cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dose Dependent Effects of Progesterone on the Facilitation and Inhibition of Spontaneous Gonadotropin Surges in Estrogen Treated Ovariectomized Rats

These studies determined whether fluctuating physiological plasma progesterone (P) concentrations facilitate as well as inhibit spontaneous LH and FSH surges in F2 primed, ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Two weeks after ovariectomy (Day 0), Silastic implants of estradiol-1 713 (E2) were inserted s.c. at 0900 h into all animals. Silastic P implants of various lengths, which produced plasma P levels ranging between 5-20 ng/ml, were implanted s.c. into separate groups of E2 treated OVX rats 72 h later (Day 3). Another group of E2 treated rats received a s.c. injection of 2 mg P on Day 3. As plasma P levels increased, greater peak plasma LU and FSH levels were achieved during the afternoon of Day 3. However, higher concentrations of plasma P were required to affect significantly spontaneous FSH than LH surges. Further, as plasma levels of P increased, the onset of release of both gonadotropins occurred earlier in the afternoon of Day 3. When plasma P levels were increased above 17 ng/ml, further facilitation of either gonadotropin surge was not observed. Regardless of the plasma P levels present on Day 3, this steroid did not inhibit spontaneous LII surges on this day. In contrast, the absence of spontaneous gonadotropin surges on Day 4 was related to P concentrations present in plasma on Days 3 and 4. In a separate experiment, the pituitary LH responses to 2 i.v. pulse injections of LHRII spaced 120 mm apart were evaluatedin 2 week OVX animals given E2, E2 P or no steroid pretreatment. Both steroid treated groups released more LI-I than did nonsteroid treated animals in response to either LURITI injection. As well, pituitary LH responses to LHRI1 in E2 and E2 P treated rats were greater after the second than after the first injection. However, P treatment of E2 primed animals tended to enhance the self-priming action of LHRH. These data demonstrate that: 1) low physiological P levels can facilitate spontaneous LU and FSH surges on Day 3 as well as inhibit these discharges on Day 4 in E2 primed animals; 2) these P-induced responses are dose dependent; and 3) the facilitory action of P is exerted on CNS neurons and possibly on pituitary gonadotrophs.
Robust discrete-time deflection-limiting commands for flexible systems

Properly shaped reference commands can greatly improve the performance of flexible systems. However, command profiles that move a system without residual vibration while simultaneously limiting transient deflection are very challenging to create. If the command generation problem is formulated and solved in the continuous-time domain, then a non-linear optimisation will generally be required to produce the command. The authors describe a method for creating deflection-limiting commands in the discrete-time domain. The major advantage of this method is that the problem is solved via linear optimisation. This reduces the computational complexity required to create deflection-limiting commands. Additionally, linear robustness constraints can be formulated, allowing for the development of robust deflection-limiting commands. The characteristics of the command profiles are presented as a function of transient deflection limit and the move distance. Experiments performed with an industrial bridge crane verify the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Laminar shear, but not orbital shear, has a synergistic effect with thrombin stimulation on tissue factor expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Introduction High levels of tissue factor (TF) have been associated with atherosclerotic plaques. The specific pathways linked to TF expression in endothelial cells (ECs) have not been well defined. This study compared TF expression in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) exposed to laminar shear stress (LSS) using a parallel flow chamber and to orbital shear stress (OSS) using an orbital shaker. We also compared the effects of thrombin (TH) stimulation of ECs exposed to different shear forces on the expression of TF and investigated the role that second messengers, p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), had in the EC response. Methods HUVECs were subjected to 2, 4, or 6 hours of LSS or OSS in the presence or absence of 4 U/mL of TH. Western blot analysis of ERK1/2 and p38 activation and polymerase chain reaction analysis of TF in the presence of inhibitors to these second messengers was performed in HUVECs subjected to OSS or LSS in the presence or absence of TH. Results TF expression was increased and peaked at 2 hours in all HUVECs exposed to LSS or TH. Stimulation of static HUVECs with TH resulted in an increase in TF expression of 5.68 ± 1.58-, 3.80 ± 1.21-, and 2.54 ± 0.38-fold at 2, 4, and 6 hours, respectively (n = 6 experiments). In the absence of TH, HUVECs exposed to LSS demonstrated a 9.51 ± 0.62-, 7.31 ± 1.43-, and 4.39 ± 1.32-fold increase in TF expression at 2, 4, and 6 hours, respectively (n = 6 experiments). TF was increased significantly more when exposed to LSS in the presence of TH (18.85 ± 1.43-, 15.05 ± 0.95-, and 8.91 ± 1.06-fold increases at 2, 4, and 6 hours, respectively [n = 6 experiments], P P Conclusion LSS and TH independently increased TF expression, but OSS did not. LSS + TH stimulation showed a synergistic effect, which suggests that these mechanical and chemical stimuli work through different pathways or that an intracellular interaction between TH and LSS may be present that does not occur in OSS.
Comparison of mutational changes in involved N1 lymph nodes with those in primary tumors in stage II non-small cell lung cancer: a pilot study.

