cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vasectomy and the risk of prostate cancer in a cohort of multiphasic health-checkup examinees: second report.

The relationship of vasectomy to prostate cancer was studied in 5,119 men with a self-reported history of vasectomy, identified at multiphasic health checkups undergone during 1977–82 while members of the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Three unvasectomized comparison subjects were identified for each vasectomized man, matched for age, race, marital status, and date and location of the examination. Follow-up for incident prostate cancer was conducted for a mean length of 6.8 years. The relative risk of prostate cancer associated with vasectomy was 1.0 (95% confidence interval = 0.7–1.6); the relative risk was approximately one, regardless of length of interval (less than 10 years, 10–20 years, more than 20 years) between vasectomy and multiphasic health checkup or the age at vasectomy (less than 40 years vs more than 40 years). These data support earlier findings reported in this study group of the lack of an association of vasectomy with subsequent risk of prostate cancer.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the chemisorption of water on uranium and thorium and oxygen on uranium ☆

Abstract The initial stages of water and oxygen adsorption on clean uranium and thorium and oxygen adsorption on uranium has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These measurements are made in the vicinity of 120 K; in some cases the effect of temperature was followed up to 500 K. Three oxygen (1s) photoelectron peaks are observed for water adsorbed on uranium and thorium. All three peaks have binding energies different from the adsorption of oxygen. The uranium and thorium ( 4 f 7 2 ) lines also have different binding energies for water adsorption than for oxygen adsorption. Oxygen and an OH complex combine with uranium and thorium in a complex way, precluding the initial formation of simple oxides and confirming the importance of OH in the interaction of water with uranium and thorium.
Expression of the Cell Surface Proteoglycan Glypican-5 Is Developmentally Regulated in Kidney, Limb, and Brain

Heparan sulfate is ubiquitous at the cell surface, where it is expressed predominantly on proteoglycans of either the transmembrane syndecan family or the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glypican family, and has been proposed to function as a "coreceptor" for a number of "heparin-binding" growth factors. Although little is known about functional differences between individual members of the glypican gene family, mutations in both the Drosophila gene dally and the human gene for glypican-3 strongly suggest that at least some glypicans do function in cellular growth control and morphogenesis. In particular, deletion of the human glypican-3 gene is responsible for Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, and its associated pre- and postnatal tissue overgrowth, increased risk of embryonal tumors during early childhood, and numerous visceral and skeletal anomalies. We have identified and characterized, by sequencing of EST clones and products of rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), an mRNA that encodes a 572-amino-acid member of the glypican gene family (glypican-5) that is most related (50% amino acid similarity, 39% identity) to glypican-3. Glypican-5 mRNA is detected as a 3.9- and 4.4-kb transcript in adult and neonatal mouse brain total RNA, and in situ hybridization results localize transcript primarily to restricted regions of the developing central nervous system, limb, and kidney in patterns consistent with a role in the control of cell growth or differentiation. Interestingly, glypican-5 localizes to 13q31-32 of the human genome, deletions of which are associated with human 13q- syndrome, a developmental disorder with a pattern of defects that shows significant overlap with the pattern of glypican-5 expression.
Exvis: the exploratory visualization tool (abstract)

An exploratory visualization (Exvis) tool has been developed by a research team at the University of Lowell's Computer Graphics Laboratory. The Exvis tool provides the representation of very high-dimensional data and supports direct interaction between the user and the data.The Exvis tool uses icons to represent the data in both visual and auditory domains. Each data record is represented by a visual icon and an auditory icon. A visual icon is a five-limb stick figure. The angles of the 5 limbs are controlled by the data values of the record. An auditory icon is a synthesized musical instrument. The data values can be mapped to the pitch, attack rate, decay rate, volume, and depth of frequency modulation of the synthesized instrument. The visual texture, produced by packing visual icons densely into a 2D display, stimulates spontaneous perceptions of structures in the data. The auditory texture, as well, can be explored by sweeping the cursor across the screen. The user can map the data to visual icon attributers and auditory icon attributes redundantly to reinforce visual perception. Alternatively, the user can map orthogonally to increase the number of data dimensions.The Exvis tool is implemented in C and the OSF/Motif widget set using X Windows, X11R4. The user can select a database from the preprocessed repertoire. There are twelve different visual icon members of the five-limb stick figure icon family that the user can select from. Fifteen predefined auditory icons and a “create-your-own” auditory icon are provided. The built-in sound synthesizer in the “create-your-own” auditory icon allows the user to create a new instrument. The selections of the parameters and the icon attribute mappings are controlled by the user. Application databases currently running on the system include MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) data, multispectral satellite imagery data, and solutions to partial differential equation representing the field flow and reaction kinetics of a plasma inside a chemical reactor.We are continually upgrading the Exvis tool to provide a richer environment. More visual icon attributes will be supported, such as color, thickness, length and vibration rate. More visual icon families including 3D icons are being developed. A stereo phonic MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) interface is near completion.
The relation between DNA and protein synthesis in mouse fibroblasts.

