cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of indomethacin on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys

Abstract Our results indicate that indomethacin inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the myometrium of the pregnant rhesus monkey under in vitro as well as in vivo conditions. Kinetic data on extracts of myometrium from pregnant rhesus monkeys indicated two cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. The apparent K m value for the high affinity enzyme averaged 3.9 μM and for the low affinity enzyme 23 μM; the V max values averaged 0.56 and 1.4 nmoles cyclic AMP hydrolized per mg protein min −1 respectively. When indomethacin was added to the myometrial extracts, the activity of the high K m phosphodiesterase was competitively inhibited, with an average K i of 200 μM; the low K m enzyme was noncompetitively inhibited with an average K i of 110 μM. Experiments on myometrial slices demonstrated that 10 μM indomethacin potentiated the effect of PGE 1 and epinephrine on cyclic AMP levels, presumably by inhibiting the phosphodiesterase activity. The uterine relaxing effect of indomethacin is generally attributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase activity. However, treatment of pregnant rhesus monkeys with therapeutic doses of indomethacin resulted in a significant inhibition of myometrial cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in association with uterine relaxation and prolongation of gestation.
The kinetics of invertase action

A method of obtaining better fits to experimental curves for the hydrolysis of sucrose in the presence of invertase is found by assuming that the reaction is first-order, but that there is an initial time delay before this form is assumed. More rigorously, a system of two differential equations describing the reaction is established, assuming that the formation of enzyme-substrate complex is irreversible, and a solution is obtained relating, at any time, the concentration of the products, the total concentration of complex which has been formed in that time, and the time. This solution is compared with other equations for the reaction and is used to calculate reaction constants. Curves showing the concentration of complex existing at timet are given and are employed in calculating an “equivalent” enzyme concentration. This expression is discussed.
Hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cell dysplasia in children with chronic liver disease

Abstract The histology of 72 livers from 72 children who underwent liver transplantation was reviewed. Nine children (12.5%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and/or liver cell dysplasia (LCD) in their native livers. Ages at the time of transplantation ranged from 2 months to 11 years. Primary liver diseases included tyrosinemia (3), biliary atresia (2), chronic active hepatitis B (1), chronic active non-A non-B non-C hepatitis (1), idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (1), and neonatal iron storage disease (1). Explanted livers showed large multifocal HCC in two cases, incidental HCC in three, and dysplastic nodules in four. LCD also was present in three cases in conjunction with HCC. All patients had cirrhosis. Alpha-fetoprotein was measured in six children and was elevated in all six (range, 300 to 1,770,000 ng/mL; normal, 0 to 15 ng/mL). Abdominal computed tomography, ultrasonography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging showed large masses in two cases, but did not detect the tumors of less than 2 cm or the dysplastic nodules in the other seven children. After a follow-up period of 2 months to 3 years (mean, 19.8 ± 12.1 months), eight children are alive and have no evidence of recurrence. The patient with neonatal iron storage disease died 2 months after transplantation, without evidence of tumor recurrence. The authors conclude that children with end-stage liver disease of diverse causes referred for liver transplantation may have LCD and/or HCC. Serial determination of alpha-fetoprotein and images studies may detect early lesions curable by liver transplantation.
Hormonal regulation of ornithine aminotransferase biosynthesis in rat liver and kidney.

The relative rates of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) synthesis in vivo were studied by pulse-labeling rats with [4,5-3H]leucine, isolating the mitochondrial enzyme protein by immunoprecipitation with a monospecific antibody, dissociating the immunoprecipitates on sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gels, and determining the radioactivity in OAT. After 4 days of treatment with triiodothyronine (T3), both the enzyme activity level and the relative synthetic rate of OAT in rat kidney were elevated over twofold. The level of hepatic OAT activity was unaffected by this treatment. Thyroidectomy caused a 50% drop in the basal level of OAT activity and synthesis in kidney but not in liver. Although the basal levels of activity and synthesis of both renal and hepatic OAT were unaffected by adrenalectomy, the glucagon induction of the enzyme in liver was enhanced by about one-third and the T3 induction in kidney was suppressed 50% by this operation. After 4 days of treatment with estrogen, both the enzyme activity level and the relative synthetic rate of OAT in male rat kidney were elevated nearly 10-fold. Hepatic OAT activity and synthesis were unaffected by this regimen. Thyroidectomy almost completely abolished the estrogen induction of OAT in kidney. OAT induction by estrogen could be restored by treating thyroidectomized rats with T3. Simultaneous administration of T3 plus estrogen to intact rats produced a multiple effect, resulting in a striking 20-fold induction of renal OAT. Although administration of either T3 or estrogen causes an increase in the synthesis of immunoprecipitable OAT protein in rat kidney, each of these hormones may induce OAT by a different mechanism.
P04.52. Alternative and complementary health practices among college students: implications for health promotion in higher education

