cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cationic cysteine-hydrazide as an enrichment tool for the mass spectrometric characterization of bacterial free oligosaccharides

In Campylobacterales and related e-proteobacteria with N-linked glycosylation (NLG) pathways, free oligosaccharides (fOS) are released into the periplasmic space from lipid-linked precursors by the bacterial oligosaccharyltransferase (PglB). This hydrolysis results in the same molecular structure as the oligosaccharide that is transferred to a protein to be glycosylated. This allowed for the general elucidation of the fOS-branched structures and monosaccharides from a number of species using standard enrichment and mass spectrometry methods. To aid characterization of fOS, hydrazide chemistry has often been used for chemical modification of the reducing part of oligosaccharides resulting in better selectivity and sensitivity in mass spectrometry; however, the removal of the unreacted reagents used for the modification often causes the loss of the sample. Here, we develop a more robust method for fOS purification and characterize glycostructures using complementary tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. A cationic cysteine hydrazide derivative was synthesized to selectively isolate fOS from periplasmic fractions of bacteria. The cysteine hydrazide nicotinamide (Cyhn) probe possesses both thiol and cationic moieties. The former enables reversible conjugation to a thiol-activated solid support, while the latter improves the ionization signal during MS analysis. This enrichment was validated on the well-studied Campylobacter jejuni by identifying fOS from the periplasmic extracts. Using complementary MS/MS analysis, we approximated data of a known structure of the fOS from Campylobacter concisus. This versatile enrichment technique allows for the exploration of a diversity of protein glycosylation pathways.
Immersive Whiteboard Collaborative System

An immersive whiteboard system is presented where users at multiple locations can communicate with each other. The system features a virtual environment with vivid avatars, stroke compression and streaming technology to effectively deliver stroke data across meeting participants, friendly human interaction and navigation, virtual and physical whiteboard. The whiteboard is both a physical platform for our input/output interfaces and a virtual screen for sharing common multimedia. It is this whiteboard correspondence that allows the user to physically write on the virtual whiteboard. In addition to drawing on the shared virtual board, the immersive whiteboard in our setup permits users to control the application menus, insert multimedia objects into the world, and navigate around the virtual environment. By integrating multimedia objects and avatar representations into an immersive environment, we provide the users with a more transparent medium so that they feel as if they are communicating and interacting face-to-face. The whiteboard efficiently pulls all the collaboration technologies together. The goal of this collaborative system is to provide a convenient environment for participants to interact with each other and support collaborative applications such as instant messaging, distance learning and conferencing.
Access Control: The Neglected Frontier

Access control is an indispensable security technology. However, it has been relatively neglected by the research community. Over the past ten years, the doctrine of mandatory and discretionary access controls has slowly become discredited but no dominant doctrine has emerged to replace it. There are promising candidates such as role and task-based access controls but these are still in their formative stages and have not gained wide acceptance. This paper gives my personal perspective on these issues and identifies some of the important access control issues that researchers and practitioners should focus on.
On the numerical simulation of particle dynamics in the radiation belt: 1. Implicit and semi‐implicit schemes

[1] The particle dynamics in the Earth's radiation belt is generally modeled by means of a two-dimensional diffusion equation for the particle distribution function in energy and pitch angle. The goal of this paper is to survey and compare different numerical schemes for the solution of the diffusion equation, and to outline the optimal strategy from a numerical point of view. We focus on the general (and more computationally challenging) case where the mixed terms in the diffusion tensor are retained. In Part 1, we compare fully implicit and semi-implicit schemes. For the former, we have analyzed a direct solver based on a LU decomposition routine for sparse matrices, and an iterative incomplete LU preconditioned Generalized Minimal REsidual solver. For the semi-implicit scheme, we have studied an alternating direction implicit scheme. We present a convergence study for a realistic case that shows that the time step and grid size are strongly constrained by the desired accuracy of the solution. We show that the fully implicit scheme is to be preferred in most cases as the more computationally efficient.
SEROLOGICAL FACTORS AS POSSIBLE CAUSES IN SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS

Shortly after the pathogenesis of erythroblastosis fetalis was established, the writer had an opportunity to study the bloods of women having histories of abortions and stillbirths not attributable to erythroblastosis fetalis. It soon became evident that the Rh blood factor played only a comparatively minor role in these cases.22 However, a difference was observed in the blood group of the mother on the one hand and of the father and of the fetus on the other, which could be interpreted as isoimmunition by the blood factors A and B. In these instances the mother’s blood was lacking the blood factors A and B, one of which was present in the father and in the affected fetus. This sort of mating is defined as incompatible in contrast to those compatible matings in which the blood factors of the father and of the mother either are identical or in which the mother carries the dominant blood factor.
Newton and hamilton: In defense of truth in algebra

