cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of potential plant CS2 emissions on bacterial growth in the rhizosphere

Abstract Carbon disulfide (CS2) is a volatile, flammable, foul-smelling liquid with bacteriostatic, fungicidal, nematicidal and insecticidal properties. Some plants emit CS2. The present study was designed to determine if CS2 emissions from Mimosa pudica could inhibit the rhizosphere growth of six different bacterial species. Albizia julibrissin, a plant that does not emit CS2 and is closely related to M. pudica, was used as a negative control. Two pseudomonads, streptomycetes and rhizobia were each inoculated at a concentration of 105 colony-forming units (CFU) plant−1 into assemblies with and without a gnotobiotically grown M. pudica or A. julibrissin plant. Roots of M. pudica and A. julibrissin had a variable effect on bacterial growth. Neither plant inhibited pseudomonad nor rhizobial growth on the rhizoplane or in the rhizosphere, but both plants inhibited streptomycete growth on the rhizoplane and in the rhizosphere. However, the inhibition of streptomycete growth was temporary and after 7 days, little difference in streptomycete numbers was observed between assemblies with a plant and assemblies without a plant but with an added carbon source. Similar results were observed in a competition study between a rhizobium and a streptomycete on the rhizoplane and in the rhizosphere of M. pudica except the streptomycete counts did not recover to the same extent after 7 days. In CS2 studies, the growth of all six bacterial species was inhibited by 155 ng CS2 ml−1, and with two exceptions, to a lesser extent by 1.9 ng CS2 ml−1. It is unlikely that CS2 inhibited streptomycete growth because the streptomycetes were inhibited by A. julibrissin (which does not emit CS2), and little relationship was observed between the inhibition of streptomycete growth in assemblies with M. pudica plants and in assemblies with CS2. It is likely that other compounds on the rhizoplane and in the rhizosphere of M. pudica and A. julibrissin are responsible for the inhibition of streptomycete growth.
L-glutamate and L-aspartate bind to separate sites in rat brain synaptic membranes.

Summary The specific binding of l -glutamate ( l -Glu) and l -aspartate ( l -Asp) was measured in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs). A distinction between the binding sites for these amino acids was made on the basis of the kinetics, ion effects, pharmacology and chemical susceptibility of the binding. The existence of distinct binding sites for l -Glu and l -Asp is consistent with electrophysiological data that mammalian neurons possess separate receptors for these amino acids.
Increased expression of the close homolog of the adhesion molecule L1 in different cell types over time after rat spinal cord contusion.

The close homolog of the adhesion molecule L1 (CHL1) is important during CNS development, but a study with CHL1 knockout mice showed greater functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in its absence. We investigated CHL1 expression from 1 to 28 days after clinically relevant contusive SCI in Sprague-Dawley rats. Western blot analysis showed that CHL1 expression was significantly up-regulated at day 1 and further increased over 4 weeks after SCI. Immunohistochemistry of tissue sections showed that CHL1 in the intact spinal cord was expressed at low levels. By 1 day and through 4 weeks after SCI, CHL1 became highly expressed in NG2+ cells. Hypertrophic GFAP+ astrocytes also expressed CHL1 by 1 week after injury. The increase in CHL1 protein paralleled that of NG2 in the first week and GFAP between 1 and 4 weeks after injury. At 4 weeks, NG2+/CHL1+ cells and GFAP+/CHL1+ astrocytes were concentrated at the boundary between residual spinal cord tissue and the central lesion. NF200+ spinal cord axons approached but did not penetrate this boundary. In contrast, CHL1+ cells in the central lesion at 1 week and later colabeled with p75 and NG2 and were chronically associated with many NF200+ axons, presumably axons that had sprouted in association with CHL1+ Schwann cells infiltrating the cord after contusion. Thus, our study demonstrates up-regulation of CHL1 in multiple cell types and locations in a rat model of contusion injury and suggests that this molecule may be involved both in inhibition of axonal regeneration and in recovery processes after SCI. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mechanical Consequences of Needle Puncture Injury in the Mouse Caudal Spine

Models of acute annulus fibrosus (AF) injury consistently produce a mechanical or biological response similar to that of human disc degeneration1–5. These methods are easily implemented, provide repeatable results and have controlled specificity in comparison to global knockout and spontaneous development models. AF injury studies have been conducted in many species including the sheep, rabbit, and rat1–4. The mouse caudal disc is a proposed model, as it degenerates as a result of needle puncture injury, displaying changes consistent with those in humans5. Limited mechanical data for puncture-initiated degeneration is available, however. The primary function of the disc is mechanical — transferring loads, dissipating energy and facilitating joint mobility. Evaluating disc mechanical properties is therefore important for understanding how functional changes can be targeted by potential therapeutics. The objective of this study was to quantify the acute and long term effects of needle puncture injury on mouse caudal disc mechanical function, disc height and nucleus pulposus (NP) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
From Structure to Agency to Process: The Evolution of Charles Tilly’s Theories of Social Action as Reflected in His Analyses of Contentious Politics

