cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Defining the “Problem”: The Development of Postwar Attitudes toward Bruckner Versions

Concern with the “Bruckner problem” was one of the most important elements in the scholarly and popular reception of Bruckner's symphonies in the second half of the twentieth century. The conventional position was to accept only the “original versions” as published by modern editors, while dismissing as corrupt the versions published during the composer's lifetime. This view of the Bruckner versions was forged by German-speaking scholars in the 1930s, and cultivated by English-speaking scholars and critics in the postwar era. Until now, the pivotal process by which this view came to be embraced has been largely overlooked, but is worthy of examination to show how it has shaped the appreciation of Bruckner's symphonies in the English-speaking world.
Cause and effect of mini-tender offers

Abstract Mini-tender offers are unique because they are commonly made at an offer price below the prevailing market price. They appear to focus on quickly arbitraging investors who are irrational or uninformed and thus do not capitalize on their potential for governing the target. We find that firms targeted for mini-tender offers are relatively large and experience weaker performance than other same-industry firms. Sample firms subjected to mini-tender offers experience significant negative announcement effects. The negative announcement effects are more pronounced for firms that exhibit a higher level of stock volatility, a lower level of institutional ownership, and that have been the target of a recent lawsuit.
Vitronectin (S protein) is associated with platelets

Vitronectin is a plasma glycoprotein that has regulatory activity in the complement and the coagulation systems, in cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, and in monocyte/macrophage function. Because of its potential to participate in several of the processes of inflammation and repair, the association of vitronectin with platelets was investigated. Immunochemical studies demonstrated that the majority of the platelet associated vitronectin was intracellular, while a relatively modest amount was localized to the ectoplasmic portion of the plasma membrane. Analysis by Western blot showed that the electrophoretic mobility of platelet associated vitronectin was indistinguishable from that of vitronectin isolated from plasma. In response to thrombin, approximately 1 microgram of vitronectin was released into the supernate of 10(9) platelets, while somewhat less than one-half of the total platelet vitronectin remained cell associated. The binding of vitronectin to platelets was investigated by comparing the capacity of unlabelled vitronectin and fibronectin to inhibit binding of radiolabelled fibronectin to thrombin stimulated platelets. On a weight basis, inhibition by the two proteins was equivalent, suggesting that vitronectin competes with fibronectin for binding to platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. These results demonstrate that vitronectin is a platelet specific protein which, because of its multifunctional properties, may participate in physiological and pathophysiological events associated with thrombosis and haemostasis.
A Stereospecific Swihesis of 6-sanialene

Abstract We describe here a simple three step synthesis of B-santalene (1), one of the main hydrocarbons in East Indian Sandalwood oil,3 using the readily available camphene sultone (2) as a starting material. This synthesis, outlined in Figure 1, features the novel use of a sultone as a carbon activating group and involves a new desulfurization procechrre.
Control-affine fuzzy neural network approach for nonlinear process control

Abstract An internal model control strategy employing a fuzzy neural network is proposed for SISO nonlinear process. The control-affine model is identified from both steady state and transient data using back-propagation. The inverse of the process is obtained through algebraic inversion of the process model. The resulting model is easier to interpret than models obtained from the standard neural network approaches. The proposed approach is applied to the tasks of modelling and control of a continuous stirred tank reactor and a pH neutralization process which are not inherently control-affine. The results show a significant performance improvement over a conventional PID controller. In addition, an additional neural network which models the discrepancy between a control-affine model and real process dynamics is added, and is shown to lead to further improvement in the closed-loop performance.
The role of cognition in complex human behavior: A contextualistic perspective

Cognitive and behavioral psychology have long debated the merits of cognitive causality in the explanation of human behavior. We argue, however, that cognitive causality must be understood in the context of the pre-analytic philosophical assumptions of the scientist, not merely as an empirical matter. Many of the issues that seemingly separate cognitive from behavioral positions cannot be answered by research. We briefly present Relational Frame Theory, which is a behavioral approach to language and cognition. RFT is not subject to the same criticisms made by Bandura of behavior analytic thinking. Finally, we describe some aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as an example of the applied implications of this contextual analysis of cognition.
Aperture-scanning Fourier ptychography for 3D refocusing and super-resolution macroscopic imaging

