cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of cell regularity and relative density on elastoplastic compression response of 3-D open-cell foam core sandwich structure generated using Voronoi diagrams

Abstract The Voronoi tessellation technique in a 3-D space is used for modeling the structural foam core used in sandwich configurations. The procedure involves stochastic generation of nuclei in a control volume. The level of randomness of the microstructure is controlled with a simple sequential inhibition (SSI) process and quantified using a regularity parameter. The influence of the cell regularity on the compression response of open-cell microstructures is studied in the elastic and plastic deformation regimes. Additionally, the effect of relative density is analyzed for different regularities and results are compared with available analytical and semi-empirical models. The low probability of generating highly regular structures using the SSI process has led to the development of a perturbation approach to complement the SSI methodology. Models for estimating elastoplastic properties based on the density of the foam and the regularity parameter are presented. Simulations suggest a monotonic and direct relationship between mechanical properties and the regularity parameter for the entire range of strains considered.
IFN-γ inhibits AP-1 binding activity in human brain-derived cells through a nitric oxide dependent mechanism

It has been demonstrated that CNS levels of the cytokine IFN-gamma are elevated in association with a number of neuro-inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we have examined the effect of this cytokine on human brain derived cells. We show that prolonged treatment (22 h) of such cells with IFN-gamma inhibits the DNA binding activity of transcription factor AP-1. Furthermore, we show that this effect can be reversed by either N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine (L-NIO), competitive inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase activity [Rees et al., 1990]. In addition, we show that treatment of brain-derived cells with the nitric oxide donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine, HCl (SIN-1), or [N-(b-D-glucopyranosyl)-N2-acetyl-S-nitroso-D,L-penicillaminamide] (glyco-SNAP-1), also inhibits the binding activity of AP-1. Together, these results suggest that IFN-gamma can inhibit AP-1 binding activity through a nitric oxide dependent mechanism.
GILT modulates CD4+ T-cell tolerance to the melanocyte differentiation antigen tyrosinase-related protein 1.

Gamma-IFN-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) facilitates major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted processing through endocytic reduction of protein disulfide bonds and is necessary for efficient class II-restricted processing of melanocyte differentiation antigen, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1). Using class II-restricted, TRP1-specific T-cell receptor transgenic mice, we identify a role, to our knowledge, previously unreported, for GILT in the maintenance of tolerance to TRP1. TRP1-specific thymocytes are centrally deleted in the presence of GILT and TRP1. In contrast, CD4 single-positive thymocytes and peripheral T cells develop in the absence of GILT or TRP1, demonstrating that GILT is required for negative selection of TRP1-specific thymocytes. Although TRP1-specific T cells escape thymic deletion in the absence of GILT, they are tolerant to TRP1 and do not induce vilitigo. TRP1-specific T cells that develop in the absence of GILT have diminished IL-2 and IFN-γ production. Furthermore, GILT-deficient mice have a 4-fold increase in the percentage of TRP1-specific regulatory T (Treg) cells compared with TRP1-deficient mice, and depletion of Treg cells partially restores the ability of GILT-deficient TRP1-specific CD4+ T cells to induce vitiligo. Thus, GILT has a critical role in regulating CD4+ T-cell tolerance to an endogenous skin-restricted antigen relevant to controlling autoimmunity and generating effective immunotherapy for melanoma.
Sound pressure-level prediction in large rooms containing barriers

Abstract A simple-to-use graphical method for estimating the sound pressure level in the shadow zone of a rigid straight-edged barrier for sound radiated from a point source located in a large room is presented and discussed. Also presented is a means based on the graphs introduced for evaluating the noise reduction potential of a barrier in a room or factory work space.
The Role of Luteinizing Hormone/Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor-Specific mRNA Binding Protein in Regulating Receptor Expression in Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Context: In normally cycling women, LH receptor mRNA expression undergoes transient down-regulation after the LH surge. The same phenomenon is also seen during a hormonally induced ovarian cycle where the LH receptor mRNA expression is down-regulated in response to the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Although the granulosa cells isolated from the follicular aspirates at this stage show a decline in the expression of LH receptor mRNA, this diminished receptor expression returns to control levels upon culturing in serum-containing medium. Objective: To understand the mechanism of hCG-induced loss of LH receptor mRNA expression, a cytosolic fraction (S100) was isolated from the granulosa cells, and its ability to bind LH receptor mRNA was assayed by performing RNA electrophoretic mobility gel shift analysis. Results: The results showed that the mRNA binding activity of the S100 fraction was induced in the freshly isolated granulosa cells (d 1) from the follicular aspirates collected from women who had been injected with hCG to induce ovulation. The LH receptor mRNA expression in granulosa cells on d 1, as assessed by real-time PCR and Northern blot analysis, was significantly suppressed. Both the expression of LH receptor mRNA and RNA binding activity in the S100 fractionwerethenassessedafterculturinggranulosacellsfor4d.The results showed that the LH receptor mRNA expression was significantly higher on d 4 compared with that seen on d 1. However, the RNA binding activity of the S100 fraction was significantly decreased on d 4 compared with that seen on d 1. These results show an increased association of RNA binding protein during LH receptor mRNA down-regulation. Conclusion:The present results support the notion that LH receptor mRNA expression in the human ovaries is regulated by an RNA binding protein. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91: 2239–2243, 2006)
Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis shikimate kinase in complex with shikimic acid and an ATP analogue.

