cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androgen-dependent modulation of calbindin-D28K in hypothalamic tissue during prenatal development

We examined the influence of androgens on fetal medial basal hypothalamic and preoptic area (MBH-POA) calbindin-D28K levels (via Western analysis) by treating pregnant rats with testosterone or flutamide, (an androgen receptor blocker). MBH-POA calbindin-D28K levels were significantly decreased in flutamide-treated male fetuses, whereas, MBH-POA calbindin-D28K levels were significantly increased in testosterone-treated female fetuses compared to controls. These results suggest that MBH-POA calbindin-D28K is modulated during prenatal development by androgens.
L-shell x-ray fluorescence measurements of lead in bone: accuracy and precision.

This study aimed to quantify the accuracy and precision of a method for in vivo measurements of lead in bone using L-shell x-ray fluorescence (LXRF), the former via comparison with independent measurements of lead in bone obtained using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) following acid digestion. Using LXRF, the lead content of adult human cadaver tibiae was measured, both as intact legs and as dissected tibiae with overlying tissue removed, the latter at several proximal–distal locations. After LXRF, each tibia was divided into nine cross-sectional segments, which were further separated into tibia core and surface samples for AAS measurement. The proximal–distal variability of AAS-measured core and surface tibia lead concentrations has been described elsewhere (the lead concentration was found to decrease towards both ends of the tibia). The subjects of this paper are the proximal–distal variability of the LXRF-measured lead concentrations, the measurement uncertainty and the statistical agreement between LXRF and AAS. There was no clear proximal–distal variability in the LXRF-measured concentrations; the degree of variability in actual tibia lead concentrations is far less than the LXRF measurement uncertainty. Measurement uncertainty was dominated by counting statistics and exceeded the estimate of lead concentration in most cases. The agreement between LXRF and AAS was reasonably good for bare bone measurements but poor for intact leg measurements. The variability of the LXRF measurements was large enough, for both bare bone and intact leg measurements, to yield grave concerns about the analytical use of the technique in vivo.
Optical and magnetic resonance signatures of deep levels in semi-insulating 4H SiC

Abstract We have studied semi-insulating (SI) 4H SiC grown by physical vapor transport (PVT) and by high-temperature chemical vapor deposition (HTCVD) using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and infrared photoluminescence (IR-PL) to better understand the defect(s) responsible for the SI behavior. Although intrinsic defects such as the isolated carbon vacancy and in some cases the isolated Si vacancies have previously been observed by EPR in undoped SI SiC, their concentrations are an order of magnitude too low to be responsible for the SI behavior. We are able to observe the EPR signature of the carbon vacancy–carbon antisite pair (VC–CSi) pair defect in an excited state of its 2+ charge state in all PVT samples and some HTCVD samples. We also establish the IR–PL signature of this EPR center as the UD2 spectrum—a set of four sharp lines between 1.1 and 1.15 eV previously observed by Magnusson et al. in neutron-irradiated 4H–SiC. We also observe the UD1 line, a pair of sharp IR–PL lines at ∼1.06 eV and UD3, a single sharp line at ∼1.36 eV . We propose a simple model for the SI behavior in material in which the (VC–CSi) pair defect is the dominant deep defect.
Universal referencing in multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Universal referencing to a single species, e.g., TMS, may be employed even if there is no signal available for an internal lock. The importance of solvent effects on some common standards is shown.
The effects of pH and temperature on the in vitro bindings of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids to bovine serum albumin.

Abstract Albumin is a major carrier of drugs and fatty acids in biological fluids. These protein—drug complexes serve to solubilize, transport these compounds to sites of action, and have been associated with increased half-life for these compounds. The authors are interested in the pH and temperature effects of the binding of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol to albumin. Ultrafiltration techniques were used in the separation of free to bound compounds. Cannabinoids bind to bovine serum albumin rapidly. The cannabinoid binding sites are more sensitive to temperature changes (37–47°C) than changes in pH with 37°C and pH 7.4 resulting in optimal binding. These conditions would result in the greatest viability in the cells, while allowing for the use of a variety of compounds in in vitro studies for the administration of compounds to isolated cells and cell lines.
Lectin binding patterns of Scrippsiella lachrymosa (Dinophyceae) in relation to cyst formation and nutrient conditions

