cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximizing Contributions to an HSA: Findings from the EBRI HSA Database

While there is a growing body of literature around the use of medical services and spending among individuals in HSA-eligible plans, there is limited financial data on accounts and account owners. In 2013, the maximum annual contribution to an HSA was $3,250 for account owners with individual coverage and $6,450 for account owners with family coverage. Individuals who had reached age 55 and not yet enrolled in Medicare could make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution. Maximum annual contributions included both individual and employer contributions. This paper examines data on contributions from the EBRI HSA Database. Specifically, it examines HSA owners and characteristics associated with accounts receiving the maximum contribution. HSAs with contributions of between $3,088-$3,413 ($3,250 plus or minus 5 percent), or at least $6,128 ($6,450 minus 5 percent) were considered as having received the maximum contribution. Overall, 15 percent of all accounts had received the maximum contribution in 2013. HSAs opened more recently were less likely than older accounts to have received the maximum contribution. Accounts with distributions for claims and higher-level claims were more likely to have received the maximum contribution. Accounts belonging to older HSA owners were more likely than those belonging to younger ones to have received the maximum contribution. Men were more likely than women to receive maximum contributions in their HSA. Sixteen percent of accounts belonging to men received the maximum contribution compared to 10 percent among those belonging to women. When contributions were examined by both gender and age, it was found that among men, 55-64-year-old HSA owners were more likely to receive maximum contributions in their HSAs than those ages 45-54. However, among women, 55-64-year-old HSA owners were less likely to receive maximum contributions in their HSAs than those ages 45-54. In 2013, 14 percent of HSAs with an employer contribution received the maximum contribution, compared with 20 percent of accounts without an employer contribution. The PDF for the above title, published in the January 2015 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another January 2015 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Debt of the Elderly and Near Elderly, 1992-2013.”
Analysis of Dominant Enhancers and Suppressors of Activated Notch in Drosophila

The Notch receptor controls cell fate decisions throughout Drosophila development. Truncated, ligand-independent forms of this protein delay or block differentiation. We have previously shown that expression of the intracellular domain of the receptor under the control of the sevenless enhancer/promoter induces a rough eye phenotype in the adult fly. Analysis of the resultant cellular transformations suggested that this form of Notch acts as a constitutively activated receptor. To identify gene products that interact with Notch, a second-site mutagenesis screen was performed to isolate enhancers and suppressors of the eye phenotype caused by expression of these activated Notch molecules. We screened 137,000 mutagenized flies and recovered 290 dominant modifiers. Many new alleles of previously identified genes were isolated, as were mutations defining novel loci that may function in the Notch signaling pathway. We discuss the data with respect to known features of Notch receptor signaling and Drosophila eye development.
Inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontal bone loss by CXCR4 antagonist treatment.

Microbial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to proactively manipulate innate immunity, thereby improving their fitness in mammalian hosts. We have previously shown that Porphyromonas gingivalis exploits CXC-chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) to instigate a subversive crosstalk with Toll-like receptor 2 that inhibits leukocyte killing of this periodontal pathogen. However, whether CXCR4 plays a role in periodontal disease pathogenesis has not been previously addressed. Here, we hypothesized that CXCR4 is required for P. gingivalis virulence in the periodontium and that treatment with AMD3100, a potent CXCR4 antagonist, would inhibit P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis. Indeed, mice administered AMD3100 via osmotic minipumps became resistant to induction of periodontal bone loss following oral inoculation with P. gingivalis. AMD3100 appeared to act in an antimicrobial manner, since mice treated with AMD3100 were protected against P. gingivalis colonization and the associated elevation of the total microbiota counts in the periodontal tissue. Moreover, even when administered two weeks post-infection, AMD3100 halted the progression of P. gingivalis-induced periodontal bone loss. Therefore, AMD3100 can act in both preventive and therapeutic ways and CXCR4 antagonism could be a promising novel approach to treat human periodontitis.
Aromatics, light olefins and gasoline from methanol: Mechanistic pathways with ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst

Abstract The conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons with zeolite ZSM-5 as catalyst provides a novel route to gasoline as well as to olefins and aromatics as chemical raw materials. The reaction is acid-catalyzed and involves alkylation of olefins and aromatics as major methanol conversion steps, accompanied by olefin isomerization, polymerization/cracking, cyclization and aromatization via hydrogen transfer. Shape-selective control of the aromatics produced results from the use of the medium pore size zeolite ZSM-5. It is shown that the true kinetic pathways are often disguised by diffusion/desorption effects. Ethylene is most likely the first olefinic hydrocarbon formed.
Multivariate GARCH modeling of sector volatility transmission