Results For comparison respondents were dichotomized into ACHP users and non-users – based on their response to a frequency of use survey item. This produced a group of 531 (31.3%) ACHP-users and 1,164 non-users. ACHP students were significantly more likely to be female (71.4% users versus 63.0% non-users, p=.001) and older (24.4 versus 23.3, p=.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of past 30 day use of alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana, binge drinking, or perceived risks from binge drinking. ACHP students were significantly more likely to report engaging in conventional health practices (p=.001), and having a higher self-reported health status (p=.007). They also reported experiencing more mental health symptoms during the school year (p=.012). Finally, ACHP students were significantly more likely to report identification with postmodern social values including interest in the environment (p=.001) and social justice (p=.001), and to having a somewhat more liberal political orientation.
The expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its receptor splice variants in human breast cancer lines; the evaluation of signaling mechanisms in the stimulation of cell proliferation

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit growth of various human cancers including breast cancer, xenografted into nude mice or cultured in vitro. Splice variants (SVs) of receptors for GHRH have been found in several human cancers and cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative actions of GHRH antagonists could be mediated in part through these SVs of GHRH receptors. In this study we examined the expression of mRNA for GHRH and SVs of its receptors in human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MCF-7MIII, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-468, and T47D. mRNA for GHRH was present in all lines tested. mRNA for SV1 isoform of GHRH receptors was found in MCF-7MIII, MDA-MB-468, and T47D; and for SV2 isoform in MCF-7MIII and T47D cell lines. In proliferation studies in vitro, the growth of T47D cells was stimulated by GHRH and dose-dependently inhibited by GHRH antagonist JV-1-38. H89 (protein kinase A inhibitor), bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitor) and verapamil (voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker) inhibited the GHRH-stimulated proliferation of T47D cells. The GHRH antagonist JV-1-38 suppressed the T47D cell growth in vitro stimulated by PKC activator (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate). The stimulation of T47D cells by GHRH was followed by an increase in cAMP production and GHRH antagonist JV-1-38 competitively inhibited this effect. Our results suggest that SVs of GHRH receptors could mediate the responses to GHRH and GHRH antagonists in breast cancer through Ca2+-, cAMP- and PKC-dependent mechanisms. The presence of SV1 of GHRH receptors in human cancers provides a rationale for antitumor therapy based on the blockade of this receptor by specific GHRH antagonists.
Adequacy of "home-grown " rations in protein and mineral matter for growth in dairy heifers.

Summary Simple home-grown rations proved to be adequate for growth in dairy heifers. Alfalfa hay, corn silage, and a mixture of equal parts corn and oats produced excellent gains. The rate of growth was not improved by the addition of bone meal or wheat bran. Timothy hay, corn silage, and corn and oats furnished too little protein for optimum growth. The simple addition of protein from corn in the form of corn gluten meal promoted as rapid growth as was obtained by using a mixture of greater variety including wheat bran, linseed meal, and corn gluten meal in addition to corn and oats.
Spectrum and energy levels of doubly ionized cesium (Cs III)

The spectrum of doubly ionized cesium (Cs III) has been observed in the region 330–25 000 A, and the experimentally determined energy levels have been revised and extended. One thousand and ten spectral lines have been classified as transitions among 75 odd and 98 even parity levels, most of which are newly located. Most levels of the configurations 5s25p5, 5s5p6 and 5s25p4(5d, 6s, 6d, 7s, 5g, 6p and 4f) have been found and are theoretically interpreted including the most important configuration interactions. Low-lying levels of the 5s25p4(7d, 7p and 5f) configurations and a few levels of other configurations have also been located. The Cs III ionization energy is found to be 267 736±30 cm- 1.
Inventory accounting and earnings/price ratios: A puzzle*

. Economic intuition indicates that each dollar of current pretax cash flow should lead to higher accounting earnings, higher tax payments, and lower stock price under the FIFO rather than the LIFO method of inventory costing. Hence, the earnings/price ratios of the FIFO firms should be higher than those of the LIFO firms. However, the empirical study in this paper provides evidence to the contrary. To search for confounding factors, I examine the possible impacts of size, risk, industry classification, other accounting methods, and expectations of future earnings growth. None of these factors seems to affect the conclusion significantly. Because I have not established a complete causal link between accounting information and stock valuation, I refrain from drawing strong inferences and treat it as a puzzle. This puzzle should stimulate more research in this area in the future. Resume. L'intuition economique veut que chaque dollar de flux d'encaisse actualise avant impot doive produire des benefices comptables superieurs, des impots a payer plus eleves, et des prix plus faibles des actions si l'on utilise la methode d'epuisement successif (PEPS) plutot que la methode d'epuisement a rebours (DEPS) dans l'establissement du cout des stocks. Les ratios cours/benefices des entreprises qui utilisent la methode PEPS devraient done etre plus eleves que ceux des entreprises qui utilisent la methode DEPS. Toutefois, l'etude empirique effectuee par l'auteur l'amene a des conclusions contraires. Cherchant des facteurs qui tendraient a renverser la situation, il examine l'incidence possible de la taille, du risque, de la classification du secteur, d'autres methodes comptables et de perspectives de croissance eventuelle des benefices. Aucun de ces facteurs ne semble influer sur sa conclusion de facon significative. L'auteur n'ayant pas etabli de lien de causalite definitif entre l'information comptable et l'evaluation des actions, il s'abstient de tirer des conclusions fermes et aborde plutot la question sous forme de puzzle. Un puzzle qui devrait eventuellement stimuler la recherche dans ce domaine.
Energy landscape of the ribosomal decoding center

