cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biotin deficiency and the fatty acids of certain biotin-requiring bacteria.

Croom, Jo A. (North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh), J. J. McNeill, and S. B. Tove. Biotin deficiency and the fatty acids of certain biotin-requiring bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 88:389-394. 1964.-The major fatty acids of Lactobacillus plantarum were identified as myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, cis-vaccenic, and lactobacillic. Small amounts of a C(14)-monoenoic acid were also found. The major acids of a biotin-requiring mutant of Escherichia coli were lauric, myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, methylene-hexadecanoic, octadecenoic, and methylene-octadecanoic. The C(16)-monoenoic acid fraction of E. coli also contained small amounts of 7,8-hexadecenoate. The C(18)-monoenoic acid fraction contained 9,10-octadecenoic acid (oleic), with small amounts of 7,8-octadecenoic. Two other components, which had properties similar to tridecanoic and pentadecanoic acids, were also found. Biotin deficiency in L. plantarum decreased the relative amounts of cis-vaccenic and lactobacillic acids, and increased palmitic acid. In E. coli there was no change in the proportion of palmitic acid, whereas there were increases in monoenoic acids and a decreased level of methylene-hexadecanoic acid. In L. plantarum, palmitic and lactobacillic acids increased with age, and cis-vaccenic decreased sharply. In biotin deficiency, there was a decrease of about 20% in total lipid of L. plantarum.
Radiative scaling neutrino mass and warm dark matter

Abstract A new and radical scenario of the simple 2006 model of radiative neutrino mass is proposed, where there is no seesaw mechanism, i.e. neutrino masses are not inversely proportional to some large mass scale, contrary to the prevalent theoretical thinking. The neutral singlet fermions in the loop have masses of order 10 keV, the lightest of which is absolutely stable and the others are very long-lived. All are components of warm dark matter, which is a possible new paradigm for explaining the structure of the Universe at all scales.
Understanding and treating panic disorder in the primary care setting

According to studies, the median prevalence of panic disorder in the primary care setting is 4%. Rates are higher among certain patient populations, such as those with cardiac (20% to 50%) or gastrointestinal presentations (28% to 40%). Consequently, patients with panic disorder are high utilizers of medical services and are heavily represented among patients classified as high health care utilizers, compared with other psychiatric or non-psychiatric groups. Despite its frequency in the primary care setting, panic disorder is significantly under-recognized by medical providers. Corresponding with inadequate recognition is the substantial proportion of these patients who fail to receive appropriate treatment (pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy). Most experts have concluded that panic disorder is poorly managed in the primary care setting because of the process of care and patient engagement. In terms of process of care, primary care practice still operates on an acute disease model (leaving no time for initial patient education or follow-up), which is a poor fit for the management of chronic diseases. Insufficient patient engagement in treatment (i.e., being involved in the treatment process, "buying into" rationale for treatment, and being willing to collaborate with clinician and adhere to recommendations) is the second important contributor to inadequate treatment. Use of a chronic disease self-management approach would enhance treatment of panic disorder. This model requires that patients, in collaboration with the health care provider/system, take day-to-day responsibility for managing their illness by doing 3 things: adhering to recommended medical management, adopting improved health habits/coping skills, and assisting in ongoing monitoring of illness status/change. Future approaches to treating panic disorder in primary care would be enhanced by including assessments of patient beliefs and preferences, spending more time in preparing the patient for treatment, utilizing a simple pharmacotherapy algorithm, utilizing simple rating scales to monitor outcomes, and training providers in brief CBT interventions.
Mutation-based evolutionary algorithms and their applications to optimization of antennas in layered media

We first review the details of two modified evolutionary programming (EP) algorithms, meta-EP and fast evolutionary programming (FEP). These algorithms combine the mutation-based evolution of EP with the self-adaptation of the strategy parameters in ES. The algorithms are then applied to the challenging constrained optimization problem of the printed Yagi-like array of stacked dipoles. Due to the presence of surface-waves and strong mutual coupling effects, the objective function relating the gain to antenna parameters is highly non-linear and possess multiple local maxima. Examples of optimization of the Yagi-like array printed in isotropic as well as uniaxial dielectric layers are given. For the latter case, it is possible to obtain high gain radiation at two different elevation angles in the E and H planes.
Use of plastic scintillator with fiber optics for detection of radiation with high spatial resolution

12 The objective of this paper is to describe a method for detecting x-ray in real time with high spatial resolution. The method uses a 1-meter glass fiber, a 2 mm plastic scintillator, and a collecting device such as photomultiplier tube to respond to the radiation field. This device can be automated for use in any industries, which uses radiation for their processes. The resolution can only be limited by the size of the detector. This plastic scintillator probe has a homogeneous sensitivity and it water equivalent. The scintillator minimizes dose perturbation in water, and it has a emission peak around 432 nm. The reproducibility of the system has been tested, and the percent variation has been less than 3%. The results compared with GafChromic film showed this device is reliable, and it could be used in real time measurements.
C5′-Alkyl Substitution Effects on Digitoxigenin α-l-Glycoside Cancer Cytotoxicity

