cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oral vancomycin for antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis

Nine patients with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis were treated with oral vancomycin. All had severe diarrhoea, tissue-culture evidence of a clostridial toxin in stool, and typical lesions on sigmoidoscopic examination, despite discontinuation of all antimicrobials for periods of 10 days to 8 weeks. Oral vancomycin was given in doses of 2 g daily. All patients showed a good clinical response with gradual resolution of diarrhoea over 7 days and a rapid decrease in concentrations of the toxin in stools. Follow-up sigmoidoscopies in seven patients showed major improvement or complete clearing of lesions after 7-10 days of vancomycin treatment. The mean concentration of vancomycin in twenty-five stools obtained during treatment was 3100 microgram/g, levels in serum being very low. These results suggest a role for oral vancomycin treatment of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis which persists for extended periods despite discontinuation of the incriminated antimicrobial.
Effect of Heat and Alkali on Lysinoalanine Formation in Fish Muscle

Alkali-treated fish products such as lutefisk and sodium tripolyphosphate-treated fillets were analyzed for lysinoalanine (LAL). No detectable amounts of LAL were found in these products both of which had pH values between 8.0 and 8.5 even after they had been heated to ordinary cooking temperatures (162°C) for up to 30 min. There was no measurable quantity of LAL found in samples at pH 10 heated for 60 min at 90°C; however, measurable quantities of LAL were found in similarly heated samples at pH 12 and 13. Thus, LAL formation is not an apparent problem in the ordinary processing of fish.
A Model for the Construction of the Fusidic Acid Sidechain

Abstract The discovery of the antibiotic fusidic acid from Fusidium coccineum in 19621 provided a valuable new medicinal agent, highly active against staphylococcal infections. Though various modifications of the tetracyclic structure (I) have so far failed to furnish derivatives with enhanced antibiotic activity2, no analogs of different skeletal configuration have yet been prepared for assessing the significance of the unique stereochemistry of the fusidane framework. For this purpose it would be desirable to have an effective method of attaching the fusidic acid sidechain to the 17-keto group of various steroids or to other ketones.
An Albino Strain of Blepharisma

SYNOPSIS. A spontaneous albino mutant of the red heterotrichous ciliate Blepharisma intermedium has been isolated and studied. In addition to its apparent lack of pigment, the albino differs from the parental stock in its manner and frequency of conjugation, high incidence of cannibalism and reduced intensity of micronuclear stainability. The conjugation pattern of the albino is compared to that of the pigmented form as described in the literature. The albinistic character thus far has bred true. Alcoholic extracts of the albino yielded only a trace of pigment. Absorption spectra of alcoholic extracts of the pigmented, the artificially bleached, and the albino organisms were compared. As far as is known, no conjugation or other type of internal nuclear reorganization was observed preceding the phenotypic expression of the mutation; this raises several questions pertaining to the site of mutation and means of its expression. These questions are discussed.
Crystallization of tethered polyethylene in confined geometries

Ordered poly(ethylene)-poly(vinylcyclohexane) (PE-PVCH) block copolymers are employed to study the crystallization of tethered PE in confined geometries. The high Tg of the PVCH component of these materials forces PE chains to crystallize in well-defined geometries dictated by the mesophase structure of the block copolymer. Effects of chain tethering on crystallization are examined through comparison of singly-tethered PE chains in PE-PVCH (EV) diblocks and doubly-tethered PE in PVCH-PE-PVCH (VEV) triblocks. Crystallinity is independent of the block copolymer mesophase structure in both the EV and VEV systems, although crystallinity in VEV depends on the molecular weight of the PE block of the copolymer. Melting temperature data indicate that spatial confinement reduces crystallite size in EV and VEV, and that the double tethering of PE chains in VEV reduces crystallite size further through topological constraints. Crystal nucleation and growth depend strongly on the type of microstructure in both EV and VEV block copolymers. Differences in the overall rate of crystallization are correlated with the dimensional continuity of the PE microdomains. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37:2053–2068, 1999
Dissertation abstract: The experimental analysis of the political economics of fisheries governance

This dissertation focuses on the political economy of fisheries governance. The study develops a formal model of fisheries governance by combining the features of the common pool fishery and the political institution of lobbying; designs a laboratory fishery governance institution and conducts economic experiments to test the hypotheses derived from the formal model. Specifically, the study analyzes how fishing firms invest in efforts to influence fishery regulation and management through voluntary contribution lobbying. The study also analyses and compares contribution and effort behavior in the lobbying and the CPR using data from economic experiments.
Performance of Larval Walleye Cultured Intensively in Clear and Turbid Water

