cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Electronic States of Carotenoids

The photochemistry of Carotenoids is determined by the electronic structures of their low energy, excited states. This chapter first relates the optical spectroscopy of carotenoids to current theoretical descriptions of polyene electronic states. Highly detailed spectroscopic information now available for model polyenes leads to a simple, three-levelenergy scheme: S2(I1 Bu)>S1(21Ag)>S0(I1 Ag) Optical studies of polyenes and carotenoids of intermediate length demonstrate that increases in conjugation lengths invariably result in S2→S0 emissions replacing the characteristic S1→S0 emissions of short polyenes. This cross-over to S2 fluorescence can be accounted for by the energy gap law: decreases in S1 energies lead to sharp increases in the rates of S1→S0 nonradiative decay with increasing conjugation. The dominance of S2 emissions in long polyenes means that the S1 states of the carotenoids employed by photosynthetic systems are difficult to locate using fluorescence detection. Even less information is available regarding the energies of carotenoid T1 states due, in large part, to the absence of confirmed phosphorescence in any polyene or carotenoid. This chapter critically examines the use of extrapolation procedures, including applications of the energy gap law, in estimating the S1 and T1 energies of long, non-emissive carotenoids. In spite of the inherent limitations of extrapolations, estimates of S1 energies in molecules such as spheroidene and β-carotene now are adequate for understanding the mechanisms of singlet energy transfer in photosynthetic systems. Outstanding issues still to be addressed include: the development of a more quantitative understanding of the effects of conjugation, substitution, isomeric structure, and solvent environment on the energies and dynamics of S1 and S2 states; the extension of the limited data base of T1 energies to longer polyenes and carotenoids; the evaluation of the effects of conformational disorder on carotenoid spectroscopy and photochemistry; and the consideration of additional low-lying singlet states in the energy level diagram.
Obituary: In Memoriam: Peter H. Aranson, 1943–1999

Peter H. Aranson was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 26, 1943, and grew up in Maine. He attended Bowdoin College in Maine, receiving a B.A. cum laude in Government in 1965. He earned M.A.'s in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and from Rochester, and a Ph.D. from Rochester in 1971. At Rochester, he was a student of William Riker, one of the founders of Public Choice, and Peter was always proud of this association. Peter gambled on Public Choice, a new and controversial field of study, and the gamble paid off handsomely for him and for us. As Henry Manne said in his remarks at the memorial session at the Public Choice Meetings: "These students [Bill Riker's public choice students] had to be almost obsessively intellectual to knowingly embark on a field of study that was only a small part traditional political science, a large part economics, an unusually large part mathematics, and all of which was totally anathema to the Political Science establishment." Some of his fellow students turned out to be among the leading public choice scholars, including Peter Ordeshook and Kenneth Shepsle, who provided remembrances at the memorial session at the Public Choice Meetings. Peter had an eclectic career. He taught political science at Minnesota, management at Georgia Tech, and was associated with Henry Manne and the Law and Economics Center, first at Miami (1977-81, where I first met Peter) and then at Emory. His movement into law and economics was also a gamble at the time. This gamble also paid off. He was professor of economics at Emory, and chair of the department from 1990-1998. (I am eternally grateful to Peter: one of his first acts as chair was to hire me.) He was a successful department chair, and during his tenure the reputation of the Emory Economics Depart-
Influence of free fatty acid content on the feeding value of yellow grease in finishing diets for feedlot cattle.

Holstein steers (n = 96; 375 kg) were used in a 144-d growth-performance trial to evaluate influence of level (42, 28.5, and 15%) of FFA content on feeding value of yellow grease. Two sources of yellow grease were compared: conventional yellow grease (CYG), containing 15% FFA, and griddle grease (GG), containing 42% FFA. Dietary treatments consisted of an 88% concentrate finishing diet supplemented with either 1) 0% fat, 2) 5% GG, 3) 2.5% GG and 2.5% CYG, or 4) 5% CYG. Fat supplementation increased ADG (11%; P .10) ruminal or total tract digestion of OM, ADF, starch or N. Postruminal fatty acid digestion was less (P .10) on ruminal pH. Ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids was directly proportional to estimates of methane production. We conclude that the feeding value of conventional yellow grease and griddle grease is similar and that differences in the FFA content of yellow grease will not negatively affect diet acceptability and growth performance of feedlot cattle.
Fast strontium transport induced by hydrodynamic dispersion and pH-dependent sorption

[1] As a fluid carries solutes through a porous material, species that sorb onto the surface of the material travel more slowly than the fluid. Stronger adsorption results in slower solute migration, or increased solute retardation. The adsorption of strontium (Sr2+) onto iron-oxides is strongly pH-dependent and becomes significant at high pH. Radioactive Sr2+isotopes are, therefore, commonly stored in alkaline solutions to maximize their retardation. Field observations and numerical simulations of the leakage of such solutions into low-pH soils, however, show that even Sr2+ stored in alkaline solutions can migrate without retardation. Migration occurs because hydrodynamic dispersion allows mixing of Sr2+with the low-pH fluid forming an acidic Sr2+-rich plume which can travel without retardation. Here we report the first experimental observations confirming this dispersion-induced fast Sr2+transport. We report column-flood experiments where a high-pH solution containing Sr2+was injected into a low-pH porous medium of iron-oxide-coated beads. We observe both a strongly retarded Sr2+ front and an isolated fast pulse of Sr2+traveling at the average fluid velocity. This dispersion-induced fast pulse of strontium must be taken into account when considering the safety of radionuclide storage in alkaline solutions.
Processing of composite polystyrene foam with a honeycomb structure

