cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tobacco chippers show robust increases in smoking urge after alcohol consumption

Heavy social drinkers often engage in occasional cigarette smoking, especially in the context of consuming large quantities of alcohol. The current study assessed alcohol’s effects on smoking urge as a function of alcohol dose and time course in tobacco chippers with heavy social drinking patterns. The study assessed 39 chippers who underwent three separate evening sessions. Each subject received a placebo (1% volume alcohol as a taste mask), a low alcohol dose (two to three drinks equivalent), and a high alcohol dose (four to five drinks equivalent) in random order. No smoking was permitted during the sessions and the participants were abstinent from smoking for at least 3 h before arrival. Throughout the session, cigarette craving was assessed by the Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges and alcohol response was assessed by the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES). The results showed that alcohol significantly increased cigarette craving in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001). At the high alcohol dose, craving was heightened during the rising portion of the blood alcohol curve (BAC). There was a strong relationship between BAC and craving for positive reinforcement and this relationship was partially mediated by BAES stimulation, but not sedation. The findings show that alcohol directly increases smoking urge in chipper smokers. Tobacco chippers may crave cigarettes more during heavier than during lighter drinking bouts, and this effect appears to be driven by heightened stimulation levels rather than as a means to offset alcohol’s sedative effects.
Biological differences among MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines from different laboratories.

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are used widely for studies of tumor biology and hormone mechanism of action. Conflicting results have often been obtained in studies reported from different laboratories. In this report several biological properties were studied in four MCF-7 cell lines obtained from different laboratories. MCF-7 (ATCC), MCF-7, MCF-7 (KO), and MCF-7 (S) demonstrated similar morphology in monolayer culture. Chromosome analysis revealed that three of the lines shared several structural chromosome alterations and marker chromsomes; however, MCF-7 (ATCC) was distinctly different with virtually no chromosomal alterations shared in common with the other lines. All four lines contained variable amounts of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR). The growth rate of MCF-7 (ATCC) was 50% slower than that of the other lines, and, unlike the other three lines, cell proliferation was unaffected by estrogen or antiestrogen treatment despite the presence of receptors. Cloning efficiency of the four lines varied over a 10-fold range. Tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice also varied considerably among these lines. MCF-7 (ATCC) grew well in ovariectomized nude mice, while the other lines required estrogen supplementation. MCF-7 (S) and MCF-7 grew rapidly with estrogen supplementation; MCF-7 (KO) grew very slowly. Antiestrogen therapy inhibited growth of MCF-7, MCF-7 (S), and MCF-7 (KO) tumors, but it had no effect on MCF-7 (ATCC). These data demonstrate that MCF-7 lines from different laboratories may have unique biological properties, despite having a similar karyotype (MCF-7, MCF-7 (S), MCF-7 (KO)). The fundamental differences in karyotype and biological properties of the MCF-7 (ATCC), and the previously reported differences in DNA restriction fragment polymorphism analyses, demonstrate that this line is derived from an entirely different patient. Investigators should carefully document the source and identity of MCF-7 cells used in published experiments.
Design of deviation-function based gerotors

Gerotor profiles have been used for compressors, pumps and rotary engines. Due to the non-existence of a general method for non-circular internal pitch design, gerotors are all generated from circular pitches. In this paper, complete theory and algorithm are developed for the first time to design non-circular pitch based gerotors and their conjugate rotors. This method is deviation-function based and is a general one. It can be used to design conventional gerotors when circular pitches are adopted. Several examples are provided for illustration.
Pineal Gland Lipid Characterization in the Seven-Week-Old Cockerel (Gallus domesticus)

Abstract The composition of pineal gland lipid was characterized in young cockerels. The total pineal lipid was 159.7 μg, which was equivalent to 3.0 and 14.1% of fresh and dry tissue weight, respectively. The major phospholipids were phosphatidyl choline (63.1%), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (16.1%), and sphingomyelin (14.7%). Palmitic, stearic, oleic, and arachidonic acids composed 27.9%, 19.4%, 15.8%, and 13.7% of the phospholipid fatty acid fraction, respectively. Free fatty acids (38.4%), cholesterol (17.6%), and cholesterol ester (17.2%) comprised the major fraction of neutral lipids, while the predominant neutral lipid fatty acids were palmitic (26.0%) and oleic (23.8%). The percentage of wet tissue weight that is lipid in the pineal is considerably less when compared to brain cortex or retina. When chickens are compared to several mammalian species, there is little difference in percent lipid per milligram pineal tissue, but definite differences exist in the percentage of various lipid classes.
Studies of Vibrational Surface Modes. III. Effect of an Adsorbed Layer