Experiments were conducted to determine the performance of larval walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) reared in clear, 0.2 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), and turbid water, 20 or 50 NTU, on formulated feed. Larvae were cultured for 21, 28, or 30 days posthatch in four trials with 3 or 4 replicate tanks per treatment (clear and turbid) in each trial. Duration of each trial was dependent on the arrival of newly hatched larvae for subsequent trials. The desired turbidity levels were obtained by pumping a solution of clay to the culture tanks every 20 (trial 1) or 30 min (trials 2, 3 and 4). Other than turbidity, all environmental conditions (dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, pH, total ammonia, un-ionized ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, chloride, and hardness) and rearing techniques were similar between treatments. Larvae were stocked at 20/L and fed formulated feed (Fry Feed Kyowa B-400 and B-700) every 3 to 7 min, 24 hours per day. Significant differences in feed acceptance and total length between larvae in the clear and turbid water were observed as early as 7d posthatch. Larvae in turbid water began eating the formulated diet one to two days before those in clear water. In all trials, survival, final length, and final weight of larvae reared in water of high turbidity were significantly greater than for larvae reared in clear water. Mean survival (±SE) for all four trials was 27.7 ± 5.6% in high turbidity water and 5.9 ± 1.3% in clear water. At the end of the trials, mean total length of the larvae reared in turbid water was at least 3.2mm (15%) greater than that in the clear water. Mean final weight of the larvae from turbid water was 2.25 times greater than larvae from clear water over the four trials. In two of the four trials, gas bladder inflation (GBI) of larvae reared in high turbidity was significantly greater than for fish reared in clear water, but the difference in GBI was not significant in the other two trials. In this study, performance of larval walleye was greatly enhanced by water with a turbidity of at least IS NTU.
Comparing and combining evolutionary couplings from interactions and commits

The paper presents an approach to mine evolutionary couplings from a combination of interaction (e.g., Mylyn) and commit (e.g., CVS) histories. These evolutionary couplings are expressed at the file and method levels of granularity, and are applied to support the tasks of commit and interaction predictions. Although the topic of mining evolutionary couplings has been investigated previously, the empirical comparison and combination of the two types from interaction and commit histories have not been attempted. An empirical study on 3272 interactions and 5093 commits from Mylyn, an open source task management tool, was conducted. These interactions and commits were divided into training and testing sets to evaluate the combined, and individual, models. Precision and recall metrics were used to measure the performance of these models. The results show that combined models offer statistically significant increases in recall over the individual models for change predictions. At the file level, the combined models achieved a maximum recall improvement of 13% for commit prediction with a 2% maximum precision drop.
A proposed nomenclature for the alcohol-soluble proteins (zeins) of maize (Zea mays L.)

A nomenclature system for maize (Zea mays L.) prolamins, zeins, is proposed. According to this system, the protein that is rich in proline, glutamine, leucine and/or alanine, and is extracted with aqueous alcohol solutions containing a reducing agent, is considered to be zein. Zein is separated into three distinct classes (α, β and γ) based on differences in solubility, amino acid composition, electrophoretic, chromatographic, and immunological properties, N-terminal amino sequences and complete amino acid sequences deduced from nucleic acid sequences. α-Zein constitutes 75–85% of the total zein and is made up of Mr-21,000–25,000 polypeptides plus a Mr-10,000 minor polypeptide. β-Zein includes Mrr-17,000–18,000 methionine-rich polypeptides and constitutes 10–15% of the total zein. γ-Zein is made up of one size class, Mr-27,000 proline-rich polypeptide, that constitutes 5–10% of the total zein.
Infrared Emission Spectroscopy with Transient Cooling

A new approach for collection of infrared spectral data from optically opaque materials is explored. This approach has previously been introduced in the literature and is known as transient infrared transmission spectroscopy (TIRTS). The front surface of a hot sample is transiently cooled with a jet of cold gas, and the ratio of the spectrum measured after cooling to that measured before cooling is shown to closely resemble a transmission spectrum. This report provides for a more theoretical understanding of the experiments than provided by previous workers, making use of unsteady-state heat flow calculations, harmonic oscillator modeling, and radiation transfer theory. Experimental data are collected from a solid polymer sample and two viscous liquid samples. The position of the spectral features for the emission measurements corresponds with transmission measurements, with some saturation of the more intense spectral features noted. Faster scanning instrumentation, proper pulse scan synchronization, or rotation of solid samples, as demonstrated by previous workers, may resolve the saturation problem.
Increasing trends in plural births in the United States.

