cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meta-Analysis of Survival and Development of a Prognostic Nomogram for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Treated with Systemic Chemotherapy.

(1) Purpose: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer with an aggressive course. For patients who are medically inoperable or surgically unresectable, multi-agent systemic chemotherapy remains an accepted standard-of-care. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to provide baseline summative survival estimates as well as evaluate the influence of prognostic variables to provide comparative estimates for future trial designs. (2) Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed of MPM studies published from 2002–2019 obtained from the Medline database evaluating systemic therapy combinations for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Weighted random effects models were used to calculate survival estimates. The influence of proportions of known prognostic factors on overall survival (OS) were evaluated in the creation of a prognostic nomogram to estimate survival. The performance of this model was evaluated against data generated from one positive phase II study and two positive randomized trials. (3) Results: Twenty-four phase II studies and five phase III trials met the eligibility criteria; 2534 patients were treated on the included clinical studies. Ten trials included a platinum-pemetrexed-based treatment regimen, resulting in a pooled estimate of progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.7 months (95% CI: 6.2–7.2 months) and OS of 14.2 months (95% CI: 12.7–15.9 months). Fifteen experimental chemotherapy regimens have been tested in phase II or III studies, with a pooled median survival estimate of 13.5 months (95% CI: 12.6–14.6 months). Meta-regression analysis was used to estimate OS with platinum-pemetrexed using a variety of features, such as pathology (biphasic vs. epithelioid), disease extent (locally advanced vs. metastatic), ECOG performance status, age, and gender. The nomogram-predicted estimates and corresponding 95% CIs performed well when applied to recent randomized studies. (4) Conclusions: Given the rarity of MPM and the aggressive nature of the disease, innovative clinical trial designs with significantly greater randomization to experimental regimens can be performed using robust survival estimates from prior studies. This study provides baseline comparative values and also allows for accounting for differing proportions of known prognostic variables.
Inhibition of Heat shock protein 90 in the Spinal Cord Enhances Opioid Anti-Nociception by Disabling an Inhibitory GABA Circuit

One strategy to enhance the clinical treatment of chronic and acute pain is the development of dose-reductive compounds that, when co-administered with palliatives, can reduce the dose of opioid required for treatment while retaining analgesic efficacy and decreasing side-effects. We previously showed that intrathecal (IT) administration of the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor 17-AAG potentiated the efficacy of morphine induced antinociception while reducing or not changing opioid side effects. Proteomic analysis of the translational alterations induced by IT 17-AAG administration revealed an upregulation of GABA transporter 2 (GAT-2). To elucidate the role of GAT-2 in mediating the enhancement of morphine antinociception, 17-AAG treated mice were administered a GAT inhibitor, Nipecotic Acid (NA). NA effectively blocked the 17-AAG enhancement of antinociception compared to controls, while not changing responses in controls, suggesting that GAT-2 mediates 17-AAG's antinociceptive enhancement. We hypothesized that an inhibitory GABA circuit is present in the spinal cord which reduces opioid antinociception and is disabled by Hsp90. To test this, mice were treated with IT GABA-A or GABA-B agonists prior to systemic morphine administration. The GABA-A agonist reversed 17-AAG enhanced antinociception much like NA. Intriguingly, the GABA-B agonist reversed 17-AAG antinociception in males only, suggesting a GABAergic sex-specific difference. To further test the inhibitory GABA circuit hypothesis, naive mice (no 17-AAG) were injected with IT GABA-A or GABA-B antagonists prior to morphine and tail flick. Males showed enhanced morphine antinociception with either antagonist. However, neither drug had an impact on female mice, again suggesting mechanistic sex differences. These results taken together suggest that IT 17-AAG potentiates morphine-induced antinociception via upregulation of GAT-2, relieving an inhibitory GABAergic brake on opioid antinociception. This study provides mechanistic insight into how Hsp90 inhibitors can be used to boost opioid antinociception and may have identified a novel inhibitory circuit of opioid antinociception. This study was funded by an Arizona Biomedical Research Commission New Investigator Award #ADHS18-198875 and institutional funds from the University of Arizona.
Association of kidney function and atrial fibrillation progression to clinical outcomes in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

Background Kidney function may promote progression of AF. Objective We evaluated the association of kidney function to AF progression and resultant clinical outcomes in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using national clinical data from the Veterans Health Administration linked to CIED data from the Carelink® remote monitoring data warehouse (Medtronic Inc, Mounds View, MN). All devices had atrial leads and at least 75% of remote monitoring transmission coverage. Patients were included at the date of the first AF episode lasting ≥6 minutes, and followed until the occurrence of persistent AF in the first year, defined as ≥7 consecutive days with continuous AF. We used Cox regression analyses with persistent AF as a time-varying covariate to examine the association to stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and death. Results Of, 10,323 eligible patients, 1,771 had a first CIED-detected AF (mean age 69 ± 10 years, 1.2% female). In the first year 355 (20%) developed persistent AF. Kidney function was not associated with persistent AF after multivariable adjustment including CHA2DS2-VASc variables and prior medications. Only higher age increased the risk (HR: 1.37 per 10 years; 95% CI:1.22-1.54). Persistent AF was associated to higher risk of heart failure (HR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.88-2.74) and death (HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.30-1.96), but not stroke (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.62-2.62) or myocardial infarction (HR: 1.43; 95% CI: 0.91-2.25). Conclusion Kidney function was not associated to AF progression, whereas higher age was. Preventing AF progression could reduce the risk of heart failure and death.
Nitric Oxide Signals Through IRAG to Inhibit TRPM4 Channels and Dilate Cerebral Arteries.

