cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting Intrinsically-Resistant Breast Cancer Stem Cells with Gamma-Secretase Inhibitors.

Background: We showed previously that tumorigenic, mammosphere-forming human breast cancer cells characterized by high CD44 and low or undetectable CD24 levels (CD44 + /CD24 -/low ) are intrinsically resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and therefore may be responsible for cancer relapse. Our goal is identify novel drugs that selectively target these chemotherapy-resistant, tumor-initiating cells. Gene expression analysis of CD44 + /CD24 -/low cells vs. non-tumorigenic cells implicated the Notch, PI3K, and Hedgehog signaling pathways in regulating CD44 + /CD24 -/low cells. Thus, Notch, PI3K-AKT, and/or Hedgehog inhibitors may eliminate this unique subpopulation of cancer cells, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, and could improve patient outcome. To test this hypothesis, we are carrying out a series of preclinical and clinical studies using a gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to target the Notch pathway. Methods: For preclinical studies, stable xenograft lines were generated by transplantation of human tumor biopsy fragments into immunocompromised mice. Mice with tumors (n = 32, 150-300 mm 3 ) were randomized to four treatment groups: 1) vehicle control, 2) chemotherapy: docetaxel 3) drug: GSI (MRK-003, Merck) or 4) combination: docetaxel + MRK-003. During treatment, mice were monitored for tumor volume and body weight. At the end of the treatment cycle, residual tumors were characterized by FACS for the percentage of CD44 + /CD24 -/low cells, as well as for mammosphere-forming efficiency (MSFE) and tumor-initiating capacity. In a complementary clinical trial, breast cancer biopsies taken before and after treatment with GSI (MK-0752, Merck) were characterized for expression of CD44, CD24, and ALDH by FACS and for MSFE. Results and Conclusions: In preclinical studies using two independent triple negative xenograft lines, Notch pathway inhibition reduced mammosphere formation but did not affect tumor volume, with no consistent change in marker expression by FACS. In patient samples, MSFE also declined after the first cycle of GSI/chemotherapy and remained low after subsequent cycles. This response corresponded with a stasis of metastatic growth during five cycles of treatment, but metastatic burden began to increase coincident with the sixth cycle of treatment. Marker analysis suggests that GSI treatment chemo-sensitizes a significant proportion of the otherwise chemo-resistant CD44 + /CD24 -/low cell population indicating that they are dependent on the Notch pathway for survival. The decrease of MSFE in both preclinical and clinical studies suggests that inhibition of the Notch pathway by GSI may reduce the number of tumorigenic cancer cells that would otherwise remain after chemotherapy. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 48.
Mechanistic Analysis of Top-Down Cracks in Asphalt Pavements:

Top-down cracks (TDCs) in flexible and rubblized pavements constitute a distress that has been reported in the United States and other countries. Researchers have reached different conclusions regarding the causes of TDCs. In this study, field and laboratory investigations were conducted on conventional flexible and rubblized pavements exhibiting TDCs. The engineering characteristics of the pavement layers were obtained from the analysis of field data and laboratory test results. Detailed mechanistic analyses were then conducted using these characteristics to determine the potential for TDCs. The results of such analyses were compared with field data and are presented and discussed in this paper. The results and field data show that (a) surface radial tensile stress induced by wheel loads and enhanced by differential stiffness due to construction, temperature, and aging can cause TDCs, (b) aging of the asphalt binder decreases the tensile strength and the tensile strain at failure of the asphalt mix, and (c) the locations of the maximum surface tensile stress predicted by the mechanistic analysis correspond very well to the locations of the TDCs observed in the field.
Calling it Rape: Differences in Experiences of Women Who do or do not Label Their Sexual Assault as Rape

Past research had found that one-half or more of all women who have had an experience that might meet the definition of rape do not label themselves rape victims. The present study examined the actual rape experiences of 33 women who labeled their assault experience as rape and 56 women who did not label their assault experience as rape through questionnaires and open-ended descriptions of what happened during their assault. Quantitative findings replicated past research, finding that acknowledged victims, compared to unacknowledged victims, were older, knew their assailant less well, experienced more forceful assaults, and had stronger negative emotional reactions to the experience. Qualitative analysis revealed that women were mostly likely to acknowledge their experience as rape when the assailant was not their boyfriend and they woke up with a man penetrating them or the assailant used force and dominated them to obtain intercourse. Women assaulted as children also acknowledged their experience as rape. However, when the assault involved a boyfriend, or if the woman was severely impaired by alcohol or drugs, or if the act involved oral or digital sex, the women were unlikely to label their situations as constituting rape.
The biocleavage of isomeric glyceryl ethers by soluble liver enzymes in a variety of species

