cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-efficacy, standards, and abstinence violation: a comparison between newly sober and long-term sober alcoholics

Recent theory and empirical data suggest that self-efficacy plays an important role in resistance to relapse for substance abusers. Another key in the relapse process, according to Marlatt and Gordon (1985), is the abstinence violation effect, which comprises self-attribution for failure and affective reaction to violation of self-imposed standards. The combination of unrealistically high standards and low self-efficacy for following those standards may potentiate the risk for relapse. A 25-item questionnaire designed to assess self-efficacy and standards was administered to alcoholics newly admitted to an inpatient treatment program and alcoholics who had been sober for at least 1 year. The groups did not differ with regard to having high standards, but the successfully abstinent alcoholics had significantly higher self-efficacy expectations than the newly sober alcoholics. These results suggest that treatment programs may need to include interventions which decrease unrealistic standards as well as those designed to increase self-efficacy expectations.
Refinement of a T-lymphocyte cloning assay to quantify the in vivo thioguanine-resistant mutant frequency in humans

Cell cloning by limiting dilution in 96-well microtiter plates has been employed to isolate colonies of human T-lymphocytes resistant to the purine analogue, 6-thioguanine (TG). These colonies show stability of the TG-resistant (TG1) phenotype, lack hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) activity and thus appear to be the result of in vivo somatic cell mutation events. In order to employ this T-lymphocyte cloning assay for quantitative determination of the in vivo TGr mutant frequency in humans, we have defined the optimal conditions for T-cell colony formation with both nonselected and TG-selected cells. The parameters investigated include medium, serum, amount of the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin, amount of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) and the number of irradiated feeder or accessory cells. Under the optimal conditions, the fraction of positive wells is proportional to the number of cells plated per well with both nonselection and TG selection conditions. T-cell cloning efficiencies therefore are independent of inoculum size. There was some evidence for a decline in TGr mutant cell cloning at densities greater than 2 x 10(4) cells per round-bottom well, possibly due to metabolic cooperation between wild-type and mutant cells. The conditions defined in this study appear to provide a quantitative measurement of the in vivo TGr mutant frequency in human T-lymphocytes.
Transgenic mouse models for studying mutations in vivo: applications in aging research.

To study mutation accumulation in the DNA of somatic cells and tissues during aging in vivo, a transgenic mouse model has been constructed. The model harbors plasmid vectors, containing the lacZ reporter gene, integrated head to tail at various chromosomal locations. Procedures have been worked out to efficiently recovery the plasmids into E. coli host cells. A positive selection system, permitting only E. coli cells with a lacZ mutated plasmid to grow, allows for the accurate determination of mutation frequencies as the ratio of mutant colonies versus the total number of transformants, i.e., the total number of plasmid copies recovered. Results obtained from a life span study of plasmid mice with vector clusters on chromosome 3 and 4 indicated age-related mutation accumulation in the liver, but not in the brain. Comparison of the mutational spectra revealed a significantly larger proportion of large size-change mutations in liver than in brain.
Convection driven by a horizontal temperature gradient in a confined aqueous surfactant solution: the effect of noncondensables

Buoyancy–thermocapillary convection in liquid layers undergoing phase change driven by a horizontal temperature gradient in a sealed cavity in the near-absence of noncondensables is a flow relevant to evaporative cooling. Yet most of the experimental studies have instead considered convection under air at ambient pressures. Convection driven by buoyancy and Marangoni effects in a ~0.3-cm-deep layer of an aqueous surfactant solution in a closed rectangular test cell was therefore studied using particle image velocimetry. Convection under air at ambient conditions was compared with that under conditions where the gas phase was dominated by water vapor. The initial results suggest that noncondensables have a significant effect on the liquid-phase flow.
Transcription-Coupled Repair of DNA Damage: Unanticipated Players, Unexpected Complexities

This work was supported by U.S. Public Health Service grants from the National Cancer Institute.
The intracellular threonine of amyloid precursor protein that is essential for docking of Pin1 is dispensable for developmental function

BACKGROUND Processing of Aβ-precursor protein (APP) plays an important role in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathogenesis. Thr residue at amino acid 668 of the APP intracellular domain (AID) is highly conserved. When phosphorylated, this residue generates a binding site for Pin1. The interaction of APP with Pin1 has been involved in AD pathogenesis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To dissect the functions of this sequence in vivo, we created an APP knock-in allele, in which Thr(668) is replaced by an Ala (T(668)A). Doubly deficient APP/APP-like protein 2 (APLP2) mice present postnatal lethality and neuromuscular synapse defects. Previous work has shown that the APP intracellular domain is necessary for preventing early lethality and neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) defects. Crossing the T(668)A allele into the APLP2 knockout background showed that mutation of Thr(668) does not cause a defective phenotype. Notably, the T(668)A mutant APP is able to bind Mint1. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our results argue against an important role of the Thr(668) residue in the essential function of APP in developmental regulation. Furthermore, they indicate that phosphorylation at this residue is not functionally involved in those APP-mediated functions that prevent (NMJ) defects and early lethality in APLP2 null mice.
Perceptual Responses to Infant Crying: Maternal Recognition and Sex Judgments.

