cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Misrepresentation of Publications Among Radiation Oncology Residency Applicants

Introduction Authorship misrepresentations have been described for residency and fellowship applications for various medical specialties. This study assessed the prevalence of misrepresented publications in radiation oncology residency applications. Materials and Methods The authors reviewed 117 applications to their residency program for a single 2004 position offered through the National Resident Matching Program. Publications listed on the applications were verified for accuracy, with the results and applicants' demographic information recorded. Results A total of 49 applicants (42%) claimed authorship of published research citations. The number of published citations averaged 3.6 per applicant (range, 1-23). Of the applicants reporting citations, 22% (11 of 49) listed inaccurate citation information. Overall, 9% of the citations (15 of 174) were considered misrepresentations, with 9% of the total number of applicants (11 of 117) responsible for inaccurate bibliographies. There was a significant relationship of United States Medical Licensing Examination score with publication misrepresentation, in which those with scores of 235 or greater who listed publications were more than 7 times more likely to have inaccurately listed citations (odds ratio, 7.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-52.31; P = .04). Conclusion The misrepresentation of bibliographic citations does exist among radiation oncology residency applicants. Using a comprehensive search, the authors found that 22% of those who had listed at least 1 article had misrepresented publications on their applications.
A new entry to N-unsubstituted β-lactams through a solid-phase approach

A remarkable new entry to N-unsubstituted β-lactams using rink resin as the solid-support has been developed.
Low-temperature water–gas shift: Strategy to lower Pt loading by doping ceria with Ca2+ improves formate mobility/WGS rate by increasing surface O-mobility

In one view, the metal–oxide synergy (e.g., Pt metal and cerium oxide) has been explained in terms of the dehydrogenation of formate formed on the surface of the partially reducible oxide (PRO) by Pt across the interface, with H2O participating in the transition state of forward formate decomposition. In this work, Ca-doping of the ceria component in Pt/ceria catalysts was demonstrated by TPR and TPR–XANES measurements to facilitate the temperature of ceria surface shell and bulk reduction steps, and by TPR–XANES to increase the extents of surface shell and bulk reduction of ceria. The results thus confirm, experimentally, past theoretical models, which suggested that divalent elements (e.g., Ca) enhance both O-mobility and reducibility of ceria by weakening the Ce–O bond through lattice strain. This strain was also detected in our XRD measurements. A recent surface diffusion model postulated that increasing oxygen surface diffusion also improves the mobility of O-bound intermediates (e.g., formates, carbonates, carboxylates). In this work, in situ DRIFTS measurements confirm that improved formate decomposition rates were realized over the Ca-doped Pt promoted ceria catalysts possessing higher O-mobility relative to undoped Pt/ceria. In turn, improved LT-WGS rates were observed over the Ca-doped Pt/ceria catalysts. While the precise mechanism is still under debate, the enhanced mobility of O-bound intermediates by Ca-doping is suggested to be responsible for the significant boosts in CO conversion levels and TOFs observed during LT-WGS. Thus, doping ceria with elements like Ca provides a path forward for lowering the precious metal content (e.g., Pt), as well as the rare earth content (e.g., Ce) – catalytic components that are becoming increasingly expensive.
Bile salt-induced intracellular Ca++ accumulation in type II pneumocytes

The pathogenesis of pneumonitis associated with meconium aspiration is poorly understood. To explore the possibility of pulmonary cytotoxicity in association with bile salt exposure and calcium accumulation, we compared cell viability, radiolabeled calcium accumulation, and intracellular [calcium] in the presence and absence of bile salts, chenodeoxycholate, and 3β-OH-5-cholenoate. We assessed viability of type II pneumocytes in culture by cell permeability to trypan blue dye, incorporation of leucine into cellular proteins, and cellular morphology. Intracellular calcium concentrations were monitored with fluorescent dye methodology. At micromolar concentrations, the above bile salts increased cell permeability by as much as 9-fold and decreased leucine incorporation by as much as 5-fold. Radiolabeled calcium accumulation increased by as much as 2.5-fold and intracellular [calcium] transiently increased by as much as 6-fold. Studies using bile salts extracted from meconium yielded similar results. Correlation of calcium accumulation to viability studies yielded a direct relationship with cell permeability and an inverse relationship with leucine incorporation. We speculate that bile salt-induced accumulation of intracellular calcium in lung cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of meconium aspiration pneumonitis.
Genotypic variation of pearl millet for growth and yield on acid soil

