cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of Complex Isotopomer Patterns in Isotopically Labeled Compounds by Mass Spectrometry

A classic problem in analytical chemistry has been determination of individual components in a mixture without availability of the pure individual components. Measurement of the distribution of isotopomers in a labeled compound or mixture of labeled compounds is an example of this problem that is commonly encountered when stable isotopically labeled metabolites are used to determine in vivo kinetics and metabolism. We present a method that uses the measured mass spectral data of the unlabeled material to represent any and all combinations of isotopomer variations of that material and to determine abundances of these isotopomers. Although examples of the method are presented for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, the method is applicable to any type of mass spectrometry data. The method also accounts for errors induced by mass spectrometer ionization and resolution effects. To demonstrate this method, we determined the isotopomer distributions of samples of 13C-labeled leucine and glucose for both highl...
Abstract 1920: Small molecule inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) causes significant melanoma growth delay and regressionin vivo

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer that rapidly metastasizes to become lethal, if not diagnosed early. An analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program has suggested that the age-adjusted annual incidence of melanoma, both for young men and women, has increased over the past 20 years. In 2011, it is projected that over 70,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed with nearly 9,000 cases resulting in death. Current preventive and treatment approaches have not been able to effectively manage this neoplasm. Therefore, new mechanism- and target- based approaches are urgently needed. Better understanding of the genetic control of cellular proliferation and cell division may provide the basis for the rational design of specific therapeutics for the management of cancers, including melanoma. We have previously demonstrated that the mitotic regulator Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is over-expressed in clinical melanoma and a targeted depletion of Plk1 through lentiviral shRNA or a small-molecule inhibitor causes mitotic catastrophe and induction of apoptosis in human melanoma cells (J Invest Dermatol 129: 2843-53, 2009). In this study, we assessed the effect of BI6727, a second generation Plk1 specific small molecule inhibitor, in vivo in athymic nu/nu nude mice implanted with human melanoma cells. A375 cells (1x106 cells) were implanted in athymic nude by subcutaneous injection on the right flanks. The tumors were allowed to grow and the mice bearing established tumors (>100 mm3) were randomized into 3 groups (containing 12 mice each). The mice were treated with BI6727 at two doses (10 mg/kg or 25 mg/kg) or a vehicle control via tail vein injections twice weekly. Our data demonstrates that in BI6727 treated animals, the rate of tumor growth (to reach to a 1000 mm3 target volume) was significantly delayed. We also found that BI6727 at 25 mg/kg resulted in a near complete tumor regression. The observed tumor regression was stable for several days following discontinuation of treatment, after which, the tumors started growing again. Additionally, we found that BI6727 caused i) a significant inhibition of cell growth and viability, and ii) induction of apoptosis in multiple melanoma cell lines. Based on this study, we suggest that Plk1 is a druggable target for melanoma and pharmacological inhibitors of Plk1 could be clinically useful in melanoma therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1920. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1920
ENERGY FOR TRANSPORTATION

In producing 4.4 trillion passenger-miles and 3.5 trillion ton-miles, the U.S. transport system consumed an enormous quantity of energy--some 24e quadrillion Btus--in 1995. Motorized transport relies on petroleum for energy; in the U.S., transport is 97% petroleum-dependent. It is unlikely that the world will run out of energy for transportation during the next century. Rather, the problems will be the increasing environmental damage resulting from transportation's use of energy and the potential for excessive economic and political costs from the dependence of transport on petroleum. The dependence on oil of motorized transport, and the increasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation's use of fossil fuels, appear to be the 2 major energy issues in the coming decades. Transportation's CO2 emissions can only be lessened by reducing energy consumption or switching to alternative, less carbon-intensive energy sources.
Thermodynamics of peat-, plant-, and soil-derived humic acid sorption on kaolinite

Humic acids (HAs) form coatings on clays and minerals that can play an important role in nutrient and contaminant migration in soil and water. Humic acid−clay mineral interactions are known to be affected by pH and ionic strength, but little attention has been paid to the effects of temperature. In this paper we report the stoichiometry and thermodynamics of interactions of aqueous HAs (isolated from two peats, two soils and a marine alga with a method that removes lipids) with kaolinite clay, Al2Si2O5(OH)4, at seven temperatures from 5.0 to 35.0 °C in 0.05 M NaCl at pH 3.5. All the sorption isotherms exhibit consecutive steps ascribed to HA monolayer and bilayer formation, respectively. Site capacity comparisons suggest different HA molecular conformations on kaolinite. Linearly correlated enthalpy and entropy changes for HA sorption point to the importance of hydration and dehydration in the sorption mechanism.
Large-scale motion in the intermittent region of a turbulent boundary layer

The outer intermittent region of a fully developed turbulent boundary layer with zero pressure gradient was extensively explored in the hope of shedding some light on the shape and motion of the interface separating the turbulent and non-turbulent regions as well as on the nature of the related large-scale eddies within the turbulent regime. Novel measuring techniques were devised, such as conditional sampling and conditional averaging, and others were turned to new uses, such as reorganizing in map form the space-time auto- and cross-correlation data involving both the U and V velocity components as well as I, the intermittency function. On the basis of the new experimental results, a conceptual model for the development of the interface and for the entrainment of new fluid is proposed.
Stability and internal consistency of a measure of self-actualization.

