cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary glycemic load assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting plasma triacylglycerols in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND In metabolic studies, both greater carbohydrate intakes and higher glycemic indexes (GIs) raise fasting triacylglycerol concentrations. In epidemiologic studies, dietary glycemic load (GL) is positively associated with risk of coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE We examined both the physiologic relevance of GI and GL and the ability of dietary questionnaires to measure these variables. DESIGN In the Nurses' Health Study, we measured plasma triacylglycerol concentrations in fasting blood samples from 185 healthy postmenopausal women and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in an additional 95 nonfasting samples. Dietary carbohydrate, GI, and GL were assessed by use of semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires. The cross-sectional associations between these 3 variables and plasma triacylglycerol and HDL were assessed, with adjustment for potential confounding factors. RESULTS For the lowest and highest quintiles of GL, the multivariate-adjusted geometric mean triacylglycerol concentrations were 0.98 and 1.75 mmol/L (87 and 155 mg/dL; P for trend 25 (P for trend < 0.001) and 1.02 and 1.42 mmol/L (90 and 126 mg/dL) in women with BMIs < or = 25 (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSION These data support the physiologic relevance of the GL as a potential risk factor for coronary artery disease in free-living women, particularly those prone to insulin resistance. These findings also document the ability of a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire to assess dietary GIs and GLs.
Steady-state vs non-steady-state transient kinetic analysis of surface coverages during the oxidative coupling of methane

Because of its greater simplicity and lower cost, non-steady-state transient kinetic analysis has been used by a number of workers in the study of methane oxidation. With the non-steady-state technique, the concentration level of one of the reactants is put through a step change and the resulting transients in product and reactant concentrations are obtained. The quantity of surface intermediates detected during this real transient may or may not relate to those existing under steady-state reaction since the surface is experiencing major changes. Examination of reactive surface intermediates under steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis. This technique entails an abrupt switch in the isotopic composition of one of the reactants, which does not disturb the steady-state condition, accompanied by the continuous monitoring (e.g., by mass spectrometry) of the relaxation and evolution of labeled reactants and products. The main difference between these two techniques is the unavoidable perturbation of the reaction environment with non-steady-state isotopic transient techniques. Results are presented that detail for the first time some of the problems with trying to relate amounts of surface species measured under non-steady-state conditions to concentrations of surface reaction intermediates existing during the steady-state oxidative coupling of methane.
Colonic polyp detection with spiral CT colonography

The emerging techniques of 3D spiral CT for 'virtual colonoscopy' show promise as a noninvasive screening modality for the detection of polyps. Our purpose was to evaluate three key post-processing parameters required for depiction of colonic polyps using perspective volume rendering (PVR): image reconstruction, window setting, and opacity map assignment of the attenuation histogram. Spiral CT scans of two different patients with known polyps confirmed by colonoscopy were performed. First, image quality was compared between images generated after interpolation of raw projection data and interpolation of reconstructed image data for longitudinal voxel dimensions of 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x and 8x in-plane voxel dimensions. Second, the dimensions of colonic polyps relative to haustral folds were measured on PVR images for various window settings and compared to similar measures performed on photography performed at colonoscopy. Third, a double sigmoidal and a stair-step opacity function were each applied to a 3D PVR image of a polyp, and quantitative differences in image smoothness were compared using a texture analysis method. In conclusion, spiral CT images reconstructed with 50 percent overlap and displayed with a standard display window permit accurate depiction of polyp dimensions relative to surrounding structures on PVR windows. Image artifacts may be suppressed with use of a double sigmoidal opacity map.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmacological treatments in schizophrenia: critical review of results and methodological issues.

Abstract Objective : To comprehensively review and critically appraise the results and the methodological issues in the cost-effectiveness literature on pharmacological treatments in schizophrenia. Methods : Relevant literature published in peer-reviewed journals was identified through a computer search in Medline from 1975 to 2002. Further studies were identified using reference lists and published review articles. Articles included in the review were required to evaluate both costs and clinical outcomes in the same study. Results : Seventeen articles met all inclusion criteria. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) in schizophrenia spans three types of studies—randomized trial-based studies (six), retrospective cohort-based studies (six) and decision model-based studies (five). Comparing results from CEA across all types of studies in schizophrenia reveals a large ambiguity in the incremental evaluation of newer atypicals. For treatment-resistant patients, clozapine seems to produce cost saving and better outcomes compared to standard neuroleptics. However, there is tremendous uncertainty in the estimates of cost savings and clinical benefits that may prevent decision makers from making optimal policy decisions about insurance coverage and formulary design based on these results. For chronic schizophrenic patients, the results are even more ambiguous. For example, the studies based on trial settings find risperidone to cost more than haloperidol, while studies based on cohort design and decision models find risperidone to be either equivalent or lower in costs than haloperidol. Conclusions : Further studies of cost-effectiveness need to be carried out with careful consideration of the limitations of published analyses. There are a variety of theoretical and methodological issues that are important to consider during the development of new decision models in this field.
Aerobic Mineralization of MTBE and tert-Butyl Alcohol by Stream-Bed Sediment Microorganisms

