cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental and food profiles of infants born to adolescent and adult mothers

Objective: To compare developmental markers and dietary intake of infants born to lower socioeconomic adolescent and adult mothers. Design: Sixty-one adolescent (age 14–18 years) and 60 adult (age 22–28 years) mothers met inclusion criteria of comparable socioeconomic status, age range, urban/rural residence, and distribution of infants by gender. Sample/setting: Adolescent subjects were recruited in last trimester and adult mothers postpartum. Interviews were conducted when infants were about 6 and 12 months of age. Data included age of occurrence for eight markers, age at adding complementary foods, two 24-h dietary recalls, and two measurements of growth. Results: Adolescent mothers reported a significantly earlier age at which the infant "holds a spoon by self" and "drinks alone from a trainer cup". Six other markers were not significantly different between groups. Adolescent mothers fed cereal significantly earlier than did adult mothers, but there were no significant differences for fruit, vegetables, and meat. At 12 months, infants of adolescents had intakes of vitamin D and iron which were Conclusions: Compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers reported earlier mean ages for developmental markers related to self-feeding, and introduced cereal earlier. In each group, selected nutrient intakes decreased from recommended amounts in the 6–12-month period. Fat intakes were significantly different between groups at 6 and 12 months.
Selective Grazing and Differential Digestion of Algae by Zooplankton

THE success of future water quality standards and management programmes depends on an accurate assessment of factors determining the relative abundances of algal species. Physical and chemical factors are often considered1; biological controls are less commonly assessed although their potential importance is recognized2–4. Planktonic crustacea exhibit selective feeding behaviour ranging from passive size selection in Daphnia5 to raptorial feeding in cyclopoid copepods6. Some algae are actively rejected7,8 and others are poorly digested8–11 by grazers.
Mismatch reduction technique for transistors with minimum channel length

An analog calibration technique is presented to improve the parameter matching between transistors in the differential high-frequency signal path of analog CMOS circuits. It can be applied for mismatch reduction in differential broadband amplifiers and direct down-conversion mixers in which short-channel devices are utilized to minimize bandwidth reduction from parasitic capacitances. In general, the proposed methodology is suitable for radio frequency (RF) applications in which direct matching of the transistors is undesired because sophisticated layout practices would increase the coupling between the high-frequency paths. The approach involves auxiliary devices which sense the existing mismatch as part of a feedback loop for error minimization. This technique is demonstrated with a differential amplifier that has a loaded gain and ?3 dB frequency of 12.9 dB and 2.14 GHz, respectively. It was designed in 90 nm CMOS technology with a 1.2 V supply. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the 4.06 mV standard deviation of the amplifier's anticipated input-referred offset voltage improves to 0.76---1.28 mV with the mismatch reduction loop, which is contingent on the layout configuration of the calibration circuitry. The associated drain current mismatch reduction for the transistor pair under calibration in the amplifier core is from 3.1% to 0.6---1.0%.
Intracellular responses of caudate neurons to brain stem stimulation.

Abstract Intracellular recordings were made of responses of caudate neurons to stimulation of substantia nigra and adjacent brain stem structures in cats. The locations of brain stem stimulating points which evoked responses in caudate neurons mapped a pathway generally similar to the dopaminergic nigro-striatal tract which was previously described by histochemical means. Lesions in the central median-parafascicular complex of the thalamus did not prevent these nigro-caudate responses from being elicited. Responses in caudate neurons to nigral and supranigral stimuli varied in form, but often included EPSP-IPSP sequences. In such cases the duration of the ‘IPSP’ was always shorter than those evoked in the same neurons by precruciate cortical stimulations or by anterior thalamic stimuli. Effects of stimulus intensity and frequency were assessed. Increases in stimulus intensity increased the amplitude, but not the duration of the intracellular membrane responses. Bursts of high frequency stimulation evoked poststimulus depolarizations of long duration. The possible significance of these long depolarizations for understanding the functions of caudate neurons was discussed.
Freshwater vulnerabilities and resilience on the Seward Peninsula: Integrating multiple dimensions of landscape change

Abstract Climate change exerts influence on the globe over relatively long temporal and at broad spatial scales. However, at the local scale in which communities undertake their daily activities, changes in land-use may result in changes that accumulate and manifest more quickly in the landscape. In this paper we set out a methodology for identifying social–ecological system (SES) vulnerabilities in the landscape with respect to freshwater resources for Arctic communities. A multiple-scale approach is used at regional and watershed scales and is demonstrated for the Seward Peninsula region, Alaska and the Fish River watershed on Seward Peninsula but may be applied elsewhere. The approach includes change in permafrost distribution as an important effect of climate change, and change in mining activity as an important land-use effect. Vulnerability in the SES is identified as a consequence of spatially coinciding values. The resulting patterns of vulnerability highlight the interaction between changes, which act on slower temporal scales (e.g., permafrost distribution) and changes which act more quickly (e.g., downstream aggregation of mining activity). These results are discussed in the context of using the integration approach outlined in this paper to better enable communities’ responses to change at local scales in such a way that they are both adaptive and resilient.
Refinement of Innervation Accuracy following Initial Targeting of Peripheral Gustatory Fibers

