cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of transient creep on fire induced instability in steel framed structures

Abstract This paper examines the influence of temperature-induced transient creep on the onset of instability in steel framed structures subjected to fire exposure. A comprehensive numerical model is developed in ABAQUS to trace the overall response of a steel framed building under fire exposure, specifically taking into account the transient creep strain that develops at elevated temperatures. The developed model is applied to conduct a parametric study on a ten-story braced steel framed building under different fire exposure scenarios. The effect of critical parameters such as the intensity and duration of fire exposure and the extent of fire spread in the building (number of compartments or floors burning) on high-temperature creep deformations that develop in the steel framed structure is evaluated. Results from the parametric study indicate that the high-temperature creep governs the stability of steel framed buildings under severe fire conditions. Fires with moderate to high fire severity (peak fire temperature exceeding 800 °C and burning for 2 h or more) are found to be more critical from the perspective of transient creep, as large creep deformations develop in steel members from exposure to high temperatures for a sustained duration. Simultaneous burning of multiple compartments in a single story is found to have the highest influence on the stability of the steel framed building, due to the high level of transient creep strains resulting from high stress levels that develop in the steel members.
BVDV Impact on Feedlot Mortality and Morbidity

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of maladies such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD), reproductive wastage amd acute enteritis. The causative role of BVDV in BRD is of greatest concern to the feedlot industry because BRD is by far the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in US feedlots. Up to 90% of morbidity and 75% of mortality is attirbutable to respiratory tract disease. More cattle are treated or die from BRD than all other conditions combined. Despite our increased understanding of its pathogenesis, universal use of vaccines, and availability of efficacious antimicrobial drugs, the proportion of placements dying from respiratory disease has increased.
Cognitive status and cardio-metabolic risk of patients with acquired brain injury and Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Background Parkinson's disease (PD) and acquired brain injury (ABI) share common symptoms. People with PD and ABI risk nutritional decline at diagnosis, but little is known about their long-term health a year or more after diagnosis. Objective This cross-sectional study describes cognitive and dietary characteristics of people living with PD or ABI 12 months or more post diagnosis to identify cardio-metabolic risk factors. Methods Twelve community-dwelling participants (8 PD, 4 ABI) received interdisciplinary evaluations. Cognitive-linguistic status was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Nutritional and cardio-metabolic statuses were measured using the dietary screening tool (DST), anthropometrics, biochemical, and clinical measures. Descriptive statistics, independent t -tests and correlations were used to analyze the data. Results Mean BMI ( n = 12) was 26.8 ± 3.0 kg/m 2 and the majority of participants were overweight. Participants with PD had significantly higher total RBANS scores than participants with ABI (87.1 ± 14.6 vs. 66.0 ± 12.6, p = 0.034, d = 2.455). DST scores indicated 58% ( N = 7) at possible nutrition risk and 25% ( N = 3) were at nutrition risk. A positive correlation was found between general activity level and DST scores ( r = 0.697, p = 0.012). Multiple risk factors for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were present in all participants. Conclusion These findings confirmed the presence of cognitive and dietary deficits in our participant group and support the need for an interdisciplinary team approach to improve health and prevent the development of symptoms for these populations a year or more after diagnosis.
Scheduling in Multiclass Networks with Deterministic Service Times

We consider general feed-forward networks of queues with deterministic service times and arbitrary arrival processes. There are holding costs at each queue, idling may or may not be permitted, and servers may fail. We partially characterize the optimal policy and give conditions under which lower priority should be given to jobs that would be delayed later in the network if they were processed now.
Subtyping Listeria monocytogenes from Bulk Tank Milk Using Automated Repetitive Element–Based PCR†

Sixty-one Listeria monocytogenes strains from raw milk were analyzed with an automated repetitive element-based PCR (rep-PCR) system to examine the utility of this system for serotype grouping and to determine whether specific regional relationships could be identified. Results of the similarity analysis revealed two primary clusters of L. monocytogenes isolates. Cluster 2 exclusively contained serogroup 1/2a isolates; however, two 1/2a isolates were also found in cluster 1. Isolates of serogroups 1/2b, 4b, 3b, and 4c were also in cluster 1. Clusters 1 and 2 were separated at a relative similarity of 86%. Listeria species other than L. monocytogenes (L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri, L. grayi, and L. innocua) had similarity scores of less than 80% in pairwise comparisons with the L. monocytogenes isolates. Thus, this method may be useful for species identification once an isolate is characterized as Listeria. When rep-PCR fingerprints of the L. monocytogenes 1/2a isolates were compared, there was no apparent regional grouping. However, discrimination between isolates suggests that the rep-PCR assay might be useful for tracking L. monocytogenes 1/2a and for tracking isolates across regions or within smaller ecological niches. The automated rep-PCR method could not discriminate between serotypes 1/2b and 4b but may be useful for discriminating between 1/2a and other serotypes and for tracking isolates within serotype 1/2a.
More on: "Doctors Must Be Healers".