Microorganisms indigenous to the stream-bed sediments at two gasoline-contaminated groundwater sites demonstrated significant mineralization of the fuel oxygenates, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Up to 73% of [U-14C]-MTBE and 84% of [U-14C]-TBA were degraded to 14CO2 under mixed aerobic/anaerobic conditions. No significant mineralization was observed under strictly anaerobic conditions. The results indicate that, under the mixed aerobic/anaerobic conditions characteristic of stream-bed sediments, microbial processes may provide a significant environmental sink for MTBE and TBA delivered to surface water bodies by contaminated groundwater or by other sources.
Cell cycle arrest associated with anoxia-induced quiescence, anoxic preconditioning, and embryonic diapause in embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus

Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus can enter into dormancy associated with diapause and anoxia-induced quiescence. Dormant embryos are composed primarily of cells arrested in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle based on flow cytometry analysis of DNA content. In fact, most cells in developing embryos contain only a diploid complement of DNA, with very few cells found in the S, G2, or M phases of the cell cycle. Diapause II embryos appear to be in a G0-like state with low levels of cyclin D1 and p53. However, the active form of pAKT is high during diapause II. Exposure to anoxia causes an increase in cyclin D1 and p53 expression in diapause II embryos, suggesting a possible re-entry into the cell cycle. Post-diapause II embryos exposed to anoxia or anoxic preconditioning have stable levels of cyclin D1 and stable or reduced levels of p53. The amount of pAKT is severely reduced in 12 dpd embryos exposed to anoxia or anoxic preconditioning. This study is the first to evaluate cell cycle control in embryos of A. limnaeus during embryonic diapause and in response to anoxia and builds a foundation for future research on the role of cell cycle arrest in supporting vertebrate dormancy.
Mu and kappa opioid agonists modulate ventral tegmental area input to the ventral pallidum

The ventral pallidum (VP) is situated at the convergence of midbrain dopamine and accumbal opioid efferent projections. Using in vivo electrophysiological procedures in chloral hydrate-anaesthetized rats, we examined whether discrete application of mu- [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5 (DAMGO)] or kappa- (U50488) opioid receptor agonists could alter VP responses to electrical stimulation of ventral tegmental area. Rate suppressions occurred frequently following ventral tegmental area stimulation. Consistent with an involvement of dopamine in this effect, none of the 12 spontaneously active ventral pallidal neurons recorded in rats that had monoamines depleted by reserpine responded to electrical stimulation of ventral tegmental area. Moreover, in intact rats, the dopamine antagonist flupenthixol attenuated evoked suppression in 100% of the neurons tested; however, the GABAA antagonist bicuculline was able to slightly attenuate the response in 50% of the neurons tested. These observations concur with our previous studies in indicating that ventral tegmental area stimulation releases dopamine (and sometimes GABA) onto ventral pallidal neurons. Both DAMGO and U50488 decreased the inhibitory effects of ventral tegmental area stimulation. These effects on the endogenously released transmitter differed from those seen with exogenously applied dopamine, for DAMGO did not alter the efficacy or potency of microiontophoretically applied dopamine. Taken together, these observations suggest that the interaction between DAMGO and dopamine does not occur at a site that is immediately postsynaptic to the dopaminergic input within the VP, but rather that opioid modulation involves mechanisms governing presynaptically released dopamine. These modulatory processes would enable ventral pallidal opioids to gate the influence of ventral tegmental area dopamine transmission on limbic system outputs at the level of the VP.
Cytochromogenic factor: a newly discovered neuroendocrine agent stimulating mitochondrial cytochrome synthesis in the insect fat body.

Abstract Evidence is presented for a neurohormone that stimulated by fivefold the synthesis of cytochromes aa 3 + b in the fat body of young, adult, male Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. This newly discovered agent is designated as the “cytochromogenic factor” (CGF). CGF was concentrated in the corpora cardiaca (CC). A CGF bioassay was developed with decapitated animals that had a threshold response at 0.01 CC pair and showed a linear dose response up to a maximum of 0.08 CC pair. A 24- to 48-hr latent period was needed for the maximum in vivo response to CGF. CGF activity was heat labile and was inactivated by chymotrypsin; partially inactivated by carboxypeptidases A and Y and aminopeptidase M; but not by trypsin. Other hormones such as juvenile hormone (III), 20-hydroxyecdysone, proctolin, and triiodothyronine failed to elicit the cytochromogenic response.
Judgment of Filled and Unfilled Durations: Intersensory Factors