Abstract Objectives Surgical resection is the standard treatment for stage II non–small cell lung cancer, but recurrence rates approach 60%. This study compared mutational changes in involved lymph nodes and primary tumors from patients with stage II non–small cell lung cancer to determine whether risk factors for recurrence could be identified. Methods Forty patients with resected stage II non–small cell lung cancer (excluding T3 N0 disease) were studied. Microdissection was performed on primary tumors and lymph nodes. Analysis was performed across 9 genomic loci by using polymerase chain reaction amplification. The ratio of fractional allelic loss between involved lymph nodes and primary tumors was used to stratify patients into high-risk (fractional allelic loss ratio of ≥1) and low-risk (fractional allelic loss ratio of Results The median age of the patients was 68 years (range, 42-85 years). Median follow-up was 30 months. Fractional allelic loss was greater in patients with squamous carcinomas compared with that in adenocarcinomas, but survival was similar (35 vs 39 months). The median survival was 35 months in high-risk patients and was not reached in low-risk patients ( P = .3). Disease-free survival was 24 months in high-risk patients and was not reached in low-risk patients ( P = .35). In the subset with adenocarcinoma (n = 18), median survival was 24 months in the high-risk group; no deaths occurred in low-risk patients ( P = .01). Also, disease-free survival was 14 months in high-risk patients and was not reached in the low-risk patients ( P = .05). Conclusions Squamous cancers demonstrate greater mutational changes than adenocarcinomas; this does not affect outcome. The patients with low-risk adenocarcinomas demonstrated superior outcomes compared with those of other patients. These results should be confirmed in larger studies.
Fuel for thought: the hydrogen-powered automobile

A new clean and nondepletable fuel must be found to power automobiles if they are to survive as an economically viable mode of transportation. One such fuel is hydrogen, which was first proposed for internal combustion in 1820. The disadvantages of a hydrogen economy stem from its low boiling points, its not being a primary energy source, and the cost of present conversion technology. Its merits include having the highest energy per unit mass of the chemical fuels, water as its only product, and suitability for a range of applications. New interest in hydrogen buses and passenger cars has prompted some experimentation, but economics will ultimately determine their future. Considerations of safety have already led to guidelines and codes. Production methods include catalytic destruction of hydrocarbon fuels, coal gasification, steam-reforming of natural gas, and splitting the water molecule by electrolysis, thermolysis, or photolysis. 60 references. (DCK)
Promoting minority student learning gains in a prescription practice course

Abstract Minorities are under-represented in pharmacy and other health care professions in the United States. To increase the representation of traditionally underserved minorities, interventions focused on improving learning outcomes in higher education are needed. Keller's Personalized System of Instruction (the Keller method) is an instructional intervention that has produced positive learning gains, particularly for students who are less academically prepared. To assess the impact of the Keller method in promoting minority student learning gains, a variation of the method was implemented in a Prescription Practice course at a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The purpose of this study was to determine whether implementation of the Keller method would create a learning environment where minorities “close the gap” in learning outcomes through achievement of improved learning gains. In addition, this study explored faculty's and students' perceptions about the Keller method. The study demonstrated that underprepared minority students achieved learning outcomes surpassing those of nonminorities. The Keller method should be considered as a possible intervention to promote improved learning outcomes within pharmacy education programs.
Z-pinch plasma channels for the LIBRA reactor design

A newly developed adaptive-grid finite difference scheme is applied to the simulations of Z-pinch plasma channels for the light ion beam reactor-Study LIBRA. Besides its powerful adaptation scheme to resolve the steep gradients in temperature, density, momentum and electrical resistivity, the one-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamics code developed by the authors accounts for the anisotropy of the radiation field in an optically thin plasma. Comparisons with previous studies by Freeman and co-workers indicate the usefulness of the new features in the study of plasma channels for light ion beam fusion. Applications of the new code to LIBRA indicate the feasibility of using argon and nitrogen for the channel plasma. These were ruled out in favour of helium by earlier calculations using a radiative diffusion model. The present calculations treat the thin plasma in the channel more accurately than the diffusion approximation, leading to conclusions different from the previous ones.
Note on ‘Construction of Double Sampling s‐Control Charts for Agile Manufacturing’

He and Grigoryan (Quality and Reliability Engineering International 2002; 18:343–355) formulated the design of a double-sampling (DS) s control chart as an optimization problem and solved it with a genetic algorithm. They concluded that the DS s control charts can be a more economically preferable alternative in detecting small shifts than traditional s control charts. We explain that, since they only considered the average sample size when the process is in control, their conclusion is questionable. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GASTRIC HYPERSECRETION PRODUCED BY MASSIVE SMALL BOWEL RESECTION IN DOGS.