Shikimate kinase (SK) and other enzymes in the shikimate pathway are potential targets for developing nontoxic antimicrobial agents, herbicides, and antiparasite drugs, because the pathway is essential in microorganisms, plants, and parasites but absent from mammals. SK catalyzes the reaction of phosphoryl transfer from ATP to shikimic acid (SA). Since 2002, a total of 11 SK structures have been reported, but none contains either the two substrate (SA and ATP) or the two product (SA−phosphate and ADP) molecules. Here, we present three crystal structures of SK from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtSK), including apo-MtSK, a binary complex MtSK·SA, and the ternary complex of MtSK with SA and an ATP analogue, AMPPCP. The structures of apo-MtSK and MtSK·AMPPCP·SA make it possible to elucidate the conformational changes of MtSK upon the binding of both substrates; the structure of MtSK·AMPPCP·SA reveals interactions between the protein and γ-phosphate which indicate dynamic roles of catalytic residues Lys15 and A...
Concerning the convergence of inexact Newton methods

Abstract In this study, we use inexact Newton methods to find solutions of nonlinear operator equations on Banach spaces with a convergence structure. Our technique involves the introduction of a generalized norm as an operator from a linear space into a partially ordered Banach space. In this way the metric properties of the examined problem can be analyzed more precisely. Moreover, this approach allows us to derive from the same theorem, on the one hand, semi-local results of Kantorovich type, and on the other hand, global results based on monotonicity considerations. By imposing very general Lipschitz-like conditions on the operators involved, on the one hand, we cover a wider range of problems, and on the other hand, by choosing our operators appropriately, we can find sharper error bounds on the distances involved than before. Furthermore, we show that special cases of our results reduce to the corresponding ones already in the literature. Finally, our results are used to solve integral equations that cannot be solved with existing methods.
Characteristic [3H]glucosamine-labeled glycoproteins in two-dimensional electrophoretograms of human renal cancer cells: Identification as cathepsin D☆

Two-dimensional electrophoretograms of extracts of [3H]glucosamine-labeled human renal cancer cells demonstrated a series of components (Mr 48,000 and 30,000) that are only poorly expressed in similarly labeled normal kidney epithelial cell cultures [S. Ogata, R. Ueda, and K. O. Lloyd (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 78, 770-774]. These characteristics are also exhibited by [3H]Man-labeled samples and by concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins from [35S]Met-labeled cells. It is now shown that these species are the precursor chain (Mr 48,000) and native heavy chain (Mr 30,000) forms of the lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin D. These results were obtained by precipitation with a specific anti-cathepsin D serum and by binding of the components to pepstatin-Sepharose. Cathepsin D heavy chain is heterogeneous, having three major species with pI's of 5.7, 5.3, and 4.9; all forms are glycosylated with high mannose-type chains [approximate size: Man5(GlcNAc)2] and are partially phosphorylated. Despite these indications of dissimilarities in cathepsin D levels, the actual levels of total acid protease activity were not significantly higher in renal cancer cells than in normal kidney epithelial cells.
Catch a Falling Star: Meteorites and Old Ice

A model for the process of meteorite concentration in blue ice regions of the Antarctic ice sheet is proposed based on data from near the Allan Hills and the assumptions that both meteorite influx and glacial flow have been constant. The meteorite influx is calculated to be 60 x 10-6 kilogram per square kilometer per year, and the age of the exposed ice to be 0 to 600,000 years, varying with distance from the Allan Hills. These results are in line with other estimates of influx rate and with measurements of the terrestrial ages of the meteorites, providing support for the assumption of steady flow and meteorite influx. This may be the oldest sequence of ice in stratigraphic order yet discovered, and the results imply that this part of the east Antarctic ice sheet has been approximately steady during this time interval.
ATP production and TCA activity are stimulated by propionyl-L-carnitine in the diabetic rat heart.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Following diagnosis of diabetes, treatment was initiated by supplementing the drinking water with PLC at a concentration of 1 g/L for a period of 6 weeks. ATP production and TCA cycle activity were determined from oxidative rates of glucose and palmitate measured in isolated working hearts from control and diabetic animals.
Female Sexuality and Consent in Public Discourse: James Burt’s “Love Surgery”

