cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation optimization of spherical non-polar guest recognition by deep-cavity cavitands

Biomimetic deep-cavity cavitand hosts possess unique recognition and encapsulation properties that make them capable of selectively binding a range of non-polar guests within their hydrophobic pocket. Adamantane based derivatives which snuggly fit within the pocket of octa-acid deep cavity cavitands exhibit some of the strongest host binding. Here we explore the roles of guest size and attractiveness on optimizing guest binding to form 1:1 complexes with octa-acid cavitands in water. Specifically we simulate the water-mediated interactions of the cavitand with adamantane and a range of simple Lennard-Jones guests of varying diameter and attractive well-depth. Initial simulations performed with methane indicate hydrated methanes preferentially reside within the host pocket, although these guests frequently trade places with water and other methanes in bulk solution. The interaction strength of hydrophobic guests increases with increasing size from sizes slightly smaller than methane to Lennard-Jones guests comparable in size to adamantane. Over this guest size range the preferential guest binding location migrates from the bottom of the host pocket upwards. For guests larger than adamantane, however, binding becomes less favorable as the minimum in the potential-of-mean force shifts to the cavitand face around the portal. For a fixed guest diameter, the Lennard-Jones well-depth is found to systematically shift the guest-host potential-of-mean force to lower free energies, however, the optimal guest size is found to be insensitive to increasing well-depth. Ultimately our simulations show that adamantane lies within the optimal range of guest sizes with significant attractive interactions to match the most tightly bound Lennard-Jones guests studied.
Micropackaging technologies for integrated microsystems: applications to MEMS and MOEMS

Although MEMS technologies and device structures have made significant progress in the past three decades and have found widespread application in many areas, including Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS), packaging and assembly techniques suitable for many of these emerging applications have not kept pace. Packaging is one of the most costly parts of microsystem manufacturing, and it is also often the first to fail or negatively influence the system response. This paper addresses the packaging and assembly challenges of microsystems and MEMS for different applications. Hermetic and vacuum micropackaging, wafer-level packaging and bonding, and miniature sealed interconnection and feedthrough technologies will be reviewed. Results from long-term accelerated testing, and from in-situ tests, especially in biological hosts, will also be discussed. Issues and challenges facing packaging of MOEMS will be discussed.
Sexual Minority-Related Victimization as a Mediator of Mental Health Disparities in Sexual Minority Youth: A Longitudinal Analysis

Sexual minority youth (youth who are attracted to the same sex or endorse a gay/lesbian/bisexual identity) report significantly higher rates of depression and suicidality than heterosexual youth. The minority stress hypothesis contends that the stigma and discrimination experienced by sexual minority youth create a hostile social environment that can lead to chronic stress and mental health problems. The present study used longitudinal mediation models to directly test sexual minority-specific victimization as a potential explanatory mechanism of the mental health disparities of sexual minority youth. One hundred ninety-seven adolescents (14–19 years old; 70 % female; 29 % sexual minority) completed measures of sexual minority-specific victimization, depressive symptoms, and suicidality at two time points 6 months apart. Compared to heterosexual youth, sexual minority youth reported higher levels of sexual minority-specific victimization, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Sexual minority-specific victimization significantly mediated the effect of sexual minority status on depressive symptoms and suicidality. The results support the minority stress hypothesis that targeted harassment and victimization are partly responsible for the higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidality found in sexual minority youth. This research lends support to public policy initiatives that reduce bullying and hate crimes because reducing victimization can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of sexual minority youth.
Hemodynamic consequences of abrupt withdrawal of nitroprusside or nitroglycerin following induced hypotension

Nitroprusside (SNP) and nitroglycerin (TNG) are frequently used to control or reduce blood pressure during anesthesia and are reported to produce similar hemodynamic changes during infusion. However, few data are available concerning the cardiovascular changes following abrupt withdrawal of these drugs. In this study, two groups of five dogs, each anesthetized with halothane, received either SNP or TNG in amounts sufficient to reduce mean arterial blood pressure to 30% below control levels. Both groups were maintained at this level for 30 minutes, the drugs then being abruptly discontinued. Hemodynamic measurements were then repeated intermittently for an additional 120 minutes. Both groups demonstrated generally similar responses during the hypotensive period although cardiac output increased by 28% in the dogs given TNG but did not change in those given SNP. During recovery, however, mean blood pressure rapidly returned toward normal in dogs given SNP, but mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased 24% above control levels, and remained elevated. In contrast, dogs given TNG had a markedly slower recovery phase, with more than 2 hours required for mean blood pressure to approach control values. During this time, mean pulmonary arterial pressures never exceeded control levels. An attempt was made to correlate these changes with circulating plasma catecholamine levels. During drug infusion, both epinephrine and norepinephrine levels increased at least transiently. After SNP was stopped, both epinephrine and norepinephrine levels rapidly returned to control levels. By contrast, plasma norepinephrine levels remained significantly above normal in animals that had received TNG, in spite of persistently low mean blood pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure. These data indicate that the period following discontinuation of SNP or TNG is accompanied by very different hemodynamic changes, and that abrupt discontinuation of SNP, but not TNG, produces a rebound pulmonary hypertension unrelated to plasma levels of catecholamines. By contrast, prolonged vasodilation was noted after TNG. Therefore, these drugs are clearly not identical, and differences following discontinuation should be considered when choosing an agent for producing controlled hypotension.
Heat capacity of water absorbed in methylcellulose