Objective To determine the nature and possible reasons for the increasing trend in plural births in the United States during the 1980s. Methods We performed a descriptive analysis of births in the United States for five racial and ethnic groups from 1980–1989, using the United States vital records natality files. Results The rates of twin and triplet births rose 19 and 100%, respectively, during the 1980s. Approximately onefourth of the observed increases can be attributed to rising maternal age. The increases in twin and triplet births occurred mainly among more educated and older white women. Conculsion The association of high education status with rising rates of plural births, independent of maternal age, suggests that the observed increase is the result of increasing use of fertility-stimulating therapy among a subset of the childbearing population.
A RAPID COMPRESSION MACHINE FOR CHEMICAL KINETICS STUDIES AT ELEVATED PRESSURES AND TEMPERATURES

A rapid compression machine (RCM) has been designed and fabricated for the purpose of chemical kinetics studies at elevated pressures and temperatures. The present RCM is pneumatically driven and hydraulically actuated and stopped. Stroke of the machine varies from 7 to 10 inches and clearance is also adjustable. Compression ratio of up to 21 can be obtained. The optically-accessible reaction chamber is equipped with sensors for the measurements of pressure and temperature. In addition, a rapid sampling apparatus is incorporated in the reaction chamber for determining species concentration at specific post-compression time. A deliberately machined crevice on the cylindrical surface of the piston has been optimized, using STAR-CD CFD package, in order to suppress the formation of the roll-up vortex and provide a homogeneous core of reaction mixture. Temperature mapping using planar laser induced fluorescence of acetone shows that roll-up vortex is indeed suppressed by using the present creviced piston. Exp...
Contributions of identifiable neurons and neuron classes to lamprey vertebrate neurobiology

Among the advantages offered by the lamprey brainstem and spinal cord for studies of the structure and function of the nervous system is the unique identifiability of several pairs of reticulospinal neurons in the brainstem. These neurons have been exploited in investigations of the patterns of sensory input to these cells and the patterns of their outputs to spinal neurons, but no doubt these cells could be used much more effectively in exploring their roles in descending control of the spinal cord. The variability of cell positions of neurons in the spinal cord has precluded the recognition of unique spinal neurons. However, classes of nerve cells can be readily defined and characterized within the lamprey spinal cord and this has led to progress in understanding the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of locomotor activity. In addition, both the identifiable reticulospinal cells and the various spinal nerve cell classes and their known synaptic interactions have been used to demonstrate the degree and specificity of regeneration within the lamprey nervous system. The lack of uniquely identifiable cells within the lamprey spinal cord has hampered progress in these areas, especially in gaining a full understanding of the locomotor network and how neuromodulation of the network is accomplished.
Boron-Containing Heterocycles: Syntheses, Structures, and Properties of Benzoborauracils and a Benzoborauracil Nucleoside

Benzo-fused boron-containing heterocycles (benzoborauracils), 1-hydroxy-1H-2,4,1-benzodiazaborin-3-one (3a), 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-1H-2,4,1-benzodiazaborin-3-one (3b), and 1-hydroxy-2-phenyl-1H-2,4,1-benzodiazaborin-3-one (3c) were synthesized, and their structures were established on the basis of 1H, 13C, and 11B NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and microelemental analyses. The structures of compounds 3b and 3c were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analyses. 11B NMR spectral analyses of the methanolic solutions of benzoborauracils 3a−c confirmed the formation of the corresponding bis-methanol adducts 13a−c. The structure of the N-Ph bis-methanol adduct 13c was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The stabilities of these bis-methanol adducts depend on the substituent at the N2 position of 3a−c. The bis-methanol adducts are readily reconverted to the corresponding benzoborauracils upon removal of methanol. The first stable benzoborauracil nucleoside, 4-[5-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2,3...
Controls on production of bryophytes in an arctic tundra stream

SUMMARY 1. Two bryophyte taxa (Hygrohypnum spp. and, to a lesser extent, Fontinalis neomexicana) were abundant in riffles within phosphorus-fertilized reaches of the Kuparuk River (North Slope, Alaska), but were much less common in fertilized pools and virtually absent in unfertilized reaches of the river. We conducted field experiments using stems and clumps of both species and artificial bryophytes to test the hypotheses that bryophyte growth was strongly limited by low phosphorus concentrations in unfertilized reaches, and limited by epiphytes in fertilized pools. 2. Stem tips of Hygrohypnum spp. did not elongate when grown in unfertilized pool and riffle environments. In fertilized reaches, Hygrohypnum elongated significantly, although there was no significant difference in elongation of stem tips placed in pools [2.5 ± 0.9 cm (SD)] as opposed to riffles (2.8 ± 0.9 cm) for 32 days. 3. Stem tips of F. neomexicana elongated significantly in all sites. There was a significant difference in elongation of stem tips in control and fertilized riffles (2.1 ± 1.1 and 4.7 ± 0.1 cm, respectively) but not in tips grown in control and fertilized pools (2.8 ± 0.8 and 2.7 ± 0.9 cm, respectively). 4. Biomass increments in clumps of these same species followed similar patterns except in fertilized pools. Hygrohypnum spp. lost weight in control riffle environments and did not grow in pools, but accumulated 181 ± 44 and 335 ± 200% of initial biomass in fertilized riffles in 1992 (over 32 days) and 1993 (over 44 days), respectively. F. neomexicana accumulated 38 ± 39 and 98 ± 47% of initial biomass in 1992 in unfertilized and fertilized riffles, respectively. Total phosphorus concentrations of both bryophytes in 1992 were significantly greater when grown in fertilized riffles than control riffles. 5. Artificial mosses (untwisted, natural fibre rope) and clumps of Hygrohypnum spp. were used to assess effects of flow regime on derrital and epiphyte accumulation in the fertilized zone. Epiphyte and detrital mass was 4–4.5 times greater on average on artificial mosses in slow-flowing pool environments than in fast-flowing riffle environments. Epiphyte chlorophyll a was 4 times greater on Hygrohypnum clumps in pools than in riffles. This difference was probably brought about by increased detrital deposition and reduced grazing by invertebrates in pools. It is likely that both Hygrohypnum spp. and F. neomexicana could grow throughout the river, but are limited strongly by low phosphorus concentrations in unfertilized reaches and secondarily by detritus accumulation and interference competition with epiphytic algae in fertilized pools.
Hyperoxic Increases in Lung ICAM-1 mRNA are Independent of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA

Abstract Hyperoxia-exposure results in neutrophil accumulation and edema in the exposed lung. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a ligand for neutrophil β 2 integrins, is upregulated in hyperoxia-exposed lungs and enhances neutrophil-mediated injury. Because tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are potent inducers of ICAM-1, we investigated whether TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA increase prior to the increase in ICAM-1 mRNA in hyperoxia-exposed mouse lungs. We exposed mice to >95% oxygen for up to 96 h, isolated lung RNA, and assessed ICAM-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β mRNA by Northern blotting. We found that neither TNF-α nor IL-1β mRNA was detectable prior to 96 h, while ICAM-1 mRNA increased by 48 h. To further assess TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA, we employed quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) using a mimic DNA (mimic) species as an internal control for PCR. Mimic DNA was identical to reverse-transcribed cDNA (wild type), except for 147 bp of irrelevant DNA ligated into the original cDNA. For each lung RNA sample we reverse transcribed total lung RNA and coamplified the resulting wild-type cDNA with serial dilutions of mimic DNA in a PCR containing [ 32 P] dCTP. After PCR, we electrophoresed the samples and determined the concentration of TNF-α and IL-1β wild-type cDNAs by the ratios of wild type to mimic counts. We found no increase in TNF-α or IL-1β mRNA through 72 h of hyperoxia exposure, while there was an approximately 10-fold increase in TNF-α mRNA and a 35-fold increase in IL-1β mRNA within 2 h in the lungs of animals exposed to endotoxin. In conclusion, our data suggest that TNF-α and IL-1β are not responsible for the upregulation of ICAM-1 in hyperoxia-exposed mouse lungs.
A Revised List of Wars Between and Within Independent States, 1816-2002

Gleditsch and Ward (1999) examined the criteria for membership in the international system employed by the Correlates of War (COW) project and developed a revised list of independent nation states since 1816. These revisions in turn have implications for other datasets based on the COW system membership classification. This article suggests various revisions to the COW project’s list of wars to create a dataset compatible with the revised list of independent states. It identifies additional wars that qualify as interstate or civil wars as well as additional participating states to these wars. I show how the COW project’s criteria, based on recognition by France and the UK to identify states as system members in the Nineteenth century and early Twentieth century, understate the total amount of conflict between and within the independent states identified by the Gleditsch and Ward list. An appendix to the article displays a revised list of wars since 1816, with updates for 1997 to 2002 based on data compiled by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, and details several changes to the current release of the COW war data over the previous 1994 ICPSR release. The article concludes by outlining an agenda for future collection and improvement of data on wars.
Analytical modeling of the mechanical properties of recycled plastics

The widespread use of recycled plastics has been restricted in part because of the limited state of knowledge about the behavior of this recycled material and the lack of unified design procedures. The material behaves differently in tension and compression, and the nonlinear nature of recycled plastic makes traditional terminology such as modulus of elasticity difficult to determine because generally there is no clearly defined yield point. Furthermore, the modulus of rupture, a property determined from beam tests, can vary for different portions of a fabricated beam making these terms specific to the particular beam rather than exclusively a material property. This article investigates the properties of recycled thermoplastics and methods of testing and analyzing recycled thermoplastic members in both axial compression and flexure. In an effort to provide means for analysis of recycled plastic, material tests of discrete portions of beams were performed to develop a uniaxial material model. The model was used to predict member response based on section geometry alone. This enables prediction of member response of sections not yet tested or even constructed with greater accuracy than previously possible, regardless of the differences in tension-compression behavior and material nonlinearities or variations in material properties among manufacturers.
Stabilization and Erosion Control Value of Oyster Cultch for Intertidal Marsh