Beginning in the mid-1960s, gynecologist and obstetrician James Burt developed what he called “love surgery” on unknowing women after they gave birth. It was, he later told them, a modification of episiotomy repair. In the mid-1970s, Burt began promoting love surgery as an elective sexual enhancement surgery and women came to his clinic in hopes of a surgically-enabled better sex life. But though Burt now offered love surgery, he continued to perform it on patients who did not come to him for it through the late 1980s. Over the course of more than two decades, discourse on love surgery occurred twice nationally. In the late 1970s, feminists and sex therapists attacked love surgery as altering a woman’s body for male sexual pleasure. Though Burt never hid his continued use of love surgery on women who had not elected for it, the public discourse at this time focused on love surgery as a reflection of larger cultural ideas about female sexuality. In the late 1980s, when Burt’s love surgery again appeared in the national media, the issue of informed consent, largely absent from the discourse about love surgery in the late 1970s, moved to the center. Though significant activity happened within the local medical and legal communities beginning in the mid-1970s regarding Burt and his practice of love surgery, my interest here is on these two periods when the discourse regarding love surgery, female sexuality, and informed consent occurred within a national frame.
Serological unrelatedness of two terebellid polychate vascular hemoglobins

1. 1. Antisera against Pista pacifica vascular hemoglobin were prepared. 2. 2. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of P. pacifica hemoglobin revealed the presence of two components. 3. 3. Immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic studies using the vascular hemoglobins of Thelepus crispus and Pista pacifica over a hundred-fold concentration range failed to indicate any cross-reaction between these hemoglobins. 4. 4. It is concluded that these hemoglobins differ in structure to a degree which precludes quantitation of their possible homology by immunological methods.
Acute boron toxicity in Begonia X hiemalis ’Schwabenland Red‘

Abstract Boron toxicity was induced in Begonia X hiemalis Fotsch ‘Schwabenland Red’ by successive applications of 1.0 mM H3BO3 to the root medium. Treatments were initiated at progressive stages of growth. Leaf injury occurred initially on mature leaves. Symptoms progressed from mild chlorosis of the leaf margins to an eventual necrosis extending inwards 3 to 5 mm from the leaf margin. Mean concn of B in canopy leaves of plants exhibiting incipient symptoms of B toxicity ranged from 125 to 258 ppm. Older plants tended to exhibit B toxicity symptoms at lower foliar concn of B than younger plants.
Baking and taste properties of bread made from hard wheat flour infested with species of Tribolium, Tenebrio, Trogoderma and Oryzaephilus

Abstract Experiments were undertaken to determine the effects of insect infestations on the baking and taste qualities of bread prepared from insect-infested flour. Bread prepared from flour previously infested with Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L), Tenebrio molitor L, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and Tribolium confusum (Duval) ebony strain, disclosed a variety of baking and taste quality changes after 1, 2, and 3 month infestation periods. Although bread made from flour infested with O. surinamensis and T. molitor revealed only minor changes in physical attributes, a ‘chemo-phenolic’ taste and odor was detected. Bread prepared from flour infested with T. castaneum and T. confusum showed many changes including a progressive darkening of the crumb, reduction in slice size, and a distinct offensive taste and odor which was intensified after longer infestation periods. The data support the hypothesis that quinone secretions adversely affect the taste qualities of bread made from Tribolium -infested flour, and this may be an important factor in lowering its baking qualities.
Polysilicon-on-Insulator Photonic Devices

We demonstrate ring resonators with Q = 4,000 using poly crystalline silicon annealed at a low temperature of 600degC, which is compatible with standard CMOS processes.
The growth of whiskers by the reduction of metal salts

Abstract The conditions for the growth of Fe, Cu, Ag, Ni, Co, Pt, and Au whiskers by the reduction of their halides are described. It is shown, at least in the case of copper, that the whiskers grow from the tip, and there seems little doubt that the growth occurs by the condensation of freshly-formed metal vapor. The supersaturation of the metal vapor appears to be extremely high during the whisker growth. Whiskers with a large variety of shapes and perfection grow under these conditions. Of greatest interest are the near-perfect whiskers which exhibit high strength and are bound by smooth planes. Whiskers larger than 8 μ are rarely near-perfect.
Nanowire–quantum‐dot–polymer solar cell

We report first results on a new solar cell structure which incorporates n-type ZnO nanowires, an undoped CdSe layer, obtained from quantum dot precursors, and a p-type polymer layer as the main components. In the fabrication process the quantum dot layer is converted to a conformal ∼30 nm thick polycrystalline film. The fabrication of the cell occurs in lab air at temperatures below 100 °C. Several intermittent annealing steps raise the energy conversion efficiency to approximately 1%. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Treatment of social phobia with clonidine