During development, axons of the chorda tympani nerve navigate to fungiform papillae where they penetrate the lingual epithelium, forming a neural bud. It is not known whether or not all chorda tympani axons initially innervate fungiform papillae correctly or if mistakes are made. Using a novel approach, we quantified the accuracy with which gustatory fibers successfully innervate fungiform papillae. Immediately following initial targeting (E14.5), innervation was found to be incredibly accurate: specifically, 94% of the fungiform papillae on the tongue are innervated. A mean of five papillae per tongue were uninnervated at E14.5, and the lingual tongue surface was innervated in 17 places that lack fungiform papillae. To determine if these initial errors in papillae innervation were later refined, innervation accuracy was quantified at E16.5 and E18.5. By E16.5 only two papillae per tongue remained uninnervated. Innervation to inappropriate regions was also removed, but not until later, between E16.5 and E18.5 of development. Therefore, even though gustatory fibers initially innervate fungiform papillae accurately, some errors in targeting do occur that are then refined during later embryonic periods. It is likely that trophic interactions between gustatory neurons and developing taste epithelium allow appropriate connections to be maintained and inappropriate ones to be eliminated.
Size, cost, and productivity in the meat processing industries

Technology and technical change in the meat processing industries are examined in a cost function framework. Consistent with other studies, we find productivity growth rates to have declined in the past several decades. Nevertheless, growth has consistently been positive and has responded only modestly to the business cycle and to capital prices. Productivity-induced downshifts in unit cost curves have boosted cost elasticities, enhancing incentives for firm and plant-size growth. Rising capital shadow prices suggest the quality of capital has grown relative to that of labor and materials. Technical change appears to be capital-using and material-saving, counteracting the generally capital-saving and material-using effects of output expansion. [EconLit Citations: D24, L66, O30]. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discretizing continuous neural networks using a polarization learning rule

Discrete neural networks are simpler than their continuous counterparts, can obtain more stable solutions, and their hidden layer representations are easier to interpret. This paper presents a polarization learning rule for discretizing multi-layer neural networks with continuous activation functions. This rule forces the activation value of a neuron towards the two poles of its activation function. First, we use this rule in the form of a modified error function to discretize the hidden units of a back-propagation network. Then, we apply the same principle to the second-order recurrent networks to solve grammatical inference problems. The experimental results are superior to the ones using existing approaches.
Attention as a cueing function during kindergarten children's dimensional change task performance

The purpose of this experiment is to test whether shift flexibility in kindergarten children is a joint function of rule-usage and inhibition of attention. Sixty-six children were given either a distraction or facilitation condition in a computerized version of the dimensional change card sort task. In the distraction condition, the background of the post-shift matching stimulus was inconsistent with the relevant matching dimension. In the facilitation condition, the background of the post-shift matching stimulus was consistent with the relevant matching dimension. Results revealed that children made few errors in the standard version of the shift task, thereby supporting Cognitive complexity and control theory's contention that 5-year-old children shift easily across dimensions due to their use of higher-order setting rules to solve contradictions. The proportion of errors increased however in the distraction condition suggesting that attention to the background interfered with children's ability to shift between dimensions. Therefore, these data provide evidence that refocusing attention to dimensions along with rule-use processes affect shift flexibility and argue for the inclusion of both factors into theoretical accounts of shift performance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Severe Late Toxicities Following Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy Compared to Radiotherapy Alone in Cervical Cancer: An Inter-era Analysis

Purpose To compare rates of severe late toxicities following concomitant chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone for cervical cancer. Methods and Materials Patients with cervical cancer were treated at a single institution with radiotherapy alone or concomitant chemoradiotherapy for curative intent. Severe late toxicity was defined as grade ≥3 vaginal, urologic, or gastrointestinal toxicity or any pelvic fracture, using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE), occurring ≥6 months from treatment completion and predating any salvage therapy. Severe late toxicity rates were compared after adjusting for pertinent covariates. Results At 3 years, probability of vaginal severe late toxicity was 20.2% for radiotherapy alone and 35.1% for concomitant chemoradiotherapy ( P =.026). At 3 years, probability of skeletal severe late toxicity was 1.6% for radiotherapy alone and 7.5% for concomitant chemoradiotherapy ( P =.010). After adjustment for case mix, concomitant chemoradiotherapy was associated with higher vaginal (hazard ratio [HR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-5.2, P P =.016) severe late toxicity. Compared to high dilator compliance, moderate (HR 3.6, 95% CI 2.0-6.5, P P 50 was associated with higher vaginal (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0, P =.013) and skeletal (HR 5.7, 95% CI 1.2-27.0, P =.028) severe late toxicity. Concomitant chemoradiotherapy was not associated with higher gastrointestinal ( P =.886) or urologic (unadjusted, P =.053; adjusted, P =.063) severe late toxicity. Conclusion Compared to radiotherapy alone, concomitant chemoradiotherapy is associated with higher rates of severe vaginal and skeletal late toxicities. Other predictive factors include dilator compliance for severe vaginal late toxicity and age for severe vaginal and skeletal late toxicities.
An Eulerian–Eulerian model for gravity currents driven by inertial particles