The ribosome decodes the genetic information that resides in nucleic acids. A key component of the decoding mechanism is a conformational switch in the decoding center of the small ribosomal subunit discovered in high-resolution X-ray crystallography studies. It is known that small subunit nucleotides A1492 and A1493 flip out of helix 44 upon transfer RNA (tRNA) binding; however, the operation principles of this switch remain unknown. Replica molecular dynamics simulations reveal a low free energy barrier between flipped-out and flipped-in states, consistent with a switch that can be controlled by shifting the equilibrium between states. The barrier determined by the simulations is sufficiently small for the binding of ligands, such as tRNAs or aminoglycoside antibiotics, to shift the equilibrium.
Visualization of localized holes in manganite thin films with atomic resolution.

The magnetic and transport behaviors of manganites are critically related to the spatial distribution and correlation of doped holes. Using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy, we have imaged both occupied and unoccupied states simultaneously in a hole-doped $({\mathrm{La}}_{5/8\ensuremath{-}0.3}{\mathrm{Pr}}_{0.3}){\mathrm{Ca}}_{3/8}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ epitaxial thin film grown by laser molecular beam epitaxy. Doped holes localized on ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{4+}$ ion sites were directly observed with atomic resolution in the paramagnetic state at room temperature. In contrast to a random distribution, these doped holes show strong short-range correlation and clear preference of forming nanoscale CE-type charge-order-like clusters. The results provide direct visualization of the nature of intriguing electronic inhomogeneity in transition metal oxides.
Regional differences in binding of [3H]LSD and [3H]L-HT in calf hippocampal slices revealed by radioautography and rapid filtration studies

Previous radioautographic experiments demonstrated that binding sites labeled by [3H]5-HT and [3H]LSD in rat brain were seen in all layers of CA1, CA4 and the dentate gyrus but not in fields CA2 and CA3 of the hippocampus. In an attempt to confirm this observation we performed binding assays on homogenates from selected areas of calf hippocampus since the small size of the rat hippocampus precluded using preparations from this animal for this purpose. Studies on homogenates from calf hippocampal regions, were done after we determined that the binding to slices in vitro was similar in the calf and rat. Binding of both [3H]5-HT and [3H]LSD by homogenates of CA1 and dentate gyrus, but not of CA3, was saturable. These studies show that the qualitative differences in binding site distribution within the calf hippocampus seen by radioautography reflect quantitative differences in the densities of binding sites revealed by the homogenate studies.
Developmental changes in hepatic antioxidant capacity are age-and sex-dependent.

Developmental inadequacy in hepatic antioxidant defenses may contribute to chemical toxicity and pediatric liver diseases. We measured a comprehensive panel of antioxidants in liver tissue from 27 normal pediatric donors. Glutathione reductase declined with age (P = 0.008, r = −0.54, Spearman) while microsomal glutathione-S-transferase increased (GST, P < 0.001, r = 0.81). Males had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and Vitamin E (P < 0.05) and may have lower glutathione reductase (P = 0.06), while females show less cytosolic GST (P = 0.07). Hepatic antioxidants are high in neonates, decline throughout childhood then increase in adolescence to adult levels.
QoS Provisioning power of optimal aggregate-flow scheduling

Providing scalable QoS-sensitive services to applications with varying degrees of elasticity using aggregate-flow scheduling is a challenging problem. Our previous work advanced a theoretical framework where an optimal differentiated services provisioning problem is formulated and solved to yield solutions for optimal per-hop behavior(PHB) and absolute QoS shaping using end-to-end control. In this paper, we build on our previous work and achieve the following innovations. First, we generalize the mean square error criterion employed in the previous work for measuring goodness of aggregate-flow scheduling by introducing a scaling function which is applied to the TOS field label value in the IP header. This allows the service provider to configure the PHB so as to export customized QoS differentiation---essential when shaping end-to-end absolute QoS over per-hop relative QoS---commensurate with the QoS profiles of its user base. Second, we put the theoretical framework and analysis ``to the test'' by presenting a comprehensive performance evaluation study of differentiated services as affected by optimal aggregate-flow per-hop control. In particular, we show that end-to-end QoS shaping power degrades gracefully as the number of service classes at routers in a multi-hop path is decreased, which admits heterogeneity in router configurations and incremental deployment. Collectively, our results demonstrate that relative QoS can be effectively harnessed to achieve absolute QoS in WAN environments if the PHB implements optimal aggregate-flow scheduling in the generalized framework.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Space Technology 5 multipoint observations of transpolar arc–related field-aligned currents

