cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circadian patterns of stress-induced ACTH secretion are modified by corticosterone responses

To test whether there is a circadian rhythm in the ACTH response to stress, young female rats were exposed to a variety of ACTH-releasing stimuli at 0600 and 1800 h and changes in circulating ACTH and corticosterone were measured. The results of these experiments suggested that after the high intensity stimuli of laparotomy with intestinal traction or 250 mug histamine ip/100 g BW, the morning ACTH response was greater than the evening response. However, the ACTH response to ip saline was greater in the evening in one experiment and greater in the morning in a second experiment. Plasma corticosterone responses were faster and greater in the morning in the first experiment and in the evening in the second experiment. The ACTH response to 125 mug histamine ip/100 g BW was greater in the evening and the change in corticosterone was greater in the morning. Thus, after low intensity stimuli, the ACTH responses appeared to depend on both the lag time prior to the corticosterone response, and its magnitude. To test this possibility, rats were adrenalectomized and the ACTH response was measured 7.5 and 15 min after the start of surgery and after injection with either 2% EtOH-saline, or 50 mug corticosterone at operation, or with 30 mug corticosterone at 5 min. Compared with ACTH levels in rats treated with vehicle, ACTH levels were decreased 7.5 min after 50 mug corticosterone at operation (P less than 0.01), but not after 30 mug corticosterone at 5 min. ACTH levels were slightly reduced 10 min after 30 mug corticosterone at 5 min compared with those of rats injected with vehicle at operation (P less than 0.05). These results are consistent with the interpretation that corticosterone secretion modifies stress-induced ACTH secretion via the fast-feedback effect. Comparison of the ACTH responses to acute adrenalectomy plus injection with EtOH-saline at 0600 and 1800 h demonstrated that, in the absence of a corticosterone response to the stress, the ACTH response is greater in the morning that in the evening (P less than 0.01). Finally, this group of experiments suggests strongly that the responsivenss of rat adrenal glands to ACTH increases markedly between 0600 and 1800 h.
Sylvatic plague reduces genetic variability in black-tailed prairie dogs.

Small, isolated populations are vulnerable to loss of genetic diversity through inbreeding and genetic drift. Sylvatic plague due to infection by the bacterium Yersinia pestis caused an epizootic in the early 1990s resulting in declines and extirpations of many black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in north-central Montana, USA. Plague-induced population bottlenecks may contribute to significant reductions in genetic variability. In contrast, gene flow maintains genetic variability within colonies. We investigated the impacts of the plague epizootic and distance to nearest colony on levels of genetic variability in six prairie dog colonies sampled between June 1999 and July 2001 using 24 variable randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Number of effective alleles per locus (ne) and gene diversity (h) were significantly decreased in the three colonies affected by plague that were recovering from the resulting bottlenecks compared with the three colonies that did not experience...
A Mathematical Programming Approach to Schedule Master Slab Casters in the Steel Industry

This paper examines an important scheduling problem resulting from a new process for continuously casting steel. A master slab caster produces slabs which are wider than customer needs, and therefore, these must be ripped longitudinally at least once before they can be processed to a customer-specified width. The purpose of this research is to develop an effective and efficient algorithm for combining customer sizes in order to economically schedule the ripping process. Such a solution procedure could be used to assist decision-makers in selecting master slab widths for production and in designing width limitations for future casters. The method entails more than the minimization of trim loss because other costs are relevant. Mathematical programming is used to arrive at an optimal or near-optimal solution to this production management problem. The results indicate that the procedure described in this paper reduces to total costs dramatically.
Domain morphology in polyurethanes

Abstract The domain morphology of a polyurethane has been visualized by dark field electron microscopy. Ageing of both as-cast and drawn films results in an increase in size and perfection of the soft segment domains over an extended period of time. Annealing taut drawn films above the melting point of the soft segment results in a complete rearrangement of the morphology. The dark field studies are supplemented by electron microscopic observations of replicas and stained samples and correlated with corresponding changes in physical properties.
Wnt Signaling: Multiple Pathways, Multiple Receptors, and Multiple Transcription Factors

Signaling pathways are an ever present force in every animal’s life. During development, these pathways provide critical cell-cell communication required to coordinate the activities of vast numbers of cells. In adulthood, similar communication mechanisms are utilized to achieve tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Regulation of signaling is crucial; too much or too little activity from a given signal transduction pathway can cause devastating results such as developmental defects or, later in life, disease. The Wnts comprise a large family of highly conserved growth factors that are responsible for important developmental and homeostatic processes throughout the animal kingdom (for a more comprehensive review see Ref. 1). Their implication in a wide array of developmental events and human diseases has made Wnts and their signaling pathways the subject of intense investigation over the last two decades. This has never been truer than in the past few years, when the association of Wnt signaling with stem cell fate has added fuel to an already active field. Membership in the Wnt family is defined by amino acid sequence rather than functional properties. It is therefore not too surprising that Wnts have been associated with a number of different activities and downstream signaling pathways. Although the majority of work in the field to date has focused on -catenin-dependent, or canonical, Wnt signaling, examples continue to accumulate in which Wnts and/or other key components of the canonical signaling cascade participate in -catenin-independent processes (reviewed in Ref. 2). In this review, we will focus largely on the canonical pathway, paying particular attention to recent insights. We will then touch on some developments in -catenin-independent signaling and discuss some issues that may be important to all Wnts, regardless of the signal they generate.
Management of rheumatic diseases during pregnancy.

