cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A General Method for Patterning Gradients of Biomolecules on Surfaces Using Microfluidic Networks

This report outlines a general method for the fabrication of immobilized gradients of biomolecules on surfaces. This method utilizes a microfluidic network that generates a gradient of avidin in solution and immobilizes this protein on the surface of glass or poly(dimethylsiloxane) by physical adsorption. The immobilized gradient of avidin is then translated into gradients of biotinylated ligands (e.g., small molecules, oligomers of DNA, polysaccharides) using the specific interaction between biotin and avidin. This method can also generate immobilized gradients of certain proteins and artificial polymers by a direct transfer of gradients from solution onto the surface. The major advantage of this method is that almost any type of molecule can, in principle, be immobilized in a well-defined surface gradient of arbitrary shape with dimensions of a few micrometers to a few centimeters. It is possible to tailor the precise shapes of gradients on surfaces from gradients in solution, either kinetically or comp...
High-Efficiency Crystalline Tandem Cells

Computer analysis of crystalline solar cells indicates that a substantial increase in cell conversion efficiencies can be achieved by using two-cell, multi-bandgap tandem structures instead of single-junction cells. Practical AM1 efficiencies of about 30% at one sun and over 30% at multiple suns are to be expected. The further increases in efficiency calculated for a three-cell tandem structure are smaller and may not justify the added complexity. For inexpensive two-cell tandem modules, Si is preferred for the bottom cell, and the top cell material should have a bandgap of 1.75 to 1.80 eV. The GaAs-AlAs and GaAs-GaP systems are attractive candidates for the top cell. Significant advances have been achieved in growing GaAs on Ge-coated Si substrates (for the two-terminal, two-cell structure) and in growing free-standing ultrathin GaAs layers (for the two-terminal or four-terminal structures). These material advances should be transferable to the GaAs-AlAs and GaAs-GaP systems.
Ratios of Regioisomers of Minor Acylglycerols Less Polar than Triricinolein in Castor Oil Estimated by Mass Spectrometry

We have recently reported the identification of forty new minor molecular species of acylglycerols containing hydroxy fatty acids less polar than triricinolein by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the lithium adducts. The ratios of regioisomers of triacylglycerols (ABC and AAB types) and tetraacylglycerols (AAAB type) identified were estimated by the relative abundances of the fragment ions from the neutral losses of fatty acids as α,β-unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position. The order of the contents of regioisomers of triacylglycerols with the fatty acids at the sn-2 position are: nonhydroxy fatty acids > monohydroxy fatty acids > dihydroxy fatty acids > trihydroxy fatty acids. For tetraacylglycerols (AAAB type) such as ricinoleoylricinoleoyl–ricinoleoyl–oleoyl–glycerol (RRRO), ricinoleoylricinoleoyl chain was predominately at the sn-2 position, while ricinoleate was not detected at the sn-2 position.
Clinical features of brain metastasis from salivary gland tumors

Salivary gland tumors comprise a group of 24 tumor subtypes with a wide range of clinical behaviors and propensities for metastasis. Several prognostic factors have been identified that help predict the development of systemic metastases, most commonly to the lung, liver, or bone. Metastases to the brain are rare. To better understand the behavior of salivary gland tumors that metastasise to the brain, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis on a series of patients to highlight features of their medical and surgical management. From 2007 to 2011, a database of 4117 elective craniotomies were queried at a single institution to identify patients surgically treated for salivary gland metastases to the brain. Three patients were identified. Histologic subtypes included salivary duct carcinoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma, and papillary mucinous adenocarcinoma. They had all undergone previous treatment for their primary malignancy. The mean time to intracranial metastasis was 48 months from initial diagnosis (range, 14–91 months). Treatment for intracranial metastases included surgical resection, whole brain radiation, stereotactic radiosurgery, and chemotherapy. Intracranial metastases from salivary gland tumors are rare, present years after diagnosis of the primary tumor, and are treatable with multimodality therapy.
In vivo analysis of chronic phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition with sildenafil in penile erectile tissues: no tachyphylaxis effect.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Conflicting information exists regarding the long-term efficacy of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor therapy for erectile dysfunction, particularly in regard to whether therapeutic resistance occurs. We investigated the erectile response, and cavernous PDE5 expression and activity after continuous long-term administration of sildenafil at verified therapeutic plasma concentrations, applying an in vivo rat model of age related erectile dysfunction.Materials and Methods: Male Fisher 344 young (4 months old) and aged (19 months old) rats (National Institute of Aging, Bethesda, Maryland) were injected with sildenafil mesylate (20 mg/kg) or saline subcutaneously every 8 hours for 3 weeks. After a 10 to 18-hour washout period electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve was performed to assess penile erection. Penes were excised to measure PDE5 protein expression and activity, and blood was collected for sildenafil measurement. Responses were compared with those determined 30 minutes after ...
Loss of Transcriptional Silencing Causes Sterility in Old Mother Cells of S. cerevisiae