A highly regio- and stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of various C5′-alkyl side chains of rhamnosyl- and amicetosyl-digitoxigenin analogues has been established via palladium-catalyzed glycosylation with postglycosylated dihydroxylation or diimide reduction. The C5′-methyl group in both α-l-rhamnose and α-l-amicetose digitoxin analogues displayed a steric directed apoptosis induction and tumor growth inhibition against nonsmall cell human lung cancer cells (NCI-H460). The antitumor activity is significantly reduced when the steric hindrance is increased at the C5′-stereocenter.
Trehalose in the Cellular Slime Mould Dictyostelium mucoroides

IN 1925 Iwanoff1 demonstrated the presence of the non-reducing disaccharide, trehalose, in isolated spores of the acellular slime mould, Reticularia lycoperdon (Myxomycetes). Recent work2 on soluble carbohydrates in the cellular slime moulds have not mentioned the presence or absence of this sugar. The present report concerns the occurrence of trehalose in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium mucoroides (Acrasiales), and preliminary work on the role of this sugar during development.
Retinoic acid signaling is necessary for the development of the organ of Corti

Abstract The cellular mosaic of the mammalian organ of Corti represents one of the most highly ordered structures in any vertebrate system. A single row of inner hair cells and three or four rows of outer hair cells extend along the basal-to-apical axis of the cochlea. The factors that play a role in the development of specific cell types within the cochlea are largely unknown; however, the results of previous studies have strongly suggested that retinoic acid plays a role in the development of cells as hair cells. To determine whether cochlear progenitor cells can respond directly to retinoic acid, the expression patterns for each of the RAR and RXR receptors within the embryonic cochlear duct were determined by in situ hybridization. Results indicate that RARα, RXRα, and RXRγ are initially expressed throughout the cochlear duct. As development continues, the expression of each receptor becomes more intense in cells that will develop as hair cells. At the same time, receptor expression is down-regulated in cells that will develop as nonsensory cell types. To determine the effects of retinoic acid signaling during the development of the organ of Corti, activation of retinoid receptors was blocked in cultures of the embryonic cochlea through receptor-specific antagonism or inhibition of retinoic acid synthesis. Results indicate that inhibition of retinoic acid signaling induces a significant decrease in the number of cells that develop as hair cells and a disruption in the development of the organ of Corti. These results demonstrate that cells within the developing cochlea can respond to retinoic acid and that signaling by retinoic acid is necessary for the normal development of the organ of Corti.
Energetic basis of structural stability in the molten globule state: alpha-lactalbumin.

The denatured states of alpha-lactalbumin, which have features of a molten globule state, have been studied to elucidate the energetics of the molten globule state and its contribution to the stability of the native conformation. Analysis of calorimetric and CD data shows that the heat capacity increment of alpha-lactalbumin denaturation highly correlates with the degree of disorder of the residual structure of the state. As a result, the denaturational transition of alpha-lactalbumin from the native to a highly ordered compact denatured state, and from the native to the disordered unfolded state are described by different thermodynamic functions. The enthalpy and entropy of the denaturation of alpha-lactalbumin to compact denatured state are always greater than the enthalpy and entropy of its unfolding. This difference represents the unfolding of the molten globule state. Calorimetric measurements of the heat effect associated with the unfolding of the molten globule state reveal that it is negative in sign over the temperature range of molten globule stability. This observation demonstrates the energetic specificity of the molten globule state, which, in contrast to a protein with unique tertiary structure, is stabilized by the dominance of negative entropy and enthalpy of hydration over the positive conformational entropy and enthalpy of internal interactions. It is concluded that at physiological temperatures the entropy of dehydration is the dominant factor providing stability for the compact intermediate state on the folding pathway, while for the stability of the native state, the conformational enthalpy is the dominant factor.
Estimates of aerosol species scattering characteristics as a function of relative humidity

Abstract The absorption of water by ambient aerosols can significantly increase the light scattering coefficient and thereby affect issues such as visibility and climate forcing. Although water absorption by inorganic compounds and mixtures of inorganic compounds can often be modeled with adequate certainty for most applications, modeling water uptake by organic aerosols at present is speculative. In this paper, we present data in the form of f (RH)= b scat (RH)/ b scat,dr y , where b scat (RH) is the scattering coefficient measured at some relative humidity (RH)>20% and b scat,dry is the scattering coefficient measured at RH f (RH) has been measured at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The f (RH) curves obtained from these two sites, which show distinctly different aerosol composition and average RH values, are compared. We also present comparisons between the measured water uptake by ambient aerosol with modeled water uptake by inorganic compounds to estimate the water uptake by organic aerosol.
Diurnal and seasonal contrasts in cloud properties from AIRS data

