cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional antagonism between NF-kappaB and nuclear receptors: implications in carcinogenesis and strategies for optimal cancer chemopreventive interventions

Hyper-activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is germane to carcinogenesis by its fundamental implication in cellular de-differentiation and proliferation, the subversion of apoptosis, the promotion of neo-angiogenesis, invasive growth and metastases. Conversely, the expression of multiple nuclear receptors (NRs), arbiters of cellular differentiation, decreases with progressive carcinogenesis. This review is a conceptual discussion of evidence to support NF-kappaB as the nexus between carcinogenesis and decreased NR expression. Furthermore, it synthesizes the thesis and antithesis of NR function in carcinogenesis and expounds on the functional antagonism between NRs and NF-kappaB as a basis for the chemopreventive activity of NR ligands. Finally, strategies for optimal chemopreventive interventions with NR ligands are discussed.
Partial replacement of silica with microcrystalline cellulose in rubber composites

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was investigated to partially replace silica in rubber composites. The partial replacement of silica with MCC significantly reduced the energy required for dispersion of fillers in rubber matrix and lowered the internal temperature during the compounding. Moreover, the partial replacement of silica with MCC reduced Mooney viscosity, apparent shear stress, and apparent shear viscosity of the rubber composites, which facilitated the manufacturing process of the rubber composites. The replacement of up to 18% silica with MCC did not negatively affect the mechanical properties of the unaged and aged rubber composites. The partial replacement of silica with MCC also improved the heat resistance, did not significantly change the tan δ of rubber composites containing up to 11.8% of MCC at low temperature and decreased the tan δ of all rubber composites at high temperature. However, addition of MCC slightly decreased tear strength and hot tear strength of the rubber composites.
Grading portal gastropathy: validation of a gastropathy scoring system.

Abstract Objective The specific aim of this study was to independently evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the Baveno portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) grading system. Methods This is a prospective study of 100 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and portal gastropathy. An endoscopy was performed at entry on all subjects and on 70 patients during follow-up (median 15 months). Interobserver reproducibility was assessed by the κ statistic. Patients with PHG-related bleeding were compared with those without bleeding. The relationship of PHG-related bleeding to the PHG score was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic curve and by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Interobserver agreement about the presence of the mosaic pattern and red marks was high (κ >0.75). However, the agreement about the extent of the lesion was poorer (κ = 0.4–0.45). There was a stepwise increase in PHG-related bleeding risk with increasing PHG scores. Multiple logistic regression confirmed that the PHG score independently correlated with PHG-associated bleeding (OR = 2.5, 90% CI = 1.4–4.6, p 4), presence of gastric antral vascular ectasia, and nodular lesions in the antrum. Conclusions The PHG scoring system is reproducible and accurately reflects the risks of PHG-related bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.
A Cluster of Hypoplastic Left Heart Malformation in Baltimore, Maryland

Congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVMs) of the left side of the heart show familial recurrence of various forms of obstructive malformations, including hypoplastic left heart (HLH), interrupted aortic arch, coarctation of the aorta, and aortic stenosis. In a previous population-based study in the Baltimore-Washington region, these malformations were associated with parental reports of occupational or leisure solvent exposure, overt diabetes, and family history of CCVM in first-degree relatives. Spatial analysis in this well-characterized study population may augment self-reported data by revealing additional associations with potential environmental risk factors. We used spatial analysis to identify clusters of HLH as a group. The study population included all live-born cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosed in the first year of life between 1981 and 1989 and a random sample of unaffected infant controls matched by year and hospital of birth. The nested case-control cohort in this spatial analysis included 77 HLH cases and 1894 controls in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Nonparametric and regression analyses included personal variables from the interview data set as well as spatial variables. A region of Baltimore was identified that contained HLH at twice the expected frequency based on the distribution of population younger than 5 years of age. The region included 30 of 77 geocoded cases of HLH in the cohort and is significant by spatial scanning at p = 0.056. Within this region, male cases of HLH were disproportionately present compared to females. This cluster is in a region of Baltimore with industrial release of solvents, dioxin, and polychlorinated biphenyls in air. Outside the cluster, HLH is associated with family history of CCVM in a first-degree relative, maternal exposure to miscellaneous solvents, paternal anesthesia, maternal art painting, aspirin ingestion, and maternal diabetes. Inside the cluster, father's painting and exposure to sympathomimetic drugs were associated risk factors. Spatial analysis of HLH cases delineated an urban region with increased prevalence of this left heart malformation. Within this region, excess male cases of HLH occurred, and industrial release to air of solvents, dioxin, and polychlorinated biphenyl compounds was documented. We propose that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the phenotype of HLH.
FLAGELLAR APPARATUS STRUCTURE IS SIMILAR BUT NOT IDENTICAL IN VOLVULINA STEINII, EUDORINA ELEGANS, AND PLEODORINA ILLINOISENSIS (CHLOROPHYTA): IMPLICATIONS FOR THE “VOLVOCINE EVOLUTIONARY LINEAGE”1

