cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cheminformatics-based enumeration and analysis of large libraries of macrolide scaffolds

We report on the development of a cheminformatics enumeration technology and the analysis of a resulting large dataset of virtual macrolide scaffolds. Although macrolides have been shown to have valuable biological properties, there is no ready-to-screen virtual library of diverse macrolides in the public domain. Conducting molecular modeling (especially virtual screening) of these complex molecules is highly relevant as the organic synthesis of these compounds, when feasible, typically requires many synthetic steps, and thus dramatically slows the discovery of new bioactive macrolides. Herein, we introduce a cheminformatics approach and associated software that allows for designing and generating libraries of virtual macrocycle/macrolide scaffolds with user-defined constitutional and structural constraints (e.g., types and numbers of structural motifs to be included in the macrocycle, ring size, maximum number of compounds generated). To study the chemical diversity of such generated molecules, we enumerated V1M (Virtual 1 million Macrolide scaffolds) library, each containing twelve common structural motifs. For each macrolide scaffold, we calculated several key properties, such as molecular weight, hydrogen bond donors/acceptors, topological polar surface area. In this study, we discuss (1) the initial concept and current features of our PKS (polyketides) Enumerator software, (2) the chemical diversity and distribution of structural motifs in V1M library, and (3) the unique opportunities for future virtual screening of such enumerated ensembles of macrolides. Importantly, V1M is provided in the Supplementary Material of this paper allowing other researchers to conduct any type of molecular modeling and virtual screening studies. Therefore, this technology for enumerating extremely large libraries of macrolide scaffolds could hold a unique potential in the field of computational chemistry and drug discovery for rational designing of new antibiotics and anti-cancer agents.
Effect of rebar geometries on ultrasonic waves propagation in reinforced concrete structures using finite element method

Corrosion of steel rebar in reinforced concrete (RC) structures introduces internal stress at the interface between rebar and concrete, ultimately leading to the failure of structures. Detection of early-stage corrosion of steel rebar can significantly reduce maintenance cost and risks. An active photoacoustic fiber optic sensor system had been proposed for early-stage corrosion detection of steel rebars by generating and receiving surface ultrasonic waves. However, the implementation of a corrosion detection method requires knowledge of surface ultrasonic waves propagating at rebar-concrete interface. The objective of this study is to investigate the interaction of surface ultrasonic waves with local geometries (of a number four rebar) and concrete covers using the finite element method (FEM). In this study, seven three-dimensional finite element models were created to simulate surface ultrasonic waves propagating in three different cross-sections of a steel rebar with different concrete cover. Three lug locations and three types of concrete (differed by Youngs modulus) were considered. The pitch-catch mode was adopted, in which one source and one receiver were deployed at each rib of the rebar. 1 MHz sinusoidal pulse was introduced at the source while time domain radial displacements were collected at the sensor. Short-time Fourier transform was used to analyze collected time domain radial displacements. From our simulation results, it was found that high frequencies of ultrasonic waves were affected by lugs more than lower frequencies. Presence of concrete cover suppresses the amplitude of surface ultrasonic waves.
Stable cyclopropene-containing analogs of the amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate

Abstract As a neurotransmitter, the amino acid glutamate has been the subject of efforts to generate structural analogs with unique properties. Here we report a practical, half-gram synthesis of two cyclopropene-containing glutamate analogs. These analogs are stable in solution, in the presence of the biological nucleophile glutathione, upon concentration, and during long-term storage, while maintaining their amenability to photo- or enzyme-caging and reactivity with bioorthogonal reaction partners like s-tetrazine or light-activated tetrazoles.
A diffused-optics flash kinetic spectrophotometer (DOFS) for measurements of absorbance changes in intact plants in the steady-state

Measurements of steady-state light-induced absorbance changes in intact plants are often hindered by interference from large changes in the light-scattering properties of the chloroplasts. In this work we present a new instrument, the diffused-optics flash spectrophotometer (DOFS), which reduces the magnitude of light scattering interference to manageable levels. In this spectrophotometer, the conventional light path is replaced with a set of light-scrambling chambers formed from a highly light-scattering plastic. The main scrambling chamber acts both to homogeneously diffuse as well as to split the measuring beam into sample and reference channels. Since the measuring beam has no defined incident angle, it is essentially 'pre-scattered', and further scattering changes that occur in the sample have minimal effect on the apparent absorbance changes. The combination of a pulsed probe light and differential optics and electronics provides a high signal-to-noise ratio, stable baseline and high time resolution. We also introduce a technique to account for residual scattering changes. Sets of measurements are made with the instrument in optical configurations that are differentially sensitive to light-scattering changes but yield nearly identical absorbance changes. The difference in apparent absorbance spectra taken with the two configurations reveals the spectral shape of the scattering changes without interference from absorbance signals. Spectra of the scattering contributions are then used to eliminate residual scattering interference from kinetic traces. We suggest that DOFS is ideally suited for study of steady-state electron transfer reactions in intact plants.
Men's Self-Perceived Adequacy as the Family Breadwinner: Implications for Their Psychological, Marital, and Work-Family Weil-Being