Abstract In this work we introduce an Eulerian–Eulerian formulation for gravity currents driven by inertial particles. The model is based on the equilibrium Eulerian approach and on an asymptotic expansion of the two-phase flow equations. The final model consists of conservation equations for the continuum phase (carrier fluid), an algebraic equation for the disperse phase (particles) velocity that accounts for settling and inertial effects, and a transport equation for the disperse phase volume fraction. We present highly resolved two-dimensional (2D) simulations of the flow for a Reynolds number of Re = 3450 (this particular choice corresponds to a value of Grashof number of Gr = Re 2 / 8 = 1.5 × 10 6 ) in order to address the effect of particle inertia on flow features. The simulations capture physical aspects of two-phase flows, such as particle preferential concentration and particle migration down turbulence gradients (turbophoresis), which modify substantially the structure and dynamics of the flow. We observe the migration of particles from the core of Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices shed from the front of the current as well as their accumulation in the current head. This redistribution of particles in the current affects the propagation speed of the front, bottom shear stress distribution, deposition rate and sedimentation. This knowledge is helpful for the interpretation of the geologic record.
HUMIC ACID FOULING DURING MICROFILTRATION

Recent studies have shown that natural organic matter (e.g., humic and fulvic acids) is a major foulant during ultrafiltration of surface water. The objective of this study was to develop a more complete understanding of the mechanisms governing humic acid fouling, including the effects of humic acid adsorption, concentration polarization, and aggregate deposition on the rate and extent of fouling. Data were obtained with Aldrich and Suwannee River humic acids using ultrafiltration membranes with a broad range of molecular weight cutoffs. Fouled membranes were also examined using streaming potential and contact angle measurements. The extent of flux decline was greatest for the largest molecular weight cutoff membranes due to the greater relative hydraulic resistance of the humic acid deposit formed on the surface of these membranes. This humic acid deposit reduced the apparent zeta potential and increased the membrane contact angle. Simple static adsorption and concentration polarization caused relativel...
Project team aging and performance: The roles of project and functional managers

The authors have explored further the effect of the tenure of an R&D group (that is, the length of time in which it has existed) on its performance. Several studies have shown that groups tend to reach a peak of productivity after a few years and decline thereafter. However, it seems that not all teams so decline and the aim of the authors' study reported in this paper was to see what could be learned from those groups that continued to be successful. They therefore studied a sample of 181 teams comprising 2000 subjects drawn from a wide variety of R&D organizations. Their objectives were first to pick out those teams that remained effective and second, to discover the secret of their success. Group performances were assessed subjectively by senior members of each organization. Group tenures were measured by calculating the average time each individual member had spent in the group. Further information was obtained from questionnaires completed by participants. Analysis of the results led to the surprising conclusion that there was no evidence whatever for the previously reported curvilinear relationship between performance and tenure. Nevertheless, some long-tenured teams per-formed much better than others and better than newly-formed teams, for which the authors have sought an explanation. From information deduced from the questionnaires they conclude that the crucial factor is the extent to which the functional manager (department head) as distinct from the project manager nurtures individual researchers, especially in ensuring that they keep abreast of progress in relevant areas of expertise. The role of the project manager on the other hand is to maintain connection between the team and institutional objectives.
Thermal analysis of multiple-layer structures

The response of temperature to dc and steady-state ac power inputs in multiple-layer rectangular structures has been derived by solving analytically the problem of heat flow in three dimensions. Attention is focused on electrothermal integrated circuit (IC) substrates consisting of a semiconductor, a thermal conductor, and a thermal insulator. The analysis applies as well to single-layer systems, such as conventional IC substrates, for which the transient response of temperature has also been found.
Electron-phonon interactions in transition metals

Abstract The construction of an electron-phonon interaction requires the separation of the Hamiltonian describing mutually interacting electrons and ions into terms representing electronic quasiparticles, phonons, and a residual interaction. Such a separation of the electron-ion self-consistent-field Schroedinger equation for transition metals has been made, without approximation, leading to an interaction which is manifestly small. The corresponding form factors for copper are displayed. The interaction between phonons and s -like states contains hybridization terms in addition to a term analogous to the simple metal pseudopotential. These may be viewed as second-order terms in which an electron (or a hole) scatters through an intermediate d -like state. These terms are comparable to the usual pseudopotential and are treated as of the same order. They also give rise to screening fields just as do the simpler pseudopotential terms.
The Terwilliger algebra of an almost-bipartite distance-regular graph and its antipodal 2-cover