Nitric oxide (NO) relaxes vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and dilates blood vessels by increasing intracellular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which stimulates the activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). However, the vasodilator mechanisms downstream of PKG remain incompletely understood. Here, we found that transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) cation channels, which are activated by Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through inositol triphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) under native conditions, are essential for SMC membrane depolarization and vasoconstriction. We hypothesized that signaling via the NO/cGMP/PKG pathway causes vasodilation by inhibiting TRPM4. We found that TRPM4 currents activated by stretching the plasma membrane or directly activating IP3Rs were suppressed by exogenous NO or a membrane-permeable cGMP analog, the latter of which also impaired IP3R-mediated release of Ca2+ from the SR. The effects of NO on TRPM4 activity were blocked by inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase or PKG. Notably, upon phosphorylation by PKG, IRAG (IP3R-associated PKG substrate) inhibited IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release, and knockdown of IRAG expression diminished NO-mediated inhibition of TRPM4 activity and vasodilation. Using superresolution microscopy, we found that IRAG, PKG, and IP3Rs form a nanoscale signaling complex on the SR of SMCs. We conclude that NO/cGMP/PKG signaling through IRAG inhibits IP3R-dependent activation of TRPM4 channels in SMCs to dilate arteries. Significance Statement Nitric oxide is a gaseous vasodilator produced by endothelial cells that is essential for cardiovascular function. Although NO-mediated signaling pathways have been intensively studied, the mechanisms by which they relax SMCs to dilate blood vessels remain incompletely understood. In this study, we show that NO causes vasodilation by inhibiting the activity of Ca2+-dependent TRPM4 cation channels. Probing further, we found that NO does not act directly on TRPM4 but instead initiates a signaling cascade that inhibits its activation by blocking the release of Ca2+ from the SR. Thus, our findings reveal the essential molecular pathways of NO-induced vasodilation—a fundamental unresolved concept in cardiovascular physiology.
Non-destructive determination of functionalized polyelectrolyte placement in layer-by-layer films by IR ellipsometry

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly facilitates controlled coatings on a variety of surfaces with the ability to manipulate the composition through the thickness by selection of the complementary pairs. However, the characterization of these composition profiles tends to be destructive and requires significant compositional differences that can limit their utility. Here, we demonstrate the ability to non-destructively quantify the depth dependence of the allyl content associated with the selective incorporation of poly(sodium acrylate-co-allylacrylamide) (84 : 16 mol : mol) (allyl-PAA) in LbL films based on the assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and PDAC/allyl-PAA. Although the atomic composition of the film is not dramatically influenced by the change between PAA and allyl-PAA, the absorption in the IR near 1645 cm−1 by the allyl group provides sufficient optical contrast to distinguish the LbL components with spectroscopic ellipsometry. The use of IR spectroscopic ellipsometry can determine the thickness of layers that contain allyl-PAA and also gradients that develop due to re-arrangements during the LbL process. With multiple films fabricated simultaneously, the location of the gradient between the 1st and 2nd series of multilayers (e.g., first PDAC/PAA bilayers and then PDAC/allyl-PAA bilayers) can be readily assessed. The results from a variety of different multilayer architectures indicate that the gradient is located within the thickness expected for the 1st deposited bilayer stack (PDAC/PAA or PDAC/allyl-PAA). These results are indicative of a dynamic dissolution–deposition process (in- and out- diffusion) during the fabrication of these LbL films. These results provide additional evidence into the mechanisms for exponential growth in LbL assemblies. The ability to quantify a gradient with the low contrast system examined indicates that spectroscopic IR ellipsometry should be able to non-destructively determine compositional gradients for most polymer films where such gradients exist.
Kinetics studies of the reactions of CH3O2 with NO, NO2, and CH3O2 at 298 K