A perceptual study was conducted in order to determine (I) whether a group of mothers could recognize their own infant on the basis of tape-recorded cry samples obtained under three cry-evoking situations, and (2) whether an infant's sex could be correctly identified simply by listening to cry samples. The results of this study indicated that mothers could recognize the cry of their own infant with few instances of confusion and that the sex of an unknown infant cannot be reliably identified using a simple auditory identification paradigm.
Developing Number Sense in Pre-K with Five-Frames

Teachers in early childhood and elementary classrooms (grades K-5) have been using ten-frames as an instructional tool to support students’ mathematics skill development for many years. Use of the similar five-frame has been limited, however, despite its apparent potential as an instructional scaffold in the early elementary grades. Due to scant evidence of teacher use and a lack of systematic research we know little to nothing about both the developmental and pedagogical implications of using five frames and related instructional manipulatives in early childhood mathematics classrooms. In this paper, we provide an overview of five-frames and specifically demonstrate ways that five-frames, if used in conjunction with concrete manipulatives, can support pre-kindergarten (pre-K) children’s development of Gelman and Gallistel’s (1978) three basic counting principles: the stable-order principle, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality. We conclude by discussing the developmental and instructional implications of using five-frames, as well as offer a set of teaching tips designed to help teachers maximize the potential advantages of integrating five-frames in the pre-K classroom.
Stress-induced plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity may predict postoperative morphine usage

Abstract The relationship between stress and human behavior is studied using general surgery as a stress paradigm. As indices of arousal, presurgery and surgery plasma β-endorphin and cortisol immunoreactivity are assessed. Behavioral analysis is restricted to the measurement of total morphine usage during the first 24 postoperative hours under standard PRN (as needed) clinical orders. Individual patient morphine requirements vary widely (12–56 mg). Both presurgery and mean surgery plasma β-endorphin levels significantly predict morphine requirement, and similar, although not so strong, correlations are found for cortisol. Patient age is also found to be negatively correlated with morphine requirement. When multiple regression analysis is used, the variables of plasma β-endorphin and age predict 70% of the variance in individual morphine requirements.
STLPLT - Calcomp plot of crystallographic projections of laue photographs☆

Abstract : A computing program STLPLT is described which allows the plot of stereographic, stereognomonic or gnomonic projection from the x, y coordinates of the Laue spots measured in millimeters in the film. The cylindrical, flat transmission and flat back-reflection Laue techniques can be used. The selected projection is plotted in a circle of 100 mm. radius for any desired radius of the reference sphere. The blind zones of the experimental record are also plotted in the projection. The program is written in FORTRAN-IV for IBM 7074 and generates a tape to be used in a CalComp plotter. (Author)
Release of iron from transferrin by phosphonocarboxylate and diphosphonate chelating agents.

The rates at which phosphonocarboxylate and diphosphonate ligands remove iron from the serum iron transport protein transferrin at 25 °C and pH 7.4 have been evaluated. These ligands show a combination of saturation and first-order kinetics with respect to the free ligand concentrations. The ability of the ligands to remove iron from transferrin appears to be subject to steric restrictions that are essentially identical to those associated with the ability of a ligand to substitute for the synergistic carbonate anion. This observation supports the hypothesis that the first-order component for iron removal involves a mechanism in which the rate-limiting step is the slow substitution of the synergistic carbonate by the incoming chelating agent. Studies on monoferric transferrins indicate that phosphonocarboxylates are unusually effective at removing iron from the C-terminal site of the protein. Difference UV spectroscopy has been used to show that the phosphonocarboxylates bind strongly to apotransferrin. It is suggested that the rapid release of iron from the C-terminal site may be due to the binding of the ligand to an allosteric anion-binding site in the C-terminal lobe of the protein.
Protonmotive force in giant mitochondria

The accompanying communication [Eur. J. Biochem. 141 (1984) 1-4] indicates that the microinjection of the pH fluorescent indicator pyranine (8-hydroxy-1,2,6- pyrenesulfonate ) into giant mitochondria or mitoplasts does not affect their ability to carry out oxidative phosphorylation. The dye can therefore be used as a quantitative indicator of internal mitochondrial pH. We found that activation of metabolism in rotenone-inhibited giant mitochondria by the addition of succinate produces an internal pH change corresponding to a pH shift of 0.3 to the alkaline range, approximately the same value found previously for conventional rat liver mitochondria.
Universal newborn hearing screenings: a three-year experience.