We report an imaging scheme, termed aperture-scanning Fourier ptychography, for 3D refocusing and super-resolution macroscopic imaging. The reported scheme scans an aperture at the Fourier plane of an optical system and acquires the corresponding intensity images of the object. The acquired images are then synthesized in the frequency domain to recover a high-resolution complex sample wavefront; no phase information is needed in the recovery process. We demonstrate two applications of the reported scheme. In the first example, we use an aperture-scanning Fourier ptychography platform to recover the complex hologram of extended objects. The recovered hologram is then digitally propagated into different planes along the optical axis to examine the 3D structure of the object. We also demonstrate a reconstruction resolution better than the detector pixel limit (i.e., pixel super-resolution). In the second example, we develop a camera-scanning Fourier ptychography platform for super-resolution macroscopic imaging. By simply scanning the camera over different positions, we bypass the diffraction limit of the photographic lens and recover a super-resolution image of an object placed at the far field. This platform’s maximum achievable resolution is ultimately determined by the camera’s traveling range, not the aperture size of the lens. The FP scheme reported in this work may find applications in 3D object tracking, synthetic aperture imaging, remote sensing, and optical/electron/X-ray microscopy.
Quadratic system identification: A statistical framework for the paired-pulse paradigm

System Identification refers to the problem of identifying a model or description of a system based on a stretch of input and the corresponding output from the system. The paired-pulse paradigm or the conditioning test pulse paradigm is often used in neurophysiology experiments. In this work we provide a statistical framework for the conditioning test pulse paradigm which also serves as a system identification tool for quadratic or second order Volterra systems. A nonparametric spectral domain based methodology is proposed for the quadratic system identification. It is shown that by carrying out the analysis in the spectral domain one needs to perform only a single set of double pulse experiments as opposed to multiple sets of experiments in the time domain. Simulation studies are performed to assess the performance of the methodology and to study the conditions under which the methods are expected to perform well.
Evidence for glucagon biosynthesis involving a protein intermediate in islets of the anglerfish (Lophius americanus).

Glucagon was identified in the trichloroacetic acid-precipitable, acid alcohol extracts from anglerfish islets by gel filtration and radioimmunoassay. After in vitro incubation of islets in the presence of 3H-tryptophan and 14Cleucine, it was shown that tryptophan (present in known species of glucagon, but not in insulin) becomes incorporated into proteins different from proinsulin and insulin (which preferentially incorporate leucine). Incorporation of tryptophan and leucine was markedly inhibited by cycloheximide, a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis at the ribosome. After short-term incubations with labeled tryptophan and gel filtration of the acid alcohol extracts, only one peak of radioactivity, migrating between the void volume and proinsulin, could be detected. This region of the eluate, where only a small amount of the total protein from the islet extracts appeared, was designated the “precursor region.” After 2 or more hr of incubation, a second peak of radioactivity appeared in the same reg...
How cells became records: standardization and infrastructure in tissue culture

This article follows the history of tissue culture through its standardization as a technology, instrument, and ubiquitous object of reference for scientists working with cells. It identifies how human cells are established as cell lines and become records. As information infrastructure, cell lines have consequences for key archival concepts that rely on narratives of origin, bodies, and recorded information. The article contributes to a theory of the record by looking at cells in functional contexts of tissue culture, from the establishment of reference lines to the identification of cross-culture contamination, to their storage and dissemination. It puts forth a theory of the biorecord by examining acts of formalization in the standardization of scientific recordkeeping in biotechnology. The paper speaks to archival studies of scientific recordkeeping and argues for an expansion of research that examines nonprototypical records in functional contexts of creation, use, and processes of standardization.
Predicted 2.2 μm Celestial Backgrounds for Infrared Telescopes

One of the questions that must be investigated in the planning of space-borne infrared telescope systems is that of the background flux due to discrete infrared sources, such as stars, external galaxies, and galactic nonstellar objects. For example, when performing an infrared sky survey, a knowledge of this background is necessary to optimize the choice of system parameters such as detector size, scan rate, and aperture size. For this reason we have combined the Cal Tech. Two Micron Sky Survey with a structural model of the galaxy in our computer code CELES to predict the number of stars/square degree brighter than a given limiting flux for particular lines of sight through the galaxy. Extragalactic sources are included by inference from visual galaxy counts, while main secuence stars are accounted for by using their optically determined properties and 2μm luminosity. Possible future work could include extension of the present technique to other near infrared wavelengths. Although this might be accomplished by using the AFGL 4-Color Sky Survey, our preliminary results at 4μm show that there is a problem with this approach which could be inherent in the 4μm catalog (e.g., due to lack of completeness to sufficient flux, or the heterogeneity of the catalog objects). To investigate this problem a comparison of the Cal Tech 2μm and AFGL μpm catalogs is presented. Longward of 2μm, the AFGL catalog is the only major infrared survey available for statistical studies, and the need for more sensitive surveys is discussed.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Treatment of Alveolar-Pleural Fistula With Endobronchial Application of Synthetic Hydrogel