Composite polystyrene foam with a honeycomb-like barrier structure was processed from an expandable aqueous suspension. Optical observations confirmed the formation of such a unique structure that encapsulates each expanded polystyrene microsphere in the resulting foam. The suspension viscosity was found to highly influence the foam morphology. Results from mechanical tests showed that the existence of the barrier structure can considerably improve the mechanical performance of the composite foam. Fire retardation tests demonstrated that the barrier structure can effectively stop the fire path into the foam, suppress toxic smoke generation, and maintain structural integrity, leading to improved fire resistance in comparison with the neat polystyrene foam. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1494–1503, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
The role of albumin replacement in the critically ill veterinary patient

Objective: To review the human and veterinary literature on the physiological role and effects of therapeutic albumin supplementation. Data sources: Data from human and veterinary literature was reviewed. Human data synthesis: Hypoalbuminemia often occurs in a variety of critical illnesses, and contributes to the development of life-threatening complications, including pulmonary edema, delayed wound healing, feeding intolerance, hypercoaguability, and multiple organ dysfunction. Serum albumin concentration has been used as a prognostic indicator in cases of chronic hypoalbuminemia. The use of albumin replacement therapy in humans is sometimes controversial, but may be associated with improved morbidity and decreased mortality. Veterinary data synthesis: Unlike human literature, there is a paucity of controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding albumin supplementation in veterinary patients. Rather, the majority of published studies were performed in experimental animals or via retrospective analyses. One recent study evaluated the use of plasma to improve albumin concentration in dogs with hypoalbuminemia. Other older studies investigated wound healing in dogs with experimentally induced hypoalbuminemia. As in human medicine, serum albumin concentration may be helpful as a prognostic indicator in critically ill dogs. Conclusion: Albumin is one of the most important proteins in the body because of its role in maintenance of colloid oncotic pressure, substrate transport, buffering capacity, as a mediator of coagulation and wound healing, and free-radical scavenging. Albumin replacement in veterinary medicine is difficult, but until prospective clinical trials determine the efficacy of albumin replacement are conducted, a suggested clinical guideline would be to maintain albumin concentration at or above 2.0 g/dl utilizing fresh frozen plasma.
Two-Dimensional Ising Model as an Exactly Solvable Relativistic Quantum Field Theory: Explicit Formulas for n -Point Functions

For both T > T/sub c/ and T < T/sub c/, we report exact expressions for the n-spin correlation function of the two-dimensional Ising model suitable for studying large separations between spins. In particular, the scaling limit of these correlation functions can be shown to exist and yields n-point Schwinger functions of some relativistic quantum field theories.
Climate adaptation: Institutional response to environmental constraints, and the need for increased flexibility, participation, and integration of approaches

Adaptation to the impacts of climate change is a dynamic process that is shaped by institutional, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts. Efforts to adapt to changing climate may occur on many scales and may be undertaken by a variety of stakeholders and do not occur in institutional vacuum. As globalization has increased the exchange of knowledge across space, a greater number of institutions have become involved in adaptation measures encompassing multiple scales. In order to gain insight into how adaptation might unfold into the future, we investigate the interactions between institutions operating at multiple levels in the innovation of new technologies on demand. From a broad sample of cases, we identify four distinct types of adaptation measures and select one corresponding case representing each type to assess the roles of institutions (and other stakeholders) in innovation. We further identify and discuss two findings that cut across all adaptation measures: (1) the need for widespread participation, flexibility, and integration of stakeholders for quick and effective response, and (2) the need to transfer leadership and responsibility from institutionally led adaptation measures to community based measures so that adaptation is sustained into the future. Together, these findings suggest that the types of adaptation measures implemented primarily from the top–down may not promote local resilience in the long term; likewise, those measures implemented from the bottom–up require some level of collaboration from the top to maximize their effectiveness.
Mutations in RNAi Rescue Aberrant Chemotaxis of ADAR Mutants

Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) are RNA editing enzymes that convert adenosine (A) to inosine (I) within double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) [reviewed in ([ 1 ][1])]. ADARs are found in metazoa where they are highly expressed in neuronal tissues. Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis
Numerical simulation of Case II transport

A nonlinear conservation equation for the fluid concentration field during onedimensional viscoelastic diffusion is derived by retaining the concentration dependencies of physical properties in the fluid flux expression from the nonequilibrium thermodynamic treatment of Durning and Tabor (1986). The result is specialized to the limit of small, but finite, diffusion Deborah numbers to give a model essentially the same as that by Thomas and Windle (1982) for Case II transport (TW model). Orthogonal collocation on Hermite cubic trial functions together with a stiff ordinary differential equations integrator were used to solve the TW model for integral sorption in a dry film. The solutions show good agreement with previous analyses and confirm that strong nonlinearities in both the fluid diffusivity and the mixture viscosity are essential for prediction from the model of wave-like concentration profiles associated with the Case II process. Also, the numerical results partially confirm the analytical asymptotic analysis of Hui et al. (1987b) for the Case II wave-front velocity, v. They show that Hui et al.'s formula for the dependence of v on characteristic physical properties does not depend on the details of how the diffusivity and viscosity change with fluid content, as long as both are strongly nonlinear.
Isolation and characterization of a yellow pigment from Escherichia coli.