Abstract Genotypes of plant species need to be assessed for ability to grow with fairly severe acid soil constraints. Twenty pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) genotypes were grown on an ultisol (Typic Palehumult) with 60% Al saturation and on an oxisol (Tropeptic Haplustox) with 53% Al saturation in Colombia, South America, to determine the effects of acid soil factors on growth-and-yield-component traits. Five of the genotypes were also grown on the acid ultisol at 50% Al saturation. The mean grain-yields of the genotypes grown on both soils ranged from 2260 to 3820 kg ha −1 . Plants grown on the oxisol had slightly higher yields than plants grown on the ultisol. Grain yield, grain plant −1 , seed plant −1 and head length decreased, and days to flower, number of tillers, plant height, head diameter and seed weight were unaffected when plants were grown on the relatively severe acid soils. Pearl millet genotypes grew relatively well on the fairly severe acid soils.
Simplifications of watershed geometry affecting simulation of surface runoff

Abstract In formulating the equations describing the flow of water on the surface of a watershed, geometric simplifications must be made. A geometric simplification is the substitution of a simple geometry for a more complex one. The problem is to examine techniques for and consequences of such simplifications, and thereby develop objective procedures for geometric simplification of complex watersheds. Watershed geometry is represented by a series of planes and channels in cascade. When overland flow and open-channel flow in the cascade are described by the kinematic wave equations, the resulting mathematical model is called the kinematic cascade model. Planes are fitted to coordinate data from topographic maps by a least-squares procedure. Residuals of this fit form a geometric goodness-of-fit statistic as the improvement over using the mean elevation. Channel elements are determined, using Gray's method, as the slope of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with the same area as that under the observed stream profile. The ratio of the altitude of this right triangle to the total relief of a stream is the index of concavity, a channel goodness-of-fit statistic. An overall goodness-of-fit statistic is the drainage density ratio, the ratio of drainage density in the cascade of planes and channels to drainage density of the watershed. The mean value of a hydrograph goodness-of-fit statistic, as the improvement over using the mean discharge, increases as the geometric goodness-of-fit statistic increases but also decreases as the drainage density increases. A combined goodness-of-fit statistic, the product of the drainage density ratio and the geometric goodness-of-fit statistic, is related to the degree of distortion in optimal-hydraulic roughness parameters. Distortions in watershed geometry result in optimal roughness parameters smaller than the corresponding empirically derived values for simple watersheds where less distortion is involved. Given rainfall, runoff and topographic data for a small watershed, it is possible to define the simplest kinematic cascade geometry which when used in simulation will, on the average, preserve selected hydrograph characteristics to given degree of accuracy.
Assistive Technology for All Access to Alternative Financing for Minority Populations

Literature on access to assistive technology (AT), AT services, and AT funding, as well as literature on access to loans (i.e., mortgages and car loans) has indicated that people from minority popu...
Mastocytoma-induced suppression of in vitro antibody formation

Mastocytoma cells in vitro suppressed the immune response of normal syngeneic spleen cells to sheep erythrocytes. The immune response of dispersed spleen cells from normal mice in vitro was inhibited by simultaneous incubation with relatively small numbers of mastocytoma cells or a cell-free extract prepared from these cells. Inhibition occurred when diluted cell-free extracts from the mastocytoma cells or as few as 10-4 or 10-5 tumor cells were incubated with 5 million normal splenocytes. The supernatant factor from mastocytoma cells was labile to heating at 56 degrees for 30 min. Detailed examination of the physicochemical properties of the mastocytoma cell extract capable of suppressing immune responses to sheep red cells should be of value.
Aromatase activity in the perinatal rat forebrain: effects of age, sex and intrauterine position.

Abstract Sex and regional differences in aromatase activity were characterized in brains of rats sacrificed on embryonic days 18 (E18) and 20 (E20) and on postnatal days 2, 4 and 13 (D2, D4, D13). Aromatase activity was measured in vitro in homogenates of the hypothalamus/preoptic area (HPOA) and temporal lobe (TL) from individual rats, using [ 3 H]19-hydroxyandrostenedione as substrate in the presence of NADPH. The apparant K m of aromatase for 19-hydroxyandrostenedione in TL at D4 was similar in males (34 nM) and females (22 nM,). Aromatase activity in the HPOA was highest prenatally (E18) and gradually declined to low levels by D13. Aromatase activity in the TL remained constant from E18 to D2, increased significantly on D4, and subsequently declined to low levels by D13. The level of aromatase activity was significantly greater in males than in females on E18 and D4 in the HPOA and on D4 in the TL. Differences in aromatase activity within regions of the HPOA were studied at E20 and D4. At both ages, the activity was highest in the preoptic area, lower in the anterior hypothalamus (AH), and lowest in the posterior hypothalamus. Aromatase activity was significantly higher in males than in females in the AH, but only on D4. The contiguity of males in utero was not correlated with aromatase activity in brain regions of adjacent female fetuses. The present results indicate that significant sex differences in aromatase activity exist in specific brain regions only at discrete times during perinatal development. The age-dependent higher levels of aromatase activity in males may contribute to the morphological and functional differentiation of the male rat brain.
Composition Principles for Synthesis of Optimal Multistage Processes

