cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of HIV/FIV protease inhibitors incorporating a conformationally constrained macrocycle with a small P3′ residue

A series of norstatine-based HIV/FIV protease inhibitors incorporating a 15-membered macrocycle as a mimic of the tripeptide (Ala-Val-Phe), a motif with a small P3' residue elective against the FIV protease and the drug-resistant HIV proteases, has been synthesized. It was found that the macrocycle is important to the overall activity of the inhibitors. Certain inhibitors were developed expressing low nanomolar inhibitory activity against the HIV/FIV proteases and they are also effective against some drug-resistant as well as TL3-resistant HIV proteases.
Simple method for estimating groundwater recharge on tropical islands

Summary Simple equations relating recharge estimates from previous soil water-budget studies in Hawaii, USA, to mean annual rainfall, soil infiltration, and infiltration minus potential evapotranspiration (PE) were developed. Tests indicate that the equations can be used to estimate groundwater recharge on other tropical islands, but each equation has a different degree of accuracy. In general, the equations will have smaller relative errors in regions having wet climates. The rainfall equation is the least accurate; its use is limited to applications that do not require the highest accuracy. The infiltration and infiltration-minus-PE equations are more accurate and may be useful for regional recharge estimates in areas having mostly high rainfall or a mix of high to moderate rainfall. Transferability of the equations is limited to areas where the predominant climate and soil characteristics are generally similar to those in Hawaii. The equations also may not be accurate enough for estimates where high spatial or temporal detail or accuracy is required. Despite these limitations, the equations can provide a simple and quick generalized estimate of regional recharge for many tropical islands. Because of their simplicity, the equations may be particularly useful for providing a quick and independent estimate of recharge to compare with estimates determined by other methods.
Conservative surgery for giant cell tumors of the sacrum. The role of cryosurgery as a supplement to curettage and partial excision

Background. Giant cell tumors (GCTs) of the sacrum are a difficult clinical problem. Wide excision (total sacrectomy) is associated with high morbidity and pelvic/spinal instability. Curettage with or without supplemental radiotherapy is associated with a high recurrence rate. In view of the proven effectiveness of cryosurgery as an adjunct to curettage for extremity GCT, cryosurgery was used for treatment of GCTs of the sacrum. Methods. Seven patients with GCTs of the sacrum were treated at our institution by conservative surgery from 1973 to 1992. Four patients presented with recurrent tumors after failing previous radiation treatment (dose, 5040 cGy). Four patients were treated with curettage with cryosurgery and three with limited excision with cryosurgery. In the latter procedure after limited excision of the caudal (below S2) part of the tumor, the upper sacral segments were treated with curettage and cryosurgery. This spared the important upper sacral roots and maintained the skeletal integrity. Results. At a median follow-up of 12.25 years (range, 2-14.2 years), all patients were disease free. Local recurrence developed in two patients. Both of these underwent repeat curettage and cryosurgery and have since remained disease free. Two patients had positive second look biopsy with microscopic tumor. Both of these were treated with repeat cryosurgery and have remained disease free. Two patient who developed solitary pulmonary metastases, underwent wedge resection and are alive without disease. No patient suffered neurologic deterioration. Conclusion. Conservative surgery (curettage or partial excision) with adjunct of cryosurgery is our preferred technique for the treatment of GCT of the sacrum. Satisfactory local control could be obtained by close observation, second look biopsy and repeat cryosurgery. The chief advantages of this method include preservation of pelvic and spinal continuity, speed and ease of surgical procedure and less potential blood loss. We recommend it over more radical sacrectomy due to low morbidity and less resultant neurologic deficits.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of multinuclear chromium assemblies

Abstract 1H NMR and 2H NMR resonance of a series of oxo-centred trinuclear chromium complexes of the form [Cr3O(O2CR)6(L)3]+ (R = —CH3, —CH2CH3, —Ph, -4-MePh; L = H2O, py, 2-Mepy, 3-Mepy, 4-Mepy) have been observed and assigned. The role of π- and σ-bonding frameworks in the delocalization of unpaired electron density onto the ligand protons is examined. The π-delocalization mechanism dominates where ligands contain aromatic substituents or carboxylate functionalities, consistent with the presence of a metal centre where unpaired electrons reside solely in t2g orbitals. A comparison of the importance of these mechanisms with that in trinuclear manganese and iron complexes is reported. These results suggest that 1H and 2H NMR studies could be useful probes of proteins containing coupled multinuclear chromium assemblies.
Retinoic acid inhibition of cardiac mesenchyme formation in vitro correlates with changes in the secretion of particulate matrix from the myocardium.