In many dinoflagellates, it has been a challenging task to study the qualitative and quantitative processes leading to encystment because gametes are often not morphologically distinguishable from other vegetative cells. We examined whether sexual differentiation is accompanied by changes in cell surface glycoprotein properties that are reflected in the binding patterns of complementary lectins. Labeling percentages of nine different fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated lectins were analyzed together with cell and cyst abundance in N-deplete and f/2 control cultures of Scrippsiella lachrymosa Lewis throughout an encystment experiment. Although labeling varied between lectins and treatments and considerable changes occurred through time, no direct correlation was observed between glycoconjugate properties and sexual life cycle processes. A conspicuous decrease in labeling of lectins that are complementary to amino sugars (in particular, with WGA, a lectin that is complementary to N-acetylglucosamine) was observed in the low nitrogen treatment, suggesting a link between the nutrient status of a cell and expression of surface carbohydrates. Presumably, the reduction of N-acetylglucosamine residues was an early indication of N stress in cell populations. Labeling experiments with phosphate-limited cells showed that the decrease in WGA-complementary amino-sugar residues was not specific for N stress, but appeared to be a general response to nutrient limitation. Our findings confirm that glycoconjugate composition of dinoflagellate cells can change depending on their physiological state, which has to be considered when applying lectins for taxonomic differentiation of dinoflagellate species.
Flow Physics in Microchannels

Even though microfluidic devices are slowly becoming commercial reality (e.g. Inkjet printers), the challenges in the design of microfluidic devices remain since not all aspects of fluid flow in microchannels have been fully understood yet. This paper presents an extensive review of studies on flow physics for both pressure-driven and electrokinetic flows in microchannels. The primary goal of the present paper is to provide a wide overview of findings on underlying principles of microflow physics. The issues discussed include the effect of pressure drop and friction measurements; mixing and flow control methods for microfluidic systems; and joule heating and viscous dissipation effects in microchannel flows. No agreement has been found among studies focusing on the characterization of friction factor/pressure drop for microflow systems. Further investigation requires understanding how entrance effects differ in the case of microflows when compared to macro scale flow. There is a clear need to investigate characteristics of non-Newtonian fluid flow in microchannels.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Value of information in two-team zero-sum problems

The situation in which two groups of people have conflicts of interest is considered as a two-team zero-sum game problem. Two special cases of this problem are solved to illustrate that communication among members of a team may not be worth-while and extra information need not always be desired by decision makers. In the appendix, it is shown that the optimal saddle-point solution exists and is still affine for the general problem with quadratic Gaussian performance index.
A Fermi resonance study in H12C14NH19F based on gas phase far infrared spectroscopy

Abstract A static gas phase far infrared spectroscopic investigation of seven hot bands involving the intermolecular bend ν 1 7 in the hydrogen-bonded species HCN-HF has been performed. The information obtained from a rovibrational analysis of these hot bands is combined with previously available microwave and infrared spectroscopic data to reinvestigate Fermi resonance interactions of 2 ν 0 7 with ν 4 and 3 ν 1 7 with ν 4 + ν 1 7 . Corresponding Fermi resonance shifts of 2.31(5) cm −1 and 3.04(9) cm −1 were calculated respectively. Anharmonic constants x 77 = − 1.228(3) cm −1 and g 77 = 1.136(3) cm −1 were also determined and compared with values of value of x 77 = − 2.29 cm −1 and g 77 = 1.06 cm −1 evaluated by Amos [R.D. Amos, J.F. Gaw, N.C. Handy, E.D. Simandiras and K. Somasundram, Theoret. Chim. Acta, 71 (1987) 41] from an ab initio calculation.
Coding in the evolution of signalling behavior

This paper examines two of the differences between human speech and communication in subhuman species: (1) the different types of information that each species can communicate, and (2) the different methods by which they code information.
Higher chilling tolerance in maize is not always related to the ability for greater and faster abscisic acid accumulation

Summary A hypothesis has been developed that in maize (Zea mays L.) the ability for production of abscisic acid (ABA) is an important prerequisite for chilling tolerance (Capell and Dorffling, 1993). According to this hypothesis, it is expected that under low temperature conditions genotypes with higher chilling tolerance accumulate ABA faster and have higher ABA levels than genotypes with lower chilling tolerance. We tested this hypothesis by examining ABA levels and chilling tolerance in two inbred lines of maize, ZPBL 1304 and ZPL 389. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions. Sixteen-day-old plants were exposed to 4 °C for up to 6 d and then allowed to recover for 8 d. Chilling tolerance was assessed by examining leaf relative water content and injury to plasma and thylakoid membranes during and after a chilling treatment. ZPBL 1304 line showed a better ability to withstand chilling stress than ZPL 389. Contrary to predictions, the two maize lines displayed similar abilities to accumulate ABA and had similar levels of endogenous ABA under low temperature conditions. The results suggest that maize genotypes with higher chilling tolerance do not have a greater ability to accumulate ABA and do not have higher levels of ABA under chilling stress than genotypes with lower chilling tolerance. In some maize genotypes the ability to produce ABA may not be a prerequisite for chilling tolerance.
Dimensional Analysis of Electromagnetic Equations

The physical quantities of interest in electromagnetic theory are tabulated in terms of the basic physical quantities: mass, length, time, and charge; and a method for checking the dimensional validity of an equation is indicated.
WE-C-L100J-01: Quantitative Assessment of Low-Contrast Detectability in Fluoroscopic Imaging

