cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breast Cancer Screening in Older Women: Practices and Barriers Reported by Primary Care Physicians

Annual mammography, in combination with clinical breast examinations, can reduce mortality from breast cancer. However, surveys of both patients and physicians suggest that mammography is underutilized. This study examined whether physicians' reported breast cancer screening practices and barriers to mammography varied with patients' age. Data from 576 primary care physicians (internal medicine, family/general practice, and obstetrics/gynecology) who participated in a mailed statewide survey were analyzed. Physicians reported screening elderly women significantly less often than younger women, regardless of family history of breast cancer. With the exception of medical specialty, physicians' demographic and practice characteristics were not associated with reported screening practices. However, physicians' knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer in older women were associated with reported screening practices. When analyzing barriers to ordering mammography, cost to the patient was viewed as a barrier for women of all ages, and pain was viewed as a greater barrier for younger women; otherwise, physicians consistently believed that their elderly patients faced considerably more barriers compared with younger women. Further investigation is required to examine why primary care physicians report age-related differences in both breast screening and barriers to mammography.
Emerging urban form types in a city of the American Middle West

The premise of this paper is that cities, such as Lincoln, Nebraska, which possesses a modern architectural heritage (mainly American Victorian and early twentieth century), and are in a constant process of development, can offer unexplored urban form configurations typical for current urban circumstances. The study method is divided into two stages. The first stage of the analysis includes the identification of four predetermined categories of urban form elements. The urban form element as such is viewed as an integration of urban physical attributes (geometric shape, size, materials) and content (uses, activities). The second stage of the analysis attempts to identify ways by which urban form elements are arranged and create urban form configuration types. Six categories of arrangements have been identified. The criteria, used to analyse the attributes of the urban elements and their arrangements into typical form configurations, derive from ecological and anthropological sources.
Two novel sites of expression of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase during murine embryogenesis: limb mesenchyme and developing olfactory neuroepithelia.

While all cells in eukaryotic organisms probably express the gene encoding NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, we identified two novel sites which have the highest local concentrations of P450 reductase transcripts during murine embryogenesis. One site is in developing limbs, including lateral limb bud mesenchyme and condensing mesenchyme in the footplate which will form precartilage. A second site is in primitive neuroepithelia, including future olfactory epithelia and olfactory lobes of the brain. These high, local concentrations of P450 reductase transcripts revealed by in situ hybridization were transient and most prominent between embryonic (E) days 12.5–15.5. They cannot be explained by the known functions for P450 reductase. The precursor nature of the highest reductase-expressing cells suggests that differentiation-specific mechanisms regulate P450 reductase gene transcription during organogenesis. The data suggest this multifunctional protein might serve an important role in the formation of precartilage models from condensing limb mesenchyme and in the early development of joints that will form at apposed surfaces of these models. Dev Dyn 1999;216:511–517. ©1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Polymeric piezoelectric acoustic semicircular transducers

In commercial applications it is important to be able to either cancel noise, such as in the cabin of a combine, or to generate audible noise, such as in the case of an alarm. Piezoelectrics have demonstrated promise for active noise control and sound generation applications. In this investigation, the dynamic and acoustic capabilities of polymer piezoelectric semi-circular transducers were studied for such applications. The dynamic response of semi-circular piezoelectric transducers was determined numerically using the general purpose finite element code ABAQUS, then verified analytically and experimentally. The acoustic response was modeled using the commercial code COMET/Acoustics with the dynamic velocity response calculated by ABAQUS as initial boundary conditions. Experimental studies were performed on fixed-fixed polymeric piezoelectric curved transducers. The sensitivity of the sound generation capabilities of the transducer was investigated with respect to variations in radius, thickness and width parameters to demonstrate the potential of these devices for noise cancellation and audible sound applications.
Usual dietary isoflavone intake and reproductive function across the menstrual cycle

Objective To assess the association of total isoflavone intake with ovulatory function, including sporadic anovulation in healthy premenopausal women. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting University. Patient(s) Participants included 259 healthy regularly menstruating women aged 18–44 years. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Serum concentrations of E 2 , free E 2 , P, LH, FSH, and SHBG and sporadic anovulation in healthy premenopausal women. Result(s) Isoflavone intake was not associated with E 2 , free E 2 , P, LH, and FSH concentrations. Consumption in the highest quartile (Q4: 1.6–78.8 mg/d) was significantly associated with greater SHBG concentrations (β = 0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02–0.16), compared with the first quartile (Q1: 0.0–0.3 mg/d). Conclusion(s) Isoflavone intake was not associated with sporadic anovulation (Q4 vs. Q1: odds ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.32–1.66). Dietary isoflavone intake among young premenopausal women was not related to sex hormone concentrations or anovulation, but was associated with minimally increased SHBG concentrations. These results suggest potential endocrine effects with no subsequent effects on ovulation, easing concerns regarding their impacts on fertility.
Religion and Coping with Trauma: Qualitative Examples from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In this article, we consider the intersection of religious coping and the experience of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in a lifespan sample of adults living in south Louisiana during the 2005 storms. Participants were young, middle-age, older, and oldest-old adults who were interviewed during the post-disaster recovery period. Qualitative analyses confirmed that three dimensions of religion were represented across participants' responses. These dimensions included: (1) faith community, in relation to the significant relief effort and involvement of area churches; (2) religious practices, in the sense of participants' behavioral responses to the storms, such as prayer; and (3) spiritual beliefs, referring to faith as a mechanism underlying individual and family-level adjustment, acceptance, and personal growth in the post-disaster period. Implications for future disaster preparedness are considered.
Differential activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the embryonic mouse thalamus