Oyster cultch was added to the lower intertidal fringe of three created Spartina alterniflora marshes to examine its value in protecting the marsh from erosion. Twelve 5-m-wide plots were established at each site, with six randomly selected plots unaltered (non-cultched) and cultch added to the remaining (cultched) plots. Within each cultched plot, cultch was placed along the low tide fringe of the marsh during July 1992, in a band 1.5 m wide by 0.25 m deep. Marsh-edge vegetation stability and sediment erosion were measured for each plot from September 1992 to April 1994. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in marsh-edge vegetation change were detected at the only south-facing site after a major southwester storm. Significantly different rates of sediment erosion and accretion also were observed at this same site. Areas upland of the marsh edge in the cultched areas showed an average accretion of 6.3 cm, while noncultched treatment areas showed an average loss of 3.2 cm. A second site, with a northern orientation, also experienced differential sediment accretion and erosion between treatment type, caused instead by boat wakes that were magnified by the abutment of a dredge effluent pipe across the entire front fringe of the site. During this period we observed significant differences in sediment accumulation, with the areas upland of the marsh edge in the cultched treatment having an average accretion of 2.9 cm and the noncultched an average loss of 1.3 cm.
Cholesterol attenuates linoleic acid-induced endothelial cell activation.

Vascular endothelial cell activation and dysfunction are critical early events in atherosclerosis. Even though very low or high levels of cholesterol can compromise cellular functions, cholesterol is a critical membrane component and may protect the vascular endothelium from oxidative stress and polyunsaturated fatty acid-mediated inflammatory responses. We have previously shown that the parent omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid can markedly activate vascular endothelial cells. We now propose that membrane cholesterol can modify and inhibit linoleic acid-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, pulmonary artery endothelial cells were incubated with cholesterol (0 to 100 micromol/L) for 24 hours and then treated with 90 micromol/L of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) for 6 to 24 hours. In control cells, treatment with linoleic acid reduced intracellular glutathione levels and induced the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) leading to the upregulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6). In addition, the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was altered, with linoleic acid increasing eNOS activity. In contrast, enrichment with cholesterol enhanced glutathione levels and reduced the linoleic acid-induced activation of NF-kappaBand the production of IL-6. Prior exposure to 50 micromol/L cholesterol also prevented the fatty acid-induced increase in eNOS activation. Cholesterol loading activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), a nuclear receptor that can decrease inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the PPAR-gamma agonist thiazolidinedione markedly downregulated the NF-kappaB activation mediated by linoleic acid. Our data suggest that signaling pathways linked to endothelial cell activation by prooxidant and proinflammatory insults may be influenced by cellular cholesterol levels.
Docetaxel followed by hormone therapy after failure of definitive treatments for clinically localized/locally advanced prostate cancer: preliminary results

An increasingly important issue in the management of prostate cancer is the occurrence of biochemical failure (ie, increasing serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] levels) in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who initially underwent definitive treatments with curative intent (prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy). This pilot trial evaluated chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy for a defined period in patients with biochemical (and possibly clinical) recurrence after initial local therapies for localized/locally advanced prostate cancer. Patients who developed increasing PSA > 4 ng/mL after initial prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy received docetaxel, 70 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks for up to 6 courses, followed by 4 months of total androgen suppression (using a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist plus bicalutamide, 50 mg/d) and 8 months of peripheral androgen blockade (using finasteride, 5 mg/d, plus bicalutamide, 50 mg/d). Twenty-seven patients have enrolled to date, 23 of whom received four or six cycles of docetaxel before hormonal therapies. Seventeen (74%) of 23 patients who completed four to six cycles of chemotherapy had a > or =40% decrease in PSA, and 16 (89%) of 18 patients who completed 4 months of total androgen suppression achieved PSA values of < or =0.1. The most common hematologic toxicity was grade (3/4) neutropenia; grade 3 nonhematologic toxicities were rare, and no grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities were reported. Thus, the preliminary results suggest that docetaxel before hormonal therapy includes a PSA response in many prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after definitive local therapies.
Plasma-enhanced deposition of hard silicon nitride-like coatings from hexamethyldisiloxane and ammonia

Abstract Hard silicon nitride-like coatings have been grown in a high-density microwave electron cyclotron resonance discharge, using hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) as the deposition precursor and ammonia as the reactive gas. Statistical experiment design methodology was used to investigate the effects of microwave power and NH 3 /HMDSO flow-rate ratio on the growth rate, elastic modulus and hardness of the plasma-grown coatings. The films deposited are hard, colorless and transparent, with growth rates of up to 0.5 μm/min. Films lasted 745–840 h in an ASTM B117 salt-fog corrosion test. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses showed the coating composition to be SiC x O y N z , with significant carbon and up to 13.7 at.% nitrogen concentration. While not stoichiometric Si 3 N 4 , coatings grown at high microwave power and high NH 3 /HMDSO flow ratios had an elastic modulus of 176 GPa and hardness of 12.2 GPa, comparable to values reported for thermally grown silicon nitride.
Atomic subshell photoionization cross sections and asymmetry parameters: 1 ⩽ Z ⩽ 103