The colonial and multicellular members of the Volvocales can be arranged in order of increasing size and complexity as the “volvocine series.” This series is often assumed to reflect an evolutionary progression. The flagellar apparatuses of previously examined algae are not consistent with a simple lineage. The flagellar apparatuses of Astrephomene gubernaculifera Pocock, Gonium pectorale Muller, Platydorina caudata Kofoid, Volvox rousseletii G. S. West, and V. carteri f. weismannia (Powers) Iyengar differ from one another, and there is no apparent progression inflagellar apparatus features from the simple to complex colonial forms. We examined the flagellar apparatuses of Volvulina steinii Playfair, Eudorina elegans Ehr., and Pleodorina illinoisensis Kofoid and found them to be similar to one another. The basal bodies are connected by a distal fiber that is offset to the anti side of the cell. Two microtubular rootlets originate on the inside of the basal bodies and extend toward the syn side. The other two rootlets are oriented perpendicular to the first two and are anti-parallel to each other. A coarsely striated component underlies the four-membered rootlets and extends to the basal bodies. A proximal fiber complex connects the two basal bodies. This complex consists of a branched striated component on the cis side of each basal body. One part extends toward the anti side of the cell, while the other extends into a fibrous component that runs between basal bodies. An additional structure extends in the anti direction from the trans side of each basal body. A fibrous component extends past one basal body in all four species. This component goes past the trans basal body in Volvulina steinii and the cis basal body in E. elegans and P. illinoisensis. The flagellar apparatuses of these organisms are similar to those of G. pectorale and Volvox carteri but different from the other colonial volvocalean algae examined. The algae examined in this study plus G. pectorale and V. carteri probably share a common evolutionary history that postdates the transition from the unicellular to colonial habit. Such a shared evolutionary history is a requirement of the volvocine hypothesis. However, we have not observed progressive changes in the flagellar apparatus correlated with increasing cell number, differentiation, and sexual specialization. Thus, it is possible, but not certain, that G. pectorale, Volvulina steinii, E. elegans, P. illinoisensis, and Volvox carteri may form part of a volvocine lineage.
Glucose catabolism in cancer cells: regulation of the type II hexokinase promoter by glucose and cyclic AMP

The increased glucose consumption of many tumor cells depends to a large extent on the overexpression of hexokinase Type II. In a previous study we isolated and sequenced the hepatoma Type II hexokinase promoter and showed that it is activated by glucose in the highly glycolytic AS-30D hepatoma cell line under study, but not activated in control hepatocytes [Mathupala, S.P., Rempel, A. and Pedersen, P.L. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 16918–16925]. Here we report that the promoter of the hexokinase Type II gene is maximally activated by glucose at concentrations above 5 mM. Moreover, the data strongly suggest that glucose can act alone without requirement for metabolism. Also, glucose-mediated promoter activation is markedly potentiated by cAMP. This response may serve as a strategy for cancer cells to maintain the hexokinase transcription rate high to ensure an efficient glucose utilization even under conditions where carbohydrates are limiting.
Models for simulating the fossil record

Computer modeling of the distribution of fossils within depositional sequences provides a means for generating hypotheses and increasing understanding of the fossil record. The simulation presented here joins the basin-scale stratigraphic modeling program STRATA, a random-branching model of species origination and extinction, and a model relating the probability of species occurrence to sedimentary facies. Model results indicate that facies sensitivity of species has the strongest control on range offset, i.e., the time between last appearance in a stratigraphic column and the time of extinction within a basin or the time between first appearance in a column and time of origination in a basin. Model results also predict the distribution of zones of increased range offset within depositional sequences. In the results presented here, increased range offset occurs within the transgressive systems tract of the deep basin, in far updip settings, and near the shelf break of the late highstand to early lowstand. The model also demonstrates how incompleteness of the fossil record is partitioned among sampling bias, facies bias, and unconformity bias. In this simulation, sampling bias and facies bias are roughly equal in magnitude and constant across the basin, but unconformity bias increasingly dominates over these two in updip positions.
Confounding of patch quality and matrix effects in herbivore movement studies