Rate constants for the reactions of CH3O2 with NO, NO2, and CH3O2 at 298 K were measured by using the FP/UV technique. The disappearance of CH3O2 was observed over a wide range of reactant concentrations and total pressure. It is shown that the reaction of CH3O2 with NO2 is still in the falloff region at 700 torr and that the high-pressure limit is attained only at pressures exceeding several atmospheres.
Size and geometry of apical sesamoid fracture fragments as a determinant of prognosis in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Summary Reason for performing study: Analysis was performed to examine a method for refining the preoperative prognosis for horses that had surgery to remove apical fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs). Objectives: To determine if: 1) there was a difference in size or configuration of apical fractures between the different anatomical locations of the PSBs, which have been shown to affect the prognosis; and 2) the size or configuration could predict the prognosis for racehorses with these fractures. Methods: The study included 110 weanlings and yearlings and 56 training racehorses that underwent surgery to remove apical PSB fractures. Radiographs of the fractures were used for measurement of the abaxial and axial proportion and the abaxial to axial ratio, and race records were used to determine average earnings per start (AEPS) and total post operative starts. Analysis of variance and regression statistics were used to compare the fragment sizes between the specific PSBs on each of the limbs and compare size and configuration of the fractures to prognosis. Results: There was a significantly larger abaxial to axial ratio (more transverse fracture) for the forelimb medial sesamoids than for all other sesamoids in untrained racehorses (P = 0.03). There were no other significant differences in size. There was no relationship between fracture size or configuration and AEPS nor total post operative starts. Conclusions: Apical fractures in weanlings and yearlings tend to be more transverse in the forelimb medial PSBs than the other PSBs. Apical fracture size and geometry does not determine prognosis for apical sesamoid fractures. Potential relevance: Horses that undergo surgery to remove larger apical fractures of the PSBs do not have a worse outcome than those horses with smaller fractures.
Characterization of the Fourier series of a distribution having a value at a point

Let f be a periodic distribution of period 2π. Let ∑∞ n=−∞ ane inθ be its Fourier series. We show that the distributional point value f(θ0) exists and equals γ if and only if the partial sums ∑ −x≤n≤ax ane inθ0 converge to γ in the Cesaro sense as x→∞ for each a > 0.
Fractionally rated transformer-less unified power flow controllers for interconnecting synchronous AC grids

Recently, a novel transformer-less unified power flow controller (T-UPFC) has been proposed. The T-UPFC is a suitable candidate for performing power flow control in interconnected synchronous AC grids. By means of analytical expressions, this paper provides the overall device power rating of such a system when used to control power flow through the line to its limit. By means of these results, it is shown that the ratings of T-UPFC are only a fraction (two tenths) of that of back-to-back VSC based HVDC converter projects commercially being executed to provide power flow control in interconnected synchronous grids. The analysis and results in this paper illustrate the clear benefits of this technology.
Inter-observer reliability of DSM-5 substance use disorders

Abstract Aims Although studies have examined the impact of changes made in DSM-5 on the estimated prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, there is limited evidence concerning the reliability of DSM-5 SUDs. We evaluated the inter-observer reliability of four DSM-5 SUDs in a sample in which we had previously evaluated the reliability of DSM-IV diagnoses, allowing us to compare the two systems. Methods: Two different interviewers each assessed 173 subjects over a 2-week period using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA). Using the percent agreement and kappa (κ) coefficient, we examined the reliability of DSM-5 lifetime alcohol, opioid, cocaine, and cannabis use disorders, which we compared to that of SSADDA-derived DSM-IV SUD diagnoses. We also assessed the effect of additional lifetime SUD and lifetime mood or anxiety disorder diagnoses on the reliability of the DSM-5 SUD diagnoses. Results: Reliability was good to excellent for the four disorders, with κ values ranging from 0.65 to 0.94. Agreement was consistently lower for SUDs of mild severity than for moderate or severe disorders. DSM-5 SUD diagnoses showed greater reliability than DSM-IV diagnoses of abuse or dependence or dependence only. Co-occurring SUD and lifetime mood or anxiety disorders exerted a modest effect on the reliability of the DSM-5 SUD diagnoses. Conclusions: For alcohol, opioid, cocaine and cannabis use disorders, DSM-5 criteria and diagnoses are at least as reliable as those of DSM-IV.
Properties of the Exonucleolytic Activities of the Micrococcus luteus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase

Abstract The Micrococcus luteus DNA polymerase possesses a 5' to 3' exonuclease activity which is an integral part of the polymerase protein. The 5' to 3' exonuclease preferentially degrades double stranded DNA and yields a mixture of mononucleotides, dinucleotides, and trinucleotides as products. This spectrum of products is found for double stranded substrates of the following types: poly(deoxypurine)·poly(deoxypyrimidine); poly(deoxypurine-deoxypyrimidine)·poly(deoxypurine-deoxypyrimidine) as well as native DNA. The relative proportion of these degradation products depends on the base sequence of the DNA substrate and the reaction pH. The M. luteus DNA polymerase also possesses a 3' to 5' exonuclease activity which yields mononucleotides as products and is approximately 10 times more active than the 5' to 3' exonuclease with a single stranded poly(dT) substrate.
A Brief Analysis of Some Elements of a Proposed Model Juvenile Code