It is a great privilege to host this session and to welcome such a distinguished panel and guests. I wish to commend Mr. Denbeaux and his staff for organizing this important event and keeping the spotlight on the policies and ethical principles that lie behind our current military engagements. The timely publication of Bob Woodward’s State of Denial has inspired a number of side pieces on the culture of the senior military officers and the propriety of their challenge to the direction and guidance of our civilian leadership—either within the corridors of the Pentagon or publicly. There are many examples of the unhappy consequences of the tension between decisions made by the civilian leadership and the difficulty of implementing these changes by those who have made the military a career. But nowhere in the system can the consequences be measured more dramatically in human suffering than in the area of military medicine, and the practices and policies of military health professionals. As a retired Brigadier General, a medical doctor, psychiatrist, and someone who organized military medical support for the first Gulf War, I have sustained a special interest throughout the years, and particularly during our engagement in Iraq. The publicity surrounding Abu Ghraib in 2004 and Guantanamo, even today, has raised serious questions about the actions or, more to the point, the apparent inaction of medical personnel at both of these facilities. Over time, more reports have been published on the participation of health professionals in interrogations, treatment of detainees in hunger strikes, and deaths during incarcerations. It is becoming apparent that contemporary notions of
Twilight of a hero.

At the height of his fame, he could walk past a monastery in Tibet and Buddhist monks would look up from their prayer wheels, point their bony fingers, and shout out his name. He has always been one of my heroes, not for what he did in the boxing ring (though that was magical, almost more ballet than prizefighting, at least in his early years), but for what he said and did outside of it. In the late 1960s, when, like a lot of other young men, I was trying to prove to people, including myself, that being against the Vietnam War didn't necessarily mean that you were a coward, he went to jail for refusing to be drafted into what he considered an unjust war ("No Vietcong," he said memorably, "ever called me a nigger."). With that gesture, the problem was solved. No one could ever accuse Mohammed Ali of being a coward.
PL-Tags: Detecting Batteryless Tags through the Power Lines in a Building

We present a system, called PL-Tags, for detecting the presence of batteryless tags in a building or home through the power lines. The excitation (or interrogation) and detection of these tags occurs wirelessly entirely using the powerline infrastructure in a building. The PL-Tags proof-of-concept consists of a single plug-in module that monitors the power line for the presence of these tags when they are excited. A principal advantage of this approach is that it requires very little additional infrastructure to be added to a space, whereas current solutions like RFID require the deployment of readers and antennas for triggering tags. An additional benefit of PL-Tags is that the tags are wirelessly excited using an existing phenomenon over the power line, namely electrical transient pulses that result from the switching of electrical loads over the power line. We show how these energy rich transients, which occur by simply turning on a light switch, fan, television, etc. , excite these tags and how they are detected wirelessly over the power line. We contend that the PL-Tag system is another class of potential batteryfree approaches researchers can use for building pervasive computing applications that require minimal additional infrastructure.
Apomorphine-induced vomiting in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

1. 1. The ld50 for a 7-day period following intraperitoneal injection of apomorphine-HCl was calculated to be 158 mg/kg in rainbow trout. 2. 2. Intraperitoneal injection of apomorphine at doses of 60 mg/kg or greater caused vomiting of plastic balls which had been placed in the stomachs of rainbow trout. 3. 3. Apomorphine-induced effects included vomiting, vomiting behavior, toxicity, increased respiration, impaired motor control and equilibrium, and increased aggression. 4. 4. The vomiting control mechanism of trout may be similar to that described in mammals.
A HIGH-RESOLUTION WIDE-SCREEN DISPLAY FOR SIMULATORS AND VIRTUAL REALITY

We have developed virtual worlds that run on a single personal computer and can be displayed using two outputs. A single display of the two outputs has a resolution of 3200 x 1200 pixels. The field-of-view may be as large as 120 degrees with little distortion. Frame rates are in excess of 60 per second. The common use of such high-resolution wide-screen displays in simulators and virtual reality could significantly improve the experience of participants. Such a near-photorealistic large display may enhance the believability of scenarios and raise a person’s sense of presence in the virtual experience. This may increase the sensitivity and validity of performance measures. Virtual reality application areas that could benefit from using a high-resolution wide-screen display include those used for training, education, and medical applications such as the treatment of psychological disorders. Since many driving tasks involve a large field of view, low-cost effective driving simulators can now be easily constructed. We use a driving simulator to demonstrate the use of a high-resolution wide-screen display.
Laboratory production of zirconium carbide compacts for use in inert matrix fuels