AbstractSystemic rheumatic diseases commonly affect women during the childbearing years. Many women with these diseases may be contemplating pregnancy or discover an inadvertent pregnancy, leading to concerns regarding medication use, changes in disease activity during pregnancy, safety of lactation, and future ability to care for a child given the presence of chronic illnesses. There are outstanding reviews that summarize the safety and use of immunosuppressive medications during pregnancy. However, in addition to medication use, providers need to be aware of the available data regarding fertility, pregnancy outcomes, delivery, and lactation issues that may be specific to individual diseases. Optimally, women should plan pregnancies to occur around times of disease quiescence, several months after potentially teratogenic medications have been discontinued. The course of the underlying rheumatic disease during pregnancy is variable, and there are no specific clinical or laboratory variables that consisten...
"Course is team taught": dimensions of difference in classroom pedagogy.

SUMMARY We report on students' response to kinds of difference in the classroom as we have assessed it in our personal experience as a same-sex, mixed race, leftist couple team teaching in two disciplines and at five separate schools over a number of years. We argue that students are more accepting of differences arising out of sexual preference and race and most resistant to differences arising out of class, especially poverty.
The effect of surface tension (Kelvin effect) on the equilibrium radius of a hygroscopic aqueous aerosol particle

Abstract The effect of surface tension (the Kelvin effect) on the equilibrium radius of an aqueous solution drop at fractional relative humidity h less than unity is analyzed mathematically. Expressions for the lowest-order corrections to the equilibrium radius and radius ratio (relative to the volume-equivalent dry radius r dry ) due to the Kelvin effect are presented and compared with data for solution drops of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride. To lowest order the decrease in equilibrium radius resulting from the Kelvin effect is independent of the amount of solute in the drop and is approximated to good accuracy by Δ r / nm = - ( h / 3 ) / ( 1 - h ) , with only weak dependences on solute and temperature. The importance of the Kelvin effect on drop radius is further quantified in several ways. The value of the volume-equivalent dry radius below which the Kelvin effect results in more than a 5% decrease in the equilibrium radius of a solution drop at given h is approximately r dry , 5 % / nm = 8 h / ( 1 - h ) 2 / 3 . The decrease in the hygroscopic growth factor g of an aqueous solution drop between a low relative humidity and h = 0.9 resulting from the Kelvin effect is given approximately by Δ g = - ( 3 nm ) / r dry , again with only weak dependences on solute and temperature. These approximations compare well with measurements of growth factors of ammonium sulfate solution drops for dry radius as low as 10 nm. These findings, all of which are presented for fractional relative humidity as the independent variable, allow the magnitude of the Kelvin effect and its consequences on the properties of an aqueous solution drop to be readily assessed.
A group counseling experience with the very old

Abstract The authors describe a group counseling experience using a modified remotivation and structured reminiscence format with six elderly female nursing home residents (ages 85—99). Much has happened in the area of group counseling for the elderly since Freud (1905) and Abraham (1949) espoused the futility of and lack of value inherent in psychotherapy of any kind for the aged. According to these analysts, the development of insight, the critical factor involved in psychoanalytic personality change, was not likely to occur in the elderly due to their presupposed, rigidity and interpersonal withdrawal. This myth that the elderly are resistant to change, combined with many therapists' lack of experience with this age group and a consequent lack of familiarity with relevant treatment modalities, seems to have kept counseling of the elderly at a “developmental standstill” for years.
The Effectiveness-NTU Relationship of Microchannel Counter Flow Heat Exchangers With Axial Heat Conduction

In this paper the effect of axial heat conduction on the thermal performance of a microchannel heat exchanger with non-adiabatic end walls is studied. The two ends of the wall separating the coolant are assumed to be subjected to boundary condition of the first kind. As the end walls are not insulated heat transfer between the microchannel heat exchanger and its surroundings occur. Analytical equations have been formulated for predicting the axial temperature of the coolants and the wall as well as for determining the effectiveness of both fluids. The effectiveness of the fluids has been found to depend on the NTU, axial heat conduction parameter and end wall temperatures. The heat transfer through the end walls have been expressed in nondimensional terms. The nondimensional heat transfer from both ends of the wall also depends on the axial heat conduction parameter and temperature gradient at the end walls. A new parameter, performance factor, has been proposed for comparing the variation in effectiveness due to axial heat conduction coupled with heat transfer with the effectiveness without axial heat conduction. The effectiveness of both the hot and cold fluid for several cases of end wall temperatures and axial heat conduction parameter are analyzed in this paper for better understanding of heat transfer dynamics of microchannel heat exchangers.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Alignment Design For A Cryogenic Telescope