Researchers note a link between men's changing role as the family breadwinner and declines in their personal and marital well-being. To explore this link more fully, two aspects of the breadwinner role, earner status (single- [n = 50], main-[n = 46], dual-earner [n = 43]) and self-perceived adequacy as the family breadwinner, were examined. Using analysis of variance, 139 family men are compared in terms of measures of psychological, marital, and work-family well-being. Self-perceived inadequate breadwinners (n = 51) report more depression and marital conflict than adequate breadwinners (n = 88). Men in single-earner families report less work-family stress than either main- or dual-earner men. If they perceive themselves as inadequate breadwinners, time conflicts between work and family responsibilities are a concern for men in main-earner families. If they view themselves as adequate breadwinners, dual-earner men report a greater sense of work-family role overload than if they view themselves as inadequate breadwinners.
Review of Robert L. Tsai's Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation (W.W. Norton & Co., 2019)

This is a brief review of Robert L. Tsai's book, Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation (W.W. Norton & Co., 2019). In his timely and thoughtful book, Robert Tsai advocates a pragmatic approach to achieving equality in an era of political polarization and cultural cleavages. The review acknowledges that sometimes partial equality or equality by other means is all that is possible, but questions whether the rhetorical and other tools of practical equality can achieve meaningful progress in terms of actual equality.
The Nuclear Agreement’s Aftermath

This chapter discusses the major events that have occurred after signing the nuclear agreement, covering the rivalry of major powers to benefit from commercial relations with Iran despite the continuations of the U.S. sanctions. It describes how the U.S. policies toward Iran changed under President Donald Trump and the fallout of the U.S. exit from the agreement. It also discusses the reaction of the European states to the extraterritorial sanctions that the U.S. has imposed on their companies and banks that deal with Iran.
Correction to: Health Care Transition Planning Among Youth with ASD and Other Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders.

In the original publication of the article, Figure 1 included footnotes which duplicated information appearing in the figure caption. Therefore the notes of “NOTES: ASD = autism spectrum disorder; MBDD = mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. Indicators presented are unadjusted estimates. x Significantly different than youth with autism spectrum disorder based on adjusted odds ratio (p < .05). y Significantly different than youth with other mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders based on adjusted odds ratio (p < .05).” have been removed. The figure 1 appearing in the original version of the article has been corrected.
Work Optimization with Association Rule Mining of Accelerated Deterioration in Building Components

AbstractThe objective of enterprise building infrastructure management is to provide optimal allocation of maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair (MR&R) resources and to preserve the condition of ...
Treatment Efficacy and Biocompatibility of a Biodegradable Aflibercept-Loaded Microsphere-Hydrogel Drug Delivery System.

Purpose To evaluate the in vivo treatment efficacy and biocompatibility of a biodegradable aflibercept-loaded microsphere-hydrogel drug delivery system (DDS) in a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) rat model. Methods Two weeks after CNV induction, animals were randomly assigned into four experimental groups: (1) no treatment, (2) single intravitreal (IVT) injection of blank DDS, (3) bimonthly bolus IVT aflibercept injections, and (4) single IVT injection of aflibercept-DDS. CNV lesion sizes were monitored longitudinally using fluorescence angiography and multi-Otsu thresholding for 6 months. For safety and biocompatibility assessment, an additional three non-CNV animals received a blank DDS injection. Electroretinogram, intraocular pressure, and clinical ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed. Results The average lesion areas at week 0 (treatment intervention) were (1) 8693 ± 628 µm2 for no treatment, (2) 8261 ± 709 µm2 for blank DDS, (3) 10,368 ± 885 µm2 for bolus, and (4) 10,306 ± 1212 µm2 for aflibercept-DDS. For the nontreated groups, CNV lesion size increased by week 2 and remained increased throughout the study. The treated groups exhibited CNV size reduction after week 2 and remained for 6 months. At week 22, the average percent changes in CNV lesion area were +38.87% ± 7.08%, +34.19% ± 9.93%, -25.95% ± 3.51%, and -32.69% ± 5.40% for the above corresponding groups. No signs of chronic inflammation and other ocular abnormalities were found. Conclusions The aflibercept-DDS was effective in treating CNV lesions for 6 months and is safe, well tolerated, and biocompatible. Translational relevance The proposed DDS is a promising system to reduce IVT injection frequency for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment.
Slow progress in the visibility of women in neurosurgery in the United States: opportunity for improvement.

