cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of dielectric constant in the microwave region by a four-terminal network method and analysis of the relaxation mechanism in some primary alkyl amines

Abstract The dielectric constant and loss of the following primary amines have been measured by a four-terminal network method at 10,3,2 and 1 cm from 0° down to the freezing points of the compounds in some cases. The experimental values agree very well with previous results obtained by Surber's method. Also measured were the static dielectric constant and the refractive indices of these compounds. The results have been analyzed in terms of a distribution of relaxation times between two limiting values with the aid of an IBM 360 computer for better accuracy. The results are consistent with the interpretation of a large relaxation time due to molecular rotation and a smaller relaxation time due to intramolecular motion.
Union Membership and Perceived Powerlessness in Southern US Textiles

Using Marxist, mass society, organizational, and social movements literatures, we distinguish alternative accounts of the relationship between union membership and perceived powerlessness. Then, we illustrate the distinctions with survey data on southern US textile workers. Logistic and ordinary least squares regression analyses suggest two interpretations for this group of workers: union membership influences perceived powerlessness by providing members a responsive organization that contrasts with their lack of control in the workplace; and perceived powerlessness, when combined with endorsement of collective strategies for change, encourages union membership. In the southern textile case, we find that race is associated with specific ideological leanings regarding collective strategies. The location of our sample, its particular position in the political economy of the US, and the relative immaturity of its union allow for instructive comparisons with other sociological treatments of work attitudes and collective action.
Specific-language-impaired children's quick incidental learning of words: the effect of a pause.

It was hypothesized that the initial word comprehension of specific-language-impaired children would be enhanced by the insertion of a short pause just before a sentence-final novel word. Three groups of children served as subjects: twenty 5-year-old, specific-languageimpaired (SLI) children, and two comparison groups of normally developing children, 20 matched for mean length of utterance (MLU) and 32 matched for chronological age (CA). The children were randomly assigned to two conditions for viewing video programs. The programs were animated stories that featured five novel object words and five novel attribute words, presented in a voice-over narration. The experimental version introduced a pause before the targeted words; the control version was identical except for normal prosody instead of a pause. Counter to the predictions, there was no effect for condition. Insertion of a pause did not improve the SLI children’s initial comprehension of novel words. There were group main effects, with the CA mat...
Interpersonal correlates of generalized anxiety disorder: Self versus other perception☆

The present investigation examined the interpersonal functioning of undergraduate students who met self-report criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), both as they perceive it and as perceived by their self-nominated friends. Forty-eight participants who met self-report criteria for GAD endorsed greater global severity of interpersonal problems on the 64-item version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems [Horowitz, L. M., Alden, L. E., Wiggins, J. S., Pincus, A. L. (2000). Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: Manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation] than 53 control participants. However, friends of GAD participants did not attribute significantly greater interpersonal problems to them than did friends of control participants. GAD participants reported less secure attachment to their parents than control participants but reported similar levels of attachment to peers and perceived social support. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the friends of the GAD participants and friends of the control participants on ratings of their friendships quality. Findings are discussed in the context of their relevance to the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of GAD.
A Printed Beam-Shifting Slab Designed Using Tensor Transmission-Line Metamaterials

We present the design and implementation of a beam-shifting slab (a transformation electromagnetics device) using tensor transmission-line metamaterials. A beam-shifting slab is an anisotropic, homogeneous and reflectionless slab which laterally displaces the electromagnetic field transmitted through it. The experimental beam-shifting slab consists of printed metamaterial unit cells exhibiting anisotropic effective material parameters, while the surrounding medium consists of printed isotropic unit cells. The measured and simulated field patterns within the beam-shifting slab and the surrounding media are compared and show excellent agreement. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that radiation from a cylindrical source is shifted upward by 5.28 unit cells due to the presence of the beam-shifting slab. Furthermore, the wide-band frequency response of the slab is experimentally studied. The reported experimental results verify the theory behind tensor transmission-line metamaterials and demonstrate their utility in the design of transformation electromagnetics devices at microwave frequencies.
Prevention of chemical carcinogen DNA binding and inhibition of nuclear RNA polymerase activity by organosulfur compounds as the possible mechanisms for their anticancer initiation and proliferation effects.