In neural development, several Wnt genes are expressed in the vertebrate diencephalon, including the thalamus. However, roles of Wnt signaling in the thalamus during neurogenesis are not well understood. We examined Wnt/beta-catenin activity in embryonic mouse thalamus and found that a Wnt target gene Axin2 and reporter activity of BAT-gal transgenic mice show similar, differential patterns within the thalamic ventricular zone, where ventral and rostral regions had lower activity than other regions. Expression of Wnt ligands and signaling components also showed complex, differential patterns. Finally, based on partially reciprocal patterns of Wnt and Shh signals in the thalamic ventricular zone, we tested if Shh signal is sufficient or necessary for the differential Axin2 expression. Analysis of mice with enhanced or reduced Shh signal showed that Axin2 expression is similar to controls. These results suggest that differential Wnt signaling may play a role in patterning the thalamus independent of Shh signaling.
A new experimental technique for determining the BCS interaction parameter in normal metals

Abstract We have measured the resistance of PbIrPb sandwiches in the range 50 mK to 7 K. The drop in resistance as the temperature is lowered towards the transition temperature of the Ir is in agreement with the predictions of a simple model involving the BCS parameter (NV). The model suggests that this technique applied to other metals would enable a value of (NV) as low as 10−3, corresponding to a transition temperature of 10−400 K, to be detected.
Compressive, collaborative spectrum sensing for wideband Cognitive Radios

One of the primary tasks of a Cognitive Radio (CR) is to monitor a wide spectrum and detect vacant channels for secondary transmission opportunities. However, the requirement of prohibitively high sampling rates to monitor a wideband, makes this a challenging task. In this paper, we present a novel wideband spectrum sensing model that reduces the sampling requirement to a sub-Nyquist rate, proportional to the number of occupied channels in the wideband spectrum. The sampling scheme is efficiently implementable using low-rate analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The sensing algorithm uses techniques borrowed from theoretical computer science and compressive sampling, to detect the occupied channels with a high probability of success. The algorithm is implementable for spectrum sensing in a single CR, as well as in a decentralized CR-network with minimal communication between one-hop neighbors. We provide theoretical expressions for probability of detection and run-time requirements of the scheme. Our simulations show that the proposed scheme exhibits a performance similar to a Nyquistrate energy detector, even with low SNR conditions and high under-sampling factors.
The TATA-binding protein and associated factors are integral components of the RNA polymerase I transcription factor, SL1

Abstract We have previously shown that the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and multiple TBP-associated factors (TAFs) are required for regulated transcriptional initiation by RNA polymerase II. Here we report the biochemical properties of the RNA polymerase I promoter selectivity factor, SL1, and its relationship to TBP. Column chromatography and glycerol gradient sedimentation indicate that a subpopulation of TBP copurifies with SL1 activity. Antibodies directed against TBP efficiently deplete SL1 transcriptional activity, which can be restored with the SL1 fraction but not purified TBP. Thus, TBP is necessary but not sufficient to complement SL1 activity. Analysis of purified SL1 reveals a complex containing TBP and three distinct TAFs. Purified TAFs reconstituted with recombinant TBP complement SL1 activity, and this demonstrates the TBP plus novel associated factors are integral components of SL1. These findings suggest that TBP may be a universal transcription factor and that the TBP-TAF arrangement provides a unifying mechanism for promoter recognition in animal cells.
Impact of a Creative Arts Journal on a Medical School Community: A Qualitative Study

The Florida State University College of Medicine (FSUCOM) has created a new creative arts journal called HEAL: Humanism Evolving through Arts and Literature. This study was designed to evaluate the influence creative arts publications may have on students, faculty, and staff of a medical school. The investigators randomly selected 17 participants from 25 volunteers in the HEAL project who agreed to be interviewed. They used consensual qualitative research methods to analyze the data, identifying major areas of impact HEAL had on the faculty, students, and staff. Three major themes were identified: Strengthening Professional Relationships (SPR), Educational Enhancement (EE), and Self-Expression (SE). The following sub-themes were identified: SPR—changed perceptions; SE—artistic self-expression; EE—faculty example, and positive reinforcement of career choice. HEAL is perceived as a valuable part of medical education, and the identified themes can be tested in further research.
The Nature and Strategies of Relativism