Abstract This paper employs a multivariate GARCH model to simultaneously estimate the mean and conditional variance using daily returns among different US sector indexes from January 1, 1992 to June 6, 2005. Since different financial assets are traded based on these sector indexes, it is important for financial market participants to understand the volatility transmission mechanism over time and across sectors in order to make optimal portfolio allocation decisions. We find significant transmission of shocks and volatility among different sectors. These findings support the idea of cross-market hedging and sharing of common information by investors in these sectors.
Relationship between hydrological characteristics and dissolved organic carbon concentration and mass in northern prairie wetlands using a conservative tracer approach

[1] The semiarid prairie pothole region of the North American Great Plains is characterized by millions of small, shallow, closed basin wetlands. These wetlands are hydrologically dynamic, often losing considerable water volume and depth seasonally in response to high evaporative stress and/or infiltration rates. However, the consequences of such water loss on wetland water chemistry parameters, in particular dissolved organic carbon (DOC), remain relatively unstudied. Seasonal changes in DOC concentrations in 12 freshwater and saline wetlands at the St. Denis National Wildlife Refuge near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, were examined over an 8-year period (1993-2000). Specific conductivity in the study ponds ranged from 312 AS cm -1 to 33,493 μS cm -1 (seasonal means). DOC concentrations in all study ponds were high (>10 mg L -1 ) and increased across a gradient of increasing salinity (mean DOC values from fresh water to saline ranged from 19.7 mg L -1 to 102.7 mg L -1 ). In the majority of ponds, DOC concentrations increased seasonally from spring through fall. On average this increase was 21 mg L -1 , with fall values averaging 60% greater than spring. The greatest DOC increases were observed in saline ponds which lost most of their water by evaporation. Although DOC in these ponds was highly correlated with the conservative tracer, chloride, the slopes of these regression lines were always less than 1 as were the DOC:chloride ratios, indicating nonconservative DOC behavior. Additionally, chloride concentrations increased much faster seasonally than did DOC. Taken together, these data indicated that although DOC was not behaving conservatively, at least some of the observed DOC increases could be explained by simple evapoconcentration. These data also suggested that saline ponds appeared to experience net seasonal removal of DOC. Possible removal mechanisms for DOC include infiltration to the pond margin, bacterial utilization, and photolysis. Freshwater ponds, which lost most of their water by infiltration to the pond margin, on the other hand, displayed less seasonal variation in DOC concentrations. In these ponds, the relationship between DOC and chloride ion was not as strong as in the saline ponds; the slope of this relationship was always >1, as were DOC:chloride ratios. These data indicated that although DOC was being lost to the pond margin as water infiltrated, freshwater ponds accumulated DOC seasonally. Decomposition and excretion of DOC by macrophytes, as well as by pelagic and attached phytoplankton, are the likely within pond sources of DOC here. The rapid response of these small, shallow aquatic systems to water loss make them ideal microcosms in which to study effects of climate on DOC concentrations and other water chemistry parameters.
Secondary Workers' Earnings and Their Impact on Family Income Adequacy1

The purposes of this study were to investigate the contributions to family income of secondary workers in eight diverse samples and to develop a measure for assessing the impact of such earnings on the family's income adequacy. This measure, the income adequacy improvement index, considers the contributions from secondary workers in relation to adequacy of the family's income from other sources. The impact of supplemental earnings was determined to be greatest in the sample of California migrant families, both because they received substantial contributions from secondary workers and because the level of income from other sources was inadequate. For the same reasons, secondary workers in black families attained relatively high values for the income adequacy improvement index.
Moving toward a Culture of Evidence: Documentation and Action Research in the Practice of Arts Partnerships.

Arts organizations that partner with schools to design, implement, and evaluate arts education programs are rethinking traditional practices of evaluation to more directly engage school partners, artists, and administrators. External arts partners are also being held accountable for learning outcomes that result from their programs. In this article, the authors describe an urban arts organization that is moving toward an institutional culture that engages teachers, artists, students, parents, and administrators in a process of documentation and action research that enhances the ability to evaluate teaching and learning. This layered research approach within an arts organization enables participants to link teaching standards to student work and contributes to the larger dialogue about arts education programs in schools.
Karyology and tumorigenicity of a simian virus 40-transformed Chinese hamster cell clone.

A pseudodiploid clone of Chinese hamster cells transformed in vitro with Simian virus 40 (SV40) was isolated from soft agar and injected into nude mice through three successive passages with a short in vitro cultivation between each animal inoculation. The original clone and the three subsequent tumor populations were characterized in regard to SV40 T antigen staining, modal chromosome number, and Giemsa-banded karyotype. All tumor cell lines maintained the pseudodiploid mode, as well as the positive SV40 T antigen staining. Nonrandom chromosomal changes included loss of one of the X chromosomes, additions of abnormal variants of chromosomes No. 1 and No. 2, the appearance of unidentified marker chromosomes, and the loss of autosomes No. 5, No. 6, and No. 11. The deletion of one of the X chromosomes occurred with about the same frequency in all cell lines. Additions of abnormal chromosomes No. 1 and No. 2 tended to recur more often in the tumor cell lines than in the original clone. The appearance of marker chromosomes, as well as the loss of autosomes No. 5, No. 6, and No. 11 demonstrated a correlation with tumorigenicity. Yet, the three successive passages of the cells through the animal did not select for a tumor population with a single, homogeneous karyotype.
Determination of protein concentration in aqueous humor.