Any multistage process may be constructed by a sequence of serial and/or parallel compositions. With certain restrictions on the form of the return composition function, optimal processes may be constructed in an efficient manner from optimal subprocesses. A number of simple sufficient conditions on the return functions are given and several approximation procedures are outlined.
Ent-labdane derivatives from gutierrezia grandis

Abstract Two new diterpenes, 3α-angeloyloxy-18-hydroxy-13-furyl- ent -labda-8(17)-ene and 3α-hydroxy-18-angeloyloxy- 13-furyl- ent -labda-8(17)-ene and an only recently reported third diterpene, 3α, 18-dihydroxy-13-furyl- ent -labda-8(17)-ene, were isolated from the leaves of Gutierrezia grandis . Their structures were determined by mass spectral, IR, 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR data was well as chemical evidence.
Modulation of implantation-associated integrin expression but not uteroglobin by steroid hormones in an endometrial cell line.

In order to test the hypothesis that integrin and uteroglobin (UG) expression in cultured endometrial cells are affected by hormone treatment, Ishikawa-CH endometrial cancer cells were cultured and exposed to oestradiol or oestradiol and progesterone regimens and assayed using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the intensity of immunohistochemical staining for the integrin monomers av and b1, the dimers avb3 and avb6, and for the secretory protein uteroglobin under various experimental conditions. Cells grown in control media stained positively for the integrin monomers av and b1, the dimer avb3, and for UG. Oestradiol and sequential oestradiol/progesterone reversibly suppressed staining for the dimer avb3. Hormone treatment had no effect on the staining of the b1 and av monomers or UG. The avb6 dimer antibody did not stain under any experimental treatment conditions. These data indicate that expression of the integrin complex avb3 is reversibly suppressed by oestradiol in Ishikawa cells and that these cells may be a good model for studying hormone-driven molecular changes in endometrium.
Fiber reinforced cement-based composite system for concrete confinement

Abstract This paper reports on a feasibility study to develop a reversible and potentially fire-resistant fiber reinforced cement-based matrix (FRC) composite system for concrete confinement applications. The first part of this study aimed at selecting a candidate FRC system from different fiber (including glass and basalt) and inorganic matrix combinations on the basis of: constructability, by verifying the workability and ease of installation on concrete cylinders; structural performance, by evaluating strength and deformability enhancement in confined concrete cylinders tested under uniaxial compression; and compatibility, by examining the quality of the concrete–FRC interface and the level of fiber impregnation using scanning electron microscope images. In the second part of this study, the selected FRC system was further assessed through compression tests of additional concrete cylinders confined using different FRC reinforcement ratios, where both axial and in-plane (radial) deformations were measured to assess confinement effectiveness. The feasibility of making the application reversible was investigated by introducing a bond breaker between the concrete substrate and the composite jacket in a series of confined cylinders. The prototype FRC system produced a substantial increase in strength and deformability with respect to unconfined cylinders. A superior deformability was attained without the use of a bond breaker. The predominant failure mode was loss of compatibility due to fiber–matrix separation, which points to the need of improving fiber impregnation to enable a more efficient use of the constituent materials. Semi-empirical linear and nonlinear models for compressive strength and deformation in FRC-confined concrete are also presented.
Skyrmions with quadratic band touching fermions: A way to achieve charge 4 e superconductivity

We study Skyrmion quantum numbers, charge, and statistics, in $(2+1)$ dimension induced by quadratic band touching (QBT) fermions. It is shown that induced charge of Skyrmions is twice bigger than corresponding Dirac particles' and their statistics are always bosonic. Applying to the Bernal stacking bilayer graphene, we show that Skyrmions of quantum spin Hall are charge $4e$ bosons, so their condensation realizes charge $4e$ superconductivity. The phase transition could be of second order, and one candidate theory of the transition is an $O(5)$ nonlinear sigma model with a nonzero Wess-Zumino-Witten term. We calculate the renormalization group beta function of the model perturbatively and propose a possible phase diagram. We also discuss how QBT fermions are different from two copies of Dirac particles.
Ray Tracing Through a Holographic System

Tracing rays through a hologram is treated as a generalized case of tracing rays through a diffraction grating. The local “diffracting power” at a point of the hologram is determined by the geometry and wavelength of the beams whose recorded interference pattern constitutes the hologram. The resulting ray-tracing equations are valid for zone plates. An example of the analysis of the aberrations of a holographic system and a description of a modified system, in which these aberrations are corrected, are given.
Biosynthesis of proteins involved with photosynthetic activity in enucleated Acetabularia sp.