Abstract We have examined the biocleavage of glyceryl ethers in cell-free liver preparations from rats, dogs, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, hamsters, rabbits, and slugs. Our data confirmed earlier work showing that the co-factor requirements for this cleavage in rat liver are pteridine, O2, and NADPH. We also demonstrated that the enzyme system involved can readily be washed away from the microsomes. This soluble ether-cleaving enzymatic system, characterized by electron microscopy and zonal centrifugation, cleaved the 2-isomers and the C16:0 chain to a slightly greater extent than the 1-isomers and the C18:0 chain. When NAD+ was present in the reaction mixture, the principle 14C products were fatty acids and fatty alcohols; palmitic acid was formed from the C16:0 glyceryl 1-ether, and stearic acid was formed from the C18:0 glyceryl 1-ether. When we omitted NAD+ from the reaction mixture, 14Clabeled fatty aldehydes and fatty alcohols built up and 14C-labeled fatty acids decreased. The NADPH, required for the reduction of the pteridine co-factor involved in ether cleavage, also appears to be required for the reduction of the fatty aldehyde to the alcohol. Only the liver and intestine possessed significant quantities of the ethercleaving enzyme, and its activity varied considerably among species.
An analysis of backscatter Mössbauer spectra obtained with internal conversion electrons

Abstract The dependence of resonance line width, resonance area, and magnitude of the Mossbauer effect on film thickness is analytically resolved for Mossbauer backscattering spectra obtained via the conversion electron. An exponential attenuation law and Fermi-age/diffusion theory are used and intercompared. The Fermi-age/diffusion theory permits the calculation of the conversion electron energy spectrum. The calculated electron energy spectrum for 119 Sn is compared to experiment, and the feasibility of obtaining spatially resolved Mossbauer spectra from thin films is discussed.
The reorganization of monographic cataloging processes at Penn State University Libraries

In 1999 The Pennsylvania State University Libraries established a task force to examine monographic cataloging workflow and processes. The Monographs Task Force used both written and telephone surveys to establish benchmarks for comparison with similar institutions. The Task Force also requested input from staff in Cataloging, Acquisitions and Public Services and queried online discussion lists for feedback about similar reorganizations. The Task Force made recommendations concerning staffing, workflow, and staff training designed to increase efficiency and reduce handoffs. The implementation of initial recommendations have shown positive results.
Media Portrayals of Genetics

To the Editor:The article by Condit et al. (1998)xDeterminism and mass-media portrayals of genetics. Condit, CM, Ofulue, N, and Sheedy, KM. Am J Hum Genet. 1998; 62: 979–984Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (66)See all ReferencesCondit et al. (1998) demonstrates some of the limitations of quantitative analysis. The authors select from Reader's Guide articles listed under “heredity” in various time periods. Not surprisingly, such articles consistently attribute characteristics to genes. When the 50 articles selected from the eugenic period attribute human characteristics to heredity at almost the same rate as those selected from the 1990s, the authors conclude that nothing has changed. Predictably, they find that the “degree of determinism” (which they calculate to the fifth decimal) is consistent over 90 years of profound scientific and social change.The paper is an example of the problem of trying to quantitate what is most compellingly understood in qualitative terms. Our study of the gene in popular culture (Nelkin and Lindee 1995xNelkin, D and Lindee, SM. See all ReferencesNelkin and Lindee 1995), a target of Condit et al.'s paper, was not a quantitative study for the precise reason that the counting of such ambiguous and heterogeneous materials provides little insight into the public meaning of science. We focused on qualitative changes in a much broader literature, to suggest that the gene has acquired new powers as a guide to social policy. In the 1990s, the cultural meanings attached to the gene are shaping employment practices, educational policies, and decisions in the courts. The serious issues raised by the high-profile gene deserve more serious analysis.
Intestinal fat transport during inhibition of protein synthesis. An electron microscopic study

Abstract The present investigations were initiated to examine the ultrastructural aspects of intestinal fat transport and chylomicron formation in rats treated with inhibitors of protein synthesis. Female rats were injected intraperitoneally with puromycin, ethionine or cycloheximide. Fatty chyme was injected into ligated segments of jejunum after suitable periods. With the first two inhibitors, additional segments were injected with radioactive leucine. Following 30 minutes absorption, the chyme-injected segments were prepared for electron microscopy. Labeled segments were assayed for synthesis of radioactive protein. A significant decrease in protein synthesis was shown in rats treated with puromyein or ethionine. Examination of absorptive cells from these treated animals did not revcal evidence for cellular damage or an abnormal pattern of fat transport. Compared with control animals, a similar intracellular distribution of lipids was found. Furthermore, chylomicrons were consistently present in large numbers in extracellular spaces of the epithelium and lamina propria. Similar results were obtained with cycloheximide; however, evidence for cellular alterations were observed in some cells. The results suggest that the relation of protein synthesis to chylomicron transport from the intestine requires further study.
Mechanisms of force and power production in unsteady ricochetal brachiation