Summary Marked increases in Heidenhain pouch secretion were observed in 4 dogs immediately following removal of the major portion of the small intestine. A similar increase in secretion was seen in 2 dogs after small intestinal bypass, with prompt return to the control level of gastric secretion after restoration of normal intestinal continuity. Only 1 of 4 dogs with antrectomy exhibited a rise in pouch secretion after massive intestinal resection. Possible causes for the gastric hypersecretion observed are discussed.
Persistent effect of noise on the acoustic startle reflex in the rat

Continuous noise facilitates acoustic startle reflexes in the rat. Rats were exposed to noise for 23 h (Experiment 1) or to 23 h of startle eliciting stimuli at the rate of 1/min (Experiment 2). Facilitation was reduced following habituation in Experiment 2, but was unaffected by prolonged noise exposure in Experiment 1. Reflex inhibition produced by a brief noise was not altered by habituation. Prior experiments show that increases in intensity of continuous noise engage two disparate processes which affect the acoustic startle reflex, one facilitatory (arousal) and one inhibitory (masking). The present data reveal that arousal is not diminished by prolonged noise exposure. The loss of facilitation following reflex habituation may be attributed to its increased susceptibility to masking, or to a direct effect of stimulus repetition on the arousal process normally associated with the noise background.
Localization of parathyroid hormone-related protein in the preimplantation mouse embryo is associated with events of blastocyst hatching.

Purpose To determine the pattern of expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its receptor, parathyroid hormone receptor 1 (PTHR1), in mouse embryos in different stages of preimplantation development.
The synthesis of [(Bi2Te3)x{(TiTe2)y}1.36] superlattices from modulated elemental reactants

A solid-state growth technique is described for the preparation of misfit layered compounds [(Bi2Te3)x{(TiTe2)y}1.36] from preconfigured reactants that provide independent control of both x and y. A procedure for optimizing the structure of the preconfigured amorphous reactants is presented demonstrating the importance of controlling both the composition and the absolute thicknesses of the component layers. Data are presented highlighting the effect of the diffusion distances of the preconfigured reactants on the kinetics of product formation.
Special Section on 2011 International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering

We are pleased to present this special issue as an extra session in this month’s journal. This special issue was based on selected papers from the 2011 ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering held in Miami, Florida, June 19–22, 2011, and sponsored by the ASCE technical council on computing and IT (TCCIT). The issue includes 12 conference papers with topics such as ontology-based partial building information model extraction, methodologies for damage detection during continuous monitoring of structures, machine vision-based detection of damage and unsafe work conditions, automated compliance checking of operational plans, and real-time occlusion handling for dynamic augmented reality. The papers were selected from among those considered for the best conference paper award by the TCCIT data sensing and analysis (DSA) and visualization, data modeling, and analysis (VIMS) committees and the conference organizers We want to also acknowledge the extra effort of the ASCE journals staff in assisting with production. In particular, the extraordinary commitment of Kelly Anderson, publishing manager; Nick Violette, editorial assistant; and Holly Koppel, managing editor, are noted. The coordination of special topic issues involves considerably more effort for all concerned. The successful completion of this issue would not have been possible apart from the competent guidance of the ASCE journals staff.
Effect of benzoyl peroxide on antioxidant status, NF-κB activity and interleukin-1α gene expression in human keratinocytes

Benzoyl peroxide (BP) is used as a topical treatment for acne. Besides its anti-bacterial activity, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying its mode of action are not fully understood. In the current study, the effects of BP on cell viability, antioxidant status and, IL-1 and IL-8 gene expression were investigated in HaCaT keratinocytes. Keratinocytes incubated for 24 h with BP exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxicity at concentrations above 250 microM. Furthermore, in the presence of 300 microM BP about 50% of the cellular vitamin E was depleted within the first 30 min. The intracellular ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH) was increased significantly starting 6 h after BP treatments indicating that BP reacts rapidly with targets in the cell membrane and more slowly with those in the cytosol. NF-kappaB transactivation was not significantly affected by BP. However, BP treatment of HaCaT keratinocytes resulted in a dose-dependent increase in IL-1alpha gene expression whereas no changes in IL-8 mRNA levels were observed. These results demonstrate that BP induces an inflammatory reaction mediated by oxidative stress by a pathway independent of the redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB.
The variable impact of computer technologies on the organization of work activities

New computer tools are affecting the ways in which work is accomplished and, in turn, existing patterns of social interaction are shaping the evolution of these highly malleable tools. This paper explores the interplay between a computer-based design environment employed in the creation of machine interfaces and the "users" of this tool, including the user interface designers and the sofware engineers supporting the technology. The use of this has resulted in the restructuring the social organization of the design tasks.
Some instabilities of a completely ionized plasma

Two cases of equilibrium for a highly conducting plasma are investigated for their stability. In the first case, a plasma is supported against gravity by the pressure of a horizontal magnetic field. This equilibrium is found unstable, in close correspondence to the classical case of a heavy fluid supported by a light one. The second case refers to the so-called pinch effect. Here a plasma is kept within a cylinder by the pressure of a toroidal magnetic field which in turn is caused by an electric current within the plasma. This equilibrium is found unstable against lateral distortions.
THE LANDE–KIRKPATRICK MECHANISM IS THE NULL MODEL OF EVOLUTION BY INTERSEXUAL SELECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR MEANING, HONESTY, AND DESIGN IN INTERSEXUAL SIGNALS