Abstract Zirconium carbide is being actively considered for use as an inert matrix material in composite nuclear fuel for gas-cooled fast reactors. ZrC can be produced either by the endothermic carbothermal reduction of zirconium dioxide or by the direct exothermic reaction of pure zirconium and graphite powder mixtures. The exothermic reaction is classified as combustion synthesis or self heating synthesis. Experiments were conducted to demonstrate the combustion synthesis reaction of zirconium and graphite powders and measure the ignition and adiabatic temperatures. The heat released during this short reaction time was sufficient only to partially sinter the compacts to less than 40% theoretical density. Subsequently, compacts of ZrC were similarly produced by combustion synthesis followed by a short, high temperature hold at 2440 °C to relieve residual stresses in the compacts following the rapid reaction sintering. External pressures of up to 5.2 MPa were used as an additional driving force for sintering. The effects of reactant particle size and degree of uniaxial pressing on the product density and porosity were also studied. Higher densities in the fabricated compacts were noted for higher uniaxial pressures irrespective of powder size. Also, smaller powder sizes produced compacts up to 92% TD, while larger particle sizes produced compacts up to 84% TD for the same pressure. The compacts were characterized based on composition, microstructure, and density/porosity. Results of the different experiments are presented.
Long-Term Aquatic Habitat Restoration: Mahogany Creek, Nevada, as a Case Study

: We compared the recovery from abusive grazing of aquatic habitat due to different range management on two geomorphically similar rangeland streams in northwest Nevada. Managers excluded livestock from the Mahogany Creek watershed from 1976 to 1990 while allowing rotation of rest grazing on its tributary Summer Camp Creek. Bank stability, defined as the lack of apparent bank erosion or deposition, improved through the study period on both streams, but periodic grazing and flooding decreased stability more on Summer Camp Creek than flooding alone on Mahogany Creek. Pool quantity and quality on each stream decreased because of coarse woody debris removal and sediment deposition during a drought. Fine stream bottom sediments decreased five years after the removal of livestock, but sedimentation increased during low flows in both streams below road crossings. Tree cover increased 35 percent at both streams. Thus, recovery of stability and cover and decreased sedimentation are compatible with rotation of rest grazing on Summer Camp Creek. Width/depth ratio and gravel/cobble percent did not change because they are inherently stable in this stream type. Management activities such as coarse woody debris removal limited pool recover and road crossings increased sedimentation.
A Funny Thing Happened! The Management of Consumer Emotions in Service Encounters

This paper examines the interplay between emotions expressed by patients and their families consumers and those expressed and recruited by physicians service providers in the pediatric department of a subspecialty medical setting. Detailed observations made during a year of fieldwork demonstrate that physicians enacted comedic performances in response to patient families' negative emotions. These comedies are a vehicle for the display and generation of fun: incompatible with the anxiety, fear, and despondence patient families typically bring to medical encounters. They further invite a move to positive emotions because the performances themselves are cues for optimism. Four comedies were identified, selectively presented by physicians at various emotional junctures in the service delivery process. Sociability comedy is initiated as physicians and patient families first come face-to-face, and it invites the former to like and feel comfortable with the performing physicians. Mastery comedy induces feelings of reassurance in families at the moment when physicians lay hands on the patients' bodies. Ostentatious Celebratory comedy promotes feelings of joy as it marks treatment successes while carefully modulated Magical performances bid for resilience at those times when patient families find it difficult to be hopeful about the medical prognosis. The positive feelings engendered by these comedies likely expedite physicians' and patient families' dependence on each other. For example, liking, feeling comfortable with, and reassured with their physicians will make patient families less likely to hesitate about cooperating with the diagnostic and treatment procedures the former suggest. Reciprocally, confident of these feelings, physicians can be assured that families will continue in the service relationship and follow through with their medical recommendations. The account provided in this paper has several implications for the study of organizational emotions and of service encounters. For example, the emotional exchanges described in this paper underscore the appropriateness of understanding clients as co-participants in the service process because the emotional displays of physician providers arise in response to various feelings that clients bring to encounters. Additionally. where previous studies of emotion in service encounters highlight the relationship between providers' emotional displays and client satisfaction, this study suggests the emotions that prevail in service encounters influence client cooperation with the service delivery process. And, they may be important to the quality of services generated.
Nanoparticle detection of respiratory infection