The heat capacity of methylcellulose is determined at various water contents over a wide range of temperatures, down to 125 K. From the data, the partial specific heat capacity of water has been obtained. The results show that water should be considered as a single, mobile phase. No evidence exists for bound water. Near 130 K water becomes immobilized in a glassy state.
Retroactive inhibition and spontaneous recovery in the A-B, D-C paradigm

While significant RI was found in both MMFR and paced recall for A-B, A-C and A-B, D-C paradigms, no RI was produced by a nonlearning task requiring a high rate of overt verbal responding. Relative recovery was found for the A-B, D-C condition and absolute recovery for A-B, A-C. Results are discussed in terms of an unlearning of contextual associations hypothesis and a response-set interference hypothesis.
Dropping out of parent training

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to determine the dropout rate when parents are taught to modify their children's problem behavior. Eight journals were examined for parent-training studies. Forty-five studies were found but only 22 of these reported dropout data. Studies were examined for dropout rate and in order to determine if the point in therapy at which dropout occurred was specified. The overall dropout rate was 28% and most studies specified when the dropout occurred. Finally, variables that are critical to dropping out when parent training is undertaken are presented and recommendations are made for future research.
Students’ Conceptions of Sound Waves Resulting from the Enactment of a New Technology-Enhanced Inquiry-Based Curriculum on Urban Bird Communication

The emerging field of urban ecology has the potential to engage urban youth in the practices of scientists by studying a locally relevant environmental problem. To this end, we are developing curriculum modules designed to engage students in learning science through the use of emerging information technology. In this paper, we describe the impact of one of the developed modules, urban bird bioacoustics, on students’ understanding of sound. This module incorporates a technology-rich scientific investigation with traditional, well-established sound learning activities. Our findings suggest that while the investigation was successful, students’ understandings of the properties of sound were mixed. These data suggest that instructional designers who are engaged in constructing a similar technology-enhanced curriculum should consider embedding their instructional support resources with appropriate student scaffolding questions, making explicit the connections between the investigation, technological tools and traditional science activities, and leveraging the multiple opportunities to learn content afforded by the technological tool. These findings will be used in next redesign of the curriculum materials. This work both shows how design-based research can be used to build knowledge about student scientific understanding and instructional and curricular design.
Purification of F1-ATPase with impaired catalytic activity from partial revertants of Escherichia coliuncA mutant strains

Abstract It is shown that F1-ATPase preparations having impaired catalytic rates may be purified from partial revertants of uncA mutant strains of Escherichia coli. Recovery of catalytic activity in the partial revertant F1 was accompanied by recovery of α ↔ β intersubunit conformational interaction, supporting the hypothesis that such interaction is required for normal catalysis in F1. The specific ATPase activities of the partial revertant F1 preparations were in the range 1–29% of normal, and some of the preparations showed unusual insensitivity to inhibitors. The properties of a new uncA mutant F1 preparation (uncA498) which has approximately half of normal catalytic rate are also briefly described.
Optical Properties and Structure of Microcrystalline Silicon

The optical properties of thin film microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) have been studied by real time spectroscopie ellipsometry in the nucleation regime as isolated crystalline particles increase in size. A simple geometric model of nucleation allows us to remove the dominant effect of voids and extract the dielectric functions of the crystallites themselves. We find that the results can be understood in terms of a classical size effect whereby limitations on the electron mean free path by scattering at crystallite surfaces control the absorption onset from 2.0 to 3.0 eV. Finally, we describe how well-ordered, continuous 15 A c-Si films can be prepared on metal substrates.
Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas include extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma, and, rarely, mantle cell lymphoma. Our purpose in conducting this review was to determine the clinical and behavioral characteristics of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, their relationship to infectious triggers, and therapeutic response. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 23 adult patients presenting to the dermatology clinic at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma between January 1999 and May 2003. Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas generally present on the head and neck, with the trunk and extremities afflicted to a lesser extent. Patients were found to have serologic evidence of prior infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (n = 10), Helicobacter pylori (n = 5), and Epstein-Barr virus (n = 6). Overall, treatment of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma should involve multiple modalities; however, specific treatment aimed at concurrent or suspected infection, particularly B burgdorferi, is a helpful adjunct and may achieve complete remission in a small subset of patients.
Deforming virtual objects interactively in accordance with an elastic model