The Fisher-inspired, arbitrary intersexual selection models of Lande (1981) and Kirkpatrick (1982), including both stable and unstable equilibrium conditions, provide the appropriate null model for the evolution of traits and preferences by intersexual selection. Like the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, the Lande–Kirkpatrick (LK) mechanism arises as an intrinsic consequence of genetic variation in trait and preference in the absence of other evolutionary forces. The LK mechanism is equivalent to other intersexual selection mechanisms in the absence of additional selection on preference and with additional trait-viability and preference-viability correlations equal to zero. The LK null model predicts the evolution of arbitrary display traits that are neither honest nor dishonest, indicate nothing other than mating availability, and lack any meaning or design other than their potential to correspond to mating preferences. The current standard for demonstrating an arbitrary trait is impossible to meet because it requires proof of the null hypothesis. The LK null model makes distinct predictions about the evolvability of traits and preferences. Examples of recent intersexual selection research document the confirmationist pitfalls of lacking a null model. Incorporation of the LK null into intersexual selection will contribute to serious examination of the extent to which natural selection on preferences shapes signals.
Social Status Correlates of Reporting Gender Discrimination and Racial Discrimination Among Racially Diverse Women

The growing body of research on discrimination and health indicates a deleterious effect of discrimination on various health outcomes. However, less is known about the sociodemographic correlates of reporting racial discrimination and gender discrimination among racially diverse women. We examined the associations of social status characteristics with lifetime experiences of racial discrimination and gender discrimination using a racially-diverse sample of 754 women attending family planning clinics in North California (11.4% African American, 16.8% Latina, 10.1% Asian and 61.7% Caucasian). A multivariate analysis revealed that race, financial difficulty and marital status were significantly correlated with higher reports of racial discrimination, while race, education, financial difficulty and nativity were significantly correlated with gender discrimination scores. Our findings suggest that the social patterning of perceiving racial discrimination is somewhat different from that of gender discrimination. This has implications in the realm of discrimination research and applied interventions, as different forms of discrimination may have unique covariates that should be accounted for in research analysis or program design.
Natural Biomolecules and Protein Aggregation: Emerging Strategies against Amyloidogenesis

Biomolecular self-assembly is a fundamental process in all organisms. As primary components of the life molecular machinery, proteins have a vast array of resources available to them for self-assembly in a functional structure. Protein self-assembly, however, can also occur in an aberrant way, giving rise to non-native aggregated structures responsible for severe, progressive human diseases that have a serious social impact. Different neurodegenerative disorders, like Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and spongiform encephalopathy diseases, have in common the presence of insoluble protein aggregates, generally termed “amyloid,” that share several physicochemical features: a fibrillar morphology, a predominantly beta-sheet secondary structure, birefringence upon staining with the dye Congo red, insolubility in common solvents and detergents, and protease resistance. Conformational constrains, hydrophobic and stacking interactions can play a key role in the fibrillogenesis process and protein–protein and peptide–peptide interactions—resulting in self-assembly phenomena of peptides yielding fibrils—that can be modulated and influenced by natural biomolecules. Small organic molecules, which possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties able to bind to peptide/protein molecules through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic and aromatic interactions, are potential candidates against amyloidogenesis. In this review some significant case examples will be critically discussed.
Effects of neonatal sympathectomy and capsaicin treatment on bone remodeling in rats.

Abstract Bone metabolism may be influenced by the innervation of skeletal tissues. Neuropeptides such as vasoactive intestinal peptide, from sympathetic nerves, and calcitonin gene-related peptide, from sensory nerves, have been implicated as local modulators of bone metabolism. The effect of neonatal sympathectomy and of capsaicin-induced sensory denervation in rats was studied on the following: (i) the radial bone growth and apposition rate in tibiae (normal growth and modeling) and (ii) the percentage of periosteal surface of the mandible occupied by osteoclasts during induced remodeling. Neonate rats were treated with guanethidine, capsaicin, or appropriate vehicle. At seven weeks, maxillary molars were removed to induce remodeling on the buccal surface of the mandible. Animals were killed four days after surgery. Cross-sectional cortical area, medullary area, and periosteal apposition rate were measured by histomorphometry in ground sections of tibiae. The percentage of periosteal surface at the remodeling site occupied by osteoclasts (stained for acid phosphatase) was measured in frozen, undecalcified sections. There was no significant difference in cortical or medullary area or periosteal apposition rate in tibiae between each drug treatment and its control. However, the mandibular bone surface occupied by osteoclasts was increased 45.5% ( P ⩽ 0.005) in animals treated neonatally with guanethidine compared to controls. In contrast, the mandibular surface occupied by osteoclasts was decreased 21.2% ( P ⩽ 0.04) in animals treated neonatally with capsaicin compared to controls. The alteration of bone remodeling (osteoclast surface) by both treatments indicates that sensory and sympathetic nerves play a role in focal metabolism of bone.
Techno-economic assessment of sour gas oxy-combustion water cycles for CO2 capture