Objective The goal of this study was to analyze the visibility of women within organized neurosurgery, including leadership positions, lectureships, and honored guest/award recipients at neurosurgical conferences. Methods A cross-sectional study was used to analyze the gender demographics within the five major national neurosurgical societies (Congress of Neurological Surgeons [CNS], American Association of Neurological Surgeons [AANS], Society of Neurological Surgeons [SNS], American Board of Neurological Surgery [ABNS], and Council of State Neurosurgical Societies [CSNS]) from 2000 to 2020. Data for top leadership positions, keynote speakers, honored guests, and invited lectureships at these neurosurgical societies were reviewed. Additionally, national neurosurgical residency match data from 2018 to 2020 were collected. For each aforementioned data point, gender was determined and confirmed via publicly available data. Data from the US News and World Report best hospitals publication for 2020 were applied for analyzing gender trends within neurosurgical residencies specifically. Results In the past 2 decades (2000-2020), top leadership positions across the neurosurgical organizations were held by 45 individuals, of whom 5 (11.1%) were women. Spanning from 2000 to 2018, just 8.1% (50 of 618) of guests/honored speakers on the national neurosurgical stage of the CNS, AANS, SNS, and CSNS meetings have been female. Excluding the Louise Eisenhardt Lecture (honoring women), the percentage of female guests/honored speakers at the AANS meeting was just 5% (17 of 367). For the CNS annual meetings, 13.4% (20 of 149) of the speakers were women from 2000 to 2018, whereas the CSNS annual meeting data from 2001 to 2018 found that 11.9% (7 of 59) of speakers were women. From 1952 to the present, there have been no female honored guests at the CNS annual meeting. Across the residency match cycles from 2018 to 2020, the percentages of matched applicants identifying as female have been 22.7%, 28.1%, and, most recently, 25.3%. The percentage of female residents is 28.5% (top 20 program) versus 24.3% (non-top 20 program) (p = 0.267). Conclusions This study found that for all the data points surveyed, including leadership positions, invited lectureships at national neurosurgical meetings, and successful neurosurgical residency applicants, disproportionate female underrepresentation was evident. Consistent lack of visibility leads to a negative impact on progress in the recruitment and retention of women in neurosurgery. Visibility, mentorship, role models, and sponsorship are highly interrelated processes and are essential for meaningful progress.
Excess heart age in young breast cancer survivors over 2-year follow-up

Breast cancer survivors are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to cardiotoxic cancer treatment. Research on young breast cancer survivors (diagnosed < 45 years old) are limited. Young breast cancer survivors diagnosed between age 30 and 44, stage I–III, and treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital between 2012 and 2015 were included. Cardiovascular disease risk was estimated using excess heart age (calculated using age, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, diabetes, smoking, body mass index) and examined at two time points: diagnosis and 2-year follow-up. Statistical analyses included within-group mean comparison tests and linear regression to examine predictors of excess heart age. A total of 152 young breast cancer survivors were included; 95 received anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab, and 57 did not. Overall excess heart age was 4.2 at diagnosis and 5.4 years at 2-year follow-up (p = 0.08). Change in excess heart age from diagnosis to 2-year follow-up among those receiving or not receiving anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab was 4.3–4.4 years, p = 0.93; and 4.0–7.1 years, p < 0.01; respectively. Factors that predicted excess heart age included endocrine therapy (p = 0.049) and change from premenopausal to postmenopausal status (p = 0.048). Anthracyclines and trastuzumab were not predictors of excess heart age. Subclinical changes undetected by heart age may still occur. Future research is needed to evaluate heart age over longer follow-up and to develop a modified heart age tool, that incorporates treatment risk, that facilitates identification of high-risk cancer patients for early intervention in cardiac risk prevention.
Monitoring the Throwing Motion: Current State of Wearables and Analytics

Recent developments in wearable technology have made the biomechanical evaluation of the throwing motion more accessible for recreational and professional baseball pitchers. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) overcome challenges associated with three-dimensional motion analysis and can be used to quantitatively measure various kinematic and kinetic variables, including those potentially associated with ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury risk. Other wearable devices can evaluate biometric data (such as heart rate) to assess fatigue, and surface electromyography can be used to evaluate muscle recruitment throughout the throwing motion. Biomechanical data collected by these sensors can be transmitted in real-time for immediate feedback or retrospectively reviewed. Several studies have used this technology to evaluate the impact of pitch type, fatigue, ball weight, glenohumeral rotation deficit, partial effort pitching, and throwing distance on the throwing motion. Current limitations of IMUs include challenges associated with device reliability, data transmission range, and interpretation of data upon retrospective review. Future advancements in wearable technology could allow for the routine collection of biomechanical data during active competition. Other potential applications of wearable technology include incorporation of IMUs into UCL reconstruction rehabilitation protocols, and assessing biomechanical factors that may lead to increased risk of pitching-related injuries throughout the course of a season.
Video-Audio Emotion Recognition Based on Feature Fusion Deep Learning Method