Although it is clear that Sir William Rowan Hamilton supported a Kantian account of algebra, I argue that there is an important sense in which Hamilton's philosophy of mathematics can be situated in the Newtonian tradition. Drawing from both Niccolo Guicciardini's (2009) and Stephen Gaukroger's (2010) readings of the Newton–Leibniz controversy over the calculus, I aim to show that the very epistemic ideals that underpin Newton's argument for the superiority of geometry over algebra also motivate Hamilton's philosophy of algebra. Namely, Hamilton's defense of algebra, like Newton's defense of geometry, is driven by the claim that a mathematical science must have a proper object and thus a basis in truth. In particular, Hamilton aims to show that algebra is not a mere language, or tool, or a mere “art”; instead, he argues, algebra is a bona fide mathematical science, like geometry, because its methods also provide true and accurate insight into a genuine subject matter, namely, the pure form of temporal intuition.
A large acceptance pion channel for cancer therapy

Abstract The design of a large acceptance superconducting toroidal pion channel with solid angle greater than 1 sr and momentum acceptance of several percent is presented. Measurements of characteristics of negative pion production with an electron beam including thick target cross sections, electron and muon beam contaminants, and neutron and gamma ray backgrounds are described. These parameters are used to define a pion channel configuration with desirable properties for use in the radiation therapy of cancer. The method of computer design of the magnetic fields and calculation of pion trajectories is discussed along with a description of momentum and spatial resolution effects. Further discussion is included with respect to the specific engineering design problems of the winding configuration, cryogenic system, radiation damage, and the multiple momentum defining slit system.
Elevated sulfate reduction in metal-contaminated freshwater lake sediments

Although sulfate-reducing prokaryotes have long been studied as agents of metals bioremediation, impacts of long-term metals exposure on biologically mediated sulfur cycling in natural systems remains poorly understood. The effects of long-term exposure to metal stress on the freshwater sulfur cycle were studied, with a focus on biologic sulfate reduction using a combination of microbial and chemical methods. To examine the effects after decades of adaptation time, a field-based experiment was conducted using multiple study sites in a natural system historically impacted by a nearby zinc smelter (Lake DePue, Illinois). Rates were highest at the most metals-contaminated sites (-35 {mu}mol/cm{sup 3}/day) and decreased with decreased pore water zinc and arsenic contamination levels, while other environmental characteristics (i.e., pH, nutrient concentrations and physical properties) showed little between-site variation. Correlations were established using an artificial neural network to evaluate potentially non-linear relationships between sulfate reduction rates (SRR) and measured environmental variables. SRR in Lake DePue were up to 50 times higher than rates previously reported for lake sediments and the chemical speciation of Zn was dominated by the presence of ZnS as shown by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). These results suggest that long-term metal stress of natural systems might alter the biogeochemicalmore » cycling of sulfur by contributing to higher rates of sulfate reduction.« less
Clinical Applications of Corneal Optical Coherence Tomography

OCT can accurately map corneal, epithelial, stromal thicknesses, and measure corneal curvatures. It’s useful in keratoconus screening, intraocular lens power calculation, phototherapeutic keratectomy guidance, imaging of corneal diseases, surgeries (implantation and transplantation).
Fecal bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and bacteria after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis do not differ in patients with pouchitis

Construction of an ileal reservoir changes the fecal bacterial flora and the fecal composition of bile acids and short-chain fatty acids. We examined the relationships between pouch inflammation (pouchitis) and pouch content, as assessed by analysis of fecal bacteria, bile acids, and short chain fatty acids. Four groups were studied: ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis with pouchitis (N=10), IPAA without pouchitis (N=5), IPAA for familial adenomatous polyposis without pouchitis (N=5); and Brooke ileostomy for ulcerative colitis, which served as controls (N=5). Pouchitis was defined as ≥7 points on an 18-point pouchitis disease activity index. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were quantitatively cultured. Total aqueous-phase bile acids were measured by thin-layer chromatography and an enzymatic 3α-OH hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase method. Fecal short chain fatty acids were measured by gas liquid chromatography. All patients with an IPAA had higher ratios of anaerobes/aerobes and concentrations of anaerobic gram-negative rods than did patients with an ileostomy. There were no other differences between patient groups with respect to bacteria, aqueous-phase total bile acids, or fecal short-chain fatty acids. Fecal concentrations of bacteria, bile acids, and short-chain fatty acids were similar in patients with and without pouchitis, indicating that these factors can not be the sole cause of pouchitis.
Development and validation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the determination of ribavirin in human plasma and serum.

