts were allowed to act upon glucose in the presence of NH 4 Cl, KH 2 PO 4 , and Na 2 SO 3 , in the proportions recommended by Hida ( loc. cit. ). When NH 4 Cl was omitted from the medium the yield of pyruvic acid was undiminished, but that of dimethylpyruvic acid fell to a negligible amount. 2. 2. In Hida's medium both pyruvic and dimethylpyruvic acids were also formed by A. niger when d -xylose and glycerol, respectively, were used in place of glucose as substrate. 3. 3. In one experiment, addition of sodium malonate to the medium when glycerol was the substrate caused a slight increase in the yield both of pyruvic acid and of dimethylpyruvic acid, but in each case this increase was so small as to render its significance doubtful. Addition of sodium acetate to the glycerol medium caused a very large increase in the yield of pyruvic acid and a substantial increase also in the yield of dimethylpyruvic acid, when the molecular ratio of glycerol to acetate lay between 3:1 and 2:1. When acetate was added in excess of the molecular ratio 1:1, neither pyruvic acid nor dimethylpyruvic acid was formed. 4. 4. Tentative suggestions are advanced respecting the mechanisms by which dimethylpyruvic acid may be derived from glycerol.
Transient exposure to the Eg5 kinesin inhibitor monastrol leads to syntelic orientation of chromosomes and aneuploidy in mouse oocytes

Aneuploidy may result from abnormalities in the biochemical pathways and cellular organelles associated with chromosome segregation. Monastrol is a reversible, cell-permeable, non-tubulin interacting inhibitor of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 motor protein which is required for assembling and maintaining the mitotic spindle. Monastrol can also impair centrosome separation and induce monoastral spindles in mammalian somatic cells. The ability of monastrol to alter kinesin Eg5 and centrosome activities and spindle geometry may lead to abnormal chromosome segregation. Mouse oocytes were exposed to 0 (control), 15, 30, and 45 microg/ml monastrol in vitro for 6 h during meiosis I and subsequently cultured for 17 h in monastrol-free media prior to cytogenetic analysis of metaphase II oocytes. A subset of oocytes was cultured for 5 h prior to processing cells for meiotic I spindle analysis. Monastrol retarded oocyte maturation by significantly (P < 0.05) decreasing germinal vesicle breakdown and increasing the frequencies of arrested metaphase I oocytes. Also, significant (P < 0.05) increases in the frequencies of monoastral spindles and chromosome displacement from the metaphase plate were found in oocytes during meiosis I. In metaphase II oocytes, monastrol significantly (P < 0.05) increased the frequencies of premature centromere separation and aneuploidy. These findings suggest that abnormal meiotic spindle geometry predisposes oocytes to aneuploidy.
Increasing Protein Charge State When Using Laser Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

Femtosecond (fs) laser vaporization is used to transfer cytochrome c, myoglobin, lysozyme, and ubiquitin from the condensed phase into an electrospray (ES) plume consisting of a mixture of a supercharging reagent, m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-NBA), and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), acetic acid (AA), or formic acid (FA). Interaction of acid-sensitive proteins like cytochrome c and myoglobin with the highly charged ES droplets resulted in a shift to higher charge states in comparison with acid-stable proteins like lysozyme and ubiquitin. Laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) measurements showed an increase in both the average charge states (Zavg) and the charge state with maximum intensity (Zmode) for acid-sensitive proteins compared with conventional electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) under equivalent solvent conditions. A marked increase in ion abundance of higher charge states was observed for LEMS in comparison with conventional electrospray for cytochrome c (ranging from 19+ to 21+ versus 13+ to 16+) and myoglobin (ranging from 19+ to 26+ versus 18+ to 21+) using an ES solution containing m-NBA and TFA. LEMS measurements as a function of electrospray flow rate yielded increasing charge states with decreasing flow rates for cytochrome c and myoglobin.
A computational model of bleb formation

Blebbing occurs when the cytoskeleton detaches from the cell membrane, resulting in the pressure-driven flow of cytosol towards the area of detachment and the local expansion of the cell membrane. Recent interest has focused on cells that use blebbing for migrating through 3D fibrous matrices. In particular, metastatic cancer cells have been shown to use blebs for motility. A dynamic computational model of the cell is presented that includes mechanics of and the interactions between the intracellular fluid, the actin cortex and the cell membrane. The computational model is used to explore the relative roles in bleb formation time of cytoplasmic viscosity and drag between the cortex and the cytosol. A regime of values for the drag coefficient and cytoplasmic viscosity values that match bleb formation timescales is presented. The model results are then used to predict the Darcy permeability and the volume fraction of the cortex.
Friendship, transactive dialogues, and the development of scientific reasoning

