cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physiological underpinnings associated with differences in pace of life and metabolic rate in north temperate and neotropical birds

Animal life-history traits fall within limited ecological space with animals that have high reproductive rates having short lives, a continuum referred to as a “slow-fast” life-history axis. Animals of the same body mass at the slow end of the life-history continuum are characterized by low annual reproductive output and low mortality rate, such as is found in many tropical birds, whereas at the fast end, rates of reproduction and mortality are high, as in temperate birds. These differences in life-history traits are thought to result from trade-offs between investment in reproduction or self-maintenance as mediated by the biotic and abiotic environment. Thus, tropical and temperate birds provide a unique system to examine physiological consequences of life-history trade-offs at opposing ends of the “pace of life” spectrum. We have explored the implications of these trade-offs at several levels of physiological organization including whole-animal, organ systems, and cells. Tropical birds tend to have higher survival, slower growth, lower rates of whole-animal basal metabolic rate and peak metabolic rate, and smaller metabolically active organs compared with temperate birds. At the cellular level, primary dermal fibroblasts from tropical birds tend to have lower cellular metabolic rates and appear to be more resistant to oxidative cell stress than those of temperate birds. However, at the subcellular level, lipid peroxidation rates, a measure of the ability of lipid molecules within the cell membranes to thwart the propagation of oxidative damage, appear not to be different between tropical and temperate species. Nevertheless, lipids in mitochondrial membranes of tropical birds tend to have increased concentrations of plasmalogens (phospholipids with antioxidant properties), and decreased concentrations of cardiolipin (a complex phospholipid in the electron transport chain) compared with temperate birds.
TAXODIUM version 1.0: a simple way to generate uniform and fractionally weighted three-item matrices from various kinds of biological data.

An open-access program for generating three-item statement (3TS) matrices from data such as molecular sequences does not currently exist. The recently developed LisBeth package allows for representation of hypotheses of homology among taxa or areas directly as rooted trees or as hierarchies; however, LisBeth is not a standard matrix-based platform. Here we present “TAXODIUM version 1.0” (TAXODIUM), a program designed for building 3TS-matrices from binary, additive (ordered) and non-additive (unordered) multistate characters, with both uniform and fractional weighting of the statements. TAXODIUM also facilitates, for the first time, use of Maximum Likelihood analyses with 3TS matrices, but future implementation of the 3TS analysis in a statistical framework will require more exploration.
A conceptually new approach to the synthesis of linear tetrapyrroles related to phytochrome

Abstract Linear tetrapyrroles 9, of a type related to phytochrome 3), have been prepared by TBAF catalyzed 5-exo-dig cyclization of bis-acetylenic amides 8.
A field observation study of an expert system prototype development

Abstract The paper reports a cooperative effort between business practitioners and academic researchers involving development of a prototype expert system. The study traces the development process from initiation to completion and presents a number of lessons learned that can guide organizations preparing to experiment with the development of expert systems.
Studies of the interactions of H2 and CO with Pd/SiO2 promoted with La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, and Sm2O3

Abstract The interactions of H2 and CO with Pd SiO 2 promoted with La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, and Sm2O3 have been investigated using temperature-programmed desorption and temperature-programmed surface reaction. Introduction of the promoter following the preparation of the Pd SiO 2 catalyst results in a partial coverage of the Pd particles by the oxide promoter. Upon reduction of the promoted catalysts, portions of the promoter in contact with Pd undergo reduction. The partially reduced rare earth oxide species covering the Pd particles reduce the amounts of H2 and CO that can be adsorbed on the metal. The rare earth oxide moieties have a slight influence on the distribution of H2 adstates but cause a significant change in the distribution of CO adstates. Decoration of Pd by rare earth oxide moieties also aids the dissociation of CO, and raises thereby the activity for CH4 synthesis relative to that for Pd SiO 2 . The promoter also serves to increase the activity for CH3OH synthesis and the formation of CO2 via the water-gas shift reaction.
Calcium modulation of endothelium-derived prostacyclin production in ovine pregnancy

Refractoriness to angiotensin-II (ANG II)-induced vasoconstriction is greater in the uteroplacental vs. systemic vascular beds during pregnancy, possibly reflecting enhanced uterine artery prostacyclin production. We determined the role(s) of calcium and calcium channels in regulating basal and ANG II-induced vascular prostacyclin production in uterine and omental (systemic) arteries obtained from pregnant (P) and nonpregnant (NP) ewes. To evaluate the endothelial contribution to basal and stimulated prostacyclin production, arteries with and without endothelium also were incubated in the absence and presence of 50 nM ANG II, 5 microM A23187, or 5 microM arachidonate. Basal prostacyclin production by intact and denuded uterine and systemic arteries was P > NP (P < 0.05), plus in intact arteries, production fell approximately 33% in calcium-free Krebs-Henseleit and 5 microM EGTA. Although basal prostacyclin production by P and NP uterine and NP systemic arteries was unaffected by 5 microM verapamil, P syst...
Serial lesion effect in rat medial frontal cortex as a function of age