The essential feature of social phobia is a persistent fear and compelling avoidance of situations in which the individual may be exposed to the scrutiny of others. The patients suffering from this disorder are usually fearful that others will detect signs of anxiety in their appearance or behavior in the fear-inducing situations. A vicious cycle may be created in which the fear generates anxiety, impairing performance, thus providing an apparent justification for avoiding the phobic situations (APA 1980). There are only a small number of controlled studies of pharmacological treatment for social phobia. They suggest that antidepressants of the monoamine-inhibitor class and padrenergic receptor blockers may be effective for social phobia (Liebowitz et al. 1985). This article describes a young man who presented with severe incapacitating social phobia, precipitated and perpetuated by his tendency to blush. He did not respond to treatment with alprazolam, phenelzine, or propranolol, which had been administered successively. He responded remarkably well, however, to treatment with clonidine hydrochloride, an cr-adrenergic agonist. The possible theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Benefit-cost analysis using data envelopment analysis

Benefit-cost analysis is required by law and regulation throughout the federal government. Robert Dorfman (1996) declares ‘Three prominent shortcomings of benefit-cost analysis as currently practiced are (1) it does not identify the population segments that the proposed measure benefits or harms (2) it attempts to reduce all comparisons to a single dimension, generally dollars and cents and (3) it conceals the degree of inaccuracy or uncertainty in its estimates.’ The paper develops an approach for conducting benefit-cost analysis derived from data envelopment analysis (DEA) that overcomes each of Dorfman's objections. The models and methodology proposed give decision makers a tool for evaluating alternative policies and projects where there are multiple constituencies who may have conflicting perspectives. This method incorporates multiple incommensurate attributes while allowing for measures of uncertainty. An application is used to illustrate the method.
A Laparoscopic Camera-Enabled Cannula Port

This project is exploring a potential new approach in providing visual feedback during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) that involves integrating a CMOS camera imager and lens into a traditional cannula entry port. Initial research has focused on developing this device for abdominal surgery (laparoscopy). Such a device can provide vision assistance without positioning and orientation constraints associated with current laparoscopes. Patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery experience less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a more rapid return to normal activities compared to patients who undergo conventional surgery. The benefits of laparoscopic surgery, however, are generally restricted to patients undergoing less complex procedures. The primary reason for limited application of laparoscopy to more complex procedures is two-fold. The first drawback is the limitation of the laparoscope to view all aspects of the abdominal cavity including looking back towards the entry site. Secondly, to view the video image from the scope the surgeon must turn focus away from the patient and towards a recorded video image on a monitor placed away from the patient. These constraints impose severe perception and orientation limitations that degrade surgical task performance. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a camera and sensor module that can be placed within traditional trocar ports for insertion, and that deploy outward from the cannula port after insertion. This approach will allow these ports to still be utilized by all traditional laparoscopic surgical tools, while potentially removing the need for the laparoscope. In addition, a small LCD display is placed at the port’s proximal end restore natural perception and orientation for the surgical team.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
ElectriCOIL: an advanced chemical iodine laser concept

Advanced chemical iodine laser technology will logically include novel all gas phase generation techniques for an iodine energy donor and the injection of atomic rather than molecular iodine. Candidate methods are discussed for the creation of an all gas phase energy donor as well as for injecting atomic iodine. This research will lead directly to designs that will be fabricated and tested extensively with detailed diagnostics to evaluate the chosen design's performance attributes. Preliminary analysis and modeling of the ElectriCOlL system concept is presented. ElectriCOIL will reduce weight and simplify both military and commercial chemical iodine laser systems. Potential cost and weight savings are also envisioned as the massive quantities of liquid chemicals will be completely eliminated from the device operation.
Investigation of the Anomalous Solvation Free Energies of Amides and Amines: FEP Calculations in Cyclohexane and PS-GVB Calculations on Amide−Water Complexes

Free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations of acetamide, N-methylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, ammonia, and methylamine in cyclohexane were performed to help rationalize their counterintuitive experimental free energies of solvation in water (i.e., N-methylacetamide is more favorably solvated than acetamide, and methylamine is more favorably solvated than ammonia). Analogously to the aqueous FEP calculations in water carried out previously, the calculations in cyclohexane find an approximately additive methyl substitution effect for both the amides and amines, with, in this case, the most highly methylated molecule most favorably solvated in cyclohexane. PS-GVB calculations at the LMP2/cc-pVDZ level were also performed on the amides and suggest that their anomalous experimental aqueous solvation free energies could be due to differences in their hydrated gas-phase structures.
Age differences in Criteria-Based Content Analysis scores in typical child sexual abuse interviews