Abstract A yellow pigment was extracted by n -butanol from the sonically disintegrated washed cells of a PABA-requiring strain M48-34 of Escherichia coli following incubation with PABA. These cells were grown in medium containing an inhibitory concentration of sulfathiazole. The pigment contains p -aminobenzoic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and leucine as components, and has no folic acid activity in microbiological assays. The pigment, used in place of PABA, promoted the growth of strain M48-34. It was found convertible by the washed cells of strain M48-34 to a folic acid-like substance capable of promoting the growth of Streptococcus faecalis R.
Ketoconazole and other imidazole derivatives are potent inhibitors of peroxisomal phytanic acid α-oxidation

The imidazole antimycotics like ketoconazole, clotrimazole, bifonazole, miconazole and CO, known as powerful inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, are potent inhibitors of peroxisomal phytanic acid α-oxidation to pristanic acid suggesting the possible involvement of the cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenase system in this oxidation. In contrast to the inhibition of the oxidation of [1-14C]phytanic acid, [1-14C]phytanoyl-CoA and [(2,3)-3H]phytanic acid, these drugs and CO have no effect on the oxidation of [1-14C]α-hydroxy phytanic acid indicating that these drugs and CO inhibit only the α-hydroxylation of phytanic acid. These studies using purified peroxisomes from liver and cultured human skin fibroblasts and Hep G2 cells clearly demonstrate that α-hydroxylation, an intermediate step in the α-oxidation of phytanic acid found to be impaired in Refsum Disease, is mediated by cytochrome P-450 containing enzyme.
320-Multidetector row whole-head dynamic subtracted CT angiography and whole-brain CT perfusion before and after carotid artery stenting: Technical note

Introduction Multidetector CT (MDCT) is increasingly used for the investigation of neurovascular disorders, but restricted z-axis coverage (3.2 cm for 64-MDCT) currently limits perfusion to a small portion of the brain close to the circle of Willis, and precludes dynamic angiographic appreciation of the entire brain circulation. We illustrate the clinical potential of recently developed 320-MDCT extending the z-axis coverage to 16 cm in a patient with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.
CIII. Electric fields due to the motion of constant electromagnetic systems

(1922). CIII. Electric fields due to the motion of constant electromagnetic systems. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 44, No. 264, pp. 1112-1128.
Further comments on the lability of M2(O2CR)4 complexes and structural characterization of [Bu4nN]2+[Rh8(O2CBut)16(O2CMe)2(toluene)2]2−

Abstract From the reaction between Rh 2 (O 2 CBu t ) 4 and [Bu 4 n N][O 2 CMe] in toluene crystals of [Bu 4 n N] 2 [Rh 8 (O 2 Bu t ) 16 (O 2 CME) 2 (toluene) 2 ] have been obtained and structurally characterized. The [Rh 8 (O 2 Bu t ) 16 (O 2 CMe) 2 (toluene) 2 ] 2− anion is informative as a model for the nature of the species present in solution, namely [Rh 2 (O 2 CBu t ) 4 ] dimers, small oligomers, [Rh 2 (O 2 CBu t ) 4 ( η 1 -O 2 CMe] − anions and terminal [Rh 2 ] centres weakly solvated by toluene. Also of note is the kinetic inertness of the Rh 2 4+ centre to carboxylate exchange at 22°C, which is in marked contrast to related Mo 2 4+ centres.
Multi-component TAG and notions of formal power

This paper presents a restricted version of Set-Local Multi-Component TAGs (Weir, 1988) which retains the strong generative capacity of Tree-Local Multi-Component TAG (i.e. produces the same derived structures) but has a greater derivational generative capacity (i.e. can derive those structures in more ways). This formalism is then applied as a framework for integrating dependency and constituency based linguistic representations.
Inhibition of glycosylation decreases Na+/H+ exchange activity, blocks NHE-3 transport to the membrane, and increases NHE-3 mRNA expression in LLC-PK1 cells☆