Charles Tilly’s social theories shifted over the course of his career from an early focus on quantitative and macro-sociological approaches to a later focus on relations and agency. His studies of state-making also shifted, from a focus on conflict and capitalism to explorations of democracy. This paper details these shifts and places them in the context of broader trends in comparative-historical and political sociology.
Effects of low-dose candesartan on the rate of re-endothelialisation following vascular wound healing

Keywords: vascular wound healing, intimal hyperplasia, re- endotheliali- sation, angiotensin, angiotensin receptor antagonist Abstract The wound healing response of the vascular wall to injury involves re-endothelialisation of the denuded luminal surface and thickening of the intimal area (intimal hyperplasia), as expressed by the intimal-to- medial area ratio (I/M). Candesartan, at doses of 1 mg/kg/day or higher, has been reported to attenuate the intimal hyperplastic response. We tested the hypothesis that candesartan, at doses lower than those associated with attenuation of intimal hyperplasia, may affect re-endothelialisation. New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to balloon catheter injury to the thoracic aorta. Candesartan, at doses of 50, 100, and 500 µg/kg/day, was delivered via an Alzet pump placed in the abdomen one week prior to aortic injury. There was no attenuation of the hyperplastic response of the aortic wall. However, at 50 µg/kg/day the rate of re- endothelialisation was significantly increased. These data suggest that candesartan may exhibit pleiotropic effects on vascular wound healing, in addition to the well- known effect of attenuating the development of intimal hyperplasia.
Microbial hydroxylations—IX: On the dihydroxylation of 19-norsteroids by Curvularialunata

Abstract 10β-Hydroperoxy-17β-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one was transformed by vegetative cell cultures of Curvularialunata NRRL 2380 to 10β, 17β-dihydroxy-4-estren-3-one which was transformed in turn on prolonged fermentation to 10β-hydroxy-4-estrene-3,17-dione and 10β, 11β,17β-trihydroxy-4-estren-3-one. These results support sequential hydroxylation as the means by which 10β,11β,17β-trihydroxy-4-estren-3-one be formed from 17β-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one.
"Oh! She doesn't speak English!" Assessing resident competence in managing linguistic and cultural barriers.

BACKGROUND: Residents must master complex skills to care for culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
Dantrolene sodium and hepatic injury

This is a report on hepatic adverse events associated with dantrolene therapy. All cases reported to the manufacturer are included, from all sources, through 1987. Of 122 cases containing sufficient data to analyze, 47 patients had asymptomatic transaminase elevations, 12 had additional mild (less than or equal to 2.5 mg/dl) hyperbilirubinemia, 36 had jaundice, and 27 patients died. There is an overrepresentation of women over 35 years and patients with multiple sclerosis in the fatal group compared with the study population as a whole (not statistically significant). Mean dantrolene dose was 582 mg/d in fatal cases and 263 mg/d in the nonfatal group. Generally, at least 2 months of therapy was given before injury occurred. Concomitant drugs and nonhepatic, drug-independent disease were associated with a fatal outcome. Serum bilirubin may be predictive for death (mean of 17.0 mg/dl in the fatal group compared with 6.5 mg/dl in nonfatal cases). Of available biopsy reports, 68% included chronic active hepatitis or precirrhotic/cirrhotic lesions. Physicians should monitor liver function in patients taking dantrolene.
Transfer of a Complex Perceptual Skill

Communication systems that depend upon stimulation of the skin will be more flexible and useful if it is possible to shift to new sets of loci in accordance with the needs of particular situations. However, the feasibility of making such shifts will depend upon the amount of transfer that can be expected. To explore this problem, an experiment was performed in which braille readers served as Ss. They were required to read lines of braille characters with each of eight fingers. Performance was best when the forefingers were used and fell off sharply as the little fingers were approached. Explanations of the results in terms of anatomical, physiological and experiential factors were discussed. Some implications for cutaneous communication systems in general were suggested.
Variation of federal cost-share programs in the United States and the inducement effects on tree planting

Abstract A long existing question associated with federal cost-share programs in the United States has been whether these public subsidies have induced or substituted for landowners’ private investment in tree planting. This study reexamined the relationship between public funding and private investment behavior in the past 50 years by employing a state space model with time-varying parameters. Three regions, i.e., the South, North, and West were formed and compared. The analysis revealed that the relationship has changed over time and across regions and both inducement and substitution effects have occurred. The inducement effect occurred in the South from 1960 to 1972 and in the West from 1961 to 2002 while the substitution effect was present for all other years in the South and West. In the North, there has been a strong substitution effect from 1951 to 2002.
Panel-based genetic diagnostic testing for inherited eye diseases is highly accurate and reproducible, and more sensitive for variant detection, than exome sequencing