Abstract Let G be a distance-regular graph. Let A denote the adjacency matrix of G . Fix a vertex x of G . For each i (0⩽i⩽D) , let E i ∗ =E i ∗ (x) denote the projection onto the i th subconstituent of G with respect to x . Let T(x) denote the C -algebra generated by A and {E i ∗ | 0⩽i⩽D} . We call T(x) the Terwilliger algebra of G with respect to x. An irreducible T(x) -module W is said to be thin if dim E i ∗ W⩽1 for 0⩽i⩽D . The graph G is thin if for each vertex x of G , every irreducible T(x) -module is thin. A distance-regular graph G =( X , R ) with diameter D is said to be almost-bipartite if the intersection numbers satisfy a i ( G )=0 (0⩽i⩽ D −1) and a D ( G )≠0 . Let G =( X , R ) be an almost-bipartite distance-regular graph with diameter D . Then there is a distance-regular graph G=(X,R) of diameter D=2 D +1 which is an antipodal 2-cover, and a 2-to-1 surjection π : X→ X which preserves adjacency. It is known that G and G determine each other, up to isomorphism. We investigate the relationship between the Terwilliger algebras and their module structures of two graphs related in this way. In particular, we show that G is thin if and only if G is thin.
Effect of a pituitary gonadotrophin on the ovaries of hypothyroid rats.

IT HAS been shown by several investigators that thyroidectomy or the administration of goitrogenic substances is followed by changes in the ovary. Williams, Weinglass, Bissel and Peters (1944) found that ovarian weight decreased after thiouracil administration; Kopf, Loeser and Meyer (1948) and Szontagh and Lichner (1951) observed that an experimentally induced hypothyroidism resulted in a decrease in the number of follicles and marked luteinization. Janes (1944) and Janes and Bradbury (1952) reported atrophy of the ovary in some rats which have been thyroidectomized or given thiourea for a period of 9 months. The observations suggest that, in the absence of normal thyroid function, the ovaries react abnormally to the circulating gonadotrophins. Furthermore, when gonadotrophins were administered for short periods of time to rats that were thyroidectomized or given thiouracil, the ovarian response was increased in some instances, decreased in others (Smelser and Levin 1941; Bischoff and Clark 1941a and b; ...
Targeting Apoptosis in Autoimmune Hepatitis

Apoptosis is the predominant mechanism of liver cell death in autoimmune hepatitis, and interventions that can modulate this activity are emerging. The aim of this review was to describe the apoptotic mechanisms, possible aberrations, and opportunities for intervention in autoimmune hepatitis. Studies cited in PubMed from 1972 to 2014 for autoimmune hepatitis, apoptosis in liver disease, apoptosis mechanisms, and apoptosis treatment were examined. Apoptosis is overactive in autoimmune hepatitis, and the principal pathway of cell death is receptor mediated. Surface death receptors are activated by extrinsic factors including liver-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells and the cytokine milieu. The executioner caspases 3 and 7 cleave nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid, and the release of apoptotic bodies can stimulate inflammatory, immune, and fibrotic responses. Changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability can be initiated by caspase 8, and an intrinsic pathway of apoptosis can complement the extrinsic pathway. Defects in the apoptosis of activated effector cells can prolong their survival and sustain the immune response. Caspase inhibitors have been used in diverse experimental and human diseases to retard apoptosis. Oligonucleotides that inhibit the signaling of toll-like receptors can limit the presentation of auto-antigens, and inhibitors of apoptosis that extend the survival of effector cells can be blocked by antisense oligonucleotides. Mechanisms that enhance the clearance of apoptotic bodies and affect key signaling pathways are also feasible. Interventions that influence the survival of liver and effector cells by altering their apoptosis are candidates for study in autoimmune hepatitis.
Determinants of formin homology 1 (FH1) domain function in actin filament elongation by formins

Formin-mediated elongation of actin filaments proceeds via association of Formin Homology 2 (FH2) domain dimers with the barbed end of the filament, allowing subunit addition while remaining processively attached to the end. The flexible Formin Homology 1 (FH1) domain, located directly N-terminal to the FH2 domain, contains one or more stretches of polyproline that bind the actin-binding protein profilin. Diffusion of FH1 domains brings associated profilin-actin complexes into contact with the FH2-bound barbed end of the filament, thereby enabling direct transfer of actin. We investigated how the organization of the FH1 domain of budding yeast formin Bni1p determines the rates of profilin-actin transfer onto the end of the filament. Each FH1 domain transfers actin to the barbed end independently of the other and structural evidence suggests a preference for actin delivery from each FH1 domain to the closest long-pitch helix of the filament. The transfer reaction is diffusion-limited and influenced by the affinities of the FH1 polyproline tracks for profilin. Position-specific sequence variations optimize the efficiency of FH1-stimulated polymerization by binding profilin weakly near the FH2 domain and binding profilin more strongly farther away. FH1 domains of many other formins follow this organizational trend. This particular sequence architecture may optimize the efficiency of FH1-stimulated elongation.
Expanding tasks of logical workflows into independent workflows for improved scalability

Workflow management systems, such as Galaxy and Taverna, provide a portal through which data can be processed using a sequence of different tools. This sequence allows for the creation of a logical workflow that describes the process. However, when the data workload becomes large enough the time spent in each logical step increases making it difficult to run the workflow fast and efficiently. The proposed solutions is to use task level expansion. Task expansion aims to take each step of the logical workflow and expand it into a new self-contained workflow. These workflows would allow for greater scalability and concurrency by creating more tasks. The resulting workflows will be used indistinguishably from the original tool, but perform more quickly and efficiently. The concept was applied to the BWA tool in Galaxy and we were able to see a 7.36 times speedup in runtime on our 32 GB dataset.
Fine structure of taste buds of rabbit foliate papillae.