Abstract We show how interactive deformations of a virtual 3D object can be carried out by using a hierarchical implementation of the finite element method (FEM). Basing deformations on the concepts of elasticity gives the human a measure of predictability when deciding where to apply forces to the object so that a desired shape would ensue. As is well known, one of the most powerful tools for analysing elasticity is the FEM, but the computational burden associated with a straightforward application of FEM to the problem at hand would make it too slow for any interactive process on even the fastest workstations. We have therefore developed a method in which the computational burden of FEM is alleviated by carrying out the FEM analysis at two different resolutions; a coarse resolution for a 3D calculation of the deformations and, subsequently, a finer resolution for just the surface layers of the object for a better (and smoother) delineation of the object shape. For the case of analysing the surface layers using the finer resolution, we show how a plate-theory version of FEM can be employed.
Semi-automated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric imaging platform for enhanced detection and improved data analysis of complex peptides

A semi-automated analytical platform featuring the coupling of monolithic reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI MSI) has been developed and evaluated. This is the first time that LC separation is readily coupled to MS imaging detection for the analysis of complex peptide mixtures both qualitatively and quantitatively. Methacrylate-based monolithic column with C12 functional groups is fabricated for fast RPLC separation. The LC flow and matrix flow are collected on a commercially available MALDI plate which is mechanically controlled and analyzed with MALDI MSI subsequently. Both tryptic peptides digested from bovine serum albumin (BSA) and endogenous neuropeptides extracted from the blue crab Callinectes sapidus are analyzed with this novel LC–MSI platform. Compared with regular offline LC fractionation coupled with MALDI MS detection, LC–MSI exhibits significantly increased MS signal intensity due to retaining of temporal resolution from separation dimension via continuous sampling, which results in increased number of peptides detected and accurate quantitation. In addition, imaging signals enable improved data analysis based on either mass-to-charge ratio or retention time, which is extremely beneficial for the analysis of complex analytes. These findings have demonstrated the potential of employing LC–MSI platform for enhanced proteomics and peptidomics studies.
Altered mechanisms underlying hypoxic dilation of skeletal muscle resistance arteries of hypertensive versus normotensive Dahl rats.

Objective:To determine mechanisms underlying hypoxic dilation of skeletal muscle resistance arteries from normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. Methods:Isolated gracilis arteries (GA) from both rat groups were viewed via television microscopy and vascular responses to a reduction in PO2from 145 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg were measured with a video micrometer. Responses were determined following endothelium removal and following inhibition of specific biochemical pathways regulating vascular tone. Results:Hypoxic dilation was impaired in HT rats versus NT controls. Endothelium removal abolished hypoxic dilation in NT rats, although a significant dilation to hypoxia remained in vessels from HT animals. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CP450) 4A enzymes blunted hypoxic dilation in both groups, while inhibition of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) production impaired responses in NT rats only. Inhibition of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) production or blockade of membrane recepto...
Hemoglobin-associated oxidative stress in the pericardial compartment of postoperative cardiac surgery patients

Atherosclerosis and valvular heart disease often require treatment with corrective surgery to prevent future myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. Mechanisms underlying the development of the associated complications of surgery are multifactorial and have been linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, classically as measured in the blood or plasma of patients. Postoperative pericardial fluid (PO-PCF) has not been investigated in depth with respect to the potential to induce oxidative stress. This is important because cardiac surgery disrupts the integrity of the pericardial membrane surrounding the heart and causes significant alterations in the composition of the pericardial fluid (PCF). This includes contamination with hemolyzed blood and high concentrations of oxidized hemoglobin, which suggests that cardiac surgery results in oxidative stress within the pericardial space. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that PO-PCF is highly pro-oxidant and that the potential interaction between inflammatory cell-derived hydrogen peroxide with hemoglobin is associated with oxidative stress. Blood and PCF were collected from 31 patients at the time of surgery and postoperatively from 4 to 48 h after coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or valve repair (mitral or aortic). PO-PCF contained high concentrations of neutrophils and monocytes, which are capable of generating elevated amounts of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide through the oxidative burst. In addition, PO-PCF primed naive neutrophils resulting in an enhanced oxidative burst upon stimulation. The PO-PCF also contained increased concentrations of cell-free oxidized hemoglobin that was associated with elevated levels of F2α isoprostanes and prostaglandins, consistent with both oxidative stress and activation of cyclooxygenase. Lastly, protein analysis of the PO-PCF revealed evidence of protein thiol oxidation and protein carbonylation. We conclude that PO-PCF is highly pro-oxidant and speculate that it may contribute to the risk of postoperative complications.
Thermal control of the solar electric propulsion stage

