cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Econazole and miconazole inhibit steroidogenesis and disrupt steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression post-transcriptionally.

Abstract The imidazole antifungal drugs econazole and miconazole have previously been shown to disrupt steroidogenesis in Leydig and adrenal cells by inhibiting 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450c17) enzyme activity, thus reducing the conversion of progesterone to androstenedione. However, a recent study in Y-1 adrenal cells indicated that these compounds may also reduce the availability of cholesterol to the cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450 scc ) enzyme, the first enzyme in the steroidogenic pathway. Since the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mediates the transfer of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane where the P450 scc enzyme resides, an action which constitutes the rate-limiting and acutely-regulated step in steroidogenesis, we hypothesized that these drugs may also reduce StAR expression and/or activity. Our studies demonstrate that these drugs reversibly inhibited (Bu) 2 cAMP-stimulated progesterone production in a dose- and time-dependent manner in MA-10 cells without affecting total protein synthesis or P450 scc and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) enzyme expression or activity. In contrast, they dramatically decreased (Bu) 2 cAMP-stimulated StAR protein expression post-transcriptionally. This study indicates that StAR protein is susceptible to inhibition by at least some imidazole compounds that inhibit steroidogenesis.
Structure of the SOC-13 in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Clients: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The objective of the study was to validate the factorial structure of the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) with a sample of substance abuse clients to facilitate health promotion research with this population in the future. Participants were 406 clients recruited from seven residential therapeutic community programs for the treatment of substance abuse. Four confirmatory factor models were tested: (1) a three-factor correlated model; (2) a two-factor correlated model; (3) a 13-item one-factor model; and (4) a 9-item one-factor model. The results indicated that the data did not fit the three-factor correlated model and the two-factor correlated model, whereas empirical data fits the 13-item one-factor and the 9-item one-factor models reasonably well, with the latter representing a significantly better fit than the former one. These results are consistent with previous studies and reflected a unidimensional factor in the sense of coherence, as opposed to the two or three-factor structure. The SOC-9 has considerable promise as a brief measure of SOC in substance abuse assessment and treatment settings.
Effective Selectors? Interlibrary Loan Patrons as Monograph Purchasers: A Comparative Examination of Price and Circulation-Related Performance

In the library literature, a great deal of interest in patron-driven collection development has recently been expressed, especially in those programs that link acquisitions with interlibrary loan. However, the implementation of such programs has been limited, at least in part because of concerns over the potential for wasteful spending. The authors will attempt to address this common concern by assessing whether monies spent via a patron-driven acquisitions program were more or less effective than monies spent via traditional modes of acquisition.
Concentrating soil diatoms for assemblage description

Abstract Species lists and relative species composition of soil diatom assemblages are difficult to obtain because soil diatoms are often sparse and hard to detect among soil particles. Because soil diatoms are usually within the silt size range (5–50 μm), assemblages can be made more observable using soil sieving and sedimentation procedures to remove sand and clay. Diatomaceous silica (opal) can be further concentrated by using heavy liquid centrifugation, but this procedure is expensive, time consuming and involves handling potentially dangerous chemicals. Three fractionation procedures (5–50 μm silt, 5–50 μm opal and 20–50 μm opal) were compared using surface soils from five contrasting desert sites. The 20–50 μm opal method selected against some of the smaller diatom species. The 5–50 μm opal method gave slightly better results than the 5–50 μm silt method. But because results obtained through use of these two methods were highly correlated, the 5–50 μm silt procedure is preferred as a simple, inexpensive alternative to conventional examination methods. We favor sedimentation and concentration methods over culturing techniques because the latter may modify the relative proportions of observed species.
Lensless holographic imaging using a bacteriorhodopsin film

ABSTRACTWe use the bacteriorhodopsin film as a real-time large-aperture high-resolution holographic material to demonstrate its potential as a dynamic recording and imaging medium. The imaging reflectivity is found to be linearly proportional to thereading light intensity provided that the hologram is readout by short laser pulse.The bi-exponential behavior of the recording process is related to the intensitymodulation of the illumination. An image resolution of 80 lines/mm and a space-bandwidth product of 2 x 106 are obtained with a phase conjugate reflectivity ofabove 30%.I. INTRODUCTIONBacteriorhodopsin (BR) is the photochromic protein found in the purple membrane of theorganism Halobacterium salinarium. Recent advances in both the controlled modificationof the photocycle and thin film technology has inspired numerous studies demonstratingBR's diverse optical application potential. 1,2 This material can be made easily into large area and/or volumetric media and it exhibits a high intrinsic resolution (>4000 line
The Design of Brushless DC Motor Systems

In critical applications requiring use of a brushless dc motor, the electronics designer is faced with a complex problem. The motor typically has at least five independent parameters that must be specified properly to obtain the best performance. The gear ratio must be selected, and in addition, several parameters in the electronic commutation and control circuitry must be optimized. In this paper the basic control problem is described, the appropriate equations are derived, and a systematic method is outlined for arriving at an optimum configuration. It immediately becomes apparent that all applications and possible motor types cannot be covered by the same analysis. However, the results of this paper should be useful in most small motor applications in which the motor speeds are sufficiently low that motor winding inductance can either be neglected or compensated simply by advancing the drive pulse phase as described.
Interaction of polypeptide models of elastin with prolyl hydroxylase.