Abstract —This experiment examined the potential for behavioral recovery in juvenile, adult, and senescent rats following serial lesions of medial frontal cortex. The subjects were trained on spatial delayed alternation in a T-maze under conditions designed to enhance the probability of a a serial lesion effect. All subjects were given extensive handling and adaptation to the maze, interoperative training, and long interoperative and postoperative intervals. There were several major behavioral findings: (a) the aged intact subjects were not impaired in their ability to learn spatial delayed alternation, (b) one-stage bilateral lesions of frontal cortex produced equivalent deficits on spatial delayed alternation at all ages, (c) subjects in all of the ages, (c) subjects in all of the age categories demonstrated a serial lesion effect, but (d) the 150 day and 570 day serial lesion groups demonstrated significantly better performances than the 35 day serial lesions group on several measures of performance.
An Absolute Radius Scale for Saturn's Rings

Radio and stellar occultation observations of Saturn's rings made by the Voyager spacecraft are discussed. The data reveal systematic discrepancies of almost 10 km in some parts of the rings, limiting some of the investigations. A revised solution for Saturn's rotation pole has been proposed which removes the discrepancies between the stellar and radio occultation profiles. Corrections to previously published radii vary from -2 to -10 km for the radio occultation, and +5 to -6 km for the stellar occultation. An examination of spiral density waves in the outer A Ring supports that the revised absolute radii are in error by no more than 2 km.
Experimentation for the dynamic response of industrial temperature sensors

The apparatus for the determination of dynamic response of industrial temperature sensors developed and used by the authors is briefly described. Extensive testing of typical sensors has been carried out. The apparatus described here allows testing in various liquids and dry/moist air.
Ion channel mimetic micropore and nanotube membrane sensors.

This paper describes synthetic micropore and nanotube membranes that mimic the function of a ligand-gated ion channel; that is, these membranes can be switched from an “off” state (no or low ion current through the membrane) to an “on” state (higher ion current) in response to the presence of a chemical stimulus. Ion channel mimics based on both microporous alumina and Au nanotube membranes were investigated. The off state was obtained by making the membranes hydrophobic by chemisorbing either a C18 silane (alumina membrane) or a C18 thiol (Au nanotube membrane). Water and electrolyte are forbidden from entering these very hydrophobic pores/nanotubes. The transition to the on state was induced by the partitioning of a hydrophobic ionic species (e.g., a drug or a surfactant) into the membrane. The membrane switches to the on state because at a sufficiently high concentration of this ionic analyte species, the pores/nanotubes flood with water and electrolyte. A pH-responsive membrane was also prepared by at...
Clinical Applications of SPECT-CT

H. Ahmadzadehfar and H.-J. Biersack, Eds. New York, NY: Springer, 2014, 304 pages, $229 Now that hybrid imaging is a well-established part of virtually all nuclear medicine studies, there is a great need for a clear understanding of how to perform and use this type of imaging. SPECT/CT cameras
Factors associated with non-normal birth outcomes for low-risk women in an inner-city hospital.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with normal versus non-normal birth outcomes for low-risk women who were admitted for care in spontaneous labor. Methods The birth records of 93 women were reviewed. Results At the completion of the fourth stage of labor, 61% of births (n = 57) met the criteria for normal, while 39% of births (n = 36) had non-normal outcomes. On bivariate analysis, variables associated with non-normal outcomes included nulliparity (odds ratio [OR], 9.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3–28; P Discussion The development of clinical guidelines aimed at reducing admissions of women in early labor may reduce non-normal outcomes, particularly for nulliparous women.
Sympathetic nervous activity and arterial pressure responses during rest and acute behavioral stress in SHR versus WKY rats

The object of this experiment is to compare changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) during rest and behavioral stress in 12–14 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; N=12) and normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY; N=12) controls. Animals were behaviorally trained by following a 15 s auditory conditional stimulus (CS+) with a 1/2 s tail shock. Resting MAP was higher (p<0.001) in SHR (154±3 mmHg, mean±SEM) compared to WKY (116±3 mmHg); conversely, there was no difference in the average resting HR. The pattern of the SNA and MAP changes during the CS+ was similar across groups, but the amplitude was larger in the SHR. The CS+ stress stimulus evoked an initial transient MAP increase averaging 14±2 mmHg in the SHR compared to 4±1 mmHg in the WKY. This pressor response was preceded by a sudden burst of SNA averaging 177±22% over baseline in SHR versus 105±13% for the WKY. HR decreased in SHR only during the second component of the CS+ trial despite the large increase in SNA. We conclude that (1) SHR have higher reactivity than WKY to stress in SNA and MAP; (2) both SHR and WKY have greater SNA and MAP responses to CS+ than CS− (i.e., the discriminative paradigm was effective); (3) control of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity during sustained stress differs remarkably in hypertensive and normotensive subjects; and (4) SHR blood pressure effector mechanisms may have a higher responsiveness to sympathetic nervous activity as compared to WKY.
Acceleration by aliphatic mercaptan in the photoexcited carbonyl-amine redox system