Abstract The photosynthetic activity of dark-maintained Acetabularia cells drops to about one-fifth of the light-maintained value after 14 days. Both whole and enucleated cells regain this activity when reilluminated. Studies with puromycin (30 μg/ml) indicate that protein synthesis is implicated in the recovery. Actinomycin D (20 μg/ml) also prevents full reattainment of photosynthetic activity, indicating a possible dependence upon transcription of plastid DNA. Control experiments were conducted to determine the extent to which actinomycin D directly inhibits photosynthesis. The relevance of the data to an understanding of the nuclear independent capabilities of chloroplasts is discussed.
Differentiating HIV-associated Nephropathy from Antiretroviral Drug-Induced Nephropathy: A Clinical Challenge

With the introduction of potent combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) into clinical practice, HIV-infected patients have garnered much benefit. However, kidney disease continues to be a potential complication in this group. Whereas HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) was the major renal complication prior to cART, co-morbid diseases and adverse renal effects of various drugs, in particular cART, now complicate the landscape. Clinicians now must differentiate HIVAN from cART nephrotoxicity. While sometimes this is easy and relatively straightforward, often the clinician faces a difficult challenge distinguishing these two etiologies of kidney disease. This review will discuss HIVAN and cART-related kidney disease and review the clinical and laboratory data that may be useful in differentiating these processes. Often, however, kidney biopsy may be required to differentiate HIVAN from cART nephrotoxicity as well as other kidney lesions associated with concurrent co-morbidities, both infectious and non-infectious.
Fetal startle response observed under ultrasonography: A good predictor of a reassuring biophysical profile

Objectives: To correlate the vibroacoustic stimulus-evoked fetal startle response observed under ultrasonography with the subsequent biophysical profile (BPP) score. Methods: Vibroacoustic stimulation was applied under ultrasound observation to gravidas who had a nonreactive fetal heart rate in the first 10 minutes of monitoring. Fetal startle response was defined as a sudden movement of fetal extremities in the 2 seconds following stimulus. Subsequently, nonstress testing was completed and a BPP performed on all women who required vibroacoustic stimulation. The presence or absence of a fetal startle response was compared with the observed BPP score. Results: Two hundred tests were performed at 35.3 ± 3.7 weeks. After the vibroacoustic stimulation, 70% of the nonreactive tracings became reactive. Mothers perceived the fetal startle response after vibroacoustic stimulus in 93% of cases. All cases with a fetal startle response after a vibroacoustic stimulation had a subsequent BPP score of 8 or more (negative predictive value of 100%). In addition, all patients with a nonreassuring BPP score were in the group of patients with absent fetal startle response. However, the positive predictive value of an absent fetal startle response for a subsequent BPP score of 6 or less was only 10%. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that the fetal startle response predicts a BPP score equal to or greater than 8. After the availability of larger studies supporting these findings, this test could be used as a rapid antepartum test to predict fetal well-being.
The McLafferty rearrangement in aliphatic aldehydes and ketones—a previously unconsidered mechanistic pathway

The possibility of a mass spectrometric counterpart to the cyclobutanol formation which is encountered in the photolysis of carbonyl compounds has been investigated by preparing 5,5,5-[2H3]-2-methylpentanal (II) and 6,6,6-[2H3]-3-methylhexan-2-one (III) and examining their mass spectra at high and low voltage.
Colorectal cancer screening behavior in women attending screening mammography: longitudinal trends and predictors.

Purpose Nationally representative surveys demonstrate that the adherence to screening mammography guidelines are associated with increased prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening; however, the incidence of CRC screening in the screening mammography population is unknown. Our purpose was to describe non-fecal occult blood test (FOBT) CRC screening utilization by women prior to and subsequent to screening mammography at a large academic medical center. Materials and methods Using the institutional administrative data base, 17,790 women aged 50 and older who underwent screening mammography between 1998 and 2002 were retrospectively identified. We determined that women were current with non-FOBT CRC screening at the time of mammography if they had undergone flexible sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enema in the 5 years or colonoscopy since 1995, the earliest for which data are available. We excluded FOBT as a form of CRC screening because the administrative data base did not adequately capture episodes of FOBT. Women who were not current were considered eligible for non-FOBT CRC screening. We then assessed the number of women who underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, or colonoscopy within 12 months following mammography. Age, insurance status, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification, recommendations after screening mammography and year of mammography were examined as potential predictors of non-FOBT CRC screening completion. Results At the time of mammography, 13.3% women were current with non-FOBT CRC screening. Of women eligible for non-FOBT CRC screening at the time of mammography, 1.1% completed non-FOBT CRC screening within 12 months after mammography. The rate of non-FOBT CRC screening completion increased over time. After multivariate analysis, being insured by a commercial managed care organization or by Medicaid remained significant predictors of non-FOBT CRC screening. Conclusion The prevalence of non-FOBT CRC screening is low in the population of women undergoing screening mammography, with an incidence of 1.0%. Future studies should examine whether delivering CRC screening interventions at a screening mammography visit increase adherence to non-FOBT CRC screening.
Speciation of chromium in simulated soil samples using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