SUMMARY Accurate determination of protein concentration in the aqueous humor is important in the interpretation of experiments relevant to the pathogenesis and therapy of glaucoma. We made preliminary observations that the high concentration of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor might interfere with commonly used protein determination assays. Therefore, we tested the effect of ascorbic acid upon absorbance in the bicinchoninic acid (BCA), Lowry, and Bradford assays. Ascorbic acid and bovine serum albumin, alone and in combination, were added to BCA, Lowry, and Bradford reagents in 96-well plates. Absorbance was measured at 562 nm (BCA) and 590 nm (Lowry and Bradford). As little as 40 ng and 28 mug of ascorbic acid (typical aqueous humor concentration is 200-400 mug/ml) altered absorbance in the BCA and Lowry assays, respectively. The Bradford assay was not affected by ascorbic acid. Because of the high ascorbic acid and low protein concentration in aqueous humor, assays such as the BCA and Lowry, which are dependent upon oxidation-reduction reactions, must be used with caution. In most situations, the Bradford method is best for determination of aqueous humor protein concentration.
A rejoinder to Silberman

Jonathan Silberman's comment makes some contributions to the empirical analysis of campaign funds. In particular he uses probit analysis to estimate the combined electoral production function, in which money is an input and probability of election is the output. However, several of his points involving functional form, specification of variables, and a policy conclusion should not go unchallenged. Silberman first estimates the production function in which money is an input and expected vote percentage is the output. For a functional form he chooses a Cobb-Douglas production function to replace my choice of linear and double-log forms. He argues that because a campaign is a zero-sum game, the value of the output is unaffected by proportional changes in inputs. While palusible this conclusion is a non sequitur; symmetry in the outputs of two candidates' production functions does not logically imply symmetry in the input-output relationship. Nor do campaigns always have such symmetry. For instance, proportional increases in the amount spent to get out the vote usually aid Democratic candidates over their Republican opponents. Thus, a functional form which assumes symmetry is not "more theoretically appropriate" (italics mine). From the estimates of the Cobb-Douglas function, the elasticities of the ratios of inputs can be read directly. Unfortunately, the marginal products (MP) of money
Arachidonate mobilization is coupled to depletion of intracellular calcium stores and influx of extracellular calcium in differentiated U937 cells

We have previously reported that dimethylsulfoxide-differentiation of U937 cells induced significant A23187-stimulatable arachidonate mobilization, consistent with characteristics of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (Rzigalinski, B.A. and Rosenthal, M.D. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1223, 219–225). The present report demonstrates that differentiated cells attained higher elevations of intracellular free calcium in response to A23187 and thapsigargin, consistent with enhancement of the capacitative calcium influx pathway. Differentiation induced a significant increase in the size of the intracellular calcium stores, as well as in the capacity for store-activated calcium influx. Alterations in the capacitative calcium influx pathway were coupled to differentiation-induced activation of cPLA2 and mobilization of arachidonate in response to thapsigargin and fMLP stimulation. Although cPLA2 activity is often associated with influx of extracellular calcium, arachidonate mobilization in response to thapsigargin or fMLP was not simply a consequence of calcium influx. Assessment of intracellular free calcium elevations during thapsigargin or fMLP-induced stimulation suggest that a low level of arachidonic acid release was initiated upon release of intracellular store calcium. This initial release of arachidonate was unaffected by inhibition of calcium influx with nickel, EGTA, or SKF96365. Arachidonate release was observed when extracellular calcium was replaced with extracellular strontium, suggesting activation of the cytosolic PLA2 rather than secretory PLA2. Inhibition of PLA2 with prostaglandin B oligomer prevented both thapsigargin and fMLP-stimulated influx of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, exogenous free arachidonate stimulated influx of extracellular calcium in differentiated U937 cells. These results suggest that cPLA2-mediated release of free arachidonate may participate in the formation of a calcium influx factor which controls influx of extracellular calcium through store-controlled channels in the plasma membrane.
Edge Effects on the pH Response of Graphene Nanoribbon Field Effect Transistors

We report the pH response enhancement of the electrolyte-gated graphene field effect transistors by controllably introducing edge defects. An average improvement of pH response from 4.2 to 24.6 mV/pH has been observed after downscaling the pristine graphene into graphene nanoribbon arrays with electron beam lithography (EBL) and oxygen plasma. We attribute the improved pH response in graphene nanoribbons to the increased number of hydroxyl groups attached to edge defects as the edge length to surface area ratio increases with decreasing graphene nanoribbon width. Moreover, the shift of the Dirac point in response to the pH change has been found to be reversible, indicating that the hydroxyl ions are binding to the edge defect sites of the graphene nanoribbons through physical adsorption.
Effect of catalyst size on coal liquefaction reactions and kinetics