Abstract Puromycin added to partially synchronized mouse fibroblasts during DNA synthesis markedly inhibited this process. The synthesis of histones occurs concurrently with DNA synthesis, and may be necessary for the latter to occur.
Coarctation of the stapedial artery: an unusual adaptive response to competing functional demands in the middle ear of some eutherians.

In primitive eutherians, the stapedial artery is the primary supplier of blood to the nonneural tissues of the head. Beyond a certain body size, the stapedial artery can no longer function as the sole supplier to its original territory because the diameter of its stem is limited by the size of the intercrural foramen of the stapes, which exhibits strong negative allometry. Some eutherians have extended the upper limit that the diameter of the stapedial stem can attain by developing a coarctation (narrowing) at the transcrural portion of the vessel. In the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) the coarctation develops in postnatal life and is evidently caused by a retardation in growth that keeps the diameter of the vessel at infantile dimensions. In the rat, additional reduction in the external diameter is produced by a thinning of the tunica media of the arterial wall. A comfortable gap between the wall of the artery and the sides of the intercrural foramen is maintained that most likely facilitates the attenuation of potentially disruptive low-frequency vibrations produced by the arterial pressure pulse. The only negative side effect of a coarctation in rat-sized animals is that resistance to flow is increased and volume flow rate is concomitantly diminished. The coarctation does not create flow disturbances downstream of the constriction. One possible additional benefit of the coarctation is a flattening out of the arterial pressure pulse. It is speculated that the capacity to develop a coarctation once a certain body size is reached is an ancient trait that dates at least as far back as the Early Cretaceous.
Distribution, formation mechanisms, and significance of lunar pits

Abstract Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera images reveal the presence of steep-walled pits in mare basalt ( n = 8), impact melt deposits ( n = 221), and highland terrain ( n = 2). Pits represent evidence of subsurface voids of unknown extents. By analogy with terrestrial counterparts, the voids associated with mare pits may extend for hundreds of meters to kilometers in length, thereby providing extensive potential habitats and access to subsurface geology. Because of their small sizes relative to the local equilibrium crater diameters, the mare pits are likely to be post-flow features rather than volcanic skylights. The impact melt pits are indirect evidence both of extensive subsurface movement of impact melt and of exploitable sublunarean voids. Due to the small sizes of pits (mare, highland, and impact melt) and the absolute ages of their host materials, it is likely that most pits formed as secondary features.
An investigation of the career salience of men and women in dual-career families

Abstract The correlates of career salience for members of dual-career families were investigated developing a psychological model. The variables in the model comprised general and situation-specific self-esteem, job involvement, sense of competence, educational level, and whether or not families had planned for a dual-career family life. A sample of 127 dual-career family pairs provided the data for the study. Either one or both spouses were identified by five business organizations, a hospital, and a university. High amounts of variance were explained for both men and women, though the explained variance was higher for men than for women. The mean career salience scores for men and women were not significantly different. The differences in the correlates for men and women and the lower amount of explained variance for women are discussed.
Response competition in the forgetting of paired associates

Two experiments involving 224 college undergraduates investigated retroactive inhibition (RI) with paired associates learned under the A-B, A-C, the A-B, A-Br, or the A-B, C-D paradigm. First-list retention was assessed using one of three types of unpaced multiplechoice test. When each test item included the specific competing response from the second list, there was a substantial amount of RI; whereas no RI appeared when test items entailed only first-list responses or noncompeting second-list responses. The results were interpreted as evidence for specific response competition.
Probing local electromagnetic field enhancements on the surface of plasmonic nanoparticles

Abstract Noble metal nanoparticles have attracted significant research interest due to their ability to support localized surface plasmons. Plasmons not only give the nanoparticles a characteristic color, but they also enhance electromagnetic fields at the nanoparticle surface, often by many orders of magnitude. The enhanced electromagnetic fields are the basis for a host of surface-enhanced spectroscopies, such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), but characterizing how the enhanced electromagnetic fields are distributed on the surface of the nanoparticles is an experimental challenge due to the small size of the nanoparticles (∼20–200 nm) relative to the diffraction limit of light. This Progress Highlight will discuss methods for characterizing local electromagnetic field enhancements with
Anticoagulant effects of autoprothrombin II-A and prothrombin fragment 1

Abstract In 25% sodium citrate solution the quantity and rate of thrombin generated was lower with prothrombin than with prethrombin 1, when the molar ratio of substrate to Factor Xa was ten to one respectively. The difference was found to be due to inhibition by prothrombin fragment 1. Similar differences were observed in physiological saline solution. For the activation of prethrombin 1 in 25% sodium citrate solution Km = 714, and Vmax = 0.173 U/min/unit Factor Xa. In physiological saline solution the respective figures were 992 and 0.015. Protein C, activated by thrombin, reduced the activity of purified Ac-globulin and inhibited the production of thrombin from prethrombin 1 by Factor Xa on a competitive basis. The maximum activation of Protein C by thrombin required about 60 min when the molar ratio was 75 to 1. Activated Protein C retained its activity for many hours even in the presence of relatively large quantities of thrombin.
Genetic differences in conformational changes of albumin in the house mouse.