This article presents key elements of a proposed Model Juvenile Code. The proposed model code is based on research regarding statutory schemes in other jurisdictions; a review of the literature in multiple relevant disciplines; consultation with academics and practitioners recognized as knowledgeable in relevant fields; and an examination of other efforts to draft a model juvenile code. The proposed model code includes specific provisions which authorize and limit the State's responsibility and authority for children and families arising from governmental intervention. It seeks — in a small but (I hope) important way — to give some life to Victor Vieth's challenge that "We must . . . be dedicated to overcoming any roadblock that separates children from justice." For instance, the proposal: (1) requires children alleged to be abused or neglected actually be seen by the court; (2) defines exposure to domestic violence as child abuse; (3) expands due process rights for children charged with violating the law by mandating they consult with counsel before being interrogated as suspects; and (4) recognizes the importance of providing extended opportunities for state rehabilitation by fashioning multiple methods to structure treatment for law violators. This article presents an overview of these four representative elements of a Proposed Model Juvenile Code.
Why People Die by Suicide

Acknowledgments Prologue: Losing My Dad 1. What We Know and Don't Know About Suicide 2. The Acquired Ability to Enact Lethal Self-Injury 3. The Desire for Death 4. What Do We Mean By Suicide and How Is It Distributed in People? 5. Genetics and Neurobiology of Suicidal Behavior, and the Roles of Impulsivity, Childhood Adversity, and Mental Disorders 6. Risk Assessment, Crisis Intervention, Treatment, and Prevention 7. Summary and Conclusion Epilogue
The behavior of circus tigers during transport

The behavior of two tigers (Panthera tigris) individually caged and transported once for 4.25 h and the behavior of four tigers that were transported twice for 4.2 and 4.5 h while caged as a group was analyzed. The tigers were videotaped during transport and the amount of time spent pacing, lying, and standing and walking was determined. Environmental conditions encountered during the trips, as well as tiger body temperature, were recorded at 5 min intervals during transport. Tigers that had access to an exercise pen and performed previous to transport spent most of their transport session lying down. Only toward the end of the trip did they exhibit pacing behavior. In contrast, those tigers that had not performed within a half day before transport and had no access to an exercise pen exhibited more frequent pacing behavior throughout transport. While slight rises in body temperature did coincide with some instances of pacing, increases in body temperature by one degree or more were most likely attributable to exertion during performances before transport.
Does heterogeneity of depression diagnosis harm those with severe mood disorders

Abstract The range of symptoms and clinical syndromes subsumed under the rubric “depression” is remarkably large. It covers the lay use of the word to describe transient sad feelings on the one hand and a devastating biological illness on the other. In consequence, society has failed to grasp that severe mood disorders do, in fact, represent life-threatening medical illness. In the present article, we outline the major historical and contemporary contributors to the present misapprehension of this severe illness and discuss the serious consequences for diagnosis, treatment, and clinical research. We suggest potential categorical and terminological revisions to current formulations of the disease and emphasize that being severely ill involves much more than is subsumed by the term “depression”.
Structure-function relationships for the interleukin 2 receptor system

Receptors for interleukin 2 (IL-2) esit in at least three forms which differ in their subunit compositio, their affinity for ligand and their ability to mediate a cellular reponse. Type I receptors occur following cellular acitivation and consist of the 55,000 m. w. glycoprotein Tac. These receptors bind IL-2 with a low affinity, do not internalize ligand and have not been definitively associated with any response. Type II receptors, on the other hand, conssit of one or more glycoproteins of 70,000 m. w. which have been termed "beta ([beta]) chains." They bind IL-2 with an intermediate affinity and rapidly internalize the ligand. [Beta] proteins mediate many cellular IL-2-dependent reponses, including the short-term activation of natural killer cells and the induction of Tac protein expression. Type III receptors consist of a ternary complex of the Tac protein, the [beta] chain(s) and IL-2. They are characterized by a paricularly high affinity for ligand association. Type III receptors also internalize ligand and mediate IL-2-dependent responses at low factor concentrations. The identification of two independent IL-2-binding molecules, Tac and [beta], thus provides the elusive molecular explanation for the differences in IL-2 receptor affinity and suggests the potential for selective therapeutic manipulation of IL-2 reponses.
Dynamic Compression Testing of Soft Materials

Low-strength and low-impedance materials pose significant challenges in the design of experiments to determine dynamic stress-strain responses. When these materials are tested with a conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar, the specimen will not deform homogeneously and the tests are not valid. To obtain valid data, the shape of the incident pulse and the specimen thickness must be designed such that the specimens are in dynamic equilibrium and deform homogeneously at constant strain rates. In addition, a sensitive transmission bar is required to detect the weak transmitted pulses. Experimental results show that homogeneous deformations at nearly constant strain rates can be achieved in materials with very low impedances, such as a silicone rubber and a polyurethane foam, with the experimental modifications presented in this study. ©2002 ASME
Initial signaling of the fibronectin receptor (α5β1 integrin) in hepatic stellate cells is independent of tyrosine phosphorylation