Electron microscopy of over 200 taste buds from foliate papillae of rabbits confirms that two distinct cell types exist. Apical ends of both types have villous projections packed with parallel elements. The slender “dark cells” possess centrioles with cross-banded rootlets but no apical elements of kinocilia, and are intimately related to nerves in a manner suggestive of Schwann cells. They contain granules which are apparently precursor to the dense substance of the taste pit. The broader “light cells” are virtually enclosed by “dark cells” and are extensively in contact with nerves in a manner suggestive of synapses, but without typical specialization. Continuous transformation from perigemmal cells to “dark cells,” to “light cells,” to degeneration is indicated. We believe, contrary to other previous investigators of mammalian taste buds, that “light cells” are gustatory elements, while “dark cells” are supporting elements with possibly a gustatory function as well.
The "Countrywide Classroom": Reaching India's Rural Residents

tional design and permeate deeply into an educational system, ultimately producing good learning of subject matter that is out of date, contains serious omissions, or is inaccurate or misleading. There are ways to forestall information viruses from entering instructional materials. Much could be achieved by using new information search technologies and telecommunications links, fostering better appreciation of basic information technology, and upgrading the role of librarian in the instructional design process. Changes are needed in attitudes of government ministries and foreign aid funding agencies in order to support efforts to prevent information viruses from occurring. O
Progression of cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma to cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

Antecedents: Les debats sur la nosologie et la clonalite entourent la condition connue sous la designation pseudolymphome cutane et sa transformation douteuse en lymphome cutane malin. Le bien-fonde de ces arguments est important tant pour le diagnostic que pour les inferences basees sur le comportement, le pronostic et le traitement. Objectif: Notre objectif etait d'apporter davantage de preuves sur la progression du pseudolymphome cutane en lymphome cutane malin tout en preconisant un plan complet d'evaluation, de traitement et de suivi des patients atteints. Methodes : Une etude retrospective a ete menee sur quatre patients qu'on pensait atteints du pseudolymphome cutane de type B mais qui ont ete traites pour un lymphome cutane malin de type B. On a egalement accompli une revue des cas rapportes dans les publications specialisees suggerant une transformation des lesions en lymphome malin. Resultats: Quatre patients dont le diagnostic initial de pseudolymphome cutane de type B a ete pose au moyen d'une combinaison de criteres histologiques, immunophenotypiques et de rearrangement genetique ont presente une progression clinique de leur maladie, aboutissant, au bout de 17 a 51 mois, a un lymphome cutane malin de type B. Tous les patients ont ete soumis e une investigation generale afin d'eliminer la possibilite de localisation extracutanee, ont subi une radiotherapie locale et ont ete suivis de pres. Le suivi a dure 14 mois en moyenne et n'a revele aucun signe de localisation extracutanee. Conclusion: La possibilite que certains pseudolymphomes cutanes se transforment en lymphomes cutanes malins de type B est reelle. La combinaison de criteres histologiques et immunophenotypiques, conjuguee a la manifestation des signes cliniques, demeure la meilleure facon de juger de la gravite des lesions. Les etudes sur le rearrangement genetique, effectuees par transfert de Southern ou par amplification genique, ont une valeur limitee et doivent servir a soutenir le contexte clinicopathologique general. La radiotherapie doit etre envisagee au debut du plan de traitement de la maladie et peut s'averer efficace lorsqu'un suivi etroit est effectue.
Studies on native ribosomal subunits from rat liver. Evidence for a low molecular weight ribosome dissociation factor.

Abstract Extracts prepared from native ribosomal subunits of rat liver with high salt (0.5 m KCl) solutions contain dissociation factor activity; they dissociate 80 S ribosomes and prevent the reassociation of ribosomal subunits. One of the activities is a high molecular weight (500,000–700,000) protein composed of about 10 polypeptides (eIF-3H). A low molecular weight activity (eIF-3L) is resolved from the heavy dissociation factor by glycerol gradient centrifugation. Both activities catalyze dissociation and anti-association. Gel electrophoresis of complexes between ribosomal subunits and eIF-3L, in sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggests that the low molecular weight dissociation factor contains a polypeptide or polypeptides of 51,000 molecular weight. Comparison of the electrophoretic patterns does not reveal any common polypeptides in the two dissociation factor preparations.
Mechanism of lapatinib-mediated radiosensitization of breast cancer cells is primarily by inhibition of the Raf>MEK>ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and radiosensitization of lapatinib-resistant cells restored by direct inhibition of MEK.