Next-generation sequencing–based methods are being adopted broadly for genetic diagnostic testing, but the performance characteristics of these techniques with regard to test accuracy and reproducibility have not been fully defined. We developed a targeted enrichment and next-generation sequencing approach for genetic diagnostic testing of patients with inherited eye disorders, including inherited retinal degenerations, optic atrophy, and glaucoma. In preparation for providing this genetic eye disease (GEDi) test on a CLIA–certified basis, we performed experiments to measure the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, as well as the clinical sensitivity, of the test. The GEDi test is highly reproducible and accurate, with sensitivity and specificity of 97.9 and 100%, respectively, for single-nucleotide variant detection. The sensitivity for variant detection was notably better than the 88.3% achieved by whole-exome sequencing using the same metrics, because of better coverage of targeted genes in the GEDi test as compared with a commercially available exome capture set. Prospective testing of 192 patients with inherited retinal degenerations indicated that the clinical sensitivity of the GEDi test is high, with a diagnostic rate of 51%. Based on quantified performance metrics, the data suggest that selective targeted enrichment is preferable to whole-exome sequencing for genetic diagnostic testing. Genet Med 17 4, 253–261.
Thiazide diuretics and bone mineral content in postmenopausal women

This retrospective study of 54 postmenopausal women taking thiazide diuretics found that bone mineral measurements and bone fracture prevalence did not differ significantly from those of matched control subjects. Matching on the variables of type of menopause (surgical/nonsurgical), years postmenopausal, duration of estrogen therapy (if any), daily intake of dietary and supplemental calcium and vitamin D, and Quetelet index was done without knowledge of the bone mineral measurements. Bone mass was recorded as the bone mineral content and bone density of the distal and midshaft radius. Only fractures associated with osteoporosis (hip, rib, vertebrae, and wrist) were recorded. This study suggests that thiazide diuretics do not provide protection against osteoporosis.
On-chip electrochromatography using sol–gel immobilized stationary phase with UV absorbance detection

A chromatography column on a chip was fabricated by immobilizing reversed-phase stationary phase particles (5 microm, C4) using sol-gel technology. Channels were fabricated in quartz using photolithography and wet etching. Localization of the stationary phase was achieved by immobilizing the stationary phase at the desired location in the separation channel prior to bonding of the cover plate. Cross channel design was employed for gated injection. An optical fiber setup was developed for carrying out on-chip UV absorbance detection. The effective optical path length was theoretically determined for the trapezoidal shaped channel and the result was shown to match closely with the experimentally determined value. The effect of applied voltage on velocity was evaluated using thiourea as an unretained marker. Separation performance of the stationary phase was demonstrated by separation of three peptides (Trp-Ala, Leu-Trp and Trp-Trp) under isocratic chromatographic conditions.
Customising PRESAGE® for diverse applications

PRESAGE® is a solid radiochromic dosimeter consisting of a polyurethane matrix, a triarylmethane leuco dye, and a trihalomethane initiator. Varying the composition and/or relative amounts of these constituents can affect the dose sensitivity, post-irradiation stability, and physical properties of the dosimeter. This allows customisation of PRESAGE® to meet application-specific requirements, such as low sensitivity for high dose applications, stability for remote dosimetry, optical clearing for reusability, and tissue-like elasticity for deformable dosimetry. This study evaluates five hard, non-deformable PRESAGE® formulations and six deformable PRESAGE® formulations and characterizes them for dose sensitivity and stability. Results demonstrated sensitivities in the range of 0.0029 - 0.0467 ΔOD/(Gy·cm) for hard formulations and 0.0003 - 0.0056 ΔOD/(Gy·cm) for deformable formulations. Exceptional stability was seen in both standard and low sensitivity non-deformable formulations, with promising applications for remote dosimetry. Deformable formulations exhibited potential for reusability with strong post-irradiation optical clearing. Tensile compression testing of the deformable formulations showed elastic response consistent with soft tissues, with further testing required for direct comparison. These results demonstrate that PRESAGE® dosimeters have the flexibility to be adapted for a wide spectrum of clinical applications.
Psychiatric emergency “surge capacity” following acts of terrorism and mass violence with high media impact: what is required?

Abstract Objective Adequate preparedness for acts of terrorism and mass violence requires a thorough understanding of the postdisaster mental health needs of all exposed groups, including those watching such events from a distance. This study examined emergency psychiatric treatment-seeking patterns following media exposure to four national terrorist or mass casualty events. Method An event was selected for study if (a) it precipitated local front-page headlines for >5 consecutive days and (b) emergency service psychiatrists identified it as specifically precipitating help-seeking in the study hospital. Four events qualified: the Oklahoma City bombing (1995), the Columbine High School (1999) and Wedgewood Baptist Church (1999) shootings and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Time-series analyses were used to correct for autocorrelation in visit patterns during the postdisaster week, and equivalent time periods from years before and after each event were used as control years. Results Overall, disaster week census did not differ significantly from predisaster weeks, although 3-day nonsignificant decreases in visit rate were observed following each disaster. Treatment-seeking for anxiety-related issues showed a nonsignificant increase following each disaster, which became significant in the "all disaster" model ( t =5.17; P =.006). Intensity of media coverage did not impact rate of help-seeking in any analysis. Conclusions Although these sentinel US disasters varied in scope, method, geographic proximity to the study site, perpetrator characteristics, public response, sequelae and degree of media coverage, the extent to which they impacted emergency department treatment-seeking was minimal. Geographically distant mass violence and disaster events of the type and scope studied here may require only minimal mental health "surge capacity" in the days following the event.
Figuring Forth the Gift of Janice Hocker Rushing

One can study only what one has first dreamed about. Gaston Bachelard, The Psychoanalysis of Fire (1964 [1938], p. 22) Two quarters, my change for a coffee. They are Arkansas quarters. I see them b...
Convergent Partially Augmented Basis Sets for Post-Hartree-Fock Calculations of Molecular Properties and Reaction Barrier Heights.