Abstract A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed for the analysis of antiviral agent ribavirin in human plasma and serum. The samples (0.1 ml) were extracted from the matrix using a simple protein precipitation procedure. The supernatants were evaporated to dryness, reconstituted and injected onto the LC/MS/MS system. The chromatography separation was achieved on a silica column operated with an aqueous–organic mobile phase. The use of a silica column not only provided adequate retention for the extremely polar compound of ribavirin, but also enhanced electrospray ionization sensitivity with the use of high percentage organic solvent in the mobile phase. The method has been validated over the concentration range of 10–10 000 ng/ml ribavirin in human plasma and serum. Bamethan was used as the internal standard. The protein precipitation extraction has been automated based on 96-well format with the use of robotic liquid handlers to improve the overall throughput of the analysis.
Self-Balanced Dual Interleaved Active-Clamp Forward for High Input Voltage Application

This paper proposes a new Dual Interleaved Active-Clamp Forward topology suitable for high input voltage and high density application. Two interleaved forward circuits are connected in series on the primary side and in parallel on the secondary side. The two interleaved parts utilize auxiliary windings to share one capacitor to fulfill active-clamp and charge balance regulation. Interleaved operation reduces the size of the output filter inductor. A prototype with 220-400V input and 5V/30A output is built. Experimental results verify the performance of the new topology.
Exploring Automatization Processes

* The applied linguistics literature of the past 10 years has given a prominent place to various interrelated questions about the teaching of L2 grammar rules. Although there is evidence now for the usefulness of focus on form (see, e.g., Spada & Lightbown, 1993; White, Spada, Lightbown, & Ranta, 1991, for classroom studies; Doughty, 1991, for laboratory research) and explicit rule teaching (see, e.g., Scott, 1989, for classroom research; Alanen, 1992; DeKeyser, 1995; N. Ellis, 1993; Robinson, in press, for laboratory studies), no research so far has tried to provide any fine-grained empirical evidence for or against the existence of automatization processes in L2 grammar learning. In other words, in spite of the practical importance of this issue, there is no good evidence of what can be done to take students from explicit rule knowledge to spontaneous, fast, and relatively error-free rule use. This brief report presents the rationale for and the results of a pilot study that tries to document in detail how automatization takes place as the result of different kinds of intensive practice.
New horizons of the humanistic approach to expressive therapies and creativity development

Considerable attention is now being paid to the “holistic approach to health care”. Some years ago, Dr. Josef Garai addressed this issue by another name. Then he discussed the relationships between art therapy, creativity development and the humanistic approach. He has continued to develop his original ideas and to ‘synthesize these concepts with past and current authors. The following presentation is a crdmination of his commitment to the development of arts in therapy as a holistic approach to treatment in the field of mental health. It reflects an overview of the literature related to this area, and this information, interspersed with Dr. Garai’s thoughts and comments, provides an excellent resource for the reader.
An evaluation of anion exchange resin used to measure nitrate movement through soil

Abstract The attribute that ion‐exchange resins remove ions from solutions moving through them can be used to measure nitrate transport through soils. The characteristics of nitrate adsorption by resins must be known to interpret nitrate accumulation on ion‐exchange resins embedded in soil. The extent to which anion exchange resins retain NO3‐ from soil leachate was measured in 15.9 cm diam.by 60 cm long intact cores of Nolin (fine silty mixed mesic Dystric Fluventic Eutrochroept) soil. A NC3 ‐‐selective resin and a non‐selective resin were tested. Columns were fertilized at a rate of 300 kg N/ha and 150 kg Br/ha and leached with 50 cm of water. Under these conditions, both resins retained approximately 80% of the NO3‐ and Br‐ leached through the soil. This compared with greater than 95% retention in laboratory columns containing only resin. The difference in retention was attributed to different flow through the resin associated with the method of resin emplacement.
Role of p53 in the ability of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-diacetato-dichloro-Pt(IV) to circumvent cisplatin resistance

Several reports indicate that the mechanism of resistance to cisplatin is multifactorial. However, DNA damage tolerance appears to be the more significant mechanism. It is clear that resistance in general is a major clinical concern, and a number of approaches have been taken to circumvent this clinical impediment. One approach is through analog development, and we have identified 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-diacetatodichloro-platinum(IV) as an analog with activity in cisplatin resistance. The activity is greatest against ovarian tumor cell lines where the latent, non-inducible wild-type p53 function can be reactivated by the analog. This functional activation of p53 also corresponds to a reduced threshold for tolerance to DNA damage induced by the analog. Interestingly, cell lines with mutant or null p53 are cross-resistant to the analog. The data indicate that cisplatin resistance due to an increase in DNA damage tolerance can arise through a loss of p53 function, and that functional activation of latent wild-type p53 by the analog facilitates cell death and circumvents this resistance mechanism.
Poor Reproductive Success of Striped Bass from a Reservoir with Reduced Summer Habitat

