cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of structured lipids by transesterification of trilinolein catalyzed by Lipozyme IM60.

Structured lipids (SL) containing caprylic, stearic, and linoleic acids were synthesized by enzymatic transesterification using Lipozyme IM60. Pure trilinolein and free fatty acids were used as substrates. Incorporation of stearic acid was higher than that of caprylic acid in all parameters. Highest incorporations of both acids were achieved at 32 h, mole ratio of 1:4:4 (trilinolein/caprylic/stearic acids), water content of 1% (wt %), temperature of 55 °C, and 10% (wt %) enzyme load. The maximal incorporations of caprylic and stearic acids were 23.73 and 62.46 mol %, respectively. Reaction time, water content, and enzyme load had major influences on the reaction, whereas substrate mole ratio and temperature showed less influence. Lipozyme showed good stability over six reuses. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of SL gave a melting profile with a very low melting peak of 0−3.3 °C and a solid fat content of 25.21% at 0 °C. The melting profile and solid fat content of SL were compared with those of...
School outcomes of late preterm infants: special needs and challenges for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation.

Objective Because limited long-term outcome data exist for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation, we compared school outcomes between 32- to 33-week moderate preterm (MP), 34-36 week late preterm (LP) and full-term (FT) infants. Study design A total of 970 preterm infants and 13 671 FT control subjects were identified from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort. Test scores, teacher evaluations, and special education enrollment from kindergarten (K) to grade 5 were compared. Results LP infants had lower reading scores than FT infants in K to first grade ( P P P P Conclusions Persistent teacher concerns through grade 5 and greater special education needs among MP and LP infants suggest a need to start follow-up, anticipatory guidance, and interventions for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation.
Effects of selected American regional dialects upon regional audience members

Speakers displaying three regional dialects (General American, Appalachian, and Bostonian) were recorded during spontaneous monologues. These speech samples were presented by transcript or audiotape to audiences drawn from each of the speakers’ regions, and rated on the Speech Dialect Attitudinal Scale‐21. Transcript scores, although showing some dialect differences, failed to demonstrate substantial trends favoring the syntax and semantics of any of the three dialects. Listener ratings placed General American phonology highest on Socio‐Intellectual Status and Aesthetic Quality, with Bostonians highest on Dynamism. However, significant interactions between rater region and speaker dialect suggest that no single set of norms applies equally to audience members from all regions of the United States.
Functional neuroimaging of dynamic brain activation

Brain activation is distributed in 3-dimensional brain and evolves in time. This paper reviews our recent work on developing high resolution spatio-temporal functional neuroimaging methods.
PZT-epoxy piezoelectric transducers: A simplified fabrication procedure

Abstract Composite piezoelectric transducers have been constructed by partially dicing PZT ceramics and back-filling with epoxy. Composites containing 10 to 70 volume percent PZT were prepared with several different rod diameters. Measured dielectric constants ranged from 200 to 1000, longitudinal piezoelectric coefficients d33 from 200 to 350 pC/N, and hydrostatic piezoelectric coefficients dh from 40 to 80 pC/N. Piezoelectric properties are compared with solid PZT and with 3-1 composites made by extrusion.
Cell cycle analysis with bromodeoxyuridine pulselabeling in asynchronous hybridoma cultures

The cell cycle kinetics of a mouse hybridoma was examined by immunocytochemical staining of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine in an asynchronous culture. The cell cycle phase traverse times were extracted from a time series of bivariate distributions of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine and total DNA content; the G1, S and G2/M phase traverse times were 7, 9 and 4 h, respectively in the exponential growth phase.
Trailing Edge Noise Measurements Using a Large Aperture Phased Array

The primary objective of this study was to obtain measurements of the noise generated by flow over an asymmetric trailing edge in an Anechoic Wind Tunnel (AWT) using a large aperture 40 microphone acoustic array. The sound field was complicated by the presence of unwanted or "parasitic" noise caused by the operation of the AWT. The ability of the array to separate the parasitic noise from the desired sound source was determined through a series of calculations using simulated source data. The bias errors that are caused by these extraneous sources were determined for three different array post processing algorithms: delay-sum (time-domain), weighted beamforming (frequency-domain), and a Deconvolution Approach to Mapping of Acoustic Sources (DAMAS). The results indicate that each method had advantages/disadvantages that were dependent on frequency. As such, different beamforming methods were utilized over different frequency ranges in order to produce the best possible spectral representation of the traili...
Autologous vein reconstruction in prosthetic graft infections

bilateral axillopopliteal bypass. Unfortunately, these two approaches are associated with early failure due to recurrent thrombosis of the extra-anatomic graft, lsa9 The use of autogenous tissue, such as saphenous vein, can be an attractive alternative for the crossover bypass graft in such cases, as it can be used in a contaminated bed as long as appropriate debridement, drainage and coverage of the anastomosis is performed. 1'2° Autogenous superficial femoral vein, with or without saphenous vein, can also be used to create a new aortoiliac system (NAIS) at the time the aortic graft is excised. This approach has two distinct advantages in that it avoids extraanatomic revascularisation and uses autogenous vein with its attendant bacterial resistance. This interesting approach has been reported to have excellent early results. 5'21"a2 Based on these encouraging results by other investigators, we report our experience with autogenous vein revascularisation of the lower extremities in 16 patients with Staphylococcus aureus graft infections.
The Skill of Virtue