Abstract This report examines the transcriptional roles and DNA binding properties of the three major organosulfur compounds (OSCs) from garlic, diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS). We found DADS and DATS, but not DAS, could be activated by the versatile epoxide-forming oxidant dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and could strongly inhibit nuclear RNA synthesis in vitro. We also found that when incubated together with [3H]-labeled 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) for activation by DMDO, DADS and DATS, but not DAS, were able to prevent the binding of [3H]E 2 to DNA. This preventive effect of DADS and DATS was confirmed when liver microsomes were used, and further verified by 32P post-labeling analysis. Additionally, we discovered that the DMDO treated DADS and DATS, but not DAS, were able to directly inhibit the enzyme RNA polymerase per se. These novel findings provide new insights into the potential mechanisms of the preventive effects of OSCs on tumor initiation and promotion.
Joint modelling of accelerated failure time and longitudinal data

SUMMARY The accelerated failure time model is an attractive alternative to the Cox model when the proportionality assumption fails to capture the relationship between the survival time and longitudinal covariates. Several complications arise when the covariates are measured intermittently at different time points for different subjects, possibly with measurement errors, or measurements are not available after the failure time. Joint modelling of the failure time and longitudinal data offers a solution to such complications. We explore the joint modelling approach under the accelerated failure time assumption when covariates are assumed to follow a linear mixed effects model with measurement errors. The procedure is based on maximising the joint likelihood function with random effects treated as missing data. A Monte Carlo EM algorithm is used to estimate all the unknown parameters, including the unknown baseline hazard function. The performance of the proposed procedure is checked in simulation studies. A case study of reproductive egg-laying data for female Mediterranean fruit flies and their relationship to longevity demonstrate the effectiveness of the new procedure.
Close Proximity Operations for Implementing Mitigation Strategies

Central to almost any characterization or mitigation mission to a small solar systembody, such as an asteroid or comet, is a phase of close proximity operations on or aboutabout that body for some length of time. This is an extremely challenging environment inwhich to operate a spacecraft, surface vehicle, or human mission. Reasons for this includethe
Motion layer extraction in the presence of occlusion using graph cuts

Extracting layers from video is very important for video representation, analysis, compression, and synthesis. Assuming that a scene can be approximately described by multiple planar regions, this paper describes a robust and novel approach to automatically extract a set of affine or projective transformations induced by these regions, detect the occlusion pixels over multiple consecutive frames, and segment the scene into several motion layers. First, after determining a number of seed regions using correspondences in two frames, we expand the seed regions and reject the outliers employing the graph cuts method integrated with level set representation. Next, these initial regions are merged into several initial layers according to the motion similarity. Third, an occlusion order constraint on multiple frames is explored, which enforces that the occlusion area increases with the temporal order in a short period and effectively maintains segmentation consistency over multiple consecutive frames. Then, the correct layer segmentation is obtained by using a graph cuts algorithm and the occlusions between the overlapping layers are explicitly determined. Several experimental results are demonstrated to show that our approach is effective and robust.
Counteracting Power Relationships When Planning Environmental Education.

Low-income and minority communities are often denied opportunities to help design environmental education programs relevant to their environmental experience and needs. As the weaker partner in government-initiated programs, community activists often struggle to find their voice in the planning process.
Recursive algorithms for identification of impulse noise channels

The Class A Middleton model is a widely accepted statistical-physical parameteric model for impulsive interference superimposed on a Gaussian background. In the present work, a recursive decision-directed estimator for online identification of the parameters of the Class A model is proposed. This estimator is based on an adaptive Bayesian classification of each of a sequence of Class A envelope samples as an impulsive sample or as a background sample. As each sample is so classified, recursive updates of the estimates of the second moment of the background component of the interference envelope density, the second moment of the impulsive component of the interference envelope density, and the probability with which the impulsive component occurs, are readily obtained. From these estimates, estimates of the parameters of the Class A model follow straightforwardly, since closed-form expressions for the parameters exist in terms of these quantities. The performance characteristics of this algorithm are investigated and an appropriately modified version is found to yield a recursive algorithm with excellent global performance. >
Fellutamide B is a potent inhibitor of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasome

Abstract Via high-throughput screening of a natural compound library, we have identified a lipopeptide aldehyde, fellutamide B (1), as the most potent inhibitor of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteasome tested to date. Kinetic studies reveal that 1 inhibits both Mtb and human proteasomes in a time-dependent manner under steady-state condition. Remarkably, 1 inhibits the Mtb proteasome in a single-step binding mechanism with Ki = 6.8 nM, whereas it inhibits the human proteasome β5 active site following a two-step mechanism with Ki = 11.5 nM and K i ∗ = 0.93 nM. Co-crystallization of 1 bound to the Mtb proteasome revealed a structural basis for the tight binding of 1 to the active sites of the Mtb proteasome. The hemiacetal group of 1 in the Mtb proteasome takes the (R)-configuration, whereas in the yeast proteasome it takes the (S)-configuration, indicating that the pre-chiral CHO group of 1 binds to the active site Thr1 in a different orientation. Re-examination of the structure of the yeast proteasome in complex with 1 showed significant conformational changes at the substrate-binding cleft along the active site. These structural differences are consistent with the different kinetic mechanisms of 1 against Mtb and human proteasomes.
Escaping Symbolic Entrapment, Maintaining Social Identities