We present sets of convergent, partially augmented basis set levels corresponding to subsets of the augmented “aug-cc-pV(n+d)Z” basis sets of Dunning and co-workers. We show that for many molecular properties a basis set fully augmented with diffuse functions is computationally expensive and almost always unnecessary. On the other hand, unaugmented cc-pV(n+d)Z basis sets are insufficient for many properties that require diffuse functions. Therefore, we propose using intermediate basis sets. We developed an efficient strategy for partial augmentation, and in this article, we test it and validate it. Sequentially deleting diffuse basis functions from the “aug” basis sets yields the “jul”, “jun”, “may”, “apr”, etc. basis sets. Tests of these basis sets for Moller−Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) show the advantages of using these partially augmented basis sets and allow us to recommend which basis sets offer the best accuracy for a given number of basis functions for calculations on large syste...
The acute effects of smoking on heart rate and blood pressure: An ambulatory study

Under laboratory conditions smoking has been found to acutely increase blood pressure and heart rate in healthy subjects. Little is known about the short-term effects of smoking under more naturalistic conditions when subjects are engaged in various activities. In this study, the short-term effects of smoking on blood pressure and heart rate in natural settings were investigated in a group of healthy smokers. The degree to which these effects are moderated by other factors known to affect the cardiovascular system was investigated as well. Subjects (eight males, seven females) were dispatchers in the greater Los Angeles area. They wore an ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitor on two workdays for a total of 48 h. The present study confirmed that the acute effects of smoking on blood pressure and heart rate under natural conditions are similar to results from laboratory studies. Smoking acutely increased blood pressure and heart rate. Male and female smokers displayed similar cardiovascular reactivity to smoking. There was no indication of development of intraday tolerance. The acute action of smoking on blood pressure and heart rate was additive to the influence of posture on the cardiovascular system.
Incorporating General Intelligence into Epidemiology and the Social Sciences.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the value of examining a variety of pressing behavioral, medical, and social phenomena as they relate to gradations in general intelligence. Although few (if any) variables in the social sciences can compete with the construct of general intelligence in its ability to forecast an array of socially valued attributes and outcomes, measures of general intelligence are seldom incorporated into correlational and experimental designs aimed at understanding maladaptive behavior (e.g.,crime, dropping out of high school, unwise financial planning, health-risk behaviors, poor parenting, and vocational discord) or its opposite, highly adaptive behavior. We contend that, if consulted more often, the construct of general intelligence would contribute to understanding many puzzling human phenomena, because successive gradations of intelligence reflect successive degrees of risk. A method is provided for uncovering group trends, one expressly designed to reveal the range and prevalence of the many different kinds of human phenomena that vary as a function of intellectual gradations. By employing this method, policymakers and the public can more readily apprehend the significant, but often unsuspected, contribution made by general intelligence to many socially important outcomes. Our approach is similar to traditional epidemiological research aimed at ascertaining antecedents to maladies through the defining features of high-risk groups (e.g.,for lung cancer, smokers and passive smokers; for AIDS victims, participants in unsafe sex; for academic mediocrity, among the intellectually gifted in nonaccelerative educational tracks; for mental retardation, high blood-lead levels). Once such high-risk groups are defined (i.e.,groups of persons whose behavioral dispositions predispose them, and often others around them, to unfortunate outcomes), policymakers and scientists are in better position to disentangle genuine causes from families of correlations and can concentrate ameliorative resources more effectively. Data from educational and medical contexts are analyzed to show how measures of general intelligence, and other dimensions from differential psychology, can complement epidemiological and social science inquiry. We also argue that by incorporating such measures of human variation into policy development and research, policymakers are more likely to forestall “iatrogenic effects” (maladies caused by treatment).
Kinetics of the Reaction between Propargyl Radical and Acetylene

The reaction C3H3 + C2H2 → C5H5 (1) has been studied using the Laser Photolysis/Photoionization Mass Spectrometry technique. Rate constants were determined in time-resolved experiments as a function of temperature (800−1100 K). Rate constants of reaction 1 are independent of the bath gas density within the experimental range, [M] = [He] + [C2H2] = (1.2−2.4) × 1017 molecule cm-3. C5H5 was detected as a primary product of reaction 1. Formation of C7H7 was observed with kinetics corresponding to that of a secondary reaction and formation of C9H8 was also observed at even longer reaction times. The kinetics of product formation suggests the following sequence of reactions occurring under the conditions of excess acetylene used in the current work: C3H3 + C2H2 → C5H5 (1), C5H5 + C2H2 → C7H7 (8), and C7H7 + C2H2 → C9H8 + H (9). Within the above experimental range of temperatures and bath gas densities, the rate constants of reaction 1 can be described by the Arrhenius expression k1 = (3.9 ± 1.8) × 10-13 exp(−(...
O 2 ( 1 δ) and i( 2 p 1/2 ) production in flowing afterglows for oxygen-iodine lasers: effect of no/no 2 additives