The thermal control requirements consist of functional requirements related to the various mission phase natural environments, operational requirements of induced power loadings by the solar electric propulsion stage subsystems, and design temperature limits for performance and reliability. The design approach utilizes passive thermal control techniques combining insulation, surface coatings, and sunshields with thermostatically controlled louvers. Heaters are used to regulate certain temperatures for extreme conditions. Details regarding the thruster array thermal control design are discussed, giving attention to the parameters used in the mathematical model, questions of conductive coupling, and thruster estimated power distribution.
Enhanced birefringence effects from subwavelength grating structures formed in uniaxial birefringent materials

Sub-wavelength grating structures made in an isotropic medium induce form birefringence effects with the induced optical axis parallel to the grating vector. The phase shift between the two orthogonal electric field components exiting this grating varies linearly with the thickness of the grating. When a grating with sub-wavelength period is formed on a uniaxial birefringent material with the grating vector aligned parallel to is natural optical axis, the total effect is enhanced birefringence for the material. Smaller thickness of the material is required to achieve the same phase shift. If the natural optical axis and the induced optical axis lie within the surface plane and have an angle between them, the phase shift varies nonlinearly with the thickness of the grating.
Pain Management for Urological Malignancies

Three ways to treat pain from malignancy include modifying the source of pain, interrupting transmission of pain, or altering the perception of pain. This review will discuss agents or techniques used for cancer pain relief through interrupting transmission and altering the perception of pain. Agents or techniques discussed include nonnarcotic analgesics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anesthetic and neurosurgical procedures.
Feeding suppression and grooming repeatedly elicited by intraventricular bombesin.

Abstract Food-deprived rats received intraventricular (IVT) artificial cerebrospinal fluid or 1.0 μg bombesin (BBS) prior to food access for 6 trials. All rats then received IVT BBS for 3 trials. IVT BBS strongly and consistently suppressed food intake and elicited grooming. Prior IVT BBS administrations did not significantly alter these responses, which were not antagonized by intraperitoneal BBS. IVT D-Trp8 BBS, an inactive analog, did not affect feeding or grooming.
An Independent Investigation of the Validity of the School Attitude Assessment Survey—Revised

The psychometric properties of the School Attitude Assessment Survey—Revised (SAAS-R) are examined in a sample of 321 high school students. Students completed the SAAS-R along with measures of school climate, academic self-efficacy, and school satisfaction; school-related behaviors (i.e., attendance and discipline referrals) and academic achievement (i.e., grade point averages) were obtained from school records. Factor analysis procedures support the existence of five factors representing students' academic self-perceptions, attitudes toward teachers, attitudes toward school, motivation and self-regulation, and goal valuation. Criterion-related validity is supported by mean differences on the SAAS-R between groups of students with varying levels of achievement. Convergent validity is supported through correlations in the expected directions between the SAAS-R factors and students' related beliefs about school and indicators of school behavior. Results support the validity of the SAAS-R for use with high s...
The helix–coil transitions of poly (dA). Poly (dT) and poly (dA‐dT). Poly (dA‐dT)

Helix–coil transition curves are calculated for poly (dA) poly(dT) and poly (dA-dT) poly (dA-dT) using the integral equation approach of Goel and Montroll.5 The transitions are described by the loop entropy model with the exponent of the loop entropy factor, k, remaining an arbitrary constant. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental transition curves of the two polymers. Results indicate that the stacking energies for these two polymers differ by about 1 kcal/mole of base pairs. Also, a fit between theory and experiment was not possible for k > 1.70.
Global theory of the Riccati equation

The asymptotic theory of the matrix Riccati equation is developed using non-variational arguments. The cone of positive semi-definite matrices is shown to be invariant under the motions of the Riccati equation and questions of monotonicity and stability are resolved for motions starting in this cone.
Depression of contractility in cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rat by carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Abstract The cardiac depressant effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH 3 CCl 3 ) were evaluated in cultured heart cells from neonatal rats. Heart cells were grown on glass coverslips and formed a confluent monolayer that beat spontaneously, rhythmically and in synchrony. Contractility was assessed by video-motion analysis. Stock solutions of CCl 4 or CH 3 CCl 3 were prepared in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and aliquoted (final DMSO concentration 0.2%) into medium (M199 supplemented with 5% serum) immediately prior to perfusion across myocytes in an environmentally controlled chamber. CCl 4 and CH 3 CCl 3 had a negative chronotropic effect on myocytes by prolonging the relaxation phase of beating. Duration of the contraction phase of beating, and peak velocity of cell wall movement were not affected by these halocarbons. Beating was stopped by 2.5 m m -CCl 4 or 5 m m -CH 3 CCl 3 , and washout of these compounds resulted in a resumption of beating activity. Increasing (3.6 m m ) or decreasing (0.6 m m ) the calcium concentration of the medium (normal = 1.8 m m ) significantly affected the duration of contraction and relaxation phases of beating, but did not alter the concentration-dependent action of CCl 4 . A positive chronotropic effect of isoproterenol was evident from 10 −9 to 10 −6 m , but contractility was depressed by isoproterenol concentrations greater than 10 −8 m in the presence of 750 μ m -CCl 4 . This study demonstrates the usefulness of cultured heart cells for assessing the cardiac depressant and sensitizing actions of halogenated hydrocarbons.
Managing wage and hours in the hotel industry