The vibrational modes of adsorbate-substrate systems have been studied for models in which the adsorbate is simulated by a light or heavy monolayer. The monolayer is assumed to have the same structure and potential parameters as the substrate, and to differ only in particle mass. These models are more nearly realistic than those used in most previous treatments of this problem in that the structure of the substrate is fcc rather than simple cubic and, more important, in that the condition of rotational invariance is not violated. The (100), (111), and (110) surfaces have been treated. For each of these surface orientations, the vibrational modes have been calculated for mass ratios $\frac{{M}_{L}}{M}=\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{2},\frac{4}{5},\frac{5}{4},\frac{2}{1},\mathrm{and} \frac{4}{1}$, where ${M}_{L}$ and $M$ are, respectively, the masses of adsorbate and substrate particles. The surface-dispersion curves are shown for each of these 18 cases, and the shifts in the surface-mode spectra with changes in the mass ratio are discussed. For very light or very heavy adsorbed particles, there are three principal surface-mode branches associated with the adsorbed layer which exist over all (for light particles) or nearly all (for heavy particles) of the two-dimensional Brillouin zone. For mass ratios which are not extreme, the separation of the principal surface-mode branches is not complete; at small wave vectors, some or all of these branches in effect enter the bulk bands as mixed modes (pseudosurface modes). As one expects, the first-layer modes are greatly affected by changes in the mass ratios. Second-and third-layer modes ordinarily are not much affected by increases in the mass ratio (heavy layer), but ordinarily are greatly affected by decreases in the mass ratio (light layer). The effect of the adsorbed layer on the localization of the generalized Rayleigh waves is examined; for these waves, heavy adsorbed layers enhance localization at the surface and light layers have the opposite effect.
Fabrication of bovine serum albumin nanotubes through template-assisted layer by layer assembly

One-dimensional protein nanostructures have many potential applications in the biomedical field. In this article, protein nanotubes have been fabricated via sequential filtration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution at pH 3.8 and 7.0 through the nanochannels of anodic aluminum oxide templates. The morphology of the nanostructures has been examined using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Circular dichroism and UV/Vis spectroscopy have been used to select experimental conditions such as the pH values and the etching solution to release the fabricated protein nanotubes to minimize potential damage to the bioactivity of BSA. These results indicate that much more study needs to be done to strengthen the mechanical stability of the protein nanotubes and to better control their morphology.
Spiritual I.Q.: The Farthest Reaches of Human Development

(2003). Spiritual I.Q.: The Farthest Reaches of Human Development. World Futures: Vol. 59, No. 7, pp. 485-493.
Local studies in horizontal gas-liquid slug flow

Abstract The axial liquid-phase velocity profile development in a horizontal air–water plug/slug flow-pattern was experimentally investigated by simultaneously using two hot-film anemometers. One of the probes which was kept in a fixed location was exclusively used as a phase identifier while the other probe was traversed vertically for local velocity measurements. The experimental observations were focused on the intermittent and transient characteristics of the slug flow-pattern. It was shown that the velocity rapidly develops into an asymmetric but nearly fully-developed profile within liquid slug with the maximum value occurring below the pipe center line. On the other hand it was documented that the velocity never develops into a quasi-fully-developed profiles within the liquid layer below a passing slug. At a given location the velocity gradually decelerates toward the gas slug tail, but rapidly accelerates towards the wake of the gas slug.
Delayed recall deficits in aphasic stroke patients: evidence of Alzheimer's dementia?

In a comparative study of the performance of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), aphasia resulting from stroke, and normal elders on a variety of neuropsychological tasks, 3 aphasic patients pe...
11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 as a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11βHSD1) is a therapeutic target for Type 2 diabetes that has stimulated the interest of many pharmaceutical companies. Mounting evidence obtained from both preclinical and clinical studies support the contention that inhibiting 11βHSD1 will have a therapeutic benefit by lowering glucose output and increasing insulin sensitivity. In just over two years, 21 applications containing 11βHSD1 inhibitors have been published. In this review, the target rationale and patent applications from Merck, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Sterix, Biovitrum, Janssen and Novartis will be discussed.
Does provider prevention orientation influence female patients' preventive practices?

Abstract Background: Health care provider encouragement for particular preventive behaviors is associated with patient adherence, but it is unclear whether a provider’s overall prevention approach influences whether patients engage in recommended preventive measures. We examined whether older women who perceived that their health care provider encouraged a particular preventive behavior were more likely to follow that recommendation if they also perceived that the provider encouraged other preventive behaviors. Data and Methods: The sample included 1119 women aged 50 to 79 enrolled in a health maintenance organization. We examined associations of reported provider encouragement for post-menopausal hormone use, physical activity, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), and flexible sigmoidoscopy with one another and with adherence to these measures according to recommended guidelines. Results: Among women reporting provider encouragement for physical activity, the likelihood of reporting regular physical activity was greater among women who reported encouragement for one other (odds ratio [OR]=1.99; confidence interval [CI]=1.35 to 2.95) and at least two other (OR=2.38; 95% CI=1.62 to 3.48) preventive measures compared with women who reported no other encouragement. The likelihood of reporting adequate counseling for post-menopausal hormone use was greater among women reporting encouragement for at least two other preventive measures compared with those reporting no other encouragement. The likelihood of having had an FOBT or sigmoidoscopic examination was related to encouragement for those procedures, but not with greater encouragement for other preventive measures. Conclusions: Patient perceptions of a provider’s overall preventive practice approach may influence whether patients engage in recommended preventive practices, particularly for lifestyle factors.
ESTIMATING THE STATIC STIFFNESS FOR A SPINDLE-TOOLHOLDER-TOOLING SYSTEM