Abstract Low concentration of aliphatic mercaptan increase the quantum yield of photoreduction of benzophenone by 2-butylamine, nearly to the theoretical maximum value. It is proposed that the effect arises from catalysis by mercaptain of transfer of hydrogen from the amine radical cation to the ketyl radical anion in the charge-transfer of hydrogen complex.
Behavioral treatment of self‐stimulation: An examination of alternatives to physical punishment

Abstract This paper reviews the use of behavioral procedures other than physical punishment in the treatment of the non‐injurious self‐stimulatory behaviors of retarded and autistic individuals. Evidence is presented which suggests that the combination of positive reinforcement for functional responses with deceleration techniques such as extinction or over‐correction may provide an effective means of reducing self‐stimulation and teaching appropriate behaviors.
Alemtuzumab Induction and Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplantation

Abstract Background Induction therapy improves graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We aimed to compare the incidences of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and acute cellular rejection (ACR) as well as graft and patient outcomes in KTRs who underwent induction with alemtuzumab versus rabbit-antithymocyte globulin (r-ATG). Methods This was a single-center retrospective study involving patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 2009 and December 2011 after receiving induction therapy with either alemtuzumab or r-ATG. Maintenance immunosuppression included tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil with early steroid withdrawal. Acute rejection was diagnosed using allograft biopsy. Results Among the 108 study patients, 68 received alemtuzumab and 40 got r-ATG. There was a significantly higher incidence of AMR (15% vs 2.5%; P = .008) and similar incidence of ACR (4.4% vs 10%; P = .69) for alemtuzumab versus r-ATG groups. One-year serum creatinine levels (l.68 ± 0.8 mg/dL vs 1.79 ± 1.8 mg/dL; P = .66) as well as graft (91.1 ± 3.5% vs 94.5 ± 3.8%; P = .48) and patient (93.8 ± 3.0% vs 96.4 ± 3.5%; P = .92) survivals were similar for the alemtuzumab versus the r-ATG groups. Conclusion Our study showed a higher incidence of AMR and similar incidence of ACR in KTRs who underwent induction with alemtuzumab compared with those who received r-ATG and were maintained on tacrolimus and MMF. This was despite a lower HLA mismatch in the alemtuzumab group. One-year graft survival, patient survival, and allograft function were similar. Inadequate B-cell suppression by alemtuzumab as well as altered phenotypic and functional properties of repopulating B cells could be contributing to heightened risk of AMR in these patients.
Corticosterone regulation of serotonin transporter and 5-HT1A receptor expression in the aging brain

Hypercortisolemia is often observed in patients suffering from major depression. As the serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system plays a major role in the etiology of depression, a loss of endocrine and neurotransmitter system interactions, including corticosterone regulation of 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) and 5-HT receptor expression, may underlie age-related deficits in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and correlate with an increased incidence of depression with advancing age. In this study, female Fischer 344 rats, ages 3, 13, and 18 months, were bilaterally adrenalectomized and supplemented for 3 weeks with corticosterone (0, 200, or 600 mg; LC, MC, or HC, respectively) containing 21 day sustained-release pellets implanted subcutaneously. Quantitative autoradiography of hippocampal and cortical regions using [3H]citalopram revealed a significant decrease in hippocampal 5-HTT binding in the 3-month HC treatment group compared to age-matched MC and LC groups; this loss was not present in the 13- or 18-month groups. Similarly, quantitative autoradiography using the radiolabeled 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino) tetralin demonstrated a significant decline in receptor density in 3- and 13-month MC and HC groups as compared to age-matched LC groups in the hippocampus. These hormone treatments (MC or HC), however, failed to alter hippocampal 5-HT1A binding site density in the 18-month groups as compared to the age-matched LC group. The 5-HT2A receptor was also evaluated using [3H]ketanserin and showed no age- or corticosterone-related changes in the cortex. Overall, an age-associated deficit in the regulation of the hippocampal serotonergic system by varied corticosterone treatment was revealed in the present study, which may underlie the increased incidence of depression and hypercortisolemia found with advancing age. Synapse 32:58–66, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electroanatomic localization of a slowly conducting atrioventricular (Mahaim) accessory pathway

We present a case of a 34-year-old female with Ebstein's anomaly and symptomatic wide complex tachyarrhythmia. Electrophysiologic evaluation demonstrated antidromic tachycardia utilizing a right-sided decremental, slowly conducting atrioventricular pathway. Distinct accessory pathway potentials along the length of the bypass tract were sequentially recorded to define the anatomic course of the pathway, as uniquely represented on a three-dimensional electroanatomic map, and to successfully guide catheter ablation.
Experimentally Induced Pigment Changes in Small African 'Barbus' (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): Synonymy of 'Barbus' amphigramma and 'Barbus' taitensis with 'Barbus' paludinosus