Opponents of relativism often charge that it is and must be incoherent. But there is good reason to think that they fail to distinguish important varieties of relativism. They may also trivialize or weaken the doctrine in such a way that it is no longer interesting to defend-or much less interesting than it would otherwise be. For instance, they may (i) construe it as a form of extreme scepticism against the possibility of rationally assessing pertinent claims within a given domain; or they may (ii) confuse it with advocating probabilizing or 'plausibilizing' truth claims relative to available evidence1; or they may (iii) construe it as utterly segregating apparently conflicting claims within the scope of independent conventions or conventionally specified domains (relative to which such conflicts are disallowed)2; or they may (iv) construe it as a form of subjectivism, as in holding that moral judgments ultimately rest on feelings of approval and disapproval that vary from person to person (regarding which, however, judgments are objectively true or false)3; or they may (v) construe it in a noncognitivist way, as in holding that pertinent judgments are no more than expressions of feelings and psychological attitudes that vary and conflict (regarding which, questions of truth and falsity do not even obtain)4; or they may (vi) construe it as
The use of in vivo-in vitro labeling techniques to study phospholipid fatty acid turnover and fatty acid esterification into triglycerides in adipose tissue of aging mice.

Abstract We are interested in membrane phospholipid and triglyceride synthesis and turnover in aging cells. As a preliminary, short-term feasibility study we have used an established in vivo-in vitro technique to estimate the initial rates of [1- 14 C] palmitate (complexed to albumin) esterification to triglycerides and phospholipids in adipocytes and non-adipocytes in the epididymal fat pads of aging mice (8–92 weeks). We have expressed our data in terms of unit cell, unit triglyceride mass and unit (membrane) phospholipid mass. Fat pad and adipocyte size, cell surface area, and adipocyte volume changes were measured and found to follow the same relations as reported in the literature, with some exceptions in very old mice (retired breeders). Rates of fatty acid esterification to triglycerides were about 100 times faster than those to phospholipids in adipocytes. Aging caused a marked fall in the rates of triglyceride fatty acid formation from added palmitate; thus, the rate of fatty acid esterification to triglycerides fell from 0.75 to 0.13 nequiv. fatty acid per min per fat pad (youngest most active group, cf. oldest group). Esterification of fatty acids into phospholipids in adipocytes of the oldest mice was significantly lower than in those of the young and middle-aged groups. Contamination of adipocytes by non-adipocytes was observed in fat pads from old, but not from young, mice. The non-adipocytes accounted for about half of the phospholipid fatty acid esterification. The rate of phospholipid esterification was so slow in adipocytes (all ages) and so relatively fast in non-adipocytes that further studies of phospholipid fatty acid turnover in adipocytes using this system are not considered feasible, especially as a means for studying removal rates of autoxidized fatty acids from membrane phospholipids in vivo during aging.
Therapist Factors and Outcomes in CBT for Anxiety in Youth

This study examined the relationship between therapist factors and child outcomes in anxious youth who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as part of the Child-Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study (CAMS). Of the 488 youth who participated in the CAMS project, 279 were randomly assigned to one of the CBT conditions (CBT only or CBT plus sertraline). Participants included youth (ages 7-17; M = 10.76) who met criteria for a principal anxiety disorder. Therapists included 38 cognitive-behavioral therapists. Therapist style, treatment integrity, and therapist experience were examined in relation to child outcome. Child outcome was measured via child, parent, and independent evaluator report. Therapists who were more collaborative and empathic, followed the treatment manual, and implemented it in a developmentally appropriate way had youth with better treatment outcomes. Therapist "coach" style was a significant predictor of child-reported outcome, with the collaborative "coach" style predicting fewer child-reported symptoms. Higher levels of therapist prior clinical experience and lower levels of prior anxiety-specific experience were significant predictors of better treatment outcome. Findings suggest that although all therapists used the same manual-guided treatment, therapist style, experience, and clinical skills were related to differences in child outcome. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Pattern of Fos expression in the brain induced by selective activation of somatostatin receptor 2 in rats

Abstract Central activation of somatostatin (sst) receptors by oligosomatostatin analogs inhibits growth hormone and stress-related rise in catecholamine plasma levels while stimulating grooming, feeding behaviors, gastric transit and acid secretion, which can be mimicked by selective sst 2 receptor agonist. To evaluate the pattern of neuronal activation induced by peptide sst receptor agonists, we assessed Fos-expression in rat brain after intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of a newly developed selective sst 2 agonist compared to the oligosomatostatin ODT8-SST, a pan-sst 1–5 agonist. Ninety min after injection of vehicle (10 μl) or previously established maximal orexigenic dose of peptides (1 μg = 1 nmol/rat), brains were assessed for Fos-immunohistochemistry and doublelabeling. Food and water were removed after injection. The sst 2 agonist and ODT8-SST induced a similar Fos distribution pattern except in the arcuate nucleus where only the sst 2 agonist increased Fos. Compared to ODT8-SST, the sst 2 agonist induced higher Fos-expression by 3.7-times in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, 1.2-times in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), 1.6-times in the magnocellular paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (mPVN), 4.1-times in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus, and 2.6-times in both the inferior olivary nucleus and superficial layer of the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus. Doublelabeling in the hypothalamus showed that ODT8-SST activates 36% of oxytocin, 63% of vasopressin and 79% of sst 2 immunoreactive neurons in the mPVN and 28%, 55% and 25% in the SON, respectively. Selective activation of sst 2 receptor results in a more robust neuronal activation than the pan-sst 1–5 agonist in various brain regions that may have relevance in sst 2 mediated alterations of behavioral, autonomic and endocrine functions.
A Fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer as Stable Wavelength Reference for High Resolution Astronomical Spectrographs