This paper describes the alignment approach for the infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) optical subsystem from initial design to acceptance testing. The constraints imposed by the requirement of maintaining alignment at 300K and 2K, in a 1-g and 0-g gravitational field, during warm and cold vibration, and during various stages of assembly, are discussed. The paper concludes with the methodology of applying NASTRAN finite element analyses to the alignment design, followed by the verification of the accuracy of the design with the test results.
Structure-activity and dose-response relationships in the neural and behavioral teratogenesis of retinoids

The therapeutic use in the human teratogenic range of retinoid compounds (Accutane; Tigason) for the treatment of dermatologic disorders has refocused attention on the teratogenicity of vitamin A-related compounds. This article reviews rodent data on three retinoids: vitamin A (retinol), all-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin), and 13-cis retinoic acid (isotretinoin) with respect to effects on central nervous system (CNS) malformations and postnatal death, growth reduction, and behavioral dysfunction. All three retinoids have been shown to effect these endpoints in a dose-dependent manner whereby smaller doses are necessary to produce each consecutive endpoint at the same stage of gestation. Whereas gestation days (GD) 8-10 are the most sensitive for the induction of gross CNS malformation, GD 11-13 appear most sensitive in effecting postnatal endpoints in rats with normal gross morphology. With respect to structure-activity relationships, retinol appears to have less than 1/4 the potency of all-trans retinoic acid, and isotretinoin may have much less than 1/8 the potency of all-trans retinoic acid in disrupting development with respect to all endpoints. The systematic relationships across endpoints argue for common controlling variables. For these retinoids, all-trans retinoic acid and its metabolites are proposed as the active agents of developmental toxicity.
Behavioral characteristics of rats experiencing chronic zinc deficiency

Abstract Adult rats chronically deprived of dietary zinc do not behave as “hippocampal” animals despite evidence that the deficiency alters the electrophysiological properties of normally zinc-rich hippocampal mossy fibers. The behavioral characteristics of these animals differed from controls and were substantially parallel to those reported for animals with excess glucocorticoids. Since zinc deficiency has been reported to produce a hyperadrenal condition this raises the possibility that the behavioral abnormalities that accompany zinc deficiency may be mediated largely by alterations in production and/or utilization of glucocorticoids.
Death in the Family: Implications for Family Development.

This article attempts to integrate concepts from psychoanalytic literature on parent loss with concepts from family literature in order to demonstrate their compatibility. A case is described that suggests that family treatment for this patient population provides the optimal opportunity for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment planning. The patient and family were treated by one of the authors. The other author served as supervisor and consultant.
Designing water balance covers for sustainable waste containment: transitioning state-of-the-art to state-of-the-practice.

This paper describes key steps in the design process for water balance covers using a case history at a municipal solid waste landfill in Missoula, Montana, USA as an example. The intent is to illustrate how state-of-the-art concepts can be applied in the state-of-the-practice. The process begins by understanding the design objective (including regulatory requirements) and investigating lines of evidence indicating that a water balance cover is likely to function satisfactorily at the design location. Data from two other instrumented water balance covers in the region are used to evaluate efficacy along with historical meteorological data and information contained in a prior unsuccessful submittal for a water balance cover at the Missoula landfill. Site characterization is conducted to define properties of the soil resources and vegetation at the site for preliminary cover sizing and numerical modeling of the water balance. A numerical model is used with various design metrological conditions as input to evaluate whether the cover will meet the design goal under realistic conditions. The final design consists of a monolithic cover comprised of a 1.22-m storage layer overlain by a 0.15-m topsoil layer. A field test with a fully instrumented lysimeter was constructed and monitored to confirm that the cover performs as anticipated in the design.
Religious Institutions and Political Participation in America

Previous research on religious institutions and political participation finds that churches can increase participation among their members through the development of civic skills and the distinct political histories of religious traditions. This paper examines the various ways religious institutions promote the political participation of their members. We utilize the 1990 Citizen Participation Study to test seven hypotheses about the connections between religious institutions and political participation. We find, contrary to previous work, that church-gained civic skills and religious tradition do not directly affect political participation among those currently active in religious institutions. Rather, churches bring their parishioners more effectively into the political process through the recruitment of members to politics and when members come to see their church activity as having political consequences.
Uredinales of Porto Rico based on collections by H H Whetzel and E W Olive.