Abstract Diffusion of reacting coal species through catalyst pores is an important factor in the kinetics of coal liquefaction reactions. The effect of diffusion was studied using a model naphthalene system and using Illinois #6 coal and asphaltenes and preasphaltenes derived from Illinois #6 solvent refined coal. These reactions were performed with four different presulfided NiMo/Al2O3 extrudate sizes (1/10″, 1/16″, 1/32″, and 1/64″) and with each catalyst in powdered (−200 mesh) form. Thermal reactions were also performed. The naphthalene reaction showed definite diffusional limitations at a reaction temperature of 300°C. The selectivity of naphthalene to intermediate product followed the theoretical prediction with decreasing particle size for a first order series reaction. Diffusional limitations were also observed in the coal liquefaction reactions. The upgrading of coal and preasphaltenes with large catalyst pellets produced much more conversion to products soluble in pentane, benzene, and methylene chloride/methanol than did the thermal reactions for each of the materials; however, little improvement was observed in the asphaltene reaction. Reducing the catalyst size significantly increased the degree of upgrading of all three materials. A kinetic model has been developed for the reaction and rate constants have been calculated.
Neuroimaging in pediatric traumatic brain injury: current and future predictors of functional outcome.

Although neuroimaging has long played a role in the acute management of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), until recently, its use as a tool for understanding and predicting long-term brain-behavior relationships after TBI has been limited by the relatively poor sensitivity of routine clinical imaging for detecting diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Newer magnetic resonance-based imaging techniques demonstrate improved sensitivity to DAI. Early research suggests that these techniques hold promise for identifying imaging predictors and correlates of chronic function, both globally and within specific neuropsychological domains. In this review, we describe the principles of new, advanced imaging techniques including diffusion weighted and diffusion tensor imaging, susceptibility weighted imaging, and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, we summarize current research demonstrating their early success in establishing relationships between imaging measures and functional outcomes after TBI. With the ongoing research, these imaging techniques may allow earlier identification of possible chronic sequelae of tissue injury for each child with TBI, thereby facilitating efficacy and efficiency in delivering successful rehabilitation services. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2009;15:117–123.
Taking the network on the road: Portable network solutions for computer security educators

Educational institutions that wish to implement a specialized teaching laboratory often have a variety of obstacles to overcome. Some of these obstacles are related to adapting existing classroom infrastructure, building the laboratory, and meeting the demands for multiple-use classrooms to maximize the return on investment. In some cases, such as computer security, they must also maintain a controlled environment. Portable educational networks of computers allow teaching specialized topics that have heretofore required specialized laboratories in existing classrooms. Their flexibility allows them to be used for a variety of content---operating systems, networking, security, and forensics. These systems are in use today supporting undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.
HL Tauri and its circumstellar disk

New far infrared observations of HL Tau which support the identification of an edge-on disk surrounding the star are presented. A bolometric luminosity for the star of 7.2 solar luminosities and a ratio of infrared to optical luminosity of 630 are indicated. A circumstellar A(V) of about 7.0 mag is produced, consistent with the silicate optical depth to the star. Data on HL Tau's effective temperature and radius and its position on the HR diagram suggest that the star has recently completed its accretion phase and is only 100,000 yr old. The column masses of ice and silicates are combined with the disk dimensions to build a simple model of the disk for comparison with the primitive solar nebula. Estimates of the far-infrared emitting mass provide independent probes of the mass in larger grains around HL Tau.
The effects of movement distance and movement time on visual feedback processing in aimed hand movements.

Abstract An experiment is reported that manipulated movement distance, movement time and the availability of vision (Light-On versus Light-Off) on the accuracy of aimed hand movements. There was a constant difference in spatial accuracy between Light-On and Light-off conditions as a function of distance when the duration of the movement was 200 msec; when the duration of the aimed hand movement was 400 or 600 msec the difference in spatial accuracy between Light-On and Light-Off conditions increased as distance increased. These results were taken as support for a two-process model of visual feedback processing in aimed hand movements, and provide converging evidence for the rapid visual feedback processing results of Zelaznik, Hawkins, and Kisselburgh (1983).
Use of 14C and 13C natural abundances for evaluating riverine, estuarine, and coastal DOC and POC sources and cycling: a review and synthesis