Abstract X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy has been applied to the speciation of 24 simulated soil samples spiked with known concentrations (8–1015 ppm) of hexavalent and trivalent chromium. For XANES spectroscopy, multivariate calibration models, such as partial least-squares (PLS) regression provide greater capabilities than traditional univariate calibration models. Using normalized XANES spectra (5961.8–6114.8 eV), a one-factor PLS model was able to determine the percentage of hexavalent chromium with a root-mean-squared-cross-validation (RMSECV) error of 6.1%. The corresponding univariate calibration model based upon the hexavalent chromium pre-edge feature had a RMSECV of 9.1%. PLS was also used to determine total chromium content in the simulated soil samples. Using unnormalized XANES spectra (5980.3–6099.8 eV), a two-factor PLS model was able to predict the concentration of chromium with an RMSECV error of 12.1 ppm. This work suggests that a single XANES measurement can be used for both the quantitative analysis and speciation of soil samples contaminated with greater than 10 ppm chromium.
Total Non-Occupational Noise Exposure of Construction Workers

Total non-occupational noise exposure levels were estimated for a group of 266 construction apprentices participating in a longitudinal study of noise and hearing loss. Subjects were interviewed regarding their exposure to "episodic" activities (e.g., concert attendance), and noise levels for these activities were obtained from a literature review. "Routine" activities were assessed using a combination of self-reported activity logs and non-occupational noise dosimetry measurements. Routine and episodic activity exposures were combined into estimated annual Leq exposure levels for the 6760 nominal non-occupational hours in a year (LAeq6760h). The LAeq6760h levels were then transformed into equivalent levels for a 2000 hour exposure period (LA2000hn), which allowed direct comparison to occupational risk criteria. The median LAeq6760h was 73 dBA, and the median LA2000hn was 78 dBA. Nineteen percent of LA2000hn non-occupational exposures exceeded 85 dBA, the generally recommended occupational limit. Firearms...
Substrate Misorientation Effects On (A1,Ga)As And (Al,Ga)As/GaAs Structures Grown By Molecular Beam Epitaxy

(Al,Ga)As layers have rough surface morphologies when deposited under certain growth conditions in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). This leads to poor interfaces between (A1,Ga)- As and GaAs and degraded performance in heterojunction devices. We have observed that by misorienting the substrate slightly from (100), in a manner specific to the growth conditions, smooth (Al,Ga)As layers 3-4 μm thick can be grown at a rate of ≈ 1 μm/h for various AlAs mole fractions, x. Similar conditions for nominal (100) result in a rough, textured morphology. Experiments were carried out using flat substrates of specific misorientations as well as lens-shaped substrates. The lenticular substrates allowed all orientations within 14° of (100) [i.e., out to (511)] to be evaluated in one growth run. Deposition conditions that were varied included x, substrate temperature, and V/III beam flux ratio. Smooth layers obtained using optimal misorientations showed superior optical characteris-tics as determined from low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The 4.2K PL spectra of smooth layers exhibit well-resolved exciton-related peaks, and do not have the deeper-level defect-related peaks observed in the spectra of rough layers. Single quantum well structures with A10.3Ga0.7As barriers and a 100 A-wide GaAs well deposited on mis-oriented substrates also have superior optical properties compared to a structure grown on nominal (100). Such findings may have significant implications for the performance of heterojunction device structures grown by MBE.
Microscopic magnetic resonance elastography of traumatic brain injury model

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability for which there is no cure. One of the issues inhibiting clinical trial success is the lack of targeting specific patient populations due to inconsistencies between clinical diagnostic tools and underlying pathophysiology. The development of reliable, noninvasive markers of TBI severity and injury mechanisms may better identify these populations, thereby improving clinical trial design. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), by assessing tissue mechanical properties, can potentially provide such marker. MRE synchronizes mechanical excitations with a phase contrast imaging pulse sequence to noninvasively register shear wave propagation, from which local values of tissue viscoelastic properties can be deduced. The working hypothesis of this study is that TBI involves a compression of brain tissue large enough to bring the material out of its elastic range, sufficiently altering mechanical properties to generate contrast on MRE measurements. To test this hypothesis, we combined microscopic MRE with brain tissue collected from adult male rats subjected to a controlled cortical impact injury. Measurements were made in different regions of interest (somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus), and at different time points following the injury (immediate, 24 h, 7 days, 28 days). Values of stiffness in the somatosensory cortex were found to be 23-32% lower in the injured hemisphere than in the healthy one, when no significant difference was observed in the case of sham brains. A preliminary in vivo experiment is also presented, as well as alternatives to improve the faithfulness of stiffness recovery.
Fuzzy MADM: An outranking method