THE ability of mouse liver to convert mouse or bovine albumin to a faster migrating band under acid conditions of electrophoresis has recently been found to be controlled by a dominant gene, as observed in the SWR/J and several other strains of mice1. Other strains, such as C3H/HeJ, had the recessive allele and were unable to convert albumin. The conditions used included a pH at which conformational changes in albumin are known to occur, suggesting that the strains of mice differ in a factor in the liver capable of converting albumin to a different conformational state. I report here evidence that the conversion of albumin can be reversed by lowering the pH markedly. This provides further evidence that a conformational change has taken place.
Citric Acid-Modified Fenton's Reaction for the Oxidation of Chlorinated Ethylenes in Soil Solution Systems

Fenton's reagent, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron catalyst, is used for an in situ chemical oxidation of organic contaminants. Sulfuric acid is commonly used to create an acidic condition needed for catalytic oxidation. Fenton's reaction often involves pressure buildup and precipitation of reaction products, which can cause safety hazards and diminish efficiency. We selected citric acid, a food-grade substance, as an acidifying agent to evaluate its efficiencies for organic contaminant removal in Fenton's reaction, and examined the impacts of using citric acid on the unwanted reaction products. A series of batch and column experiments were performed with varying H2O2 concentrations to decompose selected chlorinated ethylenes. Either dissolved iron from soil or iron sulfate salt was added to provide the iron catalyst in the batch tests. Batch experiments revealed that both citric and sulfuric acid systems achieved over 90% contaminant removal rates, and the presence of iron catalyst was essential for effective decontamination. Batch tests with citric acid showed no signs of pressure accumulation and solid precipitations, however the results suggested that an excessive usage of H2O2 relative to iron catalysts (Fe2+/H2O2<1/330) would result in lowering the efficiency of contaminant removal by iron chelation in the citric acid system. Column tests confirmed that citric acid could provide suitable acidic conditions to achieve higher than 55% contaminant removal rates.
A Call for Contributions to Chemical Education across Cultural and National Borders

This article introduces a recurring column regarding chemical education around the world. In addition to providing an overview of the Journal’s historical discourse regarding chemical education across nations, details about contributing to this new feature are outlined.
Deciphering genetic regulatory codes: a challenge for functional genomics.

In the past two decades, considerable effort has been devoted to elucidating the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in metazoans. A number of fundamental principles have been established concerning the functions of many transcription factors (TFs) and the cis-acting sequences to which they bind (1). One hypothesis that has emerged from these studies is that genes with similar temporal and spatial expression patterns are subject to a common regulatory logic. That is, unique “transcriptional codes” govern the activation and repression of genes in particular developmental contexts (2, 3). However, because of the laborious nature of cis-regulatory sequence dissection, few comprehensive examples exist to support this concept. A more efficient approach to the identification of coexpressed genes and their associated regulatory elements would accelerate this field greatly. The availability of complete human and model organism genome sequences represents a tremendous windfall for those interested in this problem. Two papers appearing in this issue of PNAS (4, 5) exemplify how a marriage between computational and experimental biology can yield a powerful approach for exploiting genomic information to predict and validate new genes, the expression of which are subject to similar transcriptional codes. With a purely computational approach, uncertainty remains as to whether a predicted CRM actually possesses the expected function.
Atmospheric Ascent Guidance for Rocket-Powered Launch Vehicles

An advanced ascent guidance algorithm for rocket- powered launch vehicles is developed. This algorithm cyclically solves the calculus-of-variations two-point boundary-value problem starting at vertical rise completion through main engine cutoff. This is different from traditional ascent guidance algorithms which operate in a simple open-loop mode until high dynamic pressure (including the critical max-Q) portion of the trajectory is over, at which time guidance operates under the assumption of negligible aerodynamic acceleration (i.e., vacuum dynamics). The initial costate guess is corrected based on errors in the terminal state constraints and the transversality conditions. Judicious approximations are made to reduce the order and complexity of the state/costate system. Results comparing guided launch vehicle trajectories with POST open-loop trajectories are given verifying the basic formulation of the algorithm. Multiple shooting is shown to be a very effective numerical technique for this application. In particular, just one intermediate shooting point, in addition to the initial shooting point, is sufficient to significantly reduce sensitivity to the guessed initial costates. Simulation results from a high-fidelity trajectory simulation are given for the case of launch to sub-orbital cutoff conditions as well as launch to orbit conditions. An abort to downrange landing site formulation of the algorithm is presented.
Neuronal Promoter Analysis by in Vitro Transcription Using Nuclear Extracts from Rat Brain