[1] We present two transpolar arc events where for the first time we are able to analyze changes in field-aligned currents associated with high-latitude transpolar auroral arcs on time scales of a few minutes. This is accomplished through the use of highly accurate multipoint magnetic field measurements provided by the Space Technology 5 mission, which consists of three microsatellites in low-Earth orbit. In the first event we examine measurements of an arc that is part of a highly dynamic auroral pattern, that of a hook-shaped arc. In the second event, a more stable dusk oval-aligned arc is analyzed. These events illustrate the dynamic nature of arc formation and show the usefulness of high-resolution multipoint measurements. Minimum variance analysis is used to determine the appropriateness of the infinite current sheet approximation and to calculate arc alignment angles which are then compared with those estimated from UV images or precipitating particle data.
A decoupled scheduling approach for Grid application development environments

In this paper we propose an adaptive scheduling approach designed to improve the performance of parallel applications in Computational Grid environments. A primary contribution of our work is that our design is decoupled, thus providing a separation of the scheduler itself from the application-specific components needed for the scheduling process. As part of the scheduler, we have also developed an application-generic resource selection procedure that effectively and efficiently identifies desirable resources.As test cases for our approach, we selected two applications from the class of iterative, mesh-based applications. We used a prototype of our approach with these applications to perform validation experiments in production Grid environments. Our results show that our scheduler, albeit decoupled, provides significantly better application performance than conventional scheduling strategies. We also show that our scheduler gracefully handles degraded levels of availability of application and Grid resource information. Finally, we demonstrate that the overhead associated with our methodology is reasonable. This work evolved in the context of the Grid Application Development Software Project (GrADS). Our approach has been integrated with other GrADS software tools and, in that context, has been applied to three real-world applications by other members of the project.
Methane chemical ionization mass spectrometry of flavonoids

Abstract The chemical ionization mass spectra of a representative selection of flavones, flavonols, flavanones, and flavanols have been examined, using methane as the reagent gas. The flavones and flavonols showed no significant fragmentation under the conditions employed, but the flavanones and flavanols showed characteristic fragmentation which could be of use in structural elucidation of these compounds.
Diversity in the Academy: On the Growing Prominence of Race and Ethnicity in the Pacific Sociological Association, 1929–2014

This article examines issues related to the underrepresentation of faculty of color in higher education, with specific attention to the discipline of Sociology and the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA). The authors explore the role that professional organizations such as the PSA have played in promoting racial and ethnic diversity within the Sociology pipeline. Further, it provides an analytic overview of the history of conference presentations on the topic of race and ethnicity within the PSA over the last eight decades. The article proceeds in three major parts: First, is an outline of the contours of the problem of racial underrepresentation in the academy. Next, follows a content analysis of PSA programs, which indicates that race continues to be of central importance to the PSA and that the 1970s were a turning point when the PSA began to examine its role in promoting diversity in the discipline. Finally, mentorship is presented as a critical vehicle for promoting greater racial equity in the PSA and the discipline of Sociology more broadly.
Evaluation of Maize Germplasm for Resistance to Aflatoxin Accumulation

Aflatoxin contamination of maize grain threatens human food and animal feed safety. Breeding for reduced grain aflatoxin accumulation is one of the best strategies presently available to lower grain aflatoxin accumulation. Previously identified sources of germplasm with reduced grain aflatoxin accumulation are excessively tall and late maturing. The objective of this research was to screen germplasm and identify potential sources of aflatoxin resistance. KO679Y and CUBA117:S15-101-001-B-B-B-B inbreds were evaluated for aflatoxin accumulation alongside resistant and susceptible checks with both performing well. These two lines were also evaluated in various crosses. KO679Y performed especially well in crosses with Mp494 and Mp717, resulting in low ear rot and very low aflatoxin levels, but not well in other crosses. A breeding cross including CUBA117:S15-101-001-B-B-B-B as a parent accumulated low levels of aflatoxin both years it was evaluated. Lines resulting from these crosses are being advanced for further evaluation and improvement. KO679Y and CUBA117:S15-101-001-B-B-B-B may prove useful for breeders seeking germplasm sources for ear rot and mycotoxin reduction, especially KO679Y which matures a week earlier and is approximately 25% shorter than current lines resistant to grain aflatoxin accumulation.
NMDA receptor trafficking through an interaction between PDZ proteins and the exocyst complex

NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors (NMDARs) are targeted to dendrites and anchored at the post-synaptic density (PSD) through interactions with PDZ proteins. However, little is known about how these receptors are sorted from the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to the synapse. Here, we find that synapse-associated protein 102 (SAP102) interacts with the PDZ-binding domain of Sec8, a member of the exocyst complex. Our results show that interactions between SAP102 and Sec8 are involved in the delivery of NMDARs to the cell surface in heterologous cells and neurons. Furthermore, they suggest that an exocyst-SAP102-NMDAR complex is an important component of NMDAR trafficking.
Intracellular lipid content is a key intrinsic determinant for hepatocyte viability and metabolic and inflammatory states in mice