Brachiators travel by swinging beneath handholds, and it is not obvious how these animals manage to accelerate and decelerate in a horizontal direction, especially when moving rapidly. Most previous analyses focused on brachiation in highly constrained laboratory conditions that induced steady-state locomotion. Emerging understanding of brachiation suggests that much of gibbon locomotory behavior and morphology must be considered within the context of the complexities of the natural environment: the forest canopy is three-dimensional, with high variation in handhold availability and properties. The goal of this paper is to quantify the active mechanisms by which gibbons can dynamically control their velocity. Force production and kinematics were analyzed from a white-handed gibbon Hylabates lar during ricochetal brachiation. Both the mechanisms of force production and power input may be inferred for accelerating and decelerating brachiation by combining force data with kinematics. Examples of steady-state, accelerating, and decelerating ricochetal brachiation are highlighted. Gibbons are able to produce net horizontal impulses by releasing early (resulting in a loss of potential energy, but an accelerating horizontal impulse) or delaying release (associated with an increase in potential energy, and a decelerating horizontal impulse). Torque about the shoulder, leg-lifting (or dropping), and elbow flexing (or straightening) are discussed as potential mechanisms for controlling energy within the brachiating system. Of these possibilities, leg-lifting and arm-flexing were observed as mechanisms of adding mechanical energy. Net energy loss, and substantial torques about the shoulder, were not observed.
Coulomb effects on charged kaon distributions from Vlasov dynamics

We compute the influence of Coulomb effects on the charged kaon distribution at low momentum in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions. This is accomplished by solving the Vlasov equation for the kaons in the presence of an expanding, highly charged, fireball. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Seasonal changes in pollutant transport to the North Pacific: The relative importance of Asian and European sources

The industrialization of south-east Asia invokes interest in the export path of the associated pollution into the global atmosphere. During the winter the meteorology of this area is dominated by the Siberian anticyclone. Polluted air is typically kept in the planetary boundary layer by the large-scale subsidence and moved southwards. This contrasts with the summer when it can be lifted to the upper troposphere and transported across the Pacific by the aloft. This seasonal variation is investigated using trajectory calculations. Then the influence of pollution from the European region on south-east Asia is investigated. During the winter up to 40% of the tropospheric air entering south-east Asia may have been polluted by Europe. Finally, we propose an extended monitoring program over central Asia to separate south-east Asian pollution from the general pollution found in the Northern Hemisphere, and, to understand the effects of this industrialization.
Radiocarbon in plant products: Geography, Species, and time

Carbon14 measurements, on a global scale, have been made on a large number of essential oils obtained from various plants. The measurements allow conclusions to be drawn on the mixing of some compartments of the atmosphere and, in addition, metabolic differences between various species of plants are demonstrated. The course of C14 fallout, as recorded by the various plants, is charted.
Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President

This volume, the first so-called intellectual biography, explores the role of ideas in Lincoln's life, treating him as a serious thinker deeply involved in the nineteenth-century debates over politics, religion, and culture. Written with passion and dramatic impact, Guelzo's masterful study offers a revealing new perspective on a man whose life was in many ways a paradox.
Directional Correlations and Electric Quadrupole Moments of Mercury Isotopes

The directional correlation of the 368-kev and the 159-kev $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of 44-min ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{199}$ were studied with sources in the form of liquid metal, frozen metal, and dry crystalline Hg${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$. The results in the liquid metal, if free of scattering and of disturbances in the intermediate state, indicate a mixing of 0.8% $E5$ with the predominantly $M4$ first $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray, assuming the second to be pure $E2$. The disturbance observed in the frozen metal suggests a static electric quadrupole interaction $\frac{eQ(\frac{{\ensuremath{\partial}}^{2}V}{\ensuremath{\partial}{z}^{2}})}{h}$ of 593 Mc/sec whereas that in Hg${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ suggests similar interaction of 1100 Mc/sec for the 2.35-m\ensuremath{\mu}sec intermediate state. If the second $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray is a rotational transition, an intrinsic quadrupole moment determined from the intermediate lifetime can be used together with these values and the coupling observed for ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{201}$ in Hg${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ to compute the electric quadrupole moment of ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{201}$. The resulting value of ${0.46}_{\ensuremath{-}0.11}^{+0.28}$ barn is in excellent agreement with the spectroscopically determined value of 0.45\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 obtained by Murakawa.
Synthesis and characterization of multiarm star‐branched polyisobutylenes: Effect of arm molecular weight