We present a reliable method for making nuclear extracts from rat brain and for using these extracts in anin vitrotranscription assay. Our nuclear extract technique allows for the isolation of nuclear proteins from post mitotic neurons that presumably contain all of the factors required for the transcriptional regulation of neuron-specific genes. The use of brain as a source of nuclear extract is in contrast to the more commonly used cultured cell lines in which expression of neuron-specific genes may be poor or lacking in tissue specificity.In vitrotranscription using nuclear extracts from expressing (brain) and nonexpressing (liver) tissues provides a direct assessment of promoter strength and level of tissue specificity apart from the effects of higher order DNA structure (i.e., chromatin).In vitrotranscription is also amenable to DNA competitor studies and to the addition of purified or partially purified protein factors and antibodies. In this way, true neuron-specific transcriptional activator or repressor sequences or factors can be characterized. The approach is rapid, reliable, and easily quantifiable. Finally, advancements in the field of nucleosome reconstitution have allowed the coupling ofin vitrotranscription to nucleosome assembly systems and provide a novel and promising approach to the understanding of neuronal-specific gene expression.
Hidden Markov models of biological primary sequence information

Abstract Hidden Markov model (HMM) techniques are used to model families of biological sequences. A smooth and convergent algorithm is introduced to iteratively adapt the transition and emission parameters of the models from the examples in a given family. The HMM approach is applied to three protein families: globins, immunoglobulins, and kinases. In all cases, the models derived capture the important statistical characteristics of the family and can be used for a number of tasks, including multiple alignments, motif detection, and classification. For K sequences of average length N, this approach yields an effective multiple-alignment algorithm which requires O(KN2) operations, linear in the number of sequences.
Reaction of thianthrene and phenoxathiin cation radicals with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene. Chemical and electrochemical studies.

Thianthrene cation radical tetrafluoroborate (Th•+BF4-) has been found to add to 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (DMB) at 0 °C and −15 °C. The adduct, 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-(5,10-thianthreniumdiyl)butane ditetrafluoroborate (12), was isolated at −15 °C, and its 1H NMR spectrum was recorded at that temperature. The adduct was stable in CD3CN solution at −15 °C but decomposed slowly at 0 °C and quickly at 23 °C, forming the salt of 2,4,4,5,5-pentamethyl-2-oxazoline (8) with loss of thianthrene (Th). These results explain why earlier attempts to prepare 12 and detect its formation at room temperature with NMR spectroscopy were not successful. Reaction of Th•+ with DMB was followed with cyclic voltammetry and was found to exhibit redox catalysis in which Th was regenerated. With the faster scanning techniques of cyclic voltammetry, the formation of 12 was detectable, with a reduction potential of about −1.0 V at 25 °C and 3 °C. The observed reduction potential was in harmony with reduction potentials of a number of other, s...
Assessing for a History of Serious Depression Among First-Year College Students

ABSTRACT College student survey data collected from first-year students entering a relatively small and highly selective, private university in the northeastern United States were examined in order to assess for a history of depression. The data indicated that a substantial percentage of first-year students had experienced at least one period of serious depression prior to entering college.
Low-Profile Broadband and Dual-Frequency Two-Strip Planar Monopole Antennas

A novel type of low-profile broadband and dual-frequency monopole antennas is developed for wireless applications. The broadband monopole consists of an S-strip and a folded T-strip which are separately printed on the two sides of a thin planar substrate. No via process is involved in the fabrication. The two-strip planar monopole can achieve a bandwidth (VSWR<2) of ~35% with a height of 0.056lambda0. The dual-frequency operation of the broadband monopole antenna is realized by adding a short T-strip to the S-strip and a couple of inverted-L strips to the folded T-strip. The dual-frequency monopole can accomplish a bandwidth of ~40% at a lower-frequency band and ~10% at a higher-frequency with a total height of 0.08lambda0
Aneurysm rupture after endovascular repair using the AneuRx stent graft

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the cause and frequency of aneurysm rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair. Methods: We reviewed each patient who sustained aneurysm rupture among all patients enrolled for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in phases I, II, and III of the US AneuRx Multicenter Clinical Trial from June 1996 through October 1999. Results: A total of 1067 patients were enrolled for endovascular aneurysm repair. The AneuRx stent graft was successfully implanted in 1046 patients (98%). Endovascular repair was unsuccessful in 21 patients (2%); 13 patients (1%) were converted to open aneurysm repair. Among these, two patients (0.2%) sustained aneurysm rupture due to procedure-related instrumentation and underwent open surgical conversion. Aneurysm rupture has occurred in seven patients (0.7%) 3 weeks to 24 months (mean, 16 months) after successful endovascular repair. Four patients survived open surgical repair, and three patients died within 30 days. Overall rupture-related mortality was 0.5% and included late deaths after rupture. Before rupture, two patients had endoleak and aneurysm enlargement, and five patients had no endoleak and no aneurysm enlargement. After aneurysm rupture all seven patients had evidence suggesting that there was poor fixation of the stent graft at the proximal distal, or iliac junction fixation sites. The two patients with endoleak declined recommended open surgical or endovascular repair, which could have prevented aneurysm rupture. In retrospect, the five patients without endoleak could potentially have avoided rupture with better patient selection, better stent graft positioning, or reinforcement of fixation points with stent graft extenders. The probability of no aneurysm rupture for all patients undergoing endovascular repair is 0.996 ± 0.002 at 1 year and 0.974 ± 0.011 at 2 years by life table analysis with the longest follow-up of 41 months. Conclusion: The early risk of aneurysm rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair is low. However, the possibility of rupture persists even in patients with no endoleak after the procedure. Therefore, all patients treated with endovascular aneurysm repair should continue to be monitored after the procedure. Patients with evidence suggesting insecure stent graft fixation should undergo further endovascular treatment or open surgical repair. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:960-70.)
Reactions of benzene oxide with thiols including glutathione