This article focuses on static analysis to integrate the necessary components for the design of spindle-toolholder-tooling systems; the modeling and analysis of the systems is based on a mathematical model using a systematic approach for evaluating the static deflection at the cutting point. The analysis addresses the deflection of most of the components in the system including the spindle shaft, front and rear bearings, toolholder, cutting tool and their corresponding spindle-toolholder and toolholder-tool interfaces modeled with linear (radial) and rotational (tilting) springs. The effects of design parameters on the static performance of these systems are analyzed in order to assess the contribution and the influence of the individual system components. Computations and experimental results show that improvements can be made in the system by adjusting the aforementioned parameters. The proposed strategy is to iteratively predict the tool deflection at the tool tip using the analytical model based on th...
Reductive dechlorination of perchloroethylene using anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors (AnSBBR)

Chlorinated organic solvents, such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), rank in the top five of the groundwater pollutants found in the United States. During the past year, the Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor (AnSBBR) was used to select for, enrich, and modify the physiological state of one or more of the many possible microbial consortia that can participate in the reductive dechlorination of PCE. Reactors enriched on lactate or acetate were able to dechlorinate 10.5 mg (63.3 μmoles) of PCE to cis -1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE) on a daily basis. When methanol was used as the electron donor PCE, TCE, and cDCE were detectable in the reactor at the end of a 24 hour cycle. An AnSBBR fed only H 2 /CO 2 was able to mediate the dechlorination of PCE to TCE, cDCE, and vinyl chloride (VC). Chloride measurements provided for a reliable and accurate method for the quantification of reductive dechlorination when the sorption of the chlorinated ethylenes affected the direct measurement of these compounds.
Predictors of Early Mortality in Patients Age 80 and Older Receiving Implantable Defibrillators

Background: There are no upper age restrictions for implantable defibrillators (ICDs) but their benefit may be limited in patients ≥ 80 years with strong competing risks of early mortality. Risk factors for early (1-year) mortality in ICD recipients ≥ 80 years of age have not been established. Methods: Two-center retrospective cohort study to assess predictors of one-year mortality in ICD recipients ≥ 80 years of age. Results: Of 2,967 ICDs implanted in the two centers from 1990–2006, 225 (7.6%) patients were ≥80 years of age and followed-up at one of the two centers. Mean age was 83.3 ± 3.1 years and follow-up time 3.3 ± 2.6 years. Median survival was 3.6 years (95% confidence interval 2.3–4.9). Multivariate predictors of 1-year mortality included ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 20% and the absence of beta-blocker use. Actuarial 1-year mortality of ICD recipients ≥ 80 with an EF ≤ 20% was 38.2% versus 13.1% in patients 80+ years with an EF > 20% and 10.6% for patients < 80 years with an EF ≤ 20% (P < 0.001 for both). There was no significant difference in the risk of appropriate ICD therapy between those patients 80+ years with EF above and below 20%. Conclusion: In general, patients ≥ 80 years of age who meet current indications for ICD implantation live sufficiently long to warrant device implantation based on anticipated survival alone. However, those with an EF ≤ 20% have a markedly elevated 1-year mortality with no observed increase in appropriate ICD therapy, thus reducing the benefit of device implantation in this population. (PACE 2010; 981–987)
Characterization and Regulation of the Genes for a Novel Anthranilate 1,2-Dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia DBO1

Anthranilate (2-aminobenzoate) is an important intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. In order to investigate the degradation of tryptophan through anthranilate by Burkholderia cepacia, several plasposon mutations were constructed of strain DBO1 and one mutant with the plasposon insertion in the anthranilate dioxygenase (AntDO) genes was chosen for further study. The gene sequence obtained from flanking DNA of the plasposon insertion site revealed unexpected information. B. cepacia DBO1 AntDO (designated AntDO-3C) is a three-component Rieske-type [2Fe-2S] dioxygenase composed of a reductase (AndAa), a ferredoxin (AndAb), and a two-subunit oxygenase (AndAcAd). This is in contrast to the two-component (an oxygenase and a reductase) AntDO enzyme from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1, P. aeruginosa PAO1, and P. putida P111. AntDO from strains ADP1, PAO1, and P111 are closely related to benzoate dioxygenase, while AntDO-3C is closely related to aromatic hydrocarbon dioxygenases from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans F199 and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae B1 and 2-chlorobenzoate dioxygenase from P. aeruginosa strains 142 and JB2. Escherichia coli cells expressing the functional AntDO-3C genes transform anthranilate and salicylate (but not 2-chlorobenzoate) to catechol. The enzyme includes a novel reductase whose absence results in less efficient transformation of anthranilate by the oxygenase and ferredoxin. AndR, a possible AraC/XylS-type transcriptional regulator, was shown to positively regulate expression of the andAcAdAbAa genes. Anthranilate was the only effector (of 12 aromatic compounds tested) that was able to induce expression of the genes.
In vitro studies on the mechanisms of oxaliplatin resistance.