Respiratory viruses are a constant concern for all demographics. Examples include established viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of respiratory infection in infants and young children, and emerging viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which reached near pandemic levels in 2003, or H1N1 (swine) influenza. Despite this prevalence, traditional methods of virus detection are typically labor intensive and require several days to successfully confirm infection. Recently, however, nanoparticle-based detection strategies have been employed in an effort to develop detection assays that are both sensitive and expedient. Each of these platforms capitalizes on the unique properties of nanoparticles for the detection of respiratory viruses. In this article, several nanoparticle-based scaffolds are discussed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been functionalized with virus specific antibodies or oligonucleotides. In each of these constructs, AuNPs act as both an easily conjugated scaffolding system for biological molecules and a powerful fluorescence quencher. AuNPs have also been immobilized and used as electrochemical transducers. They efficiently serve as a conducting interface of electrocatalyic activity making them a powerful tool in this application. Quantum dots (QDs) posses unique fluorescence properties that have also been explored for their application to virus detection when combined with direct antibody conjugation or streptavidin-biotin binding systems. QDs have an advantage over many traditional fluorophores because their fluorescence properties can be finely tuned and they are resistant to photobleaching. The development of these nanoparticle-based detection strategies holds the potential to be a powerful method to quickly and easily confirm respiratory virus infection.
Relaxation-optimized NMR spectroscopy of methylene groups in proteins and nucleic acids.

A large fraction of hydrogens in proteins and nucleic acids is of the methylene type. Their detailed study, however, in terms of structure and dynamics by NMR spectroscopy is hampered by their fast relaxation properties, which give rise to low sensitivity and resolution. It is demonstrated that six different relaxation interference processes, involving 1 H- 13 C and 1 H- 1 H dipolar interactions and 1 H and 13 C chemical shift anisotropy, can be used simultaneously to mitigate these problems effectively. The approach is applicable to the majority of NMR experiments commonly used to study side chain and backbone conformation. For proteins, its efficiency is evaluated quantitatively for two samples: the third IgG-binding domain from Streptococcal Protein G and the protein calmodulin complexed with a 26-residue target peptide. Gains in both resolution and sensitivity by up to factors of 3.2 and 2.0, respectively, are observed for Gly residues at high magnetic field strengths, but even at much lower fields gains remain substantial. The resolution enhancement obtained for methylene groups makes possible a detailed analysis of spectral regions commonly considered inaccessible due to spectral crowding. For DNA, the high resolution now obtainable for C5' sites permits an H5'/H5''-based sequential NOE assignment procedure, complementary to the conventional base-H1'/H2'/H2'' pathway.
14-membered cyclic opioids related to dermorphin and their partially retro-inverso modified analogues. II. Preferred conformations in solution as studied by 1H-NMR spectroscopy.

The 1H-NMR studies were extensively carried out to elucidate preferred conformations of a series of 14-membered cyclic dermorphin analogues containing two phenylalanines at both the third and fourth positions, e.g., Tyr-c[D-A2bu-Phe-Phe-(L and D)-Leu], Tyr-c[D-A2bu-Phe-gPhe-(S and R)-mLeu], and Tyr-c[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-(L and D)-rLeu]. The temperature coefficients of the amide proton chemical shifts, vicinal 1H-1H coupling constants for the NH-CH groupings, and nuclear Overhauser effects provided information regarding the preferred conformations of the backbones. The conformational preferences and flexibility of the side chains were also estimated from the vicinal 1H-1H coupling constants around the C-C beta and C beta-C bonds in the articulated side chains. A comparison of the results obtained was made with the results previously obtained for the corresponding enkephalin analogues containing a glycine at the third position. It was found that the replacement of the glycine with the phenylalanine at the third position increases the conformational flexibility of the molecules with an L-, or S-, residue at the fifth position but reduces the flexibility of the molecules with D-, or R-, residue at the same position. The rotating frame nuclear Overhauser experiments gave direct evidence for compact conformations, with the Tyr side chain folding back over the 14-membered ring in Tyr-c[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-rLeu], which displays relatively high selectivity for the delta-receptor over the mu-receptor. This observation is in agreement with our model proposed for the cyclic enkephalin analogues: folded forms with close aromatic ring placement are required for the activity at the delta-receptor.
Scoring the completeness of software designs

Abstract A standardized system for scoring the completeness of software designs produced in experimental settings is proposed. The system produces a complete and multifaceted expression of a software design, making it ideal for comparing designs generated in different languages, paradigms, and methodologies. The system decomposes a design into a large number of atomic design “features” and thus is able to characterize the different strengths (and weaknesses) that each design possesses, and to do so in a way that is “paradigm neutral”, that is, not unfairly biased towards one language, paradigm, or methodology. As a result of the thoroughness of this scoring system, an absolute completeness score for a design may be computed, facilitating the comparisons of designs across studies, across design problems, and across experimental conditions. The scoring system allows for the representation of design alternatives and optional features, recognizing that software design problems are neither uniquely understood nor sufficiently constrained to identify a unique solution. In addition, the scoring system characterizes each component of a design as being specified to a certain level of detail or “refinement”. Techniques for scoring designs and generating dependent measures are proposed. Alternative notions of design quality and correctness are described, and it is shown how they can be incorporated into the scoring system. Using the scoring system methodology as the basis for creating a software design problem typology is discussed.
HIGH-PRESSURE SYNCHROTRON X-RAY DIFFRACTION OF CS IV AND CS V