In this paper, we propose a video-audio based emotion recognition system in order to improve the successive classification rate. The features from audio frames are extracted using Mel frequency Cepstral coefficients (MFCC) while the features from video frames are extracted from VGG16 with pre-trained weights on the ImageNet dataset [17]. Then recurrent neural networks (RNN) are further applied to process the sequence information. The outputs of both RNN are fused into a concatenate layer and then the final classification result is obtained by the softmax layer. Our proposed system achieves 90% accuracy based on the RAVDESS dataset for eight emotion classes.
The "Prochaska" microtiter plate bioassay for inducers of NQO1.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides details of ‘‘Prochaska’’ microtiter plate bioassay for inducers of NQO1. The microtiter plate bioassay for NQO1 was first developed in the laboratory by Hans Prochaska as a rapid and direct assay of quinone reductase (NQO1; QR; DT-diaphorase) activity in cultured cells, suitable for identifying, purifying, and determining the potency of inducers of this detoxication enzyme. The Prochaska microtiter plate bioassay has been exceptionally useful for identifying and isolating inducers of NQO1 from natural sources, and in guiding the synthesis of more potent analogs of isothiocyanates, dithiolethiones, and curcuminoids. It has also been used to survey screen, and compare the potency of various plant sources in both plant breeding and molecular genetics applications. An overview of Prochaska bioassay protocol is presented in this chapter, elaborating the technical improvements of the assay. Novel findings made with the Prochaska bioassay are also described in the chapter. The chapter elaborates the and limitations of the Prochaska bioassay. Test compound matrix, dosing, and bioassay variability are also analyzed in the chapter.
Do as I Do, Not as I Say: An Empirical Investigation of Justice Scalia's Ordinary Meaning Method of Statutory Interpretation

Justice Scalia is one of the only American judges to have formulated a complete methodology of statutory interpretation. He contends that the rule of law requires "[s]tatutory construction to begin with the language employed by Congress and the assumption that the ordinary meaning of that language accurately expresses the legislative purpose." This article presents the results of a study that examined how Justice Scalia's practice of interpreting statutes compares with his theory. Based on a random sample of Justice Scalia's statutory interpretation dissents, this study uncovered the following. First, Justice Scalia entirely suspends textualism in about a quarter of the cases in the study's sample, because he is interpreting a statute that he believes grants the courts common law authority. Second, when Justice Scalia engages in textual analysis, more often than not his presumption that the ordinary meaning of words governs statutory meaning is overcome. He also consults an eclectic set of extrinsic materials - the same broad set of materials that other justices use, with the singular exception of legislative history. Third, purpose analysis lies at the core of Justice Scalia's method, and he considers a statute's purpose about as often as the Court as a whole does. Because Justice Scalia refuses to consult legislative materials, however, his purpose analysis frequently stems from the least formal source of all - his own sense of a statute's purpose or of absurd or anomalous results. This article concludes by observing that compared to ipse dixit purposivism, the evils of legislative history are grossly overstated.
Cardiovascular mortality prediction in veterans with arm exercise vs pharmacologic myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background No data exist comparing outcome prediction from arm exercise vs pharmacologic myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) stress test variables in patients unable to perform treadmill exercise. Methods In this retrospective study, 2,173 consecutive lower extremity disabled veterans aged 65.4 ± 11.0years (mean ± SD) underwent either pharmacologic MPI (1730 patients) or arm exercise stress tests (443 patients) with MPI (n = 253) or electrocardiography alone (n = 190) between 1997 and 2002. Cox multivariate regression models and reclassification analysis by integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to characterize stress test and MPI predictors of cardiovascular mortality at ≥10-year follow-up after inclusion of significant demographic, clinical, and other variables. Results Cardiovascular death occurred in 561 pharmacologic MPI and 102 arm exercise participants. Multivariate-adjusted cardiovascular mortality was predicted by arm exercise resting metabolic equivalents (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% CI 0.39-0.69, P P P P Conclusions Arm exercise capacity, heart rate recovery, and pharmacologic and arm exercise heart rate responses are robust predictors of cardiovascular mortality. Arm exercise MPI results are equivalent and possibly superior to pharmacologic MPI for cardiovascular mortality prediction in patients unable to perform treadmill exercise.
Interspecific interactions between Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in laboratory bioassays.