Abstract Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) by Steller and Koehnken [Psychological methods in criminal investigation and evidence (1989) 217. New York: Springer.] is used to help determine the veracity of allegations of child sexual abuse by reference to criteria theorized to be present more often in true statements. Studies generally show that older children meet more criteria, indicating potential problems in applying CBCA equally well across the age range. The present study examined 104 actual child sexual abuse interviews with children age 2–14 years (M=6.5). Two trained raters, blind to the children's ages, evaluated each interview for the original 19 CBCA criteria. Data were coded using various methods, some of which gave children credit for reporting criteria spontaneously or when prompted by the interviewer. For all coding methods, age was significantly correlated with 12 or more criteria, and with total CBCA scores. The youngest children never reported seven criteria, even when interviewer prompting was taken into account. Therefore, many of the criteria may not be useful in typical interviews with children across a wide age range, because they either are rarely present or they are highly correlated with age.
Toward Measuring How Well Hearing-Impaired Children Speak

Average intelligibility scores for a group of 37 hearing-impaired and two normally hearing adolescents were determined by 50 normal listeners and were compared with nine acoustically measured speech variables. These nine variables included measurements of consonant production, vowel production, and prosody. Regression analysis of the variables showed that three of the speech variables bore a multiple correlation of 0.85 with measured intelligibility scores. Two variables alone, the mean voice-onset-time difference between /t/ and /d/ and the mean second-formant difference between /i/ and /c/, accounted for about 70% of the variance in the intelligibility scores. To cross-validate the reliability of these correlations, intelligibility scores were subsequently predicted for another group of 30 hearing-impaired adolescents and then compared with intelligibility scores as determined by another group of normal listeners. For this second group, the correlation between measured intelligibility scores and predicted scores was 0.86, which indicates that the reliability of the predicting variables is high. Five of the nine variables correlated more highly with measured speech intelligibility than did pure-tone audiometric thresholds. The average speech intelligibility of all 67 hearing-impaired subjects was 76%.
Photographic Fourier Synthesis

IN 1929, Sir Lawrence Bragg1 showed that electron density projections and Patterson projections of crystal structures could be synthesized by the photographic addition of patterns of light and dark bands of proper period and orientation, one pattern for each term in the series. Later2, I showed that such syntheses can be made easily and rapidly if one has available a set of suitable masks. These are inserted successively into a photographic enlarger and exposures made through them, the exposure times being proportional to the F or F2 values—the coefficients of the individual terms in the series.
Cloud-driven architectures for next generation small cell networks

The ability to aggressively reuse spectral resources has made small cells a key component in catering to the growing traffic demand in cellular networks. While efficient resource management solutions are needed to address the challenging interference problem in small cell networks, the deployment and management of small cells themselves incurs capital and operational expenses for operators. Cloud-driven radio access networks (C-RAN) have been proposed as a cost-effective means for the realization of small cells. Unlike typical RANs where the baseband units (BBUs) and the radio units are situated together, the C-RAN concept migrates the BBUs to a datacenter (i.e., the cloud), while providing a transport network (called the "front-haul") to the remote antennas called remote radio heads (RRHs).In this talk, we will discuss how such a physical decoupling of BBU and RRH allows C-RAN to enable better interference (resource) management solutions and hence provide increased network capacity. More importantly, we will focus on the component that is unique to a C-RAN, namely its front-haul network that maps and transports the signals from the BBUs to the RRHs. We will show how different logical configurations of the front-haul manifest as different transmission strategies on the access network and discuss why they are critical in realizing the complete potential of a C-RAN. Then, with the help of a small scale end-to-end experimental C-RAN test-bed deployed in an enterprise environment, we will present the design of a dynamically reconfigurable, software-defined front-haul network for C-RAN that tailors front-haul configurations to the observed traffic profile in the network. This allows it to provide not just improved capacity but also seamless mobility, reduced compute resource consumption (in BBU pool) and front-haul customization (for different operators and access technologies) simultaneously. We will conclude by discussing some of the limitations of C-RAN architectures in general as well as their current state in the industry.
IFN-γ acts as anti-angiogenic cytokine in the human cornea by regulating the expression of VEGF-A and sVEGF-R1

Inflammatory processes within the cornea are known to be associated with corneal neovascularization (CN). We examined the effects of inflammatory mediators on the expression of angiogenic factors by corneal cells. TNF-α and IL-1 induced VEGF-A secretion by corneal fibroblasts (HCRF) and this was inhibited significantly by IFN-γ. Constitutively secreted VEGF-A by corneal epithelial cells (HCE) was not affected by these cytokines. Moreover, sVEGF-R1(sFlt-1) secretion by HCRF was stimulated significantly by IFN-γ. JAK-STAT pathway inhibitor reversed the effects of IFN-γ on VEGF-A and sFlt-1 secretion by HCRF. RT-PCR analysis showed that IFN-γ influences the expression of VEGF-A and sFlt-1 by affecting their mRNA level. IFN-γ inhibited TGF-β induced VEGF-A secretion but not sVEGF-R1secretion. This is the first report demonstrating the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of IFN-γ on VEGF-A and sFlt-1 secretion, respectively. Our results suggest that IFN-γ acts as an anti-angiogenic cytokine in the human cornea.
Activators and targets

