cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of two methods for predicting trace elements from fly ash on acid mine spoils

Abstract Laboratory leaching experiments were conducted to simulate fly ash weathering in acidic environments and to determine the metal and metalloid release characteristics of several fly ash materials. Fly ash was placed in small cylinders and continuously leached with 0.1N sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or simulated acid mine drainage (AMD). Leachates were monitored for metals and metalloids. When a fly ash was leached with H2SO4 up to its neutralizing capacity only 10 to 30% of the total metals or metalloids were released. At equal levels of total acidity, more metals were released by H2SO4 than by AMD probably due to the creation of new oxides or hydroxides of iron (Fe) providing sites for adsorption of metals or metalloids.
Improved Switching for Magneto-Optic Fiber-Based Technologies

A new method for magnetic field generation is presented that enhances the reliability of fiber-based interferometric switches. Suitable switching technologies have been proposed and implemented, but magneto-optic (MO) materials have shown promise in realizing all-optical switching with reasonable power, loss, and switching speed. However, bottlenecks in field generation drivers have limited the performance of MO devices in fiber-based switches. Improving the design of the field generation system will enhance this technology, ultimately realizing practical and reliable solutions. Conventional drivers in MO switching devices utilize one coil with a low number of turns to quickly magnetize the MO material. This, in effect, leads to a fast optical rise time. However, the optical fall time is determined by the response of the MO material and the decay rate of any trapped magnetic energy in the coil, which can be sluggish. The proposed design achieves fast optical fall time by better controlling the demagnetization of the MO material. In this paper, the design of the magnetic field generation system is presented and compared to other recently proposed systems, the electrical system is characterized, and the reliability of the optical output is investigated.
Acute Cutaneous Microvascular Flow Responses to Whole-Body Tilting in Humans

The transition from upright to head-down tilt (HDT) posture in humans increases blood pressure superior to the heart and decreases pressure inferior to the heart. Consequently, above heart level, myogenic arteriolar tone probably increases with HDT, in opposition to the withdrawal of baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic tone. We hypothesized that due to antagonism between central and local controls, the response of the facial cutaneous micro- circulation to acute postural change will be weaker than that in the leg, where these two mechanisms reinforce each other. Cutaneous microvascular flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry simultaneously at the shin and the neck of 7 male and 3 female subjects. Subjects underwent a stepwise tilt protocol from standing control to 54 deg head-up tilt (HUT), 30 deg, 12 deg, 0 deg, -6 deg (HDT), -12 deg, -6 deg, 0 deg, 12 deg, 30 deg, 54 deg, and standing, for 30-sec periods with 10-sec transitions between postures. Flows at the shin and the neck increased significantly (P < 0.05) from standing baseline to 12 deg HUT (252 +/- 55 and 126 +/- 9% (bar-X +/- SE) of baseline, respectively). From 12 deg to -12 deg tilt, flows continued to increase at the shin (509 +/- 71% of baseline) but decreased at the neck to baseline levels (100 +/- 15% of baseline). Cutaneous microvascular flow recovered at both sites during the return to standing posture with significant hysteresis. Flow increases from standing to near-supine posture are attributed at both sites to baroreceptor-mediated vasodilation. The great dissimilarity in flow response magnitudes at the two measurement sites may be indicative of central/local regulatory antagonism above heart level and reinforcement below heart level.
Effect of Defects on the Elastic Properties of Wüstite

Wustite (FexO) has been studied under static high pressure in the composition range x = 0.95-0.99. Fe0.99O is substantially less compressible than FexO with x<0.98. Such observations provide the only direct evidence of a significant effect of defect concentration on the elastic properties and support the results of crystal-field modeling for ideal stoichiometric wustite. The bulk moduli of FexO show a discontinuous variation at compositions that are within the predicted range for the defect clusters to form, a behavior that may be caused by an order-disorder transition of the defect structure.
What is causing the mortality in treating the anemia of chronic kidney disease: erythropoietin dose or hemoglobin level?

Purpose of review This article examines the potential mechanisms underlying adverse risk observed in four randomized controlled trials of anemia correction in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Recent findings The Normal Hematocrit Study, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction by Early Anemia Treatment with Epoetin-beta, Correction of Hemoglobin and Outcomes in Renal Insufficiency, and Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy demonstrate increased risk of mortality and/or cardiovascular complications with targeting of a higher hemoglobin (Hb) in CKD patients. Although a higher Hb level was targeted in these trials, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) exposure itself might account for the observed increased risk. This is because, in these trials, achieving a normal or near normal Hb was associated with improved survival and reduced cardiovascular risk. Indeed, it was the 'targeting' of a higher Hb with ESA that seemed to be the problem. Observational data, although conflicting, on the whole provide support for high dosage of ESA being harmful but cannot, by their very nature, prove causality. Summary After 20 years of ESA use, is it plausible that ESAs could be toxic? How does one reconcile conflicting observational data with a hypothesis that postulates ESA toxicity? Does the biology of erythropoietin provide a mechanistic explanation? The answers to these questions, among others, will be important in charting a future role for ESAs in treating CKD anemia.
Synchronization of Chlamydomonas division with intermittent hypothermia.