The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), a recently developed measure of self-actualizing tendencies, was administered on 2 occasions to 48 college students to determine the stability, independence, and utility of 10 subscales. Stability coefficients and intercorrelations indicated that 3 of the 12 scales, Inner Direction, Time Competence, and Self-actualization Value, accounted for almost all the variance. Since many of the intercorrelations approximated the scales' reliabilities, it was concluded that performance on the POI could be more accurately and parsimoniously expressed in terms of fewer dimensions.
The Role of the Secular in Abraham Joshua Heschel's Theology: (Re)Reading Heschel After 9/11

Abraham Joshua Heschel is known as one of the most inspiring and influential Jewish theologians in America in the second half of the twentieth century. A refugee from war-torn Europe, Heschel arrived in the United States via England in 1940. He immediately began an academic career at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati and moved to the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1946, where he taught until his death in December 1972. His political activism in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements made him a familiar voice among many in the American counter-culture of the 1960s. His political activism resulted in the popularity of his theological writings beyond his progressive American Jewish audience, becoming a source of inspiration for Protestant and Catholic American theologians to this day. In this essay, I engage the notion of the ‘‘secular’’ in Heschel’s thinking and ask whether, in fact, the very particular Cold War context of his major theological works can stand the scrutiny of a post-9/11 reading where the religious/secular divide has arguably become significantly altered. Heschel lived in a world infused with the idea that secularism (communism, fascism, and materialism) was undermining the moral fiber of western civilization, and religion, in the form of belief and practice, could renew humanity’s sense of morality and responsibility. I assume here that 9/11 has shifted the focus of the world’s moral crisis questioning the notion that religion is, by definition, a positive moral force. I begin with the assumption that until this decade most of the scholars who have written, or continue to write, about Heschel inhabit
The radiation oncology in-training examination: an appeal for better testing.

Throughout medicine, many residency programs offer annual intraining examinations to gauge the progress of their trainees. As of 1992, 20 of 24 medical specialties offered such an examination (1), including internal medicine, surgery, radiology, and pediatrics. In 1984 the American College of Radiology (ACR) developed a similar examination for radiation oncology, the TXIT. Consisting of approximately 450 questions, this examination addressed the topics of radiation biology, radiation physics, and clinical oncology. Per the authors, the initial goal was to design an examination that “test[ed] the cognitive bases required of radiation oncologists.” At that time, Wilson and Diamond (2) stated that the items “were not chosen to discriminate among training levels but rather to reflect basic core knowledge in radiation oncology.” Unfortunately, it was not articulated at that time how training programs were intended to use the examination, nor were trainees instructed in how to interpret their results. Of note, no indication was given that the examination was intended as a predictive or punitive benchmark. This issue was clarified to some degree in 1992 when a later analysis of the examination stated that the American College of Radiology advised residency program directors not to base their resident evaluations on the examination (1). A 2004 report issued by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology further advocated that the examination be used only as a self-assessment measure. They believed that the examination should not be used as a “means of comparing residents within or between programs” (3). Nonetheless, a national survey of radiation oncology residents in 1990 found that 28% of residents felt that the TXIT had a moderate or strong impact on their annual evaluation (1). A similar survey, in 2004, showed that 33% of residents still felt that the TXIT had a moderate to significant impact on their annual review (3). Given this perception, it is important to assess what, if any, evidence exists to support the use of the ACR in-training examination as a formative assessment of radiation oncology residents.
Similar transplantation outcomes in patients bridged with cardiac assist devices for acute cardiogenic shock versus chronic heart failure

Background Heart failure (HF) patients may require cardiac assist device implantation prior to transplantation (Tx) because of either acute cardiogenic shock (ACS), with no prior history of HF, or for progression of pump failure in the setting of chronic HF. Aims To investigate whether patients implanted with a cardiac assist device for ACS, have similar post-Tx outcomes as those who underwent cardiac assist device implantation because of progressive chronic HF. Methods and results We compared post-Tx outcomes of consecutive patients bridged due to ACS (Acute Group) with the outcomes of patients bridged due to deterioration of chronic HF (Chronic Group). Seventy-three patients had a cardiac assist device implanted and underwent subsequent cardiac Tx. Thirty-five patients (48%) had a cardiac assist device implanted due to ACS, most often caused by massive acute myocardial infarction, and 38 patients (52%) because of progressive chronic HF. Despite greater compromise at the time of implantation, the Acute Group recovered satisfactorily and underwent Tx with similar post-Tx survival rates as the Chronic Group patients [1-year survival: 88.6% vs 86.8%, p=0.80, actuarial survival (mean follow-up 4.2 years): 80.0% vs 81.6%, p=0.86)]. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in various post-Tx events. Conclusion Patients with ACS who underwent emergency cardiac assist device implantation as bridge to Tx had similar post-Tx outcomes as their more chronically ill counterparts who underwent device implantation on a non-urgent basis.
wireless research centers: building the future with wireless technology