(1917). Uredinales of Porto Rico Based on Collections by H. H. Whetzel and E. W. Olive. Mycologia: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 55-104.
Developing SAGAT Probes to Evaluate Blind Individuals' Situation Awareness when Traveling Indoor Environments

Assessing a user's situation awareness can provide a great way to learn about the user's mental model when performing related tasks. Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) is one widely accepted measure to objectively capture a user's SA. In this work, we present our developed SAGAT probes to assess the situation awareness of blind individuals during indoor travel tasks. This work is part of our ongoing work to develop an objective method to facilitate blind travelers' situation awareness when traveling unfamiliar indoor environments. We present examples of our probes that were derived from our previously developed situation awareness requirements. Also, we briefly illustrate pilot study results with blindfolded participants.
The thermal decomposition of ammonium hexafluorogallate and ammonium hexafluoroindate. New crystalline forms of gallium fluoride and indium fluoride

Ammonium hexafluorogallate, (NH4)3GaF6, and ammonium hexafluoroindate, (NH4)3InF6, occur in two polymorphic forms, a low temperature tetragonal and a high temperature cubic form, which transform reversibly. They decompose on heating with an initial loss of 2 moles of ammonium fluoride, forming ammonium tetrafluorogaIlate, NH4GaF4, and ammonium tetra fluoroindate, NH4InF4. Further heating results in the gradual loss of ammonium fluoride; the final decomposition products are γ-gallium fluoride and γ-indium fluoride, new crystalline forms. These convert on further heating to the common hexagonal forms of the trifluorides. The structural relationship of the compounds are discussed and compared with those of the aluminum analogs.
The Nrf2 activator tBHQ inhibits T cell activation of primary human CD4 T cells

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates a battery of antioxidant, detoxification, and cell stress genes. It is activated by oxidative stress and a number of exogenous compounds, one of which is tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a widely used food preservative. Nrf2 modulates immune responses in numerous rodent models of inflammation, but its effects on human immune cells are not well characterized. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate the effects of the Nrf2 activator tBHQ on early events of T cell activation in primary human cells. Treatment with tBHQ induced mRNA expression of the Nrf2 target genes HMOX-1, GCLC, and NQO1, and also increased NRF2 mRNA expression, albeit to a lesser extent than the other target genes. tBHQ decreased production of the cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ at both the protein and mRNA levels after stimulation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to an even greater extent in isolated CD4 T cells. Likewise, tBHQ decreased induction of CD25 and CD69 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and this decrease was even more marked in isolated CD4 T cells. In addition, tBHQ inhibited induction of NFκB DNA binding in anti-CD3/anti-CD28-activated PBMCs. Collectively, these data suggest that tBHQ inhibits activation of primary human CD4 T cells, which correlates with activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NFκB DNA binding. Although these studies suggest the food additive tBHQ negatively impacts T cell activation, further studies will be needed to fully elucidate the effect of tBHQ on human immune responses.
Catalylic transformations of thiiranes by the W(CO){sub 5} grouping. A new route to cyclic polydisulfides

This paper reports some interesting new transformations of thiirane, 2(R),3(S)-dimethylthiirane (cis-DMT), and 2(R),3(R)(2(S), 3(S))-dimethylthiirane (trans-DMT) by the W(CO){sub 5} group. The reaction of an excess of thiirane with W(CO){sub 5}-(NCMe) leads to the formation of the cyclic polydisulfides (CH{sub 2}-CH{sub 2}SS){sub n}, 1-4, n = 2-5 plus ethylene catalytically. The case of this new catalytic thiirane reaction indicates that it could be a practical route for the synthesis of large quantities of these and other cyclic polydisulfides. 17 refs., 1 fig.
Late hemorrhagic cystitis following low-dose cyclophosphamide therapy

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a recognized acute complication of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) therapy in the treatment of malignant disease. More recently, lower dose, long-term cyclophosphamide therapy has been used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. In 3 patients hemorrhagic cystitis developed after long-term cyclophosphamide therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Even in low dosage, this drug may cause hemorrhagic cystitis.
A Study of Direct Distance Estimations to Familiar Objects in Real-Space, Two-Dimensional, and Stereographic Displays

Stereographic displays are being considered or are under development for a variety of military and civilian applications in which the visual simulation of depth is of prime importance. A study comparing direct distance estimations to familiar objects under impoverished stimulus conditions from a real-space setting and 2- and 3-dimensional rear-projected color photographic displays was conducted to determine their relative merits in providing absolute depth information. Results indicated similar utility among the displays employed for the experimental task. However, observers rated their confidence in making distance estimations highest for the stereographic display. Some theoretical implications and methodological problems are discussed.
Cation partitioning versus temperature in spinel: optimization of site occupants

Pavese et al. (1999) examined cation partitioning vs. temperature in a synthetic spinel of composition (Mg0.70 Fe0.233+) Al1.97 O4 using structure data obtained from in situ neutron powder diffraction. After imposing assumptions on the site assignment of vacancies and Fe3+, they assigned the remaining cations by applying least-squares minimization to chemical constraints on site-occupancy sums, site-scattering, chemical composition, and thermal expansion of the octahedral site. Their proposed site assignments exhibit a sharp discontinuity in occupancy fractions versus temperature, a necessary consequence of their assumptions on vacancy assignments. In this paper we reexamine the cation partitioning of the same spinel using the constrained least-squares formulation of OccQP (Wright et al. 2000), which optimizes site occupancies without ad hoc assumptions. We obtain strikingly different results, supporting the general view that spinel undergoes a lambda transition at ∼1000 K. For all observed parameters, the residuals obtained with the OccQP assignments are lower than those obtained with the Pavese et al. assignments, in some cases by more than 1 order of magnitude.
Suppression of neophobia by chlorpromazine in wild rats.