Summary The asexual division of Chlamydomonas reinhardi has been synchronized by intermittent hypothermia under constant illumination in an automatic temperature cycling bath. Chlamydomonas cells grown at constant temperature under constant illumination divided asynchronously.
Effect of local tumor control on distant metastasis and survival in prostatic adenocarcinoma

Of 495 patients definitively irradiated for prostatic carcinoma, 286 with a minimum follow-up of thirty-six months were studied. While tumor histology appeared to predict prognosis, the poorly differentiated tumors showing the highest incidence of distant metastasis and the lowest survival, local tumor control was an important factor within the poorly differentiated group. Of those with local recurrence, distant metastases developed in 68 per cent compared with 37 per cent of those with no local disease (p = 0.025). Survival was similarly affected with 86 per cent of those with locally controlled tumor who were alive at five years (not significantly different from the more well-differentiated tumors) versus a 56 per cent actuarial survival in those with locally recurrent disease (p less than 0.05).
A new method for measurement of the target and channel scattering functions using Costas arrays and other frequency hop signals

A method is proposed for measuring the scattering function. This method has improved capabilities for measuring target and/or channel structuring by reducing sidelobe interactions, and thereby reducing reverberation or clutter distortion effects. This improved capability is maintained in the presence of all levels of white Gaussian noise. >
Derivation of rating curve by the Tsallis entropy

The stage–discharge relation, often called rating curve, is employed to determine discharge in natural and engineered channels. There are several methods for deriving a rating curve most of which are empirical. It is well recognized that rating curves are subjected to significant uncertainty, yet most of these methods do not have any provision to account for or do not quantify the uncertainty. This study employs the Tsallis entropy for deriving the rating curve, based on two simple constraints: (1) total probability and (2) mean discharge. Parameters of the derived curve are determined with the use of these two constraints. The rating curve is also determined by reparameterization with the use of an entropy parameter. The Tsallis entropy permits a probabilistic characterization of the rating curve and hence the probability density function of discharge underlying the curve. It also permits a quantitative assessment of the uncertainty of discharge obtained from the rating curve. The derived rating curve is found to be in agreement with field data and is also applied to ungaged watersheds. The rating curve is also extended beyond the range of discharge values used in its construction and its validity is then evaluated.
Absence of radiographic progression of hip arthritis during infliximab treatment for ankylosing spondylitis.

This study aims to examine the impact of long-term treatment with the anti-TNF antibody infliximab on radiographic progression of hip arthritis in ankylosing spondylitis. Anteroposterior X-rays of the pelvis obtained at baseline from consecutive patients with ankylosing spondylitis and bilateral hip arthritis were compared with X-rays obtained after 6 ± 2.5 years (mean ± SD) of continuous infliximab treatment. Analysis was performed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Hip Index (BASRI-h) scoring system (min 0, max 4). Hip joint space width was also assessed by the average of measurements at three distinct sites between the acetabulum and femoral head. In 23 patients with active disease (21 men, mean age and disease duration of 45 and 16 years, respectively), the BASRI-h score at baseline was 1 in 7, 2 in 16, 3 in 16, and 4 in 7 hips (including two arthroplasties). Individual BASRI-h scores at baseline (2.50 ± 0.86, mean ± SD) remained unchanged in all patients at end of follow-up. At baseline, the average width of the whole joint space (3.56 ± 0.70 mm, n = 44) was not associated with disease activity measurements but negatively correlated with BAS functional index (Spearman r = −0.5, P = 0.007). After 2–10 years of infliximab treatment, the average width of the whole joint space in these patients (3.59 ± 0.79 mm) was not reduced. These results suggest that radiographic progression of hip arthritis in ankylosing spondylitis may be arrested during infliximab treatment.
When do the Costs of Spermatogenesis Constrain Sperm Expenditure? Remarks on the Pattern of the Spermatogenic Cycle

The costs of spermatogenesis constrain sperm expenditure when sperm production per day is limited. Thus, males are challenged to allocate available resources to sperm production and other life history functions. However, this prevailing assumption is not applicable to species in which spermatogenesis becomes quiescent during the breeding season. Males of these species prepare large quantities of sperm before the breeding season. Among these species, constraints on ejaculates have been intensively investigated in salamanders that deposit spermatophores. Although it is predicted that sperm expenditure should not be limited because of abundantly prepared sperm, spermatophore deposition is often limited during the breeding season when vas deferens are full of sperm. We tested a hypothesis regarding limited spermatophore deposition by measuring sperm quantity and volume of spermatophores sequentially deposited by male eastern newts Notophthalmus viridescens. A male newt rarely deposits more than three spermatophores per mating. If depletion of non-sperm components of spermatophores limits spermatophore deposition, we predicted that spermatophore volume decreases while sperm quantity remains constant as a male deposits more spermatophores. Alternatively, some regulative mechanisms allow a limited portion of available sperm to be expended per mating, in which sperm quantity is predicted to decrease while the spermatophore volume remains constant. Finally, depletion of non-sperm components may regulate sperm expenditure, which predicted that both spermatophore volume and sperm quantity decrease. We found that both sperm quantity and the spermatophore volume decreased as a male deposited more spermatophores during a single mating. Sperm expenditure was constrained without the costs involved in active spermatogenesis, and depletion of non-sperm components likely regulate sperm quantity loaded in spermatophores. In dissociated spermatogenesis, constrained sperm expenditure do not mean that costly spermatogenesis is directly limiting male mating capacity but rather suggest that the evolution of physiological mechanisms regulating sperm expenditure per mating maximizes male reproductive success.
Identification of nodX, a gene that allows Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strain TOM to nodulate Afghanistan peas