Abstract Growing energy demand coupled with the threat of global warming call for investigating alternative and unconventional energy sources while reducing CO 2 emissions. One of these unconventional fuels is sour gas, which consists of methane, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. Using this fuel poses many challenges because of the toxic and corrosive nature of its combustion products. A promising technology for utilizing it is oxy-fuel combustion with carbon capture and storage, including the potential of enhanced oil recovery for added economic benefits. Although methane oxy-fuel cycles have been studied in the literature, using sour gas as the fuel has not been investigated or considered. In this paper, water is used as the diluent to control the flame temperature in the combustion process, and the associated cycle type is modeled to examine its performance. As the working fluid condenses, sulfuric acid forms which causes corrosion. Therefore, either expensive acid resistant materials should be used, or a redesign of the cycle is required. These different options are explored. A cost analysis of the proposed systems is also conducted to provide preliminary estimates for the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The results show the acid resistance cycle with a 4.5% points increase in net efficiency over the cycle with SO x removal. However there is nearly a 9% decrease in the cycle's LCOE for the latter case.
Laser scanning system testing—Errors and improvements

The Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry (SLDV) technique has brought modal testing into a new era. A galvanometer-based laser scanning system for SLDV provides the position accuracy, speed, and flexibility for data acquisition. A novel parallel-shift method has been developed for testing and calibration of the scanning system to meet the precision requirements of modal testing. This parallel-shift method can provide a cost-effective means for a systematic laser scanning accuracy test. However, a number of measurement errors could occur during the scanning accuracy test. These errors could severally affect the accuracy of the test itself. Quantitative determination of the effects of these errors is necessary to evaluate and to improve the accuracy of the test. This paper gives a detailed analysis for all the errors involved in the galvanometer-based laser scanning accuracy test using the parallel-shift method. Improvements of the test setup and procedure are also proposed.
Cu(II)/Cu(0) electrocatalyzed CO2 and H2O splitting

In an earlier report we showed that in concentrated carbonate/bicarbonate solutions, simple Cu(II) salts are highly reactive as water oxidation electro-catalysts. We report here, based on earlier results in the literature, that Cu(0) films on a boron-doped diamond substrate are active toward CO2 reduction to CO and formate. The current densities are higher by ∼2.8 fold than a bulk polycrystalline copper electrode due to the enhanced surface area of the electroplated Cu(0) films. When combined, the two half reactions, catalyzed by Cu(II) and Cu(0), provide a basis for the net electrochemical splitting of CO2 into CO/HCOO− and O2 in CO2/HCO3− buffered aqueous solutions. The resulting electrochemical cell is remarkable for the simple nature of the catalysts, solution conditions, and cell configuration.
The Political Economy of American Agricultural Policy: Three Approaches

Here we examine three approaches to the political economy of American agricultural policy: an ethnocentric approach, a more cosmopolitan public choice approach, and a modification of this more cosmopolitan approach, called a "social contract" approach. The ethnocentric approach is familiar and still widely in use but badly flawed. The public choice approach represents a major improvement but has serious limitations. The social contract approach, it is argued, corrects some of these limitations. The argument is illustrated through reference to several important features of past and present U.S. farm commodity programs.
Gamma ray bursts and the origin of galactic positrons

Abstract A recent observation of the 511 keV electron–positron annihilation line from the Galactic bulge has prompted a debate on the origin of the galactic positrons responsible for this emission. Assuming equilibrium between annihilation and injection of positrons in the Galaxy, we investigate the possibility that positrons were produced by past gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We compare the positron annihilation rate inferred by the observed 511 keV line, with the predicted injection rate due to e + e − pairs leaking out of individual GRBs and those pair produced by GRB photons in the dense molecular clouds at the Galactic center. We conclude that the proposed scenario is marginally consistent with observations, and can reproduce the observed normalization of the annihilation line only for higher-than-average values of the GRB rate in the Galaxy and/or of the molecular clouds optical depth for pair production.
Development of a new class of aromatase inhibitors: design, synthesis and inhibitory activity of 3-phenylchroman-4-one (isoflavanone) derivatives