A series of star-branched polyisobutylenes with varying arm molecular weights was synthesized using the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane/TiCl 4 /pyridine initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a core-forming comonomer (linking agent). The resulting star-branched polymers were characterized with regard to the weight-average number of arms per star molecule (N w and dilute solution viscosity behavior. As the molecular weight of the arm (M w,arm ) was increased, dramatically longer star-forming reaction times were needed to produce fully developed star polymers. It was calculated that N w varied from 50 to 5 as the M w,arm was increased from 13,000 to 54,000 g/mol. The radius of gyration, R g , of the star polymers was observed to increase as M w,arm was increased. The solution properties of the star polymers were evaluated in heptane using dilute solution viscometry. It was determined that the stars had a much higher [η] compared to the respective linear PIB arms, but a much lower [γ] compared to a hypothetical linear analog of an equivalent molecular weight. The dependence of [η] on temperature for the stars and linear arms was very small over the temperature range 25 to 75°C, with only a very slight decrease with increasing temperature. [η] star was also determined to increase with increasing M w,arm , but decrease with increasing M w,star . The branching coefficient, g', calculated for the stars at 25°C, increased as N w decreased and agreed well with literature values for other star polymer systems.
Cortical metastatic lesions of the appendicular skeleton from tumors of known primary origin

Background and Objectives: Metastatic disease represents the most common neoplastic process involving bone. Recently, a small subset of cortical based metastatic lesions has been identified. We attempted to delineate the incidence, origin, location, and possible significance of these lesions within an orthopaedic patient population. Methods: A chart and radiographic review of patients treated for metastatic disease to bone over a 17-year period was performed. Inclusion criteria for lesions were as follows: 1) an appendicular skeletal site, 2) histopathologic confirmation of origin, and 3) presence within a patient diagnosed with a single, known neoplastic process. The lesions were classified as either cortical or medullary based. Results: Eighty-three lesions (70 patients) satisfied inclusion criteria. Most lesions were of pulmonary (26), breast (22), renal (16), or prostatic (8) tumor origin. Eighteen lesions (22%) from 15 patients were identified as cortical and represented initial presentation in 7 patients. These lesions were of pulmonary (1I), renal (5), and breast (2) tumor origin. Conclusions: Cortical based metastases within the appendicular skeleton may occur more frequently than previously expected. While tumors of pulmonary and renal origin accounted for 42 of the 83 (51%) appendicular lesions, they were responsible for 16 of the 18 (89%) cortical metastases. This preponderance of pulmonary and renal metastases to the cortex is consistent with previously published reports. Our findings may be of value when diagnosing and treating patients whose initial presentation is a cortically based lesion.
Continuous culture, feedback control and auxostats

Abstract Improved sensing methods and computerized control of bioreactors are encouraging the development of auxostats, continuous culture systems in which, unlike the chemostat, the growth rate (dilution rate) can vary. Auxostats are useful, in particular, for studying cultures growing at rates close to their maxima and they can be used to select fast-growing cultures. Although development is at an early stage, it is clear that, in order to operate commercially, auxostats would probably require some form of effluent recycle or multistage reactor configuration.
An automatic device for measuring speed of movement and time spent at rest: its application to testing dopaminergic drugs

Abstract We describe a device to measure speed of movement and time at rest for use with a commercially available infrared photobeam activity monitor. This system is a reliable substitute for a human observer and provides additional measures of activity that can help in interpreting how psychoactive drugs alter behavior. The effects of graded doses of d -amphetamine, haloperidol and (−)3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine, (−)-3-PPP, were studied with the device, and the results confirmed that these drugs differentially alter speed of movement and time at rest.
The combination of interaural information across frequencies: The effects of number and spacing of components, onset asynchrony, and harmonicitya)

Threshold interaural delays were measured for a single interaurally delayed low‐frequency target component presented against a background of two, four, six, or eight diotic ‘‘distractor’’ components. In the first experiment, a 753‐Hz target and the flanking distractor components were gated on and off simultaneously. In subsequent experiments, the distractors were gated on 25–200 ms prior to the target. In addition, the target and distractor components were given various harmonic configurations. In general, threshold interaural delays were higher in all conditions in which distractors were present relative to thresholds obtained for the target component in isolation. Subjects reported that the pitch of the target component was more salient when an onset asynchrony between the target and distractors was present, but the components were perceived as occupying a single intracranial position in spite of the various interaural delays across the frequency domain. These results suggest that binaural processing of stimuli consisting of a small number of low‐frequency temporally overlapping components occurs in a spectrally synthetic manner in which interaural information is combined across the spectrum, even in situations in which the segregation of pitch information occurs.
Acid phosphatase activity in the inner ear.