Significant amounts of hydroxyproline occur in the structural proteins collagen and elastin which usually exist in close association and are presumably synthesized by the same cells. Hydroxyproline in collagen is synthesized by the hydroxylation of proline residues in -X-Pro-Glysequences, by prolyl hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.2) in a concerted reaction in which an obligatory co-substrate, o-ketoglutarate is oxidatively decarboxylated (reviewed in [I]). Much of the proline in elastin occurs in -Pro-Glysequences and therefore is potentially hydroxylatable by prolyl hydroxylase. Both collagen and elastin contain repeating sequences. We have examined the interaction of synthetic polymeric models of elastin with prolyl hydroxylase. Our studies suggest that proline in elastin-like polymers is efticiently hydroxylated under conditions where these polymers exhibit preferred secondary and tertiary structures. These studies explain the presence of hydroxyproline in the non-polar polymeric regions of elastin [2].
A graphical screening method for assessing stream water quality using specific conductivity and alkalinity data

In areas of varying geology, it is difficult to infer water quality from specific conductance or electrical conductivity (EC) data without an understanding of the expected range of EC values based on local bedrock composition. This paper describes a user-friendly graphical screening method that addresses this issue by plotting the EC against concurrent alkalinity data, which correlates well with the presence of carbonate bedrock under natural conditions, and thus serves as an index of bedrock type. The upper limit of EC vs. alkalinity expected in a stream is determined using regional groundwater quality data, based on the assumption that stream chemistry reflects groundwater under baseflow conditions. Stream samples with EC/alkalinity values that consistently plot above this limit are considered impacted by anthropogenic sources. The effect of dilution and runoff on the EC vs. alkalinity plot of stream samples is considered using a simple baseflow/storm runoff-mixing model. The graphical method's utility as a screening tool is demonstrated by application to stream chemistry data from watersheds of southeastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey in several distinct geologic settings; however the method is general and widely applicable to watersheds in humid temperate regions. Its use is intended for watershed stewards of both professional and nonprofessional qualification.
Quasilinear boundary element method for nonlinear Poisson type problems

A novel boundary element procedure called the quasilinear boundary element method (QBEM) is developed to solve two dimensional non-linear Poisson type problems. The forcing function of the Poisson type equation is linearized and the resulting terms are transferred to the boundary using a fourth order transformation. This results in boundary only discretization and thus retains all the advantages of the BEM for linear problems. The method provides extremely accurate results for mildly non-linear forcing functions. For strongly non-linear forcing functions, the method is used at a subdomain level and produces good results with only a few subdomains. The method is illustrated by a few test cases and the results compare favorably with solutions obtained through known methods such as the dual reciprocity method (DRM).
Motivated remembering efforts during tip-of-the-tongue states

Abstract Hart (1965) argues that the feeling of knowing in tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) states monitors memory content and motivates retreival efforts. Although a number of studies have examined the memory-monitoring accuracy of feelings of knowing and not-knowing, no studies have focused directly on the hypothesized motivational function of these feeling states. This second function of memory feeling states is investigated in this study by assessing the degree to which TOT and Don't Know (DK) states interfere with a subject's ability to perform well on a concurrent task. Subjects studied a list of arbitrary word pairs for 3, 5, or 7 seconds and then provided Recall, TOT, or DK reports in an immediate recall test. Performance on the simple number-probe task that followed each memory report was poorer on TOT trials than on DK trials. This effect did not vary as a function of encoding time. Since covert memory searches were possible on both TOT and DK trials, it is concluded that the performance decrement observed on TOT trials is due to the fact that covert TOT target searches command processing capacity that might otherwise go to the concurrent number-probe task. The absence of an encoding time effect suggests that TOT states do not monitor the associative strength of target traces as Hart (1967) has proposed. The findings in this study are interpreted as providing support for the proposition that the feeling of knowing in the TOT state influences the setting of capacity-allocation priorities in the memory system.
Patients' perspectives on noncompliance with diabetic retinopathy standard of care guidelines.