Three experiments investigating the effects of chlorpromazine on the neophobia of wild rats are reported. In a laboratory test, treatment with chlorpromazine facilitated consumption from a novel food source and mitigated the decrease in consumption from a familiar food source when novel stimuli were introduced. In the first field test, treatment with chlorpromazine increased trapping success. In the second field test, treatment with chlorpromazine increased trapping success and mitigated the suppression in consumption from a familiar bait box that usually occurs when traps are set out. A second laboratory test showed that the results of the three preceding experiments were not due to the enhanced preference for sweet-tasting substances caused by the chlorpromazine. Several implications and potential uses of the techniques employed are discussed.
Ovid and Poliziano in exile

This paper examines how the Renaissance poet and scholar Angelo Poliziano draws on Ovid's Tristia, Ibis, and Epistulae ex Ponto to shape his own experiences as a “poet of exile” during a six-month period of self-imposed absence from Florence in 1479–80. In four Latin epigrams, the Sylva in scabiem, and a lengthy letter of apology from the Gonzaga court in Mantua Poliziano appeals to his patron, Lorenzo de’ Medici, to call him back to Florence. Poliziano’s appeals to Lorenzo invoke Ovid’s appeals from exile to the Roman emperor Augustus, who becomes in turn a model for a Renaissance ruler well aware of the importance of historical precedent. In appealing thus to his patron to have himself restored to Florence, Poliziano also lays claim to a powerful poetical exemplum in the figure of Ovid.
The role of glycine in the biosynthesis of steroids.

Wahrend der Biosynthese von Cholesterol mit homogenisierter Rattenleber wird [2-14C] des Glycins viel besser eingebaut als [1-14C].Saccharomyces cerevisiae produziert radioaktives Squelen (ausser Ergosterol mit Radioaktivitat des Ringsystems) mit [2-14C] Glycin und mit [3-14C] Serin, aber nicht mit [1-14C] Glycin.
Effect of reduction of nitric oxide on plasma and kidney tissue angiotensin II levels

Abstract Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockade increases blood pressure (BP) and modifies glomerular and tubular function. Angiotensin II (AII) blockade restores glomerular and tubular function but does not lower BP. We measured plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma (AIIp), and kidney tissue (AIIk) AII with radioimmunoassay to investigate the dissociation between renal and systemic effects of NOS blockade. Two period clearance studies followed by plasma and renal tissue harvesting were performed in seven groups of rats. Groups 1 and 1A served as controls. Groups 2 and 2A received NaCl-NaHCO 3 during the first period and N G -monomethyl- l -arginine (L-NMMA, 0.5 mg/kg/min) during the second period. Group 3 was similar to group 2 but renal perfusion pressure (RPP) was maintained constant by using an aortic snare. Groups 4 and 4A received N G -nitro- l -arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 5 mg/100 mL of drinking water) for 2 weeks. NOS blockers decreased AIIp (group 1, 74 ± 7 pg/mL; group 2, 22 ± 1 pg/mL; group 3, 26 ± 1 pg/mL; group 4, 19 ± 3 pg/mL). The decrease in AIIp was a direct effect of L-NMMA independent of changes in perfusion pressure, as AIIp was similar in group 3 (normal RPP) and groups 2 and 4 (increased RPP). Measurements of PRA and AIIp demonstrated a similar reduction in PRA and AIIp in rats treated with NOS blocker. Although NOS blockers decreased AIIp, acute or chronic administration of NOS blockers did not modify AIIk (group 1, 1,192 ± 51; group 2, 1,354 ± 85; group 3, 1,348 ± 180; group 4, 1,276 ± 172 pg/kidney). Our findings demonstrate that NO blockers produce a dissociation between plasma and kidney AII levels. This dissociation can explain the beneficial effects of AII blockers on renal function and their lack of antihypertensive effects in anesthetized rats treated with NOS blockers.
Importance Sampling in Monte Carlo Ray Tracing Solutions Applied to Radiation in Hypersonic Entry Flows

A method for the application of importance sampling to wavelength selection in ray tracing Monte Carlo solvers is introduced. In this method individual lines are treated independently, and probability distribution and weighting functions are applied to individual lines. The method reduces the number of photons required to reach the same statistical precision as the standard Monte Carlo method.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Radiation sensitivity of 9l gliosarcoma cells at different oxygen pressures