Retinoic acid has been associated with a variety of cardiac defects. A percentage of these defects are related to changes in the endocardial cushions. Studies in mice and older chick embryos have shown a decrease in mesenchymal cell formation attributable to retinoic acid and have suggested that retinoic acid was affecting the extracellular matrix. In this study we have tested the effect of retinoic acid on cardiac mesenchyme formation in vitro and then tested retinoic acid treated myocyte cultures for changes in the expression of hLAMP-1, fibronectin and transferrin members of the particulate matrix that is required for mesenchyme formation. Initial experiments tested the effect of retinoic acid on mesenchymal cell formation first in atrioventricular canal and outflow tract explant cultures and then in AV endothelial monolayer cultures using myocyte conditioned media or the particulate matrix fraction from retinoic acid treated myocyte cultures. In all cases, mesenchymal cell formation was suppressed while no suppression was observed when MyoCM was included with retinoic acid. Protein analysis showed that retinoic acid had a stimulatory effect on protein synthesis. ELISA assays revealed that retinoic acid treated myocyte cultures contained significantly more hLAMP-1 and fibronectin than either normal or DMSO controls. However, transferrin was not affected by retinoic acid treatment in these experiments. Our results suggest that retinoic acid affects the expression of the particulate matrix and that these changes may be responsible for the observed decrease in mesenchymal cell formation.
Evaluation of a laser excited Voigt effect coherent forward scattering atomic spectrometer

Abstract Coherent forward scattering atomic spectrometry involves the rotation of linearly polarized light when it passes through atoms located in a magnetic field. Our system employs a transverse magnetic field around either an air-acetylene flame or a graphite furnace. A second polarizer, the analyzer, is used to detect the amount of light which is rotated. Since the signal produced in CFS is proportional to the incident itensity of light, it was postulated that the use of a laser as an excitation source for CFS might be a useful technique. The results of our experiments show the reverse to be true. Based on the limits of detection obtained, laser-excited CFS does not appear to be a viable analytical technique. The results obtained, however, do provide interesting information in terms of the theoretical evaluation of CFS.
Monte Carlo methods for estimating, smoothing, and filtering one- and two-factor stochastic volatility models

One- and two-factor stochastic volatility models are assessed over three sets of stock returns data: SP the problem is to get the shape of the conditional returns distribution right. None of the models come close to matching the tails of this distribution. Including a second factor provides only a relatively small improvement over the single-factor models. Fitting this aspect of the data is important for option pricing and risk management.
Rapid Computation of Time-Optimal, Open-Loop Forearm Movement

Abstract Minimal movement time for open-loop rotation of the human forearm, along with the associated input signal to the forearm muscles, is calculated using matrix multiplication. This permits rapid evaluation of movement times across a four-dimensional mesh of initial conditions, each moving to a common terminal state. The described discrete-time solution is based on the continuous-time solution of Tanaka et al., and the minimum-variance theory of Harris and Wolpert. Underlying algorithm concepts are discussed, and proofs of solution existence are provided.
THE EFFECT OF GENERAL ANAESTHETICS ON THE RESPONSE TO TETANIC STIMULUS IN MAN

SUMMARY The effects of cyclopropane, diethyl ether, methoxyflurane and Ethrane anaesthesia on the response of the adductor pollicis muscle to tetanic stimulus were examined in eleven healthy patients undergoing elective surgery. During a control period of nitrous oxide anaesthesia, tetanus was well maintained when elicited by a stimulus frequency of 30 and 300 Hz. Following inhalation of a more potent agent, tetanus remained well maintained at 30 Hz, but fade was consistently observed during a stimulus of 300 Hz. These findings indicate that inhalational anaesthetic agents alter neuromuscular function, and that this should be taken into consideration when evaluating a neuromuscular block produced by tubocurarine.
The effect of some derivatives and structural analogs of carnitine on the nutrition of Tenebrio molitor

Abstract Various compounds structurally related to carnitine were tested on carnitine-deficient Tenebrio larvae to determine whether they would replace carnitine or act as inhibitors. The sulfonic acid and triethyl analogs demonstrated weak carnitine activity. The activity of the O-acetyl derivative and the ethyl ester was almost as high as that of the parent compound. γ-Butyrobetaine was found to inhibit carnitine in a competitive manner, with an inhibition index of 100 to 1000. Compounds other than noted above were found to be both inactive and nontoxic to larvae. It appears that the length of the carbon chain between the onium and carboxyl group, the presence of the onium group, and the presence of a free or easily freed β-hydroxyl group are the most influential factors in determining the physiological activity of carnitine.
Suppression of interference terms in Wigner distribution by median filtering

The Wigner distributions is known to have interfering cross-terms when applied to a multicomponent signal. Linear filtering techniques have been applied to suppress the interference but result in smearing of the time-frequency distribution. A nonlinear filtering technique is proposed that suppresses the interference without smearing the distribution. The technique consists of the median filtering of the cumulative distribution function and its performance is studied with computer simulated data. Good results were obtained even for a long data window. >
Scatterometers observe the variation of the Walker circulation

The variation of the Walker circulation is closely related to the onset of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events [Kousky, 1984], so observing the Walker circulation can lead to better understanding of ENSO events. Wind data from the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT), Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT), and European Remote Sensing Satellite-1/2 (ERS-1/2) were merged into one data set in a 1°×1° grid covering a period from January 1992 to December 2000. The study region was confined to the tropical oceans between 20°S and 20°N. The vector empirical orthogonal function (VEOF) method [Hardy and Walton, 1978] was used to process the wind data set and extract principal modes of the wind fields.
Analysis of oligonucleotides and unincorporated nucleotides from in vitro transcription by capillary electrophoresis in Pluronic F127 gels