Gene(s) conferring the ability of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strain TOM to nodulate primitive peas (cultivar Afghanistan) had been located in a 2.0 kb region of its sym plasmid, pRL5JI. In this DNA, a single open reading frame of 1101 bp, corresponding to a gene, nodX was found. nodX is downstream of nodJ which is present in strain TOM and also in the sym plasmid of a typical strain of this biovar. nodX specifies a hydrophobic protein (of Mr 41,036) with no clear similarity to other proteins in data bases. Mutations in nodX abolished nodulation of Afghanistan peas but not nodulation of commercial peas. nodX-lacZ fusions were used to show that transcription of nodX was activated by root exudates from both commercial and Afghanistan peas and by defined flavonoids. Exudate from Afghanistan peas activated nod genes of typical strains of R. leguminosarum biovar viciae which fail to nodulate these peas; thus, their failure to nodulate these primitive peas is not due to a lack of activation of their nod genes by exudate from Afghanistan peas. A homologue of nodX exists in R. leguminosarum biovar trifolii (which nodulates clover) but not in typical strains of R. leguminosarum biovar viciae.
Microscopic Origins of the Normal Force Responses of Glassy Polymers in the Subyield Range of Deformation

Results from torsional stress relaxation experiments in which we measure the torque and normal force responses of two glassy poly(alkyl methacrylate)s are presented. Tests were performed at temperatures ranging from the dynamic glass transition (α-relaxation) to the first sub-glass transition relaxation (β-relaxation) and in the sub-yield range of deformations (strains ranging from 0.02 to 0.045) and at a fixed aging time of 4980 s. We found a significant difference between the relaxation behavior of the normal force response and the torque response of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The results provide evidence that the normal force of PMMA is influenced by the β-relaxation. For specimens having a longer side chain length, i.e., poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), the difference between the normal force and torque relaxation behaviors is less. This is consistent with the less pronounced β-relaxation mechanism in PEMA. Furthermore, an examination of the effect of temperature on the ratio of the normal forc...
A placebo controlled, double-blind study of mecamylamine treatment for cocaine dependence in patients enrolled in an opiate replacement program.

Abstract A placebo controlled, double-blind trial of mecamylamine treatment of cocaine dependence was performed in methadone or LAAM maintained subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence. After an eight-week placebo run-in screening period, 35 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either mecamylamine (6 mg/day) or placebo transdermal patches for a 16-week treatment period. Outcome measures included quantitative urine benzoylecognine (BE) levels, self-report of cocaine use, cocaine craving, global impression scores, mood, retention, and safety. Mecamylamine was well tolerated, and study retention did not differ by treatment group. Evidence for cocaine use, based on urine BE levels and cocaine abstinence rates, did not differ by treatment group. Self reported cocaine use, cocainecraving, and global impression scores showed moderate improvement in both groups, with a significantly greater reduction in cocaine craving (p < 0.05) and self-rated severity of cocaine dependence (p < 0.05) in the...
The effect of constraints on house costs

Abstract The U.S. residential construction industry allegedly is impeded by constraints such as (a) union restrictions, (b) restrictions on building supplier competition, (c) small size of home building firms, and (d) restrictive building codes that supposedly cause inefficiency and high cost. To determine the impact of such constraints on construction costs, the price of new, single-family houses was related to characteristics of these houses and measures of the constraints through multiple regression analysis. The best combination of house characteristics was selected to explain variations in cost. Then, constraint variables were added to this combination to determine the impact of constraints on construction outlays. The findings suggest that the quantitative effect of constraints upon the costs of one-family houses is small. Local building codes probably add no more than 2%, while the impact of unions on construction worker wages would appear to increase housing costs only by about 4%.
Characteristic solutions of scalar newton equations in one space dimension

Newton equations are dynamical systems on the space of fields. The solutions of a given equation which are curves of characteristic fields for its force are planar and have constant angular momentum. Separable solutions are characteristic with angular momentum equal to zero. A Newton equation is separable if and only if its characteristic equation is homogeneous. Separable equations correspond to invariants of homogeneous ordinary differential equations, and those associated with a given homogenous equation correspond to its generalized dilation symmetries. A Newton equation is compatible with the characteristic condition if and only if its characteristic equation is linear. Such equations correspond to invariants of linear ordinary differential equations. Those associated with a given linear equation correspond to the central force problems on its solution space. Regardless of compatibility, any Newton equation with a plane of characteristic fields has non-separable characteristic solutions.
The role of γA/γ′ fibrinogen in plasma factor XIII activation.