Abstract Multi-attribute decision making forms an important part of the decision process for both the small (an individual) and the large (an organization) problems. When available information is precise, many methods exist to solve this problem. But the uncertainty and fuzziness inherent in the structure of information make rigorous mathematical models inappropriate for solving this type of problems. This paper incorporates the fuzzy set theory and the basic nature of subjectivity due to the ambiguity to achieve a flexible decision approach suitable for uncertain and fuzzy environment. The proposed method can take both crisp and fuzzy inputs. An outranking intensity is introduced to determine the degree of overall outranking between competing alternatives, which are represented by fuzzy numbers. The comparison of these degrees is made through the concept of overall existence ranking index. A numerical example is given to illustrate the approach.
Solution structures and characterization of human immunodeficiency virus Rev responsive element IIB RNA targeting zinc finger proteins

The Rev responsive element (RRE), a part of unspliced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA, serves a crucial role in the production of infectious HIV virions. The viral protein Rev binds to RRE and facilitates transport of mRNA to the cytoplasm. Inhibition of the Rev-RRE interaction disrupts the viral life cycle. Using a phage display protocol, dual zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) were generated that bind specifically to RREIIB at the high affinity Rev binding site. These proteins were further shortened and simplified, and they still retained their RNA binding affinity. The solution structures of ZNF29 and a mutant, ZNF29G29R, have been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Both proteins form C(2)H(2)-type zinc fingers with essentially identical structures. RNA protein interactions were evaluated quantitatively by isothermal titration calorimetry, which revealed dissociation constants (K(d)'s) in the nanomolar range. The interaction with the RNA is dependent upon the zinc finger structure; in the presence of EDTA, RNA binding is abolished. For both proteins, RNA binding is mediated by the alpha-helical portion of the zinc fingers and target the bulge region of RREIIB-TR. However, ZNF29G29R exhibits significantly stronger binding to the RNA target than ZNF29; this illustrates that the binding of the zinc finger scaffold is amenable to further improvements.
Modeling of integrated circuit defect sensitivities

Until now only cursory descriptions of mathematical models for defect sensitivities of integrated circuit chips have been given in the yield literature. This paper treats the fundamentals of the defect models that have been used successfully at IBM for a period of more than fifteen years. The effects of very small defects are discussed first. The case of photolithographic defects, which are of the same dimensions as the integrated circuit device and interconnection patterns, is dealt with in the remainder of the paper. The relationships between these models and test sites are described. Data from measurements of defect sizes are discussed.
Design and synthesis of potent, orally-active DGAT-1 inhibitors containing a dioxino[2,3-d]pyrimidine core

A novel series of potent DGAT-1 inhibitors was developed originating from the lactam-based clinical candidate PF-04620110. Incorporation of a dioxino[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based core afforded good alignment of pharmacophore features and resulted in improved passive permeability. Development of an efficient, homochiral synthesis of these targets facilitated confirmation of predictions regarding the stereochemical-dependence of DGAT-1 inhibition for this series. Compound 10 was shown to be a potent inhibitor of human DGAT-1 (10 nM) and to suppress triglyceride synthesis at oral doses of <3mg/kg.
The synaptic vesicle cycle: a cascade of protein–protein interactions

The synaptic vesicle cycle at the nerve terminal consists of vesicle exocytosis with neurotransmitter release, endocytosis of empty vesicles, and regeneration of fresh vesicles. Of all cellular transport pathways, the synaptic vesicle cycle is the fastest and the most tightly regulated. A convergence of results now allows formulation of molecular models for key steps of the cycle. These developments may form the basis for a mechanistic understanding of higher neural function.
Low Concentrations of Trifluoperazine Affect Striatal Cells in Culture

Primary monolayer cultures of the newborn rat corpus striatum were treated with the phenothiazine trifluoperazine after various times in culture. When the drug is added to cells at least 3 weeks old, concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-8) M appear morphologically identical to controls but show significant changes in synthesis of acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, particularly the former. The results with these very low concentrations suggest that the drug has a highly specific effect directly on striatal cells, and that it is not acting via calmodulin.
Solar wind dynamic pressure variations and possible ground signatures of flux transfer events

The effects of a series of solar wind dynamic pressure pulses are followed through the solar wind, across the bow shock and magnetosheath, into the magnetosphere, and down to the dayside ionosphere. Each pressure pulse had an intrinsic solar wind origin, i.e., was not generated by processes occurring at the earth's bow shock. Both upstream and downstream of the earth's bow shock, the pulses were identified by depressed magnetic field strengths and enhanced plasma densities. The pulses compressed the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, causing satellites in the magnetosphere to briefly observe enhanced magnetic field strengths, and/or enter the low-latitude boundary layer or magnetosheath. Satellites already in the magnetosheath observed a brief burst of enhanced magnetosheath flow caused by the relative inward motion of magnetosheath flow patterns. Alfven and fast mode compressional waves propagated rapidly down to the polar ionosphere, where they produced transient ionospheric flows at latitudes equatorward of the convection reversal boundary. The flow patterns moved westward around the auroral oval.
Stresses in rotating spheres grown by accretion