Small functional RNAs required for structure studies are often prepared by in vitro transcription. Capillary electrophoresis in liquid crystalline gels of Pluronic F127 was used to analyze unfractionated in vitro transcription reactions and anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractions from transcription reactions. Guanosine monophosphate (GMP), the four nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), abortive transcripts, and transcripts with lengths near the desired product length were simultaneously resolved and quantified in a single run. Oligonucleotides up to at least 35 nucleotides were resolved to baseline within 10 min using a moderate field (185 V/cm) and short effective capillary length (7.6 cm) for electrophoresis in 20% Pluronic F127 at pH 8.3 in Tris-borate-EDTA (TBE) buffer (30°C). Nucleotide migration times were 4—5 min, in the order UTP+CTP (unresolved) <ATP<GTP<GMP. A single capillary filling was reused for 40—50 runs with little decrease in performance, and for up to 100 runs with performance acceptable for many applications. Higher electric fields appeared to affect the gel structure and necessitated more frequent capillary refilling. Capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) of HPLC fractions in Pluronic gels facilitates rapid recovery of RNA products and the large remaining amounts of valuable, isotopically labeled NTPs. In addition, comparison of electrophoretic patterns under denaturing and nondenaturing conditions yields insights into potential conformational heterogeneity of the folded nucleic acid states. CGE in Pluronic gels provides a rapid, highly discriminating means for analyzing in vitro transcription reactions.
Positive association between social and extra-pair mating in a polygynous songbird, the dickcissel (Spiza americana)

In polygynous species, males appear to gain additional offspring by pairing with multiple females simultaneously. However, this may not be true if some females copulate outside of the social pair bond. Polygynous males could experience lower paternity because of trade-offs among gaining multiple social mates, guarding fertility with these mates, and pursuing extra-pair matings. Alternatively, polygynous males could simultaneously gain extra social mates and have high paternity, either because of female preferences or because of male competitive attributes. We tested four predictions stemming from these hypotheses in a facultatively polygynous songbird, the dickcissel (Spiza americana). Unlike most previous studies, we found that males with higher social mating success (harem size) also tended to have higher within-pair paternity and that the number of extra-pair young a male sired increased significantly with his social mating success. Females that paired with mated males were not more likely to produce extra-pair young. In contrast, extra-pair paternity was significantly lower in the nests of females whose nesting activity overlapped that of another female on the same territory. This pattern of mating was robust to differences in breeding density. Indeed, breeding density had no effect on either extra-pair mating or on the association between polygyny and paternity. Finally, nest survival increased with harem size. This result, combined with the positive association between polygyny and paternity, contributed to significantly higher realized reproductive success by polygynous male dickcissels.
Effects of temperature on the kinetics of the mitotic cycle of mammalian cells in culture.

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of moderate changes in temperature on the length of each part of the cycle for human amnion cells in culture was studied and, as expected, each part of the cycle except anaphase has a U-shaped temperature-response curve. 2. 2. At temperatures below optimum, G1 and metaphase were most sensitive and G2 + prophase and anaphase the least sensitive to changes. At temperatures above optimum, metaphase was again most sensitive, G1, S, and G2 + prophase had moderate and similar sensitivities, and anaphase seemed completely insensitive. 3. 3. All parts of the cycle responded quickly to changes in temperature. 4. 4. The technique routinely used for measuring G2 + P and other parts of the cycle was shown to be unreliable under certain conditions.
Novel Method for the Estimation of the Electroactive Pt Area

The (COOH) 2 oxidation reaction was studied at potentials below which the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) takes place. Pt was found to catalyze the (COOH) 2 oxidation reaction more strongly than Au, while Ru did not display any activity toward the (COOH) 2 oxidation reaction. Furthermore, under rapid stirring conditions, the (COOH) 2 oxidation reaction using Pt electrodes was shown to be activation controlled. Therefore, the (COOH) 2 oxidation currents can be related to the electroactive Pt area, as shown for a range of polycrystalline, bulk metal Pt, and Pt powder electrodes. The Pt surface area for multicomponent catalyst systems can also be estimated by combining (COOH) 2 oxidation data with the charge needed to oxidize adsorbed CO to CO 2 (CO ads charge), as shown for a range of Pt- and Ru-containing powder electrodes. In fact, the combination of the two methods [(COOH) 2 oxidation current and CO ads charge] can be used as an in situ probe to estimate the fraction of Ru in the metallic state in the potential region where CO is adsorbed provided the surface ratio of Pt vs. Ru is known.
The quality assurance of semiconductor devices

