cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cultured human and canine endothelial cells from brain microvessels.

Cultures of endothelial cells (EC) derived from human (autopsy) and canine brain microvessels were characterized with respect to growth, morphology, and biochemical features. The endothelial nature of these cells was confirmed by analyses of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, Factor VIII-related antigen, and ultrastructure. Human EC required coated substrates and tumor-conditioned medium to achieve rapid growth, and cells derived from human microvessels were morphologically diverse. In contrast, canine EC grew rapidly on plastic substrates and produced colonies of uniform morphology. Morphological variations of EC were associated with the use of heparin-containing medium and with the use of a commercially-prepared basement membrane extract (Matrigel®). Lectin histochemistry demonstrated that human EC lack the abundant α-galactose residues characteristic of canine EC membranes and organelles and that canine EC lack the α-N-acetylgalactosamine residues which are associated with human EC. The lectin Ricinus communis agglutinin I may be useful for distinguishing canine EC from pericytes. Gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins revealed protein bands present in human EC at Mr 210,000 and 37,000—39,500 which were not present in canine EC. These proteins may be related to the presence of junctional complexes in cultures of human EC.
MO‐E‐204B‐01: JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR WINNER: A New Simple, Accurate, and Quantitative Approach for Routine Quality Assurance in Digital Radiography

Purpose: We report on a new approach for measuring the MTF, instrumentation‐noise‐equivalent exposure (INEE), and DQE that is easily implemented, highly accurate, and does not require specialized measurement devices. No slits, edges, alignment devices, or other costly accessories are needed. Method and Materials: A method has been developed to obtain the MTF, INEE, and DQE using only the noisecharacteristics in dark‐ and flat‐field images. For demonstration, measurements were done on three different detector technologies: an x‐ray image intensifier, a flat‐panel detector, and a solid‐state x‐ray image intensifier. Ten dark‐field and flat‐field images (obtained at one exposure level using RQA 5) were acquired according to standard guidelines and the NPS was measured for each set of images. The electronic part of the NPS (constant, irrespective of exposure) and the quantum part of the NPS (proportional with exposure) could then be separated. MTFs were determined from the quantum part of the NPS using the new noise‐response (NR) method. Frequency‐dependent INEEs were measured by determining the exposure where quantum and electronic noise would be equivalent, thereby quantifying the quantum‐limited operating range of the detector. DQEs were determined from the measuredMTFs and NPSs. A software package was written to automate the analysis. Results: Using this simplified approach, we observed agreement within 5% at the detector Nyquist frequency (even better agreement at lower spatial frequencies) with the most rigorous metric measurement methods. Measurements took less than 10 minutes per detector and were stable over a three‐month period, indicating no changes in, or problems with, detector performance. Conclusions: This work describes a simple technique for quantitative measurement of detector performance in terms of resolution (MTF),noise (INEE), and signal‐to‐noise ratio (DQE) that can be practically implemented into routine QA programs to assist in the verification of proper imagingsystem performance. (Support: NIH Grant RO1EB008425)
Study of irradiated mod.9Cr–1Mo steel by synchrotron extended X-ray absorption fine structure

Abstract Synchrotron extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy measurements were performed to study the dose dependence of and alloying effects on irradiation-induced changes in the local atomic environments in a mod.9Cr–1Mo ferritic-martensitic steel. The measurements were carried out at room temperature on non-irradiated and irradiated specimens exposed to 1, 4, and 10 displacement per atom (dpa) at 40–70 °C. The EXAFS data for Fe, Cr, Mo, and Nb K-edges were recorded, and the local structure close to the X-ray absorbing atom was determined. Irradiation caused significant reductions in peak amplitude in the Fe, Mo and Nb K-edge Fourier transformed EXAFS. The data showed a systematic decrease in coordination number of neighbor atoms with increasing irradiation dose, and the dose dependence of the coordination loss was dependent on the specific element. The measured damage around Fe sites can be correlated with the dpa value, while the loss of near neighbors around Mo saturated at ∼1 dpa. The coordination in the Fe matrix was reduced less by irradiation than either the coordination of Mo in solution or Nb in carbides. It was demonstrated that EXAFS can provide a detailed, atomic level description of radiation damage in complex alloy systems.
Defining the differential sensitivity to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in the ovine uterine vasculature

The intact ovine uterine vascular bed (UVB) is sensitive to α-agonists and refractory to angiotensin II (ANG II) during pregnancy; the converse occurs in the systemic circulation. The mechanism(s) ...
Bovine DNA contains a single major family of interspersed repetitive sequences.

