bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Neuropeptide Y on Sucrose and Ethanol Intake and on Anxiety‐Like Behavior in High Alcohol Drinking (HAD) and Low Alcohol Drinking (LAD) Rats
Authors: Badia‐Elder N. E. , Stewart R. B. , Powrozek Teresa A. , Murphy J. M. , Li T.‐K. 
Published: May 2006

Background: In a previous study, neuropeptide Y (NPY) administered into the lateral ventricles decreased ethanol intake in alcohol‐preferring (P) rats but not in alcohol‐nonpreferring (NP) or unselected Wistar rats. The purpose of the present investigation is to extend these findings in selectively‐bred high‐alcohol‐drinking (HAD)1 and low‐alcohol‐drinking (LAD)1 rats by examining the effects of intracerebroventricularly administered NPY on the elevated plus maze test of anxiety and on ethanol and sucrose intake.Methods: Female HAD1 and LAD1 rats were surgically implanted with cannula into the lateral ventricle. Following recovery, a test of anxiety was conducted in which the rats (n= 12–13/group) received either artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) or NPY (10 μg) 10 min prior to a 5‐min test on an elevated plus maze. Following anxiety testing, 11 HAD and 11 LAD rats were trained to self‐administer ethanol (8% w/v), and 5 HAD and 8 LAD rats were trained to self‐administer sucrose (2.5%) during daily 2‐hr sessions. A within‐subject design was used in which the rats were pretreated once a week with aCSF, 5 μg NPY, or 10 μg NPY prior to the drinking sessions.Results: HAD and LAD rats treated with aCSF did not differ in time spent in open arms of the plus maze. NPY increased time spent on the open arms to similar degrees in both rat lines. HAD rats consumed more ethanol and sucrose than LAD rats. NPY increased sucrose intake in both rat lines. However, the same doses of NPY reduced ethanol intake in HAD but not in LAD rats.Conclusion: The plus maze results indicated that selective breeding for high and low alcohol preference in the HAD1 and LAD1 rats, respectively, did not yield differences in anxiety‐like behavior and in response to the anxiolytic effects of NPY. The increases in sucrose intake were consistent with the known orexigenic effects of NPY. The decreased ethanol intake following NPY administration in HAD rats was similar to previous observations with P rats and is consistent with the hypothesis that ethanol intake and NPY activity may be inversely related.
Effect of Baclofen on Alcohol and Sucrose Self‐Administration in Rats
Authors: Anstrom Kristin K. , Cromwell Howard C. , Markowski Tania , Woodward Donald J. 
Published: May 2006

Background:Baclofen, a γ‐aminobutyric acid type B agonist, has been proposed as a pharmacotherapeutic agent in the treatment of addictive disorders such as alcoholism. Preclinical studies documenting the effect of baclofen on alcohol intake have provided conflicting results. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of baclofen pretreatment on ethanol‐ and sucrose‐reinforced responding.Methods:Animals were trained to self‐administer a 10% ethanol in water solution on a fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement by using the sucrose‐fade method. With a within‐subject design, the effect of three doses of baclofen (1.8, 3.2, and 5.6 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was examined on 10% ethanol‐ and 2% sucrose‐reinforced responding. Dose‐dependent effects on responding and on drinking‐pattern microstructure were examined.Results:Under a fixed ratio 1 schedule, baclofen reduced responding for alcohol and sucrose reinforcement in a similar, dose‐dependent manner. A dose‐dependent response attenuation was seen during the initial segment of an operant session when highly repetitive response patterns were generated. Further analysis of drinking ultrastructure revealed that baclofen altered the patterns of these repetitive responses by lengthening the self‐initiated intertrial intervals.Conclusions:Systemic baclofen administration attenuates responding for alcohol and sucrose reinforcement in a dose‐dependent manner. If the reinforcing efficacy and response requirement for sucrose and alcohol are matched, then baclofen has similar effects on responding and patterns of drinking microstructure. We conclude that the neural mechanisms that support both ethanol and sucrose self‐administration behavior are sensitive to γ‐aminobutyric acid type B modulation.
Salty and Sour Taste Characteristics and Risk of Alcoholism
Authors: Sandstrom Kristen A. , Rajan Tara M. , Feinn Richard , Kranzler Henry R. 
Published: May 2006