Previous studies have shown a consistent intersensory difference in absolute judgments of the duration of continuous auditory and visual inputs. More visual than auditory clock time was judged equi...
Attending to One of Many: When Infants are Surprisingly Poor at Discriminating an Item's Size

Despite a prevailing assumption in the developmental literature that changes in continuous quantities (ie., surface area, duration) are easier to detect than changes in number, very little research has focused on the verity of this assumption. The few studies that have directly examined infants’ discriminations of continuous extent have revealed that infants discriminate the duration of a single event and the area of a single item with similar levels of precision (Brannon et al., 2006; vanMarle & Wynn, 2007). But what about when items are presented in arrays? Infants appear to be much worse at representing the cumulative surface area compared to the numerosity of an array (Cordes & Brannon, 2008a), however this may be due to a noisy accumulation process and not a general finding pertaining to representations of the extent within an array. The current study investigates how well infants detect changes in the size of individual elements when they are presented within an array. Our results indicate that infants are less sensitive to continuous properties of items when they are presented within a set than when presented in isolation. Specifically we demonstrate that infants required a 4-fold change in item size to detect a change when items were presented within a set of homogeneous elements. Rather than providing redundant cues that aided discrimination, presenting a set of identical elements appeared to hamper an infant’s ability to detect changes in a single element’s size. In addition to providing some of the first evidence to suggest that the presence of multiple items may hinder extent representations, these results provide converging lines of evidence to support the claim that, contrary to popular belief, infants are better at tracking number than continuous properties of a set.
Safety of Vaccinations: Miss America, the Media, and Public Health

ON SEPTEMBER 17,1994, Heather Whitestone was chosen as Miss America, the first ever with a disability. Her deafness has been the subject of much media attention. On September 16, 1994, the Atlanta Constitution ran a story in its front section about Whitestone stating, "At age 18 months, [she] almost died from an adverse reaction to a routine DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccination. It wiped out all but a tiny sliver of her hearing." 1 On September 18, the New York Times ran an Associated Press story in its first section stating "Miss Whitestone... lost her hearing at 18 months because of a reaction to a diphtheria-tetanus shot." 2 On September 19 the New York Times ran another story ascribing her deafness to a vaccination. 3 Not until September 26 did the New York Times publish a story stating that Whitestone's deafness was not due to a vaccination but actually resulted
Mapping the Road from Childhood Trauma to Adult Somatization: The Role of Attachment

Childhood trauma was associated with higher levels of somatization and insecure attachment. Insecure attachmentstyle was also associated with higher levels of somatization. Controlling for age, income, and recent intimate partner violence,analyses showed that fearful attachment fully mediated the link between childhood trauma and somatization for women. For men,there was no such mediation, but both childhood trauma and insecure attachment styles made independent contributions topredicting levels of somatization.
Acute pancreatitis and pregnancy: a 10-year single center experience.

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is rare. We report our institutional therapeutic approaches to this disease and its effect on maternal and fetal outcomes. A retrospective review of medical records of pregnant women admitted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital between 1996 and 2006. Twenty-one patients, presenting with 34 episodes of acute pancreatitis were identified. Most attacks (56%) occurred in the second trimester. Twelve patients had biliary pancreatitis. Three had pancreatitis secondary to other causes and six had “undetermined” etiologies. Of those with biliary pancreatitis, six underwent cholecystectomy; in a third of these cases, initial conservative therapy had failed. The other six patients underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy (n = 2) or conservative therapy (n = 4). Fifty percent of the patients with biliary pancreatitis managed conservatively had a recurrent episode of pancreatitis vs none in the cholecystectomy group. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between the three treatment groups (cholecystectomy, sphincterotomy, and conservative therapy). No maternal deaths were observed; there were four preterm labors and one fetal loss. If treated conservatively, pregnant patients with biliary pancreatitis appear to have a high recurrence rate. Early surgical intervention is appropriate, safe, and does not increase the length of hospital stay.
EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ON OPEN-FIELD BEHAVIOUR IN RATS.

1. Rats were studied in Hall's open-field test 1 1/2 or 3 hours after various doses of 10 psychotomimetic drugs. After 8 of these, changes in behaviour at the lowest effective dose used included significant decrease in emotional defaecation. This effect was also found after a ninth drug, harmine, at a higher dose but with dimethyltryptamine it did not occur at any dose level, though there was a trend in this direction and a dose-effect relationship was apparent. 2. Three stimulant and 5 depressant drugs were tested but no consistent pattern of activity emerged. The only drug which caused decrease in emotional defaecation, thiopropazate, also caused concurrent decrease in all other measured categories of behaviour. 3. The lowest doses of all drugs causing changes in open-field behaviour were 1 1/2 to 20 times higher than the accepted human doses except with LSD-25 where the ratio was 1∶250–500 and reserpine where it was 1∶100. 4. The potential usefulness of the test in the study of psychotropic drugs is discussed.
Integrated RF Silicon Photonics from High Power Photodiodes to Linear Modulators

Many photonic implementations of analog and radio-frequency transmission require a high degree of uncorrupted dynamic range. We present experimental results and discuss the dynamic range of CMOS compatible high power photodiodes and modulators. Article not available.
The effects of phenylpropanolamine on Zucker rats selected for fat food preference.