Abstract Analytical expressions are obtained for the stress field in a sphere that has grown by accretion while rotating about an axis at a speed which may vary during the accretion process. It is assumed that accretion occurs by the adherence of infinitesimal particles that are stress free at the instant of attachment and that the material of the sphere behaves elastically once it has accreted. The resulting stress field differs significantly from that predicted in a sphere that was ‘manufactured’ in a stress free state and then set to rotate. The implications of these differences are discussed in the context of the mechanisms for failure in accreted planetary bodies.
A new sydnone structure: 4-(phenyl­amino)­sydno­[3,4-a]­quinoxaline

The title compound, C15H10N4O2, a sydnone, is composed of four rings, viz. the sydnone ring, two benzene rings, and a central six-membered heterocyclic ring fused to the sydnone ring and one benzene ring.
Synthesis of photodeprotectable serine derivatives. “Caged serine”

Abstract The synthesis of O-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl)serine has been accomplished by treatment of an FMOC-aziridinecarboxylate with nitroveratryl alcohol followed by hydrolysis. Irradiation with a Pyrex-filtered 450W Hanovia lamp releases serine with a half-life of 4.4 min. o-Nitrobenzyl serinate is prepared by direct esterification. Vycor-filtered irradiation releases serine with a half-life of 6.9 min.
Model-based SHM: Demonstration of identification of a crack in a thin plate using free vibration data

Abstract In this paper a model-based approach to identifying a single crack in a thin, clamped plate undergoing free vibration is described and demonstrated experimentally. Data are gathered from only three resistive strain gages, placed at arbitrary orientations and locations far from the crack. The time series response of the gages to a single impact excitation are then used to estimate the crack parameters that characterize the damage using an efficient finite-element model of the plate. The approach is demonstrated effective in identifying crack location, orientation and length, as well as credible intervals for each. The results show that even with limited, noisy vibration data valuable information regarding the damage state can be successfully estimated.
Interactions and inhibition of blood coagulation factor Va involving residues 311-325 of activated protein C.

Activated protein C (APC) exerts its physiologic anticoagulant role by proteolytic inactivation of the blood coagulation cofactors Va and VIIIa. The synthetic peptide-(31 1-325) (KRNRTFVLNFIKIPV), derived from the heavy chain sequence of APC, potently inhibited APC anticoagulant activity in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and Xa-1-stage coagulation assays in normal and in protein S-depleted plasma with 50% inhibition at 13 pM peptide. In a system using purified clotting factors, peptide-(311-325) inhibited APC-catalyzed inactivation of factor Va in the presence or absence of phospholipids with 50% inhibition at 6 pM peptide. However, peptide-(3 11-325) had no effect on APC amidolytic activity or on the reaction of APC with the serpin, recombinant [Arg35s]a,-antitrypsin. Peptide-(31 1-325) surprisingly inhibited factor Xa clotting activity in normal plasma, and in a purified system it inhibited prothrombinase activity in the presence but not in the absence of factor Va with 50% inhibition at 8 pM peptide. The peptide had no significant effect on factor Xa or thrombin amidolytic activity and no effect on the clotting of purified fibrinogen by thrombin, suggesting it does not directly inhibit these enzymes. Factor Va bound in a dose-dependent manner to immobilized peptide-(311-325). Peptide-(31 13 15) inhibited the binding of factor Va to immobilized APC or factor Xa. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that residues 31 1-325 in APC bind to factor Va at a site that can bind either APC or factor Xa, and that peptide-(31 1-325) interferes with both APC inactivation of factor Va and expression of factor Xa activity in the prothrombinase complex by binding to this site.
Neonatal screening for severe combined immune deficiency.

Purpose of reviewSevere combined immunodeficiency has been identified as a high-priority disease for inclusion in population-based newborn screening programs. In this review, the justification, advances to date and remaining challenges for universal severe combined immunodeficiency screening are out
Development of a semi-automated chemical stability system to analyze solution based formulations in support of discovery candidate selection

A semi-automated chemical stability system was developed, validated, and implemented to assess the chemical and physical stability (24 h) of intravenous and oral solution based formulations in support of preliminary in vivo drug discovery studies. The system utilizes a single Agilent 1100 LC and Xterra column with multiple UV wavelength monitoring. Mobile phase selection, either basic or acidic, is selected base upon on the physico-chemical properties of the test compound. The system was validated against 14 new chemical entities across multiple therapeutic areas. The results indicated that drug discovery compounds could be accurately quantified (<2% R.S.D.) in a wide range of formulation vehicles in greater than 90% of the test cases. This method can be used as a quantitative tool for triaging formulation variables and packaging configurations to quickly develop stable solutions for dosing.
Can Photoevaporation Trigger Planetesimal Formation

