cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attenuation of Cardiovascular Responses Following Spinal Blockade in Patients Treated with Propranolol

A retrospective study of patients on β-adrenergic receptor blockers undergoing urologic procedures was performed. Twenty-eight patients were divided into two groups: Group I patients were taking propranolol (40-80 mg tid) and Group II patients, not taking β-adrenergic blockers, served as controls. The blood pressure and heart rate responses following spinal blockade were compared. There were no significant differences in blood pressures, but there were significant differences in heart rate (p
Volumetric Photopolymerization Confinement through Dual-Wavelength Photoinitiation and Photoinhibition

Conventional photolithographic rapid prototyping approaches typically achieve reaction confinement in depth through patterned irradiation of a photopolymerizable resin at a wavelength where the res...
The Library’s Impact on University Students’ Academic Success and Learning

Abstract Objective – The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among student library visits, library resource use, library space satisfaction (e.g., quiet study space), and students’ academic performance (i.e., Grade Point Average or GPA) using quantitative data and to better understand how the academic library has an impact on students’ learning from students’ perspectives using qualitative data. Methods – A survey was distributed during the Spring 2018 semester to graduate and undergraduate students at a large public research institution. Survey responses consisted of two types of data: (1) quantitative data pertaining to multiple choice questions related to the student library experience, and (2) qualitative data, including open-ended questions, regarding students’ perceptions of the library’s impact on their learning. Quantitative data was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlations between students’ library experience and their GPAs, whereas qualitative data was analyzed employing thematic analysis. Results – The key findings from the quantitative data show that student library visits and library space satisfaction were negatively associated with their GPA, whereas most students’ use of library resources (e.g., journal articles and databases) was positively associated with their GPAs. The primary findings from the qualitative data reveal that students perceived the library as a place where they can concentrate and complete their work. Additionally, the students reported that they utilize both the quiet and collaborative study spaces interchangeably depending on their academic needs, and expressed that the library provides them with invaluable resources that enhance their coursework and research. Conclusions – While the findings show that the student library experience was associated with their academic achievements, there were mixed findings in the study. The findings suggest that as a student’s GPA increases, their in-person library visits and library space satisfaction decrease. On the other hand, as a student’s GPA increases, their library resource usage increases. Further investigation is needed to better understand the negative relationship between students’ library visits, library space satisfaction, and their GPAs.
Ferroelectric nonlinear anomalous Hall effect in few-layer WTe 2

Under broken time reversal symmetry such as in the presence of external magnetic field or internal magnetization, a transverse voltage can be established in materials perpendicular to both longitudinal current and applied magnetic field, known as classical Hall effect. However, this symmetry constraint can be relaxed in the nonlinear regime, thereby enabling nonlinear anomalous Hall current in time-reversal invariant materials – an underexplored realm with exciting new opportunities beyond classical linear Hall effect. Here, using group theory and first-principles theory, we demonstrate a remarkable ferroelectric nonlinear anomalous Hall effect in time-reversal invariant few-layer WTe2 where nonlinear anomalous Hall current switches in odd-layer WTe2 except 1T′ monolayer while remaining invariant in even-layer WTe2 upon ferroelectric transition. This even-odd oscillation of ferroelectric nonlinear anomalous Hall effect was found to originate from the absence and presence of Berry curvature dipole reversal and shift dipole reversal due to distinct ferroelectric transformation in even and odd-layer WTe2. Our work not only treats Berry curvature dipole and shift dipole on an equal footing to account for intraband and interband contributions to nonlinear anomalous Hall effect, but also establishes Berry curvature dipole and shift dipole as new order parameters for noncentrosymmetric materials. The present findings suggest that ferroelectric metals and Weyl semimetals may offer unprecedented opportunities for the development of nonlinear quantum electronics.
Symmetries and privacy in control over the cloud: uncertainty sets and side knowledge *

Control algorithms, like model predictive control, can be computationally expensive and may benefit from being executed over the cloud. This is especially the case for nodes at the edge of a network since they tend to have reduced computational capabilities. However, control over the cloud requires transmission of sensitive data (e.g., system dynamics, measurements) which undermines privacy of these nodes. When choosing a method to protect the privacy of these data, efficiency must be considered to the same extent as privacy guarantees to ensure adequate control performance. In this paper, we review a transformation-based method for protecting privacy, previously introduced by the authors, and quantify the level of privacy it provides. Moreover, we also consider the case of adversaries with side knowledge and quantify how much privacy is lost as a function of the side knowledge of the adversary.
Risk of Nonunion with Nonselective NSAIDs, COX-2 Inhibitors, and Opioids