Abstract Reproductive success (spawning, egg production, fertilization, hatch, larval survival) of striped bass Morone saxatilis from Cherokee Reservoir, Tennessee, was less in most years from 1979 to 1984 than that for stocks from two other Tennessee reservoirs, Norris and Watts Bar, when captured individuals from all three stocks were spawned in a hatchery. Reduced reproductive performance was expressed largely as reduction in percentage of females that spawned successfully and as poor embryo survival within 1 d postfertilization. Reproduction by Cherokee stock was best in years following those when the reservoir flushing rate was high. Reduced reproductive competence may be related to a decrease in the amount of summer habitat with suitable temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations, which stresses fish most severely in Cherokee Reservoir compared with the other two reservoirs. Rigorous testing of this hypothesis is recommended to guide management of striped bass and water quality in fresh and es...
Solid-State Deuterium NMR Studies Reveal μs-ns Motions in the HIV-1 Transactivation Response RNA Recognition Site

Solution and solid-state NMR measurements were used together to examine motion in three sites in the HIV-1 TAR RNA. We wished to investigate the dynamics facilitating the conformational rearrangements the TAR RNA must undergo for Tat binding and in particular to characterize the full range of motional time scales accessible to this RNA. Our results demonstrate that the dynamics in TAR involving residues essential to Tat binding include not only the faster motions detected by solution relaxation measurements but also a significant component in the μs-ns time scale.
Analysis of Electron- He 3 Scattering

Measurements of elastic electron-${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ scattering have shown that the magnetic form factor ${F}_{M}$ decreases less rapidly with ${q}^{2}$ than the electric form factor ${F}_{E}$ in the range $0\ensuremath{\le}{q}^{2}\ensuremath{\le}5$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. We interpret the difference as due to the effect of the exchange magnetic moment of ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$, which should have a spatial extension appreciably smaller than that of the probability density. Assuming that the static exchange moment is -0.27 nm, we determine the shape of the form factor ${F}_{x}$ of this moment from ${F}_{M}({q}^{2})$ and ${F}_{E}({q}^{2})$. ${F}_{x}({q}^{2})$ can be fitted with the expression $1\ensuremath{-}(0.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02){q}^{2}$. Our model gives explicit predictions for the form factors in electron-${\mathrm{H}}^{3}$ scattering.
Thrombolysis by rotational thrombectomy followed by tissue plasminogen activator: Evaluation by angioscopy

Thrombus removal using percutaneous rotational thrombectomy (PRT), followed by tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), was studied by contrast angiography and fiberoptic angioscopy in a canine femoral artery model of thrombosis. After thrombus induction and following each treatment, comparisons were made between angioscopy and angiography for the detection of thrombus and subintimal dissection. Angioscopic images were scored in a blinded fashion for lining, protruding, or occlusive thrombus (class 1,2, or 3) as well as estimated wall coverage by thrombus. Angiograms were studied for percent diameter stenosis and the presence of flaps. Following external forceps crush injury of 18 arteries, two hour occlusion, and injection of thrombin, mean angiographic stenosis was 66%, thrombus coverage by angioscopy was 81%, and mean angioscopy class was 2.5. Following PRT, stenosis decreased to 27% (p less than 0.008), thrombus coverage was reduced to 49% (p less than 0.02), and angioscopy class dropped to 2.0 (p less than 0.07). After t-PA treatment, these values were further reduced to 25% (p = NS), 26% (p less than 0.02), and 1.3 (p less than 0.008), respectively. In comparison to angiography, subintimal dissection (seen as flaps) and thrombus (lining, protruding, or occlusive) were present significantly more often by angioscopy (p less than 0.001). It is concluded that PRT results in significant thrombolysis, apparent by angiography and angioscopy. Follow-up t-PA can produce additional, incremental thrombolysis, apparent only by angioscopy. A beneficial role for t-PA following mechanical thrombolysis is suggested by this model. The superior sensitivity of angioscopy for detection of flaps and thrombus is underscored by this study.
The Ancient Frescoes from the Villa Negroni and Their Influence in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

In the summer of 1777 a late Hadrianic house was discovered in the Villa Negroni in Rome which was found to contain excellently preserved wall paintings. The decorations were copied by Anton Raphael Mengs and Anton von Maron and published in twelve hand-colored engravings during the following twenty-four years. The article describes the house and the arrangement of the paintings within it; locates and describes the now rare engravings (the series is published here in its entirety for the first time); identifies one plate as being of doubtful authenticity; and traces the influence of the engravings on interiors of the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Symmetries in dissipation-free linear mode conversion