Revision with unchanged content. The concepts of 'virtue' and 'the virtuous person', despite their prominence in cur­rent ethical theory, are still not well understood. Although the virtuous person is defined as someone who knows how to act in a morally appropriate way and is reliable in acting accordingly, it is usually mysterious how an ave­rage person could ever achieve such an ideal state. Accounts of virtue have left readers with the impression that the virtuous person is an unattainable ideal or just psychologically implausible. This book argues that reviving the ancient Greek idea that virtues are similar to practical skills can provide a more plausible account of virtue and the virtuous person. The moral know­ledge of the virtuous person is analogous to the practical knowledge of an expert in a skill. Learning how to be kind or honest turns out to have a lot in common with learning how to drive or play chess. The research on practical skills can illuminate the otherwise murky aspects of virtue, and so the skill model of virtue offers the most promising direction for contemporary virtue theory. This book is addressed to researchers in both philosophy and mo­ral development.
Advanced High K/Metal SOI technologies for 32nm and beyond

Within the semiconductor industry, pure leading edge foundries serve a special mission by delivering state-of-the-art competitive logic performance with a strong focus on system-on-chip (SoC) solutions. Therefore they have to support a broad portfolio of different technology options on each node. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is an industry leader by representing this particular business model and has a long experience in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing and technology capabilities, particular on silicon on insulator (SOI) based high performance microprocessors (table 1). To achieve a “high performance per watt” figure of merit, technology elements like partial depleted (PD) -SOI, strained-Si, ultra low K BEOL and HKMG were needed together with an efficient multiple core- and power-efficient design.
Simulation of Tidal Effects on Contaminant Transport in Porous Media

A one-dimensional numerical model is developed with oscillating velocities and dispersions to simulate the migration process of a contaminant plume within tidally influenced aquifers. Model simulations demonstrate that a major effect the tidal fluctuation has on the migration process of a contaminant plume is the exit concentration discharging to the tidal estuary. Tidal fluctuation causes the exit concentration levels to be significantly diluted by the surface-water body of the estuary. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that tidal fluctuation hastens the rate of plume migration near the bank of the estuary because of the relatively high advective and dispersive fluxes induced by tides. However, tides affect the migration process only over a short distance from the tidal-water interface (about 40 ft for the parameters used in this study). If the contaminant plume is located far beyond the interface, tidal fluctuations will not affect the rate of plume migration until an existing regional ground-water flow velocity brings the plume to the tidally active zone. With or without tides, the rate of contaminant migration increases with higher regional hydraulic gradient. Furthermore, the effects of tidal fluctuations on the transport process become insignificant with higher regional hydraulic gradients.
Development and preliminary evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for perinatal grief.

Abstract Perinatal loss, typically defined as fetal death beyond 20 weeks gestation through infant death 1-month postpartum, is a potentially traumatizing experience for parents occurring in approximately 1% of births in the United States. Although many women recover, 15% to 25% have enduring grief-related symptomatology and functional impairment. Perinatal grief is a unique bereavement experience, but clinical resources for detecting and treating severe perinatal grief are rare and interventions are largely without empirical support. We developed and pilot tested a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting the psychological and behavioral sequelae of perinatal bereavement. To initially evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention, 5 women who suffered a perinatal loss were randomized to a 2-week, 4-week, or 6-week baseline period in a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design. In most cases, after the respective baseline periods, there was a steady decline in reported grief symptoms. These gains were largely maintained at a 6-week follow-up assessment. This study provides initial evidence in support of future research and clinical efforts tailoring cognitive behavioral interventions to meet the specific needs of women who experience perinatal loss.
Some comments on ‘the structure of subjective well-being in nine western societies’ by andrews and inglehart

This paper makes a number of critical comments on a recent article by Andrews and Inglehart (1979), where the similarity of subjective well-being data from nine different countries was investigated. It is first shown that different MDS representations can be constructed for the data which differ considerably among each other and with respect to the similarity hypothesis. The goodness of the MDS solutions is discussed by using finer indices than overall Stress. Then, the measures of configurational similarity are evaluated statistically. Finally, it is shown that other, equally valid measures lead to completely different conclusions. It is argued that this poses an insurmountable problem. A facet theoretical approach which looks for prototypical structures rather than a single similarity index avoids this dilemma.
Quality and performance improvement in critical care