Aromatase (CYP19) catalyzes the aromatization reaction of androgen substrates to estrogens, the last and rate-limiting step in estrogen biosynthesis. Inhibition of aromatase is a new and promising approach to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer. We present here the design and development of isoflavanone derivatives as potential aromatase inhibitors. Structural modifications were performed on the A and B rings of isoflavanones via microwave-assisted, gold-catalyzed annulation reactions of hydroxyaldehydes and alkynes. The in vitro aromatase inhibition of these compounds was determined by fluorescence-based assays utilizing recombinant human aromatase (baculovirus/insect cell-expressed). The compounds 3-(4-phenoxyphenyl)chroman-4-one (1h), 6-methoxy-3-phenylchroman-4-one (2a) and 3-(pyridin-3-yl)chroman-4-one (3b) exhibited potent inhibitory effects against aromatase with IC(50) values of 2.4 μM, 0.26 μM and 5.8 μM, respectively. Docking simulations were employed to investigate crucial enzyme/inhibitor interactions such as hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and heme iron coordination. This report provides useful information on aromatase inhibition and serves as a starting point for the development of new flavonoid aromatase inhibitors.
Named Entity Transcription with Pair n-Gram Models

We submitted results for each of the eight shared tasks. Except for Japanese name kanji restoration, which uses a noisy channel model, our Standard Run submissions were produced by generative long-range pair n-gram models, which we mostly augmented with publicly available data (either from LDC datasets or mined from Wikipedia) for the Non-Standard Runs.
Complexity, Decidability and Completeness

We give resource bounded versions of the Completeness Theorem for propositional and predicate logic. For example, it is well known that every computable consistent propositional theory has a computable complete consistent extension. We show that, when length is measured relative to the binary representation of natural numbers and formulas, every polynomial time decidable propositional theory has an exponential time ( EXPTIME ) complete consistent extension whereas there is a nondeterministic polynomial time ( NP ) decidable theory which has no polynomial time complete consistent extension when length is measured relative to the binary representation of natural numbers and formulas. It is well known that a propositional theory is axiomatizable (respectively decidable) if and only if it may be represented as the set of infinite paths through a computable tree (respectively a computable tree with no dead ends). We show that any polynomial time decidable theory may be represented as the set of paths through a polynomial time decidable tree. On the other hand, the statement that every polynomial time decidable tree represents the set of complete consistent extensions of some theory which is polynomial time decidable, relative to the tally representation of natural numbers and formulas, is equivalent to P = NP . For predicate logic, we develop a complexity theoretic version of the Henkin construction to prove a complexity theoretic version of the Completeness Theorem. Our results imply that that any polynomial space decidable theory Δ possesses a polynomial space computable model which is exponential space decidable and thus Δ has an exponential space complete consistent extension. Similar results are obtained for other notions of complexity.
Association of multinodular goiter with breast carcinoma: Cowden’s disease1

Cowden’s Disease or multiple hamartoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant genodermatosis associated with abnormalities of the breast, thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. A large percentage of these patients have goiters or other thyroid abnormalities. Physicians should consider the diagnosis of Cowden’s disease in patients presenting with thyroid disease and skin lesions such as papules or skin tags and if present these subjects should be screened for other malignancies associated with this disease.
Heating and thermal transformation of micrometeoroids entering the Earth's atmosphere

The present numerical solutions for the atmospheric entry of 10 micron-1 mm diameter micrometeoroids gave attention to ablative mass loss and cooling, together with gravitational and curvature effects, for entry velocities in the 11.2-72 km/sec range. Maximum temperature and mass-loss rates are found to generally occur at altitudes between 85 and 90 km, during about 1 sec of peak heating; the survival of all particles in the 70 micron-1 mm size range is noted to be limited to those with minimal entry velocity. Virtually all of the 'cosmic spherules' of more than 70-mm diameter, as well as giant unmelted micrometeorites, are implied by the present results to be of asteroidal origin.
Applying the Landscape Model to Comprehending Discourse From TV News Stories

The Landscape Model of text comprehension was extended to the comprehension of audiovisual discourse from text and video TV news stories. Concepts from the story were coded for activation after each sequence, creating a matrix of activations that was reduced to a vector of the degree of total activation for each concept. In Study 1, the degree vector correlated well with participants' ratings of how much the sequence made them think of each concept. In Study 2, the degree vector, vectors based on the number of activations, and the degree of co-activation were used to predict participants' recall. The model predicted recall for the text version well, but only moderately well for the video version. The Landscape Model was modified using Dual Code Theory by coding and analyzing audio and visual information as separate components. It predicted students' recall well, indicating its robustness as a model of discourse processing.
Measurement of the velocity of gases with variable fluid properties

This paper describes the experimental measurements of the time-averaged velocities of gases in a field of variable composition and temperature. The conventional theory of hot-wire anemometry is extended to include the effects of both natural and forced convection to gases having variable fluid properties. Observations of the fully developed turbulent velocity fields in the presence of moderate mass transfer rates revealed no significant effect of mass transfer on the velocity distribution.
Enhanced hepatotoxicity and inhibition of liver endoplasmic reticulum calcium pump by CCl4 in rats fed a thiamine deficient diet.