We show that sterility is an aging-specific phenotype in S. cerevisiae and, by genetic and physical means, demonstrate that this phenotype results from a loss of silencing in most old cells by the SIR complex at the HM loci. This loss of silencing is specific because transcription of genes, such as ME14 and DCM1, normally induced by sporulation, is not observed, while transcription of HMRa is observed. These findings pinpoint the molecular cause of an aging-specific phenotype in yeast. Further, they provide direct evidence for a breakdown of silencing in old cells, as predicted from earlier findings that SIR4 is a determinant of life span in this organism.
Theoretical study of aberration correction in eyes using scanning-spot lasers

Purpose: To investigate the effect of laser spot size on the outcome of aberration correction with scanning laser corneal ablation. Methods: Numerical simulation of ablation outcome. Results: Correction of aberrations of Zernike modes from second to 8 th order were simulated. Gaussian and top-hat beams of 0.6 to 2.0 mm full-width-half-maximum diameters were modeled. The fractional correction and secondary aberration (distortion) were evaluated. Using a distortion/correction ratio of less than 0.5 as a cutoff for adequate performance, we found that a 2 mm or smaller beam is adequate for spherocylindrical correction (Zernike second order), a 1 mm or smaller beam is adequate for correction of up to 4 th order Zernike modes, and a 0.6 mm or smaller beam is adequate for correction of up to 6 th order Zernike modes. Conclusions: Since ocular aberrations above Zernike 4 th order are relatively insignificant, current scanning lasers with a beam diameter of 1 mm or less are theoretically capable of eliminating most of the higher order aberrations of the eye.
Surface characterization: Present status and the need for standards

Abstract A summary is given of the present status and use of surface-characterization measurements in the United States. Attention is primarily devoted to those properties needed to characterize a solid surface, specifically the determination of surface composition, surface atomic structure, surface electronic structure, and atomic motions on surfaces; these characteristics directly affect many important surface properties or processes that occur on surfaces (e.g., electrical and optical properties, adhesion, bonding, catalytic activity, plating, durability, corrosion, decoration, segregation, lubrication, and reactivity). The above four forms of surface characterization are widely utilized in surface-science experiments while measurements of surface composition are routinely made to solve a wide variety of problems in the semiconductor, chemical, petroleum, and metals industries for applications ranging from process and device development, process control, process evaluation, to failure analysis. Surface-characterization measurements in government laboratories support a variety of agency missions. Surface science and surface technology have both grown rapidly in the past ten years, and further growth is expected. At this time, there is an almost complete lack of standard, standard procedures, and standard materials to support surface-characterization measurements. A new Committee on Surface Analysis has been recently formed by the American Society for Testing and Materials to develop standard for all methods of surface analysis in common use. Examples are given of the standards that need to be developed.
On the Validity of Discourse Completion Tests in Non-Western Contexts1

Cet article relate les resultats de deux etudes basees sur des questionnaires sur les actes de parole dans des contextes non occidentaux. L'A. propose une analyse des tests utilises et une reflexion sur la methodologie
Comparison of 4th-Generation HIV Antigen/Antibody Combination Assay With 3rd-Generation HIV Antibody Assays for the Occurrence of False-Positive and False-Negative Results.

Objective: To assess the false-positive and false-negative rates of a 4th-generation human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) assay, the Abbott ARCHITECT, vs 2 HIV 3rd-generation assays, the Siemens Centaur and the Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Vitros. Methods: We examined 123 patient specimens. In the first phase of the study, we compared 99 specimens that had a positive screening result via the 3rd-generation Vitros assay (10 positive, 82 negative, and 7 indeterminate via confirmatory immunofluorescent assay [IFA]/Western blot [WB] testing). In the second phase, we assessed 24 HIV-1 RNA–positive (positive result via the nuclear acid amplification test [NAAT] and negative/indeterminate results via the WB test) specimens harboring acute HIV infection. Results: The 4th-generation ARCHITECT assay yielded fewer false-positive results (n = 2) than the 3rd-generation Centaur (n = 9; P = .02) and Vitros (n = 82; P <.001) assays. One confirmed positive case had a false-negative result via the Centaur assay. When specimens from the 24 patients with acute HIV-1 infection were tested, the ARCHITECT assay yielded fewer false-negative results (n = 5) than the Centaur (n = 10) ( P = .13) and the other 3rd-generation tests (n = 16) ( P = .002). Conclusions: This study indicates that the 4th-generation ARCHITECT HIV assay yields fewer false-positive and false-negative results than the 3rd-generation HIV assays we tested. * CDC : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV : human immunodeficiency virus NAAT : nucleic acid amplification test EIA : enzyme immunoassay TAT : turnaround time Ig : immunoglobulin S/CO : signal-to-cutoff DCHHS : Dallas County Health & Human Services AHI : acute HIV infection IFA : immunofluorescent assay AACC : American Association for Clinical Chemistry REACT : reactive IND : indeterminate NR : nonreactive pos : positive neg : negative ind : indeterminate
Nicotine and Carcinogen Exposure with Smoking of Progressively Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarette

Background: Reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes to make them non-addictive has been widely discussed as a potential strategy for tobacco regulation. A major concern with nicotine reduction is that smokers will compensate for reduced nicotine by smoking more cigarettes and/or smoking more intensively, thereby increasing their exposure to tobacco smoke toxins. This study examined whether gradual reduction in nicotine exposure increases exposure to tobacco smoke toxins. Methods: This 10-week longitudinal study of 20 healthy smokers involved smoking their usual brand followed by different types of research cigarettes with progressively lower nicotine content, each smoked for 1 week. Subjects were followed for 4 weeks after returning to smoking their usual brand (or quitting). Smoking behaviors, chemical biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure, and cardiovascular effect biomarkers were measured. Findings: Intake of nicotine declined progressively as the nicotine content of cigarettes was reduced, with little evidence of compensation. Cigarette consumption and markers of exposure to carbon monoxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as cardiovascular biomarkers remained stable, whereas urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol excretion decreased. Twenty-five percent of participants had spontaneously quit smoking 4 weeks after completing the research cigarette taper. Implications: Our findings with reduced nicotine content cigarettes differ from those of commercial low yields for which compensatory smoking for lower nicotine delivery is substantial. Our data suggest that the degree of nicotine dependence of smokers can be lowered without increasing their exposure to tobacco smoke toxins. Gradual reduction of nicotine content of cigarettes seems to be feasible and should be further evaluated as a national tobacco regulatory strategy. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(11):2479–85)
Novelty, arousal, and nasal marking in the squirrel monkey

The nasal secretions expelled during sneezing in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) were visualized under ultraviolet illumination. The quantity of nasal marking by six squirrel monkey groups in response to novel objects containing clean filter paper showed an ordinal decrement over a 3-day period. When one group was exposed to visually identical objects previously exposed to other groups, nasal marking to the olfactorily novel stimuli was highest on Day 1 and subsequently decreased over a 3-day exposure. Nasal marking in this species may reflect excitatory state and function in a type of olfactory communication previously undescribed for a primate species.
Composition and State of Protein in Heart Muscle of Normal Dogs and Dogs with Experimental Myocardial Failure

In comparing protein composition of cardiac muscle of normal dogs and dogs with experimental valvular lesions and chronic heart failure, it was found that the concentration of actomyosin was lower in the experimental than in normal dogs. Furthermore, cardiac actomyosin in the experimental animals showed decreased viscosity, decreased viscosity response to ATP, and sedimentation patterns that differed from the normal.
The effect of splanchnic resection on the peripheral blood flow and rectal and skin temperatures in hypertension.

Abstract The peripheral blood flow has been measured by a modification of the method of Hardy and Soderstrom in patients with arterial hypertension before and at intervals after splanchnic resection, undertaken with the intent of lowering the blood pressure. In addition observations were made of the skin and rectal temperatures. In 19 patients the Smithwick procedure was carried out, and in seven operated upon earlier, the less extensive operation was done. The following facts emerged: 1. 1. In these patients the Smithwick procedure was more effective in lowering the blood pressure than the less extensive splanchnic resection. 2. 2. Since the objective of the operation is to lower the blood pressure, the groups in which this occurred are of special interest with respect to peripheral blood flow. The most marked differences in the observations made before and after operation were recorded in the group in which the blood pressure fell to normal after operation. The peripheral blood flow decreased, the rectal temperature fell, the average weighted skin temperature fell, the temperature of the upper part of the body fell; the temperature of the lower part of the body, especially of the feet, rose. The effects were less in those with less marked fall in blood pressure or without change in blood pressure. 3. 3. There was, however, no pattern discernible in the individual peripheral blood flows when these were analyzed in relation to the effect of the surgical procedure either in those in which the blood pressure fell to normal or in those showing less benefit from the operation. 4. 4. The peripheral blood flow in hypertension bears a linear relationship to the weighted skin temperature. This relationship is especially close after splenchnic resection. 5. 5. In those patients exhibiting the most marked lowering of blood pressure after operation, the average skin temperature fell after operation. The temperature of the upper part of the body, which before operation was warmer than normal, fell; the temperature of the feet, which before operation was cooler than normal, rose after operation. The elevated rectal temperature in hypertension falls after operation. 6. 6. In those patients showing a fall in blood pressure to normal after operation, the mean basal metabolic rate decreased 4 per cent, and in those whose blood pressure was not lowered, no change in the mean basal metabolic rate occurred. 7. 7. While the peripheral blood flow is, on the average, lower in hypertensive than in normal subjects,1 there are wide ranges, and the differences are not significant. The level of blood pressure has no relation to peripheral blood flow either where the blood pressure is high or in the same patient after restoration of normal blood pressure. It is likely that the mechanism, whatever it may be, which is responsible for the elevation of blood pressure in hypertension is also responsible for the differences in local skin temperatures which hypertensive patients exhibit when compared with normal individuals.
FAST: Formal specification driven test harness generation