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this special issue of the ACM Mobile Computing and Communications Review, which focuses on some of the leading wireless communications research centers around the world. Historically a large number of innovations in engineering and scientific fields can be traced back to ideas that first sprung up in our universities and research labs. Researchers in these centers continue to stay feverishly engaged in developing new technologies and pursuing their dreams that have the potential of effecting our lives in un-imagined and profound ways. We believe that it is useful to stay in touch with their activities and be aware of the innovations taking place all around us.
174 Phylogenetic Relationships Within Centroceras Kuetzing (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta)

Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne (1846) is a widely distributed species worldwide, originally described from Callao, Peru. Populations referred to in the literature as C. clavulatum were investigated on the basis of rbcL sequence analysis and comparative morphology. Four well-supported clades were identified. RbcL sequence divergence within clades was <0.8, between clades 1.1–8.1%. We conclude that C. clavulatum may encompass at least three additional species that may have been placed under its synonymy. The four well-supported clades under study are distinct from Centroceras internitens Gallagher & Humm and include, respectively, representative specimens with the following distribution: (1) California, Gulf of California, Korea, Japan, (2) E Florida, Texas, (3) California., and (4) W and E Florida. Studies are underway to assign a correct species name to each of the clades under study.
Drug abuse in oral and maxillofacial training programs

Concern about drug dependence in other medical specialties involving constant exposure to anesthetic and sedative drugs prompted a survey of oral and maxillofacial surgery programs. One hundred sixteen programs were surveyed; 78.5% responded, and 51% of the responding programs reported at least one suspected incident of drug dependence. Twenty-six confirmed cases were reported. Meperidine and fentanyl were the most frequently abused substances. Behavioral changes and information supplied by co-workers were the most frequent reasons for confrontation of residents suspected of drug abuse by superiors. Detailed follow-up information was often sketchy and unavailable. Drug abuse may be more common than usually thought in oral and maxillofacial surgery programs and on the same level as that observed in anesthesia training programs.
Circle theorem for hard-core binary lattice gases

We study the distribution of zeros in a symmetric, two-component Widom-Rowlinson lattice system (any number of dimensions). We show that for sufficiently large mean activity the system partition function cannot vanish if the magnitude of the ratio of the two (complex) activities is different from one.
Why Infant Very Low Birthweight Rates Have Failed to Decline in the United States Vital Statistics

The author investigates reasons for the apparent failure to reduce very low birth weight [VLBW] rates in the United States. "The weights of livebirths and foetal deaths (27944 births) at a community hospital during three 5-year periods 1973-1987 were examined for trends in low birthweight (LBW) distribution and they were contrasted with the U.S. Vital Statistics....Increasing registration of births in the U.S. may have hidden a marked improvement in the VLBW problem. More complete registration of births and changes in the perception of viability appear responsible for the artefact." (EXCERPT)
Impact of a brief dietary self-monitoring intervention on weight change and CPAP adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Objective Weight loss can decrease the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in many obese individuals; however, very few studies have investigated the effects of behavioral weight loss interventions for patients with OSA. The aims of this pilot study were to determine the feasibility and initial effects on weight and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use of a brief minimal-contact self-monitoring-based weight loss intervention (SM). An additional aim was to investigate the association between weight loss and CPAP adherence. Methods Forty obese men and women diagnosed with mild or moderate OSA were randomized to either the SM or an attention-control (AC) condition. SM participants completed daily dietary logs for 6 weeks. Participants were weighed at baseline, post-treatment (6 weeks), and at a 6-week follow up. Results Recruitment and retention were good in this study and attrition rates did not differ significantly by group. Intent to treat repeated measures ANOVA indicated a main effect of time (but not group), such that both groups lost weight over time. Pearson r correlations between weight change and CPAP adherence indicated that among SM participants, 6-week weight loss was correlated with CPAP adherence at post-treatment and follow-up, such that SM participants with greater weight loss at 6 weeks had greater CPAP adherence at 6 and 12 weeks. Conclusion This study provides initial support for the beneficial effects of a minimal-contact weight loss intervention for patients with obstructive sleep apnea and highlights a possible association between weight loss and CPAP adherence.
Aggregate Versus Disaggregate Analysis: Corn and Soybean Acreage Response in Illinois

Tradeoffs between aggregation and specification errors and their implications for forecasting and policy analysis make it difficult to determine the most appropriate level of aggregation for econometric analysis. Aggregation introduces bias in parameter estimates, but may reduce the effect of specification errors in the micro-level relationships. Here, tests and procedures for assessing the tradeoffs are applied to corn and soybean acreage response equations in Illinois. The results indicate that modeling acreage response in Illinois at the state level, rather than at the crop reporting district level, leads to little loss in predictive accuracy and provides parameter estimates more consistent with expectations.
A sequence motif in the simian virus 40 (SV40) early core promoter affects alternative splicing of transcribed mRNA.