In the past decade, there is an increased focus on quality and safety in health care. Decreasing variation, increasing adherence to evidence based guidelines, monitoring processes, and measuring outcomes are critical for improving quality of care. Intensivists have broad knowledge of hospital organization, and need to be leaders in quality improvement efforts.
Applications and limitations of rhizotrons and minirhizotrons for root studies

This paper discusses two glass-wall techniques-rhizotrons and minirhizotrons. Rhizotrons are covered underground walkways with clear windows on one or both sides. Their design varies somewhat with the type of research to be conducted in them. A minirhizotron consists of a clear tube inserted into the soil then some type of viewing arrangement is lowered into the tube. In both techniques, roots and their rhizosphere organisms can be observed at the soil-wall boundary.
Modeling Switch-Level Simulation Using Data Flow

The complexity of simulating large circuits is a bottleneck in the design process. Considerable attention is being focused on using multiprocessing architectures to speed up simulation. In order to utilize these architectures one first needs to capture the parallelism inherent in the simulation process. This paper explores data flow graphs as a means of expressing the parallelism in switch-level simulation. These data flow graphs, when executed on general purpose or special purpose data flow machines should result in considerable speed up.
The tryptic peptide composition of the beta chains of hemoglobins A and B of the Domestic cat (Felis catus)

The tryptic peptides from theβA andβB chains of cat hemoglobins A and B have been isolated and the amino acid compositions determined. Differences between the two chains were found in two peptides,βT-1 (Gly→Ser) andβT-14 (Asn→Ser and Lys→Arg). The Gly→Ser and Lys→Arg substitutions are placed atβ-1 andβ-144 respectively from earlier work, and the third substitution, Asn→Ser atβ-139 is suggested from this work. In addition, the presence of a blocked amino terminus inβB has been confirmed. Tentative sequences constructed by homology with knownβ-chain structures suggest the occurrence of substitutions atα1β1 contacts inβA andβB that may be functionally significant. There are at least 18 differences in amino acid composition between catβA and dogβ-chains and 22 differences between catβA and normal adult humanβ-chains.
Direct round window membrane application of gentamicin in the treatment of Meniere's disease.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the round window membrane (RWM) Gelfoam gentamicin technique in patients with Meniere’s disease who were unresponsive to medical management or in whom surgical therapy failed. Study Design: Protocol 1, single intratympanic gentamicin infusion; protocol 2 (the best method), 2 infusions, 5 days apart with reevaluation at 1 month; and protocol 3, multiple infusions 1 to 4 weeks apart. Patients: In total, 32 patients (19 male, 13 female) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 65 years (range 34 to 94 years). Seven of these patients were surgical salvage cases. Interventions: Laser-assisted otoendoscopy with a 1.7-mm otoendoscope (Smith-Nephew Richards, Memphis, TN) was performed first. If the RWM was obscured by mucosa or adhesions, these were cleared before placing a 2 × 3 mm piece of dry Gelfoam against the RWM. Buffered gentamicin (26.7 mg/mL) was then injected into the middle ear (0.2 to 0.3 mL). Results: Overall, vertigo was controlled in 75% of the patients after the completion of the treatment, with subtotal vestibular ablation in two thirds of patients. Hearing was preserved in 90% of the patients (within 15 dB pure-tone average or 15% speech discrimination score), tinnitus improved in 48%, and aural pressure improved in 62.5%. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:649-55.)
Perturbation of cranial neural crest migration by the HNK-1 antibody.

The HNK-1 antibody recognizes a carbohydrate moiety that is shared by a family of cell adhesion molecules and is also present on the surface of migrating neural crest cells. Here, the effects of the HNK-1 antibody on neural crest cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. When the HNK-1 antibody was added to neural tube explants in tissue culture, neural crest cells detached from laminin substrates but were unaffected on fibronectin substrates. In order to examine the effects of the HNK-1 antibody in vivo, antibody was injected lateral to the mesencephalic neural tube at the onset of cranial neural crest migration. The injected antibody persisted for approximately 16 hr on the injected side of the embryo and appeared to be most prevalent on the surface of neural crest cells. Embryos fixed within the first 24 hr after injection of HNK-1 antibodies (either whole IgMs or small IgM fragments) showed one or more of the following abnormalities: (1) ectopic neural crest cells external to the neural tube, (2) an accumulation of neural crest cells in the lumen of the neural tube, (3) some neural tube anomalies, or (4) a reduction in the neural crest cell volume on the injected side. The ectopic cells and neural tube anomalies persisted in embryos fixed 2 days postinjection. Only embryos having 10 or less somites at the time of injection were affected, suggesting a limited period of sensitivity to the HNK-1 antibody. Control embryos injected with a nonspecific antibody or with a nonblocking antibody against the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) were unaffected. Previous experiments from this laboratory have demonstrated than an antibody against integrin, a fibronectin and laminin receptor caused defects qualitatively similar to those resulting from HNK-1 antibody injection (M. Bronner-Fraser, J. Cell Biol., 101, 610, 1985). Coinjection of the HNK-1 and integrin antibodies resulted in a greater percentage of affected embryos than with either antibody alone. The additive nature of the effects of the two antibodies suggests that they act at different sites. These results demonstrate that the HNK-1 antibody causes abnormalities in cranial neural crest migration, perhaps by perturbing interactions between neural crest cells and laminin substrates.
Response modes in simultaneous and successive visual discriminations