Full coverage testing is commonly perceived as a mission impossible because software is more complex than ever and produces vast space to cover. This paper introduces a novel approach which uses ACSL formal specifications to define and reach test coverage, especially in the sense of data coverage. Based on this approach, we create a tool chain named FAST which can automatically generate test harness code and verify program's correctness, turning formal specification and static verification into coverage definition and dynamic testing. FAST ensures completeness of test coverage and result checking by leveraging the formal specifications. We have applied this methodology and tool chain to a real-world mission critical software project that requires high quality standard. Our practice shows using FAST detects extra code bugs that escape from other validation methods such as manually-written tests and random/fuzz tests. It also costs much less human efforts with higher bug detection rate and higher code and data coverage.
Compton electron scattering in the 0.1 to 5.0 GeV energy range

We have measured the Compton electron spectrum coming from photons produced from the decays of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons. The production rate agrees well with that predicted from the Klein-Nishina formula. The agreement, expressed as a ratio $R$ between the predicted and the measured numbers of Compton electrons, is as follows: For Compton-electron energies between 0.1 and 5.0 GeV, $R=1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07$; for energies between 0.8 and 5.0 GeV, $R=0.95\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14$.
A molecular dynamics study of the physical basis of stability of polypeptide multilayer nanofilms.

Electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) is a versatile method of fabricating ultrathin multilayer films, coatings, and microcapsules from materials in solution, notably, oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in water. Polypeptides, a special type of polyelectrolyte, have recently shown promise for a range of applications in biotechnology and medicine, for example, artificial cells, drug delivery systems, cell/tissue scaffolds, artificial viruses, and implantable device coatings. Poly(l-lysine) (PLL) and poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLGA) at neutral pH are model oppositely charged polypeptides. Experimental studies have shown that PLL/PLGA multilayer films contain a substantial amount of β-sheets. Here, we present findings of a molecular dynamics (MD) study of the physical basis of interaction between PLL and PLGA in multilayer film models. Simulations have been carried out to study structural and dynamical properties of PLL/PLGA aggregates in β-sheet conformation. The results suggest that hydrophobic interact...
Finitude and vulnerability: Pastoral method and the hospitalized

Suggesting that the hospital can be understood as a metaphor for human existence, a pastoral method is developed as response to the issues of chaos, contingency, powerlessness, finitude, and vulnerability. Clinical examples are cited and evaluated from the perspectives of pastoral and biblical theology.
Outflows and Turbulence in Young Stellar Clusters — An Observer's View

Recent numerical studies have focused their interest on the impact outflows have on the cloud's turbulence. The contradictory results obtained by these studies indicate that it is essential for observers to provide the required data to constrain the models. Here we discuss the impact of outflows on the environment surrounding clusters of young stellar objects, from an observer's point of view. We have conducted several studies of outflows in different active star-forming regions. In all cases it is clear that outflows have the power to sustain the observed turbulence in the gas surrounding protostellar clusters. We investigate whether there is a correlation between outflow strength and star formation efficiency, as predicted by numerical simulations, for six different regions in the Perseus molecular cloud complex. We argue that results of other recent studies that use CO line maps to study the turbulence driving length should not be used to discard outflows as major drivers of turbulence in clusters.
The fast multipole method and Fourier convolution for the solution of acoustic scattering on regular volumetric grids

The fast multipole method (FMM) is applied to the solution of large-scale, three-dimensional acoustic scattering problems involving inhomogeneous objects defined on a regular grid. The grid arrangement is especially well suited to applications in which the scattering geometry is not known a priori and is reconstructed on a regular grid using iterative inverse scattering algorithms or other imaging techniques. The regular structure of unknown scattering elements facilitates a dramatic reduction in the amount of storage and computation required for the FMM, both of which scale linearly with the number of scattering elements. In particular, the use of fast Fourier transforms to compute Green's function convolutions required for neighboring interactions lowers the often-significant cost of finest-level FMM computations and helps mitigate the dependence of FMM cost on finest-level box size. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the composite method as the number of scattering elements in each finest-level box is increased.
Depletion Kinetics of Nickel Atoms by Sulfur Dioxide