Proteins that activate genes are quite disparate in character; in particular, some work 'universally' and others do not. A simple model can accommodate most of the recently published results.
Neural Activation during Inhibition Predicts Initiation of Substance Use in Adolescence

Background Problems inhibiting non-adaptive behaviors have been linked to an increased risk for substance use and other risk taking behaviors in adolescence. This study examines the hypothesis that abnormalities in neural activation during inhibition in early adolescence may predict subsequent substance involvement. Methods Thirty eight adolescents from local area middle schools, ages 12–14, with very limited histories of substance use, underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as they performed a go/no-go task of response inhibition and response selection. Adolescents and their parents were then followed annually with interviews covering substance use and other behaviors. Based on follow-up data, youth were classified as transitioning to heavy use of alcohol (TU; n = 21), or as healthy controls (CON; n = 17). Results At baseline, prior to the onset of use, youth who later transitioned into heavy use of alcohol showed significantly less activation than those who went on to remain non to minimal users throughout adolescence. Activation reductions in TU at baseline were seen on no-go trials in 12 brain regions, including right inferior frontal gyrus, left dorsal and medial frontal areas, bilateral motor cortex, cingulate gyrus, left putamen, bilateral middle temporal gyri, and bilateral inferior parietal lobules (corrected p < .01, each cluster ≥32 contiguous voxels). Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that less neural activity during response inhibition demands predicts future involvement with problem behaviors such as alcohol and other substance use.
Leaf elemental composition and bean yellow mosaic virus interrelationships in phaseolus vulgaris l.

Abstract Two greenhouse sand culture experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) on growth and elemental composition of ‘Dark Red Kidney’ beans. Virus concentration within infected beans increased rapidly between 4 and 8 days after inoculation. Symptom expression, growth reductions, and changes in the elemental composition of infected plants were associated with this increase. Virus distribution within the plant varied with the position of the trifoliate leaf or plant part sampled. In addition, symptom expression on the trifoliate leaves at different positions on the plant varied greatly. Changes in the plant nutrient element levels caused by virus infection were first detected 8 days after inoculation. Calcium and Mg concentrations were significantly lower in basal leaves of infected plants than in corresponding tissue from controls. In contrast, Mn and Zn tended to concentrate in infected trifoliate leaves. Total accumulation of individual elements in sampl...
Cycloamylose-accelerated cleavage of acylimidazoles

Abstract Hydrolyses of N-trans -cinnamoylimidazole ( 1 ) and N -acetylimidazole ( 2 ) were accelerated by cyclohexaamylose (α-CA) and cycloheptaamylose (β-CA) at 25°C. The cleavage of the amide bond in 1 at pH 9.0 was accelerated by α-CA and β-CA by 28- and 38-fold, respectively, whereas the cleavage of the amide bond in 2 at pH 7.0 was accelerated by α-CA and β-CA by 50- and 28-fold, respectively. The β-CA-accelerated hydrolysis of 1 proceeded via binding, acylation of β-CA, and deacylation of β-CA trans -cinnamate, which is consistent with the pathway used by serine proteases. The deuterium oxide solvent isotope effects for acylation and deacylation steps indicate nucleophilic attack in acylation and general basic attack in deacylation. The present finding of the acceleration by cycloamyloses in the cleavages of amide bonds in 1 and 2 indicates that cycloamyloses are an excellent model for hydrolytic enzymes.
Constructing and Reconstructing Scientific Ignorance Ignorance Claims in Science and Journalism

In Ignorance and Uncertainty: Emerging Paradigms, Australian sociologist Michael Smithson observes that Western intellectuals, who once preoccupied themselves with knowledge, are increasingly pondering ignorance. Those who are not, he adds, should consider doing so. It is an arresting suggestion, not unlike the one art instructors often make to students of drawing: do not look at the figure; look at the space around the figure. Once attention is focused on ignorance rather than on knowledge, one begins to see that ignorance is not the simple absence of knowledge. Instead, like the space around objects, ignorance has its own configurations. It varies in amount, form, and substance, depending on the perspective. And just as artists make use of the representational power of space, scientists and nonscientists alike often manipulate ignorance, maximizing or minimizing it in ways that affect the credibility of what we know. In developing this argument, the article draws on the insights of historians, philosoph...
Effects of buspirone and alprazolam treatment on the startle‐potentiated startle response