A major family of short, interspersed, repeated sequences in the bovine genome has been characterized. This family makes up the majority of all non-satellite repetitive DNA or about 6% of the bovine genome. It is estimated that there are at least 600000 copies of this family interspersed among non-repetitive DNA sequences. Sequence analysis shows that this family includes sequences reported previously by Watanabe et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 1459–1469, 1982) and is distantly related to the human Alu sequence family.
Testing the Boundaries of Computerized Cognitive Control Training on Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Cognitive control training (CCT) uses computer-based exercises to increase prefrontal cortex activation. Recent studies have found that depressed participants who received CCT significantly reduce their negative affect and rumination, and improve focus and concentration (Siegle et al. in Cogn Ther Res 31:235–262, 2007; Calkins et al. 2011). These promising findings raise questions about the degree to which this intervention may have use in other disorders; specifically, can CCT reduce the inflexible thinking characteristic of individuals with OCD? In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of three sessions of CCT, relative to a control intervention, on obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms in a community sample of individuals selected on the basis of elevated scores on the OCI-R. We hypothesized that those in the CCT condition would report a greater reduction in OC symptoms than those in the control condition. Additionally we assessed the ability to disengage from unattainable goals by using an unsolvable anagram task. To target the intervention to OC rather than mood symptoms, we excluded participants with elevated depression scores. Forty-eight participants (28 female, mean age 28.9 years) meeting eligibility criteria were randomized to receive three sessions of CCT or the control intervention (a computerized visual task) over a 2-week period. Following training, we did not find a significant difference between groups on OCI-R scores, indicating that this application of CCT was ineffective in meaningfully reducing OC symptoms (d = 0.27). Significant differences were found for affect ratings between groups, with participants in the CCT group showing larger decreases (d = 0.62) in negative affect scores across the three sessions of training. Hence, the CCT intervention may be more specific to mood than a direct modulator of cognitive inflexibility. Examination of the effects of additional sessions of CCT or CCT as an augmentation to exposure therapy remains to be investigated.
Low frequency sensorless Field Oriented Control of an induction machine fed by a direct matrix converter

The main open problem in sensorless Field Oriented Control is to achieve orientation at very low frequency due to the low back-EMF signal, affecting the capability of any observer structure to estimate flux and speed. This problem is worsen by the converter non-linearities, like voltage drop and dead-time in VSI, that become significant at low frequency. This problem restricts the sensorless operation of nay drive to medium and high frequencies. On the other hand, Matrix Converters have received increasing attention recently and their benefits are still being studied. One of this benefits is the capability to synthesize better sinusoidal voltages, having an almost linear behaviour when controlled with four step commutation. Furthermore, the small commutation error of the four step commutation strategy has been characterized in literature and can be compensated. In this paper, the low speed performance of a sensorless vector controlled Matrix Converter drive is studied experimentally and the effects of the compensation of the device voltage drop and commutation error is evaluated. The well known extended Kalman filter (EKF) structure is used as state observer.
Actions of the protein kinase WNK1 on endothelial cells are differentially mediated by its substrate kinases OSR1 and SPAK

The with no lysine (K) (WNK) family of enzymes is best known for control of blood pressure through regulation of the function and membrane localization of ion cotransporters. In mice, global as well as endothelial-specific WNK1 gene disruption results in embryonic lethality due to angiogenic and cardiovascular defects. WNK1−/− embryos can be rescued by endothelial-specific expression of a constitutively active form of the WNK1 substrate protein kinase OSR1 (oxidative stress responsive 1). Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we explored mechanisms underlying the requirement of WNK1–OSR1 signaling for vascular development. WNK1 is required for cord formation in HUVECs, but the actions of the two major WNK1 effectors, OSR1 and its close relative SPAK (STE20/SPS1-related proline-, alanine-rich kinase), are distinct. SPAK is important for endothelial cell proliferation, whereas OSR1 is required for HUVEC chemotaxis and invasion. We also identified the zinc-finger transcription factor Slug in WNK1-mediated control of endothelial functions. Our study identifies a separation of functions for the WNK1-activated protein kinases OSR1 and SPAK in mediating proliferation, invasion, and gene expression in endothelial cells and an unanticipated link between WNK1 and Slug that is important for angiogenesis.
Mariner Transposable Element in Insect Cell Lines

Fully degenerate polymersae chain reaction (PCR) primers, designed to represent amino-acid conserved regions between transposase genes of the Drosophila mauritiana Tsacas & David and Hyalophora cecropia (L.) mariner transposable elements, were used to screen genomic DNA of 17 insect cell lines for a possible mariner -like element. All cell lines except that of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were positive, yielding a single appropriately sized band of 490 bp. This PCR product from 2 of the cell lines, Heliothis subflexa (Guenee) and Heliothis virescens (F.), was further characterized by cloning and direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA products to confirm whether the product was a mariner -like transposon element. Alignment of the direct sequenced PCR-amplified DNA mariner -like element showed an amino acid identity of 43% to the mariner transposase gene of the Surinam cockroach, Pycnocelus surinamensis (L.).
Empowering Effective Teamwork for Machine Risk Reduction in the Workplace