Purpose: We have previously reported that elevation of glutathione mediated by γ-glutamyl transpeptidase is one mechanism of oxaliplatin resistance. This study explored other potential oxaliplatin resistance mechanisms with two aims: (1) to identify the differences between cisplatin and oxaliplatin in terms of drug accumulation, DNA-Pt adduct formation and repair, and (2) to determine whether defects in drug accumulation and enhanced repair of the DNA-Pt adduct contribute to oxaliplatin resistance. Methods: The human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780, an oxaliplatin-resistant variant A2780/C25 and a cisplatin-resistant variant A2780/CP along with an inherently cisplatin-resistant HT-29 colon carcinoma cell line were used in the study. The methods consisted of sulforhodamine-B assays, atomic absorption spectrophotometry and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Significantly higher drug accumulation and DNA-Pt adduct formation were observed after exposure to cisplatin compared to after oxaliplatin in the parent A2780 cells and the oxaliplatin-resistant A2780/C25 cells. The DNA-Pt adduct formed after treatment with either drug was repaired with equal efficiency by all cell lines except A2780/CP, which repaired the DNA-cisplatin adduct more efficiently than the DNA-oxaliplatin adduct. Relative to the parent line, the oxaliplatin-resistant A2780/C25 cells showed reduced Pt accumulation and DNA-Pt adduct levels following exposure to oxaliplatin, but only reduced accumulation after exposure to cisplatin. The cisplatin-resistant A2780/CP cells showed reduced accumulation and DNA-Pt adduct levels after exposure to cisplatin, but only reduced DNA-Pt adduct after exposure to oxaliplatin. In comparison to A2780 cells, the inherently cisplatin-resistant HT-29 cells showed lower accumulation and DNA-Pt adduct levels after exposure to cisplatin, but displayed no difference after exposure to oxaliplatin. An enhanced repair of the DNA-cisplatin adduct was observed only in A2780/CP cells relative to A2780 cells in an 8-h period. The steady-state levels of ERCC-1 mRNA, but not of XPA, were moderately elevated in the resistant cells. Exposure to either one of the drugs resulted in an induction of XPA in all the cell lines and of ERCC-1 in cisplatin-resistant cells. There was no relationship between the level of expression of the repair genes and the DNA-Pt adduct levels or repair. Conclusions: Relative to cisplatin a lower intracellular concentration and fewer DNA-Pt adducts are sufficient for oxaliplatin to exert its cytotoxicity. Resistance to oxaliplatin is mediated by similar mechanisms of reduced drug accumulation and DNA-Pt adduct formation as resistance to cisplatin. There is no clear evidence that enhanced repair is a mechanism of oxaliplatin resistance in the cell line (A2780/C25) studied here. The findings are suggestive of yet unidentified differences between the two drugs with respect to cellular uptake and/or efflux and repair of DNA-Pt adducts.
Underwater source localization using an IPMC-based artificial lateral line

Fish and aquatic amphibians use the lateral line system, consisting of arrays of hair-like neuromasts, as an important sensory organ for prey/predator detection, communication, and navigation. In this paper a novel bio-inspired artificial lateral line system is proposed for underwater robots and vehicles by exploiting the inherent sensing capability of ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs). Analogous to its biological counterpart, the IPMC-based lateral line processes the sensor signals through a neural network. The effectiveness of the proposed lateral line was validated in localization of underwater motion sources, including both a vibrating sphere (a dipole source) and a flapping foil. In particular, as a proof of concept, a prototype with Body Length (BL) of 8 cm, comprising five millimeter-scale IPMC sensors, was constructed and tested. Experimental results showed that the IPMC-based lateral line could localize the sources from 4–5 BLs away, with a localization error comparable to source placement resolution at the source-sensor separation of 1 BL. In addition to the ease of fabrication, these results established the competitiveness of the proposed approach, in terms of both localization range and accuracy, against the state of the art in artificial lateral lines.
Extended studies of Baltomyces styrax in Idaho and expanded distribution of this isopod gut fungus in USA.