Background Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been found to be important for fracture-healing in animal models, raising concerns about use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors after fractures. We evaluated associations of NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, and opioids with nonunion after long-bone fracture. Methods Using private health insurance claims data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart database from January 1, 2000, to September 30, 2015, we identified adults with a single long-bone fracture or commonly paired long-bone fractures who had 1 year of available follow-up data. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we examined associations between NSAID, COX-2-inhibitor, or opioid prescription fills after the fracture and the risk of nonunion within 1 year, defined as a nonunion diagnosis with a procedure to treat the nonunion. Results A nonunion diagnosis with a procedure to treat the nonunion was identified after 2,996 (0.9%) of the 339,864 fracture episodes, with rates varying by fracture site. The risk of that outcome was greater in patients who had filled COX-2-inhibitor prescriptions (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84 [95% confidence interval = 1.38 to 2.46]) or opioid prescriptions (1.69 [1.53 to 1.86]), but not in patients who had filled nonselective-NSAID prescriptions (1.07 [0.93 to 1.23]) after the fracture. Results were similar when the outcome definition was changed to just a nonunion diagnosis. Conclusions COX-2 inhibitors, but not nonselective NSAIDs, were associated with a greater risk of nonunion after fracture. Opioids were also associated with nonunion risk, although patients filling prescriptions for opioids may have had more severe fractures. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Type IV Pilus Mediates Augmented Adherence to Rhinovirus-Infected Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Human rhinovirus (hRV) is frequently detected in the upper respiratory tract, and symptomatic infection is associated with an increased nasopharyngeal bacterial load, with subsequent development of secondary bacterial diseases. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is a commensal bacterial species of the human nasopharynx; however, in the context of prior or concurrent upper respiratory tract viral infection, this bacterium commonly causes multiple diseases throughout the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The present study was conducted to determine the mechanism(s) by which hRV infection promotes the development of NTHI-induced diseases. We showed that hRV infection of polarized primary human airway epithelial cells resulted in increased adherence of NTHI, due in part to augmented expression of CEACAM1 and ICAM1, host cell receptors to which NTHI binds via engagement of multiple adhesins. Antibody blockade of these host cell receptors significantly reduced NTHI adherence. With a specific focus on the NTHI type IV pilus (T4P), which we have previously shown binds to ICAM1, an essential adhesin and virulence determinant, we next showed that T4P-directed antibody blockade significantly reduced NTHI adherence to hRV-infected airway cells and, further, that expression of this adhesin was required for the enhanced adherence observed. Collectively, these data provide a mechanism by which "the common cold" promotes diseases due to NTHI, and they add further support for the use of PilA (the majority subunit of T4P) as a vaccine antigen, since antibodies directed against PilA are expected to limit the notably increased bacterial load associated with hRV coinfection and thereby to prevent secondary NTHI-induced diseases of the respiratory tract.
Auricular acupressure and auricular acupuncture as an adjunct for pain management during first trimester aspiration abortion: A randomized, double-blinded, three-arm trial.

Abstract Objectives To measure pain and anxiety during first trimester uterine aspiration when using auricular acupressure or acupuncture as an adjunct to usual care. Methods This randomized, double-blinded, three-arm trial enrolled patients undergoing an aspiration procedure for an induced abortion, a miscarriage, or other abnormal intrauterine pregnancy. Trial participants received auricular acupressure, auricular acupuncture, or placebo immediately prior to their procedures. The study began with 1:1:1 randomization, but later overenrolled into the acupressure group after providing retraining for greater fidelity to that intervention. All participants received ibuprofen and a paracervical block. Participants reported pain and anxiety levels via visual analog scores (0–100). Our analysis compared pain scores of those receiving acupressure versus placebo, and those receiving acupuncture versus placebo. Results We randomized 177 participants over nine months and excluded data from four participants. We analyzed data from 70 participants who received acupressure, 51 who received acupuncture, and 52 who received placebo. The groups had similar baseline characteristics, including baseline pain and anxiety scores. For acupressure, acupuncture, and placebo groups, respectively, immediate post-procedure median pain scores were 50, 55, 47.5 (p = 0.88); maximum pain scores during the procedure were 77, 79, 79.5 (p = 0.96); postprocedure anxiety scores were 26, 28, and 21 (p = 0.47). The acupressure group results were similar before and after retraining. Conclusions Receiving auricular acupressure or acupuncture did not result in lower pain or anxiety scores among women undergoing vacuum aspiration compared to a placebo group. Implications The results of this trial were null, thus differing from our previous study that had shown a benefit from auricular acupuncture. Given the conflicting results, incorporating these acupuncture techniques into abortion practice would be premature.
Differential Activity-Dependent Increase in Synaptic Inhibition and Parvalbumin Interneuron Recruitment in Dentate Granule Cells and Semilunar Granule Cells