Modes of responding in simultaneous and successive discrimination problems were investigated using a bidirectional transfer procedure. Rats receiving training on a simultaneous discrimination problem were transferred to successive discriminations. Rats trained on a successive problem were transferred to simultaneous problems. The transfer problems were either compatible or incompatible with the response mode present during training. The results suggest that a single response mode may underlie the solution of both simultaneous and successive discrimination problem.
An Experimental Investigation of Free-Convection Heat Transfer From Rectangular-Fin Arrays

Average heat-transfer coefficients are presented for four fin arrays positioned with the base vertical, 45 degrees, and horizontal while dissipating heat to room air. The fins are analyzed as constant-temperature surfaces since the lowest fin efficiency encountered was greater than 98 percent. It was found that coefficients for the vertical arrays fell 10 to 30 percent below those of similarly spaced parallel plates. The 45-degree arrays yielded results 5 to 20 percent below those of the vertical. Two flow patterns were investigated for the horizontal arrays, and it was found that the coefficients could be reduced sharply by preventing three-dimensional flow.
The use of freshwater wetlands as a tertiary wastewater treatment alternative

Freshwater wetlands can, in some circumstances, renovate added secondarily treated wastewater, thus providing an alternative to land or water disposal or expensive physical‐chemical treatment processes. This review summarizes North American studies in the contexts of ecosystem function and water quality changes, for both natural and artificial wetland ecosystems. All components of an ecosystem are involved in the alteration of the dissolved nutrient status and sediment content of the water. The results of recent studies are interpreted in terms of the principles of hydrology and nutrient cycling in wetlands. Initial uptake and alteration mechanisms involve sorption and microbial processes, such as denitrification. Peat soils provide a maximum condition for this rapid uptake. Detritus supports microbial populations and active periphyton, which coupled with other algae, represent a second temporary sink. The vascular plant community also represents nutrient storage which may be exploited by herbivores or de...
N-cadherin/catenin complex as a master regulator of intercalated disc function.

AbstractIntercellular adhesive junctions are essential for maintaining the physical integrity of tissues; this is particularly true for the heart that is under constant mechanical load. The correct functionality of the heart is dependent on the electrical and mechanical coordination of its constituent cardiomyocytes. The intercalated disc (ID) structure located at the termini of the rod-shaped adult cardiomyocyte contains various junctional proteins responsible for the integration of structural information and cell–cell communication. According to the classical description, the ID consists of three distinct junctional complexes: adherens junction (AJ), desmosome (Des), and gap junction (GJ) that work together to mediate mechanical and electrical coupling of cardiomyocytes. However, recent morphological and molecular studies indicate that AJ and Des components are capable of mixing together resulting in a “hybrid adhering junction” or “area composita.” This review summarizes recent progress in understandin...
Encounters with Participatory Action Research

De nombreux chercheurs et politiques estiment que la bureaucratie pourrait mieux fonctionner si l'on encourageait la participation des citoyens, des acteurs aux projets de developpement. Aussi ils ont abandonne leurs pretentions a mieux saisir que les individus eux-memes leurs propres situations et aspirations et a isoler les facteurs de resistance qu'il faut eradiquer pour mener a bien ces operations de developpement. L'A. etudie la notion d'enquete participative, de recherche action et montre qu'il regne une grande confusion terminologique. Il s'attache a caracteriser ce qu'il nomme la recherche action participante
Hepatitis B virus replication in diverse cell types during chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus-specific nucleic acid sequences and proteins have been detected in extrahepatic tissues of acutely and chronically infected patients. However, apart from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bone marrow cells, little is known about the specific cell types that permit viral replication. In this study, we assessed the extrahepatic tissues of four patients who died with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and two uninfected controls by means of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study. Three of these patients had diffuse extrahepatic distribution of the virus. Hepatitis B virus nucleic acid sequences and proteins were detected in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, kidney, skin, colon, stomach, testes and periadrenal ganglia. The following cell types were found to be positive for hepatitis B virus: endothelial cells, macrophages/monocytes, hematopoietic precursors, basal keratinocytes, mucosal epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts and sustentacular and neuronal cells. It is probable that these cells could support viral replication because hepatitis B virus DNA replicative intermediates, viral transcripts and HBsAg and HBcAg proteins were detected in most. These findings may be relevant to the initiation of extrahepatic syndromes associated with chronic hepatitis B virus infection such as vasculitis, glomerulonephropathy, neuropathy and dermatitis.
Adipokine mediators of inflammation and cardiometabolic comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis: is there a master adipokine?