S-Phenylmercapturic acid is a minor metabolite of benzene used as a biomarker for human benzene exposures. The reaction of intracellular glutathione with benzene oxide-oxepin, the initial metabolite of benzene, is presumed to give 1-(S-glutathionyl)-cyclohexa-3,5-dien-2-ol, which undergoes dehydration to S-phenylglutathione, the precursor of S-phenylmercapturic acid. To validate the proposed route to S-phenylglutathione, reactions of benzene oxide-oxepin with glutathione and other sulfur nucleophiles have been studied. The reaction of benzene oxide with an excess of aqueous sodium sulfide, followed by acetylation, gave bis-(6-trans-5-acetoxycyclohexa-1,3-dienyl)sulfide, the structure of which was proved by X-ray crystallography. Reactions of benzene oxide-oxepin in a 95:5 (v/v) mixture of phosphate buffer in D2O with (CD3)2SO were monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the absence of glutathione, the half-life of benzene oxide-oxepin was ca. 34 min at 25 degrees C and pD 7.0. The half-life was not affected in the range of 2-15 mM glutathione in the presence and absence of a commercial sample of human glutathione S-transferase (at pH 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, or 10.0). The adduct 1-(S-glutathionyl)-cyclohexa-3,5-diene-2-ol was identified in these reaction mixtures, especially at higher pH, by mass spectrometry and by its acid-catalyzed decomposition to S-phenylglutathione. Incubation of benzene oxide with N-acetyl-L-cysteine at 37 degrees C and pH 10.0 and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of the mixture showed formation of pre-S-phenylmercapturic acid and the dehydration product, S-phenylmercapturic acid. The data validate the premise that benzene oxide-oxepin can be captured by glutathione to give (1R,2R)- and/or (1S,2S)-1-(S-glutathionyl)-cyclohexa-3,5-dien-2-ol, which dehydrate to S-phenylglutathione. The capture is a relatively inefficient process at pH 7 that is accelerated at higher pH. These studies account for the observation that the metabolism of benzene is dominated by the formation of phenol. The pathway leading to S-phenylmercapturic acid is necessarily minor on account of the low efficiency of benzene oxide capture by glutathione at pH 7 vs spontaneous rearrangement to phenol.
Value of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after unsuccessful intravenous streptokinase therapy in acute myocardial infarction

The effect of sequential high-dose intravenous streptokinase (SK) (1.5 million units) followed by emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on preserving left ventricular function was assessed prospectively in 34 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Intravenous SK therapy was initiated 2.6 +/- 1.3 hours (mean +/- standard deviation) after the onset of chest pain. Urgent coronary angiography showed persistent total occlusion in 13 patients, significant diameter stenosis (70 to 99%) in 18 patients and a widely patent artery (less than 50% stenosis) in 3 patients. Emergency PTCA was performed in 29 patients 5.0 +/- 2.1 hours after symptom onset. Successful recanalization was achieved in 33 of the 34 patients (97%) treated with sequential therapy. Repeat contrast ventriculograms recorded 7 to 10 days after intervention in 23 patients showed that the left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 53 +/- 12% to 59 +/- 13% (area-length method, p less than 0.002). Regional wall motion of the infarcted segments improved from -2.7 +/- 1.1 to -1.5 +/- 1.7 SD/chord (centerline method, p less than 0.003). In the subgroup of patients with an occluded artery on initial angiography (group A, n = 10), both global left ventricular ejection fraction (49 +/- 12% vs 59 +/- 12%, p less than 0.002) and regional wall motion (-3.2 +/- 1.0 vs -1.9 +/- 1.7 SD/chord, p less than 0.002) improved significantly. In contrast, no significant improvement was seen in patients with a patent artery on initial angiography (n = 13). Thus, sequential intravenous SK and emergency PTCA is efficacious in achieving coronary reperfusion and in improving both global and regional left ventricular function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Antiproliferative, low-calcemic, fluorinated sulfone analogs of 1α,25 -dihydroxyvitamin D3 : Chemical synthesis and biological evaluation