Although the landscape matrix is increasingly incorporated into spatial-ecological population studies, little consideration has been given to the likely possibility that patch quality is confounded with the composition of the matrix surrounding each patch. For example, the nutritional quality of host-plant patches to an herbivore may be highly correlated with matrix composition, consequently obfuscating the importance of the matrix itself to interpatch dispersal. From a literature survey of the effects of the matrix on herbivore movement among host-plant patches, we found that 55% of the studies (6/11) failed to experimentally or statistically isolate the effects of the matrix from potential patch-quality effects on dispersal. Most studies consisted of mark-recapture experiments in natural landscapes where patch equality was not controlled or manipulated. Of the few studies that evaluated the relationship between matrix composition and patch quality, all of them (3/3) found that these two landscape factors covaried. These data suggest that in most matrix studies, effects of the matrix on dispersal may be wholly, or in part, due to underlying differences in patch quality.
Crossing the border from boyhood to manhood: male youth experiences of crossing, loss, and structural violence as unaccompanied minors

Despite the immense literature that exists on the dilemmas and unjust practices surrounding migration, little has been written about the youth who make migratory journeys on their own or who are separated from their adult companions along the way. Termed ‘Unaccompanied Alien Children’ by Homeland Security, the experiences of these youth provide insight into how immigration policies are enacted and how they reflect national views on the poor and marginalised. The research discussed here covers six years of interviews and participant observation with male youth residing in shelters on both sides of the US/Mexico border at the San Diego/Tijuana corridor. The research demonstrates how state policies and perceptions of gendered male youth by both nations reinvents them as dangerous while at the same time denies them a masculine subjectivity, thereby furthering their marginalisation and assuring their failure.
The Dynamics of Pendulums on Surfaces of Constant Curvature

We define the notion of a pendulum on a surface of constant curvature and study the motion of a mass at a fixed distance from a pivot. We consider some special cases: first a pivot that moves with constant speed along a geodesic, and then a pivot that undergoes acceleration along a fixed geodesic.
Studies on biosynthesis and catabolism of insulin.

Abstract Insulin synthesis and turnover have been studied in adult and fetal pancreas tissue by using [14C] amino acids. Pancreas slices incorporated [14C]amino acids into the insulin molecule. Fetal dog pancreas tissue slices showed a small amount of net insulin synthesis but adult pancreas tissue preparations did not. A similar increase in insulin activity was observed in the incubated pH 5 enzyme-microsome system. There is a continual synthesis of insulin in pancreas tissue and the half-life of insulin is 48–72 h. High doses of cortisol depleted the pancreas of insulin activity by 60–65%. Anti-insulin serum depleted the pancreas of its insulin activity by 70–80% and mannoheptulose administration showed an accumulation of insulin in the pancreas tissue. By the combined administration of anti-insulin serum and mannoheptulose it was calculated that the 100 g rat synthesized 2–3 units of insulin daily.
Early maternal undernutrition programs increased feed intake, altered glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, and liver function in aged female offspring

Insulin resistance and obesity are components of the metabolic syndrome that includes development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes with advancing age. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis suggests that offspring of poorly nourished mothers are predisposed to the various components of the metabolic syndrome due to adaptations made during fetal development. We assessed the effects of maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation on feeding behavior, insulin and glucose dynamics, body composition, and liver function in aged female offspring of ewes fed either a nutrient-restricted [NR 50% National Research Council (NRC) recommendations] or control (C: 100% NRC) diet from 28 to 78 days of gestation, after which both groups were fed at 100% of NRC from day 79 to lambing and through lactation. Female lambs born to NR and C dams were reared as a single group from weaning, and thereafter, they were fed 100% NRC recommendations until assigned to this study at 6 yr of age. These female offspring were evaluated by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, followed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition analysis prior to and after ad libitum feeding of a highly palatable pelleted diet for 11 wk with automated monitoring of feed intake (GrowSafe Systems). Aged female offspring born to NR ewes demonstrated greater and more rapid feed intake, greater body weight gain, and efficiency of gain, lower insulin sensitivity, higher insulin secretion, and greater hepatic lipid and glycogen content than offspring from C ewes. These data confirm an increased metabolic “thriftiness” of offspring born to NR mothers, which continues into advanced age, possibly predisposing these offspring to metabolic disease.
Correlation of maternal pituitary weight with the number of uterine implantation sites in pregnant mice.