We discuss the tested utility of a commercial single-mode fiber cavity as a precise calibration reference for an astronomical spectrograph and present a future fiber-interferometer being designed for a next generation planet-finding instrument.
Influence of age and gender on the presence of coronary calcium detected by ultrafast computed tomography

Abstract Objectives. This study sought to determine the relation between coronary calcification detected with ultrafast computed tomography and lumen narrowing defined with angiography and evaluated whether this relation is influenced by age and gender. Background. Ultrafast computed tomography has been shown to be a sensitive method for detection of coronary calcification associated with atherosclerotic disease, but the relation between the extent of coronary calcification and degree of lumen narrowing and the possible influence of gender or age, or both, on this relation have not been clarified. Methods. Seventy men and 70 women were studied with ultrafast computed tomography for analysis of coronary calcification and coronary angiography. Coronary atherosclerosis was considered present if any lumen irregularity was noted on angiography, and obstructive coronary artery disease was defined as a lumen diameter narrowing ≥70%. Results. Coronary calcification had a sensitivity of 88% for identification of patients with atherosclerotic disease and 97% for those with obstructive disease, with corresponding specificities of 55% and 41%, respectively. The sensitivity of coronary calcium for detection of atherosclerotic disease in women 60 years old and the 87% sensitivity in men Conclusions. Atherosclerotic lesions in women are less likely to have coronary calcium than lesions with a similar degree of lumen narrowing in men. Differences in the pattern of coronary calcification between men and women may provide insight into the gender differences observed in the clinical development of symptomatic coronary artery disease.
Interpersonal behavior of preschizophrenic children: a study of home-movies

This study used an interpersonal coding scheme to compare the childhood behavior of adult-diagnosed schizophrenics and their nearest in age, normal sibling. Subjects consisted of 14 preschizophrenics (11 male and 3 female) and 14 sibling controls (8 male and 6 female) depicted in home movies between the ages of five and ten inclusive. Data were analyzed in two age groups: 5–7 vs. 8–10. Preschizophrenics were found to display more frequent negative affect between the ages of 5–7, but this difference disappeared in the 8–10 year age group. This finding is consistent with existing literature on affect development and represents the first directly observed evidence of developmental deviance in preschizophrenic subjects before the age of 11.
An evolved Escherichia coli strain for producing hydrogen and ethanol from glycerol

Abstract Glycerol is an attractive feedstock for biofuels since it accumulates as a byproduct during biodiesel operations; hence, here we consider converting glycerol to hydrogen using the formate hydrogen lyase system of Escherichia coli which converts pyruvate to hydrogen. Starting with E. coli BW25113 frdC that lacks fumarate reductase (this mutation reduces repression of hydrogen synthesis during glycerol fermentation) and by using both adaptive evolution and chemical mutagenesis combined with a selection method based on increased growth on glycerol, we obtained an improved strain, HW2, that produces 20-fold more hydrogen in glycerol medium (0.68 ± 0.16 mmol/L/h). HW2 also grows 5-fold faster (0.25 ± 0.01/h) than BW25113 frdC on glycerol, so it achieves a reasonable anaerobic growth rate. Corroborating the increase in hydrogen production, glycerol dehydrogenase activity in HW2 increased 4-fold compared to BW25113 frdC. In addition, a whole-transcriptome study revealed that several pathways that would decrease hydrogen yields were repressed in HW2 (fbp, focA, and gatYZ) while a beneficial pathway which encodes enolase was induced. Ethanol production was also increased 5-fold in the evolved HW2 strain.
Right Problem Solving: Doing the Right Thing Right

This paper discusses right problem solving to define/solve a right problem for doing the right thing right. In so doing, the paper operationally considers purposeful complex adaptive systems (PCAS), Evolutionary Systems Design (ESD), group/negotiation support systems, consciousness, connectedness, spirituality, rationality, problems, and right rationality in theory and practice. System agents may be natural (human) and/or artificial.
List and Pettit