Objective. To perform hearing screenings on all newborns before hospital discharge, using auditory brainstem evoked responses with analysis of time, cost, and failure rates to evaluate and determine the screening practicality. Method. Over a 3-year period from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1995, auditory brainstem evoked response screenings were performed on 15 749 infants born at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey, before their hospital discharge by certified/licensed audiologists. The auditory brainstem evoked response screenings were conducted using the Nicolet Compass Evoked Potential System. Results. A 3-year experience of testing 15 749 infants proved to be a cost-effective program with costs less than $30.00/baby. To date, 46 babies have been identified with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and 6 babies with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Conclusions. The universal newborn hearing screening program at Saint Barnabas Medical Center has proved to be effective, beneficial, and necessary for an institution with more than 5000 births, annually. Early identification of hearing loss has resulted in infants receiving early intervention, and the screening program has provided education and follow-up services to both parents and physicians. auditory brainstem evoked responses, early hospital discharge of newborns, early identification of hearing loss, screening auditory brainstem evoked responses, universal newborn hearing screening.
(S)he shall not be moved: Gender, bodies and travel rights in the post-9/11 era

Using examples from the gendered targeting of airport security assemblages post-9/11, this article points out that the travelable body is straight; healthy; identifiable in sex, gender and race; not clearly religious; and, depending on where it is in the world, of a particular race and/or ethnicity. This article looks at the securitized production of the travelable body through gender lenses. It reads several key changes in people’s rights to movement as gendered, as significant and as signifying fundamental changes in (gendered) security orders. Particularly, building on Cynthia Enloe’s use of the idea of secure states containing insecure women to critique both the actual security of the state and women’s position in it, this article makes the argument that the gendered violations of people’s rights to movement and bodily integrity post-9/11 is a step backwards both for human security within the state and for the national security of the state.
Aluminum-containing layered double hydroxides: the thermal, mechanical, and fire properties of (nano)composites of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Hydrotalcite-like anionic clays or layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of the general formula [MII1−xMIIIx(OH)2]intra[(CH2CH(CH2)8COO−)x·nH2O]inter, with MIII = Al and MII = Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, have been prepared by the co-precipitation method and used to prepare nanocomposites with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). One goal of this work was to compare the morphology, thermal, fire and mechanical properties with those of the well known PMMA–montmorillonite system. The thermal properties of these systems are greatly improved relative to the virgin PMMA, with ZnAl2 and CoAl2 being the best systems when 50% mass loss is the point of comparison. NiAl2, on the other hand, is more thermally stable when 10% mass loss was the point of comparison. The mechanical properties, such as Young's Modulus and elongation, were not significantly impacted by nanocomposite formation. The cone calorimetric results showed that the PMMA–CoAl2 system gives the best reduction (41%) in peak heat release rate (PHRR); this value is significantly larger than that seen for the PMMA–montmorillonite system. Small improvements were observed for the nickel-containing LDH with the same polymer. XRD of the char produced in the cone calorimeter, and after heating to 1000 °C, suggest the formation of a mixture of the spinel and the MII oxide for Zn, Cu and Ni systems while only the spinel was identified in the case of PMMA–CoAl2 systems.
A general procedure for the purification of human β-secretase expressed in Escherichia coli

Expression and purification of human beta-secretase (BACE1) in bacteria have been plagued with issues concerning solubility, inhomogeneous N-terminus, and lack of enzymic activity. Several forms of the mature human BACE1 have been expressed in Escherichia coli with different N-terminal extensions and without the C-terminus transmembrane domain. Although each of the proteins expresses in inclusion bodies, a generalized protocol has been developed to solubilize, refold, and purify these BACE1 variants. The resultant proteins are homogeneous and monodispersed in solution. Each possesses a unique N-terminus. Activity assays using the peptide substrate 7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl-SEVNLDAEFK-2,4-dinitrophenyl-RR, corresponding to the beta-secretase cleavage sequence in the amyloid precursor protein with the Swedish mutations of N(670)L(671) substituting for the residues K(670)M(671), reveal a kcat and KM of 9.3 min(-1) and 55 microM, respectively.
Temporal variability in urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites, phytoestrogens and phenols among minority children in the United States.

Abstract Background Exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs), including some phthalates, phytoestrogens and phenols can be quantified using biomarkers of exposure. However, reliability in the use of these biomarkers requires an understanding of the timeframe of exposure represented by one measurement. Data on the temporal variability of ED biomarkers are sparse, especially among children. Objective To evaluate intraindividual temporal variability in 19 individual urinary biomarkers (eight phthalate metabolites from six phthalate diesters, six phytoestrogens (two lignans and four isoflavones) and five phenols) among New York City children. Methods Healthy Hispanic and Black children ( N =35; 6–10 years old) donated several urine samples over 6 months. To assess temporal variability we used three statistical methods: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Spearman correlation coefficients (SCC) between concentrations measured at different timepoints, and surrogate category analysis to determine how well the tertile categories based on a single measurement represented a 6-month average concentration. Results Surrogate category analysis indicated that a single sample provides reliable ranking for all analytes; at least three of four surrogate samples predicted the 6-month mean concentration. Of the 19 analytes, the ICC was >0.2 for 18 analytes and >0.3 for 10 analytes. Correlations among sample concentrations throughout the 6-month period were observed for all analytes; 14 analyte concentrations were correlated at 16 weeks. Conclusions The reasonable degree of temporal reliability and the wide range of concentrations of phthalate metabolites, phytoestrogens and phenols suggest that these biomarkers are appropriate for use in epidemiologic studies of environmental exposures in relation to health outcomes in children.
"Becoming a World-Saver" Revisited