Summary form only given. The chemical oxygen-iodine laser operates on the 1.315 mum I(1P12) rarr I(2P32) transition in atomic iodine; and is pumped by reactions between O2(1Delta) and molecular and atomic iodine. In electrically excited COIL lasers, (eCOIL), O2(1Delta) is produced in a plasma followed by injection of I2 in the afterglow containing the excited oxygen. The flowing afterglow additionally contains atomic O from dissociation of O2 in the plasma. The O atoms lead to dissociation of I2 and quenching of excited states, particularly the upper laser level, I*. While O atom helps in dissociating I2 thereby reducing the amount of O2(1Delta) required to achieve positive gain, it is also a quencher of I*, so managing the amount of O in the afterglow is necessary to maximize the laser gain. Additives such as NO and NO2 are effective in managing the O atom density and I inventory. These species consume O and I atoms by cyclic reactions involving O, NO, NO2, I2 and IO. In this paper, we report on results from a computational investigation of radiofrequency (rf) discharges and their flowing afterglows in He/O2 mixtures with NO and NO2 additives. The investigations were conducted with plug flow and 2-dimensional models. Scaling of O, O2(1Delta) and I* densities, and laser gain, while varying the mole fractions of NO injected through the discharge, and NO and NO2 injected downstream will be discussed reported. We found that moderate amounts of NO flowed through the discharge (< 10-20%) did not significantly change the discharge kinetics but did reduce the amount of O, and hence O3, downstream. The proper amount of NO and NO2 injection can maximize the gain even though O2(1Delta) densities may be lower for those cases due to consumption of ground state I and reducing the amount of O2(1Delta) required for I2 dissociation. The consequences of power and mole fractions on the production of I*, and system sensitivity to the rates of some important reactions, will also be discussed.
What can we learn by looking for the first code of professional ethics

The first code of professional ethics must: (1) be a code of ethics; (2) apply to members of a profession; (3) apply to all members of that profession; and (4) apply only to members of that profession. The value of these criteria depends on how we define "code", "ethics", and "profession", terms the literature on professions has defined in many ways. This paper applies one set of definitions of "code", "ethics", and "profession" to a part of what we now know of the history of professions, thereby illustrating how the choice of definition can alter substantially both our answer to the question of which came first and (more importantly) our understanding of professional codes (and the professions that adopt them). Because most who write on codes of professional ethics seem to take for granted that physicians produced the first professional code, whether the Hippocratic Oath, Percival's Medical Ethics, the 1847 Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association (AMA), or some other document, I focus my discussion on these codes.
Alpha‐fetoprotein: Is the Pattern of Concanavalin A‐affinity Molecular Variants a Marker for Synthesis by Neoplastic Cells in the Rat?

The post-secretory metabolism of the two concanavalin A-affinity molecular variants of rat alpha-fetoprotein was studied in normal adult rats. The serum half-lives of the two alpha-fetoprotein molecular variants and unfractionated alpha-fetoprotein are the same. There is no quantitatively significant interconversion of the two alpha-fetoprotein concanavalin A-affinity molecular variants in normal adult rat serum. These results indicate that the pattern of alpha-fetoprotein concanavalin A-affinity molecular variants present in rat serum reflects their relative rates of synthesis rather than differences in their rates of catabolism following secretion from the liver cell.
Seasonal Occurrence of Annual Floods on Small Pennsylvania Watersheds

A study is presented of the months in which the instantaneous annual maximum discharges from 66 watersheds occurred. The 2,052 flood values were measured on areas ranging from 2.4 through 214 square miles. The longest record was 60 years; the three shortest were 20. Pictorial results show both the number of floods for each month and individual discharges relative to the mean flood. A parameter which is weighted in this manner accounts for both the incidence and the magnitude of floods. Peculiarities of flood-timing charts, based on this parameter, are discussed with respect to watershed size, soils, geology, and land use. After anomolous watersheds had been assigned to special categories, flood-timing charts from most records exhibit a regional dichotomy dividing eastern from western Pennsylvania.
Noncontact estimate of grinding-induced subsurface damage

We review extensive data on measured subsurface damage and surface roughness resulting from lapping (loose abrasive grinding under fixed nominal pressure) and deterministic microgrinding (bound abrasive grinding under fixed nominal infeed) of commercial optical glasses with a large range of abrasive sizes. Subsurface damage is measured with the dimple method and related techniques. Surface roughness is measured with white light interferometry. Our results show that subsurface damage and its statistical scatter can both be estimated directly from the non-contact measurement of peak- valley surface roughness.
New Uses for the Burgess Reagent in Chemical Synthesis: Methods for the Facile and Stereoselective Formation of Sulfamidates, Glycosylamines, and Sulfamides