Abstract Pigmentation in fishes is known to be variable both among individuals of a species and within individuals over time. Use of pigment characters for taxonomic diagnoses must, therefore, be carefully considered. I present experimental evidence showing that pigment characters previously considered diagnostic for three small African ‘Barbus’ species may differ between living and preserved specimens and that lasting changes in these characters can be induced experimentally by placing fishes in a different, less turbid environment. Lateral line pigmentation and presence of a spot on the caudal peduncle showed significant changes that resulted in different species identifications before and after the experiment. These pigment patterns are thereby shown to be labile, nontrenchant characters having little or no diagnostic utility. ‘Barbus’ amphigramma Boulenger, 1903, and ‘Barbus’ taitensis Gunther, 1894, are thus shown to be junior synonyms of ‘Barbus’ paludinosus Peters, 1852.
The peripheral blood flow in myxedema as compared with that in hyperthyroidism

Abstract A method described in previous papers 5, 6 was used. Measurements were made of peripheral blood flow in six patients suffering from myxedema and were compared with similar observations of Stewart and Evans 5 on six subjects who had hyperthyroidism. The myxedematous subjects were studied before treatment and on several occasions during the course of administration of thyroid extract. In addition, certain other measurements of the circulation were recorded. The results may be summarized as follows: 1.1. In the myxedematous state, when the basal metabolic rate was low, the peripheral blood flow in cubic centimeters per square meter per minute was decreased. With a progressive increase in basal metabolic rate to normal levels during the administration of thyroid extract there was a progressive increase in peripheral blood flow, so that a linear relationship was maintained. On the other hand, as the basal metabolic rate decreased with therapy in the thyrotoxic subjects, there was a progressive decrease in peripheral blood flow; here again, a linear relationship was present. When the peripheral blood flow of the patients of both groups was plotted against basal metabolic rate, the line for the myxedema patients was a rough continuation of the hyperthyroid one; the intercepts with the zero line, however, were slightly different. 2.2. Since there is a decrease in cardiac output in myxedema and an increase in hyperthyroidism, a smaller than normal amount of blood appears to be available for distribution to the skin in the myxedema patient, and a greater amount in the hyperthyroid one. 3.3. The circulation time was prolonged in myxedema and short in thyrotoxicosis. When appropriate treatment was instituted, the circulation time returned to normal in each disease. 4.4. In myxedema the pulse rate and pulse pressure followed roughly the increases in basal metabolic rate and peripheral blood flow. In subjects with hyperthyroidism the fall in pulse rate and pulse pressure roughly paralleled decreases in basal metabolic rate and peripheral blood flow. 5.5. For the most part, average skin temperature followed the changes in basal metabolic rate and peripheral blood flow in each disease. Similar trends were observed in the temperature of the hands and feet. No direct relationship was established, however, between average skin temperature and the temperature of the hands and feet. 6.6. No constant or significant changes in rectal temperature were observed in either disease during the several periods of study of each subject. 7.7. Conservation of heat in myxedema and increased heat dissipation in thyrotoxicosis have been suggested as an explanation for the marked decrease in peripheral blood flow in the former and its increase in the latter.
Adverse effect of demineralized bone powder on osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells

Demineralized bone powder (DBP) has been used by clinicians for years to treat bone defects. Although DBP treatment often leads to successful bone healing, a number of studies using DBP have demonstrated poor bone formation. It is known that soluble factors released from DBP modulate bone formation. We hypothesized that DBP releases or interacts with soluble factors that modulate osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Our in vitro study demonstrated that the expression of mRNA transcripts of bone-related markers decreased in osteogenic culture of human MSCs (hMSCs) with DBP compared to that without DBP. Using a high-throughput protein array, we identified insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, thrombospondin, and angiostatin that were found abundant in the medium cultured with DBP. Separately, we detected a significant reduction of soluble calcium and phosphate in the DBP-present medium compared to that in the DBP-absent medium, and showed that hMSC osteogenesis was regulated by the amounts of soluble calcium and phosphate in the medium. Moreover, DBP was shown to sequester soluble calcium and phosphate in the medium, thereby depleting them from interacting with hMSCs during osteogenesis. This study provides a possible explanation to an important question associated with the use of DBP in clinical treatments.
On the mechanism of flow through porous membranes

Abstract The relation of bulk flow and diffusion to molecular motion and the Markoff process is reviewed. The ratio of bulk flow to diffusion flow is calculated for the case of cylindrical pore geometry, with the result r 2 8ηDk . The pore radius is r, and η, D and K represent the viscosity, diffusion constant and compressibility, respectively, of the flowing fluid. Numerical evaluation of the flow ratio shows that the bulk flow of water exceeds the diffusion flow by a factor which is approximately sixteen times greater than that obtained in previous studies.
Attenuated age-impact on systemic inflammatory markers in the presence of a metabolic burden.