To identify new sequence elements in the promoter that affect splicing patterns of pre-mRNAs, we analyzed effects of different promoters on alternative splicing of model reporter genes. We compared the E1a alternative splicing pattern in transcripts expressed from the full-length cytomegalovirus, SV40 early, or a hybrid cytomegalovirus/SV40 early promoter and found that the hybrid promoter improved selection of the suboptimal E1a 5′SS-1. Expressing RNA from the hybrid promoter also enhanced selection of suboptimal splice sites in other alternatively spliced reporter genes, demonstrating the generality of this effect. Unlike previously defined promoter elements shown to affect alternative splicing, which were located in the enhancer/upstream activating sequences, the motif identified in this work is positioned within the core promoter; it is comprised of eight T-residues directly upstream of the SV40 early TATA box. This motif was previously implicated in DNA bending and negative regulation of transcription. Together, these results suggest that the identity of transcription complex assembled in the core promoter-dependent fashion can affect splice site selection during pre-mRNA splicing, perhaps by influencing the processivity of transcription elongation.
Biomarkers of PTSD: neuropeptides and immune signaling

The biological underpinnings for participation of the immune system in the pathogenesis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) include evidence for cross-talk between the stress and immune systems, as well as more recently discovered roles for immune system mediators in core behavioral functions such as adult neurogenesis, as well as in processes that underlay synaptic plasticity, such as learning and memory. This article reviews the expanding body of literature on immune system mediators in the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS) in chronic PTSD along with the evidence for increased peripheral inflammation, and excess morbidity and mortality. CNS inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. This literature is briefly reviewed, along with evidence for a possible role for CNS inflammation in PTSD symptoms, especially in individuals who have PTSD with co-morbid depression. Whether the immune system is involved in risk and resilience, or evolution of PTSD symptoms following a trauma event remains to be determined, although hypotheses have been advanced. This paper reviews the current evidence including the novel hypothesis that cellular immunity is implicated in PTSD risk and resilience. Potential research implications and directions are discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.
The effects of lesions in telencephalic visual areas on stimulus generalization in pigeons

Fifteen pigeons were trained in a MULT VI 45-sec EXT schedule to discriminate between a vertical line (the positive stimulus) and a blank key (the negative stimulus). After 10 days of training, they were given a generalization test on the dimension of line orientation and matched into three groups, which received lesions of the ectostriatum or of nucleus intercalatus hyperstriati accessorii (IHA) in the Wulst or sham lesions. After a week of recovery postoperatively, they were given one more day of training on the discrimination, then a second generalization test, identical to the first. They were then trained for 10 days on a MULT VI 45-sec EXT schedule, with the vertical line as the positive stimulus and a horizontal line as the negative stimulus. Finally, they were given a third generalization test. Pigeons with ectostriatal lesions were not different from shams on the first postoperative generalization test, but they were poorer at the discrimination between horizontal and vertical postoperatively and they showed a flatter gradient than shams on the final generalization test. These findings suggest that ectostriatal lesions result in a deficit in the development of inhibitory processes to the S-. Pigeons with Wulst lesions were not different from shams for the most part, but they did show more trials without response on the final generalization test. There was no suggestion of an impairment by Wulst lesions on the negative component of the go/no-go discrimination.
Time and space-integrating spectrum analyzer.

Reference EPFL-ARTICLE-158594doi:10.1364/AO.18.003203View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-11-25, modified on 2017-07-31
Seafloor-Riser Interaction Model

Fatigue stresses associated with extreme storms, vessel movements, and vortex-induced vibrations are critical to the performance of steel catenary risers. The critical location for fatigue damage often occurs within the touchdown zone, where cyclic interaction of the riser with the seabed occurs. Developing a model for seabed stiffness requires characterization of a number of complex nonlinear processes including trench formation, nonlinear soil stiffness, soil suction, and breakaway of the riser from the seafloor. The analytical framework utilized in this research considers the riser-seafloor interaction problem in terms of a pipe resting on a bed of springs, the stiffness characteristics of which are described by nonlinear load-deflection (P-y) curves. The P-y model allows for first penetration and uplift, as well as repenetration and small range motions within the bounding loop defined by extreme loading. The backbone curve is constructed from knowledge of the soil strength, the rate of strength increa...
Luminescence decay in glow-discharge deposited amorphous silicon