Although the Burgess reagent (methoxycarbonylsulfamoyltriethylammonium hydroxide, inner salt) has found significant use in chemical synthesis as a dehydrating agent, almost no work has been directed towards its potential in other synthetic applications. As this article will detail, we have found that the Burgess reagent is remarkably effective at accomplishing a number of non-dehydrative synthetic tasks when applied to appropriate substrates, such as the formation of sulfamidates from 1,2-diols or epoxyalcohols, alpha- and beta-glycosylamines from carbohydrates, and cyclic sulfamides from 1,2-aminoalcohols. Beyond delineating the power of these new reaction manifolds, we also describe the construction of a group of alternative Burgess-type reagents that extends the scope of these new reactions even further.
Application of discrete-event simulation in acute care's capacity analysis

Deploying nurses based on fixed shift could mitigate scarce availability during peak now of patients, but idle time should be resolved. This paper presents the analysis of nurses scheduling for minimal cost and reduced patient waiting time. An acute care unit of a local hospital is thecase study. The main sources to collect the data are historical data of patients' medical records as well as staff activity reports of their daily duty. Arena simulation software is applied to identify an optimum nurse scheduling. A base case model is built and several scenarios with different schedules and resources are compared: the results of these scenarios such as total pay cost and the resource utilization implied an optimal solution. A three shift system that comprises of all registered nurses, reducing the number of chest pain outpatients' rooms. and increasing the common rooms results optimal.
Structural analyses of mammalian ribosomal ribonucleic acid and its precursors. The distribution of polypyrimidine sequences in ribosomal 18-S RNA.

Abstract The distribution of polypyrimidine sequences has been studied in 18-S rRNA obtained from 40-S ribosomal subunits of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells. Oligonucleotides were released from highly labeled RNA with complete cleavage at adenylyl and guanylyl residues by successive digestion with U2 ribonuclease and T1 ribonuclease. The oligonucleotides were separated by chromatography according to chain length on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 at pH 7.5 followed by electrophoresis according to base composition in cellulose acetate strips or Whatman 3 MM paper at pH 3.5. Sequences were defined for 40 fragments containing 251 nucleotides including 17 pentanucleotides, 12 hexanucleotides, 5 heptanucleotides, 2 octanucleotides, 2 decanucleotides, 1 undecanucleotide and 1 dodecanucleotide. The longest polypyrimidine sequences identified were C-C-C-C-U-C-C-Gp, C-U-U-C-U-C-U-Gp, C-C-C-C-C-U-C-C-C-Gp, C-C-U-U-U-U-C-U-C-Gp, C-C-C-U-U-C-U-U-C-C-Ap C-C-C-C-C-C-U-U-C-C-C-Gp. Seven fragments with nucleotide compositions of UmC3A, U4G, Cu4G, C5UA, C4U3G, C6U4A and C9U2G are specific markers for 18-S rRNA. The molar yields of the marker and other fragments and the lack of contamination with marker fragments of 28-S rRNA are consistent with a high degree of homogeneity of mammalian 18-S rRNA.
Functional Adaptations to Cardiac Troponin I Phosphomimetic Substitutions

Protein kinase C phosphorylation of S43/45 on cardiac troponin I (cTnI) increases during periods of cardiac stress to modulate cardiac myocyte contractile performance, but the functional impact of this phosphorylation remains controversial. Adenoviral gene transfer of phosphomimetic cTnIS43D, cTnIS45D or cTnIS43/S45D into adult rat myocytes produced partial replacement and non-additive alterations in contractile function 2 days after gene transfer. More extensive replacement of endogenous cTnI is observed by 4 days along with an adaptive functional response in the form of accelerated shortening and re-lengthening. The present study focused on identifying the adaptive responses observed in myocytes expressing these phospho-mimetic cTnI substitutions. Adaptations due to intramolecular communication within cTnI were investigated by measuring cTnIS23/24 phosphorylation in myocytes expressing cTnI with S43D, S45D, and S43/45D. Increased expression of these phosphomimetics elevated cTnIS23/24 phosphorylation compared to controls. Western blot analysis also indicated intermolecular interactions contributed to this adaptive response, as phosphorylation of S282 on cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) and S16 on phospholamban (PLB) increased significantly in myocytes. The increased PLB phosphorylation correlated with changes in Ca2+ cycling observed in these myocytes compared to controls. Additional studies performed under acidotic stress produced similar changes in the phosphorylation of cTnIS23/24. Ongoing studies are testing whether similar changes in cMyBP-CS282 develop with acidosis. The underlying signaling mechanism responsible for this change in phosphorylation turnover is currently under investigation. Overall, these results suggest cTnI substitutions and cellular stress initiate intramolecular and intermolecular communication to generate an adaptive myofilament response. The shared response produced by cTnI substitutions and cellular acidosis suggests this communication may be important for understanding the myofilament response under conditions of contractile dysfunction.
Report on the X-ray efficiency and time response of a 1 cm2 reach through avalanche diode☆