Background Periodic dilated eye examinations are recommended by the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Diabetes Association to detect sight-threatening conditions in diabetic patients. However, many patients with diabetes do not receive this recommended eye care and there is limited research to explain why. The objective of this study was to determine reasons some diabetic patients do not receive a dilated eye examination at least every year. Methods A chart review identified patients at The Ohio State University College of Optometry who had not been examined for more than a year, but less than two years. A telephone interview was attempted for all subjects. Results Of 100 eligible subjects, 43 completed the telephone interview. The reasons patients with diabetes did not return for a recommended dilated eye examination included transfer of care to another eye doctor, limited personal mobility due to poor overall health, last examination at a homeless clinic, self-reported lack of insurance, and self-reported apathy. Conclusions Strategies to improve compliance of patients with diabetes should include reaching patients of low socioeconomic status and those institutionalized for poor overall health. Improved compliance may also come by encouraging patients to use medical insurance for eye examinations and using patient recall systems.
Rapid calculation of exact cell bounds for contingency tables from conditional frequencies

We present a fast method for determining the tightest possible bounds, as well as all feasible values, for the underlying cell counts in a two-way contingency table based on knowledge of the corresponding unrounded conditional probabilities, the sample size, and (optionally) bounds on cells and certain sums of cells. This information can be used in statistical inference procedures and also has potential uses in statistical disclosure control, which deals with protecting privacy and confidentiality when data summaries are released to the public. The problem formally consists of a large number of integer linear knapsack optimizations (two per cell). Here we identify special common structure that allows for efficient reuse among cells of intermediate results within a dynamic programming framework. The method runs very quickly on practical examples, thereby enabling a real-time interactive exploration of disclosure risk for two-way rearrangements of large multi-way tables.
THE EPITAXIAL GROWTH OF Ge ON Si(100) USING Te AS A SURFACTANT

Epitaxial growth of Ge on Si using Te as a surfactant was studied with high resolution photoemission, low energy electron diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The growth mode of Ge on Si changed from Stranski-Krastanov to layer-by-layer mode when 1/4 ML Te atoms were on the surface. During the growth, Te atoms segregated to the top of the surface. If the growth temperature is too high (above {approximately} 450C), the Te coverage was less than the necessary coverage to keep the layer by layer growth, and the growth mode of Ge on Si is still S-K.
Gauge-flation trajectories in chromo-natural inflation

We provide a detailed discussion of the multifield trajectories and inflationary dynamics of the recently proposed model of chromo-natural inflation, which allows for slow roll inflation on a steep potential with the aid of classical non-Abelian gauge fields. We show that slow roll inflation can be achieved across a wide range of the parameter space. We demonstrate that chromo-natural inflation includes trajectories that match those found in gauge-flation and describe how the theories are related.
VIP and D-ala-peptide T-amide release chemokines which prevent HIV-1 GP120-induced neuronal death.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and DAPTA (d-ala1-peptide T-amide, a gp120-derived octapeptide homologous to VIP) prevent neuronal cell death produced by five variants of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) envelope protein (gp120). VIP or DAPTA treatment of astrocyte cultures resulted in the release of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and RANTES, beta chemokines known to block gp120 interactions with microglial chemokine receptors. In rat cerebral cortical cultures, gp120-induced neuronal killing was partially or completely prevented by chemokines that stimulate the CXCR4, CCR3 or CCR5 chemokine receptors. Chemokines exhibited marked differences in potency and efficacy in preventing toxicity associated with five gp120 variants (LAV/BRU, CM243, RF, SF2, and MN). RANTES had the broadest and most potent inhibition (IC50<3 pM for RF isolate). An octapeptide derived from RANTES also exhibited neuroprotection from gp120 (RF isolate) toxicity (IC50=0.3 μM). Treatment with chemokines alone had no detectable effect on neuronal cell number. However, antiserum to MIP-1α produced neuronal cell death that was prevented by co-treatment with MIP-1α, suggesting that this endogenous chemokine exerts a tonic regulation important to neuronal survival. The neuroprotective action of VIP on gp120 was attenuated by co-treatment with anti-MIP-1α. These studies suggest that the neuroprotective action of VIP is linked in part to its release of MIP-1α. Furthermore, neuroprotection produced by chemokines is dependent on both the type of chemokine and the variant structure of gp120 and may be relevant to drug strategies for the treatment of AIDS dementia.
Technological Innovation of Thin-Film Transistors: Technology Development, History, and Future

The scale of the liquid crystal display industry has expanded rapidly, driven by technological innovations for thin-film transistors (TFTs). The TFT technology, which started from amorphous silicon (a-Si), has produced large TVs, and low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) has become a core technology for small displays, such as mobile phones. Recently, various TFT technological seeds have been realized, indicating that new information appliances that match new lifestyles and information infrastructures will be available in the near future. In this article, I review the history of TFT technology and discuss the future of TFT technological development from the technological innovation viewpoint.
Breathers in biased highly nonlocal uniaxial nematic liquid crystals

We investigate numerically and theoretically the propagation of beams of different input profiles in a highly nonlocal three-dimensional (3D) nematic liquid crystal (NLC) in the presence of an externally applied bias voltage. For the widely accepted scalar model of beam propagation in uniaxial NLCs, we obtain approximate analytical solutions in the form of 3D breathing solitons and find that the underlying induced potential (the induced change in the refractive index) must be periodic as well, with the same period as the breathers. We demonstrate that in 3D, the nonlocal response of the medium depends not only on the beam power but also on the beam intensity structure. We determine the fundamental shape-invariant soliton solution of the scalar model and check its stability in propagation.
Swelling-Induced Volumetric Strains Internal to a Stressed Coal Associated with CO2 Sorption