Abstract From properties of wave energy flow conservation and wave energy flow under time reversal, we derive the symmetries in dissipation-free mode conversion in an inhomogeneous plasma. These are applied to high-temperature plasma mode conversions near the ion–ion hybrid and upper hybrid resonances.
Timing of breeding in variable environments: Tropical birds as model systems

Animals need to adjust reproductive decisions to environmental seasonality. In contrast to species from the well-studied temperate zones, little is known for tropical birds about the environmental cues that stimulate reproductive activity and the physiological mechanisms that regulate reproduction. I am investigating the environmental and endocrine mechanisms that underlie the timing of reproduction in spotted antbirds from the near-equatorial Panamanian rainforest and in small ground finches from the equatorial arid Galapagos islands. Spotted antbirds live in a fairly predictable seasonal environment and show regular changes in gonad sizes and some reproductive hormones. Despite the small annual variation in photoperiod close to the equator, these birds can measure slight photoperiodic increases and use it to initiate reproductive activity. Spotted antbirds also respond to seasonal changes in food availability, which allows them to flexibly adjust gonad growth to environmental conditions. Testosterone is involved in regulating song and aggressive behavior in these year-round territorial birds, although it can remain at low plasma levels throughout the year. In contrast, small ground finches exposed to a rather unpredictable climate on Galapagos appear to grow their gonads whenever heavy rains fall and have regressed gonads during other times of the year. The lack of a physiological preparation for the breeding season and their response to short-term cues related to rainfall indicate a striking flexibility in the regulation of breeding in small ground finches. I suggest that tropical birds can serve as model systems to study the physiological adaptations to different environments. Unraveling the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind the flexibility in reproductive timing will clarify whether differences found between temperate and tropical birds represent variations of the same basic mechanism or instead reflect a fundamental divergence in physiological control systems.
Budget Redirection in Georgia State Government

Budget redirection in Georgia state government represents a change from the expectation of continuous budget growth to an expectation that budget expansion will be accompanied by compensating budget reductions through an ongoing process of priority assessment. Its essential features are: the requirement that state agencies identify a minimum of 5 percent of their current year's budget which becomes the primary means for funding new programs and services in the coming fiscal year; and a limit, based upon revenue projections, on the amount an agency may request above the current year's budget. Like budget reforms in any era, it emanated from a combination of fiscal, managerial, and political objectives.
Everyday Moral Exemplars: The Case of Judge Sam Medina

Discussion of moral exemplars tends to focus on individuals who occupy exalted positions, but everyday leaders and street-level bureaucrats can also be exemplars. This article uses a model of exemplar behavior based both on good character (recognizing and reflecting on ethical issues, and translating this into ethical actions) and on the more demanding high character (making a substantial contribution and being prepared to exhibit sacrifice or courage for the common good). The profile of one everyday moral exemplar is used to illustrate the argument.
Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder Reactions of 2,4,6-(ethoxycarbonyl)-l,3,5-triazine and 2,4,6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine: Pyrimidine Introduction

Abstract A full investigation of the scope of the participation of 2,4,6- tris (ethoxycarbonyl)-1, 3,5-triazine (1a) and 2.4.6- tris (methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine (1b) in inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions suitable for the preparation of functionalized 5,6-disubstituted pyrimidines is detailed. The use of the resulting [4 + 2] cycloadducts as immediate precursors to the parent 4,5-disubstltuted pyrimldines is described.
State Dominance and Communal Perseverance: The Armenian Diaspora in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1979-1989

Contemporary observers of the relations between strong states and weak diasporas have commented that the overwhelming power of the state can and usually does dwarf minorities and limits their freed...
Some aspects of measuring maintenance performance in the process industry

Performance indicators of operational maintenance can help maintenance staff improve its operations, so that the direct and indirect costs of failure processes can be reduced. Many papers have been written on performance indicators for operational maintenance. However, no consensus on which indicators to use in a particular industry has been reached so far. The authors take an industrial engineering approach to this problem by describing the information system needed to be able to make any inferences on operational maintenance performance in the process industry. The indicators suggested focus on finding the most costly equipment from a maintenance perspective, the cost of the current maintenance concept and the major components of maintenance costs. It is emphasized that standards and procedures need to be developed and that adherence to them has to be ensured.
Large Deviations Of Semimartingales: A Maxingale Problem Approach.II. Uniqueness For The Maxingale Problem. Applications

We establish conditions under which the maxingale problem defined in part I of the work has a unique solution. We next combine the uniqueness results and limit theorems of part I to obtain results on the large deviation principle for processes in a Skorohod space
Effect of immunization with Theiler's virus on the course of demyelinating disease.