Experiments were conducted to examine competitive interactions between the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (FST), and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (EST), using groups of termites with different worker:soldier proportions. Experiments were conducted using three connected test chambers: an FST chamber, an unoccupied center chamber, and an EST chamber. When groups of FST were comprised of 20% soldiers versus 2% EST soldiers, only 8% of center chambers were occupied exclusively by EST. When groups of FST were comprised of 10% soldiers versus 1% EST soldiers, 44% of center chambers were occupied exclusively by EST. When the only food source was located in the center chamber, 60% of center chambers were occupied by both species. FST did not completely displace EST in any of these experiments.
Reinhold Niebuhr and Christian realism

This is a new assessment of the work of the twentieth century's best-known public theologian. Reinhold Niebuhr's ability to make sense of international politics, racial tension, labour unrest, and cultural transformations gained him a wide audience, but his responsiveness to changing times was grounded in a remarkably consistent theology. Today, Christian realism remains an important way to understand politics and society in theological terms, but the enduring themes of Niebuhr's work must also be related to new generations of thinkers in theology, politics, law, and philosophy. Robin W. Lovin traces its key themes so as to identify the political, moral, and theological realisms on which Niebuhr's persuasive and subtle depiction of human nature rests. In that context, a complex, dialectical, Niebuhrian approach still appears as a vital and lively alternative to the oversimplified accounts of politics and justice that have dominated recent decades.
Role-Playing a Public Relations Crisis

Abstract Crisis management affects all institutions. Organizations now operate in a media-saturated world where individuals can disseminate information instantaneously across the globe via the internet. As a result, ensuring future business leaders have an understanding of how crises develop and what alternatives exist is a valuable educational outcome. Through a role-playing exercise, students undertake crisis management for a fictitious organization. The exercise, according to participants, provides a realistic environment where higher level learning (as compared w th merely listening to lectures) resulted. Role-playing also improved student awareness of the components of good crisis management and prepared them to handle a crisis.
Business Intelligence Infrastructure for Academic Libraries

Objective – To describe the rationale for and development of MetriDoc, an information technology infrastructure that facilitates the collection, transport, and use of library activity data. Methods – With the help of the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the University of Pennsylvania Libraries have been working on creating a decision support system for library activity data. MetriDoc is a means of “lighting up” an array of data sources to build a comprehensive repository of quantitative information about services and user behavior. A data source can be a database, text file, Extensible Markup Language (XML), or any binary object that contains data and has business value. MetriDoc provides simple tools to extract useful information from various data sources; transform, resolve, and consolidate that data; and finally store them in a repository. Results – The Penn Libraries completed five reference projects to prove basic concepts of the MetriDoc framework and make available a set of applications that other institutions could test in a deployment of the MetriDoc core. These reference projects are written as configurable plugins to the core framework and can be used to parse and store EZ-Proxy log data, COUNTER data, interlibrary loan transactional data from ILLIAD, fund expenditure data from the Voyager integrated library system, and transactional data from the Relais platform, which supports the BorrowDirect and EZBorrow resource sharing consortiums. The MetriDoc framework is currently undergoing test implementations at the University of Chicago and North Carolina State University, and the Kuali-OLE project is actively considering it as the basis of an analytics module. Conclusion – If libraries decide that a business intelligence infrastructure is strategically important, deep collaboration will be essential to progress, given the costs and complexity of the challenge.
Nodal Upstaging During Lung Cancer Resection Is Associated With Surgical Approach

Background Recent reports indicate that thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer may be associated with lower rates of surgical upstaging. We queried a statewide cancer registry for differences in upstaging rates and survival by surgical approach. Methods The Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) collects data, including centralized pathology reporting, on cancer patients treated statewide. We performed a retrospective review from 2010 to 2012 to examine clinical and pathologic stage. We assessed rates of upstaging and whether the surgical approach, thoracotomy (THOR) versus minimally invasive techniques (video-assisted thoracic surgery; VATS), had an impact on final pathologic stage and survival. Results The KCR database from 2010 to 2012 contained information on 2830 lung cancer cases, 1964 having THOR procedure and 500 having VATS resections. Preoperatively, 36.4% of THOR were clinically stage 1a versus 47.4% VATS ( p = 0.0002). Of these, final pathologic stage remained stage 1a in 30.5% of THOR procedures and 38.0% of VATS ( p = 0.0002). The overall nodal upstaging rate for THOR was 9.9% and 4.8% for VATS ( p = 0.002). Decreased nodal upstaging was found with VATS, independent of tumor size and extent of resection (odds ratio 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.387 to 0.985, p = 0.04). However, improved survival was found with VATS compared with THOR (hazard ratio 0.733, 95% CI: 0.592 to 0.907, p = 0.0042). Conclusions Consistent with other reports, we report a lower upstaging rate with VATS. Nevertheless, there is a survival advantage in VATS patients. Although selection bias may play a role in these observed differences, the improved quality of life measures associated with VATS may explain survival improvement despite lower surgical upstaging.
The automobile and heat-stress