Author(s): Erdembileg, Anuurad; Mirsoian, Annie; Enkhmaa, Byambaa; Zhang, Wei; Beckett, Laurel A; Murphy, William J; Berglund, Lars F | Abstract: BackgroundThe overall burden of chronic disease, inflammation and cardiovascular risk increases with age. Whether the relationship between age and inflammation is impacted by presence of an adverse metabolic burden is not known.MethodsWe determined inflammatory markers in humans (336 Caucasians and 224 African Americans) and in mice, representing a spectrum of age, weight and metabolic burden.ResultsIn humans, levels of inflammatory markers increased significantly with age in subjects without the metabolic syndrome, (P=0.009 and P=0.037 for C-reactive protein, Pl0.001 and P=0.001 for fibrinogen, Pl0.001 and P=0.005 for serum amyloid-A, for Caucasians and African Americans, respectively). In contrast, trend patterns of inflammatory markers did not change significantly with age in subjects with metabolic syndrome in either ethnic group, except for fibrinogen in Caucasians. A composite z-score for systemic inflammation increased significantly with age in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P=0.004 and Pl0.006 for Caucasians and African Americans, respectively) but not in subjects with metabolic syndrome (P=0.009 for difference in age trend between metabolic syndrome and non-metabolic syndrome). In contrast, no similar age trend was found in vascular inflammation. The findings in humans were paralleled by results in mice as serum amyloid-A levels increased across age (range 2-15 months, Pl0.01) and were higher in ob/ob mice compared to control mice (Pl0.001).ConclusionsPresence of a metabolic challenge in mice and humans influences levels of inflammatory markers over a wide age range. Our results underscore that already at a young age, presence of a metabolic burden enhances inflammation to a level that appears to be similar to that of decades older people without metabolic syndrome.
Breathing life into the folding pathway of cytochrome c

In cytochrome c, the unfolding reaction occurs in four discreet stops, as monitored by the exchange of solvent hydrogen for backbone aminde hydrogens under varying denaturant concentrations.
Studies on a thyroid-depressing factor of renal origin in the rat.

Abstract The weight of the thyroid glands of rats was increased, and uptake of 131I reduced, when a factor from donor rat kidneys was injected ip for 6 days. Stepwise fractionation of rat renal homogenates by ultracentrifugation yielded vasodepressor, vasoneutral and vasopressor fractions. Only the vasoneutral fraction (31,500 g, 30 min) contained the thyroid-depressing factor (TDF). Similar fractions of muscle and liver contained no TDF. Results of other studies using bovine thyroid slices suggest that TDF may act at the level of the thyroid gland by inhibiting some aspect of the concentrating mechanism for iodide. Thus drugs or treatments affecting the kidney may indirectly influence the function of the thyroid gland.
Morphometric analysis of gastrocnemius muscle biopsies from patients with peripheral arterial disease: objective grading of muscle degeneration.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which affects ∼10 million Americans, is characterized by atherosclerosis of the noncoronary arteries. PAD produces a progressive accumulation of ischemic injury t...
Fixed-point error analysis of the lattice and the Schur algorithms for the autocorrelation method of linear prediction

Levinson recursions, Schur recursions, and lattice recursions provide three different ways of computing reflection coefficients for a stationary time series. Of these three approaches, only the Schur and lattice algorithms are scaled algorithms that can be implemented in fixed-point arithmetic. The authors study the finite arithmetic properties of the Schur and lattice recursions. They derive error variances for the reflection coefficients and present experimental results which agree very closely with the analytical results. They show analytically and experimentally that lattice recursions have a significant accuracy advantage over Schur recursions when the problem is ill-conditioned or, equivalently, when the absolute values of the reflection coefficients are close to one. This result is not surprising since the lattice recursions, which compute reflection coefficients by QR-factoring a Toeplitz data matrix, are 'square-root' recursions with respect to Schur recursions, which compute reflection coefficients by Cholesky-factoring a Toeplitz correlation matrix that is quadratic in the data. >
Effects of exogenous thyroxine on C-2 and C-16a hydroxylations of estradiol in humans

Abstract Thyroid dysfunction in humans is known to alter the excretory pattern of estrogen metabolites, suggesting that thyroid hormone directly influences the oxidative metabolism of estradiol. We examined the extent to which a brief period of hyperthyroidism specifically affected estradiol hydroxylation at C-2 and C-16α, the two primary and competing sites of estrogen oxidation, using an in vivo radiometric assay in healthy male volunteers. Hydroxylation at C-2 was increased by a 2-week course of thyroxine (4.3 μg/kg/d)from 29.9% ± 2.6% to 35.9% ± 3.1% (P = 0.04), while 16α-hydroxylation was unchanged (10.3% ± 0.8% versus 9.3% ± 0.5%). The greater extent of oxidation at C-2 was evidenced by a twofold increase in the urinary excretion of 2-hydroxyestrone (2.88 ± 0.32 versus 5.30 ± 0.85 μg/g creatinine), while the excreted products of 16α-hydroxylation were unchanged. At the same time, significant reductions in total cholesterol (173.8 ± 7.9 versus 139.4 ± 8.9 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (110.0 ± 5.3 versus 83.8 ± 7.7 mg/dl), and apolipoprotein B (68.2 ± 3.3 versus 53.1 ± 3.6 mg/dl) were observed. Serum levels of estrone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein A-I were not significantly affected. This study adds to the growing evidence that catechol estrogen production in humans is more readily regulated than 16α-hydroxylation, which is relatively refractory to treatment.
ANDRÉ GIDE, THE CRITICAL NOVELIST

Author's summary.— The freedom that M. Gide retains in the presentation of his characters, the judgments which are born in us from contrasts of situations, variety and opposition of characters, the multiple aspect of certain characters excite the critical mind of the reader.
Performances and Individuating Musical Works