The liver is an essential metabolic organ. In addition to metabolizing glucose and lipids, hepatocytes also secrete various cytokines that modulate both hepatocyte metabolism and liver inflammation. Hepatocyte injury and death and liver inflammation are the major contributors to liver diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Anatomic locations have a profound effect on hepatocyte metabolism, and liver zonation describes the metabolic heterogeneity of hepatocytes along the portovenous axis. However, it is unclear whether hepatocyte heterogeneity is affected by intrinsic factors and whether dietary fat, a risk factor for NASH, has distinct detrimental effects on different hepatocyte subpopulations. Here, we showed that mouse livers contained both high-lipid and low-lipid subpopulations of hepatocytes. The high-lipid subpopulation was more susceptible to injury and apoptosis and produced more proinflamatrory cytokines after treatment with endotoxin and saturated fatty acids. Dietary fat consumption further increased fatty acid uptake, intracellular lipid levels, hepatocyte injury and death, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the high-lipid subpopulation. In contrast, dietary fat slightly increased lipid levels, cell death, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the low-lipid subpopulation. The low-lipid subpopulation produced more glucose. Fat consumption further activated the gluconeogenic program in the low-lipid, but not the high-lipid, subpopulations. These data suggest that intracellular lipid content is a key intrinsic determinant for hepatocyte heterogeneity of metabolic, inflammatory, and survival states.
Cooperation in a Half-Duplex Gaussian Diamond Relay Channel

A half-duplex relay channel consisting of two relays in a diamond topology is studied. In contrast to full-duplex systems, it is shown that time should be optimally allocated among different states. In contrast to the classical three-node relay channel, it is shown that spatial reuse can be utilized to allow communication without interference. Both achievable rate and upper bound on capacity are studied. Several communication schemes such as multihop with spatial reuse, scale-forward, broadcast-multiaccess with common message, compress-forward, as well as hybrid ones are characterized, some of which are novel. It is also shown that simple multihop with spatial reuse achieves the capacity of certain symmetric diamond channels.
Reliability of MRI-derived cortical and subcortical morphometric measures: effects of pulse sequence, voxel geometry, and parallel imaging.

article i nfo Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have contributed greatly to the study of neurodegenerative processes, psychiatric disorders, and normal human development, but the effect of such improvements on the reliability of downstream morphometric measures has not been extensively studied. We examined how MRI-derived neurostructural measures are affected by three technological advancements: parallel acceleration, increased spatial resolution, and the use of a high bandwidth multiecho sequence. Test-retest data were collected from 11 healthy participants during 2 imaging sessions occurring approximately 2 weeks apart. We acquired 4 T1-weighted MP-RAGE sequences during each session: a non-accelerated anisotropic sequence (MPR), a non-accelerated isotropic sequence (ISO), an accelerated isotropic sequence (ISH), and an accelerated isotropic high bandwidth multiecho sequence (MEM). Cortical thickness and volumetric measures were computed for each sequence to assess test-retest reliability and measurement bias. Reliability was extremely high for most measures and similar across imaging parameters. Significant measurement bias was observed, however, between MPR and all isotropic sequences for all cortical regions and some subcortical structures. These results suggest that these improvements in MRI acquisition technology do not compromise data reproducibility, but that consistency should be maintained in choosing imaging parameters for structural MRI studies.
Evaluation of Speakers at a National Radiology Continuing Medical Education Course

Purpose: Evaluations of a national radiology continuing medical education (CME) course in thoracic imaging were analyzed to determine what constitutes effective and ineffective lecturing. Methods and Materials: Evaluations of sessions and individual speakers participating in a fiveday course jointly sponsored by the Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) were tallied by the RSNA Department of Data Management and three members of the STR Training Committee. Comments were collated and analyzed to determine the number of positive and negative comments and common themes related to ineffective lecturing. Results: Twenty-two sessions were evaluated by 234 (75.7%) of 309 professional registrants. Eighty-one speakers were evaluated by an average of 153 registrants (range, 2 ? 313). Mean ratings for 10 items evaluating sessions ranged from 1.28 ? 2.05 (1=most positive, 4=least positive; SD .451 - .902). The average speaker rating was 5.7 (1=very poor, 7=outstanding; SD 0.94; range 4.3 ? 6.4). Total number of comments analyzed was 862, with 505 (58.6%) considered positive and 404 (46.9%) considered negative (the total number exceeds 862 as a ?comment? could consist of both positive and negative statements). Poor content was mentioned most frequently, making up 107 (26.5%) of 404 negative comments, and applied to 51 (63%) of 81 speakers. Other negative comments, in order of decreasing frequency, were related to delivery, image slides, command of the English language, text slides, and handouts. Conclusions: Individual evaluations of speakers at a national CME course provided information regarding the quality of lectures that was not provided by evaluations of grouped presentations. Systematic review of speaker evaluations provided specific information related to the types and frequency of features related to ineffective lecturing. This information can be used to design CME course evaluations, design future CME course outcomes studies, provide training to presenters, and monitor presenter performance. Key Words: Education Radiology CME; CME evaluations; speaker evaluations
Adipic acid production from lignin