This study suggests that the thermal burden of poorly ventilated parked automobiles can be considerable, particularly when the automobiles are exposed to direct sunlight. Leaving the windows open two inches does not appear to be protective. The pratice of exposing infants and toddlers to such thermal risk appears to be common and the need for adequate ventilation unrecognized. Education measures stressing the use of carseats and other safety devices should include the potential hazards of high temperature in parked automobiles.
THE SENSITIVITY OF GEL ELECTROPHORESIS AS A DETECTOR OF GENETIC VARIATION

Three experiments based on an idea of Youderian have been performed to determine the proportions and kinds of amino acid substitutions that are detected by gel electrophoresis when applied to surveys of protein variation in populations. The experiments involved applying the sequential method of electrophoresis under several conditions of pH and gel concentration to a large sample of human hemoglobins with known amino acid substitutions. In the first experiment, a random sample of 20 different hemoglobin variants was studied, and these were separated into 17 distinct electrophoretic classes by three sequential gel conditions, thus giving a detectability of 85%. A single pass under standard conditions detected eight classes. The second experiment compared groups of substitutions that were chemically identical, but in different positions in the α and β chains, while the third experiment compared pairs of substitutions that were charge equivalent, but chemically different at the same chain position. The sequential method distinguished 90% of all chemically identical substitutions when they were at different chain locations, and four out of five charge equivalent but chemically different substitutions at the same site. Examination of the location of each substitution in the three-dimensional structure of hemoglobins showed that interior substitutions usually are less different from Hb A than are surface substitutions and that local interactions with chain and spatial neighbors are sufficient to distinguish substitutions in very similar positions on the outside of the molecule. The "charge ladder" model of electrophoretic classes is clearly incorrect, and it appears that sequential gel electrophoresis as practiced in our Drosophila surveys has detected a substantial fraction of amino acid substitutions if hemoglobin is regarded as a model. This estimate may be modified as other molecules beside hemoglobin are subjected to similar calibration experiments.
Understanding globin regulation in β-thalassemia: it’s as simple as α, β, γ, δ

A vast excess of α-globin production and inadequate γ-globin compensation lead to the development of severe anemia in human β-thalassemia. Newly identified modifiers of α- and γ-globin synthesis and insights into the mechanisms of globin regulation provide the tools for potential new approaches to treating this and other red blood cell disorders. In the study by Han and colleagues in this issue of the JCI, the activity of a heme-regulated protein, HRI, is shown to modulate the accumulation of excess α-globin chains in murine β-thalassemia and to decrease the severity of the disease.
Factors in the prognosis ofmeningococcal infection

In a review of 63 cases of meningococcal infection in childhood from 1947 to 1962, a period in which antibiotics and steroids were used as standard therapy, most of the 12 deaths (a 19 per cent fatality rate) were associated with meningococcemia without meningitis. Studies of adrenal cortical function suggested relative adrenal insufficiency in several fatal cases. Features associated with a grave prognosis were: onset of petechiae within 12 hours prior to admission, absence of meningitis, shock, normal or low white blood cell count, and normal or low erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The presence of 3 or more of these features indicates a very poor prognosis. The use of unconventional therapy such as vasodilators, artificial hibernation, or heparin may be indicated in these patients.
Nongallated Compared with Gallated Flavan-3-ols in Green and Black Tea Are More Bioavailable

Green tea and black tea (BT) contain gallated [(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate] and nongallated [(-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC)] tea polyphenols (PP). During BT production, PP undergo oxidation and form larger polymers such as theaflavins (THE) and thearubigins, which contribute to the health benefit of BT. This article gives an overview of the role of chemical characteristics and endogenous metabolism of tea PP and their bioavailability in humans and describes attempts to increase their bioavailability. At pH close to neutral, EGCG and EGC form homo- and heterodimers generating hydrogen peroxide. To confirm the pH instability of EGCG, EGC, and THE in cell culture medium, their antiproliferative activity was determined in the presence and absence of catalase. The antiproliferative activity in LNCaP prostate cancer cells was decreased when incubated with catalase prior to EGCG, EGC, and THE treatment. In addition, new findings demonstrated that the formation of methyl-EGC increased the stability at neutral pH compared with EGC. Approaches to increase the bioavailability of flavan-3-ols are reviewed, which include the administration of tea in combination with fruit juices, coadministration with piperine, and peracetylation of EGCG. Future intervention studies will need to focus on the bioactivity not only of green tea and BT PP but also of their metabolites and biotransformation products.
Abstract 69: The Effect of Patching in Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) on Reducing The Risk of Restenosis and Stroke in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial (CREST)