Intracerebral (i.c.) inoculation of susceptible mice with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in a demyelinating disease similar to human multiple sclerosis (MS). Mice develop a strong immune response to TMEV and the disease is believed to be immune-mediated. In order to investigate the effects of the immune response to TMEV on the course of demyelination, we immunized host mice with UV-inactivated TMEV at various time periods in relation to intracerebral inoculation with live TMEV. Here, we show that subcutaneous immunization of mice with TMEV prior to infection with virus is able to protect susceptible, SJL/J mice from demyelinating disease. This protective effect appears to be long-lasting; immunization greater than 90 days prior to i.c. inoculation of the virus protects mice from subsequent infection. However, immunization of mice after i.c. infection with TMEV does not confer protection, but rather exacerbates the disease symptoms. Thus, this system offers a model for studying viral capsid proteins and/or epitopes which are involved in either protection from disease or immune-mediated pathogenesis leading to myelin destruction in susceptible mice.
Direct differential-cross-section calculations for ion-atom and atom-atom collisions in the keV range

The direct differential cross section and the total cross section for scattering of 0.5-, 1.5-, and 5.0-keV ${\mathrm{H}}^{+},$ H, and He projectiles by He and Ne targets over the laboratory scattering angle range $0.01\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}10.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ are studied using the electron nuclear dynamics theory, which treats the simultaneous dynamics of all electrons and nuclei. Emphasis is put on the quantum effects of the forward peak scattering. Comparison of the present results with available experimental data shows very good agreement.
Fludarabine and melphalan-based conditioning for patients with advanced hematological malignancies relapsing after a previous hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Severe regimen-related toxicity often complicates second transplant procedures performed in patients with hematological malignancies that have relapsed after an initial hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant. Therefore, we studied the safety and efficacy of a reduced-intensity fludarabine and melphalan based conditioning regimen in 11 patients who had relapsed following an autologous (n = 7) or allogeneic (n = 4) HSC transplant. All patients received allogeneic peripheral blood HSC from either an HLA-identical (n = 7) or an HLA-mismatched (n = 4) relative. Diagnoses included AML (n = 9), ALL (n = 1), or Hodgkin's disease (n = 1). Only one patient was in complete remission at the time of second transplant. The median interval between first transplant and relapse was 163 days (range 58-1885). Recipients of HLA-mismatched transplants received antithymocyte globulin in addition to fludarabine and melphalan as part of the conditioning regimen. All 11 patients received acute GVHD prophylaxis consisting of tacrolimus and methotrexate. Ten of 11 patients achieved hematopoietic engraftment with a median time to absolute neutrophil count >0.5 x 10(9)/l and to platelet count of >20 x 10(9)/l of 14 and 19 days, respectively. All engrafting patients achieved 100% donor chimerism on initial analysis, except for one with persistent leukemia at day +19. Two patients experienced grade 3 regimen-related toxicity, manifesting as acute renal failure. Acute GVHD grades 2-4 occurred in two recipients and chronic GVHD in four. The 100-day mortality from all causes was 36%. Ten of 11 patients (91%) died a median of 140 days (range 9-996) after the second transplant. The causes of death included relapse (n = 5), sepsis (n = 4), and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (n = 1). One patient with AML survives in remission at 880 days post-transplant. We conclude that fludarabine- and melphalan-based conditioning promotes full donor chimerism, even following HLA-mismatched transplants. However, the regimen may be more beneficial when applied to patients undergoing allogeneic HSC transplantation earlier in their disease course.
Strategies for research and management in reduced-input agroecosystems

Developing reduced-input agroecosystems is a challenge to researchers and practitioners in a number of disciplines. In particular, because of the complexity of managerial inputs, understanding the effects of decreases in levels of one or several inputs presents a difficult experimental problem. Moderate reductionism is proposed as an appropriate hierarchical analysis, which first characterizes system level behavior and then explains it in terms of system components and their interactions. An example is given using reduced nitrogen fertilizer inputs; higher nitrogen use efficiency at lower levels of input is explained by increased nutrient recycling between soil and plant subsystems. Transition from conventional to reduced-input management involves changes in both economic and ecological properties of agroecosystems. Biological, chemical and physical changes, including increased species diversity, tighter nutrient recycling, and longer-term perennial effects, may parallel ecological succession. Hypothetical trends for several such changes are discussed.
A Godunov-Type Scheme for Atmospheric Flows on Unstructured Grids: Scalar Transport

This is the first paper in a two-part series on the implementation of Godunov-type schemes on unstructured grids for atmospheric flow simulations. Construction of a high-resolution flow solver for the scalar transport equation is described in detail. Higher-order accuracy in space is achieved via a MUSCL-type gradient reconstruction after van Leer and the monotonicity of solution is enforced by slope limiters. Accuracy in time is maintained by implementing a multi-stage explicit Runge-Kutta time-marching algorithm. The scheme is conservative and exhibits minimal numerical dispersion and diffusion. Five different benchmark test cases are simulated for the validation of the numerical scheme.
Postoperative Morbidity with Diversion after Low Anterior Resection in the Era of Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Single Institution Experience