Purpose: Fluoroscopic low‐contrast detectability is commonly assessed by imaging a test object with targets of decreasing contrast and identifying the lowest contrast target visible. This approach suffers from problems with observer variability that makes consistent image quality assessment difficult. New fluoroscopic systems are being equipped with a “Fluoro Loop” feature that allows for storage of a fluoroscopy image sequence that can be output as a DICOM series. Utilizing this feature for equipment testing allows for quantitative measurements from low‐contrast detectability test object images. Method and Materials: Low contrast target images were obtained using an ACR RadiographyFluoroscopy Accreditation Phantom. This phantom consists of an abdomen‐equivalent thickness of PMMA and aluminum imaged with a test plate object which has an aluminum disk with 8 holes drilled to graduated depths. Recorded DICOM fluoroscopy image frames were analyzed on an external PC, using ROIs to determine signal, background and standard deviation values. CNR was calculated for each hole and plotted against hole depth as a graphic representation of fluoroscopic image quality. For validation, the test object was imaged with a Siemens Artis dTA angiography system. Fluoro loops for different dose settings were acquired and stored on a CD‐ROM for analysis. Results: CNR versus hole depth plots correlate well with visual image quality as expected from variations in dose settings. Plots fit to a line have correlation coefficients > 0.99. A CNR value of 1.0 corresponds approximately to lowest target visible by an observer. Using the hole depth corresponding to this CNR value from the line fit provides the minimum detectable percent contrast for the acquisition kVp. For the high, medium and low dose settings, threshold contrast values of 2.8%, 4.3% and 17% were obtained. Conclusion: Quantitative measurement of low contrast detectability provides a consistent and reproducible metric of fluoroscopic image quality.
CHRISTIAN HUMANISM AND PSYCHOTHERAPY: A RESPONSE TO BERGIN'S ANTITHESES

. Secular and religious values of psychotherapists influence the process of psychotherapy. The psychologist Allen Bergin has pointed out several major antitheses between values of secular psychotherapists and their religiously oriented clients. The present essay is a response to Bergin's antitheses, on the one hand, and to humanistic psychology, on the other, from the point of view of a Christian humanism. Karl Rahner's theological anthropology is proposed as one possible foundation for an explicit articulation of the relationship between psychotherapy and religion, and as a means to address apparently divergent values of psychotherapists and religious believers.
Morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of leech (Glossiphoniidae, Hirudinida): Implications for the health of its imperiled amphibian host (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is among the most intriguing and imperiled amphibians in North America. Since the 1970s and 80s, western populations of the Ozark and eastern subspecies in Missouri have declined by nearly 80%. As a result of population declines, the Ozark hellbender was recently federally protected as an endangered species, and the eastern subspecies was granted protection under CITES. Although habitat degradation is probably the biggest threat to hellbender populations, recent evidence suggests that pathogens including chytrid fungus and "flesh-eating" bacteria may also contribute to declines in Ozark hellbenders. Leeches, which are very common on Ozark hellbenders, have recently been implicated as possible vectors of disease among Ozark hellbenders but have not been described in eastern hellbenders or outside of Missouri and Arkansas. We discovered a population of leeches on eastern hellbenders in southwest Virginia and confirmed that the species of leech is within the genus Placobdella, but is morphologically and genetically distinct from all previously described leech species. We named the new species Placobdella appalachiensis sp. n. Moser and Hopkins, based on the mountainous region in which it was discovered. Our surveys over a three consecutive year period suggested that this leech species may be patchily distributed and/or have a narrow geographic range. We consistently detected leeches at one site (mean prevalence in 80 hellbenders = 27.5%; median intensity = 3.0 leeches per parasitized hellbender [range 1 - >250 leeches]) during three years of surveys, but we never found leeches in any of our other seven study sites in two streams (mean prevalence in 139 hellbenders = 0%). We found a significant positive relationship between hellbender body size and the intensity of parasitism, and we suggest the possibility that the behavioral ecology of adults leading up to reproduction may increase their encounter rates with parasites. We discuss the potential conservation implications of discovery of leeches in this stream, and make recommendations for future mitigation and monitoring efforts.
Substrates and temperature differentiate ion flux from serotonin flux in a serotonin transporter.