This study investigated the significance of friendship for scientific reasoning. We had two main goals: First, assess whether collaborations between friends fostered greater development of scientific reasoning than collaborations between acquaintances, and second, identify which features of friends' collaborative dialogues mediated their greater problem solving accuracy. Fifth graders collaborated on isolation of variables problems of varying difficulty with either a friend or an acquaintance. The results showed that adolescents paired with friends obtained higher problem solving accuracy than adolescents paired with acquaintances during both the collaborative and the posttest sessions. However, the cognitive advantages of working with a friend were only evident in the most difficult isolation of variables problems. Analyses of friends' and acquaintances' dialogues showed that friends were more likely than acquaintances to evaluate their solutions, justify their proposals spontaneously, elaborate and critique each other's reasoning, and engage in transactive discussions. Evaluating outcomes and participating in transactive conflicts were significantly associated with better problem solving, and consequently these may be the two key mechanisms through which friendship effects developmental changes in scientific reasoning. The results are discussed in terms of the need to understand developmental features of relationships and how these features mediate cognitive development and the need to take a longitudinal approach to the study of the relation between transactive dialogues and the development of scientific reasoning.
Regulation of heme synthesis in HepG2 human hepatoma cells by dimethyl sulfoxide.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment of human HepG2 hepatoma cells increases the activity and the concentration of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) to a comparable degree. Results of experiments with transcriptional inhibitors suggest that the increase in ALAD reflects de novo synthesis of the enzyme resulting from transcriptional activation. Commitment to increased ALAD activity in HepG2 cells is seen after 18 hr and complete by 48 hr. In contrast to the effects on ALAD, DMSO decreases the activities of porphobilinogen deaminase and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase.
Isomeric separation: Conformers part company

The conformational structure of a molecule can have important effects on its interactions and properties, but studying such effects is made difficult by the challenge of separating different conformers. Their spatial separation has now been achieved using an electric field — allowing the possibility of isomer-specific studies.
Self-instruction training with preschoolers: Generalization to proximal and distal problem-solving tasks

Twenty-seven preschool 4- and 5-year-olds were matched on a range of assessment measures and assigned to one of three instruction groups: a self-instruction group, a skills training group, and a no-treatment control group. For the first five weekly intervention sessions, treatment subjects were trained on the concepts of same and different in a visual discrimination format. During the last four intervention sessions, treatment subjects were trained on maze and size sequencing tasks. Instructional training effects were assessed after 5 and 9 weeks of training with two measures of proximal generalization, the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) and a picture sequencing task, and one measure of distal generalization, a revised version of the Tower of Hanoi. Only the self-instruction group demonstrated significant improvement on the MFFT, the picture sequencing task, and the more difficult flat ending problems on the Tower of Hanoi. These results with preschool children support the potential for generalization of self-instruction training effects to tasks both conceptually similar and dissimilar to the original training tasks.
Bronchial and Transbronchial Lung Biopsy without Fluoroscopy in Sarcoidosis

Sixty-eight patients with a clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis underwent flexible fiberoptic bronchial and transbronchial lung biopsies without the aid of fluoroscopy. Close observation of the normal respiratory excursions of the distal tracheobronchial tree and tactile sensations were found to be helpful in preventing pleural rupture. Sarcoidosis was histologically confirmed in bronchial or transbronchial tissue (or both) by this technique in 51 (76 percent) of 67 patients. Only a single pneumothorax and no significant bleeding resulted from this procedure. In the hands of experienced physicians, peripheral bronchial biopsies and transbronchoscopic lung biopsies are safe and accurate procedures even when performed in institutions where fluoroscopy is not immediately available.
The high yield of 1-year colonoscopy after resection: is it the handoff?

This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy 1 year after colorectal cancer (CRC) resection based on whether the index colonoscopy was performed by the operating surgeon. All patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer by two colon and rectal surgeons at a university hospital from 1991 to 2005 were identified from the tumor registry. Those patients with a complete preoperative colonoscopy by any physician and a 1-year follow-up examination by the operating surgeon were selected for the study population. Family history of colorectal cancer, tumor location, endoscopist, presence of synchronous neoplasms, and findings of 1-year colonoscopy were recorded. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the probability of finding any adenoma, advanced adenoma, or invasive cancer based on the index endoscopist. Of the 719 patients who underwent resection during the study period, 432 met the inclusion criteria. The index colonoscopy for 117 of these patients (27.1%) was performed by one of the two surgeons. Overall, 10 patients (2.3%) had a “new” cancer diagnosed at 1 year, and 1 patient (0.2%) had a local recurrence. Patients whose index colonoscopy was performed by their operating surgeon appeared less likely to have an advanced lesion found at 1 year (5.1% vs 11.4%; p = 0.06). The index colonoscopy for 9 of the 10 of cancers found at 1 year was not performed by the operating surgeon. Colonoscopy 1 year after CRC resection is clearly justified. An index colonoscopy by the operating surgeon eliminates a “handoff” and may diminish the incidence of high-risk lesions at 1 year.
Therapeutic Applications of Monoclonal Antibodies