Recent studies have shown that NHE-3 is the luminal Na+/H+ exchanger isoform in cultured renal proximal tubule cells LLC-PK1 and OK (J Biol Chem 1994; 269:15613-8). The purpose of the current experiments was to study the role of NHE-3 glycosylation on antiporter activity in LLC-PK1 cells. Treatment of LLC-PK, cells with 1.5 microgram/ml tunicamycin for 24 hours, which blocks glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum, significantly decreased antiporter activity as asses sed by acid-stimulated sodium 22 uptake (9.52 +/- 1.0 nmol/mg protein in control cells vs 5.85 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein in tunicamycin-treated cells, p 0.05), indicating that the inhibitory effect of tunicamycin was not caused by cell toxicity. Northern hybridization of poly(A)+ RNA from LLC-PK1 cells illustrated that in tunicamycin-treated cells, NHE-3 mRNA expression increased threefold over control cells. Immunoblots of luminal membranes from control LLC-PK, cells with specific NHE-3 antiserum showed a doublet at 94 to 95 kd and a band at 90 kd. Luminal membranes from tunicamycin-treated cells showed only one strong band at 95 kd. NHE-3 immunoblots of whole cell extract from tunicamycin-treated cells showed that in addition to the 95 kd protein, an 87 kd band was also detected. These results are consistent with the possibility that the two bands in the 94 and 90 kd areas became deglycosylated and did not reach the membrane in the presence of tunicamycin. We conclude that glycosylation of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform NHE-3 is essential for antiporter activity in LLC-PK, cells. The results further suggest that glycosylation of NHE-3 mediates the translocation and insertion of this exchanger in the plasma membrane.
Selling News: Behind the Content of Cable and Broadcast Morning Shows

Through content analysis of the three broadcast networks and two leading cable news channels, this study's authors (1) examine how promotional content fits into the overall lineup of the morning news shows, (2) evaluate ownership patterns as they relate to this content, and (3) examine the policy implications of news decisions related to promotional content. The study identifies clear differences in the practices of the broadcast versus cable morning news programs.
Modulation of IL-17A and TL1A largely abrogates house dust mite-induced lung inflammation in murine model of allergic airway disease

Recent studies suggest a role for Th17 responses in the increased airway neutrophilia associated with severe asthma. House dust mite (HDM) is a natural allergen to which asthmatics are often sensitized. Mice repeatedly challenged with HDM extract developed robust airway neutrophilia rapidly evolving into asthma-like disease with increased numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) as well as inflammatory infiltrates, vascular/muscular hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, epithelial hyperplasia and mucus accumulation in lung tissues. RNA and protein screening revealed a robust Th17 component post-HDM exposure. We thus evaluated whether IL-17A deficiency could modulate HDM-induced allergic airway disease. Airway neutrophilia was indeed abrogated in IL-17A deficient mice weekly challenged with HDM (acute model), however total BAL cellularity and lung mechanics remained comparable to those of HDM-challenged WT mice. In contrast, IL-17A deficient mice daily exposed to HDM (chronic model) had decreased BAL cellularity associated with reduced numbers of BAL macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. Interestingly antibody neutralization of TL1A, a member of the TNF superfamily known to promote Th2 and Th17 responses, reduced BAL cellularity to baseline levels in HDM-challenged WT mice. Our results thus indicate that targeting Th17 responses can alleviate HDM-induced airway neutrophilia, and can also broadly modulate allergic airway disease.
Surgical Treatment of Mycotic Aneurysm Associated with Coarctation of the Aorta

Abstract Mycotic aneurysm is a rare complication associated with coarctation of the aorta. A review of 13 patients treated surgically for this combination of lesions illustrates the typical pathological characteristics, the importance of proper timing of surgical intervention, and the significant improvement in survival following excision of the aneurysm and coarctation after a course of appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Organization of central hyperthermic mechanisms in helium-cold hypothermic hamsters

Abstract We have investigated the ability of three hyperthermic stimuli (PGE 2 , 5-HT and ACh) to elicit hyperthermia in the Helium-Cold (He-Cold) hypothermic hamster. Hamsters in these conditions are poikilothermic and will passively follow room temperature in a regulated cold room. Animals were injected centrally at AH/POA sites via an indwelling guide tube at body temperatures maintained between 9–12°C. Active sites in the AH/POA were determined prior to the experiment by PGE 2 injection. PGE 2 injection at an effective AH/POA site immediately reversed the anesthetic induced hypothermia in warm air. Hamsters were induced into hypothermia by the He-Cold induction method and body temperatures were maintained in a 9°C cold room. Colonie temperatures were monitored at 5 minute intervals by a YSI thermistor probe and telethermometer. Central injections of 5-HT (2 μ/μl) and ACh (50 μg/μl) at effective AH/POA sites evoked significant increases in colonie temperature in He-Cold hamsters. PGE2 injections were not different from saline control injections and did not elicit pronounced temperature changes in these animals. Specific blockade of the 5-HT and ACh temperature increases was demonstrated with specific antagonist injections. The results suggest that the central organization of heat-gain mechanisms in the AH/POA is the same as normothermic animals even at temperatures well below those previously investigated.
Investigation of four geometrical parameters on thermal stratification of cold water tanks by exergy analysis

In this paper, effects of four geometrical parameters of tanks on the thermal stratification within a cold storage tank are analysed. Nine two–dimensional models have been numerically simulated by using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program, fluent. Realistic boundary and initial conditions are applied. The level of thermal stratification in each model has been quantified by means of exergy analyses. The results obtained show increasing the tanks Aspect Ratio (AR) of height to width, decreasing inlet/outlet diameter, moving the inlet/outlet position to the outer extremities of the tank, and increasing input angle towards top of the tank all lead in increasing levels of thermal stratification.
Synopsis of the stratigraphy and paleontology of the uppermost Cretaceous and lower Tertiary strata in the Denver Basin, Colorado

