cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the effects of levosimendan, pimobendan, and milrinone on canine left ventricular-arterial coupling and mechanical efficiency

We examined and compared the effects of levosimendan, a new myofilament calcium sensitizer with phosphodiesterase inhibiting activity, pimobendan, and milrinone on left ventricular-arterial coupling and mechanical efficiency in 21 experiments performed in open-chest, barbiturate-anesthetized dogs instrumented for measurement of aortic and left ventricular (LV) pressure (micromanometer-tipped catheter), +dP/dt, and LV volume (conductance catheter). Myocardial contractility was assessed with the endsystolic pressure-volume relation (Ees) and preload recruitable stroke work (Msw) generated from a series of differentially loaded LV pressurevolume diagrams. LV-arterial coupling and mechanical efficiency were determined by the ratio of Ees to effective arterial elastance (Ea; the ratio of end-systolic arterial pressure to stroke volume) and the ratio of stroke work (SW) to pressure-volume area (PVA), respectively. Levosimendan (0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 μg·kg−1·min−1) significantly (p<0.05) increased heart rate, +dP/dt, and ejection fraction (EF) and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP), pressurework index (PWI; an estimate of myocardial oxygen consumption), and LV systolic and end-diastolic pressures (LVSP and LVEDP) and volumes (EDV and ESV). Levosimendan-induced augmentation of myocardial contractility (Ees, Msw, and+dP/dt) and reductions in LV afterload (Ea) caused increases in the Ees/Ea ratio (0.61±0.10 during control to 3.3±0.7 during the high dose) consistent with enhancement of LV-arterial coupling. Levosimendan increased SW/PVA (0.48±0.05 during control to 0.84±0.04 during the high dose), indicating this drug improves the transfer of myocardial potential energy to external work. Levosimendan also increased the ratio of SW to PWI (109±18 during control to 255±50 mmHg·min·100g during the high dose), suggesting that myocardial metabolic efficiency was improved as well. Like levosimendan, pimobendan and milrinone (10, 20, and 40 and 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 μg·kg−1·min−1, respectively) increased HR, +dP/dt, EF, Ees, and Msw and decreased MAP, LVSP, LVEDP, EDV, ESV, and Ea. In contrast to levosimendan, neither agent reduced PWI. Pimobendan and milrinone caused dose-related increases in Ees/Ea, SW/PVA, and SW/PWI. The results indicate that levosimendan, pimobendan, and milrinone augment myocardial contractility, produce venous and arteriolar vasodilation, and enhance LV-arterial coupling and mechanical efficiency in open-chest, barbiturateanesthetized dogs.
The vitamin A activity of butter produced by Guernsey and Ayrshire cows.

Summary 1.Comparisons were made of the vitamin A activity of butters from one group of Ayrshire cows and two groups of Guernsey cows, fed under identical nutritive conditions. 2.The wide variation in color of these butter samples was shown by their carotin content. The Guernsey butters contained 3.6 and 4.0 mgs. of carotin per 100 grams of butterfat while the Ayrshire butter contained only 1.8 mgs. of carotin. 3.The vitamin A activity of these samples of butter was found to be similar regardless of breed of cows or color of butter.
Prediction model for sequence variation in the glycoprotein gene of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in California, USA

The influence of spatio-temporal factors on genetic variation of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is an active area of research. Using host-isolate pairs collected from 1966 to 2004 for 237 IHNV isolates from California and southern Oregon, we examined genetic variation of the mid-G gene of IHNV that could be quantified across times and geographic locations. Information hypothesized to influence genetic variation was environmental and/or fish host demographic factors, viz. location (inland or coastal), year of isolation, habitat (river, lake, or hatchery), the agent factors of subgroup (LI or LII) and serotype (1, 2, or 3), and the host factors of fish age (juvenile or adult), sex (male or female), and season of spawning run (spring, fall, late fall, winter). Inverse distance weighting (IDW) was performed to create isopleth maps of the genetic distances of each subgroup. IDW maps showed that more genetic divergence was predicted for isolates found inland (for both subgroups: LI and LII) than for coastal watershed isolates. A mixed-effect beta regression with a logit link function was used to seek associations between genetic distances and hypothesized explanatory factors. The model that best described genetic distance contained the factors of location, year of isolation, and the interaction between location and year. Our model suggests that genetic distance was greater for isolates collected from 1966 to 2004 at inland locations than for isolates found in coastal watersheds during the same years. The agreement between the IDW and beta regression analyses quantitatively supports our conclusion that, during this time period, more genetic variation existed within subgroup LII in inland watersheds than within coastal LI isolates.
Frequency dependent plasma characteristics in a capacitively coupled 300 mm wafer plasma processing chamber

Argon plasma characteristics in a dual-frequency, capacitively coupled, 300 mm-wafer plasma processing system were investigated for rf drive frequencies between 10 and 190 MHz. We report spatial and frequency dependent changes in plasma parameters such as line-integrated electron density, ion saturation current, optical emission and argon metastable density. For the conditions investigated, the line-integrated electron density was a nonlinear function of drive frequency at constant rf power. In addition, the spatial distribution of the positive ions changed from uniform to peaked in the centre as the frequency was increased. Spatially resolved optical emission increased with frequency and the relative optical emission at several spectral lines depended on frequency. Argon metastable density and spatial distribution were not a strong function of drive frequency. Metastable temperature was approximately 400 K.
Estimation of drivers' emotional states based on neuroergonmic equipment: an exploratory study using fNIRS

Research has shown the negative effects of emotions on driving performance and safety, whereas a small number of neuroimaging studies has been conducted to investigate a driver's brain activities while driving with emotions. This study aims to explore angry drivers' oxygen concentration level using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). To this end, ten participants drove with induced anger in a scenario where they encountered different hazards. Both cluster analysis and factor analysis showed that we can distinguish their anger state from the neutral state based on fNIRS data. Results are discussed with the application of real-time emotion mitigation system for drivers.
A new form of crystalline rubisco and the conversion to its common dodecahedral form

In this paper, we present a new purification procedure that yields a new crystalline form of rubisco and has enabled us to completely remove this most abundant protein from tobacco leaf extract. The crystals formed within 48 h after refrigeration at 4 degrees C at pH 5.6. However, these crystals were not well-ordered crystals and lacked well-defined facets or edges. The remaining leaf extract (fraction 2 protein) was void of rubisco. Conversion of this new crystalline form of rubisco to its common dodecahedral form was achieved by dialysing the protein solution in Tris buffer at pH 8.0 or purified water. Since the molecular size of its large subunit of rubisco (55 kD) is similar to that of the papillomavirus capsid protein, L1 (57 kD), its complete removal from fraction 2-protein may facilitate the detection, purification, and recovery of the Li protein.
Self-Regulation of Brain-Stimulating Current Intensity in the Rat

A modification of the self-stimulation technique of Olds enabled rats to regulate and maintain at a preferred level the amount of brain-stimulating current they received as reinforcement for lever pressing. The method used two levers to deliver brief brain shocks: each response at one lever increased the current intensity a small step and each response at the other lowered it one step.
Phosphorylation of the myosin-II light chain does not regulate the timing of cytokinesis in fission yeast.

Abstract Proper coordination of cytokinesis with chromosome separation during mitosis is crucial to ensure that each daughter cell inherits an equivalent set of chromosomes. It has been proposed that one mechanism by which this is achieved is through temporally regulated myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation (Satterwhite, L. L., and Pollard, T. D. (1992) Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 4, 43–52). A variety of evidence is consistent with this model. A direct test of the importance of RLC phosphorylation in vivo has been done only inDictyostelium and Drosophila; phosphorylation of the RLC is essential in Drosophila (Jordan, P., and Karess, R. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 139, 1805–1819) but not essential in Dictyostelium (Ostrow, B. D., Chen, P., and Chisholm, R. L. (1994) J. Cell Biol. 127, 1945–1955). The Schizosaccharomyces pombe myosin light chain Cdc4p is essential for cytokinesis, but it was unknown whether phosphorylation played a role in its regulation. Here we show that theS. pombe myosin light chain Cdc4p is phosphorylatedin vivo on either serine 2 or 6 but not both. Mutation of either or both of these sites to alanine did not effect the ability of Cdc4p to bind the type II myosin Myo2p, and cells expressing only these mutated versions of Cdc4p grew and divided normally. Similarly, mutation of Ser-2, Ser-6, or both residues to aspartic acid did not affect growth or division of cells. Thus we conclude that phosphorylation of Cdc4p is not essential in vivo for the function of the protein.
High Precision Magnetic Float Densimeter

A simple, versatile, magnetic float densimeter that can be used to measure the density of liquids as a function of temperature is described. The system has been calibrated with water from 20 to 50°C demonstrating a sensitivity of 0.3 ppm and a precision of 2 ppm. The accuracy of the densimeter has been verified by measuring the densities of NaCl solutions at 25°C. Excellent agreement with previously published data was achieved.
Biology of ticks.

Ticks are an ancient group of obligate bloodsucking ectoparasites that has evolved over millions of years. Two general types of ticks are evident today: argasid or soft ticks, and ixodid or hard ticks. Each lineage exhibits distinct patterns of host coevolution and preference. However, about 10% of the approximately 850 species are of medical importance because of their indiscriminate host selection and catholic feeding behavior. As a result, a number of diseases have begun to emerge in the temperate zones, including Lyme borreliosis and several others putatively associated with ticks. Ticks may serve as both pathogens and disease vectors. Because of the unique physiology of the salivary glands and the contents in tick saliva of toxins, feeding alone may cause disease. Ticks also transmit a number of different types of pathogens (viruses, rickettsiae, spirochetes and bacteria, fungi, protozoa, filarial nematodes) and even exceed mosquitoes in this regard. Abatement and control of ticks emphasizes a broad approach because of the differing types of habitats in which pest species may be found. The use of repellents and acaricides as well as cultural and management practices are of primary importance. Other approaches (ivermectin) may be beneficial; with the advent of molecular genetics and its usefulness in immunology, the development of tick vaccines for common pest species appears promising.
Quasidivergent nematic surface electroclinic effect.

A polyimide coated substrate is treated so that vertical liquid crystal alignment $(\ensuremath{\theta}=0)$ obtains over the temperature range ${T}_{\mathrm{NA}}lTl{T}_{a}$, where ${T}_{\mathrm{NA}}$ is the nematic-smectic-$A$ transition temperature. When the cell is filled with a chiral liquid crystal whose helical pitch is unwound (surface stabilized), application of an in-plane electric field for ${T}_{\mathrm{NA}}lTl{T}_{a}$ induces a nonzero polar tilt $\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\propto}E$ of the liquid crystal director at the surface, where the tilted orientation propagates elastically into the bulk. On heating toward ${T}_{a}$, this surface electroclinic response becomes large, corresponding to the onset of a surface tilt transition at ${T}_{a}$ from $\ensuremath{\theta}=0$ to nonzero $\ensuremath{\theta}$.
Selective gene transfer to key cardiovascular regions of the brain: comparison of two viral vector systems

The systemic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in cardiovascular (CV) homeostasis. All components of the RAS are also known to be produced cell-specifically within specific brain regions, although the role of the brain RAS relative to the systemic RAS has remained a puzzle due to the difficulty of dissecting these two systems. Selectively targeting these regions with genes that modify the RAS could help unravel this puzzle. We compared the ability of adenovirus (Ad) and lentivirus (feline immunodeficiency virus, FIV) vectors to mediate gene delivery in vivo to the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and subfornical organ (SFO), two important CV control regions known to express the various RAS genes. SON or SFO of adult C57BL/6 mice (n=37) were stereotaxically injected with replication-deficient recombinant Ad or FIV harboring a beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) reporter gene. At 1, 3, or 8 weeks post-injection, brain sections were processed for beta-Gal activity, double immunofluorescence to verify cell-type specificity of viral transduction, or immunohistochemical detection of inflammatory mediators. Our results demonstrate that: (1) murine SFO and SON can be selectively targeted for gene transfer in vivo;(2) FIV mediated neuron-specific gene delivery, whereas Ad transduced both neuronal and glial cell types in SFO and SON; (3) Ad injected into the SON transduced neurons within the SFO through retrograde transport, whereas FIV did not; (4) beta-gal activity remained stable for 3 weeks but then declined by 8 weeks with Ad, while minimal decline occurred with FIV; (5) FIV did not cause inflammatory responses, whereas infiltrate was detectable in Ad-injected SFO and SON. These vectors are potentially important tools for dissecting the cell- and site-specific components of the brain RAS and other important CV regulatory systems within this circuitry, and may have therapeutic applications for centrally mediated CV diseases.
Simulations of self-assembly

Through the development of numerical methods that target time scales of interest, in the past year the structure and permeability of lipid bilayers have been probed by molecular dynamics (MD), the phase diagrams of idealized surfactants in water and oil have been computed, the effect of shear on the orientation of lamellar block copolymers has been simulated, and progress has been made toward the modeling of protein folding.
Phase jump and intensity instabilities in a homogeneously broadened bidirectional ring laser with backscattering

Abstract The equations of motion of a single frequency homogeneously broadened ring laser with optical backscattering have been investigated numerically by using Monte Carlo simulation. Studies of the coupled third order equations of motion with additive and multiplicative noise terms show that, under some conditions of backscattering, the laser has two regions of operation. When the magnitude of the backscattering coefficient R is less than a critical value, R c , which depends on the pump parameter, the laser exhibits the usual noise-induced spontaneous intensity switching. When | R | is larger than R c , the two modes exhibit steady state anticorrelated oscillations. Jumps of ±π in the phase difference of the two counter propagating waves have been demonstrated to occur in both the switching and oscillation regions. Noise-induced transitions from one region to another are also observed when | R | is close to R c .
A ‘very wary people in their bargaining’ or ‘very good marchandise’1: english traders' views of free and enslaved africans, 1550–1650

The second edition of Richard Hakluyt's Principal Navigations of the English Nation included an account of a 1591 English voyage to the Senegal and Gambia Rivers in Guinea. The author, English fact...
Automatic Identification of Discourse Moves in Scientific Article Introductions

This paper reports on the first stage of building an educational tool for international graduate students to improve their academic writing skills. Taking a text-categorization approach, we experimented with several models to automatically classify sentences in research article introductions into one of three rhetorical moves. The paper begins by situating the project within the larger framework of intelligent computer-assisted language learning. It then presents the details of the study with very encouraging results. The paper then concludes by commenting on how the system may be improved and how the project is intended to be pursued and evaluated.
The role of trauma in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a review.

Abstract The suggestion that an alteration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an obligatory step in the pathogenesis of the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion has been amply confirmed by innumerable magnetic resonance scans. There also exists a large body of clinical, neuropathologic, neuropsychologic, radiologic and experimental evidence that shows that trauma, in particular mild concussive injury to the head, neck or upper back, thus impinging on the brain and spinal cord, may result in an increase in BBB permeability. It is only logical therefore to infer that when such mild trauma to those parts of the body affects MS patients, the resulting alteration of the BBB leads to the formation of new lesions or the enlargement and activation of old ones. In such situations trauma acts as a facilitator of the postulated but still not fully understood pathogenetic mechanism of lesion formation. Because of the extremely poor correlation between site and size of the lesions and clinical manifestations of MS, one cannot expect that every episode of trauma will result in the appearance of new symptoms in an hitherto asymptomatic individual, or the recurrence of old symptoms in an MS patient. It is inappropriate to attempt to prove or disprove a causal relationship between physical trauma and MS exacerbations or clinical onset by means of epidemiologic studies. The unpredictability and variability of the clinical manifestations of the disease, the differences in the genetic and immunologie backgrounds of individuals, as well as in their degree of clinical and pathologic involvement and level of activity, render such investigations pointless.
Measurement of the Global Acidity of Solid Acids by 31P MAS NMR of Chemisorbed Triethylphosphine Oxide

The bonding of triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO) to the acid site of a surface produces a systematic change in the phosphorus-31 isotropic chemical shift that is proportional to the acid strength of the adsorption site. The acidity of several amorphous solid acids of various strengths, several zeolites (HZSM-5, HY, TS-1, and H−Mordenite), and the crystalline solid 12-tungstophosphoric acid have been measured. A single parameter scale is developed utilizing the chemical shift of TEPO adsorbed on solid acids. Adsorption of TEPO onto Lewis acids demonstrates that this probe measures the global acidity of adsorption sites and is insensitive to the Bronsted or Lewis nature of the site. The significant difference between measuring acidity through the change in chemical shift of chemisorbed TEPO and those based on differential techniques is demonstrated for the case of 12-tunstophosphoric acid where a larger acidity is measured by TEPO than by calorimetry. The difference in acidity measured by these two experiments...
Revealing money’s time value

Abstract Few accounting concepts are as challenging as valuation and the time value of money. Few are as powerful or useful. Measurement and valuation issues are central to the study of accounting, and developing students’ understanding of basic valuation concepts like the time value of money is critical. The purpose of this paper is to provide instructional resources to help build students’ valuation skills by revealing the (1) power, (2) concepts, and (3) application of the time value of money and basic valuation concepts. Three tools are presented. The first reveals the evolution and impact of financial markets like the bond market and their requisite need for mathematics and the time value of money. The exercise uses a video accompanied with questions that are intended to act as a “hook” to capture student interest in lending and the time value of money. The second tool reveals concepts of bond financing, valuation and the time value of money. It begins with familiar time-value-of-money concepts and logically progresses. Each step uses intuition from prior steps to methodically build concepts in a discovery-learning process. The steps ignore bond terminology until the intuition between cash flows, interest rates, and purchase prices has been established. The third tool has students apply time-value-of-money and valuation concepts to plan and account for personal retirement assets. The exercise demonstrates the applicable usefulness and practical value of the time value of money and basic valuation skills. It can spark use of these concepts to empower fiscal responsibility and self-sufficiency. In sum, the article provides a small arsenal of exercises for delivering time value of money and valuation material. The exercises can be used collectively or individually depending on instructor preference and course parameters.
The Biochemistry and Enzymology of Amino Acid Dehydrogenases

This review is an exhaustive description of the biochemistry and enzymology of all 17 known NAD(P)+-amino acid dehydrogenases. These enzymes catalyze the oxidative deamination of an amino acid to i...
Mutations at Tyrosine 88, Lysine 92 and Tyrosine 470 of Human Dopamine Transporter Result in an Attenuation of HIV-1 Tat-induced Inhibition of Dopamine Transport

HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein disrupts the dopamine (DA) neurotransmission by inhibiting DA transporter (DAT) function, leading to increased neurocognitive impairment in HIV-1 infected individuals. Through integrated computational modeling and pharmacological studies, we have demonstrated that mutation of tyrosine470 (Y470H) of human DAT (hDAT) attenuates Tat-induced inhibition of DA uptake by changing the transporter conformational transitions. The present study examined the functional influences of other substitutions at tyrosine470 (Y470F and Y470A) and tyrosine88 (Y88F) and lysine92 (K92M), two other relevant residues for Tat binding to hDAT, in Tat-induced inhibitory effects on DA transport. Y88F, K92M and Y470A attenuated Tat-induced inhibition of DA transport, implicating the functional relevance of these residues for Tat binding to hDAT. Compared to wild type hDAT, Y470A and K92M but not Y88F reduced the maximal velocity of [3H]DA uptake without changes in the Km. Y88F and K92M enhanced IC50 values for DA inhibition of [3H]DA uptake and [3H]WIN35,428 binding but decreased IC50 for cocaine and GBR12909 inhibition of [3H]DA uptake, suggesting that these residues are critical for substrate and these inhibitors. Y470F, Y470A, Y88F and K92M attenuated zinc-induced increase of [3H]WIN35,428 binding. Moreover, only Y470A and K92M enhanced DA efflux relative to wild type hDAT, suggesting mutations of these residues differentially modulate transporter conformational transitions. These results demonstrate Tyr88 and Lys92 along with Tyr470 as functional recognition residues in hDAT for Tat-induced inhibition of DA transport and provide mechanistic insights into identifying target residues on the DAT for Tat binding.
Measurements of the chemical composition of stratiform clouds

Abstract Measurements are reported of the chemical composition of the liquid water and interstitial air in warm (> 0°C), non-precipitating stratus and strato-cumulus clouds at various locations in the eastern United States. Inorganic ionic composition of the cloud water was generally dominated by H + , NH 4 + , NO 3 − and SO 4 2− , similar to the composition of precipitation in this region of the U.S. Concentrations of the corresponding interstitial aerosol species and gaseous HNO 3 were invariably low in comparison to concentrations of the respective ionic species in cloudwater. In contrast, the concentration of NO x (i.e. NO + NO 2 + organic nitrates) was invariably comparable to or in excess of that of cloudwater nitrate. Sulfur dioxide was found at varying concentrations relative to cloudwater sulfate. In many cases, the SO 2 concentration was quite low ( 4 2− (> 1 ppb equivalent gas-phase concentration), suggesting large fractional conversion and incorporation into cloudwater. In other cases, in which dilute SO 2 plumes (pso, > 5 ppb) were observed in the cloud interstitial air, the gaseous SO 2 concentration substantially exceeded the cloudwater sulfate concentration. Concentrations of H 2 O 2 in cloudwater were found to exhibit strong inverse correlation with interstitial SO 2 . Appreciable concentrations of SO 2 in cloud interstitial air and H 2 O 2 in cloudwater were only rarely observed to coexist, for the most part only one or the other being present above the limit of detection. These observations are consistent with aqueous-phase oxidation of SO 2 by H 2 O 2 , as has been inferred previously on the basis of laboratory kinetic studies, and with the hypothesis that depending on relative concentrations, either of these species can be a limiting reagent for in-cloud SO 2 oxidation. The uptake of NO x as cloudwater nitrate is less complete than the uptake of SO 2 as sulfate, and evidence for the occurrence of similar in-cloud processes causing the conversion of NO or NO 2 to cloudwater nitrate has not been found.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Pt3Ru1/Vulcan Carbon Powder Nanocomposite and Reactivity as a Methanol Electrooxidation Catalyst

Thermal treatment of [Ru(2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline)3(PtCl2)3](BF4)2/Vulcan carbon powder composites under reactive conditions forms Pt−Ru/carbon nanocomposites containing 27−34 wt % metal alloy as highly dispersed nanoparticles of ca. Pt75Ru25 stoichiometry. The metal nanoparticles have an average diameter of 6 nm (by TEM) and an fcc unit cell of lattice constant 3.907 (9) A, as expected for Pt-rich Pt−Ru alloys. On-particle HR-EDS analysis indicates that gross phase separation of Pt and Ru does not occur on the nanoparticle scale. Evaluation of the performance of this nanocomposite as a methanol electrooxidation catalyst in a direct methanol fuel cell and in an electrochemical cell designed for combinatorial testing is reported.
Stereoscopic ray tracing of implicitly defined surfaces

A method for simultaneous generation of stereoscopic images of implicitly defined surfaces is presented. Ray tracing, a computationally intensive but `photo-realistic'' rendering technique, is used to generate these images. Traditional ray tracing of stereoscopic images involves generating left eye and right eye images separately, which effectively doubles the computational work involved. A method originally developed for animation and later adopted for stereo ray tracing achieves computational speedup in ray tracing stereoscopic images by generating the right eye image as the left eye image is generated. The work presented here extends that method to obtain stereoscopic images of implicitly defined surfaces of the form f(x,y,z) equals 0. Implicitly defined quadric surfaces such as spheres, ellipsoids, hyperboloids of one sheet and two sheets, and surfaces derived from fault-tolerant software modeling applications were rendered using this method. The speedups achieved for these surfaces under different stereoscopic setups are compared and tabulated.
Fungal transformations of antihistamines: metabolism of brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, and pheniramine to N-oxide and N-demethylated metabolites by the fungus Cunninghamella elegans.

1. Two strains of the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans (ATCC 9245 and ATCC 36112) were screened for their ability to metabolize three alkylamine-type antihistamines; brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine and pheniramine.2. Based on the amount of parent drug recovered after 168 h of incubation, C. elegans ATCC 9245 metabolized 60, 45 and 29% of brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine and pheniramine added respectively. The results from strain ATCC 36112 were essentially identical to those of strain ATCC 9245.3. The metabolic products of N-oxidation and N-demethylation were isolated by reversed-phase hplc and identified by analysing their mass and proton nmr spectra. For all three antihistamines, the mono-N-demethylated metabolite was produced in the greatest amounts. The chloro- and bromo-substituents appeared not to affect the route of metabolism but did influence the relative amounts of metabolites produced.4. Circular dichroism spectra of the metabolites and the unmetabolized parent antihistamines showed...
Antimicrobial management of chronic sinusitis in children

This study retrospectively investigated the microbiology and management of 40 children who suffered from chronic sinusitis. The sinuses infected were the maxillary (15 cases), ethmoid (13), and frontal (seven). Pansinusitis was present in five patients. All aspirates were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. A total of 121 isolates (97 anaerobic and 24 aerobic) were recovered. Anaerobes were recovered from all 37 culture-positive specimens, and in 14 cases (38 per cent) they were mixed with aerobes. Twenty-three beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were isolated from 16 (43 per cent) patients. The 15 patients who received clindamycin had the most rapid response to therapy and a change of therapy and surgical drainage was required in one case. Of the 16 patients who received amoxycillin or ampicillin, 16 responded to therapy, six needed a change of therapy, including four who also had surgical drainage. Of the six who were treated with erythromycin, three needed antibiotic change, two with surgical drainage. Of the three that received cefaclor, two were cured, and one had an antibiotic change. Resistant organisms were recovered in all the cases that required therapeutic change. These findings support the important role of anaerobic bacteria in the polymicrobial cause of chronic sinusitis in children, and the superiority of therapy effective against these organisms.
Design of a silicon-based microscale trickle-bed system for singlet-oxygen production

Design methodology and flow characterization of a miniaturized trickle-bed system for singlet-oxygen production via exothermic reaction of chlorine gas and basic hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution are reported. Miniaturized singlet oxygen production is accomplished by integration of several components developed for microsystems (uniform phase distributors, integrated on-chip cooling, and capillary-based phase separation) within a single device. Macroscale design equations for pressure-drop and heattransfer rates are verified experimentally in the miniature trickle-bed reactor. Flow regime data from the present study are summarized with previous reports in microdevices and compared to conventional multiphase flow maps; these maps are found to be incapable of accurately predicting the flow regime trends within the miniaturized trickle-bed system. Operation of the silicon-based miniaturized trickle-bed reactor achieved estimated singlet-oxygen yields of 78%, comparing well with the reactor model predictions. 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 54: 2441– 2455, 2008
Experiments in dynamic positioning of a towed pipe

The concept of dynamic positioning for deeply-towed cables and pipes is considered experimentally, using a laboratory scale model and several well-known design techniques. Applications include ROV operations where a clump weight or heavy steel cable is used, and the mating of drillpipes with subsea assemblies. An important factor is that actuation is only available at the top end, and position measurement is available only at either end. >
Rapid high-resolution four-dimensional NMR spectroscopy using the filter diagonalization method and its advantages for detailed structural elucidation of oligosaccharides

Four-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with high resolution of signals in the indirect dimensions is reported as an implementation of the filter diagonalization method (FDM). Using an oligosaccharide derivatized with 13C-labeled acetyl isotags, a four-dimensional constant-time pulse sequence was tailored for conjoint use with the FDM. Results demonstrate that high resolution in all dimensions can be achieved using a relatively short experimental time period (19 h), even though the spectrum is highly congested in the direct and all three indirect dimensions. The combined use of isotags, constant-time pulse sequences, and FDM permits rapid isolation of sugar ring proton spin systems in multiple dimensions and enables all endocyclic J-couplings to be simply measured, the key goal to assigning sugar stereochemistry and anomeric configuration. A general method for rapid, unambiguous elucidation of spin systems in oligosaccharides has been a long-sought goal of carbohydrate NMR, and isotags combined with the FDM now enable this to be easily performed. Additional general advantages of the FDM program for generating high-resolution 2D slices in any dimension from a 4D spectrum are emphasized.
Volume-Associated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Patterns in Hemodialysis Patients

Although volume excess causes hypertension, whether it also affects circadian patterns of arterial pressures among hemodialysis patients remains unknown. To test the notion of whether volume overload is associated with a unique blood pressure (BP) "signature," a posthoc analysis was performed among 145 patients participating in the Dry-Weight Reduction in Hypertensive Hemodialysis Patients randomized, controlled trial. Using 400 ambulatory BP recordings over 8 weeks composed of 35 302 measurements, the trended cosinor model was found to be the best descriptor of BP chronobiology. The trended cosinor model may be described as a pattern of sinusoidal oscillation around a straight line with an upward trend during the interdialytic period that has an intercept at the postdialysis time. Augmented volume removal therapy reduced the intercept systolic BP and increased the rate of rise in systolic BP over the interdialytic interval but had no effect on the systolic BP fluctuation (amplitude). Thus, an elevated intercept and blunted slope pattern characterize the "volume-overload BP pattern" on ambulatory BP monitoring. Similar changes were seen for diastolic BP. Augmented volume removal therapy neither restored dipping nor was associated with a lag phenomenon for either the wake or the sleep systolic BP. Lowering of systolic BP was greater than diastolic BP such that pulse pressure was reduced. An observational cohort of 37 patients followed for 6 months confirmed these findings. Randomized trials are now needed to evaluate the clinical impact of augmented volume removal therapy on hard outcomes, because reduction of pulse pressure with this simple expedient has the potential to improve survival in hemodialysis patients.
Effect of Particle Dispersion on the Mechanism of Combustion Synthesis of Titanium Silicide

The combustion synthesis (SHS) of titanium silicide (Ti5Si3) was investigated. The main combustion reaction (thermal explosion) occurs in the presence of a liquid phase and is usually preceded by a relatively small reaction in the solid state. The influence of Ti particle size on the dominance of each of these types of reactions was investigated. SEM observations and X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that the combustion synthesis of Ti5Si3 proceeds according to the following sequence: TiSi2→ TiSi → Ti5Si4→ Ti5Si3.
Using graphics processors for high-performance IR query processing

Web search engines are facing formidable performance challenges due to data sizes and query loads. The major engines have to process tens of thousands of queries per second over tens of billions of documents. To deal with this heavy workload, such engines employ massively parallel systems consisting of thousands of machines. The significant cost of operating these systems has motivated a lot of recent research into more efficient query processing mechanisms. We investigate a new way to build such high performance IR systems using graphical processing units (GPUs). GPUs were originally designed to accelerate computer graphics applications through massive on-chip parallelism. Recently a number of researchers have studied how to use GPUs for other problem domains such as databases and scientific computing. Our contribution here is to design a basic system architecture for GPU-based high-performance IR, to develop suitable algorithms for subtasks such as inverted list compression, list intersection, and top-$k$ scoring, and to show how to achieve highly efficient query processing on GPU-based systems. Our experimental results for a prototype GPU-based system on $25.2$ million web pages indicate that significant gains in query processing performance can be obtained.
A Model of Natural Disaster Administration: Naming and Framing Theory and Reality

This article develops a model for natural disaster administration that illustrates the roles of theory and reality. Theoretical ideals are presented and discussed from planning and management perspec tives. This administrative model combines mitigation and planning together and it combines disaster management, response, and recov ery in an effort to better name and frame the influence and the poten tial of public administration theory in national disaster administration. This model is framed with three sets of filters that condition a sequence between theory and disaster management/re sponse. The assessment and portability of these theories will provide a tool to learn from past failures/successes and to build for future challenges and opportunities that confront praxis related to disaster administration. It is speculated that theoretical approaches should play a more prominent role in natural disaster administration.
The Atom Bomb as Policy Maker

(1948). The Atom Bomb as Policy Maker. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 377-383.
Worst-case demand distributions in vehicle routing

A recent focal point in research on the vehicle routing problem (VRP) is the issue of robustness in which customer demand is uncertain. In this paper, we conduct a theoretical analysis of the demand distributions whose induced workloads are as undesirable as possible. We study two common variations of VRP in a continuous approximation setting: the first is the VRP with time windows, and the second is the capacitated VRP, in which regular returns to the vehicle’s point of origin are required.
Determination of the osmotic characteristics of hamster pancreatic islets and isolated pancreatic islet cells.

The ability to store pancreatic islets using cryopreservation methodology would greatly assist the application of clinical islet transplantation to Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics. It is our working thesis that the illumination of fundamental biophysical characteristics of these cells will lead to increased cryosurvival rates through theoretically predicted and experimental testing of optimal freezing protocol; as has been found for cells and tissues such as mammalian and Drosophila embryos. Pancreatic islets were isolated from Golden hamsters and their osmometric behavior, including inactive cell volume (Vb), was determined for either whole islets or isolated individual islet cells. When islets or islet cells were exposed to various concentrations of NaCl, they were found to exhibit a "classic" "Boyle-Van't Hoff" osmometric response. The Boyle-Van't Hoff representation of the volume curve (relative cell volume vs. 1/osmolality) yields a linear response with r values of .99 for each curve. Extrapolations to the normalized osmotically inactive volumes (Vb) were .43 and .22 for whole islets and individual islet cells, respectively. These data regarding the fundamental cryobiological characteristics of islets and islet cells should provide the foundation upon which to further the investigation of osmotic parameters of these cells and eventually lead to the determination of optimal freezing protocols.
Therapeutic donor insemination: a prospective randomized study of scheduling methods * †

Objective To compare basal body temperature (BBT) graphs and urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) monitoring in scheduling therapeutic donor insemination. Design Participants were prospectively randomized to the BBT or LH groups. Setting Participants were private patients of the Reproductive Endocrine Division at Washington University School of Medicine. Patients Inclusion criteria were designed to assure an isolated male factor. Seventy-four of 113 patients completed the study; 18 had ongoing treatment at the end of the study. Interventions Basal body temperature graphs were physician interpreted and appointments prospectively chosen. Luteinizing hormone patients monitored daily urine samples and scheduled an appointment the day after the detected surge. Main Outcome Measures Fecundity rates, cumulative pregnancy rates, and cost per pregnancy were all prospectively evaluated. Results Life table analysis yielded a 6-month cumulative probability of pregnancy of 36.3% in the LH group and 65.1% in the BBT group ( P P Conclusions This randomized prospective study demonstrates significant therapeutic and economic advantages when therapeutic donor insemination is prospectively scheduled by BBT graphs.
Pou4f2 knock-in Cre mouse: A multifaceted genetic tool for vision researchers.

Purpose: A transgenic mouse that expresses Cre recombinase under control of the Pou4f2-promoter (also referred to as Brn-3b and Brn-3.2) was characterized. Pou4f2 expression has been reported in a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina, in the midbrain, and in the germline. In this study, we characterize the expression pattern of this Cre-recombinase line and report its utility in targeted deletion, temporal deletion, RGC depletion, and germline targeting, which can be regulated by the sex of the Cre-carrying mouse. Methods: Pou4f2Cre was mapped by using a combination of PCR and sequencing of PCR products to better understand the construct and to locate where it was inserted within the Pou4f2 locus. Cre expression patterns were examined by crossing Pou4f2Cre/+ mice to Cre reporter mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to further define the pattern of Cre expression and Cre-mediated recombination within the retina, brain, and other tissues. Results: An internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-Cre cassette was inserted into the Pou4f2 gene disrupting normal gene function, as verified by the depletion of RGCs in mice homozygous for the insert. Pou4f2Cre expression was observed in the retina, brain, peripheral neurons, and male germ cells. Germline recombination was observed when the sire carried the Cre and the target for recombination. In all other breeding schemes, recombination was observed within subsets of cells within the retina, brain, intestines, heart, and gonads. In the retina, Cre efficiently targets recombination in neurons within the RGC layer (RGL), the inner nuclear layer (INL), and a small percentage of photoreceptors, activity that has not been previously reported. Unlike most other Cre lines active in the inner retina, recombination in Muller and other glia was not observed in mice carrying Pou4f2Cre. Within the visual centers of the brain, Cre targets recombination in about 15% of cells within the superchiasmatic nucleus, lateral geniculate nucleus, and superior colliculus. Conclusions: Pou4f2Cre provides multiple uses for the vision researcher’s genetic toolkit. First, Pou4f2Cre is a knock-in allele that can be used to eliminate Pou4f2, resulting in depletion of RGCs. Second, expression of Cre in male germ cells makes this strain an efficient germline activator of recombination, for example, to target LoxP-flanked sequences in the whole mouse. Third, Pou4f2Cre efficiently targets RGCs, amacrine cells, bipolar cells, horizontal cells, and a small number of photoreceptors within the retina, as well as the visual centers in the brain. Unlike other Cre recombinase lines that target retinal neurons, no recombination was observed in Muller or other retinal glia. These properties make this Cre recombinase line a useful tool for vision researchers.
Scoliosis surgery in the elderly: Complications, readmissions, reoperations and mortality.

The operative management of scoliosis in the elderly remains controversial. The authors of this study sought to evaluate outcomes in elderly patients with scoliosis undergoing deformity correction. Patient data was obtained from a 5% sample of the Medicare Provided Analysis and Review database (MEDPAR). Patients over 65 years of age with scoliosis undergoing corrective surgery were identified between the years 2005 to 2011. A total of 453 patients were analyzed: 262 (57%) between ages 66 to 74 years, and 191 (42%) over the age of 75 years. Female predominance (78%) was observed in this sample. Pre-diagnosis follow-up averaged 118 months. Post-surgery follow-up averaged 33 months. Patients between 66 and 74 years old were mostly discharged home, while patients over the age of 75 years were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) (38.55% versus 34.04%, p value = 0.0011). Readmission rates were lower in patients between 66 and 74 years old when compared to patients over the age of 75 years (9.92% versus 17.28%, p value = 0.0217). Complication rates 30-days after discharge were less in patients between 66 and 74 years, compared to those over 75 years (21% versus 26.6%, respectively), but this was not statistically significant. These findings suggest varying outcomes following scoliosis surgery in the elderly, but interpretation of these results is weakened by the inherent limitations of database utilization. Future prospective studies are needed to understand risk factors and other confounding variables, such as discharge disposition, that may influence outcomes.
Time-resolved sub-ppm CH3 detection in a shock tube using cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy with a ps-pulsed UV laser

Abstract In this study we report a novel UV laser absorption diagnostic for sensitive and time-resolved measurement of methyl radicals (CH 3 ) in shock tube kinetics studies, utilizing a frequency-quadrupled, high-repetition-rate (78 MHz) ps-pulsed Ti-sapphire laser targeted at the strong rovibronic transition of CH 3 at 216.62 nm. This diagnostic employs a cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) strategy that amplifies the absorbance signal by a gain factor of about 50, which enables sub-ppm detection limit of CH 3 to be achieved under typical shock conditions of 1200 K T P ∼ 1 atm, in a shock tube of ∼15 cm inner diameter. The use of a pulsed laser also enables an on-axis CEAS configuration, which yields a time resolution of 2–4 µs. For example, CH 3 measurements were performed in shock tube decomposition experiments of dilute ethane and methane mixtures, demonstrating the substantial improvement in detection sensitivity of the current diagnostic compared to conventional single-pass absorption measurements. This new diagnostic promises to be a powerful tool for future shock tube chemical kinetics studies, and can be potentially extended to the detection of other UV-absorbing species.
Regeneration and Local Time

Renewal and occupation measures; Excursion local time and point process; Semi-martingale local time; Moment and Palm measures; Density existence and continuity; Conditioning via duality; Regular Palm distributions; Local hitting and conditioning.