The startle potentiated startle (SPS) paradigm has been reported to be an effective procedure for studying the conditioned enhancement of acoustic startle in the absence of electric shocks or extinction. This study examines the effects of two anxiolytic treatments, buspirone and alprazolam, on this SPS effect. Subjects were tested in the SPS paradigm 2 days a week (Monday and Thursday) for 10 weeks. Each startle test session consisted of 10 Noise Alone trials (115 dB acoustic noise burst presented for 40 ms) and 10 Light+Noise trials (115 dB acoustic stimuli presented during the latter 40 ms of a 3,540 ms period in which a 15-watt light was illuminated). Although there was no difference in startle amplitude on Noise Alone trials when compared to Light+Noise trials initially, by the end of the first test session and continuing throughout the duration of the experiment, startle amplitude on Light+Noise trials was significantly (approximately 50–75%) greater than on Noise Alone trials. After five control (i.e., no injection) SPS test sessions, once-weekly drug challenges were conducted over the course of 7 weeks. In these weekly drug challenges, subjects received acute treatment with various doses of the benzodiazepine anxiolytic alprazolam (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) or the novel anxiolytic buspirone (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg); subjects also received vehicle treatment (0.5% methylcellulose) on one treatment day. All treatments were administered intraperitoneally (IP), 15 min before the start of startle testing. Consistent with previous reports, buspirone increased and alprazolam decreased startle amplitude on the Noise Alone trials; these effects were dose-related. Both agents reduced the magnitude of the SPS effect when it was expressed as the Light+Noise startle amplitude minus the Noise Alone startle amplitude. These findings are similar to the effects of these treatments in the traditional shock-based fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Depression and Anxiety 19:146–151, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Age-related differences in gap detection: Effects of task difficulty and cognitive ability

Differences in gap detection for younger and older adults have been shown to vary with the complexity of the task or stimuli, but the factors that contribute to these differences remain unknown. To address this question, we examined the extent to which age-related differences in processing speed and workload predicted age-related differences in gap detection. Gap detection thresholds were measured for 10 younger and 11 older adults in two conditions that varied in task complexity but used identical stimuli: (1) gap location fixed at the beginning, middle, or end of a noise burst and (2) gap location varied randomly from trial to trial from the beginning, middle, or end of the noise. We hypothesized that gap location uncertainty would place increased demands on cognitive and attentional resources and result in significantly higher gap detection thresholds for older but not younger adults. Overall, gap detection thresholds were lower for the middle location as compared to beginning and end locations and were lower for the fixed than the random condition. In general, larger age-related differences in gap detection were observed for more challenging conditions. That is, gap detection thresholds for older adults were significantly larger for the random condition than for the fixed condition when the gap was at the beginning and end locations but not the middle. In contrast, gap detection thresholds for younger adults were not significantly different for the random and fixed condition at any location. Subjective ratings of workload indicated that older adults found the gap detection task more mentally demanding than younger adults. Consistent with these findings, results of the Purdue Pegboard and Connections tests revealed age-related slowing of processing speed. Moreover, age group differences in workload and processing speed predicted gap detection in younger and older adults when gap location varied from trial to trial; these associations were not observed when gap location remained constant across trials. Taken together, these results suggest that age-related differences in complex measures of auditory temporal processing may be explained, in part, by age-related deficits in processing speed and attention.
Health Care Efficiency In Transition Economies: An Application Of Data Envelopment Analysis

Health care costs are a financial burden for developing and transition economies which have experienced a faster growing demand on their health care systems while aiming to improve efficiency. As costs become more complex, attention has shifted to the efficiency of an entire system. Through system-wide assessments, countries with higher health care efficiency can be identified. These systems can be replicated to allow provision of good care at lower costs. Data Envelopment Analysis is used to measure health care efficiencies and to discuss policy implications.
Opinions in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

Because significant barriers impede the ability of adolescents to receive health care alternative community settings especially school-based health centers are increasingly being developed to meet the health care needs of adolescents. More than 880 school-based health care centers have grown from a model developed in the 1960s and 70s. School-based health centers provide comprehensive and multiple services and emphasize primary health care. School clinic use has been shown to delay the onset of sexual activity and to increases contraceptive usage although the provision of contraceptive services in schools remains controversial. Controversy grows as the level of contraceptive service moves from counseling and referral to provision of prescriptions to actual distribution of methods at the school. Currently more than 85% of centers nationwide provide counseling less than 40% prescribe contraceptives and fewer dispense methods on site. School-based health centers that prescribe but do not dispense methods frequently have an arrangement with nearby pharmacies or sponsoring agencies to provide methods to adolescents at little or no cost. Health center staff however believe their contraceptive services would be more effective if they included method distribution. Most centers fail to provide comprehensive contraceptive services on site because of school district policy sponsoring agency policy health center choice and/or state policy. While parents generally support the provision of contraceptive services in school-based centers most centers modify their activities to respond to perceived community pressure. The most prudent approach to date may be to consider the prescribing of contraceptives as an essential service and the dispensing of contraceptives an "optional but preferred" service.
Ka-band aperture coupled microstrip antenna with image line feed

This paper presents a Ka-band microstrip antenna fed by dielectric image line. The image line is terminated by a short circuit. The antenna is coupled to the image line through the aperture in the common ground plane. The back radiation emanating from the image line is eliminated by the use of a metallic reflector. The design criteria (for 30 GHz operation) and the performance of the antenna are discussed. This structure is shown to have good potential for use at high frequencies.
Food spending behaviors and perceptions are associated with fruit and vegetable intake among parents and their preadolescent children.