Frozen sections of fetal and adult guinea pig inner ears were studied for acid phosphatase activity, utilizing naphthol AS-BI phosphate as substrate and hexazonium pararosanilin as a coupler. Azo dye deposits indicating the sites of enzyme activity were observed in various cell types. In the outer hair cells, enzyme activity was limited to the subcuticular area which is known to contain lysosomes and lipofuscin, thus suggesting a possible relation between acid phosphatase activity and the accumulation of insoluble metabolic end-products. Supranuclear distribution of enzyme activity characterized the inner hair cells and vestibular sensory epithelium. Other sites of considerable acid phosphatase activity included the stria vascularis, outer sulcus cells and limbus cells in the cochlea, as well as the dark cells at the base of the crista ampullaris. The ganglion cells of the spiral and vestibular ganglion also revealed marked to moderate acid phosphatase activity.
KxC60: Nonequilibrium thin film growth and spectroscopic results

Abstract This paper examines the electronic structure of the K-C 60 system. High resolution photoemission results show multiple phase formation, even for stoichiometries close to nominal single phase fields. The results are interpreted in terms of the nonequilibrium conditions for growth by vapor phase deposition.
Z dependence of Coulomb dissociation cross sections in heavy ion reactions.

It is demonstrated that the naive expectation of {ital Z}{sub {ital T}}{sup 2} dependence of the cross section for reactions produced via Coulomb dissociation in heavy ions is modified substantially due to the apparent'' charge distribution. The deviations are shown to be important in predicting both the energy and the {ital Z}{sub {ital T}} dependence of the cross sections. The effect increases with {ital Q} value of a given dissociation channel; for a given {ital Q} value the deviation is larger for lower incident energy.
New results on expanders

Abstract Based on purely analytical methods, we exhibit new families of expanders in SL 2 ( p ) ( p prime) and SU ( 2 ) , contributing to conjectures of A. Lubotzky and P. Sarnak. To cite this article: J. Bourgain, A. Gamburd, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 342 (2006).
Acquired alterations in vitamin D metabolism in the acidotic state.

Classic (type I) renal tubular acidosis in children is attended by growth retardation and rickets, abnormalities that can be corrected by alkali therapy alone. We have employed the NH4Cl-treated rachitic chick as a model to investigate vitamin D metabolism in the acidotic state. NH4Cl ingestion for 96 h was associated with a rise in serum calcium, a significant decrease in blood pH (7.42+0.08 vs 7.30±0.08,P<0.005), decreased [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 following [3H]25OHD D3 injections, and enhanced metabolic clearance of administered [3H]1,25(OH)2D3. The data collectively suggest that metabolic acidosis in the chick alters the production and degradation of 1,25(OH)2D3.
Predicting small endotherm body temperatures from scalp temperatures

Abstract We used 2-d to 3-d-old mallard ducklings ( Anas platyrhynchos ) to test whether remote thermographic measurement of scalp temperature could be used to estimate core (cloacal) temperature from a distance. The scalp was exposed by trimming down from an area of ⩽1 cm 2 , and surface temperature measured to ±0.12 °C with a radiometric thermal imager. For wind speeds of up to 2.5 m/s, we found cloacal temperature could be estimated to within 1 °C by using a regression model incorporating only scalp temperature and ambient temperature. The inexpensive method of dyeing the scalp black and painting it with temperature-sensitive cholesteric liquid crystal paint is more difficult and provides less accuracy, but appears to be a useful means for monitoring change in body temperature. These methods allow body temperatures of small or young endotherms to be monitored from distances of up to several meters without surgery or encumbering wires, minimizing stress that may alter behavior patterns and physiological parameters.
Trends in incidence rates of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

Between 1960 and 1979, three studies were conducted in the Baltimore Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area to ascertain the incidence rates of first hospitalizations for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The age-adjusted rates per 100,000 population for the 1977-1979 survey for ulcerative colitis in white and nonwhite males and females were 2.92, 1.79, 1.29, and 2.90, respectively; the Crohn's disease rates were 3.39, 3.54, 1.29, and 4.08, respectively. In Baltimore the age-adjusted rate for Crohn's disease has increased to exceed the ulcerative colitis rate for whites of both sexes and nonwhite females. The ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease rates for nonwhite males are similar. The rate for white males exceeds that for nonwhite males for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, but the converse is true for females. Females have higher rates than males for Crohn's disease in both color groups and for ulcerative colitis among nonwhites. White ulcerative colitis rates are higher for males than for females. From the first to the second surveys, the white male and female rates for ulcerative colitis converge with increasing male and decreasing female rates, but then both decline from the second to the third surveys. For Crohn's disease, the age-adjusted rates increased for whites of both sexes and nonwhite females from the first to second surveys. The Crohn's disease rates appeared to stabilize for whites of both sexes between the second and present surveys, but they increased for nonwhites of both sexes. Trends in age-adjusted rates for other areas are also discussed.
Electrorheological Dampers, Part I: Analysis and Design