Factor XIII zymogen activation is a complex series of events that involve fibrinogen acting in several different roles. This report focuses on the role of fibrinogen as a cofactor in factor XIII activation by thrombin. We demonstrate that fibrinogen has two distinct activities that lead to an increased rate of factor XIII activation. First, the thrombin proteolytic activity is increased by fibrin. The cleavage rates of both a small chromogenic substrate and the factor XIII activation peptide are increased in the presence of either the major fibrin isoform, γA/γA fibrin, or a minor variant form, γA/γ′ fibrin. This enhancement of thrombin activity by fibrin is independent of fibrin polymerization and requires only cleavage of the fibrinopeptides. Subsequently, γA/γ′ fibrinogen accelerates plasma factor XIII activation by a non-proteolytic mechanism. This increased rate of activation results in a slightly more rapid cross-linking of fibrin γA and γ′ chains and a significantly more rapid cross-linking of fibrin α chain multimers. Together, these results show that although both forms of fibrin increase the rate of activation peptide cleavage by thrombin, γA/γ′ fibrinogen also increases the rate of factor XIII activation in a non-proteolytic manner. A revised model of factor XIII activation is presented below.
Neighborhood challenges to economic development

This article analyzes neighborhood-based development challenges. The article examines six explanations for such challenges: use value, social status, growth, economic and fiscal, governmental structure, and suburban. Using data derived from several sources (survey, Census, I. C.M.A.), the results indicate that cities with higher housing values and reform government structures are more likely to have neighborhood-based development challenges. The analysis is extended to investigate successful neighborhood-based development challenges. These results indicate that a city's poverty rate depresses the potential for successful challenges and that challenges are more likely to be successful in central cities. Finally, the analysis indicates that those cities in which neighborhood groups are motivated by the desire to protect housing values are more likely have successful development challenges.
Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the NOS2A Gene and Interaction with Smoking in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Summary Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex degenerative retinal disease influenced by both genetic and environmental risk factors. We assessed whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS2A gene increase risk and modulate the effect of smoking in AMD. 998 Caucasian subjects (712 AMD cases and 286 controls) were genotyped for 17 SNPs in NOS2A. Multivariable logistic regression models containing SNP genotypes, age, sex, smoking status and genotype/smoking interaction were constructed. SNP rs8072199 was significantly associated with AMD (OR = 1.3; 95% CI : 1.02, 1.65; P= 0.035). A significant interaction with smoking was detected at rs2248814 (P= 0.037). Stratified data by genotypes demonstrated that the association between AMD and smoking was stronger in carriers of AA genotypes (OR = 35.98; 95% CI: 3.19, 405.98) than in carriers of the AG genotype (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.36, 6.74) or GG genotype (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 0.91, 4.84). The results suggest a possible synergistic interaction of AA genotype with smoking, although the result bears replication in larger samples. Our data suggests that SNPs in the NOS2A gene are associated with increased risk for AMD and might modulate the effect of smoking on AMD.
Preferred hydrogen sites and hydride stoichiometry for A6B23 compounds

The variety of interstices available for potential occupation by hydrogen in A6B23 intermetallic compounds makes them important tests of a geometric model recently developed for rationalizing observed hydride stoichiometries and preferred hydrogen sites. The model was applied to Y6Mn23D18 and Th6Mn23D16, for which structure determinations can be found in the literature. Both compounds have cubic structures of space groupFmSm, and they have 116 metal atoms per unit cell. Nine different kinds of sites (708 sites per unit cell) have been considered for potential occupancy. Hole radii and inter-site distances were calculated for all these types. Concepts of minimum hole radius (0.040 nm) and minimum H-H distance (0.210 nm) were used to predict hydrogen-site occupancy. The model correctly predicts that, in addition to a and f3 sites, j1 sites (Wyckoff notation) should be involved in both of these compounds at these H(D) concentrations. The location actually observed for the deuterium atom is in the hexahedral i site that has its centre in the trigonal face shared by two j1 sites. For Y6Mn23D23, the model correctly predicts the partial occupation of h sites, which are coordinated by two yttrium and three manganese atoms. Other predictions have been made, including one regarding partial occupation of I sites when there are more than 25 hydrogens per formula unit. The latter predictions have not been tested experimentally. With this crystal structure, both compounds appear to have a maximum absorption capacity of 33 hydrogens per formula unit.
Adjustment for Specific Leaf Weight Improves Chlorophyll Meter's Estimate of Rice Leaf Nitrogen Concentration