We propose that UV radiation can stimulate the formation of planetesimals in externally illuminated protoplanetary disks. We present a numerical model of disk evolution including vertical sedimentation and photoevaporation by an external O or B star. As solid material grows and settles toward the disk midplane, the outer layers of the disk become dust-depleted. When such a disk is exposed to UV radiation, heating drives photoevaporative mass loss from its surface, generating a dust-depleted outflow. The dust-to-gas surface density ratio in the disk interior grows until dust in the disk midplane becomes gravitationally unstable. Thus, UV radiation fields may induce the rapid formation of planetesimals in disks where sedimentation has occurred.
A comparison of a GCM response to historical anthropogenic land cover change and model sensitivity to uncertainty in present-day land cover representations

This study assesses the sensitivity of the fully coupled NCAR-DOE PCM to three different representations of present-day land cover, based on IPCC SRES land cover information. We conclude that there is significant model sensitivity to current land cover characterization, with an observed average global temperature range of 0.21 K between the simulations. Much larger contrasts (up to 5 K) are found on the regional scale; however, these changes are largely offsetting on the global scale. These results show that significant biases can be introduced when outside data sources are used to conduct anthropogenic land cover change experiments in GCMs that have been calibrated to their own representation of present-day land cover. We conclude that hybrid systems that combine the natural vegetation from the native GCM datasets combined with human land cover information from other sources are best for simulating such impacts. We also performed a prehuman simulation, which had a 0.39 K ~higher average global temperature and, perhaps of greater importance, temperature changes regionally of about 2 K. In this study, the larger regional changes coincide with large-scale agricultural areas. The initial cooling from energy balance changes appear to create feedbacks that intensify mid-latitude circulation features and weaken the summer monsoon circulation over Asia, leading to further cooling. From these results, we conclude that land cover change plays a significant role in anthropogenically forced climate change. Because these changes coincide with regions of the highest human population this climate impact could have a disproportionate impact on human systems. Therefore, it is important that land cover change be included in past and future climate change simulations.
Max Perutz and the Secret of Life

List of Illustrations Preface and Acknowledgements 1. Scenes from a Vienna Childhood 2. 'It Was Cambridge That Made Me' 3. 'The Most Dangerous Characters of All' 4. Home and Homeland 5. Mountains and Mahomet 6. How Haemoglobin Was Not Solved 7. Annus Mirabilis 8. In Search of Solutions 9. A Structure for Science - the LMB 10. The Breathing Molecule 11. Health and Disease 12. Truth Always Wins Select Bibliography Notes Glossary Index
PAH and IUPAC Nomenclature

The nomenclature of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives has undergone substantial changes since the beginning of the 20th century. The International Union of Applied and Pure Chemistry (IUPAC) has issued rules and recommendations on chemical nomenclature including organic compounds like PAH since 1957. This article presents an overview of the latest version of IUPAC nomenclature for PAH and their derivatives, detailing current changes. In addition, an overview of older nomenclature systems and commonly used, PAH specific terms aiding nomenclature is given.
Secondary Outbreak Induction of Beet Armyworm by Experimental Insecticide Applications in Cotton in California

Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) on cotton in California is typically a secondary pest, likely to become abundant after insecticide applications against Lygus hesperus Knight. In this study local outbreaks were generated experimentally in an area of one square mile of cotton, subdivided into 4 randomized blocks of 4 treatments. Applications of dimethoate triggered significant increases in abundance of beet armyworm larvae. Levels up to 4 times as high as those in the untreated control were reached. Analysis of results of population censuses of both beet armyworm and its natural enemies in the experimental area, supplemented by observational evaluation of predator activities on early developmental stages, indicated impairment of predation on eggs and newly hatched larvae as the calise of outbreaks. Especially important in this context were the hemipterous species Geocoris pallens Stal, Orius tristicolor (White), and Nabis americoferus Carayon, which were severely reduced by the treatments. Another important predator of eggs and caterpillars, the larva of Chrysopa carnea Stephens, appeared immune to the insecticide. Field observations further revealed some egg predation by the otherwise predominantly phytophagous L. hesperus . The relevance of this study to pest management procedures for cotton is discussed.
A neighborhood model for detection in hyperspectral images

The neighborhood model provides a moderate complexity method of introducing the concept of smoothness into a detection problem. As tested here, the smoothness is reduced to a simple scalar quantity whose probability is easily computed. The concept is fairly general, moving from vector matched filter processing as originally formulated to any scalar image. The result is a nonlinear filter which is edge preserving and classifier-enhancing, resulting in improvements in the ROC curve in all classifiers tested, the neighborhood modeling.
Applying the Methodology to a Funds-Transfer Security System

This case study demonstrates the application of the risk assessment methodology to a funds-transfer security system. As a result of the high financial exposure involved in funds transfers, several external security measures are used to minimize processing risk. These include callback and verification of wire transfers as well as manual records paralleling the system accounts. software exposure in this environment is relatively low compared to the potential magnitude of exposure because of the effectiveness of these hazard mitigators.