Neurotransmitter transporters couple the transport of transmitter against its concentration gradient to the electrochemical potential of associated ions which are also transported. Recent studies of some neurotransmitter transporters show them to have properties of both traditional carriers and substrate-dependent ion channels, in that ion fluxes are in excess of that predicted from stoichiometric substrate fluxes. Whether these properties are comparable for all transporters, the extent to which these permeation states are independent, and whether the relationship between these two states can be regulated are not well understood. To address these questions, we expressed the Drosophila serotonin (5HT) transporter (dSERT) in Xenopus oocytes and measured both substrate-elicited ion flux and 5HT flux at various temperatures and substrate concentrations. We find that the ion flux and 5HT flux components of the transport process have a significant temperature dependence suggesting that ion flux and transmitter flux arise from a similar thermodynamically-coupled process involving large conformational changes (e.g., gating). These data are in contrast to those shown for glutamate transporters, suggesting a different permeation process for 5HT transporters. The relationship between ion flux and 5HT flux is differentially regulated by chloride and 5HT, suggesting that these permeation states are distinct. The difference in half-maximal 5HT concentration necessary to mediate ion flux and 5HT flux occurs at submicromolar 5HT concentrations suggesting that the relative participation of dSERT in ion flux and 5HT flux will be determined by the synaptic 5HT concentration.
Exploring models of associative memory via cavity quantum electrodynamics

Photons in multimode optical cavities can be used to mediate tailored interactions between atoms confined in the cavities. For atoms possessing multiple internal (i.e., “spin”) states, the spin–spin interactions mediated by the cavity are analogous in structure to the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction between localized spins in metals. Thus, in particular, it is possible to use atoms in cavities to realize models of frustrated and/or disordered spin systems, including models that can be mapped on to the Hopfield network model and related models of associative memory. We explain how this realization of models of associative memory comes about and discuss ways in which the properties of these models can be probed in a cavity-based setting.
Energy level and sleep quality following bone marrow transplantation

While problems with sleep and energy level (ie fatigue) are commonly reported during recovery from bone marrow transplantation (BMT), little in-depth information regarding these two problem areas in BMT patients is available. Using both questionnaire and telephone interview methods, information regarding current sleep and energy level problems was obtained from 172 adult BMT survivors drawn from five different BMT treatment centers. Respondents were a mean of 43.5 months post-BMT at the time of the initial assessment. Similar questionnaire data was obtained from 137 respondents (80%) at a follow-up assessment 18 months after the initial assessment. Results suggested that half to two-thirds of disease-free BMT recipients experience problems with regard to current energy level or sleep quality. While for the majority of patients these problems were rated as mild, 15-20% of BMT recipients showed moderate to severe problems in these areas with corresponding decrements in quality of life. Furthermore, both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses suggested that problems in these areas did not simply abate with time. Only low to moderate correlations were obtained between indices of sleep and energy problems and measures of anxious and depressed mood. Finally, the presence of current sleep problems was associated with older age at BMT, receipt of TBI during pre-BMT conditioning, and female gender. Further research needs to address the specific etiology of chronic problems with sleep and energy level in BMT recipients as well as evaluate biobehavioral strategies for managing these problems.
Endoluminal ultrasound is preferable to electromyography in mapping anal sphincteric defects

Assessment of complex sphincteric defects in patients with fecal incontinence by digital rectal examination and intraoperative dissection can be difficult in the presence of excessive scarring. Adjunctive investigation such as endoluminal ultrasound (ELUS) and needle electromyography (EMG) may provide objective evidence of the nature and extent of the sphincteric defects. In a series of 11 patients, ELUS of the anal canal with a 10-MHz transducer (focal zone of 1–4 cm) accurately detected defects in the external anal sphincter (EAS) in seven of seven patients, defects in the internal anal sphincter (IAS) in eight of eight patients, and integrity of both sphincters in two patients. These findings were confirmed by needle EMG of the EAS alone in five patients, by operative findings at a perineal sphincteroplasty operation in six patients, and by both in two patients. ELUS was associated with less pain than was needle EMG (pain score 4vs. 10, 10 being most painful) and provided high-resolution radial images of both the EAS and the IAS. Thus, ELUS seems preferable to EMG in mapping anal sphincteric defects and can be a useful anatomic adjunct to physiologic studies of anorectal function in patients with fecal incontinence.
Use of germanium interfacial layer for the hetero-epitaxial growth of CdTe on Si substrates

Abstract Epitaxial (100) CdTe layers have been grown by atmospheric pressure organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) on Si(100) substrates misoriented 9° towards the (110) direction. A thin Ge buffer layer grown at low temperature followed by an interfacial layer of ZnTe was used to get high quality (100) CdTe. The layers were characterized by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. X-ray rocking curve with FWHM of about 260 arc sec has been obtained for a 4 μm thick CdTe layer. The results presented demonstrate a novel technique to grow high quality CdTe on Si in a single OMVPE reactor.
A computational photography shootout: Wavefront coding vs. lattice focal imaging