In a multidisciplinary effort, uppermost Cretaceous and lower Tertiary Laramide synorogenic strata in the Denver Basin have been dated using biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and radioactive isotopes. The resulting calibrated framework permits biotic and stratigraphic events to be examined in a spatial and temporal context. Synorogenic sediments accumulated in two distinct pulses separated by about eight million years. Faunal changes are evident across time and, to a lesser extent, space. In addition to evolutionary changes through time, floras show distinctive distributional patterns that reflect the ancient landscape and indicate the presence of Paleocene monsoons on eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains. Observations by the Denver Basin Project team have been used to create a series of rigorously documented paintings reconstructing ancient Denver Basin landscapes. As a result of our stratigraphic work, bedrock aquifer patterns in the Denver Basin are better quantified. The Arapahoe aquifer is comprised of a series of buried alluvial fans and does not form a uniform layer across the Denver Basin.
Synthesis of sulfone-based nucleotide isosteres: identification of CMP-sialic acid synthetase inhibitors

A modular replacement approach to the synthesis of sulfo-nucleotide analogs prepared from condensation of nucleoside aldehydes with bis phosphonate Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents is disclosed. These analogs were shown to be inhibitors of Neisseria meningitidis CSS (NmCSS), which is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the capsular polysaccharides required for bacterial infection.
Evidence for decrease in atmospheric sulfur burden in the eastern United States caused by reduction in SO2 emissions

We report aerosol SO42− measurements from 1979 to 1996 at Whiteface Mountain located in the Adirondack Mountains and from 1983 at Mayville, in western New York State. From 1981 to 1991 SO42− decreased, ∼3% per year. Reductions of nearly 47% in SO42− and total sulfur concentrations at Whiteface Mountain, and about 30% at Mayville, were observed during 1995 to 96 compared with the mean levels during 1981–91, while the upwind SO2 emissions in the Midwestern United States decreased by 36%. Linear relationships between SO42− and total sulfur concentrations and the SO2 emissions were observed for the entire period. The mean ratio of SO42− concentrations to SO2 emissions for the eighteen year period at Whiteface Mountain is 0.11 ± 0.014 and for thirteen years at Mayville is 0.23± 0.014 µg SO42−/m³ per 10³ metric tons SO2 emitted per day. The data suggest that the observed relationship could be used to predict decreases in atmospheric SO42− levels based on SO2 emissions several years hence. Furthermore, it appears feasible to develop an empirical source-receptor relationship if similar data were acquired from a network of strategically located sampling sites.
Cognitive robot mapping with polylines and an absolute space representation

Robot mapping even today is one of the most challenging problems in robot programming. Most successful methods use some form of occupancy grid to represent a mapped region. This approach becomes problematic if the robot is mapping a large environment, the map quickly becomes too large for processing and storage. Rather than storing the map as an occupancy grid, our robot (equipped with sonars) sees the world as a series of connected spaces. These spaces are initially mapped as an occupancy grid in a room by room fashion. As the robot leaves a space, denoted by passing through a doorway, the grids are converted to a polygonal representation. This polygonal representation is stored as rooms and hallways as a set of Absolute Space Representations (ASRs) representing the space connections. Using this representation makes navigation and localization easier for the robot to process.
On-chip electrostatic discharge protection for CMOS gas sensor systems-on-a-chip (SoC) ☆

Abstract An on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection scheme is demonstrated for an emerging technology of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based embedded sensor (ES) system-on-a-chip (SoC). The ESD protection scheme is implemented using ground-referenced multifinger thyristor-type devices optimized for (1) the input/output (I/O) protection, (2) the power supply clamp, and (3) the internal sensors’ electrodes during the micromachining process. The ESD structure developed demonstrates a leakage current below 10−10 A, high on-state conductance, and high level of human body model (HBM) immunity.
Unipolar depression: A family study of a large kindred

Abstract Although large kindreds of genetic illness are commonplace in other fields of medicine, relatively few have been reported in psychiatry. Pardue 1 reported a family of depressive illness with 27 members affected over five generations and concluded that the transmission was compatible with an autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance, although polygenic inheritance could not be ruled out. The purpose of this paper is to report another large kindred of unipolar depression with 16 members affected over five generations. The family was brought to our attention by a 21-year-old male college student with a 4-year history of recurrent depressive episodes meeting research criteria 2 for a diagnosis of depression and with one serious suicide attempt by means of carbon monoxide. The family history disclosed six successful suicides and multiple occurrences of depression in other family members.
A Life Course Perspective on Depressive Symptoms in Mid-Pregnancy