Strong inhibitory synaptic gating of dentate gyrus granule cells (GCs), attributed largely to fast-spiking parvalbumin interneurons (PV-INs), is essential to maintain sparse network activity needed for dentate dependent behaviors. However, the contribution of PV-INs to basal and input driven sustained synaptic inhibition in GCs and semilunar granule cells (SGCs), a sparse morphologically distinct dentate projection neuron subtype are currently unknown. In studies conducted in hippocampal slices from mice, we find that although basal inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) are more frequent in SGCs and optical activation of PV-INs elicited IPSCs in both GCs and SGCs, optical suppression of PV-INs failed to reduce IPSC frequency in either cell type. Amplitude and kinetics of IPSCs evoked by perforant path activation were not different between GCs and SGCs. However, the robust increase in sustained polysynaptic IPSCs elicited by paired afferent stimulation was lower in SGCs than in simultaneously recorded GCs. Optical suppression of PV-IN selectively reduced sustained IPSCs in SGCs but not in GCs. These results demonstrate that PV-INs, while contributing minimally to basal synaptic inhibition in both GCs and SGCs in slices, mediate sustained feedback inhibition selectively in SGCs. The temporally selective blunting of activity-driven sustained inhibitory gating of SGCs could support their preferential and persistent recruitment during behavioral tasks.
Unmasking of arachidonate-induced insulin release by removal of extracellular calcium. Arachidonic acid mobilizes cellular calcium in rat islets of Langerhans.

Abstract Exogenous arachidonic acid does not stimulate insulin release in Ca ++ -containing medium, but a potent effect was unmasked by extracellular Ca ++ depletion. This secretion met several criteria of exocytotic release. It did not require the oxygenation of arachidonate or its esterification into islet membranes, but was potentiated by the presence of 16.7mM glucose such that 33μM arachidonate could reverse the inhibitory effects of extracellular Ca ++ removal on glucose-induced insulin secretion. Arachidonic acid alone stimulated a rise in intracellular Ca ++ concentrations in dispersed islet cells (measured by the fura-2 technique) equal to that induced by 16.7mM glucose in normal medium. Arachidonic acid may be a critical coupling signal in normal islets.
Untersuchungen zur aufklärung des mechanismus des redoxsystems flavinmononucleotid/dihydroflavinmononucleotid: II. Die berechnung der abhängigkeit der elektronenübergangszahl vom reduktionsgrad für verschiedene kombinationen von zwischenprodukten

Abstract For six different combinations of the components FMN, FMNH2, FMNH*, (FMN· FMNH2), (FMNH*·FMNH2) and (FMN·FMNH*) the distribution of concentration as a function of the degree of reduction x was calculated. The resulting distribution was used to determine the charge number of the electrode reaction z and the value of the total diffusion current as a function of x. It turned out that the experimentally found dependence of z and Ig on x could best be described by the system FMN, FMNH2, FMNH*, (FMNH*·FMNH2), (FMN·FMNH2), if it is assumed that only (FMNH*·FMNH2) is not reducible. this agrees with the conclusion to which we were previously led by our experimental results (compare ref. 1).
Stem cell therapy to promote sensory and motor nerve function recovery in a limb transplant model (TRAN3P.863)

Introduction: Hand and leg transplantation (Tx) in military/civilian populations is increasingly needed to improve the quality of life. Our objective was to investigate whether Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) therapy can improve nerve regeneration and function. Methods: We performed orthotopic syngeneic hind-limb transplants in Lewis (RT1.A l ) rats. Following Tx rats received syngeneic MSC (5x10 6 ; passage ≤8) or vehicle intravenously and locally. Results: Ex vivo expanded Rat MSCs were CD29 + , CD31 - , CD34 - , CD44 + , CD45 low , CD90 + , MHC Class I + , Class II - and pluripotent. Limb Tx was highly successful (100% survival). Four weeks post-Tx sensory nerve function (determined by cutaneous pain reaction) was 70%) and MSCs appear to promote nerve function recovery.
Order parameter oscillations inFe/Ag/Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δtunnel junctions

We have performed temperature-dependent tunneling conductance spectroscopy on ${\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8+\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (BSCCO) planar junctions. The multilayered Fe counterelectrode was designed to probe the proximity region of the $\mathrm{ab}$ plane of BSCCO. The spectra manifested a coherent oscillatory behavior with magnitude and sign dependent on the energy, decaying with increasing distance from the junction barrier, in conjunction with the theoretical predictions involving d-wave superconductors coupled with ferromagnets. The conductance oscillates in antiphase at $E=0$ and $E=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\ensuremath{\Delta}.$ The zero-bias conductance peak behavior is explained by a spin-dependent energy shift and the presence of a broken time-reversal pairing symmetry, which do not depend on the geometrical characteristics of the ferromagnetic film.
El desarrollo de agresión: Biologica, social y factores organísmicos

Este articulo revisa algunos factores que influyen sobre el desarrollo de la agresion en humanos La discusion incluye factores biologicos, sociales y organismicos. En la seccion sobre la influencia de factores biologicos se describen estudios con animales que muestran el papel que tienen algunas estructuras neurales en la conducta agresiva. Se explican algunos efectos hormonales, asi como factores geneticos involucrados en el desarrollo de la agresion. Tambien se discuten implicaciones para los seres humanos y estudios empleando poblaciones humanas. La seccion sobre factores sociales, describe la literatura que explica la influencia de la familia y pares sobre la agresion: Se tratan tambien factores que predicen agresion en contextos diferentes tales como los estilos de crianza y conflictos familiares, y la relacion que existe en diferentes contextos. Se presentan factores organismicos, particularmente de tipo cognoscitivo. Se describe un modelo para el procesamiento de la informacion social, al igual que los efectos de los sesgos atribucionales en la integracion social del nino. Finalmente, se sugieren direcciones para investigaciones futuras.
Translational repression of brlA expression prevents premature development in Aspergillus.