Christian List and Philip Pettit formulate a "doctrinal paradox", compare it and extensions of it to more general cases, to the Condorcet paradox and its extension to a more general case formulated by Kenneth Arrow. Their treatment is illuminating both conceptually and formally. Another comparison that is worth exploring is between the doctrinal paradox and the well-known lottery paradox. List and Pettit present their problem as one of aggregating sets of judg ments rather than aggregating sets of preferences. Judgments are "modeled on acts of acceptance or rejection of certain propositions". Degrees of cre dence are not recognized, "either someone accepts a certain proposition or not". To accept a proposition is, I take it, to rule out its negation as not possibly true where "possible" means doxastically possible. If agent X does not accept proposition h, this can mean that X accepts the negation ~ h and, hence, rules h out as doxastically impossible. On this reading, if X must either accept h or fail to do so, X is required to be opinionated. According to another reading X fails to rule h out as impossible. On this reading, X is not required to be opinionated by the stipulation that either someone accepts a certain proposition or not. It turns out that List and Pettit adopt the opinionated interpretation. We are given a set S of propositions. Individual i accepts or rejects elements of S in a manner that yields a consistent and deductively closed subset of S that is also complete in the sense that for any h in S either h or ~ h is in f s personal set of judgments. That is to say, each individual's personal set of judgments is maximally consistent in the set S of proposi tions and, hence, is opinionated in the set S. Each individual is required to be opinionated. The meets of the maximally consistent sets constitute an exclusive and exhaustive set W of propositions relative to the background assumptions that characterize the model of the situation being explored. It is assumed that the cardinality of W is finite and not less than 3. The number N of individuals is finite and not less than 2. The challenge is to identify an ag
Equipoise in the real world.

Guidelines for the ethical acceptability of clinical research must be more than theories. They must be grounded in the realities of the world in which patients and physicians interact and struggle ...
Molecular dynamics simulation of Ga penetration along Σ 5 symmetric tilt grain boundaries in an Al bicrystal

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) is a common feature of systems in which a low melting point liquid metal is in contact with another, higher melting point, polycrystalline metal. While different systems exhibit different LME fracture characteristics, the penetration of nanometer-thick liquid metal films along the grain boundary is one of the hallmarks of the process. We employ EAM potentials optimized for Al-Ga binary alloys in a series of molecular dynamics simulations of an Al bicrystal (with a $\ensuremath{\Sigma}5$ 36.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}(301)/[010] symmetric tilt boundary) in contact with liquid Ga with and without an applied stress. Our simulations clarify the mechanism of LME and how it is affected by applied stresses. The interplay of stress and penetrating Ga atoms leads to the nucleation of a train of dislocations on the grain boundary below the liquid groove root which climbs down the grain boundary at a nearly constant rate. The dislocation climb mechanism and the Ga penetration are coupled. While the dislocations do relax part of the applied stress, the residual stresses keep the grain boundary open, thereby allowing more, fast Ga transport to the penetration front (i.e., Ga layer thickening process). The coupled Ga transport and ``dislocation climb'' is the key to the anomalously fast, time-independent penetration of Ga along grain boundaries in Al. The simulations explain a wide range of experimental observations of LME in the Al-Ga literature.
Partial words and a theorem of Fine and Wilf revisited

A word of length n over a finite alphabet A is a map from {0,...,n_1} into A. A partial word of length n over A is a partial map from {0,...,n_1} into A. In the latter case, elements of {0,...,n1} without image are called holes (a word is just a partial word without holes). In this paper, we extend a fundamental periodicity result on words due to Fine and Wilf to partial words with two or three holes. This study was initiated by Berstel and Boasson for partial words with one hole. Partial words are motivated by molecular biolog
Nanotechnology approaches for ocular drug delivery

Blindness is a major health concern worldwide that has a powerful impact on afflicted individuals and their families, and is associated with enormous socio-economical consequences. The Middle East is heavily impacted by blindness, and the problem there is augmented by an increasing incidence of diabetes in the population. An appropriate drug/gene delivery system that can sustain and deliver therapeutics to the target tissues and cells is a key need for ocular therapies. The application of nanotechnology in medicine is undergoing rapid progress, and the recent developments in nanomedicine-based therapeutic approaches may bring significant benefits to address the leading causes of blindness associated with cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinal degeneration. In this brief review, we highlight some promising nanomedicine-based therapeutic approaches for drug and gene delivery to the anterior and posterior segments.
Intertrial interval effects on internal stimulus control of behavior in brightness differential conditioning

Abstract In Experiment 1, groups were given a trial sequence in differential conditioning in which all S+ trials preceded all S− trials (+− schedule) or one in which some S+ trials followed S− trials (+−+ schedule) and either a 1- or a 30-min intertrial interval (ITI). ITI affected discrimination learning only in the +− schedule condition; schedule affected discrimination only at massed trials. In Experiment.2, all groups received a +−+ schedule. In two groups, given a 1- or 15-min ITI between all trials, discrimination learning was independent of ITI. Discrimination learning was facilitated in two other groups given a 1-min ITI between all trials except between S− and the subsequent S+ trial, when the ITI was either 15 or 60 min. The results were discussed in terms of their implications for internal reward-related stimulus control of behavior in differential conditioning.
Shape and size stability of Pt nanoparticles for MeOH electro-oxidation