Lofland's earlier work, widely assumed to have been done on the beginnings in this country of the Unification Church of Reverend Moon, resulted in development of the most widely cited conversion model in the literature of sociology. Here he updates and extends this previous work, based on a follow-up study of the same group studied earlier.
Surface phases of the S + O binary system coadsorbed on Ni(111)

Abstract The coadsorption of sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) on a clean Ni(111) surface yields p(2 × 2) and ( 3 × 3 )R30° LEED patterns at total nominal coverages of 0.25 and 0.33 monolayers (ML), respectively. Each of these coadsorbed structures undergoes a well defined order-disorder transition with varying temperature. The transition temperature, Tc, of the coadsorbed p(2 × 2)S + O structure is found to decrease monotonically with increasing S concentration from ~ 440 K for pure p(2 × 2)O to ~ 400 K for pure p(2 × 2)S. The order-disorder transition may be continuous. In contrast, Tcof the coadsorbed ( 3 × 3 )R30°S + O structure first increases and then decreases with the fraction of S, exhibiting a maximum at ~ 370 K at a S coverage ~ 0.13 ML. The disordering of the ( 3 × 3 )R30° structure can be represented on a temperature-atomic fraction phase diagram corresponding to a total coverage of 0.33 monolayers.
ROLE OF OVERLAPPING GENERATIONS IN MAINTAINING GENETIC VARIATION IN A FLUCTUATING ENVIRONMENT

Population genetics theory suggests that temporally fluctuating selection on pheno- types can act to maintain genetic variance only under very restrictive conditions. However, this conclusion is based on models with discrete nonoverlapping generations. We propose here that temporally fluctuating selection can indeed contribute significantly to the maintenance of genetic variation when the effects of overlapping generations and age-specific or stage-specific selection are considered. We develop a simple model for a population with overlapping generations, experiencing stabilizing selection with a temporally fluctuating optimum, and subject to repeated invasions by mutants with alternative phenotypes. We find that an evolutionarily stable popula- tion must have positive genetic variance maintained by selection so long as the product (variance of fluctuations) times (amount of generation overlap) times (selection intensity) is sufficiently high. This result applies to haploid, diploid, single-locus, or multilocus inheritance, and it does not depend on any form of heterozygote advantage to maintain genetic variance. However, it depends on the map between genotype and phenotype being constrained. If a single genotype can produce an arbitrary distribution of phenotypes, then genetic variance is not maintained by selection.
Intensities of incandescent light and the development of chick embryos in ovo and in vitro

Abstract 1. 1. Developmental differences were observed among White Rock embryos (Gallus domesticus) incubated in darkness and under various intensities of incandescent light. 2. 2. A highly significant difference in the developmental success of embryos explanted to glucose medium was found between those incubated in light and those incubated in darkness. Exposure to light interfered with normal morphogenesis in vitro. 3. 3. Temperatures within the culture dishes were the same for incubation in light and dark suggesting that the phenomenon observed in vitro was due to light rather than temperature.
N=1 RG flows, product groups, and a-maximization

Abstract We explore new IR phenomena and dualities, arising for product groups, in the context of N = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories. The RG running of the multiple couplings can radically affect each other. For example, an otherwise IR interacting coupling can be driven to be instead IR free by an arbitrarily small, but nonzero, initial value of another coupling. Or an otherwise IR free coupling can be driven to be instead IR interacting by an arbitrarily small non-zero initial value of another coupling. We explore these and other phenomena in N = 1 examples, where exact results can be obtained using a -maximization. We also explore the various possible dual gauge theories, e.g., by dualizing one gauge group with the other treated as a weakly gauged flavor symmetry, along with previously proposed duals for the theories deformed by A k -type Landau–Ginzburg superpotentials. We note that this latter duality, and all similar duality examples, always have nonempty superconformal windows within which both the electric and dual A k superpotentials are relevant.
Polysilane Bilayer uv Lithography

Polysilanes are a class of Si-Si backbone polymers that have been demonstrated to function as high resolution positive resists with excellent uv sensitivity. These materials have a unique photochemistry with high quantum yields and nonlinear bleaching. Polysilanes serve as excellent RIE barriers for bilevel resist applications because a protective layer of SiO 2 is formed during exposure to an oxygen plasma. Aliphatic polysilanes have been applied to full wafer mid-uv lithography with 0.75 μm resolution.
Coccidioidomycosis : Studies of Canine Vaccination and Therapy.