Asuccessful business is due to productive employees, especially in the hotel industry. To keep employees productive their needs must be satisfied. Effectively managing wage and hours is one way to do this. However, this can be challenging in the United States due to the decline in travel after September 11th. Further, laws will always be changing and policies must abide by these new rules. If management follows the regulations, it still does not guarantee unions and workers will be content. Hence, a hotels outlook on wage and hours must consider all these factors. Some choose to move workers to departments that are busy, others opt for layoffs. Perhaps the most popular trend is to mirror the competition’s policies. Whatever the method, wage and hours must be constantly analysed to ensure success in the hotel industry.
A non-peptide mimetic of Ras-CAAX : selective inhibition of farnesyltransferase and Ras processing

Cysteine farnesylation of the carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide CAAX (C = Cys, A = Leu, Ile, or Val, X = Met or Ser) of the oncogene product Ras is required for its malignant transformation activity. As a consequence farnesyltransferase (FTase), the enzyme responsible for this lipid modification, has become one of the most sought-after targets for anticancer drug development. We have recently designed peptide mimics of the COOH-terminal Cys-Val-Ile-Met of KB-Ras where the dipeptide Val-Ile was replaced by aminobenzoic acid derivatives. Although these peptidomimetics are potent inhibitors of FTase in vitro, they retain several undesirable peptide features that hamper their use in vivo. We report here the design, synthesis, and biological activity of the first non-peptide mimetics of CAAX where the tripeptide AAX was replaced by biphenyl derivatives. (R)-4-[N-(3-mercapto-2-aminopropyl)]amino-3′-carboxybiphenyl, where the cysteine is linked to the biphenyl derivative through a secondary amine, contains no amino acids, lacks peptidic features, and has no hydrolyzable bonds. This peptidomimetic is a potent inhibitor of FTase in vitro (IC50 = 50-150 nM) and disrupts Ras processing in whole cells. Furthermore, this non-peptide mimetic of CAAX is highly selective for FTase (666-fold) relative to the closely related geranylgeranyltransferase I. This selectivity is also respected in vivo since the processing of Ras but not the geranylgeranylated Rap1A was disrupted in whole cells. Structure activity relationship studies revealed that FTase recognition and inhibitory potency of CAAX peptidomimetics require free thiol and carboxylate groups separated by a hydrophobic moiety, and that precise positioning of these functional groups must correspond to that of the parent CAAX. The true CAAX peptidomimetic described in this manuscript has several desirable features for further development as a potential anticancer agent. It is not metabolically inactivated by FTase, does not require a prodrug strategy for inhibition in vivo, and is selective for farnesylation relative to geranylgeranylation.
Lab-by-wire: Fully web-based hands-on embedded systems laboratory

This paper addresses the remote labs challenge by outlining the development and use of a web-based but fully hands-on real-time software engineering lab with embedded systems focus, at the author's institution: Florida Gulf Coast University. It consists of a number of lab stations designated for remote software development and testing in the undergraduate computer science and software engineering programs. The stations are fully developed for an undergraduate elective course on Embedded Systems Programming, are used in required senior level project courses, and at the time of this writing involve the use of microcontrollers and single board computers in teaching software development for data acquisition and control. First experiences regarding effects on pedagogy and technical and administrative issues are outlined.
Prospective study of short stature and newly diagnosed asthma in women.

The authors tested the hypothesis that short stature predicts adult-onset asthma independent of obesity among women in the Nurses' Health Study. Height, weight, and physician-diagnosed asthma were assessed with validated questionnaire items. Proportional hazard models adjusted separately for weight and body mass index. The rate of newly diagnosed asthma was 1.55 times greater in the shortest versus the tallest quintile after adjustment for weight (95% CI, 1.26–1.91). After adjustment for body mass index, the rate ratio was 1.16 (95% CI, 0.94–1.42). Short stature predicted adult-onset asthma in a large cohort of women, but this association was not independent of obesity.
High resolution X-ray spectroscopy and chemical evolution in elliptical galaxies

Abstract We discuss the elemental composition in the hot ISM of elliptical galaxies derived from new and recent X-ray spectral analysis in the context of new phenomenological models of their chemical evolution. Star formation histories, the IMF, the astrophysics of supernovae, and the nature of galactic winds impact the metal content and relative abundances in the hot ISM. We evaluate how X-ray spectroscopy may be utilized to deconstruct how elliptical galaxies, and the stellar populations that compose them, form and evolve, with an emphasis on present and future high resolution spectroscopic analysis.
Mapping of the signal peptide-binding domain of Escherichia coli SecA using Förster resonance energy transfer.