Lignin is an alkyl-aromatic polymer present in plant cell walls for defense, structure, and water transport. Despite exhibiting a high-energy content, lignin is typically slated for combustion in modern biorefineries due to its inherent heterogeneity and recalcitrance, whereas cellulose and hemicellulose are converted to renewable fuels and chemicals. However, it is critical for the viability of third-generation biorefineries to valorize lignin alongside polysaccharides. To that end, we employ metabolic engineering, separations, and catalysis to convert lignin-derived species into cis,cis-muconic acid, for subsequent hydrogenation to adipic acid, the latter being the most widely produced dicarboxylic acid. First, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was metabolically engineered to funnel lignin-derived aromatics to cis,cis-muconate, which is an atom-efficient biochemical transformation. This engineered strain was employed in fed-batch biological cultivation to demonstrate a cis,cis-muconate titer of 13.5 g L−1 in 78.5 h from a model lignin-derived compound. cis,cis-Muconic acid was recovered in high purity (>97%) and yield (74%) by activated carbon treatment and crystallization (5 °C, pH 2). Pd/C was identified as a highly active catalyst for cis,cis-muconic acid hydrogenation to adipic acid with high conversion (>97%) and selectivity (>97%). Under surface reaction controlling conditions (24 °C, 24 bar, ethanol solvent), purified cis,cis-muconic acid exhibits a turnover frequency of 23–30 s−1 over Pd/C, with an apparent activation energy of 70 kJ mol−1. Lastly, cis,cis-muconate was produced with engineered P. putida grown on a biomass-derived, lignin-enriched stream, demonstrating an integrated strategy towards lignin valorization to an important commodity chemical.
Information content and other characteristics of the daily cross-sectional dispersion in stock returns

Abstract We study the cross-sectional dispersion in daily stock returns, or daily return dispersion (RD). Our primary empirical contribution is to demonstrate that RD contains reliable incremental information about the future traditional volatility of both firm-level and portfolio-level returns. The relation between RD and future stock volatility is pervasive across time and across different industry portfolios, size-based portfolios, and beta-based portfolios. Further, our results suggest that RD contains more incremental information about the future volatility of firm-level stock returns than do lagged market-level return shocks. To further characterize RD and assist in interpretation, we also document how dispersion varies with stock turnover and macroeconomic news.
Omnidirectional vision for an autonomous helicopter

We present the design and implementation of an omnidirectional vision system used for sideways-looking sensing on an autonomous helicopter. To demonstrate the capabilities of the system, a visual servoing task was designed which required the helicopter to locate and move towards the centroid of a number of visual targets. Results are presented showing that the task was successfully completed by a Pioneer ground robot equipped with the same omnidirectional vision system, and preliminary test flight results show that the system can generate appropriate control commands for the helicopter.
APC and EB1 function together in mitosis to regulate spindle dynamics and chromosome alignment.

Recently, we have shown that a cancer causing truncation in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) (APC 1 - 1 4 5 0 ) dominantly interferes with mitotic spindle function, suggesting APC regulates microtubule dynamics during mitosis. Here, we examine the possibility that APC mutants interfere with the function of EB1, a plus-end microtubule-binding protein that interacts with APC and is required for normal microtubule dynamics. We show that siRNA-mediated inhibition of APC, EB1, or APC and EB1 together give rise to similar defects in mitotic spindles and chromosome alignment without arresting cells in mitosis; in contrast inhibition of CLIP170 or LIS1 cause distinct spindle defects and mitotic arrest. We show that APC 1 - 1 4 5 0 acts as a dominant negative by forming a hetero-oligomer with the full-length APC and preventing it from interacting with EB1, which is consistent with a functional relationship between APC and EB1. Live-imaging of mitotic cells expressing EB1-GFP demonstrates that APC 1 - 1 4 5 0 compromises the dynamics of EB1-comets, increasing the frequency of EB1-GFP pausing. Together these data provide novel insight into how APC may regulate mitotic spindle function and how errors in chromosome segregation are tolerated in tumor cells.
Images of God and public support for capital punishment: Does a close relationship with a loving God matter