Abstract Treatments of human and rodent obesity frequently involve administration of amphetamine derivatives, much like phenylpropanolamine, which suppress food intake. The Zucker rat is a commonly employed model of youth-onset obesity in which the homozygous genotype manifests hyperphagia as well as other characteristics that parallel human obesity. Using a macronutrient selection procedure, we examined phenylpropanolamine's differential actions in controlling dietary intake, spontaneous open-field activity, and regional hypothalamic neurotransmitter levels in obese female Zucker rats of varying fat food preference. We hypothesized that phenylpropanolamine would alter hypothalamic monoamine levels differently in low-fat preferring and high-fat preferring Zucker rats, and hence affect feeding behavior and activity differently in these two groups. It was found that in high-fat preferring animals, phenylpropanolamine significantly decreased spontaneous open-field activity, decreased only carbohydrate calori...
Update in perioperative medicine.

Preoperative medical consultation, including risk stratification and risk reduction strategies, is an important function of internists and hospitalists. This article is a summary of the Update in Perioperative Medicine presentation from the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. We performed a Medline search of the relevant literature from February 1, 2009 through February 1, 2010 using the medical subject heading (MeSH) terms preoperative care, intraoperative care, perioperative care, postoperative care, preoperative period, intraoperative period, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, venous thromboembolism, and noncardiac surgery. We added the text words: intraoperative OR perioperative OR postoperative AND/OR complication OR event and excluded studies of transplantation surgery, cardiac surgery, and pediatric surgery. We selected for review 11 articles most likely to shape the practice of perioperative medicine.
Important role of surface fluoride in nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with visible light photocatalytic activity.

Nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized using sol–gel methods and subsequently fluorinated at room temperature by aging in acidic solutions of NaF. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–vis, and IR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. After aging at room temperature in NaF solutions, the Ti–OH groups on the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles were replaced by Ti–F bonds, which resulted in a decrease of the point of zero charge from pH 5.4 to 2.8. Most importantly, the nitrogen dopants were retained after the fluorination process, and the amorphous nanoparticles were partially converted into the anatase phase. Annealing the photocatalysts resulted in a decrease of both the nitrogen and fluoride atomic concentration. Diffuse reflectance spectra show an increase in absorbance above 400 nm after annealing the F,N-doped TiO2, which suggests the formation of color centers. The photoactivity of the F,N-doped and N-doped TiO2 catalysts were eval...
Transient hole burning in exciton-phonon systems

Abstract The imaginary part of the nonlinear optical susceptibility experienced by a test field is calculated for a coupled exciton-phonon system in the transient regime when a strong pump field is directed on the system. Hole burning is found in the absorption spectrum when the pump field frequency is either on resonance with the exciton frequency or one phonon frequency lower than the exciton frequency. The results strongly indicate the saturation of excitons in the system excited either directly or phonon-assisted by the pump field. Other characteristic features of the bleaching in the absorption spectrum are found and their physical implications discussed.
Evaluation of Two-Equation Models of Turbulence in Predicting Film Cooling Performance Under High Free Stream Turbulence

The capabilities of four two-equation turbulence models in predicting film cooling effectiveness under high free stream turbulence (FST) intensity (Tu = 10%) were investigated and their performance are presented and discussed. The four turbulence models are: the standard k-e, RNG, and realizable k-e models as well as the standard k-ω model all four found in the FLUENT CFD code. In all models, the enhanced wall treatment has been used to resolve the flow near solid boundaries. A systematic approach has been followed in the computational setup to insure grid-independence and accurate solution that reflects the true capabilities of these models. Exact geometrical and flow-field replicas of an experimental study on discrete hole film cooling were generated and used in FLUENT. A pitch-to-diameter ratio of 3.04, injection tube length-to-diameter ratio of 4.6 and density ratios of 0.92 and 0.97 were some of the parameters used in the film cooling analysis. The study covered two levels of blowing ratios (M = 0.5 and 1.5) at an environment of what is defined as high initial free-stream turbulence intensity (Tu = 10%). Performance of these models under a very low initial FST were presented in a paper by the authors in Turbo Expo 2006. In that case, the standard k-e model had the most consistent performance among all considered turbulence models and the best centerline film cooling effectiveness predictions under very low FST. However, after the addition of high FST in the free-stream, even the standard k-e model started to deviate greatly from the experimental data (up to 200% over-prediction) under high blowing ratios (M = 1.5). The model which performed the best under high FST but low blowing ratios (M = 0.5) is still the standard k-e model. In all cases only standard k-e model results match the trends of data for both cases. It can be said that under high FST with high M all the models do not do a good job of predicting the data. It was concluded that these deviations resulted from the effects of both high FST and high M. Under high M, near the injection holes deviations could result from the limitations of Boussinesq hypothesis relating the direction of Reynolds stress to the mean strain rate. Also, it seems like all models have trouble including the effects of high FST by not being able to take into account high levels of diffusion of turbulence from the free stream. However, standard k-e model still looks like the best candidate for further improvement with the addition of new diffusion model for TKE under high FST.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Transplantation of Abdominal Viscera