Understanding how immune cells interact with adipocytes to induce the downstream consequences of obesity (i.e., insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, atherosclerosis, just to name a few) is among the most active areas of current interest among obesity researchers. In fact, that white adipose tissue has secretory capacity is a relatively recent concept. In the early 1990s it was recognized that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and leptin are expressed by adipocytes in proportion to adipose tissue mass and that they possess diverse autocrine and paracrine functions relating to energy metabolism and the neurohormonal regulation of feeding impulses1,2. Since then, dozens of secreted adipocyte products have been identified3. That many proteins termed “adipokines” overlap those considered central to the inflammatory pathobiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is of particular interest to RA researchers. Adipocytes secrete inflammatory cytokines [TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6], chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), acute-phase reactants (serum amyloid A), and others that parallel the expression profiles of inflamed synovium4. Adipokine expression is potentiated through activated macrophages and T lymphocytes within adipose tissue, and represents an additional parallel to the processes occurring in RA synovitis. Interestingly, many obesity-related complications are also present in patients with RA, even among those who are not obese. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) event … Address correspondence to Dr. Giles; E-mail: jtg2122{at}columbia.edu
Does autotitrating positive airway pressure therapy improve postoperative outcome in patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome? A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with postoperative complications. We hypothesized that postoperative autotitrating positive airway pressure (APAP) applied to patients at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea would shorten hospital stay and reduce postoperative complications. Methods Included were patients aged 18 to 100 years scheduled for elective total knee or hip arthroplasty who were able to give informed consent. Patients without contraindication to positive airway pressure therapy were divided into a high- or low-risk group on the basis of the Flemons sleep apnea clinical score. Low-risk patients received standard care. High-risk patients were randomized to receive standard care or standard care plus postoperative APAP. All patients were administered a predismissal cardiorespiratory sleep study. The primary end point was length of stay, and secondary end points were a range of postoperative complications. Results One hundred thirty-eight patients were enrolled in the study (52 in the low-risk group, 86 in the high-risk group). Within the high-risk group, 43 were randomized to standard care and 43 to standard care plus postoperative APAP. There were no significant differences in the length of stay ( P = .65) or any of the secondary end points between the randomized groups. On subgroup analysis of patients with an apnea-hypopnea index of ≥ 15, patients randomized to APAP had a longer postoperative stay (median, 5 vs 4 days; P = .02). Conclusions The role for empirical postoperative APAP requires further study, but the findings did not show benefit for APAP applied postoperatively to positive airway pressure-naive patients at high risk for sleep apnea.
An Analysis of Dimethylsulfoxide-Induced Action Potential Block: A Comparative Study of DMSO and Other Aliphatic Water Soluble Solutes

Abstract A series of water soluble aliphatic solutes were chosen for study. Fifty percent effective doses (ED50) to block propagated compound action potentials (AP's) were obtained by examining dose–response relations for each solute. All solutes used were liquids at room temperature and are typically used as solvents. The solutes studied were dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide, acetone, and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA); the octanol/water partition coefficients for these test substances form an ordered sequence that increased 40-fold from DMSO to HMPA. AP's were recorded from desheathed frog sciatic nerves using the sucrose-gap technique; test solutes were added to Ringer's solution and applied externally to the nerve. ED50’s for the solutes could be predicted as a function of the molar volume (dV/dn), polarity (P), and the hydrogen bond acceptor basicity (β). Voltage-clamp experiments employing the vaseline-gap technique on single muscle fibers showed that each solute reduced Na + current with little change in their kinetics at all voltages studied. Experiments using DMSO or DMF showed that Na + channel block alone is insufficient to explain the respective ED50 values of AP block. Experiments conducted using a chloride transport-sensitive membrane fluidity assay, using rat pancreas secretory granules, suggested that each of the solutes act to increase membrane fluidity at doses below and above ED50 values. Light microscopic observations of fixed thick sections of whole nerves previously exposed to DMSO or DMF show structural changes; however, ED50 values cannot be simply explained by osmotic alterations of nerve structure. ED50’s are likely to be produced by a combination of effects including osmotically induced nerve structural changes, ion channel block, and fluidity changes. The toxicity (lethal doses or toxic concentrations) of each of these five solutes correlates well with the ED50 and could be predicted as a function of dV/dn, P, and β.
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with vascular remodeling in cardiac transplant recipients.