Abstract To assure a high quality of all devices produced by a semiconductor manufacturer, electrical and mechanical testing of samples of devices is performed at every stage of the manufacture of a product, from its initial design, which will take quality assurance testing requirements into consideration, to the despatch of devices to customers. This article discusses the organization and functions of a typical quality assurance and quality control department in a semiconductor company, describes in some detail the types of tests applied to measure the quality of the product, and explains the basis of the sampling procedure which is applicable to all types of products.
Chilenine: An isoindolobenzazepine alkaloid

Abstract (±)-Chilenine ( 3 ), the first isoindolobenzazepine alkaloid, has been found in Berberis empetrifolia Lam. (Berberidaceae).
Increase in developmental instability upon inbreeding in Daphnia

Lerner's genetic homeostasis theory (1954) hypothesizes that developmental instability (DI) will be higher for individuals with lower genomic heterozygosity. Because the usual indices of DI may confound genetic effects with random developmental process, most previous tests of the hypothesis may have explanational difficulties. I shall present an alternative approach to test the genetic homeostasis hypothesis. In this approach, outcrossed and inbred genotypes, each having multiple clonal replicates, are assayed side-by-side in one controlled homogeneous and benign environment. Phenotypic variation among replicates for each genotype is used as a relative index for DI, not confounded by any possible genetic effect. The outcrossed genotypes differ from the inbred ones in the average genomic heterozygosity, thus avoiding the ambiguity of using heterozygosity at the allozyme level as an index for that at the genomic level. The approach may also provide data on the potential effects of genotypic value (G) on DI. The results of experiments on two cyclically parthenogenetic Daphnia species (D. pulex and D. pulicaria) reveal that (i) for all characters analysed, DI increases upon inbreeding and (ii) there is no significant relationship between G and DI. The increase in DI upon inbreeding is thus attributable only to a reduction in heterozygosity (per se or an enhanced expression of deleterious recessive alleles). Therefore, the present study is consistent with Lerner's genetic homeostasis hypothesis.
Effects of five hours of constant 1.2 MAC halothane in sternally recumbent, spontaneously breathing horses

Circulatory and respiratory effects of five h of constant 1.06 per cent alveolar halothane in oxygen were identified in eight healthy horses, which breathed spontaneously, were otherwise unmedicated and positioned in sternal recumbency. Only a few important significant (P less than 0.05) changes occurred with time. Total peripheral resistance was about 15 per cent lower after two hours of constant dose halothane than after 30 mins of constant dose (P less than 0.05) and accounted for the significant 10 per cent reduction in mean carotid arterial blood pressure. By 5 h, the reduction in resistance and arterial blood pressure was 20 and 25 per cent respectively. Heart rate increased progressively with time and the increase became significant at 5 h (15 per cent increase). However, the heart rate change was not large enough to alter cardiac output. There were no major time-related changes in PaO2 or PaCO2. Three of four horses recovered from anaesthesia had markedly elevated serum creatine kinase levels and clinical signs of severe post anaesthetic myopathy.
Three-dimensional structure of d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Abstract The crystal structure of lobster d -glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been analyzed. A 3.0 A resolution electron density map of an averaged subunit showed that: 1. (1) The subunit structure consists of two domains. The first (residues 1 to 149) is essentially the coenzyme binding fold whereas the second (residues 150 to 334) provides residues for catalysis, specificity and subunit-subunit co-operativity. 2. (2) The first domain is similar to structures found in other dehydrogenases and kinases. Some of the important residues involved in binding the coenzyme, NAD+, are the same in d -glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as in lactate dehydrogenase. 3. (3) The conformation of NAD+ is essentially the same in d -glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as in lactate dehydrogenase, apart from a 180 ° rotation about the ribose-nicotinamide glycosidic bond, thus exposing the B side of the nicotinamide ring to the substrate. 4. (4) The second domain contains histidine 176 situated near the essential cysteine 149 and presumably acting as a base during catalysis. 5. (5) Lysine 183 binds to the pyrophosphate in the active site of the adjacent subunit, creating the unique situation in which the catalytic center contains residues from two different subunits. Thus the NAD binding sites are directly linked in pairs by virtue of a molecular 2-fold axis, forming a functional dimer. The co-operativity (positive in yeast and negative in muscle enzyme) and the half-of-the-sites reaction properties are probably associated with this characteristic. 6. (6) The position of the two sulfate anion sites suggests the position of binding of the substrate phosphate and the inorganic phosphate to be subsequently incorporated into the product. 7. (7) The amino acids in the active center region and involved in subunit-subunit contacts are more highly conserved than other residues.
Ovarian follicular fluid β-endorphin levels in normal and polycystic ovaries

Abstract The possibility of local ovarian production of β-endorphin prompted us to measure β-endorphin levels in 19 follicular fluid samples obtained from normal ovaries and compare them with β-endorphin plasma levels in 19 women with normal ovulation. β-endorphin was extracted through Sepharose-treated chromatography columns and assayed with a specific anti-β-endorphin antibody. Follicular fluid β-endorphin levels (21.3 ± 10.8 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p 1 cm in size contained more β-endorphin than follicles
Using user-centered design to discover motivation and priorities in an established online community