Abstract Background/Aims : Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) plays an integral role in hepatic fibrosis. HSC activation increases fibronectin (α 5 β 1 ) receptor expression and interactions between α 5 β 1 and the extracellular matrix increase collagen synthesis. It is unclear how signaling by the α 5 β 1 receptor initiates these changes. We aimed to determine the signaling cascade after α 5 β 1 stimulation in activated HSC. Methods : HSC were isolated from male Sprague–Dawley rats. Activated HSC were exposed to beads coated with fibronectin (ligand for α 5 β 1 ) or d-polylysine (inert control). HSC were stained with FTC-labeled antibodies against classes of signaling molecules. Tyrosine phosphorylation was blocked using genistein or herbimycin A. The fraction of beads with localized immunostaining (indicating accumulation of signaling protein) was determined. Results : The majority of cytoskeletal proteins, Src substrates, Src kinases and members of the ERK and JNK signaling molecule families require actin cytoskeletal organization and tyrosine-kinase-mediated phosphorylation to accumulate. Several proteins (e.g. tensin, FAK) accumulated in the absence of tyrosine phosphorylation. Conclusions : The α 5 β 1 integrin–ligand interaction induces accumulation of cytoskeletal molecules, activating multiple kinase pathways. Initial integrin signaling by α 5 β 1 are associated with cytoskeletal proteins and are independent of tyrosine phosphorylation. We suggest that there may be cytoskeletal changes that may be targeted to diminish HSC activation.
Nutrition Matters. People, Food, and Famine

Nutrition Matters. People, Food, and Famine by Helen Young and Susanne Jaspars.(1995) London: Intermediate Technology Publications, Ltd.
Propagation of radio waves reflected from the ionosphere during a solar eclipse

The article first describes in chronological order the observations on the propagation of radio waves during the solar eclipses, and the development of the conflicting results on the similar transmissions of radio signals. The general theory of the absorption of radio waves in the ionosphere is briefly described and therefrom a method is derived to estimate the variation of the absorption of obliquely incident radio waves during a solar eclipse.
Traditions and trends: a review of geographical scholarship in tourism.

Abstract This paper provides an overview of past and current traditions and trends in tourism research conducted by geographers. The paper is divided into three parts. Part One discusses the traditions in geography scholarship, with respect to the era, language and themes of tourism research. The focus in Part Two is on contemporary trends, examining, in particular, papers presented at three annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and several recent volumes of this journal (Tourism Geographies). Part Three outlines emerging trends and the challenges of continuing the geographical traditions. The paper concludes that, just as the discipline of geography is vibrant today, so is the sub-discipline of tourism geography. Geographers are continuing the tradition to address very complex, diverse and dynamic issues about tourism relevant to the scientific community and society at large.
Comparison of Three Baits for Trapping Crayfish

Abstract In late summers of 1985 and 1986, the efficacies of two commercially manufactured crayfish baits (one each in block and pelleted form) and dead fish as attractants for trapping the mud crayfish Orconectes immunis were assessed in a small Wisconsin lake (area, 5.7 hectares; maximum depth, 6 m). Five sites on the lake were sampled continuously for a 30-d period each year, and each site was fished with three traps. Total harvest of crayfish was 3,949 in 1985 and 2,226 in 1986. Traps with pelleted bait (Crawfish Bait Jumbo) caught more than the others by a 3-to-1 margin in 1985 and by a 2-to-1 margin in 1986. The commercially prepared baits were easier to handle, lacked a putrid odor, required less labor and no refrigeration, and were more readily available than fish carcasses.
Immunoprotection by monoclonal antibodies to the porins and lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against the outer membrane (OM) antigens ofSalmonella typhimurium.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western immunoblots indicated that 10 MAbs in the panel were specific for surface epitopes, and 10 recognized buried epitopes of OmpC or OmpD porins; three MAbs reacted with smooth lipopolysaccharide (LPS), two bound rough LPS, and the remaining three MAbs apparently reacted with a porin–LPS complex. We screened these MAbs and immune polyclonal sera in CAF1(Ityr) mice for their relative immunoprotective potential against a challenge with 10 to 500 LD50of the virulentS. typhimuriumLT-2 strain WB600, or against two LD50of purified OM from this organism. Polyclonal sera that contained high titers of antibodies to porin monomers and trimers, and LPS, provided significant protection (33 to 100% survivors). Antiporin MAbs, when administered individually, did not protect or prolong the survival of mice. A mixture of MAbs with specificity for the surface, but not buried epitopes of porins, prolonged the survival of mice against endotoxemia, but none provided significant protection against mouse typhoid. MAbs specific for smooth (but not rough) LPS on the other hand, conferred significant protection against endotoxemia and mouse typhoid. Finally, MAbs that presumably recognized epitopes present in porin–LPS complexes, were also protective against endotoxemia and mouse typhoid. These results support the role of antibodies to LPS O-chains, porin–LPS complexes, and to a lesser degree, native porins in acquired resistance to infection byS. typhimurium.
Inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase of Sarcoma 180/TG.