The chlorophyll meter provides a simple, quick, and nondestructive method to estimate leaf N status of rice (Oryza sativa L.), but the linear relationship between leaf N concentration on a dry-weight basis (N dw ) and the meter reading differs depending on developmental stage and genotype. The objective was to determine whether prediction of N dw with the chlorophyll meter can be improved by a simple correction for specific leaf weight (SLW). Leaf N status was estimated by a chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502) and measured directly by micro-Kjeldahl procedure. Specific leaf weight was calculated as the ratio of dry weight to leaf area. In one field study with 'IR72', measurements were taken at midtillering, panicle initiation, and flowering stages on the uppermost fully expanded leaves of both N-deficient and N-sufficient plants [...]
Restraint accentuates the effects of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists and a 5-HT1A receptor agonist on lordosis behavior

Abstract The effect of restraint on lordosis behavior was examined in proestrous and ovariectomized, hormone-primed rats. Restraint durations from 5 to 60 min had no effect on lordosis behavior of proestrous rats. There was also no effect of 5 min restraint on lordosis behavior of ovariectomized rats hormonally primed with 10 μg estradiol benzoate and 500 μg progesterone. However, after intraperitoneal treatment with 1.0 mg/kg ketanserin tartrate (ketanserin), 5 min of restraint significantly reduced lordosis behavior of both groups of rats. The 5-min restraint combined with 0.50 or 0.75 mg/kg ketanserin reduced lordosis to mount (L/M) ratios of ovariectomized rats, while L/M ratios of proestrous rats were inhibited only by the 1.0 mg/kg dose. Increasing the restraint duration (10 or 15 min) reduced the dose of ketanserin necessary to reduce the L/M ratios of proestrous rats. Treatment with the selective serotonin (5-HT) 2C receptor antagonist, SB206553 (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg), in combination with 5 min of restraint, also reduced L/M ratios of hormonally primed, ovariectomized rats. The neural sites responsible for ketanserin's additivity with restraint are unknown, but infusion of the drug into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) did not mimic the systemic treatment. However, 5 min of restraint did enhance the effects of VMN infusion with the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT. In contrast, 8-OH-DPAT's systemic potency was not enhanced by restraint. These findings support the hypothesis that a mild stressor increases the lordosis-inhibiting effects of 5-HT 1A receptor agonists and that 5-HT 2 receptors may protect against such disruption of lordosis behavior.
Meteorology: Clouds and climate regulation

Remarques critiques sur la modelisation actuelle du climat, car si retroaction entre nuages et rayonnement il y a, on ne sait toujours pas si l'effet net de tous les processus nuageux est une retroaction positive ou negative
Inactivation of p16INK4a expression in malignant mesothelioma by methylation.

The molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis in mesothelioma involve the loss of negative regulators of cell growth including p16(INK4a). Absence of expression of the p16(INK4a) gene product is exhibited in virtually all mesothelioma tumors and cell lines examined to date. Loss of p16(INK4a) expression has also been frequently observed in more common neoplasms such as lung cancer as well. In a wide variety of these malignancies, including lung cancer, p16(INK4a) expression is known to be inactivated by hypermethylation of the first exon. In a survey of ten mesothelioma cell lines, one cell line (NCI-H2596) was identified as possessing loss of p16(INK4a) gene product following gene methylation. This methylation in these mesothelioma cells could be reversed, resulting in re-expression of p16(INK4a) protein, following the treatment of the cells with cytidine analogs, which are known inhibitors of DNA methylation. In previous clinical trials in mesothelioma, the cytidine analog dihydro-5-azacytidine (DHAC) has been found to induce clinical responses in approximately 17% of patients with mesothelioma treated with this drug, including prolonged complete responses. In addition, we identified evidence for methylation of p16(INK4a) in three of 11 resected mesothelioma tumor samples. When both cell lines and tumors are combined, inactivation of p16(INK4a) gene product expression following DNA hypermethylation was found in four of 21 samples (19%). We are further exploring the clinical significance of inhibition of methylation in mesothelioma by cytidine analogs. This may provide a potential treatment target in some mesothelioma tumors by inhibition of methylation.
Walsh Spectral Estimates with Applications to the Classification of EEG Signals

A basis for the processing of EEG signals using the discrete, orthogonal set of Walsh functions is presented. The Walsh power spectrum is examined from the point of view of its statistical properties, especially as it relates to spectral resolution. Features, selected from the spectrum of sleep EEG data are compared to corresponding Fourier features. Each feature set is used to classify the data using a minimum-distance clustering algorithm. The results show that the Walsh spectral features classify the data in much the same way as the Fourier spectral features. This provides sufficient justification for usage ofWalsh spectral features in place of Fourier spectral features, enabling one to take advantage of the vast computational superiority of the fast Walsh transform over the fast Fourier transform.
Diet-induced changes in stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 expression in obesity-prone and -resistant mice