We discuss diurnal and seasonal contrasts of cloud properties over a tropical region based on analysis of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data.
Domoic acid: A dementia-inducing excitotoxic food poison with kainic acid receptor specificity

Domoic acid (Dom), a rigid analog of the excitotoxic amino acids, glutamate and kainic acid, is believed to be the mussel neurotoxin responsible for a recent food poisoning incident in Canada that killed some people and left others with memory impairment. Since the literature contains very little information pertaining to Dom excitotoxicity, we have systematically evaluated the neuroexcitatory properties of Dom in vitro (cultured hippocampal neurons) and its neurotoxic properties both in vitro (chick embryo retina) and in vivo (adult rat). In the in vitro experiments, the properties of Dom were compared with those of kainic acid, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and quisqualate, each of which is a prototypic agonist at a different subtype of glutamate receptor. Currents induced in hippocampal neurons by Dom and kainic acid were identical and displayed a linear current/voltage relationship (in contrast to NMDA currents) and were nondesensitizing (in contrast to quisqualate currents). Dom currents were not blocked by NMDA antagonists but were blocked by CNQX, an antagonist of non-NMDA receptors. In the chick embryo retina, Dom induced a lesion pattern having the same distinctive characteristics as a kainic acid lesion which differs from that induced by either NMDA or quisqualate, and the Dom lesion was blocked by CNQX but not by NMDA antagonists. Subcutaneous administration of Dom (2.5-3 mg/kg) to adult rats resulted in an acute seizure-brain damage syndrome almost identical to that induced in rats by KA (12 mg/kg) and having important features analogous to the neurotoxic syndrome observed in the human food poison victims.
Review of the Use of Ultrasound for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Enthesitis in Psoriatic Arthritis

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is rapidly advancing, with contemporary machines offering exquisite high-resolution pictures of superficial structures such as tendons, ligaments, bursae, and joints. It is a useful tool that maybe used to evaluate patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. High-resolution transducers readily depict ultrastructural changes in the entheses and surrounding structures, while Doppler modalities elicit signs of increased blood flow, suggesting inflammation. Some of the findings seen at the entheses of psoriatic patients maybe viewed in an alternative framework of an enthesis organ concept. There are limited studies that search for the presence of enthesopathy in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Most of these examine lower extremity entheses with heterogeneous scoring methods. Similar indices have been used to examine patients with psoriasis to elucidate signs of early or occult psoriatic enthesitis. Although ultrastructural differences have been noted compared with control groups, longitudinal data are lacking with regard to placing these changes in the context of future development of psoriatic arthritis or functional outcome.
Assembling code for machines with span-dependent instructions

Many modern computers contain instructions whose lengths depend on the distance from a given instance of such an instruction to the operand of that instruction. This paper considers the problem of minimizing the lengths of programs for such machines. An efficient solution is presented for the case in which the operand of every such “span-dependent” instruction is either a label or an assembly-time expression of a certain restricted form. If this restriction is relaxed by allowing these operands to be more general assembly-time expressions, then the problem is shown to be NP-complete.
Prostaglandin F2α output by human endometrium under superfusion and organ culture conditions

Abstract Specimens of proliferative and secretory human endometrium were incubated under organ culture or superfusion conditions and the levels of PGF 2α in the medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal rates of PGF 2α output during short-term superfusions and long-term (1–2 day) batch incubations, performed on the same tissue specimens, were similar. Basal output of PGF 2α by proliferative endometrium (230–280 ng/mg protein × d) was significantly higher than that of secretory tissue under both experimental conditions. Estradiol (10 −8 M) increased PGF 2α output significantly (4-fold) only in secretory endometrium under organ culture conditions; Progesterone (10 −7 M) decreased it significantly (to 1 2 − 1 4 of the basal level) in both types of endometria during long-term incubations and in proliferative endometrium during superfusion. Glands isolated from proliferative and secretory endometrium produced PGF 2α during superfusion at a rate comparable to that of endometrial tissue under similar conditions. PGF 2α output by glands isolated from secretory endometrium increased significantly (3-fold) when estradiol was added to the superfusion medium.
Sentencing Using Statistical Treatment Rules: What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us