The Aspergillus nidulans brlA developmental regulatory locus consists of two overlapping transcription units, brlA alpha and brlA beta, which encode functionally related polypeptides. We used translational fusions between each of the predicted brlA reading frames and the Escherichia coli lacZ gene to test the hypothesis that developmental regulation of brlA alpha and brlA beta expression occurs through different mechanisms. brlA alpha is transcriptionally controlled and a large portion of brlA alpha-directed beta-galactosidase activity is regulated in a brlA-dependent manner. In contrast, brlA beta mRNA is constitutively transcribed but translation of the brlA polypeptide is prevented by the presence of a short open reading frame (microORF) present in the 5' end of brlA beta mRNA. Removing the microORF initiation codon leads to deregulated brlA expression, resulting in an inappropriate activation of development. We propose that one mechanism for developmental induction in A.nidulans involves translational control.
The status of the osprey in Cape May County, New Jersey between 1939 and 1963

Comparison is made of the population of ospreys in Cape May County, N.J., in the late 1930’s with that in 1963, and with a population of these birds at Tilghman Island, Maryland. Production of young per nest in the 1930’s compares favorably with the production of young in the populations examined in 1963. It is suggested, based on historical evidence, that a decline in the numbers of these birds has been going on for some time. Acceleration of this decline in New Jersey is more obvious in the years covered by this paper.
Influence of Varying Proportions in Combinations of Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol on Biological Response

SummaryBasic dose response curves for estrone, estradiol, and estriol were established using uterine weight method in immature female rats of the Sherman strain. Combinations of estrone + estriol; estrone + estradiol; and estradiol + estriol were set up to study their effect on stimulation of the immature rat uterus. The interpretations were based on the data of dose response curves. A synergistic effect was observed in all of the mixtures studied in the low dose level except with the mixture of estrone + estradiol, which showed it in the higher dose levels. A combination of estrone + estriol resulted in synergism being observed for 3 out of the 5 mixtures studied up to a 5γ dose level. Estriol did not inhibit estrone activity in any of the mixtures. In the study of the 3 estradiol + estriol mixtures there was evidence of inhibition of estradiol by estriol in only one of the mixtures. The manner of action of these combinations of estrogens has been postulated.
Resonant Tunneling and Resonant Excitation Transfer

Issues involved in the tunneling of deuterons in metal deuterides are considered in relation to experimental claims of anomalies in metal deuterides. From earlier studies, screening is thought to be similar to the case of molecular D2. Resonant tunneling has been advocated in the literature as a possible mechanism to achieve tunneling enhancements. We develop a two-level system for a piecewise constant potential model for resonant tunneling that matches the energy levels in the vicinity of a level crossing, arguing that such models are applicable for more general potential models. Resonant tunneling effects and dynamics, including acceleration due to coherence, are accounted for in the model. The model is extended to include relaxation effects, and it is found that one would not expect to find coherent effects associated with tunneling in the case of two deuterons in a metal lattice. We present a simple model for the transfer of excitation from a collection of deuterons to a collection of helium nuclei, a model closely related to resonant tunneling and also to new phonon-coupled SU(N) models under development. The excitation transfer models show coherent enhancements as well as collective effects.
A minimum component AM transmitter to monitor electronic brain stimulation

Construction of a light weight AM transmitter which can be used to monitor implanted electronic brain stimulators is described. The unit can operate continuously for 40 hours on a single battery and can easily be carried by a small laboratory animal. The range of the unit is limited to approximately 1 meter and the transmitted signal can be detected by a standard AM broadcast band receiver. The unit is simple to construct, inexpensive, and reliable in performance.
Quantitative assessment of the effect of chronic phrenicotomy on the induction of the crossed phrenic phenomenon.