Abstract Though not typically regarded as “biomarkers” in the traditional sense of the word, the radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon (14C and 13C, respectively) can serve as powerful tools for identifying sources and estimating turnover times of organic matter in aquatic systems. Paired 14C and 13C measurements of carbon pools can provide an additional degree of specificity for studies of organic matter cycling as a result of: (1) the lower susceptibility of natural isotopes to diagenetic effects that can alter organic biomolecules; (2) the “dual” isotopic nature of the approach; (3) the unique input functions for each isotope; and (4) the greater dynamic range in Δ14C (−1000 to ∼+200‰) compared to δ13C (∼−32 to −12‰). Relatively few geochemical studies in rivers, estuaries and the coastal ocean waters have employed 14C and 13C analyses of organic matter. In this paper we summarize the available data on 14C and 13C measurements in dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC, respectively) in these systems. A brief review is presented of current methods for the separation and oxidation of DOC and POC from water samples, for subsequent Δ14C and δ13C analyses. We also compile the existing datasets on paired 14C and 13C measurements across the riverine to coastal marine continuum in order to elucidate sources, ages, and transformations of organic matter within each system, and during transport from rivers to the coastal ocean. The natural range in the Δ14C values of both DOC and POC across similar system types was 500 and 1000‰, respectively. In general, riverine DOC was enriched in 14C relative to POC in rivers and estuaries, but the opposite generally held for coastal marine waters. This is indicative of the different sources and transport mechanisms for DOC and POC within and across these three general types of systems. During river and estuarine transport, DOC generally becomes enriched in 13C and depleted in 14C due to simultaneous additions from autochthonous production and removals from heterotrophic bacteria and abiotic processes. Bacterial utilization experiments indicate that bacteria preferentially utilize a 14C enriched (i.e. young) DOC fraction and, therefore, DOC utilization is a partial explanation for the 14C-depeleted riverine and estuarine DOC. It is concluded that through the use of paired 14C and 13C measurements in DOC and POC, a more robust interpretation of sources, sinks, and residence times of organic matter may be attained than by using either isotope separately.
Aerobic respiration in the Archaean

The Earth's atmosphere during the Archaean era (3,800-2,500 Myr ago) is generally thought to have been anoxic, with the partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen about 10(-12) times the present value. In the absence of aerobic consumption of oxygen produced by photosynthesis in the ocean, the major sink for this oxygen would have been oxidation of dissolved Fe(II). Atmospheric oxygen would also be removed by the oxidation of biogenic methane. But even very low estimates of global primary productivity, obtained from the amounts of organic carbon preserved in Archaean rocks, seem to require the sedimentation of an unrealistically large amount of iron and the oxidation of too much methane if global anoxia was to be maintained. I therefore suggest that aerobic respiration must have developed early in the Archaean to prevent a build-up of atmospheric oxygen before the Proterozoic. An atmosphere that contained a low (0.2-0.4%) but stable proportion of oxygen is required.
Centrosome precursors in the acentriolar mouse oocyte

Centrioles disappear from the mouse oocyte during early oogenesis. However, it has been known for some time that multiple structures known as microtubule organizing centers (MTOC) form the spindle poles during meiosis as well as the mitotic poles during early cleavage. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the structures which exist prior to the appearance of the multiple MTOC associated with meiotic division. Reported here for the first time is a description of the unique structures which exist before the onset of oocyte maturation, their location, and microtubule (MT) nucleating ability. Correlative confocal, immuno-, and electron microscopic studies of mouse oocytes released from ovaries directly into 2% paraformaldehyde (time zero) show two large g-tubulin-positive structures in the cortex, averaging 10 mm in diameter. The present work is the first to demonstrate that although these structures contain g-tubulin, they do not resemble MTOC morphologically nor do they appear to nucleate MT. They are termed here multivesicular aggregates (MVA), and ultrastructural analysis reveals that they contain a variety of vesicular structures including many ring structures of approximately 25 nm. At the onset of maturation, these two MVA migrate toward the GV breaking into smaller units, only some of which mature into MTOC and nucleate MT. These correlative microscopic studies support the conclusion that MVA are centrosomal precursors, but with a unique ultrastructure. The ultrastructural organization of MVA may explain the cryptic function of MTOC in the prematuration environment of the dictyate oocyte. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:428 - 434, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Creating a single twin boundary between two CdTe (111) wafers with controlled rotation angle by wafer bonding

The single twin boundary with crystallographic orientation relationship (1¯1¯1¯)//(111) [01¯1]//[011¯] was created by wafer bonding. Electron diffraction patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated the well control of the rotation angle between the bonded pair. At the twin boundary, one unit of wurtzite structure was found between two zinc-blende matrices. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy images showed Cd- and Te-terminated for the two bonded portions, respectively. The I-V curve across the twin boundary showed increasingly nonlinear behavior, indicating a potential barrier at the bonded twin boundary.
Generating conditional expectations from models with selectivity bias: comment

Abstract Plugging identical values of the Mills' ratio into estimates of selectivity-adjusted wage regressions for men and women generates wage predictions that pertain to men and women with identical unobserved characteristics only under highly restrictive conditions. This calls into question the suggestion of Vella (1988) and the details of several gender gap decomposition studies.
Redefining the structure-activity relationships of 2,6-methano-3-benzazocines. 5. Opioid receptor binding properties of N-((4'-phenyl)-phenethyl) analogues of 8-CAC.