Abstract It is generally accepted that typical coalbed gases (methane and carbon dioxide) are sorbed (both adsorbed and absorbed) in the coal matrix causing it to swell and resulting in local stress and strain variations in a coalbed confined under overburden pressure. The swelling, interactions of gases within the coal matrix and the resultant changes in the permeability, sorption, gas flow mechanics in the reservoir, and stress state of the coal can impact a number of reservoir-related factors. These include effective production of coalbed methane, degasification of future mining areas by drilling horizontal and vertical degasification wells, injection of CO2 as an enhanced coalbed methane recovery technique, and concurrent CO2 sequestration. Such information can also provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind gas outbursts in underground coal mines. The spatio-temporal volumetric strains in a consolidated Pittsburgh seam coal sample were evaluated while both confining pressure and carbon dioxide (CO2) pore pressure were increased to keep a constant positive effective stress on the sample. The changes internal to the sample were evaluated by maps of density and atomic number determined by dual-energy X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Early-time images, as soon as CO2 was introduced, were also used to calculate the macroporosity in the coal sample. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photographic images of the polished section of the coal sample at X-ray CT image location were used to identify the microlithotypes and microstructures. The CO2 sorption-associated swelling and volumetric strains in consolidated coal under constant effective stress are heterogeneous processes depending on the lithotypes present. In the time scale of the experiment, vitrite showed the highest degree of swelling due to dissolution of CO2, while the clay (kaolinite) and inertite region was compressed in response. The volumetric strains associated with swelling and compression were between ± 15% depending on the location. Although the effective stress on the sample was constant, it varied within the sample as a result of the internal stresses created by gas sorption-related structural changes. SEM images and porosity calculations revealed that the kaolinite and inertite bearing layer was highly porous, which enabled the fastest CO2 uptake and the highest degree of compression.
On the existence of the Sommerfeld integral pole and its contribution to the electromagnetic field

Evidence for the existence of a complex plane pole in the Sommerfeld integral for a source in air over a dielectric half-space and its contribution to the electromagnetic field is addressed. We present a detailed analysis of a simple model whereby a magnetic line source lies on the interface of the air-dielectric boundary. It is demonstrated that a Sommerfeld pole does indeed exist and that this pole can account for surface and lateral waves. It is also shown that a space wave is accounted for by the Sommerfeld integral branch cut.
Untrammeled growth as an environmental “March of Folly”

The theme we explore in this paper is that uncontrolled growth and resulting environmental damage can be considered as an Environmental March of Folly. A folly has been defined as the pursuit of policies that are contrary to the pursuers own long-term interests. For an event or series of events to be considered a folly, three criteria must be met. The policy must be perceived as counter-productive in its “own time.” A feasible alternative course of action must have been available. The policy should come from a group, not an individual leader, and should persist beyond one political lifetime. Environmental folly is uncontrolled and environmentally damaging growth that has been recognized as counter-productive; that this has been fueled by cheap fossil energies which are non-renewable; alternatives have been suggested; and the present policy based on growth of use of resources and human population has been continuous over several generations of humanity in the face of repeated warnings. We suggest ways that environmental folly can be ended.
Stability analysis of glutamic acid linked peptides coupled to NOTA through different chemical linkages

