Does devoutness delay death? Psychological investment in religion and its association with longevity in the Terman sample.

Religious people tend to live slightly longer lives (M. E. McCullough, W. T. Hoyt, D. B. Larson, H. G. Koenig, & C. E. Thoresen, 2000). On the basis of the principle of social investment (J. Lodi-Smith & B. W. Roberts, 2007), the authors sought to clarify this phenomenon with a study of religion and longevity that (a) incorporated measures of psychological religious commitment; (b) considered religious change over the life course; and (c) examined 19 measures of personality traits, social ties, health behaviors, and mental and physical health that might help to explain the religion–longevity association. Discrete-time survival growth mixture models revealed that women (but not men) with the lowest degrees of religiousness through adulthood had shorter lives than did women who were more religious. Survival differences were largely attributable to cross-sectional and prospective between-class differences in personality traits, social ties, health behaviors, and mental and physical health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combinatorial Mutasynthesis of Scrambled Beauvericins,Cyclooligomer Depsipeptide Cell Migration Inhibitors from Beauveria bassiana

Fungal cyclooligomer depsipeptides such as beauvericin, bassianolide, and enniatins display antibiotic, antifungal, insecticidal, broad‐spectrum cancer cell antiproliferative, and cell migration inhibitory activities. We have identified a gene encoding a novel enzyme, ketoisovalerate reductase (KIVR), which is the sole provider of D ‐hydroxyisovalerate (D ‐Hiv), a common precursor for cyclooligomer depsipeptide biosynthesis in Beauveria bassiana. KIVR and related hypothetical oxidoreductases encoded in fungal genomes are similar to ketopantoate reductases but not to D ‐hydroxycarboxylate dehydrogenases. We demonstrate that a KIVR knockout B. bassiana strain can be used for the efficient mutasynthesis of unnatural beauvericin congeners. Simultaneous feeding of precursor analogues enabled the combinatorial mutasynthesis of scrambled beauvericins, some assembled entirely from unnatural precursors. The effects of the introduced structural changes on the antiproliferative and cell migration inhibitory activities of these analogues were evaluated.     

Investigation of free radicals produced during coal liquefaction using ESR

Coal liquefaction experiments are described which were carried out to dissolve a subbituminous coal in low and high hydrogen content solvents, in which liquid samples were periodically withdrawn and examined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The objectives of this study were to gain information on the free radical processes involved in coal liquefaction, to determine the relative effectiveness of two solvents (H-donor and non-donor) in influencing the radical processes involved in coal liquefaction and to investigate changes in radical concentration on storage.     

Influence of dietary partially hydrogenated vegetable and marine oils on membrane composition and function of liver microsomes and platelets in the rat

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of partially hydrogenated vegetable and marine oils on membrane composition and function of liver microsomes and platelets with particular reference to the metabolism of linoleic acid and the production of arachidonic acid metabolites. Four groups of male weanling rats were fed linoleic acid supplemented diets containing 20% (w/w) of partially hydrogenated low erucic acid rapeseed oil (HLRSO), partially hydrogenated herring oil (HHO), olive oil (OO) and trierucin + triolein (TE) for 10 weeks. An additional two groups were fed partially hydrogenated low erucic acid rapeseed oil and partially hydrogenated herring oil without linoleic acid supplementation (HLRSO- and HHO-, respectively). Substantial amounts oftrans fatty acids were incorporated into liver microsomes (12.6% in group HLRSO) and platelets (7.0% in group HLRSO-). This incorporation was not dependent on the dietary linoleic acid level. Hepatic microsomal Δ⁵-desaturase activity was significantly increased after HLRSO feeding compared to OO feeding. Δ⁶-Desaturase activity did not vary in the linoleic acid supplemented groups. Both Δ⁵- and Δ⁶-desaturase activities were significantly increased in groups without linoleic acid supplementation. Docosenoic acid was incorporated into platelet phospholipids in contrast to liver microsomes. In the platelet, docosenoic acid seemed to have a special preference for phosphatidylserine. Very small amounts were incorporated into platelet phosphatidylinositol. Feeding diets HLRSO, HHO and OO did not influence rat platelet cyclooxygenase or 12-lipoxygenase activity. Platelets from rats fed TE, however, produced significantly less 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) than platelets from rats fed OO. Feeding of HLRSO- and HHO- resulted in a significantly diminished production of the arachidonic acid metabolites 12-HETE, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F_1α in stimulated platelets and aorta. Thus, high dietary levels oftrans isomers of monoenoic acids do not interfere with platelet cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase activity provided sufficient amounts of linoleic acid are available.     