Symbolic entrapment—which refers to when a person is prevented from taking courses of action because these actions threaten symbolic boundaries that crucially define important and salient social identities—is a ubiquitous part of social life. Previous research suggests that individuals either remain symbolically entrapped or disavow their identities in efforts to escape. By using the case of conservative Christian victims of spousal abuse who divorced their abusive husbands yet remain conservative Christians, I theorize that people escape symbolic entrapment while also maintaining their identities using normative , transforming , and neutralizing vocabularies of motive that make certain courses of action seem appropriate in terms of a group's culture. These motives help individuals escape symbolic entrapment by relieving cognitive dissonance and by providing people with arguments that convince fellow group members of the appropriateness of action. I conclude with empirical, theoretical, and practical implications of this research.
Working memory management and predicted utility

Given the limited capacity of working memory (WM), its resources should be allocated strategically. One strategy is filtering, whereby access to WM is granted preferentially to items with the greatest utility. However, reallocation of WM resources might be required if the utility of maintained information subsequently declines. Here, we present behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging evidence that human participants track changes in the predicted utility of information in WM. First, participants demonstrated behavioral costs when the utility of items already maintained in WM declined and resources should be reallocated. An adapted Q-learning model indicated that these costs scaled with the historical utility of individual items. Finally, model-based neuroimaging demonstrated that frontal cortex tracked the utility of items to be maintained in working memory, whereas ventral striatum tracked changes in the utility of items maintained in working memory to the degree that these items are no longer useful. Our findings suggest that fronto-striatal mechanisms track the utility of information in WM, and that these dynamics may predict delays in the removal of information from WM.
Quantifying Pathogen Sources in Streams by Hydrograph Separation

A new technique for quantifying pathogen sources to streams is proposed and demonstrated. Hydrograph separation is used to partition measured streamflow into surface runoff and base flow, and characteristic pathogen concentrations are assigned to each flow component along with a background source flux. The maximum-likelihood characteristic concentrations and background flux are determined from measured instream pathogen concentrations. This approach is shown to yield comparable to superior performance in predicting instream pathogen concentrations compared with much more complex terrestrial fate and transport models. Application of the proposed approach to six catchments yields Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies of the log-transformed fecal-coliform concentrations in the range of 0.21 to 0.48. The characteristic fecal-coliform concentrations in surface runoff are in the range of 200–700 cfu/dL and the base-flow characteristic concentrations are in the range of 20–100 cfu/dL. It is shown that the frequency dist...
Youth exposed to violence: the role of protective factors.

Using a sample of 174 inner-city urban high school students, this study examined the degree to which family and peer support would moderate the negative impact of exposure to violence on academic performance, symptoms of distress, and persistence intentions. Over 94% of the students reported having been exposed to at least one form of community violence at some point in their lives. Using hierarchical linear regression, the results indicated that family support provided a protective-stabilizing moderating effect between exposure to violence and symptoms of distress. Peer support was found to have a protective-stabilizing moderating effect between exposure to violence and persistence intentions. Although exposure to violence and persistence intentions were both related to grade point average, family and peer support were not found to moderate the impact of violence exposure and grades. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prolactin Bioassay by Induction of N-Acetyllactosamine Synthetase in Mouse Mammary Gland Explants1

ABSTRACT Prolactin stimulates a number of metabolic activities in mammary gland explants. The bioassay described here uses the induction of an enzyme, N-acetyllactosamine (NAL) synthetase, as an end-point. Explants from midpregnant nulliparous mice are incubated at 37 C in medium TC 199 containing insulin (10 μg/ml) and cortisol (20 μg/ml). The material to be assayed or ovine prolactin standard is added at the start of incubation. After 48 hr the explants are homogenized and NAL synthetase activity is measured. This enzyme, which catalyzes the reaction N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)+UDP-galactose→NAL+UDP, can be conveniently measured radiochemically after incubation of homogenates with NAG+UDP-galactose-14C. The assay easily detects 0.1 mU prolactin/ml; increments in response are observed with increasing concentrations of prolactin up to 10 mU/ml. HGH stimulates NAL synthetase activity, but this effect can be abolished by preincubation with specific antibodies against HGH. Human plasma may be assayed directly....
A robust and tractable contact model for dynamic robotic simulation

Existing contact modeling in rigid body simulation is inadequate for robotics: no algorithms guarantee both convergence and nonpenetration at multiple contact points in the presence of Coulomb friction. We present a convex optimization based algorithm that models simultaneous contact at multiple points, ensures nonpenetration, and yields Coulomb friction effects. An example of simulated robotic grasping shows that the proposed algorithm is robust where most other methods fail.
More Clinical Concepts and Less Content: A Different Approach to Pathophysiology

Review of : Pathophysiology: A Clinical Approach ; Carie A. Braun and Cindy M. Anderson; (2011). Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA. 526 pages.
Management of self-inflicted oral trauma: report of case.