Objective: To investigate stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD) 1 expression in obesity-prone C57BL/6 mice and in obesity-resistant FVB mice to explore the relationship of SCD1 expression and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: Nine-week-old C57BL/6 and FVB mice were fed either a high- or low-fat diet for 8 weeks. Body weight and body composition were measured before and at weeks 4 and 8 of the study. Energy expenditure was measured at weeks 1 and 5 of the study. Hepatic SCD1 mRNA was measured at 72 hours and at the end of study. Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations were measured at the end of study. Results: When C57BL/6 mice were switched to a calorie-dense high-fat diet, animals gained significantly more body weight than those maintained on a low-calorie density diet primarily due to increased fat mass accretion. Fat mass continued to accrue throughout 8 weeks of study. Increased calorie intake did not account for all weight gain. On the high-fat diet, C57BL/6 mice decreased their energy expenditure when compared with mice fed a low-fat diet. In response to 8 weeks of a high-fat diet, SCD1 gene expression in liver increased >2-fold. In contrast, feeding a high-fat diet did not change body weight, energy expenditure, or SCD1 expression in FVB mice. Discussion: Our study showed that a high-fat hypercaloric diet increased body adiposity first by producing hyperphagia and then by decreasing energy expenditure of mice susceptible to diet-induced obesity. Consumption of a high-fat diet in species predisposed to obesity selectively increased SCD1 gene expression in liver.
SU‐D‐BRC‐03: Spatial‐Temporal PET‐CT Features for Predicting Pathological Response of Esophagus Cancer to Chemo‐Radiation Therapies

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop new PET‐CT features for predicting the pathology response of esophagus tumor to chemo‐radiation therapies, and to compare their discriminant power with SUV‐max and SUV‐peak. Methods: Fifteen patients with locally advanced esophagus cancer and treated with tri‐modality therapies were studied. All patients underwent a Pre‐treatment and a Post‐treatment PET/CT. The Pre‐ and Post‐ CTimages were first aligned with a rigid registration constrained in the chest region. All images were then projected into the Pre‐PET coordinate. Two different tumor regions of interest (ROI‐SUV2.5 and ROI‐SUVPeak) were produced. Various features capturing tumor shape, texture and intensity information were extracted, resulting in a total of 432 features for each patient. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to investigate and compare the discriminant power of each feature. The ground truth was set to be the pathological response in the surgical specimen. Finally, trend analysis was conducted to examine whether a tumor is more likely a responder as the value of a feature increases or decreases. Results: Five among all 432 features have higher discriminant power than that of SUV‐max and SUV‐peak. These include two shape features, one intensity feature, one texture feature and one shape plus intensity feature. Among them, the Decline of Total Glycolytic Volume feature is extracted from the Diff‐SUV image. All five features were based on the larger tumor region ROI‐SUV2.5. Conclusions: Results demonstrated that shape, texture and intensity information are all important for predicting esophagus tumor pathological response to chemo‐radiation therapies. Integrating both spatial and temporal information is also important. Features based on a larger tumor region seem to be better than those based on a single point or a smaller tumor region. This work is supported in part by NIH 1R21CA131979.
Followership effectiveness: an extension of Fiedler's contingency model

As a means of extending Fiedler's contingency model of leadership effectiveness to followership behavior, this study examined the relationship between followers' motivational disposition as measured by the least preferred co‐worker scale, modified to refer to leaders (LPL), situational favorability as reflected in leader‐member relations and follower experience, and followers' performance as measured by US Army enlisted efficiency report (EER). Participants were male, junior enlisted personnel serving with the US Army, Europe. The results indicated that in accordance with Fiedler, relations‐oriented followers performed better in moderately favorable situations while task oriented followers performed better in highly unfavorable situations. In contrast to Fiedler, relations‐oriented followers performed better in highly favorable conditions.
Effect of Pipecolic Acid Isomers on the Biogenesis of Actinomycins

Streptomyces antibioticus produces a family of actinomycin components which differ solely at the “imino acid” site of the molecule; however, new congeners of actinomycin are synthesized when cultures are supplemented with pipecolic acid (PA). The quantitative and qualitative nature of the actinomycins produced differed when cultures were incubated in the presence of either l-, d-, or racemic PA. In the presence of d-PA, the quantitative and qualitative nature of those actinomycins produced were similar to those produced in the absence of supplementation. By contrast, in the presence of l-PA or dl-PA new actinomycin components containing PA were synthesized at the expense of normally produced components. Also, the total amount of antibiotic produced decreased in response to increasing concentrations of exogenously supplied l-PA. This effect occurred whether or not d-PA was also added to cultures. Concentrations of l-PA greater than 125 μg/ml of medium resulted in no additional decrease in the amount of antibiotic produced. Although PA-containing actinomycins were formed as early as 6 h after the addition of 250 μg of l-PA per ml, it was not until 24 h postaddition that the relative percentages of actinomycin components produced approached a constant value. Evidence presented here indicated that the l-isomer of PA replaces l-proline in the pentapeptide of actinomycin.
Employee Perceptions of Prejudice and Violence in the Workplace: Implications for Corporate Security