Novel fluorinated sulfone analogs of the hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have been designed and synthesized in order to study the biological effects of fluorine incorporation at the terminus of the C,D-ring side chain. Although biologically active 26,27-hexafluorinated 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogs have been synthesized previously, this investigation reports the first successful fluorinated series in which trifluoromethyl sulfone analogs present a favorable biological profile. This study shows that two new analogs featuring incorporation of a synthetically simple single trifluoromethyl sulfone group have significantly increased antiproliferative activity while causing desirably low in vivo calciuria relative to that of calcitriol. Incorporation of additional fluorines, as in a perfluorobutyl analog, results in a loss of antiproliferative activity.
PROCESSING, PARTS, AND BONING YIELDS OF BOBWHITE QUAIL (COLINUS VIRGINANUS) AS AFFECTED BY AGE AND SEX

Bobwhite quail separated by sex were raised on standard diets for 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks and dressed to obtain head, feet, neck, viscera, blood and feather, and carcass weights. Carcasses were cut into breast, leg, and wing portions, then hand-separated into skin, meat, and frame parts. Regardless of sex, carcass yield increased as the age advanced. No apparent difference in dressing percentages was observed between males and females under 12 weeks of age; however, as age increased beyond this point, the yield of males was higher than that of females. Increased dressing yield and decreased viscera content correlated with age. Age and sex had no apparent effect on the percentages of head, neck, and feet. The breast portion increased as the birds aged, with males being significantly higher. For 16 week males, breast portions constituted about half of the carcass weight.
The synthesis of olefin, carbonyl and thiolate complexes of platinum(IV) in the [η5-C5Me5)Pt(IV)] system. Crystal and molecular structure of (η2-C5Me5)PtMe2[S(p-CH3(C6H4]

Abstract A number of Cp∗PtMe2X and Cp∗PtMe2(L)+(OTf)− complexes have been prepared [ Cp ∗ = η 5 - C 5 Me 5 ; OTf = OSO2CF3; X = OTf, I, N3 S(p-tol); L = CO, C2H4, CH2CHMe, NH3, NH2But]. The complexes Cp∗PtMe2(CO)+(OTf)−, Cp∗PtMe2(C2H4)+(OTf)−, and Cp∗PtMe2(CH2CHMe)+ (OTf)− represent a rare type of compound in which a π acid ligand is coordinated to a high valent metal center predominantly through σ-donation and π-backbonding plays only a limited role in the metal-ligand interaction. The arylthiolate complex, Cp ∗ PtMe 2 [ S (p- tol )] , has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.
Apparent slip at a polymer-polymer interface

We consider a planar interface between strongly-segregated homopolymers subjected to steady shear in the plane of the interface. We develop a constitutive equation for stress relaxation in an inhomogeneous system for chains obeying Rouse dynamics. Using this equation, the interfacial viscosity for a symmetric blend is found to be $$\zeta {b^2}/(6x{\upsilon _0})$$ in agreement with a scaling prediction due to de Gennes, where $$\zeta $$ is the bead friction coefficient, b is the segment length, υ is the segment volume and χ is the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter driving the phase separation. We generalize our results to asymmetric blends and describe a phenomenological extension to entangled melts.
The Minimal Free Resolution of the Migliore–Peterson Rings in the Case That the Reflexive Sheaf Has Even Rank☆

Abstract LetRbe a commutative noetherian ring and ϕ:F → Gbe a homomorphism of freeR-modules where rank F = fand rank G = g. Fix an elementbg + 1 ∈ ⋀g + 1Fand a generator ωG*for ⋀gG*. The module action of ⋀ · F* on ⋀ · Fproduces the elementb1 = [(⋀gϕ*)(ωG*)](bg + 1) inF. LetJdenote the image ofb1:F* → R. Assume that gradeJ = f − g, which is the largest grade possible and is attained in the generic case. The idealJmay be interpreted as the defining ideal of the degeneracy locus of a regular section of a rankf − greflexive sheaf. It may also be interpreted as the order ideal of an element in a second syzygy module of rankf − g. Also,Jmay be interpreted as the defining ideal for the symmetric algebra of a module of projective dimension two. Migliore and Peterson have studied the idealJunm, which is the unmixed part ofJ. Under geometric hypotheses, they have shown thatR/Junmis a Cohen–Macaulay ring and they have resolved this ring. Furthermore, iff − gis odd, thenJunmis a Gorenstein ideal and is not equal toJ. On the other hand, iff − gis even, thenJunm = J. In the present paper, we produce the resolution ofR/Jby freeR-modules in the case thatf − gis even and (f − g − 2)! is a unit inR. Our resolution is minimal whenever the data are local or homogeneous. Our resolution is built from the differential graded algebra (⋀ · F*〈X1,…,Xg〉, d), where the restriction ofdto ⋀ · F* is the Koszul complex associated tob1:F* → Rand the degree two divided power variablesX1,…,Xghave been adjointed in order to kill the cycles ϕ*(G*) ⊆ ⋀1F*. The acyclicity lemma is used to prove exactness. Ifg = 1, then the idealJis equal to the Huneke–Ulrich almost complete intersection idealI1(yX), whereyis a 1 × fmatrix andXis anf × falternating matrix. The resolution of this ideal is already known.
Characteristic methods for multidimensional evolution equations