BACKGROUND Alveolar-pleural fistula with persistent air leak is a common problem causing significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and increased health-care costs. When conventional therapy fails, an alternative to prolonged chest-tube drainage or surgery is needed. New bronchoscopic techniques have been developed to close the air leak by reducing the flow of air through the leak. The objective of this study was to analyze our experience with bronchoscopic application of a synthetic hydrogel for the treatment of such fistulas. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of patients with alveolar-pleural fistula with persistent air leaks treated with synthetic hydrogel application via flexible bronchoscopy. Patient characteristics, underlying disease, and outcome of endoscopic treatment were analyzed. RESULTS Between January 2009 and December 2013, 22 patients (14 men, eight women; mean age ± SD, 62 ± 10 years) were treated with one to three applications of a synthetic hydrogel per patient. The primary etiology of persistent air leak was necrotizing pneumonia (n = 8), post-thoracic surgery (n = 6), bullous emphysema (n = 5), idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (n = 2), and sarcoidosis (n = 1). Nineteen patients (86%) had complete resolution of the air leak, leading to successful removal of chest tube a mean (± SD) of 4.3 ± 0.9 days after last bronchoscopic application. The procedure was very well tolerated, with two patients coughing up the hydrogel and one having hypoxemia requiring bronchoscopic suctioning. CONCLUSIONS Bronchoscopic administration of a synthetic hydrogel is an effective, nonsurgical, minimally invasive intervention for patients with persistent pulmonary air leaks secondary to alveolar-pleural fistula.
Survey of Stress Analyses of the Femoral Hip Prosthesis

The finite element method has been used to analyze hip prostheses for the past 25+ years and has proven to be quite effective. The use of finite element analysis, initially, was restricted to duplicating experimental results but has progressed over the decades in step with the computational capabilities as well as the increased understanding of hip replacement procedures. The mechanics of the bone-prosthesis system is quite complicated in the context of the geometry, material properties, loading and the interaction between the femur and the hip stem. The following article is a survey of the finite element technique as applied by researchers over the past three decades, within given limitations, to solve this complex problem. The discussion is limited to the analysis of the femoral component and consists of the approximations, methodologies and conclusions as reported. Relevant experimental results have also been reviewed. There are 136 references cited.
Carotenoids as raman-active probes of erythrocyte membrane structure

1. Erythrocyte ghosts exhibit resonance-enhanced Raman bands at 1530 cm(-1) and 1165 cm(-1) attributable to v(-C=C-) and v(=C-C=), respectively, of the conjugated polyene chains in carotenoids. In lipid extract of ghosts, these resonance-enhanced bands lie at 1527 and 1158 cm(-1). The spectra indicate the presence of membrane-bound beta-carotene. 2. The resonance-enhanced Raman spectrum of beta-carotene in lecithin liposomes is identical to that obtained with hexane or chloroform solutions. 3. Increasing proportions of cholesterol in cholesterol-lecithin liposomes up to a cholesterol: phospholipid molar ratio of 0.8-0.9 drastically decreases the intensity of both resonance-enhanced bands. 4. In ghosts the carotenoid bands respond to membrane perturbations. Trypsinization, lysolecithin treatment and reduction of pH increase the intensities of the 1530 and 1165 cm(-1) bands. In contrast, a decrease in the intensity of both bands follows equilibration of ghosts for 15 min at approx. 50 degrees C or addition of (0.1%) sodium dodecyl sulfate. 5. We suggest that perturbants known to change lipid-protein interactions in erythrocyte membranes modify the microenvironment and/or configuration of the membrane-bound carotenoid.
Synthesis and structural characterization of Groups 10 and 11 mononuclear fluoroaryloxide complexes

Abstract A study of four late-transition metal fluoroaryloxide (OArF or OAr′) complexes is presented including X-ray crystallography, polynuclear solution NMR spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The study includes three new compounds: [(Ph3P)2Ni(OArF)2] (1a), [(Ph3P)2Ni(OAr′)2] (1b), [(COD)Pt(OArF)2] (2) and one compound whose synthesis and elemental analysis were reported previously: [(Ph3P)Au(OArF)] (3). These compounds represent the common L2MX2 (1a, 1b, 2) and LMX (3) ligand classes in Groups 10 and 11, respectively, but with an uncommon ligand type, the monodentate phenoxide. In the solid state, compounds 1a and 1b exhibit square-planar geometry at nickel with trans phosphines in each case. In solution, these nickel compounds slowly decompose in CH2Cl2. Compound 2 is quite stable in solution at room temperature with the two phenoxide ligands cis to one another in the solid state. Compound 3 has a virtually linear geometry at the gold center and is stable in the solid state in the dark but decomposes slowly in solution in the light. Comparison of these four fluoroaryloxide compounds with the protio analogs (or attempts to make such compounds) demonstrate the greater stability to reduction of late-metal aryloxide complexes with highly electron-withdrawing substituents on the phenoxide rings.
Exchange currents in parity non conserving electromagnetic transitions

Abstract It is shown that exchange currents do not contribute significantly to parity non-conserving transitions of the electric multipole type.
Development of a rodent lung macrophage chromosome aberration assay.

