cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of selective tolerance to the serotonin behavioral syndrome and suppression of locomotor activity after repeated administration of either 5-MeODMT or mCPP.

Abstract Repeated administration to rats of the 5-HT -selective agonist 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) 1A produced tolerance to the ability of a test dose of 5-MeODMT to produce the serotonin behavioral syndrome, but not to the ability of a test dose of the 5-HT 1B -selective agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) to decrease locomotor activity. Conversely, repeated administration of mCPP produced tolerance to the ability of a test dose of mCPP to decrease locomotor activity, but not to the ability of a test dose of 5-MeODMT to elicit the serotonin behavioral syndrome. The lack of cross-tolerance between these two selective agonists is consistent with the idea that the serotonin behavioral syndrome and suppression of locomotor activity are mediated by different subtypes of the 5-HT 1 receptor.
Critical Amino Acid Residues in Transmembrane Domain 1 of the Human Organic Anion Transporter hOAT1

Human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1) belongs to a superfamily of organic anion transporters, which play critical roles in the body disposition of clinically important drugs, including anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapeutics, anti-tumor drugs, antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, and anti-inflammatories. Previously we suggested that the predicted transmembrane domain 1 (TM1) of hOAT1 might be important for its function. In the present study, we examined the role of each residue within TM1 of hOAT1 in substrate recognition and transport. Alanine scanning was used to construct mutants of hOAT1, and the uptake of model substrate para-aminohippurate was studied in COS-7 cells expressing the mutant transporters. This approach led to the discovery of two critical amino acid residues, Leu-30 and Thr-36. A substitution of Leu-30 or Thr-36 with alanine resulted in a complete loss of transport activities. We then further characterized Leu-30 and Thr-36 by mutagenizing these residues to amino acids with different physicochemical properties. Leu-30 was replaced with amino acids with varying sizes of side chains, including glycine, valine, and isoleucine. We showed that progressively smaller side chains at position 30 increasingly impaired hOAT1 function mainly because of the impaired surface expression of the transporter. Thr-36, another critical amino acid in TM1, was replaced by serine and cysteine. Similar to the substitution of Thr-36 by alanine, substitution by serine and cysteine at this position abolished transport activity without affecting the surface expression of the transporter. The fact that Thr-36 cannot be substituted with serine and that the side chains of alanine, serine, and cysteine are smaller than that of threonine by a methyl group indicate that both the methyl group and the hydroxyl group of Thr-36 could be critical for hOAT1 activity. Together we conclude that Leu-30 and Thr-36 play distinct roles in hOAT1 function. Leu-30 is important in targeting the transporter to the plasma membrane. In contrast, Thr-36 is critical for substrate recognition. The present study provided the first molecular evidence that transmembrane domain 1 is a critical determinant of hOAT1 function and may provide important insights into the structure-function relationships of the organic anion transporter family.
A Molecular View of Lipid Droplet Formation

Lipid droplets are stores of neutral lipids for membrane regeneration and energy synthesis. They have recently been implicated in diseases such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and even virus proliferation. They form as globules within organellar membranes and may even bud off, taking the outer leaflet of the membrane with them. Several models of this process have been proposed, but the formation and budding of these droplets is poorly understood at the molecular level. We have developed molecular simulation techniques that enable us to study such structures. Our simulations provide a molecular view of lipid droplet formation and allow us to propose a mechanism for the budding of lipid droplets and similar organelles. We also discuss the extension of our work to droplets containing synthesized substances such as biofuels and rubber.
The metabolism of Acetobacter peroxidans II. Hydrogen-activating and related enzymes

Abstract The ability of a strain of catalase-negative Acetobacter peroxidans to carry out reduction of hydrogen peroxide, dyes, and oxygen with molecular hydrogen has been confirmed. Benzyl and methyl viologens and monomethyl hydrogen peroxide are not reduced by this microorganism. All of the enzymic activities demonstrable in whole cells are present in the cell-free extracts. The reduction of cytochrome c by hydrogen is also seen in the cell-free preparations. Attempts to demonstrate pyridine neuceotide reduction subsequent to hydrogen activation were unsuccessful; but a factor with increased absorption at 340 mμ is present in these preparations after gassing with hydrogen. Cell suspensions which actively reduce dyes fail to carry out exchange at 30°C. Some exchange activity can be observed, however, at 37°C. Preliminary experiments also indicate that this microorganism does not appreciably catalyze the conversion of para to normal hydrogen at 30°C.
Physically valid statistical models for human motion generation

This article shows how statistical motion priors can be combined seamlessly with physical constraints for human motion modeling and generation. The key idea of the approach is to learn a nonlinear probabilistic force field function from prerecorded motion data with Gaussian processes and combine it with physical constraints in a probabilistic framework. In addition, we show how to effectively utilize the new model to generate a wide range of natural-looking motions that achieve the goals specified by users. Unlike previous statistical motion models, our model can generate physically realistic animations that react to external forces or changes in physical quantities of human bodies and interaction environments. We have evaluated the performance of our system by comparing against ground-truth motion data and alternative methods.
Power, resolve and bargaining in international crises: A spatial theory