Abstract Background Early atherosclerosis may be associated with compensatory vessel enlargement, termed positive remodeling . Enlarged brachial artery diameter has been reported in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis and in individuals with coronary atherosclerosis, indicating that brachial artery enlargement is a marker for the presence of atherosclerotic changes. Cardiac transplant recipients often have abnormal lipid levels, but the effect of specific lipid abnormalities on vascular remodeling in this population has not been evaluated. This study examined the relationship between lipid levels and brachial artery diameter in cardiac transplant recipients. Methods Thirty-five stable cardiac transplant recipients underwent high-resolution brachial artery ultrasound to evaluate resting brachial artery diameter. Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides were determined and the presence of other cardiac risk factors was assessed. Results Brachial artery diameter was larger (4.3 ± 0.1 mm) in subjects with low levels of HDL-C ( n = 11) compared to subjects with high HDL-C (≥40 mg/dL, n = 24), who had a mean brachial artery diameter of 3.7 ± 0.1 mm ( P = .006). Neither high LDL-C (≥100 mg/dL) nor high triglycerides (≥200 mg/dL) were associated with differences in brachial artery diameter. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the relationship between low HDL-C and increased brachial artery diameter was independent of body surface area or statin use. Conclusions Low levels of HDL-C are an independent predictor of brachial artery enlargement in stable cardiac transplant recipients. These findings suggest that suboptimal HDL-C levels may be associated with the development of vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis in this population.
Identification and characterization of EBV genomes in spontaneously immortalized human peripheral blood B lymphocytes by NGS technology

We conducted genomic sequencing to identify Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) genomes in 2 human peripheral blood B lymphocytes that underwent spontaneous immortalization promoted by mycoplasma infections in culture, using the high-throughput sequencing (HTS) Illumina MiSeq platform. The purpose of this study was to examine if rapid detection and characterization of a viral agent could be effectively achieved by HTS using a platform that has become readily available in general biology laboratories. Raw read sequences, averaging 175 bps in length, were mapped with DNA databases of human, bacteria, fungi and virus genomes using the CLC Genomics Workbench bioinformatics tool. Overall 37,757 out of 49,520,834 total reads in one lymphocyte line (# K4413-Mi) and 28,178 out of 45,335,960 reads in the other lymphocyte line (# K4123-Mi) were identified as EBV sequences. The two EBV genomes with estimated 35.22-fold and 31.06-fold sequence coverage respectively, designated K4413-Mi EBV and K4123-Mi EBV (GenBank accession number KC440852 and KC440851 respectively), are characteristic of type-1 EBV. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis among K4413-Mi EBV, K4123-Mi EBV and the EBV genomes previously reported to GenBank as well as the NA12878 EBV genome assembled from database of the 1000 Genome Project showed that these 2 EBVs are most closely related to B95-8, an EBV previously isolated from a patient with infectious mononucleosis and WT-EBV. They are less similar to EBVs associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from Hong Kong and China as well as the Akata strain of a case of Burkitt’s lymphoma from Japan. They are most different from type 2 EBV found in Western African Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Facilitating Cooperation in a Social Dilemma: A Persuasion Approach

Abstract The social dilemma is a special situation of social interdependence in which individual rationality is at odds with group outcomes. Such dilemmas have been examined on an empirical level with experimental games. In this study, an attempt was made to facilitate cooperative behavior and to boost cooperative attitudes toward dilemma scenarios among U.S. undergraduates by using a series of experimental games. In general, cooperation increased after the presentation of persuasive messages. Although specific predicted interactions between need for cognition and the type of persuasive message were not found, the results indicated that public appeals for cooperation may be effective in facilitating cooperation in a social dilemma.
High‐Temperature Defect Structure of Lanthanum Cuprate

High-temperature (650{degrees} to 850{degrees}C) electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements as functions of oxygen partial pressure and temperature in polycrystalline lanthanum cuprate support a defect model consisting of oxygen interstitials charge compensated by electron holes. The La:Cu ratio was therefore estimated to be 2.000 {plus minus} 0.001. By comparison with existing oxygen nonstoichiometry data, the high-temperature electron hole mobility and density-of-states were estimated.
Interactions between bilaterally paired components of the cockroach circadian system

The hypothesis that bilaterally redundant, and mutually coupled circadian pacemakers are located near the lobula of the optic lobes of the cockroach,Leucophaea maderae, was investigated in a series of lesion experiments. 1. Following removal of one optic lobe electrolytic lesions near the lobula in the dorsal 1/3 of the remaining lobe had no effect on the activity rhythm or its entrainment to a light cycle. Lesions in the ventral 2/3 of the lobula region either had no effect or resulted in aperiodic activity (Figs. 3, 4). 2. In animals in which one optic lobe was neurally isolated from its (ipsilateral) compound eye by section of the optic nerve, lesions near the lobula in the dorsal 1/3 of the contralateral lobe had no effect on entrainment of the rhythm. In contrast, lesions in the ventral 2/3's of the lobe, frequently, resulted in loss of entrainment (Figs. 5, 6, 7). Following loss of entrainment, the average freerunning period (\(\bar \tau = 24.03 \pm 0.26 h\)) was longer than that of intact animals (\(\bar \tau = 23.73 \pm 0.2 h\)). 3. In animals with one cut optic nerve, electrolytic or surgical lesions in the ipsilateral optic lobe, intended to destroy the known monosynaptic connections between the two lobes, had no effect on entrainment or on freerunning period (Figs. 9, 10, 11).
Cardiolipin is not essential for the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on fermentable or non-fermentable carbon sources