Abstract The stochastic method of characteristics is generalized to analyze multidimensional evolution equations of arbitrary order with constant coefficients. A linear space of abstract characteristics is introduced along with algorithms for associating characteristics with evolutions. A projection from a space of functions of characteristics to solutions of evolution equations plays the role of a generalized expectation. The solution is then viewed as an “average” of initial data. Examples are presented which indicate possible extensions of the theory presented here to equations with variable coefficients.
A noisy feedback encoding scheme for the Gaussian channel

In certain communications systems, it is a reasonable to assume the presence of a noisy feedback channel. The ability to send data from receiver back to transmitter opens new doors in the way of modulation schemes. In this paper, we investigate the class of linear feedback encoding schemes in which the transmitter linearly encodes the feedback information along with the message to be sent. Given a general framework, we propose a new scheme and compare it to a well-known linear encoding method - the Schalkwijk-Kailath scheme. The new technique is then optimized based on power allocation requirements.
Short-term habituation of the averaged electroencephalic response in infants.

Short-term habituation of the averaged electroencephalic response (AER) was studied in 12 14- to 18-week-old infants. No evidence of habituation was observed for either pure-tone or broad-band stim...
Nanometer-Scale Mapping of Chemically Distinct Domains at Well-Defined Organic Interfaces Using Frictional Force Microscopy

Abstract published in Advance ACS Abstracts, June 15, 1995. 0022-365419512099- 10960$09.0010 chemical functionality of the probe tip, the frictional force between the contacting surfaces can be manipulated to vary the "frictional contrast" of the compositional map. Experimental Section A. Sample Preparation. Substrates were prepared by the deposition of 300 nm of gold onto heat-resistant glass (Tempax, Berliner Glas). Prior to gold deposition, the Tempax glass was cleaned by immersion into piranha solution (1:3 HzOz/HzS04), followed by successive sonication in deionized H20, ethanol, and methanol. Caution: The H202/H2S04 solution reacts violently with organic compounds and should be handled with extreme care. Gold was deposited in a cryogenically pumped Edwards 306A vacuum chamber at ambient temperatures using evaporation rates of 0.3-0.4 ds. The gold-coated substrates were then annealed in an oven at 300 "C for 4 h and subsequently under a HZ flame.'' Uncoated Si3N4
Diuretics as pathogenetic treatment for heart failure

Increased intracardiac filling pressure or congestion causes symptoms and leads to hospital admissions in patients with heart failure, regardless of their systolic function. A history of hospital admission, in turn, predicts further hospitalizations and morbidity, and a higher number of hospitalizations determine higher mortality. Congestion is therefore the driving force of the natural history of heart failure. Congestion is the syndrome shared by heart failure with preserved and reduced systolic function. These two conditions have almost identical morbidity, mortality, and survival because the outcomes are driven by congestion. A small difference in favor of heart failure with preserved systolic function comes from decreased ejection fraction and left ventricular remodeling which is only present in heart failure with decreased systolic function. The magnitude of this difference reflects the contribution of decreased systolic function and ventricular remodeling to the progression of heart failure. The only treatment available for congestion is fluid removal via diuretics, ultrafiltration, or dialysis. It is the only treatment that works equally well for heart failure with reduced and preserved systolic function because it affects congestion, the main pathogenetic feature of the disease. Diuretics are pathogenetic therapy for heart failure.
A Model Describing the Regulation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase, Electron Transport, and Triose Phosphate Use in Response to Light Intensity and CO2 in C3 Plants

A model of the regulation of the activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, electron transport, and the rate of orthophosphate regeneration by starch and sucrose synthesis in response to changes in light intensity and partial pressures of CO2 and O2 is presented. The key assumption behind the model is that nonlimiting processes of photosynthesis are regulated to balance the capacity of limiting processes. Thus, at CO2 partial pressures below ambient, when a limitation on photosynthesis by the capacity of rubisco is postulated, the activities of electron transport and phosphate regeneration are down-regulated in order that the rate of RuBP regeneration matches the rate of RuBP consumption by rubisco. Similarly, at subsaturating light intensity or elevated CO2, when electron transport or Pi regeneration may limit photosynthesis, the activity of rubisco is downregulated to balance the limitation in the rate of RuBP regeneration. Comparisons with published data demonstrate a general consistency between modelled predictions and measured results.
Word recognition as a function of spelling direction during study and test

The spelling direction (backward or forward) of words presented for study and test was varied factorially. During recognition Ss indicated which word of each test pair had been presented for study, and the incorrect choice of each pair was a homophone, a synonym, or a word unrelated to the correct choice. Recognition was worst with synonym distractors and best with unrelated word distractors. For each type of distractor, recognition was better for backward-spelled study words than for forward-spelled study words, and words spelled in the same direction in both study and test were recognized better than words spelled in a different direction during study and test. The latter result supports the hypothesis that visual information may be important for word recognition. The latencies of correct recognition responses suggested that memory of decoding acts can facilitate subsequent similar decodings.
Understanding muscle relaxants by their molecular structure and conformation