The pituitary weights of 314 pregnant mice were correlated with the number of uterine implantations at five stages during the first gestational period. Coefficient of correlation and regression coefficients established that a positive correlation exists between maternal pituitary weight and the number of implantations:—those pregnant mice with the heavier pituitary glands tend to have the larger number of implantations. The correlation exists by 6f days postcoitum and persists throughout pregnancy. Two regression analyses were performed; the first examined the influence of the number of implantation sites as the independent variable on the weight of the pituitary, and the second tested the data by reversing the ordinates. By such alternative treatment of dependent variables in the regression analysis, it was suggested that the number of implantations depends upon the weight of the pituitary and not vice versa. Thus, a one milligram increment in weight of the pituitary gland was associated with a gain of 3...
In situ analyses of genome instability in breast cancer

Transition through telomere crisis is thought to be a crucial event in the development of most breast carcinomas. Our goal in this study was to determine where this occurs in the context of histologically defined breast cancer progression. To this end, we assessed genome instability (using fluorescence in situ hybridization) and other features associated with telomere crisis in normal ductal epithelium, usual ductal hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer. We modeled this process in vitro by measuring these same features in human mammary epithelial cell cultures during ZNF217-mediated transition through telomere crisis and immortalization. Taken together, the data suggest that transition through telomere crisis and immortalization in breast cancer occurs during progression from usual ductal hyperplasia to ductal carcinoma in situ.
Conversational atrial tachycardia.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3] A 63-year-old man with history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented with symptoms of dyspnea and dizziness for several weeks. Curiously, these symptoms occurred only while he was speaking. Electrocardiography revealed paroxysms of atrial
Density fluctuation spectrum of solar wind turbulence between ion and electron scales.

We present a measurement of the spectral index of density fluctuations between ion and electron scales in solar wind turbulence using the EFI instrument on the ARTEMIS spacecraft. The mean spectral index at 1 AU was found to be $\ensuremath{-}2.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06$, steeper than predictions for pure whistler or kinetic Alfv\'en wave turbulence but consistent with previous magnetic field measurements. The steep spectra are also consistent with expectations of increased intermittency or damping of some of the turbulent energy over this range of scales. Neither the spectral index nor the flattening of the density spectra before ion scales were found to depend on the proximity to the pressure anisotropy instability thresholds, suggesting that they are features inherent to the turbulent cascade.
Java/DSM: A platform for heterogeneous computing

In this paper we describe a system for programming heterogeneous computing environments based upon Java and software distributed shared memory (DSM). Compared with existing approaches for heterogeneous computing, our system transparently handles both the hardware differences and the distributed nature of the system. It is therefore much easier to program. Java is a good candidate for heterogeneous programming because of its portability. Java provides the remote method invocation (RMI) mechanism for distributed computing. However, our early experience with RMI showed that the programmer must expend significant effort on such problems as data replication and the optimization of the remote interface to improve communication efficiency. Furthermore, the need for reference marshaling is not completely eliminated by RMI's effort to facilitate the sharing of linked structures between machines. A DSM system provides a shared memory abstraction over a group of physically distributed machines. It automatically handles data communication between machines and eliminates the need for the programmer to write message-passing code. A multithreaded Java program written for a single machine will require fewer changes to run on a Java/DSM combination than with RMI. We have been implementing a JDK-1.0.2 based parallel Java Virtual Machine on the TreadMarks DSM system. Our implementation includes a distributed garbage collector and supports the Java API with very few changes. In this paper we describe our motivation and the implementation, and report our early experience with programming under both RMI and DSM. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of neutral red and light on Herpesvirus hominis type 1 in cell culture

Various concentrations of neutral red were added to monolayers of muscle-skin fibroblasts after adsorption of Herpesvirus hominis type 1. The concentration necessary to reduce plaque counts was found to be 10(-5.5) M. At the same time, the minimal toxic concentration of neutral red for muscle-skin fibroblasts was determined by the concentration that reduced the plaques of a challenge virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, that was applied after treatment with neutral red and light. The minimal toxic concentration was found to be 10(-5) M. Thus, the effective concentration of neutral red for H. hominis in tissue culture appears to be only slightly less than the minimal toxic concentration. The concentrations used for clinical trials in humans have been 10(3)-10(4) times this amount. Any observed efficacy of such treatment may be a reflection of cell toxicity.
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) safety assessment for Wireless Network after Next (WNaN) radio antennas

A SAR test methodology has been developed to provide safety assessment for the two WNaN antennas in the 900 – 6000MHz frequency band. Due to the extreme wide band of the operating frequency, three sub-bands have been devised to minimize uncertainty from the measurements caused by the deviation of the permittivity and conductivity from the target values. A software tool has been developed to adopt error correction and dielectric parameters prediction algorithms. A numerical solution using FDTD modeling is also developed to evaluate the SAR measurements.
Variable charge many-body interatomic potentials

Recent developments in reactive potentials for the simulation of complex bonding and complex chemistry are reviewed. In particular, the reactive force field and charged optimized many-body methods are two paradigms that enable atoms to autonomously determine their charge state and the nature of their local bonding environments. The capabilities of these methods are illustrated by examples involving ionic-covalent systems, a metal-covalent system, a high-k dielectric gate stack, and the interaction of water with an oxide. Prospects for future development and applications are also discussed.
Stability of elastic bars on uncertain foundations using a convex model