This poster presents our work using a face-to-face user-centered design method to inform the design of a reputation visualization for an established online community. The benefits of conducting an offline group session with online community members included insights into motivation and priorities, an understanding of community norms, and a member check on previous findings.
A novel diels‐alder polymerization

The double dienophiles N,N′-hexamethylene-bismaleimide and the o-, m-, and p-phenylene-bismaleimides were prepared and copolymerized with benzalazine by the Diels-Alder reaction. Melt polymerization afforded these polymers in high yields with inherent viscosities in the range 0.13 to 0.30 and softening temperatures from 238 to 325°. Solution polymerization gave no polymers and only starting materials were isolated. Benzalazine in this reaction behaves as a double diene and undergoes a 1,3-addition with the bismaleimides to form these polymers. That this 1,3-addition occurs in the polymer formation is further verified by the basic hydrolysis of the model compounds, 4,8-diphenyl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,3,6,7-tetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride (I) and 4,8-diphenyl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,3,6,7-bis-n-butylamide (II) and one of the polymers to give 4,8-diphenyl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,3,6,7-tetracarboxylic acid in each case.
An Objective Method for Determining the Collective Caste Hierarchy of an Indian Village1

AN INDIAN village usually contains representatives of from five to 25 endogamous social groups called castes (Marriott 1960:23). Villagers regard the castes as higher or lower than one another in precedence and esteem thereby forming a hierarchy of castes. Agreement among villagers about the ranking of castes is close enough so that one can determine the approximate rank in the hierarchy of most castes, at least to the extent of placing them as high, medium, or low. However, agreement is not perfect: some villagers may assign each caste to a separate rank; some may say that two or more castes have equal rank; and some may assign relatively high rank to a caste which others rank relatively low. Disagreement is possible because of the many criteria by means of which castes may be ranked and the fact that villagers may use different criteria in constructing their rankings; or, even if they use the same criteria, they may weigh them differently. Some of the criteria entering into caste ranking are dietary customs, occupation, details of ritual behavior, wealth, and the interactions of the castes with regard to smoking the same pipe (hookah) and the giving and taking of food and water. That villagers do not completely agree in selecting and weighing criteria is apparent from the reasons villagers give for their caste rankings. Gupta (1956) reports many instances of disagreements based on conflicting criteria in a village in northwestern Uttar Pradesh.
The History of Social Thought and the History of Sociology

Abstract Just as sociologists in the past have been insistent upon making a distinction between the history of social thought and sociological theory, so is it argued here than an equally important distinction be made between the history of social thought and the history of sociology. It is suggested that the history of social thought is no more useful to the advance of sociological theory than any other contiguously related field of study. Since the history of social thought is not directly concerned with the discipline of sociology, it is suggested that it be eliminated from the curricula of sociology. Not only is this area of study unlikely to contribute to the development of sociological theory but also such a study can have unanticipated consequences that hinder such a contribution. The genetic fallacy is less likely to be committed when the distinction between the history of social thought and the history of sociology is kept clearly in mind.
Efficient reconciliation and flow control for anti-entropy protocols

The paper shows that anti-entropy protocols can process only a limited rate of updates, and proposes and evaluates a new state reconciliation mechanism as well as a flow control scheme for anti-entropy protocols.
Extensive maxillofacial plasmablastic lymphoma in an immunocompetent patient

A 46-year-old man presented to a dentist reporting maxillary pain on the left side which had persisted for a few weeks. The pain along with an irregular appearance of the gingival mucosa were attributed to dental pathology and a molar was extracted. The initially limited gingival lesion evolved into a rapidly growing palatal tumour and recurrent episodes of unilateral epistaxis occurred. A CT scan and a biopsy were performed and the patient was referred to our department several weeks after the first symptoms had appeared. Inspection of the oral cavity revealed a purple, fleshy, well-delimited exophytic tumour occupying the entire hard palate …
On stability of large-scale systems under structural perturbations.

The concept of connective stability of large-scale systems is widened to include arbitrary structural perturbations. Conditions for this broader kind of connective stability are derived by developing connective versions of both the linear and the nonlinear comparison principle.
The orientation of membrane bound radicals: an EPR investigation of magnetically ordered spinach chloroplasts.