In this paper the spatial model of crisis bargaining is utilized to derive a number of hypotheses relating the relative power and resolve of crisis participants to crisis outcomes. The resolve and two power variables are defined and the manner in which they are incorporated into the model is demonstrated. The model, which represents a synthesis of traditional utility based bargaining models and the spatial theory of voting, is then used to establish the theoretical linkages among these variables and all possible outcomes of international crises. Among the more interesting results is that crises in which one party is much more likely to win a war should one occur and the other party is much more resolved are extremely likely to end in war. The paper concludes with a discussion of the relevance of these findings to a number of topics in the international relations literature, including Schelling's strategy of commitment.
A first-order perturbation analysis of crack trapping by arrays of obstacles

The formulation is based on a linear perturbation result for the stress intensity factor distribution along the front of a half-plane crack when the location of that front differs moderately from a straight line. The trapping solutions for a periodic array of blocking rectangular obstacles are given using an analogy to the plane stress Dugdale/BCS elastic-plastic crack model. We formulate a numerical procedure using the FFT technique and adopting a «viscoplastic» crack growth model which, in an appropriate limit, simulates crack growth at a critical stress intensity factor. The limitations of the first-order analysis restrict its validity to obstacles only slightly tougher than the surrounding elastic medium
Clinical Decision Making: Describing the Decision Rules of Practicing Speech-Language Pathologists

The diagnostic decision-making standards used by practicing clinicians to determine language impairment were investigated. Randomly selected ASHA members who worked with children were asked to revi...
Teaching Global Change in Local Places: The HERO Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

The Human–Environment Research Observatory (HERO) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program aimed to develop the next generation of researchers working on place-based human–environment problems. The program followed a cooperative learning model to foster an integrated approach to geographic research and to build collaborative research skills. The program hosted 12–16 students annually, who first engaged in an intensive short course and then formed three- or four-person teams to conduct research in four biophysically and socioeconomically diverse places. The teams used cyberinfrastructure to collaborate and integrate their research and findings. Most of the REU students have opted to attend graduate school and specialize in human–environment research.
Multi-physics modeling of sensor-structure interaction for quantitative acoustic emission

The influence of mechanical noise in an AE testing still obscures its successful application in monitoring various structures and systems. While advances in pattern recognition algorithms are helpful to differentiate relevant data from captured noise, the algorithms fail if the characteristics of relevant data are unknown. The ability to accurately model elastic waves using numerical methods offer a potential to understanding of frequency content of elastic waves. However, the oscillatory nature of the wave equation requires fine meshing for a stable numerical approximation using classical finite element models. Considering the size of civil structures, numerical modeling of full scale geometry is not feasible. In this study, spectral element approach is implemented for modeling elastic waves in sub-scales. The transfer function of a typical piezoelectric sensor is taken into consideration for identifying the output signal detected by the AE sensor in relation to the input signal and the transfer function of the medium. The approach is demonstrated for 1D and 2D structures and compared with conventional finite element model using COMSOL Multiphysics program. The comparison includes numerical efficiencies and computation times of spectral element and classical finite element.
Thickness of shear flow zone in a circular RC column under pure torsion

Abstract This study proposes a rational method capable of analyzing the behavior of circular reinforced concrete (RC) columns under pure torsion with or without axial compression. The developed method is based on the concept of the rotating-angle softened truss model (RA-STM) and incorporates the recently updated material models. In particular, the most important factor in estimating torsional capacity of RC structures–thickness of shear flow zone–is investigated in-depth for the circular RC column and discussed together with other mechanical aspects. The concept of thickness of shear flow zone for rectangular RC members is theoretically well established, while it is not clearly understood for circular RC members. This is due to the lack of existing experimental and analytical research work in this area. Recently, a circular RC column under pure torsion was tested at Missouri S&T. Test results of the column were used to validate the proposed method in terms of overall column behavior and local behavior of each component (concrete, both longitudinal and transverse reinforcement). The comparisons proved that the proposed method was in reasonable agreement with experimental results. In addition, the concept of the proposed method can be applied for any arbitrary section and is free from mechanical assumptions such as concrete cover spalling.
An organic geochemical investigation of crude oils from Shanganning, Jianghan, Chaidamu and Zhungeer Basins, People's Republic of China