The need for teamwork creates new requirements for engineers who use the new ANSI guidelines (B11 TR3-2000) for reducing risks associated with machines. Specifically, the guidelines state that “...a team of involved personnel (e.g., operators, maintenance, engineering) should participate in the risk assessment and reduction effort.” The goal of such teams is to achieve tolerable risk. If they are to be effective team members, engineers will need skills in team leadership; identifying tasks and their associated hazards; using risk assessment tools; developing consensus about degree of risk; and selling the team’s proposed risk reduction measures to management. This paper describes the stages of the TR3 process and focuses on engineering leadership skill development. Leadership must face the challenges of change and instill a sense of trust in the process so that a machine risk assessment team’s injury reduction work can be effective.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Extremals of determinants of Laplacians

On etudie le determinant associe au laplacien en fonction de la metrique sur une surface donnee et en particulier ses valeurs extremes quand la metrique est bien restreinte
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) is a specialized technique used to provide information about the geographic, chemical, and biological origins of substances. The ability to determine the source of an organic substance stems from the relative isotopic abundances of the elements which comprise the material. Because the isotope ratios of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen can become locally enriched or depleted through a variety of kinetic and thermodynamic factors, measurement of the isotope ratios can be used to differentiate between samples which otherwise share identical chemical compositions. Several sample introduction methods are now available for commercial isotope ratio mass spectrometers. Combustion is most commonly used for bulk isotopic analysis, whereas gas and liquid chromatography are predominately used for the real-time isotopic analysis of specific compounds within a mixture. Here, highlights of advances in instrumentation and applications within the last three years are provided to illustrate the impact of this rapidly growing area of research. Some prominent new applications include authenticating organic food produce, ascertaining whether or not African elephants are guilty of night-time raids on farmers' crops, and linking forensic drug and soil samples from a crime scene to a suspected point of origin. For the sake of brevity, we focus this Minireview on the isotope ratio measurements of lighter-elements common to organic sources; we do not cover the equally important field of inorganic isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
Statistical bandwidth scavenging for prioritized device coexistence

Dynamic Spectrum Access in a Wireless LAN can enable a set of secondary users' devices to access unused spectrum, or whitespace, which is found between the transmissions of a set of primary users' devices. The primary design objective for an efficient secondary user access strategy is to be able to “scavenge” spatio-temporally fragmented bandwidth while limiting the amount of interference caused to the primary users. In this paper, we propose a secondary user access strategy which is based on measurement and modeling of the whitespace as perceived by the secondary users in a WLAN. A secondary user monitors and models its surrounding whitespace, and then accesses the available spectrum so that the effective secondary throughput is maximized while the resulting interference to the primary users is limited to a pre-defined bound. We first develop analytical expressions for the secondary throughput and primary interference, and then perform ns2 based simulation experiments to validate the effectiveness of the proposed access strategy, and evaluate its performance numerically using the developed expressions. The results show that the proposed access strategies are able to consistently scavenge between 90% and 96% of the available whitespace bandwidth, while keeping the primary users disruption less than 5%.
Biomarkers of Exposure among U.S. Cigar Smokers: An Analysis of 1999–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Data

Background: Cigar consumption is increasing in the United States, but little information is available about exposure to toxic constituents from cigar smoking. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of biomarkers of tobacco exposure among 25,522 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999–2012). The biomarkers analyzed were serum cotinine, urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), blood lead, blood cadmium, and urinary arsenic. We calculated geometric mean concentrations for each biomarker by tobacco use category and geometric mean ratios controlling for demographic factors. Results: Cigar smokers had higher cotinine, NNAL, and lead concentrations than nontobacco users. The geometric mean concentration [95% confidence interval (CI)] of cotinine for primary cigar smokers (i.e., current cigar/never cigarette smokers) was 6.2 (4.2–9.2) ng/mL versus 0.045 (0.043–0.048) ng/mL for nontobacco users, and the NNAL concentration was 19.1 (10.6–34.3) pg/mg creatinine for primary cigar smokers versus 1.01 (0.95–1.07) pg/mg creatinine for nontobacco users. Secondary cigar smokers (i.e., current cigar/former cigarette smokers) and dual cigar/cigarette smokers had higher cadmium concentrations than nontobacco users. Cigar smoking was associated with significantly higher concentrations of cotinine, NNAL, cadmium, and lead, after adjusting for demographic factors. Secondary cigar smokers had significantly higher cotinine and NNAL concentrations than primary cigar smokers. The NNAL concentrations in daily cigar smokers were comparable with those in daily cigarette smokers. Conclusions: Cigar smokers have higher concentrations of several toxic and carcinogenic substances than nontobacco users. Impact: Our results are consistent with epidemiologic evidence demonstrating cigar smoking as a cause of disease and premature death. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2906–15. ©2014 AACR .
Many Patients Continue Using Proton Pump Inhibitors After Negative Results From Tests for Reflux Disease