Abstract Pt nanoparticles (NPs) of different shape (cubic and octahedral/tetrahedral) and size (5–10 nm) were synthesized by one-step polyol-based synthetic procedures that permit the concomitant control of the shape and size. The shape and size stability of these particles under repetitive methanol (MeOH) electro-oxidation cycles was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV). The TEM images of the particles taken before and after being subject to 1000 MeOH electro-oxidation CV cycling and the corresponding hydrogen adsorption/desorption profile in the CVs indicated that, the octahedral/tetrahedral Pt NPs had the highest stability among the samples investigated. Infra-red measurements suggest that this observation may be a result of exceptionally strong interaction of the capping polymer with octa/tetrahedral Pt NPs. These findings indicate that the synthetic procedure employed in this study can be used to synthesize highly stable catalyst particles with tunable shape and size.
Impact of amyloid imaging on drug development in Alzheimer's disease.

Imaging agents capable of assessing amyloid-beta (Aβ) content in vivo in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects likely will be important as diagnostic agents to detect Aβ plaques in the brain as well as to help test the amyloid cascade hypothesis of AD and as an aid to assess the efficacy of anti-amyloid therapeutics currently under development and in clinical trials. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies of amyloid deposition in human subjects with several Aβ imaging agents are currently underway. We reported the first PET studies of the carbon 11-labeled thioflavin-T derivative Pittsburgh Compound B in 2004, and this work has subsequently been extended to include a variety of subject groups, including AD patients, mild cognitive impairment patients and healthy controls. The ability to quantify regional Aβ plaque load in the brains of living human subjects has provided a means to begin to apply this technology as a diagnostic agent to detect regional concentrations of Aβ plaques and as a surrogate marker of therapeutic efficacy in anti-amyloid drug trials.
Inelastic Electron Scattering from Nuclei and Single-Particle Excitations

Arguments are presented that the single-particle excitations in nuclei induced by inelastically scattered electrons dominate the inelastic cross section in large domains of the momentum transfer (q) and the energy loss ( omega ). The sum rules for fixed q and omega are derived which include the transverse electron-nucleus interactions to order q/sup 2//M/sup 2/ (M being the nucleon mass). The results of the calculations of the inelastic cross section for C/sup 12/ at theta = 135 deg are discussed and compared with experimental data. (auth)
Discrete-time dynamic traffic assignment models with periodic planning horizon: system optimum

This paper proposes a system optimal dynamic traffic assignment model that does not require the network to be empty at the beginning or at the end of the planning horizon. The model assumes that link travel times depend on traffic densities and uses a discretized planning horizon. The resulting formulation is a nonlinear program with binary variables and a time-expanded network structure. Under a relatively mild condition, the nonlinear program has a feasible solution. When necessary, constraints can be added to ensure that the solution satisfies the First-In-First-Out condition. Also included are approximation schemes based on linear integer programs that can provide solutions arbitrarily close to that of the original nonlinear problem.
Investigations of plasma-polymerized films as primers for Parylene-C coatings on neural prosthesis materials

Abstract A need exists to protect neural prosthesis devices from corrosion by biofluids in order to enhance their usable lifetime. Parylene-C is useful and biocompatible polymer coating, but its adhesion to metals used in these devices is not sufficient to achieve the necessary lifetimes. We developed plasma-polymerized hydrocarbon films to act as primer layers for enhancing the adhesion of Parylene-C to metallic surfaces. It was found that the metal surface should be clean and that the wet and dry adhesion of the overcoating is a function of the chemical nature of the surface. Thus, excellent wet and dry adhesion was obtained on clean tantalum and silicon surfaces which had been overcoated with a very thin layer of silicon dioxide. In each case this thin layer was overcoated with plasma-polymerized methane and then Parylene-C. Since the latter two processes are free radical processes, covalent bonds are created to enhance the adhesion. Cleaning procedures and careful reaction conditions are necessary. These are described.
Actigraphic assessment of daily sleep-activity pattern abnormalities reflects self-assessed depression and anxiety in outpatients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: We measured subjectively evaluated depression and anxiety, and objectively measured daily sleep–activity patterns in inpatients and outpatients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and determined whether cancer-associated depression and anxiety are accompanied by characteristic circadian rhythm abnormalities. Methods: Equal numbers of inpatients (n=42) and outpatients (n=42) with advanced NSCLC were studied. Baseline depression and anxiety, assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and actigraphy were recorded before chemotherapy initiation. The effects of the presence and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on depression, anxiety, and actigraphy were assessed only among the 42 outpatients. Results: Anxiety occurred in 40% and depression in 25% of these lung cancer patients, equally among inpatients and outpatients. All patients suffer extremely disturbed daily sleep–activity cycles but each patient also maintains some degree of circadian organization. Outpatients maintain more robust daily activity patterns and longer, more consolidated nighttime sleep compared with inpatients. The more disrupted the daily sleep–activity rhythm, the worse the depression and/or anxiety scores for outpatients. These relationships are obscured among inpatients. COPD has no independent measurable effects on the daily organization of sleep–activity, depression, or anxiety. Conclusions: Lung cancer patients whose diurnal activity is disturbed by prolonged and frequent sedentary episodes and whose sleep is disturbed by frequent and prolonged waking are most anxious and depressed. These findings and relationships are masked by hospitalization. Since diurnal exercise improves both sleep and mood, it is reasonable to test whether enhancing daytime activity and nighttime sleep can diminish cancer-associated depression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defining Risk of Prescription Opioid Overdose: Pharmacy Shopping and Overlapping Prescriptions Among Long-Term Opioid Users in Medicaid