Abstract We report the time response and efficiency of a 1 cm2 reach through avalanche photodiode used for direct detection of X-rays. The efficiency varies from ∼ 70% at 8 keV to ∼ 15% at 16 keV, consistent with an active thickness of more than 90 μm of silicon. The time resolution, full width-at-half-maximum, is 0.8 ns.
Small-molecule inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine transfer protein/StarD2 identified by high-throughput screening

Abstract Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC–TP, also referred to as StarD2) is a highly specific intracellular lipid-binding protein that catalyzes the transfer of phosphatidylcholines between membranes in vitro. Recent studies have suggested that PC–TP in vivo functions to regulate fatty acid and glucose metabolism, possibly via interactions with selected other proteins. To begin to address the relationship between activity in vitro and biological function, we undertook a high-throughput screen to identify small-molecule inhibitors of the phosphatidylcholine transfer activity of PC–TP. After adapting a fluorescence quench assay to measure phosphatidylcholine transfer activity, we screened 114,752 compounds of a small-molecule library. The high-throughput screen identified 14 potential PC–TP inhibitors. Of these, 6 compounds exhibited characteristics consistent with specific inhibition of PC–TP activity, with IC 50 values that ranged from 4.1 to 95.0 μM under conditions of the in vitro assay. These compounds should serve as valuable reagents to elucidate the biological function of PC–TP. Because mice with homozygous disruption of the PC–TP gene ( Pctp ) are sensitized to insulin action and relatively resistant to the development of atherosclerosis, these inhibitors may also prove to be of value in the management of diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Knowledge of Social Skills among Institutionalized Juvenile Delinquents An Assessment

A number of researchers have developed social skills training programs for juvenile delinquents, based on the assumption that they lack social skills. In order to assess knowledge of social skills among juvenile delinquents, a sample of 411 adolescent offenders was obtained. The sample consisted of all adjudicated male delinquents aged 12 to 15 admitted to a state training school over a sixteen-month period of time. Data were obtained on a measure of knowledge of social skills, the Adolescent Problems Inventory (API), along with a variety of measures of personality, behavioral, social intellectual, and educational skills. The adolescents were divided into three groups: a group competent in knowledge of social skills, a group that was incompetent, and one that was moderately competent. Analyses of variance among these three groups suggested that they differed along a number of dimensions. In particular, the group that had the lowest scores in terms of knowledge of social skills appeared to have a wide vari...
Alteration of human follicular fluid plasminogen activator activity by ovarian hyperstimulation.

Recently, it has been shown that granulosa-cell secretion of plasminogen activator (PA) is responsive to luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as well as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the rat and the pig. Accordingly, we asked whether PA activity in follicular fluid from exogenously stimulated human follicles was different from that of normal cycles and whether or not these activities correlated with follicular maturation as determined by follicular fluid steroid concentration. Follicular aspirates were obtained from women who were participating in an in vitro fertilization protocol. Follicular fluid concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were determined by established radioimmunoassay. PA activity, determined using a modified indirect solid-phase radioassay, was significantly less in follicles from patients treated with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) plus clomiphene (P<0.05) compared to untreated patients or those receiving hMG or clomiphene alone. Correlations of PA activity and follicular fluid steroid concentrations demonstrated no significant correlation in samples from treated patients. In contrast, untreated spontaneously cycling patients had a significant (r=0.89,P<0.05), positive correlation between follicular fluid estradiol levels. There was no correlation between PA activity and follicular fluid progesterone levels in any of the groups. These results suggest that a subtle balance in granulosa-cell secretion of PA and steroids exists, which appears to be disrupted by follicular hyperstimulation during treatment of patients participating in in vitro fertilization protocols.
Novel diagrammatic method for analyzing the surface electronic modes of finite multilayer structures

Abstract In this work the exact dispersion relation for the surface electronic modes of a finite array of layers of different semiconducting materials is derived in terms of a novel diagrammatic method for multiplying transfer matrices. The method is reminiscent of Wick's theorem in that it involves simple diagrammatic rules for Wick-like contracted sequences of chains. For the electronic states problem the vertex quantity appearing in the contraction is the wavevector normal to the layering plane; the thickness of each layer is contained in the propagator. The method can be applied to finite periodic or aperiodic layered structures, and it allows us to write down, in a fast and efficient way, an exact analytic expression for the dispersion relation of the elementary excitations. For ann-layer system, the exact dispersion relation contains2n terms. Our scheme has also been used successfully to study plasmon polaritons, acoustic and optical phonons and direct electromagnetic generation of sound - the new vertices involving dielectric constants, wavevectors, elastic moduli, etc. We are currently investigating the application of our procedure to surface magnons.
Phosphatidylcholine metabolism in endothelial cells: Evidence for phospholipase A and a novel Ca2+-independent phospholipase C