Electrorheological (ER) materials are suspensions of specialized, micron-sized particles in nonconducting oils. When electric fields are applied to ER materials, they exhibit dramatic changes (within milli-seconds) in material properties. Pre-yield, yielding, and post-yield mechanisms are all influenced by the electric field. Namely, an applied electric field dramatically increases the stiffness and energy dissipation properties of these materials. A previously known cubic equation which describes the flow of fluids with a yield stress through a rectangular duct can be applied to annular flow, provided that certain conditions on the material properties are satisfied. An analytic solution and a uniform approximation to the solution, for the rectangular duct Poiseuille flow case is presented. A numerical method is required to solve the flow in annular geometries. The approximation for rectangular ducts is extended to deal with the annular duct case.
Osteoporosis due to androgen deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives. The frequency of osteoporotic fractures is greatly increased in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), but whether the risk of osteoporosis differs between different types of ADT or between continuous and intermittent therapy has not been determined. Techniques for modifying ADT-associated bone loss have not been clearly identified. Methods. Risk factors for the development of osteoporosis in men receiving ADT will be reviewed. Relations between bone mineral density (BMD) values and the development of osteoporotic fractures, along with methods for preventing both BMD loss and osteoporotic fractures, will be discussed. Results. ADT rapidly accelerates bone loss among men with prostate cancer and multiplies the risk of osteoporotic fractures among them. Factors other than ADT-associated bone loss contributing to this fracture risk include both decreased BMD before ADT and an increased tendency to fall associated with muscle weakness, impaired balance, and postural hypotension. Each of these factors may be associated with poor nutrition, advancing malignant disease, hypogonadism of non-ADT origin, advanced age, and the use of narcotic, antihypertensive, or sedative medications. Although the success of therapy designed to improve BMD values and lower the fracture rate in these patients has not been explored, regular exercise, smoking abstinence, adequate calcium, protein, and vitamin D intake, maintenance of weight, and the use of bisphosphonates or calcitonin may each have a useful therapeutic role. Theoretical considerations suggest that intermittent ADT may decrease the frequency of ADT-associated osteoporosis. Conclusions. An urgent need exists for the definition of techniques useful in preventing osteoporotic fractures in men receiving ADT for prostate cancer.
Emotional Mood as a Context for Learning and Recall.

The question was whether a person's emotional mood could serve as a distinctive context for learning and retrieval of memories. Hypnotized subjects learned a word-list while feeling happy or sad, and recalled it in the same or the opposite mood, either immediately (Exp. 1) or after one day (Exp. 2). Retention proved to be surprisingly independent of the congruence of learning and testing moods. Experiment 3 had subjects learn two lists, one while happy, one while sad. Later recall of both lists while happy (or sad) revealed a powerful congruence effect. Thus, learning mood provided a helpful retrieval cue and differentiating context only in multi-list circumstances where confusions and interference among memories would otherwise obtain.
Robust encryption for secure image transmission over wireless channels

The security of multimedia data transmitted over wireless networks is of increased interest. Encryption mechanisms securely transmit multimedia data over insecure networks. A major issue that has received very little attention so far is that the very same properties that gives ciphers (encryption mechanisms) their cryptographic strength make them sensitive to channel errors as well. In addition, this would enhance the error propagation inherent in compressed data. Therefore provision of security for multimedia transmission over wireless channel results in throughput loss. Nevertheless this lost throughput is traded for increased security. To our knowledge there has been no substantial effort to optimize this tradeoff. Opportunistic encryption proposed in this work is a way to optimize the tradeoff between security offered and the throughput lost due to a cipher. We show that opportunistic encryption methods that adapt to channel variations will lead to an overall increase in the system performance. Two broad scenarios based on channel knowledge are considered, (a) exact channel state information up to a finite time horizon is known and (b) only the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is known. Proposed opportunistic encryption framework is found to achieve significant gains in throughput compared to fixed block length encryption methods for a wide range of average SNR values. We have shown that applying opportunistic encryption on JPEG compressed image results in a better quality of received image and improved security compared to fixed block length encryption.
Geomorphology as science: the role of theory