To the Editor. — In the March 10 issue of JAMA , Starzl et al 1 and Williams et al 2 describe a daring experimental procedure with potential efficacy for the treatment of a variety of otherwise fatal pediatric gastrointestinal problems. Starzl et al report the animal data that encouraged their group to experiment on humans. Williams et al report that, although the patients died, "the technical aspects of the procedure were tested and the feasibility of the procedure established." Goldsmith 3 describes the visceral transplantation procedures as "experimental operations" that have led to modifications in both the procedure and the patient populations for which it is considered. Moore, 4 in an accompanying editorial, describes three ethical considerations that should precede decisions to continue such research: only centers with adequate laboratory background, adequate clinical experience, and willingness to report results should proceed with such surgery. Neither article mentions institutional review board
Actions of a beta-adrenergic agonist on muscle protein metabolism in intact, adrenalectomized, and dexamethasone-supplemented adrenalectomized rats

Abstract The objectives were to investigate the possibility that glucocorticoids potentiate actions of beta-adrenergic agonists in skeletal muscle and to elucidate mechanisms by which glucocorticoids and beta-adrenergic agonists effect control of muscle growth. Forty-eight male rats were assigned to one of six treatments, which consisted of a sham-adrenalectomized control, sham-adrenalectomized supplemented with cimaterol, adrenalectomized, adrenalectomized supplemented with cimaterol, adrenalectomized supplemented with dexamethasone, and adrenalectomized supplemented with cimaterol and dexamethasone. After 8 days, muscle samples were collected for assay of nucleic acid contents and proteinase (cathepsins and calpains) and calpastatin activities. Both glucocorticoid status and cimaterol influenced muscle growth and metabolism. Adrenalectomy reduced muscle RNA content and dexamethasone restored RNA. Cimaterol increased RNA levels, increased total DNA content, reduced calpain activities, and increased calpastatin activity. This implies that cimaterol has potential to regulate both protein synthesis and degradation. We did not find evidence for glucocorticoids potentiating actions of cimaterol. Instead, we determined that cimaterol antagonized certain growth-inhibiting properties of the glucocorticoids. Effects of cimaterol on muscle growth and on metabolic parameters were highly dependent on glucocorticoid status suggesting that the variations in muscle responses to beta-adrenergic agonists, which have been detected in other studies, may be due to variations in glucocorticoid status of experimental animals. ( J. Nutr. Biochem. 5:43–49, 1994 .)
Magnetic and orbital order in the A-phase of manganites

Abstract The A-phase of La 1 - x Ca x MnO 3 , stable for small x, is studied using a mean-field slave–boson formulation for e g -electrons in two orbitals with excluded multiple occupancy. The classical t 2 g -spins are ordered ferromagnetically (F) in the xy planes, which are antiferromagnetically (AF) coupled along the z -direction. All 3d-electrons are coupled F via Hund's rule. The F double-exchange, competing with the AF superexchange, can lead to a lattice distortion via Jahn–Teller coupling of the e g -electrons to the lattice degrees of freedom. Conditions for staggered orbital long-range order are discussed.
Honoring Susan Hanson's 45 years in geography

The essays in this themed section honor Susan Hanson's 45 years in geography. They are written by senior academic geographers who participated in a series of panels at the Annual meeting of the Association of the American Geographers in Boston in 2008 that celebrated Susan's scholarship and her impact on the discipline of geography.
Effects of Chronic Stress on Methamphetamine-Induced Dopamine Depletions in the Striatum

Abstract: Research has shown that exposure to repeated stress alters acute behavioral and neurochemical responses to drugs of abuse. However, few studies have characterized the longer-term detrimental effects of psychostimulant drugs such as methamphetamine (METH) after exposure to chronic stress. The current study tested whether 10 days of unpredictable stress produced greater striatal dopamine depletions after neurotoxic injections of METH and whether monoamine reuptake blockers protected against stress/METH-induced DA depletion. Male rats were exposed to 10 d of unpredictable stress or weighed daily but not stressed. On day 11, all rats were given 4 injections of 0, 7.5, or 10 mg/kg METH, 1 injection every 2 h, and tissue collected 7 d later. Male rats exposed to unpredictable stress had greater depletions of striatal dopamine tissue content than nonstressed controls injected with METH. In a separate study, rats were treated with vehicle, desipramine (10 mg/kg), or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) daily during the 10-d stress regimen. These antidepressants did not attenuate the stress-potentiated depletion of striatal dopamine. These findings suggest that chronic unpredictable stress enhances vulnerability of the brain to neurotoxic effects of psychostimulants, but this vulnerability is mediated through mechanisms other than the norepinephrine or serotonin uptake systems.
ATP-sensitive potassium channels are not expressed in brain microvessels