Objective: To examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in mid-pregnancy and their relation to life circumstances across the life course in a community-based sample. Methods: The Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) Study enrolled women at 16–26 weeks' gestation from 52 clinics in five Michigan communities. At enrollment women completed a screening instrument for depressive symptoms (CES-D) and questions about life circumstances covering three “periods,” i.e. previous 6 months, adulthood, and childhood. Questions were grouped into sub-constructs (e.g., abuse, economic, substance use, loss, and legal) for each “period” and evaluated in relation to CES-D scores. Analyses included 1321 POUCH participants divided into three subgroups: teens; women ≥20 years insured by Medicaid (disadvantaged); and women ≥20 years not insured by Medicaid (advantaged). Results: A positive CES-D screen (≥16) was more common in teens (46%) and disadvantaged women (47%) than in advantaged women (23%). Recent problems (previous 6 months) with abuse, economics, and substance use in someone close were each associated with higher adjusted mean CES-D scores (2.3–7.5 increase) in the three subgroups of women. In life course analyses, abuse and substance use in teens, and abuse and economic problems in disadvantaged and advantaged women were strongly linked to higher adjusted mean CES-D scores when these problems occurred both in childhood and adulthood (range 2.2–7.1 increase), whereas the associations were more modest when problems were confined to childhood. Conclusions: Strategies for addressing the public health problem of depressive symptoms in mid-pregnancy will benefit from a life course perspective.
Intra-modality selective attention and evoked cortical potentials to randomly presented patterns

Abstract The effects of selective attention on visually evoked cortical responses (VERs) were investigated under conditions where transient changes in arousal level and peripheral orienting factors were reduced to a minimum. Four subjects were presented a random series of relevant and irrelevant light flashes and were instructed either to count or to make a reaction time response to the relevant stimulus. Stimuli were presented at a constant rate of 0.92 or 1.92 c/sec. Subjects fixated a central reference point on the stimulus screen throughout each trial. Averaged VERs from the occipital region showed a consistent increased negativity at latencies of 220–250 msec and positivity at latencies of 290–340 msec when the stimulus was attended as compared to not attended. The effects of attention on VERs did not differ significantly as a function of the response conditions or rate of stimulus presentation. The effects of selective attention on early and late evoked cortical activity were discussed in terms of the processing of sensory information in the peripheral and central nervous system, respectively.
The role of reduced potassium conductance in generating triggered activity in guinea-pig ventricular muscle.

This study investigates the role of reducing potassium conductance (gK) in generating delayed afterdepolarizations and triggered activity in small preparations of ventricular muscle from guinea-pig hearts. We used agents believed to reduce gK (low or absent K0, tetraethylammonium (TEA), CsCl) and we used ouabain (10−6 m) to induce delayed afterdepolarizations. Treatment with ouabain only caused subthreshold delayed afterdepolarizations or occasionally non-sustained triggered activity. Exposure to Tyrode's solution with K reduced from 4 to 2 mm or K-free Tyrode's solution, with or without ouabain, caused subthreshold delayed afterdepolarizations and sometimes non-sustained triggered activity. Exposure to Tyrode's solution containing TEA and ouabain caused sustained triggered activity, supporting the hypothesis that accumulation of extracellular K inhibits the development of triggered activity. Presumably, the reduction in gK caused by TEA is not reversed by accumulation of extracellular K so that the delayed afterdepolarizations in the presence of persistently reduced gK are large enough to induced sustained triggered activity. Under extreme conditions, when Cs replaced K and half the NaCl was replaced by TEA, delayed afterdepolarizations occurred in the presence of markedly reduced gK, the result being the rapid development of sustained triggered activity, even at the basic drive rate of 1 Hz. Our results suggest that reduced gK plays an important role in the development of triggered activity.
Sensitive and rapid detection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus by a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification method

Aims: To evaluate the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) for rapid detection of Flavobacterium columnare and determine the suitability of LAMP for rapid diagnosis of columnaris infection in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Methods and Results: A set of four primers, two outer and two inner, were designed specifically to recognize 16S ribosomal RNA gene of this pathogen. Bacterial genomic DNA templates were prepared by hot lysis in a lysis buffer. Amplification of the specific gene segments was carried out at 65°C for 1 h. The amplified gene products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and detected by staining gels with ethidium bromide. A PCR assay was also included in this study. Our results demonstrate that the ladder-like pattern of bands from 204 bp specific to the Fl. columnare 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was comparable to that of PCR in prepared genomic DNA reactions. In addition, this optimized LAMP assay was able to detect the Fl. columnare 16S ribosomal RNA gene in experimentally infected channel catfish. Conclusions: The LAMP assay for Fl. columnare detection in channel catfish was established. Significance and Impact of the Study: Because LAMP assay is a rapid, sensitive, specific, simple and cost-effective assay for Fl. columnare detection in channel catfish, it is useful for rapid diagnosis of Fl. columnare in fish hatcheries and the field.
Provision of foods differing in energy density affects long-term weight loss.