Abstract The photoluminescence decay of glow-discharge-deposited amorphous silicon is reported. The low temperature radiative lifetime of the broad luminescence band near 1·3 eV is found to be about 30 μs, and is independent of luminescence energy. The long lifetime is possibly due to weak electron-hole overlap. A competing non-radiative process dominates in weakly luminescent doped and undoped samples, and is thought to be due to tunnelling of an exciton to a nearby defect.
High-Performance n-Channel Carbonyl-Functionalized Quaterthiophene Semiconductors: Thin-Film Transistor Response and Majority Carrier Type Inversion via Simple Chemical Protection/Deprotection

The generalizable synthesis, comparative molecular physicochemical properties, film microstructures/morphologies, and field-effect transistor (FET) response characteristics of a series of six carbonyl-derivatized quaterthiophenes is described. These compounds are as follows: 5, 5‘ ‘‘-diheptanoyl-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘:5‘ ‘,2‘ ‘‘-quaterthiophene (1), spiro[4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b‘]dithiophene-4,2‘-[1,3] dioxolane], 2,6-bis-(5-hexyl carbonylthien-2-yl) (2), 2,7-[bis-(5-hexylcarbonylthien-2-yl)]-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b‘]-dithiophen-4-one (3), 5, 5‘ ‘‘-diperfluorohexylcarbonyl-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘:5‘ ‘,2‘ ‘‘-quaterthiophene (4), spiro[4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b‘]dithiophene-4,2‘- [1,3]dioxolane], 2,6-bis-(5-perfluorohexylcarbonylthien-2-yl) (5), and 2,7-[bis-(5-perfluorohexylcarbonylthien-2-yl)]-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b‘]-dithiophen-4-one (6). Optical and electrochemical data demonstrate that terminal/central carbonyl-functionalization of the quaterthiophene core strongly lowers both HOMO and LUMO energies. However, the e...
Structure in the magnetic-field-dependent microwave absorption of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O single crystals.

We have observed structure in the magnetic field dependence of the microwave absorption of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2.1}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.6}\mathrm{Ca}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}$ single crystals below the superconducting transition temperature. An absorption peak is observed at low fields, and the peak position and width have strong temperature and angular dependences. Two peaks can be resolved in some samples. Hysteresis in the low-field absorption peak indicates extremely anisotropic flux trapping in these crystals for $Tl25$ K. Flux parallel to the $c$ axis of the crystal is almost completely trapped, whereas flux normal to $c$ is only weakly trapped.
Cloning, expression, genomic localization, and enzymatic activities of the mouse homolog of prostate-specific membrane antigen/NAALADase/folate hydrolase.

Human Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), also known as folate hydrolase I (FOLH1), is a 750-amino acid type II membrane glycoprotein, which is primarily expressed in normal human prostate epithelium and is upregulated in prostate cancer, including metastatic disease. We have cloned and sequenced the mouse homolog of PSMA, which we have termed Folh1, and have found that it is not expressed in the mouse prostate, but primarily in the brain and kidney. We have demonstrated that Folh1, like its human counterpart, is a glutamate-preferring carboxypeptidase, which has at least two enzymatic activities: (1) N-acetylated α-linked l-amino dipeptidase (NAALADase), an enzyme involved in regulation of excitatory signaling in the brain, and (2) a γ-glutamyl carboxypeptidase (folate hydrolase). The 2,256-nt open reading frame of Folh1 encodes for a 752-amino acid protein, with 86% identity and 91% similarity to the human PSMA amino acid sequence. Cells transfected with Folh1 gained both NAALADase and folate hydrolase activities. Examination of tissues for NAALADase activity correlated with the mRNA expression pattern for Folh1. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed Folh1 maps to only one locus in the mouse genome, Chromosome 7D1-2.
Dopaminergic abnormalities in amygdaloid nuclei in major depression: a postmortem study

Abstract Background A deficiency of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is a leading candidate for the etiology of certain symptoms of depression (e.g., anhedonia and loss of motivation). Here we show amounts of dopaminergic proteins in the amygdala, a key brain structure involved in the integration of emotions and stress, in subjects with major depression and in psychiatrically normal control subjects. Methods The specific binding of [ 125 I]RTI 55 to the DA transporter, [ 3 H]SCH 23390 to the D1 receptor and [ 125 I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors were measured in the right amygdaloid complex in postmortem brains from 11 subjects with major depression and 11 matched control subjects. Results The binding of [ 125 I]RTI 55 to DA transporter was significantly lower in the basal and central amygdaloid nuclei, whereas the binding of [ 125 I]epidepride to D2/D3 receptors was significantly higher in the basal, central, and lateral amygdaloid nuclei in major depression compared with control subjects. No difference in the binding of [ 3 H]SCH 23390 to D1 receptors was observed. Conclusions Given that DA depletion in rats can induce a reduction in the DA transporter and an upregulation of D2/D3 receptors, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that major depression is associated with a deficiency of mesolimbic DA.
Maternal perceptions of infant hunger, satiety, and pressuring feeding styles in an urban Latina WIC population.