Abstract The inhibitory potential of a variety of agents of different chemical classes has been examined using a particulate-bound alkaline phosphatase partially purified from the 6-thioguanine-resistant variant, Sarcoma 180/TG ascites cells, in an effort to discover inhibitory potential which might be useful in blocking this enzyme activity in situ. The most potent inhibitors tested were derivatives of α-(N)-heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones, tetramisole, permanganate, and beryllium. Kinetic studies of the mode of inhibition of alkaline phosphatase by some of these inhibitors indicated that derivatives of α-(N)-heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones and those of tetramisole and beryllium inhibited the enzyme by different mechanisms. The kinetics of inhibition by beryllium and derivatives of α-(N)-heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones were mixed, while inhibition by a derivative of tetramisole was uncompetitive.
Treasury Bond risk and return, the implications for the hedging of consumption and lessons for asset pricing

Abstract All consumption-based models of asset pricing imply that the relation between the conditional mean and conditional volatility of any asset reflects the effectiveness of holding that asset as a hedge against intertemporal variation in the marginal utility of consumption. For Treasury Bonds of various maturities, we find significant positive relations. Our empirical findings support the conclusion that investors must sell bonds short to hedge shocks to marginal utility, because realized bond returns tend to be high (low) when investors least (most) desire an additional dollar of consumption. Implications for special cases of the general consumption-based model are also discussed.
Microcomputer instrumentation to reduce residential energy use

A microcomputer-based instrument controls residential space and water heating to provide a reduction in the consumption of energy. Using an RCA 1802 microprocessor and CMOS logic devices, the controller monitors ambient and water temperatures with thermistors, and operates the furnace and water-heating processes through solid-state relays. Programmable over a one-week cycle with up to eight set points each day, the instrument conserves energy and saves money by cutting back the temperature in parallel with a family's living profile. At an example utility rate of $0.06/kW·h, a typical family will reduce space heating use by 9 percent and water heating by 7 percent for an overall savings of 6 percent or 145.00 dollars in their total yearly energy bill.
Thermodynamically consistent phase field approach to phase transformations with interface stresses

Thermodynamically consistent phase field theory for multivariant martensitic transformations is developed with the main focus on introducing correct interface stresses (tension). The nontrivial point is that the interface tension (physical phenomenon) is introduced with the help of some geometric nonlinearities, even when strains are infinitesimal. Total stress at the diffuse interface consists of elastic and dissipative parts which are determined by the solution of the coupled system of phase field and viscoelasticity equations and the introduced interface stresses. An explicit expression for the free energy is derived that results in the desired expression for the interface stresses consistent with the sharp interface for the propagating nonequilibrium interface. Analytical expressions for nonequilibrium interface energy, width, entropy excess, as well as distribution of the interface tension are derived and parametrically studied. Interface stress tensor distribution is also obtained and analyzed for a critical martensitic nucleus. The possibility of extending the developed approach to other phenomena and more general models is discussed.
Theory of lubrication of elastomeric rotary shaft seals

AbstractCurrent knowledge of the principles of rotary lip seal operation is assessed through a review of the experimental foundation and the key theoretical models. Studies of the existence of the lubricating film, the load support mechanism, the sealing mechanism, the thermal effects and the followability are described.
Simultaneous birefringence and scattered light measurements reveal anatomical features in isolated crustacean nerve

Simultaneous fast birefringence and scattered light changes associated with crustacean nerve activation have different time courses and are produced by separate biophysical mechanisms. Technological advances in illumination, photodiodes and amplification circuitry achieved better signal-to-noise than earlier studies revealing optical signals in axonal nerve bundles as small as crayfish ventral cord and claw. The birefringence measurements yielded signals that could be observed in single trials, with temporally separated peaks associated with axonal populations of different diameters. A slit aperture placed perpendicular to the nerve reduced the spatial-temporal integration and enhanced the temporal structure of the separate peaks in the birefringence signal. Moving the slit aperture farther from the stimulation point delayed the signal in time, and also enhanced the separation between peaks. Different propagation velocities of the separate peaks provided evidence for at least three neuronal populations in the bundle. These studies underscore the advantages of birefringence over scattering measurements. Application of birefringence methods can optimize non-invasive imaging techniques being developed to detect fast optical responses associated with electrical neural activity in humans.
Ovarian studies of Tabanus quinquevittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae).

Tabanus quinquevittatus Wiedemann was collected canopy traps near Ithaca, New York during 1972 and 1973. 807 flies were trapped, and 699 were dissected to determine parity. Of these, 277 flies were parous; 54.2% of the parous specimens showed sac-like dilations and 45.8% had “yellow bodies.” Due. to the paucity of biparous specimens, the females would seem to be short-lived; nevertheless, results indicated that the number of distinct “yellow bodies” is an unreliable basis for determining the number of gonotrophic cycles. The abundance of nulliparous females with terminal follicles in stage II suggested that the population studied near Ithaca was anautogenous.
Synthesis of SUZ-4 in the K+/TEA+ system