The metabolism of phosphatidylcholine (PC) was investigated in sonicated suspensions of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells and in subcellular fractions using two PC substrates: 1-oleoyl-2-[3H]oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho[14C]choline. When these substrates were incubated with the whole cell sonicate at pH 7.5, all of the metabolized 3H label was recovered in [3H]oleic acid (95%) and [3H]diacylglycerol (5%). All of the 14C label was identified in [14C]lysoPC (92%) and [14C]phosphocholine (8%). These data indicated that PC was metabolized via phospholipase(s) A and phospholipase C. Substantial diacylglycerol lipase activity was identified in the cell sonicate. Production of similar proportions of diacylglycerol and phosphocholine and the low relative activity of phospholipase C compared to phospholipase A indicated that the phospholipase C-diacylglycerol lipase pathway contributed little to fatty acid release from the sn-2 position of PC. Neither phospholipase A nor phospholipase C required Ca2+. The pH profiles and subcellular fractionation experiments indicated the presence of multiple forms of phospholipase A, but phospholipase C activity displayed a single pH optimum at 7.5 and was located exclusively in the particulate fraction. The two enzyme activities demonstrated differential sensitivities to inhibition by p-bromophenacylbromide, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and quinacrine. Each of these agents inhibited phospholipase A, whereas phospholipase C was inhibited only by p-bromophenacylbromide. The unique characteristics observed for phospholipase C activity towards PC indicated the existence of a novel enzyme that may play an important role in lipid metabolism in endothelial cells.
Loss of heterozygosity in P53, BRCA1, and estrogen receptor genes and correlation to expression of p53 protein in ovarian epithelial tumors of different cell types and biological behavior

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in ovarian epithelial tumors of differing cell types and biological behavior has not been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, there have been conflicting reports correlating LOH of the p53 gene to overexpression of p53 protein. This study evaluated 34 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ovarian epithelial tumors for LOH by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the following microsatellite markers: TP53(17p13.1/ p53 gene), D17S579(17q/BRCA1 gene), and ESR (6q24–27/estrogen receptor gene). LOH of the TP53 marker was detected in 4 (44%) of 9 informative serous cystadenocarcinomas (SCa) but in 0 of 4 informative clear cell carcinomas (CCa) and 0 of 5 informative serous tumors of low malignant potential (SLMP). LOH of the BRCA1 marker was detected in 5 (83%) of 6 informative SCa, but in 1 (13%) of 8 informative CCa and 1 (14%) of 7 informative SLMP. LOH of the ESR marker was detected in 4 (50%) of 8 informative SCa, but in 0 of 4 informative CCa and 1 (16%) of 6 informative SLMP. p53 protein overexpression was present in 8 of 12 SCa but did not correlate to TP53 LOH. LOH for TP53, D17S579/BRCA1, and ESR is common in ovarian SCa, and is observed in primary tumors as well as metastases. In contrast, these genetic alterations are less common in CCa and in the biologically less aggressive SLMP tumors. These data suggest different mechanisms of oncogenesis in ovarian epithelial tumors of different cell types and biological behavior.
Electron spin polarization analyzers for use with synchrotron radiation

Abstract The measurement of the spin polarization of photoelectrons emitted from a magnetic material is discussed. An important consideration is the acceptance phase space of the spin analyzer relative to the phase space of the photoemitted electrons to be measured. Other considerations include the magnetization direction relative to the extracted beam and whether the measurements are angle integrated or angle resolved. In the longitudinal geometry where the magnetization is normal to the sample surface and along the extracted photoelectron beam, conservation of canonical angular momentum adds an additional magnetic term to the beam emittance which is absent when the magnetization is in the sample plane and transverse to the extracted beam. For angle resolved measurements in the transverse geometry, the advantages of a new, low-energy (∼ 100 eV) spin analyzer which is easily movable, compact and efficient are discussed. Different spin analyzers are described and compared, and an analysis of their application to different spin polarized photoemission measurement configurations is given.
Stress Effects on As Activation in Si

We studied stress effects on As activation in silicon using density functional theory. Based on lattice expansion coefficient, we calculated formation energy change due to applied stress and plotted the stress dependence of As m V concentration. We found that biaxial stress results in minimal impact on As activation, which is consistent with experimental observation by Sugii et al . [J. Appl. Phys. 96, 261 (2004)], who found no significant change in As activation under tensile stress.
Plumbing the depths of Ligeia: Considerations for depth sounding in Titan's hydrocarbon seas

Saturn's moon Titan is the only satellite in this solar system with a dense atmosphere and hydrocarbon seas. The Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) mission would splashdown a capsule to float for 3 months on Ligeia Mare, a several-hundred-kilometer wide sea near Titan's north pole. Among TiME's scientific goals is the determination of the depth of Ligeia, to be achieved with an acoustic depth sounder. Since Titan's surface temperature is known to vary around 92 K, all instruments must be ruggedized to operate at cryogenic temperatures. This paper's contributions include an approach to infer key acoustic properties of this remote environment and the extraterrestrial environment's influence on the development of a cryogenic depth sounder. Additionally, an approach is formulated to infer the transducer's response, sensitivity, and performance when in situ calibration is impossible or when replicating key environmental conditions is too costly.