The orientation of membrane-bound radicals in spinach chloroplasts is examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of chloroplasts oriented by magnetic fields. Several of the membrane-bound radicals which possess g-tensor anisotropy display EPR signals with a marked dependence on the orientation of the membranes relative to the applied EPR field. The fraction of oxidized and reduced plastocyanin, P-700, iron-sulfur proteins A and B, and the X center, an early acceptor of Photosystem I, can be controlled by the light intensity during steady-state illumination and can be trapped by cooling. The X center can be photoreduced and trapped in the absence of strong reductants and high pH, conditions previously found necessary for its detection. These results confirm its role as an early electron acceptor in P-700 photo-oxidation. X is oriented with its smallest principal g-tensor axis (gx) predominantly parallel to the normal to the thylakoid membrane, the same orientation as was found for an early electron acceptor based on time-resolved electron spin polarization studies. We propose that the X center is the first example of a high potential iron-sulfur protein which functions in electron transfer in its ‘;superreduced’; state. We present evidence which suggests that iron-sulfur proteins A and B are 4Fe-4S clusters in an 8Fe-8S protein. Center B is oriented with gy predominantly normal to the membrane plane. The spectra of center A and plastocyanin do not show significant changes with sample orientation. In the case of plastocyanin, this may indicate a lack of molecular orientation. The absence of an orientation effect for reduced center A is reconcilable with a 4Fe-4S geometry, provided that the electron obtained upon reduction can be shared between any pair of Fe atoms in the center. Orientation of the ‘;Rieske’; iron-sulfur protein is also observed. It has axial symmetry with g∥ close to the plane of the membrane. A model is proposed for the organization of these proteins in the thylakoid membrane. A new EPR signal was observed in oriented chloroplasts. This broad unresolved resonance displays a g value of 3.2 when the membrane normal is parallel to the field. It shifts to g = 1.9 when the membrane normal is perpendicular to the field. The signal is sensitive to illumination and to washing of the thylakoid membranes of broken chloroplasts. We suggest that there is a relation between this signal and the water-oxidizing enzyme system.
A mathematical model of the impact of novel treatments on the A\03B2 burden in the Alzheimer's brain, CSF and plasma

With the advent of novel therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, there is a pressing need for biomarkers that are easy to monitor, such as the amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. To gain a better understanding of the explanatory power of these biomarkers, we formulate and analyze a compartmental mathematical model for the Aβ accumulation in the brain, CSF and plasma, throughout the course of Alzheimer’s treatment. Our analysis reveals that the total Aβ burden in the brain is dictated by a unitless quantity called the polymerization ratio, which is the product of the production and elongation rates divided by the product of the fragmentation and loss rates. In this ratio, the production rate and loss rate include a source and sink term, respectively, related to the intercompartmental transport. Our results suggest that production inhibitors are likely to reduce the Aβ levels in all three compartments. In contrast, agents that ingest monomers off of polymers, or that increase fragmentation or block elongation, may also reduce Aβ burden in the brain, but may produce little change in—or even transiently increase—CSF and plasma Aβ levels. Hence, great care must be taken when interpreting these biomarkers.
Adiponectin Vascular Protection From the Fat

The obesity pandemic will likely have a significant impact on the global incidence of cardiovascular disease. Although the mechanisms linking obesity and cardiovascular disease are unclear, recent studies have implicated the adipocyte as a potentially important mediator of vascular complications. The adipocyte is no longer considered a passive storage depot for triglycerides and fatty acids, but rather an active metabolic organ capable of producing several factors, commonly referred to as adipocytokines or adipokines, that may have effects on many physiological and pathophysiological processes. With increasing fat mass, several adipose-related factors are upregulated that may affect local and distant inflammatory processes, including atherothrombosis.1–3 However, the most abundant known factor produced by the adipocyte, adiponectin, appears to be downregulated in most cases associated with increasing fat mass.4 Although most adipokines are thought to promote vascular disease, several studies over the past few years indicate adiponectin is actually protective against vascular disease.3 See page 224 Adiponectin, (also known as adipoQ, adipocyte complement-related protein of 30kD [ACRP30], adipose most abundant gene transcript-1 [apM1],5 and GBP286), was cloned using subtractive hybridization techniques from a cDNA library of differentiating adipocytes and …
Rapid acquisition of specular and diffuse normal maps from polarized spherical gradient illumination

We estimate surface normal maps of an object from either its diffuse or specular reflectance using four spherical gradient illumination patterns. In contrast to traditional photometric stereo, the spherical patterns allow normals to be estimated simultaneously from any number of viewpoints. We present two polarized lighting techniques that allow the diffuse and specular normal maps of an object to be measured independently. For scattering materials, we show that the specular normal maps yield the best record of detailed surface shape while the diffuse normals deviate from the true surface normal due to subsurface scattering, and that this effect is dependent on wavelength. We show several applications of this acquisition technique. First, we capture normal maps of a facial performance simultaneously from several viewing positions using time-multiplexed illumination. Second, we show that highresolution normal maps based on the specular component can be used with structured light 3D scanning to quickly acquire high-resolution facial surface geometry using off-the-shelf digital still cameras. Finally, we present a realtime shading model that uses independently estimated normal maps for the specular and diffuse color channels to reproduce some of the perceptually important effects of subsurface scattering.
Piecewise linear elastic–plastic analysis

The purpose of this paper is to show that a mathematical programming method, due to Maier and his co-workers, of nonlinear structural analysis can be rerformulated so that greater computational efficiences are achived. The methods are designed for a class of elastic–plastic structures under ‘piecewise linear’ assumptions and solve among others the problem of determining the stresses and strains in the structure. The reformulation gives rise to a class of mathematical programming problems calles a ‘n by dn linear complementarity problem’, for which the author has developed an efficient algorithm. It will be explained why and by how much the proposed method (the reformulation and its solution by the author's algorithm) solves the structural problems more efficiently than the existing one. Results of a systematic computer experiment supporting the efficiency of the proposed method are also presented.
Teachers of Students with Low Incidence Disabilities Talk about Their Own Learning: An International Insight.