Risk factors for postpartum uterine diseases in dairy cows

The objective of this observational study was to investigate the risk factors for metritis, purulent vaginal discharge, and cytological endometritis. The hypothesis was that purulent vaginal discharge and cytological endometritis would have different risk factors because they represent distinct manifestations of uterine disease. Data generated from 1,363 Holstein cows (3 herds) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial were used. Calving history, periparturient disease incidence, and body condition score at calving and at 63 d in milk (DIM) were recorded. Serum nonesterified fatty acid concentration was measured once during the week before expected calving. Serum nonesterified fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and haptoglobin (Hapto) concentrations were measured at 4 ± 3, 11 ± 3, and 18 ± 3 DIM. Serum progesterone concentration was measured at 21 ± 3, 35 ± 3, 49 ± 3, and 63 ± 3 DIM. Metritis was diagnosed by farm managers within the first 20 DIM using a standardized definition. Cows were examined at 35 ± 3 DIM by a veterinarian for purulent vaginal discharge (mucopurulent or worse vaginal discharge; Metricheck device) and cytological endometritis (≥ 6% polymorphonuclear cells on endometrial cytology; cytobrush device). Statistical analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression models for each disease, accounting for the random effect of herd. Risk factors for metritis included increased nonesterified fatty acid prepartum (≥ 0.6 mmol/L), dystocia, retained placenta, and increased Hapto in the first week postpartum (≥ 0.8 g/L). Risk factors for purulent vaginal discharge included twinning, dystocia, metritis, and increased Hapto (≥ 0.8 g/L) in the first week postpartum. Risk factors for cytological endometritis included low body condition score at parturition (≤ 2.75), hyperketonemia (≥ 1,100 μmol/L), and increased Hapto (≥ 0.8 g/L) in the first week postpartum. These results support the hypothesis that some of the risk factors for purulent vaginal discharge and cytological endometritis are different, which supports that they are distinct manifestations of uterine disease.     

The multifunctional regulatory proteins ABF1 and CPF1 are involved in the formation of a nuclease-hypersensitive region in the promoter of the QCR8 gene

The abundant DNA-binding proteins ABF1 and CPF1 are members of a family of global regulators with diverse chromosomal functions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent evidence suggests that these protein factors may be involved in establishing and maintaining well-defined chromatin structures in promoter regions and other genetic elements. We have investigated the involvement of ABF1 and CPF1 in chromatin organization at the QCR8 gene, encoding subunit VIII of the mitochondrial ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The promoter region of the QCR8 gene contains overlapping binding sites for ABF1 and CPF1. Nucleosome positioning studies indicate that the QCR8 gene is associated with a phased array of nucleosomes under both catabolite-repressed and derepressed growth conditions. Analysis of binding site mutants reveals that both ABF1 and CPF1 are involved in maintaining a nuclease-hypersensitive region in the QCR8 promoter. The chromatin structure at QCR8 during steady-state growth is, however, mainly dependent on binding of ABF1 to the promoter region. Implications of these findings for the role played by ABF1 and CPF1 in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and other processes important for cell growth and division will be discussed.     

U.S. gasoline conservation and Japanese auto imports

The sustained drop in gasoline demand since 1979 is juxtaposed on the increasing share of the domestic automobile market held by the Japanese imports and the attendant rise in new car fuel efficiencies. Car sales from 1978–1981 are used to calculate representative fuel efficiencies which are averaged over the different models and the four years. The sales are assumed to replace older models in the fleet and resulting fuel savings are estimated. Increased protectionist policies are cited which will inhibit the conservation trend.