Abstract : A three-phase study of vaccination and antibiotic therapy in experimental pulmonary coccidioidomycosis of dogs was made to determine: (a) the efficacy of various routes of inoculation of a formalin-killed, arthrospore vaccine; (b) the combined effects of vaccination and oral Amphotericin B therapy administered immediately following respiratory exposure to Coccidioides immitis; and (c) renal damage or nephrotoxicity resulting from oral Amphotericin B therapy. Neither of the pulmonary routes of vaccination (aerosol of intratracheal) provided protection against a subsequent respiratory challenge of approximately 80,000 C. immitis arthrospores, either singly or in combination with oral Amphotericin B therapy (150 milligrams per day for 20 days following challenge), nor did subcutaneous vaccination or therapy alone. However, eight of twelve dogs receiving both subcutaneous vaccination and therapy completely resisted the respiratory challenge; the remaining four exhibited very minimal, self-contained disease. Histopathological examination revealed no renal damage or nephrotoxicity in any of the dogs receiving Amphotericin B therapy (total dose in excess of three grams); their blood urea nitrogen levels remained within normal limits.
A cytosolic activator of DNA replication is tyrosine phosphorylated in its active form.

Abstract Cytosolic extracts from actively dividing lymphoid cells have been shown to induce DNA synthesis in isolated, quiescent nuclei. An initiating factor in such extracts (activator of DNA replication; ADR) is a >90-kDa aprotinin-binding protein whose activity is inhibitable not only by aprotinin, but also by several other protease inhibitors as well. Although cytosol from nonproliferating lymphocytes is devoid of ADR activity, we have shown that these preparations can be induced to express ADR activity by brief exposure to a membrane-enriched fraction of spontaneously proliferating MOLT-4 cells via a kinase-dependent mechanism. In the present study, we examine the role of tyrosine kinases in this process. Three inhibitors of tyrosine kinases (genistein, kaempferol, and quercetin) can inhibit the in vitro generation of ADR activity. In vitro generation of ADR activity is associated with the de novo phosphorylation of several proteins, many of which are detectable using anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibodies. ADR itself may be tyrosine phosphorylated in active form as immunoprecipitation using such monoclonal antibodies leads to the depletion of its activity. Moreover, immunoprecipitation results in the removal of several de novo tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including species at approximately 122, 105, 93, 86, 79, and 65 kDa. A subset of de novo-phosphorylated proteins, migrating at approximately 105, 93, and 70 kDa, also bound to aprotinin, suggesting that at least one of these proteins may represent ADR itself.
Polystyrene Foams as Core Materials Used in Vacuum Insulation Panel

This work examines the foam density, average cell sizes, and cell structure of four polystyrene (PS) blended with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or low density polyethylene (LDPE) at various ratios. The PS/CaCO3 and PS/LDPE are foamed by carbon dioxide (CO2) under supercritical conditions. CaCO3 and LDPE can strongly influence the foam density, average cell sizes, and cell structure of PS foams. Based on the result of PS/CaCO3 foams and PS/LDPE foams, the thermal conductivity of large porous PS foams as core materials used in vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) is further studied. Large porous PS foams are produced by the mixture of CO2 and fluorocarbon or the mixture of CO2 and nitrogen (N2) as foaming agents. The content of open-cells in PS foams is affected by materials, foaming temperatures, and foaming agents. A higher content of open-cells in a porous PS foam can lead to a lower and more stable thermal conductivity of VIPs.
Spawning Behavior of Pink Salmon on an Artificial Redd

Abstract The spawning behavior of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) was observed and photographed through a glass viewing port in the bottom of an artificial redd in an observation tank. Females readily accepted the artificial redd and completed the normal prespawning behavior sequences, including redd defense, digging, and crouching, but did not complete the spawning act and extrude eggs. Males, however, frequently followed the courtship sequence through to milt ejections. In 14 incomplete spawning acts, milt was ejected by males but eggs were not released by females. Seven of these acts involved the same male, over a 9-day period. Failure of females to extrude eggs was attributed to some unknown limiting physical condition of the redd or tanks—possibly the smooth surface of the viewing port in the redd.
Bacterial prostatitis Treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Fifteen patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for three months. In 60 per cent of the patients a recurrence of chronic bacterial prostatitis developed during a follow-up period of from one to two and one-half years. It appears that factors other than a diffusion barrier to effective antimicrobial agents into the prostatic gland are responsible for the persistence of chronic bacterial infections of the prostate.
μ-2,3,5,6-Tetra-kis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine-bis-[(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)-ruthenium(II)] tetra-kis-(hexa-fluoridophosphate) acetonitrile tetra-solvate.