Abstract Eighteen oils from four different oil producing basins in China have been characterized using a variety of organic geochemical techniques. The source materials for these oils were deposited under a variety of environmental conditions and this study investigates the use of geochemical parameters in differentiating the resultant oils. The parameters discussed are based on relative amounts and distributions of both individual and groups of biomarkers, including organosulphur compounds, and the carbon isotopic composition of the aliphatic and aromatic fractions. Examination of the oils showed that those from the Zhungeer basin, thought to be derived from source rocks formed in a brackish lacustrine environment, possessed high concentrations of tricyclic terpanes, relative to pentacyclic hopanes, and a predominance of 24-methyl- and 24-ethylcholestanes (C28 and C29, respectively) over cholestanes (C27), which were virtually absent. Oils believed to be derived from source rocks deposited in the saline depositional environment of the Jianghan basin were characterized by a large amount of gammacerane, relative to 17α, 21β-30-homohopanes (C31; 22R and 22S). In general, those oils considered to be derived from source rocks deposited in fresh water lacustrine environments (Shanganning and Chaidamu basins) had small amounts of tricyclic terpanes, relative to pentacyclic hopanes, the presence of an unknown C30 pentacyclic terpane, small amounts of extended hopanes (C31–C35), relative to 17α,21β-hopane and relatively large amounts of 24-ethylcholestanes (20R and 20S), relative to total stearanes. It appears, therefore, that the distribution of biomarkers may be used to differentiate oils derived from different lacustrine environments.
Epithelial cell-directed efferocytosis in the post-partum mammary gland is necessary for tissue homeostasis and future lactation

Mammary glands harbor a profound burden of apoptotic cells (ACs) during post-lactational involution, but little is known regarding mechanisms by which ACs are cleared from the mammary gland, or consequences if this process is interrupted. We investigated AC clearance, also termed efferocytosis, during post-lactational remodeling, using mice deficient for MerTK, Axl, and Tyro3, three related receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulating macrophage-mediated efferocytosis in monocytes. MerTK expression, apoptosis and the accumulation of apoptotic debris were examined in histological sections of MerTK-deficient, Axl/Tyro3-deficient, and wild-type mammary glands harvested at specific time points during lactation and synchronized involution. The ability of primary mammary epithelial cells (MECs) to engulf ACs was assessed in culture. Transplant of MerTK-deficient mammary epithelium into cleared WT mammary fat pads was used to assess the contribution of WT mammary macrophages to post-lactational efferocytosis. ACs induced MerTK expression in MECs, resulting in elevated MerTK levels at the earliest stages of involution. Loss of MerTK resulted in AC accumulation in post-lactational MerTK-deficient mammary glands, but not in Axl and Tyro3-deficient mammary glands. Increased vascularization, fibrosis, and epithelial hyperproliferation were observed in MerTK-deficient mammary glands through at least 60 days post-weaning, due to failed efferocytosis after lactation, but did not manifest in nulliparous mice. WT host-derived macrophages failed to rescue efferocytosis in transplanted MerTK-deficient mammary epithelium. Efferocytosis by MECs through MerTK is crucial for mammary gland homeostasis and function during the post-lactational period. Efferocytosis by MECs thus limits pathologic consequences associated with the apoptotic load following lactation.
FilterWire distal embolic protection device for vein graft stenting: initial single-center experience.

Background: Saphenous vein graft (SVG) intervention is associated with a significant incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) related to distal vessel embolization. The FilterWire™ distal embolic protection device has recently been approved as an adjunct to SVG intervention. We report here our initial experience in a single center in 30 consecutive patients using this device in SVG stenting. Hypothesis: This study examined the outcomes and complications associated with these devices, as well as whether proficiency with the devices increased with greater experience and whether there were measurable outcome differences between devices. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients in whom a FilterWire device was placed at our hospital between June 2001 and June 2004. Results: The device was successfully deployed in 29 of 30 patients, and all patients were stented successfully. Overall MACE rate was 6.6%, consistent with reports in larger multi-center clinical trials. Transient decreases in flow were noted while the device was in place in six patients, but improved in five patients with device removal. Conclusions: This early experience in a single center using FilterWire embolic protection indicates that excellent clinical results can be obtained by the adoption of filter protection for SVG intervention, without evidence for a detrimental learning curve.
The physics of eukaryotic chemotaxis

Cells sense chemical gradients, communicate gradient information throughout the cell, and change their shape in response. Statistics, materials science, and more underlie thoseessential biological processes.
Androgen depletion activates telomerase in the prostate of the nonhuman primate, Macaca mulatta.