We used [3H]glibenclamide binding to assess ATP-sensitive K+ channels in isolated cerebral microvessels and in the cerebral cortex of the rat. We found no measurable specific glibenclamide binding in cerebral microvessels despite its abundance in cerebral cortical membranes, implying that ATP-sensitive K+ channels are not present in cerebral microvessels.
Superfluid Onset and Capillary Condensation

We present experimental results on the superfluid onset of 4He adsorbed onto porous gold and evaporated CaF2 films grown on the electrodes of quartz microbalances (QCM). Adsorption and desorption isotherms were measured on the porous substrates in the range of 1.2 to 2.2 K. The isotherms were used to construct phase diagrams in the μ–T plane showing hysteresis closure points and superfluid onsets. At low coverage, the superfluid onset showed both the abrupt frequency shift and dissipation peak characteristic of a conventional KT transition. Within hysteresis loops, a dissipation peak is observed, but the nearly discontinuous frequency shift is replaced by a smooth and gradual decoupling of the superfluid component as the coverage is increased. The gradual onset of superflow was analyzed using ideas from percolation theory.
Edge waves in the quantum Hall effect

I show that the bosonized form of the low energy edge excitations at the surface of a droplet of two-dimensional quantum Hall liquid can be understood in terms of coherent “ripplon” deformations in the shape of the droplet. When interacting with an electromagnetic field the resulting chiral boson theory has anomalies that are cancelled, via the Callan-Harvey mechanism, by contributions from the bulk. I also consider non-Abelian generalization of the bosonization that may be useful for chiral spin states.
Entanglement entropy scaling laws and eigenstate typicality in free fermion systems

We demonstrate that the entanglement entropy area law for free fermion ground states and the corresponding volume law for highly excited states are related by a position-momentum duality, and thus are of the same origin. For a typical excited state in the thermodynamic limit, we further show that the reduced density matrix of a subsystem approaches the thermal density matrix, provided the subsystem's linear size is small compared to that of the whole system in all directions, a property we dub eigenstate typicality. This provides an explicit example of thermalization via entanglement, and reveals how statistical physics emerges from a single eigenstate by tracing out a large number of degrees of freedom.
Socially desirable responding and self-reported HIV infection risk behaviors among intravenous drug users

This study examined the extent to which self-report of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors might depend upon socially desirable response tendencies, and whether socially desirable responding might serve as a confounding variable in the study of risk behaviors and HIV serostatus. The subjects were 2885 intravenous drug users participating in the ALIVE study in Baltimore, Maryland. Participants completed an interview and were tested for HIV serostatus. The interview covered HIV risk behaviors, and included established scales to measure ‘self-deception’ and ‘impression management’, two separate dimensions of socially desirable responding. Seven items for each scale were scored true/false, with a summary score used for analysis. Scores on self-deception and impression management were inversely related to self-reports of sharing injection equipment, injecting at shooting galleries, and injecting more than once a day. Neither self-deception nor impression management was associated with cocaine use. Self-reported receptive anal intercourse was associated inversely with self-deception but not with impression management. HIV serostatus was not associated with social desirability, and statistically controlling for social desirability had a negligible impact on the magnitude of associations between risk behaviors and HIV serostatus. The results indicate that measures of social desirability may be used to ascertain sensitive areas of inquiry in interviews of intravenous drug users.
A structure for amplified DNA