Abstract A series of aryl-containing N-monosubstituted analogues of the lead compound 8-[N-((4′-phenyl)-phenethyl)]-carboxamidocyclazocine were synthesized and evaluated to probe a putative hydrophobic binding pocket of opioid receptors. Very high binding affinity to the μ opioid receptor was achieved though the N-(2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)ethyl) analogue of 8-CAC. High binding affinity to μ and very high binding affinity to κ opioid receptors was observed for the N-(3-bromophenethyl) analogue of 8-CAC. High binding affinity to all three opioid receptors were observed for the N-(2-naphthylethyl) analogue of 8-CAC.
Singular perturbation analysis of a class of boundary value problems arising in catalytic reaction theory

A class of boundary value problems which models some reactions occurring in porous catalyst pellets is solved asymptotically by singular perturbation methods for large values of the Thiele modulus. The results feature a quantitative description of the physically observed “boundary layer” effect, wherein most of the reaction is confined to a narrow region near the mouth of the pore. The mathematical theory is developed by means of differential inequalities, and several examples are discussed in detail, including a model problem of Weekman and Gorring for a reaction accompanied by a change in volume.
Mass-transfer effects of bubble streams rising near vertical electrodes

Mass-transfer enhancement by a stream of bubbles rising near a planar, vertical surface is resolved spatially and temporally using a micromosaic electrode. A stream of gas bubbles is generated electrolytically, either at a segment directly below and in the plane of the monitoring electrodes, or at a wire tip that can be positioned inside or outside the mass-transfer boundary layer. The mass-transfer enhancement resulting from bubbles rising within the mass-transfer boundary layer is found to be strong and localized, in agreement with trends predicted by a surface-renewal model. Mass transfer resulting from bubbles rising outside the boundary layer is found to receive a steady, laminar enhancement, correlating well with predictions from an idealization of the bubble stream entraining a cylinder of liquid.
Cell-specific regulation of apoptosis by designed enediynes.

Abstract The naturally occurring enediyne antibiotics are a unique class of antitumor drugs that combine reactive enediynes with additional structural features conferring affinity for DNA. Dynemicin A, in which an enediyne core is attached to an anthraquinone group capable of DNA intercalation, readily cleaves double-stranded DNA. This activity is thought to be the basis of its potent antitumor cytotoxicity. To investigate cell-specific mechanisms of cytotoxicity in the absence of DNA affinity, we have synthesized a variety of dynemicin-like enediynes that lack the anthraquinone moiety. We have found that the cytotoxicity of these compounds is dependent on their chemical instability and their enantiomeric form. Their selective toxicity results from a potent induction of apoptosis primarily in human leukemic cells. A group of synthetic enediynes were designed to be highly stable. These compounds were found to inhibit apoptotic cell death. This inhibition was observed in competition with the chemically unstable enediynes, including dynemicin and calicheamicin. The stable synthetic enediynes could also block the apoptotic morphology induced by unrelated cytotoxic agents such as cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and ultraviolet radiation. The results suggest that the cellular target(s) of synthetic enediynes may play a central role in regulating programmed cell death; a specific receptor-ligand interaction is proposed.
An observational study of affective and assertive family interactions during adolescence

The purpose of this study was to describe the role of affective and assertive interactions in familial adaptation to adolescent pubertal development. Twenty-five family triads consisting of the adolescent and parents were asked to engage in an Unrevealed Differences task. This interaction was audiorecorded, and statements were coded as affective or assertive using a modified version of Bales's ([1970) Personality and Interpersonal Behavior, Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, Inc., New York) Interaction Process Analysis. Family relationships appear redefined during transpuberty, a time when physical changes associated with the onset of puberty are at apeak. This redefinition of transpubertal family relations is characterized by a decline in the use of affective statements coupled with an increase in the use of assertive statements relative to prepubertal and postpubertal families. Differences in mother-adolescent and father-adolescent interactions also are discussed.
Leishmania donovani: Long-term culture of axenic amastigotes at 37 °C

Abstract L. donovani promastigotes were subjected to heat treatment yielding an axenic amastigote stage which was long-term cultured at 37 °C. No differences were observed between the growth rates of axenic amastigotes and promastigotes. Flow cytometry-derived DNA histograms of axenic amastigotes and promastigotes were typical of exponentially growing cell populations. Moreover, axenic amastigotes were metabolically active as evidenced by the release of an immunoprecipitable extracellular acid phosphatase (SAcP) into their culture supernatant. Cell transformation was confirmed by transmission electronmicroscopic examination of thin sections and extended by fracture-flip survey which allowed differentiation of cell membranes. The ultrastructure and nanoanatomy of axenic amastigotes was identical to that of intracellular amastigotes. The production of large amounts of heat-shock axenic amastigotes suitable for biochemical and biological studies of differentiation in Leishmania donovani may have important implications in the development of prevention and/or treatment strategies.
Mannitol-facilitated perfusion staining with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) for detection of experimental cerebral infarction and biochemical analysis