In the title compound [Ru2(C15H11N3)2(C24H16N6)](PF6)4·4CH3CN, two of the counter-ions and one of the solvent mol­ecules are disordered with occupancies for the major components between 0.57 (2) and 0.64 (1). The structure of the dinuclear tetracation exhibits significant distortion from planarity in the bridging 2,3,5,6-tetra­kis­(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine (tppz) ligand, which has a saddle-like geometry with an average dihedral angle of 42.96 (18)° between adjacent pyridine rings. The metal–ligand coordination environment is nearly equivalent for the two RuII atoms, which have a distorted octa­hedral geometry due to the restricted bite angle [157.57 (13)–159.28 (12)°] of their two mer-arranged tridendate ligands [2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpy) and tppz] orthogonal to each other. At the peripheral tpy ligands, the average Ru—N bond distance is 2.072 (4) A for the outer N atoms trans to each other (Nouter) and 1.984 (1) A for the central N atoms (Ncentral). At the bridging tppz ligand, the average metal–ligand distances are significantly shorter [2.058 (4) A for Ru—Nouter and 1.965 (1) A for Ru—Ncentral] as a result of both the geometric constraints and the stronger π-acceptor ability of the pyrazine-centered bridge. The dihedral angle between the two tpy planes is 27.11 (6)°. The intra­molecular linear distance between the two Ru atoms is 6.6102 (7) A.
New neurons retire early.

Using a new retrovirus-optogenetics technique, researchers have found that new neurons in the adult hippocampus are important for memory, but only at an immature stage, when they show enhanced synaptic plasticity.
Ketoconazole and prednisone to prevent recurrent ischemic priapism.

Purpose: To our knowledge no standard therapy exists for the prevention of recurrent ischemic priapism. We used ketoconazole and prednisone with dosing titrated according to serum testosterone levels to suppress sleep related erections in an attempt to prevent recurrent episodes.Materials and Methods: Eight patients with recurrent ischemic priapism were treated with ketoconazole and prednisone. Two patients had sickle cell anemia and 6 had idiopathic recurrent ischemic priapism. Testosterone was measured on initial presentation, and ketoconazole and prednisone dosing was titrated to approximately 200 ng/dl testosterone and based on the presence or absence of recurrent ischemic priapism epiosodes. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire was administered to evaluate for erectile dysfunction. Patients were seen monthly and therapy was withdrawn after 6 months.Results: Mean testosterone before and after treatment was 468 and 275 ng/dl, respectively. Mean followup was approximately 1.5 yea...
Disruption of the neuregulin 1 gene in the rat alters HPA axis activity and behavioral responses to environmental stimuli

Abstract Exposure to stress can result in an increased risk for psychiatric disorders, especially among genetically predisposed individuals. Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia and is also associated with psychotic bipolar disorder. In the rat, the neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus show strong expression of Nrg1 mRNA. In patients with schizophrenia, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5′ region of NRG1 interacts with psychosocial stress to affect reactivity to expressed emotion. However, there is virtually no information on the role of NRG1 in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function, and whether the protein is expressed in the paraventricular nucleus is unknown. The present studies utilize a unique line of Nrg1 hypomorphic rats (Nrg1Tn) generated by gene trapping with the Sleeping Beauty transposon. We first established that the Nrg1Tn rats displayed reduced expression of both the mRNA and protein corresponding to the Type II NRG1 isoform. After confirming, using wild type animals, that Type II NRG1 is expressed in the neurocircuitry involved in regulating hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis responses to environmental stimuli, the Nrg1Tn rats were then used to test the hypothesis that altered expression of Type II NRG1 disrupts stress regulation and reactivity. In support of this hypothesis, Nrg1Tn rats have disrupted basal and acute stress recovery corticosterone secretion, differential changes in expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the pituitary, paraventricular nucleus and hippocampus, and a failure to habituate to an open field. Together, these findings point to NRG1 as a potential novel regulator of neuroendocrine responses to stress as well as behavioral reactivity.
Lack of Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Lamotrigine and Olanzapine in Healthy Volunteers

Study Objective. To investigate the potential drug-drug interaction between lamotrigine, an antiepileptic agent used to treat bipolar disorders, and olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug also used to treat bipolar disorders, both of which are metabolized by the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase system. Design. Prospective cohort study. Setting. University center for clinical research. Subjects. Fourteen nonsmoking, healthy volunteers. Intervention. Subjects received lamotrigine 25 mg/day for 5 days, then 50 mg/day for 10 days to achieve steady-state concentrations. On day 15, blood samples were obtained before and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours after the dose. Lamotrigine 50 mg/day was then given for an additional 3 days. On the next day, lamotrigine 50 mg and olanzapine 5 mg were coadministered. Blood samples were obtained at the same times as before and at 48, 72, and 96 hours after dosing. Measurements and Main Results. Blood samples were assayed for lamotrigine and olanzapine concentrations by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. Olanzapine did not significantly affect lamotrigine disposition, as we observed no differences in the area under the concentration-time curve from 0–24 hours or in lamotrigine plasma concentrations at baseline or at 24 hours. For lamotrigine, the mean time to reach maximum concentration was significantly prolonged during olanzapine coadministration (mean ± SD 1.9 ± 1.3 vs 4.0 ± 3.0 hrs, p=0.025), possibly because of the anticholinergic properties associated with olanzapine. Mild sedation was the only adverse effect that occurred during lamotrigine and olanzapine coadministration. Conclusion. Lamotrigine and olanzapine can safely be combined in healthy volunteers at the low doses studied, without a clinically significant interaction. When prescribing high doses of olanzapine and lamotrigine for bipolar disorder, patients must be carefully monitored.
Fully transvenous cardioverter defibrillators: Rare need for subcutaneous patch with two newer-generation systems