The gas-phase depletion kinetics of Ni(a3FJ, a3DJ) in the presence of SO2 are reported. Nickel atoms were produced by the 248 nm photodissociation of nickelocene and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The ground term of Ni, a3F4, and the two lowest energy spin−orbit states, a3D3 and a3D2, were found to react termolecularly (and with identical rate constants) with SO2, an indication of rapid interconversion between these states. The limiting low-pressure third-order rate constant, measured over the temperature range 296−612 K, can be expressed as ko(T) = 7.455−24.41(log T) + 3.993(log T)2 cm6 molecule-2 s-1. A binding energy of 47 kcal mol-1 was estimated by combining the kinetic results with unimolecular rate theory and density functional methods. The limiting high-pressure second-order rate constant over the temperature range is on the order of the collision rate. The other spin−orbit states of both terms depleted quite rapidly in the presence of SO2, with rate constants also on the order of the col...
A Change in Business Ethics: The Impact on Employer―Employee Relations

This research explores the historical perspective of business ethics from the viewpoint of the employer–employee relationship by outlining the impact of the changing social contract between employer and employee relations from the end of World War II to the current day; provides the basic definition of the key elements of the organizational social contract and outlines the social contract in employment relations. It also provides what the author believes to be the key drivers in employer–employee relations and the benefits to good employer–employee relations for each individual within the employment relationship. The results of this research indicate a significant shift in business ethics as it relates to the employers relationship to the employee within a work environment. It further shows the state of the employment relationship prior to World War II. Written contracts were unheard of, but rather, the employment agreement was steeped in a tradition that carried the promise sealed with nothing but a handshake. Now employees have little or no rights; and the ones they are given are provided not by the employer, but by government regulation and court precedent. Issues such as time off for illness, sexual harassment, and workers’ compensation are all handled through legal or regulatory means rather than ethical considerations. The research further shows that the distinct lack of leadership within organizations play a significant role in the disintegration of employer–employee relationships. Specifically, how the lack of leadership relates to the emotional intelligence of the leader. Areas such as empathy and social skills are under trained and under developed by organizations. This research shows that the employer who is willing to give employees what they want and need are far more likely to have success, but more importantly, the organizations will be doing the right thing.
Nuclear Membrane: Nuclear Envelope PORosity in Fission Yeast Meiosis

Summary The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe undergoes closed mitosis but ‘virtual nuclear envelope breakdown' at anaphase of meiosis II, in which the nuclear envelope is structurally closed but functionally open.
Evidence for functional relatedness of products encoded by the transforming sequences of human adenovirus types 5 and 12

Abstract Host-range and host-range deletion mutants of type 5 adenovirus belonging to two complementation groups, whose mutational lesions map physically within the left 11% of the type 5 genome, were efficiently complemented in mixed infection by type 12 adenovirus. The complementation of these early function mutants by type 12 is in contrast to the lack of complementation found previously for two other groups of early function mutants, and it is consistent with functional relatedness between products encoded by early region 1 of the respective serotypes. No evidence for recombination between the type 5 mutants and type 12 was found.
MISCELLA REFINING OF ISOPROPANOL EXTRACTED COTTONSEED OIL

A technologically feasible cottonseed oil-isopropyl alcohol (IPA) miscella refining process was developed to produce Prime Bleachable Summer Yellow (PBSY) quality cottonseed oil. Individual steps necessary to refine cottonseed oil-IPA miscella were determined and improved. The miscella was first neutralized with 20 Baume (Be′) caustic solution (50% excess) using a homogenizer. After centrifugation to remove soapstock, the two remaining liquid layers were separated and desolventized. The refined oils from bottom and top layers were then water washed using 12.5 and 20% hot water (w/w), respectively. Water washing efficiently recovered the oil from the top miscella layer and reduced soap and phosphorus contents. The water washed and dried oil from the bottom and top layers were treated with 0.5 and 4% (w/w) acid-activated bleaching clay, respectively. Good quality bleached oil was then obtained. However, the quality of bleached oil produced from the bottom layer was better than that of the top layer. Comparative experiments with both IPA and hexane miscellas showed that quality of the refined oil from cottonseed oil-IPA miscella is as good as that produced from the cottonseed oil-hexane miscella using the process developed in this study.
Question-driven segmentation of lecture speech text: Towards intelligent e-learning systems

Recently, lecture videos have been widely used in e-learning systems. Envisioning intelligent e-learning systems, this article addresses the challenge of information seeking in lecture videos by retrieving relevant video segments based on user queries, through dynamic segmentation of lecture speech text. In the proposed approach, shallow parsing such as part of-speech tagging and noun phrase chunking are used to parse both questions and Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) transcripts. A sliding-window algorithm is proposed to identify the start and ending boundaries of returned segments. Phonetic and partial matching is utilized to correct the errors from automated speech recognition and noun phrase chunking. Furthermore, extra knowledge such as lecture slides is used to facilitate the ASR transcript error correction. The approach also makes use of proximity to approximate the deep parsing and structure match between question and sentences in ASR transcripts. The experimental results showed that both phonetic and partial matching improved the segmentation performance, slides-based ASR transcript correction improves information coverage, and proximity is also effective in improving the overall performance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and structural characterization of tris(2-oxo-1-tert-butylimidazolyl) and tris(2-oxo-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes: a new class of tripodal oxygen donor ligand