Trichomycetes or gut fungi are currently considered to be an ecological group consisting of both fungi and protists that inhabit the guts of arthropods from varied environments. Baltomyces styrax has been included as a member of the Asellariales, a small and understudied order of true gut fungi. Baltomyces styrax has remained monotypic and not been reported formally since it was first described by Cafaro in 1999 from one collection in Louisiana. Herein we report on subsequent collec- tions of this fungus, from both lentic and lotic locations, over the past several years from four other states, most recently Idaho, where we have records over a 4 y span. We repeatedly collected at one lentic site in Idaho for 5 mo, which allowed an extended study of not only the life history of B. styrax but also the discovery of morphological characteristics that were not reported earlier. Therefore we are emend- ing the species description and providing additional information on the ecology and host range of B. styrax as well as providing a context for comparison to Asellaria, the type genus of the Asellariales. We also extend the known host range and suggest that the fungus is much more widespread than current records indicate.
Down and Out: An Investigation of the Relationship between Mood and Employee Withdrawal Behavior

A relatively new and promising area of research is the effect of mood in the workplace. In an effort to extend existing literature on the subject, we examined the impact of two mood dimensions (positive affect and negative affect) on employees’ withdrawal behavior—specifically, on their absenteeism and turnover from an organization. A longitudinal study of 129 employees of a division of an electronics firm revealed that positive affect reduced absenteeism, while negative affect increased absenteeism and turnover. Job satisfaction moderated the relationship between positive affect and absenteeism. These results point to the importance of considering both job attitudes and emotions in efforts to predict and manage employee withdrawal behavior.
Fault slip rates and interseismic deformation in the western Transverse Ranges, California

To better constrain fault slip rates and patterns of interseismic deformation in the western Transverse Ranges of southern California, we present results from analysis of GPS and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data and three-dimensional mechanical and kinematic models of active faulting. Anthropogenic motions are detected in several localized zones but do not significantly affect the vast majority of continuous GPS site locations. GPS measures contraction rates across the Ventura Basin of ~7 mm/yr oriented west-northwest with rates decreasing to the west and east. The Santa Barbara channel is accommodating ~6.5 mm/yr in the east and ~2.5 mm/yr in the western portions of N/S contraction. Inversion of horizontal GPS velocities highlights a zone of localized fast contraction rates following the Ventura Basin. Using a mechanical model driven by geodetically calculated strain rates, we show that there are no significant discrepancies between short-term slip rates captured by geodesy and longer-term slip rates measured by geology. Mechanical models reproduce the first-order interseismic velocity and strain rate patterns but fail to reproduce strongly localized contraction in the Ventura Basin due to the inadequate homogeneous elastic properties of the model. Existing two-dimensional models match horizontal rates but predict significant uplift gradients that are not observed in the GPS data. Mechanical models predict zones of fast contraction in the Santa Barbara channel and offshore near Malibu, suggesting that offshore faults represent a significant seismic hazard to the region. Furthermore, many active faults throughout the region may produce little to no interseismic deformation, making accurate seismic hazard assessment challenging. © 2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Cocoliche's Romp: Fun with Nationalism at Argentina's Carnival

In the early 1900s, during a period of massive European immigration, amid a rising tide of restrictions against workers, unions, and anarchists, as well as the violent marginalization of indigenous...
A Capacitor Charge Pump DC-DC Converter for Physics Instrumentation

We have prototyped a switched capacitor DC-DC converter aimed at powering low voltage integrated circuits in particle physics instrumentation. The ideal output current is 4 times the input current. The prototype was built using a CMOS integrated circuit containing all switches and switch driver circuitry, with external capacitors and clocks. We present measurements of performance with and without irradiation.
Complementary and alternative medicine use by patients visiting a free health clinic: A single-site, pilot study.

Background: The rate of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been documented to fluctuate widely, can greatly impact medical outcomes, and can influence patients' adherence to conventional medicines. Health care providers should assess the prevalence of CAM use (primarily herbal medicine) in individual settings to most accurately provide appropriate patient care.
The function of membrane-associated molecules in acquired resistance to antiestrogens in breast cancer

Long-term clinical adjuvant antihormone therapy for breast cancer has significantly improved survival of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients, but acquired resistance to antiestrogens is a major challenge in clinic. The evolution of acquired resistance to selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) is unique because the growth of resistant tumors is dependent on SERMs. Thus, it appears that acquired resistance to SERMs is initially able to utilize either estrogen (E 2 ) or a SERM as the growth stimulus in the ER-positive SERM-resistant breast tumors. However, no mechanism has been established to explain this paradox. Our newly established cell model MCF-7: PF, for the first time, replicates Phase I acquired resistance to SERMs in vitro . The cells are stimulated to grow robustly with E 2 and SERMs through the ER which is confirmed by the evidence that pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) completely blocks the stimulation induced by E 2 or SERMs. In contrast to E 2 that activates classical ER-target genes, SERMs continue to function as effective antiestrogens to inhibit classical ER-target genes, even at the time of growth stimulation. A significant alteration of ER function observed in SERM-resistant cells is the enhancement of the non-genomic pathway of ER and the activation of multiple membrane function-associated molecules including focal adhesion molecules and adapter proteins to further increase phosphorylation of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). Inhibition of membrane-associated signaling, IGF-1R and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), completely abolishes 4-OHT-stimulated cell growth. Overall, the constant nuclear pressure causes broad activation of membrane-associated signaling to aid breast cancer cell survival during the selection process required for acquired SERM resistance. The targeting of these membrane function-associated pathways and seeking new unanticipated combination therapies may have further clinical potential to decipher and treat endocrine-resistant breast cancer.
Students with Higher Functioning Autistic Disorder Do we Know Who they are