L'A. examine les problemes qui emergent d'une ontologie de l'œuvre musicale. Qu'est-ce qui fait d'une execution une instance du travail musical ? A quel moment l'evenement musical est-il quelque chose que le compositeur fait entrer dans l'existence ? Dans quelle mesure les proprietes de l'execution sont-elles liees a l'orchestration du compositeur ? L'A. ne se contente pas de repondre a ces questions : il montre aussi en quoi elles sont mal posees, en quoi elles indiquent des problemes de fond plus importants
Characteristics of Children With ADHD and Comorbid Anxiety

Objective: The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety disorders (ANX), ADHD + oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD), and ADHD + ODD/CD + ANX. The current study examined a subset of these groups. Method: A total of 134 children and adolescents (M age = 9.92; range = 6-17) from a clinic-referred sample (n = 407) were grouped based on a semistructured diagnostic interview: ADHD only (n = 41), ADHD + ANX (n = 31), and ANX Only (n = 62). Results: Findings supported greater parent-reported anxiety symptoms in anxiety groups, and greater parent- and teacher-reported attention problems in ADHD groups. ADHD groups performed worse on a continuous performance test, whereas ADHD + ANX performed worse on working memory than ADHD Only. ADHD + ANX reported more physical anxiety symptoms than ADHD Only. Conclusion: Comorbid anxiety should be considered in ADHD assessment and treatment.
All around andesites, and beyond

Orogenic Andesites and Plate Tectonics. By J. B. Gill. Pp.390. ISBN 3-540-10666-9. (Springer-Verlag: 1981.) DM 98, $44.60.
NUTRIENTS AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF ESTUARINE AND COASTAL MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

SUMMARY Recent research on estuarine and coastal marine systems has revealed two particularly interesting things about nutrients and productivity. First is the observation that these areas are among the most intensively fertilized environments on earth. Second is the common finding that much of the characteristically high primary productivity of these shallow waters is supported by nutrients released or recycled by pelagic and benthic microheterotrophs. Since nutrient inputs to coastal areas have probably been increasing and are likely to continue to do so, it is particularly important to understand the relationship between nutrient loading and nutrient cycling and the extent to which their interactions may set the levels of primary and secondary production in coastal systems. That some direct relationship exists between the input of nutrients and the productivity of higher trophic levels has been a principle of marine ecology since the turn of the century. It is surprisingly difficult, however, to find q...
Influence of volume expansion on capillary transport in the gut of Pichindé virus infected strain 13 guinea pigs.

Hydropenic strain 13 guinea pigs (GP13) injected with Pichinde virus show marked jejunal capillary disruption determined by a reduction in protein reflection coefficient (sigma) [Katz and Starr, 1990]. These studies examined whether this is reversed by a 2% Ringer's expansion, and whether anorexia may contribute to reduced sigma. GP13 were either infected or given a 60% expected ad lib diet, and were studied while under a 2% Ringer's expansion. The results showed 1) infected GP13 separated into groups with either a persistently low sigma (volume unresponsive) or a normal sigma (volume responsive), but no obvious feature of the animals could predict responsiveness; 2) caloric restriction had minimal to no effect on sigma; and 3) both responsive and unresponsive GP had increased heart, lung, and kidney weights. Volume expansion may have salutary effects in some infected GP13, and this is probably due to pressure mediated effects on the capillary wall. The findings support the possibility that conservative management of hemorrhagic fevers may directly ameliorate capillary leak.
Reduction of competition between bisexual and unisexual females of Poecilia in northeastern Mexico

Breeding compexes of poeciliid fishes with a bisexual and two unisexual species were studied for mechanisms permitting sympatric coexistence. The unisexuals are gynogenetic and thereby sexually dependent on the males of the bisexual species for sperm to initiate development, but inheritance is entirely maternal.
Cardiac stem/progenitor cells, secreted proteins, and proteomics

Stem cell-based therapy is emerging as a novel approach for myocardial repair over conventional cardiovascular therapies. In addition to embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells from noncardiac sources, there is a small population of resident stem cells in the heart from which new cardiac cells (myocytes, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells) can be derived and used for cardiac repair in case of heart injury. It has been proposed that the clinical benefit of stem cells may arise from secreted proteins that mediate regeneration in a paracrine/autocrine manner. To be able to track the regulatory pathway on a molecular basis, utilization of proteomics in stem cell research is essential. Proteomics offers a tool that can address questions regarding stem cell response to disease/injury.
The Effect of Nedocromil Sodium and Cromolyn Sodium on Antigen-Induced Responses in Allergic Sheep in Vivo and in Vitro