Abstract Atomic subshell photoionization cross sections and asymmetry parameters are calculated with the Hartree-Fock-Slater one-electron central potential model (dipole approximation) for all elements Z = 1–103. The cross-section results are plotted for all subshells in the energy region 0–1500 eV, and cross sections and asymmetry parameters are tabulated for selected energies in the region 10.2–8047.8 eV. In addition, more detailed graphs are given for the 4d (Z = 39–71) and 5d (Z = 64–100) subshell cross sections in the vicinity of the Cooper minimum. These data should be particularly useful for work based on spectroscopic investigations of atomic subshells using synchrotron radiation and/or discrete line sources.
Homeobox Genes in Pulmonary Vascular Development and Disease

Determining how the pulmonary vascular system is formed, maintained, or disrupted during development and disease represents a major challenge in contemporary lung biology. Whereas it is appreciated that cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis need to be carefully controlled in order to attain pulmonary vascular homeostasis, knowledge of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remains surprisingly limited. Because homeobox genes represent master regulators of organogenesis and tissue patterning, it is likely that these transcription factors play a critical role in the formation of blood vessels within the lung, as well as in pathologic states in which the highly ordered structure of the pulmonary vascular tree is compromised. The aim of this review is to discuss some of the known functions of homeobox genes in the vasculature, and to extrapolate these findings to their potential roles in developing and diseased pulmonary vessels.
Evaluation of image quality using 1 : 1 pitch and 1.5 : 1 pitch helical CT in children: a comparative study.

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the quality of 1∶1 and 1.5 ∶1 pitch helical contrast-enhanced thoracic and abdominal CT images in children who cannot cooperate for breath holding.
Gout therapeutics: new drugs for an old disease

The approval of febuxostat, a non-purine-analogue inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration heralds a new era in the treatment of gout. The use of modified uricases to rapidly reduce serum urate concentrations in patients with otherwise untreatable gout is progressing. Additionally, advances in our understanding of the transport of uric acid in the renal proximal tubule and the inflammatory response to monosodium urate crystals are translating into potential new treatments. In this Review, we focus on the clinical trials of febuxostat. We also review results from studies of pegloticase, a pegylated uricase in development, and we summarise data for several other pipeline drugs for gout, such as the selective uricosuric drug RDEA594 and various interleukin-1 inhibitors. Finally, we issue a word of caution about the proper use of the new drugs and the already available drugs for gout. At a time of important advances, we need to recommit ourselves to a rational approach to the treatment of gout.
Separation and determination of opiates and diluents in illicit narcotic mixtures.

Abstract A semi-automated method for the separation and determination of opiates in illicit narcotic preparations is described. The procedure involves resolution of the mixtures on SE-Sephadex ion-exchanger, continuous ultraviolet monitoring of the column effluent and colorimetric assay of lactose and mannitol. Peak elution volumes (Ve) for compounds of forensic importance are presented. The differences in Ve's for the most commonly encountered opiates and diluents are great enough to permit identification and determination with ease. Examples of analyses of contraband preparations are also discussed.
Neuroendocrine bases of monogamy

Abstract A number of studies have implicated the neurohypophyseal peptides oxytocin and vasopressin in the central mediation of complex social behaviors, including affiliation, parental care and territorial aggression. Research on a monogamous rodent, the prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster ), suggests that these neuropeptides are also involved in the control of several behaviors associated with monogamy, including pair bonding, paternal care and mate guarding. Comparative studies using several species of vole have identified species-specific patterns of oxytocin- and vasopressin-receptor expression in the brain that appear to be associated with a monogamous versus non-monogamous social structure. Molecular studies suggest that changes in the regulation of oxytocin- and vasopressin-receptor gene expression underlie these species differences in receptor distribution and might provide a mechanism for the evolution of monogamy in voles.
The Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes invF and invG encode homologues of the AraC and PulD family of proteins

Summary We have identified two novel Salmonella typhimurium genes, invF and invG, which are required for the efficient entry of these organisms into cultured epithelial cells. invF and invG are located immediately upstream of invE, a previously identified gene also required for Salmonella entry. Non-polar mutations in these genes rendered S. typhimurium severely deficient for entry into cultured epithelial cells. The nucleotide sequences of invF and invG indicated that these genes encode polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 24373 and 62275, respectively. Proteins of similar sizes were observed when invF and invG were expressed in a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase-based expression system. Comparison of the predicted sequence of InvF with translated sequences in the existing databases indicated that this protein is homologous to members of the AraC family of prokaryotic transcription regulators. However, mutations in invF did not significantly affect the expression of other members of the inv locus. InvG was found to be homologous to members of the PuID family of specialized translocases. This homology suggests that InvG may be necessary for the export of invasion-related determinants or involved in the assembly of a supramolecular structure that promotes entry.
The effects of intravenous procaine and procaine amide (pronestyl) upon ectopic ventricular tachycardia accompanying acute myocardial infarction.