Identification of the signal peptide-binding domain within SecA ATPase is an important goal for understanding the molecular basis of SecA preprotein recognition as well as elucidating the chemo-mechanical cycle of this nanomotor during protein translocation. In this study, Forster resonance energy transfer methodology was employed to map the location of the SecA signal peptide-binding domain using a collection of functional monocysteine SecA mutants and alkaline phosphatase signal peptides labeled with appropriate donor−acceptor fluorophores. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements yielded an equilibrium binding constant of 1.4 or 10.7 μM for the alkaline phosphatase signal peptide labeled at residue 22 or 2, respectively, with SecA, and a binding stoichiometry of one signal peptide bound per SecA monomer. Binding affinity measurements performed with a monomer-biased mutant indicate that the signal peptide binds equally well to SecA monomer or dimer. Distance measurements determined for 13 SecA mutants show ...
What’s wrong with the Concept of Self-management?

In the following introduction to an update on the use of Betty Neuman Systems Model in Holland, the author raising some questions about the use of the concept of ‘self-management’ and patient as ‘consumer’ by nurses. An excessive emphasis on individualism and consumerism in healthcare is seen as too narrow and demoralizing.
Physical Characterization of Pentamidine Isethionate during Freeze-Drying—Relevance to development of Stable Lyophilized Product

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to perform physical characterization of pentamidine isethionate (PI) in frozen and freeze-dried systems and to monitor the phase behavior during all the stages of freeze-drying. Frozen aqueous PI solutions as well as the final lyophiles were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry. The effect of cosolutes, cosolvents, and processing conditions on the PI crystallization behavior during freeze-drying was evaluated. In frozen aqueous solutions, irrespective of the cooling rate and the initial solute concentration, PI readily crystallized as a trihydrate (C 19 H 24 N 4 O 2 ·3H 2 O). It dehydrated to a poorly crystalline anhydrate upon drying at 100 mTorr. The presence of a readily crystallizing cosolute or an organic cosolvent did not influence the physical form of PI in the final lyophile. On the contrary, even in the absence of cosolutes and cosolvents, the crystalline trihydrate was retained when the chamber pressure was increased to 500 mTorr. By altering the drying conditions, it was possible to obtain either a crystalline trihydrate or a poorly crystalline anhydrate. The stability of PI is dependent on its physical form and only the amorphous PI undergoes discoloration. The PI stability can be enhanced by retaining it in a crystalline state in the lyophile. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:1732–1743, 2012
Food Restriction Differentially Affects mRNAs Encoding the Major Anterior Pituitary Tropic Hormones

Chronic food restriction (FR) leads to adaptive cellular changes, some of which retard aging. Moreover, some of these changes occur within weeks after onset of FR. Because neuroendocrine mechanisms may mediate these effects, we measured the effect of FR on the messenger ribonucleicacids (mRNAs) encoding all of the tropic hormones of the anterior pituitary (AP). Slot blot and solution hybridization were conducted on AP ribonucleicacid (RNA) samples obtained at 0500 h (AM) and 1500 h (PM) from 3-month-old male Fischer 344 rats fed ad libitum (AL) or FR (60% of AL calories) since 6 weeks of age. PolyA RNA/microgram total RNA was similar in AL and FR rats, indicating that there was no overall effect of FR on mRNA levels. The level of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA was not reduced by FR when expressed per microgram of RNA or as total AP content. By contrast, the total AP content of the mRNAs encoding LH beta, FSH beta, TSH beta, GH, and PRL was markedly reduced by FR. When expressed per microgram of RNA, however, only GH (AM and PM), FSH beta (AM), TSH beta (PM), and PRL (PM) were reduced by FR. These results reveal that FR differentially affects pituitary tropic hormone mRNA levels within weeks after onset of FR, and are consistent with a role for neuroendocrine alterations in the initiation of adaptive cellular responses to FR.
An obese body mass increases the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS on balance and gait