Background & Aims Ambulatory reflux testing is used to evaluate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refractory to protein pump inhibitors (PPIs). We investigated the prevalence of PPI use in patients with negative results from Bravo pH or multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) tests and factors that might predict the use of PPIs. Methods We analyzed data from patients who had undergone Bravo pH monitoring or MII-pH testing at Northwestern University, without evidence of reflux disease. Demographics, endoscopy findings, pathology results, and provider recommendations were obtained via chart review. Eligible patients (n = 90) were contacted by telephone, and a cross-sectional survey was administered with questions about symptom severity, demographics, medication use, and health behaviors. Patients were compared by current PPI use, and statistical analyses were performed by using SAS version 9.2 software. Results Thirty-eight patients (42.2%) reported current PPI use despite a negative result from a pH study. Only 17 patients (18.9%) recalled being instructed to stop taking PPIs; chart review showed documented instructions to stop PPI therapy for 15 patients (16.7%). There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics among patients compared by current PPI use. Patients taking a PPI were more likely than those not taking a PPI to report troublesome symptoms that affected their daily life, as measured by a questionnaire for the diagnosis of GERD (the GerdQ). Conclusions More than 42% of patients with negative results from pH monitoring studies continue PPI therapy despite physiological data that they do not have GERD.
Pharmacological studies of the mouse cone electroretinogram.

Electroretinography provides a useful noninvasive approach to evaluate cone pathway activity. Despite wide application of the cone ERG to characterize retinal function in transgenic mice and mouse models of human hereditary retinal disease, the cellular origins of the mouse cone ERG have not been well defined. Here, we address this issue using a pharmacological approach that has been previously applied to other species. Agents that block receptor activation at well-defined retinal loci were dissolved in saline and injected into the vitreous of anesthetized adult BALBc/ByJ mice; cone ERGs were recorded 1–2 h later. Analysis of the resulting waveforms indicated that the mouse cone ERG includes a cornea-negative component that is derived from the activity of cone photoreceptors and retinal glial (Muller) cells. Similar to other species, activity of cone depolarizing bipolar cells contributes a large amplitude cornea-positive potential to the mouse cone ERG. In contrast to primate but similar to rat, the mouse cone ERG includes only a small contribution from hyperpolarizing bipolar cell activity. The inner retina appears to contribute to both the a- and b-waves of the mouse cone ERG. These results provide a foundation for interpreting changes in the waveform of the mouse cone ERG that may be observed following genetic alteration or other experimental treatment.
Measurement of nondegenerate nonlinearities using a two-color Z scan.

A simple dual-wavelength (two-color) Z-scan geometry is demonstrated for measuring nonlinearities at frequency ωp owing to the presence of light at ωe. This technique gives the nondegenerate two-photon absorption (2PA) coefficient β(ωp; ωe) and the nondegenerate nonlinear refractive index n2(ωp; ωe), i.e., cross-phase modulation. We demonstrate this technique on CS2 for n2 and on ZnSe where 2PA and n2 are present simultaneously.
Pond pH, Acid Tolerance, and Water Preference in Newts of Vermont

Notophthalmus viridescens (Red-spotted Newt) collected from 3 low-pH ponds (ca. 4.8) and 3 high-pH ponds (ca. 8.1) in Vermont varied in pH tolerance and water preference. While newts from all ponds survived in pH values as low as 4.4, the mean 10- day survival of newts in pH = 3.2 was 69% for newts from the low-pH Green Mountain ponds compared to 33% for newts from the high-pH Taconic Mountain ponds. Taconic Mountain newts selected water from Taconic ponds 73% of the time, while Green Moun- tain newts exhibited no preference for pond water from either mountain range. In order to isolate the effect of pH on water choice, we conducted an experiment in which newts chose between reconstituted soft water (RSW) that had been adjusted to either high pH (8.0) or low pH (4.5). Taconic Mountain newts selected high-pH RSW 72% of the time. Although Green Mountain newts exhibited no preference for pond water having high or low pH, they selected the high-pH RSW 70% of the time. These differences in pH toler- ance and water preference between Green and Taconic Mountain newts may represent local adaptation shaping population distribution and divergence.
The ouabain-dependent Na(+)-K+ pump and the brain renin-angiotensin system.