Abstract Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a thiamine deficient diet for three weeks, then treated with a range of CCl 4 doses (0.01–1-ml/kg). Rats fed the deficient diet grew more slowly (body weight 65 percent of control).and had elevated liver glutathione (GSH) (220 percent of control). CCl 4 hepatotoxicity, assessed by serum glutamicpyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity and histological examination 24 hours after hepatotoxin, was augmented in the group fed the thiamine deficient diet. Likewise, CCl 4 inhibition of liver endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function (glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and calcium pump activities one hour after CCl 4 ) was enhanced in rats fed the deficient diet. These results suggest that thiamine deficiency enhances CCl 4 damage to membranes of the ER and enhances CCl 4 hepatotoxicity.
Serum bupropion levels in 2 breastfeeding mother-infant pairs.

Background These are the first reported data on bupropion and hydroxybupropion levels in infants whose treated mothers were breastfeeding. The information will assist physicians and parents in the risk-benefit decision-making process for bupropion treatment during breastfeeding. Method Serum samples were obtained by venipuncture from 2 mother-infant pairs. The serum was assayed for levels of bupropion and its most active metabolite, hydroxybupropion. Results Neither infant had quantifiable serum levels of bupropion or its metabolite at steady state. Neither infant had medical problems during the time of maternal therapy. Conclusion We recommend obtaining and publishing additional serum level findings for breastfeeding mother-infant pairs since data for bupropion are favorable but limited.
Quenching interactions and nonexponential decay: tryptophan 138 of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme

Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to prepare variants of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme that contain only one tryptophan residue at position 138 and to change the residues in the immediate environment of this buried residue. Replacement of glutamine-105 by alanine results in a 2.7-fold increase in fluoresence quantum yield and converts the fluorescence decay from a highly nonexponential form to a single-exponential decay. This is atributed to electron transfer quenching of tryptophan-138 fluorescence by glutamine-105. Replacemeent of alanine-146 by threonine results in a 1.6-fold decrease in fluorescence intensity, indicating enhanced quenching by glutamine-105; replacement of glutamine-105 by alanine in this species results in a 5-fold in crease in fluorescence intensity. The interpretation of the nonexponential decay of the glutamine-105-containing species is discussed in terms of reversibility of the quenching process.
Revision wrist arthroscopy after failed primary arthroscopic treatment.

Historically, the small number of procedures performed arthroscopically in the wrist as compared with those in other joints has made it difficult to assess the risk factors for complications. An overall complication rate of 0.56% in arthroscopy of all joints was found in a survey of 395,566 arthroscopic procedures by the Arthroscopy Association of North America in 1986, but only 121 of all procedures surveyed were performed on the wrist.1 However, as the number and complexity of arthroscopic procedures of the wrist continue to grow, more data are becoming available on the incidence of complications. Aside from unintended complications and side effects in wrist arthroscopy, little is reported on cases in which therapeutic arthroscopy of the wrist fails to improve symptoms. An understanding of the common reasons why arthroscopy fails to achieve expected results will alert the treating surgeon to assess carefully certain patterns of injury seen via the arthroscope, so that corrective action may be taken at the index procedure. To date, the only systematic study of “causes of failure” in wrist arthroscopy was published by Luchetti et al in 2006, in which 8 of 350 cases of wrist arthroscopy were deemed to have failed to relieve symptoms.2 However, patient outcomes and subsequent procedures were not reported in that study. The true incidence of diagnostic and therapeutic failures of wrist arthroscopy may be obscured by the fact that many failed arthroscopies are converted to, or revised by, open procedures.3 4 5 6 Evaluating cases in which patients undergo multiple arthroscopic procedures for the same complaint may better serve to elucidate the reasons for subsequent procedures, to demonstrate what should have been done at the index procedure, and to predict outcomes for similar patients. The surgeon performing arthroscopy in larger joints enjoys the advantage provided by numerous published reports of the incidence and causes of revision arthroscopy.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 However, no studies have been published to date that specifically examine the indications for revision wrist arthroscopy or its outcomes. The primary purpose of this study was to identify common, preventable patterns of failure in wrist arthroscopy. Our hypothesis was that failure to stage and treat dynamic instability and cartilage wear appropriately would represent the most common failure patterns. A secondary question addressed by this study is whether there is a pattern to outcomes after revision arthroscopy that may suggest that certain patients may benefit more from revision wrist arthroscopy.
Complications of Lymphadenectomy in Urologic Surgery

Lymphadenectomy in urologic surgery provides accurate staging and may be therapeutic in some patients with lymph node metastases. In addition to the associated cost, pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) has the potential for morbidity. This article focuses on the complications associated with PLND, including lymphocele, thromboembolic events, ureteral injury, nerve injury, vascular injury, and lymphedema. With improvements in surgical technique and perioperative care, the morbidity associated with lymphadenectomy may be minimized.
950 A NOVEL FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINING BILIRUBIN BINDING CONSTANTS (LIPIDS AND ALBUMIN) AND SERUM BILIRUBIN (FREE AND TOTAL)

950 A NOVEL FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINING BILIRUBIN BINDING CONSTANTS (LIPIDS AND ALBUMIN) AND SERUM BILIRUBIN (FREE AND TOTAL)
Direct recursion of the ratio of Bessel functions with applications to Mie scattering calculations