Abstract Use of multiple pharmacies concurrently (pharmacy shopping) and overlapping prescriptions may be indicators of potential misuse or abuse of prescription opioid medications. To evaluate strategies for identifying patients at high risk, we first compared different definitions of pharmacy shopping and then added the indicator of overlapping opioid prescriptions. We identified a cohort of 90,010 Medicaid enrollees who used ≥3 opioid prescriptions for ≥90 days during 2008 to 2010 from a multistate Medicaid claims database. We compared the diagnostic odds ratios for opioid overdose events of 9 pharmacy shopping definitions. Within a 90-day interval, a threshold of 4 pharmacies had the highest diagnostic odds ratio and was used to define pharmacy shopping. The overdose rate was higher in the subgroup with overlapping prescriptions (18.5 per 1,000 person-years [PYs]) than in the subgroup with pharmacy shopping as the sole indicator (10.7 per 1,000 PYs). Among the subgroup with both conditions, the overdose rate was 26.3 per 1,000 PYs, compared with 4.3 per 1,000 PYs for those with neither condition. Overlapping opioid prescriptions and pharmacy shopping measures had adjusted hazard ratios of 3.0 and 1.8, respectively, for opioid overdose. Using these measures will improve accurate identification of patients at highest risk of opioid overdose, the first step in implementing targeted prevention policies. Perspective Long-term prescription opioid use may lead to adverse events, including overdose. Both pharmacy shopping and overlapping opioid prescriptions are associated with adverse outcomes. This study demonstrates that using both indicators will better identify those at high risk of overdose.
Periodic solutions of differential equations with time lag containing a small parameter

Periodic solutions for functional differential equations with time lag, developing bifurcation theory representing delay equation extension
Radiosynthesis and biological evaluation of alpha-[F-18]fluoromethyl phenylalanine for brain tumor imaging

Abstract Objectives Radiolabeled amino acids have proven utility for imaging brain tumors in humans, particularly those that target system L amino acid transport. We have prepared the novel phenylalanine analogue, α-[ 18 F]fluoromethyl phenylalanine (FMePhe, 9), as part of an effort to develop new system L tracers that can be prepared in high radiochemical yield through nucleophilic [ 18 F]fluorination. The tumor imaging properties of both enantiomers of this new tracer were evaluated through cell uptake, biodistribution and microPET studies in the mouse DBT model of high grade glioma. Methods The non-radioactive form of 9 and the cyclic sulfamidate labeling precursor were prepared from commercially available racemic α-benzylserine. Racemic [ 18 F]9 was prepared from the labeling precursor in two steps using standard[ 18 F]fluoride nucleophilic reaction conditions followed by acidic deprotection. The individual enantiomers [ 18 F] 9a and [ 18 F] 9b were isolated using preparative chiral HPLC. In vitro uptake inhibition assays were performed with each enantiomer using DBT cells. Biodistribution and microPET/CT studies were performed with each enantiomer in male BALB/c mice at approximately 2weeks after implantation of DBT tumor cells. Results Radiolabeling of the cyclic sulfamidate precursor 5 provides racemic [ 18 F]9 in high radiochemical yield (60%–70%, n=4) and high radiochemical purity (>96%, n=4). In vitro uptake assays demonstrate that both [ 18 F] 9a and [ 18 F] 9b undergo tumor cell uptake through system L transport. The biodistribution studies using the single enantiomers [ 18 F] 9a and [ 18 F] 9b demonstrated good tumor uptake with lower uptake in most normal tissues, and [ 18 F] 9a had higher tumor uptake than [ 18 F] 9b . MicroPET imaging demonstrated good tumor visualization within 10min of injection, rapid uptake of radioactivity, and tumor to brain ratios of approximately 6:1 at 60min postinjection. Conclusions The novel PET tracer, [ 18 F]FMePhe, is readily synthesized in good yield from a cyclic sulfamidate precursor. Biodistribution and microPET studies in the DBT model demonstrate good tumor to tissue ratios and tumor visualization, with enantiomer [ 18 F] 9a having higher tumor uptake. However, the brain availability of both enantiomers was lower than expected for system L substrates, suggesting the [ 18 F]fluorine group in the β-position affects uptake of these compounds by system L transporters.
Cation-ether complexes in the gas Phase: Bond dissociation energies of Na+(dimethyl ether)x, x = 1-4; Na+(1,2-dimethoxyethane)x, x = 1 and 2; and Na+(12-crown-4)