Glutamic acid is a commonly used linker to form dimeric peptides with enhanced binding affinity than their corresponding monomeric counterparts. We have previously labeled NOTA-Bn-NCS-PEG3-E[c(RGDyK)]2 (NOTA-PRGD2) [1] with [18F]AlF and 68Ga for imaging tumor angiogenesis. The p-SCN-Bn-NOTA was attached to E[c(RGDyK)]2 [2] through a mini-PEG with a thiourea linkage, and the product [1] was stable at radiolabeling condition of 100 °C and pH 4.0 acetate buffer. However, when the same p-SCN-Bn-NOTA was directly attached to the α-amine of E[c(RGDfK)]2 [3], the product NOTA-Bn-NCS-E[c(RGDfK)]2 [4] became unstable under similar conditions and the release of monomeric c(RGDfK) [5] was observed. The purpose of this work was to use HPLC and LC-MS to monitor the decomposition of glutamic acid linked dimeric peptides and their NOTA derivatives. A c(RGDyK) [6] and bombesin (BBN) [7] heterodimer c(RGDyK)-E-BBN [8], and a dimeric bombesin E(BBN)2 [9], both with a glutamic acid as the linker, along with a model compound...
Abstract 349: Molecular pathogenesis of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Human mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung is a subtype of highly invasive pulmonary tumors and is associated with decreased or absent expression of the respiratory epithelium transcription factor NKX2-1 (NK2 homeobox 1, also known as TTF-1). Here, we show that haploinsufficiency of Nkx2-1 in combination with oncogenic Kras.G12D (hereafter; Kras.G12D;Nkx2-1+/-), but not with oncogenic EGFR.L858R, causes pulmonary tumors in transgenic mice that are phenotypically similar to human mucinous adenocarcinomas. Expression of both CK7 and CK20, biomarkers for human mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung, were confirmed in lungs of the Kras.G12D;Nkx2-1+/- mice. Expression of mucins, such as MUC5AC, and mucin/metastasis-related protein AGR2 was observed in tumorigenic mucous cells in the Kras.G12D;Nkx2-1+/- mice as well as non-tumorigenic airway mucous cells induced by allergen; however, mucous cell master regulators, such as SPDEF and FOXA3, were seen only in the non-tumorigenic airway mucous cells but not in the tumorigenic mucous cells, indicating a distinct mucous gene regulation in the tumorigenic mucous cells. NKX2-1 cell-autonomously inhibited mRNA expression of MUC5AC and AGR2 in A549 human lung carcinoma cells that harbor a KRAS mutation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with massively parallel DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis identified a direct association of NKX2-1 with the promoter and intron of MUC5AC and AGR2 genes in A549 cells, indicating that NKX2-1 functions as a transcriptional repressor for the mucous gene expression. The ChIP-seq analysis further revealed that NKX2-1 associated with the AP-1 binding element (TGAnTCA) as well as the canonical NKX2-1 binding element (CTTG). NKX2-1 inhibited AP-1-mediated activity and tumor colony formation in vitro, suggesting that NKX2-1 suppresses mutant KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis in part by inhibiting AP-1 activity. These results demonstrate that NKX2-1 suppresses mutant KRAS-driven mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinoma in part by directly inhibiting expression of genes induced in mucinous tumors. Citation Format: Yutaka Maeda, Jeffrey Whitsett. Molecular pathogenesis of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 349. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-349
Absorption of iron and growth of Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle

Abstract Increasing levels of FeEDTA to the nutrient solution in which Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle was growing resulted in changes in the overall growth and development of the plants. Tissue levels of Fe and chlorophyll increased as Fe levels in the nutrient solution were increased from 0 to 8.0 p.p.m. Hydrilla absorbed and accumulated Fe in much larger amounts than were required for its optimum growth. The highest tissue Fe concentration was obtained with 6.0 p.p.m. Fe in the growing medium. However, the best growth was obtained at 8 p.p.m. Fe. Increasing levels of Fe in the nutrient solution resulted in progressive decrease in Mn uptake by the plants. Under the conditions of this study, best growth and greatest dry weight of Hydrilla were obtained at an exceptionally high Fe/Mn ratio (85).
Detection of radioactively labeled proteins is quenched by silver staining methods: quenching is minimal for 14C and partially reversible for 3H with a photochemical stain.

Abstract Silver staining methods for protein detection in polyacrylamide gels have a quenching effect on autoradiography and fluorography. This effect was quantitated for proteins in two-dimensional gels by microdensitometry using a computer equipped with an image processor and by scintillation counting of proteins solubilized from the gels. The original histologically derived silver stain had a quenching effect that was severe and irreversible for 3 H detection and moderate for 14 C detection. A silver stain based on photochemical methods had minimal quenching of 14 C detection and less of a quenching effect than the histological stain for 3 H detection. The 3 H quenching effect was partially reversible for the photochemical stain.
The Explicit Planetary Isentropic-Coordinate (EPIC) Atmospheric Model

Abstract We describe a new general circulation model (GCM) designed for planetary atmospheric studies called the EPIC model. This is a finite-difference model based on the isentropic-coordinate scheme of Hsu and Arakawa (1990. Mon. Wea. Rev. 118, 1933–1959). We report on previously undocumented modifications, additions, and key practical issues that experience running the model has revealed to be important. The model integrates the hydrostatic primitive equations, which are valid for large-scale atmospheric dynamics and include gravity waves (buoyancy waves), planetary waves (Rossby waves), and horizontally propagating sound waves (Lamb waves), but not vertically propagating sound waves because of the hydrostatic approximation. The vertical coordinate is entropy in the form of potential temperature, which coincides with material surfaces for adiabatic motion. This means that there is no vertical velocity except where there is heating, which improves accuracy and helps the model maintain conservation properties over long integrations. An isentropic vertical coordinate is natural for the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which are believed to have essentially adiabatic interiors that match up with the bottom of the model and is also excellent for middle-atmosphere studies on any planet. Radiative processes are parameterized by Newtonian cooling, and the latent heat of ortho–para hydrogen conversion is included when appropriate, with a suitably defined mean potential temperature. The model is written with general map factors that make it easy to configure in oblate spherical, cylindrical, or Cartesian coordinates. The code includes optional Message Passing Interface (MPI) library calls and hence runs on any Unix-based parallel computer or network cluster. An optional graphical user interface to commercial visualization software facilitates control of the model and analysis of output. Memory is allocated dynamically such that the user does not recompile to change horizontal or vertical resolution or range. Applications to date include comet impact forecasts and hindcasts for Jupiter, meridional circulation studies of Uranus and Neptune, and the accompanying paper on three-dimensional simulations of Neptune's Great Dark Spot (1998. Icarus 132, 239–265).
Surrealism’s ‘found object’: The enigmatic Mexico of Artaud and Breton