The existing literature seriously misinterprets the available evidence on the predictability of high rate criminal offending and thus the potential value of statistical treatment rules that impose stiffer punishments on offenders with higher predicted risk of recidivism. The misinterpretation results from the failure to take account of the fact that the data used in existing risk assessment exercises come from environments characterized by informal (and sometimes formal) attempts by judges and other actors to base penal treatments on expected recidivism. Findings of little or no predictive power for baseline covariates may simply indicate the efficient use of the available information. We lay out the problem in detail, provide examples from several literatures and then consider general solutions to the problem.
Coincidental Compositional and Orbital Correspondences Among Some Ordinary Chondrites: No Strong Evidence for Meteoroid Streams

Previous attempts to assign ordinary chondrites (OC) to meteoroid streams have been unsuccessful because the orbits of the proposed members had different radiants and, in some cases, the meteorites had significantly different cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) ages. Using more conservative criteria, we have identified four pairs of equilibrated OC (L6 Nejo, Salem; L6 Perpeti, Vouille; L6 Drake Creek, Forsyth; H5 Okabe, Kerilis) wherein each member of the pair could conceivably have been derived from the same immediate precursor body (IPB). The members of each pair are of the same chondrite group and petrologic type; they have similar CRE ages and fell within 1 calendar day of each other (in different years). Because there is a moderate range in oxidation state (represented by mean olivine Fa) among equilibrated OC in each group, similarities in this intrinsic geochemical property between the members of two of the proposed pairs offer some support for the hypothesis that these rocks were derived from the same IPB. If the pairs are genuine, their precursor bodies were probably meter-size near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) with aphelia within or beyond the Main Asteroid Belt. Fragmentation of such NEAs is most likely to have occurred near aphelia; in principle, the ejecta could have spread somewhat along the NEAs’ orbits and collided with Earth on approximately the same calendar date but in different years. However, literature data show that, although ∼670 meteorites with masses ≥10 kg reach the Earth’s surface each year, only five or six falls (typically in this mass range) are observed and recovered. This suggests that the chances of recovering more than one meteorite from a disrupted meter-size body in Earth-crossing orbit are small. It thus seems likely that the similar properties of the proposed OC pairs are due to coincidence.
Accounting for intraclass correlations and controlling for baseline differences in a cluster-randomised evidence-based practice intervention study.

Background: In health care and community-based intervention studies, cluster-randomised designs have been increasingly used because of administrative convenience, a desire to decrease treatment contamination, and the need to avoid ethical issues that might arise. While useful, cluster-randomised designs present challenges for data analysis. First, because of dependencies that exist among subjects within a cluster, methods that account for intra-class correlations have to be used. Second, on many occasions, because of unavailability of large numbers of clusters, lack of balance on baseline measures has to be carefully examined and appropriately controlled for. Aim/Methodology: Two strategies are presented that can be used when analysing data from a cluster-randomised design; both account for baseline differences. Examples of these challenges are provided by a pain management intervention study designed to promote the adoption of evidence-based pain management practices. One approach involves use of a mixed model via SAS PROC MIXED. The other approach involves use of a marginal model: Generalised estimating equations using SAS PROC GENMOD. Implications: In cluster-randomised design, one must adjust for intra-class correlation when evaluating the intervention effect. Although the parameter estimates and their standard errors might be comparable with both random effect and marginal strategies for certain link functions (identity link or log link only), the interpretations are quite different and the two approaches are suitable for indicating answers to different questions. If differences are present concerning baseline measures between experimental and control groups, accounting for baseline measures is important. The choice between a mixed model or marginal approach should be dictated by whether the primary interest is a population or individual.
The quenching of deflagration waves

A simple model of a low Mach number deflagration wave is studied, with emphasis on the effects of a phenomenological heat loss term. It is shown by explicit construction that two quite different solutions, a fast wave and a slow wave, are possible in the adiabatic limit. In both cases the chemical reaction goes to completion and all the fuel is consumed, but for the fast wave the temperature increases from the ambient value to the usual adiabatic flame temperature, whereas the slow wave is isothermal. An analysis for finite heat loss is carried out in the realistic limit of infinite activation energy. In general this leads to a much simplified numerical problem, but for values of the flame speed of greatest physical interest an analytical description is possible. This predicts quenching when the heat loss is too great or the reaction rate too small, and yields simple explicit quenching criteria.
A Short Scale for the Measurement of Change in Verbal Racial Attitude 1

A multidimensional racial attitude inventory has been developed through several factor and cluster analyses of attitudinal statements. This inventory has been validated against attitudinal criterion groups. The purpose of this research was to adapt it from an agree-disagree answer format to a rating format potentially more sensitive to moderate, self-reported, attitude change. Evidence is presented that this adaptation has been accomplished while retaining strong correspondence to the validated inventory.
High-resolution x-ray spectroscopy of supernova remnants and the diffuse background