This article discusses an international research project that explores teachers' views of a recent learning experience they perceive to have been effective for them. Fourteen teachers attending gra...
The formation of an orocline by multiphase deformation: a paleomagnetic investigation of the Cantabria–Asturias Arc (northern Spain)

The Variscan orogeny in the Cantabria‐Asturias Arc (CAA) of northern Spain represents a multiphase deformation history associated with Pangea’s amalgamation. To determine the timing and kinematic history of deformation, a paleomagnetic investigation was carried out on Devonian limestones in three structural domains of the CAA’s hinge zone. Two characteristic remagnetizations in the CAA are distinguished: an Early Permian (B) component that postdates initial Westphalian‐Stephanian aged folding (F1 and F2), and a Late Carboniferous (C) component that postdates F1 deformation. Both the B and C magnetizations experienced a later F3 folding phase. The kinematics and geometry of post-magnetization deformation are determined by bringing measured magnetic directions into agreement with reference directions. These structural corrections also allow separation of deformation events in time. We conclude that generally east‐west-trending, but variably plunging, fold axes characterize F3 folding in the hinge zone of the CAA. This post-magnetization deformation involved significant amounts of tilting and (sub)vertical axis rotation, which together produced clockwise rotation in the north of the arc and counterclockwise rotation in the south of the arc, to form the horseshoe-shaped orocline that is observed today. F3 fold axes change from near-vertical to moderately inclined between and within structural domains, due to the structural fabric imposed by F1 and F2. Based on calculated F3 fold properties, we can reconstruct pre-existing F1 and F2 structural geometries of the hinge zones. This analysis shows that F1 and F2 structures are the result of Late Carboniferous deformation, as part of the same east‐west but temporally discrete compression regimes. On the other hand, F3 is controlled by Permian, north‐south
Laws of Large Numbers for Hilbert Space-Valued Mixingales with Applications

To obtain consistency results for nonparametric estimators based on stochastic processes relevant in econometrics, we introduce the notions of Hilbert space-valued Lp mixingales and near-epoch dependent arrays, and we prove weak and strong laws of large numbers by using a new exponential inequality for Hilbert (H) space-valued martingale difference arrays. We follow Andrews (1988, Econometric Theory 4, 458–467), Hansen (1991, Econometric Theory 7, 213–221; 1992, Econometric Theory 8, 421–422), Davidson (1993, Statistics and Probability Letters 16,301–304), and de Jong (1995, Econometric Theory 11, 347–358), extending results for H = R and improving memory conditions in certain instances. We give as examples consistency results for series and kernel estimators.
Epothilones: a novel class of non-taxane microtubule-stabilizing agents.

The epothilones are a novel class of non-taxane microtubule-stabilizing agents obtained from the fermentation of the cellulose degrading myxobacteria, Sorangium cellulosum. Preclinical studies have shown that the epothilones are more potent than the taxanes and active in some taxane-resistant models. Similar to paclitaxel and other taxanes, the epothilones block cells in mitosis, resulting in cell death. The chief components of the fermentation process are epothilones A and B, with epothilones C and D found in smaller amounts. Trace amounts of other epothilones have also been detected. Pre-clinical studies have shown that epothilone B is the most active form, exhibiting significantly higher antitumor activity than paclitaxel and docetaxel. Several phase I and phase II clinical trials are ongoing with epothilone B and BMS 247550, an epothilone B analog. Preliminary reports indicate these agents are active against human cancers in heavily pretreated patients. The epothilones appear to be well tolerated, with a side effect profile that is similar to that reported with the taxanes. This article will review some basic aspects of epothilone chemistry and biology, and pre-clinical and preliminary clinical experience with epothilone B and its analog, BMS 247550.
Simulation input analysis: collecting data and estimating parameters for input distributions

An early stage of a simulation study often consists of collecting data in order to parameterize the model. This paper addresses the question of how much data to collect, and from what sources. We use designed experiments to identify important unknown parameters, taking into account the current level of information about them. We develop approaches based on two common forms of analysis of variance: a fixed effects model, and a random effects model.
An MRI study of autism: The cerebellum revisited

We addressed the controversies surrounding the size of the neocerebellar vermis in autism and examined cerebellar size in light of recent reports of enlarged brain size in this disorder. In this study we use detailed MRI (1.5 mm) to examine the area of cerebellar lobules I through V and VI and VII and the volume of the total cerebellum in 35 autistic subjects and 36 controls. No abnormalities in the size of cerebellar lobules VI and VII in autistic individuals were detected, but the volume of the total cerebellum was significantly increased. We conclude that selective neocerebellar size abnormalities are not present in autistic individuals. Enlarged total cerebellar volume detected in this study is consistent with previous reports of regional brain enlargement in autism and also consistent with theories hypothesizing that the primary defect in autism is the result of abnormal development of a distributed neural network involving a number of regions of the brain.
Peyronie's Disease is Associated with an HLA Class II Antigen, HLA-DQ5, Implying an Autoimmune Etiology

