Early child-care selection: variation by geographic location, maternal characteristics, and family structure

More than half of all U.S. infants and toddlers spend at least 20 hr per week in the care of a nonparent adult. This article uses survival analysis to identify which families are most likely to place their child in care and the ages when these choices are made, using data from a national probability sample of 2,614 households. Median age at first placement is 33 months, but age varies by geographic region, mother's employment status during pregnancy, mother's education level, and family structure (1 vs. 2 parents, mother's age at 1st birth, and number of siblings). Controlling for these effects, differences by race and ethnicity are small. Implications for studies of child-care selection and evaluations of early childhood programs are discussed.     

Reading epilepsy: report of five new cases and further considerations on the pathophysiology

Liposomes, microscopic lipid vesicles consisting of concentric phospholipid bilayers enclosing discrete aqueous spaces, have been investigated extensively as carries for drugs in attempts to achieve selective deposition and/or reduced toxicity. Liposomes radiolabeled with gamma emitters (67Ga, 111In and 99mTc) have been used for imaging purposes. Liposomes as formulated in the past, are rapidly taken up by cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, primarily those located in liver and spleen. However, it has been shown during the last two decades that the in vivo behavior of liposomes can be modulated by modifying their formulation. The size and the lipid composition have a major influence on the blood clearance rate, hepatic uptake and splenic uptake of liposomes. The development of long circulating liposomes, in particular coating of the bilayer with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) resulted in liposomes that oppose recognition by the MPS, thus displaying even longer circulatory half-lives. By carefully adjusting the liposomal formulation, the in vivo characteristics of liposomes can be tailored such that they become suitable vehicles for imaging various pathological processes in vivo. Liposomes have been proposed for tumor imaging, for infection imaging and as blood pool markers. Here, the factors that determine the in vivo behavior of liposomes and the current status of liposome-based radiopharmaceuticals are reviewed.     

Antibodies against transforming growth factor-beta 1 suppress intimal hyperplasia in a rat model

Intimal hyperplasia is induced by therapeutic vascular interventions and often results in clinically important narrowing of the vascular lumen. Examination of the role of TGF-beta 1 in a rat carotid artery injury model confirmed the presence of a previously reported increase in TGF-beta 1 mRNA in the media of injured arteries. Administration of neutralizing anti- TGF-beta 1 antibodies significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the size of the intimal lesions that developed after carotid balloon injury. A control antibody had no effect. The intimal/medial area ratio was also reduced in the anti-TGF-beta 1 group relative to controls (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining showed that two TGF-beta 1-induced extracellular matrix components, EDA + fibronectin and versican, were greatly increased in the untreated neointimal lesions, but were almost completely absent from the lesions of the anti-TGF-beta 1-treated animals. We conclude that TGF-beta 1 is causally involved in the development of intimal hyperplasia, and that anti-TGF-beta 1 agents may be useful in achieving at least partial control of this condition.     

Determination of porous glass surface free energy components from contact angles

The contact angles of water drops and diiodomethane drops on pellets made of controlled porosity glasses have been measured. The surface of the glasses was modified by thermal treatment at 873 K which led to an increase in the surface concentration of boron atoms. Glass modified with Carbowax 20M (polyethylene glycol) and fully hydroxylated glass have also been studied. Using the measured contact angles and modified Young equation, the dispersion and nondispersion components of the glass surface free energy have been calculated. The values show that with increasing heating time (increasing surface density of boron atoms) an increase in the surface polarity takes place. However, the polarity of the same samples decreases after treatment with Carbowax, increasingly so with higher boron atom concentrations.     

Identification and changes in the higher fatty acids of dried red pepper and red pepper powder

Summary The higher fatty acids of dried red pepper of the variety of Gorogled were identified by gas chromatography with using help of authentic compounds. Their amounts were determined using on absolute calibration method.The following acids were established: lauric, myrastic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic,arachidic and behenic acids. The results obtained from the quantitative measurements showed that linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids amounted to 80% of the total acids.The quantitative changes of identified acids in red pepper, of dried at 60°, 70°, 80° and 90 °C red pepper and stored as dried red pepper and red pepper powder over a 6-months period investigated.The results show that under the drying temperatures applied the amount of all fatty acids decreased with an increase in the temperature. During a storage a period of 3 months the amount of the respective acids decreased while the process was the most expressed in red pepper dried at a temperature of t = 70 °C.After a 6-months storage period under the drying condition applied the dried red pepper contained a greater amount of fatty acids compared with stored for 3 months.