We systematically compared the optical performance of two computational photography (CP) approaches used to extend the depth of field of an imaging system: wavefront coding and lattice focal lens imaging. A test bed was developed by translating test resolution targets through the focal plane of a high magnification telescope placed 25 meters away. We demonstrated an increase in depth of field from 2 cm to 20 cm in each case. We found qualitative differences in restored image quality that depend both on the CP modality and signal to noise. A comparison of results in the frequency domain suggests optimization strategies for computational photography when the frequency content of imaged objects is known ahead of time.
Stability of Model-Based Networked Control Systems with Intermittent Feedback

Abstract In this paper, we apply the concept of Intermittent Feedback to a class of networked control systems known as Model-Based Networked Control Systems (MB-NCS). We begin by introducing the basic architecture for model-based control with intermittent feedback, then address the case with output feedback (through the use of a state observer), providing a full description of the state response of the system, as well as a necessary and sufficient condition for stability in each case. Examples are provided to complement the theoretical results. Extensions of our results to cases with nonlinear plants are also presented. Finally, we investigate the situation where the update times τ and h are time-varying, first addressing the case where they have upper and lower bounds, then moving on to the case where their distributions are i.i.d or driven by a Markov chain.
Therapeutic Use of Self in Academic Education: A Mixed-Methods Study

The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to describe current educational practices for teaching entry level occupational therapy students concepts and skills related to the therapeutic use of self. Survey data related to course content and pedagogy were provided by faculty from 39 randomly selected entry level occupational therapy programs. Telephone interviews and course description reviews supplemented the survey. Therapeutic use of self was deemed fundamental to entry level education. Course content related to establishing the therapeutic relationship was most consistently addressed; content related to dealing with conflict was least often included. Instructional methods were typically passive and often implicit. Although therapeutic use of self was regarded as fundamental to entry level education, the content and methodology were limited in scope and depth. Suggestions for improvement are presented.
PS1-46: Variation in Hypertension Prevalence Among Asian American Subgroups: Results from PACS (Pan Asian Cohort Study)

Background/Aims Asian Americans are a rapidly growing minority population in the US. Higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) have been found for some Asian American subgroups, especially Asian Indians and Filipinos. Hypertension (HTN) is a major CHD risk factor, but rates of HTN among Asian American subgroups are unknown largely due to either underrepresentation or aggregation of Asian American subgroups in epidemiologic surveys.
Effect of internal pressure on an infinite cylindrical shell subjected to concentrated radial loads

The effect of internal hydrostatic or lateral pressure on the deformations of an infinitely long, thin, cylindrical isotropic shell subjected to equal concentrated loads equally spaced around a circular cross section is investigated. An exact solution of Fliigge's equations for buckling of cylindrical shells, considered herein as equations for small deformations superimposed on large deformations, is obtained. Calculations are shown primarily for the case of two loads, for which the effect of internal pressure is found to be most pronounced.
Mechanisms of anesthetic actions and the brain

The neural mechanisms behind anesthetic-induced behavioral changes such as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and analgesia, are insufficiently understood, though general anesthesia has been of tremendous importance for the development of medicine. In this review, I summarize what is currently known about general anesthetic actions at different organizational levels and discuss current and future research, using systems neuroscience approaches such as functional neuroimaging and quantitative electrophysiology to understand anesthesia actions at the integrated brain level.
The rheology of red blood cell aggregates

Abstract The aggregation and disaggregation of red blood cells is a critical variable in the rheology of blood in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. A direct visualizing viscometer (Rheoscope) was used to analyze the formation, dispersion, and flow behavior of aggregates under quantified flow conditions. Pathologic aggregates differed from normals in that they were considerably more resistant to shear and settled more rapidly. Red cells from acutely ill patients formed typical aggregates in serum indicating that serum proteins rather than fibrinogen alone are involved in the development of aggregates in pathological conditions. The elasticity and flow behavior of the aggregates were altered by osmotic swelling and crenation of the cells, which had profound effects upon aggregate formation and deformation. Their resistance to shear was not affected. These studies indicate that while red cell aggregation is a physiologic process, there are qualitative as well as quantitative differences between normal and pathologic aggregation, and that these differences are related to changes in red cell size and shape, plasma proteins, and the ambient flow (shear) forces within the circulation.
Collectivization and China′s Agricultural Crisis

Abstract Justin Lin′s (1990) novel and striking hypothesis concerning the cause of the 1959-1961 famine and ensuing agricultural stagnation in China has prompted a broad rethinking of the strategic and historical issues involved, with a consequent deepening of our understanding of the strengths and limitations of both theory and data. We discuss points of agreement and of disagreement between Lin and his critics and conclude that while Lin is too categorical in the defense of his hypothesis, his critics are only beginning the task of constructing adequate counterexplanations. We also conclude that additional examination of the historical record is the main task for future research. J. Comp. Econom., June 1993, 17(2), pp. 530-539. Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
Estimating genetic values for milk production in the tropics.