SUMMARY A simple and effective appliance was fabricated to prevent self-inflicted oral trauma in a patient with MS. Its advantages over more complex appliances are its mild effects on phonetics, eating patterns, and esthetics.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Biomolecules

Carbon dioxide has become an important environmentally safe solvent for chemical processing, but many biomolecules are insoluble in it. In his Perspective, Beckman describes work reported in this issue of Science by Johnston et al. (p. 624) in which a fluoroether surfactant was used to create micelles—little pockets of water that contain the biomolecules—that are soluble in CO2.
Coronary and thyroid arteriopathy induced by allylamine and β-aminopropionitrile

Abstract Broad breasted white male turkeys were fed four different diets: allylamine fumarate (AL), AL plus β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), BAPN alone, and a control diet. Twice as many turkeys died of internal hemorrhage when fed BAPN and AL, as compared to those fed only BAPN. None fed AL alone or the control diet died. Arterial blood pressure was highest in turkeys fed BAPN or the control diet. Light microscopic lesions of the coronary and thyroid arteries were seen only in turkeys fed BAPN and AL, or AL alone. There was intimal hyperplasia, hypertrophy of medial smooth muscle cells, and hyalinization of vascular walls which did not exhibit intimal hyperplasia. Lesions were more prominent in turkeys fed BAPN and AL. Electron microscopic lesions of the coronary artery also were seen only in turkeys fed BAPN and AL, or AL alone. Intimal hyperplasia was manifested as several rows of smooth muscle cells above the internal elastic membrane. Smooth muscle cells in both the hyperplastic intima and also the tunica media contained closely packed myofilaments and prominent attachment points. Rare medial smooth muscle cells were electron lucent due to mitosis, while others were infrequently electron-opaque because of necrosis. Small arterioles without intimal thickenings had lumens which were almost occluded and their medial smooth muscle cells were edematous. The walls of hyalinized arterioles contained intertwined bundles of striated fibers.
Variation-aware joint optimization of the supply voltage and sleep transistor size for the 7nm FinFET technology

Power gating is a very effective method in reducing the leakage energy during the standby mode in VLSI circuits at the cost of increased circuit delay. This method has been well studied and widely used for circuits fabricated by using traditional CMOS technology nodes operating at super-threshold supply voltage regime. However, for advanced technology nodes with small feature sizes and low supply voltages, the propagation delay becomes very sensitive to the high process-induced variations. Therefore, this paper first analyzes how the circuit delay depends on the size of the sleep transistor under the process-induced variation for the 7nm gate length FinFET technology. Then a joint optimization problem is formulated to minimize the total energy consumption, while both supply voltage and sleep transistor size are considered as optimization variables. A near-optimal heuristic is presented to solve the optimization problem and determine the energy-optimal supply voltage and sleep transistor size. Experimental results based on HSPICE simulations show that more than 98% energy reduction for applications with relaxed deadline constraints after applying the joint optimization technique, compared to FinFET circuits without using the power gating method.
A development environment for query optimizers

New research has emerged that revisits the design of various components of a data management system to determine how their designs can exploit the targeted applications and underlying architecture of that system. To support this effort, we introduce a development environment that supports the rapid prototyping, evaluation and refinement of query optimizer components for targeted data management systems. The key features of this development environment are component generator tools that process declarative specifications of the components, component-specific benchmarks and profiling tools. We describe some initial results specific to one optimizer component (the join plan enumerator) and we present some preliminary thoughts about the remaining environment design.
Intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of imine and iminium dienophiles: quantum mechanical exploration of mechanisms and stereoselectivities.

A series of intramolecular hetero-Diels−Alder reactions of iminium and imine dienophiles has been explored with density functional theory using the B3LYP functional and 6-31+G* basis set. Aqueous solvation energies were calculated with the CPCM method. DFT predicts that these reactions are concerted but involve highly asynchronous transition states. Stereochemical preferences of imine cycloaddition transition states arise from electron repulsion of the nitrogen lone pair with electron density from the butadiene moiety. Protonation of the nitrogen leads to a highly asynchronous transition state. The iminium dienophiles are predicted to have a 17 kcal/mol lower barrier than the corresponding imines, even in aqueous solution.
Uncovering the Fragility of Academic Success

Is Literacy Enough? Pathways to Academic Success for Adolescents by Catherine Snow, Michelle V. Porche, Patton O. Tabors, and Stephanie Ross Harris. Baltimore, MD: Brookes. © 2007. 153 pages. ISBN:...
Heat Transfer Phenomena in Lithium/Polymer‐Electrolyte Batteries for Electric Vehicle Application

Mathematical modeling of heat generation and transport in lithium/polymer‐electrolyte batteries for electric vehicle applications has been conducted. The results demonstrate that thermal management may not be a serious problem for batteries under low discharge rates. However, under high discharge rates, the temperature of a battery may increase remarkably if the thickness of a cell stack exceeds a certain value. Also, due to the low thermal conductivity of the polymer, the improvement of cooling conditions is not an effective means of improving heat removal for large‐stack systems. For a required operational temperature range and a given discharge rate, model predictions can be used to design appropriate battery structures and to choose a suitable cooling scheme.
Residence time distribution characteristics of particle flow in a vertical scraped surface heat exchanger

