cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct relaxation of optimal layout problems for plates

This paper suggests an application of a direct procedure initiated in Ref. 1 to problems of optimal layout for plates. Optimal microstructures are explicity indicated for a number of special cases, particularly for the case where the original and conjugate strain tensors are coaxial.
Northwestern University Library Microfilm Collection of Dutch Archival Records

During 1976-1981 the Melville J. Herskovits Africana Library of Northwestern University acquired a substantial microfilm collection of archival material from the Netherlands' Algemeen Rijksarchief (National Archives). A brief description of part of that collection was published by David Henige in History in Africa , 4 (1977). At this writing the collection numbers 301 microfilm reels, of which 165 have been cataloged (Film A374). It is no exaggeration to state that the collection places at the disposal of historians an indispensable--and so far underutilized--corpus of documentary source material for reconstructing the political and social history of the eighteenth and nineteenth century Gold Coast. The overwhelming majority of the records are in the Dutch language, though there are several reels containing original correspondence with the English forts on the Gold Coast for both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In general the quality of reproduction is good to excellent; however, a number of reels, particularly those containing eighteenth century material, reproduce documents that have water damage or are otherwise difficult to read. It is important to note that much of this damaged or fragile material is not let out to readers by the Algemeen Rijksarchief staff, and must be consulted on microfilm at the archive. One of the major objectives in putting together the Northwestern collection was to obtain as complete a set as possible of the so-called Elmina Journals, that is, the daily record of events on the coast maintained by successive governors based at the Dutch headquarters at Elmina.
Rate of RNA synthesis in ghost monolayers obtained from fibroblasts preparing for division.

Mammalian cell lines sensitive to contact inhibition (such as 3T3) enter a resting state when they attain a certain density in monolayer culture1–3. Under given conditions this density is rather constant for each line but it can be increased by raising the amount of serum present in the medium. This effect of serum is due to protein factors3, 4, some of which have been purified5, 6.
A unique case of kappa light-chain disease associated with cryoglobulinemia, pyroglobulinemia, and hyperviscosity syndrome.

Monoclonal gammopathies (paraproteinemias) occur in the settings of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, plasma cell dyscrasias, and primary lymphoproliferative diseases, as well as in several unrelated entities such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic infections. Although serum hyperviscosity may occur with any of these disorders, and does occur in 4% of cases of multiple myeloma [l], it has been reported only once in relation to a light-chain myeloma variant but without the accompanying clinical complications [2]. The syndrome often associated with serum hyperviscosity may include any of all of the following manifestations: ocular, neurologic, hemorrhagic, and cardiovascular. Therapy for this disorder usually involves supportive treatment and control of the underlying disease. Measures such as plasmapheresis are designed to reduce the serum concentration of the homogeneous protein and thus the serum viscosity. Zinneman [3] defines a combined cryo-pyroglobulin as an abnormal immunoglobulin molecule that forms both a reversible cryoprecipitate at low temperatures and an irreversible pyrogel at elevated temperatures. This is differentiated from a Bence Jones protein, which will redissolve if heating is continued above 56°C. Only one case of a light-chain protein meeting the criteria for a combined cryo-pyroglobulin [4], but without serum hyperviscosity, has been reported. In fact, only one case of pyroglobulin formation and a small number of cases of cryoglobulin formation have been seen in relationship to light chains [4-91. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these temperature-sensitive precipitates have been discussed [3]. We report the unique instance of a patient with kappa light-chain myeloma whose clinical condition showed a dramatic response to therapy. His light chain was also remarkable for its combined cryo-pyroglobulin properties.
A novel application of the vertical gradient freeze method to the growth of high quality III–V crystals

Abstract Large state-of-the art quality single crystals of gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, and indium phosphide have been grown using a new process based on the vertical gradient freeze method. Seeded 50 mm diameter crystals are produced, at all levels of doping, which have lower dislocation densities than crystals grown by alternative methods. This is the first report of large diameter, low doped, ultra-low defect density InP. The radial uniformity is exceptional in these 750 gram 〈111〉 seeded InP crystals. The dislocation density of silicon-doped 〈100〉 GaAs grown by this method is less than 300/cm 2 without requiring high dopant levels. Undoped semi-insulating GaAs is stable with respect to thermal type-conversion. The results in GaP compare favorably with the reported state-of-the-art LEC crystals. The process features growth in a boron nitride seeded crucible, with axial and radial thermal gradients that are much lower than in the conventional LEC process. The establishment of an appropriate phosphorus or arsenic vapor pressure over the melt is shown to be an effective method of stoichiometry control. The process details are explained for the growth of GaP and some InP and GaAs results are presented. The equipment used in the growth apparatus, as well as the growth sequence and process control strategies, are described. The impact of the design of the hot zone elements on the shape of the liquid-solid interface is discussed. The establishment of a near planar liquid-solid interface has positive implications for radial uniformity and the occurrence of twinning and polycrystalline nucleation.
Control of pH and inorganic carbon in batch cultures of cyanobacteria

Synechococcus leopoliensis was grown in batch cultures gassed with air or CO2 in air to test for effects of gassing on pH drift and growth. A method is described whereby pH and inorganic carbon are held constant during rapid growth.
Spectral Element Simulation of Complex Particulate Flows

This paper uses a mathematical model Virtual Identity Particles, developed by the author, to simulate conjugated motion of complex particles in a fluid. Assimilated the advantages of Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches, this model treats each particle as a variable source term to the fluid and is designed for simulating numerous particles in two-phase flows. The economic formulation in this model is the salient feature. Considering both precision and computational cost, this model maintains an excellent balance between accuracy and efficiency in modeling particulate flows with complex particles. Simulation results demonstrate that this model is viable for investigating complex particulate flows, especially at a moderately high particle number density.
Susceptibility of two fishes (Oreochromis niloticus and Cyprinodon variegatus) to Pfiesteria shumwayae and its associated toxin: Influence of salinity

Researchers examining the mechanisms of ichthyotoxicity of Pfiesteria shumwayae have come to different conclusions about the role of toxin in this process. Some attribute fish mortality solely to direct attack by these pedunculate dinoflagellates on exposed fish tissue while others have provided evidence for a role of a soluble toxin. Detection of toxin, especially in low concentrations, is a function of the sensitivity of the selected bioassay methods and the various groups addressing this question have utilized different methods. One notable difference in fish bioassay methods utilized to detect Pfiesteria-associated toxin (PfTx) is the species of fish tested. Studies that have not detected PfTx in bioassays generally have used Cyprinodon variegatus (sheepshead minnow) as the test fish while those that have detected toxin generally used Oreochromis spp. (Tilapia). In this study response of these two fish species was compared to determine their relative sensitivity to physical attack by P. shumwayae and to PfTx. The results indicate that Oreochromis niloticus is more susceptible to P. shumwayae and its associated toxin than C. variegatus and implicate differences in the ability these species to osmoregulate as a contributing factor for this phenomenon. Salinity stress enhanced susceptibility of O. niloticus to PfTx and thus improved the sensitivity of the bioassay. The observation that salinity stress enhances toxicity to O. niloticus provides additional information regarding the mechanism of PfTx toxicity although the conditions utilized are not representative of the natural habitat of these freshwater fish.
Identification of Genes Expressed by Zebrafish Oligodendrocytes Using a Differential Microarray Screen

Myelination of central nervous system axons requires that oligodendrocytes extend multiple membrane processes that specifically recognize and wrap axons, which is followed by expression of proteins necessary for formation of myelin sheaths. To identify new genes that might be important for myelination, we used microarrays to analyze the expression profiles of cells sorted from transgenic zebrafish embryos and larvae under conditions that permitted or blocked oligodendrocyte development. Here, we describe eight genes that have not been previously implicated in oligodendrocyte development. Among the predicted functions of proteins encoded by these genes are lipid sensing, cell–cell junction formation, cytoskeleton regulation, and intracellular signaling. The predicted functions raise the possibility that these genes are involved in multiple cellular events during oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation. Developmental Dynamics 239:2041–2047, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modulation of Human Colonic (CACO-2) Cell Phenotype Via Ornithine Decarboxylase - Dependent and Independent Pathways.

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To define how asparagine and valine modulate colonic cancer phenotype. ODC is elevated in cancer. Since Asparagine (Asn) induces ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and valine (Val) blocks ODC, we hypothesized that differentiation, motility and proliferation (characteristics of malignant transformation) could be modulated by Asn and Val supplementation. Human colonic Caco-2 cells were treated with 10mM Asn, 10mM Val and 0.125mM DFMO alone or in combination. Differentiation was assayed by alkaline phosphatase (AP) and dipeptidyl dipeptidase (DP) specific activity. Motility was assessed by monolayer expansion across collagen I and cell cycle length calculated by log transformation of serial counts. F-actin activity was assayed fluorometrically. Mitomycin C (MMC) treatment separated true motility from proliferative monolayer expansion. (Data expressed as x± SE as % of control, ∗ p ∗∗ p ∗ while Val and Asn+Val stimulated AP by 125.4 ± 4.0% ∗ and 121.3 ± 4.1% ∗ respectively. Asn stimulated motility by 117.5 ± 3.5% ∗ and proliferation by 76.3 ± 2.4% ∗∗ . However, Val inhibited motility by 78.9 ± 3.6% ∗ and proliferation by 184.7 ± 26.2% ∗ . Val overcame the mitogenic and motility effects of Asn when cells were treated with Asn+Val. Asn- and Val- induced motility was preserved in MMC-blocked cells, confirming that these effects truly reflected cell motility. DFMO ablated AP and Asn and Val effects on motility and blunted DP, but did not alter basal motility. Although both amino acids increased F-actin (109-122%), these effects were blocked by DFMO. These results suggest that Asn inhibits AP while Val and Asn+Val stimulate AP by an ODC-dependent mechanism. However, the DP response to DFMO suggests that DP is modulated separately from AP, perhaps in an ODC-independent manner. Asn stimulates both proliferation and motility by an ODC-dependent pathway which may involve actin polymerization and may be blocked by Val. Manipulation of amino acid concentrations may modulate the biology of human colonic malignant or premalignant cells.
Solid-liquid phase transitions in Lennard-Jones systems

Abstract A modified cell model is used for the solid-liquid phase transition in the low-pressure region for Lennard-Jones systems. Effects due to randomness of neighboring atomic positions are included in the cell potential. The free energy is then calculated after imposing self-consistent conditions on cell irregularity. Two minima are observed on the free energy versus cell dimension curves, leading to bifurcations into solid and liquid phases by double-tangent construction. The theoretical results in the low-pressure region are in good agreement with molecular dynamics results and also with the experimental data or argon.
Biogeochemistry of molecular complexes of amino acids with chlorins and porphyrins

Porphyrins and amino acids chemical bonding under geochemically plausible conditions, considering diagenesis of biogenic compounds and life processes prebiotic chemical evolution
Instantaneous rate estimation of neuronal point processes from a compressed representation of their nonbinary spike trains

Estimating rate functions underlying neural point processes is essential for characterizing the firing patterns of cortical neurons involved in sensory and motor processing. This paper introduces a new method for directly estimating neuronal firing rates from a compressed representation of their extracellular recordings. The approach is based on extending a near-optimal sparse representation of the extracellular recordings to time scales matching those of the underlying rate functions, thereby performing the same role as a kernel-density estimator but at a much lower computational cost. Experimental results demonstrate that this method achieves comparable performance to the conventional Gaussian kernel estimation methods at a fraction of the computational cost. This makes it suitable to Brain Machine Interface applications where real time decoding of neural activity for neuro-motor prosthetic control using firing rate estimates is strongly desired.
Coherent Multiple Scattering Effect in DIS

We present a QCD calculation of the coherent multiple scattering effect on single hadron production in semi-inclusive lepton-nucleus deep inelastic scattering (DIS). We show that the destructive interference of coherent multiple scattering leads to suppression in hadron productions. The suppression is similar to the expectations of energy loss calculations. We compare our calculation with experimental data.
LpxC Inhibitors as New Antibacterial Agents and Tools for Studying Regulation of Lipid A Biosynthesis in Gram-Negative Pathogens

ABSTRACT The problem of multidrug resistance in serious Gram-negative bacterial pathogens has escalated so severely that new cellular targets and pathways need to be exploited to avoid many of the preexisting antibiotic resistance mechanisms that are rapidly disseminating to new strains. The discovery of small-molecule inhibitors of LpxC, the enzyme responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of lipid A, represents a clinically unprecedented strategy to specifically act against Gram-negative organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and members of the Enterobacteriaceae . In this report, we describe the microbiological characterization of LpxC-4, a recently disclosed inhibitor of this bacterial target, and demonstrate that its spectrum of activity extends to several of the pathogenic species that are most threatening to human health today. We also show that spontaneous generation of LpxC-4 resistance occurs at frequencies comparable to those seen with marketed antibiotics, and we provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms of resistance utilized by target pathogens. Interestingly, these isolates also served as tools to further our understanding of the regulation of lipid A biosynthesis and enabled the discovery that this process occurs very distinctly between P. aeruginosa and members of the Enterobacteriaceae . Finally, we demonstrate that LpxC-4 is efficacious in vivo against multiple strains in different models of bacterial infection and that the major first-step resistance mechanisms employed by the intended target organisms can still be effectively treated with this new inhibitor. IMPORTANCE New antibiotics are needed for the effective treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, and the responsibility of identifying new drug candidates rests squarely on the shoulders of the infectious disease community. The limited number of validated cellular targets and approaches, along with the increasing amount of antibiotic resistance that is spreading throughout the clinical environment, has prompted us to explore the utility of inhibitors of novel targets and pathways in these resistant organisms, since preexisting target-based resistance should be negligible. Lipid A biosynthesis is an essential process for the formation of lipopolysaccharide, which is a critical component of the Gram-negative outer membrane. In this report, we describe the in vitro and in vivo characterization of novel inhibitors of LpxC, an enzyme whose activity is required for proper lipid A biosynthesis, and demonstrate that our lead compound has the requisite attributes to warrant further consideration as a novel antibiotic.
Praktische Diagnostik des Säure-Base-Haushalts

Diese zweiteilige Ubersicht gibt einen Uberblick uber das vorhandene Instrumentarium zur Diagnostik des Saure-Base-Haushalts. Eingegangen wird auf den „traditionellen“ Ansatz, vertreten durch die von Siggaard-Andersen gepragte Kopenhagener Schule und durch die sog. Bostoner Schule, sowie auf den als „modern“ bezeichneten Stewart-Ansatz. Ein zentraler Schwerpunkt liegt darin, fur den praktisch tatigen Kliniker eine Vorgehensweise anzubieten, die die Vorzuge aller 3 Ansatze integriert. Im vorliegenden zweiten Teil werden v. a. die Grundlagen der Differenzierung metabolischer Storungen mithilfe des Stewart-Ansatzes beschrieben. Helfen sollen hierbei ein einfacher Algorithmus und ein Kalkulator.
Radio frequency identification applications in healthcare

When lives are at stake, zero defects should be the established standard. This philosophy applies whether the federal government is attempting to protect the nation's drug supply from terrorist attack or in other healthcare environments where patient safety is critically important and where medical errors can result in death or serious injury. Therefore, any technology that can reduce the threat of terrorist attack, reduce medical errors, and increase patient safety should be thoroughly tested and evaluated. Radio frequency identification is one technology that has significant potential to secure the medical supply chain and increase the safety and efficiency of healthcare processes. In this paper we discuss the potential benefits of passive, chip-based, read-write tags, the areas of applications, implementation challenges, and corresponding strategies of radio frequency identification in the healthcare industry.
The Dynamic of the Group Shadow in Intergroup Relations

The proposition that members of a group unconsciously displace the shadow of the group onto other groups to reduce feelings of internal conflict and threat within the group is examined. The discussion focuses on describing characteristics of the group shadow, as well as its psychodynamic function within and between groups. Research- able propositions derivable from the dynamics of the group shadow are presented.
How much time do adults spend on health-related self-care? Results from the American time use survey

Background: The amount of time individuals spend on health-related self-care is not known. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe how much time American adults reported spending on health-related self-care (eg, taking insulin, dressing a wound). Methods: We analyzed data from the first 5 years, 2003 to 2007, of the population-based American Time Use Survey. Of 64,310 respondents 25 years of age and older, 4267 reported 7022 episodes of health-related self-care on their survey day. We used descriptive statistics, weighted to represent US adults, to describe self-reported time and logit regressions to analyze the odds of engaging in self-care as a function of age, sex, race, and other characteristics. Because health status was collected only in 2006 to 2007, analyses were conducted separately for 2003 to 2007 and 2006 to 2007. Results: Of Americans 25 years of age and older, 6.6% engaged in health-related self-care each day. Among those reporting self-care, mean time reported was 90 minutes (median, 15 minutes); 20.6% reported 2 hours or more. Regressions for 2006 to 2007 show that people aged 75 or older were 3.9 times as likely (95% CI, 2.7–5.8) to report self-care as persons aged 25 to 44. Compared with persons in excellent health, those in fair health were 2.0 times as likely (95% CI, 1.4–2.8) and those in poor health were 3.7 times as likely (95% CI, 2.5–5.6) to report engaging in self-care. Nonworking disabled persons reported self-care 4 times (95% CI, 3.1–5.3) as often as employed persons. Sex, race/ethnicity, presence of children, and body mass index were also significant. Conclusions: Time spent on health-related self-care is disproportionately distributed across the population, with a larger amount of time reported by those in poor health (3.6 hours/week) and the nonworking disabled (3.2 hours/week). To provide patient-centered care and to promote optimal decisions about health-related time management when making recommendations for additional self-care tasks, clinicians need to talk to patients about how much time they are already spending on self-care.
Dengue-related deaths in Puerto Rico, 1992-1996 : Diagnosis and clinical alarm signals

Background. Dengue, although endemic in Puerto Rico, is often not mentioned in the death certificates of decedents with laboratory results positive for dengue. Because confirmatory results are usually not available during hospitalization, we examined the utility of 2 instruments for diagnosis on the basis of clinical findings: the definition of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and the publicized (but unevaluated) clinical alarm signals for impending dengue shock. Methods. We studied data from all patients with laboratory test results positive for dengue who died (23 patients) and from the 8 patients whose death certificates listed dengue as a cause of death but whose laboratory test results were negative for dengue in Puerto Rico from 1992 through 1996. We examined hospital records to determine whether the clinical criteria for DHF were fulfilled and evaluated the incidence and timing of clinical alarm signals (intense, sustained abdominal pain; persistent vomiting; sudden change from fever to hypothermia; and marked restlessness or lethargy) and the hematocrit/hemoglobin ratio as an indicator of hemoconcentration. Results. A similar proportion of patients with laboratory test results positive for dengue (18 [78%] of 23) and negative for dengue (6 [75%] of 8) fulfilled the criteria for DHF. Clinical alarm signals were found only among patients with laboratory test results positive for dengue and were usually noted on the day that the patient’s condition deteriorated. The hematocrit/hemoglobin ratio identified 1 (6%) of 16 patients with dengue who had significant hemoconcentration. Important comorbidities were present in 16 (70%) of the patients with laboratory test results positive for dengue and in 4 (50%) of the patients with dengue-related deaths with laboratory test results negative for dengue. Conclusions. Dengue-related deaths in Puerto Rico often occur in patients with comorbidities. Among such patients, the DHF definition and the hematocrit/hemoglobin ratio were not useful in identifying patients with laboratory test results positive for dengue. In contrast, the clinical alarm signals for shock supported the dengue diagnosis and should alert clinicians to the severity of the disease.
Myocardial ischemia as a result of severe benzodiazepine and opioid withdrawal.

Long-term infusion of benzodiazepines and opioids is strongly associated with dependence and withdrawal syndromes. We report the first case of severe benzodiazepine and opioid withdrawal resulting in transient myocardial ischemia.Case Report: A 6-month-old female born at 25 weeks gestation with severe opioid and benzodiazepine dependence resulting from multiple operative procedures and chronic ventilatory support was receiving continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl and midazolam after trials of enteral methadone and diazepam had been unsuccessful due to gastric intolerance. On postoperative day 5 following Nissen fundoplication and gastrostomy tube placement, she acutely developed tachycardia, hypertension, agitation, loose stools, and yawning. Attempts to provide boluses of benzodiazepines and opioids revealed a very sluggish port in her subclavian central venous catheter. Prompt replacement of the catheter occurred without complication. After resuming infusions and providing additional sedatives an...
Meeting the Needs of Limited English Proficiency Patients

Abstract The number of patients in U.S. hospitals with limited English proficiency (LEP) is growing. There is a body of evidence that suggests that inadequate patient-provider communication is resp...
Relating carbon nanotube growth parameters to the size and composition of nanocatalysts

Abstract A gas-phase approach to studying carbon nanotube (CNT) nucleation and growth from nanoparticle catalysts has been developed. Dimensionally- and compositionally-tuned metal particles with mean diameters between 2 and 5 nm and standard deviations less than 15% are initially synthesized from metallocene vapors in an atmospheric-pressure microplasma. The nanocatalysts are continuously fed with acetylene and hydrogen into a flow furnace reactor to grow CNTs. Kinetic studies are performed by in situ aerosol size classification of the nanotubes to relate the CNT length and thus, the growth rate in our thermal process to the catalyst size and composition. We find that reducing the catalyst size results in an increase in the growth rate while varying the catalyst composition affects the growth rate, activation energy, and the onset temperature for CNT growth.
Micro-Processor Controlled Data Acquisition Instrument for Neutron Activation Measurements

This paper describes a microprocessor controlled data acquisition instrument designed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to provide experimenters with a diagnostic tool for measuring the performance of laser imploded fusion targets via neutron activation techniques. This instrument features the ability to count four independent inputs simultaneously while providing a front panel readout of these inputs, plus a time of day clock. A hardcopy printout of the data is also provided by a built-in thermal printer. All running modes and parameters are user selectable via a front panel keypad, and a complete set of internal self-testing diagnostics are available for debug.
Modeling of Electromechanical Transduction in Ionic Polymer Materials

A coupled, linear electromechanical model is developed for ionic polymer transducers. The model is based on the linear equations for a piezoelectric material. Integrating the equations over the geometry of the transducer produces a model of the electromechanical coupling of the polymer transducers as a function of fundamental material parameters and geometry. Explicit modeling of electromechanical coupling produces a model that is useful for analyzing sensing or actuation using ionic polymer transducers. Experiments on polymer samples verify the scaling of the model parameters as a function of sample length and width. The results also demonstrate the reciprocity of the electromechanical coupling. The symmetric model is expressed as a linear transformer which can be incorporated into system-level models for design of devices that utilize ionic polymer materials. The model is limited to linear operation at low-voltage with constant levels of material hydration.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Parametric sensitivity in fixed‐bed reactors: Inter‐ and intraparticle resistance

The role of inter- and intraparticle transport resistances in the sensitivity behavior of a fixed-bed catalytic reactor is fully elucidated. The parametric sensitivity regions obtained using a heterogeneous one-dimensional plug flow model are reported for various values of the involved dimensionless parameters. Comparisons with previous sensitivity criteria and with experimental data are also presented.
Chapter 13. A3 Adenosine Receptors.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of A 3 adenosine receptors. Extracellular adenosine is involved in many cytoprotective functions of the body, including conditioning the heart against ischemia, counteracting the damaging effects of excitotoxicity and seizure activity in the brain, and suppressing an excessive immune and inflammatory response. There are four subtypes of adenosine receptors of which the A 3 receptor was identified as a result of its cloning from various species. The A 3 receptor is activated endogenously by higher concentrations of adenosine that are required for the activation of A 1 /A 2A receptors. The effector mechanisms are the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and stimulation of phospholipase C. The A 3 receptor is distributed at low, diffuse levels in the brain and in the human periphery, where it is present in lungs, liver, heart, and immune cells such as eosinophils. Therapeutic interests related to A 3 receptors are anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, cerebroprotective anticancer, and antiglaucoma. A mouse line lacking the A 3 receptor demonstrated that this is a nonlethal mutation that has inflammatory, cardiovascular, and behavioral consequences. The chapter discusses the concepts related to A 3 receptor structure and explains A 3 receptor agonists and A 3 receptor antagonists.
Names, Addresses, and Directory Services for Computer Mail

In an environment of several computer-based message systems (CBMS) interconnecting companies both within and beyond national borders, users would find it quite inconvenient to have to refer to one another by means of system addresses. Furthermore, users operating in a distributed environment may have multiple addresses and change their locations fairly frequently. To support better management of system resources, therefore, a mapping service from names to addresses would be a desirable component.
HIV positivity and anal cancer outcomes: A single-center experience.

Abstract Background Anal cancer remains common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Chemoradiation has had mixed results. We evaluated outcome differences by HIV status. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 14 HIV+ and 72 HIV− anal cancer patients (2000 to 2013). Outcomes included chemoradiation tolerance, recurrence, and survival. Results HIV+ patients were more often male (100% vs 38%, P P = .49). They were less likely to receive traditional chemotherapy (36% vs 86%, P P = .55) and survival time ( P = .48) were similar across groups. HIV+ patients had similar colostomy-free survival ( P = .053). Receipt of 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C (MMC) chemotherapy predicted recurrence-free and overall survival (Hazard ratios .278, .32). HIV status did not worsen recurrence ( P = .71) or survival ( P = .57). Conclusions HIV+ patients received more non-MMC–based chemoradiation but had equivalent colostomy-free, recurrence, and overall survival. Use of 5-fluorouracil/MMC chemotherapy increased after 2008.
Enhancement of fracture toughness by residual stress in Si3N4 composites

Fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 ceramics with and without addition of TaSi 2 particles, prepared by hot-pressing at 1750°C and 1650°-1750°C respectively, was determined. The fracture toughness increased significantly with increasing TaSi 2 content. The enhanced toughness by the addition of TaSi 2 particles was interpreted to be due to the residual compressive stress resulting from the larger thermal expansion coefficient of TaSi 2 than that of Si 3 N 4 .
Microbial detoxification in the gut of a specialist avian herbivore, the Greater Sage-Grouse.

One function of the gut microbiota gaining recent attention, especially in herbivorous mammals and insects, is the metabolism of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). We investigated whether this function exists within the gut communities of a specialist avian herbivore. We sequenced the cecal metagenome of the Greater Sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), which specializes on chemically defended sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.). We predicted that the cecal metagenome of the sage-grouse would be enriched in genes associated with the metabolism of PSMs when compared to the metagenome of the domestic chicken. We found that representation of microbial genes associated with “Xenobiotic Degradation and Metabolism” was three-fold higher in the sage-grouse cecal metagenomes when compared to that of the domestic chicken. Further, we identified a complete metabolic pathway for the degradation of phenol to pyruvate, which was not detected in the metagenomes of the domestic chicken, bovine rumen, or 14 species of mammalian herbivores. Evidence of monoterpene degradation (a major class of PSMs in sagebrush) was less definitive, although we did detect genes for several enzymes associated with this process. Overall, our results suggest that the gut microbiota of specialist avian herbivores play a similar role to the microbiota of mammalian and insect herbivores in degrading PSMs.
The Smoke of London: Energy and Environment in the Early Modern City

The Smoke of London uncovers the origins of urban air pollution, two centuries before the industrial revolution. By 1600, London was a fossil-fuelled city, its high-sulfur coal a basic necessity for the poor and a source of cheap energy for its growing manufacturing sector. The resulting smoke was found ugly and dangerous throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, leading to challenges in court, suppression by the crown, doctors' attempts to understand the nature of good air, increasing suburbanization, and changing representations of urban life in poetry and on the London stage. Neither a celebratory account of proto-environmentalism nor a declensionist narrative of degradation, The Smoke of London recovers the seriousness of pre-modern environmental concerns even as it explains their limits and failures. Ultimately, Londoners learned to live with their dirty air, an accommodation that reframes the modern process of urbanization and industrial pollution, both in Britain and beyond.
WE-E-204-00: Where to Send My Manuscript

Research papers authored by Medical Physicists address a large spectrum of oncologic, imaging, or basic research problems; exploit a wide range of physical and engineering methodologies; and often describe the efforts of a multidisciplinary research team. Given dozens of competing journals accepting medical physics articles, it may not be clear to an individual author which journal is the best venue for disseminating their work to the scientific community. Relevant factors usually include the Journal's audience and scientific impact, but also such factors as perceived acceptance rate, interest in their topic, and quality of service. The purpose of this symposium is to provide the medical physics community with an overview of scope, review processes, and article guidelines for the following journals: Radiology, Medical Physics, International Journal of Radiation Biology and Physics, Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, and Practical Radiation Oncology. Senior members of the editorial board for each journal will provide details as to the journals review process, for example: single blind versus double blind reviews; open access policies, the hierarchy of the review process in terms of editorial board structure; the reality of acceptance, in terms of acceptance rate; and the types of research the journal prefers to publish. Other journals will be discussed as well. The goal is to provide for authors guidance before they begin to write their papers, not only for proper formatting, but also that the readership is appropriate for the particular paper, hopefully increasing the quality and impact of the paper and the likelihood of publication. Learning Objectives: 1.To review each Journal's submission and review process 2.Guidance as to how to increase quality, impact and chances of acceptance 3.To help decipher which journal is appropriate for a given work A. Karellas, Research collaboration with Koning, Corporation.
Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin-Coated and Montelukast-Filled Inhalable Particles: A Dual-Drug Delivery System for Combination Therapy in Asthma.

Abstract Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor antagonist, exhibits secondary anti-inflammatory properties when used at higher concentrations. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) evokes pronounced anti-inflammatory effects by interrupting leukocyte adhesion and migration. We hypothesized that inhalable particles containing montelukast plus LMWH release both drugs in a sustained fashion and protect the lungs against allergen-induced inflammation. Large porous particles of montelukast and LMWH were prepared using a double-emulsion–solvent-evaporation method. Montelukast was first encapsulated in copolymer-based particles using polyethylenimine as a porosigen; the resulting particles were then coated with LMWH. The particles were evaluated for physicochemical properties, respirability, and release profiles. The anti-inflammatory effect of the optimized formulation was studied in ovalbumin-sensitized asthmatic Sprague Dawley rats. The optimized large porous particles had a diameter of 10.3 ± 0.7 μm, exhibited numerous surface indentations and pores, showed acceptable drug entrapment efficiency (66.8% ± 0.4% for montelukast; 91.7% ± 0.8% adsorption efficiency for LMWH), demonstrated biphasic release patterns, and escaped the uptake by the rat alveolar macrophages. The number of infiltrating inflammatory cells in asthmatic rat lungs, treated with dual-drug particles, was >74% fewer than in untreated asthmatic rat lungs. Similarly, the airway walls of asthmatic animals treated with dual-drug particles were 3-fold thinner than those of untreated asthmatic animals (p
Progress and directions in low-cost redox flow batteries for large-scale energy storage

Compared to lithium-ion batteries, redox-flow batteries have attracted widespread attention for long-duration, large-scale energy-storage applications. This review focuses on current and future directions to address one of the most significant challenges in energy storage: reducing the cost of redox-flow battery systems. A high priority is developing aqueous systems with low-cost materials and high-solubility redox chemistries. Highly water-soluble inorganic redox couples are important for developing technologies that can provide high energy densities and low-cost storage. There is also great potential to rationally design organic redox molecules and fine-tune their properties for both aqueous and non-aqueous systems. While many new concepts begin to blur the boundary between traditional batteries and redox-flow batteries, breakthroughs in identifying/developing membranes and separators and in controlling side reactions on electrode surfaces also are needed.
Risk Assessment for Acute, Subchronic, and Chronic Exposure to Pesticides: Endosulfan

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the process, used on behalf of the California EPA DPR to assess the potential risks associated with the use of endosulfan in California. It serves as an example of how regulations, developed to protect people and the environment from long-term effects of pesticides, are applied in practice. The risk assessment process for noncancer endpoints involves four steps––hazard identification, dose–response assessments, exposure estimates, and risk characterization. In the dose–response analysis, the lowest dose that does not cause an effect (NOEL) is identified for all endosulfan exposure durations. In the process of pesticide registration, studies submitted by the registrant are required under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) guidelines. DPR is required to rely on FIFRA guideline studies for pesticide toxicity evaluations; however, these studies are rarely published in the open literature and subsequently are not available to the public. An advantage to FIFRA guideline studies is that they provide essential details that are often lacking in open literature studies. There is ample evidence that endosulfan can be acutely poisonous to humans through accidental and intentional exposure as documented in California. Endosulfan is highly toxic to wildlife such as fish, which are killed as a result of endosulfan discharge into rivers, as well as application to wetlands at recommended rates. Endosulfan has been considered by some to be a persistent organic pollutant throughout the world because it has been detected in Europe in lakes in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Caledonian Mountains.
Fluorescence Tracking of Motor Proteins In Vitro

Motor proteins convert the chemical energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis into directed movement along filamentous tracks, such as DNA, microtubule, and actin. The motile properties of motors are essential to their wide variety of cellular functions, including cargo transport, mitosis, cell motility, nuclear positioning, and ciliogenesis. Detailed understanding of the biophysical mechanisms of motor motility is therefore essential to understanding the physical basis of these processes. In which direction is the motor going? How fast and how far can a single motor walk down its track? How is ATP hydrolysis coupled to directed motion? How do multiple subunits of a motor coordinate with each other during motility? These questions can be addressed directly by tracking motors at a single-molecule level. This chapter will focus on high-resolution fluorescence tracking techniques of the processive cytoskeletal motors: myosins, kinesins, and cytoplasmic dynein. We outline the theoretical and practical considerations for studying these motors in vitro using fluorescence tracking at nanometer precision.
Untapped Potential: Recognition of Giftedness in Early Childhood and What Professionals Should Know About Students of Color

Early recognition and formal identification of gifted children are important in helping them learn during their primary years and preventing disengagement and negative attitudes toward school. This...
Short and long wire detection using high-frequency electromagnetic induction techniques

Thin wires are a critical component of many types of improvised explosive devices. Short wires with lengths on the order of 30 cm to a few meters are difficult to detect using electromagnetic induction metal detectors due to the induction currents having only a small cross-section of the wire to circulate on. Longer wires on the order of tens of meters up to a kilometer are often buried at depths which preclude induction detection. We demonstrate short wire detection and identification through acquiring the electromagnetic induction response at frequencies above the traditional EMI range. In addition, long wire detection and identification is shown through electric field coupling between excitation coils and the long wire itself. We present the relevant physics of detecting both types of wires and experimental and modeling results demonstrating the utility of this high-frequency EMI regime. We present a high-frequency electromagnetic induction instrument utilizing frequencies up to 15 MHz which can detect and classify both short and long wires.
Identification and prioritization of SLR search tool requirements: an SLR and a survey

The number of published systematic literature reviews (SLRs) in software engineering venues is increasing. However, even with their high adaptation rate, the task of performing an SLR requires a large amount of effort and presents a number of barriers. Specifically, during the SLR search phase authors must expend a lot of time and overcome a large number of barriers. To help alleviate some of the barriers in the search phase, we identify and prioritize SLR search tool requirements based on input from the SLR community. These requirements will help tool builders ensure they focus their efforts appropriately. We conducted an SLR and a survey of SLR authors in software engineering. In the SLR we extracted problems and solutions SLR authors reported during their search processes. In the survey we asked respondents to describe the problems they faced during SLR search and to specify any requirements they would like to see as part of an SLR search tool. We also asked survey respondents to describe any tools they use to support SLR search, along with the strengths and limitations of those tools. Based on analysis of 84 studies from the literature and a qualitative analysis of 131 responses from researchers, we identified a set of functional requirements that authors, researchers, and tool builders can use as a reference. We also describe the tools currently used by SLR researchers. The list of SLR search tool requirements can be used by tool builders as a guide when constructing new tools. Our analysis of tools showed that more recent tools are covering more of the requirements than in the past.
Labor Epidural with Unrecognized Dural Puncture, Causing High Sensory Block, Hypotension, Fetal Bradycardia, and Post-dural Puncture Headache

A healthy parturient had an epidural placed with difficulty which then worked “too well” after placement. Unrecognized dural puncture is common and is more dangerous than a recognized dural puncture since it can lead to a high block, hypotension, fetal hypoxia and bradycardia, and even maternal death. Negative test doses do not rule out the possibility of an accidental dural puncture, and vigilance and eternal skepticism about one’s “epidural” are essential to safe obstetric anesthesia practice. A post-dural puncture headache can be a very disabling complication for an otherwise healthy woman with a new baby to care for. Ultrasound may be helpful for reducing the incidence of accidental dural puncture, but this is unproven.
Cardiac Cell Therapy: Present and Future

End stage heart failure following myocardial infarction is a major health problem despite significant improvement in treatment intervention. Heart transplantation is the only option to treat end stage heart failure patients, however; the supply needed has severe shortage. Therefore, cell transplantation has gained significant interest as a future treatment of various heart diseases including myocardial infarction. Optimal cell type for complete cardiac regeneration is still needed as clinical trials using adult stem cell transplantation so far did not show long-term significant improvement in cardiac function. Moreover, there are concerns over the differentiation of adult stem cells into cardiac cell types. Embryonic stem cells can be used for cell transplantation but their potential in clinical trial has been hampered due to their characteristics of teratoma formation. Furthermore, beneficial effects observed in clinical and experimental studies that may be associated with released autocrine or paracrine factors following cell transplantation is another major area of current investigation discussed in this review.
A Survey of Regularization Methods for First-Kind Volterra Equations

We survey continuous and discrete regularization methods for first-kind Volterra problems with continuous kernels. Classical regularization methods tend to destroy the non-anticipatory (or causal) nature of the original Volterra problem because such methods typically rely on computation of the Volterra adjoint operator, an anticipatory operator. In this survey we pay special attention to particular regularization methods, both classical and nontraditional, which tend to retain the Volterra structure of the original problem. Our attention will primarily be focused on linear problems, although extensions of methods to nonlinear and integro-operator Volterra equations are mentioned when known.