This article explores the paradoxical relationship of European surrealism to Mexico in the 1930s and 1940s. I argue that while Mexico’s historical circumstances in this period created a cultural atmosphere largely hostile to surrealism, its geography, racial mestizaje, and cultural traditions transformed the country into an ideal ‘found object’ for European surrealists. Rather than revealing itself to be the site of authentic existence sought by the surrealists, however, Mexico acted as a Rorschach image in which the surrealists revealed more about themselves than about the object of their fascination. In order to make sense of this complicated relationship, I examine several provocative texts by Antonin Artaud and Andre Breton (both of whom spent time in Mexico in the late 1930s) in the context of their reception by Mexican writers, who remained largely resistant to the magnetic pull of surrealism.
Amorphous Water-Soluble Derivatives of Cyclodextrins: Nontoxic Dissolution Enhancing Excipients

Dissolution properties of drugs may be improved by their conversion to an amorphous state or by complexation with cyclodextrins. The present report describes the preparation of cyclodextrin derivatives which are intrinsically amorphous, and water-soluble, and their use as complexation agents. Such derivatives were prepared by condensation of α-, β-, or γ-cyclodextrins with epoxides (propylene oxide, isobutylene oxide, epichlorohydrin, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether). The condensation products effectively solubilized estradiol, progesterone, or testosterone in water; these solutions, upon freeze-drying, yielded solids which could be directly compressed to tablets which dissolve completely within minutes. Condensation products of cyclodextrins did not have any untoward or toxic effects when administered chronically to mice per os for a 16-week period.
Postbuckling behavior of uniformly compressed circular arches with clamped ends

This communication presents a relatively simple formula for the prediction of the initial postbuckling behavior (in the sense of Koiter) of hingeless elastic circular arches of uniform crosssection subjected to a uniform external gas pressure. Calculations are performed on the basis of an asymptotic method which contains elements of the techniques of analysis used by Budiansky and Hutchinson, and Chien.
Immobilization and properties of Leuconostoc mesenteroids dextransucrase

Dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides (NRRL B-512F) was purified by ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography in 54% yield. The specific activity of a heart cut was 58.6 U/mg; cumulative purification of that preparation was 247−fold. Of 13 carriers surveyed, only alkylamine porous silica gave immobilization efficiencies consistently above 15 %. Immobilization to silica changed the properties of dextransucrase relatively little, the optimum pH for activity remaining at 5.2, while that for stability decreased from pH 5.5−6 to pH 5.2. In short assays, highest activities of both soluble and immobilized dextransucrase occurred at 30°C. Activation energies below that temperature were 8.6 kcal/mol for the former form and 1.7 kcal/mol for the latter. Maximum stabilization of soluble dextransucrase was attained by 5mM Ca2+.
Influence of processing parameters on dislocation substractures in deformed-and-recovered FeVNi solid solutions

Abstract Two modes of deformation have been employed to modify the dislocation substructures in ferritic FeVNi alloys. The alloys were deformed to 30% and 75% reduction in area and annealed at temperatures from 300 to 500° C to produce a variety of subgrain sizes, shapes and misorientations. Deformation of swaging produces a uniform distribution of nearly equiaxed subgrains, whereas rolling results in deformation bands, leading to non-uniform dislocation substructures. The subgrain size in the swaged-and-recovered alloys increases with increasing recovery temperature; increasing the nickel content reduces the limiting subgrain size in the deformed-and-recovered condition. The average subgrain misorientation increases with increasing amounts of deformation, ranging from 1.05° after 30% reduction to 2.5° for specimens deformed at 75%. Increasing the nickel content from 1% to 3% results in increased thermal stability of the subgrains, thereby promoting smaller subgrain sizes in the higher nickel composition alloys. This observation is consistent with the enhancement of cross-slip and the restriction of dynamic recovery, both of which are expected with increasing nickel content.
Detecting intracellular translocation of native proteins quantitatively at the single cell level

The intracellular localization and movement (i.e. translocation) of proteins are critically correlated with the functions and activation states of these proteins. Simple and accessible detection methods that can rapidly screen a large cell population with single cell resolution have been seriously lacking. In this report, we demonstrate a simple protocol for detecting translocation of native proteins using a common flow cytometer which detects fluorescence intensity without imaging. We sequentially conducted chemical release of cytosolic proteins and fluorescence immunostaining of a targeted protein. The detected fluorescence intensity of cells was shown to be quantitatively correlated to the cytosolic/nuclear localization of the protein. We used our approach to detect the translocation of native NF-κB (an important transcription factor) at its native expression level and examine the temporal dynamics in the process. The incorporation of fluorescence immunostaining makes our approach compatible with the analysis of cell samples from lab animals and patients. Our method will dramatically lower the technological hurdle for studying subcellular localization of proteins.
LEVOTHYROXINE REPLACEMENT IN OBESE HYPOTHYROID FEMALES AFTER TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY.