Background: This study examined gustatory measures (intensity and hedonic values of salt and citric acid solutions) that have been reported to differentiate nonalcoholics who are at risk of alcoholism by virtue of having an alcoholic father (PHP) from those with no such paternal history (PHN). The study tested the hypothesis that PHPs perceive salty and sour solutions to be more intense and less pleasurable than do PHNs.Methods: A total of 112 nonalcoholic subjects (44.7% male and 40.2% PHP) provided intensity and pleasantness ratings for a series of salty and sour solutions in varying concentrations.Results: PHP subjects rated salty solutions as more unpleasant than PHN subjects. PHP subjects also showed higher mean sour intensity ratings and less preference for sour solutions than PHN subjects.Conclusions: This study replicates and extends prior findings of salty and sour taste differences as a function of paternal history of alcoholism. Further research is needed to replicate these findings in other populations and to examine their implications for the transmission of alcoholism risk.
Effects of Alcohol on Subjective Ratings of Prospective and Everyday Memory Deficits
Authors: Ling J. , Heffernan T. M. , Buchanan T. , Rodgers J. , Scholey A. B. , Parrott A. C. 
Published: May 2006

Background: Research has shown that heavy alcohol use has a detrimental effect on retrospective memory. Less is known about the effect of alcohol on everyday memory.Methods: This study examined self‐ratings of two aspects of memory performance: prospective memory (for example, forgetting to pass on a message) and everyday memory (measured by cognitive failures, such as telling someone a joke that you have told them before). To ensure anonymity and expand on the numbers of participants used in previous studies, data were collected by using the Internet. Data from 763 participants remained after data screening.Results: After controlling for other drug and strategy use, there was clear evidence that differential use of alcohol was associated with impairments in the long‐term aspect of prospective memory and with an increased number of cognitive failures.Conclusions: These results support and extend the findings of previous research: our findings are consistent with the idea that heavy use of alcohol does have a significant and negative effect on everyday cognitive performance. Possible causes of these impairments are discussed.
Socioeconomic Risk in Development of Energy Systems
Authors: Ursu Ion , Vamanu Dan , Gheorghe Adrian , Purica Ion I. 
Published: May 2006

A soft mathematical model, taking stock of the stochastic and cooperative features of the economy of thinking in the decision making, is aggregated to unveil hidden connections between energy policy and the energy technology choices of an establishment. Starting from several assumptions on the nature of the collective decisional behavior, one obtains a probabilistic interpretation of the mechanism of penetration of energy technologies. The probability that the establishment bets on a certain technological profile is given as a solution to a Fokker‐Planck equation accounting for the decision game. It provides a topological variety that accomodates possible states of the system and their trajectories, and indicates ways in which different attractors drive the technology choice in the space of the energy policy.In this framework, a series of concepts (i.e., logistic evolution, resilience, stability, risks of disruption or crisis, energy security) can find in a natural way strikingly intuitive interpretations. Strategic games are possible on this ground, confirming facts of life and also showing predictive power. The complex and difficult to manage interdependence between energy policy and technology appears as a challenge to the long‐term planning of alternative energy systems. To meet the challenge, preparedness for changes through a large freedom of choice on the technological options appears as a necessary complement to the faithful observance of the market drives, which stresses the importance of having available perceptive, coherent, reliable, and responsible mechanisms of decision making.
Technical and Democratic Values in Risk Analysis1
Authors: Fiorino Daniel J. 
Published: May 2006