In tests using dogs with ectopic ventricular tachycardia resulting from myocardial infarction, procaine has been found to be without practical value as an ectopic impulse suppressor agent. Procaine amide has proved to be very effective in reducing the ectopic rate of high frequency tachycardias to low levels, thus eliminating danger of death from the tachycardia. Procaine amide usually does not produce an entirely normal rhythm but this is of little practical importance. The toxicity of procaine amide is relatively low. For approximately equivalent results, in the tachycardias studied, the dosage of procaine amide must be two to three times that of quinidine.
The specificity of methyl transferases involved in trans mycolic acid biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Trans mycolic acid content is directly related to cell wall fluidity and permeability in mycobacteria. Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy of mycolic acids isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MSM) fed 13C-labeled precursor molecules was used to probe the biosynthetic pathways that modify mycolic acids. Heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (HMQC) of ketomycolic acid from MTB allowed assignment of the complete 13C-NMR spectrum. Incorporation patterns from [1-13C]-acetate and [2-13C]-acetate feeding experiments suggested that the mero chain and alpha branch of mycolic acids are both synthesized by standard fatty acid biosynthetic reactions. [13C-methyl]-L-methionine was used to specifically label carbon atoms derived from the action of the methyl transferases involved in meromycolate modification. To enrich for trans mycolic acids a strain of MTB overexpressing the mma1 gene was labeled. Carbon-carbon coupling was observed in mycolate samples doubly labeled with 13C-acetate and [13C-methyl]-L-methionine and this information was used to assess positional specificity of methyl transfer. In MTB such methyl groups were found to occur exclusively on carbons derived from the 2 position of acetate, while in MSM they occurred only on carbons derived from the 1 position. These results suggest that the MSM methyltransferase MMAS-1 operates in an inverted manner to that of MTB.
A survey of dermatology resident education in cosmetic procedures.

Background The demands for cosmetic procedures are increasing. Dermatologists perform many of these procedures, therefore adequate education and training during residency is important. Surveys demonstrate dermatology residents desire more training even while faculty members believe this has already become a more prominent feature of resident education. Objective We sought to assess the time and methods dedicated to education and training of cosmetic procedures in dermatology residency. Methods A 26-question survey was developed and electronically distributed in May 2010 to dermatology program directors via the Association of Professors of Dermatology list-serve with their approval. Program directors were asked to forward the e-mail to their instructors of cosmetic/procedural dermatology, and chief residents. Responses were anonymous. Results A total of 86 responses were collected. In all, 67% (n = 54) of respondents had formal lectures focusing on cosmetic dermatology. Lecture topics reported by more than 50% of respondents included botulinum toxin injection, lasers, soft tissue augmentation, chemical peels, and sclerotherapy. Topics such as dermabrasion, liposuction, and scar revision were less commonly taught. The most commonly encountered and performed procedures were botulinum toxin injection and lasers (100%, n = 86); 98.8% (n = 85) encounter soft tissue augmentation and 95.4% (n = 82) encounter both chemical peels and sclerotherapy. Resident experience performing procedures as the first assistant or as the first surgeon varied widely. Limitations The limitations of this study are that the data were subjectively reported so results may differ from the true amount of time spent in any activity. The data may be biased by the population that responded as they may have strong opinions supporting or opposing training in cosmetic procedures. The data also may have been skewed by the small percentage of participants who were instructors of cosmetic dermatology (21%), chief residents (20%), and others respondents (8% total). Conclusion The results demonstrate the variability of training in cosmetic procedures. The challenge for programs is to find the balance between insufficiency and overemphasis. The results of this study will hopefully assist programs in determining the quantity and methods of resident training in cosmetic procedures.
Exact solution for entrance region flow between parallel plates

Abstract A method of obtaining an exact solution of the complete Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow has been developed to study the development of fluid flow between parallel plates. An analytical solution has been developed in the form of a convergent infinite series and a numerical solution obtained for Reynolds numbers of 10 and 500. These results have been compared with data available elsewhere. The method developed here is expected to have general application
Computer software: Software design: Breaking the bottleneck: A visionary approach is recommended in place of the piecemeal policy now in effect

Discusses the manpower cost of programming new information systems which is caused by the labour intensive nature of current software design methods and suggests an approach capable of breaking this bottleneck.
VARIABLE EVOLVED STARS AND YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS DISCOVERED IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD USING THE SAGE SURVEY