ABSTRACT Objective: Levothyroxine (LT4) replacement in hypothyroid obese patients is poorly understood. We assessed whether the LT4 regimen required to achieve euthyroidism differs between nonobese and obese hypothyroid females. Methods: We retrospectively identified nonobese and obese females who received LT4 starting with a standard dose of 1.6 μg/kg after total thyroidectomy for preoperative diagnosis of benign goiter. We examined the association between LT4 dosage required to achieve euthyroid state (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] 0.4–2.5 mIU/L) and patient characteristics using linear regression models with and without adjustment for age, ethnicity, medication use, and postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Results: We identified 32 females (15 nonobese/17 obese) who achieved euthyroid state. Obese patients weighed more (104.1 ± 22.5 vs. 64.9 ± 10.0 kg, P<.0001) and required a higher final LT4 than nonobese (146 ± 38 vs. 102 ± 12 μg, P = .0002) but LT4 requirements per kg total body weight (TBW) were s...
Herpes Zoster: Risk Categories for Persistent Pain

Acute neuritis and persistent pain are the most significant clinical manifestations of herpes zoster and are end points for clinical trials therapy. In an acyclovir and prednisone study, patients were categorized according to pain severity and number of lesions at presentation. Risk categories were defined according to the magnitude of risk ratios (RRs) and a comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. For acute neuritis and zoster-associated pain, RRs defined rate of resolution. Patients who presented with severe or incapacitating pain and a large number of lesions were less likely to achieve resolution of both acute neuritis and zoster-associated pain (RR, 18.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6. 6-48.6, and RR, 5.3; 95% CI, 4.2-17.2, respectively). These analyses identify the subgroups of patients for whom aggressive interventions are most strongly indicated.
The emerging role of epigenetics in cardiovascular disease

There is a worldwide epidemic of cardiovascular diseases causing not only a public health issue but also accounting for trillions of dollars of healthcare expenditure. Studies pertaining to epidemiology, pathophysiology, molecular biology, gene identification and genetic linkage maps have been able to lay a strong foundation for both the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular medicine. Although the concept of 'epigenetics' is not recent, the term in current usage is extended from the initial concept of 'controlling developmental gene expression and signaling pathways in undifferentiated zygotes' to include heritable changes to gene expression that are not from differences in the genetic code. The impact of epigenetics in cardiovascular disease is now emerging as an important regulatory key player at different levels from pathophysiology to therapeutics. This review focuses on the emerging role of epigenetics in major cardiovascular medicine specialties such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy and diabetes.
Adsorption of hydrogen atoms on the Si(100)-2×1 surface: implications for the H2 desorption mechanism

Abstract The adsorption of atomic hydrogen on the reconstructed Si(100)-2×1 surface is studied using embedded Si clusters as models of an extended Si surface. Analytic gradients of generalized valence bond (GVB) wavefunctions are used to predict equilibrium structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies; the correlation-consistent configuration interaction (CCCI) method is used to calculate heats of adsorption. We predict that the first SiH bond strength of a silicon dimer D 0 (SiSiH) is 86.1 kcal/mol, while the second SiH bond strength D 0 (HSiSiH) is 87.9 kcal/mol. Thus, no significant thermodynamic preference exists for either SiSiH or HSiSiH surface configurations, consistent with recent infrared and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments. The predicted adsorption energetics have important consequences for H 2 desorption (Δ E des =70.7 kcal/mol), with a new mechanism proposed involving H atom diffusion followed by pre-pairing desorption of two H atoms on adjacent silicon dimers in the same dimer row.
Composition of soybean lecithin

Commercial soybean lecithin is a complex mixture containing ca. 65–75% phospholipids together with triglycerides and smaller amounts of other substances. The major phospholipids include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and inositol-containing phosphatides. Other substances reported include carbohydrates, pigments, sterols and sterol glycosides. This paper reviews the nature of the compounds found in soybean lecithin and our present knowledge of its composition.
Not all Helicobacter pylori strains are created equal : should all be eliminated ?