Objective: To compare the perioperative risk of any stroke, death and MI and the long-term risk of re-stenosis and stroke following CEA with patching (a prosthetic or vein patch sutured to the arterial opening to widen the closure) versus CEA with primary closure in CREST. Methods: We included patients who were randomized and underwent CEA in CREST. We compared peri-procedural and 4-year event rates and 2-year restenosis rates, in addition to rates of reoperation between the two groups. Re-stenosis was defined as elevated peak systolic velocity ≥3.0 m/s on carotid duplex US. Treatment differences were assessed using proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, and symptomatic status. Results: There were 1,148 patients who underwent CEA (755 {66%} patch; 328 {29%} primary closure). We excluded 43 patients who underwent eversion CEA and 24 patients missing CEA data (5%). There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to age, sex, race and comorbidities (Table 1). There were significant reductions in the risk of any periprocedural stroke and death (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15-0.82, P<0.02), in re-operation (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.80, P<0.01), in the 4-year risk of stroke (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.28-0.97, P<0.04) and in the 2-year risk of re-stenosis (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.45, P<0.0001) in the patch compared to the primary closure group (Table 2). ![][1] ![][2] Conclusion: Patch closure should be considered for all CEAs because of the association of patch closure with reductions in risk of periprocedural stroke and death, re-operation, and long-term clinical and anatomic durability. [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/graphic-2.gif
Design and analysis of apposition compound eye optical sensors

Methods are presented for designing and estimating the performance of artificial apposition compound eye optical sensors. Apposition compound eyes have been investigated for a wide range of applications from robotics to smart weapons. While artificial apposition compound eyes have been constructed and demonstrated, optical design issues and performance prediction for these systems have never been adequately addressed in the literature. Apposition compound eyes are a useful paradigm for applications where wide field of view is critical but high spatial resolution is not required. Natural arthropod compound eyes and their biological models are first scrutinized to give insight into designing and modeling artificial apposition compound eye optical sensors. Such sensors are shown to have comparable sensitivity to traditional single-aperture sensors for extended sources. A method for enhancing resolution over the extended-source case is demonstrated for single point sources. For the first time, the frequency response of an artificial apposition compound eye is addressed while taking into account the differences between artificial and natural ommatidia. Both a numercal integration technique for determining the contrast transfer function and a Fourier-transform modulation-transfer-function method are presented and validated with experimental results.
Extrusion processing of FeCo

Ingots of three FeCo alloys, Fe-70 at % Co, e-50 at % Co and Fe-30% Co, were successfully extruded at 1000°C, then re-extruded at 750°C in order to produce fine-grained material. The resulting microstructures were examined both optically and by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that increasing the Fe: Co ratio produces less complete recrystallization: Fe-70 at % Co was completely recrystallized even after both the 1000 and 750°C extrusions, whilst Fe-30 at % Co was partially recrstallized after the 1000 °C extrusion. Single dislocations were present in the extruded alloys except single-extruded Fe-30 at % Co, in which dislocation pairs were observed.
Demography and disappearing merchandise: How older workforces influence retail shrinkage

Summary Prior research on retail shrinkage has taken a largely individual-level approach to theorizing about why it occurs, showing that older employees are less prone to theft and more vigilant in preventing customer shoplifting than younger personnel. However, given the influence of organizational contexts on organizational behavior, theorizing about shrinkage may be enhanced by the consideration of business-unit level contextual variables. The present study addressed this concern by examining the relationship between store-level age composition, whistle-blowing (WB) climate, and shrinkage in 726 retail stores. Results indicated that the negative mean age–shrinkage relationship was stronger when there was less age diversity or a climate more supportive of WB. Moreover, the negative WB climate–shrinkage linkage was stronger when the mean age was higher. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Niacinamide requirement for growth ofKluyveromyces lactis in minimal medium

Abstract AlthoughKluyveromyces lactis has been used extensively for investigating a variety of metabolic processes, the minimum nutritional requirements for growth of this yeast have not been described. We have determined these minimal requirements and formulated a simple medium which provided growth, as measured turbidometrically, comparable to that obtained with complex media. The medium consisted of the following ingredients per liter: 20 g glucose; 0.41 g MgCl2; 2.4 g ammonium sulfate; 6.8 g KH2PO4; 12.12 g K2HPO4; 1200 μg niacinamide; 60 μg biotin; and 6000 μg pantothenic acid. Of the vitamins included, only niacinamide was strictly required to achieve maximum growth. Addition of biotin and pantothenic acid accelerated growth but did not increase the maximum amount of growth which was obtained in the presence of niacinamide alone. Niacin was substituted for niacinamide with no change in growth characteristics. The addition of MnCl2, ZnCl2, CaCl2, and FeCl2 had no effect on growth but the presence of CuCl2 at 0.4 m m caused an almost complete inhibition of growth. Mg2+ ions were required for growth.
Semi-Analytical Modeling of Crack Initiation Dominant Contact Fatigue Life for Roller Bearings