This study focused on identifying the characteristics of children and youth identified as having higher functioning autistic disorder (H-F AD). Teachers of 29 children and youth previously identified as having H-F AD completed a common autism assessment measure on their students, the Autism Behavior Checklist. Review of teachers' ratings of the 29 subjects failed to reveal a common set of characteristics of students with H-F AD. Thus, even though the evaluators identified a variety of exceptional characteristics, including a number that are common to other students with mild disabilities, there was not a consistent image of students with H-F AD. These results are discussed relative to their implications for educational and clinical planning and practice.
Racial/ethnic differences in the rates and correlates of HIV risk behaviors among drug abusers.

Background HIV infection disproportionately impacts minorities; yet research on racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence and correlates of HIV risk behaviors is limited. Objective This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the rates of HIV risk behaviors and whether the relationship between HIV risk factors and HIV risk behaviors varies by race/ethnicity in clients participating in NIDA Clinical Trials Network trials. Results The sample was 41% non-Hispanic White, 32% non-Hispanic Black, and 27% Hispanic (N = 2,063). HIV risk behaviors and measures of substance and psychosocial HIV risk factors in the past month were obtained. Non-Hispanic Blacks engaged in less HIV sexual risk behaviors overall than non-Hispanic Whites. While non-Hispanic Whites were the most likely to report any injection drug use, Hispanics engaged in the most HIV drug risk behaviors. Specific risk factors were differentially predictive of HIV risk behavior by race/ethnicity. Alcohol use severity was related to engaging in higher sex risk behaviors for non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites. Greater psychiatric severity was related to engaging in higher sex risk behaviors for non-Hispanic Whites. Drug use severity was associated with engaging in higher risk drug behaviors for non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics with the magnitude of the relationship stronger for Hispanics. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for further research testing HIV risk prevention interventions within racial/ethnic groups to identify target behaviors or risk factors that are salient to inform HIV interventions. Scientific Significance The present study provides a systematic examination of race/ethnicity differences in the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and HIV risk behaviors. (Am J Addict 2013;22:136-147)
Root architecture and biomass allocation of three range grasses in response to nonuniform supply of nutrients and shoot defoliation

Predictions of root architecture have been tested using only a narrow set of environmental conditions and species. There is little information on root architecture of plants growing on semi-arid grasslands where soil nutrient heterogeneity and defoliation might impose particular restrictions on root growth. We conducted a split-root study to evaluate the effect of nonuniform nutrient supply and clipping on root architecture and biomass allocation of three range grasses found in the Intermountain West of the USA: ‘Whitmar’, a cultivar of Pseudoroegneria spicata, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), and ‘Hycrest’, a hybrid between Agropyron desertorum and A. cristatum. Root systems of individual seedlings were equally divided between the two divisions of a partitioned 10-l pot, and each of the divisions was independently supplied with ‘high or ‘low’ nutrient solution. Plants were either clipped or not. Characteristics of root architecture (topology and link length), root size (root length and number of root tips), and biomass distribution (specific root length and root mass∶root volume ratio) were evaluated. Root topology (branching distribution) changed with nutrient treatments and defoliation in all three species. Length of links (a segment of root between two branches, or between a node and a root tip) responded to nutrient treatment only in defoliated plants of ‘Whitmar’, in which relative growth rate was associated with changes in architectural traits (external–external and internal–internal link length), while biomass accumulation and relative growth rate in cheatgrass and ‘Hycrest’ maintained allometric relationships with root length. Our results suggest that large plasticity in root architecture, together with inherently low relative growth rate are adaptations that allow ‘Whitmar’ to grow well in heterogeneous and poor soil-nutrient conditions. Cheatgrass and ‘Hycrest’ exhibited characteristics suggesting capability for rapid exploitation of nutrient patches.
Effective Treatment of Metastatic MDA-MB-435 Human Estrogen-independent Breast Carcinomas with a Targeted Cytotoxic Analogue of Luteinizing Hormone-releasing Hormone AN-207