A method is presented for evaluating the buckling load of weightless prismatic rigid bars resting on uncertain foundations which are modeled using linear extensional elastic springs. The uncertainty in the spring elements is expressed in terms of a nonprobabilistic convex model. An ellipsoidal bound is used which defines the uncertainty of the foundation in terms of a size parameter and the deviations of the elastic spring constants from their nominal values. The size parameter represents the size of the ellipsoid and is analogous to the standard deviation magnitude in probabilistic analyses. The semiaxes of the ellipsoid are the deviations of the foundation spring constants from their nominal values and they determine the shape of the ellipsoid. A first-order analysis shows that the reduction in the buckling load, when uncertainty in the foundation's spring stiffnesses is present, is a linear function of the size parameter and a nonlinear function of the semiaxes of the uncertainty ellipsoid. For the same uncertainty in the spring elements, different reductions in the buckling load result for beams with multimode buckling.
Direct Internal Reformation and Mass Transport in the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode: A Pore‐scale Lattice Boltzmann Study with Detailed Reaction Kinetics

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) allows the conversion of chemical energy that is stored in a given fuel, including light hydrocarbons, to electrical power. Hydrocarbon fuels, such as methane, are logistically favourable and provide high energy densities. However, the use of these fuels often results in a decreased efficiency and life. An improved understanding of the reactive flow in the SOFC anode can help address these issues. In this study, the transport and heterogeneous internal reformation of a methane based fuel is addressed. The effect of the SOFC anode's complex structure on transport and reactions is shown to exhibit a complicated interplay between the local molar concentrations and the anode structure. Strong coupling between the phenomenological microstructures and local reformation reaction rates are recognised in this study, suggesting the extension to actual microstructures may provide new insights into the reformation processes.
The effect of methyl-β-cyclodextrin on the stability of Bordetella pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin

It has been demonstrated that filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) purified from Bordetella pertussis is stable on static incubation but is unstable and quickly loses HA activity when incubated with shaking. Methylβcyclodextrin (CD) was found to have a concentration-dependent stabilizing effect on FHA incubated with shaking, suggesting that the ability of CD to enhance yields of FHA in shaken cultures could be wholly or partly due to a stabilizing effect of CD on FHA. However, only weak binding of CD to FHA was demonstrated by an ultrafiltration micropartition method and binding of CD to B. pertussis cells was not related to the presence or absence of FHA on the cell surface.
Environmentally induced autoimmune diseases: potential mechanisms.

Environmental and other xenobiotic agents can cause autoimmunity. Examples include drug-induced lupus, toxic oil syndrome, and contaminated l-tryptophan ingestion. Numerous mechanisms, based on (it...
Aerosol characterization using molecular beam techniques

Abstract Molecular beam techniques are applied to measure fundamental properties of aerosol particles. An aerosol-laden gas is sampled with a microprobe or a capillary tube and drawn into a vacuum chamber, where gas molecules are pumped out and an aerosol beam is formed. A surface ionization technique is used to measure the particle number intensity in aerosol beams of alkali metal compounds (primarily potassium iodide). The particle velocity is measured by a time-offlight technique, and the particle mass is measured by electrically charging the particles and subsequently deflecting them in an electrostatic field. Velocity relaxation in a retarding gas is utilized to measure the particle size, and the electric polarizability of neutral aerosol particles is measured by deflecting them in a nonuniform electrostatic field. Particle velocities from 70 to 670 m/sec masses from 1 × 10−20 to 1 × 10−18 kg, and radii from 0.01 to 0.1 μm were measured. Anomalously low mass densities and high electric polarizabilities were observed for these particles. This work demonstrates that aerosol beam techniques are potentially valuable tools for fundamental studies of aerosol particles.
Limitations and Recommended Practice In the Use of Compression and Leak-Down Tests to Monitor Gradual Engine Degradation

Compression and leak-down tests are frequently used to identify and diagnose failed engine power cylinders. It is also often desirable in research and testing programs to use these tests to monitor incremental changes in cylinder leakage. This paper investigates whether these tests are adequate in their present form to monitor incremental changes in cylinder leakage. Results are presented from two vehicle fleets at two test sites. Compression and leak-down tests were conducted on these fleets periodically during a mileage accumulation study. The results were used to establish the variability inherent in the compression and leak-down test processes. Comparisons between the results at the initial mileage test for the study vehicles with those at the final mileage test are shown to be largely within the uncertainty established for repeat assessments. The relative overlap in the magnitude of leakage changes and measurement uncertainty shows that the leak-down and compression tests are not useful in their present forms for monitoring incremental changes in engine leakage. Recommendations for reducing the variability of the leak-down test, perhaps making it useful for future studies, are presented.
Mining Change Logs and Release Notes to Understand Software Maintenance and Evolution