SummarySo, we can argue that the lay public are not fools in their attitudes about risk. That nonexperts should show more concern over hazardous waste facilities in their neighborhoods than radon levels in their homes is not a sign of irrationality (because aggregate and individual risks are greater from the radon), but simply a sign that nonexperts are working from a different set of criteria. These criteria are incorporated in what I call the democratic model. The democratic model evaluates risk based on its social and political consequences, such as possible disruption in the social fabric or a loss of communality. Lay criteria for assessing the impact of risk decisions are not explicit, like the those of the risk analyst, but are embedded in cultural values. Similarly, lay evaluations of risk incorporate substantive and procedural democratic values, such as the acceptability of processes for making decisions, the ethics of the distribution of risk, and the capacity to control a source of risk in the community's interests. Finally, the democratic model relates judgments about risks to the competence (Can we trust them?) and the legitimacy (Should we trust them?) of the social institutions that impose and control those risks. The public's judgments about risk are not inferior, but different, and arguably richer than those of the experts.
Bayesian Methods for Modeling Recovery Times with an Application to the Loss of Off‐Site Power at Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Iman Ronald L. , Hora Stephen C. 
Published: May 2006

Bayesian methods can be very useful in modeling applications used in risk assessments. For example, a Bayesian analysis can be used to provide a probabilistic comparison of different probability models relative to a set of data, as well as to provide uncertainty bounds on the predictions from the various models. For more complex models or composite models, the Bayesian methods easily adapt to include the uncertainty on the weights associated with each of the models that comprise the composite model. Industry data representing the time to recovery of loss of off‐site power at nuclear power plants are used within this paper to demonstrate these aspects of Bayesian analysis.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSThe Bayesian based method presented in Section 3 for the calculation of posterior odds provides the analyst with a way of quantifying the adequacy of different probability models for a set of data, and thus replaces the subjectivity with an objective criterion. The methods presented in Sections 4 and 5 provide a basis for constructing uncertainty bounds for recovery/probability curves. These uncertainty bounds are useful in risk assessments. The bounds capture parametric uncertainties and uncertainties about relative frequencies of various initiators of events. The methods presented in Section 6 demonstrate how to modify a model to incorporate specific information about the site under study.
Risk Communication, Knowledge, and Attitudes: Explaining Reactions to a Technology Perceived as Risky
Authors: Bord Richard J. , O'Connor Robert E. 
Published: May 2006

Several factors influence peoples’decisions about food irradiation, a technology perceived as risky. Responses to questions about three dimensions of acceptability of food irradiation provide the dependent variables. Risk message characteristics, respondent background characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes form the independent variables. Multiple regression is used to assess relative effects. Levels of acceptability of food irradiation varied somewhat as the focus of the question changed: negative reactions were more likely if the question mentioned serving it to family members than it it stressed self use. The only message manipulation that had a significant impact was information about irradiated food users (e.g., astronauts) and prestigious national and international organizations that endorse food irradiation.Support for a normative/value type of decision‐making is more substantial than for a rational/technical type of decision‐making. Although knowledge of food irradiation correlates with support for the technology, trust factors are much more powerful predictors. The implications for effective risk communications are discussed.
Estimation of Vulnerable Zones Due to Accidental Release of Toxic Materials Resulting in Dense Gas Clouds
Authors: Singh M. P. , Mohan Manju , Panwar T. S. , Chopra H. V. K. 
Published: May 2006

Heavy gas dispersion models have been developed at IIT (hereinafter referred as IIT heavy gas models I and II) with a view to estimate vulnerable zones due to accidental (both instantaneous and continuous, respectively) release of dense toxic material in the atmosphere. The results obtained from IIT heavy gas models have been compared with those obtained from the DEGADIS model [Dense Gas Dispersion Model, developed by Havens and Spicer (1985) for the U.S. Coast Guard] as well as with the observed data collected during the Burro Series, Maplin Sands, and Thorney Island field trials. Both of these models include relevant features of dense gas dispersion, viz., gravity slumping, air entrainment, cloud heating, and transition to the passive phase, etc. The DEGADIS model has been considered for comparing the performance of IIT heavy gas models in this study because it incorporates most of the physical processes of dense gas dispersion in an elaborate manner, and has also been satisfactorily tested against field observations. The predictions from IIT heavy gas models indicate a fairly similar trend to the observed values from Thorney Island, Burro Series, and Maplin experiments with a tendency toward overprediction. There is a good agreement between the prediction of IIT heavy Gas models I and II with those from DEGADIS, except for the simulations of IIT heavy gas model‐I pertaining to very large release quantities under highly stable atmospheric conditions. In summary, the performance of IIT heavy gas models have been found to be reasonably good both with respect to the limited field data available and various simulations (selected on the basis of relevant storages in the industries and prevalent meteorological conditions performed with DEGADIS). However, there is a scope of improvement in the IIT heavy gas models (viz., better formulation for entrainment, modification of coefficients, transition criteria, etc.).Further, isotons (nomograms) have been prepared by using IIT heavy gas models for chlorine, which provide safe distance for various storage amounts for 24 meteorological scenarios prevalent in the entire year. These nomograms are prepared such that a nonspecialist can use them easily for control and management in case of an emergency requiring the evacuation of people in the affected region. These results can also be useful for siting and limiting the storage quantities.
Cancer Risk Estimation of Genotoxic Chemicals Based on Target Dose and a Multiplicative Model
Authors: Granpth Fredrik N. , Vaca J Carlos E. , Ehrenberg Lars G. , Törnqvist Margareta Â. 
Published: May 2006