Abstract In published series of nonthoracotomy ICDs, there has invariably been a need for combining transvenous lead(s) with a subcutaneous patch to obtain adequate DFTs. Since the newer generation transvenous lead ICD systems became available for clinical investigation, we have tested and implanted 38 such systems in patients with drug-refractory malignant ventricular arrhythmias who were first seen with aborted sudden death (n = 10), syncope (n = 3), or sustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 25). These patients (mean age 60 ± 15 years) had coronary artery disease (n = 25), congenital heart disease (n = 1), or cardiomyopathy (n = 12) as the underlying heart disease and a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 34% ± 16%. Seventeen (45%) patients had previous cardiac surgery (coronary bypass and/or valve replacement). The transvenous lead system included the Endotak C (single) lead of CPI (n = 27) or the EnGuard double-lead system of Telectronics (n = 11). The integrated pace/sense/defibrillation lead(s) were usually introduced via the left cephalic vein; after endocardiac positioning and testing, the leads were tunneled to the abdominal pocket in which the ICD device was implanted. DFTs were adequate for all patients (100%) and averaged 13.5 ± 5.4 J (range 2.4 to 25 J). A subcutaneous patch or array was needed in only three patients. Because of protocol requirements, a subcutaneous patch or electrode array was intraoperatively tested in another three patients but was finally not implanted because better DFTs were achieved with the transvenous lead-alone configuration. The leads were combined with second-generation devices in 12 patients and third-generation ICDs in 26 (68%) patients. Lead dislodgement required revision in 2 patients; 1 patient had ipsilateral venous thrombosis successfully treated with anticoagulation. At predischarge testing, all devices functioned well. We conclude that with the newer generation transvenous lead ICD systems there is rarely need for a subcutaneous patch, making possible pure transvenous ICD implants in the majority (92%) of patients.
The HER2 Receptor in Breast Cancer: Pathophysiology, Clinical Use, and New Advances in Therapy

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in around 20–30% of breast cancer tumors. It is associated with a more aggressive disease, higher recurrence rate, and increased mortality. Trastuzumab is a HER2 receptor blocker that has become the standard of care for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer. The effectiveness of Trastuzumab has been well validated in research as well as in clinical practice. The addition of Trastuzumab to standard of care chemotherapy in clinical trials has been shown to improve outcomes for early stage as well as metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer. The most clinically significant side effect of Trastuzumab is the risk of cardiac myocyte injury, leading to the development of congestive heart failure. The emergence of patterns of resistance to Trastuzumab has led to the discovery of new monoclonal antibodies and other targeted agents aimed at overcoming Trastuzumab resistance and improving survival in patients diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancers.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A GLUCOCORTICOID RESPONSE ELEMENT (GRE) IN THE OVINEβ1ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR (β 1AR) GENE PROMOTER † 282

We are investigating a developmental switch in hormonal regulation ofβ1AR gene expression. The lack of hormone responsiveness of the β1AR in the fetus and upregulation by steroids and thyroid hormones in the newborn and adults may represent a unique transcription mechanism of this physiologically critical receptor. To study this, we have cloned the ovineβ1AR gene and 2.3 kb of promoter sequence. Transient expression studies indicated that deletion of sequences between 1530 and 953 markedly increased transcription activity and may contain a repressor element. This region also encompasses a putative glucocorticoid response element (GRE1) and an AP1 site. A 186bp PCR fragment containing GRE1 was subcloned into a reporter vector. Dexamethasone, when cotransfected with the GRE1 and a vector expressing the glucocorticoid receptor, increased the transcription activity significantly in SKNMC but not in C6 cells. Gel retardation assay using the GRE1 DNA fragment also confirmed this cell type specific effect. Band shifts were observed in SKNMC but not in C6 cell nuclear extracts. DNase I footprinting assay also identified 3 sites resistant to DNase I. We conclude 1) GRE1 confers glucocorticoid response, an effect that is celltype specific and requires the presence of glucocorticoid receptor. 2) Glucocorticoid responsiveness is colocalized to a region which represses transcription. We speculate that mechanisms operating within this region in the ovine β1AR promoter may be responsible for its unique transcription regulation.
A simple method for coating native polysaccharides onto nitrocellulose.