Software change logs and release notes are documents released together with new versions of a software product. They contain the de scription of the changes made to the previous version and the new features introduced in the new version. In this paper, we present a keyword- based approach to mining and analyzing non-source code documents and define a mathematical framework to represent the data. This approach is a pplied in the study of the change logs of Linux and the release notes of FreeBSD. The results show that the software maintenance process and evolution process share some common properties and the keyword-based text mining technique could be used as a systematic method to s tudy software maintenance and evolution.
Shared Decision Aids: Increasing Patient Acceptance of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

Unintended pregnancies are an important public health issue. Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARCs) are reliable, safe, highly effective methods for most women; however they are underutilized in the United States. Shared decision aids were added to usual care in five public health family planning clinics in the Southeastern United States, staffed by advance practice nurses and registered nurses. All five sites showed an increase in the use of LARCs during the time period that shared decision aids were used (results statistically significant to p < 0.001). It is important for women to make informed choices about contraception, and shared decision aids can be utilized to support this decision making. This resource has been adopted for statewide use in all public health clinics, and implications for practice suggest that the use of shared decision aids is an effective method to support informed patient decision making and acceptance of LARC methods of contraception.
Pilot study: incorporation of pharmacogenetic testing in medication therapy management services

Aim: To describe the rationale and design of a pilot study evaluating the integration of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing into pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management (MTM). Study rationale: Clinical delivery approaches of PGx testing involving pharmacists may overcome barriers of limited physician knowledge about and experience with testing. Study design: We will assess the addition of PGx testing to MTM services for cardiology patients taking three or more medications including simvastatin or clopidogrel. We will measure the impact of MTM plus PGx testing on drug/dose adjustment and clinical outcomes. Factors associated with delivery, such as time to prepare and conduct MTM and consult with physicians will be recorded. Additionally, patient interest and satisfaction will be measured. Anticipated results: We anticipate that PGx testing can be practically integrated into standard a MTM service, providing a viable delivery model for testing. Conclusion: Given the lack of evidence of an effective PGx delivery models, this study will provide preliminary evidence regarding a pharmacist-delivered approach.
Eye movements under various conditions of image fading

Under normal viewing conditions, the image on the retina is always in motion. Images fade and may eventually disappear when the physiological motion of the retinal stimulus is reduced or eliminated. According to a widespread theory, microsaccades are responsible for maintaining visibility during fixation. However, while it is clear that the sudden changes in visual input caused by microsaccades are sufficient to restore visibility, it has long been questioned whether this effect might be an epiphenomenon, rather than an important function of microsaccades. In this study, we compared the eye movements measured under conditions that either simulated or induced loss of visibility to those recorded when fading did not occur. Both drifts and microsaccades were unaffected by changes in the stimulus contrast and bandwidth that recreated the percept experienced during image fading. Under retinal stabilization, a condition in which observers reported fading, microsaccade rates decreased, instead of increasing as predicted by the fading prevention hypothesis. While image fading had no influence on oculomotor activity, eye movements were instead strongly modulated by the onset of the stimulus and by the requested precision of fixation. Microsaccades occurred more frequently and were more corrective for preceding drifts during accurate fixation on a cue than during relaxed fixation on a region of the screen. These results do not support a causal relationship between image fading and microsaccade production and show that the precision of required fixation is a major contributor to microsaccades.
Parameter sensitivity analysis of IL-6 signalling pathways

Signal transduction pathways generally consist of a large number of individual components and have an even greater number of parameters describing their reaction kinetics. Although the structure of some signalling pathways can be found in the literature, many of the parameters are not well known and they would need to be re-estimated from experimental data for each specific case. However it is not feasible to estimate hundreds of parameters because of the cost of the experiments associated with generating data. Parameter sensitivity analysis can address this situation as it investigates how the system behaviour is changed by variations of parameters and the analysis identifies which parameters play a key role in signal transduction. Only these important parameters need then be re-estimated using data from further experiments. This article presents a detailed parameter sensitivity analysis of the JAK/STAT and MAPK signal transduction pathway that is used for signalling by the cytokine IL-6. As no parameter sensitivity analysis technique is known to work best for all situations, a comparison of the results returned by four techniques is presented: differential analysis, the Morris method, a sampling-based approach and the Fourier amplitude sensitivity test. The recruitment of the transcription factor STAT3 to the dimer of the phosphorylated receptor complex is determined as the most important step by the sensitivity analysis. Additionally, the desphosphorylation of the nuclear STAT3 dimer by PP2 as well as feedback inhibition by SOCS3 are found to play an important role for signal transduction.
No bull, no spin: a comparison of tags with other forms of user metadata