A highly potent derivative of doxorubicin, 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201), was linked to [d-Lys 6 ]luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) to form a cytotoxic analogue, AN-207, that can be targeted to LH-RH receptors. The effects of AN-207 were investigated in MDA-MB-435 human estrogen-independent breast carcinomas, which express LH-RH receptors. In experiment 1, nude mice bearing orthotopically implanted tumors received a single i.v. injection of AN-207, AN-201, or the carrier at 250 nmol/kg. Five weeks after administration of AN-207, tumor volume was significantly decreased by 66% ( P < 0.001) and tumor burden by 71% ( P < 0.05) as compared with controls, but no significant effects occurred in other groups. Six of eight (75%) control animals and 37.5% of mice treated with AN-201 developed metastases in the lymph nodes, whereas no lymphatic spread was found in any of the mice that received injections of AN-207. The antitumor effect of AN-207 could be partially blocked by pretreatment of the tumor-bearing mice with high doses of agonist[ d-Trp 6 ]LH-RH, which suggests that AN-207 acts on LH-RH receptors on tumors. The mortality due to toxicity was 25% in the group receiving AN-201 and 12.5% in the AN-207-treated group. Radioligand binding assays revealed the presence of high-affinity binding sites for LH-RH on tumor membranes, and mRNA for LH-RH receptors was demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR. In experiment 2, two i.v. injections of AN-207 or AN-201 at 150 nmol/kg were given on days 0 and 28 to mice bearing orthotopic xenografts of MDA-MB-435. The outcome of the treatment was similar to that observed in experiment 1, but without any toxicity-related deaths. Tumor growth inhibition and prevention of metastatic disease suggest that cytotoxic LH-RH analogue AN-207 could be considered for the treatment of human estrogen-independent breast cancers expressing receptors for LH-RH.
Therapeutic management of metastatic brain tumors

Abstract Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for patients with brain metastases provides increased local control, locoregional control, and median survival over supportive care or steroids alone. In addition, effective palliative relief is realized in the majority of patients. Despite this, median survival with WBRT alone remains fixed at a relatively unfortunate 4–6 months as demonstrated in prospective randomized controlled trials. Key issues in the therapeutic management of brain metastases include techniques to optimize the multimodal application of WBRT in conjunction with surgery, radiosurgery, chemotherapy, and radiosensitizers. Efforts to incorporate these approaches to improve survival are currently under active investigation.
Dipolmomente, Substituentenkonstanten und Weiterleitungs-effekte bei Aryl-aralkylketonen und deren Halogenderivaten

Es wird der Versuch unternommen, den Einflus der beiden Halogene X und Y in der Bruckengruppe Z bei Verbindungen des Typs ArCOZAr′ auf die Abhangigkeit des molekularen Dipolmomentes von den Substituenten an den beiden aromatischen Ringen A bzw. B quantitativ zu beschreiben. Ausgehend von bekannten σ*-Werten werden Substituentenkonstanten fur die verschiedenen C6H5Z-Gruppen vorgeschlagen, welche die Wechselwirkung zwischen den Substituenten am Ring A und X und Y in Z bzw. mit der kompletten Seitengruppe C6H5-Z berucksichtigen. Weiterhin werden Leitfahigkeitsfaktoren fz fur die Weiterleitung von Substituenteneffekten vom Ring B uber Z, die aus IR-Untersuchungen bekannt sind, auf unabhangigem Wege bestatigt. Fur die Abhangigkeit der Dipolmomente von den unterschiedlichen Konstanten werden zwei Einheitsbeziehungen fur A- bzw. B-substituierte Verbindungen aufgestellt.
Approximate Qualitative Temporal Reasoning

We partition the time-line in different ways, for example, into minutes, hours, days, etc. When reasoning about relations between events and processes we often reason about their location within such partitions. For example, i>x happened yesterday and i>y happened today, consequently i>x and i>y are disjoint. Reasoning about these temporal granularities so far has focussed on temporal units (relations between minute, hour slots). I shall argue in this paper that in our representations and reasoning procedures we need into account that events and processes often lie skew to the cells of our partitions. For example, ‘happened yesterday’ does not mean that i>x started at 12 a.m. and ended 0 p.m. This has the consequence that our descriptions of temporal location of events and processes are often approximate and rough in nature rather than exact and crisp. In this paper I describe representation and reasoning methods that take the approximate character of our descriptions and the resulting limits (granularity) of our knowledge explicitly into account.
Determination of total lead in lipstick: Development and validation of a microwave-assisted digestion, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric method

Recent reports describing the presence of lead (Pb) in lipsticks have suggested that, under ordinary use, the potential amount of Pb exposure is harmful. To permit independent assessment of the Pb contamination, a method for determining total Pb in lipstick using microwave-assisted digestion and analysis employing inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed and validated. Since lipsticks may contain fats, oils, pigments, dyes, and minerals, several reference materials (RM) were analyzed, including coal, wear metals in oil, organic Pb in oil, milk powder, and estuarine sediment. With the exception of the RM with mineral content (estuarine sediment), complete recovery of Pb from the RMs was obtained by simple nitric acid (HNO(3)) digestion. Complete recovery of Pb from estuarine sediment was achieved only when hydrofluoric acid (HF) was added to the digestion mix, followed by treatment with excess boric acid (H(3)BO(3)) to neutralize the HF and to dissolve insoluble fluorides. Commercial lipsticks were tested for total Pb by the validated method. The detection limit was estimated to be 0.04 microg Pb/g. The average value obtained for the lipsticks was 1.07 microg/g. Undigested material was present in some lipstick digests when only HNO(3) was used, and generally lower Pb values were obtained. All of the Pb levels found by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were within the range the agency would expect to find in lipsticks formulated with permitted color additives and other ingredients prepared under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. This method will be useful for the FDA and industry in helping to ensure the safety of cosmetic products.
Nonodontogenic Cysts of the Jaws and Treatment in the Pediatric Population