Background The use of defunctioning stomas has been advocated to mitigate the adverse sequela from anastomotic dehiscence after rectal cancer resection. The aim of this study was to report our experience with anastomotic dehiscence and overall morbidity of low anterior resections in the era of neoadjuvant therapy, where the use of fecal diversion is part of the standard operative strategy for low ( Study Design This retrospective case series included patients who were treated with neoadjuvant therapy and had rectal cancer resection with curative intent, from 1996 to 2007. Results Two hundred thirty-seven patients (159 men, 78 women) with mean age of 59 years (SD±12.7 years), received 5-flurouracil–based infusional chemotherapy and external-beam radiation in the range of 45 to 54 Gy. Fifty-seven percent of patients underwent anterior resection and 43% had coloanal anastomosis. Anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 9 patients (3.8%). Seven of the anastomotic leaks were diagnosed as pelvic abscesses (2.1%) and 2 patients needed reexploration (0.8%). Early overall postoperative morbidity was 26%, and there was no postoperative mortality. One hundred ninety-one of 193 patients had their ileostomy reversed, with minimal morbidity (0.5% leak rate). Conclusions Low postoperative morbidity after colorectal and coloanal anastomosis for adenocarcinoma is possible in patients who have received neoadjuvant therapy. Defunctioning stomas are safe and may mitigate the serious sequela of anastomotic dehiscence after low rectal anastomoses.
Distribution of somatostatin in the rat brain: Telencephalon and diencephalon

Abstract The distribution of somatostatin (SRIF) was examined using the unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunocytochemistry on thick 30–50 μm Vibratome sections. The greatest population of SRIF-neurons was observed along the vertricular wall in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus. Dense accumulations of fibers were observed in the suprachiasmatic, ventromedial and arcuate nuclei, the internal and external zone of the median eminence, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the subfornical organ. Extrahypothalamic sites of SRIF-containing neurons and fibers were also observed throughout the telencephalon. The widespread distribution of SRIF is consistent with radioimmunoassay data and suggest a diverse physiological role for somatostatin.
Building a Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Conference Room: Design Considerations and Filmless Imaging

Building or upgrading a dedicated pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory is an expensive and elaborate undertaking complicated by long-standing biases based on adult laboratory requirements. Optimal design for the needs of pediatric cardiologists and their patients has never been published. This communication discusses these design issues in the context of pediatric needs and offers potential solutions. It also attempts to educate the reader on the basics of digital imaging and its advantages over cine film technology; and it explains how to achieve optimal filmless data acquisition and subsequent display for pediatric cardiac management.
Effects of cordycepin and cordycepintriphosphate on polyadenylic and ribonucleic acid-synthesising enzymes from eukaryotes.

GENETIC information encoded in the nuclear DNA of a eukaryotic cell is selectively transcribed into an array of nuclear RNA molecules heterogeneous in size, base sequence and half-life. The α-amanitin-sensitive, DNA-dependent RNA polymerase isolated from nucleoplasm is thought to catalyse the transcription of heterogeneous nuclear RNAs (HnRNA). While in the nucleus, the length of HnRNAs is modified in two ways: first, HnRNAs are lengthened by addition of a poly(A) sequence. The ATP–polynucleotidylexotransferase isolated and purified from several eukaryotic tissues is presumed to catalyse the sequential addition of AMP moieties to the 3′ terminus of the HnRNA. Secondly, HnRNAs bearing poly(A) tails are thought to be shortened by cleavage of a portion of the nucleotide sequence at the 5′ terminus and the remainder transported to the cytoplasm. After association with ribosomal subunits, the processed transcripts form polysomes and function as mRNAs in the translation of specific polypep-tides. Inferences as to the processing of HnRNA to give rise to mRNA are drawn from experiments using cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) as an inhibitor of RNA synthesis1–2. Interpretation of many of these experiments rests on the assumption that the cordycepin selectively inhibits the addition of polyadenylic acid to HnRNA4–6. On the other hand, Klenow7 has shown that cordycepin is phosphorylated to 3′-dATP by Erlich ascites tumour cells, and using a bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, Shigeura and Gordon8 demonstrated inhibition of in vitro RNA synthesis by 3′dATP. They postulated that the mechanism of inhibition involved incorporation of the 3′-dATP into the growing chain of RNA with subsequent failure to provide a 3′-hydroxyl for the next incoming nucleosidetriphosphate to terminate elongation prematurely.
Losses in a pulsed ruby laser