Abstract Background and purpose We recently showed that lapatinib, an EGFR/HER2 inhibitor, radiosensitized breast cancer cells of the basal and HER2+ subtypes. The purpose of this study was to identify the downstream signaling pathways responsible for lapatinib-mediated radiosensitization in breast cancer. Materials and methods Response of EGFR downstream signaling pathways was assessed by Western blot and clonogenic cell survival assays in breast tumor cells after irradiation (5 Gy), lapatinib, CI-1040, or combined treatment. Results In SUM102 cells, an EGFR+ basal breast cancer cell line, exposure to ionizing radiation elicited strong activation of ERK1/2 and JNK, which was blocked by lapatinib, and weak/no activation of p38, AKT or STAT3. Direct inhibition of MEK1 with CI-1040 resulted in 95% inhibition of surviving colonies when combined with radiation while inhibition of JNK with SP600125 had no effect. Lapatinib-mediated radiosensitization of SUM102 cells was completely abrogated with expression of constitutively active Raf. Treatment of lapatinib-resistant SUM185 cells with CI-1040 restored radiosensitization with 45% fewer surviving colonies when combined with radiation. Conclusions These data suggest that radiosensitization by lapatinib is mediated largely through inhibition of MEK/ERK and that direct inhibition of this pathway may provide an additional avenue of radiosensitization in EGFR+ or HER2+ breast cancers.
Osmotic regulation of renal betaine transport: transcription and beyond.

Cells in the kidney inner medulla are routinely exposed to high extracellular osmolarity during normal operation of the urinary concentrating mechanism. One adaptation critical for survival in this environment is the intracellular accumulation of organic osmolytes to balance the osmotic stress. Betaine is an important osmolyte that is accumulated via the betaine/γ-aminobutyric acid transporter (BGT1) in the basolateral plasma membrane of medullary epithelial cells. In response to hypertonic stress, there is transcriptional activation of the BGT1 gene, followed by trafficking and membrane insertion of BGT1 protein. Transcriptional activation, triggered by changes in ionic strength and water content, is an early response that is a key regulatory step and has been studied in detail. Recent studies suggest there are additional post-transcriptional regulatory steps in the pathway leading to upregulation of BGT1 transport, and that additional proteins are required for membrane insertion. Reversal of this adaptive process, upon removal of hypertonic stress, involves a rapid efflux of betaine through specific release pathways, a reduction in betaine influx, and a slower downregulation of BGT1 protein abundance. There is much more to be learned about many of these steps in BGT1 regulation.
Attitudes toward Autopsy Refusal by Young Adults

A survey of 158 18- to 24-yr. old college and 119 noncollege adults indicated that the latter were more reluctant to approve autopsies for spouses, children and distant relatives. Nonstudents also expressed more objections to autopsies than did students.
The Multiplicity of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars in Southern Star-forming Regions

High-resolution studies of young stars in the star-forming regions of Taurus and Ophiuchus have revealed a large population of multiple star systems. To test how applicable this earlier result is for other star-forming regions, we have carried out a K-band (2.2 μm) multiplicity survey of pre-main-sequence stars located in the dark cloud complexes Chameleon, Lupus, and Corona Australis. This survey, which was conducted with both speckle- and direct-imaging techniques, covers a binary star separation range of 01-12'' (15-1800 AU) and identifies 25 companion stars of which nine are new detections. The companion star fraction over the separation range covered by this survey is estimated to be 0.52 ± 0.11, in agreement with Taurus (0.58 ± 0.08) and Ophiuchus (0.50 ± 0.12). A comparison of the direct-imaging portion of this survey with Reipurth & Zinnecker's optical multiplicity study reveals that 4% of the overlap sample have "infrared companions," companions too red to be detected at optical wavelengths. This suggests that infrared surveys will systematically measure a slightly higher companion star fraction compared with optical surveys. The result of combining all K-band surveys of dark cloud complexes, which cover the separation range 15-1800 AU, shows a factor of 2 excess of the companion star fraction for young stars compared with that for the solar-type stars in the solar neighborhood (0.54 ± 0.06 vs. 0.26 ± 0.04).
Impact of e‐procurement on procurement practices and performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of electronic procurement technologies on procurement practices (PPR) and procurement performance (PP).Design/methodology/approach – This paper posits a model of the relationships between e‐procurement technology (EPT) usage, PPR, and PP. This model was tested and validated using a sample of 368 procurement specialists in the USA.Findings – The findings suggest that EPT usage positively affects managers' perceptions of both PPR and PP.Research limitations/implications – The findings of this paper primarily pertain to the operational level of the organization. Future research could also attempt to isolate the impact of individual EPTs on firm performance.Practical implications – The contribution for practitioners is to provide guidelines for the use of EPTs, and to report its impact on PP. The measurement instruments developed in this paper can be used to evaluate and benchmark current PPR.Originality/value – This paper contributes to the lit...
Analysis of windshear from airline flight data