We present initial results and source lists of variable sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) for which we detect thermal infrared variability from the Surveying the Agents of a Galaxy's Evolution (SAGE) survey, which had two epochs of photometry separated by 3 months. The SAGE survey mapped a 7° × 7° region of the LMC using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and the MIPS instruments on board Spitzer. Variable sources are identified using a combination of the IRAC 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0 μ bands and the MIPS 24 μ bands. An error-weighted flux difference between the two epochs is used to assess the variability. Of the ~3 million sources detected at both epochs, we find ~2000 variable sources for which we provide electronic catalogs. Most of the variable sources can be classified as asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. A large fraction (>66%) of the extreme AGB stars are variable and only smaller fractions of carbon-rich (6.1%) and oxygen-rich (2.0%) stars are detected as variable sources. We also detect a population of variable young stellar object candidates.
Calcium current‐dependent and voltage‐dependent inactivation of calcium channels in Helix aspersa

1. Inactivation of the Ca channels has been examined in isolated nerve cell bodies of Helix aspersa using the suction pipette method for voltage clamp and internal perfusion. 2. Satisfactory suppression of outward currents was essential. This was achieved over most of the voltage range by substitution of Cs ion for K ion and by the use of TEA intra- and extracellularly and 4-AP extracellularly. A small time- and voltage-dependent non-specific current remained at potentials above +60 mV. 3. In these solutions, Ca current approaches ECa but cannot be detected in the outward direction. The Ca channel appears to be impermeable to Cs and Tris ions. 4. Inactivation of Ca currents occurs as a bi-exponential process. The faster rate is 10-20 times the slower rate and is about one twentieth the rate of activation. The development of inactivation during a single voltage-clamp step and the onset of inactivation produced by prepulses followed after brief intervals by a test pulse, have roughly similar time courses. 5. The rates of inactivation increase monotonically at potentials more positive than about -25 mV. The amount of steady-state inactivation increases with membrane depolarizations to potentials of about +50 mV. At more positive potentials, steady-state inactivation is reduced. 6. Intracellular EGTA slows the faster rate of inactivation of ICa and reduces the amount of steady-state inactivation measured with a standard two pulse protocol. The effect is specifically related to Ca chelation and hydrogen ions are not involved. This component of inactivation is referred to as Ca current-dependent inactivation and is consistent with observations that increased Cai inactivates the Ca channel. The process does not depend upon current flow alone since Ba currents of comparable or greater magnitude have smaller initial rates of inactivation. Furthermore, application of Ba ion intracellularly in large concentrations has no effect on steady-state inactivation. 7. The bi-exponential inactivation process that persists in the presence of EGTAi is similar to that occurring when extracellular Ba ion carries current through the Ca channel. Steady-state inactivation also persists and is similar in the two cases. Therefore it is concluded that inactivation is voltage-dependent as well as Ca current-dependent. 8. Diffusion models that included reasonable values for the effect of binding on diffusion, even when combined with declining influxes, did not account for this `mixed' form of calcium- and voltage-dependent inactivation. A compartmental model in which the particular kinetic model of voltage-dependent inactivation was not critical described the Ca current-dependent inactivation.
A lesion detectability simulation method for digital x-ray imaging.

A simulation method is described in this work that aids in quantifying the upper limits of lesion detectability as a function of lesion size, lesion contrast, pixel size, and x-ray exposure for digital x-ray imagingsystems. The method entails random lesion placement with subsequent simulated imaging on idealized x-ray detectors with no additive noise and 100% quantum detective efficiency. Lesions of different size and thickness were simulated. Mean (expectation) lesion signal-to-noise ratios (LSNRs) were calculated and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed based on LSNR ensembles. Mean (expectation) values of the areas under the ROC curves were calculated for lesions of varying size on pixel arrays of varying size at different exposures. Analyses were performed across several parameters, including lesion size, pixel size, and exposure levels representative of various areas of radiography. As expected, lesion detectability increased with lesion size, contrast, pixel size, and exposure. The model suggests that lesion detectability is strongly dependent on the relative alignment (phase) of the lesion with the pixel matrix for lesions on the order of the pixel size.
Smoothness priors multichannel autoregressive time series modeling

A smoothness priors approach to the multichannel autoregressive (MVAR) modeling of stationary time series is presented. Data channels are modeled individually as in multi-input scalar-output transfer function modeling under smoothness priors constraints. The models are combined algebraically to yield a smoothness priors (SPMVAR) model. In each transfer function model, smoothness hyperparameters balance the tradeoff between the infidelity of the models to the data and the infidelity of the model to the smoothness constraints. The likelihood of the hyperparameters is maximized by a BFGS-least squares procedure. The fitted SPMVAR model yields an estimate of the power spectral density matrix of the process and the coherence, phase and transfer function. The SPMVAR method tends to be less sensitive than other MVAR methods to overparameterization and to spectral line feedthrough. Several examples are worked. >
Interference-induced slow and fast light in bulk semiconductors

The interference between the two exciton polaritons in semiconductors is predicted to give a time delay for traversing light pulses that is unrelated to the polaritons' group velocities.