A new class of tripodal L2X ligands that feature three oxygen donors, namely the tris(2-oxo-1-tert-butylimidazolyl) and tris(2-oxo-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands, [ToBut] and [ToMeBenz], has been synthesized via the reactions of NaBH4 with the respective imidazolone. Structural and spectroscopic studies indicate that both [ToBut] and [ToMeBenz] are significantly more sterically demanding but less electron donating than the related [O3] donor ligand, [CpCo{P(O)(OEt)2}3].
Evaluating Primary Care Physician Performance in Diabetes Glucose Control

This study demonstrates that it is possible to identify primary care physicians (PCPs) who perform better or worse than expected in managing diabetes. Study subjects were 14 033 adult diabetics and their 133 PCPs. Logistic regression was used to predict the odds that a patient would have uncontrolled diabetes (defined as HbA1c ≥8%) based on patient-level characteristics alone. A second model predicted diabetes control from physician-level identity and characteristics alone. A third model combined the patient- and physician-level models using hierarchical logistic regression. Physician performance is calculated from the difference between the expected and observed proportions of patients with uncontrolled diabetes. After adjusting for important patient characteristics, PCPs were identified who performed better or worse than expected in managing diabetes. This strategy can be used to characterize physician performance in other chronic conditions. This approach may lead to new insights regarding effective and ineffective treatment strategies.
Relationships among Structural Diversity, Informal Peer Interactions and Perceptions of the Campus Environment

Almost half of the U.S. population will be racial/ethnic minorities by the year 2030 (Cortes, 1991). Colleges and universities are also becoming increasingly diverse and students of color are expected to comprise nearly two fifths of total undergraduate enrollment by 2015 (Carnevale & Fry, 2000). In several states, minority students already make up at least one third of the student body. For example, fall 2002 minority enrollments in the four most populous states—California, Texas, Florida, and New York—were 51%, 41%, 37%, and 32%, respectively (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2005). Faced with this dramatic demographic shift, leaders in the public and private sectors have called on colleges and universities to prepare students to function effectively in a diverse society (Association of American Colleges and Universities, 1995; Bikson & Law, 1994). Similar calls have come from within the academy by leaders such as Bowen and Bok (1998) and
Analysis of the Link between Enzymatic Activity and Oligomeric State in AhpC, a Bacterial Peroxiredoxin

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) make up a ubiquitous class (proposed EC 1.11.1.15) of cysteine-dependent peroxidases with roles in oxidant protection and signal transduction. An intriguing biophysical property of typical 2-Cys Prxs is the redox-dependent modulation of their oligomeric state between decamers and dimers at physiological concentrations. The functional consequences of this linkage are unknown, but on the basis of structural considerations, we hypothesized that decamer-building (dimer−dimer) interactions serve to stabilize a loop that forms the peroxidatic active site. Here, we address this important issue by studying mutations of Thr77 at the decamer-building interface of AhpC from Salmonella typhimurium. Ultracentrifugation studies revealed that two of the substitutions (T77I and T77D) successfully disrupted the decamer, while the third (T77V) actually enhanced decamer stability. Crystal structures of the decameric forms of all three mutant proteins provide a rationale for their properties. A new assa...
Distance Running and the Elementary-age Child

Distance running is often underutilized in elementary physical education due to three common misconceptions about using this activity with young children: (1) it is not enjoyable, (2) it is not safe, and (3) children will get mentally “burned out.” Through reviewing the literature and offering guidelines, practical tips, instant activities, and sample block plans, this article sheds light on how to correctly structure training and provide a safe, enjoyable distance-running experience for elementary-age children.
Stroke Prevention in the High-risk Atrial Fibrillation Patient: Medical Management

Medical management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk for stroke is limited by problems of imperfect tools for assessment of thromboembolism and bleeding risks. Improved instruments, such as the CHA2DS2VASc and HAS-BLED risk stratification scores, have been incorporated into European practice guidelines. Until recently, the most effective therapy for stroke prevention has been anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist, but new oral anticoagulants in development, antiarrhythmic drugs that reduce adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AF, and interventional techniques for occlusion of the left atrial appendage represent promising options for stroke prevention. These new strategies will need focused evaluation in the most challenging AF patients—those with a high risk of bleeding, prior thromboembolism, or thrombosis-prone surfaces such as mechanical heart valve prostheses or drug-eluting coronary stents, for whom the limitations of currently available treatment options and a paucity of data are particularly acute.
The Y chromosome and sperm length in D. melanogaster.