AbstractPurpose: Previous studies using serological (protein based) HLA typing methods suggested an association between various HLA antigens and Peyronie's disease. We used a molecular (deoxyribonucleic acid based) HLA typing method to determine whether Peyronie's disease is associated with class II HLA antigens.Materials and Methods: Class II HLA typing using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer method was performed in 31 patients with Peyronie's disease, 19 age matched urological patients with disorders other than Peyronie's disease and 75 major organ donor cadavers representative of the general population.Results: The frequency of HLA-DQ5 was significantly increased in patients with Peyronie's disease (61 percent HLA-DQ5 positive) compared to age matched disease-free controls (11 percent HLA-DQ5 positive, corrected p = 0.003) and general population controls (25 percent HLA-DQ5 positive, corrected p = 0.005). The relative risk for Peyronie's disease associated with HLA-DQ5 was 12.7 and...
Lot sizing to reduce capacity utilization in a production process with defective items, process corrections, and rework

This paper deals with the lot sizing problem in which the key features of imperfections in a production process are explicitly modelled. These features include: process shifting to out-of-control states, detection of the out-of-control shifts, corrective actions following the detections, and the fixed setup and variable processing times of reworks. The problem is motivated by the wafer probe operation in semiconductor manufacturing. The key objective that drives the lot sizing decision is to reduce the total processing time on a critical resource. Such an objective is aimed at reducing the congestion level at this resource.
Ferrite-loaded rectangular cavities

The general hybrid-mode solution for ferrite-loaded rectangular cavities is formulated. Solutions in closed form or in terms of known functions being unattainable, a variational expression for the eigenvalues is given. Results are shown graphically for eigenvalues obtained as a function of the d.c. magnetising field for a simple trial function.
A framework for countering denial-of-information attacks

Denial-of-information (DoI) attacks degrade a given user's ability to seek, assimilate, and process information, and are becoming more prevalent due to the Internet's rapid growth. To counter such attacks, the authors' taxonomy provides structure to this area and proposes a model for describing the information space.
Founding Lineages and Genic Variability in Plains Bison (Bison bison) from Badlands National Park, South Dakota

: Starch-gel electrophoresis was used to screen 101 bison from Badlands National Park, South Dakota, for variation at 24 genetic loci. The population was descended from founder groups of about 6 and 3 individuals, separated geographically for a minimum of 64 years. The purpose of this study was (1) to estimate levels of genic variability in this bison population, (2) to assess the extent to which descendents of the two founder groups differ genetically, and (3) to compare the genetic characteristics of the Badlands population with other bison populations. The Badlands herd was found to be polymorphic for only a single locus (MDH–1). Descendents of the founder groups were homogeneous with respect to allelic and genotypic frequencies at this locus. The MDH–1 polymorphism has not been observed in other bison populations, while several polymorphism reported in other bison populations were not detected in the Badlands herd. A mean heterozygosity of 0.012 was observed in the Badlands herd; this value is lower than that typically reported for mammals, though not as low as heterozygosities seen in other populations that have passed through severe bottlenecks in size. These results underscore the need for genetic data in planning breeding programs for species in captivity or managed in isolate reserves. Resumen: La variacion de 24 posiciones de genes fue analizado en 101 bisontes del Badlands National Park, South Dakota, mediante electroforesis en albumina. La poblacion estudiada era descendiente de dos grupos funaadores, formados por alrededor de 6 y 3 individuos respectivamente, separados geograficamente por un minimo de 64 anos. El proposito de este estudio fue (1) estimar los niveles de variabilidad genetica presente en esta poblacion de bisontes, (2) evaluur el grado en que los descendientes de los dos grupos fundadores difieren geneticamente, y (3) comparar las characteristicas geneticas de la poblacion de Badlands con otros poblaciones de bisontes. Se encontro que la manada de bisontes de Badlands es polimorfica para solo una posicion (MDH-1). Los descendientes de los grupos fundadores fueron homogeneos en respecto a frecuencias allelicas y genotipicas para esta posicion. El polimorfismo MDH-1 no ha sido observado en otras poblaciones de bisontes, mientras que varios polimorfismos reportados en otras poblaciones de bisontes no fueron detectados en la manada de Badlands. Un promedio de heterozigosidad de 0.012 fue observaado en la manada de Badlands; este valor es mas bajo de lo que es tipicamente reportado para mamiferos, aunque no es tan bajo como heterozigosidades observadas en otras poblaciones que ban pasado por situuciones criticas en relacion a su tamano. Estos resultados subrayan la necesidad de contra con datos geneticos para planificar programas de crianza en cautividad o el manejo de especies en resmas aisladas.