Abstract Hydrothermal synthesis of SUZ-4 in the potassium system with tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) as the template was systematically studied with the objective to find the crystallization field of SUZ-4. The effect of SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 , TEA 2 O/SiO 2 , and K 2 O/SiO 2 ratios were examined and the crystallization domain of pure SUZ-4 was identified as a function of these parameters. TEA 2 O/SiO 2 and OH − /SiO 2 ratios much lower than previously reported for SUZ-4 synthesis were found to produce pure SUZ-4. The effect of synthesis time was also studied on the crystallization of SUZ-4.
Effects of hydration on the resistances and electrochemical responses of nafioncoatings on electrodes

Abstract Procedures are described for coating electrodes with films of Nafion ® that are saturated with Os(bpy) 3 2+ and exist in one of two limiting states: fully hydrated or dehydrated. The anodic electrochemical responses from Os(bpy) 3 2 -saturated, dehydrated coatings include unusual spiked features that are the result of the initially high ionic resistance of such coatings. Electro-oxidation of such coatings leads to immediate decreases in resistance as one-third of the Os(bpy) 3 2+ counterions are ejected and large quantities of H 2 O molecules are incorporated by the coatings. On the basis of quartz crystal microgravimetric, a.c. impedance, and voltammetric measurements, a model is proposed for the internal structures of Nafion ® coatings which accounts for their observed behavior.
E2 dynamic mixing in p̄ and k− atoms of 238U☆

Abstract The energies of the lower atomic transitions of the p and the K − atoms of 238 U have been measured. The measured values are significantly higher than the energies calculated from the electromagnetic interactions with the ground state of the 238 U nucleus. It is shown that the dynamic mixing of the first excited quadrupole state can explain such shifts.
Systematic Design of Pore Size and Functionality in Isoreticular MOFs and Their Application in Methane Storage

A strategy based on reticulating metal ions and organic carboxylate links into extended networks has been advanced to a point that allowed the design of porous structures in which pore size and functionality could be varied systematically. Metal-organic framework (MOF-5), a prototype of a new class of porous materials and one that is constructed from octahedral Zn-O-C clusters and benzene links, was used to demonstrate that its three-dimensional porous system can be functionalized with the organic groups –Br, –NH2, –OC3H7, –OC5H11, –C2H4, and –C4H4 and that its pore size can be expanded with the long molecular struts biphenyl, tetrahydropyrene, pyrene, and terphenyl. We synthesized an isoreticular series (one that has the same framework topology) of 16 highly crystalline materials whose open space represented up to 91.1% of the crystal volume, as well as homogeneous periodic pores that can be incrementally varied from 3.8 to 28.8 angstroms. One member of this series exhibited a high capacity for methane storage (240 cubic centimeters at standard temperature and pressure per gram at 36 atmospheres and ambient temperature), and others the lowest densities (0.41 to 0.21 gram per cubic centimeter) for a crystalline material at room temperature.
Estimate of wavefront error introduced by encoding of computer generated holograms

In testing aspheric optics with CGHs, errors introduced by the CGH must be budgeted. This paper presents a method for estimating the wavefront error introduced in the encoding process. Some results are shown.
A non-surfactant formulation for alfaxalone based on an amorphous cyclodextrin : activity studies in rats and dogs

Abstract The steroid anesthetic, alfaxalone, is commercially available for veterinary use in a formulation containing Cremophor-EL® and alfadalone acetate. The allergic sensitivity of some species to this formulation limits its veterinary application and also led to withdrawal of the product for human use. The present studies evaluated alfaxalone formulated as an inclusion complex with a mixture of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) isomers for anesthetic properties in rats and dogs. Aqueous solutions of alfaxalone-HPCD showed identical anesthetic profiles in rats compared to the commercial formulation. In contrast, the anesthetic response to alfaxalone-HPCD in dogs was not accompanied with massive histamine release and pronounced decrease in respiration and blood pressure seen after the commercial preparation. Anesthesia induction and recovery phases were rapid and uncomplicated after alfaxalone-HPCD. An anaphylactoid-like response did occur in dogs after the same dose of alfaxalone as the commercial preparation. The favorable anesthetic profile of alfaxalone formulated as an HPCD complex together with previous toxicology and stability studies suggest that the steroid may be successfully formulated for intravenous dosing with modified cyclodextrins.
The use of similarity profiles in studying cluster formation in molecular beams: Evidence for the role of pre-existing dimers

Abstract Studies of the influence of source temperatures and pressures on the distributions of water, ammonia and sulfur dioxide clusters are reported. The experiments reveal that nearly identical cluster distributions occur in cases where the pressure of dimer is maintained constant according to a simple equation involving stagnation temperature and pressure. In similar experiments covering the same range of pressures and temperatures, widely differing cluster distributions are obtained under conditions where the dimer concentration is not fixed. Our results suggest that large clusters proceed largely from pre-existing dimers, and that very few new ones are created early enough in the expansion to effect cluster growth. The gas-phase heat of dimerization of sulfur dioxide is determined to be 4.3 ± 0.3 kcal/mole.
Modulation of N-Nitrosodiethylamine Induced Hamster Lung Tumors by Nitrogen Dioxide