Advanced analysis methods, applied to airline digital flight records and air traffic control radar tracking data, are providing new insight into atmospheric disturbances that cause serious operating problems for aircraft. Reviewed in this paper are performance-based methods for determining unmeasured flow angles and the possible influence of rain on lift and drag, and a state estimation procedure for determining winds along the flight path. The methods are applied to data records from the Delta Airlines flight 191 windshear accident at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport, Aug. 2, 1985, involving an L-1011 airliner on final approach. The results indicate that the aircraft encountered a strong downflow that exceeded 40ft/s along with a headwind-to-tailwind change that exceeded 100 ft/s. The outflow near the ground was accompanied by large, rapid changes in vertical wind, consistent with the presence of imbedded vortices. Although rain was present in the "downburst," the analysis showed no evidence of rain causing a loss in aircraft performance.
Late Archaic Subsistence in the Midwestern United States

Analysis of the strontium content of bone samples from three Late Archaic period cemeteries in the Midwestern United States is used to reconstruct prehistoric human diets. Deer bone is used as a baseline for the comparison of spatially-disparate locations in Wisconsin and Ohio. Results from the analyses provide objective estimates of the composition of human diet in the Late Archaic and a perspective on regional variation.
OTC polyethylene glycol 3350 and pharmacists' role in managing constipation

Objectives To define constipation, assess the pharmacist's role in identifying and treating constipation, and review clinical evidence for the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 (MiraLAX—Merck Consumer Care), an osmotic laxative now available over the counter (OTC), across a variety of patient populations routinely encountered in pharmacy settings. Data sources Systematic PubMed search of the primary literature for constipation treatment guidelines and clinical trial results for PEG 3350. Data synthesis Pharmacists have a unique role in assisting patients with identifying and managing constipation. Multiple controlled clinical trials have established the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of PEG 3350 at its recommended dose of 17g once daily. On the basis of this evidence, various professional groups have recommended PEG 3350 for use in improving stool frequency and consistency in patients with constipation. PEG 3350 is approved for short-term use, including treatment of constipation caused by medications. Conclusion Pharmacists can play an important role in managing constipation with OTC agents. Compared with other available OTC agents, PEG 3350 can be recommended to patients suffering from constipation on the basis of a large body of clinical evidence supporting its efficacy and safety, as well as the high patient acceptance shown for its palatability and once-daily dosing.
Bending strength and stiffness of wide dimension southern pine No. 2 lumber

Southern pine (Pinus spp.) trees are increasingly grown on intensively managed plantation forests that yield excellent growth. Lumber cut from these trees often contains a large percentage of juvenile wood which can negatively impact the strength and stiffness. This study was undertaken to assess the bending strength and stiffness properties of No. 2 grade lumber in the 2 × 6 (n = 86), 2 × 8 (n = 112), 2 × 10 (n = 87), and 2 × 12 (n = 53) sizes collected across the geographical range. In total 338 pieces were collected and tested. All material was re-graded as No. 2 (on-grade) prior to testing to confirm the grade. The lumber was tested in four-point bending according to ASTM D198. The study suggests that as lumber size (width) increases (2 × 6, 2 × 8, 2 × 10, and 2 × 12) the stiffness (MOE15) increases (10.1, 10.3, 11.0, 11.8 GPA, respectively). The bending strength (Fb) values for 2 × 6, 2 × 8, 2 × 10, and 2 × 12 lumber were 8.8, 8.2, 5.1, and 8.1 MPa, respectively. Overall lumber graded as No. 2 because of wane and skip had the largest stiffness, strength, and specific gravity compared to lumber graded as No. 2 due to other factors such as knots. No. 2 Prime lumber was significantly less stiff (8.5 vs. 10.9 GPa), less strong (28.3 vs. 42.1 MPa), and had lower specific gravity (0.44 vs. 0.49) than No. 2 lumber (Common). Lumber with pith was generally less stiff and strong in the 2 × 6 and 2 × 8 sizes but in 2 × 10 and 2 × 12 lumber there were no significant differences compared to lumber without pith.
A Tour of the Tour of the Hilbert-Huang Transform: An Empirical Tool for Signal Analysis