Researchers have sought therapeutic applications for monoclonal antibodies since their development in 1975. However, murine-derived monoclonal antibodies may cause an immunogenic response in human patients, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. Chimeric and humanized antibodies have been developed that are less likely to provoke an immune reaction in human patients than are murine-derived antibodies. Antibody fragments, bispecific antibodies, and antibodies produced through the use of phage display systems and genetically modified plants and animals may aid researchers in developing new uses for monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of disease. Monoclonal antibodies may have a number of promising potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of asthma, autoimmune diseases, cancer, poisoning, septicemia, substance abuse, viral infections, and other diseases.
Teaching–learning and development as activist projects of historical Becoming: expanding Vygotsky's approach to pedagogy

This paper considers pedagogical implications of Vygotsky's project expansively reconstructed on the grounds of the notion that collaborative purposeful transformation of the world is the principled grounding for teaching–learning and development. Using a transformative ontology of continuous historical Becoming through answerable deeds in which cultural tools are seen as omnipresent, I argue that knowing and learning are rendered meaningful through their embedding as tools in identity development that represents an activist project of forming and carrying out purposeful life agenda aimed at contributing to social practices. Therefore, teaching–learning needs to integrate knowledge revealed: (a) as stemming out of social practice – as its constituent tools; (b) through social practice – where students need to rediscover these tools through their own active pursuit, efforts and inquiry; and (c) for social practice – where knowledge and ‘facts’ are rendered meaningful in light of their possible use in activ...
On characters of height zero

Every irreducible ordinary character in a p -block of a finite metabelian group is of height 0 if and only if the defect group of the p -block is abelian.
Sustained arterial narrowing after prolonged exposure to perivascular endothelin.

OBJECTIVE: The vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) produces narrowing of cerebral arteries and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Little is known, however, regarding the physiological consequences of prolonged exposure of arterial wall to ET-1. METHODS: In 30 rats, normal saline or 10 -8 mol/h of ET-1 was continuously applied for 3 or 5 days to the adventitial surface of the femoral artery in a Silastic cuff via an osmotic infusion pump. Vessels were examined for histopathological changes and luminal narrowing during ET-1 infusion (3 or 5 d) or at intervals from 2 to 9 days after infusion was stopped. RESULTS: Marked arterial constriction (30-40% arterial diameter reduction) was present during continuous ET-1 infusion for 3 or 5 days. For both 3- and 5-day ET-1 infusions, significant reduction in arterial cross sectional area persisted up to 4 days after cessation of infusion, after which normal caliber returned. In arteries with persistent luminal narrowing after cessation of ET-1 infusion, light microscopic findings revealed morphological changes in the vessel wall similar to those observed in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, with apparent increased collagen deposition in media and adventitia. CONCLUSION: Continuous infusion of ET-1 produces reversible arterial narrowing that persists beyond the usual interval of physiological effect for this agent. Prolonged arterial constriction may produce physiological changes in arterial wall that act to maintain a narrowed lumen.
Pushing the limits on possibilities for large scale gas separation: which strategies?

Abstract Opportunities abound to extend membrane markets for gas and vapor separations; however, the existing membrane materials, membrane structures and formation processes are inadequate to fully exploit these opportunities. The requirements for viability of membranes vary somewhat with each application. Nevertheless, the key requirements of durability, productivity and separation efficiency must be balanced against cost in all cases. The various ‘contender’ technologies for large scale gas separation membrane applications and the gas transport mechanisms are considered. The current spectrum of applications of gas separation membranes include: nitrogen enrichment, oxygen enrichment, hydrogen recovery, acid gas (CO2, H2S) removal from natural gas and dehydration of air and natural gas. The current status and the limitations faced by the available membrane materials for each of these applications are discussed. Two key technical challenges exist. Achieving higher permselectivity for the relevant application with at least equivalent productivity is the first of these challenges. Maintaining these properties in the presence of complex and aggressive feeds is the second challenge. Attractive avenues to overcome these challenges for each application will be presented. Finally, several new membrane applications with immense potential (e.g. fuel cells and olefin–paraffin separations) are discussed.
The Democratization of Danish Higher Education: Causes, Responses and Adaptations.

In the early 1970s the Danish Parliament passed legislation which radically altered the governing structure of Danish universities. Professorial rule was abolished and replaced by democratically elected boards and councils composed of students, faculty, and technical and administrative personel. This new governing structure has now been in place for over a decade.
Adsorption and solution of weakly polar vapors with thin layers of water as studied by gas—liquid chromatography

Abstract This paper continues our study on the adsorption and solution of weakly polar vapors with thin layers of water by means of gas-liquid chromatography. In particular we have examined the behavior of six new solutes: CH 2 CI 2 , CHCl 3 , CCl 4 , cis and trans -2-octene, and ethyl formate. Mixed mechanisms of retention were found for CH 2 C1 2 CHCl 3 , CCl 4 and ethyl formate, the other solutes being retained solely by adsorption. In terms of partition, good agreement has been found for static partition coefficients and heats of solution with chromatographic data, lending further evidence to the similarity of the water coated in thin layers on wide-pore diameter silica with that of bulk water. In the case of the thermodynamic quantities of adsorption at zero coverage, it has been concluded that the adsorbed state can be considered as a gaseous or mobile film in most cases. Finally, the free energy and enthalpy of adsorption per methylene group has been found to be positive when methyl formate is compared with ethyl formate.