1Several medical authorities have suggested that physicians should try to eradicate H pylori infection from essentially all infected people, whether or not they have symptoms. However, current evidence suggests that fewer than 20% of all infected people will develop any clinical consequences from their infection. How can we identify which patients to treat? There is much evidence that H pylori has been a parasite of human beings since they evolved. Organs with acid-secreting epithelia (stomachs) have existed in vertebrates for more than 300 million years, 2 and helicobacter or closely related bacteria colonise the gastrointestinal tract in many animals, including nonhuman primates. 3‐5 H pylori infection is common in human populations with poor standards of sanitation and hygiene, such as prevailed until this century in industrialised countries. 6,7 H pylori is well adapted to human beings, as is shown by the persistence of infection and the low frequency of overt disease. H pylori shows substantial genetic diversity, 8,9 and genetic analyses suggest a freely combining population structure. 10
Bifurcations from steady sliding to stick slip in boundary lubrication

We explore the nature of the transitions between stick slip and steady sliding in models for boundary lubrication introduced in J. M. Carlson and A. A. Batista, Phys. Rev. E 53, 4153 ~1996!. The models are based on the rate and state approach which has been very successful in characterizing the behavior of dry interfaces @A. Ruina, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 10 359 ~1983!#. Our models capture the key distinguishing features associated with surfaces separated by a few molecular layers of lubricant. Here we find that the transition from steady sliding to stick slip is typically discontinuous and sometimes hysteretic. When hysteresis is observed it is associated with a subcritical Hopf bifurcation. In either case, we observe a sudden and discontinuous onset in the amplitude of oscillations at the bifurcation point. @S1063-651X~98!01605-5#
Intractable epistaxis and systemic lupus: High-dose intravenous pulse steroids

Abstract Importance Epistaxis is most commonly an easily treated ENT entity with a relatively simple algorithm. Occasionally, however, it is encountered as a devastating disease process that can humble the otolaryngologist. In the setting of comorbidities that exacerbate bleeding, in this case vasculitis due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), epistaxis can be life-threatening and refractory to conservative management. Observations This case report describes the hospital course of a patient with severe SLE and intractable epistaxis. We discuss classic management options for epistaxis and offer a novel treatment option for patients with SLE-related vasculitides—goal-directed medical therapy with high-dose intravenous pulse steroid therapy. Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this report not only is the first description of targeted treatment options for intractable epistaxis in patients with SLE, but also serves to augment the traditional algorithm with the addition of a goal-directed medical therapy—control of epistaxis through high-dose intravenous pulse steroid therapy. We demonstrated that 6 mg of intravenous dexamethasone given every 6 hours can be highly effective in controlling epistaxis in patients with uncontrolled SLE. The presumed mechanism is through control of associated vasculitides.
ExacTech blood glucose meter clinical trial.

Introduction:Current prehospital protocols for the management of patients with altered mental status include the empiric administration of hypertonic glucose, naloxone, and thiamine. The injudicious use of 50% dextrose (D50W) may result in hyperosmolarity, a worsening of hypokalemia, and unwarranted additional health-care costs for the patient. The administration of D50W also may worsen the neurological outcome of patients with local or generalized ischemia.Objective:To evaluate the ExacTech blood glucose meter's ability to estimate blood glucose levels accurately and rapidly.Methods:Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from selected advanced life support (ALS) units in the Portland, Ore., metropolitan area participated in a prospective clinical trial of the ExacTech blood glucose meter. A convenience sample, was drawn from emergency medical services (EMS) patients with suspected diabetic emergencies, altered mental status, and other neurological deficits. Venous blood samples were drawn from these populations at the same time as the ExacTech readings were obtained. The venous blood was submitted to the receiving hospitals for laboratory analysis of blood glucose levels, and a comparison was made between the results of the two methods.Results:A total of 80 matched sets of data were obtained from 1 April 1990 through 6 May 1991. The hospital blood glucose values ranged from 8 to 1233 mg/dl. Sixteen (20%) of the patients were hypoglycemic ( 180 mg/dl). The ExacTech device sensitivity and specificity for hypoglycemia using venous samples were 94.6% and 89.2%, respectively. For hyperglycemia, these same parameters were 87.5% and 97.1%. Pearson's r over the range of the instrument (40–450 mg/dl) was 0.8656 (p <.001). If the prehospital “definition” of hypoglycemia (for threshold-to-treat) is raised to 65 mg/dl, the device has 100% sensitivity in the sample population.Conclusion:The device functioned accurately and consistently in the prehospital environment over a wide range of temperatures, and in the hands of many different individuals.
An adaptive classification method for multimedia retrieval

Relevance feedback can effectively improve the performance of content-based multimedia retrieval systems. To be effective, a relevance feedback approach must be able to efficiently capture the user's query concept from a very limited number of training samples. To address this issue, we propose a novel adaptive classification method using random forests, which is a machine learning algorithm with proven good performance on many traditional classification problems. With random forests, our method reduces the relevance feedback to a two-class classification problem and classifies database objects as relevant or irrelevant. From the relevant object set, our approach returns the top k nearest neighbors of the query to the user. Briefly speaking, our relevance feedback method has the following dominant features. First, our method is able to address the multimodal distribution of relevant points, because it trains a nonparametric and nonlinear classifier, i.e., random forests, for relevance feedback. Second, it does not overfit training data because it uses an ensemble of tree classifiers to classify multimedia objects. Experiments on a Corel image set (with 31,438 images) show that our method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art relevance feedback approaches.