Abstract Because geomorphology is a science, it is permeated by theory. Overt recognition of this actuality is frequently resisted by geomorphologists. Earth history does not represent an alternative to earth science, it is an essential component of earth science. In its broadest sense science seeks to discover new knowledge through a two-stage activity involving the creation and justification of ideas (theory). Deduction is generally regarded as the only logically-consistent method of justifying ideas. The creation of ideas is a much more controversial topic. Some methodologists deem it beyond logic; certainly deductive arguments, which are nothing more than formal, logical expressions of theory, play no role in the conception of new ideas. Many earth scientists generate possible explanations of observed phenomena based on abductive reasoning. Others advocate reliance on purported forms of “pure” induction, such as serendipity and intuition, in which observations assume primacy over theory. Besides lacking consistency and educability, the latter posture is flawed because it mistakenly implies that becoming well-versed in theory is irrelevant to or impedes scientific discovery. Irrational or subjective factors play a role in the creation of ideas, but it is erroneous to claim that these factors are divorced from theory. Science is first and foremost a cognitive activity; thus, the primacy of observations in science is a myth. All observations are theory-laden in the sense that the act of observation inherently involves interpretation and classification, both of which can only occur within the context of theoretical preconceptions. Even discoveries based on unexpected observations require the fortunate investigator to recognize the theoretical importance of what is seen or measured. The most useful view of geomorphology as a science is one in which theory is seen as central, but fragile, and in which theory and observation are viewed symbiotically with theory providing the generative force and observation providing a vital policing role. Much of the current debate in geomorphology centers around differences in characteristics of theory, type of scientific arguments, and metaphysical perspectives among investigators working at different temporal scales. Full recognition and understanding of these differences are essential for developing a unified approach to the science of geomorphology.
Oxybutynin Administration Diminishes the High Gastric Muscular Tone Associated With Bladder Reconstruction

ABSTRACTOxybutynin has a proved role in correcting uninhibited detrusor contractions in the intact and the bowel augmented bladder. Beneficial responses to oxybutynin have also been noted after gastrocystoplasty. It has been questioned whether this response reflects a selective effect on the bladder segment or whether there is an additional effect on the gastric patch musculature. We report a case of improved function of a previously poorly compliant gastric neobladder caused by oxybutynin, thereby demonstrating a direct action on gastric smooth muscle.
"NISTF II" and EAD: The Evolution of Archival Description

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is part of the mainstream of archival standards development. The work of the National Information Systems Task Force in creating the MARC AMC format and the concomitant development of Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts helped define the basic framework of shared archival description. The architects of EAD have built upon this architecture and provided archivists with technology-based tools capable of producing a fully integrated descriptive apparatus in an Internet environment that are nonetheless firmly rooted in archival principles and traditions.
Microarray gene expression data association rules mining based on BSC-tree and FIS-tree

In this paper we propose to use association rules to mine the association relationships among different genes under the same experimental conditions. These kinds of relations may also exist across many different experiments with various experimental conditions. In this paper, a new approach, called FIS-tree mining, is proposed for mining the microarray data. Our approach uses two new data structures, BSC-tree and FIS-tree, and a data partition format for gene expression level data. Based on these two new data structures it is possible to mine the association rules efficiently and quickly from the gene expression database. Our algorithm was tested using the two real-life gene expression databases available at Stanford University and Harvard Medical School and was shown to perform better than the two existing algorithms, Apriori and FP-Growth.
Brushes with Greatness: Preserving Original Maynard Reece Fish Art

Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus. Art credit: Maynard Reece.Recently, the Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society awarded a Fisheries Project Grant for the restoration of the original Maynard Re...
Software engineering metrics for COTS-based systems

The paradigm shift to commercial off-the-shelf components appears inevitable, necessitating drastic changes to current software development and business practices. Quality and risk concerns currently limit the application of COTS based system design to noncritical applications. New approaches to quality and risk management will be needed to handle the growth of CBSs. Our metrics based approach and software engineering metrics can aid developers and managers in analyzing the return on investment in quality improvement initiatives for CBSs. These metrics also facilitate the modeling of cost and quality, although we need more complex models to capture the intricate relationships between cost and quality metrics in a CBS.
In Utero Exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene Increases Adiposity and Causes Hepatic Steatosis in Female Mice, and Glutathione Deficiency Is Protective

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are ubiquitous environmental pollutants found in tobacco smoke, air pollution, and grilled foods. Reactive metabolites and reactive oxygen species generated during PAH metabolism are detoxified by reactions involving glutathione (GSH). Early life exposures to tobacco smoke and air pollution have been linked to increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. We investigated the independent and interactive effects of prenatal exposure to BaP and GSH deficiency due to deletion of the modifier subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase (Gclm), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, on adiposity and hepatic steatosis in adult female F1 offspring. We mated Gclm(+/-) dams with Gclm(+/-) males and treated the pregnant dams with 0, 2, or 10 mg/kg/day BaP in sesame oil by oral gavage daily from gestational day 7 through 16. We analyzed metabolic endpoints in female Gclm(-/-) and Gclm(+/+) littermate F1 offspring. Prenatal BaP exposure significantly increased visceral adipose tissue weight, weight gain between 3 weeks and 7.5 months of age, hepatic lipid content measured by oil red O staining, and hepatic fatty acid beta-oxidation gene expression in Gclm(+/+), but not in Gclm(-/-), female offspring. Hepatic expression of lipid biosynthesis and antioxidant genes were decreased and increased, respectively, in Gclm(-/-) mice. Our results suggest that reported effects of pre- and peri-natal air pollution and tobacco smoke exposure on obesity may be mediated in part by PAHs. GSH deficiency is protective against the metabolic effects of prenatal BaP exposure.
BaTiO3 thin films for electro-optic and non-linear optical applications