---

Identifikation und Veränderungen der höheren Fettsäuren von gemahlenem Paprika und von getrockneten ungemahlenen Paprikaschoten

Zusammenfassung Es wurden gaschromatographisch mit Hilfe von Vergleichsubstanzen die höheren Fettsäuren, die im gemahlenen Paprika (Sorte Gorogled) enthalten sind, identifiziert. Die Mengen wurden nach der Methode der absoluten Kalibrierung bestimmt. Es wurden folgende Säuren festgestellt: Laurinsäure, Myristin-, Palmitin-, Palmitoolein-, Stearin-, Olein-, Linol-, Linolen-, Arachin- und Behensäure. Die quantitativen Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Menge der Linolen-, Linol- und Palmitinsäure 80% der Gesamtsäurenmenge darstellt. Es wurden die quantitativen Veränderungen der Fettsäuren von Paprika (Sorte Gorogled) bei Temperaturen von 60 °, 70 °, 80 ° und 90 °C, getrocknet und als getrockneter ungemahlener bzw.gemahlener Paprika, gelagert und innerhalb von 6 Monaten in Abständen von 3 Monaten verfolgt. Bei den angewendeten Trocknungstemperaturen nimmt die Menge der einzelnen Fettsäuren in dem getrockneten ungemahlenen Paprika mit Erhöhung der Trocknungstemperatur ab. Die Lagerung des getrockneten ungemahlenen Paprikas innerhalb von 3 Monaten führt zur Abnahme der einzelnen Fettsäuren, wobei dieser Prozeß am stärksten bei einer Trocknungstemperatur von 70 °C verläuft. Nach einer 6monatigen Lagerung des getrockneten und ungemahlenen Paprikas, nach Trocknung und bei den o. g. vier Temperaturen, ist die Menge der Fettsäuren höher im Vergleich zu jener der Fettsäuren in getrocknetem ungemahlenem Paprika nach 3 Monaten. Nach 3 Monaten enthält der gemahlene Paprika weniger Fettsäuren als der getrocknete und ungemahlene Paprika.

     

High-temperature properties of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system: Simultaneous occurrence of melting, oxygen desorption, and a metal-insulator transition

We have investigated the temperature dependence of the electrical transport and the thermogravimetric properties, from -200°C to +1000, of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O high-temperature superconductor. We conclude that this system has a cooperative, simultaneous-melting/oxygen desorption/metal-insulator transition that occurs near 900°C. We speculate on its nature and on its relationship to phenomena found in other high-T _c superconductors.     

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Their Implications in Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease

Neutrophils are primary effector cells of innate immunity and fight infection by phagocytosis and degranulation. Activated neutrophils also release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to a variety of stimuli. These NETs are net-like complexes composed of cell-free DNA, histones and neutrophil granule proteins. Besides the evolutionarily conserved mechanism to capture and eliminate pathogens, NETs are also associated with pathophysiological processes of various diseases. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms of NET formation and their different implications in disease. We focused on autoinflammatory and cardiovascular disorders as the leading cause of death. Neutrophil extracellular traps are not only present in various cardiovascular diseases but play an essential role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, arterial and venous thrombosis, as well as in the development and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Furthermore, NETosis can be considered as a source of autoantigens and maintains an inflammatory milieu promoting autoimmune diseases. Indeed, there is further need for research into the balance between NET induction, inhibition, and degradation in order to pharmacologically target NETs and their compounds without impairing the patient’s immune defense. This review may be of interest to both basic scientists and clinicians to stimulate translational research and innovative clinical approaches.     

Corrosion and wear properties of multipurpose coatings deposited by ion-beam-assisted deposition

Electrochemical measurements and wear tests were performed on aluminium and aluminium alloy coatings containing magnesium for uniform and local pitting corrosion protection of low carbon steel substrates. Final hard chromium nitride and aluminium nitride layers were deposited at the surface of the protective films in order to lower friction and wear. The results show that wear and corrosion protection can be improved by use of bifunctional multilayers. The coatings for multipurpose application were generated by ion-beam-assisted deposition. The defined intrinsic film stress controlled by the ion-to-atom arrival ratio influences the corrosion properties. Increasing the ion-to-atom ratios usually improves the corrosion resistance.     

Fuse Protection for Power Thyristors

A study of the behavior of current limiting fuses and of their effectiveness in protecting power thyristors is presented. Mathematical models simulating the prearcing and arcing characteristics of the fuse are described and used for analog computer evaluations. The junction temperature response of a thyristor to surge currents is analyzed with the aid of a further model. Finally, the fuse and thyristor simulations are coupled for a survey of the combined system. From this, a practical fuse/thyristor coordination rule is developed.     

Recent Advances in Conjugated Transition Metal-containing Polymers and Materials

Metal-containing conjugated oligomers and polymers are reviewed, focusing on the work carried out by the author and coworkers since 1995. The synthesis of model systems, electropolymerizable monomers and polymer films are discussed, along with the electronic and spectroscopic properties of these systems. The application of phosphino-oligothiophene ligands as an entry to conjugated metallopolymers is described.