Background Balance and gait problems have been detected among patients with HIV/AIDS. The extent to which these problems are exacerbated by either frailty or obesity has not been examined. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare participants who differed in body mass and the presence or absence of HIV/AIDS. Design This was a cross-sectional study. Methods Quantitative measurements were obtained from 86 participants who were HIV–type 1 (HIV-1) seronegative and 121 participants who were seropositive divided into subgroups based on their body mass index (BMI 29 kg/m2). Results Participants who were seropositive were impaired relative to seronegative controls on several indices, including the limit of stability, sway amplitude and sway strategy, gait initiation time, and gait speed during a fast pace condition. Participants who were obese also exhibited impairments, which were evident during assessments of the limit of stability, nonpreferred leg stance time, sway strategy, normal and fast gait speed, fast gait initiation time, and 360-degree turn time. Importantly, the analysis revealed that participants with both attributes were more impaired than those with either or neither attribute: patients who were obese and seropositive were more impaired in fast gait initiation time and cadence, nonpreferred leg stance time, 360-degree turn time, and sway strategy scores. Limitations The validity of BMI as a measure of body mass can be challenged. In addition, the validity of chair rise time and 360-degree turn time as estimates of lower-extremity strength (force-generating capacity) can be argued. Conclusions The present findings have an obvious and unfortunate implication: as more patients who are HIV-1 seropositive join the seronegative community in becoming obese, the effects of obesity and their disease may summate and their risk for balance and gait problems may increase.
Stochastic Dynamical Systems in Infinite Dimensions

We study the local behavior of infinite-dimensional stochastic semiflows near hyperbolic equilibria. The semiflows are generated by stochastic differential systems with finite memory, stochastic evolution equations and semilinear stochastic partial differential equations.
Pair-wise processing of spectrograms for localization of multiple broadband CW sources

A pair-wise processing algorithm has been developed to localize broadband sources in shallow water. A simple sparse hydrophone array with number of elements roughly equal to the maximum number of sources is used. The sources can be continuous-wave (i.e. no onset times), and no previous knowledge of source signatures is required. The processor is spatially coherent and partially frequency coherent. Simulations show considerable improvement over conventional (i.e., frequency incoherent) matched field techniques under realistic noise conditions, with environmental mismatch and multiple sources. Spectrograms have been incorporated into the algorithm to make use of higher frequencies at greater ranges. Our work is motivated by the problem of localizing multiple singing humpback whales, and recordings of humpback whale song from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii are being analyzed.
Fat-suppressed steady-state free precession imaging using phase detection.

Fully refocused steady-state free precession (SSFP) is a rapid, efficient imaging sequence that can provide diagnostically useful image contrast. In SSFP, the signal is refocused midway between excitation pulses, much like in a spin-echo experiment. However, in SSFP, the phase of the refocused spins alternates for each resonant frequency interval equal to the reciprocal of the sequence repetition time (TR). Appropriate selection of the TR results in a 180° phase difference between lipid and water signals. This phase difference can be used for fat‐water separation in SSFP without any increase in scan time. The technique is shown to produce excellent non-contrast-enhanced, flow-independent angiograms of the peripheral vasculature. Magn Reson Med 50: 210‐213, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE PRIMARY PROCESSES OF VISION: A VIEW FROM THE EXPERIMENTAL SIDE

— Experimental observations from picosecond spectroscopy studies of the early photochemical events in vision are presented. The data are discussed for implications about the nature of the primary photochemical event, the temperature effect on the molar absorption coefficient of bathorhodopsin, and proton translocation in the dynamic events leading to the formation of bathorhodopsin.
Crust and upper mantle P- and S-wave delay times at Eurasian seismic stations

Median crust and upper mantle P- and S-wave delay times, based on residuals for teleseismic P- and S-wave arrival times included in the groomed ISC/NEIC database of Engdahl et al. [Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 88 (1998) 722] are estimated as functions of time and azimuth for Eurasian seismic stations. The effects of source and lower mantle 3-D structure on the station residuals are corrected by ray tracing all phase data (to a depth of 400 km below the station) through the 3-D P- and S-wave models of Bijwaard et al. [J. Geophys. Res. 103 (1998) 30055] and Bijwaard [Seismic travel-time tomography for detailed global mantle structure. University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1999, 179 pp.], respectively. In general, crust and upper mantle P- and S-station delays based on medians of azimuthally binned residuals are spatially coherent and can be qualitatively associated with Eurasian tectonic features such as orogens and cratons, as well as with structural elements such as sediment and crustal thickness, and average uppermost mantle velocities. Paired P- and S-station delays are correlated with a rather poorly determined slope (S/P delay time ratio) of about 1.9. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Inflammation, neovascularization and intra-plaque hemorrhage are associated with increased reparative collagen content: implication for plaque progression in diabetic atherosclerosis.

Sustained inflammation may stimulate a reparative process increasing early reparative type III collagen synthesis, promoting atherosclerotic plaque progression. We evaluated inflammation, neovascul...
SOME RESULTS ON INTRINSICALLY KNOTTED GRAPHS

We show that graphs of the form G * K2 are intrinsically knotted if and only if G is nonplanar. This can be extended to show that G * K5m+1 is intrinsically (m + 2)-linked when G is nonplanar. We also apply this result to classify all complete n-partite graphs with respect to intrinsic knotting and show that this family does not produce any new minor-minimal examples. Finally, we categorize all minor-minimal intrinsically knotted graphs on 8 or fewer vertices.
Methods for Detecting and Monitoring the Resistance of Plant Pathogens to Chemicals