T HERE ARE more muscle relaxants in use than many other categories of drugs in anesthesia, and muscle relaxants remain a mainstay of anesthesia practice today. Each relaxant was introduced with specific advantages. Maximal benefit to the patient depends on thorough understanding of what they are, how they act and break down, and what their breakdown products do. Examination of their structure and conformation will go a long way toward understanding their action, side effects, metabolism and disposition, and what their metabolites do. Traditionally, we understand the muscle relaxants by their chemical structure and structure-activity relationship (SAR). Such information has helped the development of new and better compounds over the decades, such as pancuronium in the 1970s; atracurium and vecuronium in the 1980s; and mivacurium, cisatracurium, rocuronium, and rapacuronium more recently. Lee I has recently reviewed the SAR of the neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agents and expanded the study into the conformation-activity relationship (CAR). Similar conformational study into other categories of anesthesia-related drugs, such as local anesthetics and narcotics, may also prove useful. Molecular shape is fundamental to organic chemistry and key to drug-receptor interaction. The key-and-lock concept of drug-receptor interaction should be viewed as hand in glove, stressing chirality and molecular conformation. Although structural formula is 2-dimensional, conformation
Odd/Even Effect in Self-Assembly of Chiral Molecules at the Liquid−Solid Interface: An STM Investigation of Coadsorbate Control of Self-Assembly

Manipulation of the self-assembly of chiral 2-bromohexadecanoic acid by templates composed of coadsorbed achiral molecules has been investigated at the liquid−solid interface using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The template formed by the odd-numbered saturated fatty acid heptadecanoic acid induces coadsorption of R-2-bromo-hexadecanoic acid and S-2-bromo-hexadecanoic acid within a single domain. Specifically, heptadecanoic acid effects an intra-lamellar alternation of R and S-2-bromo-hexadecanoic acid molecules, which is further confirmed by studies of heptadecanoic acid with pure R-2-bromo-hexadecanoic acid. Templates formed by even-numbered acids such as hexadecanoic acid induce the segregation of R- and S-2-bromo-hexadecanoic acid into separate (R or S) domains.
Linking the transcriptome and proteome to characterize the venom of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus).

Abstract Understanding the molecular basis of the phenotype is key to understanding adaptation, and the relationship between genes and specific traits is represented by the genotype–phenotype map. The specialization of the venom-gland towards toxin production enables the use of transcriptomics to identify a large number of loci that contribute to a complex phenotype (i.e., venom), while proteomic techniques allow verification of the secretion of the proteins produced by these loci, creating a genotype–phenotype map. We used the extensive database of mRNA transcripts generated by the venom-gland transcriptome of Crotalus adamanteus along with proteomic techniques to complete the genotype–phenotype map for the C. adamanteus venom system. Nanospray LC/MS E analysis of a whole venom sample identified evidence for 52 of the 78 unique putative toxin transcript clusters, including 44 of the 50 most highly expressed transcripts. Tandem mass spectrometry and SDS-PAGE of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography fractions identified 40 toxins which clustered into 20 groups and represented 10 toxin families, creating a genotype–phenotype map. By using the transcriptome to understand the proteome we were able to achieve locus-specific resolution and provide a detailed characterization of the C. adamanteus venom system. Biological significance Identifying the mechanisms by which genetic variation presents itself to the sieve of selection at the phenotypic level is key to understanding the molecular basis of adaptation, and the first step in understanding this relationship is to identify the genetic basis of the phenotype through the construction of a genotype–phenotype map. We used the high-throughput venom-gland transcriptomic characterization of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake ( C. adamanteus ) and proteomic techniques to complete and confirm the genotype–phenotype map, providing a detailed characterization of the C. adamanteus venom system.
Perturbation Theory Reloaded: Analytical Calculation of Nonlinearity in Baryonic Oscillations in the Real-Space Matter Power Spectrum

We compare the nonlinear matter power spectrum in real space calculated analytically from third-order perturbation theory with N-body simulations at 1 1, the shape of oscillations is distorted from the linear theory prediction. Nevertheless, our results suggest that one can correct the distortion caused by nonlinearity almost exactly. We also find that perturbation theory, which does not contain any free parameters, provides a significantly better fit to the simulations than the conventional approaches based on empirical fitting functions to simulations. Future work should include perturbation theory calculations of nonlinearity in redshift-space distortion and halo biasing in the weakly nonlinear regime. Subject headingg cosmology: theory — large-scale structure of universe Online material: color figures
Dominance of the right cerebral hemisphere for stereopsis

Abstract Patients with unilateral right hemispheric lesions exhibited marked deficits in performance (more errors and longer response times) relative to patients either with unilateral left hemispheric lesions or with no brain damage on stereoscopically presented stimuli in a task requiring the location of a form in depth from binocular disparity cues without the aid of figure-ground contours or of monocular cues of form and depth. The stimuli were modifications of the random dot stereograms developed by B. Julesz. No deficits in the performance of the left hemisphere patients were found. The results are consistent with the hypothesis of relative dominance of the right hemisphere for stereopsis in the absence of monocular cues of form and depth.