Abstract Objective Examine the role of food spending behaviors and perceptions on fruit and vegetable intake among preadolescent children and their parents. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Metropolitan city. Participants Five hundred fifty-five parent/child dyads participating in the PARADE study. More than 50% of participants were African American and nearly 40% of households were low income. Variables Measured Body mass index calculated from child anthropometric data and parents' self-reported height and weight. Adult and child fruit and vegetable intake, annual household income, and food purchase behavior and perceptions obtained from parent questionnaire. Analysis Analysis of variance used to identify differences in means at P Results No statistically significant differences in fruit and vegetable intake by income status were observed. Children in households spending the least per week on groceries consumed fewer daily fruits and vegetables. Perceptions of cost of fruits and vegetables were also found to be significantly associated with fruit and vegetable intake among children and parents. Conclusions and Implications Public health efforts to raise awareness of the relatively low cost of fruits and vegetables should be continued. These efforts may be complemented with policy strategies that make fruits and vegetables more viable options for low-income households.
Storybook Truths about America

Fifty years ago Louis Hartz set out to tell the “storybook truth” about America. Despite being almost risibly dense, The Liberal Tradition in America neatly captures the popular folklore – this is what you might hear at the Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, academics are often flatly contemptuous: Hartz mangled history, muffed quotations, and did not bother with rules of evidence. Even so, for better and for worse, his version of an all-American fable lives on as an enigmatic, controversial, and enduring political science classic.
A convenient synthesis of 2 ‐ [14C] ‐ hordenine

A simple and convenient laboratory procedure is described by which hordenine (III), labelled at the carbon residing on the benzene ring, can be synthesized by decarboxylation of 3- [14C]-tyrosine (1) and subsequent reductive methylation of the resulting tyramine (II).
Theoretical Concepts and the Emerging Role of Taxanes in Adjuvant Therapy

The proven benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy on disease-free and overall survival in breast cancer can be explained by concepts of cell kill. Interventions which result in greater log kill can be expected to produce improved clinical results. The application of log-kill concepts to human breast cancer growth, which appears to follow Gompertzian kinetics, suggests not only that the use of non-cross-resistant drugs is important, but that dose-dense schedules may have an advantage over conventional schedules of drug administration. Sequential therapy may allow dose-dense administration of cytotoxic agents and encourage the integration of new biological agents into combination regimens, particularly with the taxanes. Ongoing trials in these concepts are reviewed.
Generation, absorption, and transfer of mechanical energy during walking in children

The purpose of this study was to characterize the manner in which net joint moments and non-muscular forces generate, absorb, and transfer mechanical energy during walking in able-bodied children. Standard gait data from seven healthy subjects between 6 and 17 years of age were combined with a dynamic model of the whole body to perform a power analysis based on induced acceleration techniques. These data were used to determine how each moment and force generates energy to, absorbs energy from, and transfers energy among the major body segments. The joint moments were found to induce transfers of mechanical energy between body segments that generally exceeded the magnitudes of energy generation and absorption. The amount of energy transferred by gravitational and velocity-dependent forces was considerably less than for the joint moments. The hip and ankle joint moments had relatively simple power patterns that tended to oppose each other, particularly over the stance phase. The knee joint moment had a more complex power pattern that appeared distinct from the hip and ankle moments. The general patterns of mechanical energy flow were similar to previous reports in adults. The approach described in this paper should provide a useful complement to standard clinical gait analysis procedures.
Correlates of Use of Alternative Medicine by the Elderly in an Urban Population

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the elderly. Design: Cross-sectional survey examining patterns of use of complementary therapies in two urban multiethnic populations of older adults. Setting and Subjects: A convenience sample of 421 older participants were interviewed at two sites: a university geriatrics primary care practice and a veterans medical clinic, both in New York City. Subjects were excluded if they did not speak English or if they were moderately cognitively impaired. Measurement: Use of CAM within the previous year. Results: Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all subjects surveyed used some form of CAM, and close to 75% at the university practice alone. Use correlated most strongly with female gender (p < 0.0001), greater education (p = 0.0095), thyroid disease (p = 0.0190) and arthritis (p = 0.0251). There was no correlation with income, race, age, or self-perceived health status. Conclusions: CAM use is highly preva...
Steady‐State Chemical Potential Profiles in Solid Electrolytes

Steady‐state chemical potential profiles in a solid electrolyte under open‐ circuit and ion‐blocking conditions, may be obtained by balancing the steady‐ state flux at points inside the electrolyte. Steady‐state oxygen chemical potential profiles inside a scaling layer of thoria and inside yttria‐doped thoria specimens under open‐circuit and ion‐blocking (d‐c polarization) conditions are illustrated in special cases.