The HHT provides an alternative tool for signal analysis. Case studies in applying the HHT technique for bearing degradation monitoring and machine tool breakage detection have demonstrated its effectiveness for revealing the non-stationary and non-linear features hidden in dynamic signals. In addition to the application illustrated in this article, the HHT technique has shown to be effective in other applications, such as biomedical engineering [8], [9], system identification [10], [11], environmental monitoring [12], or financial analysis [13]. Because of its empirical nature, rigorous mathematical proof of this technique has remained an active research topic. More interesting reports are to be expected on the application of this technique for solving various types of real-world problems.
A data reconnaissance on the effect of suspended-sediment concentrations on dissolved-solids concentrations in rivers and tributaries in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Summary The Colorado River is one of the most important sources of water in the western United States, supplying water to over 35 million people in the U.S. and 3 million people in Mexico. High dissolved-solids loading to the River and tributaries are derived primarily from geologic material deposited in inland seas in the mid-to-late Cretaceous Period, but this loading may be increased by human activities. High dissolved solids in the River causes substantial damages to users, primarily in reduced agricultural crop yields and corrosion. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program was created to manage dissolved-solids loading to the River and has focused primarily on reducing irrigation-related loading from agricultural areas. This work presents a reconnaissance of existing data from sites in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) in order to highlight areas where suspended-sediment control measures may be useful in reducing dissolved-solids concentrations. Multiple linear regression was used on data from 164 sites in the UCRB to develop dissolved-solids models that include combinations of explanatory variables of suspended sediment, flow, and time. Results from the partial t -test, overall likelihood ratio, and partial likelihood ratio on the models were used to group the sites into categories of strong, moderate, weak, and no-evidence of a relation between suspended-sediment and dissolved-solids concentrations. Results show 68 sites have strong or moderate evidence of a relation, with drainage areas for many of these sites composed of a large percentage of clastic sedimentary rocks. These results could assist water managers in the region in directing field-scale evaluation of suspended-sediment control measures to reduce UCRB dissolved-solids loading.
Chronic illicit drug use, health services utilization and the cost of medical care

Abstract Few studies have examined the relationships between drug use, health services utilization and the cost of medical care for a community-based sample of drug users. The purpose of this study was to analyze recently collected data on chronic drug users (CDUs), CDUs who were also injecting drug users (IDUs) and non-drug users (NDUs) to determine whether these groups exhibited differences in health services utilization and cost. In addition to descriptive analyses, these relationships were estimated with multivariate regression models. Data were collected in 1996 and 1997 through a standardized self-reported questionnaire administered to individuals who were recruited through community outreach activities in the USA. Annual differences in health services utilization between CDUs, IDUs and NDUs were estimated for three measures: number of times admitted to a hospital, number of outpatient visits and number of emergency room episodes. Results of this study indicate that CDUs and IDUs consumed significantly more inpatient and emergency care, but less outpatient services relative to NDUs. Analyses of total health care costs showed that CDUs and IDUs each generated about $1000 in excess services utilization per individual relative to NDUs. This research is the first study to compare differences in health services utilization and cost among out-of-treatment drug users relative to a matched group of non-users in a community-based setting. The findings suggest that health care providers and managed care organizations should consider policies that promote more ambulatory care and discourage emergency room and inpatient care among drug users. Innovative and culturally acceptable approaches may be necessary to provide incentives without posing unusual financial hardship.
Environmental geochemistry of cerium: applications and toxicology of cerium oxide nanoparticles.

Cerium is the most abundant of rare-earth metals found in the Earth’s crust. Several Ce-carbonate, -phosphate, -silicate, and -(hydr)oxide minerals have been historically mined and processed for pharmaceutical uses and industrial applications. Of all Ce minerals, cerium dioxide has received much attention in the global nanotechnology market due to their useful applications for catalysts, fuel cells, and fuel additives. A recent mass flow modeling study predicted that a major source of CeO2 nanoparticles from industrial processing plants (e.g., electronics and optics manufactures) is likely to reach the terrestrial environment such as landfills and soils. The environmental fate of CeO2 nanoparticles is highly dependent on its physcochemical properties in low temperature geochemical environment. Though there are needs in improving the analytical method in detecting/quantifying CeO2 nanoparticles in different environmental media, it is clear that aquatic and terrestrial organisms have been exposed to CeO2 NPs, potentially yielding in negative impact on human and ecosystem health. Interestingly, there has been contradicting reports about the toxicological effects of CeO2 nanoparticles, acting as either an antioxidant or reactive oxygen species production-inducing agent). This poses a challenge in future regulations for the CeO2 nanoparticle application and the risk assessment in the environment.
Order selection statistical test for nonstationary AR models

A new statistical test for selecting the order of a nonstationary AR modelyk is presented based on the predictive least-squares principle. This test is of the same order as the accumulated cost function Γ n =∑ =1 (∈ * −∈ k )2;i.e., ∈* wherey k * is the predictive least-square estimate. It is constructed to show how many times the integrated AR processy k is differenced in order to obtain a stationary AR process given that the exact order of the process is unknown.
Status, Sex, and Smiling The Effect of Role on Smiling in Men and Women

Based on previous work showing that sex is a "diffuse status cue" (Berger, Rosenholtz, & Zelditch, 1980), the hypothesis that women smile more than men because of status differences between the sexes was evaluated Status was manipulated by assigning men and women to the roles of interviewer (high power) or applicant (low power) in simulated job interviews with either male or female partners. As predicted, overall, applicants smiled more than interviewers, demonstrating that smiling does reflect status. However, the sex composition of the pairs also influenced smiling frequency. Male interviewers smiled significantly less than their applicant partners, whereas female interviewers did not. The results suggest that, compared with females, males may more readily experience power and dominance as concomitants of high-status roles, which may then be reflected in the frequency of their smiling.