We studied the effects of nedocromil sodium and cromolyn sodium on early and late bronchial responses to inhaled Ascaris suum antigen in allergic sheep in vivo , and the antigen-induced contractile responses of sheep tracheal smooth muscle in vitro . For the in vivo studies the sheep were pretreated with aerosols of placebo (buffered saline solution), 20 mg of nedocromil sodium, or 20 mg of cromolyn sodium (both dissolved in 3 ml of buffered saline solution) and then challenged with aerosol antigen. Specific pulmonary resistance (SR l ) was measured before and after challenge to document the responses of the airways. In the trial with placebo, challenge with antigen resulted in significant early and late increases in SR l . Treatment with nedocromil sodium significantly reduced the early response to antigen and blocked the late response. Cromolyn sodium gave the same results; there were no statistical differences between the responses of the airways for the two drugs. In vitro nedocromil sodium at doses of 10 −6 M and 10 −5 M inhibited significantly the contractile responses of sheep tracheal smooth muscle to A suum . Cromolyn sodium only showed efficacy at 10 −5 M. These results suggest that nedocromil sodium may be potentially useful in the treatment of reversible allergic disease of the airways.
Inhomogeneous Fluid Approach to Solvation Thermodynamics. 2. Applications to Simple Fluids

In the previous paper expressions for the partial molar energy and entropy at infinite dilution have been derived based on the inhomogeneous forms of the energy equation and the correlation expansion for the entropy. These expressions are here applied to a series of solutes of varying size in dense hard-sphere and Lennard-Jones solvents, some of which serve as reference systems for comparison with water. Numerical results are obtained under the assumption that the inhomogeneous solvent−solvent pair correlation function in the mixture is equal to the bulk solvent radial distribution function (Kirkwood superposition approximation). The correlation functions required are obtained by both integral equation theory (Percus−Yevick approximation) and Monte Carlo simulations. The thermodynamic results are compared with equation of state, integral equation, and free energy simulation results for the same systems. For hard-sphere systems the excess entropies are in good agreement with equation-of-state results but i...
Farm price and income policy: lessons from history

U.S. farm commodity support programs encompass nearly three quarters of a century and three quarters of a trillion taxpayer dollars. One dividend from that effort is to learn lessons. Farm commodity programs have steadfastly maintained a primary objective of supporting the incomes of a relatively few producers of a relatively few commodities. Nonetheless, farm programs have not been static but have adapted to changing economic and political parameters. Changes in agricultural policy tend to coincide with extremes in the food supply–demand balance. Farm program income transfers leak from their intended beneficiaries to other asset owners. Economic rents, once institutionalized, retain political momentum that sustains the rents. The rise of pressure from the World Trade Organization to provide only non-market-distorting payments may challenge the continued viability of these lessons; however, the lessons also caution against discounting the extant political influence of the farm lobby. [EconLit N500, Q180]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetic resonance evaluation of uterine malignancies

Cervical carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma constitute the principal malignant tumors of the uterus. MRI has assumed an increasingly important role in the clinical staging of these neoplasms, and is particularly valuable for staging cervical carcinoma. The advantages of MRI as compared with computed tomography are superior soft tissue discrimination and multiplanar imaging capability. This review article outlines and illustrates the use of MRI for staging malignant uterine neoplasms and also considers post therapy follow-up of cervical carcinoma.
Measuring the impact of competition in local government education markets on the cognitive achievement of students

Abstract In this paper, the role of interjurisdictional competition among school districts is examined. Using 1970 California school district data and controlling for a variety of education inputs, achievement scores are found to rise as the local education market becomes more competitive. This relationship continues until a competitive threshold is reached, beyond which additional districts have no impact on achievement. It is estimated that three to four school districts per county are necessary to create a competitive market in education. These findings are consistent with similar studies examining the effect of entry in the private sector. Additionally, the results show a variety of parental, school and student inputs to be significant in “producing” student achievement.
Comparison of benthic sampling procedures: Petersen Grab vs. Mackin Corer

Abstract Thirty-five stations in a shallow (mixo)mesohaline estuary, Trinity Bay, Texas, were sampled, in replicate, once each month for three months. Sorted taxa were ranked by percent occurrence and mean abundance and the top five representative taxa were compared. Frequency of occurrence or mean abundance indicated no major difference between the major taxa collected by the Mackin Corer and the Petersen grab. Single classification analysis of variance indicated that the Mackin Corer regularly collected higher mean densities of the most common taxa with more precise estimates of these same densities.
The relative biological effectiveness of densely ionizing heavy-ion radiation for inducing ocular cataracts in wild type versus mice heterozygous for the ATM gene

The accelerated appearance of ocular cataracts at younger ages has been recorded in both astronauts and airline pilots, and is usually attributed to high-energy heavy ions in galactic cosmic ray radiation. We have previously shown that high-LET 1-GeV/nucleon 56Fe ions are significantly more effective than X-rays in producing cataracts in mice. We have also shown that mice haploinsufficient for ATM develop cataracts earlier than wild-type animals, when exposed to either low-LET X-rays or high-LET 56Fe ions. In this paper we derive quantitative estimates for the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of high energy 56Fe ions compared with X-rays, both for wild type and for mice haploinsufficient for ATM. There is a clear trend toward higher RBE’s in haploinsufficient animals, both for low- and high-grade cataracts. Haploinsufficiency for ATM results in an enhanced sensitivity to X-rays compared with the wild type, and this enhancement appears even larger after exposure to high-LET heavy ions.
Regeneration of inner retinal neurons after intravitreal injection of ouabain in zebrafish.