BACKGROUND The activity of telomerase, an enzyme that synthesizes telomeric repeats at the ends of chromosomes, is not detectable in normal human prostate. However, the majority of human prostate cancers exhibit telomerase activity. Since androgens play a major role in prostate tumorigenesis, we investigated the effect of androgen-depletion on the expression of telomerase activity in the prostate. METHODS Adult male rhesus monkeys were either bilaterally castrated or subjected to sham surgery (n = 5 each). Approximately 6 weeks later, the animals were killed and the different regions of the prostate gland were removed and frozen immediately. Telomerase activity was assayed using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol. RESULTS All five regions of the prostate from sham operated control animals failed to exhibit telomerase activity. In the castrated monkey, all regions of the prostate, except for the anterior lobe, expressed high levels of telomerase activity. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that in monkeys, androgen-ablation leads to up-regulation of telomerase activity. The negative-regulation of telomerase activity by androgens is probably lost during prostate tumorigenesis. Prostate 49:79–89, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The comparison of RFLP, RAPD, AFLP and SSR (microsatellite) markers for germplasm analysis

The utility of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), RAPD (random-amplified polymorphic DNA), AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and SSR (simple sequence repeat, microsatellite) markers in soybean germplasm analysis was determined by evaluating information content (expected heterozygosity), number of loci simultaneously analyzed per experiment (multiplex ratio) and effectiveness in assessing relationships between accessions. SSR markers have the highest expected heterozygosity (0.60), while AFLP markers have the highest effective multiplex ratio (19). A single parameter, defined as the marker index, which is the product of expected heterozygosity and multiplex ratio, may be used to evaluate overall utility of a marker system. A comparison of genetic similarity matrices revealed that, if the comparison involved both cultivated (Glycine max) and wild soybean (Glycine soja) accessions, estimates based on RFLPs, AFLPs and SSRs are highly correlated, indicating congruence between these assays. However, correlations of RAPD marker data with those obtained using other marker systems were lower. This is because RAPDs produce higher estimates of interspecific similarities. If the comparisons involvedG. max only, then overall correlations between marker systems are significantly lower. WithinG. max, RAPD and AFLP similarity estimates are more closely correlated than those involving other marker systems.
Detecting stable locality-aware predicates

In a large-scale locality-driven network such as in modular robotics and wireless sensor networks, knowing the state of a local area is sometimes necessary due to either interactions being local and driven by neighborhood proximity or the users being interested in the state of a certain region. We define locality-aware predicates (LAP) that aim at detecting a predicate within a specified area. We model the area of interest as the set of processes that are within a breadth-first search tree (BFST) of height k rooted at the initiator process. Although a locality-aware predicate specifies a predicate only within a local area, observing the area consistently requires considering the entire system in a consistent manner. This raises the challenge of making the complexities of the corresponding predicate detection algorithms scale-free, i.e., independent of the size of the system. Since all existing algorithms for getting a consistent view of the system require either a global snapshot of the entire system or vector clocks of the size of the system, a new solution is needed. We focus on stable LAP, which are those LAP that remain true once they become true. We propose a scale-free algorithm to detect stable LAP within a k -height BFST. Our algorithm can detect both stable conjunctive LAP and stable relational LAP. In the process of designing our algorithm, we also propose the first distributed algorithm for building a BFST within an area of interest in a graph, and the first distributed algorithm for recording a consistent sub-cut within the area of interest. This paper demonstrates that LAPs are a natural fit for detecting distributed properties in large-scale distributed systems, and stable LAPs can be practically detected at low cost. Algorithms to detect locality-aware predicates in large-scale systems.BFS tree topology of height k is used to define locality.Can detect stable conjunctive predicates and stable relational predicates.Applications to modular robotics and wireless sensor networks.
Experimental approaches to the study of cancer–stroma interactions: recent findings suggest a pivotal role for stroma in carcinogenesis

An increasing body of research indicates that stroma surrounding cancer cells plays an important role in the development and subsequent behavior of the tumor. Studies using a wide range of techniques, including stromal cell isolation, modification of stromal-specific gene expression, and recreation of specific microenvironment conditions in culture, have demonstrated that stroma can promote cancer and that the expression patterns within the stroma can influence clinical outcome. Major hurdles in the study of the cancer stroma revolve around the cellular complexity of the tumor microenvironment, both in modeling the microenvironment and discovering/isolating pure populations of stromal cell types.
Puerto Rican High Achievers: An Example of Ethnic and Academic Identity Compatibility

Although research finds that members of some involuntary minority ethnic groups tend to develop oppositional identities, Puerto Rican students studied in this research project at an urban high school did not associate school success with “whiteness.” These students were academically successful while still maintaining their ethnic identity. They were not accused of acting white, did not mask their academic accomplishments, and did not assume raceless personas. Different conceptualizations of ethnicity, sociohistorical context, and class may account for their maintenance of ethnic identity while achieving success in school.
Review: GPs accurately diagnose about 50% of patients with depression and accurately classify 81% of nondepressed patients.

Source Citation Mitchell AJ, Vaze A, Rao S. Clinical diagnosis of depression in primary care: a meta-analysis. Lancet. 2009;374:609-19. 19640579
Developmental dyslexia: Heterogeneity without discrete subgroups.