Objective Controlling feeding styles in which parents regulate feeding without responding to child cues have been associated with poor self-regulation of feeding and increased weight, but have not been well studied in infancy. We sought to assess maternal perception of infant feeding cues and pressuring feeding styles in an urban Latina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) population. Methods Secondary analysis of a larger study of Latina mothers participating in New York City WIC programs. We examined maternal perception of infant feeding cues and pressuring feeding style. Using logistic regression, we assessed: 1) characteristics associated with perceptions of cues and pressuring to feed, including sociodemographics, breastfeeding, and maternal body mass index; and 2) whether perceptions of cues were associated with pressuring feeding style. Results We surveyed 368 mothers (84% response rate). Most mothers perceived that babies sense their own satiety. However, 72% believed that infant crying must indicate hunger. Fifty-three percent believed that mothers should always make babies finish the bottle ("pressure to feed"). Pressuring feeding style was associated with foreign maternal country of birth (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–5.60) and less than a high school education (AOR 1.81; 95% CI, 1.12–2.91). Two perceptions of feeding cues were related to pressuring feeding style: belief that infant crying must indicate hunger (AOR 2.59; 95% CI, 1.52–4.42) and infant hand sucking implies hunger (AOR 1.83; 95% CI, 1.10–3.03). Conclusions Maternal characteristics influence perception of infant hunger and satiety. Interpretation of feeding cues is associated with pressuring feeding style. Improving responsiveness to infant cues should be a component of early childhood obesity prevention.
Ornithine decarboxylase inactivation in HeLa cells

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) can be induced up to 100-fold over basal levels four hours after addition of glutamine to the medium of HeLa cells growing in suspension culture. As demonstrated in several other cell types, ODC is inactivated very rapidly in HeLa cells, and the rate of inactivation is seen to vary with a half life of 9-15 minutes in uninduced cells and rises to ca. 60 minutes at the peak of induction. Quantitatively, the change in rate of inactivation cannot completely account for the observed rise in activity, thus synthesis or activation of ODC must also be involved in the induction process. The inactivation process requires metabolic energy and it can be sustained by glycolytic derived energy. Other factors which are known to inhibit protein breakdown in mammalian cells, such as sodium fluoride, insulin, or tosyl phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone, had no effect on the rate of inactivation of ODC. Attempts to demonstrate ODC inactivation in a cell free system at neutral pH were unsuccessful.
Left flank retroperitoneal exposure: a technical aid to complex aortic reconstruction.

Abstract Over the last 5 years an extended left flank retroperitoneal approach was used in 85 of 531 (16%) aortic reconstructions deemed technically complex. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was performed in 70 patients (82%), bypass of aortoiliac occlusive disease was performed in 11 (13%), and aortic endarterectomy for mesenteric and/or renovascular disease was performed in 4 (5%). Indications for use of this approach included a "hostile" abdomen (43 patients), juxta/suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (35), large (> 10 cm) abdominal aortic aneurysm (12), extreme obesity (10), associated renal and/or visceral artery stenosis requiring endarterectomy (9), inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (2), and horseshoe kidney (2). Suprarenal or supraceliac aortic clamping, averaging 31 minutes, was required in 43 patients (50%). Postoperative recovery was rapid (average length of stay, 10.2 days), and morbidity was minimal despite the complex nature of these reconstructions. The perioperative mortality rate in elective operations was 1.2%. This approach facilitated proximal abdominal aortic exposure and anastomosis, especially in large, pararenal aneurysms or in situations unfavorable to a transabdominal approach. Whereas a left flank retroperitoneal approach can be used in most aortic reconstructions, it seems especially suited to those that pose significant technical challenges. (J VASC SURG 1991;14:283-91.)
An experimental mesocosm study of residual and contemporary effects of an omnivorous, filter-feeding, clupeid fish on plankton community structure1

We conducted three changeover experiments in large outdoor tanks to evaluate the persistence of effects of an omnivorous, filter-feeding, clupeid fish (Dorosoma cepedianum) on plankton community structure in different seasons. The experimental design included four prechangeover treatment combinations of Dorosoma and a zooplanktivorous atherinid fish, Menidia beryllina (neither, one, or both fishes present). At the changeover, we moved Dorosoma from half of the tanks containing Dorosoma to half of the tanks previously lacking Dorosoma. Enhancement of phytoplankton by Dorosoma in the prechangeover period was a persistent effect in the DecemberFebruary and July-Septcmbcr changeover experiments. In the April-June experiment, phytoplankton responded primarily to the postchangeovcr Dorosoma treatments and showed few residual effects. Zooplankton effects of Dorosoma were not persistent. Menidia enhanced phytoplankton in the April-June expcrimcnt only, even though it reduced crustacean zooplankton in all three changeover experiments. Seasonal differences in effects on phytoplankton by Menidia and between residual and contemporary effects of Dorosoma appear to be related to the presence of large-bodied Daphnia in the April-June experiment.
PIE1, an ISWI Family Gene, Is Required for FLC Activation and Floral Repression in Arabidopsis