This study argues that the nature and intensity of a person's relationship with God creates a transposable cognitive schema that shapes people's views toward public policies such as executing convicted murderers. In this context, we investigate whether Americans who report having a close personal relationship with a loving God are less likely to support the death penalty. We hypothesize that such a relationship tempers the tendency to see punitiveness as an appropriate response to human failings. Individuals who hold a loving God image are more likely to believe that God responds to those who have "failed" or "sinned" by demonstrating unconditional love, forgiveness, and mercy. Accordingly, support for capital punishment is problematic because it contradicts the image of a merciful, forgiving deity; God's purpose—and admonition to believers—is to demonstrate compassion toward those who have trespassed against others. We test these possibilities using the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS). Controlling for a range of religious factors and other known predictors of death penalty attitudes, the results show that Americans with a personal
Current Challenges and Future Regulatory Directions in In Vitro Dissolution

In vitro dissolution is well established as a quality control technique to monitor the batch-to-batch quality and performance of a drug product. Dissolution is routinely used by most pharmaceutical...
Apolipoproteins and aging: emerging mechanisms

One of the goals of modern medicine is to foster successful aging. In order to age successfully, one must accomplish two things: first, survive; and second, survive with good health and a sharp mind. In this discussion of apolipoproteins and aging, the focus will be on apolipoprotein E (apoE), a protein with three common isoforms, which has a large impact on longevity and successful aging. One variant of apoE (E4) is associated with increased risk for heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, some of the potential mechanisms for the observed effects of apoE on aging will be discussed.
Angiosarcoma of the penis masquerading as a Peyronie's plaque.

Malignant neoplasms of the penis are uncommon. Primary mesenchymal tumors of the penis are extremely rare. We report an unusual case of angiosarcoma of the penis in a 40-year-old man evaluated for a presumed benign and more common lesion, a Peyronie’s plaque. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old otherwise healthy man was referred for evaluation of a painful lesion at the base of the penis 2 years in duration. The lesion had become associated with increasingly severe pain on erection. Physical examination revealed a tender plaque at the base of the penis. Dorsal curvature was noted on erection. A clinical diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease was made, and given the fact that the condition worsened despite conservative treatment, surgical excision was recommended. The patient underwent penile exploration, which exposed a tan-brown nodule over the dorsal aspect of the base of the penis. There was no involvement of the corpus cavernosum. The nodule was dissected away from the dorsal neurovascular bundle and excised. The 1.4 0.5 0.4 cm. lesion consisted of sheets and nests of large epithelioid cells with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli (fig. 1). Irregularly shaped vascular channels containing red blood cells were present, as well as abnormal cells with intracellular lumina containing red blood cells, consistent with an endothelial neoplasm (fig. 2). Nuclear atypia, mitotic figures and necrosis were also present, indicative of malignancy and confirming the diagnosis of epithelioid angiosarcoma. Postoperative recovery was uncomplicated: the pain resolved, erectile function was maintained, and the patient had no urinary complaints. Subsequent metastatic workup was negative. Although penectomy was presented as the best oncological option given the proximal location of the tumor, the patient refused and instead chose a course of external beam radiation therapy. He tolerated the radiation therapy well, with no signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis at 6 months postoperatively. DISCUSSION
Chlorotriazine Herbicides and Metabolites Activate an ACTH-dependent Release of Corticosterone in Male Wistar Rats

Previously, we reported that atrazine (ATR) alters steroidogenesis in male Wistar rats resulting in elevated serum corticosterone (CORT), progesterone, and estrogens. The increase in CORT indicated that this chlorotriazine herbicide may alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study characterizes the temporal changes in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), CORT, and P4 in male Wistar rats following a single dose of ATR (0, 5, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), simazine (SIM; 188 mg/kg), propazine (PRO; 213 mg/kg), or primary metabolites, deisopropylatrazine (DIA; 4, 10, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg), deethylatrazine (DEA; 173 mg/kg), and diamino-s-chlorotriazine (DACT; 3.37, 33.7, 67.5, and 135 mg/kg). The maximum dose for each chemical was the molar equivalent of ATR (200 mg/kg). Significant increases in plasma ACTH were observed within 15 min, following exposure to ATR, SIM, PRO, DIA, or DEA. Dose-dependent elevations in CORT and progesterone were also observed at 15 and 30 min post-dosing with these compounds indicating an activation of adrenal steroidogenesis. Measurement of the plasma concentrations of the parent compounds and metabolites confirmed that ATR, SIM, and PRO are rapidly metabolized to DACT. Although DACT had only minimal effects on ACTH and steroid release, dosing with this metabolite resulted in plasma DACT concentrations that were 60-fold greater than that observed following an equimolar dose of ATR and eightfold greater than equimolar doses of DIA or DEA, indicating that DACT is not likely the primary inducer of ACTH release. Thus, the rapid release of ACTH and subsequent activation of adrenal steroidogenesis following a single exposure to ATR, SIM, PRO, DIA, or DEA may reflect chlorotriazine-induced changes at the level of the brain and/or pituitary.
Comparison of AVIRIS and Landsat ETM+ detection capabilities for burn severity