The present study investigated the role of ouabain-dependent inhibition of the Na+ -K+ pump and stimulation of the brain renin-angiotensin system by looking at 1) the short-term and long-term effects of ouabain on arterial blood pressure, and 2) the acute and chronic effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) intraventricularly (i.c.v.) on the release of an endogenous inhibitor of the Na+ -K+ pump. Ouabain infused subcutaneously in a dose of 1.5 mg.kg−1. 24 h−1 for 7 days did not affect arterial blood pressure in rats, whereas increases in both blood pressure and weight were observed in rats infused with ouabain at the same dose for a 4-week period. Plasma supernate obtained from pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs acutely treated with ANG II (1 μg i.c.v. every 30 min for 2 h) induced a 44% decrease in the ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake by the rat tail artery which was prevented by pretreatment with saralasin i.c.v. Plasma supernate obtained from dogs that were infused for 4 days with ANG II (20 ng/min i.c.v.) and rec...
Marine chemical ecology: what's known and what's next?

Abstract In this review, I summarize recent developments in marine chemical ecology and suggest additional studies that should be especially productive. Direct tests in both the field and laboratory show that secondary metabolites commonly function as defenses against consumers. However, some metabolites also diminish fouling, inhibit competitors or microbial pathogens, and serve as gamete attractants; these alternative functions are less thoroughly investigated. We know little about how consumers perceive secondary metabolites or how ecologically realistic doses of defensive metabolites affect consumer physiology or fitness, as opposed to feeding behavior. Secondary metabolites have direct consequences, but they do not act in isolation from other prey characteristics or from the physical and biological environment in which organisms interact with their natural enemies. This mandates that marine chemical ecology be better integrated into a broader and more complex framework that includes aspects of physiological, population, community, and even ecosystem ecology. Recent advances in this area involve assessing how chemically mediated interactions are affected by physical factors such as flow, desiccation, UV radiation, and nutrient availability, or by biological forces such as the palatability or defenses of neighbors, fouling organisms, or microbial symbionts. Chemical defenses can vary dramatically among geographic regions, habitats, individuals within a local habitat, and within different portions of the same individual. Factors affecting this variance are poorly known, but include physical stresses and induction due to previous attack. Studies are needed to assess which consumers induce prey defenses, how responses vary in environments with differing physical characteristics, and whether the ‘induced’ responses are a direct response to consumer attack or are a defense against microbial pathogens invading via feeding wounds. Although relatively unstudied, ontogenetic shifts in concentrations and types of defenses occur in marine species, and patterns of larval chemical defenses appear to provide insights into the evolution of complex life cycles and of differing modes of development among marine invertebrates. The chemical ecology of marine microbes is vastly underappreciated even though microbes produce metabolites that can have devastating indirect effects on non-target organisms (e.g., red tide related fish kills) and significantly affect entire ecosystems. The natural functions of these metabolites are poorly understood, but they appear to deter both consumers and other microbes. Additionally, marine macro-organisms use metabolites from microbial symbionts to deter consumers, subdue prey, and defend their embryos from pathogens. Microbial chemical ecology offers unlimited possibilities for investigators that develop rigorous and more ecologically relevant approaches.
Loneliness and health: potential mechanisms.

Objective Two studies using cross-sectional designs explored four possible mechanisms by which loneliness may have deleterious effects on health: health behaviors, cardiovascular activation, cortisol levels, and sleep. Methods In Study 1, we assessed autonomic activity, salivary cortisol levels, sleep quality, and health behaviors in 89 undergraduate students selected based on pretests to be among the top or bottom quintile in feelings of loneliness. In Study 2, we assessed blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol levels, sleep quality, and health behaviors in 25 older adults whose loneliness was assessed at the time of testing at their residence. Results Total peripheral resistance was higher in lonely than nonlonely participants, whereas cardiac contractility, heart rate, and cardiac output were higher in nonlonely than lonely participants. Lonely individuals also reported poorer sleep than nonlonely individuals. Study 2 indicated greater age-related increases in blood pressure and poorer sleep quality in lonely than nonlonely older adults. Mean salivary cortisol levels and health behaviors did not differ between groups in either study. Conclusions Results point to two potentially orthogonal predisease mechanisms that warrant special attention: cardiovascular activation and sleep dysfunction. Health behavior and cortisol regulation, however, may require more sensitive measures and large sample sizes to discern their roles in loneliness and health.
Residual stresses and their effect on wear behavior of polycrystalline zirconia overcoated disks

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies were conducted to investigate the wear behavior of unlubricated polycrystalline zirconia-overcoated disks. The results indicate that the overcoat is susceptible to cracking in the direction of sliding. Cracking in the zirconia-overcoated disks appears to initiate at triple points and propagates along the grain boundaries. The tendency to crack formation appears to be related to the presence of a residual stress in the sputtered overcoat and also to nanometer-scale porosity at the grain boundaries. Preliminary X-ray diffraction investigations suggest that a compressive residual stress of about 3.5 GPa is present in the overcoat. >
Impact of dopamine agonists on compulsive behaviors: a case series of pramipexole-induced pathological gambling.