Is the dual route model of word recognition useful in explaining individual differences in reading behaviors for most developmental dyslexics? Many past case studies of surface and phonological acquired dyslexics and a few similar studies of developmental dyslexia have suggested this might be so. The present study investigated individual differences among a group of 65 dyslexics, age 10 to 13, in reading, phonemic segmentation, and word retrieval. The dyslexics’ performance was compared to that of 65 reading age controls and 17 age-matched good readers. The research questions were: (1) Are there discrete subgroups of developmental dyslexics as suggested by the case studies? (2) How do oral language measures relate to the various reading tasks? The data indicated there were no discrete subgroups within the group of dyslexics; in addition, the variability in performance on reading tasks was quite similar for the dyslexic and reading age-control groups. A few dyslexics resembled phonological dyslexics and surface dyslexics, but these subjects were still part of a continuum. We also report the relationship between phonemic segmentation and word retrieval and various reading tasks. It appears that dyslexics at extreme ends of the continuum may exhibit quite different patterns from each other in their oral language task performance as well as in their reading.
The Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrum of the Quasi-coherent Oscillations of the Dwarf Nova SS Cygni

Data obtained by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite are used to determine the EUV spectrum of the quasi-coherent oscillations of the dwarf nova SS Cygni. It is found that the spectrum of the oscillations is neither blue nor red nor gray relative to the net (oscillation-phase integrated) spectrum and hence that the oscillations cannot be explained by variations in the effective temperature, absorbing column density, or effective area, respectively. Instead, it is found that the amplitude of the oscillations is high at the relative maxima of the net spectrum and low to zero at the relative minima of the net spectrum. This behavior can be explained either by variations in the emission line flux atop a constant underlying continuum or by variations in the optical depth of a haze of overlapping absorption lines, in which case the optical depths must be τ 1 at the relative maxima of the net spectrum and τ 1 at the relative minima.
Human truncated Smad 6 (Smad 6s) inhibits the BMP pathway in Xenopus laevis

A previously identified truncated form of the human Smad 6 gene containing a unique 12 amino acid motif at its N-terminus was studied. We have named this truncated form of the gene Smad 6s, for 'short-form', to distinguish it from the full-length form (Smad 6fl). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry revealed that Smad 6s has a unique pattern of expression in human coronary tissue and is upregulated in diseased heart tissue. We used the expression of human Smad 6s in Xenopus laevis as a model system to assess Smad 6s function. Injection of Smad 6fl RNA (4-cell embryos, 2 x ventral) produced tadpoles with partial secondary axes. In contrast, Smad 6s RNA injected in a similar manner produced tadpoles with a severe 'head-only' phenotype with no morphological appearance of a secondary axis. Mutant Smad 6s RNA lacking the unique 12 amino acids at the N-terminus of the Smad 6s isoform produced no embryonic phenotype, suggesting that this region is important in conferring biological activity. Ectodermal explant assays show that Smad 6s has activity consistent with being a BMP antagonist and can synergize with and enhance the activities of the activin and fibroblast growth factor pathways, all of which are novel findings in this study.
Transient response of submerged spheroidal shells

Abstract The transient response of an elastic prolate spheroidal shell to a uniform pressure suddenly applied to its surface, and the pressure field in the surrounding acoustic fluid are obtained. By appropriate transformations of response functions and a geometric variable the problem is reduced to the simultaneous numerical integration, in a finite domain, of partial differential equations on functions which are regular in the space variables. An approximate relation is established to represent the fluid field, which, together with the plane wave approximation, is then used to obtain approximate solutions for the shell response. Extensive numerical results are presented for steel shells in sea water.
The Relationship between Decreased Iron Stores, Serum Iron and Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Large‐for‐Date Newborn Infants

We assessed the relationship between neonatal hypoglycemia and newborn iron status in 15 hypoglycemic, large-for-date newborn infants, 12 of whom were infants of diabetic mothers. These infants had significantly lower mean serum iron concentrations, ferritin concentrations, percent iron-binding saturation and calculated iron stores, and significantly higher mean transferrin concentrations, total iron-binding capacity concentrations and mid-arm circumference:head circumference ratios when compared with either 15 euglycemic large-for-date or 15 euglycemic appropriate-for-date control infants (p less than 0.001 for all comparisons). All hypoglycemic infants had ferritin concentrations below the 5th percentile as compared to 3% of controls (p less than 0.001), and 67% had transferrin concentrations above the 95th percentile (controls: 0%; p less than 0.001). Only the hypoglycemic infants demonstrated a significant negative linear correlation between ferritin and transferrin concentrations (r = -0.83; p less than 0.001). Decreased serum iron concentrations were associated with size at birth (r = -0.60; p = 0.01) and with increased red cell iron (r = -0.60; p = 0.01), implying a redistribution of iron dependent on the degree of fetal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Infants with increased red cell iron had more profound neonatal hypoglycemia. These results show a significant association between decreased iron stores and neonatal hypoglycemia in macrosomic newborn infants associated with a significant shift of iron into red blood cells.
Lifetime trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in women sentenced to drug court