A simple method to quantify cerebral infarction has great value for mechanistic and therapeutic studies in experimental stroke research. Immersion staining of unfixed brain slices with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) is a popular method to determine cerebral infarction in preclinical studies. However, it is often difficult to apply immersion TTC-labeling to severely injured or soft newborn brains in rodents. Here we report an in vivo TTC perfusion-labeling method based on osmotic opening of blood-brain-barrier with mannitol-pretreatment. This new method delineates cortical infarction correlated with the boundary of morphological cell injury, differentiates the induction or subcellular redistribution of apoptosis-related factors between viable and damaged areas, and easily determines the size of cerebral infarction in both adult and newborn mice. Using this method, we confirmed that administration of lipopolysaccharide 72 h before hypoxia-ischemia increases the damage in neonatal mouse brains, in contrast to its effect of protective preconditioning in adults. These results demonstrate a fast and inexpensive method that simplifies the task of quantifying cerebral infarction in small or severely injured brains and assists biochemical analysis of experimental cerebral ischemia.
Structure and Reactivity of [(L•Pd)n•(1,5-cyclooctadiene)] (n=1-2) Complexes Bearing Biaryl Phosphine Ligands.

Abstract The structure of the stable Pd(0) precatalyst [(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(L·Pd)2] (L = AdBrettPhos) for the Pd-catalyzed fluorination of aryl triflates has been further studied by solid state NMR and X-ray cystrallography of the analogous N-phenylmaleimide complex. The reactivity of this complex with CDCl3 to form a dearomatized complex is also presented. In addition, studies suggest that related bulky biaryl phosphine ligands form similar complexes, although the smaller ligand BrettPhos forms a monomeric [(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(L·Pd)] species instead.
Modeling microstructure effects on electromigration in lead-free solder joints

This paper studies the microstructure effects on electromigration in lead-free solder joints in wafer level chip scale package (WL-CSP). It is an extension of an earlier isotropic model [1]. The three dimensional finite element model for solder joints is developed and analyzed in ANSYS ® . A sub-modeling technique combined with an indirect coupled electrical-thermal-mechanical analysis is utilized to obtain more accurate simulation results in solder bumps. Four representative microstructures of the solder bumps are modeled and anisotropic elastic, thermal and diffusion property data are used. The results obtained from the four representative microstructures are compared with each other. The microstructure effects on electromigration are drawn from the plots of the atomic flux divergence (AFD) and the time to failure (TTF) with respect to microstructure parameters.
Making Inferences with Indirect Measurements

The distribution of part quality is examined for parts produced by a manufacturing process when only indirect quality measurements are available. A proposed method uses the relationship between the indirect and direct measurements, as well as a key prop..
Oxygen consumption in relation to ambient temperature in five species of forest-dwelling thrushes (Hylocichla and Catharus)

Abstract 1. 1. The standard metabolic rates of five forest-dwelling thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina, Catharus fuscescens, C. guttatus, C. ustulatus and C. minimus) resting in the dark at thermoneutrality during their normal active period averaged 14·8 per cent below values predicted by Aschoff & Pohl (1970) but were nearly identical to the values predicted by Lasiewski & Dawson (1967). 2. 2. Oxygen consumption of these five thrushes is a linear function of air temperature below speciesspecific lower critical temperatures. 3. 3. The only statistically significant difference (P>0·95) between regression equations relating metabolism below thermoneutrality to ambient temperatures among the five species was that between C. minimus and C. ustulatus. 4. 4. The flatter slope exhibited by C. minimus may represent a metabolic adjustment to the more rigorous environment at high elevations which it alone inhabits.
Impact of Acute Pain and Its Management for Thoracic Surgical Patients