Abstract Contrary to earlier reports, the sperm length of D. melanogaster males with two Y chromosomes is the same as in males with one Y chromosome.
Pharmacologic resuscitation promotes survival and attenuates hemorrhage-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2.

Background Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable trauma-related deaths, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) such as valproic acid (VPA) can improve survival following lethal hemorrhage. HDACI acetylate proteins, and acetylation regulates many cellular functions. Here we have investigated the effects of VPA treatment on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK) activation, as ERK is well known to modulate cell death, gene expression, and inflammation. Materials and Methods Anesthetized Wistar-Kyoto rats were subjected to lethal (60%) blood loss, and then randomized (n = 5–6/group) to (1) VPA 300 mg/kg or (2) vehicle control. Survival was monitored for 24 h. A separate group of rats were subjected to sublethal (40%) hemorrhage and were treated with VPA or vehicle. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 4, and 20 h, and lung tissue was assessed for the degree of acetylation of histone 3, and activation (phosphorylation) of ERK. Sham animals served as normal controls. Results Sixty percent hemorrhage resulted in severe shock. Only 17% of the vehicle-treated animals survived (most died within 1 h), whereas 80% of the VPA-treated animals survived (P Conclusions VPA treatment significantly improves survival following lethal hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhage induces ERK activation, which is significantly attenuated by VPA treatment. This may represent one mechanism through which VPA promotes survival in otherwise lethal hemorrhagic shock.
Expression of the β-1,3-Glucanase Gene in Yeast Hansenula Polymorpha

The yeast cell wall is composed mainly of glucan, mannoprotein and chitin (1). In most yeasts, the polysaccharide glucan is predominantly β-1,3-linked with some branching via (3-1,6- linkages (2). The glucan network in the yeast cell wall, due to its rigidity, is an essential structure in preventing lysis of the protoplast in a hypotonic environment. Several microorganisms have been reported to produce extracellular enzymes capable of lysing yeast cells (3,4). Analysis of the constituents of these lytic enzyme preparations revealed the presence, among other activities, of β-1,3-glucanases (3,5). When combinedwith athiol reagent, β-1,3-glucanase alone was found to be able to lyse the yeast cell (6). Currently, the most common-used enzyme for digestion of yeast cell walls is an enzyme preparation called Zymolyase, produced from Oerskovia xanthineolytica (5). We have isolated the glucanase gene from this organism and completely determined its sequence (7).
Viscosity Models and Effects of Dissolved CO2

A comprehensive study is carried out on viscosity modeling for the geologic sequestration of CO2 in the pressure and temperature range of 1–600 bar and 20–105 °C, respectively. For the liquid phase, we present viscosity models for pure water (H2O), brine (H2O + NaCl), H2O + CO2, H2O + NaCl + CO2, and typical seawater compositions. In each case, we attempted to develop very accurate formulations having fewer parameters than existing models. Because of their simpler forms these also help obtain some computational speedup. The effects of dissolved CO2 are studied extensively. For liquid phase viscosity calculations we have found that, if the presence of CO2 is neglected, deviations can be even 38% when the solution is CO2 saturated and, with 2% (by weight) CO2 dissolution, the difference is 0.6–8%.
Progress in Finite-Volume Calculations for Wing-Fuselage Combinations

Progress in the application of finite-volume methods to the calculation of transonic potential flows past general wing-body combinations is reviewed. Two different methods of generating boundary-conforming grids are investigated, and the results compared to provide an estimate of solution sensitivity to grid geometry. Both conservative and quasiconservative difference schemes are used in one of the coordinate systems. Results show that the error introduced by the quasiconservative formulation seems to be small, although a one-dimensional analysis suggests that schemes of this type may violate conservation of mass, except in the limit when all shocks are weak. Comparison of calculated results with experimental data for realistic fuselage geometries clearly shows the importance of modeling the effect of fuselage geometry upon the wing pressure distribution.
Cutaneous tumefaction in empyema necessitatis.

Background Empyema necessitatis refers to a collection of exudative fluid that extends directly from the pleural cavity to the thoracic wall to form a mass in the extrapleural soft tissue of the chest. It was an uncommon complication of tuberculous pleural effusion even in the pre-antibiotic era, and has also been associated with bacterial lung abscess, actinomycosis, blastomycosis, and malignancies. Methods Seven instances of chest wall mass lesion secondary to empyema necessitatis, diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), are reported. Results Three cases were tuberculous, two were mesotheliomatous, one was caused by pulmonary small cell carcinoma, and another was due to coexisting Actinomyces and Actinobacillus. In all patients, subsequent pleural fluid cytologies demonstrated empyema with the respective etiologies identified. Conclusions The usefulness of FNAB in the diagnosis of empyema necessitatis, supported by radiographic imaging and ancillary procedures, is well illustrated by these seven cases.
Reduction of bulk and surface recombination in GaAs for improved solar cell performance