Abstract Residence times of 1·0, 1·5, and 2·0 cm potato cubes with 0·4, 0·8 and 1·2% aqueous solutions of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and flow rates of 453, 534 and 599 ml/s in a vertical scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE) rotating at 60, 110, and 160 rpm were measured, and distribution characteristics of particle flow for each set of conditions were investigated. Pearson's χ2 goodness of fit test indicated that most of the individual particle residence time distributions in a vertical SSHE flow could be described by the gamma model, whereas many of the individual distributions fitted to the normal model in addition to the gamma model for horizontal SSHE. Orientation of SSHE appeared to be the important factor influencing the forces acting on the particles during flow in a SSHE. Particle-particle interactions, as well as a combination of process parameters, caused ‘tailing’ of some particles, resulting in skewed distributions to the right.
Submicron-Sized Gamma-HMX: II. Effect of Pressing on Phase Transition

In a previous article we described the preparation and initial characterization of a novel submicron-sized HMX (sm-HMX). Using Raman spectroscopy, the sm-HMX was found to be the gamma polymorph and to be stable with respect to conversion to beta-HMX under ambient conditions for at least a year. Pressing of sm-HMX powder in a small diameter pellet press at pressures from 10,000 to 31,000 psi and 1- to 5-min hold times was found to promote the gamma-to-beta polymorphic phase transition. The fraction converted and rate of conversion versus time after pellet removal from the press were found to fit a sigmoidal curve, indicating nucleation and growth as a possible polymorphic transition mechanism.
Adenosine inhibits calcium spikes in hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vitro.

Abstract Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in tetrodotoxin (TTX)-treated slices exhibit regenerative spike-like potentials in response to depolarizing current injection. These putative calcium spikes were markedly inhibited by superfusion of slices with 5–50 μM adenosine. The effects of adenosine on resting membrane potential and on input impedance in TTX-treated slices are unable to account for the increase in calcium spike threshold. This inhibition of calcium spikes represents a previously unreported postsynaptic action of adenosine in the central nervous system and provides a possible mechanism whereby adenosine and other purines exert their anticonvulsant effects.
Cellulose: Refutation of a Folded-Chain Structure

Calculations of modulus of elasticity for extended-and folded-chain configurations have been compared with the experimental observations of mechanical properties of native cellulosic fibers. A recent folded-chain proposal is incompatible with the experimental evidence.
Two Heads Are Better Than One (and Three Are Better Than Two): Challenging the Individualist Ethos of the Educator-Hero Film

Abstract Educator-hero films typically depict one of two pedagogical approaches as the antidote to a harmful norm. When the alleged norm is weak-hearted resignation, the educator-hero is aggressive (e.g., Blackboard Jungle); when the norm is bureaucratic heartlessness, the educator-hero is gentle (e.g., Freedom Writers). These models push viewer sympathies in opposite directions, but the differences between them are less significant than their shared suspicion of academic community. After surveying a selection of representative classics, this essay discusses how The History Boys (2007) breaks the pattern, suggesting that the pedagogy of an individual teacher matters less than whether or not schools make academic community visible to students.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a mediator of stunned myocardium.

Abstract Proinflammatory cytokines are a class of secretory polypeptides that are synthesized and released locally by macrophages, leukocytes and endothelial cells in response to injury. 1–4 Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is associated with infiltration by leukocytes and macrophages that may be responsible for transient depression in myocardial contractility (“stunned myocardium”). 1,2 We have recently demonstrated that certain cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, and TNFα) have direct, reversible negative inotropic effects in isolated hamster papillary muscle preparations. 5 The observed inotropic effects of these cytokines raised the possibility that they contribute to myocardial stunning. A direct effect of cytokines on human myocardium in concentrations achievable clinically would be necessary to further support this hypothesis. The frequency of myocardial stunning after cardiopulmonary bypass provided an ideal opportunity to assay the levels as well as the inotropic effects of these cytokines in human hearts. Written, informed consent was obtained from patients undergoing elective aortocoronary bypass grafting in accordance with the guidelines of the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board for Biomedical Research. The elaboration of cytokines by pulmonary macrophages in response to injury suggested that pulmonary venous blood might be a rich source of inflammatory cytokines after cardiopulmonary bypass. 6 Plasma levels of TNFα and IL-6 in pulmonary venous effluents were measured from 7 patients immediately before and after uncomplicated coronary artery bypass grafting.
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN IS A “CHYMOTRYPSIN-LIKE” SERINE PROTEASE WITH UNIQUE P1 SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a serine protease belonging to the human kallikrein family, is best known as a prostate cancer biomarker. Emerging evidence suggests that PSA may also play a salient role in prostate cancer development and progression. With large amounts of enzymatically active PSA continuously and selectively produced by all stages of prostate cancer, PSA is an attractive target. PSA inhibitors, therefore, may represent a promising class of therapeutics and/or imaging agents. PSA displays chymotrypsin-like specificity, cleaving after hydrophobic residues, in addition to possessing a unique ability to cleave after glutamine in the P1 position. In this study, we investigated the structural motifs of the PSA S1 pocket that give it a distinct architecture and specificity when compared to the S1 pocket of chymotrypsin. Using the previously described PSA substrate Ser-Ser-Lys-Leu-Gln (SSKLQ) as a template, peptide aldehyde based inhibitors containing novel P1 aldehydes were made and tested agai...
Cardan Polynomials and the Reduction of Radicals.