Using secondary data, an analysis was conducted to determine how worker mistreatment by co-workers affects performance and well-being. Perceived negative treatment experienced because of age, sex, race, ethnicity, and education, and a group of eight less subtle forms of harassment, were used as predictors of maladaptive emotional and behavioral responses in a set of bivariate and multivariate OLS regression models. Individuals who were treated negatively because of education, as well as those kept from receiving a raise, set up for failure, treated as if they did not exist, or mistreated in a general unspecified way, were significantly more likely to react in a dysfunctional passive or aggressive manner. Potential corporate security risks stemming from unconstructive reactions in the workplace, as well as policy implementations that might forestall any security threats, are discussed in the conclusion.
A Temperature Dependent X-ray Study of the Order–Disorder Enantiotropic Phase Transition of p -Terphenyl

A temperature dependent (100–296 K) X-ray diffraction study of the structural changes associated with the order–disorder enantiotropic phase transition of crystalline para-terphenyl (PTP) is presented. Reflections were collected every degree through the phase transition region 183–196 K. The temperature dependent X-ray results characterize a transition from a disordered monoclinic phase (P21/a, non-standard monoclinic space group) at room temperature to an ordered triclinic phase (C-1, non-standard space group) with reticular, pseudo-merohedral twinning below 193 K. The present study confirms general conclusions of prior temperature dependent neutron scattering and low temperature X-ray studies, and it makes the following new contributions: (a) quantitative assessment of the temperature dependent residual order present in the high-temperature disordered-monoclinic phase (e.g. weak temperature dependent superlattice reflections in the long-range disordered-monoclinic phase up to 296 K), (b) quantitative measure of the temperature dependent disorder present in the low-temperature ordered-triclinic phase (e.g. down to 188 K), (c) identification of the twin symmetry law (i.e. twin components related to each other by a mirror-plane perpendicular to the b-axis or a twofold rotation parallel to the b-axis of the triclinic cell), (d) the minor/major twin components are found to be temperature dependent in the low temperature ordered-triclinic phase, (e) a revised low temperature triclinic structure (C-1 non-standard space group) with reticular, pseudo-merohedral twinning is reported, with an improved R1 value of 0.039 at 100 K. The low temperature structure retains four unique PTP enantiomers, with improved torsional angles. Temperature dependent X-ray study of the structural changes associated with the order–disorder phase transition of para-terphenyl (e.g. torsion angles, order, disorder, and twinning ratio).
A revised configuration of the southern California uplift

Recently recovered archival leveling data from southwestern Arizona and adjacent parts of California compel major revisions in the configuration and interpretation of the southern California uplift, both at its culmination and following its partial collapse. Re-examination of the older vertical-control record indicates that similar modifications may be equally appropriate in any reconsideration of the early-20th-century analogue of the southern California uplift. The impact of these revisions is limited to the southeastern part of the uplift, which is now believed to have projected well into northern Mexico. The chief changes in our earlier reconstructions appear as a sharply diminished isobase gradient south of Cottonwood Pass, dramatically reduced tectonic subsidence centering on the Salton Sea, and short-lived uplift of at least 0.3 m at the latitude of El Centro. A newly refined qualitative interpretation of the data implies contraction and decoupling at the base of the seismogenic zone, in conjunction with right-stepping movement and extension between an en echelon transform pair through the Salton Basin, combining to produce both the regional uplift and concurrently developed and relatively localized differential subsidence within the Salton Trough.
Fast equilibration of coarse-grained polymeric liquids

Abstract The study of macromolecular systems may require large computer simulations that are too time consuming and resource intensive to execute in full atomic detail. The integral equation coarse-graining approach by Guenza and co-workers enables the exploration of longer time and spatial scales without sacrificing thermodynamic consistency, by approximating collections of atoms using analytically-derived soft-sphere potentials. Because coarse-grained (CG) characterizations evolve polymer systems far more efficiently than the corresponding united atom (UA) descriptions, we can feasibly equilibrate a CG system to a reasonable geometry, then transform back to the UA description for a more complete equilibration. Automating the transformation between the two different representations simultaneously exploits CG efficiency and UA accuracy. By iteratively mapping back and forth between CG and UA, we can quickly guide the simulation towards a configuration that would have taken many more time steps within the UA representation alone. Accomplishing this feat requires a diligent workflow for managing input/output coordinate data between the different steps, deriving the potential at runtime, and inspecting convergence. In this paper, we present a lightweight workflow environment that accomplishes such fast equilibration without user intervention. The workflow supports automated mapping between the CG and UA descriptions in an iterative, scalable, and customizable manner. We describe this technique, examine its feasibility, and analyze its correctness.
Molecular phylogenetics and the classification of honey bee viruses

We present the phylogenetic relationships of several picorna-like RNA viruses found in honey bees, with respect to 13 additional plant and animal positive-strand RNA viruses. Most of the honey bee viruses fall into an unnamed family of insect RNA viruses typified by the Drosophila C virus. Different bee viruses are broadly distributed within this group, suggesting either that the ability to infect honey bees has evolved multiple times, or that these viruses are generalistic in their abilities to infect insect hosts. At least one major change in gene order has occurred among the bee viruses, based on their phylogenetic affiliations. At the amino-acid level, the bee viruses differed by 15–28% at three conserved loci. Most differed by greater than 50% at the RNA level, indicating that sequence-based methods for bee virus identification must be tailored to at least three different virus clades independently.
High- and low-affinity binding sites for Cd on the bacterial cell walls of Bacillus subtilis and Shewanella oneidensis