Objective: The energy density (kilocalories per gram) of foods influences short-term energy intake. This 1-year clinical trial tested the effect on weight loss of a diet incorporating one or two servings per day of foods equal in energy but differing in energy density. Research Methods and Procedures: Dietitians instructed 200 overweight and obese women and men to follow an exchange-based energy-restricted diet. Additionally, subjects were randomized to consume daily either one or two servings of low energy-dense soup, two servings of high energy-dense snack foods, or no special food (comparison group). Results: All four groups showed significant weight loss at 6 months that was well maintained at 12 months. The magnitude of weight loss, however, differed by group (p = 0.006). At 1 year, weight loss in the comparison (8.1 ± 1.1 kg) and two-soup (7.2 ± 0.9 kg) groups was significantly greater than that in the two-snack group (4.8 ± 0.7 kg); weight loss in the one-soup group (6.1 ± 1.1 kg) did not differ significantly from other groups. Weight loss was significantly correlated with the decrease in dietary energy density from baseline at 1 and 2 months (p = 0.0001) but not at 6 and 12 months. Discussion: On an energy-restricted diet, consuming two servings of low energy-dense soup daily led to 50% greater weight loss than consuming the same amount of energy as high energy-dense snack food. Regularly consuming foods that are low in energy density can be an effective strategy for weight management.
Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for propylene glycol monomethyl ether and its acetate in rats and humans

Abstract Propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PM), along with its acetate, is the most widely used of the propylene glycol ether family of solvents. The most common toxic effects of PM observed in animal studies include sedation, very slight alpha 2u -globulin mediated nephropathy (male rats only) and hepatomegally at high exposures (typically > 1000 ppm). Sedation in animal studies usually resolves within a few exposures to 3000 ppm (the highest concentration used in subchronic and chronic inhalation studies) due to the induction of metabolizing enzymes. Data from a variety of pharmacokinetic and mechanistic studies have been incorporated into a PBPK model for PM and its acetate in rats and mice. Published controlled exposure and workplace biomonitoring studies have also been included for comparisons of the internal dosimetry of PM and its acetate between laboratory animals and humans. PM acetate is rapidly hydrolyzed to PM, which is further metabolized to either glucuronide or sulfate conjugates (minor pathways) or propylene glycol (major pathway). In vitro half-lives for PM acetate range from 14 to 36 min depending upon the tissue and species. In vivo half-lives are considerably faster, reflecting the total contributions of esterases in the blood and tissues of the body, and are on the order of just a few minutes. Thus, very little PM acetate is found in vivo and, other than potential portal of entry irritation, the toxicity of PM acetate is related to PM. Regardless of the source for PM (either PM or its acetate), rats were predicted to have a higher Cmax and AUC for PM in blood than humans, especially at concentrations greater than the current ACGIH TLV of 100 ppm. This would indicate that the major systemic effects of PM would be expected to be less severe in humans than rats at comparable inhalation exposures.
Optical emission diagnostics of laser-induced plasma for diamond-like film deposition

Optical emission from a laser-induced plasma plume is recorded during KrF excimer laser ablation of graphite in a gas mixture of Ar and H2 (3%) for deposition of diamond-like thin films. At sub-GW/cm2 laser intensities the spectrum is dominated by the bands of C2 and CN. From the band intensities, the vibrational temperatures of both radicals are calculated to be 12–15×103 K, and their concentrations are estimated to be 5×1014 cm−3 and 2×1014 cm−3, respectively.
LTAS.NET: A NIOSH Life Table Analysis System for the windows environment

Purpose Life table analysis is a fundamental tool of occupational epidemiology. A life table analysis system (LTAS) was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the 1980s. The current system, called PC-LTAS, is limited by its platform (MS-DOS) and by its analysis and reporting capabilities. A project was initiated to create a LTAS for the Windows operating system (LTAS.NET) that would permit the analysis of more than one exposure variable, as well as allow stratification by user-defined fixed and time-dependent covariates. Methods A group of epidemiologists, programmers and statisticians developed system and analysis requirements. The LTAS.NET program is written in Microsoft Visual Studio.NET using a SQL Server database engine. Statistical methods include the use of (indirectly) standardized mortality ratios, (directly) standardized rate ratios, confidence intervals based on Poisson and exact methods, and the Rothman trend test for analyses of linear exposure-response associations. Comprehensive software testing strategies (including algorithms for person-time stratification and statistical calculations) were employed in the development of LTAS.NET. Results The LTAS.NET program allows for simultaneous stratification and analysis of multiple exposure variables. Time-dependent and fixed user-defined variables, and globally defined temporal variables, can be incorporated. The import, stratification and results reporting options are highly flexible. LTAS.NET supports the use of exposure lags and consideration of active and inactive (working) person-time. Users may export stratified event and person-time data for use in Poisson regression modeling software. Conclusion The NIOSH LTAS.NET incorporates a number of methodological improvements that should facilitate more complex life table analysis of occupational cohort data than was possible in PC-LTAS. NIOSH plans to release LTAS.NET to the public in the future.
STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF CARBON DIOXIDE ON X-RAY INDUCED CHROMOSOME ABERRATIONS IN TRADESCANTIA. I. DURATION OF THE PRETREATMENT EFFECT