A quick check with a calculator shows that this expression is really 1, but how can one algebraically manipulate it into that result? All attempts to do so led the author back to the original cubic from which it started. (The reader might try now to reduce (3) to the value 1.) That such a combination of square and cube roots should produce a rational number, let alone an integer, is startling. Later we will see that the individual radicals are related to the golden section and its reciprocal:
U.S. Army RDECOM-ARDEC's results of the TG-53 experiment and field test

Herein is described the U.S. Army RDECOM-ARDEC's purpose and series of activities conducted at the 2008 NATO SET-093 TG-53 experiment and field test. The overall purpose of the field test as stated by SET-093 panel was to provide a baseline test capable of providing relevant scenarios and data regarding a variety of impulsive generated acoustic events. As organized, the field experiment also allowed the room o study sensor interoperability across multiple platforms and multi-national users via the spider communication framework/reporting structure. This multinational network maintained by the host ETBS with a standardized messaging format with specific goals for each participating organization. ARDEC's role and purpose for the test was to provide situational awareness via the Spider and associated messaging format to the ETBS command center while continuing to gather unique acoustic data from various vantage points. ARDEC had several deliverables for the TG-53 field experiment derived from the mission and spirit of the field test. The most relevant deliverable was to demonstrate sensor interoperability via the Spider network and provide situational awareness by describing the said mortar/artillery events. The second purpose revolved around a relevant environment algorithm validation of the muzzle blast discrimination for future UGS transition in particular the UTAMS II. The algorithm validation information remained internal to the specific data acquisition system and not broadcasted out on the Spider network. The TG-53 field experiments provided the added opportunity to further test and refine the algorithm based on the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and multiresolution analysis. These techniques are used to classify and reliably discriminates between launch and impact artillery and/or mortar events via acoustic signals produced during detonation. Distinct characteristics are found within the acoustic signatures since impact events emphasize concussive and shrapnel effects, while launch events are similar to explosions, designed to expel and propel an artillery round from a gun. The ensuing signatures are readily characterized by variations in the corresponding peak pressure and rise time of the waveform, differences in the ratio of positive pressure amplitude to the negative amplitude, variations in the prominent frequencies associated with the blast events and variations in the overall duration of the resulting waveform. Unique attributes can also be identified that depend upon the properties of the gun tube, projectile speed at the muzzle, and the explosive/concussive properties associated with the events. The event allows the examination of particular extreme battlefield acoustic challenges not normally documented or readily studied. The final portion will focus on the unique acoustic signatures data collected and how it allowed very relevant situations to be tested in a variety of scenarios.
Nonperturbative aspects of supersymmetry in statistical mechanics

Abstract It was shown by Parisi and Sourlas that a scalar field theory coupled to a random source corresponds to a certain kind of supersymmetric theory, and that, furthermore, the correlation functions, evaluated in perturbation theory, are those of the original field theory, without the random source, in two fewer dimensions. We give a new derivation of the first result, based on the so-called replica method, which more clearly exposes the assumptions involved. We also show that the second result holds nonperturbatively. Two applications of this nonperturbative result are discussed. The first shows how topological instanton effects restore the symmetry in the three-dimensional continuous spin Ising model in a random magnetic field. These are the analog of the kinds in the one dimensional field theory. The second application is to the problem of the singularities in a randomly diluted ferromagnet. Fifteen years ago, Griffiths showed the free energy of a magnet diluted with nonmagnetic impurities is a nonanalytic function of the external magnetic field at temperatures below the critical temperature of the pure system. We show that this system can be modelled by a supersymmetric cubic scalar field theory with a random imaginary field. The equivalent (d - 2)-dimensional theory has instantons, which are the nonperturbative effects responsible for the Griffiths' singularities.
Displacements, strain and stress error nodal lines in finite elements☆

Abstract Numerical experiments show that the error in the computed finite element solution and its derivatives vanish on typical error nodal lines inside each finite element. A theoretical explanation is given to this phenomenon, which was previously discovered for distinct, special points. Systematic classification of these lines for different element types and problems appears to be a worthy undertaking
THOMSON SCATTERING MEASUREMENTS IN ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA JETS