The present study was carried out to determine if chronic peripheral phrenicotomy has a functional influence on the plasticity that is normally demonstrated by phrenic motoneurons in the spinal cord following spinal cord injury. Young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an experimental and a control group. Left intrathoracic phrenicotomies were carried out at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks prior to induction of the crossed phrenic phenomenon and crossed phrenic nerve activity recording in the experimental group. Control animals were not subjected to chronic phrenicotomy. In each animal the crossed phrenic phenomenon was induced by left C2 spinal cord hemisection and turning off the ventilator. The reflex-induced activity in the phrenic nerve ipsilateral to hemisection is defined as "crossed phrenic nerve activity." All animals were subjected to spinal cord hemisection 24 h before crossed phrenic nerve activity recording. The results showed that there is a transient but statistically significant depression of crossed phrenic nerve activity at 2 weeks postphrenicotomy and a recovery to the normal activity level at 4 weeks postphrenicotomy. One control experiment was carried out to assess the effects of phrenicotomy on respiratory activity that is normally present in the phrenic nerve (i.e., not reflex-induced). This "primary respiratory nerve activity" is different from crossed phrenic nerve activity in that the phrenic motoneurons are driven by different bulbospinal respiratory pathways. The results indicated a marked decrease in primary respiratory nerve activity at 1 week after phrenicotomy with no significant recovery by the 4th week after phrenicotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluation of Gaussian basis sets in ab initio

Abstract Ab initio wave functions for NH 3 have been calculated using the STONG program, where N is 2 to 6, and with Gaussian 70, employing the 4–31 and 6–31 basis sets. Electric field gradients at the N atom were computed from the gaussian basis orbitals, and, with STONG, also from the equivalent STO's. Results from the two split valence shell Gaussian 70 calculations are in good agreement with values from extended SCF and SCFCI calculations. Because of adequate agreement with more extended calculations, the use of the 4–31 basis set is chosen to calculate field gradients in molecules consisting of five or more second row atoms. It should be adequate for the prediction of the region for searching for new 14 N, 17 O and 2 H NQR spectra. An improved value of the electric quadrupole moment for the 14 N nucleus is proposed.
Targeted gene transfer of different genes to presynaptic and postsynaptic neocortical neurons connected by a glutamatergic synapse.

Abstract Genetic approaches to analyzing neuronal circuits and learning would benefit from a technology to first deliver a specific gene into presynaptic neurons, and then deliver a different gene into an identified subset of their postsynaptic neurons, connected by a specific synapse type. Here, we describe targeted gene transfer across a neocortical glutamatergic synapse, using as the model the projection from rat postrhinal to perirhinal cortex. The first gene transfer, into the presynaptic neurons in postrhinal cortex, used a virus vector and standard gene transfer procedures. The vector expresses an artificial peptide neurotransmitter containing a dense core vesicle targeting domain, a NMDA NR1 subunit binding domain (from a monoclonal antibody), and the His tag. Upon release, this peptide neurotransmitter binds to NMDA receptors on the postsynaptic neurons. Antibody-mediated targeted gene transfer to these postsynaptic neurons in perirhinal cortex used a His tag antibody, as the peptide neurotransmitter contains the His tag. Confocal microscopy showed that with untargeted gene transfer, ∼3% of the transduced presynaptic axons were proximal to a transduced postsynaptic dendrite. In contrast, with targeted gene transfer, ≥20% of the presynaptic axons were proximal to a transduced postsynaptic dendrite. Targeting across other types of synapses might be obtained by modifying the artificial peptide neurotransmitter to contain a binding domain for a different neurotransmitter receptor. This technology may benefit elucidating how specific neurons and subcircuits contribute to circuit physiology, behavior, and learning.
Quantitative Determination of Oxytetracycline Uptake and Release by Juvenile Sockeye Salmon

Abstract A fluorometric procedure has been designed to quantify the uptake and release of submicrogram quantities of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) by young sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. Juveniles and smolts were homogenized in 5% trichloroacetic acid, the solute containing OTC was extracted with ethylacetate, and the OTC within the ethylacetate phase was shaken with calcium to form a fluorescent complex. Fluorescence intensity was linearly related to OTC concentration for both OTC standard solutions and samples extracted from fish. Efficiencies of OTC extraction averaged 36% for standard solutions and 32% for spiked biological material and were independent of OTC concentration for sample spikes ranging from 0.47 to 9.4 μg OTC; the minimum quantity that could be detected against background was 0.17 μg OTC. The method allowed OTC to be detected in 100% of test fish when they were 33 mm long (0.4 g) after 29 d feeding on treated food; usual standard methods allowed 100% detection only after 54 d ...
Biomechanical association of dental and temporomandibular pathology in a medieval Nubian population.