The primary goal of this paper is to describe a method to directly calculate the ratios between the Bessel functions of the first and second kind. This new method is introduced and discussed under the context of Mie scattering calculations. Past work on Mie calculations has mostly relied on calculating the Bessel functions separately, then taking the ratio. This technique fails when the order of the functions becomes appreciably larger than the argument. To solve this problem, we developed a stable method to directly calculate the ratio. When applied to Mie scattering calculations, the new method improves the control of the desired accuracy and enables calculations with higher precision. Since many other wave propagation problems also involve the ratios of Bessel functions and our method provides reliable and accurate calculations over a wide range of conditions, we expect it to find applications beyond Mie calculations.
Interfacial Basic Cluster in Annexin V Couples Phospholipid Binding and Trimer Formation on Membrane Surfaces

Annexin V is an abundant eukaryotic protein that binds phospholipid membranes in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In the present studies, site-directed mutagenesis was combined with x-ray crystallography and solution liposome binding assays to probe the functional role of a cluster of interfacial basic residues in annexin V. Four mutants were investigated: R23E, K27E, R61E, and R149E. All four mutants exhibited a significant reduction in adsorption to phospholipid membranes relative to the wild-type protein, and the R23E mutation was the most deleterious. Crystal structures of wild-type and mutant proteins were similar except for local changes in salt bridges involving basic cluster residues. The combined data indicate that Arg(23) is a major determinant for interfacial phospholipid binding and participates in an intermolecular salt bridge that is key for trimer formation on the membrane surface. Together, crystallographic and solution data provide evidence that the interfacial basic cluster is a locus where trimerization is synergistically coupled to membrane phospholipid binding.
A novel pyrophosphate fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase from carrot roots Relation to PFK from the same source

A novel type of pyrophosphate fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) has been purified from carrot roots. The enzyme differs from its counterpart studied from other sources in subunit composition, response to regulatory metabolites and kinetic parameters. The properties of the enzyme are in accord with its function in a tissue that stores substantial quantities of sucrose. In describing the carrot root PFP, we have systematically compared its properties to those of phosphofructokinase from the same tissue. The results support the conclusion that, despite noteworthy similarities, the two enzymes are independent proteins, unlikely to undergo interconversion.
A Linguistic Analysis of Simplified and Authentic Texts

The opinions of second language learning (L2) theorists and researchers are divided over whether to use authentic or simplified reading texts as the means of input for beginning- and intermediate-level L2 learners. Advocates of both approaches cite the use of linguistic features, syntax, and discourse structures as important elements in support of their arguments, but there has been no conclusive study that measures these differences and their implications for L2 learning. The purpose of this article is to provide an exploratory study that fills this gap. Using the computational tool Coh-Metrix, this study investigates the differences between the linguistic structures of sampled simplified texts and those of authentic reading texts in order to provide a better understanding of the linguistic features that comprise these text types. The findings demonstrate that these texts differ significantly, but not always in the manner supposed by the authors of relevant scholarship. This research is meant to enable material developers, publishers, and classroom teachers to judge more accurately the value of both authentic and simplified texts.
Parathyroid hormone‐related protein expression in gynecic squamous carcinoma cells

Background. The regulation of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) mRNA levels and immunoreactive (ir)PTH-rP formation by peptide growth tors, particularly transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), in squamous cell carcinomas of gynecologic origin is largely unknown. Methods. PTH-rP mRNA levels were evaluated by Northern analysis in A431 cells (derived from a human vulvar epidermoid carcinoma) and ME-180 cells (derived from a human papillomavirus-infected squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix). PTH-rP protein levels in cell culture media were evaluated using both radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay techniques. These results were compared with those from a lung carcinoid cell line known to produce PTH-rP, namely, NCI-H727 cells. Results. TGF-β1 or EGF treatment caused an increase in the levels of PTH-rP mRNA in A431 cells; these increases in PTH-rP mRNA were detectable after 60 minutes of treatment, were maximal at approximately 4-8 hours, and were approximately additive. Immunoreactive PTH-rP was not detectable (using two different PTH-rP immunoassays) in the culture medium or cell sonicates of A431 cells before or after treatment with TGF-β1, EGF, or TGF-βl plus EGF. ME-180 cells responded to EGF (but not to TGF-Bl) with an increase in the level of PTH-rP mRNA as early as 2 hours; irPTH-rP was present (by use of either immunoassay) in the medium of these cells at 8 and 24 hours. In NCI-H727 (human lung carcinoid) cells, TGF-β1 and E:GF acted alone and synergistically to effect increases in PTH-rP mRNA and the accumulation of irPTH-rP. Conclusions. TGF-β1 and EGF regulation of PTH-rP gene expression in squamous cell carcinomas of gynecologic origin is unique for each cell line studied and different from that in human lung carcinoid cells. Cancer 1994; 73:1515-21.