Abstract Monolayer cultures of 9L gliosarcoma cells received radiation doses of 0–1750 ret at oxygen pressures ranging from 50 to 545 mmHg. Growth inhibition, which could be demonstrated in all radiated cell cultures, was most pronounced in those receiving the highest dose of radiation. There was no relationship between the radiation sensitivity of the cells and the oxygen pressure of the fluid media of the cell cultures at the time radiation was administered. Cells subjected to the lowest oxygen tensions (50–52 mmHg) did not grow whether they had received radiation or not. The technical difficulty of removing oxygen from tissue culture media is described. Possible points of significance in the findings of this study are discussed with regard to previous observations on the radiosensitivity of the 9L tumor model, current concepts in radiobiology, and implications for future studies of human tumors in cell culture.
Fertility drug use and mammographic breast density in a mammography screening cohort of premenopausal women

The widespread use of ovulation-inducing drugs to enhance fertility has raised concerns about its potential effects on breast cancer risk, as ovarian stimulation is associated with increases in estrogen and progesterone levels. We investigated the short-term relation between fertility drug use and mammographic breast density, a strong marker of breast cancer risk, among participants in the Group Health Breast Cancer Screening Program. Data linkage with Group Health automated pharmacy records identified 104 premenopausal women <50 years old who obtained a mammogram during 1996-2006, within 2 years after a fertility drug dispensing. Premenopausal nonusers of fertility drugs were matched to users by age, body mass index, age at first birth, family history of breast cancer, past use of birth control hormones, race, and education ( n = 1005). All mammograms were categorized for density according to the Breast Imaging Reporting Data System as entirely fat, scattered fibroglandular, heterogeneously dense, or extremely dense. Density in fertility drug users was equally likely as in nonusers to be rated entirely fat [odds ratio (OR), 0.83; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.18-3.71], heterogeneously dense (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.64-1.85), or extremely dense (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.48-1.78) compared with scattered fibroglandular. In analyses restricted to fertility drug users, each additional month after the date of dispensing was associated with a 13% (95% CI for the OR, 1.01-1.27) increased odds of being categorized as heterogeneously/extremely dense compared with entirely fat/scattered fibroglandular ( P = 0.04). Our results indicate no overall association between fertility drug use and mammographic density, but provide evidence that density may be lower in women more recently dispensed a fertility drug. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3128–33)
Dosing of Antihypertensive Medications in Patients with Renal Insufficiency

The use of antihypertensive agents in patients with renal insufficiency necessitates careful consideration of dosages, titration, and monitoring. Renal function must be estimated to appropriately make dosage adjustments for antihypertensives that exhibit extensive renal elimination. Thiazide diuretics are useful in mild degrees of renal insufficiency but loop diuretics become necessary as renal function deteriorates further. With either class, low dosages should be used to prevent hypovolemia, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia which may worsen renal blood flow. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have become popular because they may have unique renal protective properties. All ACE inhibitors except fosinopril require reduced dosages and/or less frequent administration in patients with renal insufficiency. It is often necessary to use a diuretic with an ACE inhibitor and special dosing considerations are important. Due to demographic and physiologic characteristics of patients with renal insufficiency, beta blockers are often reserved for patients with other indications for beta blockers such as ischemic heart disease. Several beta blockers are eliminated primarily by the kidney and dosage reductions are necessary for these agents. Calcium antagonists may also have renal protective effects. Because calcium antagonists are metabolized extensively, significant dosage adjustments are not necessary. Data suggest that antihypertensives may slow the decline in renal insufficiency. The pharmacokinetics of several antihypertensives change with renal impairment because of reduced elimination. Therefore, dosage adjustments, slower titration, and less frequent administration are often necessary.
Ductile tearing in thin aluminum panels: experiments and analyses using large-displacement, 3-D surface cohesive elements

Abstract This paper describes a large-displacement formulation for a 3-D, interface-cohesive finite element model and its application to predict ductile tearing in thin aluminum panels. A nonlinear traction–separation relationship defines the constitutive response of the initially zero thickness interface elements. Applications of the model simulate crack extension in C(T) and M(T) panels made of a 2.3 mm thick, Al 2024-T3 alloy tested as part of the NASA-Langley Aging Aircraft program. Tests of the M(T) specimens without guide plates exhibit significant out-of-plane (buckling) displacements during crack growth which necessitates the large-displacement, cohesive formulation. The measured load vs. outside surface crack extension behavior of high constraint (T-stress>0) C(T) specimen drives the calibration process of the cohesive fracture model. Analyses of low constraint M(T) specimens, having widths of 300 and 600 mm and various a/W ratios, demonstrate the capabilities of the calibrated model to predict measured loads and measured outside surface crack extensions. The models capture accurately the strong 3-D effects leading to out-of-plane buckling and various degrees of crack front tunneling in the C(T) and M(T) specimens. Previous analyses of these specimens using a crack tip opening angle (CTOA) criterion for growth show good agreement with measured peak loads. However, without the ability of the interface-cohesive model to predict tunneling behavior, the CTOA approach overestimates crack extensions early in the loading when tunneling behavior dominates the response.
Adiposity in middle-aged women is associated with genetic taste blindness to 6-n-propylthiouracil