The aims of this study were to characterize trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female drug court participants and test for differences in socioeconomic status and familial status between women with: (i) no trauma exposure, (ii) trauma exposure without PTSD, and (iii) trauma exposure resulting in PTSD. Three hundred and nineteen women were recruited from drug courts. Rates of exposure and likelihood of traumatic events leading to PTSD were examined, sociodemographic characteristics were compared across groups, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to test for differences in PTSD risk for assaultive vs. non-assaultive events. Twenty percent of participants met PTSD criteria, 71% had trauma exposure without PTSD, and 9% did not endorse any traumatic events. Prostitution and homelessness were more prevalent in women with vs. without a history of trauma, but among trauma-exposed women prevalences did not vary by PTSD status. No differences in risk for PTSD were found between assaultive and non-assaultive events (OR=0.91; 95%CI: 0.48-1.75). Women sentenced to drug court represent a heavily trauma-exposed population, for whom risk for PTSD is not limited to assaultive events. Within this high-risk population, trauma is associated with elevated rates of homelessness and prostitution, even in the absence of PTSD.
Extraction of Trivalent Lanthanides with Oxa-Diamides in Supercritical Fluid Carbon Dioxide

This paper describes the results of the extraction of trivalent lanthanides Ln(III) by supercritical fluid CO 2 (SF-CO 2 ) containing N,N,N',N'-tetrabutyl-3-oxapentanediamide (TBODA), one of a group of neutral oxadiamide ligands that have the potential to replace traditional organophosphorus extractants and make the SF-CO 2 extraction process more environmentally benign. According to this study, TBODA dissolves in neat SF-CO 2 easily, but the solubility of Ln(III)/TBODA complexes in neat SF-CO 2 is low and little Ln(III) can be extracted in the SF-CO 2 phase. Addition of small amounts of acetone as a modifier in SF-CO 2 can significantly improve the extraction of Ln(III) from either aqueous nitric acid solutions or oxide solids. The low solubility of Ln(III)/TBODA complexes in neat SF-CO 2 and the improved solubility of Ln(III)/TBODA complexes in acetone-modified SF-CO 2 are discussed in terms of the structure of Ln(III)/TBODA complexes and its effect on solute-solvent interactions.
Second-order conditioning with diffuse auditory reinforcers in the pigeon☆

Abstract Pigeon subjects were used in five experiments investigating second-order conditioning with visual second-order and diffuse auditory first-order stimuli. Experiment 1 used a discriminative conditioning procedure to demonstrate reliable and substantial second-order conditioning with these stimuli. In Experiments 2 and 3, extinction of the auditory first-order stimulus after second-order conditioning had little effect upon responding to the second-order stimulus, when compared to a stimulus whose reinforcer was maintained. Experiment 4 compared directly the susceptibility of second-order responding to extinction of the first-order reinforcing stimulus as a function of the modality of that reinforcer. When a visual second-order stimulus was paired with a visual reinforcer, and the response to the latter was extinguished, then second-order responding was greatly reduced relative to control levels. In contrast, when that reinforcer was an auditory stimulus, second-order responding was not affected by the current value of the first-order stimulus after conditioning. Finally, in Experiment 5 the auditory stimulus was established as a reinforcer through discriminative-operant training. Following second-order conditioning, extinction of responding to this stimulus again had little impact upon responding to the second-order stimulus with which it had been paired. These results are discussed in terms of previous work on second-order conditioning with rat and pigeon subjects.
Abstract PL04-03: Engineering improved cancer vaccines.

Efficacious cancer immunotherapies will likely require combinations of strategies that enhance tumor antigen presentation and antagonize negative immune regulatory circuits. We demonstrated that vaccination with irradiated, autologous melanoma cells engineered to secrete GM-CSF followed by antibody blockade of CTLA-4 accomplishes clinically significant tumor destruction with minimal toxicity in some advanced cancer patients. The detailed analysis of patients achieving sustained clinical benefits from these therapies illustrated the importance of a coordinated cellular and humoral anti-tumor immune response. Indeed, the extent of tumor necrosis in post-treatment biopsies was linearly related to the natural logarithm of the ratio of infiltrating CD8 + effector T cells to FoxP3 + Tregs. Moreover, therapy induced a potent antibody response to several key tumor cell surface and secreted proteins; these antibodies manifest functional activity in vitro, antagonizing tumor cell survival, invasive potential, and angiogenesis. Through an analysis of cytokine deficient mice, we delineated a critical role for GM-CSF in Treg homeostasis. GM-CSF is required for the expression of the phosphatidylserine binding protein MFG-E8 in antigen presenting cells, whereas the uptake of apoptotic cells by phagocyte-derived MFG-E8 maintains peripheral Treg activity. While blockade of MFG-E8 can enhance therapeutic immunity in the context of cancer vaccines, loss of Treg homeostasis with MFG-E8 deficiency can lead to chronic inflammation. Mice deficient in GM-CSF and IFN-develop at high frequency germinal center derived lymphomas and nonsmall cell lung carcinomas. The pathogenesis of these tumors reflects a combination of tumor-promoting inflammation and a loss of protective tumor immunity. Taken together, these findings highlight dual roles for immunity in cancer pathogenesis and therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PL04-03.
New high quality factor solenoid based tuned resonator