Electron temperature and electron density in a dc plasma jet at atmospheric pressure have been obtained using Thomson laser scattering. Measurements performed at various scattering angles have revealed effects that are not accounted for by the standard scattering theory. Differences between the predicted and experimental results suggest that higher order corrections to the theory may be required, and that corrections to the form of the spectral density function may play an important role.
Persistent Increase in Hypothalamic Arginine Vasopressin Gene Expression During Protracted Withdrawal from Chronic Escalating-Dose Cocaine in Rodents

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus has important roles in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and stress-related behaviors during chronic stress. It is unknown, however, whether AVP in the PVN is involved in the modulation of HPA activity after chronic cocaine exposure. Here, we examined the gene expression alterations of AVP in the hypothalamus, and V1b receptor and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the anterior pituitary, as well as HPA hormonal changes, in Fischer rats after chronic cocaine and withdrawal, using two different chronic (14-day) 'binge' pattern administration regimens: steady-dose cocaine (SDC, 45 mg/kg/day) and escalating-dose cocaine (EDC, 45 up to 90 mg/kg/day). There was a significant (7-fold) plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) elevation after chronic EDC (but not SDC), coupled with increased V1b and POMC mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary. From acute (1-day) to protracted (14-day) withdrawal from chronic EDC (but not from SDC), we found persistent elevations of both plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels and AVP mRNA levels in the PVN. Selective V1b antagonist SSR149415 (5 mg/kg) attenuated acute withdrawal-induced HPA activation after EDC. To study potential roles of endogenous opioids in modulating the AVP gene, we administered naloxone (1 mg/kg); we found that opioid receptor antagonism increased AVP mRNA levels in cocaine-naive rats, but not in cocaine-withdrawn rats, suggesting less tonic opioid inhibition of PVN AVP neurons after chronic EDC. To assess the effects of cocaine withdrawal on sub-populations of PVN AVP neurons, we utilized AVP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) promoter transgenic mice and found that acute withdrawal following chronic EDC increased the number of AVP-EGFP neurons in the parvocellular PVN (pPVN). These results suggest that during protracted withdrawal, enhanced pPVN AVP gene expression is associated with persistent elevations of basal HPA activity; a hyposensitivity of PVN AVP gene expression to naloxone is indicative of reduced opioidergic tone. Our studies indicate that the AVP and its V1b receptor system may be a potential therapeutic target for treating anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with cocaine addiction.
Ultraviolet spectra and structure of zinc–cellulose complexes in zinc chloride solution

The spectral characteristics of aqueous zinc chloride solutions (67% w/w) containing cellulose, cellobiose, maltose, β-methyl glucoside, and glucose were compared. The results suggest that zinc ion forms loose complexes with the C2 or C3 hydroxyl groups of glucose or methyl glucopyranoside. The absorption of light in the 200–220 nm range indicates the formation of these types of complexes. In solutions containing cellobiose or cellulose, zinc ion forms complexes with the hemiacetal oxygen atom of the anhydroglucose at the nonreducing end and a hydroxyl group of an anhydroglucose unit at the reducing end. This type of complex absorbs at 290 nm. Light absorption of cellobiose solutions at 235 nm was also correlated with similar complexes involving the anomeric oxygen at the reducing end of cellobiose. The absorption at 290 nm was proportional to the zinc chloride concentration. The presence of calcium ion also enhances the absorption; however, ion alone cannot form a complex with cellulose. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1441–1446, 1999
Symbiotic offshore energy harvesting and storage systems

Abstract Taken separately, various offshore energy harvesting and storage machines can have a difficult time competing with land-based systems with regard to both initial capital cost and variable costs. However, collocating systems in a symbiotic way can lead to competitive advantages for offshore systems. This paper explores such combinations based on using the support structure for an offshore wind turbine as a basis for an energy storage system, a wave energy harvesting system, and a uranium-from-seawater mining system. Further considerations could also include aquaculture facilities as well as enhanced sport fisherman opportunities. Finally, far offshore systems are not only less likely to negatively impact birds, such as birds-of-prey, while experience with offshore oil platforms have been shown to act as undersea wildlife havens.
Metalloantimalarials: synthesis and characterization of a novel agent possessing activity against Plasmodium falciparum

The synthesis, characterization, and antimalarial potency of an amine-phenol complex of gallium(III), [{1,12-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-(quinolin-3-yl)-benzyl)-1,5,8,12-tetraazadodecane}-gallium(III)]+, [Ga-3-M-5-Quadd]+ (7) is described; a novel agent that targets Plasmodium falciparum strains.
Ozone profile retrieval from Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III) limb scatter measurements