A mechanistic model and associated procedures are proposed for cancer risk assessment of genotoxic chemicals. As previously shown for ionizing radiation, a linear multiplicative model was found to be compatible with published experimental data for ethylene oxide, acrylamide, and butadiene. The validity of this model was anticipated in view of the multiplicative interaction of mutation with inherited and acquired growth‐promoting conditions. Concurrent analysis led to rejection of an additive model (i.e. the model commonly applied for cancer risk assessment). A reanalysis of data for radiogenic cancer in mouse, dog and man shows that the relative risk coefficient is approximately the same (0.4 to 0.5 percent per rad) for tumours induced in the three species.Doses in vivo, defined as the time‐integrated concentrations of ultimate mutagens, expressed in millimol X kg‐1 x h (mMh) are, like radiation doses given in Gy or rad, proportional to frequencies of potentially mutagenic events. The radiation dose equivalents of chemical doses are, calculated by multiplying chemical doses (in mMh) with the relative genotoxic potencies (in rad X mMh‐1) determined in vitro. In this way the relative cancer incidence increments in rats and mice exposed to ethylene oxide were shown to be about 0.4 percent per rad‐equivalent, in agreement with the data for radiogenic cancer.Our analyses suggest that values of the relative risk coefficients for genotoxic chemicals are independent of species and that relative cancer risks determined in animal tests apply also to humans. If reliable animal test data are not available, cancer risks may be estimated by the relative potency. In both cases exposure dose/target dose relationships, the latter via macromolecule adducts, should be determined.
Mossin's Theorem for Upper‐Limit Insurance Policies
Authors: Schlesinger Harris 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAlthough Mossin's Theorem (“full insurance with a fair premium and less‐than‐full coverage with a proportional premium loading”) is well known for the classes of coinsurance contracts and for deductible‐insurance contracts, it has not been proven for the class of upper‐limit insurance contracts. This article provides a proof for this case.
Caries prevalence and treatment needs of 7‐ to 10‐year‐old schoolchildren in southwestern Germany
Authors: Zerfowski Martin , Koch Martin Jean , Niekusch Uwe , Staehle Hans Jörg 
Published: May 2006