Cardiolipin is a unique dimeric phospholipid, which is present throughout the eukaryotic kingdom and is specifically localized in mitochondrial membranes. It is widely believed that mitochondria possess an essential requirement for this phospholipid. To determine whether cardiolipin is essential for yeast growth, we generated a cardiolipin synthase null mutant by disrupting the CLS1 gene (open reading frame YDL142c on chromosome IV) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochemical analysis of the mutant indicated that it had no cardiolipin synthase activity and no cardiolipin in its membranes. The enzyme phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase, which catalyses the committed step of the cardiolipin pathway, remained unaffected in the null mutant. Haploid cells containing the null allele are viable in media containing glucose, galactose or glycerol/ethanol as the sole carbon source, although growth in galactose or glycerol/ethanol is somewhat reduced in the mutant compared with the wild type. These results indicate that cardiolipin is not essential for the growth of S. cerevisiae in fermentable or non-fermentable carbon sources.
Prominent Clonal B-Cell Populations Identified by Flow Cytometry in Histologically Reactive Lymphoid Proliferations

We describe 6 cases from the University of Washington Hematopathology Laboratory (Seattle) in which prominent, clonal, follicle center B-cell populations were identified by flow cytometry and confirmed by molecular methods, but in which the histologic features showed reactive follicular hyperplasia without evidence of bcl-2 overexpression or the t(14;18). The 6 cases included 5 lymph node biopsy specimens and 1 tonsillectomy specimen. Of the 6 cases, 5 occurred in young males (8-28 years) with no known immunologic abnormality; the other case was a 32-year-old, HIV-positive woman. In all 6 cases, clonal CD10+ B cells representing at least 20% of the total B cells were identified. Available clinical follow-up ranging from 13 to 56 months revealed no evidence of lymphoma in any of the 6 patients. Our findings add rare cases of follicular hyperplasia to the list of histologically reactive settings in which clonal B-cell populations might be present.
AdCom Summer Meeting May 31,2009 Charleston, South Carolina [AP-S AdCom Minutes]

The attendees introduced themselves, and Makoto welcomed all to the summer Symposium. It was noted that the IEEE Division IV Director, Roger Sudbury, was in attendance.
Characterization of the levels of messenger ribonucleic acid that encode for luteinizing hormone receptor during the luteal phase of the primate menstrual cycle.

The present study was designed to characterize the expression of LH receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) in the primate corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. We obtained corpora lutea from cynomolgus monkeys at defined stages of the luteal phase. LH receptor mRNA was demonstrated in monkey ovarian sections by in situ hybridization with a 35S-labeled antisense RNA probe derived from rat LH receptor complimentary DNA. The hybridization signals were confined to thecal layers of antral follicles and corpus luteum. Using the same LH receptor cDNA, the pattern of expression of mRNA encoding for LH receptor during the luteal phase was determined by Northern blot analysis. Four species of mRNA migrating at 1.0, 4.0, 7.5, and 8.0 kilobase (kb) were identified; the 4.0 kb size mRNA species was more abundant than the other three species. Quantitative analysis of the 4.0 kb band of mRNA throughout the luteal phase by densitometry revealed that the levels of LH receptor mRNA were low during the ea...
Mediators in exercise-induced asthma

Abstract Circulating concentrations of the mast cell-associated mediators, histamine and neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) of high molecular weight, were measured in atopic and nonatopic asthmatics after treadmill exercise. Elevations in the concentrations of both mediators accompanied the development of exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Normal individuals did not release mediators or develop bronchoconstriction after an identical exercise. The elaboration of mediators was not due to the onset of airflow obstruction, the postexercise basophilia, or the exercise task per se. A treadmill exercise undertaken while inhaling fully conditioned air inhibited EIA and NCF release; in contrast the same exercise undertaken while breathing cold, dry air elicited EIA and the production of mediators. This suggests that the stimulus for EIA and mediator release may be identical. Late-phase asthmatic reactions occur 3 to 9 hr after exercise in some asthmatics and are accompanied by the appearance of circulating NCF, as previously reported in allergen-induced late responses. In addition to the contribution of mediators to the spasmogenic reaction in EIA, mediators may contribute to bronchial inflammation by activating circulating leukocytes. There was a kinetic increase in the expression of neutrophil C3b receptors in EIA (+) asthmatics for up to 60 min after treadmill exercise. The enhancement of C3b receptors, as evidence of neutrophil activation, was preceded by release of NCF and reductions in peak expiratory flow rates. The prior administration of cromolyn inhibited EIA, NCF release, and enhancement of C3b receptors. These changes were not observed in EIA (−) asthmatics after an identical exercise task. These findings support the view that mediators are released in EIA and may play an important role in its pathogenesis.
Calcium and Stretch Activation Modulate Power Generation in Drosophila Flight Muscle