Abstract Using energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX) at the superconducting wiggler beamline X17C of the National Synchrotron Light Source, we have performed new studies on the high pressure phases Cs IV and Cs V in a diamond-anvil cell to 38 GPa. For Cs IV, the data are consistent with the previously identified body centered tetragonal structure. However, for Cs V new diffraction lines are resolved that are inconsistent with any of the three previously proposed structures. This study demonstrates the suitability of synchrotron wiggler EDX techniques for studying complex structures such as Cs IV and V; by performing diffraction at the relatively high X-ray energies available from a wiggler, resolution superior to that available from either lower energy EDX studies or techniques using radiation from conventional sources can be obtained.
Decreased estrogen hydroxylation in male rat liver following cimetidine treatment

Abstract Administration of cimetidine (600 μmol/kg × 5) to adult male rats resulted in 55 and 25% decreases, respectively, in estradiol 2- and 16α-hydroxylation. The same treatment also decreased the activities of ethylmorphine demethylase, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, aniline hydroxylase and heme oxygenase but did not inhibit the activities of 7-ethoxycoumarin de-ethylase and δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase or decrease cytochrome P-450 content. in vitro addition of cimetidine (10–300 μM) also inhibited estradiol hydroxylations, and the effect was additive in rats pretreated with cimetidine in vivo ; the other enzymic activities studied were completely unaffected by in vitro addition of cimetidine. In contrast, there was no effect of cimetidine either in vivo or in vitro on any of these activities in female rats. The results point to a wide variation in the susceptibilities of different isozymes of cytochrome P-450 to inhibition by cimetidine and suggest that such differential susceptibilities are also highly dependent on the sex of the animal.
Studies on the structure of porphyrins contained in Photofrin II.

Abstract Using three methods to attempt to identify the presence of ester-linked porphyrins in Photofrin® II, lithium aluminum hydride reduction, basic hydrolysis and proton NMR. it can be concluded that 40-50% of such linkages are present. The majority of the remaining material is cleaved by acid hydrolysis, which is consistent with the ether structure proposed earlier. earlier.
The effects of conformation-dependent friction and internal viscosity on the dynamics of the nonlinear dumbbell model for a dilute polymer solution

Abstract The effects of a nonlinear spring, variable hydrodynamic friction and internal viscosity are examined in detail for the dumbbell model of dilute polymer solutions in a general two-dimensional flow. Both steady and transient startup flows are investigated and the response of the bulk stress is calculated. The existence of a hysteresis in the steady end-to-end length of the dumbbell, which arises from the variable friction factor, is found to depend strongly on both the flow type (i.e. the ratio of vorticity to the rate of strain) and the moleculecular weight. The influence of internal viscosity is examined in detail using two methods of solution for the problems of transient and steady two-dimensional flows. The first method uses a perturbation expansion valid for small values of the internal viscosity and leads largely to analytical results. The second technique uses the pre-averaging approximation of Cerf and is capable of predicting the model response when the internal viscosity becomes large. The most striking result for large values of the internal viscosity and a linear spring dumbbell is the appearance of multiple steady states in the dumbbell length for flows between simple shear and pure straining, and the removal of the well known singularity in end-to-end length which otherwise appears in the linear dumbbell model at a critical value of the strain rate.
Ethnographic Autobiographies in American Anthropology

The ethnographic biography has always had an important use in American anthropology. It has, however, been used for a variety of purposes and has employed various techniques in its application. These various uses and applications are explored in this review analysis of the “place” of the ethnographic biography in anthropology. The problems as well as the prospects of this important tool are also discussed.
Demographics of African-American vs. European-Heritage Mothers of Newborns With Down Syndrome

Abstract Although important for public health policy, ethnic/racial disparities have rarely been examined among families of young children with Down syndrome. This study compared 144 African-American mothers with 726 European-heritage mothers of newborns with Down syndrome using official birth records in one American state from 1990 through 2002; outcome measures included maternal age at infant's birth, education levels, marital status, and neighborhood median family income. Compared with European-heritage mothers, African-American mothers of newborns with Down syndrome were of lower socioeconomic levels and were younger, with many more African-American (vs. European-heritage) mothers giving birth at 23 years or younger (37.5 vs. 22.8%). In both groups, the young mothers (i.e., ≤23 years) showed the highest percentages of women who had not graduated high school and who were unmarried. As one of few studies focusing on ethnic-racial issues in Down syndrome, this study spotlights the characteristics and needs of some of this syndrome's subgroups.
Collection of cosmic dust in earth orbit for exobiological analysis