The total cavity loss in several ruby lasers has been determined experimentally from a set of threshold measurements. Scattering loss and end-mirror reflectance were measured separately and the difference between these losses and the total attributed to diffraction. Both plane-parallel and confocal resonators were employed. Diffraction loss in the plane-parallel cavities was 25 ± 8% per pass while diffraction loss in the confocal cavity was 8 ± 8%. These values are in agreement with theoretical analysis within experimental error.
Processing and structural optimization of PEEK composites

The objective of this experimental program was to understand how changes in processing conditions affect the morphology and ultimately, the performance of polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-based carbon fiber composites. Based on some initial differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) work, various molding and aging conditions were implemented on compression molded plaques made from PEEK APC-2 prepreg. These conditions included samples that were physically aged, annealed just below the melting point, slow cooled, prepared under low pressure, and under fast cooling. Using DSC, the crystallinity of plaques prepared according to the ICI procedure, low pressure, and physical aging conditions were found to be 31–33 percent, while the slow cooling and annealing conditions resulted in crystallinity of 42 percent, with slow cooling displaying a „shoulder” on the primary melting endotherm. Optical and plasma etching/scanning electron microscopy on faster cooled plaques generally revealed a mixture of isolated and graphite fiber nucleated spherulites, while the slow-cooled condition revealed larger fiber nucleated spherulites exclusively. Fracture toughness and impact delamination as measured by ultrasonic C-scan indicates that slow cooling resulted in the lowest properties, while simultaneously resulting in the highest compression strength, all of which suggests reduced matrix toughness. The annealing condition, which allowed high crystallinity but in a matrix of smaller spherulites, resulted in properties intermediate between slow and fast cooling, suggesting that both spherulite size and degree of crystallinity are important in characterizing these materials. In contrast, physical aging resulted in no degradation in mechanical properties.
Large, energetic cluster impacts on surfaces

Abstract The competition between sputtering or evaporative cooling and cooling by thermal conduction of thermal spikes produced by cluster ion impact on surfaces can be investigated by study of the morphology of craters or holes produced in the surfaces using techniques of transmission electron microscopy. Results of a study using protonated water molecule clusters containing as many as 150 water molecules accelerated to energies as high as 300000 V, impacting on thin carbon surfaces will be presented. The clusters used in these studies may be considered as species which are intermediate between atomic and small molecule projectiles which transfer energy on impact and penetration in processes that can be modeled by two-body interactions with energy losses given by stopping power theory, and macromolecular projectiles which compress solid targets and transfer energy by generation of shock waves and continuum phenomena. Threshold cluster sizes and energies for production of the latter type process can be determined crudely from observation of energy transfer processes that depart significantly from predictions of stopping power theory. Craters or holes as small as 20–30 A in diameter were produced in thin carbon films by 50 molecule protonated water cluster ions. The morphology of these craters and holes and larger ones produced by larger cluster ions provide direct experimental evidence for the formation of thermal spikes. The technique provides promise as a method of permanently altering surface structures.
Recent lessons for the management of bone and joint infections

The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of osteoarticular infections are changing primarily as a result of the emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Multifocal disease, venous thrombosis and pathologic fractures are manifestations of CA-MRSA osteomyelitis. MRI is the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for musculoskeletal infections. Nafcillin/oxacillin or cefazolin remains the antibiotic of choice for treating infections caused by MSSA. A β-lactam antibiotic is recommended for Kingella kingae. Vancomycin and clindamycin are the first line agents for treating osteomyelitis caused by CA-MRSA. A short course of parenteral antibiotics followed by appropriate oral antibiotics is equivalent to total course of parenteral antibiotics for most patients and avoids the risks associated with PICCs. Surgical drainage of subperiosteal abscesses and surrounding pyomyositis is common with S. aureus clones currently circulating. Collaboration with hematologists for managing patients with venous thromboses is recommended.
Equity Issues and Changes in Expectations of Earnings by Financial Analysts

Evidence is provided on an implication of models by Myers and Majluf (1984) and Miller and Rock (1985), which predict that equity issues convey information about firms' future earnings. Consistent with the prediction, the results show that earnings forecast revisions by financial analysts subsequent to the announcement of equity issues are significantly related to announcement period abnormal returns. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Evolution of semiconductor process technology

For the past years the number of transistors integrated into a single chip has doubled every one to two years; that trend has not slowed down. Actually, it has accelerated every time we hit a technology barrier point. New developments in process and equipment technology have enabled us to follow Moore's law to reduce the average dimension of the physical features of integrated circuits from 10micrometers down to .1micrometers . What will be the limit be. 0.01micrometers and 120 inches. We will not reach it within this decade.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.