Proper control of the floral transition is critical for reproductive success in flowering plants. In Arabidopsis, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) is a floral repressor upon which multiple floral regulatory pathways converge. Mutations in PHOTOPERIOD-INDEPENDENT EARLY FLOWERING1 (PIE1) suppress the FLC-mediated delay of flowering as a result of the presence of FRIGIDA or of mutations in autonomous pathway genes. PIE1 is required for high levels of FLC expression in the shoot apex, but it is not required for FLC expression in roots. PIE1 is similar to ATP-dependent, chromatin-remodeling proteins of the ISWI and SWI2/SNF2 family. The role of PIE1 as an activator of FLC is consistent with the general role of ISWI and SWI2/SNF2 family genes as activators of gene expression. The pie1 mutation also causes early flowering in noninductive photoperiods independently of FLC; thus, PIE1 appears to be involved in multiple flowering pathways. PIE1 also plays a role in petal development, as revealed by the suppression of petal defects of the curly leaf mutant by the pie1 mutation.
Lg Q in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

Lg spectra are collected from the 1991–1992 Tibetan Plateau Passive Experiment to measure Q values. Using a standard two-station method that virtually eliminates source and site effects, I obtain a model of Q 0 = (126 ± 9) and η = (0.37 ± 0.02) in a frequency range between 0.2 and 3.6 Hz, where Q 0 and η are Lg Q at 1 Hz and its power-law frequency dependence, respectively. The estimated Q 0 value is among the lowest ever reported for continental areas; it qualitatively supports the observation by McNamara et al. (1996) that Lg can not be observed inside the plateau beyond about 700 km, a limiting distance that is much shorter than those in the other low Q 0 (∼200) regions, such as Iran and the western United States. The low Q 0 value may be the cause of Lg blockage across the northern boundary of the plateau and may indicate abnormally high temperature and fluid content in the Tibetan crust. Quantitatively, the estimated Q 0 value is lower by a factor of 3 than the value of 366 estimated by McNamara et al. (1996), who used data from the same experiment. Since there are several differences in the data processing and inversion procedures used in this and the previous studies, I investigated the effects of these differences on the Q estimates. I conclude that the most probable cause of the discrepancy is in the different inverse methods used. The previous inversion solved for a large number of free parameters that include the source and site terms. In this study only two free parameters ( Q 0 and η) are solved for, thus avoiding the instability caused by parameter trade-offs.
Equus asinus (Donkey)

Characterization of two small pairs of acrocentrics is arbitrary; they could also be considered subtelocentrics in some preparations. In contrast to other equidae, the X of the donkey has a more terminal centromere. The Y is the smallest acrocentric.
Gravitons Enhance Fermions during Inflation

We solve the effective Dirac equation for massless fermions during inflation in the simplest gauge, including all one loop corrections from quantum gravity. At late times the result for a spatial plane wave behaves as if the classical solution were subjected to a time-dependent field strength renormalization of ${Z}_{2}(t)=1\ensuremath{-}\frac{17}{4\ensuremath{\pi}}G{H}^{2}\mathrm{ln}﻿(a)+O({G}^{2})$. We show that this also follows from making the Hartree approximation, although the numerical coefficients differ.
Immigrants and Violence: The Importance of Neighborhood Context

This study examined the relationship between violence and immigration. The importance of neighborhood context, including alcohol availability, was also investigated. Using data from block groups, these relationships were examined in three California communities with significant immigrant populations. Data on socioeconomic characteristics were combined with police data concerning youth and data on alcohol availability. These data were geocoded in a block group, and population-based rates were calculated. A specialized regression package was used to examine these relationships. Results indicated that immigration and youth violence were not related, but that violence was predicted by alcohol availability. Contextual factors such as family breakdown and professional role models were also found to be significant predictors of youth violence. Furthermore, the context of violence is important in understanding why violence varies within communities. Violence prevention efforts may benefit from regulatory efforts ...
Greening the White House

Abstract Over the last thirty years, presidents from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush have introduced an array of environmentally progressive technologies and strategies to the White House (and have, at least once, eliminated them). These modifications were made for reasons both ethical and political—motivations that shifted over time and responded to changes in American societal attitudes toward green building. These changing postures reveal how the White House is used by both to reflect public policy and to provide an example of steps that could be taken to increase the sustainability of the average home or office.
Retraction: The manufacturing enterprise diagnostic instrument: A tool for assessment of enterprise system manufacturers

Small- to medium-size manufacturers constitute the bulk of the U.S. manufacturing sector and are in a dire need of a tool that will help them face the challenges of globalization and increasing costs of manufacturing in the United States. The objectives were to develop and validate a diagnostic tool for manufacturing firms to evaluate their enterprise system performance to eliminate trial-and-error decisions and allow quick and informed actions. A pilot version was developed and tested in a small manufacturer. A revised version was then developed and further tested in another firm. Testing of the tool's pilot version provided invaluable feedback for developing the main tool. When tested in a small manufacturing firm, the results demonstrated management's misalignment and identified the root causes hindering performance. The tool demonstrated a quick and effective way to evaluate the manufacturing system's performance and to develop an aligned improvement action plan to guide the managerial team in devising a winning business strategy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 17: 521–574, 2007.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in the General Population