We have employed gene transfer to generate cell lines in which a chromosomal region consisting solely of defined DNA sequences has undergone gene amplification. We have analyzed recombinant clones from the amplified array to determine the physical structure of amplified DNA in the cell lines. The amplified DNA we have analyzed consists of a tandem array of at least 20 individual repeating units. The individual units are contiguous, and are joined to one another by homologous recombination between repeated sequences. At first approximation, all homologous recombinations are permitted such that crossing-over may occur between any two repeated sequences. Since individual units contain multiple repeated elements, the array is not a regularly repeating structure. The individual units within the array are heterogeneous, both in size and in sequence content. These observations suggest models of gene amplification which involve multiple cycles of unscheduled DNA replication at a single locus, followed by multiple recombination events which serve to link individual units to one another and ultimately to the chromosome.
Acute, whole-body microwave exposure and testicular function of rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 8 h to continuous-wave microwave radiation (MWR, 1.3 Ghz) at a mean specific absorbed dose rate of 9 mW/g. MWR exposure and sham-irradiation took place in unidirectionally energized cylindrical waveguide sections, within which the animals were essentially unrestrained. The MWR treatment in this setting was determined to yield an elevation of deep rectal temperature to 4.5 degrees C. The animals were taken for analysis at 6.5, 13, 26, and 52 days following treatment, which corresponded to .5, 1, 2, and 4 cycles of the seminiferous epithelium. Net mass of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles; daily sperm production (DSP) per testis and per gram of testis; and the number of epididymal sperm were determined. The levels of circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH) were derived via radioimmunoassay of plasma samples taken at the time of sacrifice. Despite the evident acute thermogenesis of the MWR at 9 mW/g, no substantial decrement in testicular function was found. We conclude that, in the unrestrained rat, whole body irradiation at 9 mW/g, while sufficient to induce evident hyperthermia, is not a sufficient condition for disruption of any of these key measures of testicular function.
Repeat hydrography cruises reveal chemical changes in the North Atlantic

The U.S. contribution to a large international effort to document long-term trends in carbon storage and transport in the global oceans by reoccupying selected hydrographic sections on decadal timescales began with three North Atlantic cruises in 2003. The initial results from these reoccupation cruises have shown significant long-term changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide (CO2), and several other measurable parameters since the last global survey, which occurred in 1993. The ocean has a memory of the climate system and is second only to the Sun in affecting variability in the seasons and longterm climate change. The ocean stores an estimated 1000 times more heat than the atmosphere, and 50 times more carbon. Additionally the key to possible abrupt climate change may lie in deep-ocean circulation.
Rail Car Crashworthiness Design and Testing: Lessons Learned

Following National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations and directions from early 1996, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) has worked to provide the latest crashworthiness and passenger safety requirements for its new car procurements. Taking advantage of recent developments in the field of vehicle crashworthiness, new technical requirements were developed and implemented for the 5000 and 6000 series vehicles. To date, WMATA is the first transit authority in the U.S. to require a dynamic sled test per the APTA SS-C&S-016-SS Standard, and the second (after the New York City Transit Authority) to run full-scale vehicle crash tests. Previously, the strength-based philosophy was used to ensure some level of rail vehicle crashworthiness. However, WMATA is now implementing a strength-based crashworthiness approach, augmented with “energy-based” requirements. Should a collision occur, the Authority’s ultimate goal is to reduce passenger deceleration rates during a collision, while at the same time controlling the absorption of collision energy in a manner that minimizes loss of space in the occupied volume of the vehicle. The passenger survivability measure using maximum acceleration has been supplemented by introducing the duration of the acceleration as an additional criteria following the Head Injury Criteria (HIC) and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) approaches developed for the automotive industry. WMATA’s crashworthiness requirements now include sustaining a hard coupling without any damage to the body or coupler (except emergency release), and head-on collision of two eight-car trains with specified passenger loads (one train stationary with brakes applied) with no permanent deformation of the passenger compartment and with the acceleration, level and duration not to exceed the specified HIC. The implementation of an “energy-based” crashworthiness approach was divided into several logical steps/stages. During the design process, several modifications were introduced to optimize crashworthiness and to ensure structural compatibility with the existing fleet. The design was verified by implementing full-scale testing, and potential passenger injuries were assessed by using instrumented anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), and measuring the forces and accelerations acting on these ATDs during the test.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Emotional intelligence, personality, and the perceived quality of social relationships

This study explored links between emotional intelligence, measured as a set of abilities, and personality traits, as well as the contribution of both to the perceived quality of one's interpersonal relationships. In a sample of 103 college students, we found that both emotional intelligence and personality traits were associated with concurrent self-reports of satisfaction with social relationships. Individuals scoring highly on the managing emotions subscale of the Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), were more likely to report positive relations with others, as well as perceived parental support, and less likely to report negative interactions with close friends. These associations remained statistically significant even controlling for significant Big Five personality traits and verbal intelligence. Global satisfaction with one's relationships was associated with extraversion, neuroticism (negatively), and the ability to manage one's emotions, as assessed by the MSCEIT.
Demonstration of left ventricular outflow tract eccentricity by real time 3D echocardiography: implications for the determination of aortic valve area.