Nonodontogenic cysts within the jaws are not a common presentation in the pediatric population. Cysts within the pediatric population tend to be developmental and odontogenic in nature. Although nonodontogenic cysts of the jaws are relatively uncommon, it is imperative the clinician understand their clinical behavior and management because failure to do so can result in increased patient morbidity. The nonodontogenic cysts of the jaws that are most often encountered are the central giant cell granuloma, traumatic bone cavity, aneurysmal bone cyst, nasopalatine duct cyst, and nasolabial cyst. This article reviews common clinical findings, radiographic features, histopathologic features, and current treatments of nonodontogenic cysts.
Novel Ionic Liquid Thermal Storage for Solar Thermal Electric Power Systems

Feasibility of ionic liquids as liquid thermal storage media and heat transfer fluids in a solar thermal power plant was investigated. Many ionic liquids such as [C4min][PF6], [C8mim][PF6], [C4min][bistrifluromethane sulflonimide], [C4min][BF4], [C 8mim][BF4], and [C4min][ bistrifluromethane sulflonimide] were synthesized and characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), viscometry, and some other methods. Properties such as decomposition temperature, melting point, viscosity, density, heat capacity, and thermal expansion coefficient were measured. The calculated storage density for [C8mim][PF6] is 378 MJ/m 3 when the inlet and outlet field temperatures are 210 o C and 390 o C. For a single ionic liquid, [C4mim][BF4], the liquid temperature range is from –75 o C to 459 o C. It is found that ionic liquids have advantages of high density, wide liquid temperature range, low viscosity, high chemical stability, non-volatility, high heat capacity, and high storage density. Based on our experimental results, it is concluded that ionic liquids could be excellent liquid thermal storage media and heat transfer fluids in solar thermal power plant.
Inhibition of the electrogenic Na pump underlies delayed depolarization of cortical neurons after mechanical injury or glutamate.

Tavalin, Steven J., Earl. F. Ellis, and Leslie S. Satin. Inhibition of the electrogenic Na pump underlies delayed depolarization of cortical neurons after mechanical injury or glutamate. J. Neuroph...
Endotoxin-induced decrease in muscle protein synthesis is associated with changes in eIF2B, eIF4E, and IGF-I

The present study examined potential mechanisms contributing to the inhibition of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after administration of endotoxin (LPS). Rats implanted with vascular catheter...
Structural characterization of 2-imidazolones: comparison with their heavier chalcogen counterparts

The molecular structures of 1-t-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazol-2-one [H(oim(Bu(t)))], 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one [H(obenzim(Me))], 1-t-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one [H(obenzim(Bu(t)))], and 1-t-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione [H(mbenzim(Bu(t)))] have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Consideration of the C-O bond lengths in the 2-imidazolones, together with the respective values for 2-thiones and 2-selones, indicates that the C-E bonds in these compounds are intermediate between those of formal C-E single and double bonds, an observation that may be rationalized in terms of a significant contribution of zwitterionic structures that feature single C(+)-E(-) dative covalent bonds. In this regard, a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the bonding in H(xim(Bu(t))) derivatives demonstrates that a doubly bonded C═E resonance structure is most significant for the oxygen derivative, whereas singly bonded C(+)-E(-) resonance structures are dominant for the tellurium derivative, despite the fact that oxygen is more electronegative. The C-E bonding in these compounds is, therefore, significantly different from that in chalcogenoformaldehyde derivatives for which the bonding is well represented by a H2C═E double bonded resonance structure. Comparison of the C-E bond lengths of the imidazolechalcogenones with those of C-E single bonds indicates that the C-O bonds are anomalously short. This observation may be rationalized in terms of the oxygen derivative having not only the most significant π-component but also a substantial ionic component. The latter results from the C-O bond being the most polar due to a substantial polarization of the σ-bond in the direction of oxygen, which thereby supplements the π-polarization and increases the negative charge on oxygen. In contrast, the σ-polarization for the heavier chalcogens opposes the zwitterionic C(+)-E(-) π-polarization and thereby reduces the negative charge on the chalcogen. As such, the C-E bond becomes less polar as the chalcogen becomes heavier, despite the fact that the zwitterionic C(+)-E(-) contribution increases.
Parallel Processing in Sequential Approximate Optimization

The paper presents a first level of coarse-grained parallelization in a sequential approximate optimization framework. A sequential approximate optimization framework builds local approximations of the system every iteration by evaluating a set of design points around the current design. In this research the database is generated by distributing the data sampling process among several processors in a cluster. Two test problems are implemented in a 32 processor cluster. Communications and process control is performed using a message passing interface (MPI) implementation called LAM (Local area multicomputer). The MPI application sends to each processor a set of points to evaluate during the database generation step. Results demonstrate that the use of a cluster of computers to perform the optimization reduces significantly the overall computational time.