Abstract Lung macrophages are the first line of defense against inhaled xenobiotics. They are able to accumulate airborne particulates as well as having metabolic capability. They may thus be sensitive indicator cells for detecting inhalation exposure to environmental mutagens. Their usefulness as a short-term in vivo genotoxic assay has not, however, been adequately explored. We have systematically investigated the feasibility of developing a lung macrophage chromosome-aberration assay. It was found that with different types of spindle-binding chemicals (vinblastine and vincristine), and with improved harvesting procedures, an adequate number of metaphase cells can be collected from mice and Chinese hamsters. The chromosome aberration frequencies in macrophages from control mice and Chinese hamsters were found to be 1.2 ± 2.3 and 0.75 ± 2.2 per 100 cells respectively. These frequencies are within normal ranges for other somatic cells. After inhalation exposure to an occupational-exposure level of benzene (0, 0.1 and 1 ppm), significant dosedependent induction of aberrations (1.2 ± 2.3, 5.7 ± 6.3 and 6.8 ± 6.2 chromatid deletions per 100 cells resp.) were observed in the macrophages. Thus, these cells can be used as one of a battery of in vivo assays for inhalation exposure studies.
Experimental electron beam microanalytical procedure for determining oxygen in coal

Abstract The standard ASTM procedure for determining levels of organic oxygen in coal is an indirect determination which has cumulative errors. As yet, there is no fast, simple, accurate, direct method for determining the organic oxygen content of coal. Although various techniques employing oxidation, reduction or fast-neutron activation (FNA) are currently used to determine organic oxygen in coal, these methods can be time consuming or relatively complex. In addition, corrections must often be made for the inorganic oxygen from the mineral matter. In this study, the organic oxygen levels in coal are directly determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled with wavelength-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-WDX). Previously, a similar technique has been used successfully to quantify organic sulphur levels in coal. The SEM-WDX method provides data for the organic oxygen content after chemical screening with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis to avoid the inorganic oxygen components. Four coals were analysed for oxygen by the SEM-WDX method and results were compared with values from the ASTM and FNA methods. One coal gave SEM-WDX results similar to the ASTM and FNA values, while the other three coals gave results significantly lower than the ASTM or FNA values. Sample volatilization, oxygen standards, matrix correction routines and other analytical conditions are discussed as potential causes for the lower SEM-WDX results.
Disability meanings according to patients and clinicians: imagined recovery choice pathways.

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore how the meaning of disability varies between patients with acute-onset activity limitations and clinicians, and between males and females.
Sexually-dimorphic patterns of cortical asymmetry, and the role for sex steroid hormones in determining cortical patterns of lateralization.

Abstract Cortical asymmetry varies in degree and direction. Sex differences exist for both dimensions of asymmetry: males tend to exhibit more accentuated asymmetries and stronger right hemisphere dominance compared with females, while females typically exhibit more diffuse lateralization patterns and greater left hemisphere bias compared with males. The following review considers the effects of sex steroid hormones on the sexual dimorphism of cortical lateralization patterns in human and nonhuman animals. Several excellent papers exist which consider sexual dimorphism in cortical asymmetries for morphological, physiological or functional asymmetries alone. This paper attempts to consider influences of sex steroid hormones on cortical lateralization in a framework that includes morphology, physiology and function. Converging evidence from studies that incorporate varying methodologies and theoretical backgrounds indicates that sex steroid hormones are important for influencing cortical asymmetry. Although a mechanism has not yet been identified, testosterone is the most likely candidate to influence cortical dominance. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Adaptation to Starvation: Translating a Matter of Life or Death

There is much interest in defining the nutrient dependencies of cancer cells and their mechanisms of adaptation to nutrient depletion. In a recent issue of Cell, Leprivier and colleagues demonstrate that eEF2K, which can inhibit translation elongation acutely during protein synthesis, is a critical switch in the survival versus death fate of starved cancer cells.
Dispersion management for randomly varying optical fibers

An asymptotic theory for optical pulse propagation in a dispersion-managed (DM) fiber with random dispersion is presented. The validity of the theory is verified with direct numerical simulation. The equations that describe the slow evolution of initial pulses have special solutions that, for fibers with moderate noise in the dispersion profile, perform much better than ideal DM solitons optimized for the unperturbed fiber.
Pacifier: high-throughput, reliable multicast without "Crying babies" in wireless mesh networks

In contrast to unicast routing, high-throughput reliable multicast routing in wireless mesh networks (WMNs) has received little attention. There are two primary challenges to supporting high-throughput, reliable multicast in WMNs. The first is no different from unicast: Wireless links are inherently lossy due to varying channel conditions and interference. The second, known as the "crying baby" problem, is unique to multicast: The multicast source may have varying throughput to different multicast receivers, and hence trying to satisfy the reliability requirement for poorly connected receivers can potentially result in performance degradation for the rest of the receivers. In this paper, we propose Pacifier, a new high-throughput, reliable multicast protocol for WMNs. Pacifier seamlessly integrates four building blocks--namely, tree-based opportunistic routing, intraflow network coding, source rate limiting, and round-robin batching--to support high-throughput, reliable multicast routing in WMNs, while at the same time it effectively addresses the "crying baby" problem. Our experiments on a 22-node IEEE 802.11 WMN testbed show that Pacifier increases the average throughput over a state-of-the-art reliable network coding-based protocol MORE by up to 144%, while at the same time it solves the "crying baby" problem by improving the throughput of well-connected receivers by up to a factor of 14.
The role of lactation and weaning in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis in female breeder rats.