Bond dissociation energies of Na+[O(CH3)2]x, x = 1−4; Na+[(CH2OCH3)2]x, x = 1 and 2; and Na+[c-(C2H4O)4] are reported. The bond dissociation energies are determined experimentally by analysis of the thresholds for collision-induced dissociation of the cation−ether complexes by xenon measured using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. In all cases, the primary and lowest energy dissociation channel observed experimentally is endothermic loss of one ligand molecule. The cross section thresholds are interpreted to yield 0 and 298 K bond dissociation energies after accounting for the effects of multiple ion−molecule collisions, internal energy of the complexes, and unimolecular decay rates. Trends in the bond dissociation energies determined by experiment and recent theoretical ab initio calculations are in good agreement. Our best experimental values, which have an average uncertainty of ±7 kJ/mol, are lower than the theoretical values by 7 ± 5 kJ/mol per metal−oxygen interaction. These values are compared wit...
Will the Revolution be Funded? Resource Mobilization and the California Farm Worker Movement

Based on archival and qualitative field research, this paper describes how the philanthropic investments of the Max L. Rosenberg Foundation contributed to the emergence of the historic California Farm Worker Movement. The author argues that foundations do not always have articulated or clear-cut political agendas to dilute organizing campaigns; instead moments of agreement (and antagonism) emerge and are fluidly negotiated as points of convergence appear and disappear. This paper reveals the three critical periods in which the Max L. Rosenberg Foundation invested in farmworker organizations in California's Central Valley: the dustbowl migrant education period of the 1930–1940s, the self-help housing projects of the 1950s, and the early leadership training campaigns of the Farm Worker Movement of the 1960s. This paper makes a significant contribution to resource mobilization theory by showing how private funding of a particular social movement (and therefore perhaps others if examined) was most aligned wit...
Bone Mineral Density in Spontaneous Hypertension: Differential Effects of Dietary Calcium and Sodium

Dietary calcium and sodium have been postulated to modify both bone mineral status and blood pressure regulation in humans and animals. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) manifests several defects in calcium metabolism that may contribute to its hypertension. Blood pressure and bone mineral status were measured in SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) as a marker of whole animal calcium metabolism. In addition, the effect of alterations in dietary calcium and sodium on bone status were examined. At 6 weeks of age, seven male SHR and seven male WKY were placed on a control diet. At the same age, 28 SHR and 28 WKY were randomized to four diets containing either 2.0% or 0.1% calcium and 1.0% or 0.25% sodium. Four markers of bone mineral status were analyzed: bone density measured by direct photon absorptiometry, and total bone calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium content measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The SHR exhibited significantly lower levels (p less than 0.001) of bone density and bone magnesium content than the WKY, whereas bone phosphorus and calcium did not differ between the two strains. The 2.0% calcium diets resulted in increased bone density and bone calcium content, and lower bone magnesium in both strains. The 1.0% sodium diets were associated with decreased bone density in the SHR, but not in the WKY. These findings identify another indicator of disturbed calcium metabolism in the SHR that may be related to impaired renal calcium handling. They are consistent with previously reported reductions in renal calcium reabsorption and decreased intestinal calcium transport in older SHR.
Structure and function of ATP-driven ion pumps

ATP-driven ion pumps are used by cells to generate ion gradients at the expense of ATP hydrolysis or to generate ATP at the expense of an ion gradient. The pumps are of varying complexities containing between two and ten polypeptide chains.
Imaging of Oxygen Evolution and Oxide Formation Using Quinine Fluorescence

Quinine was used as a fluorescent acid−base indicator to image electrode reactions that consume hydroxide ions. The fluorescence intensity was used as a measure of the microscopically local current at the electrode surface during O2 evolution and oxide formation. Highest resolution images were obtained 300−600 ms after application of the potential in an unbuffered (pH 10) 0.5 mM quinine solution. The increase in fluorescence intensity observed at later times was offset by a decrease in spatial resolution. Imaging anodic reactions using quinine fluorescence is complementary to the previously established method for imaging cathodic processes using fluorescein fluorescence. Similarly, this new method should be able to provide information about microscopically local reaction rates and concentration profiles at electrode surfaces for a variety of anodic reactions.
Conformational constraints within neurohypophyseal hormones influencing the action of chymotrypsin

Abstract Intact oxytocin, lysine-vasopressin and arginine-vasopressin are resistant to the action of α-chymotrypsin when incubated at an enzyme-substrate ratio of 1:300. Conversely, the Tyr-Ile, Tyr-Phe or Phe-Gln peptide bonds in the corresponding acyclic, S-alkylated nonapeptides are efficiently hydrolyzed by α-chymotrypsin. These results show that the 20-membered ring component of the neurohypophyseal hormones, which was proposed to consist of a compact antiparallel β-pleated sheet conformation, presents an image to the enzyme differing significantly from that of the same amino acid residues present in a linear peptide. This prevents the enzyme from recognizing a potential substrate. Neurohypophyseal hormone analogs thought to possess a less constrained 20-membered ring structure are susceptible to cleavage of peptide bonds located in the cyclic moiety.