The detection and monitoring of strains of plant pathogens resistant to chemicals became of concern only recently, with the introduction of fungicides and bactericides that are highly specific, partially systemic, and very effective. Agriculturists have been fortunate in having had no resistance problems to contend with during the long period when sulfurs, copper, mercuries, dithiocarbamates, captan and similar nonsystemic fungicides and soil fumigants were in extensive use. Temporary resistance or adaptation of plant pathogens to copper was detected, but these resistant pathogens lost their resistance once they were allowed to grow on media free of the chemical (Parry and Wood, 1959). Thus, temporary adaptation of plant pathogens to some fungicides was not related to or correlated with any loss in their efficacy in controlling diseases. Decades and even centuries of repeated applications with these chemicals produced no evidence that they would fail to protect crops against loss to diseases because of the development of resistance. Concern about fungicide resistance and methods for determining resistance came with the discovery by Harding (1962) that control of Penicillium on citrus fruit was being lost through the development of resistance to ortho-phenylphenate and biphenyl.
Feasibility and Acceptability to Patients of a Longitudinal System for Evaluating Cancer-Related Symptoms and Quality of Life: Pilot Study of an e/Tablet Data-Collection System in Academic Oncology

Programmed, notebook-style, personal computers ("e/Tablets") can collect symptom and quality-of-life (QOL) data at the point of care. Patients use an e/Tablet in the clinic waiting area to complete electronic surveys. Information then travels wirelessly to a server, which generates a real-time report for use during the clinical visit. The objective of this study was to determine whether academic oncology patients find e/Tablets logistically acceptable and a satisfactory means of communicating symptoms to providers during repeated clinic visits. Sixty-six metastatic breast cancer patients at Duke Breast Cancer Clinic participated. E/Tablets were customized to electronically administer a satisfaction/acceptability survey, several validated questionnaires, and the Patient Care Monitor (PCM) review of symptoms survey. At each of the four visits within six months, participants completed the patient satisfaction/acceptability survey, which furnished data for the current analysis. Participant demographics were: mean age of 54 years, 77% Caucasian, and 47% with less than a college education. Participants reported that e/Tablets were easy to read (94%), easy to navigate (99%), and had a comfortable weight (90%); they found it easy to respond to questions using the e/Tablet (98%). Seventy-five percent initially indicated satisfaction with PCM for reporting symptoms; this proportion increased over time. By the last visit, 88% of participants indicated that they would recommend the PCM to other patients; 74% felt that the e/Tablet helped them remember symptoms to report to their clinician. E/Tablets offered a feasible and acceptable method for collecting longitudinal patient-reported symptom and QOL data within an academic, tertiary care, breast cancer clinic.
Two-dimensional semiconductor device simulation of trap-assisted generation-recombination noise under periodic large-signal conditions and its use for developing cyclostationary circuit simulation models

The simulation of generation-recombination (GR) noise under periodic large-signal conditions in a partial differential equation-based silicon device simulator is presented. Using the impedance-field method with cyclostationary noise sources, it is possible to simulate the self- and cross-spectral densities between sidebands of a periodic large-signal stimulus. Such information is needed to develop noise correlation matrices for use with a circuit simulator. Examples are provided which demonstrate known results for shot noise in bipolar junction transistors. Additional results demonstrate the upconversion of low-frequency GR noise for microscopically cyclostationary noise sources and provide evidence for applying the modulated stationary noise model for low-frequency noise when there is a nearly quadratic current dependence.
Virtual modelling for simulation-based lean education

This research presents a virtual simulation to enable students to explore and learn lean concepts through virtual experimentation. Exposing students to these concepts is crucial as demand for engineers with an in-depth understanding of lean philosophies is rising. The virtual simulation platform developed provides students an environment to apply lean concepts in experiments in the same manner as current methods for teaching lean, which include hands-on projects and simulation. The platform provides a simple interface, the ability to store results, and the modelling power of state of the art virtual reality software. The virtual simulation platform is built using the VE-Suite virtual engineering framework, which provides user-friendly dialogue boxes, graphical models, performance display gauges, and an editable layout. A mathematical model of an industrial process where lean can be implemented was created for this framework. In addition, a survey instrument is planned to gather information about strengths and weaknesses of the method to implement continuous improvement to the model. By working through this virtual simulation, students can experience multiple applications of lean in a real world setting without constructing an entire line or disrupting production in an existing line.
Context Processing of Sensory Image Data

The newly developing facets of technology and sensory control algorithm fuselets that will enable the envisioned information flow between the unmanned aerial system agents, will rely on cognitive advances in embedded smart perception sensory systems. Smart perception system-on-a-chip (SP-SoC) systems that sense, receive, transmit, and process signals are the analogous eyes and ears for waveform diversity. The nature of context processing implies information processing that is cognitive in classifying waveform diversity from sensory wavelet data.