AbstractThe objective of the study was to examine whether continuous exposure to NO2 would modify the development of chemically induced lung tumors. Male Syrian golden hamsters were treated, twice a week, with sc injections of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) while being exposed for 23 h/d, 7 dlwk to 15 ppm of NO2. Animals were sacrificed 4 mo and 6–8 mo after the beginning of the experiment. No lung tumors were found in hamsters treated with DEN and exposed to NO2 whereas 26% of the animals treated with DEN alone had peripheral lung tumors after 6–8 mo. The development of tracheal tumors was delayed by exposure to the pollutant. The results of the experiment do not allow implication of NO2 as a possible enhancer of respiratory tract tumors in hamsters.
Derivative-based audio steganalysis

This article presents a second-order derivative-based audio steganalysis. First, Mel-cepstrum coefficients and Markov transition features from the second-order derivative of the audio signal are extracted; a support vector machine is then applied to the features for discovering the existence of hidden data in digital audio streams. Also, the relation between audio signal complexity and steganography detection accuracy, which is an issue relevant to audio steganalysis performance evaluation but so far has not been explored, is analyzed experimentally. Results demonstrate that, in comparison with a recently proposed signal stream-based Mel-cepstrum method, the second-order derivative-based audio steganalysis method gains a considerable advantage under all categories of signal complexity--especially for audio streams with high signal complexity, which are generally the most challenging for steganalysis-and thereby significantly improves the state of the art in audio steganalysis.
What can we learn about neural control of the cardiovascular system by studying rhythms in sympathetic nerve activity

Since the first recordings of sympathetic nerve activity in the 1930s, it was very clear that the activity was organized into bursts synchronized to the respiratory and cardiac cycles. Since the early studies, evidence has accumulated showing that sympathetic neural networks are quite complex and generate a variety of periodicities that range between ~0.04 and 10Hz, depending on the physiological state, type of nerve being analyzed, age of the subject, and the species. Despite the ubiquity of sympathetic rhythms, many investigators have failed to consider this oscillatory characteristic of sympathetic nerve activity and instead rely on simply quantifying changes in the level of activity to make decisions about the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating certain behaviors. This review highlights work that shows the importance of including an assessment of the frequency characteristics of sympathetic nerve activity.
Evaluation of Propionibacterium acnes Isolates Using Contour-clamped Homogeneous Electric Field Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract Contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis was performed to compare strains ofPropionibacterium acnes isolated from patients with chronic postoperative endophthalmitis. Propionibacterium acnes isolates were obtained from the vitreous humor of nine patients with chronic postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. In two of the patients, P. acnes isolates were also obtained from the aqueous humor as well as from the vitreous humor. Bacterial DNA was digested using Not I and Spe I restriction endonucleases. The DNA fragments were then subjected to contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis and the DNA banding patterns were analysed. Eight nonidentical banding patterns were identified among the nine vitreous isolates of P. acnes. In each of the two cases from which aqueous and vitreous isolates were recovered from the same eye, the banding patterns were identical. Contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis is a powerful method to distinguish P. acnes isolates based on DNA banding patterns and could be used in the epidemiological study of clinical processes caused by this organism.
Dietary Factors and the Development of Asthma

Asthma and allergies continue to be major public health problems in affluent westernized countries. Changes in dietary habits dating from before the increase in asthma prevalence may have a role in the development of asthma and allergies. Many studies have investigated the role of specific nutrients in asthma and allergies, and intervention studies with supplementation of particular nutrients have been conducted, but results have been mixed. It is likely that nutrients may exert their strongest effect early in life, when both the immune system and the lungs are not yet fully developed.
The menthol smoker: tobacco industry research on consumer sensory perception of menthol cigarettes and its role in smoking behavior

The use of menthol in cigarettes is actively promoted by the tobacco industry for its perceived sensory benefits, and smokers of menthol cigarettes commonly differ from nonmenthol smokers in markers of smoking behavior and addiction. In this study, we analyzed internal tobacco industry documents to describe the relationships between sensory perception and the attitudes, preferences, and patterns of cigarette use among menthol smokers. Two unique types of menthol smoker emerged from this analysis: those who cannot tolerate the harshness and irritation associated with smoking nonmenthol cigarettes, and those who seek out the specific menthol flavor and associated physical sensation. Among the first segment of menthol smokers, menthol reduces negative sensory characteristics associated with smoking. This segment of smokers may include a large proportion of occasional smokers or young people, as well as smokers who have "traded down" to a less strong cigarette because of perceived harshness or negative health effects. Some established menthol smokers, on the other hand, appear to be tolerant of and even actively seek stronger sensory attributes, including higher menthol levels. Smokers of these "stronger" menthols have traditionally been disproportionately Black and male. Some beginning or occasional smokers may adopt menthols for their mild properties and to cover up the taste of tobacco, but then develop a stronger desire for the menthol taste over time. Future research measuring smoking behavior and evaluating cessation outcomes of menthol smokers should consider the duration of menthol use and differentiate smokers according to their reasons for using menthols.