A novel off-chip solenoid resonator was designed, simulated, and fabricated. A Duroid circuit board was used as a solenoid core. The resonator included four imbedded copper vias and three surface conductors to shape a rectangular coil. A series capacitance was introduced in the via to move the poles toward higher frequencies. This provides significant enhancement in the quality factor and it was realized using pole transfer. The result increased the resonance frequency to 12.25 GHz with a Q-factor of 306. Furthermore, the resonator can be batch fabricated using conventional circuit board techniques. The analytical design was investigated using both a lumped circuit model and electromagnetic (EM) simulation. S-parameters measurements were in close agreement with simulations. The tuned resonator had a higher quality factor compared to the other counterparts.
Phosphoserine in peptide substrates can specify casein kinase II action

Summary Casein kinase II is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase which utilizes acidic amino acid residues as recognition determinants in its substrates, the motif -S/T-X-X-D/E- being particularly important. To test whether a phosphoserine residue can act as a substrate determinant, a peptide was synthesized, containing the sequence -S-X-X-S, which was not phosphorylated by casein kinase II. However, upon phosphorylation at the +3 position, the peptide became a substrate for casein kinase II. With another peptide, a positive influence of more distal phosphorylations was found. The results indicate the potential for casein kinase II to participate in hierarchal phosphorylation schemes.
Monolithic silicon mosaics for far-infrared imaging

Monolithic detector mosaics were constructed for image sensing at wavelengths from three to 30 µm. The mosaics use impurity photoconduction in silicon to sense infrared radiation. Operation in the 25 to 40°K temperature range is obtained with closed-cycle cooling. Photosensor elements, spaced on 32 mil centers, are formed by solid-state diffusion, and a junction diode is constructed in series with each photoresistor to reduce crosstalk. The integrated 30-by-30 mosaics have crossed X-Y electrodes for direct-wire readout of picture elements. Performance of individual elements is described. At 25°K, a detectivity of 1 × 108cm Hz1/2/W per element is found using 10.6 µm CO 2 laser radiation. The quantum efficiency at 10.6 µm is about 7 percent, and the response time is observed to be less than 0.2 µs. Uniformity and crosstalk data on prototype arrays are presented, and the integration of these arrays with cryogenic amplifier and scanning circuits is discussed.
Excited-State Double Exchange in Manganese-Doped ZnO Quantum Dots: A Time-Dependent Density-Functional Study

The lowest-energy electronic excited states of ZnO quantum dots containing 1−3 Mn2+ ions have been studied by time-dependent density functional theory. The calculations show that these excited stat...
The Mechanism of Microsatellite Instability Is Different in Synchronous and Metachronous Colorectal Cancer

MLH1 promoter hypermethylation has been described as the primary mechanism for high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs). The underlying molecular mechanism for microsatellite instability (MSI) in synchronous and metachronous CRCs is not well described. A total of 33 metachronous CRC patients and 77 synchronous CRC patients were identified from 2884 consecutive patients undergoing cancer surgery in an academic center. Evaluable tumors were tested for MSI, immunohistochemistry for MLH1 and MSH2 protein expression, and hypermethylation of the MLH1 promoter. MSI-H tumors were found in 12 (36%) metachronous CRC patients and 29 (38%) synchronous CRC patients. MSI-H metachronous CRC patients were younger at index cancer diagnosis (64 vs. 76 years, P = 0.01) and more often were diagnosed before 50 years of age (4 of 12 vs. 0 of 29, P = 0.005). Loss of MLH1 expression associated with promoter hypermethylation was common in all patients, although more common in MSI-H synchronous patients (50% metachronous vs. 83% synchronous, P = 0.03). Overall, MLH1 promoter hypermethylation was seen in 7 of 17 (41%) metachronous and 44 of 54 (81%) synchronous MSI-H CRCs tested (P = 0.004). Although MSI occurred with equal frequency among patients with synchronous and metachronous CRCs, the underlying mechanism for MSI was different. Observed differences in MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and patient characteristics suggest most MSI-H synchronous CRCs in our population were sporadic in origin. In contrast, more MSI-H metachronous CRCs were associated with patient and tumor characteristics suggestive of underlying hereditary nonpolyposis CRC.
Tortuosity of the retinal vessels in Aarskog syndrome (faciogenital dysplasia)

Aarskog syndrome (faciogenital dysplasia) is a genetic growth disorder characterized by short stature, cryptorchidism, shawl scrotum, and dysmorphic facial features. Ophthalmic findings include hypertelorism, blepharoptosis, strabismus, and ophthalmoplegia. The authors report a patient with Aarskog syndrome and bilateral retinal vessel tortuosity. This is the first retinal anomaly associated with Aarskog syndrome.
Thinning schemes for call admission control in wireless networks