BACKGROUND Determination of the left ventricular outflow tract cross-sectional area (ALVOT) is necessary for calculating aortic valve area (AVA) by echocardiography using the continuity equation (CE). In the commonly applied form of CE, pir(2) is used to estimate ALVOT utilizing the assumptions that LVOT is round and the parasternal long axis (PLAX) plane bisects LVOT. Imaging LVOT using real time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) eliminates the need for these assumptions. We tested the hypothesis that LVOT is round based on a formula for eccentricity. METHODS AND RESULTS In 53 patients, 2D echocardiography (2DE) and RT3DE were acquired. ALVOT was calculated by 2DE using pir(2) (ALVOT-2D). Using RT3DE, ALVOT planimetry was performed immediately beneath the aortic valve (ALVOT-3Dplan). Eccentricity Index (EI) was calculated using the shortest and longest LVOT diameters. The long axis was measured to be larger by 0.53 cm +/- 0.36 (P < 0.005). The median EI was 0.20 (0.00-0.54), indicating that half the subjects had at least a 20% difference between the major and minor diameters. ALVOT-3Dplan was larger than ALVOT-2D (3.73 +/- 0.95 cm(2) vs. 3.18 +/- 0.73 cm(2); P < 0.001) by paired analysis. Using the equation of an ellipse (piab), ALVOT-3Dellip was 3.57 +/- 0.95 resulting in improved agreement with ALVOT-3Dplan. CONCLUSIONS In our small patient sample with normal aortic valves, we showed the LVOT shape is usually not round and frequently, elliptical. Incorrectly assuming a round LVOT underestimated the ALVOT-3Dplan and consequently the AVA by 15%. Investigating the LVOT in aortic stenosis is warranted to evaluate whether RT3DE may improve measurement of AVA.
Compositional Heterogeneity in Anionic/Nonionic Mixed Micelles Observed by Frontal Analysis Continuous Capillary Electrophoresis

Mixed micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with Triton X-100 (TX100) or dodecyl octa(ethylene glycol) monoether (C12E8) at different bulk SDS mole fractions (Y) and at two ionic strengths were ...
SV40 Oncoproteins Enhance Asbestos-Induced DNA Double-Strand Breaks and Abrogate Senescence in Murine Mesothelial Cells

SV40 virus has emerged as a potential cofactor with asbestos in the development of diffuse malignant mesothelioma, but its precise role in the pathogenesis of this tumor is unclear. SV40 large T antigen is known to inactivate cellular proteins involved in DNA damage and senescence, including p53 and pRb. We hypothesize that SV40 oncoproteins will sensitize mesothelial cells to DNA damage induced by asbestos or chemotherapeutic agents. SV40 oncoprotein expression in murine mesothelial cell lines enhanced spontaneous and asbestos-induced double-strand breaks, indicated by gamma-H2AX foci, and potentiated micronucleus formation. Mesothelial cells exposed to asbestos or bleomycin for 96 h acquired senescent-like morphology and displayed elevated senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, reduced bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation, and reduced colony formation. SV40 oncoprotein expression abrogated the senescent phenotype, and transfected cell lines showed an increase in both BrdUrd incorporation and colony formation after prolonged DNA damage. Murine mesothelial cell lines lacking wild-type p53 due to a point mutation or gene rearrangement also failed to senesce in response to asbestos or chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, stress-induced senescence in human mesothelial cell lines was impaired by SV40 oncoprotein expression (MeT-5A), p53 small interfering RNA, or spontaneous p53 mutation (REN). These studies suggest that exposure to DNA-damaging agents can induce senescence in both murine and human mesothelioma cell lines and suggest a major, although not exclusive, role for p53 in this response. SV40 virus may contribute to mesothelioma progression by impairing stress-induced senescence, in part through p53 inactivation, thereby favoring survival and proliferation of mesothelial cells that have sustained DNA damage.
Toxicological Aspects of Three Organophosphorus Compounds (Cythioate, Famphur, and Fenthion) in the Host-Ectoparasite System

The organophosphorus compounds cythioate ( O,O -di-methyl O-p -sulfamoylphenyl phosphorothioate), famphur, and fenthion were administered intravenously, subcutaneously, and orally at varying concentrations to 101 female rabbits. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity levels of both plasma and red blood cells were tested, as was tick and mosquito ChE, at various times before and after dosage. These determinations measured the inhibition of ChE activity caused by pesticidal action. Correlations between fluctuations in blood ChE activity of the host and ChE activity of the ectoparasites were observed. Mortality of ectoparasites commenced at 32% ChE activity depression, and there was 100% mortality at 68% ChE activity depression. No mortality of ectoparasites occurred between the 24- and 96-hour postdosage period. Mated female ticks exposed to sublethal doses of pesticide did not lay eggs. Reduction in temperature was fatal to mosquitoes that had received sublethal doses of pesticide in their blood meal. Reproductive capabilities of rabbits were not impaired by therapeutic dosages of the pesticides.
Polarization-maintaining fused taper fiber couplers using twin-peak core fibers

Polarization-maintaining(PM) couplers are essential components in coherent optical communication and fiber sensor systems. The devices are required to have high performance and low-cost. Polished type PM couplers with PANDA fibers ,for example,which show low polarization crosstalk were reported so far [1].