The fatigue test of a needle roller bearing suggests that the dominant failure mechanism is subsurface crack initiation and propagation. Therefore, a new semi-analytical contact fatigue model is derived from a micromechanics based crack initiation model. The analysis indicates that in the life calculation the selection of the critical stress, such as the maximum orthogonal shear stress, maximum shear stress, octahedral shear stress, or von Mises equivalent stress, becomes arbitrary under the nonfrictional Hertzian line contact condition. The fatigue life of roller bearings under the pure rolling condition can be predicted by simply knowing the Hertzian contact pressure and the contact width, which avoids complicated calculation of the subsurface stresses. The film thickness, roughness, and the material hardness effects on contact fatigue are also included in the new model. The comparisons with different models and the experimental data indicate that the new model makes similar life predictions as the loannides-Harris model, but the new model is much simpler to use. The Lundberg-Palmgren model does not fit with the experiment data.
A two compartment model and glomerular filtration rate.

Abstract To outline the two compartmental closed model, a study was conducted on nephrectomized dogs with 131I-iothalamate and 125I-serumalbumin. A stable equilibrium was reached rapidly and the intravascular volume was compared with the extracellular volume assessed by iothalamate. However a very slow exponential drop of the equilibrium disagrees with the expected plateau. Electrophoretic studies on iothalamate in plasma and total blood in vitro revealed a splitting off of the label, accounting at least in part for the slow drop of intravascular concentrations and signifies the introduction of iodides into the metabolic pathway of iodine. This process is however slow enough to affect clinical measurements. The developed differential equations account for an ideal situation; further mathematical development opens the two compartmental model. A divergence from the ideal situation permits search for explanations like: unstable iothalamate, inconstant positioned patients or changing glomerular filtration rates during a study. The quantities present at any time in each space are accounted for and also what has been eliminated can be easily assessed. Furthermore, in practice the size of the extracellular space can be determined.
Embedding intelligent agents to enable physical robotic and sensor organizations

The integration of multiagent systems (MAS) with organizations creates a platform to solve a number of real world problems. Extending the use of multiagent organizations to work with physical sensors and robotic systems synergizes the control ability of agents with the ability to monitor and affect physical phenomena. This research effort examines the use of agents, which are embedded into microprocessor boards, to control sensor and robotic systems. The concept introduced is the Agent-on-a-Chip(AOC) which integrates the capabilities of agents, MAS, and physical systems to create a real, fieldable application to attack a great number of real world domain problems.
Thermal preprocessing to shorten flows, simplify lithography, and radically reduce processing cycle time

In integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, mismatch in processing times (about one minute per wafer for some steps to over ten hours per wafer for others) forces grouping of wafers into lots and batches for economic processing. If separation through implanted oxygen (SIMOX) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer production was followed by blanket gate oxide growth and poly silicon deposition before the wafers entered the semiconductor fabrication process, processing could start with the critical lithographic step, poly-silicon patterning, thereby avoiding overlay issues. This step could be followed by source/drain formation, and rapid-thermal-annealing (RTA) to activate the implants and a shallow trench to the buried oxide for isolation. This would complete the front-end processing with no need for long thermal steps. The result would be simplified lithography, reduced process flow length, and better matched processing times facilitating more complete clusterization of the factory and, thereby, a radically reduced cycle time. The cycle time using this approach is expected to be on the order of one day, accelerating yield learning, reducing inventory risks, and reducing processing overhead in cleans and inspections.
Gluten-free diet and steroid treatment are effective therapy for most patients with collagenous sprue.

Background & Aims Collagenous sprue (CS) is characterized by the presence of a distinctive band of subepithelial collagen deposition in the small bowel. We evaluated the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with CS. Methods Thirty patients with CS were identified at the 3 Mayo Clinic sites between 1993 and 2009. Clinical data from medical records were reviewed. Results The study cohort was 70% female (age range, 53–91 years). Most patients had severe diarrhea and weight loss. Hospitalization to treat dehydration was necessary in 16 (53%) patients. Associated immune-mediated diseases were noted in 70% of the patients; celiac disease was the most frequent. Other associated diseases were microscopic colitis, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune enteropathy. The median thickness of the layer of subepithelial collagen deposition in the small bowel was 29 μm (20–56.5 μm). Subepithelial collagen deposition in the colon or stomach was noted in 8 patients. A clinical response was observed in 24 (80%) patients after treatment with a combination of a gluten-free diet and immunosuppressive drugs. Histologic improvement was confirmed in 9 patients, with complete remission in 5. Two patients died (1 of complications of CS and 1 of another illness). Conclusions Most patients with CS are treated effectively with a combination of gluten-free diet and steroids. CS is often associated with collagen deposition or chronic inflammation in other segments of the gastrointestinal tract as well as other immune-mediated disorders.