Abstract Variance components and predicted sire values were estimated using 305-d projected and unprojected milk records of varying lengths. Original data consisted of 15,512 lactation records of daughters of 138 Jamaica Hope sires that calved between 1969 and 1981 in 38 commercial dairy herds in Jamaica. Classification of records had little effect on components of variance. Herd-year-season variance decreased from 36% using all lactations to 28% with first lactations only. Sire variance was consistently about 10%. Cow component of variance accounted for 17% of the total variation using all lactations and 36% using all lactations of cows with recorded first lactations. Heritabilities for milk by Henderson's method 1 were five to six times larger than estimated from method 3 due to sire by herd confounding. Predicted sire values were between +400kg and −400kg. Rankings of sires with at least 5 progeny were considerably influenced by record classification, especially for sires with highest predicted values. There was less influence on rankings when at least 10 progeny per sire were used while the range in predicted sire values was larger using first lactation records only.
Affective transfer as a function of reward and sex of subject

A total of 130 high school psychology students first rated, with knowledge of results, 16 facial photographs for extraversion and observed their partners similarly rate a like number of faces. In a transfer test all subjects then rated the same 32 faces for “usability, ” “intelligence, ” or “character. ” Students, particularly female, showed a greater tendency to give elevated ratings to faces on which their extraversion judgment had been correct (rewarded). The type of transfer test did not make a difference. The results are interpreted as supporting the general proposition that reward can have affective (noncognitive) transfer effects and as raising some interesting questions concerning sex differences.
Do Events Have Effects? A Commentary on Polizzi and Draper:

Polizzi and Draper offer an elegant application of a phenomenological approach to the practice of psychotherapy within the forensic context. They describe how-even though these contexts are constituted through layers of sedimented meanings that pre-signify setting and participants-therapists and inmates may find ways to be open to each other and to genuine encounters that they conceptualize as "events." In this commentary, I raise a question that the authors did not appear to consider, which is that of whether these "events" have "effects" either for the participants themselves or for the broader context as well. I contrast a hermeneutic-Heideggerian approach, which does not necessarily concern itself with such effects-as they are considered irrelevant to the genuineness of the interpersonal encounter-and a transcendental Husserlian-Deleuzian approach, in which such events are thought to have profound effects for all parties involved, including the broader context.
Therapeutic potential of histone deacetylase inhibitor for treatment of Niemann-Pick type C1 disease

Background Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) is a rare, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused due to mutation in either npc1 or npc2 genes. However, 95% of the reported cases are caused due to mutation in npc1 gene and only 5% due to the mutation in npc2 gene. Mutations in either of these two genes results in similar phenotype such that there is an abnormal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycosphingolipids in late endosomes/ lysosomes (LE/Ly) of many cell types. NPC1 is a multi-spanning transmembrane protein localized in limiting membrane of LE/Ly whereas NPC2 is soluble cholesterol binding protein localized in the lumen of LE/Ly. There are no therapeutic options to treat the disease and the children born with this defect die before the age of 20 years. Miglustat, a drug used to treat Gaucher disease has been reported to stabilize NPC patients and has also been approved for treating NPC patients in Europe. Infusion of very high dose of chemical chaperone like 2-hydroxypropyl-b-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) several times a week has also been shown to reduce the cholesterol load in peripheral tissues. Unfortunately, the blood brain barrier (BBB) cross over capability of HPCD is very poor and hence requires intrathecal CNS injections.
DNA polymerase I of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: functional role of a conserved aspartate in the hinge joining the M and N helices.

The highly conserved GXD sequence present in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA polymerase I corresponds to a hinge region in the finger subdomain connecting M and N helices of Escherichia coli pol I. An examination of the crystal structures of pol I family polymerases reveals that the invariant aspartate of the hinge forms a salt bridge with the conserved arginine of the O-helix and an H-bond with Gln-708. To clarify the role of this region, we generated and characterized conserved and nonconserved mutant derivatives of this aspartate, the preceding glutamate and the Gln in TB pol I. For comparison, D732A mutein of pol I was also included. The muteins representing conserved aspartate (Asp-707 of TB pol I or Asp-732 of pol I) showed a strongKm(dNTP) effect and minor alteration inKd(DNA), with about 10–20-fold decrease in overall catalytic efficiency. The TB muteins, E706A and Q683A, have less pronounced deviations from the wild-type enzyme. Further examination of D707A of TB pol I showed no alteration in the processivity or the dideoxynucleotide sensitivity patterns. However, both TB pol D707A and homologous E. coli D732A failed to form a stable E·DNA·dNTP ternary complex. These results suggest that the aspartate in the hinge region is catalytically important and is required for dNTP binding and in the formation of a prepolymerase ternary complex.
Outcomes by Tumor Subtype and Treatment Pattern in Women With Small, Node-Negative Breast Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Study