The pretreatment of Tradescantia inflorescences with one atmosphere of CO/sub 2/ plus one of air is effective in increasing the number of chromosome aberrations induced by x rays by about 1.6 times. Separating the CO/sub 2/ pretreatment and radiation by increasing periods in air has shown that the CO/sub 2/ effect persists for about 20 min. After this period the aberration frequency returns to control levels. Following the CO/sub 2/ treatment the oxygen uptake rate of the tissues is greatly increased. There is reason to believe that changes in nucleoplasmic viscosity and oxidative metabolism may alter the frequency of chromosome aberrations induced by radiation. (auth)
Sources of Sectoral Fluctuations in Business Fixed Investment

Abstract A model of macroeconomic complementarity is used to assess causes of comovement in investment spending across nine sectors of the U.S. economy. It is hypothesized that the irreversibility and uncertainty of investment spending imply a greater role for investment linkages and aggregate factors in investment fluctuations compared with estimates for employment and output. For the average sector, past investment growth across all sectors, changes in aggregate demand, and a common factor account for two-thirds of the variance of investment growth. After accounting for aggregate demand, sectoral shocks explain 70% of the average sector’s innovations to investment growth.
Acoustic and perceptual analysis of word-initial stop consonants in phonologically disordered children.

Spectrographic measures of voice onset time (VOT) were made for phonologically disordered children in whom a voicing contrast was just beginning to emerge. These temporal measures were related to a...
Conceptually meeting expectations of Generation Y by building personalised-customised hybrid bundles to target action sports consumers

This paper conceptually explores how bundling could lead to greater revenue and brand loyalty in the action sports industry by meeting the expectations of Generation Y. The author defines personalised-customised hybrid bundles and proposes using these bundles to target Generation Y action sports consumers. Generation Y grew up in an even more media-saturated and brand-conscious world then their parents. They use brands for self-expression to define what is ‘cool’ and seek counter cultures such as action sports. They expect a virtual dialogue with companies and comparison shop quickly. The author explores how bricks-and-clicks retailers can sell distinct products with different costs in a bundle through utilising Multi-channel Customer Management (MCM) in combination with customer's self-selection. A conceptual model is developed explaining how action sports capture Generation Y, and a second model demonstrates how MCM combined with customer self-selection can be used to create personalised-customised hybrid bundles.
New species of Aphanactis in Ecuador and Bolivia and new combinations in Selloa (Heliantheae: Asteraceae)

Aphanactis is redelimited to contain only the Andrean species with reduced limbs on the ray corollas and peduncles that elongate at or after anthesis. Four species are described as new, A. antisanensis, A. barclayae, A. boliviana, and A. ollgaardii. Two species previously described in Aphanactis, A. macdonaldii and A. ligulata, are transferred to Selloa.
Letter to the Editor—A Charge to Radiology Nurses: Make Them See You

Abstract For many, the role of the Radiology Nurse is a mystery. Disturbingly, this is true even among their colleagues. The intent of this article is to unveil that enigma. Three nurses in the Department of Radiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital proceeded to do so by developing an educative and interactive poster display.
Steady-state behavior of Kalman filter with discrete- and continuous-time observations

There is often a need for optimal mixing of continuous-time and discrete-time data. This can be readily accomplished by Kalman filtering, the theory of which is briefly reviewed. In the steady state the filter gains for processing the continuous-time data are generally periodically varying functions of time and cannot be determined by simply solving either the discrete-time or the continuous-time filtering problem, but they can be determined with the aid of the solution of an equivalent discrete-time problem. An illustrative example is given for the system: \ddot{x} = white noise, with discrete-time observations of x and continuous-time observations of \dot{x} .
Point mutations in the middle of 16S ribosomal RNA of E. coli produced by deletion loop mutagenesis.

Using the plasmid pKK3535 , which contains the rrnB operon of Escherichia coli in pBR322, a deletion mutation was constructed which lacks bases 822 to 874 in the middle of the 16S ribosomal RNA. This results in an "amputation" of a very distinct stem and loop structure in the RNA. By forming a heteroduplex between the deletion plasmid and the original pKK3535 and by modifying the single-stranded deletion loops with bisulfite, we produced plasmids containing one or two base changes at positions 839, 840, 841, 867 or 876. The clustering of the mutations near the top of the stem, and the inability to get base changes at other positions, suggests that single alterations at particular positions severely affect the formation of a functional ribosome. The ability to recover mutations at these positions is not determined by the secondary structure of the DNA during bisulfite mutagenesis. Restriction enzyme analysis of 12 revertants from a slow growing mutant (altered at positions 839 and 876) shows that they did not compensate for the mutation by re-establishing the original wild type sequence.
A segmented position-sensitive plastic phoswich detector

Abstract For the detection of light particles we have built a multi-element detector, consisting of eight position-sensitive strips. The total active area is 20 × 20 cm 2 . The strips are of the phoswich type, having a thin element of fast NE102 (decay time τ = 2.5 ns) and a thic element of slow NE115 ( τ = 225 ns). The position information is obtained by making use of light attenuation through surface losses. The detector is able to identify protons, deuterons and α particles. The position and energy resolutions were found to vary from 4 to 18 mm (fwhm) and 2.2 to 5.8% (fwhm), respectively, for α energies ranging from 87 to 35 MeV. The detector has been used in experiments for the coincident measurement of light particles produced in heavy-ion-induced reactions.