Bulk Cd adsorption isotherm experiments, thermodynamic equilibrium modeling, and Cd K edge EXAFS were used to constrain the mechanisms of proton and Cd adsorption to bacterial cells of the commonly occurring Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Shewanella oneidensis, respectively. Potentiometric titrations were used to characterize the functional group reactivity of the S. oneidensis cells, and we model the titration data using the same type of nonelectrostatic surface complexation approach as was applied to titrations of B. subtilis suspensions by Fein et al. (2005). Similar to the results for B. subtilis, the S. oneidensis cells exhibit buffering behavior from approximately pH 3–9 that requires the presence of four distinct sites, with pKa values of 3.3 ± 0.2, 4.8 ± 0.2, 6.7 ± 0.4, and 9.4 ± 0.5, and site concentrations of 8.9(±2.6) � 10 � 5 , 1.3(±0.2) � 10 � 4 , 5.9(±3.3) � 10 � 5 , and 1.1(±0.6) � 10 � 4 moles/g bacteria (wet mass), respectively. The bulk Cd isotherm adsorption data for both species, conducted at pH 5.9 as a function of Cd concentration at a fixed biomass concentration, were best modeled by reactions with a Cd:site stoichiometry of 1:1. EXAFS data were collected for both bacterial species as a function of Cd concentration at pH 5.9 and 10 g/L bacteria. The EXAFS results show that the same types of binding sites are responsible for Cd sorption to both bacterial species at all Cd loadings tested (1–200 ppm). Carboxyl sites are responsible for the binding at intermediate Cd loadings. Phosphoryl ligands are more important than carboxyl ligands for Cd binding at high Cd loadings. For the lowest Cd loadings studied here, a sulfhydryl site was found to dominate the bound Cd budgets for both species, in addition to the carboxyl and phosphoryl sites that dominate the higher loadings. The EXAFS results suggest that both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cell walls have a low concentration of very high-affinity sulfhydryl sites which become masked by the more abundant carboxyl and phosphoryl sites at higher metal:bacteria ratios. This study demonstrates that metal loading plays a vital role in determining the important metal-binding reactions that occur on bacterial cell walls, and that high affinity, low-density sites can be revealed by spectroscopy of biomass samples. Such sites may control the fate and transport of metals in realistic geologic settings, where metal concentrations are low. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Ethic of Caring in Teacher Education

Interviews from an ethnographic study of elementary school teachers and students are cited to support the conclusion that an ethic of caring is essential to the definition of effective teaching. A process for restructuring teacher education programs on the basis of an ethic of caring is described. Seven characteristics of a teacher education program designed to promote the development of an ethic of caring are described: curriculum construction, modeling, dialogue, reflection, confirmation, practice, and continuity.
DO WE REALLY NEED INELASTIC DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

The paper examines the requirements for inelastic static and dynamic analysis applied to earthquake design and assessment. Conventional pushover, with various load distributions, as well as advanced adaptive concepts are examined and compared to incremental dynamic analysis. Regions of applicability of each are discussed and suggestions on which method is better suited under a given set of conditions are qualitatively made. It is concluded that there will always be a class of structure-input motion pairs where inelastic dynamic analysis is necessary. Future developments should aim at reducing the regions where dynamic analysis is needed, hence static analysis may be used with confidence in other cases.
Imaging Evaluation of Traumatic Ligamentous Injuries of the Ankle and Foot

Sports ankle injuries are very common worldwide. In the United States, it is estimated that 2 million acute ankle sprains occur each year, averaging to $318 to $914 per sprain. Magnetic resonance imaging is excellent for depicting normal ankle anatomy and can elegantly demonstrate ligamentous injuries of the ankle and associated conditions after ankle sprain. This article encompasses epidemiology, biomechanics, normal anatomy, and pathologic conditions of the ankle and foot ligaments. The specific ligaments discussed include the syndesmotic ligaments, lateral ligament complex of the ankle, deltoid ligament, spring ligament, ligaments of the sinus tarsi, and the Lisfranc ligament.
Plasma 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in the normal menstrual cycle.

ABSTRACT A radioimmunoassay using an antibody against llα,20α-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one-11-succinyl-BSA is described for the measurement of 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in human plasma. Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography is used to separate progesterone from 20α-OHP. The sensitivity of the assay is 50 pg. The interassay and intra-assay coefficients of variation were 15% and 10%, respectively. Daily measurement of 20α-OHP throughout the normal menstrual cycle revealed levels of 0.41 ± 0.05 ng/ml throughout the follicular phase, followed by a slow rise after ovulation reaching peak levels of 3.4 ± 0.5 ng/ml in the midluteal phase. A constant ratio of 20α-OHP/P of 0.15 to 0.22 was found throughout the luteal phase. Levels in men were not significantly different from those in the early follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle.