cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isomerization of t-stilbene in alcohols

Abstract The isomerization of optically excited t-stilbene in n-alcohol solution is discussed. The data are consistent with incomplete solvation in the initial state for alcohols larger than ethanol and with stabilization of the polar transition state by rapid components of the solvent dielectric response in all alcohols. The combination of these two effects leads to a progressive decrease in apparent barrier height with increasing size of alcohol.
Hydrolysis of amelogenin by matrix metalloprotease-20 accelerates mineralization in vitro

In the following respects, tooth enamel is a unique tissue in the mammalian body: (a) it is the most mineralized and hardest tissue in it comprising up to 95 wt% of apatite; (b) its microstructure is dominated by parallel rods composed of bundles of 40-60 nm wide apatite crystals with aspect ratios reaching up to 1:10,000 and (c) not only does the protein matrix that gives rise to enamel guides the crystal growth, but it also conducts its own degradation and removal in parallel. Hence, when mimicking the process of amelogenesis in vitro, crystal growth has to be coupled to proteolytic digestion of the amelogenin assemblies that are known to play a pivotal role in conducting the proper crystal growth. Experimental settings based on controlled and programmable titration of amelogenin sols digested by means of MMP-20 with buffered calcium and phosphate solutions were employed to imitate the formation of elongated, plate-shaped crystals. Whilst amelogenin can act as a promoter of nucleation and crystal growth alone, in this study we show that proteolysis exerts an additional nucleation- and growth-promoting effect. Hydrolysis of full-length amelogenin by MMP-20 decreases the critical time needed for the protein and peptides to adhere and to cover the substrate. The formation and immobilization of a protein layer subsequently reduces the time for calcium phosphate crystallization. Coupling the proteolytic reaction to titration in the presence of 0.4 mg/ml rH174 has been shown to have the same effect on the crystal growth promotion as quadrupling the concentration of rH174 to 1.6 mg/ml. Controlling the rate and the extent of the proteolytic cleavage can thus be used to control the nucleation and growth rates in a protein-guided crystallization system.
Investigation of the Validity of the Carslaw and Jaeger Thermal Theory under Different Working Conditions

The temperature rise caused by frictional heat generation is of great importance in many tribological problems. However, due to a lack of a reliable and general experimental methods to measure the flash temperature on the contact surface, numerical simulations are widely used to evaluate the flash temperature under different operating conditions. The theoretical solutions developed by Carslaw and Jaegerare among the most commonly used solutions in tribology to calculate surface temperatures. Carslaw and Jaeger utilized mathematical methods to develop an analytical temperature solution under the assumption that the calculation domain is insulated and semi-infinite in size; however, real working conditions may not satisfy these assumptions. Therefore, in this study, a transient three-dimensional numerical thermal model using second-order finite difference methods to solve the transient heat conduction equation was utilized to evaluate the effect of domain size, heat source position, and material properties ...
Sociodemographic determinants of abortion in the United States.

In recent years, both the absolute number of abortions and the abortion rate have increased steadily in the United States. Between 1972 and 1982, the number of legal abortions grew from approximately 0.6 to 1.6 million per year. Correspondingly, the abortion rate increased from 13.2 per 1,000 women in 1972 to 28.8 in 1982 (Centers for Disease Control, 1974, 1976; Henshaw, Forrest, and Blaine, 1984). The rise in the number of legal abortions among American women has been matched by increasing research on this topic. Previous demographic studies have attempted to identify the characteristics of women who obtain abortions. They indicate that women who abort are predominantly young, white, unmarried, and metropolitan residents (Henshaw et al., 1981, 1985; Henshaw and O'Reilly, 1983; Sullivan, Tietze, and Dryfoos, 1977; Tietze, 1977). It has also been shown that abortion is related to parity and education. More than half of all women who abort have had no previous births (Burnham, 1983; Henshaw et al., 1981; Henshaw and O'Reilly, 1983; Prager, 1985). Approximately a third have had at least some college education (Burnham, 1983; Henshaw and O'Reilly, 1983; Prager, 1985). Taken together, these findings suggest that those women who would find childbearing most costLy resort to abortion. For example, unplanned and unintended pregnancies, physical risks, normative pressure against a nonmarital birth, or the possibility of foregone social and economic opportunities may make childbearing more costly than abortion. Largely because of the lack of individual-level data, however, early work has generally been limited to univariate description. The individual-level data used in this study make it possible to investigate the net effects of selected sociodemographic variables on abortion.
Proteomic analysis of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli strains from scouring calves.

A number of researchers have used chemical inhibitors that target membrane efflux pumps as an experimental treatment strategy for multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. However, most of these compounds are toxic in vertebrate animals. The present research was therefore done to describe expression dynamics of drug resistance-associated Escherichia coli proteins that could serve as novel drug targets. Proteomes of MDR and antimicrobial susceptible (AS) E. coli were studied in two dimensional (2-D) polyacrylamide gels and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) was performed on proteins of interest. The number of recovered peptides per protein was used to elucidate the amounts of target proteins expressed in MDR and AS E. coli strains. Eight proteins that may be potentially involved in mechanisms of drug resistance were analyzed and identified by LC–MS. These were grouped into membrane porins (TolC, OmpA, OmpC, Nmpc Precursor), proteins involved in microbial protein synthesis (EF-Ts, EF-Tu, RpsA) and Dps, a protein of unknown location and function. Experimental data demonstrated variability in the expression patterns and quantities of the four porins (TolC, OmpA, OmpC, Nmpc precursor), the three microbial protein synthesis associated proteins (EF-Ts, EF-Tu and RpsA), and Dps which has been previously associated with drug resistance. While variability was seen in quantities and expression patterns of some of the proteins of interest, the present data falls short of determining the suitability of these proteins as novel drug targets. Further studies are required to explore how these proteins could be targeted for drug development.
Radiation of human mitochondria DNA types analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns

Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction endonuclease fragment patterns were analyzed using total blood cell DNA isolated from 200 individuals representing five different populations. Thirty-two fragment patterns (morphs) were observed with the enzymes Hpa I, Bam HI, Hae II, Msp I and Ava II yielding thirty-five different combinations of fragment patterns (mt DNA types). The major ethnic groups exhibit quantitative as well as qualitative differences in their mtDNA types, all of which are related to each other by a tree in which the closely related mtDNA types cluster according to geographic origin.
Interaction between chromia forming alloy interconnects and air electrode of solid oxide fuel cells

The performance of solid oxide fuel cells, especially on the air side, degrades very rapidly when chromia forming alloys are used as interconnects in contact with electrodes. The effect of chromia forming alloys on the performance of doped LaMnO3 air electrode has been studied at the current fuel cell operating temperatures in the vicinity of 900–1000 °C. Interactions between a chromium-rich alloy and doped LaMnO3 were studied during testing of fuel cell stacks as well as in specially designed electrochemical experiments. On completion of these experiments interconnect/electrode and electrode/ electrolyte interfaces as well as interconnect, electrode and electrolyte materials were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy. A mechanism for cell performance degradation based on these observations has been proposed.
Gallium arsenide optoelectronic IC's for computer networks

Abstract The physics of gallium arsenide offers distinct advantages compared to silicon for device applications based on mobility, epitaxial bandgap engineering, and optoelectronic function. Because of these advantages, compared to silicon, gallium arsenide transistors and optoelectronic devices are likely to be found in future computer systems. I first discuss material advantages and challenges for commercial realization of these applications. Examples of these potential applications in communication and computer systems are given. Highly integrated optoelectronic circuits will likely be found in optical links for data communications. The state of the art will be illustrated with recent results from a joint program that spans several IBM research and development laboratories. A demonstration of a compactly packaged gigabit per second optical data link with error rates low enough for computer communications has been made with two highly integrated MESFET chips and one laser array.
Exterior Differential Systems Prolongations and Application to a Study of Two Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations

A generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation is formulated as an exterior differential system, which is used to determine the prolongation structure of the equation. The prolongation structure is obtained for several cases of the variable powers, and nontrivial algebras are determined. The analysis is extended to a differential system which gives the Camassa-Holm equation as a particular case. The subject of conservation laws is briefly discussed for each of the equations. A Backlund transformation is determined using one of the prolongations.
Exciton Dynamics in Quasi-One-Dimensional Molecular Systems

Quasi-one-dimensional systems offer great challenges to theoreticians as well as experimentalists. Because of the low dimensionality one expects the dynamics of excitation (electron) transfer in these systems to be relatively simple when compared with the dynamics of higher-dimensionality solids. In fact, if one is really optimistic, we may anticipate the use of 1-D physics formulaes, found in most text books, to explain experimental findings. However, the problem is not that simple and indeed it requires much more understanding than that presented in standard textbooks. Two interesting questions are relevant here: First, do 1-D systems exist? Second, if they exist, what determines the dynamics in such prototypical systems?
Lipid Metabolism of Monkey Kidney Cells (LLC-MK-2) Infected with Chlamydia trachomatis Strain lymphogranuloma venereum

Lipid metabolism of monkey kidney (LLC-MK-2) cells and cells infected with a Chlamydia trachomatis strain lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) was studied. The protein-to-lipid ratio of normal MK-2 cells was found to increase linearly over a 60-h period of incubation. The protein-to-lipid ratio of the infected cells was similar to that in normal cells until 36 h after infection, when a plateau in the ratio was observed. Lipid synthesis of the infected cells was found to be inhibited after 48 h of infection. Turnover of host lipids did not appear to be markedly altered by infection with LGV over a 48-h period of incubation. An anteiso branched chain of 15:0 fatty acid was found in infected cells but not in normal cells. The appearance of this fatty acid, correlated with a rise in the infectivity of LGV, suggests that synthesis of specific lipids was associated with the infection.
The Legionella pneumophila tatB Gene Facilitates Secretion of Phospholipase C, Growth under Iron-Limiting Conditions, and Intracellular Infection

Our previous mutational analysis of Legionella pneumophila demonstrated a role for type II protein (Lsp) secretion and iron acquisition in intracellular infection and virulence. In gram-negative bacteria, the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway is involved in secretion of proteins, including components of respiratory complexes, across the inner membrane to the periplasm. To assess the significance of Tat for L. pneumophila, tatB mutants were characterized. The mutants exhibited normal growth in standard media but grew slowly under low-iron conditions. They were also impaired in the Nadi assay, indicating that the function of cytochrome c oxidase is influenced by tatB. Consistent with this observation, a subunit of the cytochrome c reductase was shown to be a Tat substrate. Supernatants of the tatB mutants showed a 30% reduction in phospholipase C activity while maintaining normal levels of other Lsp secreted activities. When tested for infection of U937 macrophages, the tatB mutants showed a 10-fold reduction in growth. Double mutants lacking tatB and Lsp secretion were even more defective, suggesting tatB has an intracellular role that is independent of Lsp. tatB mutants were also impaired 20-fold in Hartmannella vermiformis amoebae cultured in the presence of an iron chelator. All mutant phenotypes were complemented by reintroduction of an intact tatB. Thus, L. pneumophila tatB plays a role in the formation of a respiratory complex, growth under low-iron conditions, the secretion of a phospholipase C activity, and intracellular infection.
Non-Coherent Digital Matched Filters: Multibit Quantization

A study of non-coherent digital matched filters (DMF's) with multibit quantizers, matched to phase-shift-keyed signals, is presented. Results relating output and input signal-to-noise ratios are given for three types of additive channel interference and mixtures thereof: white Gaussian noise and incoherent and coherent constantamplitude sine-wave jamming. These results are compared with both analog filter results and computer simulation runs obtained previously.
Simulations of resonant Alfvén waves generated by artificial HF heating of the auroral ionosphere

Numerical two-dimensional two-fluid MHD sim- ulations of dynamic magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) cou- pling have been performed to model the effects imposed on the auroral ionosphere by a powerful HF radio wave trans- mitter. The simulations demonstrate that modifications of the ionospheric plasma temperature and recombination due to artificial heating may trigger the ionospheric feedback in- stability when the coupled MI system is close to the state of marginal stability. The linear dispersion analysis of MI coupling has been performed to find the favorable conditions for marginal stability of the system. The development of the ionospheric feedback instability leads to the generation of shear Alfvwaves which resonate in the magnetosphere between the heated ionospheric E-region and the strong gra- dient in the Alfv´ en speed at altitudes of 1-2 RE. The appli- cation of the numerical results for the explanation of obser- vations performed by low-orbiting satellites above the high- latitude ionosphere heated with a high power ground-based HF transmitter is discussed.
Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Antiretrovirals on Outcomes of Hepatitis C: A Systematic Review From an Epidemiologic Perspective

Background & Aims: We systematically reviewed the literature examining the association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) with liver disease in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: PubMed was searched for studies examining hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related death. Thirty-nine reports (describing 34 unique studies) met inclusion criteria. Information was abstracted on study design, sampling frame, inclusion/exclusion criteria, sample size, results, and covariates used for adjustment. Because of the heterogeneity among study designs, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Results: Nine of the 12 cross-sectional studies showed a statistically significant association between HIV co-infection and fibrosis or cirrhosis, whereas 7 retrospective cohort studies were inconsistent. Six studies examined decompensated liver disease as the outcome: 5 of these found a significantly increased risk in patients with HIV co-infection. The 7 studies examining liver-related death showed a trend toward an association with HIV co-infection, although only 4 were statistically significant. Four studies examined the effect of HIV on hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 of which found no association. Of 10 studies that investigated the effect of ART on the risk of liver disease, half reported a significant protective association. Conclusions: HIV co-infection is associated with an increased risk of advanced liver disease in hepatitis C virus–infected patients. Data on hepatocellular carcinoma are sparse, but an association is plausible given the increased risk of advanced liver disease. In contrast, data for an effect of ART are plentiful, but findings are inconsistent. More robust studies are needed on this topic.
Bad jobs and good workers: The hiring of ex-prisoners in a segmented economy:

Scholarship focusing on barriers to the employment of ex-prisoners has paid little attention to the linkages between mass incarceration and the structural conditions of low wage labor. In contrast,...
Refocusing Core Intuitions: A Concretizing Role for Analogy in Conceptual Change.

This article outlines a theoretical framework for viewing students' conceptions and the effect of analogies on students' conceptions. There are several points involved in this perspective: (a) Components of students' conceptions can be considered to be at various levels—verbal-symbolic knowledge, conscious models, implicit models, and core intuitions. (b) Components at the deeper, less articulated levels (especially core intuitions) are particularly entrenched. (c) Conceptual change in cases involving core intuitions can be considered to be the adjustment of attributive clusters for a class of situations. (d) In order to change the attributive cluster for a target situation, the target must be enriched with new concrete entities or features, providing nuclei for the reattribution of agency. (e) Analogies can help with this reattribution or refocusing by helping the student enrich his or her representation of the target situation.
The Argus mission: Detecting thruster plumes for Space Situational Awareness

The growing capability for proximity-operations missions requires a new capability in Space Situational Awareness (SSA): detecting the presence of other spacecraft operating within 2–5 km of a high-value asset. While significant effort is being devoted to visible-wavelength observation using ground-based systems, we believe that multi-spectral imaging (e.g., long-wavelength infrared, visible and ultraviolet) and particle impact detectors (e.g., mass spectrometers) could be used for in-situ detection of the thruster plumes of spacecraft entering an observational orbit around the high-value asset as well as maintaining it.12
A Stieltjes transform approach for studying the steady-state behavior of random Lyapunov and Riccati recursions

In this paper we study the asymptotic eigenvalue distribution of certain random Lyapunov and Riccati recursions that arise in signal processing and control. The analysis of such recursions has remained elusive when the system and/or covariance matrices are random. Here we use transform techniques (such as the Stieltjes transform and free probability) that have gained popularity in the study of large random matrices. While we have not yet developed a full theory, we do obtain explicit formula for the asymptotic eigendistribution of certain classes of Lyapunov and Riccati recursions, which well match simulation results. Generalizing the results to arbitrary classes of such recursions is currently under investigation.
Firing up the nature/nurture controversy: bioethics and genetic determinism

It is argued here that bioethicists might inadvertently be promoting genetic determinism: the idea that genes alone determine human traits and behaviours. Discussions about genetic testing are used to exemplify how they might be doing so. Quite often bioethicists use clinical cases to support particular moral obligations or rights as if these cases were representative of the kind of information we can acquire about human diseases through genetic testing, when they are not. On other occasions, the clinical cases are presented in simplistic ways that portray genetic testing as yielding information more accurate than it actually is. It is concluded that, because of the problematic implications that the ideology of genetic determinism might have for individuals' wellbeing and for our public policies, bioethicists should be careful to present these issues in ways that do not promote questionable ideas about the causal role of genes in human diseases and behaviours.
Accelerated fractionation vs hyperfractionation: Rationales for several treatments per day

Treatment with several doses per day offers the prospect of a significant therapeutic gain using readily available low LET beams. These regimens can be classified as either accelerated fractionation or hyperfractionation according to their rationales. With accelerated fractionation a conventional number of dose fractions is delivered in a significantly shortened overall treatment time in order to reduce the opportunity for tumor cell regeneration during treatment. With hyperfractionation, on the other hand, a large number of significantly reduced dose fractions is used to give a greater total dose in a conventional overall treatment time. The rationale for this strategy is threefold: 1) increased opportunity for tumor cell redistribution and reoxygenation between dose fractions: 2) a possibly lower oxygen enhancement ratio with small incremental doses; and 3) different sparing of late reacting normal tissues with small dose fractions. A review of the published clinical experience with multiple fractions per day treatment reveals few studies of either pure accelerated fractionation or hyperfractionation since both are limited by acute normal tissue reactions. This has led to a variety of hybrid regimens, some of which have no clear rationale. The choice between accelerated fractionation and hyperfractionation is determined by the regenerative capability of tumor clonogens during treatment. A method of selection based on potential doubling times is presented.
Radiosurgery Treatment Planning via Nonlinear Programming

The Gamma Knife is a highly specialized treatment unit that provides an advanced stereotactic approach to the treatment of tumors, vascular malformations, and pain disorders within the head. Inside a shielded treatment unit, multiple beams of radiation are focussed into an approximately spherical volume, generating a high dose shot of radiation. The treatment planning process attempts to cover the tumor with sufficient dosage without overdosing normal tissue or surrounding sensitive structures. An optimization problem is formulated that determines where to center the shots, for how long to expose each shot on the target, and what size focussing helmets should be used. We outline a new approach that models the dose distribution nonlinearly, and uses a smoothing approach to treat discrete problem choices. The resulting nonlinear program is not convex and several heuristic approaches are used to improve solution time and quality. The overall approach is fast and reliable; we give several results obtained from use in a clinical setting.
Mexican-origin Mothers' and Fathers' Involvement in Adolescents' Peer Relationships: A Pattern-Analytic Approach.

Using latent profile analysis, this study examined patterns of mother-father involvement in adolescents’ peer relationships along three dimensions, support, guidance, and restrictions, in 240 Mexican-origin families. Three profiles were identified: (a) High Mother Involvement (mothers higher than fathers on all three dimensions); (b) High Support/Congruent (mothers and fathers reported the highest levels of peer support and similar levels of guidance and restrictions); and (c) Differentiated (more guidance and restrictions by fathers than by mothers, similar levels of parent support). These profiles were linked to mothers’ and fathers’ familism values, traditional patriarchal gender role attitudes, and socioeconomic status, and to adolescents’ friendship intimacy and risky behaviors measured longitudinally from early to late adolescence. Adolescent gender moderated the linkages between parents’ involvement in adolescents’ peer relationships and youth adjustment.
Compact, energy self-sustaining neutron source: Enabling technology for thorium breeder and accelerator transmutation of waste

In this novel neutron source, a deuterium beam (energy of about 100 keV) is to be injected through a Plasma Window into a tube filled with tritium gas or tritium plasma to generate D-T fusion reactions whose products are 14.06 MeV neutrons and 3.52 MeV alpha particles. At the opposite end of the tube, the energy of deuterium ions that did not interact is recovered. Energy recovery is close to 100%. Be walls of proper thickness will absorb 14 MeV neutrons and release 2 – 3 low energy neutrons. Each ion source and tube forms a module. Larger systems can be formed from multiple units. Beam propagation can be further enhanced with vortex-stabilized discharges, electron beams in opposite direction (with energy recovery) or magnetic fields where possible. In one particular magnetized case of hot electron plasma, fusion power can, in principle, exceed ion beam power loss. Unlike current methods, where accelerator based neutron sources require large amounts of power for operation, this neutron source will generated enough power to compensate for the power required to generate the ion beam. Concept description and basic calculation will be presented. Among possible applications for this neutron source concept are sub-critical nuclear breeder reactors and accelerator transmutation of radioactive waste.
Glycoconjugates in Host-Helminth Interactions

Helminths are multicellular parasitic worms that comprise a major class of human pathogens and cause an immense amount of suffering worldwide. Helminths possess an abundance of complex and unique glycoconjugates that interact with both the innate and adaptive arms of immunity in definitive and intermediate hosts. These glycoconjugates represent a major untapped reservoir of immunomodulatory compounds, which have the potential to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, and antigenic glycans, which could be exploited as vaccines and diagnostics. This review will survey current knowledge of the interactions between helminth glycans and host immunity and highlight the gaps in our understanding which are relevant to advancing therapeutics, vaccine development, and diagnostics.
The Local Baroclinic Instability of Geostrophic Spirals in the Eastern North Pacific

Abstract We analyze the pre-1975 hydrographic data of the Northeast Pacific and compute the large-scale two-dimensional geostrophic flow with respect to 3000 m. Using a linear three-level quasi-geostrophic model of large-scale spiraling flow and vertical density gradient, we evaluate the complex dispersion relationships for quasi-geostrophic waves. We find baroclinically unstable waves with maximum e-folding times of 1–3.3 years, wave-lengths of 120–500 km and periods of 1.4–13.2 years. Growth rates strongly depend upon the shear magnitude and direction and the wave direction. Computations with a 34-level model of the spiraling flow reveal that e-folding times and periods are 50–200 days and 60–200 km wavelengths. The growth rates increase at the south as do the wavelengths. In general, the most rapidly growing waves have a subsurface maximum of kinetic energy at 200–800 m and a component of the most rapidly growing wave is in a direction encompassed by the spiraling shear. At least a six-level model is r...
Role of the generalized pauli constraints in the quantum chemistry of excited states

The Pauli exclusion principle requires that spin orbitals have occupations between zero and one. For pure quantum systems, however, the occupations of the spin orbitals are constrained by additional inequalities known as the generalized Pauli constraints. If the occupation numbers saturate (or nearly saturate) the generalized Pauli constraints, then the occupation numbers are said to be pinned (or quasi-pinned) to the constraints. Here, we assess the complexity of electron correlation of excited states from the pinning or quasi-pinning of the occupation numbers to the generalized Pauli constraints where the degree of pinning encodes information about the structure of the wave function including correlation and entanglement. Results are presented for three- and four-electron atoms and molecules, the five-electron cyclopentadienyl radical, and the seven-electron Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex in green-sulfur bacteria. The data shows that even when the ground-state occupation numbers are pinned, the occupation numbers of excited states manifest pinned, quasi-pinned, and unpinned behavior, reflecting the complexity of electron correlation and entanglement in excited states. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organo Ruthenium–Nickel Dithiolates with Redox-Responsive Nickel Sites

Described is a new family of RuNi dithiolates featuring geometrically flexible Ni centers, which enable both acid–base and redox chemistry, behavior that is characteristic of the hydrogenases. Treatment of Ni(pdt)(dxpe) with (cymene)2Ru2Cl4 affords the salt [(cymene)Ru(Cl)(pdt)Ni(diphos)]Cl (pdt2– = 1,3-propanedithiolate, diphos = dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane ([1Cl]Cl) and diphos = dcpe = 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane ([2Cl]Cl)). Cyclic voltammetry revealed that in CH2Cl2 solution [1Cl]Cl reduces irreversibly near −1.6 V vs Fc0/+ followed by the appearance of a reversible 1e– couple assigned to the [1]0/+ couple. Reduction of [1Cl]Cl and [2Cl]Cl with cobaltocene produced the neutral derivatives (cymene)Ru(pdt)Ni(diphos) ([1]0, [2]0). Crystallographic characterization of these compounds revealed short Ru–Ni distance of 2.5539(5) ([1]0) and 2.600(3) A ([2]0). The 2e– reduction of these chlorides converts the Ni site from square planar to tetrahedral, highlighting the flexibility of the Ni ...
Analysis of vasodilator responses to novel nitric oxide donors in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat.

Controlled release of nitric oxide (NO*) may be useful in the treatment of a variety of vascular disorders. NO* donors of the diazeniumdiolate family with different rates of spontaneous NO* release have been synthesized. In the current study responses to seven diazeniumdiolate NO* donors (DEA/NO*, DETA/NO*, OXI/NO*, PIPERAZI/NO*, PROLI/NO*, SPER/NO*, and SULFI/NO*) were investigated in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat. Intravenous injections of all NO* donors caused dose-dependent decreases in systemic arterial pressure and the rank order of potency was SNP > DEA/NO* > PIPERAZI/NO* > SPER/NO* > PROLI/NO* > OXI/NO*. Injections of all NO* donors into the hindlimb perfusion circuit caused dose-related decreases in hindquarters perfusion pressure that were similar to the order of potency in decreasing systemic arterial pressure. The rank order of the time required for the response to return to 50% of the maximal decrease in pressure (T(1/2)) and total duration of action of the NO* donors was SPER/NO* > PIPERAZI/NO* > DEA/NO* > OXI/NO* > DETA/NO* > PROLI/NO* > SULFI/NO*. After treatment with the NO* synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 mg/kg, i.v.), hindlimb vasodilator responses to the NO* donors were not significantly different, but vasodilator responses to acetylcholine were significantly reduced. After treatment with zaprinast (2 mg/kg, i.v.), a type V cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, the duration of vasodilator responses to the NO* donors, as measured by T(1/2), was increased significantly, whereas the duration of the response to the beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist albuterol was unchanged. These data suggest that diazeniumdiolate NO* donors are endothelium-independent, directly stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase, and decrease vascular resistance by increasing cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate levels in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat.
Oxidized AlGaAs angle reflector and waveguide for optical interconnects

A novel oxidized AlGaAs angle reflector and waveguide for optical interconnects has been designed and fabricated. Successful transmission of the fundamental mode at 1.55 µm from in-plane to out-of-plane has been demonstrated.
Plans de rémunération de la force de vente : Les conséquences managériales des derniers développements théoriques:

Cet article propose un ensemble de cas, destines a decrire une serie de problemes auxquels doit faire face la force de vente, et offre des solutions fondees sur la litterature theorique recente. Les dernieres tendances dans l'analyse de la remuneration de la force de vente, basees sur les theories de l'agence et du cout de transaction sont egalement presentees. Finalement, les resultats empiriques, infirmant ou confirmant chacun de ces cadres conceptuels, sont exposes, permettant aux gestionnaires d'elaborer ou de modifier les plans de remuneration de leur force de vente.
SEQUNCE TYPES AND SEQUNCE STRATIGRAPHIC MODELS OF CHAGAN FAULT-DEPRESSED STAGNANT LACUSTRINE DEPRESSION, YIN-E BASIN

A research field of lacustrine sequence stratigraphy is to establish the sequence stratigraphic models for different geological setting in different lacustrine basins. Most researches concentrate on the sequence stratigraphic models of fault\|depressed flowing lacustrine basins, but less researches are on fault\|depressed stagnant lacustrine basins. In this paper, taking the Early Cretaceous fault\|de pressed stagnant lacustrine basin on Chagan depression as an example, sedimentary characteristics and evolution were analyzed; the sequence stratigraphic models and characteristics of different types of sequences were summarized; the two types of sequence (the climate type, and the compound type of fault\|depression climate) were put forward; and the sequence stratigraphic models of different sedimentary evolution phases were concluded. Elaborate research indicates that the sedimentary evolution of the Chagan fault\|depressed stagnant lacustrine basin have three evolution phases: the early stage of fault\|depression, themain fault\|depressed stage and the depressed with faulted stage. The sequence stratigraphic models in the early stage of fault\|depression and the main fault\|depressed stage were made of the compound type of fault\|depression climate and those in the depressed with faulted stage were made of the type of climate.
A multi-criteria policy set optimisation framework for large-scale simulation models

Simulation modelling is an analysis approach utilised in nearly every domain for analysis of large and complex systems. Synchronous data flow (SDF) is used to model systems whose data does not follow the predetermined global schedule of discrete event simulation modelling techniques. A policy set optimisation (PSO) problem for any simulation model is the selection of a small set of controllable inputs for manipulation by a decision maker (DM) in order to achieve a desired goal. This is a multi-criteria decision making problem and a large-scale SDF simulation model creates a complex mathematical model for solution. Our PSO framework and associated procedure aims to generate the policies that will provide an estimation of the Pareto optimal solutions for the simulation model using only pre-processed model sampling. Our solution methodologies for the PSO problem aims to minimise the computation time required from the point at which a DM selects the outcomes of interest, to when they receive solution policies to choose from. This paper provides a sample problem and a discussion about the quality of the solution found.
Savage-Landor’s Lament (1901)

In August 1901, an Englishman named Henry Savage-Landor arrived in Baku on the way from England to Calcutta, by way of Persia. Not unlike Ballantine, he noted in great detail1 Baku’s fabulous infestation of petroleum, surrounded as it was by pyramid-like wooden derricks lording over oil wells. The town, he wrote, was bordered in the east by a crescent-shaped bay, protected as it was by a small island in front of it, in all providing a safe anchorage for shipping. It boasted hundreds of petroleum refineries as well as good shipyards, as it had been the principal station of Russia’s Caspian fleet. The Baku oil also provided the fuel for the steamships that plied the Caspian. The sea in one or two bays, he observed, was coated with flammable substance capable of ignition by a single match, producing a “weird effect” at night.
Foamed bleomycin sclerosis of airway venous malformations: The role of interspecialty collaboration.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To assess clinical outcomes of patients with airway venous malformations treated with percutaneous sclerotherapy (VMPS). We highlight the role of foamed bleomycin as a less inflammatory sclerosant and the importance of collaboration between interventional radiology and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective, consecutive, single-center series. METHODS Sixteen airway VMPS treatment sessions were performed (5 patients). Endoscopic needle guidance was performed by OHNS. Sclerosants included ethanol and foamed bleomycin. The following data were tabulated for each patient: hospital length of stay (LOS), clinical response, and the presence/absence of airway swelling requiring prolonged intubation. Univariate analysis was performed. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Thirty-one percent (5 of 16) of treatments required endoscopic guidance. Eighty-seven percent (7 of 8) of airway VMs treated with ethanol caused significant airway swelling compared to 0% (0 of 8) of airway VMs treated with bleomycin (P = 0.0004). The LOS was significantly greater for ethanol (5 ± 0.3 days) than for bleomycin (1 day, P = 0.001). Ninety-four percent (15 of 16) of airway VM treatments had at least a partial clinical response. There was no significant difference in clinical response between ethanol and bleomycin (P = 0.30). CONCLUSION Endoscopic and image-guided needle placement may be necessary to treat deep airway VMs. Bleomycin may cause less significant airway swelling than ethanol. This may reduce hospital LOS and prolonged intubation. Our results should be interpreted with caution because this is a very small retrospective study. Additional investigation is needed to establish safety and efficacy of foamed bleomycin. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2726-2732, 2016.
Serving nonspeaking patients in acute care settings: Intervention outcomes

This is the second of two papers concerning a 2-year study of nonspeaking patients in acute care settings of University of Washington Hospitals. The first paper described the assessment protocols. This paper details the results of those assessments and our intervention with 50 patients between September 1982 and September 1984. The findings suggest that rapidly changing capabilities of these patients often necessitate a series of evaluations and a complicated intervention profile, comprised of a progression through multiple communication systems. The outcome of intervention with these patients was measured in terms of the percentage of communication needs which were met by the augmentative systems recommended. The types of intervention conducted included the following categories: oral approaches, fine motor approaches, limited switch approaches, oral and fine motor approaches, and oral approaches coupled with limited switch approaches. The average percentage of communication needs met in these categories ...
Microbubble shell break-up and collapse during gas exchange

Lipid-coated microbubbles are used as contrast agents for ultrasound imaging and to augment ultrasound therapy. However, the response of a single-gas microbubble upon sudden immersion into a multi-gas environment is not well understood. The objective of our study was to experimentally measure the change in diameter of an SF 6 microbubble suddenly exposed to air-saturated media, in order to determine the effects of lipid composition and microbubble size. Microbubbles were expected to grow with the initial inrush of O 2 and N 2 and then dissolve with the efflux of SF 6 . We report here on the anomalous growth and dissolution behavior exhibited by lipid-coated microbubbles. The lipid shell resisted expansion beyond the initial radius, and this resistance increased with lipid acyl chain length and decreasing microbubble size. The lipid shell also resisted collapse beyond the initial diameter. Our results demonstrate the effect of lipid shell mechanics on the stability of microbubbles exposed to different gas environments, which may inform our prediction of the in vivo fate of intravenously injected microbubbles.
Urine Kidney Injury Biomarkers and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease Events and All-Cause Death: The CRIC Study

Background and objectives CKD is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. We investigated whether select urine kidney injury biomarkers were associated with higher risk of heart failure (HF), CVD, and death in persons with CKD enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Urine kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, liver fatty acid-binding protein, and N -acetyl -β- d-glucosaminidase were measured in urine of a subset of CRIC participants ( n =2466). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to examine associations between these biomarkers indexed to urinary creatinine (Cr) and ( 1 ) HF, ( 2 ) a composite of atherosclerotic CVD events (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease), and ( 3 ) all-cause death. Results At baseline, mean age of study participants was 59.5±10.8 years, 46% were women, and 34% had a self-reported history of any CVD. Median follow-up was 6.5 (interquartile range, 5.6–6.8) years. A total of 333 HF events, 282 atherosclerotic CVD events, and 440 deaths were observed during a median follow-up of 6.5 (interquartile range, 5.6–6.8) years. Those in the highest two quintiles of KIM-1/Cr levels had a higher risk of HF relative to the lowest quintile (quintile 5 versus quintile 1 adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] of 1.73 [95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.85]). N -acetyl -β- d-glucosaminidase/Cr was associated with HF in continuous analyses (aHR per log SD higher 1.18 [95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.38]). Only KIM-1/Cr was independently associated with atherosclerotic CVD events (aHR per log SD higher 1.21 [95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.41]), whereas both KIM-1/Cr (quintile 5 versus quintile 1 aHR of 1.56 [95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 2.31]) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/Cr (quintile 5 versus quintile 1 aHR of 1.82 [95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 2.8]) were associated with all-cause death. Conclusions Selected urine kidney injury biomarkers were independently associated with higher risk of HF, CVD events, and death in CRIC. Among the biomarkers examined, only KIM-1/Cr was associated with each outcome. Further work is needed to determine the utility of these biomarkers to improve risk prediction for these adverse outcomes.
10-year outcomes of breast cancer patients with histologically confirmed axillary lymph node metastases and pathologic complete response after primary systemic chemotherapy.

1017 Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) of tumors in the breast and axillary lymph nodes (ALN) after primary systemic chemotherapy (PST) is associated with an excellent outcome. A previous analysis showed superior 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) for patients who achieved an ALN pCR after PST compared to those without a pCR in 5 prospective clinical trials. This study is an expanded analysis of all patients treated with PST at our institution examining the impact of ALN pCR on 10-year OS and RFS. Methods: Patients with clinical stage II/III and pathologically confirmed ALN metastases who underwent PST were categorized into 1 of 2 groups: ALN pCR and ALN residual disease. Additional data were collected, including breast cancer subtype, clinical tumor size, and lymph node staging, pathologic tumor (T) stage, and class of PST. RFS and OS were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Subset analyses were performed on patients with HER2-positive cancer. Result...
Node Factor Variations and Joint Occurrences

In constructing exceedance frequency distributions for extremal heights resulting from joint occurrences of tsunamis or storm surges and the astronomical tide, a period of time for the analysis must be selected if direct numerical approaches are used. It is shown that if a particular year is selected for the analysis, the affect of the temporal variation in the lunar node factor on the exceedence frequency distribution is negligible.
Recent Advances in Understanding of the Genetics of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Available evidence supports an inherited risk for the occurrence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), with or without the clinical manifestations associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Immediate relatives of individuals with APS, whether primary or associated with another autoimmune disease, are more likely to have aPL. Several reports describe multiplex families with APS or APS associated with another autoimmune disorder, and there is a strong association between aPL and APS with specific genes and gene alleles in the major histocompatibility complex. Other genetic risk factors also appear to contribute to the risk of thrombotic events or recurrent pregnancy loss in individuals with aPL. These data suggest that the development of aPL as well as its associated clinical syndrome reflects a complex interplay of inherited and acquired risk factors. Genome-wide studies designed to identify and characterize genes associated with the development of aPL should improve our understanding of this complex autoimmune disorder and regarding which patients with aPL are likely to develop clinical manifestations of the syndrome.
The human blood parasite Schistosoma mansoni expresses extracellular tegumental calpains that cleave the blood clotting protein fibronectin.

Schistosomes are intravascular, parasitic flatworms that cause debilitating disease afflicting >200 million people. Proteins expressed at the host-parasite interface likely play key roles in modifying the worm’s local environment to ensure parasite survival. Proteomic analysis reveals that two proteases belonging to the calpain family (SmCalp1 and SmCalp2) are expressed in the Schistosoma mansoni tegument. We have cloned both; while highly conserved in domain organization they display just 31% amino acid sequence identity. Both display high relative expression in the parasite’s intravascular life forms. Immunolocalization and activity based protein profiling experiments confirm the presence of the enzymes at the host-parasite interface. Living parasites exhibit surface calpain activity that is blocked in the absence of calcium and in the presence of calpain inhibitors (E64c, PD 150606 and calpastatin). While calpains are invariably reported to be exclusively intracellular (except in diseased or injured tissues), our data show that schistosomes display unique, constitutive, functional extracellular calpain activity. Furthermore we show that the worms are capable of cleaving the host blood clotting protein fibronectin and that this activity can be inhibited by E64c. We hypothesize that SmCalp1 and/or SmCalp2 perform this cleavage function to impede blood clot formation around the worms in vivo.