Background Dopamine agonists (DAs), long used in treating Parkinson's disease and effective in relieving symptoms of restless legs syndrome, have frequently been reported to induce problematic compulsive behaviors (e.g., obsessive gambling, hypersexuality) in individuals who had never had difficulties with such behaviors before. Objective The authors report two cases that add to a small-but-growing literature suggesting that these drugs be dispensed with appropriate caution. Method The authors describe two patients seen in a psychiatric setting—one, after a suicide attempt, and one with depression—both resulting from intractable compulsive gambling. Results In both instances, control of gambling was achieved: in one, when pramipexole was discontinued, and in the other, after substitution of ropinirole and addition of spiritual and support-group approaches. Discussion DAs stimulate pathways that govern reward behavior, including pleasure and addiction. Other reward behaviors, such as eating and sexual activity, may also be affected by DAs. These cases demonstrate a clear temporal relationship between initiation and behavioral change; patients and their caregivers should be alerted to the possibility of such changes.
Effect of Dietary Fat and Postruminal Casein Administration on Milk Composition of Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract Perturbation of the amino acid status of lactating dairy cows was undertaken to characterize the mechanism of dietary fat-induced milk protein depression. Four first lactation heifers fitted with rumen cannulas were assigned to a factorial arrangement of treatments: two diets and two casein infusion sites within a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Diets were formulated with yellow grease at 0 or 4% of DM. An 8% sodium caseinate solution was infused continuously at 5.04 kg/d (SE = .05) into the rumen or abomasum during the last 5 d of each 21-d period. Dry matter, N, energy, and NDF digestibilities were reduced by dietary fat treatment, but intakes of digestible DM, N, and energy were not affected. Yellow grease supplementation improved milk yield 14% and milk fat content 7%, whereas lactose, CP, and casein N percentages in milk were reduced. Abomasal sodium caseinate infusions had no effect on milk yield or composition other than to increase protein and casein N concentrations. Dietary fat-induced milk protein depression remained evident during abomasal casein treatments, indicating a mechanism independent of amino acid status of the cow. Improved intestinal availability of amino acids partially reversed detrimental effects of dietary fat on milk protein fractions.
Regulation of cGMP-induced relaxation and cGMP-dependent protein kinase in rat myometrium during pregnancy

Increases in guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) induced by nitric oxide (NO), nitrovasodilators, and atrial peptides correlate with relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Relaxation of myom...
Density-dependent sexual reproduction in natural populations of the rotifer asplanchna girodi

The monogonont rotifer Asplanchna girodi was continuously present in daily and bi-daily plankton samples of Golf Course Pond during the spring of 1977. Two cycles of sexual reproduction occurred during this period. By isolation and culture of females it was possible to determine the reproductive type of collected individuals. Data thus obtained suggest that environmental cues associated with population density are responsible for the production of sexual females.
Patient Preferences for Receiving Reports of Test Results

Introduction: The general public’s preferences for modes of communication (other than in-person communication) for medical test results were investigated. We hypothesized that patients would prefer a variety of methods to receive common tests results (blood cholesterol and colonoscopy) compared with genetics test results. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. Results: A total of 409 participants responded to the survey. Among these participants, >50% reported that they were comfortable receiving results for a blood cholesterol test or colonoscopy via 4 of the 7 non–in-person communication methods (password-protected website, personal voicemail, personal E-mail, and letter were preferred over home voicemail, fax, and mobile phone text message). In comparison, >50% of participants were comfortable with only 1 non–in-person communication method for non-HIV sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and none for genetic tests. Patients were least comfortable receiving any information via fax, regardless of test type. There were statistical differences among comfort levels for blood cholesterol and colonoscopy tests and both STIs and genetic testing for personal voicemail, personal E-mail, mobile phone text message, and password-protected website, but there were no differences between STIs and genetic testing. No correlation was found between “familiarity” with test and “comfort” of receiving information about specific test. Conclusions: Participants demonstrated preferences in how they received test results by non–inperson communication methods, preferring personal E-mail and password-protected websites, but did not prefer fax. Importantly, participants also demonstrated that preference was dependent on test type. (J Am Board Fam Med 2015;28:759 –766.)
An interdisciplinary approach to integrated modeling of human systems for spaceflight