User-contributed tags have shown promise as a means of indexing multimedia collections by harnessing the combined efforts and enthusiasm of online communities. But tags are only one way of describing multimedia items. In this study, I compare the characteristics of public tags with other forms of descriptive metadata'titles and narrative captions'that users have assigned to a collection of very similar images gathered from the photo-sharing service Flickr. The study shows that tags converge on different descriptions than the other forms of metadata do, and that narrative metadata may be more effective than tags for capturing certain aspects of images that may influence their subsequent retrieval and use. The study also examines how photographers use peoples' names to personalize the different types of metadata and how they tell stories across short sequences of images. The study results are then brought to bear on design recommendations for user tagging tools and automated tagging algorithms and on using photo sharing sites as de facto art and architecture resources.
A detailed study of the substrate specificity of a chimeric restriction enzyme

Recently, the crystal structure of the designed zinc finger protein, DeltaQNK, bound to a preferred DNA sequence was reported. We have converted DeltaQNK into a novel site-specific endonuclease by linking it to the Fok I cleavage domain (FN). The substrate specificity and DNA cleavage properties of the resulting chimeric restriction enzyme (DeltaQNK-FN) were investigated, and the binding affinities of DeltaQNK and DeltaQNK-FN for various DNA substrates were determined. Substrates that are bound by DeltaQNK with high affinity are the same as those that are cleaved efficiently by DeltaQNK-FN. Substrates bound by DeltaQNK with lower affinity are cleaved with very low efficiency or not at all by DeltaQNK-FN. The binding of DeltaQNK-FN to each substrate was approximately 2-fold weaker than that for DeltaQNK. Thus, the fusion of the Fok I cleavage domain to the zinc finger motif does not change the DNA sequence specificity of the zinc finger protein and does not change its binding affinity significantly.
Computer-simulations based development of a high strain-rate, large-deformation, high-pressure material model for STANAG 4569 sandy gravel

Abstract The NATO Standard Agreement [STANAG 4569, Protection for occupants of logistics and light-armored vehicles] defines the make-up and the conditions of sandy-gravel soil which is used for testing the ability of various armor systems to provide the necessary level of protection. In this paper, an effort is made to develop a high strain-rate, large-strain, high-pressure material model for sandy gravel which can be used in transient non-linear dynamic simulations of the interactions between landmine detonation gaseous products, landmine-casing fragments and soil ejecta and the target military vehicles. The material model for sandy gravel has been developed by extending the CU–ARL sand model [Grujicic M, Pandurangan B, Cheeseman BA, Roy WN, Skaggs RR, Gupta R. Parameterization of the porous-material model for sand with various degrees of water saturation. Soil Dyn Earthquake Eng 2008;28(1):20–35] in order to include the effects of gravel particles on the equation of state, strength, failure and erosion behavior. Parameterization of the sandy gravel soil model has been done by carrying out a series of computational experiments pertaining to the deformation and fracture behavior of the two-phase (sand plus gravel) material. Experimental tests which should be carried out in order to validate the proposed model have been identified and described.
Microwave backscatter from non-Gaussian seas

Rough-surface scattering theory is applied to study microwave backscattering from seas characterized by a non-Gaussian wave-height distribution. The relationship of the geometrical optics limit of rough-surface scattering theory to the probability density of surface slopes is used to relate the coefficients of Gram-Charlier expansions, describing measured slope statistics, to the wavenumber spectra of non-Gaussian surface components. Functional forms for the spectra consistent with measured slope statistics are assumed, and the backscatter predicted by rough-surface scattering theory is compared with measured cross sections. The predicted upwind-downwind asymmetry of scattering cross sections is comparable to that observed, and a measurable dependence of cross sections on atmospheric stability is predicted.
First space shuttle payload

Preparations are being made at the Kennedy Space Center for installation of the first payload to be carried into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia during STS-2, its second test flight, now scheduled for this fall. The payload is called OSTA-1 for NASA's Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications, which is providing most of the seven experiments. It is designed to demonstrate the space shuttle's capability as an operational space platform for scientific and applications research. The experiments are concerned primarily with remote sensing of land resources, atmospheric phenomena and ocean conditions.
Variation in Positron Emission Tomography Use After Colon Cancer Resection

PET use after colon cancer resection is increasing. Further study is needed to understand the clinical value and effectiveness of PET scans and the reasons for this departure from guideline-concordant care.
Alcohol-related sexual assault: a common problem among college students.