In this paper, we present new call admission control schemes, thinning schemes, which smoothly reduce traffic admission rates. Performance analysis is carried out and new analytical results are obtained. It demonstrates that thinning schemes can be used to derive many known call admission control schemes.
Taurine concentrations in animal feed ingredients; cooking influences taurine content

The aim of this study was to determine the taurine content in a variety of animal feeds. There is very little information on the taurine content of ingredients used in home-prepared diets for dogs and cats, and foods fed to wild animals in captivity. This study reports the taurine content of both common and alternative feed ingredients, and compares taurine loss as a result of different methods of food preparation. Foods were selected based on their use in commercial and home-prepared diets. Animal muscle tissue, particularly marine, contained high taurine concentrations. Plant products contained either low or undetectable amounts of taurine. The amount of taurine that remained in a feed ingredient after cooking depended upon the method of food preparation. When an ingredient was constantly surrounded by water during the cooking process, such as in boiling or basting, more taurine was lost. Food preparation methods that minimized water loss, such as baking or frying, had higher rates of taurine retention.
Cloud-Particle Galactic Gas Dynamics and Star Formation

Galactic gas dynamics, spiral structure, and star formation are discussed in the context of N-body computational studies based on a cloud-particle model of the interstellar medium. On the small scale, the interstellar medium appears to be cloud-dominated and supernova-perturbed. The cloud-particle model simulates cloud-cloud collisions, the formation of stellar associations, and supernova explosions as dominant local processes. On the large scale in response to a spiral galactic gravitational field, global density waves and galactic shocks develop with large-scale characteristics similar to those found in continuum gas dynamical studies. Both the system of gas clouds and the system of young stellar associations forming from the clouds share in the global spiral structure. However, with the attributes of neither assuming a continuum of gas (as in continuum gas dynamical studies) nor requiring a prescribed equation of state such as the isothermal condition so often employed, the cloud-particle picture retains much of the detail lost in earlier work: namely, the small-scale features and structures so important in understanding the local, turbulent state of the interstellar medium as well as the degree of raggedness often observed superposed on global spiral structure. The results have important implications toward the goal of bridging the gap between global and local mechanisms of star formation and understanding how a global density wave and galactic shock may interact with local stochastic processes to provide for a more unified picture of star formation.
Brainstem catecholaminergic neurons activated by hypoxemia express GR and are coordinately activated with fetal sheep hypothalamic paraventricular CRH neurons.

In late gestation, challenges to fetal homeostasis are accompanied by increases in adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentrations in fetal peripheral plasma and Fos (c-fos protein) activation in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the fetal hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In adults, ventrolateral brainstem catecholaminergic (CA) neurons (A1 / C1, A2 / C2) project to the parvocellular neurons of the PVN, possess glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and are Fos activated in parallel with CRH neurons of the PVN during hypoxia. Such observations suggest a role for the aforementioned medullary neurons in the function of the hypothalamo-pituitary- adrenal axis. The present study utilized late gestation fetal sheep, stereotaxic methodology and retrograde axon tracing and immunocytochemical techniques to investigate the relationship between activation of fetal brainstem CA neurons and activation of fetal PVN CRH immunopositive neurons in response to hypoxemia. Results indicated that: (1) the largest brainstem CA projection to PVN CRH neurons is from A1 / C1 neurons, (2) brainstem neurons exhibit GR immunostaining and (3) brainstem CA neurons show a strong 22 correlation (A1 / C1 — r 50.894, P,0.005; A2 / C2 — r 50.848; P,0.002) of Fos activation with Fos activation in PVN CRH cells. We conclude that in late gestation the brainstem A1 / C1 and A2 / C2 areas are in position to influence the function of the hypothalamo- pituitary-adrenal axis during hypoxemic challenges to homeostasis in a fashion similar to that which has been demonstrated in the adult rat. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Theme: Endocrine and autonomic regulation Topic: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal regulation
Probe test failure analysis of bond pad over active structure by modeling and experiment

The framework of this paper is to develop a DOE study for different pad structures and probe over travel (OT) parameters for both modeling and experimental tests on a wafer with bond pads placed over active structures. In modeling, a nonlinear finite element contact model is developed for the probe tip surface and the bond pad surface. The relationship between probe tip force and probe over travel distance through the probe beam is analytically derived. Modeling gives the results with different OT, probe tip type with different diameters, probe tip probe scrub. The probe damage test is designed with different OT and different bond pad structures, damage is accessed versus the number of probe tip touchdowns. A DOE study combined with both modeling and experiment is conducted with different BPOA parameters. In addition, an equivalent comparison between probe damage and wire bonding is made to show how the probe test and wire bonding process can affect bond pad over active area structures.