We present progress in the development of a new sounding rocket payload that will perform high resolution (R~100) x-ray spectroscopy of diffuse celestial x-ray sources. The instrument features a new geometry that allows for high resolution along with high throughput. A wire-grid focuser constrains light from diffuse sources into a converging beam that feeds an array of diffraction gratings in the extreme off-plane mount. Starting with launch in 2006 we can obtain physical diagnostics of supernova remnants such as the Cygnus Loop and ultimately the hot phase of the interstellar medium.
NEIL2 Protects against Oxidative DNA Damage Induced by Sidestream Smoke in Human Cells

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a confirmed lung carcinogen that introduces thousands of toxic chemicals into the lungs. SHS contains chemicals that have been implicated in causing oxidative DNA damage in the airway epithelium. Although DNA repair is considered a key defensive mechanism against various environmental attacks, such as cigarette smoking, the associations of individual repair enzymes with susceptibility to lung cancer are largely unknown. This study investigated the role of NEIL2, a DNA glycosylase excising oxidative base lesions, in human lung cells treated with sidestream smoke (SSS), the main component of SHS. To do so, we generated NEIL2 knockdown cells using siRNA-technology and exposed them to SSS-laden medium. Representative SSS chemical compounds in the medium were analyzed by mass spectrometry. An increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SSS-exposed cells was detected through the fluorescent detection and the induction of HIF-1α. The long amplicon–quantitative PCR (LA-QPCR) assay detected significant dose-dependent increases of oxidative DNA damage in the HPRT gene of cultured human pulmonary fibroblasts (hPF) and BEAS-2B epithelial cells exposed to SSS for 24 h. These data suggest that SSS exposure increased oxidative stress, which could contribute to SSS-mediated toxicity. siRNA knockdown of NEIL2 in hPF and HEK 293 cells exposed to SSS for 24 h resulted in significantly more oxidative DNA damage in HPRT and POLB than in cells with control siRNA. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that decreased repair of oxidative DNA base lesions due to an impaired NEIL2 expression in non-smokers exposed to SSS would lead to accumulation of mutations in genomic DNA of lung cells over time, thus contributing to the onset of SSS-induced lung cancer.
Electronically Tunable Surface-Coil-Type Resonator for L-Band EPR Spectroscopy

The automatic frequency control (AFC) circuit in conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometers automatically tunes the microwave source to the resonance frequency of the resonator. The circuit works satisfactorily for samples stable enough that the geometric relations in the resonance structure do not change in a significant way. When EPR signals are measured during in vivo experiments with small rodents, however, the distance between the signal source and the surface-coil detector can change rapidly. When a conventional AFC circuit keeps the oscillator tuned to the resonator under those conditions, the resultant frequency change may exceed +/-5 MHz and markedly shift the position of the EPR signal. Such a shift results in unacceptable effects on the spectra, especially when the experimenter is dealing with narrow EPR lines. The animal movement also causes a mismatching of the resonator and the 50-ohm transmission line. Direct results of this mismatching are increased noise; shifts in the position of the baseline; and a high probability of overdriving the signal preamplifier with consequent loss of the EPR signal. We therefore designed, built, and tested a new surface-coil resonator using varactor diodes for tuning the resonance frequency to the fixed frequency oscillator and for capacitive matching of the resonator to the 50-ohm transmission line. The performance of the automatic matching system was tested in vivo by measuring EPR spectra of lithium phthalocyanine implanted in rats. Stability and sensitivity of the spectrometer were evaluated by measuring EPR spectra with and without the use of the automatic matching system. The overall experimental performance of the spectrometer was found to significantly improve during in vivo experiments using the automatic matching system. Excellent matching between the 50-ohm transmission line and the resonator was maintained under all experimental circumstances that were tested. This should allow us now to carry out experiments that previously were not possible.
Ontogeny and distribution of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mRNA in rat

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta family isolated from the rat glial tumor cell line, B49. In embryonic dopaminergic (DA) neurons in vitro, GDNF promotes survival, high-affinity dopamine uptake, and neurite outgrowth. We have used a semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific to GDNF to study the developmental expression of GDNF mRNA in central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs of embryonic rat on gestational days E11.5, E13.5 and E18, neonatal rat on postnatal days P0 and P10, and adult rat. GDNF mRNA is expressed throughout the CNS, with highest levels in P0 spinal cord and in P0 and P10 striatum. Lower levels are present in the brainstem (including the ventral mesencephalon, which contains the DA neurons of the substantia nigra), cerebellum, diencephalon, and telencephalon, as well as in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells prepared from P7 cerebellum and astrocytes prepared from P1 cortex. The cerebellum has an unusual temporal pattern of expression, high at birth and in the adult, but undetectable at P10. GDNF mRNA is also expressed in many peripheral tissues at higher levels than in brain. These include embryonic limb bud, kidney and gut; neonatal kidney, gut, lung and testis; and adult lung, liver and ovary. In addition to the predicted RT-PCR product, we also observed a minor band which was shown to be identical to GDNF in the mature peptide sequence, but which has a 78 base pair deletion in the preproprotein sequence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
AAI coherence predicts caregiving and care seeking behavior: Secure base script knowledge helps explain why