[1] The ability of SAGE III to retrieve the ozone vertical distribution within the atmosphere from limb scatter measurements is being investigated. The sunlight scattered by atmospheric gases and particulates (aerosol and clouds) and the Earth's surface is measured and spectrally dispersed by the SAGE III high vertical resolution spectrometer. The spectral data are shown to contain sufficient information to retrieve ozone density from 10 km (or cloud top) to 50 km at a resolution of about 1 km using ultraviolet and visible channels. Since SAGE III was not designed to operate in limb scatter mode, the radiance measurements are contaminated with significant stray light, and a method had to first be developed and implemented to deconvolve instrumental effects from the data. Furthermore, SAGE III has limited attitude determination capability, and tangent altitude registration has to be derived mostly from measured radiance profiles. Two retrieval algorithms were implemented to infer ozone profiles from measured radiance data: the first one is based on the wavelength triplet method, and the second one uses the multiple linear regression technique. Retrieved ozone profiles are shown for a series of cases and compared with available correlative data measured by ozone sondes, SAGE III in occultation mode, and OSIRIS.
Outcome of hepatitis C patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplant.

Outcome of hepatitis C patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplant
Seasonal and spatial variability in chemical composition and mass closure of ambient ultrafine particles in the megacity of Los Angeles

Emerging toxicological research has shown that ultrafine particles (UFP, dp < 0.1–0.2 μm) may be more potent than coarse or fine particulate matter. To better characterize quasi-UFP (PM0.25, dp < 0.25 μm), we conducted a year-long sampling campaign at 10 distinct areas in the megacity of Los Angeles, including source, near-freeway, semi-rural receptor and desert-like locations. Average PM0.25 mass concentration ranged from 5.9 to 16.1 μg m−3 across the basin and over different seasons. Wintertime levels were highest at the source site, while lowest at the desert-like site. Conversely, summertime concentrations peaked at the inland receptor locations. Chemical mass reconstruction revealed that quasi-UFP in the basin consisted of 49–64% organic matter, 3–6.4% elemental carbon, 9–15% secondary ions (SI), 0.7–1.3% trace ions, and 5.7–17% crustal material and trace elements, on a yearly average basis. Organic carbon (OC), a major constituent of PM0.25, exhibited greatest concentrations in fall and winter at all sites, with the exception of the inland areas. Atmospheric stability conditions and particle formation favored by condensation of low-volatility organics contributed to these levels. Inland, OC concentrations peaked in summer due to increased PM0.25 advection from upwind sources coupled with secondary organic aerosol formation. Among SI, nitrate peaked at semi-rural Riverside sites, located downwind of strong ammonia sources. Moreover, ionic balance indicated an overall neutral quasi-UFP aerosol, with somewhat lower degree of neutralization at near-freeway sites in winter. Anthropogenic metals peaked at the urban sites in winter while generally increased at the receptor areas in summer. Lastly, coefficients of divergence analysis showed that while PM0.25 mass is relatively spatially homogeneous in the basin, some of its components, mainly EC, nitrate and several toxic metals, are unevenly distributed. These results suggest that population exposure to quasi-UFP can substantially vary by season and over short spatial scales in the megacity of Los Angeles.
Single-dose disulfiram inhibition of chlorzoxazone metabolism: a clinical probe for P450 2E1

Disulfiram and its reduced metabolite diethyldithiocarbamate have been identified previously as selective mechanism-based inhibitors of human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 2E1 in vitro. In animals, a single oral dose of disulfiram has been shown to produce a rapid and selective inactivation of hepatic P450 2E1 content and catalytic activity in vivo. This investigation explored the efficacy of single dose disulfiram as an inhibitor of human P450 2E1 activity in vivo. Clinical P450 2E1 activity was assessed by the 6-hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone, a metabolic pathway catalyzed selectively by P450 2E1. Six healthy volunteers received 750 mg oral chlorzoxazone on two occasions in a crossover design, 10 hours after 500 mg oral disulfiram, or after no pretreatment (control subjects). Disulfiram pretreatment markedly decreased chlorzoxazone elimination clearance to 15% of control values (from 3.28 +/- 1.40 to 0.49 +/- 0.07 ml/kg/min, p < 0.005), prolonged the elimination half-life (from 0.92 +/- 0.32 to 5.1 +/- 0.9 hours, p < 0.001), and caused a twofold increase in peak plasma chlorzoxazone concentrations (20.6 +/- 9.9 versus 38.7 +/- 10.3 micrograms/ml, p < 0.001). Disulfiram also profoundly decreased the formation clearance of 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, from 2.30 +/- 0.93 to 0.17 +/- 0.05 ml/kg/min (p < 0.005). These findings show that a single dose of disulfiram significantly diminishes the activity of human P450 2E1 in vivo. The efficacy of single-dose disulfiram as an inhibitor of human P450 2E1 suggests that this modality for manipulating clinical P450 2E1 activity may provide a useful probe for delineating P450 2E1 participation in human drug biotransformation or for the treatment of poisoning by P450 2E1-activated toxins.