Perioperative analgesia for thoracotomy has evolved in concert with increasing knowledge of the impact of pain on recovery, the origin of this pain, and new methods for treating it. Thoracic surgery is one of the few areas where there is more general agreement between surgeons and anesthesiologists as to the importance of aggressive pain management, often with an indwelling epidural catheter left in place until after thoracostomy tube removal. The reasons for this agreement is that it has become increasingly clear to both specialties that pain puts patients with decreased pulmonary reserve who undergo thoracotomy at greater risk for morbidity. Future studies need to examine drugs or drug combinations that can lead to further reductions in the often intense pain that patients receiving aggressive epidural analgesia still experience. Studies directed at finding interventions capable of reducing the rate of long-term postthoracotomy pain still need to be performed.
Phospho-histone H3 (pHH3) immuno-reactivity as a prognostic marker in non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are typically benign neoplasms that can cause significant morbidity through local mass effects. MIB-1/Ki-67 and p53 immuno-reactivity are used to predict aggressive behavior but have known limitations. No marker to date is widely used to reliably predict tumor progression. Phospho-histone H3 (pHH3) is a protein phosphorylated during chromatin condensation in mitosis, and thus anti-pHH3 immunocytochemistry is able to assess mitotic activity. Study objectives were to determine the relationship among pHH3, MIB-1/Ki-67, and p53 in NFPA, and to evaluate the relationship between these indices and time to progression (TTP). Seventy-six patients with NFPA operated on by a single neurosurgeon at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1992 to 2006 were identified from a database and met all criteria for inclusion in this clinicopathology study. PHH3, MIB-1/Ki-67, and p53 immuno-reactivity was evaluated in each case. Retrospective review was used to determine TTP. With 282 person-years of follow-up, 19 progression events were observed. A correlation was found between MIB-1/Ki-67 and p53 immuno-reactivity (r = 0.25, p = 0.031). PHH3 did not correlate with either. When markers were dichotomized at the median, only MIB-1/Ki-67 correlated with TPP (log rank p = 0.018). Rank correlation analysis confirmed a significant inverse correlation between both MIB-1/Ki-67 (Dxy = −0.33, p = 0.036) and p53 (Dxy = −0.40, 0.016) immuno-reactivity and TTP. Our results support previous data suggesting that MIB-1/Ki-67 and p53 have clinical utility as prognostic markers for tumor progression. PHH3 did not prove to be associated with TTP in this retrospective study limited by few progression events.
Khachiyan's linear programming algorithm

Abstract L. G. Khachiyan's polynomial time algorithm for determining whether a system of linear inequalities is satisfiable is presented together with a proof of its validity. The algorithm can be used to solve linear programs in polynomial time.
Mutant mouse strains as models for in vivo radiotracer evaluations: [11C]methoxytetrabenazine ([11C]MTBZ) in tottering mice

Abstract The regional brain distribution of [ 11 C]methoxytetrabenazine ([ 11 C]MTBZ), a high affinity radioligand for the vesicular monoamine transporter, has been examined in normal and tottering mice, which are neurological mutants. The tottering mice show significantly higher radiotracer accumulation (150–195% of controls) in all brain regions examined (striatum, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and thalamus). The increases in [ 11 C]MTBZ binding correlate ( r = 0.91) with the reported increases in norepinephrine concentrations in these regions, and are consistent with the noradrenergic hyperinnervation characteristic of the tottering mutant mouse. These studies demonstrate that a mutant mouse model of increased innervation can be used to evaluate the sensitivity of an in vivo radiotracer measure, in this case [ 11 C]MTBZ binding to vesicular transporters, to an increase in the numbers of binding sites in specific regions of the brain.
Polyadenylated and nonadenylated messenger RNA and androgen control of sexual behavior and scent marking in male gerbils.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that testosterone stimulates masculine social behaviors by inducing transcription of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), we studied the effects of cordycepin, an adenosine analog that preferentially impairs synthesis of polyadenylated mRNA. When infused into the medial preoptic area of castrated male gerbils an hour before they received systemic injections of testosterone propionate, cordycepin almost completely blocked recovery of sexual behavior but did not affect recovery of scent marking. In gerbils given saline infusions, both behaviors were restored. When treatments were reversed, sexual activity resumed in males previously exposed to cordycepin and declined in males now receiving the drug. Cordycepin also blocked reinstatement of sexual behavior by the two major metabolites of testosterone, estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Thus it does not suppress sexual behavior simply by suppressing synthesis of aromatase or 5α-reductase. Again, cordycepin had no effect on scent marking, although this behavior is sensitive to other drugs that inhibit transcription or translation. The data suggest that testosterone may stimulate sexual behavior and scent marking, respectively, by inducing transcription of polyadenylated and nonadenylated mRNAs.
How past becomes prologue: a sensemaking interpretation of the hindsight-foresight relationship given the circumstances of crisis

Foresight is rooted in deep understanding [A.N. Whitehead. Lecture notes from address to the Harvard Business School, 1931]. Such understanding requires that we shall have first looked back to the past before venturing forward into the future. This paper uses Weick’s and colleagues’ sense making perspective in order to explore this critical relationship between the past and the future [Communication Monographs 44 (1977) 171; Strategic Management Journal, 9 (1986) 559; Human Resource Management, 34(1 Spring) (1995) 27; Academy of Management Journal, 33 (1990) 286; K.E. Weick, The Social Psychology of Organizing, 2nd edn, Random House, Inc., New York, 1979; K.E. Weick, Sense Making in Organizations. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California, 1995]. In particular, key sense making properties will be applied to a crisis, an occurrence of school-place violence that occurred in the United States in 1999. We shall then ask how this organization and its diverse external stakeholders used their understanding of this event to learn how to prevent such crises from occurring in the future. In other words, how capably was hindsight constructed and then how was it used to strengthen foresight into the future? This paper will conduct a theory-based empirical examination of a crisis event and its aftermath to understand how hindsight can be sharpened and then used to improve organizational foresight.