Many animals regulate power generation for locomotion by varying the number of muscle fibers used for movement. However, insects with asynchronous flight muscles may regulate the power required for flight by varying the calcium concentration ([Ca2+]). In vivo myoplasmic calcium levels in Drosophila flight muscle have been found to vary twofold during flight and to correlate with aerodynamic power generation and wing beat frequency. This mechanism can only be possible if [Ca2+] also modulates the flight muscle power output and muscle kinetics to match the aerodynamic requirements. We found that the in vitro power produced by skinned Drosophila asynchronous flight muscle fibers increased with increasing [Ca2+]. Positive muscle power generation started at pCa = 5.8 and reached its maximum at pCa = 5.25. A twofold variation in [Ca2+] over the steepest portion of this curve resulted in a two- to threefold variation in power generation and a 1.2-fold variation in speed, matching the aerodynamic requirements. To determine the mechanism behind the variation in power, we analyzed the tension response to muscle fiber-lengthening steps at varying levels of [Ca2+]. Both calcium-activated and stretch-activated tensions increased with increasing [Ca2+]. However, calcium tension saturated at slightly lower [Ca2+] than stretch-activated tension, such that as [Ca2+] increased from pCa = 5.7 to pCa = 5.4 (the range likely used during flight), stretch- and calcium-activated tension contributed 80% and 20%, respectively, to the total tension increase. This suggests that the response of stretch activation to [Ca2+] is the main mechanism by which power is varied during flight.
Simulated Car Crashes and Crash Predictors in Drivers With Alzheimer Disease

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and can impair cognitive abilities crucial to the task of driving. Rational decisions about whether such impaired individuals should continue to drive require objective assessments of driver performance. Objective: To measure relevant performance factors using high-fidelity driving simulation. Design: We examined the effect of AD on driver collision avoidance using the Iowa Driving Simulator, which provided a high-fidelity, closely controlled environment in which to observe serious errors by at-risk drivers. We determined how such unsafe events are predicted by visual and cognitive factors sensitive to decline in aging and AD. Setting: The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, and the Iowa Driving Simulator. Participants: Thirty-nine licensed drivers: 21 with AD and 18 controls without dementia. Main Outcome Measures: We determined the number of crashes and related performance errors and analyzed how these occurrences were predicted by visual and cognitive factors. Results: Six participants (29%) with AD experienced crashes vs 0 of 18 control participants ( P =.022). Drivers with AD were more than twice as likely to experience close calls ( P =.042). Plots of critical control factors in the moments preceding a crash revealed patterns of driver inattention and error. Strong predictors of crashes included visuospatial impairment, reduction in the useful field of view, and reduced perception of 3-dimensional structure-from-motion. Conclusions: High-fidelity driving simulation provides a unique new source of performance parameters to standardize the assessment of driver fitness. Detailed observations of crashes and other safety errors provide unbiased evidence to aid in the difficult clinical decision of whether older or medically impaired individuals should continue to drive. The findings are complementary to evidence currently being gathered using techniques from epidemiology and cognitive neuroscience.
Presidents who value science.

The opening day, 12 February, of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Chicago is by coincidence the 200th anniversary of the births of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. New understanding of the underlying processes and mechanisms that fascinated Darwin continues to be the focus of intense research, and many of the papers and symposia prepared for this meeting will celebrate the enduring legacy of Darwin9s thesis. It is noteworthy that this meeting is being convened in the land of Lincoln and within a month of the inauguration of another son of Illinois, Barack Obama, as president of the United States.
Rtt109 is required for proper H3K56 acetylation: a chromatin mark associated with the elongating RNA polymerase II.

Histone acetylation has been shown to be required for the proper regulation of many cellular processes including transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin assembly. Acetylation of histone H3 on lysine 56 (H3K56) occurs both during the premeiotic and mitotic S phase and persists throughout DNA damage repair. To learn more about the molecular mechanism of H3K56 acetylation and factors required for this process, we surveyed the genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify genes necessary for this process. A comparative global proteomic screen identified several factors required for global H3K56 acetylation, which included histone chaperone Asf1 and a protein of an unknown function Rtt109 but not Spt10. Our results indicate that the loss of Rtt109 results in the loss of H3K56 acetylation, both on bulk histone and on chromatin, similar to that of asf1Δ or the K56Q mutation. RTT109 deletion exhibits sensitivity to DNA damaging agents similar to that of asf1Δ and H3K56Q mutants. Furthermore, Rtt109 and H3K56 acetylation appear to correlate with actively transcribed genes and associate with the elongating form of polymerase II in yeast. This histone modification is also associated with some of the transcriptionally active puff sites in Drosophila. Our results indicate a new role for the Rtt109 protein in the proper regulation of H3K56 acetylation.