An analysis of the relationship between oral pathology and degenerative change at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was undertaken on an archaeological sample of 122 adult crania from the Medieval site of Kulubnarti in Sudanese Nubia. The crania were sorted into 2 groups: those demonstrating clearly visible bony changes at the joint (TMJ+) and those without visible change (TMJ−). These groups were compared according to 1) age; 2) sex; 3) active dental pathologies (abscesses, caries, partial socket resorption); 4) tooth loss with complete socket resorption; and 5) dental attrition. No statistically significant association was evident between degenerative change at the TMJ and age, active dental pathologes, or dental attrition; however, sex differences and posterior tooth loss with complete socket resorption revealed a significant correspondence to degenerative TMJ changes. Both of these factors agree with the clinical literature and with biomechanical models (most notably that of Hylander) based upon modern populations. Furthermore, the results support the contention that paleopathological conditions can be analyzed from a clinical and functional biomechanical perspective.
Abstract 4878: Bioactive dietary supplements reactivate ER expression in ER-negative breast cancer cells by epigenetic mechanisms involving active chromatin modification

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. One of the important classifications of breast tumors is based on the presence or absence of the estrogen receptor (ER). While the majority of breast cancers are ER-positive, approximately 30% are ER-negative. Patients with ER-positive breast cancer receive hormonal therapy using either tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, and have a better prognosis. However, treatment of patients with ER-negative tumor is challenging due to the poor response to hormonal therapies in the absence ER expression. Many studies have demonstrated the chemopreventive properties of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) and sulforaphane (SFN) through inhibition of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, respectively. In the present study, we have observed that GTPs and SFN dose-dependently inhibit the cellular proliferation in both ER-positive and ER-negative human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Treatment of ER-negative breast cancer cells with GTPs and SFN alone or in combination leads to the reactivation of ER mRNA expression. The combination of 20 µg/mL GTPs and 5 µM SFN was found to be the optimal dose of ER reactivation at 3 days in MDA-MB-231 cells. The reactivation of ER expression was consistently correlated with ER promoter hypomethylation and hyperacetylation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis of the ER promoter revealed that GTPs and SFN decreased the level of dimethyl H3K9, but increased the acetylation by increasing the level of acetyl H3, acetyl H4 and acetyl H3K9. In addition, a combination of GTPs and SFN significantly inhibited DNMT and HDAC activity, which might have an important role in the reactivation of ER expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. The combination of GTPs- and SFN-mediated inhibition of DNMT activity and increase of acetylation underscores the importance of DNMTs and HDACs in maintaining the repressive environment at target genes such as ER. In addition, treatment with tamoxifen in combination with GTPs and SFN significantly increased both cell death and inhibition of cellular proliferation in MDA-MB-231 cells in comparison to treatment with tamoxifen alone. Collectively, our findings suggest that HDAC inhibitors combined with demethylating agents are a promising strategy for the epigenetic reactivation of ER expression for the effective treatment of ER-negative breast cancer. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4878.
Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulates terminal myogenic differentiation by induction of myogenin gene expression

Stimulation of myogenic differentiation by the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) has been established for many years, but our attempts to elucidate the mechanism of that stimulation have been successful only in eliminating some likely possibilities. The recent discovery of a family of muscle determination genes has opened a new approach to this question, allowing specific focus on those genes that might play central roles in controlling myogenesis. We now report that IGF-I stimulates terminal myogenic differentiation in L6A1 cells by inducing a large increase in expression of the myogenin gene. This conclusion is supported by the following observations. 1) Myogenin mRNA is elevated by IGF-I, with a concentration dependency that parallels the stimulation of differentiation, including a decrease in stimulation at higher concentrations. 2) The time course of elevation of myogenin mRNA is consistent with its acting as an intermediate in the signalling pathway between occupancy of the IGF-I receptor and induc...
Comparison of six calcaneal quantitative ultrasound devices: precision and hip fracture discrimination.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is now accepted as a useful tool in the management of osteoporosis. There are a variety of QUS devices clinically available with a number of differences among them, including their coupling methods, parameter calculation algorithms and sites of measurement. This study evaluated the abilities of six calcaneal QUS devices to discriminate between normal and hip-fractured subjects compared with the established method of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The short-term and mid-term precisions of these devices were also determined. Thirty-five women (mean age 74.5 ± 7.9 years) who had sustained a hip fracture within the past 3 years, and 35 age-matched controls (75.8 ± 5.6 years) were recruited. Ultrasound measurements were acquired using six ultrasound devices: three gel-coupled and three water-coupled devices. Bone mineral density was measured at the hip using DXA. Discrimination of fracture patients versus controls was assessed using logistic regression analysis (expressed as age- and BMI-adjusted odds ratios per standard deviation decrease with 95% confidence interval) and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Measurement precision was standardized to the biological range (sCV). The sCV ranged from 3.14% to 5.5% for speed of sound (SOS) and from 2.45% to 6.01% for broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). The standardized medium-term precision ranged from 4.33% to 8.43% for SOS and from 2.77% to 6.91% for BUA. The pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients between different devices was highly significant (SOS, r= 0.79–0.93; BUA, r= 0.71–0.92). QUS variables correlated weakly, though significantly, with femoral BMD (SOS, r= 0.30–0.55; BUA, r= 0.35–0.61). The absolute BUA and SOS values varied among devices. The gel-coupled devices generally had a higher SOS than water-coupled devices. Bone mineral density (BMD) and BUA were weakly correlated with weight (r= 0.48–0.57 for BMD and r= 0.18–0.54 for BUA), whereas SOS was independent of weight. All the QUS devices gave similar, statistically significant hip fracture discrimination for both SOS and BUA measures. The odds ratios for SOS (2.1–2.8) and BUA (2.4–3.4) were comparable to those for femoral BMD (2.6–3.5), as were the area under the curve (SOS, 0.65–0.71; BUA, 0.62–0.71; BMD, 0.65–0.74) from ROC analysis. Within the limitation of the sample size all devices show similar diagnostic sensitivity.
Where Are the Principal Candidates? Perceptions of Superintendents:

This article reports the findings of a study on superintendent perceptions of the quantity and quality of candidates for the principalship. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 10 superintendents of variously sized school districts. Of the respondents, 90 percent indicated a moderate to extreme shortage of principal candidates, with the problem more severe at the high school level. Superintendents offered suggestions for ways to increase the candidate pool for principalships.
Medicinal Chemistry of Bioactive Natural Products. Xiao-Tian Liang and Wei-Shuo Fang, eds. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006, 460 pp., $89.95, hardcover. ISBN 0-471-66007-8.

This book would serve as an in-depth resource reference for anyone concerned about natural products and their application in medicine. The products addressed range from ginkgolides and natural antibiotics to products used to treat …
On Sociological Biophobia

Letters from: [ Andrew Abbott ][1] [ John H. Gagnon ][1] The idea that sociologists are somehow afraid of biological ideas is indeed a “random sample” (Random Samples, 23 Aug., p. 1049). It is probable that for any arbitrary pair of disciplines there is at least one person in each of those disciplines who attributes decline in his or her own discipline to ignorance of the other. Sociology, however, is probably the most catholic of the social sciences at the present time. It has a postmodern corner, but it also has a rational choice corner, a Marxist corner, an ethnographic corner, a “grand theory” corner, a conversational analysis corner, and so on. After all, isn't it one of the basic insights of modern biology that variation is a key to evolutionary development? It is true that sociology, with its broad range of interests and methods, has indulged in more than its share of social scientific foolishness. It is also true that the same broad range has given sociology more than its share of social scientific successes. When people have money to invest in social research, they tend to spend it on methods invented by sociologists; modern demographic methods and modern market research are two obvious examples. Most of the decent social data on the United States and its population has been gathered by sociologists or by people using methods that sociology pioneered. After a decade of applying to social data the dynamic algorithms that were originally developed for the analysis of DNA, I am somewhat surprised to discover that I am afraid of biology. Should I expect a delayed reaction? Will I recant? Are there colleagues out there in biophilic social scientific disciplines who have already done this work and published it where my research assistants and I can't find it? # {#article-title-2} If sociologists do not know much biology, so biologists do not know much sociology. Otherwise the former head of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration would not have compared the U.S. inner cities to the jungle and researchers would be looking at guns, not genes, for the origins of the homicide rate. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.273.5283.1781b
Primary tumor size is associated with ALDHbrbreast cancer initiating stem cells in bone marrow aspirates of primary breast cancer patients.

CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts Abstract #4031 Background The presence of epithelial cells in bone marrow (BM), disseminated tumor cells (DTC), that are CD326+CD45- is a negative independent prognostic factor in primary breast cancer (PBC). Cancer-initiating stem cells (CSC) are purported to be CD44+CD24-, express aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH), and possess self-renewal potential. We examined the expression of CD44, CD24, and ALDH on BM aspirates of patients with PBC. Methods As part of an ongoing prospective study, from September 2006 to May 2008, BM aspirates were collected from 47 PBC patients, median age of 52 yrs (range: 30-76 yrs). At time of BM collection, 9 patients had received neoadjuvant therapy. BM mononuclear cells were analyzed for DTC and CSC phenotype and ALDH function (Aldefluor® assay kit) by 6-color FACS analysis and data correlated with primary lesion tumor size, tumor markers (ER and PR; over-expressed HER-2 by FISH), nodal status, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results The mean (±SEM) percentages of DTC and ALDHbr cells were 1.07% ± 0.09% and 2.17% ± 0.21%, respectively. Within the DTC population, the mean proportion of CSC and ALDHbr cells were 79.6% ±1.69% and 43.8% ± 3.4%, respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between size of the primary tumor and the percentages of DTC (rho =0.364, p = 0.016, n = 43), DTC/ALDHbr (rho = 0.533, p = 0.28, n = 17), and CSC within the DTC/ALDHbr population (rho = 0.790, p = 0.004, n = 11). Specifically, the BM from patients whose primary tumors were 2cm (T2). Addition of Aldeflour® to the immunophenotype analysis further enriched the proportion of CSC phenotype from 79.1% in the DTC population to 92.3% in the DTC/ALDHbr population (p = 0.047). Of particular clinical relevance, patients who received neoadjuvant therapy had a near statistically significantly higher percentage of DTC than untreated patients (adjuvant 0.99% vs. neoadjuvant 1.41 %, p = 0.066) without a significant decrease in the proportion of CSC within the DTC population (adjuvant 78.6% vs. neoadjuvant 84.6%, p = 0.312), suggesting CSC were not eliminated by neoadjuvant therapy. Conclusion Epithelial cells with cancer-initiating stem cell-like phenotypes can be identified in BM aspirates of patients with PBC. The DTC population contained a larger subset of CD44+CD24- cells that overlapped with a smaller subset of ALDHbr cells. The increased percentage of CSC within the ALDHbr population and persistence following therapy further suggests that the relevance of both phenotypes to the mechanism responsible for recurrent disease in breast cancer warrants further investigation and validation. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 4031.
The Developmental Antecedents of Sexual Coercion against Women: Testing Alternative Hypotheses with Structural Equation Modeling