Two proposed NASA exobiology flight experiments are described in terms of the approaches to cosmic dust collection and the issues addressed by the analysis of the samples. A passive collector is planned for use with the Cosmic Dust Collection Facility, and an active system is described for attachment to the Space Station Freedom payload. Exobiological study of cosmic dust could provide insights on organic chemistry in the grains and on the relative abundances of biogenic elements in interstellar, cometary, and meteoric samples.
Nonlinear Rule-based Convolution for Refocusing

We seek an efficient enhancement process that sharpens an image and yet smooths areas of low differentials and removes low-level impulse noise. The goal is to perform these antithetical processes to bring a fairly good image into better focus that is not sufficiently sharp. Upon adopting the perspective of a constructor beetle that explores each pixel of an image and examines its neighboring pixels, we find a small set of operational rules. If the neighbors have similar height (gray level) to the center pixel, then the beetle digs or fills a small amount to further level the neighborhood (smoothing). On the other hand, if the neighbors tend to be very different on the average so they appear as a barrier of holes or poles, then the beetle digs or fills to construct a barrier. The beetle also levels a single deep hole or high pole at the neighborhood center, which smooths impulse noise.
Interactions of pluronic block copolymers on P‐gp efflux activity: Experience with HIV‐1 protease inhibitors

Abstract The objective was to examine the influence of Pluronic block‐copolymers on the interaction between the drug efflux transporter, P‐glycoprotein and HIV‐1 protease inhibitors (PIs). The ATPase assay determined the effect of various Pluronics on PI‐stimulated P‐gp ATPase activity. Cellular accumulation studies were conducted using MDCKII and LLC‐PK1 cells transfected with human MDR1 to assess Pluronic modulation of PI efflux. Pluronic P85 inhibited both basal and nelfinavir‐stimulated P‐gp ATPase activity, while Pluronic F127 had no effect. In cell accumulation studies, Pluronic P85 restored the accumulation of nelfinavir in MDCKII‐MDR1 cells while Pluronic F127 and F88 had no effect. Pluronic P85 increased saquinavir accumulation in wild‐type and MDR1‐transfected cells in both the MDCKII and LLC‐PK1 cell models, suggesting inhibition of multiple transporters, including MRPs. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that a block‐copolymer, Pluronic P85, effectively inhibits the interaction of P‐gp with nelfinavir and saquinavir. These data indicate that effective inhibition of HIV‐1 PI efflux by Pluronic P85 may influence the distribution of antiretroviral agents to sites protected by efflux mechanisms, such as the blood–brain barrier, and possibly increase the brain exposure of these drugs resulting in suppression of viral replication and reduction in the incidence of drug resistant mutants. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:5421–5433, 2008
Coupling of domed light-emitting diodes with a multimode step-index optical fiber.

The optical coupling between domed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a multimode step-index optical fiber has been analyzed via computer ray tracing. Configurations both with and without a microlens positioned between the LED and fiber have been investigated. To facilitate comparisons between domed and flat LED systems, efficiencies are measured in terms of the normalized coupled power, defined as the ratio of the power coupled into the fiber to the power generated inside the LED and directed toward the LED surface.
Androgen induces expression of the multidrug resistance protein gene MRP4 in prostate cancer cells

Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) may mediate multidrug resistance in tumor cells. Using a gene array analysis, we have identified MRP4 as an androgen receptor (AR)-regulated gene. Dihydrotestosterone induced MRP4 expression in both androgen-dependent and -independent LNCaP cells, whereas there was little detectable expression in PC-3 or normal prostate epithelial cells. Disruption of MRP4 expression renders LNCaP cells more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of methotrexate but not etoposide. Analysis of human tissues showed detectable MRP4 expression only in metastatic prostate cancer. These results suggest that AR induction of MRP4 mediates resistance of PC cells to nucleotide-based chemotherapeutic drugs.
Conjugated polyelectrolyte supported bead based assays for phospholipase A2 activity.

A fluorescence based assay for human serum-derived phospholipase activity has been developed in which cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes are supported on silica microspheres. The polymer-coated b...
Taking the weight off the fistula: the importance of vein transposition and fistula evaluation in obese patients

Taking the weight off the fistula: the importance of vein transposition and fistula evaluation in obese patients
Echocardiographic Recognition of Silent Aortic Root Dilatation in Marfan's Syndrome

Echocardiography has proven a useful and sensitive means to determine noninvasively the cardiac dimensions. This report describes the echocardiographic detection of progressive dilatation of the aortic root over an 18-month period, which led to death in a 33-year-old man with Marfan's syndrome; however, at no time was the aortic dilatation evident on chest x-ray films. This patient illustrates the sensitivity of the echocardiogram in detecting and assessing the severity of disease of the aortic root not readily assessed by other noninvasive techniques and the value of serial measurements of aortic dimensions in patients with proven or suspected dilatation of the aortic root.
Sources of Variability in Echocardiographic Measurements