A technique for suppressing recombination centers and increasing minority-carrier diffusion lengths in bulk n-type GaAs is described. It is shown that such pretreatment of the material leads to substantially improved long-wavelength photocurrent collection in Zn-diffused solar cells fabricated directly in the bulk substrates. Passivation of the front surface of the cells with ammonium sulfide improves their short-wavelength photoresponse. These results suggest the possibility of realizing high-efficiency GaAs solar cells fabricated without the use of costly epitaxial technology. >
HAT activity is essential for CBP‐1‐dependent transcription and differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans

The p300/CBP family of transcriptional coactivators possesses multiple functional domains, including a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and several activation domains. A number of models have been proposed to account for their roles in transcriptional activation, including interactions with basal transcription machinery and chromatin remodeling. However, individual contributions of these domains to transcriptional activation and their significance in living organisms remain unclear. We addressed the importance of the HAT activity of CBP‐1, the worm ortholog of p300/CBP, in Caenorhabditis elegans with three different and complementary approaches. These include allele‐specific RNA‐mediated interference (RNAi), genetic rescue and the use of a specific chemical inhibitor of the p300/CBP HAT. Our findings demonstrate that HAT activity is of primary importance for CBP‐1 to regulate transcription and to promote differentiation during C. elegans embryogenesis.
The Effect of Interracial Contact on Whites’ Perceptions of Victimization Risk and Black Criminality

Objectives. This article examines two questions. First, does interracial contact increase or decrease Whites' perceptions of Blacks' criminality? Second, does it affect Whites' perceived victimization risk, and, if so, is the effect mediated by the perceived criminality of Blacks as compared to the perceived criminality of different racial and ethnic groups? Methods. Multivariate regression analyses of data from a national public opinion poll that included measures of perceived victimization risk and the criminality of Whites and Latinos. Results. Interracial contact increases Whites' perceptions of the criminality of all racial and ethnic groups, not just Blacks. It also increases Whites' perceived risk of victimization, an effect that partially arises by increasing their perception of Whites and Latinos, and not just Blacks, as criminal. Conclusions. Although the identified effects may be due to Whites' stereotypes about Blacks, they are equally consistent with the notion that interracial contact may ed...
Architecting Systems for Value Robustness: Research Motivations and Progress

The contemporary environment and large-scale systems challenges motivate research in support of a new paradigm: value robustness. Value robustness is defined as the ability of a system to continue to deliver stakeholder value in the face of changing contexts and needs. The authors' research seeks to develop methods for concept exploration, architecting, and design using a dynamic perspective for the purpose of realizing systems, products, and services that deliver sustained value to stakeholders in a changing world. The research is aimed at improving the development of real world systems and systems of systems, and involves deep engagement with government and industry stakeholders in the research conduct and the transition of research outcomes to industry practice.
Direct (non‐chromatographic) quantification of drugs and their metabolites from human plasma utilizing chemical lonization mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling: Quinidine and lidocaine

Preliminary results are reported for the quantitative determination of the antiarrhythmic agents quinidine and lidocaine in human plasma by combined isobutane chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling. The concentration of monoethylglycinexylidide, a known metabolite of lidocaine, was also determined using this method. In the procedure used, stable isotope analogs of the materials to be determined were added to serial plasma samples. The plasma was then made basic and extracted with benzene. The residue after evaporation of the solvent was placed directly into the mass spectrometer via the direct insertion probe and the spectrum determined. In this manner the above named compounds could readily be quantitated without recourse to either derivitization or further purification.
Data communication between brain implants and computer

Recent advances in neuroscience, microelectronics, and information technology have allowed construction of miniature, but highly intelligent, devices to be implanted within the brain to perform in vitro diagnostic and therapeutic functions. However, there exists a significant problem in establishing an effective wireless data communication link between brain implants and external computer. This communication investigates this link and presents a new design using the mechanism of volume conduction of biological tissues. A theoretical model of volume conduction of the head is utilized to compute signal strength in data communication and the result is evaluated by a physical model. The two-way data communication sensitivity of the volume conduction channel is found to be symmetric, as suggested by the reciprocity theorem. A high-performance, X-shaped volume conduction antenna has been designed. Experiments are performed on animals which demonstrate the effectiveness of this volume conduction approach.
Multicenter Analysis of Quality Indicators for Children Treated in the Emergency Department for Asthma

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that an association exists between process and outcome measures of the quality of acute asthma care provided to children in the emergency department.
Interview with Alan Ganek and Mark Potts

Trend Wars host, Dejan Milojicic, recently discussed service management with Alan Ganek, the chief technology officer (CTO) of IBM Tivoli, and Mark Potts, Hewlett-Packard (HP) Fellow and chief technologist of HP Software.