Abstract The caries status of 1784 children aged 7 to 10 years was examined in a cross‐sectional, epidemiological study in the Rhine‐Neckar‐District. Results showed that 30.5% of the children had caries‐free primary and 65.2% had caries‐free permanent teeth. The d(m)ft index was 2.68, and the D(M)FT averaged 0.76. As in previous studies, a high risk caries group was found, with 10% of all children showing more than 50% of all carious and filled teeth in the permanent dentition. Overall, 45.6% of the children's primary teeth and 16.3% of their permanent teeth needed treatment. As indicated by higher DT:FT (DT:FT) ratios in younger age groups, dentists preferred treating older children. Apart from a higher caries prevalence in primary teeth in males, no significant sex differences were found. Children of rural origin had a higher caries experience. The results confirm previous data showing considerable improvements with a declining caries experience in the young population. But the caries status of German pre‐teenage children is still moderately high according to WHO criteria. For further improvements, considerable efforts have to be made with special emphasis on prevention in high risk caries groups.
Thrombospondin-1 expression in urothelial carcinoma: prognostic significance and association with p53 alterations, tumour angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components
Authors: Ioachim E , Michael MC , Salmas M , Damala K , Tsanou E , Michael MM , Malamou-Mitsi V , Stavropoulos NE 
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Background
Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an extracellular matrix component glycoprotein, which is known to be a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and may be important in cancer invasiveness. We examined the TSP-1 expression in correlation with conventional clinicopathological parameters to clarify its prognostic significance in bladder cancer. In addition, the possible correlation of TSP-1 expression with microvessel count, VEGF expression, p53 expression as well as with the expression of the extracellular matrix components was studied to explore its implication in vascularization and tumour stroma remodeling.

Methods
The immunohistochemical expression of TSP-1 in tumour cells and in the tumour stroma was studied in 148 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded urothelial cell carcinoma tissue samples.

Results
TSP-1 was detected in perivascular tissue, at the epithelial-stromal junction, in the stroma and in tumour cells in the majority of the cases. In tumour cells, low TSP-1 expression was observed in 43% of the cases, moderate and high in 7%, while 50% showed absence of TSP expression. A higher TSP-1 immunoreactivity in well and moderately differentiated tumours compared to poorly differentiated was noted. PT1 tumours showed decreased TSP-1 expression in comparison to pTa and pT2–4 tumours. Increased tumour cell TSP-1 expression was related to increased microvessel density. In the tumour stroma, 37% of the cases showed small amount of TSP-1 expression, 7.5% moderate and high, while 55% of the cases showed absence of TSP-1 stromal immunoreactivity. Stromal TSP-1 expression was inversely correlated with tumour stage and tumour size. This expression was also positively correlated with microvessel density, VEGF expression and extracellular matrix components tenascin and fibronectin. Using univariate and multivariate analysis we didn't find any significant correlation of TSP-1 expression in superficial tumours in both tumour cells and tumour stroma in terns of the risk of recurrence and disease progression

Conclusion
Our data suggest that both tumour and stromal TSP-1 expression may play a role in tumour aggressiveness and angiogenesis. In addition, the correlation of stromal TSP-1 expression with extracellular matrix components fibronectin and tenascin indicate its possible implication in tumour stroma remodeling.
The expression of p63 is associated with the differential stage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and EBV infection
Authors: Guo Can , Pan Zhi-Gang , Li Da-Jiang , Yun Jing-Ping , Zheng Mei-Zhen , Hu Zhe-Yu , Cheng Li-Zhen , Zeng Yi-Xin 
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Background
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is common among Southern Chinese and the main histology is the undifferentiated carcinoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. p63 is a recently proved member of the p53 family based on the structural similarity to p53, but its function in NPC is still unknown. This study was aimed to investigate the association between p63 and NPC.

Results
p63 was expressed in 100%(202/202) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues but not in 29 nasopharynx inflammation and 17 non-cancerous nasopharyngeal epidermises on a tissue microarray by immunohistostaining. Further investigation suggested that the p63 expression was associated with the differential stage of NPC: p63 strong staining in Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, differentiated non-keratinizing NPC and undifferentiated non-keratinizing NPC presented the percentage of 5/8 (62.5%), 43/48 (92.5%) and 50/50 (100%), respectively. A significant difference (p = 0.001) existed between the keratinizing and non-keratinizing groups. No pathogenic mutations were detected in p63 gene in 12 primary NPC tissues and matched peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Half-life measurement study revealed distinct stability of p63 protein in the different cell lines, especially between the carcinoma cell lines with EBV infection and the non-cancerous cell lines. The results of immunoprecipitation suggested a direct interaction between Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 5 (EBNA-5) and p63 protein in NPC, and this binding would increase the stability of p63.

Conclusion
Our data suggested p63 might be used as an adjunct diagnostic marker of NPC and contributed a new way to understand the contribution of the EBV in the pathogenesis of NPC.