Abstract Experienced echocardiographers performed and interpreted echocardiograms of 16 normal volunteers in an experiment designed to quantify the sources of variability in echocardiographic measurements. The experimental factors were 16 subjects, two echocardiographic technicians, replication between 2 successive days, replication between two echocardiograms taken approximately 20 minutes apart, two subject positions and subject gender. The experimental factors in echocardiographic interpretation were four interpreters each interpreting two copies of each echocardiogram. The major conclusions of this study are: (1) Relatively little of the variability in echocardiographic measurements can be attributed to the technicians if the latter are experienced. (2) There appears to be relatively little variability in measurement with respect to days of replication within days, except for heart rate and the right ventricular internal dimension measurements. (3) The variability that resulted when an interpreter read unidentified copies of the same echocardiogram on different occasions was as large or larger than the variability that occurred when different interpreters read the same echocardiogram. (4) There is significant extraneous variability in the measurement of the thickness of the ventricular septum and posterior wall in normal subjects. (5) The position of the subject systematically influences the value of the measurements of the right ventricular internal dimension, but has relatively little or no effect on other measurements. It is concluded that each echocardiogram should be read at least twice by each of at least two interpreters. Minimally, each echocardiogram should be read either by one interpreter on two separate occasions or by two interpreters. The reported result for a measurement should be the mean of the values. If possible, an interpreter reading the same echocardiogram more than once should be “blinded” to the identity of the echocardiograms so that bias on subsequent readings is minimized.
Effects of power disturbances on computer systems

This paper investigates the effects of electrical disturbances on a computer system consisting of PCs interconnected together with data cables-a PC LAN. The computer system was subjected to the following three types of electrical disturbances: power disturbances from the utility; local disturbances from nearby end-use devices; and RFI from industrial equipment. Test results indicate that a well configured PC LAN is quite immune to most utility power disturbances, but some local disturbances, especially RFI, can degrade the performance of the system considerably. Test results also give important hints towards investigating power quality problems related to computer loads.
Relative Survival of Striatal Projection Neurons and Interneurons after Intrastriatal Injection of Quinolinic Acid in Rats

An excitotoxic process mediated by the NMDA type glutamate receptor may be involved in striatal neuron death in Huntington's disease (HD). To explore this possibility, we have injected an NMDA-receptor-specific excitotoxin, quinolinic acid (QA), into the striatum in adult rats and 2-4 months postlesion explored the relative patterns of survival for the various different types of striatal projection neurons and interneurons and for the striatal efferent fibers in the different striatal projection areas. The perikarya of specific types of striatal neurons were identified by neurotransmitter immunohistochemical labeling or by retrograde labeling from striatal target areas, while the striatal efferent fiber plexuses were identified by neurotransmitter immunohistochemical labeling. The pattern of survival for the perikarya of each neuron type as a function of distance from the center of the injection site was determined, and the relative survival of each type was compared. For the fibers in target areas, computer-assisted image analysis was used to determine the degree of fiber loss for each projection target. In the study of perikaryal vulnerability, we found that the somatostatin-neuropeptide Y (SS/NPY) interneurons were the most vulnerable to QA and the cholinergic neurons were invulnerable to QA. The perikarya of all projection neuron types (striatopallidal, striatonigral, and striato-entopeduncular) were less vulnerable than the SS/NPY interneurons and more vulnerable than the cholinergic interneurons. Among projection neuron perikarya, there was evidence of differential vulnerability, with striatonigral neurons appearing to be the most vulnerable. Examination of immunolabeled striatal fibers in the striatal target areas indicated that striato-entopeduncular fibers better survived intrastriatal QA than did striatopallidal or striatonigral fibers. The apparent order of vulnerability observed in this study among projection neurons and/or their efferent fiber plexuses and the invulnerability observed in this study of cholinergic interneurons is similar to that observed in HD. The vulnerability of the SS/NPY interneurons to QA is, however, in stark contrast to their invulnerability in HD. The results thus suggest that although the excitotoxin hypothesis of striatal neuron death in HD has merit, QA injections into adult rat striatum do not strictly mimic the outcome in HD. This suggests that either adult rats are not a completely suitable subject for mimicking HD or the HD excitotoxic process does not involve a freely circulating excitotoxin such as QA.
Nano-structured metal-dielectric resonant waveguide filters

A parametric study of resonant waveguide filters is presented. The spectral and angular response of pure dielectric filter designs is compared with devices consisting of nano-structured combinations of metal and dielectric structures.
Phylogeny of Helianthus and related genera