Background— Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are reversible inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2. Whether transient and incomplete COX-1 inhibition with NSAIDs other than aspirin will translate into clinical cardioprotection is unclear. Some reports suggest that concurrent aspirin and ibuprofen might be associated with lower cardioprotection than aspirin alone because of a pharmacodynamic interaction. Methods and Results— —We conducted a cohort study with a nested case-control analysis. Overall, 4975 cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and death from coronary heart disease (CHD) were identified (January 1997 to December 2000) in the UK. A total of 20 000 controls were randomly sampled, and frequency was matched to cases by age, sex, and calendar year. The incidence rate was 5.0 per 1000 person-years. The multivariate-adjusted OR for current NSAID use compared with nonuse was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.95 to 1.20). Treatment duration or daily dose did not change the results. The effect was...
Auricular Chondropathy in Aging Rats

An external ear lesion designated as auricular chondropathy in aging Crl:CD@ rats was reported. One hundred eighty (180) of 4,876 rats (3.7%) had ear deformity. Grossly, the ears were thickened, nodular, or disfigured. Both ears were affected in most rats. The lesions primarily involved the cartilaginous plate and were associated with two processes- chondrolysis and granulomatous inflammation. The detailed morphogenesis of the lesions is described, but the etiology of the lesions is unknown. Auricular chondropathy in rats and relapsing polychondritis in man are compared. Although many spontaneous lesions have been re- ported in aging laboratory rats, little is known about spontaneous lesions of the external ear. During long- term toxicity and carcinogenicity studies, we encoun- tered a peculiar ear lesion in aging rats from both untreated control and treated groups. Grossly, the le- sion resembles the deformed ears called "cauliflower ears" or "wrestler's ears" in man.'4*6*7. lo Because the lesion in the rat characteristically involves only the auricular cartilage, it is designated as auricular chon- dropathy. The incidence of gross auricular lesions in the rat and the morphogenesis of the lesion are de- scribed for the first time.
Comparison of the Sofia and Veritor Direct Antigen Detection Assay Systems for Identification of Influenza Viruses from Patient Nasopharyngeal Specimens

Influenza antigen detection assays (Sofia fluorescent immunoassay [FIA] and Veritor) yield objective results, which are potentially useful for point-of-care testing. The assays were evaluated with reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) using 411 nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Sensitivity and specificity values (percentages) of 79.0/99.0 and 64.0/99.4 for influenza A and 92.9/96.7 and 78.6/98.7 for influenza B were obtained for the Sofia and Veritor assays, respectively.
Perceiving Ethnic Diversity on Campus: Group Differences in Attention to Hierarchical Representation

A field study tested whether Asian and White students use different criteria when judging the racial and ethnic diversity of their university. The university under study had roughly equal numbers of Asians and Whites, but Asians were heavily concentrated in the student body and had relatively low numbers in high-status university positions (the faculty and administration). Results showed that, as long as the student body was deemed diverse, the status asymmetry did not prevent Whites from regarding their university as diverse or from opposing efforts to increase racial and ethnic diversity on campus. Asians, by contrast, were attentive to the status asymmetry: they incorporated faculty/administrative diversity into their judgments of the university and saw diversity in the student body as a reason to increase diversity in high-status positions. The results suggest that people perceive and support diversity in ways that align with the interests of their ethnic in-groups.
Retrieval time in forward and backward recall.

The present experiment was designed to compare the rates of forward and backward digit recall. The results show that recall was faster in forward order than in backward order. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that information can be retrieved from short-term memory only in the same order in which it is stored.
Diseases from North America: focus on tick-borne infections

ABSTRACT Tick-borne infections are seen throughout the United States, with varying geographical locations. Many of these infections are also increasingly seen in Europe. Certain ticks (eg Ixodes) can transmit more than one infection. Diagnosis, particularly in early infection, can be challenging and therefore knowledge of the distinguishing clinical features and epidemiology of these diseases is important. Testing for Lyme disease often causes confusion for patients and medical providers, as serological tests may be negative in early infection and conversely may be positive for years after infection. Newer tests, such as the C6 ELISA, may play a role in Lyme diagnosis. Additionally, the value of a simple blood film should not be underestimated for diagnosing babesiosis and anaplasmosis. In certain situations, empiric therapy may be required for tick-borne infections as severe illness with multiorgan failure can occur, particularly in older and immunocompromised hosts. This review describes the more commonly seen tick-borne infections: Lyme, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. More recently identified tick-borne infections, such as southern tick-associated rash illness and Borrelia miyamotoi, are also covered.