Objective: Taste blindness to the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) may be a genetic marker for food preferences and dietary choices that ultimately influence body weight. A previous study in middle-aged women showed that those who were taste blind to PROP (i.e., nontasters) had higher BMIs than those with the greatest sensitivity to PROP (i.e., supertasters). This study tested the hypothesis that the nontaster phenotype was associated with greater adiposity in middle-aged women. Research Methods and Procedures: Forty women with a mean BMI of 26.6 ± 1.3 kg/m2 and a mean age of 41.8 ± 1.8 years were recruited from the local community. They were classified as nontasters (n = 8), medium tasters (n = 18), or supertasters (n = 14) of PROP using a filter paper screening procedure. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, body fatness, triceps skinfold thickness, and waist circumference. Dietary restraint and disinhibition were also measured to assess cognitions associated with body weight. Results: BMI was 6.2 units higher in nontaster women compared with supertaster women (29.7 ± 0.9 vs. 23.5 ± 0.9, respectively; p < 0.05). Body fatness (p < 0.01) and triceps skinfold thickness (p < 0.05) were also higher in these women. Waist circumference showed a trend in the appropriate direction. Although disinhibition was associated with greater adiposity, the relation between PROP status and adiposity was not altered after controlling for disinhibition. Discussion: The PROP nontaster phenotype was strongly associated with several measures of adiposity in middle-aged women. These data confirm our previous findings and suggest that the PROP polymorphism may be a reliable indicator of weight gain susceptibility.
Occurrence of Nigrospora Lint Rot Caused by Nigrospora oryzae on Cotton in Alabama

During 2000 and 2001, a lint rot of cotton bolls (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was reported in the coastal region of Alabama when precipitation was 55% lower than the 5-year average. Bolls at an early stage of opening contained gray mycelium within the locules. At maturity, the lint within the infected locules was discolored, and the fibers were compact resulting in the characteristic "gray lock" sign and symptom attributed to Nigrospora oryzae (Berk. & Broome) Petch. Roots, petioles, leaves, and bolls when present were sampled at the seedling, first bloom, full bloom, and maturity stages of cotton development. A total of 640 sections of tissue (approximately 5 mm2) were surface sterilized for 20 s in 95% ethanol followed by 60 s in 0.525% NaOCl and aseptically plated on potato dextrose agar. Plates were incubated in the dark at 25°C for 3 to 10 days. N. oryzae was isolated at low frequencies from all plant tissues beginning at first bloom. Developing bolls at full bloom were colonized at a frequency of 48%. N. oryzae conidiophores were branched, flexuous, and pallid to brown with smooth walls 4 to 7 (5) μm thick. Conidiogenous cells were monoblastic, single, and 6 to 9 (7.5) μm in diameter. Conidia were single, smooth, broadly ellipsoidal, dark brown to black, single-celled, and 11 to 16 (14) μm in diameter (2). Principal component analysis was used to examine the relationship between disease incidence and weather parameters. Weather data was obtained from Auburn University Mesonet located in fields where the samples were collected. Principal components from weather data were ambient and soil maximum, minimum, and average temperature, maximum, minimum, and average relative humidity and precipitation. The first principal component, which is temperature, accounted for 61% of total joint variation among original observations. The second principal component, which was related to the moisture variables, accounted for 19% of the variation. The abundance of N. oryzae was correlated with the principal component factor moisture (r = -0.78**). The dry conditions experienced in this region were conducive to N. oryzae lint rot of cotton. This disease has been reported on cotton primarily in arid climates typical of the southwestern United States (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. oryzae lint rot in the southeastern United States. References: (1) W. E. Batson. Boll rots. Pages 36-38 in: Compendium of Cotton Diseases. T. L. Kirkpatrick and C. S. Rothrock, eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. 2001. (2) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes, CAB, Kew, Surrey, England, 1971.
Liver Transplantation in Patients With Alcoholic Liver Disease

Although alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT), there are still unresolved controversies about the goals of treatment, the referral, evaluation, and selection of patients with ALD for LT, and their care after LT. It is uncertain whether there is a large unmet need for LT among patients with ALD because of the unmeasured effects of recent drinking, relapse, and recovery with abstinence in this population. A careful assessment of the extrahepatic effects of alcohol-related end-organ damage is needed for ALD patients who are referred for an LT evaluation. Although there clearly is a relationship between the length of sobriety and future abstinence, the present methods for predicting future drinking are inexact. The survival of ALD patients after LT is as good as the survival of non-ALD patients, although patients with coincident ALD and hepatitis C virus have higher mortality and morbidity rates. After LT, ALD patients have an increased risk of developing malignancies and cardiovascular disease. These risks appear to be linked to cigarette smoking. Covert drinking occurs both before and after transplantation, and approximately 20% of patients return to harmful drinking after LT. Harmful drinking after LT (instead of slips) causes liver damage and reduces survival. Better therapies for controlling addictions to alcohol and nicotine are needed for ALD patients both before and after LT.
Long-term memory guidance of visuospatial attention in a change-detection paradigm