Er-doped BaTiO3 thin films have been investigated as a candidate for an optically active waveguide medium. Epitaxial layers were prepared by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition at low pressure. The properties of the characteristic Er3+ luminescence transition at 0.8 eV have been investigated for epitaxial Er doped BaTiO3 thin films for various Er concentrations. The photoluminescent intensity was found to increase by a factor greater than 500 when the doping level was increased from 1 × 1020 cm−3 to 2.2 × 1021 cm−3, indicating that concentration quenching was not significant at the highest doping levels. A complex emission spectra was observed and was attributed to the multi-site substitution of Er in BaTiO3. Transient decay measurements revealed a 7 ms radiative lifetime for the 0.80 eV transition that was independent of concentration.
Continuity and change in subsistence harvests in five Bering Sea communities: Akutan, Emmonak, Savoonga, St. Paul, and Togiak

Abstract To document and quantify subsistence harvests of fish and wildlife resources, and provide topics for subsequent key respondent interviews to collect local and traditional knowledge (LTK) about the Bering Sea ecosystem, comprehensive household harvest surveys were conducted in four Bering Sea Alaska Native communities: Akutan, Emmonak, Savoonga, and Togiak. In a fifth community, St. Paul, annual programs to document two key subsistence resources, fur seals and sea lions, continued. Surveys documented relatively high and diverse subsistence harvests, consistent with earlier research that demonstrated the continuing economic, social, and cultural importance of subsistence uses of wild resources. The research also found differences in subsistence use patterns compared to previous years' studies, such as harvest levels, harvest composition, and diversity of resources used, although differences between study years were not uniform across communities. Survey respondents, as well as key respondents in subsequent interviews, identified a complex range of personal, economic, and environmental factors when comparing subsistence uses in the study year with other years, such as increasing costs of fuel and purchased food, commercial fisheries harvests and bycatch, more persistent storms and less predictable winds, and reduced sea ice. Such conditions affect resource abundance and locations as well as access to fish and wildlife populations, and may shape long-term trends. So far, as in the past, families and communities have adapted to changing economic, social, and environmental conditions, but the future is less clear if such changes intensify or accelerate. Local community residents should be essential partners in future efforts to understand these complex processes that affect the natural resources of the Bering Sea.
Is bariatric surgery safe in patients who refuse blood transfusion

Abstract Background A small, but significant, number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery refuse blood transfusion for religious or other personal reasons. Jehovah's Witnesses number more than 1 million members in the United States alone. The reported rates of hemorrhage vary from .5% to 4% after bariatric surgery, with transfusion required in one half of these cases. Pharmacologic prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism could further increase the perioperative bleeding risk. Our objective was to report the perioperative outcomes of bariatric surgery who refuse blood transfusion at a bariatric center of excellence, private practice in the United States. Methods A retrospective review of all patients who refused blood transfusion when undergoing bariatric surgery during a 10-year period was conducted. Patients were identified from a prospectively maintained database by the bloodless surgery program at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. Data were collected on demographics, co-morbidities, laboratory values, medication use, blood loss, and 30-day complications. Results Thirty-five bloodless surgery patients underwent bariatric surgery from 2000 to 2009. Of these 35 patients, 21 underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and 14 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Before 2006, only pneumatic compression devices were applied for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (n = 6). Subsequently, combination venous thromboembolism prophylaxis was performed with fondaparinux sodium 2.5 mg for RYGB or enoxaparin 40 mg for LAGB (n = 29). One RYGB patient developed postoperative hemorrhage requiring reoperation. No venous thromboembolisms or deaths occurred. Conclusion Bariatric surgery can be performed in patients who refuse blood transfusion with acceptable postoperative morbidity. Larger studies are necessary to confirm the safety of this approach and to examine the effect of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in this patient group.
An efficient integrator that uses Gauss-Radau spacings

This describes our integrator RADAU, which has been used by several groups in the U.S.A., in Italy, and in the U.S.S.R, over the past 10 years in the numerical integration of orbits and other problems involving numerical solution of systems of ordinary differential equations. First- and second-order equations are solved directly, including the general second-order case. A self-starting integrator, RADAU proceeds by sequences within which the substeps are taken at Gauss-Radau spacings. This allows rather high orders of accuracy with relatively few function evaluations. After the first sequence the information from previous sequences is used to improve the accuracy. The integrator itself chooses the next sequence size. When a 64-bit double word is available in double precision, a 15th-order version is often appropriate, and the FORTRAN code for this case is included here. RADAU is at least comparable with the best of other integrators in speed and accuracy, and it is often superior, particularly at high accuracies.