Abstract A method for coating native, non-derivatized, polysaccharide (PS) onto nitrocellulose (NC) for identifying PS-specific antibodies has been developed. The new feature of this method is that PS molecules are vacuum filtered onto NC in their native state by devices that can accomodate NC of different sizes and shapes. PS-coated NC disks were used to localize antibody secreting hybridoma cells cultured on filter paper disk. These were analyzed by blotting with size-matched PS-coated NC disks and specific antibodies secreted by individual colonies were detected by enzyme-linked immunoblot. In another application of this method, immune sera were separated by isoelectric focusing and the gels were blotted with PS-coated NC sheets. The spectrotype and isotype of antibodies that bound to the NC were examined using isotype specific enzyme-linked antibody. These immunoblots showed high resolution and specificity. The advantages of this method are that the PS used for coating does not need to be derivatized in order to bind the NC, and that smaller quantities of PS may be utilized by this coating method when compared to other techniques. This provides a useful tool to ask many questions regarding the immune response to PS.
Purification and Partial Characterization of an Aminopeptidase from Micrococcus freudenreichii ATCC 407

Summary An aminopeptidase capable of hydrolyzing L-lysine-p-nitroanilide was purified from the cell-free extract of Micrococcus freudenreichii ATCC 407. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 43,000 and activity optima of pH 6.5 and 37°C. The aminopeptidase activity was stimulated by Ca ++ and strongly inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), 1,10 phenanthroline, HgCl 2 , iodoacetamide, and dithiothreitol. Activity of the enzyme also was markedly inhibited by sodium chloride at pH 5.0. The enzyme had a broad substrate specificity but was inactive on peptides having proline as the N- or C-terminal amino acid.
Nonparametric Estimation of Conditional Quantiles Using Neural Networks

We establish the consistency of nonparametric conditional quantile estimators based on artificial neural networks. The results follow from general results on sieve estimation for dependent processes. We also show that conditional quantiles can be learned to any pre-specified accuracy using approximate rather than exact network optimization.
Daily variations in the fattening response to prolactin in Fundulus grandis held on different photoperiods.

Gulf killifish were placed on three different photoperiods (8L:16D; 12L:12D; 16L:8D) and injected daily for six days with prolactin at one of several times during the day. Gains in fat stores resulted from prolactin injections given eight hours after the onset of light regardless of the length of the photoperiod. Prolactin injections at other times of the day did not stimulate fattening. These results suggest that the endogenous system controlling the daily fattening response to prolactin is phased by the onset of light.
Enhancing Undergraduate Chemistry Education with the Online Dynamic ChemWiki Resource

The ChemWiki is a multi-institutional, collaborative venture to develop free, open-access, dynamic chemistry textbooks. It contains an extensive, hyperlinked network of topic modules to provide a growing, “living” archive of content. Much of the content is still under construction and requires further participation from the chemistry education community to help develop the project to maturity and meet its full potential.
1,N6-etheno-2-aza-adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate: A new fluorescent substrate for cycle nucleotide phosphodiesterase☆

Abstract 1, N 6 -etheno-2-aza-adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic 2-aza-ϵ-AMP) has been shown to be a sensitive and an efficient substrate for the assay of cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The relative activity is 75% compared to cyclic AMP. Two K m values of 503 and 15 μ m were observed with the beef heart enzyme.
A Framework for Exploring Social Network and Personality-Based Predictors of Smart Grid Diffusion

So-called smart technologies are at the forefront of modern energy research. Many existing works focus on the effects of smart technologies, with scales ranging from a single household to an entire city. One area that is less studied is the adoption of these technologies. In this paper, we extend our prior work to develop a more robust framework for exploring the diffusion of basic smart grid technologies using a social-network-based model to study demand response adoption. This network is based around considering an end-user as a node, and any relationship where mutual trust and communication exists as an edge. In addition, we have incorporated mathematical representations of user personality traits in the decision-making progress to better simulate real-world actions. We observe greater usage of demand response when conventional electricity is high, when conscientiousness is high, and when the network is densely connected; all of these are reasonable results given logical behavior of the individual agents. Our model includes many tunable parameters in the update stages, of which the effects of only a few are included in this paper. This quantity of potential parameters, as well as the broad nature of the model and algorithm, makes our model a candidate for future improvement and development based on including different parameters.
Statistical analysis of the reasons for the varying magnetization of the granitoids of the Verkhoyansk-Chukotka fold region and the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt

The granitoid intrusions are classified into nonmagnetic, weakly magnetic, and strongly Magnetic groups. Various characteristics of the intrusions are examined and an attempt is made to statistically relate these characteristics of the intrusions to the intensity of magnetization. The conclusionsreached are: 1) the intensity of magnetization is closely related to the tectonic environment of emplacement. Intrusions emplaced into residual massifs and fold belts where fracturing is common tend to be magnetic. Those emplaced in regions of prolonged subsidence where fracturing is not common tend to be nonmagnetic. 2) Petrography of the intrusion does not seem to affect magnetization; nor does thetype of country rock. 3) The most highly magnetic intrusions are those emplaced at a depth of about 1 km. The intensity of magnetization drops off sharply for those emplaced at depths less than 1 km; a more gradient drop off is noticed for those emplaced at depths greater than 1 km. 4) The intensity of magnetization is...