Purpose Treatment decisions for patients with T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer are challenging. We studied the time trends in use of adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes among these patients. Patients and Methods This was a prospective cohort study within the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Database that included 4,113 women with T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer treated between 2000 and 2009. Tumors were grouped by size (T1a, T1b), biologic subtype defined by hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and receipt of chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab. Results Median follow-up time was 5.5 years. Eight percent of patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative tumors were treated with chemotherapy. Fifty-two percent of those with HER2-positive or HR-negative/HER2-negative breast cancers received chemotherapy, with an increase over the last decade. Survival outcomes diverged by subtype and size, but the 5-year distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) did not exceed 10% in any sub...
Attitudes and Perceptions of Internal Medicine Residents Regarding Pulmonary and Critical Care Subspecialty Training

Study objective To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of internal medicine residents regarding pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) training. Design Prospective study. Setting Three university hospitals. Methods An eight-page survey was distributed and collected between March 1, 2002, and June 30, 2002. All internal medicine or internal medicine/pediatric residents training at the three institutions were eligible for the study. Results One hundred seventy-eight residents in internal medicine from an eligible pool of 297 residents returned the survey (61% response rate). PCCM accounted for only 3.4% of the career choices. Forty-one percent of the residents seriously considered a pulmonary and/or critical care fellowship during their residency. Of these residents, 23.5% found the combination of programs the more attractive option, while 2.8% found pulmonary alone and 14.5% found critical care alone more attractive. Key factors associated with a higher resident interest in PCCM subspecialty training included more weeks in the ICU (p = 0.008), more role models in PCCM (3.02 ± 0.78 vs 3.45 ± 0.78, p = 0.0004), and resident observations of a greater sense of satisfaction among PCCM faculty (3.07 ± 0.82 vs 3.33 ± 0.82, p = 0.04) and fellows (3.05 ± 0.69 vs 3.31 ± 0.86, p = 0.03) [mean ± SD]. The five most commonly cited attributes of PCCM fellowship that would attract residents to the field included intellectual stimulation (69%), opportunities to manage critically ill patients (51%), application of complex physiologic principles (45%), number of procedures performed (31%), and academically challenging rounds (29%). The five most commonly cited attributes of PCCM that would dissuade residents from the field included overly demanding responsibilities with lack of leisure time (54%), stress among faculty and fellows (45%), management responsibilities for chronically ill patients (30%), poor match of career with resident personality (24%), and treatment of pulmonary diseases (16%). Conclusions Internal medicine residents have serious reservations about PCCM as a career choice. Our survey demonstrated that a minority of US medical graduates actually would choose PCCM as a career, which suggests that efforts to expand PCCM training capacity might result in vacant fellowship slots. To promote greater interest in PCCM training, efforts are needed to improve the attractiveness of PCCM and address the negative lifestyle perceptions of residents.
Allosteric Inhibition of Rat Liver and Kidney Arginase by Copper and Mercury Ions

Two isozyme forms of arginase are found in the rat. All arginases are metalloenzymes which require manganese for activity. Many arginases are activated by cobalt and nickel ions and inhibited by heavy metal ions. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of other heavy metal ions on the rat liver isozyme (arginase I) and the rat kidney isozyme (arginase II). The activation and inhibition of arginase I and II by metal ions were different. However, both isozymes were strongly inhibited by cupric and mercuric ions. The inhibition of arginase I by cupric and mercuric ions was increased greatly by preincubation of the enzyme with the metal ions. However, preincubation of arginase II by cupric and mercuric ions had little effect on the inhibition of the enzyme. Under certain conditions the kinetics of the inhibition of both arginases I and II by cupric and mercuric ions was nonlinear allosteric.
High temperature proton conductors. Note I: Boron and aluminum phosphates☆

Abstract The chemical stability and conductivity of boron and aluminum phosphates in steam are reported for P/B and P/Al atomic ratios greater than unity at temperatures from 100° to 280°C and steam pressures to 5 atmospheres. Al(PO3)3 and H2 AlP3O10 undergo the reactions Al (PO 3 ) 3 + H 2 O ⇄ 2 AlP 3 O 10 and H 2 AlP 3 O 10 → AlPO 4 + H 2 O · P 2 O 5 ↑ At 280°C and a steam pressure of 5 atmospheres gauge the product is a mixture of AlPO4 and H2AlP3O10, while the conductivity of this solid is in the range of 10−2 ohm−1.cm−1. The boron phosphates lose material and exhibit poor conductivity under similar conditions due to the instability of the BPO4 phase as a result of the reaction 2 BPO 4 + 6 H 2 O → B 2 O 3 ·3 H 2 O ↑ + P 2 O 5 ·3 H 2 O↑ . As a result of dehydration or hydrolytic reactions an increase in water vapor pressure does not always lead to increased conductivity even at higher temperature.
The androgen status of vasectomized rats.