A unified model of the origin of sexual aggression against women on both adult and juvenile sexual offender samples has been developed and successfully tested. This model proposed three major causal paths to sexual coercion against women. In the first path, physical and verbal abuse was hypothesized to produce callousness and lack of emotionality, which disinhibited sexual drive and sexual fantasies. These in turn disinhibited hostile sexual fantasies, and led to sexual coercion. In the second causal path, sexual abuse contributed directly to the disinhibition of sexual drive and sexual fantasies, which through hostile sexual fantasies led to sexual coercion. The third path operated through early antisocial behavior, including aggressive acts. It developed as a result of both physical/verbal abuse and callousness/lack of emotion. It in turn directly affected sexual coercion and worked indirectly through the hostile sexual fantasies path. In the present study, the anonymous responses of a group of 168 blue-collar, community males to an inventory (the Multidimensional Assessment of Sex and Aggression) were used in a structural equation model to test the validity of this model. Moreover, this model was pitted against (Malamuth's (1998)) two-path model. Whereas the three-path model had an excellent fit with the data (CFI =.951, RMSEA =.047), the two-path model fit less well (CFI =.857, RMSEA =.079). These results indicate the superiority of the three-path model and suggest that it constitutes a solid, empirically disconfirmable heuristic for the etiology of sexual coercion against women.
Exceptional Paper---Markov Renewal Theory: A Survey

The objective is to survey the major results and applications in an informal setting. The exposition is restricted to finite state spaces; some real problems are modelled and the lines of attack are indicated; and an extensive bibliography is provided to get a further glimpse of the variety of applications. Throughout, the parallels with renewal theory are brought out, and the unity of thought afforded by the formalism of Markov renewal equations is stressed.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOW-COST SYSTOLIC ARRAY SYSTEM

Actual implementations of systolic arrays are currently thought of as being large, complex and expensive. However, by taking advantage of commercially available multiplier/accumulator chips, a systolic array can be assembled as a low-cost, compact board-level system. We describe one such practical design which uses the NCR45CM16 CMOS multiplier/accumulator together with a specially-designed controller/router chip which handles the intracell and intercell communications functions. A demonstration four-cell linear systolic array has been constructed and tested using a PC/XT host computer. An assembler program, which also runs on the host, translates an assembler code representation of a systolic algorithm into object code. The object code is then transferred from the host to the systolic array for execution. Sample matrix computations demonstrate that the systolic array is functioning properly.
Effect of nonhydrostatic stresses on solid-fluid equilibrium. I. Bulk thermodynamics

We present a thermodynamic analysis of the effect of nonhydrostatic stresses on solid-fluid equilibrium in single-component systems. The solid is treated in the small-strain approximation and anisotropic linear elasticity. If the latent heat of the solid-fluid transformation is nonzero and pressure in the fluid is fixed, the shift of the equilibrium temperature relative to hydrostatic equilibrium is shown to be quadratic in nonhydrostatic components of the stress. If atomic volumes of the phases are different and temperature is fixed, the shift of the equilibrium liquid pressure relative to a hydrostatic state is quadratic in nonhydrostatic components of the stress in the solid. The stress effects at special points, at which either the latent heat or the volume difference turn to zero, have also been analyzed. Our theoretical predictions for the temperature and pressure shifts are quantitatively verified by atomistic computer simulations of solid-liquid equilibrium in copper using molecular dynamics with an embedded-atom potential. The simulations also demonstrate spontaneous crystallization of liquid on the surface of a stressed solid with the formation of solid-solid interfaces with the same crystallographic orientation of the solid layers. The lattice mismatch between the stressed and unstressed regions is accommodated by misfit dislocations dissociated in a zigzag pattern.
Transgenerational consequences of adolescent morphine exposure in female rats: effects on anxiety-like behaviors and morphine sensitization in adult offspring

Rationale and objective Opiate abuse in adolescent girls has increased in the past decade; however, few animal studies have examined the potential consequences of opiate use occurring at this time. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether exposing female rats to morphine during the peripubertal period can alter the adult behavior of their offspring.