Upon undertaking the visionary task of constructing a "digital human" for space physiology, it is prudent to focus on specific questions that might be answered by integrated models. For example, to address cardiovascular alterations risks during space travel, one can benefit from modeling the steady-state and dynamical responses of cardiovascular system variables (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) following hypothetical perturbations of the system's parameters, such as cardiac electrical state changes. At a multi-system level, one may want to study effects of exercise by incorporating models of skeletal muscle, metabolism, etc. This paper reports on initial efforts to link multiple human system models using an interdisciplinary approach. In this effort, we have connected a medium-fidelity physics-based model of the left and right ventricles of the heart with an existing cardiovascular system simulation (RCVSIM), using the High Level Architecture (HLA) standard for simulation interoperability developed in the Department of Defense (DoD), to produce a Cardiovascular-Ventricular System (CVVS) federated simulation. The combined simulation allows hemodynamic consequences of an arrhythmia to be simulated with modest computational resources in a reasonable time. The paper also reports on extensions to make the simulation suitable for simulating and understanding cardiovascular responses to different exercise regimens.
18-electron rule and the 3c/4e hyperbonding saturation limit.

We show that the empirical 18-electron rule of transition metal chemistry corresponds to an intrinsic saturation limit for the 3c/4e hyperbonding interactions that are a ubiquitous feature of D-block aggregation phenomena. Such a "rule" therefore requires no "p-orbital participation," "d(2) sp(3) hybridization," "valence shell expansion," or other p-type intrusions into the Aufbau orbital filling sequence. Instead, 18e stability corresponds to the natural terminus of post-Lewis 3c/4e resonance-type stabilizations that lead to successive ligand additions (and formal increments of electron count) at a transition metal center, all within the normal (s + 5d) confines of D-block valence space.
MiRNA-145 Regulates the Development of Congenital Heart Disease Through Targeting FXN

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in infants in the world. The study of CHDs has come a long way since their classification and description. Although transcriptional programmes that are impaired in individuals with CHDs are being identified, the mechanisms of how these deficiencies translate to a structural defect are unknown. In this study, using high-throughput microarray analysis and molecular network analysis, FXN was identified to be the most differentially expressed key gene in CHD. By TargetScan analysis, we predicted FXN was the target gene of miRNA-145 and miRNA-182. Through real-time PCR analysis of clinical samples and experiments in cell lines, we confirmed that miRNA-145 but not miRNA-182 directly binds to the 3' UTR region of FXN and negatively regulates its expression. We further found that through targeting FXN, miRNA-145 regulates apoptosis and mitochondrial function. In general, our study confirmed the differentially expressed FXN regulates the development of CHD and the differential expression was under the control of miRNA-145. These results might provide new insight into the understanding of the CHD pathogenesis and may facilitate further therapeutic studies.
Fatty acid and fatty aldehyde composition of the major brain lipids in normal human gray matter, white matter, and myelin

Gray matter, white matter, and myelin were isolated from the frontal lobes of the brains of humans aged 10 months, 6 yr, 9 yr, and 55 yr. The major lipids, including ethanolamine glycerophosphatides (EGP), serine glycerophosphatides (SGP), choline glycerophosphatides (CGP), sphingomyelin, cerebroside, cerebroside sulfate, and ceramide were isolated by column chromatography and their fatty acid and fatty aldehyde compositions were determined by gas–liquid chromatography. EGP and SGP from myelin had a fatty aldehyde composition which differed from that of EGP and SGP from gray matter; octadecenaldehydes were present in much higher proportions in these lipids from myelin than in those from gray matter. EGP and SGP also contained high proportions of 20- and 22-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas CGP contained small proportions of these acids. Each glycerophosphatide from gray matter contained approximately 3- to 6-fold higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids than did the same glycerophosphatide from myelin. Sphingomyelin, cerebroside, cerebroside sulfate, and ceramide also differed in their fatty acid compositions depending upon their tissue source; each sphingolipid from myelin in the younger subjects contained 5- to 9-fold higher proportions of long-chain fatty acids (C19-C26) than did the same sphingolipid from gray matter. The lipids from myelin in the baby (10 months) were very similar to those from myelin in the adult, both with respect to their content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and to their content of long-chain fatty acids. These findings suggest that myelin in the baby is “chemically mature” in its lipid composition at an early age.
Quantum-resolved molecular beam-Surface scattering: ammonia scattered from W(100) and Au(111)

We have measured the rotational, velocity, and angular distributions of ammonia scattered from, single-crystal tungsten (100) and gold (111) surfaces. These are the first quantum-resolved measurements to be carried out for a polyatomic molecule scattered from a single-crystal surface. A quadruply differentially pumped molecular beam apparatus is used to produce an intense pulsed rotationally cold supersonic molecular beam of ammonia which is scattered from a well-characterized single-crystal surface.
NOTE ON THE CONTINUING DECLINE OF DOCTORAL TRAINING IN MEASUREMENT