Summary Female breeder rats develop spontaneous arteriosclerosis if they are actively and repeatedly bred. Females which nursed large litters following each pregnancy appeared to develop the most severe arterial disease as well as other degenerative changes. In order to determine how the degree of lactational activity would affect the pathogenesis of the arterial disease female breeder rats were provided with many, few or no pups during the lactation phase following each of 4 pregnancies. To test the effect of abrupt cessation of milk removal vs . complete removal of milk, breeder females were provided with many pups to nurse following each of 4 pregnancies. However, in some cases the young were removed suddenly, i.e. , forced weaning, after 23 days of lactation, whereas some females were permitted to nurse their young until they gave up nursing voluntarily, i.e. , natural weaning. A special group of breeders completed 1 pregnancy only but was provided with nursing pups for an extended period of time, i.e. , 100 days. The results of these experiments demonstrated, that female breeders which had experienced one or several pregnancies and which had lactated actively followed by abrupt weaning of the young developed grossly visible arteriosclerosis characterized by severe calcific complications. On the other hand, breeders which were permitted to suckle their young until they were weaned naturally were completely free of the severe calcific arterial involvement. However, early microscopic intimal mucopolysaccharide accumulations capped by collagen could be found in all breeders. These intimal lesions are believed to be the forerunners of the more complicated lesions and are believed to be associated with the gestational phase of the reproductive cycle.
8xxnm kW conduction cooled QCW diode arrays with both electrically conductive and insulation submounts

We present kW QCW vertical and horizontal arrays composed of 200W bars (peak power) at 8xxnm wavelength. We also present an unique Bar-on-Submount design using the electrically insulating submounts, which can provide a platform for simple and flexible horizontal array construction. The p-n junction temperature of the arrays under QCW operation is modeled with FEA software, as well as measured in this research. Updated reliability test results for these kW arrays will be also reported. As the examples, we present the performance of the vertical arrays with > 57% Wall-Plug-Efficiency and the horizontal arrays with < 23 degree fast axis divergence (FWHM), both with 808nm wavelength. The available wavelength for such arrays ranges from 780nm to beyond 1 um. Coherent also have the capability to produce the array with wide and relatively uniform spectrum for athermal pumping of solid-state lasers, by integrating diode lasers bars with different wavelength into single array.
Collagen synthesis on polysomes in vivo and in vitro.

Polysomes synthesizing both α1 and α2 collagen chains have been identified by means of an in vitro system for completion and release of nascent polypeptides. Their size indicates that the mRNA for α chains is monocistronic.
Digital readout for flash chambers

With the advent of low-cost honeycomb extrusions of polypropylene sheets, flash chambers have become attractive for large detector arrays. Optics and photographic readout systems, however, are costly and unsuitable for large detectors. This paper reports on a new low-cost electronic readout system for flash chambers.
A FLT3-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor is cytotoxic to leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo

Constitutively activating internal tandem duplication (ITD) and point mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 are present in up to 41% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These FLT3/ITD mutations are likely to be important because their presence is associated with a poor prognosis. Both types of mutations appear to activate the tyrosine kinase activity of FLT3. We describe here the identification and characterization of the indolocarbazole derivative CEP-701 as a FLT3 inhibitor. This drug potently and selectively inhibits autophosphorylation of wild-type and constitutively activated mutant FLT3 in vitro in FLT3/ITD-transfected cells and in human FLT3-expressing myeloid leukemia–derived cell lines. We demonstrate that CEP-701 induces a cytotoxic effect on cells in a dose-responsive fashion that parallels the inhibition of FLT3. STAT5 and ERK1/2, downstream targets of FLT3 in the signaling pathway, are inhibited in response to FLT3 inhibition. In primary leukemia blasts from AML patients harboring FLT3/ITD mutations, FLT3 is also inhibited, with an associated cytotoxic response. Finally, using a mouse model of FLT3/ITD leukemia, we demonstrate that the drug inhibits FLT3 phosphorylation in vivo and prolongs survival. These findings form the basis for a planned clinical trial of CEP-701 in patients with AML harboring FLT3- activating mutations.
Nonlinear refractive-index measurements of glasses using three-wave frequency mixing

We have developed a rapid and accurate method for measuring the nonlinear refractive index of transparent materials. It is based on a version of three-wave mixing in which the frequencies of the two input beams are adjusted to differ by about 60 cm−1. The nonlinear index of a material is measured relative to that of a standard with a known index. Our measurements of 27 glasses are in good agreement with previous results, where available, and with the n2 values calculated empirically from linear index parameters. We also discuss the relationship between the observed nonlinear index and the structure and composition of the glasses.
Formulary Management of ACE Inhibitors

An increasing number of ACE inhibitors have become available in recent years. Because these agents are all similar, careful scrutiny is required in order to determine specific advantages of particular agents when making formulary decisions. Differences between agents with regard to structure and tissue specificity have been identified, but the clinical relevance of these differences is not clear. ACE inhibitors vary greatly with regard to bioconversion, distribution and elimination. Disease states such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and hepatic or renal insufficiency may affect the disposition of specific ACE inhibitors. These agents may differ substantially in duration of action, and ACE inhibitors that are given once daily may optimise patient compliance and decrease costs. ACE inhibitors have been extensively studied in patients with hypertension, CHF or nephropathy, and following myocardial infarction (MI). Differences in efficacy between agents are often a result of variations in study design, or because nonequipotent dosages were compared. It is likely that the benefits of ACE inhibitors are class effects, and it is probably reasonable to use an agent even if large scale clinical trials have not been performed with that particular drug. Few differences have been found between ACE inhibitors with regard to adverse effects or drug interactions, and these factors are of minor importance when making formulary decisions. Cost and availability may vary among agents, and will depend on geographical location and institution-specific purchasing contracts. ACE inhibitors have shown positive effects on quality of life when compared with agents of other classes. Quality-of-life studies that have directly compared ACE inhibitors have produced conflicting results. In the setting of hypertension, cost-effectiveness evaluations typically find that the newer, longer-acting ACE inhibitors provide the greatest financial benefit. Differences in cost effectiveness in the post-MI patient population are typically the result of variations in protocol design, including duration of treatment and nondrug costs. ACE inhibitors are fairly homogeneous and selection between agents can be difficult. Clinical efficacy, time course of action, and cost are the primary concerns in selecting agents for inclusion on a formulary.
The effect of aliphatic alcohols upon the dissociation of Micrococcus lysodeikticus membrane lipids and proteins.

Abstract The ability of aliphatic alcohols to extract 32 P-labeled phospholipid from aqueous dispersions of Micrococcus lysodeikticus membranes into the organic solvent phase has been investigated and the following order of efficiency of extraction observed: tert -amyl alcohol = n -butanol = iso -butanol = sec -butanol > n -amyl alcohol > iso -amyl alcohol > 3-pentanol. This order approximates that of the water solubility of these alcohols. Inclusion of urea (2 M or 6 M) or NaCl (0.1 M or 1.0 M) in the aqueous phase reduced the extractibility of 32 P-labeled lipid into the organic solvent phase. Residual 32 P-labeled material in the aqueous phase following n -butanol extraction could in part be accounted for as phospholipid. Almost maximal recovery of the phospholipid in the solvent phases occurred when aqueous dispersions of membrane lipid and bovine serum albumin (protein: lipid ratio, 2:1) were extracted. The recovery of protein in the aqueous phase was about 45–50 % for all solvents and thus represents a much lower value for “soluble” protein than that observed with erythrocyte membranes. The lower recovery of soluble proteins in this bacterial membrane system is probably due to the presence of insoluble aggregates of the electron transport components of the membrane. Addition of 2 M urea increased solubilization of protein, whereas 6 M urea and 0.1 and 1.0 M NaCl decreased the aqueous phase protein. ATPase activity survived extraction with a number of the alcohols, being less sensitive to those with the hydroxyl group on carbon-1; it was largely inactivated by urea and NaCl additions to the aqueous phase. NADH-dehydrogenase showed good preservation following extraction with tert -amyl alcohol in the presence of 2 M urea.
California's Incarcerated Drug Offender Population, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Evaluating the War on Drugs and Proposition 36

Since 1980, the populations of state and federal prisons have more than quadrupled. This has in large part been attributed to increased law enforcement in the wake of the War on Drugs. Data-validat...
Lessons Learned Since the Last Renal-Retinal Conference

Diabetes mellitus the most prevalent cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the industrialized world. As tabulated in the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) 2001 Report, of 88,091 patients begun on therapy for ESRD during 1999, 38,160 (43%) had diabetes, an incidence rate of 83 per million population [1]. Reflecting their relatively higher death rate compared to other causes of ESRD, the prevalence of US diabetic ESRD patients on December 31, 1999, was 34% (114,478 of 340,261 patients). Both glomerulonephritis and hypertensive renal disease rank below diabetes in frequency of diagnosis among new ESRD patients, substantiating Mauer and Chavers contention that ‘Diabetes is the most important cause of ESRD in the Western world’ [2].
A Functional Genomics Analysis of the B56 Isoforms of Drosophila Protein Phosphatase 2A

Members of the B56 family of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunits play crucial roles in Drosophila cell survival. Distinct functions of two B56 subunits were investigated using a combination of RNA interference, DNA microarrays, and proteomics. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the B56-1 subunit (PP2A-B′) but not the catalytic (mts) or B56-2 subunit (wdb) of PP2A resulted in increased expression of the apoptotic inducers reaper and sickle. Co-knockdown of B56-1 with reaper, but not with sickle, reduced the apoptosis caused by depletion of the B56 subunits. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry identified proteins modified in cells depleted of PP2A subunits. These included generation of caspase-dependent cleavage products, increases in protein abundance, and covalent modifications. Results suggested that up-regulation of the ribosome-associated protein stubarista can serve as a sensitive marker of apoptosis. Up-regulation of transcripts for multiple glutathione transferases and other proteins suggested that loss of PP2A affected pathways involved in the response to oxidative stress. Knockdown of PP2A elevated basal JNK activity and substantially decreased activation of ERK in response to oxidative stress. The results reveal that the B56-containing isoform of PP2A functions within multiple signaling pathways, including those that regulate expression of reaper and the response to oxidative stress, thus promoting cell survival in Drosophila.
A Global Review of Insurance Industry Responses to Climate Change

A vanguard of insurers is adapting its business model to the realities of climate change. In many ways, insurers are still catching up both to mainstream science and to their customers, which, in response to climate change and energy volatility, are increasingly changing the way they construct buildings, transport people and goods, design products and produce energy. Customers, as well as regulators and shareholders, are eager to see insurers provide more products and services that respond to the ‘‘greening’’ of the global economy, expand their efforts to improve disaster resilience and otherwise be proactive about the climate change threat. Insurers are increasingly recognising the issue as one of ‘‘enterprise risk management’’ (ERM), one cutting across the domains of underwriting, asset management and corporate governance. Their responses are becoming correspondingly sophisticated. Based on a review of more than 300 source documents, plus a direct survey of insurance companies, we have identified 643 specific activities from 244 insurance entities from 29 countries, representing a 50 per cent year-over-year increase in activity. These entities collectively represent $1.2 trillion in annual premiums and $13 trillion in assets, while employing 2.2 million people. In addition to activities on the part of 189 insurers, eight reinsurers, 20 intermediaries and 27 insurance organisations, we identified 34 non-insurance entities that have collaborated in these efforts. Challenges and opportunities include bringing promising products and services to scale, continuing to identify and fill market and coverage gaps and identifying and confirming the veracity of green improvements. There is also need for convergence between sustainability and disaster resilience, greater engagement by insurers in adaptation to unavoidable climate changes and to clarify the role that regulators will play in moving the market. It has not yet been demonstrated how some insurance lines might respond to climate change and a number of market segments have not yet been served with a single green insurance product or service. As insurer activities obtain more prominence, they also will be subject to more scrutiny and expectations that they are not simply greenwashing. The Geneva Papers (2009) 34, 323–359. doi:10.1057/gpp.2009.14
A phase II study of a nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant with peritransplant rituximab in patients with B cell lymphoid malignancies: favorably durable event-free survival in chemosensitive patients.

Abstract The aim of this prospective phase II trial was to determine the safety and efficacy of a nonmyeloablative conditioning program incorporating peritransplant rituximab in patients with CD20+ B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT). Fifty-one adult B-NHL patients, with a median age of 54 years, were treated with cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and 200 cGy of total body irradiation. Rituximab 375 mg/m2 was given on day −8 and in 4 weekly doses beginning day +21. Equine antithymocyte globulin was given to recipients of volunteer unrelated donor grafts. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus, sirolimus, and methotrexate in 8 and 43 patients, respectively. Thirty-three patients received grafts from unrelated donors, and 18 received grafts from matched related donors. All patients engrafted. Full donor chimerism in bone marrow and peripheral T cells was seen in 92% and 89% of patients, respectively, at 3 months after allo-SCT. The cumulative incidence of grades II to IV acute GVHD at 6 months was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13% to 38%) and grades III to IV was 11% (95% CI, 2% to 20%). The 2-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 29% (95% CI, 15% to 44%). The 2-year event-free and overall survival for all patients was 72% (95% CI, 59% to 85%) and 78% (95% CI, 66% to 90%), respectively. The 2-year event-free survival for chemosensitive patients was 84% (95% CI, 72% to 96%) compared with 30% (95% CI, 2% to 58%) for chemorefractory patients before allo-SCT (P
Some independent agreements and resolved disagreements about answer‐providing documents

Eighty-two documents and 30 questions, in documentation and related areas, were compared to find answer-providing documents (documents from which answers to questions can be inferred). Two judges (documentation experts) made comparisons independently. They discussed their disagreements, attempting to resolve them. In each case the positive judge (who had independently judged a document answer-providing) was first asked to indicate what answer he inferred, and from what document passage(s). The further discussion depended on the details of each case. There were 32 independent agreements on positive judgments. There were 48 disagreements between independent judgments, all resolved by discussion. Thirty-four resolutions were agreements on positive judgments, accomplished by pointing out overlooked passages, unnoticed connections, or alternative meanings. Fourteen resolutions were agreements on negative judgments, accomplished by pointing out document misinterpretations, the challenged positive judge being unable to describe an inference and joint work not finding one, or agreement that both judges lacked sufficient background knowledge. In general, the resolution procedures used will resolve a disagreement about whether a document is answerproviding or reduce it to a familiar kind of scientific disagreement (about a passage's meaning, a statement's correctness, or an inference's correctness). This seems better than treating relevance judgements as subjective and not open to rational discussion.
Electrospray Facilitates the Germination of Plant Seeds

We proposed a new approach to enhance the germination of plant seeds via the electrospray of nanoparticles (NPs). A single-capillary electrospray system with a particle deposition stage (where seeds are placed) was set up for this investigation. For demonstration, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds were bombarded by TiO2 NPs via the electrospray for 2-4 minutes in order to promote their germination. Based on our study, the enhancement in germination was significant in cases with aged seeds or seeds placed in an unfavorable growth condition (e.g., low pH medium). The electrospray of other NPs (i.e., Au) was also shown to be effective in enhancing the germination of aged lettuce seeds. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopes and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analyses suggested that sprayed NPs could enter the seed coat via the frequent bombardment of NPs, thus breaking the coat-imposed seed dormancy. The enhancement of the germination of grass seeds was also observed in this study. The proposed seed treatment may have the potential to improve the germination of various recalcitrant crop seeds. Meanwhile, this study also indicates that nano-size aerosols may have a strong impact on plant physiologies.
Congestion driven quadratic placement

This paper introduces and demonstrates an extension to quadratic placement that accounts for wiring congestion. The algorithm uses an A* router and line-probe heuristics on region-based routing graphs to compute routing cost. The interplay between routing analysis and quadratic placement using a growth matrix permits global treatment of congestion. Further reduction in congestion is obtained by the relaxation of pin constraints. Experiments show improvements in wireability.
CONTEMPORARY DIAGNOSIS OF THE DYSPHAGIC PATIENT

The diagnostic sequence used when working with a new patient with symptoms of dysphagia begins with a general medical history, followed by a focused history of the swallowing problem. Among the questions asked might be those pertaining to the chronology of the disorder, obvious causes if any, the effect of different food consistencies, other exacerbating or ameliorating influences, prior diagnoses and treatments, and patient perception of severity. The patient's symptoms/manifestations of dysphagia, such as coughing while eating or drinking, voice and speech changes, weight loss, and evidence of pneumonia also will be sought. After this history taking comes a thorough examination of the head and neck. This will focus on the anatomic integrity of the upper aerodigestive tract and then move on to assessment of tongue, palate, pharynx, and larynx with respect to range of motion, and then to neurologic signs such as incoordination, fasciculations, tremor, and loss of sensation/gag/cough reflex. An understanding of the problem may be emerging at this point, even though the patient's actual swallowing function has not been evaluated yet. In fact, at this point experienced workers already may be able to predict remarkably accurately the nature and severity of the swallowing disorder. This is particularly so when the patient context is one seen frequently before, as after partial laryngectomy. Obviously, however, speculation is inadequate for precise diagnosis and treatment. For this reason, some sort of swallowing study is appropriate to complete the work-up by revealing details of the patient's actual swallowing physiology. The clinician has several swallowing studies from which to choose. The list of possibilities here includes the barium swallow and its important derivative the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS, Figs. 1 and 2), manometry, manofluorography (a combination of manometry and the VFSS), bolus scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and a new methodology, the videoendoscopic swallowing study (VESS) depicted in Figures 3 and 4. Though not all workers will agree, VFSS and VESS would seem to head the list of these swallowing studies because they are currently the most generally available and useful. These two methods are described here only after first briefly describing the other less widespread options, with their advantages and disadvantages. Thereafter, the "workhorse" tests, VFSS and VESS, will be explained in greater detail.
Highly efficient multichannel wavelength conversion of DPSK signals

This paper demonstrates a multichannel wavelength conversion of differential phase-shift-keyed (DPSK) signals using four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear fiber. The wavelengths of three 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) DPSK channels are simultaneously converted without incurring the cross-gain modulation penalty usually associated with on-off-keyed signals. A maximum conversion efficiency of 85% was achieved for both NRZ and return-to-zero DPSK signals