Previous research has demonstrated significant links between the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and secure base use and support in marital interactions. The mechanisms underlying such findings ha...
Abstract ES4-2: Cognitive Changes and Breast Cancer Treatments

Cognitive difficulties after cancer treatment are among the most feared outcomes voiced by patients who are approaching the start of chemotherapy. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “chemo brain” or “chemo fog,” is quite common during the acute course of chemotherapy treatment. This may result from direct antieneoplastic drug toxicity, use of premedications and anxiolytics to prevent nausea and vomiting, as well as the expected anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation that accompanies a new diagnosis of cancer and initiation of treatment. For most patients, this fog clears after the completion of acute treatments, and as with many physical symptoms, resolves in the following months. However, 15–25% of post-treatment patients, cognitive complaints persist long after treatment ends. Reports of difficulty concentrating, remembering recent events, multi-tasking, and paying attention are frequent in such patients. For those used to carrying on demanding executive function activities prior to cancer treatment, this can lead to substantial disruption in work and home life. Most of the studies conducted to date with early stage breast cancer have not accounted for the impact of adjuvant endocrine therapy alone or added to adjuvant chemotherapy. This presentation will review emerging data regarding self-reported cognitive complaints, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging as they related to adjuvant therapies for breast cancer. In addition, some of the developing information about potential mechanisms associated with this late effect will be discussed. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr ES4-2.
Computer-Generated Proofs of Phase Portraits for Planar Systems

This paper introduces new algorithms for automatically constructing proofs for the correctness of phase portraits obtained from numerical integration of structurally stable planar polynomial vector fields. These algorithms are based upon the concept of rotated vector fields and the use of interval arithmetic to obtain rigorous bounds on the accuracy of floating point arithmetic calculations. Phase portrait features such as the existence or non-existence of limit cycles in particular regions are proved while avoiding the awkwardness associated with error estimates for the accuracy of approximate trajectories obtained from numerical integration. In some cases this method extends local analysis to obtain a complete, rigorous description of the flow structure of a system.
Economic Disruption and Childhood Obesity Distraction, Disconnection, Displacement of Children’s Health, and a Need for Social Change

Using and adopting Simon Szreter's framework on how economic growth had a deleterious effect on children's health during the Industrial Revolution, this article presents a parallel argument that economic growth, in modern times, also has disrupted the lives of our children expressed by increasing rates of childhood obesity. A comprehensive perspective is presented that describes how economic growth in postindustrial United States has distracted our nation's attention away from a public health's concern for the health of children and social justice. The new normal of childhood obesity represents a disconnection from the harmful reality of childhood obesity and displaces the value of childhood health too far behind adult's pursuits of utility. To provide children a fair opportunity to health, and to help children secure their own future liberty and utility, children need to be able to achieve "just levels" of health that would ordinarily exist if remediable injustices that threaten health were reasonably addressed and eliminated.
Influence of Site-Specific Sulfonation on Acrylic Graft Copolymer Morphology

Novel selectively sulfonated graft copolymers, poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-(poly(sulfonic acid styrene)-b-poly(tert-butylstyrene)), poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-(poly(tert-butylstyrene)-b-poly(styrenesulfonic acid)), and the corresponding sodium sulfonate salts were successfully synthesized. The weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of the graft copolymers were ∼200 000 g/mol and the polydispersity ranged from 1.86 to 2.22. The graft copolymers contained ∼9−10 branches on average and 4 wt % of sulfonic acid or sodium sulfonate blocks adjacent to the backbone or at the branch terminus. The mobility of the sulfonated blocks located at the branch terminus enabled the sulfonated blocks to more readily interact and form ionic aggregates. The glass transition temperatures of the sulfonated graft copolymer with sulfonated blocks at the branch terminus were higher than values for copolymers with sulfonated blocks adjacent to the backbone. This behavior was attributed to the sulfonated blocks at the branch terminus...
Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp: A Rare Benign Tumor of the Alimentary Tract in Children Presenting As Intussusception—Case Report and Review of Literature

Inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) represents a rare cause of gastrointestinal polypoid disease in childhood. Τhe lesion has been described by various names beyond the currently accepted term, including “Vanek's tumour,” eosinophilic or submucosal granuloma, gastric fibroma with eosinophilic infiltration, inflammatory pseudotumor, and hemangiopericytoma. The etiopathogenesis and origin of the mesenchymal spindle-shaped cells that comprise the polyp remains enigmatic. Recent studies have shown familial occurrence, expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRA) and oncogenic PDGFRA mutations in the majority of lesions, suggestive of a neoplastic nature. We present a rare case of a 10-year-old boy with an IFP of the terminal ileum, who presented acutely with intussusception and was treated with a right hemicolectomy. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has been asymptomatic during follow-up. Histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis excluded inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (negative for Alk1, desmin, smooth muscle actin [SMA]), gastrointerstinal stromal tumors (GIST) (negative for CD117) and schwannoma (negative for S100). The lesion was positive for CD34 and faintly for vimentin. Despite the classification of IFPs as a mesenchymal benign neoplasm, in the vast majority of cases, surgical excision alone was curative, and no reports exist of a malignant transformation. A cautious approach with periodic surveillance of the affected children seems reasonable though.
Mariner 9 polarimetry of Phobos and Deimos

Polarization measurements were carried out in orange light for Phobos and Deimos on the Mariner 9 A-camera system at large phase angles. The presence of regoliths on the satellites is indicated by a comparison of the measurement data with the results of laboratory measurements on powdered rock samples. Four different sets of assumptions concerning the filter factors were taken into account in the data reduction process.
Inversion of the 3D exponential parallel-beam transform and the Radon transform with angle-dependent attenuation

The inversion problem for the 3D parallel-beam exponential ray transform is solved through inversion of a set of the 2D exponential Radon transforms with complex-valued angle-dependent attenuation. An inversion formula for the latter 2D transform is derived; it generalizes the known Kuchment–Shneiberg formula valid for real angle-dependent attenuation. We derive an explicit theoretically exact solution of the 3D problem which is valid for arbitrary closed trajectory that does not intersect itself. A simple reconstruction algorithm is described, applicable for certain sets of trajectories satisfying Orlov's condition. In the latter case, our inversion technique is as stable as the Tretiak–Metz inversion formula. Possibilities of further reduction of noise sensitivity are briefly discussed in the paper. The work of our algorithm is illustrated by an example of image reconstruction from two circular orbits.
Stress Appraisal and Coping Response to Hassles Experienced in Outdoor Recreation Settings

The purpose of this article was to report recreationists' coping response to stress experienced in outdoor recreation settings. Stress was defined as daily hassles. The most frequent sources of hassles were litter, noise from other people, damage to the resource, and too many people at campsites. Recreationists used a coping scheme that combined problem and emotion-focused coping mechanisms. Intensity of stress moderately predicted coping response and frequency of stress weakly predicted coping. The use of coping had a moderately positive relationship with negative impacts to the recreation experience resulting from the hassle situation. The results were interpreted using psychological stress theory to offer refinement and future research directions in recreation-stress research.
Seasonal variations in the incidence of sperm morphological abnormalities in dairy bulls regularly used for artificial insemination.

Nineteen dairy bulls aged between 112 years to 812 years were used to study the influence of season on bovine sperm morphology. The bulls were sampled during the winter, summer, spring and autumn of 1977 in the Northern United States of America where it was cold for most part of the year except summer. The winter temperatures (lowest) ranged from 5 °C to −30 °C, while the summer temperatures (highest) ranged from 21 °C to 43 °C. The incidence of sperm head abnormalities ranged between a mean of 1·34% in spring and 3·72% in summer, and there was significant seasonal variation (p < 0·04). For proximal droplets, values ranged between a mean of 1·96% in winter and 3·08% in summer, and seasonal variation was also significant (p < 0·02). There was no significant seasonal variation for distal droplets which ranged from a mean of 1·54% in winter to 2·33% in spring. Tail abnormalities for the four seasons were not significantly different: their range was between a mean of 2·91% in spring and 4·60% in summer. Tail-less heads ranged from a mean of 0·84% in the autumn to 2·74% in winter; there was no significant seasonal variation. Total abnormalities ranged between a mean of 11·21% in the autumn to 14·84% in summer. Seasonal variation for total abnormalities was significant (p < 0·04). Summer was the hottest season of the year and in most of the bulls there were more proximal droplets, abnormal tails, abnormal sperm heads and total sperm morphological abnormalities during this season than during winter, spring or autumn. Manifestation of seasonal variation in the incidence of sperm morphological abnormalities was marked in most bulls, with peak values occurring during the summer.
Automated calibration and imaging with the Allen Telescope Array

Planned instruments such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will measure their data in petabytes. Innovative approaches in signal processing, computing hardware, algorithms, and data handling are necessary. The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a 42-antenna aperture synthesis array equipped with broadband, dual polarization receivers from 0.5 to 11 GHz. Four independent IF bands feed 4 spectral cross correlators and 3 beamformers. In this paper we describe the automated data processing to handle the high data rate and RFI in close to real time at the ATA.
Long-lasting synaptic potentiation induced by depolarization under conditions that eliminate detectable Ca2+ signals.