Molecular phylogenetic studies have contributed significantly to our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of Helianthus, although several problems remain to be resolved. Molecular data have resolved problems with the circumscription of Helianthus. Its sister group is Phoebanthus, a narrowly distributed genus of two species from the state of Florida. The sister group to the Helianthus-Phoebanthus clade is a diverse set of taxa that occurs in Mexico and South America. These include species now classified as part of the paraphyletic Viguiera as well as such distinctive genera as Tithonia, Simsia, Pappobolus, Scalesia, Lagascea, and Alvordia. Incongruence between results based on chloroplast and nuclear-based data sets suggests that hybridization has been involved in the evolutionary history of this group. The nearest outgroup to the clade containing Helianthus is composed of members of Viguiera sect. Maculatae, which are trees and shrubs of Mexico. Other basally diverging groups in the subtribe Helianthinae to which Helianthus belongs are primarily woody members now classified in Viguiera from Mexico and nearby areas. Within Helianthus, divergence appears to be recent, based on an overall lack of divergence between species. The chloroplast-based tree suggests that Helianthus includes four phylogenetic lineages, whereas the nuclear ITS sequence data suggests that the perennial species are paraphyletic relative to the rest of the genus, with basally diverging branches consisting of species confined to the southeastern US. Because there is a lack of divergence among many groups of species, more variable markers will be required to resolve fully relationships within Helianthus.
Proposed Method for Predicting Pair Matching of Skeletal Elements Allows Too Many False Rejections

Byrd proposes a method for predicting pair matches in commingled remains to reduce visual comparison. The method com- pares differences between left and right postcranial element measurements in commingled samples with differences in known pairs from a refer- ence sample using a t-score approach. We duplicated his protocol using six elements from two samples of known paired elements (n = 854 to 1063) and calculated the number of pairs correctly predicted. Time commitment was estimated by mathematically attempting matches with all left and right elements in these samples. Although the results show an 86% reduction in the number of potential pairs requiring visual match- ing, we do not recommend the method because (i) the normality assumption for use of a t-score approach is violated, (ii) no account is made for bilateral asymmetry, and (iii) the high rate of false rejections (up to 22%) undermines its ability to show true incompatibilities for potential pair matches.
Self-assembled InGaN quantum dots on GaN emitting at 520 nm grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy

Abstract Self-assembled InGaN quantum dots (QDs) have been grown using metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE), without using anti-surfactant. Using 120 s annealing, InGaN QDs have been successfully formed with a circular base diameter of 40 nm and an average height of 4 nm, with QDs density of 4×10 9 cm −2 . The InGaN QDs have peak photoluminescence (PL) wavelengths of 519 and 509 nm for samples without and with a GaN upper barrier, respectively. The full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of the PL spectra ranges from 56.6 up to 69.6 nm. These results demonstrates that high In-content InGaN QDs can be grown by MOVPE, and can potentially be utilized as the active media for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor laser diodes for green emission.
Effect of Additional Elements on the Period of CuAu II and the Origin of the Long-Period Superlattice

A detailed study on the effect of additional elements on the period of CuAu II was made to investigate the origin of the longperiod superlattice. Single crystals of CuAu were made by the successive evaporation of Au and Cu onto a heated NaCl substrate. A known amount of the additional element was evaporated onto the CuAu film and diffused in by appropriate annealing techniques. The effect of the addition of 16 different elements in varying concentrations on the domain size of CuAu II was determined using electron diffraction. The addition of group III elements Al, Ga, and In of up to 25 atomic percent was found to decrease the average domain size $M$ (half-period) with increasing concentration of the element (from 5 to 1.5). Sn, Mn, and Zn incorporated into CuAu also decreased the domain size. Nickel and Pd in small amounts increased the domain size, as did Ag and concentrations of Cu and Au above the stoichiometric proportion. From the analysis of all the data, a definite relation was found to exist between the electron-atom ratio and the domain size. From the experimental data, a model based upon the stabilization of alloy phases using the Brillouin zone theory was formulated to show the variation of the electron-atom ratio $\frac{e}{a}$ with the domain size $M$. This relation is given by the following formula: $\frac{e}{a}=(\frac{\ensuremath{\pi}}{12{t}^{3}}){(2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{M}+\frac{1}{4{M}^{2}})}^{\frac{3}{2}}$. Here $t$ is a truncation factor which in most cases has a value of around 0.95. The agreement between theory and experiment is very good. In addition, the model was applied to other alloy systems where long-period superlattices are formed and was found to give a good explanation for the stabilization of these structures. The theory provides two regions depending upon the electron-atom ratio where all the predictions are reversed. The Cu-Au system and the Cu-Pd system are examples of these two regions, respectively. The theory not only predicts the variation of the domain size with the electron-atom ratio, but also predicts the concentration dependence (without changing the electron-atom ratio) and the temperature dependence, the distortion of the lattice, the appearance of one- and two-dimenional antiphase domains and other characteristics of long-period superlattices which are in accord with the experimental data on many alloy series.