An evaluation is made of the current status of graduate training in psychological measurement defined in terms of psychometrics.
CEO Age,Company Risk and Risk-taking Behavior

We study CEO of listed companies in A-share stock market from 2007 to 2012,and try to find out the influence of their age on both the characteristics of market risk and risk-taking behavior of listed companies.Our evidence indicates that smaller stock return volatilities tends to correlates with greater CEO ages.Further study shows that,older CEOs reduce firm risk by less risky investment policies,such as investing less money in RD,maintaining lower operating leverage ratio and lower degree of over-investment.The conclusion provides a better understanding of older CEO risk-taking behavior,and evidence of hiring CEOs based on age for the different risk characteristics of listed companies.
Drug-mineral interactions: A new responsibility for the hospital dietitian

Recent hospital accreditation guidelines encourage hospital dietitians to monitor patient drug therapy and provide education regarding drug-food interactions. However, information concerning these interactions is lacking, even though they can occur frequently. Minerals in foods can complex with drugs and/or alter the gastrointestinal environment to affect the normal absorption processes of drugs and minerals. There are three types of drug-mineral interactions: (a) malabsorption of the mineral and/or drug; (b) mineral depletion and retention; and (c) drug-mineral interactions induced by simultaneous antacid ingestion. It is recommended that oral drugs be administered on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal and at least 2 hours before or after antacid use. A small snack of refined carbohydrates with low nutrient density can be consumed with drugs that cause gastric upset when given on an empty stomach.
Comparison of low frequency charge noise in identically patterned Si/SiO2 and Si/SiGe quantum dots

We investigate and compare the charge noise in Si/SiO2 and Si/SiGe gate defined quantum dots with identically patterned gates by measuring the low frequency 1/f current noise through the biased quantum dots in the coulomb blockade regime. The current noise is normalized and used to extract a measurement of the potential energy noise in the system. Additionally, the temperature dependence of this noise is investigated. The measured charge noise in Si/SiO2 compares favorably with that of the SiGe device as well as previous measurements made on other substrates suggesting Si/SiO2 is a potential candidate for spin based quantum computing.
Rac and Rap GTPase Activation Assays

The detection of Ras superfamily GTPase activity in neutrophils is important when studying signaling events elicited by various ligands and cellular processes. Substantial progress in monitoring GTPase activation has been made in recent years by the development of high-affinity probes for small GTPases. These probes are created by fusing a high-affinity GTPase-binding domain derived from a specific downstream effector protein to glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Such domains bind preferentially to the GTP-bound form of specific Rho or Ras GTPases. Coupling these probes to beads enables extraction of the complex and subsequent quantification of active GTP-binding protein by immunoblotting. Although effector domains that discriminate efficiently between GDP- and GTP-bound states and highly specific antibodies are not yet available for many small GTPases, analysis of certain members of the Rho and Ras GTPase family are now routinely performed. Here, we describe affinity-based pull-down assays for detection of Rac/Cdc42 and Rap activity in stimulated neutrophils.
Can twitter posts predict stock behavior?: A study of stock market with twitter social emotion

With the applications of clouds computing and social network, it is of great interests for investors to grasp the variation and predict the trend in stock market. Because of too many factors that affect the stock market, it is quite difficult for a thorough understanding and successful prediction of the variation and the trend of stock market. By retrieving the emotional vocabulary in twitter social media, this paper aims to find the relevance of twitter users' mood change when they share tweets regarding the company's stock price trends. The study also implies some more accurate and efficient ways to improve the accuracy of prediction of the stock.
Chapter 82 - PET Imaging of Neuromodulation Designing Experiments to Detect Endogenous Transmitter Release

This chapter presents a simulation study that examines the possibility of using positron emission tomography and bolus injections of a receptor ligand to detect changes in release of an endogenous neurotransmitter caused by the performance of a cognitive or motor task. Simulations are generated using a compartmental model for the receptor binding that had been expanded to include competition between an exogenous ligand and endogenous transmitter. Cognitive activation is modeled as causing a step change in transmitter concentration. The dopamine system is simulated because the kinetics of the D 2 receptor ligand, [ 11 C]-raclopride, are well characterized. The chapter examines the detectability of dopamine release due to a 7 min activation task beginning at the time of [ 11 C]-raclopride injection. It also investigates the relationship between the binding characteristics of radioligands and detectability. Interestingly, detectability did not correlate with the equilibrium affinity constant. Rather, simulations indicated that detectability could be maximized by the use of an irreversible ligand, that is, a ligand with a very small dissociation rate constant. The timing of the activation task is examined for various ligands.