Several factors related to androgen status were examined in vasectomized and shamoperated rats during and at the end of the 7th postoperative month. Average serum testosterone levels during the 7th month were based on three biweekly bleedings of 12 rats in each group, with determined values of 1.84 ± 0.61 ng⁄ml (X ± SD) for vasectomized rats and 2.38 ± 0.78 ng⁄ml for shamoperated rats. Although average serum testosterone levels were 23% lower in vasectomized rats as compared to sham-operated controls, high coefficients of variation (33% and 32% in the two groups, respectively) rendered the difference insignificant. Within 1 hr of hCG administration, serum testosterone rose to 5.07 ± 1.94 ng⁄ml and 5.73 ± 3.21 ng⁄ml in vasectomized and sham-operated rats. Eighteen hr after castration, testosterone had fallen below 0.25 ng⁄ml in both groups. Weights of testes and accessory sex organs were similar in both groups. Significant differences were not detected in the abundance, volume, or ultrastructure of Leydig ...
Vasoactive substances regulate vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Countervailing influences of nitric oxide and angiotensin II.

This study tests the hypothesis that the control of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis is regulated by the antagonistic balance between vasoactive substances such as NO and angiotensin II (Ang II). Moreover, it is postulated that the cellular signaling pathways involved in regulating vessel tone are also coupled to the regulation of programmed cell death. Using an in vitro model system, we documented that the addition of NO donor molecules S -nitroso- N -acetylpenicillamine or sodium nitroprusside to VSMC dose-dependently induced apoptosis as documented by DNA laddering and quantified by analysis of cellular chromatin morphology. The mediator role of the guanylate cyclase signaling pathway in NO-induced apoptosis was evidenced by (1) induction of apoptosis by the 8-bromo-cGMP analogue, (2) potentiation of NO-induced apoptosis by cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibition, and (3) the prevention of NO-induced apoptosis by the inhibition of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα. In contrast, Ang II directly antagonized NO donor– and cGMP analogue–induced apoptosis via activation of the type I Ang II receptor. These findings suggest that the countervailing balance between NO and Ang II may determine the overall cell population within the vessel wall by regulating genetic programs determining cell death as well as cell growth.
Emerging new drugs for wound repair

Every year, millions of people experience burns, suffer from nonhealing wounds, or have acute wounds that become complicated by infection, dehiscence or problematic scarring. Effective wound treatment requires carefully considered interventions often requiring multiple clinic or hospital visits. The resulting costs of wound care are staggering, and more efficacious and cost-effective therapies are needed to decrease this burden. Unfortunately, the expenses and difficulties encountered in performing clinical trials have led to a relatively slow growth of new treatment options for the wound management. Research efforts attempting to examine wound pathophysiology have been hampered by the lack of an adequate chronic wound healing model, and the complexity of the wound healing cascade has limited attempts at pharmacological modification. As such, currently available wound healing therapies are only partially effective. Therefore, many new therapies are emerging that target various aspects of wound repair and ...
Cigarette smoking among adolescents: Is the rate declining?

Abstract Recent reports have indicated that adolescent cigarette smoking is declining. This report presents new data which point to sharply higher smoking levels than those reported elsewhere. These findings raise questions about whether adolescent smoking levels are truly declining and suggest that the traditional methods for measuring adolescent smoking may be inadequate.
Counseling and Connecting with the Military Undergraduate: The Intersection of Military Service and University Life

The majority of military undergraduates at universities are National Guard and Reserve personnel and prior-service military veterans, all difficult to identify on campus. These students face unique cultural challenges. Though the academic literature primarily addresses disability services and administrative programs often focus on “wounded warriors,” most military undergraduates are not physically or psychologically disabled and can be stigmatized by the “wounded warrior” stereotype. Minimal literature exists on the intersection of military culture with student life and on counseling center services for military undergraduates. This article offers a review of the literature, three core principles of care, and three vignettes of military undergraduates who received support from a counseling center provider, helping them manage both university and military life.
17O NMR study of isomeric 2-R-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes

Oxygen-17 NMR spectra were obtained from the four pairs of isomeric 2-R-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes, where R=OMe (2), NMe2 (3), H (4) or Me (5). The isomerism has been previously shown to be configurational at phosphorus, with one isomer of each pair having an equatorial phosphoryl oxygen (a isomer), and the other an axial orientation for phosphoryl oxygen (b isomer). Only data for the phosphoryl oxygen are reported. Substitution of OMe or NMe2 for H or Me produced upfield shifts of 27.9-41.8 ppm. In all cases, the chemical shifts of the a isomers were upfield of the b analogs, with differences of 7.9, 18.0, 20.3 and 8.6 ppm for 2—5, respectively. The absolute values of 1J(31P17O) were 5–9 Hz larger for the a isomers.