Visual task performance is generally stronger in familiar environments. One reason for this familiarity benefit is that we learn where to direct our visual attention and effective attentional deployment enhances performance. Visual working memory plays a central role in supporting long-term memory guidance of visuospatial attention. We adapted a change detection task to create a new paradigm for investigating long-term memory guidance of attention. During the training phase, subjects viewed images in a flicker paradigm and were asked to detect between one and three changes in the images. The test phase required subjects to detect a single change in a one-shot change detection task in which they held all possible locations of changes in visual working memory and deployed attention to those locations to determine if a change occurred. Subjects detected significantly more changes in images for which they had been trained to detect the changes, demonstrating that memory of the images guided subjects in deploying their attention. Moreover, capacity to detect changes was greater for images that had multiple changes during the training phase. In Experiment 2, we observed that capacity to detect changes for the 3-studied change condition increased significantly with more study exposures and capacity was significantly higher than 1, indicating that subjects were able to attend to more than one location. Together, these findings suggest memory and attentional systems interact via working memory such that long-term memory can be used to direct visual spatial attention to multiple locations based on previous experience.
The induction of differentiation in teratocarcinoma stem cells by retinoic acid

Abstract Embryonal carcinoma cells, the stem cells of teratocarcinomas, usually undergo extensive differentiation in vivo and in vitro to a wide variety of cell types. There exist, however, several embryonal carcinoma cell lines that have almost completely lost the capacity to differentiate, so that the cells are propagated primarily as the stem cells. Using one such cell line, F9, we have found that retinoic acid at concentrations as low as 10 −9 M Induces multiple phenotypic changes in the cultures in vitro. These changes include morphological alteration at the resolution of the light microscope, elevated levels of plasminogen activator production, sensitivity to cyclic AMP compounds and increased synthesis of collagen-like proteins. The nature of these changes, as well as their independence of the continued presence of retinoic acid, are consistent with the proposition that retinoic acid induces differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells into endoderm.
Root locus for a controller class that yields quadratic gain parameterization

We present rules for constructing the root locus for a linear feedback system, where the closed-loop denominator polynomial is quadratic in the root-locus parameter k. These quadratic root-locus rules apply to a class of controllers that are rational functions of k. We provide controller design examples to demonstrate the quadratic root locus. For example, we use quadratic root locus to high-gain stabilize the triple integrator; this is not possible with classical root locus.
Towards Autonomously Predicting and Learning a Robot's Efficiency in Performing Tasks

We consider the problem of predicting and learning the efficiency of navigation tasks being performed by a robot in an initially unknown or partially known, unstructured environment. Predicting the efficiency of a task is a crucial problem in unstructured environments as it enables the robot(s) to decide whether it is feasible to perform the task under the current environment conditions and within its available resources such as battery power. This problem is non-trivial as robot's performance changes during operation based on its operational conditions, available battery change, etc. In this paper, we have addressed this problem by using a learning-based technique that the robot uses to predict its expected efficiency for performing a new task based on the task's similarity and recentness with previously performed tasks. Experimental results show that our proposed technique can successfully predict the efficiency of a task from previous task experiences and this prediction gets better with number of tasks performed. We have also shown empirically that our model is robust to changes in environmental conditions such as localization and wheel slip noise.
Rate of Hydroxypropylation of Starches as a Function of Reaction Time

To determine the course of the hydroxypropylation reaction as a function of reaction time, waxy corn, normal corn, potato, and wheat starches were reacted with propylene oxide under normal reaction conditions. Amounts of leached material and MS values of both leached and granular molecules were determined over the course of reaction. For waxy and normal corn starches, the extent of reaction increased linearly from 0 to 12 h, after which the reaction proceeded at an ever decreasing rate, reaching zero at about 30 h of reaction. The initial rate of reaction was determined by reacting waxy corn starch with a greater amount of propylene oxide (10 x normal concentration) so that there would be no slowing of the reaction due to loss of reagent. Results confirmed that the initial reaction rate was linear. The hypothesis that, as derivatization proceeds, granules are opened up, resulting in ever increasing rates of reaction was not substantiated. Amounts and MS values of leached molecules from waxy and normal corn starches increased continuously over the course of the reaction. For potato and wheat starches, MS values of the granular starch also increased continuously over the entire reaction period. Amounts of leached molecules from potato starch were greater than those from wheat starch, with the amount leached at 30 h from potato starch being slightly more than that from normal and waxy corn starches and that from wheat starch being considerably less.