Our study compares data on burn severity collected from multi-temporal Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) with similar data from the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) using the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR). Two AVIRIS and ETM+ data acquisitions recorded surface conditions immediately before the Hoover Fire began to spread rapidly and again the following year. Data were validated with 63 field plots using the Composite Burn Index (CBI). The relationship between spectral channels and burn severity was examined by comparing pre- and post-fire datasets. Based on the high burn severity comparison, AVIRIS channels 47 and 60 at wavelengths of 788 and 913 nm showed the greatest negative response to fire. Post-fire reflectance values decreased the most on average at those wavelengths, while channel 210 at 2370 nm showed the greatest positive response on average. Fire increased reflectance the most at that wavelength over the entire measured spectral range. Furthermore, channel 210 at 2370 nm exhibited the greatest variation in spectral response, suggesting potentially high information content for fire severity. Based on general remote sensing principles and the logic of variable spectral responses to fire, dNBR from both sensors should produce useful results in quantifying burn severity. The results verify the band–response relationships to burn severity as seen with ETM+ data and confirm the relationships by way of a distinctly different sensor system.
Potential for therapeutic manipulation of the UPR in disease

Increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the activated unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling associated with it play key roles in physiological processes as well as under pathological conditions. The UPR normally protects cells and re-establishes cellular homeostasis, but prolonged UPR activation can lead to the development of various pathologies. These features make the UPR signaling pathway an attractive target for the treatment of diseases whose pathogenesis is characterized by chronic activation of this pathway. Here, we focus on the molecular signaling pathways of the UPR and suggest possible ways to target this response for therapeutic purposes.
The ethical challenge of stem cell research.

Abstract This article analyzes the ethical issues raised by embryonic stem cell research and recent recommendations by the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) regarding federal support for this research. The authors identify the key ethical issue as the moral significance that should be granted to early embryos and discuss arguments supporting the diverse answers to that question and the implications each view has on the formulation of rules and policies for stem cell research. The authors conclude that several of NBAC’s recommendations regarding the derivation of stem cells from embryos for research are ethically justifiable and sound public policy.
Physiological reactivity to emotional phrases in Mandarin—English bilinguals

Chinese-English bilinguals residing in the US were interviewed about their experience of using emotional expressions. They judged L1-Mandarin expressions as feeling stronger than L2-English expressions. Respondents nonetheless preferred to express their emotions in English, citing more relaxed social constraints in English-speaking environments. Electrodermal monitoring was conducted on a similar sample of Chinese-English bilinguals in order to determine how physiological reactivity corresponds to self-reports. For those who had both good Mandarin and good self- reported English ability, English and Mandarin emotional expressions elicited similar magnitude skin conductance responses (SCRs), with the exception of the category of endearments (e.g., Thank you, I miss you, I love you), where larger SCRs occurred for English expressions. Given cross-cultural reports that English-speaking societies encourage more open expression of positive emotion than do Chinese cultures, hearing English endearments may have led to easy retrieval of personal situations with strong emotional resonances; these memories then resulted in increased affect and increased SCRs. However, ratings of the emotional intensity of endearments were similar in the two languages, thus conflicting with the SCR findings. Additionally, English childhood reprimands were rated as less intense than L1-Mandarin reprimands, consistent with other studies showing that childhood reprimands are felt to be more intense in the native language. Future work will be needed to understand the conditions under which physiological responses differ from self-report.
Shoal Choice in Swordtails when Preferences Conflict

Individuals obtain a range of benefits from aggregating with others. Evidence suggests that group size and the phenotypic characteristics of potential group mates are both important attributes influencing the grouping decisions of prospective group members. Their interaction, however, remains poorly understood. Here we investigate, in a series of dichotomous choice experiments, what happens when a preference with respect to group size is pitted against a preference for assorting on the basis of body size in swordtail fish. When controlled for body size, we found that swordtails preferred to associate with a larger shoal. When controlled for group size, we found that swordtails preferred to associate with similar-sized fish. However, when offered the choice between a single size-matched shoaling partner and four dissimilar-sized shoal mates, we found that females associated randomly. Our results suggest that, depending on context, group size and body size may be equally important in guiding the aggregating decisions of swordtails. Future studies will likely offer valuable insights into shoaling behaviour by considering how, and under what circumstances, different grouping preferences might be prioritized.
A needs assessment for a graduate level course in optical networking

To explore the need for a graduate level engineering course in optical networking, a needs assessment consisting of (i) an investigation of 14 existing optical networking courses, (ii) an analysis of online surveys among the networking community and the ASU electrical engineering department, (iii) faculty interviews, and (iv) focus groups was conducted. Survey responses from a total of 61 respondents were received and analyzed. The results support the need for a graduate level course in optical networking. Our analyses indicate that a graduate course in optical networking should (i) focus on the basic mechanisms and current trends in optical networking, (ii) be based on a text book and instructor slides combined with collections of examples and problems. Regarding the optimal delivery method it was found that current students and faculty strongly prefer face-to-face delivery complemented by on-line readings and assignments, whereas working engineering professionals are more open to the idea of online courses.