Activity-dependent alterations of synaptic transmission important for learning and memory are often induced by Ca2+ signals generated by depolarization. While it is widely assumed that Ca2+ is the essential transducer of depolarization into cellular plasticity, little effort has been made to test whether Ca2+-independent responses to depolarization might also induce memory-like alterations. It was recently discovered that peripheral axons of nociceptive sensory neurons in Aplysia display long-lasting hyperexcitability triggered by conditioning depolarization in the absence of Ca2+ entry (using nominally Ca2+-free solutions containing EGTA, “0Ca/EGTA”) or the absence of detectable Ca2+ transients (adding BAPTA-AM, “0Ca/EGTA/BAPTA-AM”). The current study reports that depolarization of central ganglia to ∼0 mV for 2 min in these same solutions induced hyperexcitability lasting >1 h in sensory neuron processes near their synapses onto motor neurons. Furthermore, conditioning depolarization in these solutions produced a 2.5-fold increase in excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitude 1–3 h afterward despite a drop in motor neuron input resistance. Depolarization in 0 Ca/EGTA produced long-term potentiation (LTP) of the EPSP lasting ≥1 days without changing postsynaptic input resistance. When re-exposed to extracellular Ca2+ during synaptic tests, prior exposure to 0Ca/EGTA or to 0Ca/EGTA/BAPTA-AM decreased sensory neuron survival. However, differential effects on neuronal health are unlikely to explain the observed potentiation because conditioning depolarization in these solutions did not alter survival rates. These findings suggest that unrecognized Ca2+-independent signals can transduce depolarization into long-lasting synaptic potentiation, perhaps contributing to persistent synaptic alterations following large, sustained depolarizations that occur during learning, neural injury, or seizures.
More on Measuring Two-Party Competition: A Response to Dunleavy

Abstract Gaines and Taagepera [(2013) How to operationalize two-partyness. Journal of Elections Public Opinion and Parties, 23(4), pp. 387–404] propose two indices of two-party competition for district-level data, both of which are alleged to be flawed. The case against them rests mainly on whether or not elections with one dominant party should be regarded as exhibiting one- or two-way competition. For those inclined to see 90–10% and 50–50% outcomes are different in kind, our indices can provide better measures than the popular effective number of parties or the “gap”. We agree that assessment of a set of outcomes, in a given election or over time, requires careful attention to the important distinction between micro-level data and aggregate measures.
Advances in microRNA experimental approaches to study physiological regulation of gene products implicated in CNS disorders

The central nervous system (CNS) is a remarkably complex organ system, requiring an equally complex network of molecular pathways controlling the multitude of diverse, cellular activities. Gene expression is a critical node at which regulatory control of molecular networks is implemented. As such, elucidating the various mechanisms employed in the physiological regulation of gene expression in the CNS is important both for establishing a reference for comparison to the diseased state and for expanding the set of validated drug targets available for disease intervention. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small RNA that mediates potent inhibitory effects on global gene expression. Recent advances have been made in methods employed to study the contribution of these miRNAs to gene expression. Here we review these latest advances and present a methodological workflow from the perspective of an investigator studying the physiological regulation of a gene of interest. We discuss methods for identifying putative miRNA target sites in a transcript of interest, strategies for validating predicted target sites, assays for detecting miRNA expression, and approaches for disrupting endogenous miRNA function. We consider both advantages and limitations, highlighting certain caveats that inform the suitability of a given method for a specific application. Through careful implementation of the appropriate methodologies discussed herein, we are optimistic that important discoveries related to miRNA participation in CNS physiology and dysfunction are on the horizon.
Analysis of binary electrochromic tungsten oxides with effective medium theory

Abstract Multicomponent oxides are of increasing interest for electrochromic electrodes. To reduce the large number of permutations in composition it would be useful to be able to predict the properties of the mixtures from the pure oxide components. WO3 mixed with V2O5 has been produced by a sol–gel technique in order to increase durability and color neutrality of conventional WO3 electrochromic coatings. Chemical composition was confirmed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Surface morphology was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Electrochromic performance of the films was tested by cyclic voltammetry with in-situ transmission control. Optical constants of vanadium tungsten oxides were determined over the whole solar spectrum. The measurements included variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and spectral transmittance and reflectance. An attempt is made to treat doped tungsten oxide as an effective medium consisting of a mixture of WO3 with V2O5. In the clear state, comparison of optical constants and thickness directly determined on the samples yields qualitative agreement with results from effective-medium analysis. The resulting component fraction also agrees as long as the film density does not deviate too much from the linearly interpolated value between the pure components. For the colored state, preferential trapping of electrons at one atom species hinders the application of effective medium theory.