Objective: This article summarizes research on the role of alcohol in college students' sexual assault experiences. Sexual assault is extremely common among college students. At least half of these sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, the vic- tim or both. Method: Two research literatures were reviewed: the sexual assault literature and the literature that examines alcohol's effects on ag- gressive and sexual behavior. Results: Research suggests that alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or the victim increases the likeli- hood of acquaintance sexual assault occurring through multiple path- ways. Alcohol's psychological, cognitive and motor effects contribute to sexual assault. Conclusions: Although existing research addresses some important questions, there are many gaps. Methodological limi- tations of past research are noted, and suggestions are made for future research. In addition, recommendations are made for college prevention programs and policy initiatives. (J. Stud. Alcohol, Supplement No. 14: 118-128, 2002)
Lymphocyte Adhesion-dependent Calcium Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) can undergo dramatic phenotypic and functional alterations in response to humoral and cellular stimuli. These changes promote endothelial participation in the inflammatory response through active recruitment of immune effector cells, increased vascular permeability, and alteration in vascular tone. In an attempt to define early events in lymphocyte-mediated EC signaling, we investigated cytosolic-free calcium (Ca2+) changes in single, Fluo-3-labeled human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), using an ACAS interactive laser cytometer. Of all lymphocyte subsets tested, allogeneic CD3-, CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells uniquely elicited oscillatory EC Ca2+ signals in cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1- or tumor necrosis factor [TNF])-treated ECs. The induction of these signals required avid intercellular adhesion, consisted of both Ca2+ mobilization and extracellular influx, and was associated with EC inositol phosphate (IP) generation. Simultaneous recording of NK and EC Ca2+ signals using two-color fluorescence detection revealed that, upon adhesion, NK cells flux prior to EC. Lymphocyte Ca2+ buffering with 1,2-bis-5-methyl-amino-phenoxylethane-N,N,N'-tetra-acetoxymethyl acetate (MAPTAM) demonstrated that lymphocyte fluxes are, in fact, prerequisites for the adhesion-dependent EC signals. mAb studies indicate that the beta 2 integrin-intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 adhesion pathway is critically involved. However, ICAM-1 antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of IL-1-mediated ICAM-1 hyperinduction had no effect on EC Ca2+ signaling in lymphocyte-EC conjugates, indicating that additional cytokine-induced EC alteration is required. These experiments combine features of lymphocyte-endothelial interactions, intercellular adhesion, EC cytokine activation and transmembrane signaling. The results implicate the IP/Ca2+ second messenger pathway in EC outside-in signaling induced by cytotoxic lymphocytes, and suggest that these signals may play a role in EC alteration by lymphocyte adhesion.
Redescription of the enigmatic long-tailed rat Sigmodontomys aphrastus (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) with comments on taxonomy and natural history

ABSTRACT Sigmodontomys aphrastus, the long-tailed rat, is an exceedingly rare rodent species from montane regions of Central and South America of which very little is known ecologically or systematically. It has been variously placed in the genera Oryzomys, Nectomys, and Sigmodontomys based on the five previously known specimens. Two new individuals were collected in northwestern Costa Rica's Cordillera de Tilaran. These new specimens and the other five known specimens are used to redescribe the species, detail measurements of external and cranial morphology, and compare S. aphrastus to similarly appearing sympatric species (Nephelomys albigularis and N. devius) and proposed closely related species (Sigmodontomys alfari, Mindomys hammondi, and Melanomys caliginosus). New ecological data is presented and the general knowledge of its natural history is summarized. The phylogenetic relatedness of S. aphrastus with purported sister taxa remains unresolved until combined molecular and morphological analyses ar...
The Attorney as Duellist's Friend

Lawyers help clients resolve their disputes by advocating in an adjudicative forum or by negotiating private settlements. Because courts have become more active in encouraging settlement and the costs and risks of litigation are so high, lawyers are increasingly called upon to pursue both methods of resolution simultaneously. When doing so, they are faced with two seemingly contradictory behavioral models. One model, the zealous advocate, is enshrined in the professional standards and reinforced by economic and psychological rewards for winning. The other model, the peacemaker, is promoted by the bench and bar through the professionalism and alternative dispute resolution movements. A close examination of dueling in 19th century America exposes an institution that, like modern litigation, had incorporated mechanisms to encourage settlement. The behavior of seconds under the prevailing norms of dueling reveals an alternative role model in which confrontation and conciliation can be pursued simultaneously and without contradiction. Four duels from the period provide ample evidence of this possibility. The article concludes by placing the seconds' model in the context of modern lawyering.