We examined the regenerative capacity of the adult zebrafish retina by intravitreal injection of a low ouabain concentration to rapidly damage the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) with minimal photoreceptor cell damage. By 24 h after ouabain injection, maximal numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were detected in the INL and GCL, with low numbers of TUNEL-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer. Immunolabeling revealed that ∼85% of the HuC/D-positive amacrine and ganglion cells were lost by 7 d post-ouabain injection (dpi). This ganglion cell loss was consistent with the small, but statistically significant, decrease in the optic nerve diameter. The regeneration response began within 1 dpi with increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in both the INL and GCL. By 3 dpi, PCNA expression is primarily restricted to the Muller glia. By 5 dpi, most of the PCNA expression was localized to neuronal progenitors expressing the olig2:egfp transgene rather than the Muller glia. By 7 dpi, the neuronal progenitors began committing to the ganglion cell fate based on the coexpression of the atoh7:EGFP transgene and the zn5 antigen. The regeneration of ganglion and amacrine cells continued until 60 dpi, when they reached 75% of their uninjected control number. This demonstrates that inner retinal damage, without extensive photoreceptor damage, is sufficient to induce a regeneration response that is marked by the Muller glial cells reentering the cell cycle to produce neuronal progenitor cells that regenerate INL and ganglion cells in the zebrafish retina.
Biotechnology and the Poor

Eight hundred million people on earth are poor and malnourished. They live on less than a dollar a day and cannot be sure that their fields will yield enough food or that they will earn enough money to buy food. Forty thousand people die each day of malnutrition, one-half of them children. The
EIA with Species-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies: A Novel Seroepidemiologic Tool for Determination of the Etiologic Agent of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis

All currently available assays for antibodies to the etiologic agents of spotted fever group rickettsioses detect reactivity with antigens of lipopolysaccharides and the major cell wall proteins, which contain epitopes that are shared among many spotted fever group rickettsiae. The hypothesis of this study was that a monoclonal antibody to a species-specific epitope of Rickettsia rickettsii would be blocked from binding to the rickettsial surface if the rickettsiae were incubated previously with serum containing species-specific antibodies to the epitope. In an EIA, binding of monoclonal antibody 5C10-F3 to R. rickettsii was blocked by convalescent sera from patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever but not from those with Mediterranean spotted fever, endemic typhus, or Q fever or normal subjects. This assay should be useful in determining the origin of the high seroprevalence of spotted fever rickettsial antibodies in certain geographic regions and establishing a species-specific diagnosis in patients with undetermined rickettsial exposure.
Quantification of external root resorption by low- vs high-resolution cone-beam computed tomography and periapical radiography: A volumetric and linear analysis

Introduction The goal of this study was to determine whether cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) images with resolutions similar to those produced in orthodontic offices have sufficient resolution to accurately quantify root resorption defects. Methods Teeth containing simulated root defects were scanned by microcomputed tomography (microCT) and CBCT at 0.2- and 0.4-mm resolutions and were radiographed by the periapical technique. Root length was measured with digital calipers. Comparisons were made to establish significance between imagining modalities and to compare defects of differing severity and position. Results The mean absolute difference in volumetric measurements of lateral defects from 0.2-mm-resolution CBCT images compared with those from microCT images was significantly smaller than those from 0.4-mm-resolution CBCT images (0.20 ± 0.2 mm3 vs 0.30 ± 0.3 mm3; P = 0.002). A Bland-Altman analysis showed that the 95% limits of agreement range between low-resolution CBCT and microCT volumetric measurements was1.44-fold greater than that between high-resolution CBCT and microCT measurements (−0.87-0.68 vs −0.49-0.59 mm3). The accuracy of the volumetric measurements was also significantly influenced by defect size (P = 0.004 for high-resolution CBCT, P = 0.005 for low-resolution CBCT) and, on low-resolution scans, by the defect’s vertical position (P = 0.012). Linear measurements of apical defects from both the 0.2- and 0.4-mm-resolution CBCT images were significantly more similar to the measurements made with digital calipers than the measurements from the periapical radiographs (P Conclusions Our results demonstrated that, compared with measurements from microCT images, high-resolution CBCT scans lead to more accurate volumetric quantifications of lateral resorption defects than do low-resolution scans. Both high- and low-resolution CBCT scans can also be used to more accurately measure external apical root resorption defects than periapical radiographs. Because these results are from CBCT scans of static images, measurements of root resorption defects from scans of patients will most likely be less accurate because of patient movement.
Electromagnetic backscattering from thin conductive films

The radar backscattering from thin conductive films is examined and an expression which provides an indication of the loss in cross section as a function of layer thickness is derived. Experimental results are given for aluminum and nickel, as obtained from anechoic chamber measurements. It is indicated that a metallic film of only a few thousandths of a skin depth is all that is necessary to provide reflection coefficients of unity, and that the only material property of any significance is the dc conductivity. As a result, it is concluded that a ferromagnetic material does not allow for utilization of a thinner film as a reflective surface.